personal information privacy

Am sure most of us have heard of this initiative EARTH HOUR - which speaks about everyone coming together to switch off our lights.


Am not really keen on discussing the initiative or its implications or how successful this would be in reality - my concern is towards the value, we as internet users, give to our personal information. This emerges from the fact that numerous sites on the internet request our personal information (ranging from items as trivial as your nickname, to items as critical as your credit card number.) for being able to access all sections of the site or utilizing services offered. The issue is not with who collects information or what information is collected - the issue is with what is being done with this information.

So imagine this - you really want to be a part of a 'good, social initiative'. You register yourself and in the process providing your personal details. This information, which now resides in some server in some corner of the world, is accessible by a lot of people who definitely have nothing to do other than manage it. But then, you cannot control or stop them from accessing it and doing whatever they want with it. The worst part is that all this is done without your knowledge / control.

The solution clearly is not in prohibiting websites from collecting information. How can such an issue be tackled?

IP messenger snippets...

Woohoo! Just stumbled upon this relic text file log that emerged from my lappy clean up session. Am sure all NITIEans from my batch will relate very well with this one, especially since this episode starts from the very famous conversation ice-breaker called "net?"

Would love to hear on whether you liked this content. Also, if you do stumble upon such prizes possessions which are very popular with junta, do send them over so that I can help them reach a larger audience.

[ For the lesser mortals - 'net?' usually intended to pose a question on whether the internet connection is up and running or has gone for a ride leaving us users stranded in our rooms. However, multiple assumptions from the myraid minds have drawn creative interpretations of the phrase leading to hilarious replies that are often worth offline discussions :-D ]

=====================================
From: Devendra_Devil's Own (IM 13/NITIE-C3D634FF1)
at Tue Dec 18 12:09:14 2007 (multi)
-------------------------------------
net..???

=====================================
From: SumeetChoudhary_9969395111_420 (IM 13/IBM-20235A83DDA)
at Tue Dec 18 12:09:53 2007 (multi)
-------------------------------------
>net..???
fishing

=====================================
From: DJ.. (IM 13/DJ)
at Tue Dec 18 12:10:16 2007 (multi)
-------------------------------------
>>net..???
>fishing
mosquito...

=====================================
From: Amit Pal (Kakey): X X X X _ _ _ _ (IM 13/NITIE-65198D2F2)
at Tue Dec 18 12:10:43 2007 (multi)
-------------------------------------
>net..???
to catch a bird????
go to africa

=====================================
From: Sukhie_9833679297 (IM 13/THINKPADZ60)
at Tue Dec 18 12:11:09 2007 (multi)
-------------------------------------
>>>net..???
>>fishing
>mosquito...
keede makode....

=====================================
From: Alankar HSBC GR (IM 13/ALANKAR-WS)
at Tue Dec 18 12:11:26 2007 (multi)
-------------------------------------
>>net..???
>to catch a bird????
>go to africa
what abt the birds of NITIE? who will net them?

=====================================
From: DJ.. (IM 13/DJ)
at Tue Dec 18 12:12:00 2007 (multi)
-------------------------------------
>>>net..???
>>to catch a bird????
>>go to africa
>what abt the birds of NITIE? who will net them?
panchhi :P

=====================================
From: Amit Pal (Kakey): X X X X _ _ _ _ (IM 13/NITIE-65198D2F2)
at Tue Dec 18 12:12:20 2007 (multi)
-------------------------------------
>>>net..???
>>to catch a bird????
>>go to africa
>what abt the birds of NITIE? who will net them?
not many are left now
few were caught b4 and few were caught recently
ask panchii

=====================================
From: Soham (IM 13/BIN-LADEN)
at Tue Dec 18 12:12:21 2007 (multi)
-------------------------------------
>>>net..???
>>fishing
>mosquito...
net (v): an error in tennis where the ball is blocked by the net.

[- end of log -]

Nano Nano yes papa...

Read some updates about the Nano today, including when bookings start, the various configurations the car is available in etc etc. You can find most information here.

What was more interesting were reactions from competitors. Small car makers trying to defend their brand / products denying the launch of Nano would affect their vehicle sales albeit they knew the dent in sales will eventually be visible.

Then there was the 2-wheeler brigade trying to tie up both ends on the premise that lower end bikers wont be able to afford it, while the higher end bikers would always have money for a better car.

I also heard from a news channel that our rural folks are pareshaan as the erstwhile dowry demands for bikes will now be replaced by ones for Nanos. Am sure the Tatas would not have thought this deep!

All in all, its quite evident that the industry, which was in an easy mode when the West Bengal episode happened, has now woken up to the sudden jolt [read nano] that is shaking up ground beneath their feet. And its only revolutions like these that truly redefine the direction in which the industry is moving.

To top it up, manufacturers have already announced their small car launches - including Honda [Jazz], Ford, Toyota, Fiat [Grande Punto/Bravo], Suzuki [Spalsh], Skoda [Polo]. Even Bajaj is planning an ultra-low cost car which it claims will run 30km per litre. Well, its surely gonna be shopping time for all those auto enthusiasts featuring the largest array of models India has ever witnessed!

Bollywood Bite - Shelf Life

just done seeing "Socha Na Tha" - once more!. Quite liked the movie simply cause it relates well to my age group who are out there looking for their "someone" and the screenplay is very well portrays the confusion around all this stuff...

Besides the script, which is simple and well executed, I quite like Mr Abhay D. Have watched him in this one, Oye Lucky and Dev D - and liked his presence in all of them. The guy has something different in him which is very much a reason people go to the movies these days. Probably his frank free style act or his attitude that pave the way to engross the audience.

Often such stuff can enhance the so called "shelf life" of the actor. But as they say, change is permanent. And so will he be needed to evolve like his contemporaries have. Surprisingly, the shelf life of actresses has been reducing drastically - the Ranis and Preitys are being replaced very quickly with the Katrinas and the Sonams. But the opposite holds for the others half - Aamir gets to romance everyone from Juhi to Karishma to Asin - and people expect more! Now, at least I cant explain this :)