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Rumor has it that Google is building a "free" national Wi-Fi network. The catch is, that you will have to submit to targeted advertising based on your surfing habits. Most people will have no issue with this. Beats having to go to Starbucks and pay T-Mobile $4 an hour (not to mention the overpriced cup of coffee).

Google is one smart company and they are very quickly capturing the bulk of the advertising market. Already, advertisers are diverting billions of their advertising dollars from newspapers and other traditional media outlets to Google where they can reach their targeted demographic audience much more effectively.

Also, speaking of Google, I would be very careful about what you post on the Internet. Everything you post on the Internet (including here at Free Republic) will be searchable by family members, prospective employers, friends, enemies, etc.

People are already losing their jobs over what they post about their company on the Internet. Soon, if not already, as soon as you apply for a job, your prospective employer will Google up your name and what you post could very well come back to haunt you. You will not even be able to hide behind screen names. Eventually, somebody will find a way to link your screen name to your real name. Scary stuff but it's inevitable.

I would advise agains using your FR screeen anme anywhere else, particularly if you post stromg opinions.

People are already losing their jobs over what they post about their company on the Internet. Soon, if not already, as soon as you apply for a job, your prospective employer will Google up your name and what you post could very well come back to haunt you. You will not even be able to hide behind screen names. Eventually, somebody will find a way to link your screen name to your real name. Scary stuff but it's inevitable.

Well, I have read a number of news articles about that already, and there are many different views, and a number of widely divergent "facts" concerning this issue.

One view is the internet does us all a wonderful service, by enabling people to use a screen name, and speak anonymously, about matters that otherwise could not be spoken of if people had to use their real names, due to lawsuits, etc.

Another view is what you are saying, that there is no privacy. Yet, I recently a NYT article claiming even in a court action, the party seeking the real name of a blogger could not obtain it from the courts in a civil action. I meant to post that article and if I have time, I will.

Then there are others who say everything is public, and not private, as soon as you log on. So, I really don't know what to believe at this moment.

I do think the internet has totally changed the way people think, and gather information, and that such changes are very positive. And, very quick, which is what I like most about the internet. Everything you want to find out can be found out in a nano-second. Especially on a forum like this, where you have so much varied and interesting information constantly being posted and discussed.

BTW, I read an article recently concerning some social club type web site, which now tells you who stopped by your web page on the site. This has resulted in some very interesting disclosures, since people did not know, for example, that "A" was visiting their web site each day, and now wonder why. Also, "A" may not want you to know he or she is visiting your web site each day. Etc.

Thanks for your interesting comments, SamAdams76. Always nice to hear from you. :)

An excellent reminder as to why one must always behave the same way online as they would standing in the middle of a grocery store.

You will not even be able to hide behind screen names. Eventually, somebody will find a way to link your screen name to your real name. Scary stuff but it's inevitable.

As I have admitted on FR before, my real name is Hillary Rodham Clinton, and I hope to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law if I have done anything illegal.

;-)