DuckDuckGo in 2021: Building the Privacy Super App

DuckDuckGo in 2021: Building the Privacy Super App:

Like we’ve done on mobile, DuckDuckGo for desktop will redefine user expectations of everyday online privacy. No complicated settings, no misleading warnings, no “levels” of privacy protection – just robust privacy protection that works by default, across search, browsing, email, and more. It’s not a “privacy browser”; it’s an everyday browsing app that respects your privacy because there’s never a bad time to stop companies from spying on your search and browsing history.

[This is great news…]

The Habit of Adequacy

The Habit of Adequacy:

I honor the word habit on the days that it is hard, but I show up anyway. The habit serves me on the days when I doubt that I can, but I show up and give myself the opportunity to surprise myself. To have it be great even though my expectations are low.

[I think about how bad habits are easy and good habits are hard. “Is the Dark Side stronger? ‘No, no, no. Quicker, easier, more seductive…’ “]

Source: Accidentally in Code

The Effects of Four Years Without Net Neutrality Rules in the U.S.

The Effects of Four Years Without Net Neutrality Rules in the U.S. — Pixel Envy:

Many tweets about 2017’s coverage of the end of net neutrality rules were clearly inaccurate and hysterical — that is for certain. But the loss of those rules has not magically solved U.S. broadband problems, either; on the contrary, it has exacerbated the worst tendencies of telecommunications conglomerates as many people — including yours truly — predicted. U.S. ISPs, which should be mere utility providers, are abusing their positions to advantage their own products and services. Net neutrality rules should be restored and, just as importantly, ISPs should not be excluded from antitrust discussions.

[Absolutely]

Source: Pixel Envy

The Betty White Timeline of Human History

The Betty White Timeline of Human History:

It can be difficult to wrap our minds around just how short recorded human history is — 5500 years is not actually all that long of a time period. In this Twitter thread, Jelena Woehr suggests that we use the unit of Betty White’s lifetime (99 years and counting) as a tool to probe the temporal relationships of important events in the evolution of humans and society.

Y’all, it’s only been about 16 really old people since the fall of Rome.

Shakespeare died four very long-lived grandparents ago?!

It’s been less than two Betty Whites since the Emancipation Proclamation?!?!

[I love this!]

Source: kottke.org

Joe Manchin Has Wrecked the Biden Presidency—Perhaps He’ll Also Liberate It | The New Yorker

Joe Manchin Has Wrecked the Biden Presidency—Perhaps He’ll Also Liberate It | The New Yorker:

If you’re the President, there’s no need to prove to Manchin that you’re going to be “tough on spending,” so why not call off your plan to start collecting student debts again? Why not use every power still at your disposal to do what you can for the country while you’ve got some power? Acting boldly carries risks. With the Senate split fifty-fifty, if you give Manchin reason to switch parties you lose your ability to appoint more judges, for instance; the power that comes with even a tenuous majority is very real. But using executive authority—and boldly—may be the only way that Biden will get anything done, as long as Manchin (and, perhaps, Kyrsten Sinema) block effective legislative action, alongside a solid phalanx of fifty Republicans. Points to Biden for trying, but, at some point, even in Washington, no really does mean no, and you need to move on as best you can.

[What a mess. 🤦‍♂️]

A Keyboard Maestro Plugin for Apple Shortcuts | ThoughtAsylum

A Keyboard Maestro Plugin for Apple Shortcuts | ThoughtAsylum:

With the public release of macOS Monterey, I have been trying out a few ways of interacting with Shortcuts from a number of automation tools. Shortcuts can be triggered on macOS using AppleScript or shell script, both of which are relatively easy to do with the Swiss Army knife of Mac automation, Keyboard Maestro. However, I thought it would be fun to create a convenience plugin to make it even easier to integrate Keyboard Maestro with Shortcuts.

[Great stuff!]