1. I watched YouTube ads.

2. When they got to be too much I stopped watching.

3. Then I added uBlock Origin and NoScript (even on YouTube I block some scripts) and went back to watching.

4. When bazillions of content creators started over-creating content just for revenue, and not to provide value, I started watching less and less.

5. Now content creators are producing even more garbage via AI, and now I only watch a very few real-world content creators and videos more than 2 years old. Everything else I watch on other sites. If a content creator also posts to other sites, I watch them there and not on YT.

Biggest problem with non-working "holidays" is that they only apply to certain more privileged people who also get paid to not work. Everyone else either sits at home unpaid for the day, or has to work (most often without any additional compensation) to support those who do get the paid day off.

When YouTube does anything weird I switch my VPN to a neighboring country that's less popular. Suddenly YouTube loads everything without problem.

From: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/21/rfk-maha-ultra-processed-foods

A key adviser to Kennedy, Calley Means, could directly benefit from one of the campaign’s stated aims: popularizing “technology like wearables as cool, modern tools for measuring diet impact and taking control of your own health”.

Calley Means is a senior Kennedy adviser, and was hired as a special government employee to focus on food policy, according to Bloomberg. He founded a company that helps Americans get such wearable devices reimbursed tax-free through health savings accounts.

Casey Means is Calley’s sister. She also runs a healthcare start-up, although hers sells wearable devices such as continuous glucose monitors. She is Kennedy’s nominee for US surgeon general, and a healthcare entrepreneur whose business sells continuous glucose monitors – one such wearable device. Calley Means’s company also works with Casey’s company.

Due to Calley Means’s status as a special employee, he has not been forced to divest from his private business interests – a situation that has already resulted in an ethics complaint. Consumer advocates, such as the non-profit group Public Citizen, had warned such hiring practices could cause conflicts of interest. HHS did not respond to a request for comment about Calley Means’s private business interests, or his role in crafting the publicity campaign.

Because it's a sign to me that the content creator is willing to take shortcuts and be lazy. In which case I take the shortcut to being too lazy to watch their "content".

Which is the second most scary thing AI can do.

The first is realistic portrayal of faked current events.

Apartment complex websites that photoshop (outright lie) about what the apartment is like and you're not allowed to see the actual place before renting (current tenant is still there, or the manager/owner just doesn't want you to see even if it's empty). And - there's so much competition for apartments in the area you either sign the lease sight-unseen or you live in your car.

I've done OK in some of these. None were what the website pics and descriptions offered, but they were still OK. Some others, though, turned out to be absolute broken down dumps. And every single one of these places have great online reviews. Imagine that.

That medallion must weight 3 or 4 pounds.

Another is the non-monolithic nature of (real) science and the requirement for (real) scientific methods (e.g., replicated, non-sponsored studies).

Anyone using Mojeek?

Their about page: https://www.mojeek.com/about/

Brilliant!

Two companies ago I was told I had failed to pass an email phishing test and so would be required to take another training in it. I pointed out that I could not, in fact, have failed such a test as I don't respond to anything (real or faked) from management. I still had to take the training. So for the rest of my time at the company I turned in every email I received from management as a phishing attempt. I was told to stop it, but replied that I was simply being careful in following training. I'm sure they blocked me after that.

It only accomplishes making me feel better, but it's a side benefit I get from using the uBlock Origin extension's "zapper mode" function: getting to one-click nuke these things and move on with my life like a normal person.

However, I’ll save you a bit of time: most of these “topics” are based on a false premise. They are strawman arguments which indicate a misunderstanding of a particular argument/viewpoint.

A statement that shines a moon-sized spotlight on the bias of its author towards groupthink.

Long-time NoScript user. I only allow scripts to run that actually need to run, and some I forever-block everywhere just on principle (looking at you Google). Except for sites like banking, if a site won't run without garbage javascript it's quite easy to just go elsewhere where the signal-to-noise ratio is smarter.

I ignore communities, posts, and comments that have no real thought behind them. This includes those that are just "educated" repetitions of culture-mantras, no matter what "side" or whatever they are on. Unfortunately, this is most of the internet these days.

Because I appreciate thought, I upvote comments that someone activated some brain cells to write. I also upvote those that make me think, teach me something new, or just make me laugh.

I downvote comments that are mean, aggressive, or otherwise demeaning to the person they are replying to - whether that person was me or someone else.

Add a reminder-listing of those commands and what they do at the end of the .bashrc file in their home directory and it will pop up that reminder list automatically whenever they start the terminal.

Wouldn't be surprised if the landlord/owner gets a percentage, as well.

I recognize this point every time I drive by one of the old, now-closed Sherri's restaurants.

Did you try switching your VPN to a different country? Mine nearly always fails when my VPN points at my home country. But it nearly always works when I connect to another.

I'm sure soon enough we'll be "wearing" them inside our bodies so we don't have to be troubled to make sure they're working. Hasn't that been the Big Tech dream for decades now?