Here are 5 things you should know.
1. OpenStax is a website to get free pdf textbooks for subjects ranging in Maths, Science, Social Sciences, Humanities, Business, and AP.
A non-profit organization dedicated to giving students the tools they need to be successful in class. They may not be as good as those recommended by professors, but they are good enough to get you by. The website is https://openstax.org/and it is something to consider before pirating textbooks from some shady site.
Another alternative is to check your school library, most of the time they have a hard-copy of the textbook used by lecturers.
2. This is how we can protect our privacy and data in this modern world. While there are many tools out there to choose from, using simple and easy to implement tools such as StartPage.com, Brave Browser, Pi-Hole, and AdGuard DNS servers can help you start to take your privacy back.
StartPage is paying to use google search results and removing all trackers and logs. It removes the “google bubble” that is created around your search habits, and when used properly it is a great way to cut down on the amount of data you are handing out. It’s also available to choose as the primary search bar reference on most browsers. While it doesn’t have all the functions that Google has yet, such as maps and news, it is currently my most recommended search engine.
Brave Browser is an open-source browser built for privacy – blocking unwanted content such as trackers, ads, and fingerprinting. Available for your smart phone as well as PC it tracks and shows a handy read-out of how much garbage you’ve been blocking. While it is currently free, it has been discussed that it may be pay to use in the future, however right now I do recommend people try it and decide for themselves if it is right for them.
Pi-Hole is an open source project providing network-wide Ad Blocking. Highly customizable you can create your own blacklists or lend from the healthy and lovely community to find what’s best for you. With the Pi-Hole you can redirect and stop DNS requests from resolving – thereby blocking ads on every device on your network, including ads in apps, Smart TVs, and more.
AdGuard DNS is a more casual approach to blocking ad’s through DNS and may be for you. Providing a similar service to Pi-hole it is a free service that helps to block ads everywhere on a system. With customizable options and family protection options it’s a good start to those who are less inclined to work with a separate device for their DNS needs.
Good luck and stay safe out there!
3. If you’re planning on buying a new TV soon, the “big game” still isn’t actually available anywhere in 4k this year, despite what advertisements for TVs would have you believe.
https://tvanswerman.com/2019/01/17/will-super-bowl-2019-be-in-4k-we-have-your-answer/
Not that 4k TVs aren’t great, but don’t be misled about the availability of content. You won’t be missing anything if your party’s host only has a 1080 HDTV.
4. Firefox Monitor will let you know if your data has been stolen.
Firefox Monitor is a free service from Mozilla that you can use to check whether your personal information has been compromised by any of the numerous data breaches that occur every year. For added security, you also have the option of registering with the service to allow it to proactively alert you if you’re ever affected by an incident in the future.
Finding out your account was affected by some corporate hack doesn’t make your stolen data private again. But it still can be useful knowledge for figuring out which passwords you should change or how much you want to trust a particular company. It can also be a good motivation if you’re serving yourself to install a password manager or sign up for two-factor authentication.
5. Grapefruit and other citrus fruits interact with many pharmaceutical drugs.
Citrus fruits and grapefruit juice, in particular, has been shown to inhibit the absorption of many orally prescribed medications, particularly those that are not extended release. In certain cases, this interaction becomes toxic to the body.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grapefruit%E2%80%93drug_interactions
