Service providers in 2024

Suppose you want to do something crazy, like watching a sports game on a PC...

There are basically two options.

Option 1:
Step 1: Find a service provider such as TV Vlaanderen via Google.
Step 2: Register an account.
Step 3: Provide private information such as full name, date of birth, telephone number, home address.
Step 4: Prove that you are indeed the owner of the e-mail or telephone number.
Step 5: Give permission to withdraw money from your account during the free trial period.
Step 6: Watch carefully all the time to prevent being subscribed to 'newsletters'.
Step 7: Accept the General Terms and Conditions!
Step 8: Accept third-party cookies!
Step 9: Disable your adblocker!
Step 10: Press 'Play' and see this message:

Step 11: Log in on another computer with a different operating system and browser.
Step 12: Press 'Play' and see this message:

Step 13: Find out how to email customer service. You can't!
Step 14: Fill out a contact form asking for help.
Step 15: Endure the daily SPAM emails.
Step 16: Endure the daily SPAM emails.
Step 17: Endure the daily SPAM emails.
Step 18: Wait fruitlessly for an answer.

Option 2:
Step 1. Find a dubious website via Google and press 'Play'.

With option 2 there is no registration, no Terms and Conditions, the AdBlocker remains on, free, no SPAM in your mailbox, no personal data requested, no idiotic playback errors...

book: Gabor Mate, Scattered Minds

 

A book written by a doctor that has ADD himself, and it shows.

I was annoyed in the first half by his incessant use of anecdotes to prove that ADD is not genetic. It felt like he had to convince himself, and it read as an excuse for his actions as a father.

He uses clear and obvious examples of how not to raise a child (often with himself as the child or the father) to play on the readers emotion. Most of these examples are not even related to ADD.

But in the end, definitely the second half, it is a good book. Most people will recognize several situations and often it does make one think about life choices and interpretation of actions and emotions.

So for those getting past the disorganization (yes there are parts and chapters in this book, but most of it feels randomly disorganized), the second half of the book is a worthy thought provoking read.