SCNow.com.

As far as unintended consequences go,
This one’s pretty bad. I imagine most people after the first year most people will be sure to have insurance by the deadline. But even then if you have a compelling reason to switch insurance (poor service for example) but no major life events you are forced to wait until the following open enrollment period.

When Done Right, In-App Purchases can be Based on Trust by @baekdal #insights.

Companies Need To Pay People More.

Blodget is on a tirade about income inequality, or more specifically wage inequality. I hope some corporations get the message, but even so I suspect shareholders would revolt at a decrease in returns in order to pay fairer wages.

Why GitHubs CEO Ditched Its Divisive Meritocracy Rug – ReadWrite.

This is interesting. I’m not unaware of how privilege gives an advantage to those who have it, but I had not considered the corrupting influence it has on the idea of a meritocracy. I do not wish to imply that meritocracies are invalid. Certainly a meritocracy is a noble goal, but you do have to consider that the effect of privilege is to limit the opportunity of some to participate in the meritocracy.

Mac OS X Helps Optimize Your Home Wi-Fi Network.

This is amazing. What an incredibly useful tool built in to OS X, something you might otherwise have to download separately.

Zeno’s paradox: How to explain the solution to Achilles and the Tortoise to a child..

Obamacare and the Republican War on Competence : The New Yorker.

This is a concise and well-written critique of the current Republican agenda.

Project Ara: Inside Google’s Bold Gambit to Make Smartphones Modular | TIME.com.

This project is a good interpretation of the PhoneBlocks concept. I’m particularly excited to see it being developed by a large handset maker, though the recent sale of the consumer phone side of the business doesn’t necessarily bode well for seeing a product result from the project. I’m also dubious that there is enough consumer demand for a modular phone (my own personal interest notwithstanding).

Raffi Khatchadourian: Can an Audacious Plan to Create a New Energy Resource Help Save the Planet? : The New Yorker.

This is an interesting and depressing story about ITER and fusion reactors. It doesn’t seem likely that the project will ever succeed with it’s current bureaucratic structure.