3 chapters across the catalog
The transition to a cashless digital economy is characterized as a potential threat to the homeless, who rely on physical currency. The hosts discuss Berkeley's legal requirement for businesses to accept cash to prevent discrimination. A debate occurs regarding the ubiquity of QR codes, which saw a resurgence during the COVID-19 pandemic for menus and health passports.
President Obama launched a $250 million initiative to provide free e-books to low-income children through major publishers. The program is part of a broader goal to provide high-speed internet to 99% of students by 2018. Critics argue the initiative ignores existing free resources like Project Gutenberg, which offers over 48,000 professionally edited public domain books.
Digital Divide in Warfare, NATO Intelligence Sharing
A report on NATO's intelligence-gathering capabilities from a Norwegian airbase is reviewed. The hosts mock the use of buzzwords like "digital divide" and "the cloud" in the context of military operations. They question why NATO is only now attempting to establish common procedures for sharing intelligence between member nations.
