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What could be more retro chic than turning streaming into TV? Well my mom was telling us about how in Ireland in the 60s they had a coin box on their TV set. They had to keep money near the telly in case the TV shut off mid-movie.

So that’s what I’d like to see in 2022. An industry of gig workers who come and take money out of a lock box attached to our flat screens every now and again.

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A lovely trip through ‘23. Life is so different than we plan or imagine. Whomever is setting the script is part mechanic, because someone is always throwing a wrench in the works. “It’s my dream, and I’ll decide where it goes from here.” Alice was lucky to make it home better than she left. 40% of today’s youth would get waylaid with the caterpillar and his hookah. It’s a very strange world in which we are living. God willing, a tremendous change is in the wind… soon. Your essay was wonderful! Thank you. mbw

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Footnote 5: Yes. And yes.

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Such a fun article! I thought I was the only one whose favorite character in the Star Wars universe was Mace Windu! (I also have a great fondness for Wedge, who appeared in films 4–9.)

As a lifelong football fan, I am heartened by the idea that there is still at least one thing that brings nearly all Americans together. It may even be a workable solution to the polarization that afflicts us: Let social media fragment, but keep giving us football! Cheering for our favorite teams (go Vikings!) and hating others (curse you, Green Bay Packers!) is a much healthier way to channel our aggression at out-groups than political polarization, after all.

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I think this is very true! Sports is actually a wonderful innovation in allowing us to indulge our tribal instincts but in a much healthier way. Not to say there aren't incidents of people taking it too far, but it's not like people (regularly) go to war over this stuff.

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A fun read. You deftly avoided predicting anything. Three fun topics. As you ascribed, I like many, could not resist the resolution/prediction silliness. I look forward to more of Technopoptimism.

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This was better than anyone else's newish year prediction pieces. I also note, somewhat smugly, that any changes in the sectors you mention will occur without my even noticing.

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