[pbs] Google Books, Bulbs, Web Privacy
Joe Shaw
jshaw at opuntiads.com
Sun May 13 14:02:20 EDT 2007
Hi Gang,
I was exploring Google Books (search) and looked up Garden Bulbs for the
South, the 2007 book by Scott Ogden. I was impressed with the amount of
information provided online. The photos are great and Google reproduces
many of the pages from the book.
I had to sign into Google to use the Book Search feature, and typically
don't bother with search engines that track my movements by asking for an
email address (yes, Google does that). Yet, the result was so delightful I
may search for other books. You don't get to browse the whole book, and but
you get 2-3 dozen pages to read, apparently reproduced directly from the
book--wonderful images.
LINK: Google Books link for Garden Bulbs of the South (maybe you'll need to
sign in with a free Google account)
http://books.google.com/books?id=qjEBt3MPGZAC&dq
I'm not sure what to do about the Web and my interests in privacy. I'm sure
a clever profiler could put together a lot of information about me already:
1) likes plants, 2) travels to certain cities now and then, 3) has dogs, 4)
agnostic, 5) reads "certain" foreign newspapers (English Langage versions),
6) has a love-hate relationship with taxonomy, 7) so cheap I still have my
first penny, etc.
The online newspapers and magazines along will sink me if Big Brother is
making a profile. For sure I look like a confused Liberal with conservative
leanings, as well as a penchant for Jewish, Arabic, European, and Asian
news. Toss in the email to PBS and other garden forums and everyone will
know I'm a plant smuggler, as well as a poltically-confused tightwad with
misgivings about certain US policies, a man with 2 or more small dogs that
are not house trianed. Who could imgine that pursuing a hobby could be of
so much interest to others.
The Google Book Search is free, free, free. But, as we all know, free
things on the Web are typically not free. Google is watching, and Big
Brother is watching Google.
Cordially,
Joe
Conroe TX
Swamp rose and pasture rose blooming this month (Rosa palustris, R.
carolina), so sweetly fragrant.
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