
Discussion with Punching Up Press, author of the book Disengage: Opting out - and Finding New Options - to Reclaim Your Life From Spammers, Scammers, Intrusive Marketers, and Big Tech.

BTW, I managed to hand out/place about 80 postcards at the most recent protest! I'll do the same on May 1. Let me know if you'd like me to send you some postcards you can hand out if you'd like to do the same.
Hi! I finally got the EPUB onto the site as a direct download.
Thanks! I can't imagine even explaining to my mom what an instance is, much less how to use one. Maybe the situation will change when more and more people start joining these sites. But I will list SearXNG on the links page!
ETA: I thought you meant how do I like the Proton mailbox@! :D
I like it. The only issue for me is that the search is slow, but that's because they have to compile all your data first...as opposed to Gmail, which already and always has access.
Another plus of Proton Mail is their masked email app. When I go to a site that asks me to enter an email, the app can create a masked email for me on the fly.
Wow, these seems to be controversy over a lot of privacy-based alternatives! I already added OM to the infographic but am happy to replace it (until the new fork is ready) with a different easy-to-use U.S., privacy-forward map.
Mapy Interesting! I can't get it to give me directions from one (U.S. residence to another), but I'll keep an eye on it.
I think I'm all set now,...but I will check this out and potentially add it to the website links page!
Ooh, good question! It looks like Nextcloud has a tasks app. I can't fit every product on the infographic, but may add this to the links website page.
What's your language? Would the products.links still make sense to readers of this new version?
In any case, it's fine with me as long as you're not making. monetary profit from the poster. Also, will you please share a copy I can add to my website?
Also, I made a poster of a similar infographic I created several years ago when I owned a content studio...I forgot all about that and think I may do it for the English version as well! I can sell it at cost. A friend also suggested I turn it into a mouse pad.
Thanks!
OK, I'm glad it's not just me. :D
Maybe after this!
Hmm...Peertube was so easy for me to search and use—I think a lot of people wouldn't even know it's decentralized—but the SearXNG website is much more complicated. I'm looking for non-Google products that are easy for the average, non-tech person. Think SearXNG would work?
Thanks, I'll check out Magic Earth!
It looks like Mullvad still exists ...but last time I checked, it was free and now it's around $5/month?
Thanks for the info, I'll check it out!
Thanks!
MiniFlux
That looks awesome...but also complicated. I'm looking for things that, say, my mom could figure out. (She can't understand how to copy/paste, but would like to leave the Google ecosystem.0 :) Maybe someone should create a similar graphic for more tech-savvy people?
Aha! Yes, it is. Any suggestions for non-YouTube video platforms?
Grr, I'm trying to sign up for an account to try it out and it keeps failing! I'll try again later, it sounds even better than I thought.
Infographic on Google Alternatives: Feedback?
I created an infographic of privacy-forward alternatives to Google products...and would love your feedback.
Is it easy to use? Enough white space? Intuitive? Sharable? Is there anything I'm missing?
The infographic image in this post is NOT clickable. The link above will give you a downloadable PDF with working hyperlinks.
Re: the legend, "easy set-up/use" means either that this is a big part of the alternative product's branding, or I've used it myself and found it easy.
Critical Future Tech Interview on Data Privacy , Surveillance Capitalism & More
Discussion with Punching Up Press, author of the book Disengage: Opting out - and Finding New Options - to Reclaim Your Life From Spammers, Scammers, Intrusive Marketers, and Big Tech.
I was interviewed for Critical Future Tech on "mainstream tech companies' ability to influence us through the data that we willingly provide them, and the actions we can take to regain control over our digital identities."
There's a podcast and transcript.
Hope you enjoy!
For anyone boycotting Avelo Airlines
If you're boycotting Avelo Airlines due to their contract with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to operate deportation flights...here's some info that may make it easier for you to let them know.
The email I sent; feel free to steal as needed:
Dear Mr. Levy and Mr. Nicholas,
We were so excited when you started your [city]>[city] route. My family flies to [state] multiple times per year, and sometimes friends go up to visit us there as well. This new route was so much more convenient than flying into [city]!
Sad to say, this past week we took our final flight on Avelo. We just can't support an airline that will be helping the current administration deport people
Infographic: 4 Ways to Break the Broligarchy
May be a little elementary for people in this community, b ut I hope it's helpful to someone out there!
4 Ways to Break the Broligarchy: Infographic
I've been working in infographics that sum up some of the advice in DISENGAGE: Opting Out—and Finding New Options—to Reclaim Your Life from Spammers, Scammers, Intrusive Marketers and Big Tech. I hope it's helpful!
Connecting AirPods to GrapheneOS?
I replaced my iPhone with a Pixel 7a running Graphene OS.
Everything I see online says I should be able to easily connect my Airpods by opening up the Bluetooth settings and clicking "Pair" on the phone while the case is open...but it never seems to find my Airpods.
It does find my partner's Mac and other nearby Apple products, including what I think are my neighbors'!
The Airpods are fully charged. The old iPhone now belongs to my kid, which I wiped before giving it to them.
Any suggestions?
A book on escaping surveillance capitalism/the broligarchy
I'm a former journalist, and created a free resource called DISENGAGE: Opting Out—and Finding New Options—to Reclaim Your Life from Spammers, Scammers, Intrusive Marketers and Big Tech.
It's available in PDF and full text on the website, plus EPUB at Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Smashwords, and other retailers.
It costs $0. No email needed, no tracking, no affiliate links. It was a passion project and I'm just trying to get the word out.
(If you know anyone in the press who may want a hardcopy, i printed up a couple dozen in print format on my own dime...just let me know!)
Enjoy!
Best way to promote anti-Big Tech book...without using big tech?
My first post ever...and this is the only social media I'm on! So please be patient. :)
My passion project has been to write and distribute (for free) a book called DISENGAGE: Opting Out—and Finding New Options—to Reclaim Your Life from Spammers, Scammers, Intrusive Marketers and Big Tech.
Over the course of two+ years, I went through the process of disengaging myself as much as possible from Meta, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Apple, and traditional social media...removing myself from people-finder sites and data-broker lists...protecting my home address and images...getting my photos and bios removed from the web and from AI face searches...etc.
As a former journalist, I thought it would be great to write about my experiences to help others reclaim their power, as much as possible, from Big Tech. The book is free, no email required, no tracking, no affiliate links. Available in PDF and full text on the site, and EPUB