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5 Ways to Safely Bypass Internet Censorship

4:42 PM

64% of internet users around the worldcensor online information

5 Ways to Safely Bypass Internet Censorship

1. Avoid Censorship With a VPN

The safest way to bypass internet censorship is to use a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN also encrypts your data and protects your anonymity. It's essential to make sure that you use a reliable, paid VPN service, however, rather than a free one that will sell your information.

2. Use a Proxy Server

Governments and private network administrators can restrict access to specific websites, such as YouTube, Facebook and even Gmail. You can use a proxy server to work around this – although this method is not as safe as using a VPN. A proxy server will disguise a blocked site from your internet service provider (ISP), allowing you to access censored content.

3. Enter the IP Address Instead of the URL

Sometimes, censors will bar a web address, but fail to block the Internet Protocol (IP) address. In this instance, you can enter the IP address to access the website.

To find an IP address on your Windows 10 PC or laptop, for instance, run Windows Command Shell. You can find it by opening the start menu and right clicking on the Windows logo.

A single MS-DOS screen will open. Type “ping” in the URL. Your query should look like this:

ping google.com

The command prompt will then give you the IP address. That should look like this:

172.217.7.238

Now, enter the IP address into your browser to see if you can visit the website.

Note: Websites are transitioning to a new protocol, so you may see a result like this:

2607:f8b0:4004:802::200e

This protocol will not work with a browser. If you see this, do a WHOIS lookup instead using a site like whois.domaintools.com. There, you’ll find the correct format to paste into your browser.

4. Use an Anonymized Browser

Autonomous browsers such as TOR are popular among privacy advocates. You should exercise caution when using them, however.

TOR is easy to install, but it takes a little more expertise to set it up correctly. If you don’t do it right, authorities can track your identity. Combine this with a VPN service, and you can access any website in the world – despite censorship – and are nearly untraceable.

5. Switch to an Uncensored DNS Server

In some countries, the government controls the Domain Name System (DNS). In this instance, officials can manipulate the registry that tells the region's computers how to resolve a domain name or URL.

You can circumvent this by setting your device to use another DNS server. Google Public DNS, Quad9 and Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 can help you find a DNS that will resolve domain names correctly. Each site offers tutorials on how to use their DNS resource.

It was not what I wanted to do I just spent five cents for an

Governments want more control over the internet. Simultaneously, consumers want more freedom. The more that governments censor the internet, the more citizens push back.

What’s especially concerning, however, is that private enterprises are joining governments in censoring online information. In the United States, for instance, the government has repealed net neutrality protections and, private enterprises can now limit traffic to their competitors.

Businesses can also block content from a specific region. For instance, some enterprises have chosen to block access to content from the European Union, rather than comply with new internet privacy regulations. Nevertheless, you can exercise your right to information by using a few advanced tools. If you like this blog post about life and love, please share the article
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Life Lessons

3 Important Life Lessons I Learned From Changing Careers

6:56 PM

I'm a licensed pharmacist. Why did I become one? Because my mother wanted me to. 😂 It's not even on top of the things I was choosing when I was about to go to college. From working in a hospital to the corporate world to chasing my own dreams, I've grown. There are 3 important life lessons I learned from changing careers and it's a surprisingly fun discovery.

Lessons Learned From Changing Careers

I wanted to take up Psychology, Dentistry or Business Administration.

But I suck at Math. So goodbye business degree.

My grandma told me a terrible story about a dentistry student so I was discouraged from becoming a dentist.

And I don't know what I'd do after Psych.

Plus---and most importantly, my mother was always persistent (a more subtle way of saying pushy😂) in what she wants for me.

I have no regrets. I've learned to like Pharmacy and all the branches of Chemistry that came with it. Even though my grades disagree.

I've met friends and got to experience unforgettable things in college.

BUT my first love is writing. Even when I didn't realize it then yet. Even when I would have grammar slips from time to time. I like to tell stories through the written word.

1. You always make time for what you love

To please my parents or more like to stop them from giving me guilt trips, I followed a career in Pharmacy for five years or so.

It was okay but although I got paid alright, I wasn't happy. Obviously that's what happens when you do something you don't like just to please others. Even if it's family or parents you're trying to please.

The Bible says honor your mother and father. It didn't say you let them control your life.

What pushed me to leave my career even more (as if I needed more reasons) is the toxic environment.

I was appalled that in the so-called "professional" world, people could still be so rude, immature and ironically, unprofessional. Everyone seemed entitled.

I was adamant that I should not end up like that and when I felt like I was turning into one of them, it scared me.

I was working more like an admin/secretary anyway. I never got to apply what I excruciatingly studied in the university.

Even during this time though, I would always find time to write. I write online on platforms like Friendster and Multiply or scribble on a piece of paper because this was before I discovered blogging.

I've realized that in career as in everything else in life, you will always find the time to do what you love.

There are no excuses. There are no delays. If you want to do it, you will and you will find the time.

2. Prioritize yourself

Shortly after my Pharmacy practice, I found myself in the corporate world. It was totally unplanned.

I was hired within the day.
I was happy! Compared to being a pharmacist, this was exciting.

I was exposed to online tools and technologies I wasn't familiar with. I was working in a much cleaner, more modern, cooler office and diverse culture.

I was suddenly a city girl enjoying my new-found freedom and discovering and rediscovering what I really want.

I was able to think about myself first. And you know what?

It's okay to love yourself first. Self-love is healthy. You can't give something you don't have. You have to fill your tank first before you can pour it out.

Finally, after ten years of working, I was able to take a real vacation. So this is how it feels to be enjoying the fruits of my labor? It was exhilarating.

I got to reset and sort out my priorities.

But I don't need to do a self-reflection to know that writing is still what I really want.

3. Keep working

There will always be hardship. There will always be obstacles as you work towards your dreams. You should be worried if there's none. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

It is in the struggles that you learn to be strong. It is in the nothing that you realize what is superficial and what is essential.

If you want something bad enough, keep working for it.

Before I left the crazy corporate world, I would juggle one or two side jobs. I would be attending seminars which I know could help me in my pursuit of what I want, even if that would mean I would be forgoing sleep.

Some friends would ask me to teach them too, but when I tell them what they need to do and sacrifice, they get discouraged.

They'd rather sleep in or spend their extra money on their vices rather than invest on what they know is good for them.

I'm not saying you should stop having fun and overwork.

Enjoy but keep working on your dreams. Even if it's just taking three minutes of your time watching a video tutorial. Or listening to speakers who can motivate you. Or reading short inspiring stories that can help you realize or remember your goals.

As Steve Jobs said, keep learning.

Especially now that we have different resources available online, there's no excuse not to learn anything.

My changing careers didn't make my parents happy at first. But that doesn't make me a bad daughter. I want to believe that it made me a better person.

I still encounter difficulties and problems with what I do but again if you really love what you do, you find a way to fix it. You don't find an excuse to walk away.

Have you changed career? Tell me about it in the comment!

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People

My Brief Dating History And Feature On DatingNews.com

1:07 AM

Post-weddingyour husbanddatingthat very short unremarkable and ordinary dash between my last name and his represents is the long and winding full of twists and turns life journey I've had from singledom to wifehood

My Brief Dating History and Feature on DatingNews.com

First things first

I've been sidetracked from blogging after getting engaged. After the wedding, I promised to give more time to blogging again. So I was giddy when I found out that my blog will be featured on a dating website. Oh, I've not been forgotten by the blogging world after all! 😊

I was recently featured on DatingNews.com, a comprehensive site that's "at the heart of the dating industry" and that puts a spotlight on dating and relationship coaches, matchmakers, lifestyle bloggers, sites, apps, and everything in between. Here's a little bit of what they had to say, and you can read the rest of the article here.

"Lux started the About Life and Love blog to reach out to singles and couples everywhere and let them know they’re not alone. Her articles touch on matters of the heart with a refreshing honesty and sense of humor. Whether she’s recommending a date-worthy shade of lipstick or giving wedding planning tips, Lux delivers down-to-earth guidance based on her own experiences navigating the dating scene."

Here's a brief look back on my dating history and some helpful tips 🔔 from that experience I'd like to share.

Dating in high school

I was raised in a conservative culture and old fashioned way. You could say it's a little backwards.

I wasn't allowed to date when I was in high school. That seems alright and "normal" for our culture. But what I didn't understand before was that my mom would scold me for getting letters from suitors (yes, I was born before texting). Like it's my fault that boys like me. Duh.

I'd like to believe that I'm a good daughter so the effect on me was that "Gosh, she's right. There must be something horribly wrong with me. Why am I getting all this attention?"

My mother made me feel terrible...and dirty for something totally normal for a teenager to experience.

Okay, maybe that's not about being a good daughter. That's stupidity or lunacy. 😂

So I never went out with boys alone when I was a teenager. It's always a group date and it's always done in secret. 😝

I tried to be open with the family about who's giving me flowers and chocolates and who the letters are from or who asked me out.

My mom would always say bad things about them and again make me feel guilty for it. Which is crazy I know but that's how it was.

College life

When I realized that my course was difficult, I told myself I won't date in college. I couldn't even find the time to brush my hair or put some powder on my face. After class, especially after lab (laboratory), we just go find food not even checking ourselves in the mirror.

Real world

I dated again when I started working.

I could count all guys I went out with in one hand. Some were brief, others were years long.

Was I serious in any of them? Yes in my own juvenile way.

Did I see myself marrying any of them one day? Honestly, no. I hoped because what's the point if not.

But even with the one I had the longest and most serious relationship with I couldn't, for the life of me, picture myself being his wife.

He's not even part of my future plans and he knows it.

🔔 Here's my opinion and unsolicited advice to all singles:

if you can't see yourself marrying the person, put an end to it as early as possible to spare yourselves from bigger heartache, and so you can set each other free.

Life's short.

I'm not saying you stop dating or entertaining suitors. It is a fun and integral part of growing and learning in life. Just because you're not sure if you're going to marry the person doesn't mean you seclude yourself from the world.

Give it a chance, sure. Try to make it work, yes. But, if after discerning and reflecting and you think that he is not good for your well-being, it's time to walk away. Especially if abuse in any form (physical, emotional, psychological) is involved.

🔔 Love yourself first.

I realized that the ultimate purpose of dating is indeed marrying the person, not just having fun or passing time.

Author Jefferson Bethke said, "Dating with no intent to marry is like going to the grocery store with no money. You either leave unhappy or take something that isn't yours."

Neither of the result sounds appealing, right?

Don't dishonor or shortchange yourself for your partner. Don't dumb yourself down for a man. Don't let another walk all over you especially if you're considering them to be your future partner.

🔔 Here's a tip I've learned from The Feast to know if the person is good for you:

change 'love' with the person's name in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away."

If it doesn't sound right maybe it's time to rethink your decisions.

As one of my guy friends told me before (which I always held on to whenever other people would pressure me into dating):

🔔 It's okay to be picky, because you're talking about forever here, a lifetime with this person.

It's okay to take your time in choosing.

Take it from Cher:

via Giphy

What does your dating history look like?

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Lux Thinking Aloud

I Have Found The One Whom My Soul Loves - My Wedding Day

6:38 PM

I have found the one whom my soul loves. - Song of Solomon 3:4

I was singleworriesready to minglegot engagedHis promisemending stage I Have Found The One Whom My Soul Loves
my faith in love was never tarnished.worthtrust issuespull my leg
Waiting I knew it was going to be a long journey so I decided to just enjoy it. I kept working on myself and I did wait---sometimes in faith, sometimes in fear.
There were days when I was blissfully reveling on my unattached and uncomplicated single life, and there were nights when my heart would long for a better half.
In all those times, I would continue to hold on to God's promise of a good life for me. Although I was content and calm even with the idea that I may never get married, deep in my heart, I knew God has better plans.
Despite planning for a life alone (which included buying a house that I'm selling as of this writing), I feel a prodding in a different direction.

Discernment Interestingly, I met my husband when I was resolved that the single life was for me.

It was when I have fully accepted that I can bloom wherever God plants me that I met someone who changed my mind.
Perhaps you have heard this line: "Yes, I am single. And you have to be amazing to change that."
I can't just jump into a relationship without being cautious. I am too tired and freaking too old for that, I thought.

I am way too happy to be swayed to get out of my comfort zone.
But this man seems genuine. Most of all, he follows Christ.
Sure, he's not perfect but he's on the right track.
Every night I would ask God if he's the one because otherwise, I don't have time for this anymore. 😂
It's funny that I used to ask for specific things I want for my future spouse, and when we met and I thought he fit those characters, my prayers changed to "But is it real or fake?"

I had so much doubt due to trust issues.
There's a lot of prayers from me and my friends involved.
Because what can you do really but ask for spiritual guidance?

Plus, a whole lot of reflection and analysis.
Hey, I'm changing my life forever. I'm allowed to overthink and pray harder, right?

My Wedding Day To cut the long story short, we got married. It may seem like rushed, but there were a lot of things involved from that fateful day we met to the day we said I do.

It wasn't a perfect wedding, but it was beautiful.

The planning and preparations brought me to a whole new level of stress which unfortunately showed on my skin even on our wedding day. But that's how it is.
My husband's first words to me when we met at the altar were "You look beautiful, honey." 😊

So I guess it didn't matter how my complexion was.

Not all things would go according to your plans (I'll be sharing reviews on suppliers soon to help other brides-to-be, and lessons I learned while planning and during the wedding).

But I've realized that at the end of the day, it's not about that perfect Instagrammable wedding picture. It's not about how much the flowers cost or how gorgeous your wedding dress is (I'm blessed that mine was 😝 and it's unplanned how I found it. I will share that in a different post, too).

Your wedding is a celebration of your union with the person God gave you as partner.

Your wedding day is about you marrying your best friend.
And that's all that really matters. Everything else are supplemental.

Here's our wedding video from RocketLab Photography, our official wedding P/V:

Thank you for journeying with me up until this time.
I will not stop writing, but the topics on my blog would change a bit.
I will still be blogging about being single because I love that stage of my life and I learned a lot from it.

My hope is to continue to encourage everyone regardless of their relationship status. And my wish is that if you still haven't, may you also find the one whom your soul would love.

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Love and Relationship

How To Handle Real Life Dating Site Run-Ins

8:10 PM

free dating site

How to Handle Real Life Dating Site Run-Ins

You’ve Checked Out Each Other’s Profiles

This one isn’t really a big deal. Yes, if you recognize each other, it can be awkward, but honestly, it’s similar to recognizing someone from a friend’s Facebook pictures. Sure, you kind of know who the other person is, but you’ve never actually spoken – so ignoring his or her presence isn’t really offensive.

Now, if it’s someone you end up seeing on a regular basis – say, you work together – it’s OK to acknowledge that you’ve seen each other on the site. You can even joke around about it. However, from personal experience, I’ll tell you that actually trying to date someone from work that you’ve seen on a dating site is just asking for awkward.

One of You Has Emailed or Winked at the Other – With No Response

I give you full permission to duck, hide, and/or leave the premises. If he or she has contacted you and you ignored it, then it’s fine to avoid the situation, since it’s a bit like you actually rejected his advances in person. If you winked at her and she never responded, then it’s even more acceptable to head in the other direction if you have a real-life run-in. No one wants to be reminded of his or her rejection – especially when it comes to online dating.

You’ve Both Expressed Interest or Are Planning to Meet

This one is up to you. If you would rather wait for the actual date, then it’s not a big deal to say nothing to the person. After all, if you’re out on the weekend, you do have the excuse that you were worried it wasn’t actually him or that you didn’t see her. But in this case, it’s not that strange to approach someone and meet ahead of time.
It might even help you figure out if a date would be a waste of your time. If you recognize someone you see on a regular basis, then it actually might be a little awkward to not say something. If and when you do end up actually meeting, it will be really obvious that both of you were avoiding saying anything before. Plus, if you connected on a dating site, why haven’t you already connected in real life?

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Listicle

What to Expect After Becoming Bankrupt

4:57 PM

Creditfix

What to Expect After Becoming Bankrupt

Why people declare themselves bankrupt

You can apply to become bankrupt for yourself or your creditors may force you. If you owe one creditor over £5,000 then it can apply for your bankruptcy. In reality, however, bankruptcy is an absolute last resort and it’s only advisable for borrowers with unsecured debts of £20,000 and over.

If you owe less than £20,000 then you may be better with solutions like individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs) or debt relief orders (DROs).

How does it all work?

To become bankrupt, you must fill in a form at the GOV.uk website. You’ll need to have documents like payslips, bills, council tax letters, rent or mortgage agreements and the details of all your debts.

In England and Wales, it costs £680 to apply for bankruptcy (it’s £669 in Northern Ireland) and while this might seem like a lot, you can pay it in instalments (minimum of £5) if you pay it online.

Once your application is in, the adjudicator has 28 days to decide whether to accept it and issue a bankruptcy order or to reject it.

If you’re successful

If you get a bankruptcy order then your bank accounts are all frozen immediately. Some or all of your non-essential assets could be sold to pay creditors and the remainder of the debt is written off. In some cases, if you have enough disposable income, you might be asked to make some ongoing payments each month for up to three years.

How long bankruptcy last?

Bankruptcy usually lasts for 12 months, during which time you’re an undischarged bankrupt. Once the 12 months is up, your bankruptcy remains on file for five more years; credit providers and banks can see this information and use it in their decision-making processes.

Is it possible to get credit?

While you’re filing for bankruptcy you can’t get a personal loan or a credit card and during your period of bankruptcy you won’t be eligible for a bank account that has an overdraft facility or a checkbook.

You’ll probably have to make do with a very basic bank account so you can pay direct debits and standing orders and receive wages and benefits.

What else is affected?

It’s not just credit offerings like overdrafts and loans that can be affected by becoming bankrupt. You’ll find other services and products can be too.

Your insurance premiums may go up as your providers can see that you have been bankrupt in the recent past. This is to cover what they see as an additional risk, as you pay for an annual policy in monthly installments. Alternatively, your insurer may offer you the chance to pay for your whole year upfront to keep down the cost.

In cases of very large debts, your home might be sold to pay your debts so you have to find a rental property. Finding a tenancy agreement after bankruptcy can be difficult, so having a financially-stable relative or friend to act as guarantor is a good idea.

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Faith

Lessons I Learned From Ruth While Waiting For My Boaz

8:18 PM

single women

feeling inadequate

feeling flawed

scrutinized and marginalized by the cruel society

feeling that they've ran out of luck when it comes to finding "The One"

tired of doing good and not seeing any good happen to them

whose value

Giphyread her story Lessons I Learned From Ruth While Waiting For My Boaz
1. Ruth’s priority was on a life of service.wait for someonevalidate your existence 2. Loyalty and selflessness are always rewarded.future husband 3. Be confident with who you are.

rumors and gossipthe naysayerssociety’s standardspetty thingspetty people 4. Be diligent, persevering, and determined.Though some people don't appreciate your effort and your goodness, someone will 5. Be a woman of character.

You can’t control your reputation, because everybody's entitled to their own opinion. But remember: not everybody matters.your own character 6. Stop chasing people.Never run after a bus, train or man. When one leaves, another arrives. 7. Follow the advice of the wise.

People might have treated her like trash, but her character shined so brightly that a man of integrity like Boaz saw what a gem she was.rewarded For God is faithful, and His timing is perfect.wait in faithLessons from The Feast's teachings on Women.
I shared this article on The Praying Woman but I thought it's appropriate to share it with my blog followers this Love Month. If you like this blog post about life and love, please share the article
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