Delete Your Google Activity/History

Facebook was scrutinized recently for the type of data it kept from every individual using their services. Did you know that Google keeps even more data than Facebook?
Google kept some of my history from 10 years back. Does Google really need to keep that information for that long?

If you wish to delete your Google Activity/History, you can do so by doing the following:

1. Go to https://myactivity.google.com
2. Log in with your Gmail account.
3. Select the "Delete activity by" option from the left.

4. Select "All time" in the "Delete by date" Dropdown.

5. Click on the "DELETE" link/button.

According to Google, this will erase all activity of your gmail account. Does it keep other information on your activity outside of this? Probably - only Google knows.
Everyone should know about this. Spread the word!

An Unofficial Look at Today's Ads

Sometimes, the best way to determine how good we, as a society, are doing financially is to look at the advertisements the big corporations is trying to sell to us. After all, their goal is to appeal to the majority. Is it just me or is the "evolution" as follow?

• In the distant past - "Want this TV? It's the best money can buy!"
• Not too long ago - "Want this TV? Buy it now and pay later!"
• More recently - "Want this TV? Bad Credit? No Problem!"

Granted, it's not exactly how things are advertised to us but you have to admit that we do hear about "Bad Credit? No Problem!" more often than we used to say 5 years ago. It almost feels like we have bought too many items on credit and now it is time for us to pay. Since we can't afford all the payments... well here we are with the bad credit.

If you're looking to improve your finances, the Finance section of this site may have some tidbits of information to help you.

I've been HACKED!

Folks, one of my many accounts was hacked. Thankfully, I manage to get it back but many aren't so lucky. I still have no idea what that hacker took from me if anything...
It's my fault. While my password wasn't listed on the most used passwords list it was still a fairly simple one. It followed none of the strong password guidelines as defined by IT security experts.

Nobody is 100% safe from an hacker that knows what he's doing but there are steps that we can take to make it more difficult.

Common Guidelines*

• Use a minimum password length of 8 or more characters if permitted.
• Include lowercase and uppercase alphabetic characters, numbers and symbols if permitted.
• Generate passwords randomly where feasible.
• Avoid using the same password twice (e.g., across multiple user accounts and/or software systems).
• Avoid character repetition, keyboard patterns, dictionary words, letter or number sequences, usernames, relative or pet names, romantic links (current or past) and biographical information (e.g., ID numbers, ancestors' names or dates).
• Avoid using information that is or might become publicly associated with the user or the account.
• Avoid using information that the user's colleagues and/or acquaintances might know to be associated with the user.
• Do not use passwords which consist wholly of any simple combination of the aforementioned weak components.

I have learned from my mistake and I'm hopeful you have too. Update your password with stronger ones:TODAY!

*Guidelines can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Password_strength

Tips on How to Overcome Writer's Block

Writing is one of the most fun activities you can do. There are times, however, when we get mental blocks. No matter how much we try, no meaningful ideas seems to come out. The below are some suggestions that may help you get out of those "dark times". They have all proven useful to me to some degree.

• When you're inspired, write until all the ideas are out of your head. You may have a couple of blogs worth of materials after each of those inspirational sessions.
• Expose your min to new ideas. Watch a documentary. Read a new book. Attend a class.
• Force it. Write anything until the ideas comes.
• Take a nap. It's possible that you've had a difficult day, get some energy back with a nap.
• Use a pen/pencil with paper. The act of writing is often all I need to get started. It's a feeling that can't be replaced with a keyboard.
• Schedule blog posts in advance. Not only will this remove some of the stress. It will also insure you have a steady stream of posts in the event you couldn't write for a while.
• Exercise. A walk is sometime all I need to clear my head.
• Have a balance, healthy, diet. Food is what gives energy to the body. If your physical health is bothering you, those are thoughts that could of gone towards a blog post.

Hope these tips helps to put you "in the zone". What do you do to overcome a writer's block?