How to simplify Long URLs: A definitive guide to using TinyURL

 

“Simplifying Long URLs: A Guide to Using TinyURL”

Have you ever shared a link via email, only to find out that your friends couldn’t open it? This often happens when the URL is so long that it breaks into two lines, causing it to become unclickable. While some might try to piece the URL back together, others might not bother.

Luckily, there’s a simple solution to this problem: URL shorteners. These tools can convert a lengthy URL into a much shorter one. Here’s how you can use TinyURL, a popular and free URL shortener:

1. Visit the TinyURL website at https://tinyurl.com/.
2. Paste your long URL into the provided field.
3. Click on “Make TinyURL!”.
4. Your shortened URL will appear below the field.

Now, you can copy this shortened URL and share it with your friends. For instance, I shortened this long URL:

http://hodentek.blogspot.com/2018/09/visit-to-assisi-birth-place-of-st.html

to this one:

https://tinyurl.com/ybyzn4tl

While Google used to offer a similar tool, it has since been discontinued for new users. However, there are many other URL shorteners available. In fact, here’s a list of the [20 best URL shorteners] to help you find the right one for your needs.

Remember, the power to choose is democratic. Happy sharing!

What is Google Takeout?

It is just like any other takeout. In a Pizza takeout you take out a pizza. In Google Takeout, you takeout Data in your Gmail. It is a very useful tool in the following cases:

1. You need to takeout emails from your account and create space for new mail.

2. You want to save some email information with media to an external device before deleting it.

3. You can also save YouTube Videos, attachments and Google drive files.

4. Clean up your Gmail.

You can read more about Google Takeout in this Wikipedia link.

What are signed apps and unsigned apps?

 The chief difference between the two is about security and authenticity. A signed app is guaranteed to be authentic and the integrity of the app is assured. The user can feel safe that the app has not been tampered. Any attempt to tamper will render it unsigned and is flagged as such. A signed app or driver is associated with a digital certificate that identifies the publisher of the driver. 

In Windows 11 you can run unsigned app downloaded from anywhere(not from Microsoft Store). It could work, but your security is lowered. Sometimes its full functionality may not be available. Windows will notify if some driver is unsigned. You may get a message such as this one and the Smart app control on your laptop blocks it.

================================

"Smart app control has blocked part of this app"

If you see this message, it means that an app, service, or piece of hardware that you’re using has tried to load a driver, app, or other file that isn’t properly signed.

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Why am I not paying this invoice? because MICROSOFT...

  I am not paying this invoice because MICROSOFT has not provided me with a satisfactory way to access my account since June of this year despite my various attempts. The whole problem arose out of my identity being stolen and its consequences. These are documented in these links.

Hodentek: Identity theft and two-factor authentication (or Two-factor HELL)

HodentekHelp: Is there a workaround for the two-factor verification problem?

HodentekHelp: Identity theft and two-factor authentication (or Two-factor HELL)--Part 2

Here is an invoice that Microsoft emailed to me. I can reply to this email but it does not reach Microsoft.

I also have a bunch of emails that either do not reach Microsoft or it does not care to reply. 

If I choose to see my invoice, I get this screen,

This is my old phone number which was changed when my identity was stolen. The More information is just a circular reference.

Is there a work around for the two-factor verification problem?

 Yes, there is a way. It can be done with the help of your communication provider. There could be differences between communication providers. My communication provider is T-Mobil.

The problem for which this work around is suggested:

You have provided protection to your online account (may be a bank or an organization). In my case several of the institutions, IRS, United Health Care, Social Security, couple of banks, online services such as Microsoft, etc.)

In doing so, you provided a telephone number that you can access by voice or messaging. The institution may contact you using your email address. 

Problem...

Now for some reason you lost your phone and you have no access. You went ahead and changed your phone (with it your phone number). In my case, my identity was hacked and I went around and changed all my identity markers.

This has created a huge problem. Your two-factor does not work because the voice and messaging is looking for a phone number that does not exist. You are orphaned.

I fixed most of the problems but one. I went to each of the institutions by hours and hours of telephone calls, messaging and writing letters.

Most of them were fixed but not the business account with Microsoft. This has been a nightmare as I have explained in previous posts. I do not know how to fix the Microsoft's Office 365 Business Account's password.

The work around:

You could ask your communication provider to allow phone calls/messages from your old number to your new phone number. If it is within 90 days of changing a phone number you can do this, if your carrier is T-Mobil. 

I am not sure of others.

It did not work for me as it was more than 90 days ago I changed my number.

https://hodentekhelp.blogspot.com/2023/07/what-is-first-thing-you-should-do-if.html

https://hodentekhelp.blogspot.com/2023/08/identity-theft-and-two-factor.html

7/4/2025

The initia;l mistake still hounds me. Recently, Vanguard Investing company with which I had an account asked for a two-factor authentication and were ready to send a verifiction code to my phone which has been changed some two years ago. They had a smooth way of handling it. EVEN TODAY I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ACCESS MY PASSWORD FROM MICROSOFT.

https://x.com/subbagiri/status/1939078254939513178

How trust worthy is AI?

 AI seems to be very promising. It is supposed to make a continental shift type of change. Has that time arrived, yet?

Health care professional, nutritionists, patients of all kinds seek information about what they eat. AI seems to be an ideal tool to get a summarized report of what can be eaten, by who. 

I tried to find about 'Ragi' also known as Finger Millet which has properties superior to rice for its energy and fiber content. I used the easily available Bing AI. I find it awfully lacking in the information it can find.

As I am concerned about diabetes control, I wanted to find nutrition information about 100 grams of Ragi flour.

Here is a picture of what Bing AI (on the right) thinks it is and what the web brings up (on the left).

This is by AI copied from the above:

I apologize for the confusion. You are correct, and I apologize for the incorrect information in my previous response. The values I provided for 10 grams of uncooked ragi powder were mistakenly repeated for 25 grams of uncooked ragi powder. Here are the correct values for 25 grams of uncooked ragi powder:

• Carbohydrates: Around 0.89 grams.
• Protein: Approximately 0.13 grams.
• Potassium: Around 26.66 milligrams.
• Cholesterol: Cholesterol is found only in animal products, so ragi powder does not contain any cholesterol.
• Calories: The calorie content of 25 grams of uncooked ragi powder is not available in the search results I found.

I apologize for any confusion caused by my previous response. Please let me know if there’s anything else I can help with!

This is from the web page (Ragi Nutritional Value Per 100g, Finger Millet Health Benefits, Ragi Recipes, Ragi Flour Nutrition Facts | ParentCircle).

Ragi nutritional value (per 100g)

Energy  320kcal

Dietary fiber  11.18g

Total carbohydrate  66.82g

Total fat  1.92g

Protein  7.16g

Total folates  34.66mcg

Vitamin B1 (thiamin)  0.37mg

Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)  0.17mg

Vitamin B3 (niacin)  1.34mg

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)  0.05mg

Vitamin K  0.9mcg

Calcium  364mg

Iron  4.62mg

Magnesium  146mg

Phosphorus   210mg

Potassium   443mg

Manganese   3.19mg

Zinc  2.53mg

These is a huge difference in carbohydrate value between these.

Identity theft and two-Factor authentication (or Two-factor HELL)--Part 2

 This pursued me over and over again. The following sites are well set up for handling this issue better than most.

https://www.irs.gov/  and https://www.medicare.uhc.com/aarp

The first one had a way to get back to the site without your telephone but you need a code that you used during registering your account. This code is browser specific and I had two, one each for Google's Chrome and Edge.

The AARP/United Health Care had a phone answering system that worked superbly. One problem was it is invariably connected with Medicare D. You have to know the prescription drug you purchased recently as well as your United Health Care details.

The problem with the banks continued and I had to get the temporary password from PNC Bank after satisfying all the different things they wanted to verify such as, recent transactions, drivers license etc.

The lesson from this incident was earned at high cost in time and number of telephone calls. Down leave a site without providing multiple ways of getting verified, preferably both email accounts and telephone numbers.