Remove Google From One’s Life

Remove Google From One's LifeWe received this missive about how to remove Google from one’s life from Dax the Duck of Paoli-based DuckDuckGo.

We are going to share it with you.

Remove Google from your life? Yes, it can be done!

Google trackers have been found on 75% of the top million websites. This means they are not only tracking what you search for, they’re also tracking which websites you visit, and using all your data for ads that follow you around the internet. Your personal data can also be subpoenaed by lawyers, including for civil cases like divorce. Google answered over 100,000 such data requests in 2016 alone!

More and more people are also realizing the risk of relying on one company for so many personal services. If you’re joining the ranks of people who’ve decided Google’s data collection has become too invasive, here are some suggestions for replacements with minimal switching cost. Most are free, though even those that are paid are worth it — the cost of not switching is a cost to your personal privacy, and the good news is we have a choice!

 

Google Search -> DuckDuckGo (free)
Let’s start off with the easiest one! Switching to DuckDuckGo not only keeps your searches private but also gives you extra advantages such as our bang shortcuts, handy Instant Answers, and knowing you’re not trapped in a filter bubble.

Gmail, Calendar & Contacts -> FastMail (paid)
We host @duckduckgo.com addresses on FastMail, an independent, paid service that also includes calendar and contacts support across all devices. There are also several ways to get encrypted email between trusted parties by integrating PGP encryption tools. Even more private email alternatives are ProtonMail and Tutanota, both of which offer end-to-end encryption by default.

YouTube -> Vimeo (free with paid options)
For videos that are only on YouTube (unfortunately, a lot), you can search for and watch them on DuckDuckGo for better privacy protection via YouTube’s “youtube-nocookie” domain. If you’re creating and hosting video yourself, however, Vimeo is the best-known alternative which focuses on creators.

Google Maps -> Apple Maps (free), OpenStreetMap (free)
For iOS users, Apple gives you an alternative built in via Apple Maps, so no installation is necessary. For wider device support, check out OpenStreetMap (OSM) which is more open, though may not have the same ease-of-use or coverage quality as Apple Maps.

Google Drive -> Resilio Sync (free with paid options)
Another service we use internally, Resilio Sync, provides peer-to-peer file synchronization which can be used for private file storage, backup, and file sharing. This also means your files are never stored on a single server in the cloud! The software is available for a wide variety of platforms and devices, including servers.

Android -> iOS (paid)
The most popular alternative to Android is of course iOS, which offers easy device encryption and encrypted messaging via iMessage by default. We also have tips to increase privacy protection on your iPhone or iPad.

Google Chrome -> Safari (free), Firefox (free), Brave (free)
Safari was the first major browser to include DuckDuckGo as a built-in private search option. A more cross-device compatible browser is Mozilla’s Firefox, an open source browser with a built-in tracker blocker in private mode. Brave goes one step further with tracker blocking switched on by default. There are also many more browsers that come with DuckDuckGo as a built-in option.

Blogger -> Ghost (paid), WordPress (free with paid options)
Ghost is both a hosted (paid) and self-installable blogging platform, tracker-free by default and run by a non-profit foundation. We like it so much we use it for our own blog! A free alternative is WordPress, powering an estimated 25% of the world’s websites. It’s also available both for self-installation and as a hosted service with no third-party trackers by default. The community is huge with extensive multilingual documentation and many themes to choose from.

Google Hangouts -> Zoom (free with paid options), appear.in (free with paid option)
Zoom is a robust video chat alternative we use internally that works well even for large numbers of participants, though requires software to be installed. A web-only alternative is appear.in which doesn’t require an account — just go to the website to open a chat room and you’re ready.

Google Allo -> Signal (free)
There are several services offering private messaging but, as we’ve mentioned before, Signal gets our recommendation. It offers free, end-to-end encryption for both messages and private calls. It’s also recommended by Edward Snowden and renowned security expert Bruce Schneier, among others.

As you can see, moving away from Google needn’t be hard. In fact, you might find you prefer the alternatives while also getting better privacy!

 

Remove Google From One’s Life

 

Holy Myrrh-Bearers Flea Market 2017

Holy Myrrh-Bearers Flea Market 2017Holy Myrrh-Bearers Flea Market 2017 — Holy Myrrh-Bearers Church’s fall flea market will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 14 at the church, 900 Fairview Road, Swarthmore, Pa. 19081.

Tables are $20. Call 610-544-1215 by Oct. 7 to reserve a space.

Food vendors will not be accepted, however.

Holy Myrrh-Bears is an Eastern Rite Catholic Church. Liturgies are 5  p.m. Saturdays in English and 10 a.m., Sundays in Ukrainian and English.

Holy Myrrh-Bearers Flea Market 2017

William Lawrence Sr. Omnibit 9-16-17

A sneeze travels out your nose at up to 200 m.p.h.!

–William W. Lawrence Sr.

Gab Lawsuit Google Standard Oil

Gab Lawsuit Google Standard OilGab Lawsuit Google Standard Oil — Typically ham-handed actions by Silicon Valley progressives has led to a lawsuit in Philadelphia that may shake the world.

Thank God for our enemies one can say.

The suit was filed Thursday (Sept. 14) in the United States District Court of Pennsylvania by Gab.Ai.Inc. Texas-based Gab claims a place of business at 1900 Market St., Philadelphia.

Gab is a social network akin to Twitter. It was removed from Google Play on Aug. 17 with the corporate behemoth citing that convenient catch-all “hate speech by users” as the reason.

Right. Nothing nasty is ever said by users of Alphabet Inc.’s YouTube.

So the “hate speech” accusation gets an LOL. Gab cites a more realistic motive in its suit namely that Gab competes directly with Google at several levels especially regarding its partnership with Twitter.  Hence, Gab is a threat to Google’s near monopoly regarding social news especially on mobile devices.

Gab is accusing Google of violating the Clayton Act and Sherman Act, anti-trust legislation from 1914 and 1890 respectively.

If Gab shows that Google is a trust that should be treated in accordance with these laws, well, consider what happened to Standard Oil.

Gab is easy to sign up for on the desktop and can be found here. 

Gab Lawsuit Google Standard Oil

William Lawrence Sr. Omnibit 9-15-17

There are 18 different animal shapes in the Animal Crackers cookie zoo!

–William W. Lawrence Sr.

Chicken Cacciatore Today’s Meal

Chicken Cacciatore Today's MealChicken Cacciatore Today’s Meal — Today’s delicious meal was chicken cacciatore. Cacciatore means hunter in Italian. It’s simple and easy to modify. Our feast was an amalgamation of several recipes hence forming a new one.

Here it is.

4 Chicken thighs.

4 Large tomatoes (garden fresh, thank you Andrew)

2 Onions

1 Bell pepper

1 Tbl olive oil

1/2 Cup flour

1/4 Cup powdered garlic

1/8 Cup white box wine

3 Tbl salt

2 Tsp pepper

1 Can tomato sauce

1 Cup garden fresh parsley.

Dice the onions and pepper. Pat the chicken pieces dry and salt them.  Mix the rest of the salt along with the parsley, flour, and a tablespoon of garlic in bowl. Coat the chicken with the mixture. Cover the bottom of a hot dutch oven with the olive oil. Place in the chicken pieces. Fry on both sides, two to three minutes per side and remove. Put in the veggies and the rest of the garlic. Saute them for about five minutes. Deglaze the pan with the wine and return the chicken. Cut up the tomatoes and put them in the pot. Add the tomato sauce and a can of water. Bring to a boil then let it ease to a simmer. Let it remain at such for a couple of hours.

We served it with bow ties and Walmart bread. Chef Bill Sr. found it especially praiseworthy and gave it yum.

 

Chicken Cacciatore Today’s Meal

 

William W. Lawrence Sr. Omnibit 9-14-17

More people use blue toothbrushes, than red ones!

–William W. Lawrence Sr. Omnibit 9-14-17

William Lawrence Sr. Omnibit 9-13-17

There are more plastic flamingos in the U.S than real ones!

–William W. Lawrence Sr.

William Lawrence Sr. Omnibit 9-12-17

Cliff Robertson’s first movie appearance was in an uncredited role in Corvette K-225, which was about a British patrol boat in World War II.

He would go on to fame playing John F. Kennedy in PT -109, which also was about a patrol boat in World War II.

Corvette K-225 starred Randolph Scott and   featured “Bob” Mitchum in a minor role.

William Lawrence Sr. Omnibit 9-12-17

Cliff Robertson's first movie appearance was in an uncredited role in Corvette K-225, which was about a British patrol boat in World War II. He would go on to fame playing John F. Kennedy in PT -109, which also was about a patrol boat in World War II.

Lowman Henry Budget Glossary

Lowman Henry Budget Glossary

By Lowman S. Henry

Lawmakers returned to Sept. 11 to finish work on a state budget which was due at the end of June. Late budgets have become a hallmark of the Tom Wolf Administration as the governor habitually proposes spending that vastly exceeds available projected revenue.

The governor and legislators are in somewhat uncharted waters as they approved a spending plan by the budget deadline, but have yet to reach agreement on how to fund that spending. Governor Wolf, of course, is advocating for higher taxes and 14 compliant Republican senators joined with Democrats to grant his wish. However, the Senate plan to place yet another tax on the natural gas industry, raise a wide range of consumer taxes and borrow money from future revenue landed with a thud in the state House.

In the weeks since the Senate vote, conservative Republicans in the state House have been working on an alternative that would fund the budget without raising taxes and borrowing from future revenue sources. They say they have found enough dollars squirreled away in difference agency accounts to accomplish that goal.

The budget will be a top priority when the House returns to session. Since budget terms can be confusing follows is a glossary that will serve as your guide to what various terms tossed around in the budget debate actually mean:

State Constitution – A dusty old document used for decoration on state capitol coffee tables, but which is never actually referred to when making laws.

Budget Deadline – A relic of bygone times when the governor and the legislature actually fulfilled their duties by enacting a balanced state budget by the date specified in the state constitution.

Budget – A document that includes a plan for spending and for the revenue to pay for that spending. This term has been redefined as a spending plan that we’ll somehow figure out how to pay for down the road.

Structural Deficit – This refers to the difference between what the state actually has to spend and what the governor and many lawmakers want to spend. It is viewed as something to be funded with higher taxes, rather than being cut to fit available revenue.

Projected Revenue – The amount of money reasonably expected to be collected from existing taxes and tax rates. This number will fall far short of desired spending and therefore is often adjusted upward to meet that target.

Severance Tax – This is a proposed fourth layer of taxation on gas produced in Pennsylvania’s Marcellus shale region. Since the impact tax was labeled a fee, some lawmakers perpetrate the myth of an industry getting away tax free.

Tobacco Settlement Fund – An annual revenue source generated by proceeds of a lawsuit against big tobacco companies that now is seen as a way to borrow from the future to plug the current year’s budget deficit.

Borrowing from the State Treasury – A process whereby we borrow our own money and charge ourselves interest in an effort to make it look like the state is facing fiscal Armageddon.

Gambling Expansion – Refers to various plans to allow for on-line gaming, the placement of video gaming terminals in bars and restaurants and other expected new sources of gambling revenue. Projected funds from these non-existent sources are often included in the state budget.

Senate Republican Leadership – Senators who abandon their party’s principles upon acquiring fancy titles.

Veto-Proof Majority – Refers to having two-thirds of the seats in a chamber, of which a substantial number will side with the minority on important issues.

House Republicans – Lawmakers blamed for the budget impasse because they are opposed to raising taxes on working families, senior citizens and small businesses.

Reverse Appropriation – This is a new term referring to efforts to cut the approved spending plan to fit available projected revenue. It is not something ever likely to be used.

Taxpayers – The only group of people in Penn’s Woods who don’t have a high priced lobbyist working on their behalf in Harrisburg. They are also viewed as an endless source of revenue by spending interests.

And so, as you hear the governor and lawmakers debate how to fund the state budget, keep in mind that what terms mean in the public sector are often very different than what they mean to everyone else.

Mr. Henry is chairman and CEO of the Lincoln Institute and host of the weekly Lincoln Radio Journal.

Lowman Henry Budget Glossary

Lowman Henry Budget Glossary