I'm looking at getting a Pebble.

I tweaked. Many (most?) don't.

You would have a nervous breakdown in my house. Clocks in every room and 20 watches hanging in my room.

I'm looking at getting a Pebble.

What types of data does the US sell to advertisers? Do you have ANY evidence of the always listening mic? You'd figure after 10 years of this we'd have at least some evidence, right?

As long as the wearable contains open source software and preferably open source hardware, then sure, I'd be willing to do so. Because then I could know that I could control where the data went.

I don't know if the USA currently sells data. It appears to be illegal but the current administration doesn't always play by the rules.

Have you ever used a phrase activated voice assistant (hey Google, Alexa, Siri). They are always listening in case you use the phrase. Amazon and Google both admit they record and stores voice data. Google sells ads based on search history.

Only up to $500 though? And if you keep ignoring them, what will you do when you run out of providers? I can't go to the one hand expert in the area because I owe him money. Same for the CVS doc.

I'm looking at getting a Pebble.

I have a decent sense of time

I don't lol. I mean can check outside, even out in the middle of nowhere, and have a rough idea; but I like knowing it because that's just how my brain works.

and an abundance of options to verify it

Sure. Phone, computer, microwave, oven, TV, wall clock, city clock tower, someone else's watch, etc. But again, I like having it right on my wrist. I've worn watches by my own choice since I was a kid, and now I've got a small collection.

So the vaccine is the government implanting a tracker into me, but watches that track my vitals and send them God knows where is hunky dory?

These anti government types always have such a hard time when they become the government.

I chose to stop wearing a watch more than 20 years ago. I thought about getting one for the health benefits five years ago, but concluded that I don't want to have a watch nor cover an awesome tattoo. As a friend once wrote, "wearing a watch is like being handcuffed to time."

“wearing a watch is like being handcuffed to time.”

That's perfect! I'm stealing this. I HATE, despise, loath in every respect clocks, watches, calendars and any other form of scheduling oppression. Go pound sand - I'll show up when I show up.

Because then I could know that I could control where the data went.

It being open source doesn't mean you can mosify and run your own software on it and still have the agency accept you are compliant.

As a friend once wrote, “wearing a watch is like being handcuffed to time.”

This is pretty out-of-touch. I mean, a lot of us kinda need to know the time at some point. It takes a special kind of privilege to be able to unshackle yourself from any semblance of a schedule, a privilege that not many of us have.

"I've worn watches by my own choice since I was a kid"

Lets hope it remains a choice

It was a note he wrote down for himself while on strong psycadelics. I don't think that nullifies the observation.