We received an Amazon Alexa with a screen maybe 6 years ago as a gift. It has never been used for anything other than turning off and on a kitchen light by voice. It actually lives on top of a high cupboard where it canāt be seen. Iām about to replace it with a smart LED bulb from Govee - which I can more easily control and which canāt eavesdrop on us. BTW, Govee makes many excellent products, all controllable with a slick app.
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May I respectfully suggest that anyone with an Alexa eliminate it from their homes? Such surveillance devices have no place in private spaces. I realize that there might also be back-door access to microphones and cameras on everyoneās mobile devices but thereās no way to be sure about the extent of the intrusion or of the distribution of the data. At least there are some disincentives to abuse. Inviting devices that are openly and explicitly surveilling your home is next-level carelessness.
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I agree, but itās only one way in which many of us have willingly given up our privacy in exchange for what are, really, just minor conveniences. And I donāt think people will go back.
Iām tellināya, Dune was a prophecy. Remember the backstory, how the people banished āmachines that thinkā which is how they got those mentats. But it took a jihad. I donāt know if weāre up for thatā¦.
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Last year we needed a new TV. It was nearly impossible to find one without a microphone and camera.
Recently I got pissed because Siri was activated on my phone. I thought I had deactivated Siri so I searched how to make sure it was off in every possible way. I figured that just shutting Siri off wasnāt enough and that I would have to do some machine code to get it actually shut off. After setting it to off, I discovered I cannot use CarPlay on my GMC without Siri activated even if I never use my voice to do anything.
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I am sick and tired of it asking to hear itās new voice.
I would throw it out the window, but it controls my lights, my attic fan, my fish pond filter, my water barrels and my Nativity display.
What we need is a third party device to be totally resident on a home computer.
My wife was feeling the same way and would not allow it upstairs, instead it resided on my computer desk in the basement. I routinely delete all it ārecordedā here:
Delete alexa memory
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I LOVE the last two! The water-to-wine is one Iāve been telling for years!
Do you know this one:
When Jesus halted the stoning of the woman taken in adultery, after He said solemnly, āLet anyone who is without sin cast the first stoneā, everyone falls silent. Then a pebble whizzes past Jesusā head and hits the adulteress. He turns around and says, āMom! Stop following Me around!ā
I donāt know why the casserole one is so funny. But I was raised a Methodist, andāit cracks me up!
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Then Dear Hypatia, I suggest you look at this Google link.
The topics may trigger a train of thought.
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At my church they were called ācovered dishā as in āCovered Dish Supperā. Was that to make it clear the dish had to be hot? Had to be a surprise?
@Gerard , I was afraid you were linking to one of those collections of Church Bulletin announcements. There is NOTHING that makes me laugh harder and longer, I knew Iād be incapacitated for another half hour, at least. You know, like:
ā In honor of Easter Sunday, Mrs Jones, President of the Ladiesā Guild, will come forward and lay an egg on the altar.ā
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Here is four for you Hypatiaā¦
At our prayer meeting I asked my pastor to pray for my hearing. He placed his hands on my ears and prayed. Afterwards, he asked if my hearing was better. I said I wouldnāt know until Monday when I appear before the judge at the courthouse.
I went to my pastor because Iām addicted to Facebook.
My pastor said, āSorry, I donāt follow you.ā
Last year, my wife and I traveled to Europe for a Christian conference. At customs, an agent held out his hand and said, āPapers.ā I replied, āScissors,ā and was glad I won that round.
Adam wakes up and finds Eve counting his ribs and asks, āWhat are you doing?ā
Eve says, āI want to make sure thereās no other woman in your life.ā
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Nobody has a bigger heart than President Trump.
For Christmas, heās sending thousands of illegal aliens home to be with their families.
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Once again, photos (your lyinā eyes) show those in question are almostr exclusively men of military (and crime perpetration) age.
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It may be too late for your kiddies, but you can tell them Santa texted you that he is bringing it later if they are still goodā¦
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I make silly business card sized jokes, derived from many sources, and pass them to people to get a laugh out of them.
These are the latest.
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Mentioned selective hearing one to friends - we all want to put it on cards and t-shirts!
How might we properly derange this, so you get the credit?
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Sorry it is available on T-shirts, but since it does not seem to be copyrightedā¦
So, you really canāt credit me. But thank you sincerely for the thought. 
( But if you would like physical copies of the printed cards, send me an address in PM and Iāll send them via snail mail.)
I admit that I take art from T-shirts and adapt it to business card sized pass outs. It for people I give them to to have a chuckleā¦
This one was from a transfer on Etsy:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/4419833730/funny-donkey-humor-iron-on-decal-funny?ls=a&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=cartoon+donkey+decal&pro=1&plkey=LT8e7fad38ed3102a971d0611fbb2a1748ebc69e8f%3A4419833730
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