This is very insightful. I always wonder what the gradients are that we can’t see.

I think the argument is for changing what is legally required.

I have this same discussion with folks applying formal methods to prove the correctness of software where I work. Often the "proof" is harder to read than the original code and I certainly don't feel anyone has proven anything to me.

It’s my choice to use (or not use) Gmail. What data I share with them in exchange for their service is non of Amazon’s business. (If Amazon wanted to make this feature opt-in, sure, whatever.)

Sometimes I think I'm the only one who watched https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doom_Runners

It was absolutely formative for my later tastes in science fiction. For a while, I thought it was something from a fever dream until I found a DVD on eBay.

I don’t think it is so binary.

If there is more friction to communicate with me I expect to hear from people less often.

As an example, my friends that only use Discord and not SMS or Signal definitely hear from me less frequently. It doesn’t mean we’re not friends, but we do communicate less frequently.

That’s a bit uncharitable. It made perfect sense to me. I also learned something about Japanese lacquer.

In the exact same configuration? Yes.

The date of the notice is October 28th. The separation dates given in the letter are 90 days out from the date of the notice (for some technical reasons, some employees had a separation dates a bit further out.)

The books are also physically really pleasant to hold and look at.

I’ve read each book they’ve published and enjoyed them all.

The J.C.R. Licklider book was difficult for me just because the font is small. I ended up finding an epub version and read that instead and loved it. The physical book is beautiful though and I'm glad I have it.