tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post4548687474109634126..comments2023-10-29T06:41:23.910-07:00Comments on Halfway There: Defective dossierZenohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09058127284297728552noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-46687778222003483762010-11-06T13:03:20.273-07:002010-11-06T13:03:20.273-07:00You raise a good point, Kristjan. As far as privac...You raise a good point, Kristjan. As far as privacy is concerned in the U.S., the cat is out of the bag and the big is out of the poke. It's a little late to legislative privacy, but <i>not</i> (I hope) too late to legislate penalties for the abuse of personal information. Data aggregation tools make it too easy to construct our individual profiles, but various proscriptions and criminal penalties might reduce the abuse of those profiles for intrusive marketing, ID theft, and harassment.Zenohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09058127284297728552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-88760206058957339412010-11-06T10:49:52.690-07:002010-11-06T10:49:52.690-07:00Interestingly enough, one result of Danes having a...Interestingly enough, one result of Danes having a national identity card is very strict data privacy laws, so in Denmark it is not permitted for a supermarket to store any data related to your credit card (nor to try to correlate it with any other data)Kristjan Wagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09555892468280743919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-76760392315156508082010-10-30T06:45:25.208-07:002010-10-30T06:45:25.208-07:00Yeah. Rob has a point. I prefer cash for small pur...Yeah. Rob has a point. I prefer cash for small purchases, but I'm trying to recall if I've dug out my credit card at that store. Over the last few years ... probably yes. They have my information!<br /><br />If I suddenly disappear, you'll know what happened.Zenohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09058127284297728552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-56024255633141733262010-10-29T22:56:34.456-07:002010-10-29T22:56:34.456-07:00>On topic, you realize that they can correlate ...>On topic, you realize that they can correlate your rewards card with your credit card, right?<br /><br /><br />Came here to say that.<br /><br />Singapore train passes worked the same way. You could buy one for cash, but we had it on good word that if you ever topped up the card with your bank card, then the government noted all your prior comings and goings in a database.Laikahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16165304577490923507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-10765334052922057282010-10-28T10:27:27.733-07:002010-10-28T10:27:27.733-07:00On a visit to the Azores I purchased an azulejo wi...On a visit to the Azores I purchased an azulejo with the legend, "Com vinagre não se apanham moscas."<br /><br />The English equivalent was reportedly one of Grandma's favorite sayings: "You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar."<br /><br />A useful lesson for those who spew vitriol.Kathienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-15029960114121447752010-10-28T08:36:18.367-07:002010-10-28T08:36:18.367-07:00Rob explains perfectly what I had to learn in prac...Rob explains perfectly what I had to learn in practice (d'oh, etc). I got a Safeway card only after the clerk assured me that I did not need to enter any private information, just sign the card "Safeway Shopper" and enjoy the discounts.<br /><br />So I filled out the card anonymously, and used it for my purchases that day. I paid with a credit card, as I frequently do for convenience and for the 1% rebate it gives me (not the 24% interest I'd owe if I didn't pay the card off each month).<br /><br />As I was leaving with my bags, the clerk said "Thank you Mr. O'Pedia."<br /><br />I assume the cash register was as perceptive as the clerk, and that the link between my credit card and Safeway card was etched in silicon for all time.Gene O'Pedianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-67030035316443987532010-10-28T07:24:20.545-07:002010-10-28T07:24:20.545-07:00Zeno, I suspect that Azoreans think our Portuguese...Zeno, I suspect that Azoreans think our Portuguese dictions sounds a bit odd, too (especially because I have both a US and, thanks to years of instruction in the Brazilian sotaque, a South American accent as well)!<br /><br />English has been compulsory in Azores (if not all Portuguese) schools since just after the 1974 Carnation Revolution, I believe, and nowadays English instruction starts at 3rd grade -- not that everyone gets the equivalent of an "A" in it, of course.<br /><br />Then there's the pervasive worldwide influence of American pop-culture, including on the Internet, from which the Azores are hardly immune. Robert McCrum may have it exactly right, for better or worse, re the conquest of the world by "Globish."Kathiehttp://www.inolongerlikechocolates.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-61463397376870760982010-10-28T06:57:42.118-07:002010-10-28T06:57:42.118-07:00Mabus cleanup on aisle six.
On topic, you realize...Mabus cleanup on aisle six.<br /><br />On topic, you realize that they can correlate your rewards card with your credit card, right? And from there, they know pretty much everything. Unless you always pay with cash.Robnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-12082318774294644922010-10-28T05:43:00.459-07:002010-10-28T05:43:00.459-07:00I also have none of these cards, including a books...I also have none of these cards, including a bookstore card which would in fact save me a lot of money, since I like to buy hardcovers. But I don't want a sophisticated record being kept of what I purchase. <br /><br />When asked why, I look them in the eye and say: "I'd rather pay more." Which I figure is slightly more polite than saying: "I don't discuss my personal financial preferences with strangers."Dr24Hourshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10212511946268980294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-84732374086613563412010-10-28T05:24:31.025-07:002010-10-28T05:24:31.025-07:00Yes, I would be unable to turn down a B&N card...Yes, I would be unable to turn down a B&N card if I frequented that bookstore, but I'm seldom there. I patronize an independent local bookstore first, then Borders.<br /><br />As to the DVD mystery, I presume a black-bag operative broke in and cased the joint while planting bugs. (Should have searched for toilet paper while he was in.)Zenohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09058127284297728552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-78842322136167998712010-10-28T02:54:09.894-07:002010-10-28T02:54:09.894-07:00My Barnes & Noble card is worth its weight in ...My Barnes & Noble card is worth its weight in gold... er, has saved me LOTS. <br /><br />But I wonder: was the guy supposed to have bought his DVD player at Safeway, too, that they were sure he didn't have one?The Ridger, FCDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01538111197270563075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-34700465044744628642010-10-27T21:18:28.372-07:002010-10-27T21:18:28.372-07:00Indeed I have not, Kathie. But I'm sure you...Indeed I have not, Kathie. But I'm sure you're right. Everything I've heard about them sounds like a parallel dimension to me. And the English as she is spoke is odd there, too.Zenohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09058127284297728552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15868947.post-82264172565206610902010-10-27T21:04:31.181-07:002010-10-27T21:04:31.181-07:00Ever been to the Azores? They're kinda like a...Ever been to the Azores? They're kinda like a parallel dimension -- in the best possible way, of course :-)<br /><br />P.S. How 'bout them Giants?!?!?Kathiehttp://www.inolongerlikechocolates.comnoreply@blogger.com