April 15, 2004
Gmail and privacy
When the news of Google's new Gmail service broke the evening of March 31st, I pasted a link to the press release in a IRC channel I frequent. I got a bit of grief for pasting a link to what was so obviously an April Fools' joke. Well, by midday on April 2nd it was becoming apparent that this wasn't a joke at all. Business people gave kudos to the company for taking the battle to Yahoo and Microsoft instead of waiting for their core search technology to be challenged, while just about everyone else focused on serious privacy concerns raised by the service. The debate has touched off a number of interesting news stories and blog entries regarding Gmail as well as other emerging technologies at Google. Topix.net provides some interesting background information and opinion, while Kottke weighs in about the future possibilities of a GooOS. More recently, InfoWorld reports that the significant outcry may have caused Google to rethink its approach while (as always) EFF stays on the case with follow-up reports here and here.
Personally, I'm not just worried about the people that become Gmail users, I'm worried about sending those people email. One can certainly opt-out of the worst possibilities, the associating of search history (via cookies) with the contents of messages in your Gmail account, simply don't sign up for the Gmail service. But what about sending email to people with Gmail accounts, knowing that your email is going to be scanned by Google's computers and possibly stored for years on Google's servers? “Well, I will refuse to send email to anyone with an @gmail.com address!” you say. The only problem being that whatever address you are sending to could easily be forwarding to a gmail account. Given the very real probability of 10 million+ people eventually using Gmail… these privacy issues should be of concern to future Gmail users and the general email using public alike.
April 11, 2004
Pair Networks
I recently decided to change my hosting provider to pair Networks. They come highly recommended and should be a solid provider. Thus far their service has been excellent. They have a great web interface and very good online as well as telephone support. If you are in need of hosting I suggest you check out what they have to offer. If you sign up, mention me and maybe I'll get a box of chocolates or something.
Anyway, hopefully the transition will be seamless. Once everything is in order I'll change to new nameservers, so if you notice any connection problems in the next 72 hours it's probably just the new DNS propagating.
April 09, 2004
Eternal Sunshine? most definitely.
I've got a new title to add to my list of ravagingly beautiful romantic films: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is so stunningly good that like all great art, it humbles the viewer. I know I sound over the top, and I know art is partially what you bring to it, but I really loved this film… Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet are both amazing. As an actor you must dream about getting the chance to do a project like this…
I know, ick, such a simple rave… but I can't help it… it's great… I don't need to construct an intellectual reason why, it's just excellent. It makes me wish I could make something half as good.
FYI, the other movies on my greatest romantic films list: Out of Africa, Moonstruck, Wonder Boys, Lost in Translation and Manhattan.
yes, yes, I know...
truly pathetic… I come back and say I'm going to be posting again and then two months go by… like the kids say: I am a l8m3r… actually, I'm not even sure if the kids do say that… nevertheless, instead of any big pronouncements I am simply going to start posting again. I've updated the reading page and posted some new links to the mini-blog, now I just need to create some actual content… so without further ado… (charles goes to write)