Subvert the system!

[Human Bean]

[Obligatory disclaimer: this is posted without the knowledge or consent of the eG Management. They run a totally above-board, ethical website, and would in no way condone the following; this just a suggestion that you shouldn't follow, from a non-entity.]

Quite recently, a link was posted to an latimes.com story. Many links are posted to nytimes.com stories.

These (and other mainly news-related sites) have a "free registration required" policy to view their content. That is, you need a username and password to read the article. That is fine, and their right; they're interested in gathering demographic data for their advertisers. Everyone on eGullet is obviously fabulously wealthy, interested in the finer things in life, and has lots of disposable income. This is just what the advertisers want to hear, so why bother with individual "free registrations"?

So, for "free registration required" sites, register as 'egullet' (without the apostrophes of course). Password 'egullet', again no apostrophes. Demographically, you're at least reasonably well off, and a desirable advertising target. If they need an email address, use a hotmail (or generic equivalent) address. Try the user/pass first; one may already exist.

This already works for that big NY paper about the times, and possibly the LA paper as well. If you create a "free reg required" identity of egullet/egullet, you'd be doing all of us a favor, and helping those advertisers reach their target market. Win/win, right?

Edit: My evil twin sister posted this; I don't know how she hacked into my account, but I've already changed my password, so it shouldn't happen again.