[Buddha-l] The Toulmiin link and sharing the joke

[Dan Lusthaus]

Joanna,

> =================
> Dan, I don't need to be enlightened on how google operates,
> that's beside the point.

> Second: Did you download this page on your monitor screen? I
> never heard of any blockers that will defeat ads embedded as part
> of an entire web page.

> If you don't see all this when viewing the page, then you must
> have a most peculiar computer.

First, the ads do NOT appear on my screen. My computer may be most peculiar, 
but that is not the reason. While you think you know how google works, what 
you didn't see behind the scenes on that site (any computer geeks on this 
list who can independently confirm what I am about to say?) is that, like 
most sites, the page contains "referrer" links, which inform the site about 
you and "refer" you -- unbeknownst to you -- to another site where content 
that appears on that page will be drawn from, and where also records are 
being kept on you and how you got there.

There are indeed software blockers that block ALL referrer messages. I use 
one. Ergo, no ads appear on my screen.

What has google to do with that? The referrer site doing the syncronization 
(and no doubt keeping records of your usage) is google, or more specifically

pagead2.googlesyndication.com

It was an insistent bugger, trying three times to force itself into my 
computer, and thrice was it rejected.

It was accompanied by

s7.addthis.com

whose referrer was also rejected.

So:

There is such a thing as viewing online content without annoying ads, 
embedded or otherwise.

Google is doing a lot of stuff behind everyone's back, more than you 
imagine.

And there is software that effortlessly, behind the scenes, will block most 
of it.

But thanks for explaining what the joke was. (and thanks also to Franz).

Dan