The Bountiful Data Mountain
May 13th, 2008 by Blazing
Blindly, I sign up for another website. I upload my ‘user image’, and am asked to share with the world at large my height, weight, date of birth, sex, inside leg measurement, favourite colour, and a whole raft of personal details.
Very shortly, I read, blogs like this will be able to utilise the latest offerings from Facebook, MySpace, Google, and doubtless other far dodgier providers in order that we too can play at ’social networking’ hosting and information gathering.
If this is to be the future I am baffled. It seems to me that this ‘next big thing’ in cyberspace is not universally desired, but is being foisted upon us by the harvesters of personal data. The vast majority of people I know who have signed up to something like this are now at the very least attempting to restrict the access to this information.
I look at the sheer volume of spam that rolls in to my numerous email accounts and wonder just who is sharing my details already, and with whom?
I cannot imagine incorporating any of these new programmes on my humble blog, but will I be forced to because of the access it will give me to a vast untapped readership?
For me I know the answer will be no. I’m happy writing for both of you and if another handful pop along in the future that will be a bonus! I’ve no doubt though that there are plenty out there who will grasp the opportunity to connect with ever greater numbers of unsuspecting ‘punters’.
Am I wrong to worry about the Orwellian way in which the web appears to be developing?
Miserable old git.
“Not a proper bridge like the old one”, means it is not a centuries old stone construction (see below). I understand the sentiment, and in fairness there is a reluctant acceptance that it is not as bad now as the original illustrations suggested it may be.
I must say though a tremendous amount of work has been put in to restore the worst affected parts. Those who know the place will be familiar with the building behind the bridge. The Harbour Light was demolished by the raging floodwaters but has been painstakingly restored to its former glory.
The New River Walk is on one side of the road, and you can tell from this image it is still as beautiful as ever. A rare haven of tranquility in North London. Is it any wonder that this part of Canonbury was once among the most sought after in the area?
Stepping back out of the New River Walk, and here I catch my first glimpse in many moons of Douglas Road.
As I look down to where the middle of the road used to be my heart sinks.
The Marquess Estate has earned a dubious reputation as stab city. Large parts of it are being bulldozed and reconstructed. The plan is to change the demographic of the residents by selling the new properties on the renamed ‘New River Estate’.