‘Miscellany’ Archives
How to Improve Your Online Privacy
By CHRIS FERGUSON First and foremost, you shouldn’t bring any devices, such as a smartphone or a smartwatch, with you to a protest. Cell connections are frequently hijacked by law enforcement without a warrant. Any information you send through that connection can be traced back to you. This is possible no matter which of the following steps you take. Even if you’re using a VPN (explained below) they can still capture the encrypted data and store it. The most secure way to secure your digital footprint is to stay off the Internet. 1. The Foundations: Accounts & Access Before worrying about trackers, users need to secure their front door. Password Hygiene: Don’t trust the password manager built into your phone or browser. Move away from reused passwords and use a password manager such as Bitwarden or NordPass. Make sure you back up your passwords to an encrypted storage site like Proton Drive or Cryptpad.fr. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Set up [...]
[ad] Angela Conley Update
March 2026
Gallery of Loss and Light: Part 5
By HARVEY WINJE Part 5 is about the loss of trust and how nominal—in name only—titles of people, positions, and institutions cannot be assumed to be trustworthy; even though sometimes well-intended. Hopefully these episodes and anecdotes can shed light for the community going forward. How can we as individuals pivot from disappointment to opportunity; from strength to strength? Who Was in the Room? Decisions about property of Messiah Evangelical Church Congregation, MELCC, were probably made by key leadership members and pastors. Only five such members are briefly described below to help imagine what transpired over decades leading up to the demolition of the 1908 and 1954 buildings. Mr. Charles O. Johnson Charles Johnson became a copy boy at age ten, Minneapolis Daily News reporter as a high school student, Minneapolis Star sports editor at 22 years old, and Star and Tribune sports editor after a 1941 merger until retirement in 1968. He was highly influential in [...]
