h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Attend a no-cost kidney health class in your neighborhood, courtesy of Kidneysmart.

Somewhere, recently, I read (or watched) about how kidney dialysis is one of, if not the only, medical treatment that is FULLY socialized in the US. Anyone who needs dialysis gets it and the clinics that perform the dialysis are fully reimbursed by the US government.

Wonderful, you'd think.

But...

This has lead to a cottage industry of dialysis centers and often these centers actually DISSUADE their patients from getting kidney transplants to keep their patients coming back.

The children's dept at G H Bass.

Well, now I'm convinced the ads aren't always targeted. I just got an ad for NFL Sunday Ticket, $70 of US handegg games streaming service.

Two new today - Stannah Stairlift and 'Join the National Trust today'
I've been a National Trust member, so it is something I would consider. Even though their policy in the 1970s was unbelievably short-sighted and they remain only really interested in pretty buildings that will sell tea towels...

<BB<

I've seen rumors around the web that boofcake might be listening to you through your mobile devices and targeting ads by keywords it overhears. I know I've had a few moments of WTF!? when I'd see an ad that was germane to a topic of recent oral discussion. Have you had oddly coincidental ads targeted to you?

One suggestion to test this conspiracy hypothesis is to leave your phone next to a TV or radio tuned to a foreign language program and see if you start getting ads in that language. I'm very tempted to try this soon.

No doubt of it. Whenever I order things, say audio equipment, over the net, I get lots of ads for similar stuff.

That's not what I'm talking about. That's normal. We KNOW they track your web browsing and shopping habits. I'm talking about them listening in to your voice while the phone is just sitting in your pocket.

That is rather creepy in a 1984 way, just hope the gov't has something better to do than get into our business.

Oh, and I'm pretty sure my government is doing just that. I'm talking about Facebook (and possibly Google, Amazon, and their ilk) and their advertisers.


Say, you and your buddy are chatting away about something HE heard about recently, something WAYYY out of your ordinary concern, like maybe, Honda C90 clutch cables and you don't ride motorcycles.

Then, later that day, you see a banner ad for Honda motorcycles or motorcycle parts.

That's creepy in a different way. Not as Orwellian, maybe more Huxleyesque.

But if you were talking about motorcycles, wouldn't it please you to see information on one of them, even if it's just an ad? . You don't lack agency here. You can disregard the ad, as I'm sure you disregard the vast majority of other ones.

People who want to get off the grid can do so. J D Salinger was so private that no one could penetrate his defenses.

Macy's fine china department: Noritake Blueshire pattern, Wedgwood Renaissance Gold, etc.

And now, advice by Prudential on diversifying my portfolio

Special edition vinyl delivered each month... haven't expressed an interest in that anywhere.

I don't have adblock, and do (currently) use Pliny, but I've not seen too many ads. I'm currently seeing one for some mobile service which doesn't actually give its name. If I click the "join now" button at the end, I'll find out, I suppose, but if I don't, I won't. Poor advertising choice: no brand recognition.

TRiG.

Frost Bank want's to give me an Apple watch.

Whats the catch

It's a bank...

Also, it's an Apple watch...




http://youtu.be/AcmZISKE4Zc

I'm always amazed by the number of ads I see for financial products, considering that I've never lived off credit, and never had any money to invest. Experian today.