https://ixns.github.io//lifehacks/computers/internet/2022/05/17/avoid-google-bloatware.html MR IXNS [ ] About Why Google is so unbearable (and how to fix it) May 17, 2022 Why Google is so unbearable (and how to fix it) If you simply google: how to fix a flat tire the first website in the search results is this piece of bloatware, MillerAutoPlaza: image-20220517120328039 Why are they asking for my location? There's 3 different popups going on here. Just look at the treemap for this site. Countless bloatware trackers, APIs and Javascript downloads just to load the page (9mb of it to be precise!): image-20220517115624659 Oh, and also, Miller is hiring if you're interested in joining the team. image-20220517120328039 I want to change my tire! Get off my back, and stop trying to make money off me for one second while I solve this tire crisis. How to avoid these bloated websites Using a Google search trick, we can avoid seeing any of these bloated sites ever again. To do this, we'll limit the Google search results to only domains with the .edu TLD. Why would we do this? Well, think about it this way: MillerAutoPlaza's intentions in publishing that "tutorial" on how to change your tire is not meant to inform. It's meant to find new hires for MillerAutoPlaza, and track your location for use in marketing. As a business, they want to make more money. Nothing wrong with that, making money is noble. But right now, I'd really just love MillerAutoPlaza and their bloat trackers to fuck off, kindly. Universities (sites with the .edu TLD) also want to make money. But, Universities make their money by paying professors to spread knowledge; MillerAutoPlaza makes their money by selling you stuff. Professors are paid generous salaries to share knowledge with the paying customers of the University (students). So, let's find some [DEL:paid:DEL] unpaid University knowledge on how to change a tire by using our new trick! The new query Google this instead: site:*.edu how to change a tire As we can see, the first result is very promising: image-20220517120455356 As long as you aren't scared of some good old fashioned serif, and an admittedly unappealing mustard yellow background, this website has all the information you need to change a tire! Woohoo! Look at the treemap for this site: image-20220517120704662 Notice the lack of bloatware trackers? Other examples The normie pearl query The other day, I was curious how pearls are made. So, naturally, I googled: how are pearls made? and found this site as the first result: image-20220517121002024 Ok, you might say, that's the Natural History Museum.. They're good, right? Yeah yeah, I think most museums are well intentioned. But if there's one thing I can't stand, it's cookie popup. image-20220517121134407 The new query Google this instead: site:*.edu how are pearls made Check out the first result now: image-20220517121248375 Now we're talking. What we've just found is a comprehensive guide from some University class that describes everything there is to know about how pearls are formed. And they didn't ask me about cookies, because they don't give a damn about selling anything to me! Now, go use this, and enjoy the Internet without bloat! P.S, using this method you can find a TON of great computer science resources for basically free, here's an amazing Virginia Tech site I found while using this method! Also, spread the love Feel free to share any other Google tricks by email: IXNS@protonmail.com MR IXNS * MR IXNS * IXNS@PROTONMAIL.COM * ixns * iXNS777 A simple blog where I dive into curious topics.