Topic: 1 5 Meter Society

The Netherlands is moving to codify the "1.5 meter society" into permanent law, a move that critics argue will destroy social norms like hugging and cheek-kissing. Protests against these measures and the "Dragnet" surveillance laws are planned in The Hague. On a lighter note, John C. Dvorak expressed his annoyance with the "fisting method" of eating peanuts on airplanes, calling it a breach of public decorum.

A massive power outage in the northern Netherlands reveals the vulnerability of a cashless society, as citizens were unable to purchase fuel or groceries without electronic payments. In Ireland, the ongoing "water debacle" continues as citizens protest the installation of smart meters and new laws allowing the government to deduct water charges directly from bank accounts.