Must be Lattepunk Vol 5
Lattepunk
I was going to write a spooky continuation to a previous piece I wrote, but getting this kidney stone removed kicked my ass. Instead you get the final OG Must be Nice piece I wrote. I have a few new ones to write but I’m going to save writing those till the new year.
Yes, I’m thinking about next year already and I’m hoping you’ll join me. Hopefully my writing won’t suck as much then, but only time will tell. Till then...enjoy!
P.S.: All these prices are WAY OFF from today’s prices. I’m sure this is even more expensive.
Can I have to the tacos, with extra gold?
If you’re like me, you don’t wait till Tuesday to deem it appropriate to enjoy tacos. Taco Bell, Moe’s, and Chipotle can only do so much. I get sick of searching various street taco vendors and Mexican restaurants looking for the best taste. Chef Juan Licerio Alcalá may have ended that search for us.
Gourmet Mexican Restaurant Frida in Los Cabos Mexico is the only place to enjoy “the world’s most expensive taco!” For $25,000, you get two tacos containing “Kobe beef, lobster, black truffle brie cheese, and Almas Beluga caviar.” All that comes in a “gold flake-infused” tortilla (corn tortilla if you were concerned). Mix in the salsa made from “dried Morita peppers, Ley .925 Añejo tequila, and kopi luwak” and you got yourself the taco of all tacos.
I’ve had my share of tacos, from handmade to duck to Doritos Locos tacos, but have I experienced every flavor of taco? Not at all. Am I willing to fly to Los Cabos to stay in a hotel that starts at $750 a night to try these tacos? Not at all. These are expensive ingredients to buy yourself but with some Google searching the average prices ($110 per pound Kobe Beef, $9 per pound lobster, $50-$75 for an ounce of caviar) is a huge cost savings! Just don’t forget to invite me over when you make them. Sure, yours won’t have the same “bling” to it and doesn’t come with the beautiful scenery as the Frida’s version does but you won’t have to refinance your house for it either.
Don’t let my jealousy stop you! If you can afford to have a some of these tacos (cause you know two of them aren’t going to fill you up) just make sure you pair them with Frida’s suggested $150,000 bottle of tequila, cause it must be nice.
Babel Street/Locate X
These are two stories about the same topic that I really want to highlight to you. It shows how easy it is for you and I to get tracked based off our location data.
Inside the U.S. Government-Bought Tool That Can Track Phones at Abortion Clinics | Joseph Cox for 404 Media
The Global Surveillance Free-for-All in Mobile Ad Data | Krebs on Security
If anything, take the information on how to protect yourself. From Krebs on Security,
Any Android apps with permission to use your location should appear when you navigate to the Settings app, Location, and then App Permissions. “Allowed all the time” is the most permissive setting, followed by “Allowed only while in use,” “Ask every time,” and “Not allowed.”
Android users can delete their ad ID permanently, by opening the Settings app and navigating to Privacy > Ads. Tap “Delete advertising ID,” then tap it again on the next page to confirm. According to the EFF, this will prevent any app on your phone from accessing the ad ID in the future. Google’s documentation on this is here.
By default, Apple’s iOS requires apps to ask permission before they can access your device’s IDFA. When you install a new app, it may ask for permission to track you. When prompted to do so by an app, select the “Ask App Not to Track” option. Apple users also can set the “Allow apps to request to track” switch to the “off” position, which will block apps from asking to track you.
Apple also has its own targeted advertising system which is separate from third-party tracking enabled by the IDFA. To disable it, go to Settings, Privacy, and Apple Advertising, and ensure that the “Personalized Ads” setting is set to “off.”
other things i read this week
a new book
Play Nice - The Rise, Fall, and Future Of Blizzard Entertainment by Jason Schreier
Fantastic read about Blizzard Entertainment, makers little games like World of Warcraft, Diablo, and Overwatch. Crazy how one company can just make banger after banger, but the story really picks up when Activision steps in with their greed. If you’re into video games at all, put this on your list to read.
healthcare
“Not Medically Necessary”: Inside the Company Helping America’s Biggest Health Insurers Deny Coverage for Care | T. Christian Miller, ProPublica; Patrick Rucker, The Capitol Forum; and David Armstrong, ProPublica
A Neuralink Rival Says Its Eye Implant Restored Vision in Blind People | Emily Mullin for Wired
A Texas Woman Died After the Hospital Said It Would be a “Crime” to Intervene in Her Miscarriage | Cassandra Jaramillo and Kavitha Surana for ProPublica
Hospitals adopt error-prone AI transcription tools despite warnings | Benj Edwards for ArsTechnica
random assortment
Meet ZachXBT, the Masked Vigilante Tracking Down Billions in Crypto Scams and Thefts | Andy Greenberg for Wired
Iconic Gun-Makers Gave Sensitive Customer Information to Political Operatives | Corey G. Johnson for ProPublica
McDonald’s busted ice cream machines can now be fixed — legally | Emma Roth for The Verge
As Schools Ban Phones, More Kids Are Using Smartwatches | Emily Tate Sullivan for Wired
a thing i watched
Given the “hype” over the Tesla Bots, Boston Dynamics showed off their own. Difference is this one is real!
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