- The U.S. gerontocracy's failure to plan for sudden death or incapacitation of elderly leaders threatens political projects due to thin majorities.
- Designated survivors are a Cold War relic; today's impulsive politics undermines long-term planning.
- Older politicians face higher actuarial risks, yet fail to arrange succession, risking institutional chaos.
- Cory Doctorow prepares his literary estate with younger executors, exemplifying responsible contingency planning.
- Examples like RBG's refusal to step down highlight hubris over strategic succession.
- AI fiction is easily detectable due to poor quality; NYC enacts consumer protection rules against subscription traps.
- Microsoft shifts stance on MP3s; UK record lobby pushes copyright education; Gary Larson discusses online comics sharing.
- Technological issues include planned obsolescence in LED bulbs, Pokemon Go's racial disparities, and self-driving car ethics.
- Royal Society opposes crypto backdoors; UK PM May abolished climate department with climate denier appointment.
- Facebook and Google face criticism for alternative facts and degraded search quality due to AI slop.