Random thoughts that are pointless and too dumb to say anywhere else thread: 2020

[CheezWizHed]

I called my parents last might and asked how the Alexa experience is going. My sister, who has severe CP, only limited use of one hand, cannot walk or even sit up on her own and is legally blind, but perfectly normal intelligence has started using it and hasn't stopped. It took some time for Alexa to get used to her voice because it's not smooth but now she can listen to music and stories any time she wants. She's also been asking it questions just for the hell of it. Given her entire life is one big quarantine in a prison far worse than any I could endure it's nice to know she has more independence from one simple purchase and a couple hours of my time. That's it's right before Christmas just makes it all the more sweet. I guess I'll have to get mom a new one since my sister pretty much commandeered hers.

 

I have a daughter that is completely blind and her Echo Dot enables her to do so much. Music, books, just "talking"... she uses it like the rest of us use TV or other screens. We have it hooked up to our phone line so she can call anyone in my phone list. Her best friend also has a Dot also, so they can chat with each other.

 

I'm sure sometime in my life she will be driving places too. Amazing times.

[MrTPlush]

Sure, give me your brights, just prepare for my retina burning high beams back though.

[JimH5]

I called my parents last might and asked how the Alexa experience is going. My sister, who has severe CP, only limited use of one hand, cannot walk or even sit up on her own and is legally blind, but perfectly normal intelligence has started using it and hasn't stopped. It took some time for Alexa to get used to her voice because it's not smooth but now she can listen to music and stories any time she wants. She's also been asking it questions just for the hell of it. Given her entire life is one big quarantine in a prison far worse than any I could endure it's nice to know she has more independence from one simple purchase and a couple hours of my time. That's it's right before Christmas just makes it all the more sweet. I guess I'll have to get mom a new one since my sister pretty much commandeered hers.

 

I have a daughter that is completely blind and her Echo Dot enables her to do so much. Music, books, just "talking"... she uses it like the rest of us use TV or other screens. We have it hooked up to our phone line so she can call anyone in my phone list. Her best friend also has a Dot also, so they can chat with each other.

 

I'm sure sometime in my life she will be driving places too. Amazing times.

 

Thank you for sharing these uplifting personal stories. They remind able-bodied me to have some perspective on the challenges of life.

[Thurston Fluff]

I called my parents last might and asked how the Alexa experience is going. My sister, who has severe CP, only limited use of one hand, cannot walk or even sit up on her own and is legally blind, but perfectly normal intelligence has started using it and hasn't stopped. It took some time for Alexa to get used to her voice because it's not smooth but now she can listen to music and stories any time she wants. She's also been asking it questions just for the hell of it. Given her entire life is one big quarantine in a prison far worse than any I could endure it's nice to know she has more independence from one simple purchase and a couple hours of my time. That's it's right before Christmas just makes it all the more sweet. I guess I'll have to get mom a new one since my sister pretty much commandeered hers.

 

I have a daughter that is completely blind and her Echo Dot enables her to do so much. Music, books, just "talking"... she uses it like the rest of us use TV or other screens. We have it hooked up to our phone line so she can call anyone in my phone list. Her best friend also has a Dot also, so they can chat with each other.

 

I'm sure sometime in my life she will be driving places too. Amazing times.

 

The just talking part is what surprised me. Mom said she just asks it random questions more than anything. Maybe it's because it's new but I think it's more than that. She can't speak more than a few words at a time because her muscles are spastic and simply don't work very well so it's hard to converse. Asking a question and getting an answer allows her to be a more active participant than just listening to music or a story. It sucks to have a normal, inquisitive brain with a largely non functioning body. Just wish I'd have thought of it sooner.

[nodakfan17]

Thumbs up on the Alexa stories.

 

Being a huge Libertarian, I’m highly skeptical about digital voice assistants, but it’s really neat to hear about them having an impact far beyond novelty and convenience.

[tmwiese55]

Yes, good stories. As one who looked at those and thought "what's the point, the way I'm doing things now is easy enough" I never thought of some of those special needs situations mentioned. What a difference these things could make for a ton of people like that, life changing differences for them and their families.

[homer]

I called my parents last might and asked how the Alexa experience is going. My sister, who has severe CP, only limited use of one hand, cannot walk or even sit up on her own and is legally blind, but perfectly normal intelligence has started using it and hasn't stopped. It took some time for Alexa to get used to her voice because it's not smooth but now she can listen to music and stories any time she wants. She's also been asking it questions just for the hell of it. Given her entire life is one big quarantine in a prison far worse than any I could endure it's nice to know she has more independence from one simple purchase and a couple hours of my time. That's it's right before Christmas just makes it all the more sweet. I guess I'll have to get mom a new one since my sister pretty much commandeered hers.

 

This always makes me think of how people with similar medical conditions were treated say a hundred years ago. I can't even fathom being of sound mind and intelligence but no one else believes that you are and you are unable to effectively communicate that to them.

[DHonks]

how do I know if a car has Xenon lights?

 

My old Sierra 1500, people used to flash me all the time thinking I had my brights on, but never did. I asked my dealer if they could recalibrate the lights, and they said they couldn't. I generally get blinded by any BMWs on the road, regardless of size.

[nodakfan17]

I like egg nog and I like brandy, but not egg nog with brandy.

[nodakfan17]

Target has 10% off gift cards today (up to $500). It’s a great way to save money if your family spends a lot of money at Target anyway.

[GAME05]

Time to invest in a good trail camera or security camera. I'm told the group of folks I tend to give a lot of citations to like to throw nails in driveways, put deer parts in mailboxes and sometimes take shots at houses.

[stoutdude04]

Time to invest in a good trail camera or security camera. I'm told the group of folks I tend to give a lot of citations to like to throw nails in driveways, put deer parts in mailboxes and sometimes take shots at houses.

 

People suck. It is true.

[AKCheesehead]

On a brighter note: the University of Alaska Geophysical Institute is forecasting a big aurora for tonight that should be visible overhead even in Wisconsin. Weather/moon conditions there should be just about perfect for viewing, too.

[Thurston Fluff]

A family down the street from us don't have a lot. They go to the food bank and live in a subsidized house. My wife and I always buy a little extra and put it on their doorstep anonymously. A bag of apples, some drawing supplies for the kids that sort of thing. We do it anonymously because nobody wants to be the taker so it leaves them with a bit more dignity. We just found out our neighbor (whom we have always called Mrs Kravitz after the nosy neighbor on Bewitched) told them who it was. Now it feels awkward. I don't want to stop because I know they can use it but I don't want them feeling like they owe us or thinking we view them as "that" family. Just not sure how to go about it now that they know who it is.

[stoutdude04]

A family down the street from us don't have a lot. They go to the food bank and live in a subsidized house. My wife and I always buy a little extra and put it on their doorstep anonymously. A bag of apples, some drawing supplies for the kids that sort of thing. We do it anonymously because nobody wants to be the taker so it leaves them with a bit more dignity. We just found out our neighbor (whom we have always called Mrs Kravitz after the nosy neighbor on Bewitched) told them who it was. Now it feels awkward. I don't want to stop because I know they can use it but I don't want them feeling like they owe us or thinking we view them as "that" family. Just not sure how to go about it now that they know who it is.

 

Just keep doing it. If they ask you about it or get you something you could always tell a white lie. Oh, she must have been mistaken, or we saw someone else do it once and we thought it was pretty neat and did it once also. Something along those lines. I think that's a great thing you are doing. You could also say you do it for many families in the community that you appreciate so they don't feel like it's out of pity or whatever.

[TURBO]

A family down the street from us don't have a lot. They go to the food bank and live in a subsidized house. My wife and I always buy a little extra and put it on their doorstep anonymously. A bag of apples, some drawing supplies for the kids that sort of thing. We do it anonymously because nobody wants to be the taker so it leaves them with a bit more dignity. We just found out our neighbor (whom we have always called Mrs Kravitz after the nosy neighbor on Bewitched) told them who it was. Now it feels awkward. I don't want to stop because I know they can use it but I don't want them feeling like they owe us or thinking we view them as "that" family. Just not sure how to go about it now that they know who it is.

 

Just keep doing it. If they ask you about it or get you something you could always tell a white lie. Oh, she must have been mistaken, or we saw someone else do it once and we thought it was pretty neat and did it once also. Something along those lines. I think that's a great thing you are doing. You could also say you do it for many families in the community that you appreciate so they don't feel like it's out of pity or whatever.

 

great suggestion...

 

I'd probably ask Mrs. Kravitz to put a lid on it. tell her she ruined your plan and guilt her into shutting her mouth.

 

I'd keep doing it though, regardless... It's a great thing to do!

[CheezWizHed]

Yes, I'd keep doing it. A couple ways to help it feel less like a "handout":

- Tie celebrations to the gifts: We did a "12 Days of Christmas" for our neighbors where we gave them 12 gifts (no lords-a-leaping or maids-a-milking), but just fun gifts - from "the neighborhood elves". They were new to the neighborhood. We found out later that they were both stuck at home with a really bad flu - our little gifts each day broke up their day and made a bigger impact than we ever thought.

- Ask them to help you do things also. Find small, simple ways they can return the favor. "Hey, I need a hand doing XYZ task, do you have 5 minutes to give me a hand?"

[Thurston Fluff]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. We'll keep doing it but it is nice to have some ways of making it easier for them to feel ok about it. Once this whole covid thing is over it'll be easier to just invite them over for dinner once in a while. Not to mention ask them for help so they feel better about it.

[JimH5]

The McRib sandwich is disgusting.

[TURBO]

The McRib sandwich is disgusting.

 

I disagree.

 

[JimH5]

The McRib sandwich is disgusting.

 

I disagree.

 

 

I had one today for the first time in probably 15 years, and mine could not have been picked up and eaten without having to wipe my hands multiple times. Way too much sauce. And the pressed, molded rib product just seemed too processed. I get it, it's McDonald's, and everything is processed, but this was gross. Good raw onions, though.

[SeaBass]

McRib is ok, I always get one when they make a comeback but that's usually the first and last one I get. The BBQ sauce is good, the onion and pickles are a perfect compliment but the rib meat itself doesn't really stand out. Too messy for the trouble of eating it. The bun could probably be better also.

 

I wouldn't mind a return of the Cheddar Melt it's been ages since the last time they were around.

[MrTPlush]

I don’t think I have ever had a McRib. However, looks like it would give me throwback vibes to one of the only school lunches I liked.

[pitchleague]

I had a McRib back in college when they first came out. I got food poisoning from it.

 

Hence, like wolves that have taste aversion for prey that made them sick, I , too, can not stand the McRib and have not had one since.

[TURBO]

The McRib is like Nickelback...

 

Everyone says they hate it (them), but when it (they put out new albums) comes back , they sell millions!!!