Category: Technology

Rock art featuring images of contemporary life.

Internet Privacy 4: Javascript

Javascript gives trackers potent tools. Chrome allows you turn off javascipt altogether, but that breaks most of the internet. Chrome does not allow users to turn on Javascript in a granular way, so I use Firefox with the excellent, open source tool called No Script. No Script shows all the scripts that are trying to run (you may be amazed at how many there are), and it allows a user to turn on specific scripts to facilitate functionality without allowing unfettered access to your browser and computer.

https://noscript.net/

Internet Privacy 1: DNS

The Domain Name System, or DNS, is a great way to track users. DNS converts human readable names, like Facebook.com into numbers like 66.220.144.0.

Changing DNS is a little more technical than installing a browser extension, and two services offer an alternative to letting ISPs watch everywhere I surf, OpenDNS and Cloudflare.

Using an alternative DNS often speeds up the internet, as it routes web traffic through their servers rather than V*rizon, C0mcast, or whomever. For some years I have used OpenDNS, but they were bought by C!sco, and their vibe changed, but their service is still good for home users.

On April fools day, Cloudflare announced a new DNS service, which also promised to speed up internet service, so I installed it on the router at my temporary home, and it works great.

https://developers.cloudflare.com/1.1.1.1/setting-up-1.1.1.1/

Two Sided Ladder

Iceland was denuded of trees a thousand years ago, and more than a hundred years afforestation has been difficult and of limited success. One problem is the sheep eat the trees, so all forests must be fenced in, and this cool conveyance allows hikers like myself to cross the barbed wire unscathed.

Two sided ladder
One problem with afforesting Iceland is that the sheep love to eat trees, so the sheep kill all the saplings. Fences such as these protect the trees, and this clever ladder conveys the humans across the divide.

Local Fishery

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The Fish Factory maintains a small connection to the local fishery, and here is the first catch of my visit.

The top image is the Atlantic Wolffish, which takes its name from its ferocious teeth. It also has a toothy plate on the roof of its mouth for crushing shellfish.

The lower photo are skate, which the fisherman showed me with enthusiasm. I did not understand his enthusiasm until he explained the fish were reserved for fermentation. They are put into plastic bags and set aside for six weeks to two months while they ferment. If I am lucky enough to be invited, I get a taste in a few weeks.

Atlantic wolffish

Skate for fermentation.
These skate are reserved for fermentation. Same principal as the famous Icelandic shark, but done with skate. The fisherman said it will be ready in 6 weeks. Looking forward to some trepidation.

A Flight to Egilsstaðir Pool

After the snow closed the road back to Egilsstaðir and my residency, I flew back from Reykjavik. It was a clear day, and the most beautiful flight ever. The view stretched from the Akureyri to Hofn, over the gate of hell, and past a tremendous dam.

From the airport I hiked across the fields into Egilsstaðir where I heard they had a lovely pool, and I was not disappointed. Iceland’s outdoor wintertime pools are the best. Egilsstaðir has a 25M lap pool, a 37-40 degree hot tub, a 39-42 hot tub, and a 37 degree shallow pool, and a 10 degree cold plunge in a wooden barrel. There was a sauna, but I did not explore it.

Natural mineral hot springs are a hobby of mine, but the civic pools of Iceland are a treasure, and they eclipse the wild pools of the New Mexico, California, and Colorado.

Rvk->Egil
The turbo prop which brought me home from Reykjavik. It was the most beautiful and exciting flight ever.

#Soaking #HotTubs #StodvarCreativeCenter