Don't Fight. Win.

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday June 28, 2023 · 1:08 PM PDT

2023/06/28 · 13:08

I was going to write this as a response to the top-trending Post by @Lounge Lizard - The Incessant, Full-court Media Assault on Joe Biden and Kamala Harris (Especially By Microsoft?) - but it was getting too long, so I thought that I should just put it up here as a Post.

This is not in defense of Microsoft or any of our Corporate Overlords, but it has to be pointed out that realizing that WE (the Consumers) are these Corporations’ Products is the first step in curbing their excesses. The second step is using available Tools to make ourselves as unmarketable and unprofitable to them as possible.

Luckily (for us), there are still some things that we can do today, and if we don’t do them, we continue to encourage the bad behaviors. Even the Behemoth founded on the laudable Principle of “Do No Evil” is the most evil of them all today, because we keep making it easier and easier for them to benefit from their evil deeds.

Take, for example, the Microsoft Edge Browser case. It is not a revelation to say that almost all Browsers track our search and browsing histories. There are Tools (e.g. UBlock Origin, NoScript, etc) out there to prevent this (or, at least, minimize the accuracy of the data they leech from us in our hours of innocence). How many of us use these Tools?

Even the Browsers themselves have options for tweaking privacy preferences and, to be technically accurate, these tweaks work to a large extent. Here is what my Microsoft Edge splash screen looks like if I don’t do anything other than just a few tweaks (my apologies, but this Post will be too long and incoherent if I try to get into specific per-browser tweaks)

As you can see, I’m not inundated with the same contents that @Lounge Lizard complains about. This is most likely because our browsing and search histories are very different.

Talking about things that we can proactively do to make our eyeballs unprofitable for those building businesses around our habits, how about we just use the Tools available to impose our desire and preferences on them instead of venting about their insidious and nefarious exploitations?

Say, for example, I go into Microsoft Edge and tell it that I don’t effing need the Notifications (TYVM)?

Or, what if I just tell Microsoft Edge, “Oooohhhh… so you’d like to open a page everytime I launch you? Page Rank kind of thing, uhn? Well, let’s play… How about you give www.dailykos.com a boost everytime I so much as look at you?”

See? Now, everytime I launch Microsoft Edge, I get to behold my preferred Progressives Hangout, an Impressions-counting Elves gets to crank a wheel (or whatever they do) to boost Dailykos on the Ranking Order somewhere in some other Overlord’s Matrix.

Too Many Malicious Droppers on Daily Kos

akogun

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday May 30, 2023 · 5:45 PM PDT

2023/05/30 · 17:45

UPDATE: Wednesday, May 31, 2023 · 6:35:48 PM +00:00 · akogun

I have found myself typing something similar to this multiple times in response to the “Get an Ads Blocker”, “Just subscribe already”, etc on this Post. I am going to just leave it here as an update, hoping that it will be seen by anyone else who wants to provide same “advice”. Thank you

I have been a Lifetime DKos Subscriber for, like, forever. TYVM

You get to choose to see Ads, even as a lifetime Subscriber.

I consciouly chose that option. Why? After 18 years years, I have come to see DKos as MY Project. I know that DKos cannot survive on Susbscriptions and occassional fund-raising.

I have opted to help DKos augment its revenues through Ads. I am doing right by DKos. By choice.

I whitelist DKos from Ads Blocking. Consciously. By choice. Because I want DKos to earn that Ads revenue.

In turn, I get to ask DKos to do right by me and other Members. Especially those who can’t afford to Subscribe, or don’t know that Subcription is an option.

To protect its reputation as a go-to Platform for anyone and everyone interested in Progressive politics, news, topics and communities, DKos has to ensure that its visitors (even the occassional ones) are protected. It can’t be known as the Site infested with computer “fleas” and gremlins.

It is not endearing to say “Don’t want malicious Ads dropping germs all over your device? Just pay up and you will be safe”.

I am very glad that the people to whom I addressed the Post (DKos Management and Technical Staff) have accepted that this is, indeed, a problem. I am encouraged by their promise to investigate and remediate.

Thanks to everyone who read, commented and rec’d it, thiis Post has served its intended purpose. There is no need for me (or anyone) to flog the issue again.

Yes, I get it. I get to enjoy the news, post, camaraderie and company of my Daily Kos community and friends because the Management works its ass off to keep the Servers up and the lights on. I get it.

I get that these things don’t come cheap. That money doesn’t fall from heaven. That bills have to get paid. That Adverts is inarguably a proven, reliable source of revenue for independent outlets and communities like Daily Kos. That, the more eyeballs, impressions and clicks an Ad generates on a site, the larger the payout, and, correspondingly, the more assured I can be that Daily Kos will be there for me to jump onto tomorrow, when I need my daily dose of sanity and reality-based news, opinions, commentaries and, yes, pie fights.

Here comes the “however” (thanks for waiting so long)… at what cost? At what cost to the security of our devices? At what cost to the safety of the information we store on those devices? At what cost to our privacy? And sanity?

For a long time now, I have tried to ignore these security warnings triggered by several of the Ads (and their embedded nefarious codes) served on Daily Kos, but it occurs to me that, while (as a technology-savvy individual) I can take steps to protect myself, how does this impact others who can’t tell a Dropper from a Teardrop?

Daily Kos is taking adverts from unscrupulous advertisers whose malicious codes do more than just pitch us something to buy from them. And this needs to stop. Daily Kos needs to do better. It needs to take steps to ensure that its community members are not maliciously exploited, as it seeks to generate enough money to cater to their needs. It is the least DK Management can do. And, it is all I’m asking for.

It is not a favor, really. Because, the alternative is for the community members to start taking individual actions to protect themselves if DK won’t do it. Such “self-service” (e.g. blanket script blockers) will, in turn, hurt DK’s ability to generate the needed funds from Ads, leading to belt-tightening and, eventually, attritions. We don’t want that.

Daily Kos Management and Technical Staff, please do better. Screen out these malicious advertisers. For our collective benefit and safety.

This is Hard

akogun

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday March 07, 2023 · 1:13 PM PST

2023/03/07 · 13:13

Dear DK Management, I know that the times are hard. Believe me. I know.

This is why I have been able to donate “only” twice in the past one month. It’s why I also consider my contributions to be substantial enough to expect to not be nagged to death daily after that — at least for a while. I will contribute more, when I can.

Considering that Kos himself penned a lamentation during the recent elections about how constant nagging for donations from loyal Progressives has the undesired effects of creating fatigue and resentment, I’d have expected that my beloved DailyKos would have some System in place to understand who gave recently and, therefore, needs to be excused for a bit.

I know that, in fund-raising, it’s hard to receive if you don’t ask. However, the constant nagging is a PROBLEM. Fix it, please.

Merci beaucoup.

Nigeria, Illegal Detention, Press Freedom: The Agba Jalingo Case

akogun

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday February 06, 2020 · 4:41 PM PST

2020/02/06 · 16:41

Incarcerated Nigerian Journalist and Civil Rights Activist - Agba Jalingo

This is a call to action. A call for help. An urgent appeal and request to the Community. To lend us your voice and leverage your connection to help bring attention to the ongoing ordeal of Civil and Human Rights Activists, Journalists and Citizens of Nigeria, as they continue to wage a losing battle against the oppressive and repressive regime of the “Democratic” President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Military-Dictator-turned-Civilian-Oppressor — Major General Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari).

NO DONATION IS SOLICITED. NONE IS REQUIRED. The #FreeAgbaJalingo CAMPAIGN NEEDS JUST YOUR VOICE. AND YOUR TIME.

We need your help because this is a struggle we have been losing, and the only wins we have had to-date have been as a result of influences and pressure applied externally. Although I will showcase the travails of only one Victim in this short Diary, please note that there are 100s of other Journalists and 1000s of ordinary Nigerians currently in similar situation.

Why should you be interested? Why should you help? While you owe us no obligations other than your humanity, I’d like to ask you to please look around you. You will likely discover that there is, at least, one Nigerian in your immediate orbit. If they are not your neighbor, they were likely one of your Professors, or Doctors, or something else. Yes, probably one of the “Rich Princes” who want to hook you up with a Sweet Deal via emails. There, I said it.

Perhaps you already know that Nigeria is not only the Country with the largest concentration of Blacks in the world and the largest economy in Africa, and that it is a Country once touted as the “Giant of Africa”, chiefly due to its abundance of natural and human resources. While the promises of Greatness have been filtered away by corrupt, visionless and profligate Leadership, there is still no debating the FACT that the progress of Africa as a Continent is largely dependent on the condition of Nigeria. You can help make Nigeria right by helping us help the Activists on the ground be more successful in their quest to heal Nigeria.

How can you do this? Help us apply Political, Diplomatic, Economic and Public Awareness pressures. Help us bring news and updates (such as the one below) to the attention of external News Organizations and help us amplify the Realities of the Nigerian Journalists and Activists at the receiving end of General Buhari’s Repression and Oppression. FOREIGN pressure and perception have PROVED to be the ONLY things Buhari and his Enablers respond to. Help bring the HEAT.

Mr. Agba Jalingo is a Journalist who has been in confinement on trumped-up charges and has been subjected to comical, incoherent sham literally MASQUERADING as “Prosecution”.

Until his arrest and detention on August 22, 2019, Mr. Agba Jalingo was the Editor-in-Chief of CrossRiverWatch Media Organization. Cross River is a State in Nigeria, and CrossRiverWatch is focused chiefly on reporting on Governance and Public Interests in the State.

On August 16, he was invited to Calabar (the State's Capital) for questioning by the Police on the pretense that the State-owned Bank (Cross River Microfinance Bank) had filed a complaint against him and CrossRiverWatch over a report of alleged corruption involving the bank and the Governor of the State - Benedict Ayade (@ben_ayade). Mr. Jalingo offered to appear for questioning on August, 26th, but the Nigerian Police arrested him in Lagos (Lagos State) on August 22 instead and charged him with the laughable crime of "Conspiracy to cause Unrest and Conduct likely to Cause Breach of Peace". They transferred him to the Anti-cult and Anti-kidnapping Police detention facility in Calabar. He has been in detention since then. He has been tortured, brutalized, denied bailed, charged to Court (only to have the case postponed repeatedly by the Prosecutor and the "Complainant"). The State even once produced Masked "Witnesses" hiding behind screens to testify on their behalf. The current state of affairs is that, since his detention, Agba Jalingo has been deprived of his Liberties, for the offense of "Journalisting While Nigerian" and for being audacious enough to question authorities.

Governor Benedict Ayade (@ben_ayade) has since admitted that the whole basis for the detention was FALSE. He has even pretended to regret the whole thing. Yet, he continues to hold onto Mr. Agba Jalingo.

This is the Lawlessness and Judicial Rascality and Human Rights abuse institutionalized, championed, nurtured and encouraged by the Government of Major General Buhari, and this Agba Jalingo case is but one representation of these daily abuses.

CALL TO ACTION
Agba Jalingo is alive today and not yet "Disappeared", due mostly to the relentless, unceasing and unyielding efforts of his Supporters and people like you. Sadly, many others have not been so fortunate. We NEED YOUR HELP.

Governor Benedict Ayade (@ben_ayade) will be attending the "The 2020 Nigerian American Business Forum Annual Conference" event in Tampa, FL, between Saturday, February 29th and Sunday, March 1st, 2020. The event will be held at The Westshore Grand Hotel (4860 West Kennedy Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33609). Many Nigerian Governors, Policy Makers, Government Officials, Influencers and Business People will be in attendance.

If you are in the neighborhood, you can help us picket them.
If you are not in the neighborhood, you can help us share this information to encourage others to come and join our picket.
You can also help us share this information with Local News Organizations (invited or not) to report on this and consider coming over to help us ask Governor Benedict Ayade of Cross River State, Nigeria (@ben_ayade) WHY he is still detaining Mr. Agba Jalingo, even though he (Governor Benedict Ayade (@ben_ayade)) has now PUBLICLY RECANTED HIS ACCUSATION against Journalist Agba Jalingo.
If you are connected with Elected Officials in Tampa or anywhere in the State of Florida, you can help us bring Mr. Jalingo's plight (and the plights of other Journalists and Activists in Nigeria) to their attention. They can help #FreeAgbaJalingo by contacting the Organizers of "The 2020 Nigerian American Business Forum Annual Conference" and their Invited Guests and making their opinions known. Or perhaps disinviting them and making them feel overall unwelcome and uncomfortable.
Anything you can do; wherever, whenever and however you can do it. Help us give Voice to those working against all odds to clean up Nigeria and make Nigeria work.
PLEASE SHARE this Diary and similar ones as far and wide as you can. Help us shed lights on the Cockroaches undermining the development of a promising and potentially functioning and progressive Country in Africa.
Help us ask Ben Ayade DIRECTLY on Twitter WHY he is STILL holding Mr. Agba Jalingo.

We need your Voice. We Need Your Help.

Thank you for reading. Thank you for helping. Thank you for supporting Human Rights everywhere.

#FREEAGBAJALINGO #FREENIGERIA

TTFN, till next week

akogun

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday September 11, 2011 · 7:52 PM PDT

2011/09/11 · 19:52

I know that this is Kos site. It could be reasonably argued that he gets to operate it as he wishes. However, it could also be reasonably inferred that, since Kos had opened the doors wide and invited all like-minded (and not-so-like-minded) people into the "Community", it is expected that members of the said community are within bounds to express dissatisfaction with what goes on in this Community.

akogun

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday September 24, 2008 · 2:45 PM PDT

2008/09/24 · 14:45

Dr. Bill Durston (a Combat Vietnam Veteran and Emergency Room Doctor) is the Progressive Democratic candidate for the California 3rd Congressional District.

Dr. Bill Durston is running as the Democratic candidate for House of Representatives in California's 3rd Congressional District to give voters a choice for change.
Bill is running against an incumbent career politician who is in virtual lock-step with the Bush Administration. Dr. Bill Durston stands in marked contrast as a challenger with combat-tested courage (PDF File), unquestionable integrity, proven leadership, and a vision for a better future.

Bill Durston has just released a two-part campaign ads as part of valiant effort to help us achieve the goals of electing MORE and BETTER Democrats. I urge you to please SUPPORT BILL DURSTON FOR CONGRESS.

akogun

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday September 21, 2008 · 1:07 PM PDT

2008/09/21 · 13:07

Very early in the Democratic Presidential Primaries, I emailed what I thought was a simple idea to the Obama for America campaign. I received a standard form response. Let me briefly describe the idea below the fold.

THE IDEA IN A NUTSHELL:
This site lets somebody sign up as a Sponsor or a Beneficiary. Bamafactor is a play on Benefactor.

A Sponsor: Someone who has something to give (e.g. boarding, rides, food, etc). The Sponsor uses the site to say "I can offer the following to any Obama supporter".

A Beneficiary: Someone who has volunteered to undertake a specific campaign task and needs some type of assistance in fulfilling that task. The Beneficiary uses the site to say "I am going to xyz city to do abc, but I need a place to sleep, some food, when I get there".

Believe me when I say that the Beneficiary described above is not fictional. I have been to several cities on volunteer work for the campaign and I have come across volunteers who had no boarding and no money.

akogun

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday September 11, 2008 · 10:00 AM PDT

2008/09/11 · 10:00

Because they say Charity begins at home and all politics are local, I have volunteered to serve as the Internet Outreach Co-ordinator for California 3rd Congressional District's Democratic Candidate - Dr. Bill Durston - for the rest of this electoral cycle.

Here's Bill Durston's Progressive Positions on various issues.

Dan Lungren - hard to tell apart from Dooltittle - is the Republican incumbent we are trying to replace - with your help.

If you live in this district and have a FaceBook Profile (if you don't, consider creating one), please add BILL DURSTON to your "Friends" list.

Are you on Myspace? Bill Durston is there, too, and would appreciate your joining us there.

akogun

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday September 07, 2008 · 3:53 PM PDT

2008/09/07 · 15:53

The following is a response to a diary on the "recommended" list exhorting us to go out and do more for Obama.

While I pick no bones with the peripheral theme of the diary (I am all for getting out there and working my rear-end off for a worthy cause), I'd like to cross swords with the diarist's sentiments regarding the "racist" bent of some Americans and his/her decision to make this the central theme of his/her write-up.

akogun

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday September 06, 2008 · 4:18 PM PDT

2008/09/06 · 16:18

As you all probably know by now, Ebay-Afficionado, the "Community Dis-Organizer", Sarah Palin is secluded in Lord-knows-where, ~~insulated against all realities of life~~ serving the country graciously, as she bones up for her ~~second coming~~ re-introduction to the treacherous world of leading a country.

akogun

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday September 04, 2008 · 1:05 AM PDT

2008/09/04 · 01:05

Except in very close circles, I have studiously refrained from commenting on the apPalling choice for VP made by John McCain. I have done so mostly due to my willingness to hear her make her case for why Americans should entrust the office of the Presidency to her, in case John McCain becomes otherwise incapacitated.

akogun

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday August 25, 2008 · 4:24 PM PDT

2008/08/25 · 16:24

A bunch of anti-Obama Republicans just zoomed down the street in front of The Big Tent at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. All four of them. Riding in their gas-guzzling Hummer, screaming unmentionables at the top of their lungs. I have o problem with protesters - it is all in the spirit of Freedom and Human Rights, although the concept of according freedom to all humans is becoming a strange thing to the typical right-winger these days.

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Don't Fight. Win.

Too Many Malicious Droppers on Daily Kos

This is Hard

Nigeria, Illegal Detention, Press Freedom: The Agba Jalingo Case

TTFN, till next week

CA-03: Durston TV Ads Hit the Airwaves

Announcing The BamaFactors

Do You Live in CA-03? We NEED You - edited

My Black Brethren, STOP Talking

VP Candidates "Such As"

Today, I become a "Community Organizer"

Wingnut Protesters P0wn3d By GrammER