Decisions

 

I am getting more and more vexed at the way Google et al are trying to make me do things 'their' way.  I downloaded DuckDuckGo and have been using it as much as possible to access the internet.  But Google is now wanting me to *only* use their internet browser in order to do the things I want to do.  This morning I was once again being told that in order to create this post for my own blog, and use one of my own photos, Google insisted that before I could access *my own photos on my own desktop* I had to sign in to Google.

No.  

So far I have managed a work around but that may eventually be squashed and I won't be able to do that simple thing.  

I have tried to turn AI off from snooping around on my computers and cannot in most cases, without going through contortions I don't feel capable of negotiating.  So I try to ignore AI prompts, overviews, summaries.  What irritates me the most is Google AI offering to summarize a 3 line email.  Or offer to write my response to someone.

My irritation levels go up and the Anglo-Saxon words come forth.

With the continuing uncertainty and threats that continue to come out of the White House, I am even more determined to cut the US out of my life as much as possible.  To that end I started thinking about my books on blurb.  Now, in one regard, my books being printed in the US means that no US customer needs to worry about tariffs.  OTOH, if *I* want to purchase my own books - I will potentially be facing tariffs as my country tries to entice the US to drop some of their tariffs by enacting tariffs on stuff bought in the US.  Sigh.  It's really hard for businesses to know what to do when the 'executive orders' or even just the 'tweets' on social media change day to day, hour by hour.

As always, the 'little' business gets hurt far more than big ones.  For example, my ko-fi shop has had very few orders since the shenanigans began, in part because I have removed US customers from ordering anything (other than the pdf of my book/memoir there).  Because I am a fair minded person, I cannot in all consciousness try to get US customers to buy from me when I am making a very clear - and firm - decision to NOT purchase from US makers.  We have not even bought from Amazon - unless there is literally no other way to get what we need.  And then only after we have exhausted local businesses options.

There are a few small businesses that I make an exception for - ie magazines that cannot be purchased anywhere else.   I talked to another small business owner and they felt the same - they are making a concentrated effort to buy product from other than the US.  So this alt right bleating about the boycott waning?  I see little evidence of that.  Not that my purchases amount to more than a grain of sand - but if every citizen of Canada continues to do the same...get enough sand into the gears and the gears break down?

Now, every person has to make the decisions that make sense to them, given their life, budget, needs, etc.  

But I am here to say, my determination holds.  I will not knowingly use AI, even to mock it.  I will not buy one thing out of the US unless we have exhausted all other options.  The option to do without is also a possibility.

I was a 'starving' artist for all my life, in one way or another.  I'm used to doing without.  Making do.  My wants are few and my needs are being met.  I can stand on my principles.

In the meantime, if you want The Intentional Weaver, I think Sweet Georgia Yarns still has copies.  No tariff on them as they were purchased before all of this (waves hands) kicked off.  I sent book plates so they are signed.  The only way you can get a signed copy now, unless you are coming through and make a stop to visit.  :)