Privoxy

The AdBlock guys did some interesting analysis on exactly how much bandwidth, space, and recourses web advertisement are taking up and wrote about it in this blog post [adblockplus.org].  They develop an ad-blocking plug-in for Firefox, so they definitely have a one-sided opinion on the issue.  It’s interesting either way to see just how much these ads “cost” you.  Add this post together with the one from here a while back about malware coming in though advertisements, and it makes you want to block them all the more. 

On top of plug-ins for your browser there is another (arguably better) way to block ads, and that is a web filtering proxy.  A proxy is simply a filter that sits in between your internet browser and the web and can help you control what you receive or send out.  I’m current running Privoxy, an open source local proxy and absolutely love it.  It is really simply to use – just install it, and set your browsers connection to use a proxy at 127.0.0.1 port 8118.  Its a quick and dirty way to block advertisements for any browser on your system with use browser plug-ins.

Junk “Journalism”

I love it when a article gets posted that is so clearly and obviously wrong to everyone reading it that the page fills up with comments fixing all the writer’s mistakes.  The part I love most about it is that it reveals all the lazy and incompetent writers out there, since there will be an endless amount of “new” stories that are just working off of the one junky blog post.

Example:  Windows 7 versions announced.  Engadget got this story completely wrong.  They editorialized, added a biased slant, and manufactured some nerd rage to completely distort the announcement.  To be clear – consumers will have two versions of Windows 7 to decide from (Home Premium, and Professional).  All other SKUs will not be available for consumers to purchase.  One of the versions is only available in developing countries at a very discounted price.  Another will be only installed by OEMs, marketed for netbooks (no, you aren’t limited to running just three apps at a time ::rolls eyes::).  The other (Enterprise) is for businesses that need volume licensing (not you Engadget).  Also, no prices have been announced for any version of Windows7, so putting Vista equivalent prices next to the new versions is inaccurate, leads to confusions, and is just plain dumb.

I can’t for the life of me figure out what the problem with multiple SKUs is.  The Windows OS has over a billion customers, and not all of them have the exact same needs.  What is the alternative?  Offer just one version and the listen to everyone complain about paying for features that don’t want??  Plus, I thought these were intelligent, tech minded people – they can’t read a check list and decide what version they want (pick 1 out of 2, ZOMG!!11!!)  I guess the part that confuses me the most, is that people actually read that site, and take it seriously…

Here’s the facts for this story

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2009/feb09/02-03Win7SKU-QA.mspx

 

[UPDATE]

Slashdot gets it wrong too – but I think they do it on purpose…