Hi Lori

I just did a 'google' search for LGBTQ+  Which gives me some stuff on it and then I click on one of the sub menus one sees below the search box, namely:

Images, News, Videos, Shopping, Maps, Web and More . . .

Click on the 'News' button and presto pages of news items.

I have about 10 plus search engines that I can use, but I do not use MSN or Bing.

I also use a browser called Palemoon (firebox based code) and duckduckgo with ad blockers to cut down on the crap.  I do not use the main stream browsers as they tend to use msn or Bing giving you more ads then you can possibly read in a lifetime.

Happy browsing and searching

Hugs
Sarah B
@Lori Dee

 

@Sarah B

Go to Google News.
In the search box, type LGBTQ+.
It will give you a list of possible matches. The first one is LGBTQ+ Topic. Click that.

It is empty.

However, if you just hit enter, it will search and show the various search results that you saw.
The topic bookmark has been working for a year and now suddenly is blank.

Maybe it's just a glitch.

Hi Lori

You suggested:

Quote from: Lori Dee on January 03, 2025, 10:42:05 PMGo to Google News.
In the search box, type LGBTQ+.
It will give you a list of possible matches. The first one is LGBTQ+ Topic. Click that.

It is empty.

I did the following using https://news.google.com and in the search bar LGBTQ+

First of the rank was the following news article

"Rep Mark Takano to lead Congress, LGBTQ+ caucus amid transgender rights fight"

Which led to the actual news, there was no blank page.

Things like this happen all the time someone says this, someone else tries it and gets completely different repsonse.

That's just the internet for you.  Yeah maybe a glitch.

Have fun with it.

Hugs
Sarah B
@Lori Dee

Quote from: Lori Dee on January 03, 2025, 08:43:33 PMOn my computer, I have Microsoft Bing blocked. That seems to have indirectly blocked MSN websites.

Can I ask why? When I put that term into bing news, it lists literally hundreds of links?

I find Bing to be invasive, obnoxious, and useless. It seems like anything I search for Bing wants me to buy it, even if it doesn't exist.

When I type in LGBTQ in Bing, the top result is Bing Shop - Shop for LGBTQ. 
It uses a very annoying AI that is far from "intelligent". Google does the same thing. I pine for the old search engines that would give you results for what you searched on and not what it thinks you intended to search for.

Microsoft has Bing built into Windows everywhere (search, news, weather, sports, finance, etc.), and no way to remove it. You can change your default search engine to Google. You can remove Google, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, and every other search engine in the list, except Bing. You cannot remove it or disable it. So I went into the Hosts file and blocked it so that it had no internet access.

I had done the same with MSN due to all the ads that I couldn't seem to block. I have unblocked MSN now and went back to Ublock Origin adblocker and customized my filters.

Data collection is getting obtrusive.

I dislike it when visiting a Web site, then shortly after receiving online ads for the same item that I browsed or similar items to that I browsed.

I dislike when visiting online with my account that I receive emails about what I viewed, such as "there is still time to make this you own!"

Being on a merchant's app is even worse. They would prefer you to use their apps rather than simply a browser to get to their Web site.

Quote from: Sarah B on January 03, 2025, 11:11:53 PMHi Lori

You suggested:

I did the following using https://news.google.com and in the search bar LGBTQ+

First of the rank was the following news article

"Rep Mark Takano to lead Congress, LGBTQ+ caucus amid transgender rights fight"

Which led to the actual news, there was no blank page.

Things like this happen all the time someone says this, someone else tries it and gets completely different repsonse.

That's just the internet for you.  Yeah maybe a glitch.

Have fun with it.

Hugs
Sarah B
@Lori Dee

Yes, that happens if you hit Enter.

I am talking about the "Topic" that is shown before you hit Enter.



The LGBTQ+ Topic is empty where it had news stories before.
The other Topic is LGBTQ History Month, which is working as always.
The others in that list are search terms, not topics, so they work as intended.

No AI isn't smart. Thank god. If it were, we'd have Arnie and Linda Hamilton telling us there's no fate but what we make for ourselves. I kind of think that's coming, down the road though. Because literally humans have orgasmed over AI and it's in everything. Until it kills us all. Don't say we weren't warned, lol.

Hi Lori

Quote from: Lori Dee on January 04, 2025, 05:53:38 PMYes, that happens if you hit Enter.

I am talking about the "Topic" that is shown before you hit Enter.



The LGBTQ+ Topic is empty where it had news stories before.
The other Topic is LGBTQ History Month, which is working as always.
The others in that list are search terms, not topics, so they work as intended.

I have tried to replicate what you have shown but to no avail.

There could be many subtle reasons as to why I'm unable to generate a similar screen, browser, search engine, plus many services do come and go and finally the country from where I hail.

I do not like Microsoft and anything that is associated with that company and in addition when I go looking for something I know what I want before I do any search and I do not click on any links unless it is associated with what I'm looking for.

I hate ads and avoid them at all costs with ad bocks in addition I run my operating systems using Linux distribution operating systems, Mainly Fedora.

Happy surfing.

Hugs
Sarah B

I would chalk this empty results output up to curiosity, and then use an alternative search method that yields accurate results.  Likely this is just some undetermined glitch. 

Did you say you get this after closing the browser's open sites, clearing your browser's cache,  and storage areas, closing all instances of the browser, rebooting, and then reattempting the open of this original topic?

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on January 04, 2025, 09:41:47 PMI would chalk this empty results output up to curiosity, and then use an alternative search method that yields accurate results.  Likely this is just some undetermined glitch. 

Did you say you get this after closing the browser's open sites, clearing your browser's cache,  and storage areas, closing all instances of the browser, rebooting, and then reattempting the open of this original topic?

Yes, this has been happening for a couple of days now. I always clear caches when I log out. I don't rely on the browser or Windows saying it will do it, because they don't. I manually clean with Crap Cleaner after every logout.

The issue is not that I can't find anything. I know how to get the search results. I was just wondering why this topic is suddenly empty. Usually, it is populated with the same news stories as if I had searched for them. It was easier to view the topic where all these stories were listed because they included stories about rights, legal issues, culture, international news, etc. It also listed them in two columns instead of one so I could view more stories with less scrolling.

Over my capabilities so I just put up with it, bugger when you look up a recipe or stuff and you get an ad window over what you are trying to read. Also annoying is when you watch something on smart TV and then get bombarded with related stuff on the laptop.

I don't allow my TV to have internet access. I got all the warnings about Apps and features that I won't be able to use. OK, it's a TV. I don't want Apps and features. My computer is connected to it so I can use the internet and stream movies. My Blu-Ray player is connected so I can watch movies. And I have an antenna connected so I can watch local live broadcasts if I need a news update. I rarely use that because they show two minutes of news, then fifteen minutes of commercials, and the weather guy will tell me the weather forecast at least four times in a 30-minute broadcast.

On my computer, I use uBlock Origin adblocker. It is free, works with most browsers, and works the best of all that I have tested. It not only blocks ads and tracker cookies, but also annoyances like social media buttons, and prevents your browser from being redirected to sketchy websites. On the main Google webpage, it typically blocks 15 trackers. On YouTube channels it blocks hundreds. (258 last night watching one channel).

Freeview on my telly so need internet for guide to work as well as the "catch up streams". Laptop is hard wired to the router as have problems with wifi even though its only 8ft away.

Smart TVs are priced low because they are data collection devices when connected to the Internet.  Data can be monetized.

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on January 05, 2025, 12:26:21 PMSmart TVs are priced low because they are data collection devices when connected to the Internet.  Data can be monetized.

Exactly why I don't allow it to connect to the internet.

Many years ago, manufacturers would give you a code that disabled data collection. A subsequent expose showed that it did nothing and the TV was still sending data to China. I don't think you can even get that code anymore, so I just deny it access. It can collect all it wants, but it won't be sending anything anywhere.

Hi Everyone

My Smart TV cannot send anything!  It's switched Off!!  (I will set it up soon)

It does not have a camera or microphone, all my computer equipment goes through a DNS (Open DNS) that is not connected with my ISP, and a VPN. So these two alone stop tracking to a certain extent.  Other preventative measures are Linux OS, ad blockers where I can and of course being vigilant about what I do.

Also I do not and will not have home smart devices like 'Amazon Echo' and their ilk. In my house.

So my system is reasonably robust against vagaries of the internet.

Happy surfing on the internet everyone and stay safe.

Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator