I’m not an SME here and would love to hear more about this.

I paid full boat 20+ years ago but I’ve spent more time in that chair than my car and bed combined, and it’s always got my back. Best purchase ever.

Same. Whether an Aeron or another high quality chair, it's hard to not find value in something we use for huge chunks of our days.

I seem to remember something like that in DG/UX too.

Absolutely this.

This rings almost true for me - but “addiction” makes it seem like some sort of personal failing, whereas I think the cost of that backtracking and the probability of finding another Balrog in the woodpile later makes it seem like a perfectly reasonable choice.

Source: been there, done that.

Yea, addiction is the wrong word, its hyperbole.

It is perfectly reasonable under the constraint of J Pierpoint Morgan's dictum:

"I don't want it perfect, I want it by Thursday"

What’s your favorite democratic institution? My favorite is separation of powers.

Would you say it’s holding?

No, separation of power isn't in great shape unfortunately.

But I don't think it has collapsed yet, or you think it has?

Mine is probably free speech, it's also not in a great shape either. But without separation of powers, free speech is quick to crumble into a precarious position.

I think rule of law is probably more fundamental. It's important that the powerful are held to account, and that's very difficult without rule of law.

But if no one enforces the law on the rulling power, the law doesn't work.

If there is no one who makes the laws, the law won't exist ;)

So we have the important three:

- judiciary

- law making by Legislature

- executive powers for enforcing law

It's one of the most important things to keep them separated and not interweaved. The three powers control each other and the fourth one controlling the controlling:

- journalism and it's covered investigations or whistleblowers

And then you need the rule of law that the law is the only law.

This ground pillars of democracy.

Philip K Dick includes this as a side bit in Ubik - iirc there’s a great scene where the main character is broke and trying to get the front door to let him in to his apartment.

AI - red in tooth and claw.

Koyaanisqatsi

Seems like it varies by state - I’ve purchased Sudafed in at least two states other than my own.

Same here.

Me too.