Quote:
Originally Posted by kazbates
Who are the "Them" you think are gathering all this data? I am just curious. I didn't know anyone was keeping all that information about me and I certainly don't want anyone knowing my "suit" size.  |
Ask Desertgrandma. She knows. (I think she's related to the Shadow.)
Seriously: I recently found out the last time I visited The Men's Wearhouse that they've kept my purchases on file for years. I wanted a longer size of a shirt I'd bought from them a year previously, and they were able to find the info on that exact shirt style and color in their computers in 5 minutes. I bought my suit and three sportcoats from them, over the years. They've got all of 'em.
Sears knows what brand of underwear I buy.
Giant (and whatever foreign grocery conglomerate owns them this year) can tell you what cereal I prefer.
Carefirst Blue Cross Blue Shield has my entire medical history.
Wachovia could tell you exactly what I use my credit card to buy.
Starbucks can tell you what flavor frapps I prefer.
Amazon.com can tell you what kind of music I prefer.
The state of Maryland knows the last time I drove through the toll booth on my way to Rehoboth.
Every item I listed is being stored by somebody, right now... retailers... government agencies... telemarketers. To be retrieved, by somebody (besides me), on demand.
Right. Now.
So, am I afraid of someone going through my trash?
Ha! Bring it, Sunshine.
(Hmm... ramble much, Stevie?)
What were we talking... oh, yeah. CFLs. I
still think they don't pose as serious a risk as you think they do... but hey: There are alternatives even to CFLs. Like low-wattage halogens and LEDs... maybe you should try those, and worry about CFLs when they effectively get the mercury out of them.
I personally think applying subsidies to lighting research (to get mercury out of CFLs, or to improve LEDs and lower costs, etc) is a great idea. We've needed to reapply the subsidies we give to wasteful and polluting companies for a while now, and giving us better lightbulbs (and batteries, and solar cells, etc) is a worthy direction to send that money. And if those subsidies can put some Americans to work making quality bulbs, so much the better.