Category Archives: General Talk
Privacy
Almost every website on the planet uses cookies. This site uses cookies too. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to my “use” of cookies.
Privacy Policy
I am creating this privacy policy because I have a worldwide readership. The European Union has passed a regulation requiring any website whose readership includes people from any of the 28 EU countries to disclose privacy policy.
Although PopUpBackpacker’s readers are really smart people and don’t need this information, I am posting it because I could otherwise be fined.
You don’t need to worry about me, you need to worry about the popular social media sites,
which is why I don’t use, link to, or approve of any of them!
What personal data I collect and why I collect it
Subscribers
If you subscribe to PopUpBackpacker to receive a notification whenever a new post is published, I store the name and email address you submit. This information is only used to notify you of new posts. I never share this information with anyone.
Third Party Websites
Embedded content from other websites
Articles on this site may include embedded content (e.g. videos, images, articles, etc.). Embedded content from other websites behaves in the exact same way as if the visitor has visited the other website.
These websites may collect data about you, use cookies, embed additional third-party tracking, and monitor your interaction with that embedded content, including tracing your interaction with the embedded content if you have an account and are logged in to that website.
Analytics
Almost every website on the planet has data that is collected by Google Analytics. I use Google Analytics to see where my readership originates. I do not receive any personal information from Google, not do I know who these individuals are.
Cookies
What is a cookie?
A cookie is a small file that can be placed on your device that allows my site to recognize and remember you. It is sent to your browser and stored on your computer’s hard drive or tablet or mobile device. When you visit my sites, I may collect information from you automatically through cookies or similar technology. All of this is transparent to me.
How do we use cookies?
I use cookies improve your experience on my site, allowing me to publish articles you want to read. To be honest, I am not directly involved with cookies in any hands-on manner.
Using cookies allows other organizations to help me to analyze how my site is being used, measure the number of visitors to the site, and display advertising. That’s all. Because of how cookies work, our website cannot access third-party cookies; nor can other organizations access the data in the cookies I use on my website.
What types of cookies do I use ?
Performance
Cookies which measure how often you visit PopUpBackpacker.com and how you use them. I can use this information to get a better sense of how my reader engage with my writing. For example, I collect information about which of my pages are most frequently visited, and by which types of users. I also use third-party cookies to help with performance. For example, the Google Analytics cookie gives me information such as your interest between pages.
Advertising
Cookies that are used to collect information about your visit to my site, the content you have viewed, the links you have followed and information about your browser, device and your IP address.
Cookies are a key part of how I deliver advertising on my site. They allow me to show more relevant advertising to people who visit PopUpBackpacker.com by showing you ads that are based on your browsing patterns and the way you have interacted with my site. I can then show you ads which I believe may interest you.
The advertising techniques I use do not collect information such as your name, email address, mailing address or phone number.
Confession Time: I’m a Philatelist
I’ve been addicted to philately for nearly 60 years. I do it for the fun. It gives me pleasure. I spend money on it for only my personal benefit. Continue reading Confession Time: I’m a Philatelist
The Changing Landscape of Campgrounds
We just got back from a two-week camping trip a few days ago and the changes are plainly visible for Joyce and me – we are frequent campers. No, this isn’t a post about climate change. Over the past four years I have seen dramatic changes in the use of the campgrounds we frequent. Keep in mind that this is an unscientific perspective from my little corner of the world where people can and do camp all 12 months of the year.
Hackers, Thieves, and Property Rights
A little over a week ago, I wrote about this site being hacked. Since then there have been several more successful intrusions and one of these deleted a significant amount of files. This has kept me busy, working with the companies that provide security and backup services for this site, and adding even more security to protect me against these malicious criminals. The site is back and running with all intact. All of this has entailed a lot of time, energy, and money to keep PopUpBackpacker in existence. Given that this site has a small audience, is not influential, and has a limited scope, one would wonder (as I have) if all this aggravation is worth the effort. I seriously pondered this same question. Continue reading Hackers, Thieves, and Property Rights
Desert Tortoise (groundhog) Day
Today is Groundhog Day. We desert dwellers do things much differently than most people, such as the ability to BBQ in t-shirts and shorts 365 days a year. We have a different perception of spring and couldn’t care less if Punxsutawney Phil can see his shadow on Groundhog Day. You might enjoy our version: Mojave Maxine.
PopUpBackpacker — HACKED!!
Yesterday was not a great day. First, I was contacted by one of my gasoline credit card companies that unauthorized charges had been made. Not a huge deal, since I am not liable for these criminal activities, but it is a little inconvenient that I cannot use my card any longer and will have to wait 7-10 days until a new card arrives.
The second event, unrelated to the first, is my website was hacked by another criminal. I am sharing this and what I had to do, in hopes it may help others to avoid my experience.
Continue reading PopUpBackpacker — HACKED!!
Wi-Fi Is Coming To Your National Park!
What’s Up With That?
Back in October I saw that it had already happened at Lake Mead Recreational Area, one of the National Park Service (NPS) units. Instead of posting a rant about this technology on my return home, it seemed prudent to give it some thought and wrap my mind around a subject that twenty years ago I knew was probably going to happen. Sometimes it is best to let thoughts stew for a while in the brain, before dishing out opinions.
Sometimes it seems you can’t get anything done when you’re retired…
Finally after more than a year the back yard is done.
I have posted a lot of pictures for your viewing enjoyment.
Continue reading Sometimes it seems you can’t get anything done when you’re retired…
Read the Damn Instructions
Regular readers of this site know I often pontificate about reading manuals and instructions that come with consumer products. More importantly I often chastise people who don’t read said materials and have no sympathy for those who try to gain Darwin Award Nominations by not reading and following the instructions and required maintenance. Perhaps it is a good thing when people try to remove themselves from the human gene pool by not bothering to read instructions.
When I retired the agreement was Joyce would continue to work since she is younger than me and I would complete the house remodel prior to her retirement. Another thing, which wasn’t an agreement, but something I volunteered to do — I would cook meals and do all the household chores. There was only one problem with this offer. I didn’t know how to cook.