NET WATCH
Ever been frustrated by Junk Mail’s insistence on obscuring phone numbers in their online edition? Well, now you can advertise free online at consumer.co.za, and read the ads free as well. It’s a new service from online store etenga, and you can leave your ad up as long as you like.
Those who forget their history are doomed to repeat it, which is why everyone should visit the BadFads Museum. This repository of hideousness documents the fashion, collectibles, activities and historic events most of us would rather forget. The images of alarming sideburns, horrific hairstyles, eight-track tape players and other pop cultural detritus are guaranteed to keep you awake at night. www.badfads.com
Mystery fans are sure to like www.femaledetective. com, a site featuring female sleuths. Reviews, mini-biographies, book lists and information on author-tour dates focus on United States and British fiction.
The site has plenty of news and links as well.
Many Web users don’t realise that when they use the Net’s most popular search engines, their query is often passed on to the site they visit, where it can be used as marketing information or to build help consumer profiles.
Sounds scary? Then try a new ad-free, cookie-free “privacy search engine”: www.topclick.com
Privacy issues also hit the headlines last week after Wired News www.wired.com obtained a copy of a yet-to-be-released US government report, Unlawful Conduct on the Internet. Most controversial was a suggestion that there should be limits to the level of anonymity allowed to Web users. The report is archived at www.politechbot.com/docs/unlawfulconduct.tx
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