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Learning

Access paywalled content legally for free

GeneralEdward Kiledjian

What is Paywalled Content?

Paywalled content refers to articles, research papers, and other online resources that require a subscription or a one-time payment for access. News websites, academic journals, and other platforms that provide exclusive or specialized information may have paywalls. A subscription or payment is often required before users can access this content.

Why are Paywalls Used?

Publishers and content creators use paywalls for a variety of reasons:

  1. To sustain their operations, pay their staff, and invest in the production of high-quality content, many websites and publications rely on subscription revenues.

  2. Paywalls allow publishers to create a sense of exclusivity by offering subscribers premium content not available elsewhere for free.

  3. A paywall allows publishers to maintain control over their intellectual property, preventing unauthorized use or distribution.

The Frustrations of Paywalled Content

The use of paywalls can be frustrating for readers despite their intended purpose:

  1. Paywalls can limit access to information, making it difficult for those without means to gain access to important research or news.

  2. Readers may find themselves juggling multiple subscriptions as more websites adopt paywalls, which can be expensive and time-consuming.

  3. The inconvenience of paywalls is that they can interrupt the seamless browsing experience that users have come to expect, causing them to seek alternative means of accessing the content they seek.

How to legally bypass a paywall

For this example, I will use a paywalled article on The Globe and Mail

All you have to do it add archive.is/ between the https// and the www.

You will then be presented with the archive of the different versions archive.is has stored. NOrmally I recommend picking the last version available.

Now you will be able to read the article from archive.is for free

When the content isn’t already cached

Archive.is does a fantastic job of archiving most of the content you will want to read, but once in a while, you may stumble on something that isn’t archived yet. you will then see this screen. Click on “archive this url”

Then click on the Save button

You will get a Loading page that may take 5-10 minutes to complete

And voila, the site is cached and fully displayed for your reading pleasure.

What is archive.is?

Archive.is (formerly Archive.today) allows users to save snapshots of web pages for future reference. Using the platform, you can preserve the content of web pages even if the original source is removed or modified, ensuring that valuable information remains available.

Archive.is was founded by an anonymous individual who prefers to remain anonymous. They created the platform to provide users with a free and easy-to-access tool for preserving web content for various purposes, including research, legal evidence, and personal records.

Archive.is serves several key purposes:

  1. This service allows users to save snapshots of web pages, ensuring that important information is preserved even if the original source is removed, edited, or otherwise altered.

  2. In some instances, Archive.is provides snapshots of websites that would otherwise be restricted, allowing users to bypass paywalls.

  3. The platform provides a valuable resource for researchers, journalists, and other users who require access to historical web content.

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4 characteristics of super learners

StrategyEdward Kiledjian

Back in the day, you went to school to learn a skill and then performed your skill for the next 40 years. Times have changed and anyone working today knows you never stop learning. As a guy who started in IT as a technical specialist, it seems I was asked to pick up new skills every week.

Over the years, this drive for constant learning became a way of life which I keep until today.  As a business leader, I try to instill this same desire in all of my employees but some complain that they are “bad learners”. Some complain that they have never been good at learning new skills so it caused me to ask my self “what makes a good learner?”

Contrary to popular lore, anyone can train themselves to be a good and efficient learner if they master the following skills:

Curiosity

Curiosity is critical. You must develop a sense of wonder and a sense of curiosity.  

When I learned speed reading, one of the first skills I had to develop was curiosity. I learned that without a genuine curiosity, your sub-conscious will help you learn easier and faster.  

Why do you want to learn the skill? What about this skill is most important to you? How will this skill or knowledge positively impact your life?

Learning is an ongoing process

Too many people rush to get to the end rather than using the learning journey to improve themselves. Learning is an ongoing process and you will “never be done learning”. Using this approach, find the traits, skills or patterns that will ultimately lead to the desired end result and practice each one (one by one).

Learning is an ongoing process and this approach will allow you to break it down into manageable and measurable chunks. Always keep improving. 

Teach it

Find opportunities to teach the skill you are acquiring to others. Research shows that teaching a skill has an incredibly positive effect on your ability to assimilate and master a new skill or knowledge.

Teach it even if you feel your skills isn't 100% yet.

Live it

To really master new knowledge or a skill, you have to apply this to often. A good example of this is a student that spends 2 high school years learning Spanish and then never uses it. A couple of years later, you probably would have “lost” this knowledge.

If you are learning a language, find a language support group where you can periodically chat with native speakers. If you are learning a new technical skill that is not part of your day to day job, do a side project to use it.

Refresh your knowledge

I strongly recommend that you take notes using (the brain compatible) mind mapping technique. This is a great way to learn a new skill. If you re-open your notes many years later, you will realize how quickly it will refresh your knowledge and bring it almost all back with minimal effort.

There are dozens of sites explaining mind mapping but the only one you should pay any attention to is the books or sites from its original creator, Tony Buzan.