[01/02] 10 or more driverless taxis on Vallejo Street in San Francisco blocked traffic on that street for 15 minutes, simply by stopping in the street:
Los Angeles Times
San Francisco's North Beach streets clogged as long line of Cruise robotaxis come to a standstill
Just one day after state officials approved massive robotaxi expansion in San Francisco, a long line of the driverless cars come to a standstill an...
 All the human drivers in cars on that street were stuck. The company's explanation makes it clear that these cars are not "autonomous" — they depend on receiving orders via cellular data networks. The possibility of stopping traffic is, of course, a pain in the neck, and people are right to point out it could be...
US funds that could reduce use of fossil fuels are being directed towards projects for carbon sequestration, which is unlikely to do any good:
the Guardian
Carbon-capture gold rush an ‘insult’ to locals in emissions-hit Louisiana
US government plans to roll out carbon capture rather than phase out fossil fuels prompts outcry in heavily industrial state
Freedom of speech, under the US First Amendment, does not cover the words used to carry out a crime. It does not cover setting up criminal conspiracies, perjury, fraud, or intimidation of witnesses:
the Guardian
Trump has no serious first amendment defense in a court of law. Here’s why | Laurence H Tribe and Dennis Aftergut
Words that criminal defendants have written or spoken are used against them all the time. Perhaps you’ve heard of a confession?
 Therefore, freedom of speech is not a defense for the crimes that the corrupter/insurrectionist is charged with, or the ones he might commit now.
[01/02 Resistance to pressure in the UK to use surveilled digital payments is found in various groups, including young people living on limited incomes and foreign visitors, as well as the usually cited group (old people who find digital technology confusing):
the Guardian
Fears UK’s cashless society will leave more than just the vulnerable behind
There have long been concerns that older people will suffer as we ditch coins and notes, but other groups, such as tourists, may also be affected
 Alas, the article doesn't mention the group I belong to: people who value privacy and understand that the way to prevent personal data from being misused by companies is not to allow companies to collect that...
In a Greek town that was devastated by a wildfire in 2018, Christy Lefteri found that people sought small and proximal causes or enemies to blame for it, in a desperate effort to avoid confronting the great enemy: the planet roasters:
the Guardian
Even in Greek towns razed by wildfires, people don’t blame the climate crisis. That must change | Christy Lefteri
Many see climate breakdown as a problem of the future, but it’s here now. To move forward, we must understand our part in it, says author Christy...