Now you ask?

Ran into an article online that raises the question of how much people need in the way of material goods. That article in turn links to an exhaustively researched piece on algorithms that companies use to determine what price shoppers will accept based on variables like location, previous shopping habits, the weather (Sweater sale at 40 Fahrenheit, swimsuit sale at 40 Celsius), and so on.

I can't hold these companies responsible if the products they advertise and sell cause problems, but after seeing the methods they use to push these products, I certainly won't weep for their troubles now that there's growing awareness of problems in which they're complicit. What I've written is counter to my aims, I know. Nevertheless, I won't regret saying these things, and I'm glad to see articles like these happen.