20171211.51228

Well, today was fun. My Echo Dot came today, and I’ve been having a lot of fun setting it up.  There are a few minor problems with it, but nothing that doesn’t make it a bad buy.  I would recommend it and will be using it to run my smart home.  I’m amazed at how fast it sends lists and creates calendar entries on my phone.

If my mom and her husband don’t like it, I’m taking it back!  Is that wrong?  I feel like it is, but I don’t care.  I need one in the kitchen to control the fans.  The system needs an IR piece that I have to build and it needs to be within the range of the fans.

Tigger; my other cat, kissed a squirrel.  The little black squirrel didn’t like it, hoped up on the green bin to the top of the BBQ and on to the fence where he quickly started yelling at the confused kittie in the window.

I talk about squirrels a lot.

Medhia has been swelling badly this week.  She is eating a lot, so that’s a positive.  She gets restless and comes down looking for attention.  I have no idea how to entertain a blind cat.  She just sits and stares and licks my hair and goatee.

Again the major news outlets got caught perpetuating fake news.  This time they were ten days off on a date, which all the sources confirmed as being accurate.  CNN; who broke the story, refuses to apologize or explain how their multiple sources made an obvious mistake.  They also refuse to fire or discipline anyone over this.  Such terrible “journalism”.

Yet they won’t cover real news like how former speaker of the house, Denis Hastert is suing a kid he paid 1.7 million in hush money to cover up the fact Hastert raped the kid.    The reason – the kid broke the confidentiality agreement.  What happened was the kid answered questions from the FBI.

Fuck sometimes people just disgust me.

MJG

“for I have sworn upon the altar of god eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.” ~ Thomas Jefferson
Log in to write a note
December 11, 2017

I’ve had Echos since they first came out and love them. Especially like the lists, the flash briefings, and timers. Just got the Echo Plus, which has the “hub” capabilities for smart homes built in and I have set up some lights in my new house.. Once the Nest thermostat is installed, that’ll be part of it all. I’ve set up my Echo Dot in the car, using my iPhone as a wifi hub. I’m addicted — four Echos! Gadget freak, that’s what I am. Enjoy!

December 11, 2017

@Singer that’s outstanding! Maybe you could pass along some tips for a beginner?

December 11, 2017

@axalotal – check out this website for most of what you need.

https://www.amazon.com/meet-alexa/b?ie=UTF8&node=16067214011

This will give you the basics. Then sometimes you can just ask Alexa. When I got the Hue light bulbs, I had no idea how to proceed, so I just said, “Alexa, find the lights.” And she did.

The shopping list is the thing I use the most often. Whenever I think of something I need, I just tell Alexa, and when I get to the store, everything is on my phone. And timers — my oven, microwave, washer, and dryer can’t be heard everywhere when they beep, so I just tell Alex to remind me. You can have multiple timers at once. Just tell her “Alexa, set a 35 minute timer for the oven,” or “Alexa, set a dryer timer for 30 minutes.” When the timer is up, she’ll tell you which one is up.

December 11, 2017

@singer The timer tip was fantastic. That was a big help. I agree the shopping list is amazing.

The amazon site you sent me to is helpful, but a lot of the products aren’t available in Canada.

December 11, 2017

@Axalotal: The technology is bind boggling to me, : nowAdays!! It’s awesome. I see commercials on Hulu, (yes I pay for Hulu, like Netflix, but, Hulu leaves commercials in their “series’ ” Boo hiss, anyway, commercials for Hey Google: coffee at Walmart, or whatever. I saw a robot advertised. Dibo or something? You can conversate with him, and such. My SIL in Cleveland, told me that those robots are hot-wired into the Gov’t, and FBI, and will know all your business! I thought to myself, WHY??? But, now I’m afraid of them, lol. Plus I can’t afford one, lol.

December 11, 2017

@Butterfly4Him Pretty much everything you own with a microphone and camera is linked to governments through various collection techniques. Even the “secure and private” WhatsApp is actually not secured from government data collection.

To keep ones privacy, should have to take a counter surveillance course.

On Star actually helped in several RICO cases. The mic records everything in the car, and the GPS data; even if the car doesn’t officially have one, pinpoints exactly where the car has been.

December 12, 2017

@axalotal : Like Eyore, I can only say, “Oh Woe, is me, I can’t escape the government, but, I have nothing to hide. So, hopefully I am safe, LOL.

December 12, 2017

@butterfly4him everyone has something to hide, saying you don’t is such a copout. It’s a way of making people feel less guilty and a lullaby of false security.

Remember the story:

When they came for the poor, you did nothing

When they came for the Jews, you did nothing

When they came for the Muslims, you did nothing

When they came for you, there was no one left to save you.

Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. ~ Ben Franklin

December 12, 2017

@butterfly4him No one things they are a threat or have anything to hide until their door is kicked in and they are disappeared.

I like people with a strong conscience.

It’s wonderful that you and your late husband were able to forgive each other and still keep the love between you. That makes me smile.

December 12, 2017

@butterfly4him How long were you two married? When did he pass away?

I highly doubt anyone will disappear you. I just know it happens more often than we think. Right now there is a very quiet war going on in the US between various alphabet agencies and the military. 99.7% sure you’re safe.

I’m 42 and spent most of my life in some form of politics and seen what really goes on. It’s why I left – didn’t like who I was becoming just to stay employed.

Sadly, if people did know the truth, I don’t think they would believe it or really care as long as it doesn’t “interfere” with their lives. The huge problem with that is what’s happening does directly effect everyone despite the years of being told it doesn’t.

December 12, 2017

@butterfly4him That sounds like a wonderful way to end this life together. Isn’t it interesting how sometimes tragedy leads to things being better than before.

I would vote for you to write about this, but perhaps keep it friends only or members only for the sake of privacy. I don’t know why I just typed that.

December 12, 2017

@axalotal : This is fine. I am thinking of choosing that option in the near future, but, for now, I want my “incoming at the grand opening” to allow my friends to find me. I have some on facebook whom are really chomping. :* Thank you for your kind words!!

December 12, 2017

@butterfly4him All you need for them to find you is you’re diary to be public, I have a few private entires in OD2 that are more in-depth and that I don’t necessarily want people to know.

What would really be awesome is if we could redact private diaries to make them public. lol.

December 12, 2017

@axalotal : Oh, right? That would be cool!!