Tips for Wildlife Photography | Homesteading Simple Self Sufficient Off-The-Grid

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FTC Announces $25 Million Fine Against Amazon for Kids Privacy Violations

Today the Federal Trade Commission announced a major enforcement action against Amazon, moving to fine the tech and retail giant $25 million and requiring updated data deletion practices. As the complaint explains, Amazon’s children’s data retention practices violated the Children’s Online Privacy and Protection Act (COPPA) Rule and Section 5 of the FTC Act. This enforcement action follows the 2019 complaint drafted by groups including the Center for Digital Democracy, Fairplay, and the Consumer Federation of America that called on the FTC to investigate Amazon for COPPA violations.

More than 800,000 children have their own Alexa profiles on Amazon devices that target and collect children’s personal data, retaining voice recordings and geolocation indefinitely—including when a child’s Alexa profile has been inactive. The FTC noted that even when parents requested that Alexa delete their children’s voice recordings, Amazon failed to honor those requests for a significant length of time, if at all. Instead, Amazon retained that data for its own use to improve its Alexa algorithm. In addition to Section 5 violations for unfair and deceptive business practices, the complaint charges that Amazon violated the COPPA Rule by retaining children’s voice recordings indefinitely and failing to provide parents with truthful notice or an effective opportunity to delete the recordings.

Under the proposed order, Amazon will be fined $25 million and required to delete inactive accounts held by children. Additionally, Amazon will be prohibited from “using geolocation, voice information, and children’s voice information subject to consumers’ deletion requests for the creation or improvement of any data product.” In a statement joined by Chair Kahn and Commissioner Slaughter, Commissioner Bedoya reiterated that data used to improve algorithms must be lawfully collected, emphasizing that “machine learning is no excuse to break the law.”

The FTC announced another enforcement action against Amazon today, addressing privacy violations from their Ring camera products and requiring data deletion. EPIC regularly advocates before the FTC for strong consumer protection and data protection safeguards, including privacy protections for children. The FTC previously considered EPIC’s recommendations in an early review of the COPPA Rule and incorporated several of EPIC’s recommendations in the 2013 regulations. EPIC filed comments in response to the FTC’s rulemaking on commercial surveillance, arguing for regulations that would safeguard the privacy of minors. Recently, EPIC led a coalition amicus brief to defend California’s Age-Appropriate Design Code.

Log Cabin Kits & Ideas For Your New Homestead | Homesteading Simple Self Sufficient Off-The-Grid

7&&void 0!==arguments[7]?arguments[7]:window,c=this;this.name=e,this.funcName=i,this.parameters=null===n?null:p(n)?n:[n],this.isBlock=o,this.blockedBy=s,this.deleteWhenComplete=r,this.isError=!1,this.isComplete=!1,this.isInitialized=!1,this.proceedIfError=a,this.fWindow=l,this.isTimeDelay=!1,this.process=function(){f(“… func = “+e),c.isInitialized=!0,c.isComplete=!0,f(“… func.apply: “+e);var i=c.funcName.split(“.”),n=null,o=this.fWindow||window;i.length>3||(n=3===i.length?o[i[0]][i[1]][i[2]]:2===i.length?o[i[0]][i[1]]:o[c.funcName]),null!=n&&n.apply(null,this.parameters),!0===c.deleteWhenComplete&&delete t[e],!0===c.isBlock&&(f(“—– F’D: “+c.name),u())}},l=function(e,i,t,n,o,s,r){var a=arguments.length>7&&void 0!==arguments[7]?arguments[7]:window,l=this;this.name=e,this.path=i,this.async=o,this.defer=s,this.isBlock=t,this.blockedBy=n,this.isInitialized=!1,this.isError=!1,this.isComplete=!1,this.proceedIfError=r,this.fWindow=a,this.isTimeDelay=!1,this.isPath=function(e){return”/”===e[0]&&”/”!==e[1]},this.getSrc=function(e){return void 0!==window.__ezScriptHost&&this.isPath(e)?window.__ezScriptHost+e:e},this.process=function(){l.isInitialized=!0,f(“… file = “+e);var i=this.fWindow?this.fWindow.document:document,t=i.createElement(“script”);t.src=this.getSrc(this.path),!0===o?t.async=!0:!0===s&&(t.defer=!0),t.onerror=function(){f(“—– ERR’D: “+l.name),l.isError=!0,!0===l.isBlock&&u()},t.onreadystatechange=t.onload=function(){var e=t.readyState;f(“—– F’D: “+l.name),e&&!/loaded|complete/.test(e)||(l.isComplete=!0,!0===l.isBlock&&u())},i.getElementsByTagName(“head”)[0].appendChild(t)}},c=function(e,i){this.name=e,this.path=””,this.async=!1,this.defer=!1,this.isBlock=!1,this.blockedBy=[],this.isInitialized=!0,this.isError=!1,this.isComplete=i,this.proceedIfError=!1,this.isTimeDelay=!1,this.process=function(){}};function d(e){!0!==h(e)&&0!=r&&e.process()}function h(e){if(!0===e.isTimeDelay&&!1===n)return f(e.name+” blocked = TIME DELAY!”),!0;if(p(e.blockedBy))for(var i=0;i200||(f(“let’s go”),m(o),m(s))}function m(e){for(var i in e)if(!1!==e.hasOwnProperty(i)){var t=e[i];!0===t.isComplete||h(t)||!0===t.isInitialized||!0===t.isError?!0===t.isError?f(t.name+”: error”):!0===t.isComplete?f(t.name+”: complete already”):!0===t.isInitialized&&f(t.name+”: initialized already”):t.process()}}function p(e){return”[object Array]”==Object.prototype.toString.call(e)}return window.addEventListener(“load”,(function(){setTimeout((function(){n=!0,f(“TDELAY —–“),u()}),5e3)}),!1),{addFile:function(e,i,n,r,a,c,h,f,u){var m=new l(e,i,n,r,a,c,h,u);!0===f?o[e]=m:s[e]=m,t[e]=m,d(m)},addDelayFile:function(e,i){var n=new l(e,i,!1,[],!1,!1,!0);n.isTimeDelay=!0,f(e+” … FILE! TDELAY”),s[e]=n,t[e]=n,d(n)},addFunc:function(e,n,r,l,c,h,f,u,m,p){!0===h&&(e=e+”_”+i++);var y=new a(e,n,r,l,c,f,u,p);!0===m?o[e]=y:s[e]=y,t[e]=y,d(y)},addDelayFunc:function(e,i,n){var o=new a(e,i,n,!1,[],!0,!0);o.isTimeDelay=!0,f(e+” … FUNCTION! TDELAY”),s[e]=o,t[e]=o,d(o)},items:t,processAll:u,setallowLoad:function(e){r=e},markLoaded:function(e){if(e&&0!==e.length){if(e in t){var i=t[e];!0===i.isComplete?f(i.name+” “+e+”: error loaded duplicate”):(i.isComplete=!0,i.isInitialized=!0)}else t[e]=new c(e,!0);f(“markLoaded dummyfile: “+t[e].name)}},logWhatsBlocked:function(){for(var e in t)!1!==t.hasOwnProperty(e)&&h(t[e])}}}();__ez.evt.add=function(e,t,n){e.addEventListener?e.addEventListener(t,n,!1):e.attachEvent?e.attachEvent(“on”+t,n):e[“on”+t]=n()},__ez.evt.remove=function(e,t,n){e.removeEventListener?e.removeEventListener(t,n,!1):e.detachEvent?e.detachEvent(“on”+t,n):delete e[“on”+t]};__ez.script.add=function(e){var t=document.createElement(“script”);t.src=e,t.async=!0,t.type=”text/javascript”,document.getElementsByTagName(“head”)[0].appendChild(t)};__ez.dot={};!function(){var e;__ez.vep=(e=[],{Add:function(i,t){__ez.dot.isDefined(i)&&__ez.dot.isValid(t)&&e.push({type:”video”,video_impression_id:i,domain_id:__ez.dot.getDID(),t_epoch:__ez.dot.getEpoch(0),data:__ez.dot.dataToStr(t)})},Fire:function(){if(void 0===document.visibilityState||”prerender”!==document.visibilityState){if(__ez.dot.isDefined(e)&&e.length>0)for(;e.length>0;){var i=5;i>e.length&&(i=e.length);var t=e.splice(0,i),o=__ez.dot.getURL(“/detroitchicago/grapefruit.gif”)+”?orig=”+(!0===__ez.template.isOrig?1:0)+”&v=”+btoa(JSON.stringify(t));__ez.dot.Fire(o)}e=[]}}})}();]]> [] Log Cabin Kits & Ideas For Your New Homestead | Homesteading Simple Self Sufficient Off-The-Grid | Homesteading.com tallest) { tallest = thisHeight; } }); group.height(tallest); } equalHeight($(“.dg-grid-shortcode .dg_grid-shortcode-col”)); $(window).resize(function() { equalHeight($(“.dg-grid-shortcode .dg_grid-shortcode-col”)); }); }); ]]>

Nesco Snackmaster Encore Review: A Dehydrator You Can Trust

A good dehydrator changes the game. 

Homesteaders with the ability to dry and preserve food can save time, money, and tons of perishables that would otherwise go to waste. But many simply can’t afford the price tag on a top-end unit. 

The Nesco Snackmaster Encore is an affordable solution, making high-quality dehydrated food accessible to everyone.

Nesco Snackmaster EncoreNesco Snackmaster Encore

This hearty little machine can dehydrate everything from wild game to frozen fruit. It’s easy to use, incredibly versatile, and sits at a price point we can all get on board with. 

Quick Specs

Nesco Snackmaster Encore Food Dehydrator

Dimensions: 14” L x 10” W x 10” H | Weight: 6.8 pounds | Power: 500 W | Temperature: 95°–160° F

Those interested in dehydrating more food at once can snag an easy-to-use expansion pack of two additional trays.

Pros:

  • Dries thoroughly
  • Affordable
  • Temperature controls
  • Runs at 95°–160° F
  • Easy to clean
  • Liquids tray
  • Suitable for meat

Nesco Snackmaster Encore Food DehydratorNesco Snackmaster Encore Food Dehydrator

Special Features

The Snackmaster was designed to provide quality dehydrating at an affordable cost. Many enthusiasts consider it a great “starter” dehydrator, but it boasts various features that can compete with units at a much higher price point. 

Top-Mounted Fan

In the world of electric dehydrators, the top-mounted fan reigns supreme—at least in my book.

Top-mounted fans sit above the food and direct warm air downward for circulation. While this makes the unit moretop-heavy, it’s a trade-off I prefer.

Bottom-mounted fans get really dirty. Even if a fan guard is in place, food particles and drops of liquid inevitably get all over it. 

Nesco Snackmaster EncoreNesco Snackmaster EncoreThe engine and fan are mounted on the removable top end of the unit. 

Quietly Powerful

The Nesco Snackmaster Encore has an impressive 500-watt engine. You can definitely hear the motor working, but it’s a pleasant background noise rather than a distracting whir of activity.

I work from home, and the unit never disturbs me. Unlike other noisier appliances, I can plug it in and leave it to purr away. 

Adjustable Thermostat

Some units come with factory temperature settings, but a thermostat you can manually adjust is always better. You’ll need a different temperature when dehydrating meat items than you would to dehydrate things like herbs. 

You also need a wide variety of temperatures to get the most out of your dehydrator, and the Snackmaster delivers. The dial is easy to turn, and there’s even a temperature guide printed next to it.

Nesco Snackmaster EncoreNesco Snackmaster EncoreIt’s hard to make temperature mistakes with a machine this intuitive.

Patented Drying System

The way this unit dries is unique and remarkable. It utilizes Nesco’s patented Converga-Flow drying system,…

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No Fuss Ways To Prepare Wheat Berries

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How to Make Dehydrated Vegetable Chips

Summer is the season of plenty.  

These magical months bring an array of garden-fresh veggies, but those with exceptionally green thumbs may wind up with more produce than they can handle.

Why not turn the excess into a healthy, tasty chip? 

Drying veg for chips is easy and fun, but it’s not as simple as it seems. Read on to learn how to make dehydrated vegetable chips correctly and discover essential techniques to keep them crispy, crunchy, and crave-able all summer.

Golden Rules for Making Veggie Chips

Dehydrated chips on a plateDehydrated chips on a plate

Dehydrating food for immediate consumption is not the same as dehydrating food for MREs or long-term storage.

While dehydrated veggie chips can be stored safely for extended periods, these flavorful little bites are meant to be eaten fresh. Since you won’t be rehydrating them later, it’s essential to learn some guidelines to make them taste good as-is. 

Choose Your Vegetables Wisely

You can dehydrate most vegetables, but not all of them make great chips. You’ll want to avoid those that are squishy when ripe, such as tomatoes or avocados.

They will dry out but won’t take on a crunchy texture in the dehydrator. Veggies with a more solid structure, like squashes, roots, and tubers, are better for crispy chips. 

If you’re unsure what vegetables to use, I’ve listed my favorites below. Just remember that dehydrating is a choose-your-own-adventure type of activity. Just because I’ve never had success with carrots doesn’t mean you can’t. It’s important to play around and see what you like. 

Crisp winners

  • Yams
  • Beets
  • Yuca
  • Pea pods
  • Kale
  • Squash

Limp losers

  • Carrots
  • Romaine 
  • Onion
  • Okra
  • Arugula 

Dehydrated chipsDehydrated chipsYams crisp up nicely in the dehydrator. 

Know When to Blanch

Blanching is a way to pre-treat vegetables by scalding them in hot water, steaming them, or even popping them in the microwave.

This brief heat immersion lets them release liquid, dry faster, and retain texture and color when dehydrated. It also begins the cooking process, breaking down tough starch and fiber in the produce. 

Blanching is crucial when working with starchy or fibrous roots like potatoes and beets. They wind up discolored and leathery if you don’t blanch them, tasting like a dry version of the raw root you started with.

On the other hand, watery veggies like zucchini and squash don’t need to be blanched. Their starch content is minimal, their fibers are easy to chew, and blanching makes them go mushy. 

Dehydrated chipsDehydrated chipsThink blanching doesn’t matter? Think again. The potato on the left was blanched before dehydration and turned out delicious, while the one on the right wasn’t and tasted awful. 

Utilize Oil and Salt the Smart Way

Salt is integral to an excellent dehydrated chip….

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Top Medicinal Herbs To Grow At Home

Thinking of planting medicinal herbs in your home? Here are the top 5 medicinal herbs you should consider growing, and why.

5 Medicinal Herbs to Grow at Home

Medicinal herbs have been gaining increasing popularity, as a natural replacement for pills and antibiotics. They are now considered to be not only cheaper, but also a healthier way to deal with a variety of aches and ailments. In addition, gardening is the perfect remedy against stress and anxiety. Here are 5 medicinal herbs that you can easily grow at home.

Thyme

Thyme | Top 5 Medicinal Herbs To Grow At Home | Homesteading Tips

This ancient and aromatic herb is famous for its antiseptic properties. You can use it to treat sore throat, coughs, indigestion, acne and arthritis.

The easiest way to grow thyme is to buy seedlings from a gardening store. Pick a sunny spot at home to place the pot and fill it with soil. Add some compost and ensure that there is good drainage. You should plant seedlings at least 20 centimeters apart. Thyme is usually harvested in summer. Gardeners should make sure they leave a few centimeters of the stem, so that it can grow again.

Basil

Basil | Top 5 Medicinal Herbs To Grow At Home | Homesteading Tips

Basil possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It is useful in cases of nausea, lack of appetite, headaches and even kidney stones.

Pick a pot and soil type that will ensure adequate drainage. Buy basil seeds and sow them 2 to 5 centimeters apart. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of compost and moisten the soil a bit. Place pot in a warm and sunny spot and protect it from cold. See how you can grow it indoors here.

Chamomile

Chamomile | Top 5 Medicinal Herbs To Grow At Home | Homesteading Tips

Chamomile flower heads are used to relieve skin irritation, indigestion, anxiety and tension.

The best time to plant chamomile is in late winter or early spring months. It thrives well in a loose, sandy soil that drains well. Buy a celled planting tray in order to ensure enough space between stables. Place 2-3 seeds in each cell and cover them with the soil. Place the tray at moderate light and keep the soil moist. When seedlings are about 1 centimeter high, remove unhealthy ones from the tray.

Lavender

Lavender | Top 5 Medicinal Herbs To Grow At Home | Homesteading Tips

This beautiful and aromatic plant has a great calming and relaxing effect on the nervous system. It also eases pain and possesses antiseptic properties when applied to skin cuts and bruises.

Gardening experts would tell you that lavender is a Mediterranean herb, so it requires lots of sunlight. Pick a well-lit and warm location, which will also provide good shelter in the…

Ireland Fines Meta €1.2 Billion, Orders Halt of Personal Data Transfers to U.S.

Ireland’s Data Protection Commission has fined Meta €1.2 billion and ordered the company to suspend transfers of personal data to the United States within five months, finding that Meta’s transfers violation the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation. The order also requires Meta to delete EU users’ personal data unlawfully transferred to the U.S. and to bring its processing into compliance with the GDPR.

The order arises from the long-running dispute over cross-border transfers of EU residents’ personal data to the U.S. In 2013, privacy advocate (and EPIC Advisory Board member) Max Schrems filed a complaint alleging that Facebook violated EU law when it transferred personal data to the U.S., where surveillance law fails to provide adequate privacy protections or remedies for non-U.S. persons. The dispute ultimately led the European Court of Justice to invalidate both the U.S.-EU Safe Harbor Agreement (in Schrems I) and the U.S.-EU Privacy Shield Agreement (in Schrems II, a case in which EPIC participated as amicus).

Following Schrems II, Meta continued to carry out cross-border data transfers on the basis of “standard contractual clauses,” which purport to provide EU user data with protections equivalent to the GDPR when transferred to other countries. But Monday’s decision—the result of an investigation by the Irish DPC and a recent ruling by the European Data Protection Board—rejected Meta’s argument that these clauses adequately safeguard the fundamental rights of EU data subjects.

The DPC’s order could have major consequences for other platforms and companies that transfer personal data between the EU and U.S. The proposed Trans-Atlantic Data Privacy Framework may provide companies with a legal basis to continue such transfers when the European Commission’s approval is finalized, though concerns remain that the framework fails to provide EU citizens with adequate remedies for unlawful surveillance.

So, Is It Illegal To Collect Rainwater in Arkansas?

Water is one of the most precious resources we have, and it is doubly precious in the middle of any situation where our usual water supplies are cut off or contaminated.

One of the very best things you can do to ensure your continued access to water, no matter what, is to install a rain catching system on your property.

flag of Arkansas

People have been doing it for thousands and thousands of years, but some states actually tightly regulate the practice.

How about Arkansas? Is it illegal to collect rainwater in Arkansas?

No, it isn’t illegal to collect rainwater in Arkansas but the practice is tightly controlled and regulated. The State Board of Health dictates that any collected rainwater is only used for non-potable purposes, and all systems must comply with the Arkansas Plumbing Code.

This is something of a major disappointment if you live in Arkansas. Compared to every other state in the south, Arkansas has significantly more regulations and oversight on the design, installation and use of rainwater collection systems.

But, it’s just something you’ll have to deal with if you want to set up your own in the state. Keep reading and I’ll tell you everything else you need to know.

Is Collection of Rainwater Illegal at the State Level in Arkansas?

No, the collection of rainwater isn’t illegal at the state level in Arkansas but it is tightly controlled through the State Board of Health. See 17-38-201.

The board of Health has been empowered by the legislature to set standards for the use of rainwater collection systems by citizens.

In short, every rainwater collection system in the state must comply with the edicts of the State Board of Health.

That means they must all be designed by professional engineers and fully comply with the codes laid down and the Arkansas Plumbing Code.

Is Collection of Rainwater Illegal at the County Level?

No, my knowledge there is no county in Arkansas that makes the collection of rainwater outright illegal.

That being said, individual counties and city governments might institute even stricter laws and ordinances concerning the use of rain water catching systems.

It’s bad enough having to comply with the water state laws, but now you must double check and ensure that your local authorities aren’t going to make the process even harder.

I would expect permitting processes and inspections as a matter of course, particularly in more populous areas.

Under What Conditions Can Citizens Collect Rainwater in Arkansas?

Citizens of Arkansas can collect as much water as they want with their systems whenever it is raining, and there is no state statute determining times or seasons when rainwater collection is off-limits or restricted.

But with that said, it isn’t out of the question that local or state authorities might issue restrictions or total stoppages on the practice depending on any emergencies that have arisen.

Especially in the case of drought, groundwater or below ground water source…

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17 Awesome Treehouse Ideas For You And The Kids

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