Online advertising can be a divisive thing. On the one hand, ads support the free content model of the internet, with advertising subsidizing many of our favorite websites. On the other hand, badly designed or intrusive adds can be disruptive to say the least, and cookies and similar advertising trackers raise privacy concerns. This is where ad blockers and anti-tracking software come in, allowing users to block irritating ads, save bandwidth and opt out of intrusive marketing systems. Check out our favorite ad blocking extensions and apps to take control of your browsing experience.

NOTE: While ad and script blockers remove annoying and potentially malicious ads from Web pages, they may also block legitimate content. Using a blocker prevents the online publications you visit from earning the revenue they need to continue serving you. Robust antivirus software can protect against most forms of malvertising without blocking content.

AdBlock Plus (Firefox, Chrome, Opera, Edge)

AdBlock Plus (ABP) is among the most popular adblockers, with versions available for Firefox, Chrome, Opera and a new version just released for Microsoft Edge. ABP features a quick setup, loading preset filter lists that allow users to quickly block most ads, as well as the option to filter malware and social media buttons. Savvy users can chose additional block lists as well as set custom filters or whitelists. AdBlock Plus allows what it calls “non-intrusive advertising” through filters, which may irk some users, though this can be disabled in settings.

AdBlock (Chrome, Opera, Safari, Edge)

AdBlock (no relation to AdBlock Plus) is the other major adblocker extension of note, available for users of Chrome, Opera and Safari. AdBlock uses a series of filter lists to automatically block ad content coming from known ad servers and providers. Users can stick with the default block lists, subscribe to additional ones, or even create their own, as well as whitelist given sites or content. As the most downloaded Chrome and Safari extension, AdBlock has the trust of many users worldwide.

BluHell Firewall (Firefox)

Bluhell Firewall is an extremely resource light ad-blocking and privacy tool that provides solid performance in a tiny package. Clocking in at approximately 30KB (as opposed to other adblockers in the 100s of KBs) in size, Bluhell Firewall still delivers some impressive adblocking. Rather than rely on long blocking lists, Bluhell instead works around seven hard-coded rules that still manages to block thousands of common advertising domains. While the extension’s performance impact is minimal, it also features minimal customization, with only an on/off toggle. The minimal performance impact also makes it ideal for Firefox on Android.

HTTPS Everywhere (Chrome, Firefox, Opera)

HTTPS Everywhere is a browser extension available in Chrome, Firefox and Opera that is produced as part of a collaboration between the Tor Project and the Electronic Frontier Foundation. HTTPS Everywhere helps encrypt your online browsing and communications by rewriting HTTP link requests to HTTPS when within a whitelist of sites that support HTTPS. This means that when an SSL secured version of the site exists (https) then HTTPS Everywhere automatically redirects you to the secured version of a website that you’re accessing.

NoScript (Firefox)

NoScript blocks Java, JavaScript and other plugins that can be used as advertising, or malware attack vectors. Showing up as a small button on the bottom right of your Firefox window, NoScript can be set to block scripts globally, selectively, or even let particular sites through on a permanent or temporary basis, as well as whitelist sites or providers. High customizability and great features make NoScript a great security and adblocking tool, whether alone, or in combination with other adblockers. Note that NoScript can break some site functionality.

ScriptSafe (Chrome)

ScriptSafe is a Chrome tool inspired by the likes of NoScript in order to provide a similar scriptblocking functionality to Chrome users. Unfortunately, due to technical details in Chrome’s design, ScriptSafe and similar programs can’t quite match the functionality of NoScript on Firefox. Still, the people behind ScriptSafe make a good effort, allowing users to block set different levels of blocking, blacklist or whitelist domains, and more.

Flashblock (Firefox, Chrome)

Another popular extension with adblocking functionality is Flashblock (Firefox, Chrome), a content filtering extension that blocks Flash, Silverlight, HTML5 video, and similar content from being played. Flashblock leaves placeholder elements that users can click on to selectively play particular elements or videos. As many of the more intrusive ads that use video, music, or sound effects rely on Flash and similar tools, Flashblock can reduce the irritation involved in surfing ad-heavy sites, whether used alone, or with other extensions.

Disconnect (Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari)

There’s a California gold rush story that tells of two brothers who sold all they had and went prospecting for gold. They discovered a vein of the shining ore, staked a claim, and proceeded to get down to the serious business of getting the gold ore of the mine.

All went well at first, but then a strange thing happened. The vein of gold had disappeared! They had come to the end of the rainbow, and the pot of gold was no longer there.

The brothers continued to pick away, but without success. Finally, they gave up in disgust. They sold their equipment and claim rights for a few hundred dollars and took the train back home.

Now, the man who bought the claim hired an engineer to examine the rock strata of the mine. The engineer advised him to continue digging in the same spot where the former owners had left off. And three feet deeper, the new owner struck gold!

A little more persistence and the two brothers would have been millionaires themselves.

There is gold in you, too. Do you need to dig a little deeper?

Happy Monday!

Originally posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

An herbal tea garden is a great way to grow the herbs and plants to create your own custom tea mixes. Having fresh straight from your garden herbs for brewing tea is not only convenient, but it also ensures that you are using herbs that are free of pesticides and herbicides. Whatever reason you have for growing herbs to use in teas– health or simply because you enjoy the taste of tea– being able to create the exact combination you want for a cup of tea is such a pleasure.

Considerations When Planting an Herbal Tea Garden

Planting an herbal tea garden is as hard as choosing the type of tea you want to drink. If you like to enjoy a variety of teas, then a wide variety of herbs needs to be planted. If you are growing for a specific tea, or want to grow herbs that aid with a specific health issue, then the garden won’t need to be as big or include as many plants.

Decide on the Types of Tea Wanted

If you generally enjoy tea, then you want to grow an herb garden filled with a wide variety of teas that can all be combined or used in a variety of combinations to create the perfect tea for your mood. Growing herbs that you can brew into teas that will help ease a specific condition that you need help with will call for less space, but smart planning when it comes to including enough of each plant in order to ensure that you are able to enjoy homegrown tea from the garden all summer long. Find out which herbs help with the specific health needs you have, and then choose one or two additional two or three herbs that pair well with those herbs to make a tea that you can enjoy.

Designing the Garden

Decide if you are going to be planting in a garden bed or potted containers. If you are going to be growing specific tea combinations, a couple potted containers that grow all the herbs you need can be sufficient. An herbal tea garden that is going to include the ability to grow as many tea combinations as possible, you are going to need more space and should prepare and entire bed. Remember that most herbs, including those that are used in herbal teas, prefer well drained, nutrient poor soil that is not disturbed with tilling, but gets good aeration.

Choosing and Pairing Herbs

Choosing the herbs that you want starts with your personal preferences, but to get you started, here are some of the best herbs for teas. They are also the most widely used herbs for teas, and many of them pair well with one or another, or are packed with flavor that can be combined with whatever herbal tea you want to drink for health. Chamomile and Lemon Balm are the two most common herbs grown for tea, and both can be added to any light or bitter herbal tea combinations to give them a bright flavor. Coriander and Fennel are grown for the interesting flavor that their leaves give otherwise dull tea combinations. Bee Balm and Betony are added for their milder flavor notes. Catnip and Mint can be added individually or in combination to give tea a strong herbal mint flavor.

Another interesting herb to grow for tea include leaves, which are hard to find for tea because they are so often sprayed with a lot of pesticides. Roses are considered herb plants and a couple low growing bushes, or climbing vines placed in the back of the garden are enough to provide you with enough rose hips that can be gathered and dried.

Gathering and Use

The benefit of growing your own herbal tea ingredients is being able to use fresh herbs for the teas, but you can gather the herbs a couple times throughout the season and dry them to use as needed. Wait till plants have budded and then collect leaves and flowers. If drying, lay them out flat on a clean counter or shelf where they can remain undisturbed for a few days. Every once in a while, turn stems and leaves over to make sure that they are being air dried completely. Store in a sealed bag or container and combine with other herbal tea ingredients as you go. By drying as many of the herbs as you can from your garden, you can create dozens of flavor combinations all summer and winter long.

Originally posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News