Posted 12:27pm, Wednesday, September 4, 2002

Labor Day weekend, I went to sample the food at the Nugget’s annual Rib Festival in Reno and get in a little gambling. The truth in advertising award goes to a blackjack dealer at the casino. He asked the table if anyone wanted to apply for a player’s card.

“We’re always happy to welcome you back with special offers and send you junk mail.”

The Safeway Savings Card is a little red card that you apply for at the store to get discounts on select items. The savings can be substantial, so even though you know you’re becoming part of some database, it’s worth it. After spending a certain amount, you are eligible for further savings through discount coupons the cashier gives you.

I recently decided to join Safeway’s home delivery service. I went to their website to register and entered all my info, including my Savings Card number.

After successfully registering, I went to set up my shopping list of most frequently bought items. Much to my surprise, they already knew what I buy. They had been keeping track through my use of their saving’s card.

It was scary.

There it was: a complete history of the things I buy on a regular basis. Canned corn, tomato sauce, my brand of toilet paper… weird.

You already know “they” are watching you, but here was proof. Think of all the stuff you buy on the web. Look at your Amazon recommendation page. Everytime you register for free stuff on the internet, you give someone a piece of you. They’re tracking your web purchases, they know what foods you eat, they know what movies you like. They follow you from store to store. They can predict which car you’ll buy or what shows you’ll watch. They are omniscient. They are everywhere and they know who you are and what you do.

They know how you wipe your fucking ass.

Which is a lesson to us all: always use a pseudonym when buying porn.

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Not all marketing schemes work though. I just checked my little used Hotmail account. I had both an e-mail to increase my penis size and my breast size.

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I’m a fervent Mac supporter. With OS X, there’s little doubt that Apple’s operating system kicks Microsoft’s ass in every way: stability, free programs and usability. X is virtually crash-proof. Yes, there are more programs for the PC, but none that an artist or webmaster would find indispensable.

Last night, I got an e-mail from Passenger 58 saying I had passed a virus along to his computer. Apparently, Klez worked his odd little trick of going through my address book and mailing itself along to people on my mailing list. Since I’m on a Mac, I can’t get Klez, only pass it on.

There is something oddly satisfying in knowing I can help destroy Windows machines while remaining virus free.

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I got an e-mail late last week from my buddy Dave. He forwarded the last message he got from my pal Marc. Marc died ten days later from complications from his heart surgery. A bit of a sad postscript from a lifelong Journey fan.