Big hospitals still have them to send medications and random lightweight stuff around the complex. My wife has worked in two large hospitals that had pretty extensive tube systems, used especially with pharmacy.

In the suburbs of a middle-sized city in Ohio, USA. So midwest, but a bit older, higher-density, and more northeastern suburban layout than, say, Iowa. Built up in the 1960s-70s. Almost all single-family suburban homes on large lots.

(these are walking distances, not straight lines)

• To the nearest convenience store: 1.6 km
• To the nearest chain supermarket: 4.2 km
• To the bus stop: 1.5 km
• To the nearest park: 226 meters
• To the nearest big supermarket: 2.1 km
• To the nearest library: 2.6 km
• To the nearest train station: Hahaha! (Ok, it's actually 78 km, but it's mostly worthless as a train station)

Straight-line distance to Big Ben: 6297 km

I've used it off and on in KUbuntu for a couple of years without issue, installing the helper app from the .deb file directed to me by the plugin. I have scanned it for viruses and watched for strange behavior, and I haven't observed anything suspicious. It runs as the current user, no elevated privileges required.

I mean, I think it started as a BSD fork with a Linux kernel jammed in so... you're not far off.

One caution on older Surface Pros: They are generally not serviceable, and when the batteries eventually go, you will have to replace the device. The 9th gen and later may be better. I am dealing with this right now in a 2017/5th gen Surface Pro. While it's nice hardware (as a user), apparently the battery is glued-in in such a way that you cannot replace it without destroying the tablet. I'm currently looking to replace it with either a Lenovo ThinkPad X12 detachable or a Dell Latitude 7320 detachable, both of which are similar but (purportedly) much more repairable.

Pretty sure this is just natural selection in action. Unfit mates are less desirable. This has less to do with political polarization and more to do with fundamentally unfit partners.

South America has a ton of hydroelectric capacity.

Dude, you live in Italy, the food is amazing! That said, after a two week trip to Italy, my wife is a much better cook of Italian food now. ...In America.

The state of Florida. They don't need my tourist dollars right now. When they can figure out state government again, I'll consider spending my money there. They have no shortage of tourists, but I know it's not my money propping up that insanity.

That entire block that says "ethanol" is corn, plus that entire block that says corn syrup, and a good chunk of that block that says "livestock feed". It's a lot of corn.

We have a while before we have to worry about those kids actually getting to college. What needs to happen now is the colleges proclaiming this. Make a big stink about it. Talk about remedial education requirements for Florida graduates. Across lots of states. Embarrass the hell out of the state. Set requirements that Florida public school graduates have to take an entire years worth of remedial education in college. Suddenly mom and dad looking at that bill will start to flip out.

Look at what happened to North Carolina when they tried to pass their bathroom bill, way before all the current crop of anti-trans laws. Stuff got cancelled. Events pulled out. Businesses proclaimed their objections, made public grumblings about risking expansion in the state. There was actual damage and cost, and North Carolina nixed the whole thing. Look at what's happening in the culture wars now. Nothing. It's become noise. Next week Wisconsin will declare an open hunting season on Muslims or something, and everybody will yawn. They've successfully numbed us to this shit, and until large entities start pushing back, until there are real tangible costs to the states pulling this shit, it will keep happening.

Universities in other states need to loudly proclaim they will not accept Florida high school graduates fed this horseshit. "Does not meet prerequisites for higher education." You want to be Confederate Jesusland? Fine, but there's a cost. Employers need to do the same thing.