So the congress and senate decided to look out for its constituents and protect the privacy of the people who put them in office. In the immortal words of Borat, "NOT"! The repealing of the FCC's Broadband Privacy Rules only benefits the internet providers. It actually provides a substantial revenue stream for big business, Comcast, Time Warner, ATT, .etc. that did not exist before. One of the analogies used to justify the vote was, "it evens the playing field", what they meant was because the Googles, Yahoos, and Facebooks, can use your information to deliver targeted ads why can't we (the ISPs) do it?
Well let's start with the reality. Today Google does deliver targeted ads from information they gather through browsing history, email, etc. For most this is a trade off for service. Google can provide the most popular free email client and web browser in the world because of the advertising they sell. When you sign up for Google or Yahoo, you are the product. That is a well understood concept, and most people are willing to trade their information for free services. This is where the level playing filled analogy breaks down. ISPs such as Comcast or Time Warner charge for their services, and in most cases a lot. Its true they have been monitoring your traffic, just ask anyone who has received a cease and desist letter after a torrent download. Now they can act on that information, they can start injecting adds into your web browsing, selling your non identifiable browsing data, and collecting everything you do online.
So what impact does that have ultimately on the users? In the short term for the average user maybe not a lot, but these are different times. We should trust our ISP to be responsible for our privacy, but with the collection of this data it makes them a rich target not only for hackers, but the government. Think about a world where the government in conjunction with the internet providers have identified every person using the internet. With their browsing data is able to conclude their illnesses, banking information, relatives, sexuality, hobbies - I challenge you to think about your life and what if any part you have never searched on the internet or uploaded to social media.
That is an extreme example, I hope, but very plausible. Our privacy and freedom of speech is a cornerstone of America and to just give it up to benefit- lets face it- horrible companies make more money seems like a stupid thing to do.
Check out these links if your interested:
EFF Electronic Frontier Foundation
ACLU American Civil Liberties Union
Bruce Schneier Schneier.com
cloudwards.net
Please check out the EFF's Surveillance Self-Defenense site. It has a ton of tools and information to help you understand and what to do about your online privacy. Of course it was original put together to aide individuals in repressive regimes, but maybe thats where we are at.
https://ssd.eff.org/en
If your a techy and do it your self kind of person, here is a link to Open VPN's AWS guide to deploying your own VPN server in AWS. If you want to give it a try AWS will give you free year and OpenVPN includes a free 3 device license with their OpnVPPN Access Server. It was really easy to set up and it will work with PC, Mac, IOS, and Android.
Open VPN Access Server on AWS
The Blue Bayou Gumbo Recipe
A friend of mine gave me a copy of Disneyland's The Blue Bayou Gumbo recipe. I have not yet tried to make this recipe, but I have eaten my fair share of Blue Bayou Gumbo and it is Delicious! I also included a scan of the original recipe at the bottom.
Ingredients:
1 cup Flour
1 cup Butter
Directions:
In a small pan, over medium heat, melt the butter and mix with flour.
Stir to remove lumps and cook, mixing constantly, for a few minutes until dark brown.
Cool at room temperature and set aside for later use.
Step 2: Meats
Ingredients:
1 oz Olive oil
1/2 cup Chicken chunks
1/4 cup Tasso ham
1/2 cup Andouille sausage, 1/4" portions
Directions:
In a saute pan, heat and sauce the chicken, ham, and sausage.
Set aside for later use.
Step 3: Vegetables and Spices
Ingredients:
1 oz Olive oil
1/4 Cup Celery, diced
1/4 Cup Green peppers, diced
1/4 Cup Onion, Chopped
3 tbsp Garlic, Chopped
1/8 tsp Bay leaves, ground
1/8 tsp Thyme leaves, dry
1/8 tsp Oregano, dry
1/4 tsp Onion powder
1 Gal Water
2 oz Chicken base
Directions:
In a 2 gallon sauce pan, heat the oil and lightly sauté the vegetables and herbs.
Next add onion powder.
Then add the sautéed meats from step 2, water, and chicken base.
Bring to a boil.
Step 4: Gumbo
Ingredients:
1/4 Cup Tomatoes, diced
2 tbsp Green onion, diced
3 oz Okra, frozen
1/8 tsp Gumbo file (seasoning)
Directions:
Add the brown roux from step 1 to the 2 gallon sauce pan.
Add in small amounts mixing to prevent lumps.
Reduce the heat and cook for 5 minutes.
Add the tomatoes, green onions, okra, and Gumbo File.
1/4 Cup Celery, diced
1/4 Cup Green peppers, diced
1/4 Cup Onion, Chopped
3 tbsp Garlic, Chopped
1/8 tsp Bay leaves, ground
1/8 tsp Thyme leaves, dry
1/8 tsp Oregano, dry
1/4 tsp Onion powder
1 Gal Water
2 oz Chicken base
Directions:
In a 2 gallon sauce pan, heat the oil and lightly sauté the vegetables and herbs.
Next add onion powder.
Then add the sautéed meats from step 2, water, and chicken base.
Bring to a boil.
Step 4: Gumbo
Ingredients:
1/4 Cup Tomatoes, diced
2 tbsp Green onion, diced
3 oz Okra, frozen
1/8 tsp Gumbo file (seasoning)
Directions:
Add the brown roux from step 1 to the 2 gallon sauce pan.
Add in small amounts mixing to prevent lumps.
Reduce the heat and cook for 5 minutes.
Add the tomatoes, green onions, okra, and Gumbo File.
The Original Recipe
I am going to outline the first steps of cord cutting for my mother in-law. She is pretty tech savvy but does worry about stuff not working, so what we put in place better work. I will go over the service we are looking to replace and see how far we get. I will actively update this post with status and well see how it goes.
Currently she has a triple play package, VOIP phone, Internet, and Cable TV. She is currently using the ISP modem so right off the top getting rid of that will save $10.00 a month. Also she recently moved to a different area and wanted to keep her original phone number from the 80s. Unfortunately she was unable to transfer it so we hacked together a plan to port her original number to a pay as you go mobile phone. Then from her mobile phone port the number to google voice. I should do a blog post about it because it was quit an adventure.
First step testing the VOIP replacement:
The Device: I set up an OBI device to connect her google voice number and her telephone lines in her house. Here is the one I am going to get her. OBi200 1-Port VoIP Phone Adapter
Since we set up here google voice under her gmail account setting up the OBI is super straight forward. Also now she can use here original phone number again. Cost Savings: Yet to be seen she is under contract for the Triple Play, once that expires we will re negotiate with the ISP.
Outcome: Good so far, one issue we ran into was the phone not ringing. I think it is a setting in google voice to ring the google chat account I will let you know what the outcome is.
Next step will be replacing the Modem:
The Device: Currently she has the ISP rented modem with built in wireless. We disabled the built in wireless but it still advertises the ISP's SSID. The modem is also the digital to analog converter for her VOIP service. This is why we are testing to make sure the OBI is a viable solution before we return the rented ISP modem. We are going to buy a ARRIS SURFboard SB6183 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem
. I think she will get even better throughput with the Arris modem then the ISP rented modem.Cost Savings: The modem is $80.00 and her modem rental fee is $10.00 a months so in 8 months her modem would be paid off, and once paid off she will be saving $120.00 a year.
Outcome: Yet to be seen.
The final and most difficult hurdle:
The Device: Cable television will be the most difficult replacement. My mother in-law is an avid TV watcher and DVR master, but she hates the offered DVR menu and management. So I am looking for a solution. I don't think services like Hulu, Sling, or direct TV are mature enough to replace cable tv. Netflix and Hulu are great but don't offer the shows she watches in a format she is used to. So for now we will wait and see. I might look into the Tivo and a cable card, this might give her a better management interface, but may not be cost effective.
Cost Savings: Tivo Bolt 1TB $300.00 one time cost. Monthly service is $12.50 a month if you buy is per year. From the cable provider you get a free cable card and a $2.50 credit every month. You could also drop the equipment rental and DVR fees yet to be seen how much those are.
Stay tuned for updates and more fun.
Ingredients
1 tblsp of vanilla extract
4 cups Eggnog
4 Large eggs beaten
2 cups Granulated sugar
2 teaspoons Ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
1 package of 12 KING'S HAWAIIAN Original Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
Preparation
Step 1
Cube bread and Mix in all other ingredients. Pour in a 9 X 13 greased baking dish.
Step 2
Bake @ 350 degrees F. for 60 minutes
Step 3
While pudding is baking, you can make the sauce to pour over the cake when it is done.
Step 4
In a small saucepan heat 2/3 cup water, 1/3 cup of spiced rum, 2/3 cup granulated sugar, 2 tblsp flour, and 7 tblsp butter. Mix and cook over medium heat. Boil at least 2 minutes while stirring continuously until thickened. Remove from heat and blend in 1 tsp vanilla. Pour over cake after it cools slightly. Serve warm.