Commentary: Logan Paul's Poor Judgment Will Make Him Richer And More Famous

This may seem like it has nothing to do with traveling, but, actually, it does.

While travelling, the biggest story on CNN International was Logan Paul's posting of a Japanese suicide video. Here is the comment I made on YouTube:

"Never heard of this guy before he posted the Japanese suicide video. Now I know why. More proof that you need no talent to become famous and rich on YouTube. Good for him.  

The scary thing is that there are so many people that actually watch this crap and subscribe to his channel(s). I had to watch one video, I did, and will not waste any more of my time. (The) sad thing is that his poor judgment will like make him even more famous. Thanks CNN! 

CombatCritic ... Out!

I admit, I have made some crappy videos, but the purpose of my videos are to inform, not to entertain. This is not entertainment.

Now I will wait for all of the trolls out there with fake names and no profile photo to bombard me with attacks, increasing visibility of my channel, TravelValue, and helping people save money while traveling by following my frugal recommendations.

Thank you Logan Paul, whoever you are!

CombatCritic Gives Logan Paul, His Channel, Videos And Poor Judgment 1 Bomb Out Of 10 And A Spot On My Wall of Shame ... More Bombs Are Better!

One Bomb Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "Fucked Up Beyond All Repair"

Read Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp - Elite '14/'15/'16/'17 - 650,000+ Views A Year

Tabelog - Official Judge (Silver)

Zomato - #1 Ranked "Verified" Foodie - Over  1,890,733 Review And Photo Views

... And Don't Forget To Subscribe To TravelValue TV on YouTube

Title: Commentary: Logan Paul's Poor Judgment Will Make Him Richer And More Famous

Key Words: Commentary, Logan Paul, Logan, Paul, poor, judgment, theofficialloganpaul, YouTube, Japan, Japanese, suicide, video, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, review, Yelp, Google, Facebook

Copyright 2018 - 3rd Wave Media Group, LLC and CombatCritic - All Rights Reserved 

Boycott Netflix For Prohibiting VPN/Proxy Utilization, Exposing Our Data To Malicious Internet Predators

In a previous post I explained how to access Netflix and other U.S. Internet-based services from foreign countries. Netflix has restricted non-U.S. residents from accessing their service for quite some time. Traveling abroad quite frequently, I wanted to watch Netflix from time to time, but was refused access because I was outside the United States even though I am a paying customer. 

Doing some research, I learned about VPNs while traveling in India last year and how to route my Internet connection through a server in the U.S., giving the appearance that I was stateside and securing my computer and data at the same time. Win-win ... right?

I am no expert, but the way I understand it, a VPN (Virtual Private Network) routes your connection through a secure server, encrypting your data and ensuring your privacy while using the Internet:

"VPNs can provide functionality, security and/or network management benefits to the user" -  Mason, Andrew G. (2002). Cisco Secure Virtual Private Network. Cisco Press. p. 7.

That server can be anywhere in the world and, in most cases, you have the choice of the location (country) your connection will be routed through.

I purchased a VPN account through Cloak for $99 a year, giving me access to my Netflix account in foreign countries (with zero English language television shows) while ensuring my data was secure while using risky hotel and public Internet connections. It worked quite well in India (October 2014 - February 2015) and in Italy (May 2015 - August 2015). Then, suddenly, Netflix started blocking customer access for anyone using a VPN or proxy ... anywhere, including the United States!

Netflix now requires paying customers to disable VPNs and proxies in order to access our accounts and stream video, exposing our computers and data to hackers and other malicious individuals at home and abroad. I understand that Netflix is probably restricted from selling their service to non-U.S. customers for one reason or another, but why can't a U.S. citizen and paying customer stream Netflix video wherever we may be?

I think it's time to share our dismay with this absurd Netflix policy by organizing a planned mass boycott effective January 1st, 2017 unless they change their policy and allow paying customers to use our VPNs and proxies while simultaneously streaming video and securing our data.

If you concur with my opinion and concerns, please contact me by sending me an email to:

BoycottNetflixJanuaryFirst2017@gmail.com 

with your first name and the first letter of your last name (e.g. Chris S), the city and state in which you reside, and a statement of commitment:

I, first name and initial of your last name (e.g. Chris S), hereby commit to a boycott of Netflix effective January 1, 2017, cancelling my services on that date unless Netflix changes their policy regarding the use of VPNs and proxies by paying customers NLT December 15, 2016.

I will create a post on this blog, listing committed participants by first name and last initial, city, and state, notifying Netflix intermittently via Twitter as to the number of boycott participants and effective date of the boycott.

PLEASE SEND YOUR EMAIL, copying and pasting the above statement into the body of the message along with any other comments/concerns you have regarding Netflix and their services, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE to:

BoycottNetflixJanuaryFirst2017@gmail.com 

Feel free to follow me on Twitter @CombatCritic and "Like" and "Retweet" my Netflix notifications regarding the boycott and number of participants. You can also "Like" my Facebook page where I will also be posting updates once this movement gets off the ground. Let's let Netflix know that "we're mad as hell and aren't going to take it any more!". 

I look forward to hearing from you and restoring our internet security while enjoying the streaming video we pay Netflix to provide us.

Respectfully,

Chris S

aka CombatCritic

Read Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp - Elite '14/'15/'16

Tabelog - Official Judge (Silver)

Zomato - #1 Ranked "Verified" Foodie





... And Don't Forget To Subscribe To TravelValue TV on YouTube

Title: Boycott Netflix For Prohibiting VPN/Proxy Utilization, Exposing Our Data To Malicious Internet Predators

Key Words: Netflix, netflix.com, streaming, video, VPN, virtual, private, network, proxy, server, encryption, security, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, product, service, Yelp, encrypt

TravelValue: India - Must Read ... Must Watch ... If Traveling To India

I spent four months in India from October 2014 to February 2015, traveling to all parts of the massive, diverse, and beautiful country.

Are you planning a trip to India? Then you might want to read my hotel, restaurant, attraction, and destination reviews on my blog, CombatCritic's TravelValue: India, and check out my playlist of 9 videos on CombatCritic TV

India Playlist: TravelValue: India

Or you can watch my seven most popular videos right now:

Varkala Bus Dancer

Kerala Elephant Festival - 50+ Elephants

The Beatles Ashram

TravelValue: Rishikesh

TravelValue: Dharamsala

Secret Buddhist Ceremony

Walk The Kora (Dalai Lama Temple) 

With CombatCritic

Read Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp - "Elite '14/'15/'16"

Tabelog - "Official Judge (Silver)

Zomato - "Super Foodie"

... And Don't Forget To Subscribe To TravelValue TV on YouTube

Title: Must Read ... Must Watch ... If Traveling To India

Key Words: video, blog, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, review, reviews, guide, definitive, hotel, attraction, Yelp, India, YouTube, Dalai Lama, dalai, lama, Dharamsala

Must Read ... Must Watch ... If Traveling To India

Going to India? Then you might want to read my hotel, restaurant, attraction, and destination reviews on my blog CombatCritic's Definitive Guide To India and check out my playlist of 9 videos on CombatCritic TV

India Playlist: TravelValue: India

Or you can watch my seven most popular videos right now:

Varkala Bus Dancer

Kerala Elephant Festival - 50+ Elephants

The Beatles Ashram

TravelValue: Rishikesh

TravelValue: Dharamsala

Secret Buddhist Ceremony

Walk The Kora (Dalai Lama Temple) 

With CombatCritic

Read Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp - "Elite '14/'15"

TripAdvisor - "Top Contributor" 

Tabelog - "Official Judge (Bronze)

Zomato - "Super Foodie"

... And Don't Forget To Subscribe To TravelValue TV on YouTube

Title: Must Read ... Must Watch ... If Traveling To India

Key Words: video, blog, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, reviews, guide, definitive, hotel, attraction, Yelp, TripAdvisor, YouTube. combatcritic.com

Varkala Bus Dancer

Energetic ... Infectious ... Brilliant!

I wanted to go to a beach a few miles from where I was staying in Varkala, Kerala (India) and as I was waiting at the bus stop, a bus full of students stopped and told me to get on. I though it was a public bus, but they were apparently on a school trip to a beach farther north up the coast.

As the bus started down the road, the music went on and the kids started dancing and singing. They all wanted to take a photo with me as we neared my destination and as I got off the bus I asked who I should pay and how much. They told me "don't worry" as they drove off into the Kerala sunset waving goodbye as they continued singing. 

Enjoy "Varkala Bus Dancer"! 

— Varkala Beach, Kerala, India

Read More Reviews By CombatCritic On Yelp And TripAdvisor ... And Don't Forget To Subscribe To TravelValue TV on YouTube

Title: Varkala Bus Dancer

Key Words: Varkala Bus Dancer, Varkala, bus, dancer, dancing, dances, dance, music, video, Kerala, India, student, trip, road, beach, travel, value, TravelValue

CombatCritic's TravelValue: Rishikesh

Published on Dec 20, 2014

In this episode of CombatCritic's "TravelValue" we explore the yoga capital of the world ... Rishikesh, India. Explore the Ganges (Ganga) River, 80-year old suspension bridges, ancient Hindu ceremonies paying homage to "Mother Ganga", and yoga ashrams, including the fabled Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Ashram ... better known as The Beatles Ashram.

Watch the video, then read the corresponding reviews on my blog http://www.CombatCritic.com and watch other India videos and more on CombatCritic TV on YouTube!

Follow CombatCritic On Yelp (An Elite '14/'15 Member) And  TripAdvisor ("Top Contributor") Where You Can Read His Latest Reviews, Try His Favorite Recipes, And More!

Key Words: travel, Rishikesh, Rishekesh, India, ashram, beatles, yoga, meditation, Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Parmarth, Niketan, Ganges, Ganga, value, video

Copyright 2014 - CombatCritic and 3rd Wave Media Group, LLC - All Rights Reserved

$400 for a GoPro Hero3+ (Black) and Support Is Questionable ... Not User Friendly

I purchased a GoPro3+ (Black Edition) and mounts early this month, spending nearly $475, but updating the software is a nightmare! I also did not know that the camera HAS NO VIEWFINDER OR DISPLAY before I purchased it, intuitively thinking that ALL CAMERAS HAVE A DISPLAY ... NOT THE GOPRO.

After wasting a great deal of time trying to figure out how to use the camera's remote, installing and using the iPhone app (the only way to see a display of what the camera sees and then you can only see the display in certain resolutions, not all), and attempting to update the camera's pre-installed software, I sent the following to GoPro Technical Support ($475 and no phone number?):

First, I'm not sure why I have to enter my serial number all the time. Why don't you update my account so you know when I bought the camera, what updates are installed, etc? Not very user friendly!

Your instructions for updating my camera are missing a step. After I drag the UPDATE folder to DEVICE "NO NAME", you don't say whether I should reinstall the battery and SD card before powering off, powering on, and waiting for the camera to cycle with several beeps, on and off, etc. I have tried both ways, following the instructions exactly and, intuitively, reinserting the SD card and battery, then powering the camera on, but neither does anything! 

Why can't I merely update my camera via the USB cable like I do to download video/photo files when attached to my Macbook Pro 13 (Mid 2012)? It does not make sense to download an update to the SD card. 

After spending $475 for the camera and mounts, I would think the support I get would be better and easier than having to fill out this long form. NOT VERY CUSTOMER SERVICE ORIENTED! 

You can read more about my experience on my increasingly popular blog, www.CombatCritic.com, where you will find this comment in addition to how well GoPro responds to my concerns. I am trying to test the camera before leaving on vacation next week, but GoPro is making my life rather difficult. Please assist ASAP! 

Sincerely, 

Chris Sorrentino, LtCol, USAF (Ret) 

aka CombatCritic

I will keep you posted on their response, if any, as I try to test-run this rather complex little camera before we leave for Puerto Rico on vacation in a few days. 

CombatCritic Gives GoPro 5 Out of 10 Bombs (So Far) ... BOMBS ARE GOOD!

Title:  $400 for a GoPro Hero3+ (Black) and Support Is Questionable ... Not User Friendly

Key Words: GoPro3, GoPro, go, pro, 3, camera, sports, waterproof, housing, HD, high-definition, video, photo, audio, production, CombatCritic, 3rd, Wave, Media, Group

Redbox Instant by Verizon Delivers Instant Nothing!

Redbox Instant by Verizon Delivers Instant Nothing!

I ordered Redbox Instant with live streaming video and 4 credits per month for $8 on November 10, 2013.  Since then, the streaming option rarely works on our PS3 even though Netflix works just fine EVERY TIME!  Then there are the 4 "FREE" CREDITS per month, of which I have only been able to use one.  The last two kiosk reservations I made charged my credit card instead of automatically using credits (as their "HELP" FAQs imply is the case) and it is impossible to apply credits to a kiosk reservation either on the website or the iPhone mobile app. 

The Redbox applications and customer support options are useless as far as credits are concerned and I wasted a great deal of time online and on the phone trying to connect with Redbox Customer Service.  The website and app are obviously not ready for implementation and they must have one customer service rep for the US because every time I call or try to chat online, there is a long wait.

I should have known better than to sign-up for a service that has anything to do with Verizon (see my article Your Verizon Data Is Vulnerable for more information on how Verizon allowed my identity to be stolen and refused to do anything about it), so I canceled my subscription.  I do not have either the time or the patience to deal with a vendor that obviously could care less about customers and Redbox's affiliation with Verizon tells be a lot about their values or lack thereof.

CombatCritic Gives Redbox 2 Out of 10 Bombs ... BOMBS ARE GOOD!

Key Words: Redbox, Verizon, video, streaming, Blu, Ray, disc, kiosk, rental, movie, TV, internet, film, help, problem, customer, CombatCritic, InstitutionalTerrorism