Is there such a thing as a free launch?

This one grows out of a really stupid argument on another page, where I made the mistake of thinking other people might have a sense of humor. Playing on Robert Heinlein's old coinage TANSTAAFL ("There Ain't No Such Thing as a Free Lunch"), I pointed out space elevators have the potential to provide a "free launch."  

O, well, so much for assuming people are capable of yoks on a political page.

A space elevator lifts things into orbit, rather than shooting them up there.  Purely theoretical right now, but it got me to thinking.  What IS free these days?   Not lunch, certainly, but some things are.  For example....

Entertainment!  No, not movies or television.  Everyday entertainment!  Just go down to the corner watering hole and watch the idiots at play!  (Alternatively, you can simply visit a political debate page on the internet.  But I digress.)



Go to the library and check out a book.  They don't even have fines anymore!  You can take your time returning it!



Go out in the rain, lean your head back and get a free drink of water!


What's free out there?  What am I missing?  What can I get without paying?  Share your ideas!

          AlextheKay, no longer missing in action          

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