Peter T. Daniels wrote:

> I registered with the New York Times once, years ago, and did not "get
> an id" and do not have to use a password. AFAICT there has been no
> undesired e-mail as a result.

Maybe it has changed: yesterday I had to define an id and a password.
However, I checked an option for automatic check-in, so I don't really have
to type anything when connecting to the NYT.

I also had to enter all my personal data (including annual income, etc.),
and that's a good reward for reading an article once in a while (databases
with users data are sold by the millions).

For the sole purpose of demonstrating traffic to advertisers, logging the IP
addresses of visiting computers could have been enough. That's what most
on-line newspapers worldwide do.

> Please note that by reading the Times at the website you have avoided
> paying 75c for a copy of the paper ($3.50 on Sunday), and they are
> entitled to let their advertisers know that readers are in fact being
> exposed to the advertisements. That's what pays for the web access.

Right. The save is much bigger, in my case. Overseas newspapers cost even
200% of the original price here in Italy. And I should have driven to a
kiosk in the airport or downtown.

But, it must be said, I cannot use that copy of the NYT to wrap up my
pottery. :-)

_ Marco