Reading the thread about grandparents and names I was thinking about how so many online entities ask for your birthdate when it hardly seems their business. I was told never to give this information out, except for things like passport renewal or medical. With this in mind,I often make birthdates up and then get surprised when these various merchants send me ‘ birthday’ cards. Amazing the number of cards I get on New Year’s Day ! Identity theft is a real problem these days. I use a slightly different name sometimes for online goods and services and it is useful when someone sends an email using that name because I can delete it without bothering to read it.
