The Crosswalk: Taking Back Your Digital Life (Without Breaking the Bank)

Using tech or used by tech?

Do you feel like you’re being used by the tech you pay for? Is your TV showing you ads? Is your phone telling big companies your personal information? Is your computer taking screen shots of your bank information? If you're using the default phones, computers, and TVs out there, I wouldn't be surprised if the answer is "yes."

Convenient?

We’re told that the "default" options are convenient, but are they really? Or are they just expensive, ad-filled traps?

This blog is for the average person

I think of my friend who drags her Windows laptop to Geek Squad Tech support provided by a big box gadget and computer store. every time it glitches. She pays for Windows, pays for software and subscriptions, and pays for the repair. I often wonder... What if she could have better reliability without the endless price tag? She’s interested in switching to something better, but she hesitates, thinking she'll lose that safety net of tech support. Linux An alternative to Windows or MacOS on computers. is a good option, but she's afraid if something breaks, she’s on her own.

That’s exactly who this blog is for.

Money, convenience, ownership, and safety

Welcome to "The Crosswalk." My goal is to help you save money and keep the convenience, to guide you safely from the illusion of convenience to real ownership of your digital life. I can take you from one side of the street, safely across the crosswalk, to a side with more freedom and privacy, without a lot of friction, inconvenience, and we'll save money along the way.

Most of us feel trapped. Between AI in everything, ads in the menus, surprise pop-up ads and "buy now," and software you can’t uninstall, tech is exhausting. From school portals to doctor appointments and grocery coupons, we are forced to use clunky apps that harvest our data just to access basic services. Your data is valuable currency, and companies are mining it, selling it, and risking it. You deserve a say in how that currency is spent.

So, what’s the alternative?

Open source

I’ll be focusing on open source Software whose code is publicly available and modifiable. Transparency, collaboration, and often free as in free lunch are important parts of the open source model. software. Simply put, this means the code is open for anyone to see. It’s transparent, customizable, and often free. It’s not just about saving money on subscriptions. It’s about using tools that respect your privacy and don’t leak your data like a sieve.

Bite-size chunks of information

But I know you can’t just make this change overnight.

This is a journey, not a race. I know some of you feel stuck with big tech, and you might not be able to totally transition away. Maybe Facebook is the only way to get local news in your town, or maybe your family and friends won’t switch to a secure messaging app. That’s okay.

Practical tips on how to protect yourself

In this blog, I won’t just talk about perfect open-source Software whose code is publicly available and modifiable. Transparency, collaboration, and often free as in free lunch are important parts of the open source model. tools. I’ll also show you how to minimize the harm of big tech when you have to use it. If you don't know what I'm talking about, then I probably mean your computer or your phone.

Types of things I'll talk about

We’ll also talk about things like the following:

How to strip ads and trackers from the apps you already use. Which open-source Software whose code is publicly available and modifiable. Transparency, collaboration, and often free as in free lunch are important parts of the open source model. tools are actually easy for non-techies. How to protect your data even when you’re stuck in a big-tech ecosystem.

Taking control of your digital life doesn’t have to be burdensome or a one-time overhaul. It can happen in small, manageable steps. Whether you’re ready to switch to Linux An alternative to Windows or MacOS on computers. today or just want to stop paying for ads you hate, there’s a path forward.

Let's walk the Crosswalk together.

Image credit: Ayyeee Ayyeee