Tech Solutions for Everyday Problems: A Personal Journey
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Chapter 1: The Quest for Automation
Life in the tech lane often leads to unexpected conversations and solutions.
“Did you leave it on again?” This is a familiar refrain from my wife. Unlike Bill Clinton, I know exactly what “it” is: the garage light. The switch is located at the door leading out from our kitchen, and to my wife's dismay, I frequently forget to turn it off after popping out for something.
What can I say? My mind is often elsewhere. Besides, it’s just an LED bulb; we could outlast its life, and the cost to run it is minimal. Yet, my wife isn’t convinced. So, since she won’t buy a solution, I decided to find one myself.
Motion sensors seemed too elaborate for my needs. I really just wanted a timer switch that would turn off automatically after some time. I found one on Amazon (not an affiliate link), but it was quite unattractive! There are fancier options, but they felt excessive for a simple issue.
Frustrated, I settled on a straightforward switch that includes a pilot light. The only hitch? Our porch switch operates oppositely: its pilot lights up when the light is off! This one is HomeKit compatible, which I don’t need for the garage.
I can already hear my wife asking why I couldn’t find one that works the other way.
Section 1.1: Conversations in the Aisles
One day, I struck up a conversation with a supermarket employee, someone who often helps me select produce that meets my wife’s high standards—saving me from a potential lecture.
She expressed her frustrations about wearing masks at the store. I totally understand; wearing one for an entire shift can be exhausting. She argued that if customers can go without masks, so should she.
I posed some obvious questions: Why take unnecessary risks? What about the health of others, especially children? “Because customers don’t have to, so why should I?” she replied. It’s a valid argument. The store is packed with maskless patrons, and adding staff to the mix likely wouldn’t change the risk significantly.
Yet, I explained that I would continue to wear a mask, as new variants of the virus could emerge at any time. But being retired, I’m not stuck wearing one all day long.
Subsection 1.1.1: The Bug Vacuum Dilemma
My wife, who has a strong aversion to spiders, is quick to eliminate them on sight. I've argued that spiders help control pests, but she remains unconvinced.
To appease her, I purchased a bug vacuum, allowing me to catch and release the critters as long as I act swiftly when she spots one. The vacuum is gentle enough not to harm the insects. I simply suck them in, seal the cap, and release them outside. If they end up as a meal for a bird or succumb to the cold, well, that's just nature taking its course.
An article I read mentioned that male house spiders venture out while the females tend to stay hidden. I feel a twinge of guilt about eliminating something just trying to continue its lineage.
Chapter 2: Tech and Health Solutions
The first video explores essential settings for the Galaxy S24 Ultra, providing insights into maximizing its features.
The second video serves as a beginner's guide to Gray Zone Warfare, detailing all task locations for effective gameplay.
Section 2.1: AlDente and Battery Management
AlDente is an app designed to manage laptop charging based on user-defined limits. I invested in the Pro version and use it, but I sometimes question its necessity. I set it to charge only when the battery drops to 70% and to stop at 80%, which is said to extend battery life.
ZDNet indicates that macOS already manages unnecessary charging. Do I really need this app? How long will I keep this laptop anyway? I find myself wavering on this decision.
Section 2.2: A Painful Reminder
Though I don't play tennis, I once developed a painful case of tennis elbow. The discomfort is akin to a persistent toothache.
After researching, I discovered Theraband Flexbars. Unsure of which to choose, I bought the yellow, red, and green options—representing different levels of resistance. The yellow was too easy, the green was far too challenging, so I focused on the red, which helped alleviate my pain. I still use it, along with the green one, to maintain muscle strength.
I was surprised to find several videos recommending the green bar. Even as someone relatively strong, I found it quite difficult when my elbow was hurting!
Section 2.3: Ranked Voting and Political Change
You’re likely familiar with ranked voting, which allows voters to select multiple candidates. Some states are experimenting with it, and I wish we could implement it for Federal elections.
I believe ranked voting could help bridge the political divide. Personally, I might rank a Democrat as my top choice, a radical leftist next, followed by a moderate Republican. If everyone participated this way, we could end up electing a compromise candidate that most of us could support. Wouldn’t that be an improvement over the current political strife?
Lists are fantastic for organization. Here’s one I curated; it might spark some ideas for you:
Anthony Lawrence (Pcunix) on Medium curated some lists Start exploring Pandemic, Health, Tech and Science and more
If you enjoyed this, consider buying me a coffee. I’ll probably use it for tea, but it’s the thought that counts.