You're not Google's customer. Google's advertisers are their customers. You're Google's product.

Ditto Facebook, of course. I do think the different ways they (mis)treat users are interesting, in some kind of corporate-culture-analysis way.

Now I'm nervous. My Gmail email account is my only account, really. I'm using the Internet wrong.

It makes me a little sad I chose Blogger and not Wordpress, which is the only thing I have associated with my gmail account that is not a person I know (since I use my Yahoo for all other online activity). My emails are too perfect to want to have to shed either.

Speaking of online corporations, I just opened an Ally checking account with the idea that I'll eventually close my Chase account. Anybody use them that can report on their ATM fee refund system? I refuse to pay ATM fees and have zero interest if there will be any charge associated with (domestic) withdrawals.

Google's applications then, I guess that's the better word for it.

How is this - it makes me want to stop using Gmail, Chrome, Google, Google Docs, and anything else like that I use.

Better?

YES. Crisp days that are cool but sunny, grey days with fog and drizzle, and drifts of fallen leaves to scuffle through. Plus, Halloween.

WANT. I used to think I didn't mind the heat that much, but damn, I am sick of it now. Want fall. And rain, and highs in the 50s, and freshly-picked apples.

And a nap.

Want fall. And rain, and highs in the 50s, and freshly-picked apples.

Except for the rain, ITA. We've had enough rain here in the past four days to last us the rest of the year, I think.

Fall is definitely my favorite time of year. Mid-50s, just cold enough for a jean jacket, the crunch of fallen leaves underfoot, overcast with a slight breeze--just perfect.

After ita's post, I deleted Google+ access on one of my gmail accounts. I had 2 accts with Google+ (one was my pseudo account, one is my real name), I deleted + from the pseud.

I do not need any problems with that pseud account which is my primary email address for all services when I don't want to give out my real addy. I have bills in there, all kinds of stuff that I would not want to go poof! in the night.

I'll give it a day, but I might go ahead and delete + on my real name acct because I can ill afford bullshit there.

NC is perfect in the fall. Sometime around the second week in September it's like someone throws a big switch. Suddenly it's in the 70s, with low humidity and blue skies.