Friday, January 11, 2019

Business Plan for 23andMe Or Similar Operations

Often there are tiered services: The basic heritage report for $x and then more health data for some further charge or upgrade.

What I propose is a barter: The service would give the upgrade in trade for phenotype data. Specifically, an image of the customer's face as well as scans of fingerprints and footprints. AI had made it possible to use facial recognition software as a screening tool for genetic abnormalities and it has been known since before I took medical genetics over 30 years ago, that similar inferences can be made by dermatoglyphics.

It is really a classic win-win. Neither side has to spend much time or effort on their side but gets valuable data for themselves in return.

If any of you service organizations want to do this, toss a bit of money my way first. It will be better than waiting until you have made a billion dollar business out of it and then I come by with a blog post dated from two years before you launched the idea.

Tuesday, January 08, 2019

Ocasio-Cortez And Palin, Similarities And Differences

Similarities:

Both are women who are unusually likable*, charismatic, attractive and came to national attention via politics.

Both gained their highest office by challenging a member of their own party. Ocasio-Cortez challenged the incumbent in the primary and won--the district has not had a Republican in 25 years, so the Democratic primary is effectively the election. Palin had a more traditional start, being a city council member, then mayor before challenging the incumbent Republican Governor in the primary. Alaska was not nearly as Republican as New York's 14th congressional district is Democratic, but in both cases, the primary win was the larger hurdle.

Both Ocasio-Cortez and Palin are relatively extreme--Palin to the right of the Republican party and Ocasio-Cortez to the left of the Democratic party. In a way, this is both a similarity and a difference.

Both are (even though they each have some elite characteristics) working class in their outlook and upbringing.

Both inspire emotional appeal and repulsion.


*Yes, I know. Lots of people hate one or the other (rarely both) of these women, but be honest--you know you would like them if politics was not involved.