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Comment: Re:OMG, not my tooth brushing!!! (Score 1) 150

...There are two sides to that. How would you like an option to buy dental insurance that is dramatically cheaper, but which you can only get if you allow your brushing habits to be monitored and corrected? ...

Already being done for car insurance if you allow a monitoring device to plug into your car's computer port.

We do need to draw a line that prevents preferential treatment based on characteristics which are not within the control of the individual, including past behaviors, but I see no problem and lots of advantages in enabling the use of pricing to encourage behavior that reduces costs.

In general (but not complete) agreement. I still have a significant privacy concern regarding how else any data are used by ~third parties affiliated with the data collector~ (as many privacy policies word it).

Comment: Re:OMG, not my tooth brushing!!! (Score 4, Insightful) 150

... If somebody learns every detail of the motions I make when I brush my teeth...

While your comment sounds like over-the-top sarcasm, keep in mind the time when you go to the dentist and your dental insurance company refuses to pay their portion of the bill because you have not been brushing your teeth properly....

Comment: Danger, danger, Will Robinson!!!!!! (Score 0) 136

by QuietLagoon (#47373017) Attached to: Microsoft Backs Open Source For the Internet of Things

...Its Xbox gaming platform is seen as a potential hub or control center for home devices....

At some point, the XBox will have "special" protocols and interfaces so that Microsoft will be able to push its own incompatible version of any infrastructure. History has shown that to be the manner in which Microsoft operates.

Microsoft does not know how to work in a marketspace where the playing field is level, so Microsoft will always strive to tilt the playing field in its favor.

Comment: Bad software justifies bad actions... (Score 4, Insightful) 495

by QuietLagoon (#47357143) Attached to: Microsoft Takes Down No-IP.com Domains
Microsoft has pushed upon the world (literally, the world) software that has a history of security issues.

Now it appears that Microsoft is using their reputation for producing security-challenged software to badger companies for PR purposes. The headlines will all read, ~Microsoft takes down a company that is a security threat~. And Microsoft will look good in the headline.

But what has Microsoft really accomplished? Will Microsoft's reputation for software with abysmal security be changed? Or will a small company be crushed because a huge company is trying to look good?

Comment: GM CEO hearings (Score 1) 236

by QuietLagoon (#47350999) Attached to: Google, Detroit Split On Autonomous Cars


All one has to do is watch the GM CEO testifying in the Congressional hearings, and read the reports about GM's safety failures, to see the arrogance is not with google, but with Detroit. The folks in Michigan are afraid of google in the same manner that auto dealerships are afraid of Tesla's direct sales. The current, cozy, entrenched business interests are going to be upset for the benefit of the consumer.

Comment: Re:Swedish farmers are wise (Score 4, Insightful) 567

... IPCC has been furiously back pedaling...

Furiously back pedaling? - or - Careful restatement of certain specific points based upon new information, while keeping the overall context intact?

I've seen so much over the top hype and hysteria from the climate change deniers, that I no longer believe their 10 word or less summaries of why climate change is not happening.

The climate change deniers need to start presenting a better level of peer-reviewed data and conclusions, and stop their unproven assertions (note: hypothetical research papers funded by the oil and coal industries, however well that funding is hidden, do not count.)

Comment: That's why I left mensa (Score 1) 561

by QuietLagoon (#47323647) Attached to: Match.com, Mensa Create Dating Site For Geniuses


That's not why you join mensa, that why you continue to be a member after you join.

When I attended the mensa meetings, the condescending attitude of mensa people towards others was quite a surprise to me. After a few meetings I just stopped attending and did not renew my membership.

Comment: What a mess this will be... (Score 1) 132

by QuietLagoon (#47305487) Attached to: Mozilla Introduces Browser-Based WebIDE
A sleek, once-efficient browser has now been turned into a bloated platform for for IDE hosting. Why would anyone want to use such a mess for such a critical part of their development infrastructure, especially in light of the continuing whimsical and frequent changes to the look, feel and operation of the FireFox UI by out of touch developers.

Chemist who falls in acid is absorbed in work.