Ccecil

I typically use DHL which has my EIN in my account. This has been true since at least 2016. They do not deliver unless you give the info and pay the fees.

Most of my international customers who order bulk require my EIN (and theirs) to be on every invoice.

Nothing new here... I suspect if there is any change it is due to the de minimus being removed. There was major fraud happening in this area...it is a shame it is gone though since I was hoping to be able to order small things without major costs.

This is all very common practice. Has been for at least a decade. Some companies require this info for them to purchase from you as well.

This is one of the benefits of being a company. You use the tax ID instead of your social security number.

Looks interesting. As a US manufacturer/designer I will be keeping an eye on this closely.

Currently, all assembly is done in house (in the US) but bare PCBs typically are still made in CN. We used to produce everything overseas and just do the QA/test in the US but during the chip shortage I ended up setting up the production line to attempt to eliminate any possible shortages/tariffs.

It is a difficult struggle manufacturing commercial products in the US (doubly so with an openhardware project) since the final cost is the major blocker but I decided it was worth it for many reasons. Big issue though is knowing that even if I pay someone 2x the going rate for an employee it still will not be a living wage. Not sure the fix there. I see you are planning to lean heavily on automation/AI for this, will be watching to see how it all progresses.

There are still some major blockers in the US. Commercial/Industrial real estate being a big one. Costs are not going down...even if employee count is minimized.

I wish nothing but the best for the project.

Until he shipped them the "pinball machine parts" he was working with terrorists.

Not sure there would be a distinction.

You forgot the part where Doc Brown purchased parts for the vehicle through funding by terrorists.

Look into OpenPNP. Most of the PnP work is already done (vision, motion, feeders, etc). Just a matter of making the Prusa frame react to the commands.

I'm reminded of the words of "Smokey" Yunick who said "I never cheated a day in my life. I just read the rules better than the people who wrote them."

That is what I see with this case. Aside from the debit card thing I am not certain any laws were broken. If making "bots and socks" to manipulate for profit is illegal there is a lot more areas that I would love to see them gone from.

That's what they taught us in Boy Scouts. Very first step is to get help.

Have someone call 911 (or whatever number in your country) immediately. If nobody is nearby start yelling.

Only one time in my life have I had to perform CPR (was already too late) but it is amazing how much of what I learned when I was 11 years old stuck with me.

Get help, check airway for obstructions...etc. Most importantly...take a CPR class sometime in your life and do what they say. The "ABC" of airway, breathing, circulation they taught us may not be current advice.

Sidenote: Don't be too hard on yourself if you don't save a life...even the pros say unless the patient is young/healthy you likely won't.

Edit: The feeling when the pros actually show up (in the case where I was doing CPR within minutes) is one of the biggest reliefs I have had in my life. Even knowing CPR...you feel helpless until they show up. And once they do, ask immediately if they need you. If not...get out of the way.

Agreed, My uncle worked as a tile setter for most of his life. Was very good at it, had his own company and contracted to other companies. I only ever heard good things about his work.

His knees were dead before he was 50. Never made it to "stable", has never owned a home, now living in a van in his 70s.

There were many other issues in his life which prevented things...don't get me wrong...but his case is more the norm from my observations of workers. It is much easier to be a good "worker" than it is to be a successful one.

Also, Drug/alcohol use in the trades is incredibly common. As is the habit of planning your life around claiming unemployment every winter (at least in my area).