Tuesday, August 24

Snooper Tip of the Day: Hit Ctrl-H - We've heard a lot about how the indelible evidence recorded in computerized records can expose illicit insider trading or how spies and terrorists can be trailed by the tantalizing electronic traces they may leave. Riffing off the recent McGreevey meme, this NYTimes article considers a related trend that hits closer to home in some families: how closet doors can be ripped off the lives of married men on the down-low, when spouses or others discover computerized traces of their online cruising. (Makes me wonder if Mike Rogers came into possession of a hand-me-down computer from the Schrock household.) Among the phenomena noted: the Internet and other computerized evidence is usually so detailed and explicit that denial -- previously a realistic haven for the accused -- just isn't an option any more. By happy coincidence, the Times concludes, spurned spouses have their own Internet resource to turn to when they discover the shockingly "rich anatomical detail" of their hubby's online profile. What a wonderful World Wide Web we live in!