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Blocklist-Update.sh

Blocklist-Update.sh is a script that I wrote to manage blocklists from bluetack etc to be used in conjunction with Transmission torrent downloader in Linux/MacOS. The script can be taylored to work with Qbittorrent as well, but the placement of the blocklists means you'd have to redirect the blocklist to go somewhere locally manageable as Transmission uses its own blocklist directory in .config. I believe there are about 10 lists there now. It works well for my needs. It can be ran weekly using crontab in standard user profile.  To download:  blocklist-update.sh To download the others:  Github
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MICROSOFT MICROSOFT MICROSOFT

I generally steer clear of this platform as a rule. I neither use, nor cover news about Microsoft heavy topics these days. I am mostly a Linux person, however, when dealing with technology, it’s hard to miss such a big elephant in the room. From phones, to tablets, to desktop pc’s, Microsoft has a big hand in deep pockets. Last year, Germany’s leading officials had planned, with very little foresight, to launch a campaign in which they would all scrap Microsoft Windows for Linux and other open source software. This did not go so well as the local tech experts had trouble understanding and or maintenancing Linux machines. Due to a lack of research, appropriate tech personnel, use of aging hardware and a number of other incorporating factors, Germany decided to ditch Linux to revert back to Windows, but in doing so, they costed taxpayers Millions and opted for newer and better machines in the process. It boggles the mind how many people still rely on this dated and increasingly vulnerable system. Windows used to be good… Used to be. Windows XP was a stunning, prime example. It had its problems, sure, but still…

First there is updating. Updating takes two days when setting up a Windows pc, one whole day otherwise. Updating is inefficient in Windows as restarting over several cycles can take an infinite amount of time and resources as the well known message appears. “Please don’t unplug or shut off your computer, updates are installing.” Upon reboot, a similar message might often appear. It is clear by this behavior that Windows doesn’t really concern itself with efficiency of code. If that’s not enough, Windows forced users of the descent Windows 7 to upgrade to Windows 10 at a rushed rate. Don’t believe me? Take a look! Windows 10 was released circa 2015. Nothing much was said about it until Microsoft had presumably gotten rid of the bugs they found, then it was all anyone could do to keep their Windows 7 machine from downloading this scourge. Windows has always had some sleight of hand and weird marketing methods, but this takes the cake. Take a look at Windows Vista, it was rushed and bloated. Took a while to load, took more RAM than was currently being installed into systems at the time. Unfinished product.

Windows 10 off the line included telemetry data. This was fairly simple stuff like system information and basic user data. This seemed benign until it got worse. Needless background noise taking up resources, even Cortana became the equivalent to a covert spy. Everything was logged, you had to have an online account to access skype and countless other Windows specific services. Windows 10 was supposed to be the One Windows os to trump all others with hands in every technological place you could think of. When users failed to fork up the money to upgrade immediately to Windows 10, that was fine with Microsoft, they just went ahead and sent their top-of-the-line telemetry system down into Windows 7 and Discontinued Windows XP and Vista. Windows 7 is subject to discontinued updates in 2020, but that is still a while away, we don’t need Microsoft forcing this stuff on us, nor do we need them knowing what we had for lunch. How much more until we all decide it is time to move on?



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