07-30-2021, 08:48 PM
Quote:
1 hour ago, heavyhorse said:
Which raises another related question: Why does every frackin' damn thing have to be on the internet? Including vital infrastructure that has worked just fine for a half century before the 'net was even invented? It's already been demonstrated that some total stranger can take control of your Jeep driving down the hiway and take you on a off-road journey out of your control. Or blow up electric power generators by changing phasing. In one case took out a dam. Do we really need for someone in another country to be able to turn off your furnace in the middle of winter and freeze all your pipes, or 10,000 pigs or turkeys? OK, "read only" if you want to check your doorbell cam or home temperature. But petroleum pipelines? Control of our food and energy, and subsequently the whole economy? And who made the chips for the Patriot Missile System? Or, well, Blue Horizon?
It's real simple, follow the money. A friend of mine was one of the engineers that automated the Exxonmobile plant in Baytown. That's a 3,400 acre facility with more than 10,000 union employees. After the job was complete it became possible for 2 management personnel per shift to operate the entire plant. How long has it been since you've seen a strike or nasty contract negotiation in the news? Of course someone will eventually have to get their hands dirty to do maintenance but there's always Brown & Root for that.