Topic: Surveillance Pricing

Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak open the Christmas special from Texas and Northern Silicon Valley. They discuss the linguistic shift from "Merry Christmas" to "Happy Christmas" and "Merry Holidays," with Dvorak noting local liberals using the latter. The hosts mention a "best of" compilation prepared by Sir Donald Winkler and touch upon "surveillance pricing" as a reason to delay holiday shopping.

The Federal Trade Commission is investigating "surveillance pricing," where retailers use AI and personal data to set individualized prices for consumers. Unlike dynamic pricing based on demand, surveillance pricing uses factors like age, location, and browsing history to determine a customer's maximum "pain point." Instacart recently paid a $60 million settlement over deceptive tactics related to these pricing models.

Reports from Europe suggest a push to lower the legal limit for cash transactions to as little as 400 euros to combat money laundering. The hosts argue this is a move toward a cashless society designed to create a total financial dossier on every citizen. They also briefly touch on rising gold prices and the potential for five-dollar-per-gallon gasoline in the United States.