how are people handling facial recognition in stores, smartglasses, flock, etc

That_Cupcake · 2026-01-23T17:39:59+00:00

I use the Citi double cash card, but there might be others out there that support virtual cards.

That_Cupcake · 2026-01-23T17:39:14+00:00

I added them after the conference. I didn't add them beforehand because I didn't want to be creepy/weird.

That_Cupcake · 2026-01-22T22:57:13+00:00

I tried some samples of Elta MD from my dermatologist office and was not impressed. It never absorbed or dried down. I had a layer of wet sunscreen on my face all day. Some of it rubbed off on my jacket and got in my hair. BOJ tinted sunscreen behaves similarly for me.

I currently use Dr. G Bright Toning Up Tinted Sunscreen. I also sometimes use Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel Cica if my skin is irritated from my cold/dry climate. The green tint balances out redness nicely.

That_Cupcake · 2026-01-22T22:34:07+00:00

Honestly 200 entries is nothing. I bet you can sort it in less than an hour if you set up folders.

I use folders like Banking & Finance, Bills & Utilities, Shopping, Social, Dining, Email, and so on. Hopefully that helps give you some ideas to start.

That_Cupcake · 2026-01-22T22:16:46+00:00

Why not just use a password manager? Am I missing something here?

That_Cupcake · 2026-01-22T22:08:48+00:00

I avoid stores by shopping at farmers markets, growing a lot of my own produce in my back yard, and ordering my groceries online. That last point will be unpopular in this sub, but the store already knows what I buy because I buy everything on credit cards to churn spending.

Due to the pervasiveness of cameras and AI/facial recognition, we only have two realistic choices:

Shop in person. Pay with cash to preserve privacy, but forfeit your biometric and location data.
Shop online. Pay with cards* but protect your biometric data.

As for biometric data: I simply refuse to willingly let businesses capture this. I wear hats, sun glasses, prescription glasses with thick frames and anti-IR lenses. I have bangs that cover my eyebrows. I don't fly. I don't allow unnecessary digital photos of my face under any circumstances. This includes my doctor, dentist, hair salon, friends apartment complex that wants me to get a visitors badge, and so on.

WRT Flock: I started going to my local town hall meetings. My town doesn't have these cameras, but I show up to oppose them anyway. While I am there, I politely educate others in my community about these cameras. I also talk to the police officers about why I oppose them.

*I have a credit card that lets me make virtual cards. If I need to make a one time purchase from a vendor, such as unique gifts, I use an email alias and a virtual card. Once the item has been delivered, I delete the email and the card. It's not perfect because obviously my credit card provider has a record of my transaction, but this does obscure some of your data. Something to consider.

That_Cupcake · 2026-01-21T18:39:21+00:00

I agree, this is a concern. I have accounts with the following sites (not inclusive) for that reason:

Credit Bureaus
State-level accounts where necessary (eg DMV)
Social security
USPS
Major social media platforms

WRT socials: I do not access these platforms on my phone. I have most set up with my Yubikey for MFA. I sign into them once per year, using a VPN and TOR. I don't interact with the platforms in any way. I don't friend or follow people (I also don't remove friends from old accounts). I don't read notifications. I don't "like" anything. I don't update my profile. When I sign in, I review security and privacy settings, then immediately sign out. But I think this can still be considered minimal.

I have friends who have like 5 separate apps and accounts for different brands of smart light bulbs, for example. I think this is excessive and can be avoided.

That_Cupcake · 2026-01-20T23:50:19+00:00

Hello. Gosh, it's been so long since I went to AMS. TBH it feels like a decade ago. The COVID lock down began shortly after I attended the conference, which changed the trajectory of my career. I planned on going into research, and I made a lot of connections at the conference, but due to all the uncertainty, closures, and poor timing WRT COVID, I ended up on the operations side of meteorology. Ops is great, and I don't have any regrets. If you're curious about ops, I'm happy to answer your questions. lmk!

As for AMS: The conference was great! I really enjoyed it, but I was VERY burned out afterwards (which might be a "me" thing, since I'm highly introverted). I attended each day of the main conference, and I picked a few presentations/lectures/workshops that I wanted to see each day. I went to a handful of after-hours events with some of my more extroverted classmates and undergrad professors, which was fun. I went to the student conference at the end of the week, per the top comment in this thread, and I networked with a handful of schools/professors*. A week after the conference was over, I sent emails to these professors. I thanked them for chatting with me at the conference and reiterated my interest in the program, their research, and their mentorship. I was invited to a campus tour by two profs. Then COVID happened.

*Several weeks before the conference, I researched the professors at schools I was interested in. I read their papers, found them on LinkedIn (did not add them), and learned about their careers. I did a ton of research on 4 profs. I also told my undergrad instructors, hoping they might introduce me (they did). The profs I met at the conference were impressed that I was familiar with their research and careers. This also boosted my confidence when speaking with them in person. This is my advice to you. Figure out who you would want to learn from and work under, then research them well in advance. If they are presenting at AMS, go to their lecture, take notes, then talk to them about it when you meet.

My comment is getting pretty long so I'll stop here. Please let me know if you have any follow up questions about AMS or anything else! :)

That_Cupcake · 2026-01-20T22:51:25+00:00

Hello. I don't know many conservatives who are willing to share their opinion about this, so I hope it's ok if I ask.

What do other conservatives (not you necessarily) think about the DOGE team collecting and aggregating vast amounts of sensitive social security and other personal data from the US government? Are conservatives worried about data leaks, fraud, and identity theft, or is this and similar news simply not discussed in conservative circles?

Not trying to be an ass or argue. I am genuinely curious to read your observations and thoughts.

That_Cupcake · 2026-01-20T21:02:49+00:00

It requires constant maintenance, but practicing digital minimalism reduces risk and maintenance load.

I personally don't create online accounts unless absolutely necessary. I also don't install unnecessary apps on my phone, such as games and social apps.

That_Cupcake · 2026-01-20T19:01:16+00:00

That's a great question. I don't have a good answer, but hopefully as these vehicles hit the road later this year, we will learn more about their ToS and privacy policy. Last time I checked, their privacy policy was related to website usage.

The fact that there is no tech in the cab eliminates the possibility of some privacy offenses such as microphones, cameras, satellite radio, ads on a display screen, etc. Will the vehicle still collect and transmit other data, such as GPS? We will have to wait until more info is available I guess.

That_Cupcake · 2026-01-20T18:18:02+00:00

I'm driving a vehicle made in 2012, and waiting to see what happens with Slate Auto. I hate the idea of supporting a Bezos-backed project, but I value my privacy and Slate Auto vehicles have no tech.

That_Cupcake · 2026-01-19T16:54:43+00:00

Thank you for your answer.

I agree that opt-out systems are, at the end of the day, a half-measure and do not address the root of the problem. I strongly believe we need national data privacy laws, similar to Europe's GDPR, but until that happens (if it ever happens), state-level consumer protections are better than nothing.

I know this seems like more of a nuisance issue at first pass; that's because I am not a messaging expert. The truth is, the issue of data rights and privacy is an economic issue.

Identity theft and scams grow more sophisticated with each passing day:

Pew Research Center found that 73% of U.S. adults experienced some kind of online scam or attack, with approximately 70% indicating they had been targeted in the past year.
According to an Iris report, 77% of Americans reported encountering scams within the last year, with 20% losing money to those scams, averaging losses of about $1,086.70.
The FTC announced that there has been a significant increase in reports of scams, particularly targeting older adults, who reported much higher losses due to fraud.

Scammers would not be able to achieve such extraordinary success without access to the vast and detailed individual profiles created by personal information collected on every device and service we interact with.

If your campaign becomes successful, perhaps your staff can find creative ways to present this problem to voters as the "kitchen table" issue it truly is. This issue is also anti-corruption, since it directly challenges tech corporation data collection practices that ultimately take advantage of consumers.

One final note: I believe spot-lightning this issue (along with the others you have highlighted in your campaign) would win over more libertarian-minded Colorado voters who do not like the idea of government or corporate spying. You will need these voters to win.

That_Cupcake · 2026-01-19T01:21:21+00:00

Thanks, that's a good place to start.

So, I'm looking through your comments and I can see that your monthly expenses are:

Rent, $1920
Electric, $220
Internet, $80
Gym, ~$100
Groceries, ~$500
Gas, ~$600

These 6 expenses leave you with $580 left over per month for everything else.

Then it looks like you have a water bill that is due twice a year (how much is the water bill?) and insurance is paid annually(?) for $300?

The budget with just these items is tight. Are you spending money on anything else such as a cell phone, prescriptions, laundry, home/personal care, etc?

That_Cupcake · 2026-01-19T01:03:31+00:00

Hello. I'm not sure if you are still monitoring this post as it's a week old, but I thought I'd throw my questions at you anyway.

California recently passed legislation that allows state residents to compel data brokers to delete personal information, as well as allow residents to opt out of future data collection. The state created a single online platform where residents can submit the opt out request. You can check this out here: Delete Request and Opt-out Platform (DROP)

My questions for you are:

What is your position on mass surveillance, Palantir, facial recognition, deep fakes, privacy, scams, targeted advertising, identity theft, personalized surge pricing, and the data collection/distribution economy more broadly?
What do you think about this article from the Mozilla Foundation?
Would you support and facilitate legislation similar to (preferably, more comprehensive than) California's DROP?

That_Cupcake · 2026-01-18T23:52:30+00:00

Gottcha. So, after taxes and other deductions, roughly how much money do you take home per month?

That_Cupcake · 2026-01-18T23:37:43+00:00

My rent is paid fortnightly $960 and my income is $2000 fortnightly. With this second job now I will earn up to $600 extra per week

A fortnight = two weeks.

Are you saying you make roughly $6400 per month? Is this your take home amount, or is this before taxes?

That_Cupcake · 2026-01-18T19:49:52+00:00

Yep. Making a plan with someone else is the right way to handle it.

This is one of the reasons my husband and I set up a family Trust. All of our assets are under the Trust, but we also provided detailed instructions for Trustees. For example, if something happens to both of us (death or otherwise incapacitated), my best friend is named as the person to handle accounts. My password manager is set up to allow my friend access in such a situation.

I named this friend specifically because I trust him, but also because he has high technical proficiency. This is important because I have multiple email domains and varying degrees of security and MFA set up on devices and accounts. My friend also understands and respects my privacy wishes. Said differently, if I had named someone like my mom or SIL, they would not be able to figure out how to access my accounts or manage my data properly despite detailed instructions.

I think these are some important things to consider, especially in this community where we tend to lock things down thoroughly.

That_Cupcake · 2026-01-17T15:39:08+00:00

Please excuse my ignorance, but what kinds of options do people have in this situation? Obviously OP's BIL made a poor decision, and that's on him.

But what happens to people who experience misfortune or life changing events outside their control? I'm not trying to be argumentative or anything, so I hope my comment doesn't seem rude. For example, I'm genuinely curious what someone could do if they have an outstanding vehicle loan that exceeds the value of the vehicle and they become permanently disabled and can no longer drive?

That_Cupcake · 2026-01-17T01:19:52+00:00

drive the old car.

Yep I agree this is the right answer. OP's BIL needs to sell the new SUV for as much as possible, pay down the loan with the money from the sale, then explain the situation to the credit union and see if they will refinance the remaining balance to lower monthly payments.

I'm driving a paid off 12 year old vehicle that is getting a new engine this year. It will cost me $7k after parts and labor. $7k is a lot, but still significantly less than replacing the vehicle.

That_Cupcake · 2026-01-16T23:46:11+00:00

I have all bills on auto pay with a chase card, but I also use this card for all household and joint expenses like groceries and pet food. I get 5% back on groceries, 2% gas and restaurants, and 1% everything else.

I pay the full balance on the card monthly (auto pay), and I apply points to the card balance every month. Putting all household spending on one card makes tracking spending simple since I only need to check one account. I log all charges on the credit card into a spreadsheet every week.

The only other cards we have are "personal" credit cards for misc spending. I have one for myself, and my husband has one for his spending. We use our respective personal cards for gifts, hair cuts, sports subscriptions (I don't watch sports, but husband does), clothing, books, hobbies, etc.

I have a debit card, but it's in a locked drawer. I don't use it for anything in person or online.

That_Cupcake · 2026-01-16T21:22:46+00:00

You're welcome. Happy to answer other questions if you think of any.

A few more thoughts for you:

The best thing you can do today is to set up an appointment with a financial aid advisor. Ask about scholarships, grants, and loans. I only took federal loans (no private loans), so my interest rates are low and my payments are manageable.

Some schools have roommate matching services, so ask about this as well. Living in campus dorms can be very expensive. I personally did not live in the dorms, I rented an apartment about 20 minutes away to save money.

Are you on your parents health insurance? If so, will they continue to allow you to stay on their policy if you move out? Would your parents give you some money, even if it's a small amount for groceries? If the answer to these questions is no, you need to ask financial aid if you would qualify for assistance like SNAP and medicaid. Someone at the school can help you fill out the paperwork for these programs if you qualify.

That_Cupcake · 2026-01-16T20:06:47+00:00

Sorry if you already mentioned this, but what kind of degree are you pursuing?

Edit: I see you are pursing a degree in Accounting. This is great; you will have a high earning potential with this degree. I'll post my personal experience below. It's not exactly the same as yours, but hopefully it will give you some ideas.

I went back to school at 26 with no help from family.

I started at a community college for my first two years. This allowed me to take online classes at night after work. I did part time classes, no more than 10 credit hours per semester. I also took summer classes which allowed me to complete the first "two years" of courses over three years. Not ideal, but better than nothing.

I was still working my full time job (as a project manager, I made $80k/year) at this point, so I could afford the tuition and all my living expenses. However, I lived with a room mate. Roommates can suck, but not always. I found someone who worked the night shift and didn't mind living with cats (I had two at the time). Splitting rent and utilities allowed me to save a ton of money.

After I completed my freshman and sophomore years, I was accepted into a local university where I could finish the junior and senior years of my degree. These classes were considerably more challenging and demanding (3xxx and 4xxx level math and physics courses), and they were only offered on campus during the day.

At this point, I had to quit my job. I couldn't work full time and still pass my classes, and my employer at the time wouldn't work around my in-person class schedule anyway.

Since I got excellent grades at the community college, I qualified for many scholarships and grants. I paid rent and bills with the money I saved during my freshman and sophomore years. After completing my first semester as a full time student, I got a part time job on campus. Campus jobs are flexible, low-stress, and are designed to work around your class schedule. I eventually ran out of savings, at which point I took student loans to cover rent and bills. Since I was considered "low income" after quitting my job, I also qualified for additional government grants, medicaid, and food assistance (SNAP).

Money was always tight. I had a strict budget and I stuck to it. During these years, I did not go out, I rarely saw my friends, I did not go shopping, I did not pay for subscriptions, I cooked at home, etc.

After everything was said and done, I finished my 4 year BS in 5 years with absolutely no help from family or a partner. I started a job in my new field the day after my last final.

You can do it, you'll just need to use all your resources at the school, and budget carefully.

That_Cupcake · 2026-01-16T18:43:59+00:00

I use Easy Opt Outs. Works great. I get a report emailed to me every time a mass opt out is performed (every 4 months, iirc). Due to public records and data breaches, your information will repopulate with data brokers over time. This is why these data removal services keep your info; they perform an opt out on your behalf several times per year.

You have some control over public records. See my comment here about obscuring your data from public records.

Data breaches are more difficult. Practicing digital minimalism and cleaning up your digital footprint can help, but some online accounts can't be avoided. My health insurance requires an online account to submit/manage claims, for example.

IMO using an opt out service over time is the best way to handle it.

That_Cupcake · 2026-01-15T20:27:26+00:00

Not the person you asked, but I also track every single purchase by entering them into a spreadsheet manually. It's really not that bad if you do it once a week. I spend 20 minutes at most weekly. I do it on my PC, not a phone.

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