Thursday, June 6, 2019

Google is planning to cripple ad-blockers on Chrome

Google is threatening users of Ad-Blockers again. They make an exception for their Enterprise users saying "blocking will still be available to enterprise deployments." For the rest of us they intend to interfere with our web browsing and render present ad-blockers useless.

If you are getting tired of Google’s threats and attempts to force unwanted ads into your web browsing, then maybe you’re ready to make a change. If you’ve been a Chrome user and just don’t want to go to too much trouble, but you are ready to make a change then go and be Brave...I mean get Brave.

What you’ll discover is a web browser that is nearly identical to Chrome and maybe even a little bit faster, and with ad-blocking already built in. With Brave there’s no need to install ad-blocking extensions at all. Even better it will import all of your Chrome’s information into Brave in seconds.

What’s all the fuss you wonder? Earlier in the year Google announced their Manifest V3 project. In this they propose changes to Chrome's extension system that would essentially stop ad-blockers from working. Users and extension developers have both protested these proposed changes in Google's plans, but so far to no avail. Chrome’s software security engineer Chris Palmer did have this to say...the new API’s are not going to break content blockers, and that the “declarativeNetRequest” limitations are under active discussion and may change.

To further explain, ad-blockers currently use Chrome's "webRequest" API to block ad-based HTTP requests from being made. Manifest V3's proposed changes, will force Chrome's ad blocker extensions to use their new, faster "declarativeNetRequest" API, and the real problem is that the new system has too many limitations, which really means that some ads will get through the ad blocker, not all but whatever surpasses the limitations of the new API.

Considering how much notice all extension developers have had, I would not be surprised if and when the new Chrome changes go into effect, that the extensions we have come to depend on will comply, and that extension developers will find a way around the "declarativeNetRequest" obstacle now confronting them.

If you value your browsing space and do not want to see ads, and like to browse with the additional extensions you’ve had in Chrome, then you have nothing to worry about because Brave offers support for nearly all of the extensions that are compatible with chromium.

So, if you are new to trying out Brave, be not afraid. This web browser is almost identical to the Chrome browser, and I’m sure you’ll love it.



How to install Extensions in Brave

1. Launch Brave and open the Menu on the top-right:

2. Select More Tools > Extensions

This will launch a new tab and from there you can add the extensions you like from the Web Store.

But can we use brave on a Chromebook? Yes,the Brave Android app works on most newer Chromebooks. But if your Chromebook is older and doesn’t support Android apps, then it will not work as of this posting. Considering that the alternatives are Edge, Firefox and Opera, I’d simply go out and get a new Chromebook and run the Brave android app.

Wednesday, June 5, 2019

The Top 10 Music Albums of 2018 and more

With 2018 well behind us I thought it would be a good idea to have a quick look back and highlight some of the best that might have been overlooked.

This list does not include the top sellers, but rather the ones that never received much media hype, and some of these are actually better than most of the best sellers that do get the hype.

Many of these can be streamed from YouTube for free and you can save the album's playlist to your list of favorites for repeat listening. You can try them out and then buy what you like from Google Play - Amazon - Apple or possibly someplace else.

Here are some of the best albums to have come out this past year. These vary from new artists to some older artists and are just a small sampling of great music to have come out in 2018. Many of these are the ones the did not chart well and have gone under the radar. Don’t be put off by that, check out these albums and you may discover something new.



  1. Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa - Black Coffee
  2. Cat Power - Wanderer
  3. Still Corners - Slow Air
  4. Tess Parks & Anton Newcombe
  5. Edie Brickell & New Bohemians - Rocket on YouTube
  6. Yasmin Williams - Unwind on YouTube
  7. Lykke Li - So Sad So Sexy on YouTube
  8. Mitski - Be the Cowboy on YouTube
  9. Soccer Mommy - Clean on YouTube
  10. Elle King - Shake The Spirit on YouTube

Listed below are some other really great works that also came out in 2018.

  • Aimee Mann - Mental Illness
  • Shannen Moser - I’ll Sing
  • Tash Sultana - Flow State
  • Bebe Rexha - Expectations
  • Florence + The Machine - High As Hope
  • Marissa Nadler - For My Crimes on YouTube
  • Laurel Halo - Raw Silk Uncut Wood on YouTube
  • Mirah - Understanding on YouTube
  • Anne-Marie - Speak Your Mind on YouTube
  • Lindsey Stirling - Warmer in The Winter on YouTube

And lastly, here I am including some important albums that were also released in 2018 from the big name artists that you might have missed.

  • Cher - Dancing Queen on YouTube
  • Joan Baez - Whistle Down the Wind
  • Jimi Hendrix - Both Sides of the Sky
  • Uriah Heep - Living the Dream
  • Ann Wilson - Immortal
  • Yoko Ono - Warzone
  • Billy F Gibbons - The Big Bad Blues
  • Steve Perry - Traces on YouTube
  • Paul McCartney - Egypt Station
  • Roger Daltrey - As Long As I Have You
  • Rod Stewart - Blood Red Roses 0n YouTube
  • Tony Bennett & Diana Krall - Love is Here to Stay
  • Ace Frehley - Spaceman on YouTube
  • Mark Knopfler - Down The Road Wherever
  • Sara Brightman - Hymn on YouTube
  • Elvis Presley - Where No One Stands Alone on YouTube

Below I have also included two important EP's

Mazzy Star - Still (EP) on YouTube



*Billie Eilish - Don’t Smile At Me

Although actually released in 2017 this EP charted better in 2018



Looking back at 2018 I do believe there were many great albums that came out. Possibly you already own some of these or prefer streaming songs on Spotify rather than whole albums. These are some of the best of the best and if you have a suggestion of a title that I did not mention in this posting please include it in the comment section below.


See for yourself, check 'em out and...


NFL - How many Quarterbacks have won multiple Super Bowls?

How many quarterbacks have won multiple Super Bowls?
Here Are The Winningest QB's in Super Bowl history

One and only one QB has the distinction of winning the most Super Bowls, and that of course is the New England Patriot's Tom Brady who is the winningest QB to date. Only time will tell if another QB will tie or surpass his mark or if he'll win again and extend his record.

With 53 Super Bowls having been played, and a new season already being prepared for, many have wondered about how many QB's have won multiple Super Bowls.

To date only 12 QB's have won more than one Super Bowl and they are as I have listed below.

Bart Star – 2
Bob Griese, 2
Roger Staubach, 2
Jim Plunkett, 2
John Elway, 2
Ben Roethlisberger, 2
Eli Manning, 2
Peyton Manning, 2
Troy Aikman, 3
Terry Bradshaw, 4
Joe Montana, 4
Tom Brady, 6

How many quarterbacks have lost multiple Super Bowls?

On the other hand, you may be wondering how many QB's have lost more than one Super Bowl? To date there have been 8 QB's with the dubious distinction of having lost more than one Super Bowl. They are, as I have listed below.


Craig Morton - 2
Roger Staubach - 2
Kurt Warner - 2

Tom Brady - 3
Peyton Manning - 2
Fran Tarkenton - 3
John Elway - 3
Jim Kelly - 4


Hope this helps keep you strong in your all things NFL trivia knowledge. After all, NFL news is the only news for real  football fans.

Tuesday, June 4, 2019

The Top 10 Free Learning Websites For Kids

Here you’ll find the Top 10 Free Learning Websites for Kids. In fact there’s listed 18, but the top 10 of these are the best, I’ve included some extras that are also worth checking into. I’d bookmark all of these and let your kids choose their own favorites.

Summer is here, and while some kids will be going to Summer Day Camps, others will likely spend more time at home. With little to do and considering the costs of things these days I have compiled a list of really cool FREE elearning websites that will not only entertain your kids, but will also educate them.

It is inevitable that at some point your kids will be clamoring for some computer time, so with that in mind why not point them towards elearning websites, after all there are so many great websites out there that can build upon what they already know and lead them further along. These sites are a useful alternative to playing games, and just watching videos.

I have compiled a list of sites that cover everything they’ll be doing in regular classrooms and  more. The best part of my list of recommended sites is that we’ve tried them all out and made certain that they are really FREE and also kept in mind that these sites are easy on the eyes and have avoided the sites that are really intended to be used as phone apps.

So, if you’re looking for a kids website to improve their math, or get them a little extra grammar practice, writing practice, history, planets, or even art projects and even listen and read along with some fun stories, you’ll find it here in the list below.

Check out these 18 FREE fantastic, educational websites for kids. Here’s hoping that you and your family will find among these your own favorites to bookmark and save for future reference.


Have a Happy and safe Summer Everyone



Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Lyft Now Has a Panic Button so riders can dial 911 from the app

Lyft, the pioneering rideshare company announced some major new changes today that have been specifically designed to provide better safety for its passengers.

The company has now added an in app panic button for riders who need to call 911.

They have also added an enlarged version of the driver’s license plate number in the app, which should help prevent passengers from getting in the wrong vehicle.

Lyft also tweaked their app to require passengers to give feedback every time they rate a driver with less than four stars. They say this information will then be relayed back to the driver, anonymously of course, to the driver so they can see why they received a low rating, hopefully prompting drivers to become better.

These changes are really great news, and they are coming at a time when it’s needed most.

How to fix the annoying YouTube 400 error


Just click to open the vertical ellipsis or more options icon to the top far right of Chrome’s browser and scroll down and select “Settings.” Scroll to the bottom of this screen and select “Advanced.” In the Privacy and Security section below and towards the end select “Content Settings.” The next thing to do is to select “Cookies.” After you select Cookies a new screen will appear and on this screen click and open “See All cookies and site data.” At the top right you’ll see a line with a magnifying glass and in the blank space it will say Search cookies. In this space type youtube and just below will appear a button that will say “Remove All Shown.” Click this button to remove all shown and another button will appear that will ask if you want to continue, select the button “Clear All.”

Now you can close the settings tab and open YouTube and watch what you wish without the annoying 400 error.