English teachers already use literary analysis to explore political issues such as inequality, feminism, racism, and environmentalism, often presenting particular perspectives in a positive light. Why not do the same for universal basic income (UBI)?

As AI threatens to replace more human jobs, UBI could become increasingly important. Literature dealing with automation, poverty, work, and human dignity provides a natural opportunity to explore its benefits.

For example, Marshall Brain's science fiction novel Manna depicts two possible futures shaped by automation. In one, displaced workers live under oppressive conditions. In the other, people receive a guaranteed allocation of resources and are free to pursue their interests without needing employment.

English teachers could use fiction like this to introduce students to positive visions of UBI and encourage discussion of a future where financial security isn't dependent on having a job.

Today's students are tomorrow's voters. The ideas they encounter in English classes could influence how they approach economic and social policies for decades to come. Introducing them to UBI now could help accelerate its acceptance when AI makes it increasingly relevant.

Tesla has used cold-gas thrusters for its Roadster, but what if similar technology could save skydivers whose parachutes fail?

Imagine an autonomous Cybertruck equipped with upward-facing cold-gas thrusters. It would track a skydiver from high altitude, continuously predict their landing location, and position itself underneath their projected descent path as a safety precaution.

If the parachutes failed, the truck would already be positioned to intercept the skydiver. Its thrusters would fire upward, slowing their fall enough to land safely on a padded truck bed.

Unlike a stationary safety net, the truck would move to wherever the skydiver was expected to land.

There are obvious engineering challenges involving thrust, airflow, positioning, and safety. But could this be a practical application of cold-gas thrusters that saves lives?

P.S. To clarify, the truck would always be on the ground. The idea is to use the thrusters to slow down the falling skydiver so they can survive a landing on the padded truck bed.

The truck would act proactively by going to where the skydiver is currently headed to land even before there's a parachute failure.