I examine the widespread issue of planned obsolescence, specifically focusing on Microsoft's decision to end Windows 10 support in October 2025. This transition forced a massive hardware turnover because many existing computers lack the TPM 2.0 chips and specific CPU requirements necessary to officially run Windows 11. Experts warn this policy could lead to hundreds of millions of functional devices becoming e-waste, while also creating significant cybersecurity vulnerabilities for those who cannot afford to upgrade. To combat these issues, users are exploring alternatives such as Linux distributions, specialized IoT Enterprise editions, and third-party tools like Rufus to bypass installation restrictions. Simultaneously, international advocacy groups like Euroconsumers are pushing for right-to-repair legislation and mandatory software update durations to protect consumers from artificial product lifespans. Ultimately, the texts highlight a growing tension between corporate security standards and the environmental and economic impact of forced technological aging.

This conversation draws on my analysis covering general questions regarding major economic and societal challenges. Common themes include the analysis of wealth and income inequality, lack of affordability, critiques of prevailing economic systems, and the disruptive impact of technological change, particularly concerning Universal Basic Income in a post-labor economy, its application to vulnerable populations like the unemployed and the homeless, A.I., and the sustainability of crucial social systems like US Healthcare.

Review by Donald Harvey Marks concerning Viktor Shvets' fantastic recent book: The Twilight Before the Storm. I analyze the book's central arguments, which posit that the world is in a dangerous transitional period marked by the decline of neoliberalism - an ideology rooted in free-market capitalism that sounds reasonable, but went astray. A core concept in the book is the "Fujiwara Effect," describing how advanced technology combined with financialization is reshaping the global economy and creating abundance. Shvets draws historical parallels to the 1930s to illustrate today's social and political fractures, warning of potential conflict unless we can reach a new societal consensus.