How do you stop online trackers from following you? | E-Neighborhood Advisor

Last week we learned the difference between

first party cookies and third party cookies. The

reality is, we all need to be careful about who

we grant access to our browsing activity. Even

if we feel like we don’t have anything to hide,

there is no guarantee of what entities will do

with that information so it’s best to share as

little as possible with strangers. The following

tips help keep your information private online.

Great ways to block online tracking

Browser add-ons

One of the simplest things you can do to block

third-party cookies is download an anti-tracking

browser extension. The Electronic Frontier 

Foundation’s Privacy Badger uses algorithms

to learn which third-party requests to block

while Disconnect uses user-generated lists.

Ghostery allows users to choose whether or

not to grant permission to third-party trackers.

All three of these browser add-ons are

available for Chrome and Firefox.

Clearing and blocking third-party cookies

Most browsers also have options that help limit

the ability of third parties to give your device

cookies, although they are generally less

effective than the browser extensions listed

above.

Search engines that will not track you

Search engines such as DuckDuckGo or

Qwant do not track your IP address or log your

search history, letting you access information

with privacy. While using different search

engines will help, remember that Google can

also access your data via Android devices,

YouTube, and Gmail.

Email services that will not track you

The best option to keep your emails secure

and private are end-to-end encrypted services

such as ProtonMail.

Use a VPN

To avoid being tracked by your device’s IP

address, you can use a

VPN (Virtual PrivateNetwork).

This will route your Internet traffic

through a VPN server of your choosing and

replaces your IP address with the IP address of

that VPN server. Be sure to only use

trustworthy VPN services because the

company you choose can access and record

your online activity while you are connected to

their infrastructure.

Final Thoughts

There is no such thing as absolute privacy on

the Internet, but you can take positive steps to

limit your exposure. As there are many ways to

track you online, for maximum protection, you

should use a combination of the methods

outlined above. However, even if you only use

a couple of these tools, it will dramatically limit

the amount of information online trackers can

collect from you and help you take back control

of your personal data.

Your Flooring Consultant,

Matt Capell

Email: sales@capellinteriors.com

Phone (208) 288-0151

Fax (208) 917-6160

P.S. Here's a joke for you!

Did you hear about the monkeys who shared an Amazon account? 

They were Prime mates.

2 ways you’re being tracked online | E-Neighborhood Advisor

Stopping online trackers is clearly a hot topic.

An internet search for ways to block trackers

yields more than 32 million results. You know

tracking happens to you. You search retailer

sites for a new sweater, or a snow blower, or a

life insurance policy. Suddenly ads for those

items pop up every time you’re online. It’s not a

coincidence. Your travels about the web are

being monitored, creating both a privacy issues

and security risk. But what can you do? Is

constant surveillance the price you pay for

being online?

The ProtonVPN Blog has some tools and

techniques you can use to block websites from

tracking you, but first it’s helpful to know who is

following you, and how these services actually

follow you.

A quick way to evaluate which third-party

trackers are following you is to visit the EFF’s

Panopticlick or Am I Unique. These sites will

show you the trackers that still have access to

your online activity and help you see your

device’s “fingerprint.”

How cookies track you on the Internet

Cookies are tiny bits of text that websites place

on your device based on the websites you visit

and the things you click on. This text can then

be read when you return to the site, letting it

“recognize” you and re-create your previously

chosen preferences. These are what allow you

to remain logged in to a site unless you

deliberately log out. These types of cookies are

called first-party cookies, since they come

directly from the website you are accessing.

Third-party cookies are placed on your

device by third-parties — not by you, not by the

website you are visiting, but by secret

advertising services. These advertising

services then follow your device from site to

site, trying to see what websites and topics

interest you to improve the ads they show you.

They can also end up with a thorough record of

your online activity.

Generally speaking, first-party cookies can be

useful, while third-party cookies raise

numerous privacy concerns. Fortunately, third-

party cookies are easy to isolate. Next week

we’ll be discussing several ways to avoid or

block third-party cookies. Watch for our email

with the subject line: How do you stop online

trackers from following you?

Your Flooring Consultant,

Matt Capell

Email: sales@capellinteriors.com

Phone (208) 288-0151

Fax (208) 917-6160

P.S. Here's a joke for you!

Why do beavers spend so long on the Internet?

They never want to log off.

(COVID-19) A Message for Our Valued Customers of Capell Flooring and Interiors

(COVID-19) A Message for Our Valued Customers of Capell Flooring and Interiors

We have seen and understand the growing concern in our community over the spread of the coronavirus and wanted to let our valued customers know that we are taking the health and safety of both our staff and customers very seriously.

In our store and warehouse, we have increased cleaning frequency, provided hand sanitizers at entrances, desks, and other high-touch areas.  We have worked hard to ensure a clean, comfortable shopping experience for our customers.

Our staff is all dedicated to eliminating handshakes while still providing friendly service.  Our installers and sales teams are taking extra precautions before entering our customers’ homes.

We are happy to work with you over the phone or via FaceTime, Facebook Video, Skype, Google Duo or Zoom video conferencing.  We are also happy to arrange in-store appointments for a private consultation.

Currently, we do not have anyone on our staff (including the store, warehouse, and installation crews), who are showing any symptoms. If that changes, we have all committed to remaining home to ensure the safety and health of everyone else.  We are all monitoring our health very closely.  

Thank you for your continued support during this difficult and uncertain time.  The Treasure Valley is a wonderful place to live, and we are grateful to be a part of it.  We have said this a lot, but we truly do have the best customers in town.

We love our community and will continue to serve you in all your flooring needs as safely as possible.

Sincerely,

Matt Capell - President/Owner of Capell Flooring and Interiors, Inc.

#doingourpart #ourpromisetoyou #thisisboise #capellflooring #staysafe #behappy #yougotthis

Writing Effective Emails | E-Neighborhood Advisor

For 19 years, Seton Hall professor Dr. Dennis

Jerz has been maintaining a list of best

practices for email. The most recent updates

underscore the distinction between email and

social media conversations. Social media

allows us to chat informally with people we

usually know; email is largely a business tool,

so it’s important to use it in a clear, concise,

professional way.

Jerz and his colleagues have identified the top

strategies for writing effective emails, here are

a few of them.

Write a meaningful subject line.

Give your reader a concrete reason to open

your message. A clear subject line will help a

busy professional to decide that your email is

worthwhile.

Be kind. Don’t flame.

Think before you click “Send.” If you find

yourself writing in anger, save a draft, go get a

cup of coffee, and imagine that tomorrow

morning someone has taped your email

outside your door. Would your associates and

friends be shocked by your language or

attitude?

Don’t assume privacy.

Email is not secure. Just as random

pedestrians could reach into a physical mailbox

and intercept envelopes, a curious hacker, a

malicious criminal, and your IT department can

probably read any and all email messages in

your work account. If it’s not worth the risk,

then don’t put it in an email.

Respond Promptly

If you want to appear professional and

courteous, make yourself available to your 

online correspondents. Even if your reply is, 

“Sorry, I’m too busy to help you now,” at least

your correspondent won’t be waiting in vain for

your reply.

Show Respect and Restraint

Many a flame war has been started by

someone who hit “reply all” instead of “reply.”

While most people know that email is not

private, it is good form to ask the sender before

forwarding a personal message. If someone

emails you a request, it is perfectly acceptable

to forward the request to a person who can

help — but forwarding a message in order to

ridicule the sender is tacky.

Be tolerant of other people’s etiquette

blunders. If you think you’ve been insulted,

quote the line back to your sender and add a

neutral comment such as, “I’m not sure how to

interpret this… could you elaborate?”

For more tips and examples, check out

https://jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/e-text/email/

Your Flooring Consultant,

Matt Capell

Email: sales@capellinteriors.com

Phone (208) 288-0151

Fax (208) 917-6160

P.S. Here's a joke for you!

What was forest gump's email password?

1forest1

Welcome to March 2020 | Capell Flooring and Interiors

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the March edition of the Neighborhood Advisor! This month is

packed with loads of spring articles, trivia and tips for your home.

March always feels like a fresh start. From spring-cleaning flowers blooming

to warmer weather, everything just seems a lot brighter compared to the

gloomy winter months. Some ways that you can add a spark of brightness

and personality to your home also is by trying some popular home decorating

trends such as wood floors, porcelain tile, open shelves, colored kitchen

cabinets or adding plants.

If you’re thinking of redecorating your home for those spring/summer months

in time for your fun family gatherings and barbecues then why not stop in to

see us at Capell Flooring and Interiors?

Thank you once again for joining us for another month of the Neighborhood

Advisor. We hope you have a wonderful month!

Your friend,

Matt Capell

Should you run in cold weather? Yes! | E-Neighborhood Advisor

Cold weather during winter months may keep many people from leaving home and running in the open air. However, a VOA News reports that the drop in temperature is a good reason to run. In fact, researchers say, running in cold weather helps improve one’s performance. Many people say running in the winter can be difficult. Two reasons are the low temperatures and bitter winds. Yet many runners might find it easier than running in hot weather. That could be because lower temperatures reduce stress on the body. When you run in cold weather, your heart rate and the body’s dehydration levels are lower than in warmer conditions. The body needs less water on a cold day than in warm weather. Many people, especially new runners, believe that running in cold weather is harmful. This is simply not the case for healthy individuals. Some people even think that the lungs can actually freeze -- again, not possible, even in the coldest places on the planet. When a person takes a breath, the nose, mouth and throat warm the entering air, so that by the time it reaches the lungs, it has warmed to near body temperature. Several websites note that the most important thing for people who run in cold conditions is to wear the right clothing. Keeping as dry as possible is most important when exercising in low temperatures. Wear mittens on your hands instead of gloves. Wear shoes that will keep you from falling. And especially, wear more than one layer of clothing to keep sweat away from your skin. So, if you are a runner, don’t let winter weather keep you indoors. Simply get ready for the low temperatures and start running. For more tips about running in cold weather, click here. Your Flooring Consultant, Matt Capell Email: sales@capellinteriors.com Phone (208) 288-0151 Fax (208) 917-6160 P.S. Here's a joke for you! What do runners do when they forget something?  They jog their memory!

Just desserts | E-Neighborhood Advisor

In 1856, at Boston’s Parker House Hotel, French chef Monsieur Augustine Francois Anezin created the Boston cream pie. In 1996, Massachusetts declared the Boston cream pie as their official dessert. The traditional Boston cream pie is a yellow cake filled with custard or cream and topped with chocolate glaze. Although it is called a Boston cream pie, it is in fact a cake, and not a pie. The dessert acquired its name when cakes and pies were cooked in the same pans, and the words were used interchangeably. While not every state has an official state dessert, they all have treats they are known for. Some make sense, like saltwater taffy in New Jersey, cheesecake in New York and Mississippi mud pie in, well, Mississippi. Some are more of a headscratcher. Utah does have an official state dessert and it is jell-o. That probably doesn’t boost their tourist trade. Missouri’s official state dessert is the ice cream cone, but gooey butter cake is the confection that shows up on the “best of” lists. This fabulous treat starts with a layer of thick, buttery yellow cake baked with a gooey filling of cream cheese, powdered sugar, and eggs. Nebraska’s notable dessert, the popcorn ball, has the most fantastic origin story. Nebraska is the country’s leading popcorn producer, growing about one-quarter of our national supply. Per Slate magazine, popcorn balls were invented during a day of wonky Nebraska weather: First heavy rains sent syrup flowing from sorghum grass into the cornfields, then extreme heat caused the corn to pop, and finally a tornado swept the sugar-coated popcorn into clusters. Take a look at these lists and see what sweet treat your home state is known for, and use them to plan a trip to your next delicious destination. United Sweets Of America Map Best Desserts In The Country Your Flooring Consultant, Matt Capell Email: sales@capellinteriors.com Phone (208) 288-0151 Fax (208) 917-6160 P.S. Here's a joke for you! Why did the pie go to a dentist?  Because he needed a filling!

Getting the garden started | E-Neighborhood Advisor

In February, we often see the first promise of spring. Bulbs start popping up, the days are getting longer and we start thinking about our gardens. Now is the time to set yourself up for your best growing season yet. February is all about prep. If the ground isn’t frozen, you can begin to get your beds ready. Dig up all remaining weeds and get the soil ready for sowing. It’s also a great time to check over your tools and equipment so that everything is in good working order come spring. Thompson Morgan says pruning and tidying are the most important tasks for the flower garden in February:  Prune wisteria now, cutting back summer side-shoots to 2 or 3 buds.  Cut back shrubs down to their bases.  Prune summer-flowering clematis towards the end of the month, before active growth begins.  Cut back the old foliage from ornamental grasses before growth begins. Clip them to within a few centimeters of the ground.  Prune overwintered fuchsias back to one or two buds on each shoot.  Prune winter-flowering shrubs once their colorful display has finished.  Remove faded flowers from winter pansies to stop them setting seed. This will encourage a flush of new flowers when the weather warms up. In Florida and other frost-free regions, summer bulbs such as crinum, agapanthus, dahlia, gloriosa, gladiolus, and canna can be planted now. Site them where they will receive at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight a day. Their only other requirement is well-drained soil that doesn’t remain wet and soggy after heavy rains. Mulch the bulbs to protect them from an unexpected cold snap and to minimize weeds. Enjoy bulb flowers weeks earlier by purchasing pre-sprouted plants at your local garden center. Bulbs are a snap to grow, but some take a while to break dormancy, so potted plants will jumpstart the color show. If it’s too cold to garden outdoors in February, why not make a terrarium? Costa Farms suggests looking for clear-glass containers that have a lid or stopper that will help maintain a humid atmosphere around your plants. For plants such as succulents that prefer a drier climate, select a large, open-mouthed container. Then, look for plants that remain compact. Good choices for a moist environment include pilea, peperomia, ivy, artillery fern, button fern, baby tears and creeping fig. For an open container try cactus, succulents, hens-and-chicks, jade plant, hoya and  bromeliad. And don’t forget to feed the birds in February. By late winter many natural food sources for local birds will begin to thin out. It’s important to keep your bird feeders fully stocked until spring. Offer a variety of foods to attract the widest selection of bird species. Black oil sunflowers, for example, draw cardinals, blue jays, juncos, and a host of other species. Beef suet is ideal for woodpeckers, mockingbirds, and nuthatches. And Nyjer seed is a finch favorite. Also, include a diverse selection of feeders such as tube, hopper, and platform to accommodate the feeding habits of different bird species. During winter you can often attract more songbirds to fresh water than you can to food. Use a heater to keep the water in your birdbath from freezing and add fresh water every few days. Your Flooring Consultant, Matt Capell Email: sales@capellinteriors.com Phone (208) 288-0151 Fax (208) 917-6160 P.S. Here's a joke for you! What did the flower say after he told a joke? I was just pollen your leg!

Coloring: it’s not just for kids | E-Neighborhood Advisor

Coloring isn’t just for kids. It relaxes the fear center of your brain, the amygdala, and induces the same state as meditating by reducing the thoughts of a restless mind. This generates mindfulness and quietness, which allows your mind to get some rest after a long day at work. The adult coloring book trend has spread nationwide, with some books popping up on bestseller lists. With the countless health benefits of coloring for adults, it might be time to pull out the crayons, colored pencils and markers! In addition to reducing stress and anxiety, Beaumont Health cites the following benefits of coloring: Improved motor skills and vision Coloring goes beyond being a fun activity for relaxation. It requires the two hemispheres of the brain to communicate. While logic helps us stay inside the lines, choosing colors generates a creative thought process. Improved sleep We know we get a better night’s sleep when avoiding engaging with electronics at night, because exposure to the emitted light reduces your levels of the sleep hormone, melatonin. Coloring is a relaxing and electronic-free bedtime ritual that won’t disturb your level of melatonin. Improved focus Coloring requires you to focus, but not so much that it’s stressful. It opens up your frontal lobe, which controls organizing and problem solving, and allows you to put everything else aside and live in the moment, generating focus. You don’t have to be an expert artist to color! If you’re looking for an uplifting way to unwind after a stressful day at work, coloring will surely do the trick. And you’ll have something pretty to hang on the refrigerator! Here are the best adult coloring books of 2019 per New York magazine. Start coloring! Your Flooring Consultant, Matt Capell Email: sales@capellinteriors.com Phone (208) 288-0151 Fax (208) 917-6160 P.S. Here's a joke for you! What kind of berry has a coloring book?  A crayon-berry.!

Welcome to February 2020 | Capell Flooring and Interiors

Dear friends,

Welcome to February’s Issue of the Neighborhood Advisor!

As it’s the month of love, we’ve got a variety of exciting articles, trivia and
puzzles made especially for you.

Valentine’s Day has truly evolved over the years. It was a day that was once a
celebration for lovers and that special someone; and for those who are single it
was a bit of a “whatever day” because frankly we couldn’t care less. The great
news is Valentines Day doesn’t have to be about romantic love. We see a rise of
Valentines Day being celebrated with friends. For instance, Valentine’s Day is a
celebration of a platonic friendship among women and is becoming more and
more popular. We even find Valentines Day being celebrated among family
members.

We’re happy with this shift but let’s not reserve one day to show love to our
friends, family, or that special loved one. As a business we’d like to extend a
Happy Valentine’s Day to all our friends we look forward to showing love to your
homes and every single one of you that walk through our doors.

Your friend,

Matt Capell