No, seriously, not everything needs to be connected to the Internet:

No, seriously, not everything needs to be connected to the Internet:

As a professional bug hunter, Henderson couldn't resist looking under the app's hood. He quickly realized that everything about security in the world of connected cars revolves around the first owner. They literally haven't thought through what happens when someone sells it.

Henderson tested four major auto manufacturers and found they all use apps that allow previous owners to access the cars from a mobile device. In his talk, he was careful not to tell us who his car's manufacturer is. And he discovered that only the manufacturer can remove users from its car.

The new car owners remain unaware. "There's nothing on the dashboard that tells you 'the following people have access to the car.'"
https://www.engadget.com/2017/02/24/how-used-cars-became-a-security-nightmare/

Look, I'm not a Luddite. I like technology and I also recognize that The Internet of Things is a complete shitshow.

Look, I'm not a Luddite. I like technology and I also recognize that The Internet of Things is a complete shitshow.

Also, at least it's not an American company this time.

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/03/14/520123490/vibrator-maker-to-pay-millions-over-claims-it-secretly-tracked-use

New York Judge Grants Threesome Participants Shared Custody Rights

Of interest to poly folks. The underlying story here is sad as domestic affairs often are, but the judicial ruling could have a lot of repercussions.


http://jezebel.com/new-york-judge-grants-threesome-participants-shared-cus-1793199794

Jail sucks. But if you've got the money it can suck less...a lot less...

Jail sucks. But if you've got the money it can suck less...a lot less...

Monterey Park even offers the option of serving time in half-day increments, for $51. “We just basically let them book their time,” said D.J. Casey, the lead records clerk for Monterey Park’s police department. “Sometimes they call and cancel and say, ‘My kid’s sick.’"

Most of these are DUIs and related minor offenses, but even felons can get an upgrade if they can afford it (though I doubt they get to schedule their time for these particular crimes).

To be clear, I think that US jails/prisons shouldn't be hellholes and I also think you shouldn't be able to buy your way to improved incarceration.

https://www.themarshallproject.org/2017/03/09/afraid-of-jail-buy-an-upgrade

Is It Better to Be Poor in Bangladesh or the Mississippi Delta?

An interesting interview with Nobel Prize winner Angus Deaton. A lot of the work that got him the Nobel Prize was co-authored with his wife, Anne Case. Deaton himself seems pretty quick to bring up his wife's contributions to his work. It's too bad they weren't interviewed together.

However, in looking up his bio on wikipedia it mentions that Deaton and Case enjoy the opera and trout fishing. Which is just brings a delightful set of images to mind.

Anyway, the interview is thought-provoking.


https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2017/03/angus-deaton-qa/518880/

Title

This may not be the greatest book ever, but it's a lot of fun:

"But crypt slimes, not unlike people, rarely reacted kindly when someone jammed a fist inside them."

Eames, Nicholas. Kings of the Wyld

No, seriously, whoever is doing Cookie Monster these days just gets the character.

No, seriously, whoever is doing Cookie Monster these days just gets the character. Although Frank Oz still does him from time to time, it's probably David Rudman in this...utterly delightful video:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2D2MlLKnbM