tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63837299250640993322024-03-17T20:03:55.120-07:00Mike Greer's WORTH SHARING<strong><center>A COLLECTION of THOUGHT-PROVOKING and USEFUL ARTICLES, PODCASTS, VIDEOS, TOOLS and OTHER RESOURCES</center></strong>Mike Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10761717181465329763noreply@blogger.comBlogger100125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383729925064099332.post-73013776493555355882024-02-17T17:15:00.000-08:002024-02-17T17:15:26.476-08:0011 Apps I Use Almost Every Day<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY42c77vFgnLbyvWuHd96WZN8Ql0G7ySxfgSVK6PRAqfhN49zeR8278VPI2vuFkGGnoCX6YxqWaRJu5N-3k8g7NDKv6-a4LTmCALeMQwhe9ZP9JLVFKKdpbvMwtyfrFVKwDnwq6Bm7TidMrc21C6PXFzNrkXgPhT3VKZ-1duFw8CjupL6DxMusHEQNkO7y/s601/Anchor-Graphic-Feb-'24-blog-post-600-px.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY42c77vFgnLbyvWuHd96WZN8Ql0G7ySxfgSVK6PRAqfhN49zeR8278VPI2vuFkGGnoCX6YxqWaRJu5N-3k8g7NDKv6-a4LTmCALeMQwhe9ZP9JLVFKKdpbvMwtyfrFVKwDnwq6Bm7TidMrc21C6PXFzNrkXgPhT3VKZ-1duFw8CjupL6DxMusHEQNkO7y/s16000/Anchor-Graphic-Feb-'24-blog-post-600-px.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <i>Icons shown:</i> Google Home, Gmail, Google Drive, Google Maps, Spiral Player, Pocket, Keep Notes, Brave Browser, Pluto TV, Google News, AntennaPod</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">So... What's an app, anyway?</h3><div><br /></div>It's easy to take apps for granted. Typically they are <b>tight, highly-focused applications (i.e., "apps") that help us accomplish particular chores</b> in a user-friendly way. Wikipedia defines an app as, "... a software program that's designed to perform a specific function directly for the user or, in some cases, for another software program." <b>Mobile apps are often hardware-specific</b> and designed to run on particular mobile devices while <b>web apps are designed to run inside web browsers</b> that might be working anywhere on the web. <p></p><p><b>The key: </b>While we may sometimes experiment with apps that seem interesting or perform exotic functions, the apps that matter most to us are the ones we rely on every day to achieve specific goals. In other words, <b>we don't run apps for the sake of running apps; we run apps to get stuff done that is important to us. </b></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">My Everyday Essential Apps</h3><p>I just asked my smart phone's "Settings" to list my installed apps. It replied: "List all 161 apps?" Yikes! I only use about a dozen on a regular basis! Apparently my habit of installing apps to "check them out" should be matched with a habit of uninstalling ones I don't use. <i>(Note to self: Scanning this list, I see a bunch I don't remember ever using. Time to do an "app inventory/sort/remove!")</i></p><p>In any case, I'm here to share <b>the apps that I find indispensable and use almost everyday</b>... sometimes many times a day. <b>These are</b>: </p><p><i><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Nest_(smart_speakers)#:~:text=Google%20Nest%2C%20previously%20named%20Google,Assistant%2C%20the%20company's%20virtual%20assistant." target="_blank">Google Home</a></b></i> - The Google Home app is <b>the command center to keep all our smart devices coordinated.</b> We have eight Google Home (now called "Nest Audio") smart speakers arranged all over our house, so we can pretty much yell "Hey, Google..." from wherever we happen to be and activate one of them to do work for us. My wife and I both use these smart speakers many times per hour to set timers, give us weather reports for anywhere on the planet, answer all sorts of search queries, play news reports/podcasts and carry out verbal instructions to <b>control our 40 plus Smart Home devices</b> such as smart plugs, WiFi-enabled light bulbs and TV. (Here's a deep dive into how we control and use all our smart home devices: <i><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2023/02/smart-speaker-not-useful-give-it-more.html" target="_blank">Smart speaker not useful? Give it more smart things to control!</a> )</i></p><p><i><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_News" target="_blank">Google News</a> feed</b></i> - This one is addictive! A simple swipe right on my Android phone continually refreshes a never ending bunch of news articles. So I have to be careful with this, since it can suck me into hours of news consumption! What makes it so addictive is that over the years Google has learned what my interests are. So most of <b>the articles the feed shows me are likely to capture my time and attention.</b> (For more info, see: <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/google-news/id459182288" target="_blank">Apple version.</a> Android/<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.magazines&hl=en_US&gl=US" target="_blank">Google Play store version</a>.)</p><p><i><b><a href="https://brave.com/" target="_blank">Brave Browser</a></b></i> - <b>It blocks ads!</b> <b>Period. </b>I repeat: <i><b>the Brave browser blocks ads!</b></i> So your browsing experience with Brave is fast and private and uninterrupted by annoying ads. According to the Brave Community, "Brave is fully open source, unlike other Chromium browsers that are managed by a company: Chrome, Edge, Vivaldi, Opera." And it's <b>available on <i>all</i> your devices:</b> Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. Learn more here at the <a href="https://brave.com/" target="_blank">Brave browser website</a>. </p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Keep" target="_blank"><i><b>Keep</b></i> <i><b>Notes</b></i></a> - Think "yellow stickies" or note cards. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Keep" target="_blank">Keep Notes</a> allows you to<b> take notes, make lists and attach links, photos and other files to each of them.</b> Keep Notes can be <b>color-coded</b> and are <b>synchronized and easily searchable across all your devices.</b> So when you make a change in a note on your tablet it's immediately reflected on your phone or computer. <b>My wife and I have a shared Keep note that is our shopping list.</b> When we run out of something we either add it directly to the Shopping list on one of our phones or tablets or simply yell at one of our Google Home (Nest) smart speakers or tap our phone's Google Assistant, telling it to add the item to the Shopping list. Then when we're out shopping we simply check off items as we put them in our cart. Since the list is updated immediately, we both know what's left on our shopping scavenger hunt! I <b>also have Keep Notes which track my car and other home maintenance chores</b>, noting the dates that I completed them, dated reminders to perform them again next time and any relevant details like the service person phone number, serial numbers, etc. Finally, <b>all of my documents, including this blog post, start out as rough ideas dictated into a Keep Note</b> using <a href="https://support.google.com/gboard/answer/2781851?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid" target="_blank">Google's voice typing keyboard</a>. </p><p><a href="https://antennapod.org/" target="_blank"><i><b>AntennaPod</b></i></a> - There are currently <b>millions of podcasts available</b> on all kinds of topics.<b> I use <a href="https://antennapod.org/" target="_blank">AntennaPod</a> to search for and subscribe to those that are of interest to me.</b> The app collects the published titles of available episodes and allows me to pick and choose which ones I stream immediately or download for offline use. Listings include audio or video podcasts. But I almost always choose audio so I can do chores or exercise while listening.</p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/gmail/about/" target="_blank"><i><b>Gmail</b></i></a> - It's been nearly 20 years since Google introduced this <b>powerful free email service.</b> Over the years it has become more flexible and powerful, <b>allowing tagging, sorting, forwarding, message chaining, blocking and many other options to help you manage your email.</b> If you're not using it you really should consider trying it. In fact, <b>many people have several Gmail accounts, using one with family and friends, one with vendors and one for professional contacts.</b> After all, it's free to get an account and, at minimum, you can use it with all those product registration sites which require an email address and could potentially bomb you with Spam. Gmail has wonderful spam guards that will keep most of that stuff out of your sight. <i>(See: "<a href="https://www.lifewire.com/benefits-of-gmail-1616254 " target="_blank">What's So Great About Gmail?"</a> wherein Lifewire explains... - <a href="https://www.lifewire.com/benefits-of-gmail-1616254 " target="_blank">https://www.lifewire.com/benefits-of-gmail-1616254 </a>)</i></p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pocket_(service)" target="_blank"><b><i>Pocket</i></b></a> - If you're like me, there are times when you run across <b>an article that looks interesting but you don't have the time to read it immediately.</b> This is where Pocket comes in. In fact, I use it to help me sort my Google News feed.<b> If it's an article I want to read later, I pop it open from the news feed, click the share option and send it to Pocket.</b> Later, when I have the time, I can <b>either read the article in text form or listen to it as Pocket's automated voice reads it aloud</b> while my hands and eyes are busy doing other things.</p><p><i><b><a href="https://www.google.com/drive/" target="_blank">Google Drive</a></b></i> - <b>If you have Gmail <i>(see above)</i>, you automatically have 15 GBs of free storage space available on all your devices, in the cloud, from Google.</b> And by using <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Docs" target="_blank">Google Docs</a> or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Sheets" target="_blank">Sheets</a> or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Slides" target="_blank">Slides</a> (available online via your Google Drive) you can create <b>documents that can be shared with other people.</b> I use my Google Drive to share all sorts of personal documents, business documents and agendas, etc. created by my fellow Indivisible activists. Because it's in the cloud, <b>anyone can collaborate with you on a document and edit from anywhere</b> on the planet. This kind of collaboration can actually change history. <i>(See "<a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/9adywz/how-google-docs-became-a-key-tool-for-social-justice" target="_blank">How Google Docs Became a Key Tool for Social Justice</a>" )</i></p><p><i><b><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/about/#!/" target="_blank">Google Maps</a></b> - </i>Just look at this feature-laden description from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps" target="_blank">WikiPedia</a>, "Google Maps is a web mapping platform and consumer application offered by Google. It offers <b>satellite imagery, aerial photography, street maps, 360° interactive panoramic views of streets (Street View), real-time traffic conditions, and route planning for traveling by foot, car, bike, air (in beta) and public transportation.</b> As of 2020, Google Maps was being used by over one billion people every month around the world." I use Google Maps to analyze all my trips to unfamiliar locations, to check out traffic and alternate routes and to navigate, in real time, while driving. It's <b>my constant travel companion!</b></p><p><a href="https://www.pluto.tv/about-us" target="_blank"><i><b>Pluto TV</b></i></a> - With Pluto TV you can watch<b> a zillion streaming TV channels on your smart phone, tablet, Roku box or simply via your <a href="https://pluto.tv/en/live-tv/613260e4bdb71c00070d63fa" target="_blank">web browser</a> on your PC. Think of it as a giant, free cable service</b> with shows constantly streaming for you to watch. Some shows are also available on demand. </p><p><i><b><a href="https://spiralplayer.com/" target="_blank">Spiral Player</a> </b></i>- "<b>Spiral Player is a cloud & offline music player..."</b> Long ago I ripped a zillion MP3 files from my favorite CDs and uploaded some of them to Google Drive, some to the New Zealand-based Mega online drive, and other cloud storage locations. I use Spiral Player to access and play them all. Sometimes it streams from the cloud and sometimes it plays stuff directly from my device. It <b>plays from folders, albums, or your own custom-made playlists. </b></p><p><i><b>BONUS: YouTube without Ads!</b></i> - Want to watch YouTube without ads? Then open your <a href="https://brave.com/" target="_blank">Brave Browser</a> (above), make sure you have "Shields Up..." <i>[top right, orange icon/image of lion in Brave Browser]</i> then go to: <a href="http://m.youtube.com" target="_blank">m.youtube.com</a> -- <i><b>Lotsa videos, No ads!</b></i></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h3><p>So these are <b>my everyday, "go to" apps.</b> If you aren't familiar with some of these, I hope you check them out. You may just find, like I have, that they soon become indispensable! </p>Mike Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10761717181465329763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383729925064099332.post-53387050523309193262024-01-20T14:32:00.000-08:002024-01-20T14:59:32.623-08:00A Dozen+ Recommended Podcasts: Loaded with Wisdom "Worth Sharing!"<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_S_IlhFr8l9d2dtZTnRUGUXGFlrJTc956WlxDn3wrgL8gc-CCn9tXjZlpskFP5J4TwB6Xl0r3RL6cMi-mSk6VxOsTJykDQr6QRRzOnYZ8JQ-c9HkoqbGWJ02rh4ztdxKfXxKZ9dZMt5XFe-kO_654hkbqmzqrPwCwv5BAHSa6UaRRqC17_MqgyUDm0-C/s1059/January-2024-blog-anchor.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="967" data-original-width="1059" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_S_IlhFr8l9d2dtZTnRUGUXGFlrJTc956WlxDn3wrgL8gc-CCn9tXjZlpskFP5J4TwB6Xl0r3RL6cMi-mSk6VxOsTJykDQr6QRRzOnYZ8JQ-c9HkoqbGWJ02rh4ztdxKfXxKZ9dZMt5XFe-kO_654hkbqmzqrPwCwv5BAHSa6UaRRqC17_MqgyUDm0-C/w400-h365/January-2024-blog-anchor.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>My Podcast Subscriptions</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Audio Podcasts: What's So Great About Them?</h3><p></p><p>I love audio podcasts! They are my on-demand sources of information and wisdom related to current affairs, the marketplace and (my favorite!) new tech developments. I listen to them when I'm exercising, showering/shaving, doing dishes or other chores, driving or simply any time my brain is idling and my hands and my eyes are busy. The great thing about them is that I can stream them from the cloud or download them and listen offline when I'm off the grid. I can also adjust playback speed to listen faster or slower than they were recorded. And, of course, I can rewind, pause and fast-forward as desired. </p><p>The bottom line: Podcasts are powerful user-controlled tools for staying informed, entertained and engaged!</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">My Favorite Podcasts</h3><p>Below are my favorite podcasts. I listen to most of these every day. If you're new to podcasts or if you have never heard of these particular ones, I recommend you check them out! The quoted descriptions below are from <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/" target="_blank">Google Podcasts</a>. But you can search and subscribe to them from any podcast app you choose. On my Android devices I use and recommend <a href="https://antennapod.org/" target="_blank">AntennaPod - The Open Podcast Player</a> and <a href="https://www.appbrain.com/app/playtube-block-ads-on-video/com.video.downloader.vanced.block.ads.playtube" target="_blank">PlayTube: Block Ads on Video</a>.) </p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5ucHIub3JnLzUwMDAwNS9wb2RjYXN0LnhtbA" target="_blank">NPR News Now</a> - "The latest news in five minutes. Updated hourly."</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5ucHIub3JnLzUxMDMxOC9wb2RjYXN0LnhtbA" target="_blank">Up First</a> - "...the news you need to start your day. The three biggest stories of the day, with reporting and analysis from NPR News — in 10 minutes."</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubWFya2V0cGxhY2Uub3JnL2ZlZWQvcG9kY2FzdC9tYXJrZXRwbGFjZS10ZWNo" target="_blank">Marketplace Tech</a> - "... demystifies the digital economy in less than 10 minutes. We look past the hype and ask tough questions about an industry that’s constantly changing."</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS81NG5BR2NJbA" target="_blank">The Daily</a> <i>(from The New York Times)</i> - "...what the news should sound like. The biggest stories of our time, told by the best journalists in the world."</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50d2l0LnR2L3R3aWcueG1s" target="_blank">This Week in Google</a> - "Get a big-picture view and detailed analysis of technology topics covering everything you can google."</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubWFya2V0cGxhY2Uub3JnL2ZlZWQvcG9kY2FzdC9tYXJrZXRwbGFjZQ" target="_blank">Marketplace</a> - "Every weekday, host Kai Ryssdal helps you make sense of the day’s business and economic news — no econ degree or finance background required."</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5ucHIub3JnLzUxMDM1NS9wb2RjYXN0LnhtbA" target="_blank">Consider This from NPR</a> - "The hosts of NPR's All Things Considered help you make sense of a major news story and what it means for you, in 15 minutes."</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cub21ueWNvbnRlbnQuY29tL2QvcGxheWxpc3QvYWNjOGNjNTctZmY3Yy00NGM1LTliZDYtYWIwOTAwZmJkYzQzLzM5ZDRiMzllLWFhMmQtNDBiMS1iYzA3LWFiMjIwMTIzNWU0My9mOWU3ZGNmNS1kMTYyLTQ3MjMtYjcxMC1hYjIyMDEyMzVlNGMvcG9kY2FzdC5yc3M" target="_blank">Airtalk</a> -<i> (Yes, it's local to Southern CA, but it has listeners all over the world and frequently covers national and world topics.)</i> "Join Larry Mantle weekdays for lively and in-depth discussions of Los Angeles and Southern California news, politics, science, entertainment, the arts and more."</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9vcGVuLmZpcnN0b3J5Lm1lL3Jzcy91c2VyL2NqemR4emY3dmJ6dmowNzU4NzJrYW5vaWI" target="_blank">TED Talks Daily</a> - "Join host and journalist Elise Hu for thought-provoking ideas on every subject imaginable — from Artificial Intelligence to Zoology, and everything in between."</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vTEkzNjE3MTIxMjY3" target="_blank">Big Technology Podcast</a> - "The Big Technology Podcast takes you behind the scenes in the tech world featuring interviews with plugged-in insiders and outside agitators."</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLndueWMub3JnL29udGhlbWVkaWE" target="_blank">On the Media</a> - "<span face="Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #3c4043; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">The Peabody Award-winning On the Media podcast is your guide to examining how the media sausage is made."</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span face="Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #3c4043; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50d2l0LnR2L3R3aXQueG1s" target="_blank">This Week in Tech (audio)</a> - "</span><span face="Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #3c4043;"><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">Join the top tech journalists and pundits in a roundtable discussion of the latest trends in tech." </span></span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span face="Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #3c4043;"><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9sZWZ0cmlnaHRhbmRjZW50ZXItZmVlZC5rY3J3LmNvbS8" target="_blank">Left, Right & Center</a> - "Left, Right & Center is KCRW’s weekly civilized yet provocative confrontation over politics, policy and pop culture."</span></span></li></ul><p></p><p><span face="Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #3c4043;"><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">So these are my favorites. I hope you find some of them to be compelling. Better yet, I hope they inspire you to find your own, unique podcast favorites from some of the millions available. </span></span></p><p><span face="Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #3c4043;"><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"><i>Happy listening!</i></span></span></p><p>===========================</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Related: </h4><p><span face="Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #3c4043;"><span style="font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"></span></span></p><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2020/11/6-podcasts-to-help-you-become-amateur.html" style="background-color: white; color: #33aaff; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" target="_blank"></a><ul style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2020/11/6-podcasts-to-help-you-become-amateur.html" style="background-color: white; color: #33aaff; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" target="_blank"></a><li><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2020/11/6-podcasts-to-help-you-become-amateur.html" style="background-color: white; color: #33aaff; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2020/11/6-podcasts-to-help-you-become-amateur.html" style="background-color: white; color: #33aaff; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" target="_blank">6 Podcasts to Help You Become an Amateur Tech Geek</a></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2017/04/ten-podcasts-that-can-challenge-you.html" style="background-color: white; color: #33aaff; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" target="_blank">Ten Podcasts that Can Challenge You, Irritate You & Deepen Your Understanding of Current Events</a></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2016/03/media-induced-ignorance-how-to.html" style="background-color: white; color: #33aaff; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" target="_blank">Media-Induced Ignorance & How to Neutralize It</a></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2018/08/reality-check-practical-tools-for.html" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" target="_blank">Reality Check: Practical Tools for Finding the Truth</a></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2016/10/the-truth-finder-3-questions-lots-of.html" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" target="_blank">The Truth Finder: 3 Questions & Lots of Links to Help You Distinguish Fact from Fiction</a></li></ul>Mike Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10761717181465329763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383729925064099332.post-85737731999124044892023-12-12T13:19:00.000-08:002023-12-12T13:31:51.429-08:00In Case You Missed Them: Top 5 Articles Worth Sharing in 2023<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_I9oZnxby7wzhWYEtH-Vp-WnYSWsZ_YNVhGwOJmz143PfRHwlJ2ucPR88mmn_x520Jej4OvjgM3AttVRBfIZfc_a5Y88KdrWpjgCPEhVtqp387oeNYZIN8zYg6ivkKhbCfMZPeZcSf5v6gKmrBdr6mwvh6DfuImXVldV4UXw7S2uD-P3hn3vn-FsBVpdg/s2400/anchor-graphic-Dec-2023-2400-px.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2150" data-original-width="2400" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_I9oZnxby7wzhWYEtH-Vp-WnYSWsZ_YNVhGwOJmz143PfRHwlJ2ucPR88mmn_x520Jej4OvjgM3AttVRBfIZfc_a5Y88KdrWpjgCPEhVtqp387oeNYZIN8zYg6ivkKhbCfMZPeZcSf5v6gKmrBdr6mwvh6DfuImXVldV4UXw7S2uD-P3hn3vn-FsBVpdg/w400-h359/anchor-graphic-Dec-2023-2400-px.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This year I found all kinds of stuff <i>worth sharing</i>, from the cosmic & philosophical to the nitty-gritty & practical. In case you missed them, here are <b>my picks for the top five articles I posted in 2023.</b> Hope you find them interesting!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Inside the Black Box: Thoughts on Judgement, Intuition, Synthesis & Artificial Intelligence</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CRynllAQ29hAdio838SWtyAwWKZ964qhV5q0Uns7kxXRKnT-ejsDTRdHD2H2LRNaO5gkai0BPC5qfUhQkJnjW2vibAcXuIn3VwiEtH7h7zNyDj4V3iG3gKxpghu3LyIlhM82mGAEoOKDyK5mfcGChvreyBvTcqRGQIFIU9dDD4prrVjEv4WjZNXfILsC/s496/Inside-the-Black-Box.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="496" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CRynllAQ29hAdio838SWtyAwWKZ964qhV5q0Uns7kxXRKnT-ejsDTRdHD2H2LRNaO5gkai0BPC5qfUhQkJnjW2vibAcXuIn3VwiEtH7h7zNyDj4V3iG3gKxpghu3LyIlhM82mGAEoOKDyK5mfcGChvreyBvTcqRGQIFIU9dDD4prrVjEv4WjZNXfILsC/w320-h265/Inside-the-Black-Box.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2023/01/inside-black-box-thoughts-on-judgement.html" target="_blank">Go to article: <i><b>Inside the Black Box...</b></i></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The end of 2022 (November 30, to be exact) saw the introduction of <b><a href="https://chat.openai.com/auth/login" target="_blank">Chat GPT</a></b>. After playing around with it a while, I shared <b>my reactions and discussed what I saw as the implications for content creators.</b> <i>See:</i> <a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2023/01/inside-black-box-thoughts-on-judgement.html" target="_blank"><i>Inside the Black Box: Thoughts on Judgement, Intuition, Synthesis & Artificial Intelligence</i></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Bonus:</i> Check out <a href="https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2023/11/chatgpt-was-the-spark-that-lit-the-fire-under-generative-ai-one-year-ago-today/#:~:text=One%20year%20ago%20today%2C%20on,has%20in%20just%20one%20year." target="_blank"><i>ChatGPT is one year old. Here’s how it changed the tech world.</i></a> from <a href="https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2023/11/chatgpt-was-the-spark-that-lit-the-fire-under-generative-ai-one-year-ago-today/#:~:text=One%20year%20ago%20today%2C%20on,has%20in%20just%20one%20year." target="_blank">Ars Technica</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Smart speaker not useful? Give it more smart things to control!</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpj13q3CpmGdnhQvW95qZuaNonSqyAIhQbW2rleO6XEo47MFTC8_u1ty4x4S0xh7xVySGzyCHfLfoVp49gqqg6EsOq_M1-1HK1z7ojW0atlzbtZxxkUkVutyn2Vca9I40L71c_GK1W1W2A4DtQOFqnwsPgtdPParp4ZZNSrJyuySaQf0J-auAJpszOUGTW/s496/smart-speaker-not-useful-eh.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="496" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpj13q3CpmGdnhQvW95qZuaNonSqyAIhQbW2rleO6XEo47MFTC8_u1ty4x4S0xh7xVySGzyCHfLfoVp49gqqg6EsOq_M1-1HK1z7ojW0atlzbtZxxkUkVutyn2Vca9I40L71c_GK1W1W2A4DtQOFqnwsPgtdPParp4ZZNSrJyuySaQf0J-auAJpszOUGTW/s320/smart-speaker-not-useful-eh.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2023/02/smart-speaker-not-useful-give-it-more.html" target="_blank">Go to article: <i><b>Smart speaker not useful? </b></i></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As my wife will tell you, <b>I am a super-geeky early adopter of all kinds of tech gizmos and gadgets. </b>Some are productivity enhancers and others are just cool, fun conveniences to have in our house. Given my own relationship with smart things, I am always amazed when someone says, "I got one of those smart speakers [Google Home, Amazon Echo, etc.] and I don't think it's all that useful." My reaction: "What!! Well, you need to fire up your imagination and put these things to work for your family!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the article <a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2023/02/smart-speaker-not-useful-give-it-more.html" target="_blank"><i>Smart speaker not useful? Give it more smart things to control!</i></a> I share<b> a typical "day in the life..." of our smart speakers & connected devices.</b> It's loaded with practical, real-world applications that you can apply to your home to make your smart things more useful. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A Curated, 21-Video Study Guide for Absolute AI (Artificial Intelligence) Newbies: What It Is, Where You Can Play with It & How We Might Want to Shape Its Role in Our Lives</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi427ligioLZomri3ShNLm9Jh6Vf-WnZc9kl_9UoYZRLJaoIyukoUp-ib0nzs85GUIxeecUwpypiWm1vDxAw1aDr6g9y9EcZV3WvSa0JwAcKLDiLRE60ZhbcmCJ159l36EsG8mBPZpFQBmPh8pl-1v74EDz6m_r8qcrtjTo_d5UWnatQjuP92tvQlSES628/s496/Curated-video-study-guide-4-AI.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="496" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi427ligioLZomri3ShNLm9Jh6Vf-WnZc9kl_9UoYZRLJaoIyukoUp-ib0nzs85GUIxeecUwpypiWm1vDxAw1aDr6g9y9EcZV3WvSa0JwAcKLDiLRE60ZhbcmCJ159l36EsG8mBPZpFQBmPh8pl-1v74EDz6m_r8qcrtjTo_d5UWnatQjuP92tvQlSES628/s320/Curated-video-study-guide-4-AI.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2023/04/a-curated-21-video-study-guide-for.html" target="_blank">Go to article: <i><b>A Curated, 21 Video Study Guide...</b></i></a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The title says it all: This is my <b>easy-to-assimilate video intro to AI</b> (artificial intelligence). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One Year Later: How Our Chromebook is Working Out</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEWUKWin9E96kE8uHJ3D-1Bxnvre90gQRUC7ELb8kW2YiK7iWAUZP9-5mzEfZ6ltulGIQqAc8-kP7nI0jFfJorV6LE2lAn_geP3Bd4gELg7VT_aJN7seSBE1liNTHEOtTUA0wQadKYdUFf1zsAu4vpPIr3uzb2H2-3ypU_AsMWE4_xToy-Hxw1iXgI-l9l/s496/chrome-book-1-yr-later.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="496" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEWUKWin9E96kE8uHJ3D-1Bxnvre90gQRUC7ELb8kW2YiK7iWAUZP9-5mzEfZ6ltulGIQqAc8-kP7nI0jFfJorV6LE2lAn_geP3Bd4gELg7VT_aJN7seSBE1liNTHEOtTUA0wQadKYdUFf1zsAu4vpPIr3uzb2H2-3ypU_AsMWE4_xToy-Hxw1iXgI-l9l/s320/chrome-book-1-yr-later.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2023/05/one-year-later-how-our-chromebook-is.html" target="_blank">Go to article: <b><i>One Year Later...</i></b></a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That graphic above tells the story: <i>No Windows, Only Chromebook: 1 Year Later</i>. This is <b><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2023/05/one-year-later-how-our-chromebook-is.html" target="_blank">my review of our new life without Windows</a></b> in Google's Chrome OS world. <i>(Spoiler: It's just fine!)</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My Three Websites: A Lot of Stuff Worth Sharing</h3><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOtX626U7DouhhMmIMgzKcfo_ICeqFsG6lxnfWgMyS10FGa5xWV5gQHdFt0LShaqR-3BLzlMDaULfD5JidkER9PPvCXqJKQzLH22rCRfEbzdY7L6DHtxc4fq5h7WDFWl3YD_0l6sInwGhCW7DC_XTO2zXC_JSJuM_BpCznKBi9gsfiP-bqlDof9s8MMs7/s468/3-websites.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="411" data-original-width="468" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOtX626U7DouhhMmIMgzKcfo_ICeqFsG6lxnfWgMyS10FGa5xWV5gQHdFt0LShaqR-3BLzlMDaULfD5JidkER9PPvCXqJKQzLH22rCRfEbzdY7L6DHtxc4fq5h7WDFWl3YD_0l6sInwGhCW7DC_XTO2zXC_JSJuM_BpCznKBi9gsfiP-bqlDof9s8MMs7/s320/3-websites.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2023/10/my-three-websites-lot-of-stuff-worth.html" target="_blank">Go to article: <i><b>My Three Websites...</b></i></a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In this <a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2023/10/my-three-websites-lot-of-stuff-worth.html" target="_blank">article</a>, I remind readers that I have a couple of other <b>"frozen" websites</b> that are loaded with tools and information <b>to help manage projects and teams. </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">_________</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So that's it. Just wanted to make sure you didn't miss these articles that you might find useful or thought-provoking. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><b>Happy Holidays!</b></i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Mike Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10761717181465329763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383729925064099332.post-53590805879577777482023-11-23T12:36:00.000-08:002023-11-23T12:52:18.405-08:00TLDR? Or TLCC (too long, couldn't comprehend)? Some Thoughts on the End of Reading and Writing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbeHKZIoWQL2ESX2ET4tdpQxv3rlDwDsCosX-6pkPe7TZ6xSSDydVKENYoaaNUOkH6AE9qi8XUvbtDfJFLAPw239lAiUJEhmi_6pv-jzh0pILW0G58v2q44Rh6tqSiDWCtAbTimQz3S3SUreimT7heA1lYbaPXYAGQ3A4obGhzJPDEZhqTlmqlolBhywBd/s600/TLDR-blog-post-anchor-graphic-ver-2-Nov-2023-600px.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbeHKZIoWQL2ESX2ET4tdpQxv3rlDwDsCosX-6pkPe7TZ6xSSDydVKENYoaaNUOkH6AE9qi8XUvbtDfJFLAPw239lAiUJEhmi_6pv-jzh0pILW0G58v2q44Rh6tqSiDWCtAbTimQz3S3SUreimT7heA1lYbaPXYAGQ3A4obGhzJPDEZhqTlmqlolBhywBd/w200-h200/TLDR-blog-post-anchor-graphic-ver-2-Nov-2023-600px.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Did you ever recommend an article or an opinion piece to someone and, when you follow up to get their reaction, have them respond with <b>TLDR (too long, didn't read)</b>? I have. And it's disappointing, to say the least. But it's also puzzling. I guess that's because <b>I really enjoy essays... developed thought... the assertion of a challenging thesis followed by supporting ideas, etc. And the concept of TLDR dismisses all of that. </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bullets & Videos to Grab Quick Scrollers</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">In response to those suffering from TLDR, <b>those who publish web content have begun to adapt.</b> Some sites that publish well-developed and well-researched articles have begun presenting bulleted lists at the beginning of their pieces. Others have begun to pop in brief video summaries just below the headline to grab attention with some of the article's big ideas in non-verbal, visual form. <b>The object of the game is to encourage the engagement of quick-scrolling passers-by </b>and keep them on the site. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Now, before you think me a complete snob, I will confess that I usually scroll quickly through my customized Google news feed and rarely go below the headline and the previewed or "teaser" first sentence of a recommended article. (There's just so much to see!!) Sadly, I must admit that my inclination to engage content deeply is slowly eroding and being replaced by the scroll and scan. In my more reflective moments, I have wondered if I am suffering from a self-inflicted attention deficit disorder! As a result, <b>I am haunted by the possibility that I'm missing the deeper, more developed thoughts struggled over and shaped by the author and then presented as substantiation for the headlines.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our ancestors could handle complexity!</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It's instructive <b>to put this in a broader historical context.</b> Our predecessors wrote, and their readers were able to decipher, quite complex written pieces. The writing presented challenging, nuanced and typically well-supported ideas. And the readers had the intellectual chops to unravel, translate and comprehend them. Consider a couple of examples.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Below is a <i>single sentence</i> written by economist and philosopher David Hume in 1741:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">"It will be found, if I mistake not, a true observation in politics, that the two extremes in government, liberty and slavery, commonly approach nearest to each other; and that, as you depart from the extremes, and mix a little of monarchy with liberty, the government becomes always the more free; and on the other hand, when you mix a little of liberty with monarchy, the yoke becomes always the more grievous and intolerable." -- <i>David Hume, 1741 <a href="https://davidhume.org/texts/empl1/lp" target="_blank">https://davidhume.org/texts/empl1/lp</a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And <b>here's a <i>one-sentence satirical example</i> from 1729 written by Hume's contemporary Jonathan Swift:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">"I think it is agreed by all parties, that this prodigious number of children in the arms, or on the backs, or at the heels of their mothers, and frequently of their fathers, is in the present deplorable state of the kingdom, a very great additional grievance; and therefore whoever could find out a fair, cheap and easy method of making these children sound and useful members of the commonwealth, would deserve so well of the publick, as to have his statue set up for a preserver of the nation." -- <i>from</i> <i>A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift, 1729 <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1080/pg1080-images.html" target="_blank">https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1080/pg1080-images.html</a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I know that my own grandfather, who had but a high school education and earned his living as a factory laborer and house painter, made it a point to introduce me to lots of classic books from his personal library. And he would have had no trouble connecting with the long-form sentences above. However, today's readers, no matter how well educated, would likely find these sentences to be quite challenging to unravel. Such writing demands an engagement and effort that could seem overwhelming to those whose greatest mental challenge is skimming and forwarding tweets, Instagram memes or Facebook links. So I'm guessing many of today's readers would simply ignore them and keep scrolling. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><h3 style="clear: both;">Is humanity's literacy a lost cause?</h3></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So I leave you with <b>a couple of simple questions:</b> If we are losing the ability (or at the least the inclination) to create and engage subtle, nuanced writing <b>are we also losing a critical intellectual capacity that is one of the defining characteristics of humanity?</b> And, if you answer this in the affirmative, what should we do about it? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><p></p>Mike Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10761717181465329763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383729925064099332.post-8578195051571535932023-10-25T10:35:00.003-07:002023-10-25T10:41:40.666-07:00My Three Websites: A Lot of Stuff Worth Sharing<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2018/03/my-great-website-migration-and-then.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhVCVBc94tvg01TXFu3SYeHagWV4pYTEPkd7T3Azi2_ScX0idvdqLpuSl9IvVRLPitHK4BTOVMT8U4B4etObQaVYhzYVDp1DMw9jdBfSToMagwmvKu3VwRxTEBBWv9OSbZEmUDVRS6yMSuXnt4uUKSomfBgolqZgbNbawM-E8X05b7kk2nXAdI6qTtXh5/s16000/Re-introducing-Websites-600px.jpg" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2018/03/my-great-website-migration-and-then.html" target="_blank">My websites: 1 active & 2 archived <i>("frozen")</i></a></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Over five years ago I launched this website, <b>Mike Greer's WORTH SHARING</b>. In doing so, I decided to "freeze" a couple of my other websites in order to focus on more eclectic, wide-ranging topics that sparked my interest. At the same time, I wanted to make sure that all the content previously assembled for helping new project managers and their teams would remain easily accessible. <div><br /></div><div><b>The bottom line:</b> All my <b>new stuff is available right here at my WORTH SHARING</b> website, while <b>PM resources and inspirational tools and media for teams</b> <b>remain available at the two "frozen" sites.</b> At the time of the "freezing" I explained the distinctions <a href="http://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2018/03/my-great-website-migration-and-then.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<p></p><p>Today, the only way you might know that these sites still exist (and that they have good stuff to share!) is if you happen to see the understated menu links under "Go to My Other Websites" on this site's home screen. So, <b>in case you missed them, <a href="http://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2018/03/my-great-website-migration-and-then.html" target="_blank">I hereby re-introduce you to my three websites</a></b>, all of which include good stuff <i><b>worth sharing</b></i>! Enjoy! </p></div></div>Mike Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10761717181465329763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383729925064099332.post-30787390353457432452023-09-29T13:01:00.001-07:002023-09-29T13:04:33.240-07:00From the Archives: Three Articles to Support Wellness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2uNPcmP5949n9QHTx6xcnFprpp2B3T2d25LS47x5cmD6jdzh10kpVLfCboLR88Lmub0D3feFD8ZZ_1bEXN8UHR9SFyO4-WXjY1dcDmq3KKf3SZHOOo-gsXB4RSyxJBjYAjrBXoLQZv3NRRVEhggBEPcVLXSLJb1VOfJXPb4nE6U4iFGBWwDTFMENM8G7a/s600/Anchor-Graphic-Sept-2023-blog-post-600px.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="342" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2uNPcmP5949n9QHTx6xcnFprpp2B3T2d25LS47x5cmD6jdzh10kpVLfCboLR88Lmub0D3feFD8ZZ_1bEXN8UHR9SFyO4-WXjY1dcDmq3KKf3SZHOOo-gsXB4RSyxJBjYAjrBXoLQZv3NRRVEhggBEPcVLXSLJb1VOfJXPb4nE6U4iFGBWwDTFMENM8G7a/s16000/Anchor-Graphic-Sept-2023-blog-post-600px.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Here are three articles from the archives that are designed to help you stay physically and mentally fit. They include lots of tools and worksheets to help you figure out exactly what you need and to help guide you toward your own unique wellness goals. <i>Enjoy!</i></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">5 Reasons Everyone Should Get a Regular "Tune-Up" from a Physical Therapist (1 of 2)</h3><p>"... getting physical therapy (PT) should be similar to going to the dentist:<br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>You should go at least every couple of years for a "tune-up."</li><li>The PT visits should be matched by your own daily maintenance routine.</li><li>This daily maintenance routine should be custom-tailored by the PT experts to address your aging body's unique anomalies." (<a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2015/10/5-reasons-everyone-should-get-regular.html" target="_blank"><i>Read the full article here.</i></a>)</li></ul><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2015/10/5-reasons-everyone-should-get-regular.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="421" data-original-width="941" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJ64yem_XNA97vuFTPrudAGQKc5lB32Y4cyJSOMzhC_cDcQaLunFUUAdBFh8AJQFlae-2UEKWYMZUzXwRlVjoRCluzhDDsIJbOas1pDoomSQpfzrXNtirgwvjpOlUjtlDTrJ6GROq1wUBJ7ZrxmQEEsYs06T4m63gJdcF0DREYPJ3MFr0uuxL0bNrb4yc/w400-h179/Screenshot%202023-09-10%209.21.21%20AM.png" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2015/10/5-reasons-everyone-should-get-regular.html" target="_blank">Full article ... </a></td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;">5 Specific Steps to Get Your Physical Therapy "Tune-Up" (2 of 2)</h3><p>If you've ever worked your way through the obstacle course that is our healthcare system, then you know how important it is to be organized and laser-focused on your goal. To get what you want from all those smart, busy medical professionals, you have to do your homework and arrive armed with some reference notes. This article includes a worksheet (also available as a two-page PDF download) that can help you take charge of the process and get the medical support you need. (<a href="http://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2015/11/5-specific-steps-to-get-your-physical.html" target="_blank"><i>Read the full article here.</i></a>)</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2015/11/5-specific-steps-to-get-your-physical.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="421" data-original-width="940" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZtPRc_NN3-D_PgWYqYtrAblUcJVYR1_Fp-ZwwmeoSr4efq0MhymJ49qRor31Rmx--arpp-AshJEFh9zQwqzp6OwQ6GiaYY7hsaySy5bz9yTAjk5VLAva8SmbFbcnFXuNYmmNn8KtPP4KVRXBcm8UoVTK74DjFr2527YKdudMyHXADJincNVE8KfwXS_y/w400-h179/Screenshot%202023-09-10%209.21.44%20AM.png" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2015/11/5-specific-steps-to-get-your-physical.html" target="_blank">Full article ... </a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Medito: Your Free Meditation & Mindfulness Multitool</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Medito is essentially a meditation tutor, an always on-call (and completely confidential!) personal therapist, a sleep aid, a work life coach, a collection of relaxing ambient soundscapes and a handy meditation/mindfulness reference library." (<a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2020/12/medito-your-free-meditation-mindfulness.html" target="_blank"><i>Read the full article here.</i></a>)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2020/12/medito-your-free-meditation-mindfulness.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="940" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRW8n5UGBg-hOCcHFzlLUWtJDfj7RSPzmH_GPn55GFG-oobMhnH8VQyoPGRUg1eyZ6CU2RgIgkg0Uo3dYRoAHW0tcUJR7h7159DbvAYlFdTjAa2KHpsKCxpRJA1ouDNf06eov8Hy8xD6SZ5nNGTWN2tll96jbx-5U3VEHZ-rpV2Y16OOxIdwC5R96cF12/w400-h206/Screenshot%202023-09-10%209.22.55%20AM.png" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2020/12/medito-your-free-meditation-mindfulness.html" target="_blank">Full article ... </a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Mike Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10761717181465329763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383729925064099332.post-73941372267538054922023-08-25T16:56:00.006-07:002023-08-25T17:26:04.968-07:00A Brief Reading List: Exploring Human Intelligence, Consciousness and the Role of Our New AI Partners<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyduHH3ir2dyfwrCqDKgfh-k3zhV5x80jL1zl9hWJQ6SNamLgLV5NVEicSnX30o3BZZSMRiVm-Pmx06OA0pGWnNfsSkKxVCdP0RMtZASyPpJ597f6Sbr10DXu-HuGZPzBow5G_R4PLv2EGNDlZzqyxXHHvr4apva8ACaVgzHyVjmgM6u27s_TQauSZpAF/s600/August%20'23%20Blog%20Anchor%20Graphic-600-px.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="447" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyduHH3ir2dyfwrCqDKgfh-k3zhV5x80jL1zl9hWJQ6SNamLgLV5NVEicSnX30o3BZZSMRiVm-Pmx06OA0pGWnNfsSkKxVCdP0RMtZASyPpJ597f6Sbr10DXu-HuGZPzBow5G_R4PLv2EGNDlZzqyxXHHvr4apva8ACaVgzHyVjmgM6u27s_TQauSZpAF/s16000/August%20'23%20Blog%20Anchor%20Graphic-600-px.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">In this article I recommend <b>three books that explore the answers to these broad questions:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">• What is consciousness or intelligence and how did it spring forth in humans?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">• How are machines being engineered to absorb and amplify human intelligence?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">• What does it mean to be a conscious human in a world where both technology and its unique form of consciousness (Artificial Intelligence) predominates? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Fittingly, <b>my co-author in this article is <a href="https://bard.google.com/" target="_blank">Google's AI tool Bard</a>.</b> I asked <a href="https://bard.google.com/" target="_blank">Bard</a> to create summaries of each of the books below. Since I have read each book (or rather listened to the unabridged audio book versions) I was able to evaluate the accuracy of Bard's summaries. The bottom line: Bard did a great job! So I've included Bard's summaries below. </div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind</h3></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/Sapiens/FmyBAwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="925" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxqSB81w9-JmLYyxQbeFumUAFT6l5BBk9j4up8NHr2p1qh0_Iw-JJKd2TJnas2rra3IgpDKo7tgFPASWHtaWsv1rQaZRdRDhZzwlIRD8a8A_RdK1aBi-t5SLQfyd4n8-q9b24Pgv7Un6Z_iA497lvAVy6BmO9vZiDmmk5T4-RVIW_rQ0uGW2Bsz_ZMEXu/w640-h174/Sapiens.png" width="640" /></a></div><p>Before we can begin to understand artificial intelligence we need to strip it of the adjective "artificial" and examine intelligence on its own. <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/Sapiens/FmyBAwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0" target="_blank">Harari's book Sapiens</a> describes the awakening of conscious awareness among the homo sapiens and how this awakening has manifested itself in the creation of culture and civilization. He then briefly predicts AI's potential to join or possibly supplant organic human intelligence.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><i>Google Bard's Summary</i></h4><p>"<a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/Sapiens/FmyBAwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0" target="_blank">Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind</a> is a book by Yuval Noah Harari that explores the history of humankind from the Stone Age to the present day. The book argues that the unique ability of humans to cooperate with each other in large numbers, enabled by our shared myths and stories, is what has allowed us to become the dominant species on Earth.</p><p>The book is divided into four parts:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i>The Cognitive Revolution:</i> This part explores how the development of language and abstract thinking allowed humans to cooperate with each other in ways that no other animal can.</li><li><i>The Agricultural Revolution:</i> This part examines the transition from hunter-gatherer societies to agricultural societies, and the consequences of this transition for human health, happiness, and environmental impact.</li><li><i>The Unnatural History of Humankind</i>: This part explores the rise of empires, religions, and science, and how these forces have shaped the modern world.</li><li><i>The Future of Sapiens</i>: This part looks at the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for humanity, such as climate change, artificial intelligence, and the possibility of nuclear war.</li></ul><p></p><p>Sapiens is a thought-provoking and eye-opening book that challenges many of our assumptions about human history. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the world we live in and the challenges we face in the future."<br /><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Age of Spiritual Machines: When Computers Exceed Human Intelligence</h3><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Age_of_Spiritual_Machines/lbl4MN3iUHsC?hl=en&gbpv=0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="925" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxeANfwlIPAOw0mnLVg-MhPAPl7O0R7LVfOa6fRvXVpQE4hNTw1fG_bTcJduIE4L-ugSW6MDSM46v75gfRgO5Yh0q6585lZuqR9M2phNn9gH5bfOixmqF9Oc8XFqHzAdJLIoT3Y5WXQhul1Ri4yLKiGGTVxRob0e6Reywd4LAW44WDvxgCdNHPvQZOOJ_/w640-h174/Spiritual-Machines.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yes, this book is over 20 years old. However, it was written by a man who has "... written books on health, artificial intelligence (AI), transhumanism, the technological singularity, and futurism. Kurzweil is a public advocate for the futurist and transhumanist movements... " - from <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Kurzweil" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This book is a foundational text that accurately predicted some AI-based functions that are in use today and predicts others that are yet to come. It's an essential text for understanding the roots of AI.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h4 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Google Bard's Summary</i></h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">"Here is a brief summary of the book <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Age_of_Spiritual_Machines/lbl4MN3iUHsC?hl=en&gbpv=0" target="_blank">The Age of Spiritual Machines: When Computers Exceed Human Intelligence</a> by Ray Kurzweil:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The book argues that the pace of technological advancement is accelerating, and that<i> computers will eventually surpass human intelligence. </i>Kurzweil believes that this will happen by the year 2045, and that it will lead to a "singularity" where machines will become so intelligent that they will be indistinguishable from humans. He also predicts that this will lead to the development of artificial general intelligence (AGI), which will be able to perform any intellectual task that a human can. </li></ul></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Kurzweil believes that <i>AGI will have a profound impact on society</i>, and that it will eventually lead to the "merger" of humans and machines. He argues that this merger will be beneficial for humanity, as it will allow us to overcome our physical limitations and achieve a higher level of consciousness.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The book has been <i>praised by some</i> for its cogent analysis of technological trends and its optimistic vision of the future. However, it has also been <i>criticized by others </i>for its lack of scientific rigor and its reliance on speculation... The Age of Spiritual Machines is a thought-provoking and controversial work that has had a significant impact on the way we think about the future of technology. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the potential implications of artificial intelligence."<br /><br /></li></ul></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">God, Human, Animal, Machine: Technology, Metaphor, and the Search for Meaning</h3><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/God_Human_Animal_Machine/cNp0EAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="254" data-original-width="936" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghykcB729bARAaKOLnDQUtNsF7EFL9mFsh3823rQ7LD0FSOkBgiAT8tRVTpJ43XCGX7Kk-HaQmf_E1-AFlgd_B9nXdQlc9oPU1W6FMy7KAlsm8kUHUGuRknKyhubnvZcAxn9wis1PdhTXqGYJtUWK_WATegRKe6mpcnTvfiu4Iqfw6WLnTRoZp0rWDsnry/w640-h174/God-Human-Animal-Machine.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/God_Human_Animal_Machine/cNp0EAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0" target="_blank">book</a> explores what it means to be a conscious human in a world where both technology and technology's unique form of consciousness (Artificial Intelligence) coexist. Though the topics discussed are both profound and complex, O'Gieblyn's explanations are easily accessible and anchor the topic firmly in the real world.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h4 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Google Bard's Summary<br /><br /></i></h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"The book <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/God_Human_Animal_Machine/cNp0EAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0" target="_blank">God, Human, Animal, Machine: Technology, Metaphor, and the Search for Meaning</a> by Meghan O'Gieblyn is a collection of essays that explores the ways in which technology has shaped our understanding of ourselves, our relationships, and our place in the world. O'Gieblyn argues that technology is not neutral, but rather that it carries with it its own set of metaphors and assumptions. These metaphors, in turn, influence the way we think about ourselves and our relationships to the natural world.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The book is divided into four parts. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i>The first part, "God,"</i> examines the ways in which technology has been used to create new forms of spirituality and religious experience. O'Gieblyn discusses the rise of artificial intelligence and the ways in which some people are beginning to see AI as a kind of divine being. She also explores the use of technology in religious rituals and practices.</li><li><i>The second part, "Human,"</i> examines the ways in which technology has changed our understanding of what it means to be human. O'Gieblyn discusses the rise of social media and the ways in which it has altered our sense of self and our relationships with others. She also explores the ways in which technology has been used to create new forms of surveillance and control.</li><li><i>The third part, "Animal,"</i> examines the ways in which technology has changed our relationship to the natural world. O'Gieblyn discusses the rise of factory farming and the ways in which it has commodified animals. She also explores the use of technology in animal research and the ethical implications of this.</li><li><i>The fourth part, "Machine,"</i> examines the ways in which technology has become increasingly intertwined with our lives. O'Gieblyn discusses the rise of automation and the ways in which it is displacing human workers. She also explores the ways in which technology is changing our experience of time and space.</li></ul></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/God_Human_Animal_Machine/cNp0EAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0" target="_blank">God, Human, Animal, Machine</a> is a thought-provoking book that challenges our assumptions about ourselves, our relationships, and our place in the world. It is a must-read for anyone who is interested in the future of humanity and the role of technology in our lives."</div><div><br /></div><h4 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Related Article</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2023/04/a-curated-21-video-study-guide-for.html" target="_blank">A Curated, 21-Video Study Guide for Absolute AI (Artificial Intelligence) Newbies: What It Is, Where You Can Play with It & How We Might Want to Shape Its Role in Our Lives</a></li></ul></div><p></p>Mike Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10761717181465329763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383729925064099332.post-74132564216375255982023-07-23T11:47:00.002-07:002023-07-23T13:09:19.039-07:00Summer Reruns: A Few Entertaining Diversions & Inspirations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4gllD5CvmjhATWYc_UUlSh5yUWnVaprJLESJ9jPhEvL0o8eKx5L06ptb6q-xgN9eI5c7OKxKkqHMZrVdbHZ_f1sW5-eXgQWNFg2AhV-3lk1tX6KXry7195HGGS9R9h3Rvzv4aPV8r2ALf3k03O4DRtG1LTOPhei_MEOZ0QFfYvMbUPz9i0VmwH46LVL4/s620/July-2023-anchor-graphics-620-px.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4gllD5CvmjhATWYc_UUlSh5yUWnVaprJLESJ9jPhEvL0o8eKx5L06ptb6q-xgN9eI5c7OKxKkqHMZrVdbHZ_f1sW5-eXgQWNFg2AhV-3lk1tX6KXry7195HGGS9R9h3Rvzv4aPV8r2ALf3k03O4DRtG1LTOPhei_MEOZ0QFfYvMbUPz9i0VmwH46LVL4/s16000/July-2023-anchor-graphics-620-px.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Whether you're hanging out on your front porch or inside in front of an air conditioner,<b> long, warm summer days can be a good time to kick back, put your feet up and relax with a few media diversions.</b> <b>Or,</b> if you're more ambitious, it can also be a good time <b>to wax philosophical by reviewing some nuggets of wisdom</b> handed down by the great philosophers and teachers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Whichever your inclination, you'll find some <b>useful resources below. I culled these from many years of my published articles</b>, each of which took substantial effort to create. So that these don't disappear completely into our shadowy past, I hereby resurrect them as summer reruns. Enjoy!</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Media Diversions </h3><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2022/04/music-to-get-lost-in-brief-introduction.html " target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKh_nZlWeAj16F_TtDX3u25llAyLUDZX5lvD2EDy5umfySXW_4xZB4yw6V3bCLGnUe33K178lgZZEJmhhgouBQf4BhIZR1RuvYY8QKaEecoN4z6nIes72fnsd5GdoFL-Rv3QuAQVO75caci-Dw7ezi5lY_ynBFUkLAsILfu_e6PyvN33Gng1rM8C8Qt1K8/s320/Jam-Band-Thumbnail-600px.png" width="306" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2022/04/music-to-get-lost-in-brief-introduction.html " target="_blank">An intro to the long form music of jam bands<br />with links to nine classic performances</a></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2022/02/become-armchair-expatriate-with-these.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="396" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGFCIV7Q_mBJA3IB2GaBKC4FwJJNQxVjn_8z66--3UbdrYt2WhCllQJTQWuqToXhmVkRC22k5x8EOdBWEVxB5nC6vC2I2AvZTLblwiM0mSceH7sqco3WycZPD204gH9YGjP7dADDtYnnRdwsSwZUcVYnbsHm5qG54SheqgB2g7kBS3ClsuM_JRrLVlrZ5/s320/armchair-expat-thbnl.jpg" width="286" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2022/02/become-armchair-expatriate-with-these.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;"><span><span>Travel by video to cities, villages & rural areas of</span><br /></span><span><span> the UK, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, Canada & More</span><br /></span></span></b></a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2022/02/become-armchair-expatriate-with-these.html" target="_blank"><b><span></span></b></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2020/07/get-award-winning-movies-tv-shows-audio.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="395" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLgXH8jy7IR92vc_XEZVGDSrHw8Gvk1FKfpb44o23DjKgOSq3WcA8iDkH2jkKh9uWvP7R2ES-ABxYBwDBBi0npvX8nTURTlrREnMygo2oTOGNiE8iSWZqbBxRxtvzvKdKsJgt7kTaqkU71fBkjgSC_VA09ml8kPNF138YtEn9ngc24bc6LZyDpSa9m9fhf/s320/library-content-thbnl.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2020/07/get-award-winning-movies-tv-shows-audio.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;"><b>Free media w/no ads from your local library</b></span></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2018/09/travel-back-in-time-through-mountains.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="423" data-original-width="388" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4PlT25lWf5JGitcaG6tD8qSp5QCKxoT6l-wvRhdr90RVxvf0S6PCJhczd0ozYAMhLEkNV3-FriEWwccFD9G4Gp0S5qXKkl6BauV7hEIRJPTcPO98SMNP9gaVb6D_WGv-X5azqCjYmNQ6oeSBdYIf54g7ZNGHbG3G0cstPFOyxQCx6NG1OYIWpUjetYNn/s320/RobertLStevenson.jpg" width="294" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2018/09/travel-back-in-time-through-mountains.html" target="_blank">Beyond his fiction... Explore the world of the late<br />1800s with Robert Louis Stevenson's travel writing.</a></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2022/03/book-review-flashing-back-coming-of-age.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="387" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHUJq1OODaclEIf9rvaLFyFSEW8ptRN8qN9wyPhPC0PazHbZRGCXDWBIHoPKte0L_6lOn_RCicOyo6GMCLWNM0U2b5nPqG0GM7B82TGE1gpXwdE-semr8ZTR14rQFFJXWYnVnGCtQmXteHHcQ-_fbVH9dsCT1bpgOI35JxzcM0JJ3pekEZu9QlQgNnuM4/s320/flashing-back-review-thbnl.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2022/03/book-review-flashing-back-coming-of-age.html" target="_blank">Sex & drugs & rock & roll: A wild ride<br />through one young man's 1960s</a></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Some Nuggets of Wisdom & Inspiration </h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://inspiredprojectteams.blogspot.com/p/below-is-list-of-all-inspired.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="388" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJK1FuVqIVvQDHXfYiM4UBXZZlpl-uDX2PVv9Y_A5VH9RA2Vusvb8ta91clsedrqwARQoUlYC8yTat7tBsdwh69TdverCx6KTituyE0HHfYsf1ROSBrFra_J86FC7G7lWzwfzOhNsba_0rMLMC_owD198Sb6G8esWCB22l_BMc7bFiMMX0OO0t442hTHoh/s320/inspirations-thumnail.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://inspiredprojectteams.blogspot.com/p/below-is-list-of-all-inspired.html" target="_blank">A collection of 30 podcasts to enlighten & inspire</a></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2021/10/10-specific-actions-that-can-help-you.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="357" data-original-width="389" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJo2CvHdrOQEYQjeEPbHXpG5Z-DYkYzPGRF5vteJWN7eo-RCLKRGcthcni2ltwvxGZ8nGyPP1tp7h_K5PmLizwHqglm5YzqKX0vwrb-44hCYIiPztOOZ3PdrxZmr_P2RktCzavHbku8LUy5ZFmVTBuESX2_RXyIqLY68frK8YjcID-zEnUCW8naVhSzIr0/s320/10-actions-thbnl.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2021/10/10-specific-actions-that-can-help-you.html" target="_blank">Not happy? Take charge & change your mood!</a></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2017/04/ten-podcasts-that-can-challenge-you.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="322" data-original-width="392" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0R2vfY1oCEZeQwNLesVk_8gReh0GSRk3UBPpumD0LFI2Fdh5J4av_q_d9tPxgbB0ubPRu1O8NxYeaHJPhXxLip_Rxzda3Vj5DCiQCgH0AbwiUcm_VJw48eI7zSmKBBtX97rt49wRDkA_jPxGMTja-YorTOZ0DBkiWzuRpFi13jrO5Ire6VdkISc92YMpC/s320/10-podcasts-thbnl.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="http://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2017/04/ten-podcasts-that-can-challenge-you.html" target="_blank">Confused & frustrated by current events?<br />Go deeper, challenge yourself, learn more.</a></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2020/03/bored-consuming-content-feeling-anxious.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="389" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxdRsTA6wifnFaupJ4AsQ7t6hVWVStGCoEmgwShiQrR9L-oDhvSpQ6PXnoysHOcENzG1ROgi2GaCzVBPZ-yV5pK12d2OcP0xCNuCE1eWkwS6f71fbOjnJH-w4TAP71GxZ0i3QoaZgSqofbqJUNFBNxTQdCbFIeGuGbdamTxDRIe-qT04WDVK_bvw7wDqF/s320/bored-consuming-thbnail.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2020/03/bored-consuming-content-feeling-anxious.html" target="_blank">Why you ought to be creating something...<br />and how to get started</a></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><h4 style="text-align: left;">More Good Stuff from the Archives</h4></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://inspiredprojectteams.blogspot.com/2017/11/the-science-of-happiness-part-1-little.html" target="_blank">The Science of Happiness: Part 1, A Little Theory</a></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://inspiredprojectteams.blogspot.com/2017/11/the-science-of-happiness-part-2-some.html" target="_blank">The Science of Happiness: Part 2, Some Fun Stuff</a></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://inspiredprojectteams.blogspot.com/2017/11/the-science-of-happiness-part-3-train.html" target="_blank">The Science of Happiness: Part 3, Train Yourself to Be Happier</a></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2022/12/in-case-you-missed-them-my-best.html" target="_blank">In Case You Missed Them: My Best Articles of 2022</a></li></ul><div><ul><li><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2021/12/in-case-you-missed-them-some-ideas.html" target="_blank">In Case You Missed Them: Some Ideas “Worth Sharing” from the Past Couple of Years</a></li></ul></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><ul><li><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2018/03/my-great-website-migration-and-then.html" target="_blank">My Website Migration: And Then There Were Three</a></li></ul><div><ul><li><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2020/04/got-downtime-teach-yourself-project.html" target="_blank">Got downtime? Teach yourself project management with these free videos and tools!</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2021/04/some-new-graffitti-on-wall-of-universe.html" target="_blank">Some New Graffitti on the Wall of the Universe: All My Stuff at Internet Archive</a></li></ul></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Mike Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10761717181465329763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383729925064099332.post-24735845641730255042023-06-29T23:05:00.008-07:002023-06-30T10:06:40.805-07:00The truth is out there! And it's easier than ever to find.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC-zXGf8x-I6A92u7ix0jUGmoDUFQpRu0A2PW8iFTMYZQ304pamYHjTMdM1mLHu6ZRVcs1wuISbQimZho9kh34h1c6uDw3uNJUzv2yj6VPzmSghqnUiJwyPo_gN4VCuSr-UldNmuD0D0Y1VNA3f5jWI_sSqaS4yMG_Pkc_Be41sgZqRroASmuuJqyleNf8/s1010/Fact-Check-Article-Anchor-06-2023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1010" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC-zXGf8x-I6A92u7ix0jUGmoDUFQpRu0A2PW8iFTMYZQ304pamYHjTMdM1mLHu6ZRVcs1wuISbQimZho9kh34h1c6uDw3uNJUzv2yj6VPzmSghqnUiJwyPo_gN4VCuSr-UldNmuD0D0Y1VNA3f5jWI_sSqaS4yMG_Pkc_Be41sgZqRroASmuuJqyleNf8/w474-h319/Fact-Check-Article-Anchor-06-2023.jpg" width="474" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Six Fact Checking Tools that Have Stood the Test of Time</h3><p>Back in 2018 I wrote an article that included a strategy, links and <a href="https://archive.org/details/truth-finder" target="_blank">a PDF reference tool</a> to help you find factual, truthful information quickly. <i>(See: <a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2016/10/the-truth-finder-3-questions-lots-of.html" target="_blank">The Truth Finder: 3 Questions & Lots of Links to Help You Distinguish Fact from Fiction</a>.)</i></p><p>Now that we're back in another U.S. presidential campaigning season it seems like a good time to take another look at this article, some of the excellent resources it showcased and a couple of new ones that can help you separate fact from fiction.</p><p>I'm pleased to say that all the ones I originally shined a light on in <a href="https://archive.org/details/truth-finder" target="_blank">that PDF</a> are still going strong. They are:</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://FactCheck.org" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">FactCheck.org</span></b></a></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.politifact.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">PolitiFact</span></b></a></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://justfacts.votesmart.org/" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Vote Smart</span></b></a></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://TruthOrFiction.com" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">TruthOrFiction.com</span></b></a></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://Snopes.com" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Snopes.com</span></b></a></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://ProCon.org" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">ProCon.org</span></b></a></li></ul><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Some Excellent New <i>(to me...)</i> Fact Checking Tools</h3><div><br /></div><div>In the 5 years since I wrote that article, I've learned of <b>some powerful additions to this collection</b>. They include: </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/" target="_blank"><i><b>Washington Post Fact Checker</b></i></a> - Primarily evaluates political stories.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i><b><a href="http://Tineye.com" target="_blank">Tineye.com</a> </b></i>- Provides reverse image search to determine the authenticity of an image.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.rumorguard.org/" target="_blank"><i><b>RumorGuard: by the News Literacy Project</b></i></a> - Presents examples of misinformation and some fact-checking. </li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://toolbox.google.com/factcheck/explorer" target="_blank"><i><b>Google Fact Check Explorer</b></i></a> - This is sort of a meta fact checker, with brief summaries of results from many fact checking sources, clearly documented and linked to help you with further research. </li></ul></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><b>Bonus:</b></i> <b>Google Search has added a powerful new feature</b> to help you quickly verify info that appears in your search results. According to <a href="https://blog.google/products/search/google-search-new-fact-checking-misinformation/" target="_blank">Google</a>: </div></div></div></blockquote><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><blockquote>"Now, <b>wherever you’re searching, you’ll see three dots next to most results on Google Search. Tapping those three dots gives you a way to learn more about where the information you’re seeing is coming from and how our systems determined it would be useful for your query.</b> With this context, you can make a more informed decision about the sites you may want to visit and what results will be most helpful for you." -- <i>from <a href="https://blog.google/products/search/google-search-new-fact-checking-misinformation/" target="_blank">Five new ways to verify info with Google Search.</a></i></blockquote></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">My Original 3-Question Strategy for Digging Deeper and Finding the Truth</h3><div><br /></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://archive.org/details/truth-finder" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="481" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPQEreAJrBknIH92igTHM_5o0awffyunswpTSRK7jW_W4SVhTgrqbh3CySqSF4myvoCaFWQkeKrJjk8qJt1J_FKK-ow_IXE26N_HXq7JPU6Db8AjqFCeiig-CUmYIhACWCG7jheWSerCCcQDmLBEuFLBaCPt_443tYeT-dV1iZHB-W07t0-j7_QZ5w-GsU/s320/Truth-Finder-Thumbnail-June-2023.png" width="259" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><a href="https://archive.org/details/truth-finder" target="_blank">The Truth Finder PDF Worksheet</a></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My original<b> <a href="https://archive.org/details/truth-finder" target="_blank">3 question Truth Finder strategy</a> presented a systematic approach to the complex process of thoroughly checking facts.</b> Here's how it worked: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><b>Question 1:</b></i> IS THIS SIMPLE STATEMENT TRUE?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><b>Objective:</b></i> An accurate depiction of reality.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This question is focused on finding whether an assertion is based on an observable, provable or historically accurate fact.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Examples:</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Did congress person Jones accept a bribe from industry lobbyist Smith?</li><li>Is there a direct link between chewing tobacco and cancer of the mouth?</li></ul><div><i>How to get the answer:</i> Consult any of the fact-checking resources listed above.</div><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><b>Question 2:</b></i> WHAT ARE SOME DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON THIS COMPLEX ISSUE?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><b>Objective</b></i>: A deeper understanding of an issue.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sometimes the "truth" is a matter of developing a deeper understanding of all the nuances and shades of grey surrounding an issue, then deciding what "truth" is for yourself.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>Examples:</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Are e-cigarettes dangerous?</li><li>Is presidential candidate X beholden to industry lobbyists?</li><li>Does Obama Care reduce healthcare costs?</li></ul><div><div><i>How to get the answer:</i> Consult any of the fact-checking resources listed above.</div><div><br /></div></div><div><i>(</i><b><i>NOTE:</i></b><i> The last of my three questions in your truth quest usually can't be answered so quickly or easily. However, if your question is focused on an important issue or a particularly controversial topic then this question is probably worth spending the extra effort to answer.)</i></div><div><br /></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><b>Question 3:</b></i> WHO'S THE AUTHOR (PUBLISHER) and WHAT'S THEIR AGENDA (TRACK RECORD)?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><b>Objective:</b></i> Consider the source! <i>(i.e., Consider the message creator's unique viewpoint & their credibility.)</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Unless you plan to do original research or conduct your own interviews of experts or witnesses, you're going to be forced to trust the websites, authors and media people whose work you are consuming. So you need to <i>answer these broad questions:</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Does the content creator have a particular agenda they are working?</li><li>Do they typically represent the same constituency or political perspective or group of advertisers?</li></ul></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And then <i>dig deeper with these questions:</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">FOR WEBSITES, ASK:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>What does the "About" page or "Contributors" page say?</li><li>Who supports the website? (Founders, contributors, distributors, parent company, etc.)</li><li>Has the site won any awards or honors? If so, from whom?</li><li>What do advertisers seem to think the site's visitors want? (i.e., What unique points of view or content do the advertisers seem to expect the website/author to provide?)</li></ul></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">FOR INDIVIDUAL AUTHORS OR MEDIA PRODUCERS, LOOK FOR:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Wikipedia biographies (Or general web search for "[name]: biography").</li><li>Any awards or honors attained. If so, from whom?</li><li>Reviews of the author's or producer's body of work.</li><li>A history of biased, slanted or sensational publications.</li><li>Membership in particular organizations.</li></ul><br /></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The truth is out there! So take the time to find it.</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Whether you need to check the accuracy of a simple assertion or pull back the curtain on something as complex as the "stolen" 2020 U.S. presidential election <b>you have plenty of fact checking tools to help you distinguish reality from fiction.</b> So if you want to help in the war against misinformation all you need to do is 1) select a suspected lie or distortion and then 2) get to work using the tools above to discover the truth and, finally, 3) publicize the truth you find by spreading the word on social media sites, interactions with friends & relatives, etc.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Learn how AI may be able to help.</h3><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have led to a number of developments in the process of fact checking. To learn more about how AI may be able to help with your fact checking chores, check out these articles:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.longshot.ai/blog/best-ai-fact-checkers" target="_blank">Top 12 AI Fact-Checking Tools for Content Accuracy (2023)</a></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.wired.com/story/fact-checkers-ai-chatgpt-misinformation/" target="_blank">Fact-Checkers Are Scrambling to Fight Disinformation With AI</a></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://ec.europa.eu/research-and-innovation/en/horizon-magazine/can-artificial-intelligence-help-end-fake-news" target="_blank">Can artificial intelligence help end fake news?</a></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://newsinitiative.withgoogle.com/dnifund/report/battling-misinformation/scaling-fact-checking-with-artificial-intelligence/" target="_blank">Scaling fact checking with Artificial Intelligence</a></li></ul></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><em>===== Related Articles ===== </em></strong><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><a name="more" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"></a><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;" /><ul style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2016/03/media-induced-ignorance-how-to.html" rel="noopener" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Media-Induced Ignorance & How to Neutralize It</a> </strong><strong> </strong></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><a href="https://archive.org/details/worth-sharing-pressbooks-pdf-download-7-27-2915/Worth-Sharing-2022-update-w-note-re-links/page/195/mode/2up?q=curate" rel="noopener" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="Go to article/video: "Curate Your Own News:..."">Curate Your Own News: Why You Should & How You Can</a> </strong></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><a href="https://archive.org/details/why-its-pointless-to-argue-politics-or-religion" rel="noopener" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="Go to "Why It's Pointless to Argue About Politics or Religion">Why It’s Pointless to Argue About Politics or Religion</a> </strong></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong><a href="https://archive.org/details/worth-sharing-pressbooks-pdf-download-7-27-2915/Worth-Sharing-2022-update-w-note-re-links/page/103/mode/2up?q=chihuahua" rel="noopener" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="Go to article, "Forgive Them..."">Forgive Them. It’s Just Their Inner Chihuahua.</a></strong></li></ul><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span></span></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><br /><p><br /></p>Mike Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10761717181465329763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383729925064099332.post-7890219622468618012023-05-28T12:22:00.003-07:002023-12-12T13:23:53.374-08:00One Year Later: How Our Chromebook is Working Out<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJvD4SkItCRfHr0HfycCSZsbWPAICfDoY6Tjd2Ot2S8mF90AnEQj8MjVDRikcuMh6XKgKVecwI17SaS1t3aEK6kSXxPG3m0ejCXBWDao3gN2GPB1zZfYJCsC8pcPV7sPLgHyJcLV5AybqoLGQqAISQ-vXb9aEWdG2lYasdtqYzNDwWh_McwLcgVcCQRQ/s600/Anchor%20Graphic%20Chromebook%201%20Year%20Later%20600px.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJvD4SkItCRfHr0HfycCSZsbWPAICfDoY6Tjd2Ot2S8mF90AnEQj8MjVDRikcuMh6XKgKVecwI17SaS1t3aEK6kSXxPG3m0ejCXBWDao3gN2GPB1zZfYJCsC8pcPV7sPLgHyJcLV5AybqoLGQqAISQ-vXb9aEWdG2lYasdtqYzNDwWh_McwLcgVcCQRQ/s16000/Anchor%20Graphic%20Chromebook%201%20Year%20Later%20600px.png" /></a></div><br /><div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><br />Windows PC? What Windows PC?</h3><div><br /></div><div>It's been <b>a full year since we've used our Windows PC.</b> Since then we've been<b> all Chromebook, all the time!</b> I use it for research and content creation, my wife uses it for online purchases and financial management and we both occasionally use it for social media, browsing, etc. Last year I <a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2022/07/secure-fast-customizable-why-i-ditched.html" target="_blank">documented</a> the research and reasoning behind this decision to switch and the specific Asus Chromebook we bought. <i>(See<a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2022/07/secure-fast-customizable-why-i-ditched.html" target="_blank"> Secure, Fast & Customizable: Why I Ditched My Windows PC for a Hot Rod Chromebook</a>.)</i></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Living with Our Chromebook</h3><div><br /></div><div>So what's life been like without a Windows PC? In a nutshell, it's been great! Here's a summary of benefits and a single challenge.</div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">The Benefits</h4><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>It's just more peaceful!</b> There are no more breathless notifications from the tech press or emailed warnings about a potential hack of the OS such as we had been vigilantly tracking when we were beleaguered citizens in the world of Windows.</li><li><b>Frequent, automatic updates</b> of the ChromeOS pushed by Google which bring up-to-the-minute security protection and a regular stream of new features which are always fun to investigate.</li><li><b>Ability to seamlessly use our Android apps</b> and have app data instantly updated across all our devices (phones and tablets).</li></ul></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div style="text-align: left;">For example <b>when I have ideas about a new article</b>, I can speak them to my <b><a href="https://store.google.com/category/nest_speakers?hl=en-US" target="_blank">Google smart home speaker</a></b> and it will <b>add it to my <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Keep" target="_blank">Google Keep</a></b> "Ideas List." Later, if I'm on the go, I can flesh out the idea by <b>dictating directly into Keep using the mic on my phone's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gboard" target="_blank">Gboard</a></b>. When I get home I can <b>kick back on my recliner and use my Samsung tablet to research and further expand</b> the outline/draft in Keep. When it's time to <b>pull in images that will be part of the article and prep them</b> using <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Drawings" target="_blank">Google's online Drawing tool</a></b>, I simply fire up the Chromebook and use its large screen and mouse to work with them. Eventually, when the article is close to completion, I <b>pour everything I've assembled in Keep (and sometimes drafted using <a href="https://www.google.com/docs/about/" target="_blank">Google Docs</a>) into my <a href="https://www.blogger.com/about/" target="_blank">Google Blogger</a> website</b>, add any graphics I've built then finalize the post using my tablet and my Chromebook. And throughout this process, while I'm using any of these devices, I can see and handle incoming texts/voicemails from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Voice" target="_blank"><b>Google Voice</b></a> and emails from my <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gmail" target="_blank"><b>Gmail</b></a>. In short, my <b>Chromebook is seamlessly integrated into my Android-based workflow! </b></div></div></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div></div></blockquote><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVUC6pIxYXn0nKmnpDO9NGUep-GYFaJYO-WQarsyO31w6Pyuo0lDyLYEnkoysNhTdOxQ-PG_D6irb_LcDiDtERMGlmu75-miWzV1EoVrbz_Ay3_bUU3vYfgvDs6b3c1l2riLNsIVGE9sqWZHTbF1VXaLDN5jeTkTYb9_YXP0tW9SOA4HeYqasc2-TKw/s600/Chromebook-work-flow-&-Tools-600px.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmVUC6pIxYXn0nKmnpDO9NGUep-GYFaJYO-WQarsyO31w6Pyuo0lDyLYEnkoysNhTdOxQ-PG_D6irb_LcDiDtERMGlmu75-miWzV1EoVrbz_Ay3_bUU3vYfgvDs6b3c1l2riLNsIVGE9sqWZHTbF1VXaLDN5jeTkTYb9_YXP0tW9SOA4HeYqasc2-TKw/s16000/Chromebook-work-flow-&-Tools-600px.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;">My Document Work Flow:<br />from Phone to Tablet to Chromebook & Back</span></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Super fast performance</b> ... Did I mention it's fast.. really fast?! No lags or waits for hunks of software to load. In fact, sometimes I feel like it's challenging me to keep up!</li><li><b>Very simple sharing</b> of our Chromebook between two separate, independently secure user accounts. In the morning we both just sign in and we each take turns throughout the day jumping into our own unique, customized desktop and workspace as needed. It feels like we have two separate machines.</li><li><b>There's none of that lead weight feeling when I switch to using my computer from using my tablet or phone.</b> In the past my fast tablet and phone apps would help me breeze along doing all sorts of different chores, including making notes and drafting publications. But when I fired up my Windows PC to finalize a document or assemble a bunch of elements into a single graphic, it felt as though I were trying to walk with lead weights on my feet. Everything slowed down and I had to wait for security updates, apps and other stuff to load. It simply took the swiftness, efficiency and spontaneity out of whatever I was doing. <b>Now that particular computer speed bump is gone!</b> My creation process is seamless from brainstorming through finalization.</li></ul><div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">A Single, Easily-Overcome Challenge</h4><div><br /></div><div>After many years of using <b>TurboTax</b> we had developed the habit of buying the disc, installing it on our Windows PC, updating it with state and local files and then using it to prepare our taxes. But this year that was not possible, since the disc-based version is only available for Windows and Mac machines. <b>Chromebook users must use the <a href="https://turbotax.intuit.com/lp/ppc/4403?srqs=null&cid=ppc_gg_b_stan_all_na_Brand-BrandTT-BrandTTMisspellings-Exact_ty22-bu2-sb108_657526036072_152694952070_kwd-945083909&srid=Cj0KCQjw98ujBhCgARIsAD7QeAhG6Es6cKfDbyQR-xAZWRLz5NkzeMiuvc1luQ7RLcriNmig_uQn1FkaAuowEALw_wcB&targetid=kwd-945083909&skw=tubro%20tax&adid=657526036072&ven=gg&gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw98ujBhCgARIsAD7QeAhG6Es6cKfDbyQR-xAZWRLz5NkzeMiuvc1luQ7RLcriNmig_uQn1FkaAuowEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds" target="_blank">online version of TurboTax.</a></b> While this online version had always been an option, we have been hesitant to use it for security reasons. In fact, we have always made sure our Windows PC was completely offline while we are working on our taxes. </div><div><br /></div><div>So this year we had to remind ourselves that most experts regard the Chromebook, with its frequent security updates, as a far safer online machine than either Windows or Mac PCs. And we also reminded ourselves that millions of people are already using TurboTax's online option so their extra stringent security measures are essential to their existence as a business. <i><b>The bottom line:</b></i> We took the plunge, set up the account and were pleasantly surprised to find the <a href="https://turbotax.intuit.com/lp/ppc/4403?srqs=null&cid=ppc_gg_b_stan_all_na_Brand-BrandTT-BrandTTMisspellings-Exact_ty22-bu2-sb108_657526036072_152694952070_kwd-945083909&srid=Cj0KCQjw98ujBhCgARIsAD7QeAhG6Es6cKfDbyQR-xAZWRLz5NkzeMiuvc1luQ7RLcriNmig_uQn1FkaAuowEALw_wcB&targetid=kwd-945083909&skw=tubro%20tax&adid=657526036072&ven=gg&gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw98ujBhCgARIsAD7QeAhG6Es6cKfDbyQR-xAZWRLz5NkzeMiuvc1luQ7RLcriNmig_uQn1FkaAuowEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds" target="_blank">online TurboTax</a> user interface was pretty much the same as the disc-based version. We filed our taxes quickly and without any glitches!</div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Moral of the Story</h3><div><br /></div><div><b>In sum, our first year with our new Chromebook has proven to be quite painless and has even held a few pleasant surprises.</b> In particular, the Android/Chrome OS interoperability among devices is super convenient. So if you're a Windows user, like we were, I don't think you should hesitate to take the leap to a Chromebook when it's time for that new computer. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Just ask yourself this question: Do I really have any programs or chores that I can only run on a Windows PC or Mac, as opposed to using online or with a Chromebook?</b> If you have none, then let that old PC or Mac go and get yourself a speedy and secure Chromebook! But do take your time to shop around and get a machine that has the horsepower to meet your needs and the lifespan to receive <a href="https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?hl=en#zippy=" target="_blank">security updates</a> for the many years that you will probably be enjoying it.</div><div><br /></div><div>For a deep dive into the technical issues and shopping considerations for Chromebook buyers, see my article <a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2022/07/secure-fast-customizable-why-i-ditched.html" target="_blank">Secure, Fast & Customizable: Why I Ditched My Windows PC for a Hot Rod Chromebook</a>.</div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">_____________________________________</div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><i>But don't simply take my word for it! See:</i></h4><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/why-a-chromebook-is-probably-all-you-need/" target="_blank">Why a Chromebook Is Probably All You Need</a> <i>(from CNET)</i></li><li><a href="https://www.zdnet.com/article/five-reasons-chromebooks-are-the-perfect-laptop/" target="_blank">5 reasons why Chromebooks are the perfect laptop for most people</a> <i>(from ZDNET)</i></li></ul><div><div style="text-align: center;">_____________________________________</div></div></div></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;">Related Articles from this Website</h4><div><ul style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2022/07/secure-fast-customizable-why-i-ditched.html" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Secure, Fast & Customizable: Why I Ditched My Windows PC for a Hot Rod Chromebook</a></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2017/11/quick-reference-pdf-dozen-free-google.html" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Quick-Reference PDF: A Dozen Free Google Apps to Keep Your Family or Team Organized</span></a></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2017/09/a-dozen-free-google-apps-to-keep-your.html" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">A Dozen Free Google Apps to Keep Your Family or Team Organized [Part 1 of 2]</a></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2017/10/a-dozen-free-google-apps-to-keep-your.html" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">A Dozen Free Google Apps to Keep Your Family or Team Organized [Part 2 of 2]</a></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2015/12/why-i-use-google-photos-not-facebook-to.html" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Why I Use Google Photos, not Facebook, to Share Photos</a> </li></ul></div>Mike Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10761717181465329763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383729925064099332.post-27449618553346868762023-04-21T14:41:00.003-07:002023-04-22T10:45:35.536-07:00A Curated, 21-Video Study Guide for Absolute AI (Artificial Intelligence) Newbies: What It Is, Where You Can Play with It & How We Might Want to Shape Its Role in Our Lives<p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yZrMAErtaeOwBKnINylnt_NpRlKMK5w-8d3PyR8gvEk8XiVVUDBdknAA9BCNa3sM4AhqeESV7OdlK-UTPDF_97Lrm_VVub3VbUcNn-mK4qkI9GI-vd5zxiQ4xDZJIOQGV_CunfqPb7QVb01w4RBUNGrHm70jSdqqaU0r8SHy1j401nzHrn-YmB5ugA/s600/AI-Blog-Post-April-2023-anchor-graphic-600px.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yZrMAErtaeOwBKnINylnt_NpRlKMK5w-8d3PyR8gvEk8XiVVUDBdknAA9BCNa3sM4AhqeESV7OdlK-UTPDF_97Lrm_VVub3VbUcNn-mK4qkI9GI-vd5zxiQ4xDZJIOQGV_CunfqPb7QVb01w4RBUNGrHm70jSdqqaU0r8SHy1j401nzHrn-YmB5ugA/s16000/AI-Blog-Post-April-2023-anchor-graphic-600px.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>(Images above generated using AI tools <a href="https://labs.openai.com/" target="_blank">Dall-E</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lyrebirdstudio.toonart&hl=en_US&gl=US" target="_blank">ToonArt</a>)</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Overview</h2><p>If you're like me, you may be finding that <b>nearly every news story about AI (artificial intelligence) assumes that we already know something about it.</b> I find myself continually feeling like I'm being pulled into the middle of a robust, ongoing conversation. And <b>that drives me nuts! </b>As a former instructional designer and trainer, I know if I'm going to intelligently assimilate this stuff <b>I need to approach it in a systematic way, starting with the basics.</b> So, in the spirit of scratching my own itch, I have combed through bunches of AI-oriented YouTube videos and created <b>a sensibly-sequenced video study guide</b>. And I hereby share it with you!</p><p><b>Think of this as a road map.</b> In it you'll find a selection of relatively brief videos and related reference links that you can follow, as an absolute AI newbie, to build your knowledge of the subject and <b>answer these broad questions: </b></p><p><b>1. What is AI</b> (basic definitions, distinctions, etc)</p><p><b>2. How are people using AI?</b> (Including some examples and links to sample tools you can play with)</p><p><b>3. What are the controversial issues related to AI</b> that we need to know about in order to:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>"see behind the curtain" regarding how AI is entering our lives,</li><li>control how we use AI and where we let it into our lives, and</li><li>raise our voices <i>(in an informed way)</i> to help policy makers figure out a path forward for AI in our society.</li></ul><p></p><p><i><b>Note</b></i>: These resources are not intended to help you become an AI programmer or developer or other AI professional, though they might inspire you to pursue such a path on your own. I'm assuming that you simply want answers to the questions above so you can become an informed consumer of AI outputs.</p><div><b>_________________________________________</b></div><div><b>_________________________________________</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">The Basics: What is AI? </h2><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>What is artificial intelligence (AI)?</b> "This animated video describes how artificial intelligence works, where it can be found, and how it influences our lives."</p><p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NbEbs6I3eLw" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe> </p><p><b>_________________________________________</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>How AI works in everyday life</b> - More practical ways AI helps people in daily life. </p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oJC8VIDSx_Q" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><b>_________________________________________</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><i><b>Learn More: </b></i></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://time.com/6271657/a-to-z-of-artificial-intelligence/" target="_blank">The A to Z of Artificial Intelligence</a></li><li><a href="https://www.techtarget.com/searchenterpriseai/definition/AI-Artificial-Intelligence" target="_blank">What is artificial intelligence (AI)?</a></li></ul><div><b>_________________________________________</b></div></div><div><b>_________________________________________</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Some Popular AI Tools & How People are Using Them</h2><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>What is ChatGPT? OpenAI's Chat GPT Explained</b> -- "What is Chat GPT? What is OpenAI? Who Founded OpenAI? What is Chat GPT Explained? What is Artificial Intelligence? What is Dall e 2? What is Artificial Intelligence art?"</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o5MutYFWsM8" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>
<div><b>_________________________________________</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Groundbreaking research in health AI</b> -- "Dr. Alan Karthikesalingam introduces new research on Med-PaLM 2, our exploratory work with large language models to provide high quality, authoritative answers to medical questions." </div><div><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3Ud-BMOCkDI" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><b>_________________________________________</b><br /><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>6 Mind-Blowing AI Tools for 2023! (don't fall behind)</b> - "... exploring six cutting-edge AI tools that are set to revolutionize the way we live and work in 2023."</div><div><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p6QMTbbFPCQ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><b>_________________________________________</b><br />
<div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Best AI Art generators & AI tools to create better artwork!</b> - "... whether it's Midjourney, Dall-E or Stable Diffusion!"</div><div><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Uz_e_u8hDUc" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><b>_________________________________________</b><br />
<div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>A.I. Music Is Insane</b> - "From creating completely new compositions from scratch to providing personalised listening experiences – artificial intelligence is revolutionizing how we experience [music]..." </div><div><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VnFqUMqNKFY" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><b>_________________________________________</b><br />
<div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>The ChatGPT Playbook of EPIC Prompts</b> <i>[Caution... Watching this guy's videos is like trying to drink from a fire hose! They're loaded with good info, but it's best to just let the content wash over you and get what you can out of them. Don't try to retain all the details!] </i> This video digs deep into the weeds and shows a few of the many ways ChatGPT can be used. ("In this video, I break down some of my favorite prompts with ChatGPT.")</div><div><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ka1Pqk2o3tM" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br />
<div><b>_________________________________________</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Generative AI Is About To Reset Everything, And, Yes It Will Change Your Life [from Forbes...]</b> "Whether you like it or not, generative AI like ChatGPT and Stable Diffusion are about to change not only how you work, but how the content you consume is produced. Forbes spoke with a number of leading voices in the AI space to determine both the benefits and the dangers of this next wave of technological innovation, and find out why both tech giants as well as cutting edge startups are racing to grab their share of the market."</div><div><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WY518YRfs5M" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><b>_________________________________________</b><br />
<div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>How ChatGPT 5 Will Change the World </b>- "What would Chat GPT 5 be able to do? The answers might surprise you." </div><div><br /></div><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2pkP8obD6fE" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><i><b>Caveats regarding GPT-5:</b></i> </div><div><div><ul><li><a href="https://www.trendingetc.com/gpt-5-a-new-era-of-ai-approaches/" target="_blank">GPT-5: A New Era of AI Approaches as OpenAI Prepares to Unveil Its Latest Achievement</a></li><li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/2023/4/14/23683084/openai-gpt-5-rumors-training-sam-altman" target="_blank">OpenAI’s CEO confirms the company isn’t training GPT-5 and ‘won’t for some time’</a></li></ul></div><div><div><b>_________________________________________</b></div><div><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div><i><b>Learn more... and play with some AI tools!</b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b><a href="https://chat.openai.com/" target="_blank">ChatGPT</a> <i>(the AI tool that everyone's talking about!)</i></b></li><li><b><a href="https://labs.openai.com/" target="_blank">DALL-E</a> <i>(the AI tool that creates art from your text descriptions)</i></b></li><li><b><a href="https://bard.google.com/" target="_blank">Bard</a> <i>(Google's "creative and helpful collaborator")</i></b></li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/04/14/upshot/up-ai-uses.html" target="_blank">35 Ways Real People Are Using A.I. Right Now</a></li><li><a href="https://www.makeuseof.com/how-to-use-midjourney-create-ai-art/" target="_blank">How to Use Midjourney to Create AI Art</a> </li><li><a href="https://www.freethink.com/robots-ai/ai-music-generator" target="_blank">Google’s AI music generator is like ChatGPT for audio</a></li><li><a href="https://www.guidingtech.com/best-free-ai-tools-online/" target="_blank">20 Best Free AI Tools Online for Your Business or Personal Use</a> </li><li><a href="https://digitalbiriyani.com/cool-ai-tools-to-try-online/" target="_blank">25 Cool AI Tools That Are Fun To Try</a><a href="https://zapier.com/blog/best-ai-productivity-tools/" target="_blank"> Online in 2023 </a></li><li><a href="https://zapier.com/blog/best-ai-productivity-tools/" target="_blank">The best AI productivity tools in 2023</a></li><li><a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/how-to-use-chatgpt-to-save-time-and-make-work-easier/444622" target="_blank">7 Ways to Use ChatGPT at Work to Boost Your Productivity, Make Your Job Easier, and Save a Ton of Time</a></li><li><a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/smart-glasses-gpt-4" target="_blank">New Smart Glasses Tell You What to Say on Dates Using GPT-4</a></li></ul></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><b>_________________________________________</b></div><div><b>_________________________________________</b></div></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;">AI Hopes & Fears: What Citizens & Lawmakers Should be Thinking About</h2><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>AI expert reveals his 'single greatest fear' about the technology</b> - "AI expert Dr. Gary Marcus joins CNN’s Fredricka Whitfield to discuss the dangers of artificial intelligence."</div><div><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EoJ6gXGL-zM" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>
<div><b>_________________________________________</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>ChatGPT: Artificial Intelligence, chatbots and a world of unknowns</b> [from 60 minutes] - "Lesley Stahl speaks with Brad Smith, president of Microsoft, and others about the emerging industry of artificial intelligence systems people can have conversations with."</div><div><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1wzPr4cUoMQ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br />
<div><b>_________________________________________</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>OpenAI CEO, CTO on risks and how AI will reshape society</b> - "OpenAI CEO Sam Altman tells ABC News’ Rebecca Jarvis that AI will reshape society and acknowledges the risks: 'I think people should be happy that we are a little bit scared of this.'”</div><div><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/540vzMlf-54" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><b>_________________________________________</b><br /><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>What is Technological Singularity? </b>"... Jason Silva explains the concept of technological singularity and how artificial intelligence is nothing to be afraid of." </div><div><br /></div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gpKNAHz0zH8" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><b>_________________________________________</b><br /><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Our Final Invention - Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)</b> - An overview of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) in the context of biological evolution.</div><div><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y2d1AU7_JvM" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><b>_________________________________________</b><br /><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>The Path To Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)</b> - "In this video we focus on if we can reach Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) in the first place and how to get there." </div><div><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6oUimYUz784" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><b>_________________________________________</b><br /><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>This Just Changed My Mind About AGI</b> - "GPT-4 can teach itself to become better through self reflection, learn tools with minimal demonstrations... act as a central brain and outsource tasks to other models [and] behave as an autonomous agent that can pursue a multi-step goal without human intervention (Auto-GPT). It is not an overstatement that there are already Sparks of AGI." </div><div><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Rog9oHtVmjM" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><b>_________________________________________</b><br /><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>AI That Learns: We're Closer To AGI Than You Think</b> - <i>[Caution... Watching this guy's videos is like trying to drink from a fire hose! They're loaded with good info, but it's best to just let the content wash over you and get what you can out of them. Don't try to retain all the details!] </i>"Let's talk about AGI - It's much closer and probably much scarier than you actually realize. In this video I break it down."</div><div><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Qm2Ai_JiQmo" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><b>_________________________________________</b><br />
<div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>ChatGPT Prompts Itself - Should We Fear AutoGPT?</b> "AutoGPTs the next frontier of prompt engineering... just like people join organizations so they can specialize, learn new skills, and work with others in parallel, AutoGPTs will do the same thing." </div><div><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LDR4M6l0bwo" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><b>_________________________________________</b><br /><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Full 60 Minutes interview: "Godfather of artificial intelligence" talks impact and potential of AI</b> - "Geoffrey Hinton is considered a godfather of artificial intelligence, having championed machine learning decades before it became mainstream. As chatbots like ChatGPT bring his work to widespread attention, we spoke to Hinton about the past, present and future of AI."</div><div><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qpoRO378qRY" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><b>_________________________________________</b><br /><div><br /></div><div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>The AI revolution: Google's developers on the future of artificial intelligence</b> "Competitive pressure among tech giants is propelling society into the future of artificial intelligence, ready or not. Scott Pelley dives into the world of AI with Google CEO Sundar Pichai." </div></div><div><br /></div>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/880TBXMuzmk" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
</div><div><br /></div><div><b>_________________________________________</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i><b>Learn more about these complicated and ethically-charged issues: </b></i></div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/02/experts-ai-developing-over-the-coming-years" target="_blank">Here's how experts see AI developing over the coming years</a></li><li><a href="https://openai.com/blog/how-should-ai-systems-behave" target="_blank">How should AI systems behave, and who should decide?</a></li><li><a href="https://www.pcmag.com/news/yes-machines-make-mistakes-the-10-biggest-flaws-in-generative-ai" target="_blank">Yes, Machines Make Mistakes: The 10 Biggest Flaws In Generative AI</a></li><li><a href="https://www.wired.com/story/chatgpt-jailbreak-generative-ai-hacking/" target="_blank">The Hacking of ChatGPT Is Just Getting Started</a></li><li><a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/15/elon-musk-co-founder-of-chatgpt-creator-openai-warns-of-ai-society-risk.html" target="_blank">Elon Musk, who co-founded firm behind ChatGPT, warns A.I. is 'one of the biggest risks' to civilization</a></li><li><a href="https://the-decoder.com/chaosgpt-is-the-first-public-attempt-to-destroy-humanity-with-ai/" target="_blank">ChaosGPT is the first public attempt to destroy humanity with AI</a></li><li><a href="https://www.iflscience.com/an-ai-program-is-currently-trying-to-destroy-humanity-it-has-access-to-the-internet-68446" target="_blank">An AI Program Is Currently Trying To Destroy Humanity. It Has Access To The Internet.</a></li></ul><div style="text-align: left;"><b>--------------------</b></div><a href="https://fortune.com/2023/03/22/bill-gates-elon-musk-chatgpt-openai-artificial-intelligence-ai-technology-breakthrough-personal-computing-revolution/" target="_blank"></a><ul style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://fortune.com/2023/03/22/bill-gates-elon-musk-chatgpt-openai-artificial-intelligence-ai-technology-breakthrough-personal-computing-revolution/" target="_blank"></a><li><a href="https://fortune.com/2023/03/22/bill-gates-elon-musk-chatgpt-openai-artificial-intelligence-ai-technology-breakthrough-personal-computing-revolution/" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://fortune.com/2023/03/22/bill-gates-elon-musk-chatgpt-openai-artificial-intelligence-ai-technology-breakthrough-personal-computing-revolution/" target="_blank">Bill Gates predicts A.I. will change the world more and faster than his personal computing revolution</a></li><li><a href="https://mashable.com/article/autogpt-chatgpt-hustle-bros-explainer" target="_blank">What is Auto-GPT and why are hustle bros hype for it?</a></li><li><a href="https://bootcamp.uxdesign.cc/gpt-4-tried-to-escape-into-the-internet-today-and-it-almost-worked-2689e549afb5" target="_blank">GPT-4 tried to escape into the internet today and it ‘almost worked’</a></li><li><a href="https://futurism.com/ai-expert-bomb-datacenters" target="_blank">Machine Learning Expert Calls for Bombing Data Centers to Stop Rise of AI</a></li><li><a href="https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/bad-things-chatgpt-has-been-used-for" target="_blank">The dark side of ChatGPT: things it can do, even though it shouldn’t</a></li><li><a href="https://www.zdnet.com/article/chatgpts-intelligence-is-zero/" target="_blank">ChatGPT's intelligence is zero, but it's a revolution in usefulness, says AI expert</a></li></ul><div><b style="text-align: center;">--------------------</b></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/weather-predicting-black-swan" target="_blank">Predicting “Black Swan” Disasters With AI Combining AI with Bayesian reasoning can help forecast events without a historical track record to analyze</a></li><li><a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/ai-powered-tools-chatgpt-hottest-trend-companies-experts-caution" target="_blank">A.I. tools such as ChatGPT are the hottest new trend for companies, but experts urge caution</a></li><li><a href="https://www.pcmag.com/news/chinese-company-ditches-human-creatives-for-chatgpt-style-ai" target="_blank">Chinese Company Ditches Human Creatives for ChatGPT-Style AI</a></li><li><a href="https://gizmodo.com/stability-ai-xl-deep-fake-stable-diffusion-1850334500" target="_blank">Stability AI's New 'XL' Is a Super Powered Deepfake Generator for Businesses</a></li><li><a href="https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/04/ai-doesnt-need-consciousness-to-be-frightening.html" target="_blank">AI Doesn’t Need Consciousness to be Frightening</a></li><li><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2023/04/14/sam-altman-size-of-llms-wont-matter-as-much-moving-forward/" target="_blank">Sam Altman: Size of LLMs won’t matter as much moving forward</a></li><li><a href="https://www.pcmag.com/news/worried-about-ai-the-feds-want-your-help-writing-rules-to-keep-it-in-check" target="_blank"><b>Worried About AI? The Feds Want Your Help Writing Rules to Keep It in Check</b></a></li></ul><div><b style="text-align: center;">--------------------</b></div></div><div><b style="text-align: center;"><br /></b></div><div><i><b>Related articles from this website: </b></i></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2023/01/inside-black-box-thoughts-on-judgement.html" target="_blank">Inside the Black Box: Thoughts on Judgement, Intuition, Synthesis & Artificial Intelligence</a></li><li><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2020/11/6-podcasts-to-help-you-become-amateur.html" target="_blank">6 Podcasts to Help You Become an Amateur Tech Geek</a></li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Mike Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10761717181465329763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383729925064099332.post-22730027596417519932023-03-25T13:02:00.001-07:002023-03-25T13:02:52.242-07:00A Few of My Favorite Photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc3j0X84KzYRhWoUjkAZ8G2QNKHkD3J1QUKe7lAwynmNTA3riknOlncOwgmFLhNhKmKUNpBGE1gkQ93O37QShq5UL0lw5uNg-Fm9goCMOruC7vSTjoh6PFpeQGvZtcESBL8JyfymsqvRjFyXZK8PkmiC1IDv4a93DtbytAybbYai5LShwpzSlAmFwZyg/s2880/20230321_173807-COLLAGE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="2880" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc3j0X84KzYRhWoUjkAZ8G2QNKHkD3J1QUKe7lAwynmNTA3riknOlncOwgmFLhNhKmKUNpBGE1gkQ93O37QShq5UL0lw5uNg-Fm9goCMOruC7vSTjoh6PFpeQGvZtcESBL8JyfymsqvRjFyXZK8PkmiC1IDv4a93DtbytAybbYai5LShwpzSlAmFwZyg/w520-h520/20230321_173807-COLLAGE.jpg" width="520" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><span face="Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our unusually wet California spring has kept me indoors much more than I'd like. One long rainy afternoon, while </span><span face="Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">scrolling</span><span face="Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> through my decades-old Google Photos collection, I noticed how many of these nearly-forgotten pictures made me smile or simply pause and think about what they meant to me when I first snapped them and stashed them away. So, before I lose them again in my little corner of the Google cloud, I decided to share some of them with you.</span><span style="color: #202124; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I hope you enjoy them.</span></p><div><br /></div><div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Backyard Wonders </h3><div><br /></div><div>My wife is what some might call a master gardener and landscape designer. She's transformed the boring slab of grass that was once our backyard into an ever-changing collection of hardscape elements, decorative plants and produce-yielding greenery. As you can imagine, it's a great place to have our morning coffee! And I've learned to keep a camera handy to capture the various blooms and birds and bugs that seem to pop up out of nowhere. Here are some of my favorite morning-coffee photos.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2JXUpbDD5wQR6MyDtTv-zlF9OFzNKMrnfKaYFeJ8S8iOdCJV7UQU6Ko0acTg2BM0c50cwtMuVL5w1VMraAYEoEZPwVN3Sm9U_FOG5VNWIi28cQwGnDmwFVQYPQk0U-XmciqZK8VyYlkV-xuIdvCwEhRlsBStAURt5Th1xtOw9FE4iOOFsov0l_KIQQ/s1793/P4030363.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1405" data-original-width="1793" height="455" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2JXUpbDD5wQR6MyDtTv-zlF9OFzNKMrnfKaYFeJ8S8iOdCJV7UQU6Ko0acTg2BM0c50cwtMuVL5w1VMraAYEoEZPwVN3Sm9U_FOG5VNWIi28cQwGnDmwFVQYPQk0U-XmciqZK8VyYlkV-xuIdvCwEhRlsBStAURt5Th1xtOw9FE4iOOFsov0l_KIQQ/w581-h455/P4030363.JPG" width="581" /></a></div><br /><div>This dragon fly landed on the bloom of an aloe cactus and just froze there, allowing me to take my time shooting several pics. This is the best and shows the creature's amazing, fragile detail.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSgISBtsDLyQGPqTqCIcSsSFtDrY0TBm0VdcSw9bK239JCXm5tNFNePofcfdDbuaHG8L1sABBUFHdMooIoU6f6qPhQnOdH2nTlnz5nc_D98OQeQmjZ6ALPMVyxJ0anKoqvtweDXklbmCFD2NwXyFkEzCV0fuRSGx-8w2dujY3N-9JzLxaIzTsWiyRyg/s1191/IMG_20211220_102724779.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="659" data-original-width="1191" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSgISBtsDLyQGPqTqCIcSsSFtDrY0TBm0VdcSw9bK239JCXm5tNFNePofcfdDbuaHG8L1sABBUFHdMooIoU6f6qPhQnOdH2nTlnz5nc_D98OQeQmjZ6ALPMVyxJ0anKoqvtweDXklbmCFD2NwXyFkEzCV0fuRSGx-8w2dujY3N-9JzLxaIzTsWiyRyg/w579-h320/IMG_20211220_102724779.jpg" width="579" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">One chilly morning I discovered this ordinary garden sage transformed by the heavy dew. What looks like extra fuzzy leaf texture isn't real. It's actually zillions of dew drops!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_C7OI8TTZU0RbpI33bkte6mOKUlMpgvi2Vjgp96AEXevRuVve61WKKGpqFs6t9RYaLJ8hT0AX0vFNSUjVJddP-u9-HWp2cIPVPjWYxEH901ds5e7Foog4DIvMit1rkNqXNhLVx6CXqRo0OZyRim_lsxx4CWokS5GxkYK23xGpW1TzuEZQhf6DokE-w/s1219/IMG_20220108_152646152.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1027" data-original-width="1219" height="495" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_C7OI8TTZU0RbpI33bkte6mOKUlMpgvi2Vjgp96AEXevRuVve61WKKGpqFs6t9RYaLJ8hT0AX0vFNSUjVJddP-u9-HWp2cIPVPjWYxEH901ds5e7Foog4DIvMit1rkNqXNhLVx6CXqRo0OZyRim_lsxx4CWokS5GxkYK23xGpW1TzuEZQhf6DokE-w/w588-h495/IMG_20220108_152646152.jpg" width="588" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This perspective-challenging image consists of a juicy, ripe kumquat in the foreground, a fully-loaded naval orange tree far behind it and a 10-feet tall pencil cactus (milk bush plant) in the back left, behind the bird bath. The receding orange colors caught my eye.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-ua_0JP5mSJm98SIqt5FHSA_6iSfoHDrIpkws6OOJ4MuI1Alkb85QBkYfyyRmRrjCzCTTiUOjTCfUxX593NpUDc4MT0juLB69J-dm5eNVqvXO9cPhx3qsq9-ZBwT7cuYCDmsBmDoX5u2t1osdrSVsWQFfu6CscwwDHS-3-Iso57kFwemAWuCmIAyUw/s4608/IMG_20221213_092655851.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-ua_0JP5mSJm98SIqt5FHSA_6iSfoHDrIpkws6OOJ4MuI1Alkb85QBkYfyyRmRrjCzCTTiUOjTCfUxX593NpUDc4MT0juLB69J-dm5eNVqvXO9cPhx3qsq9-ZBwT7cuYCDmsBmDoX5u2t1osdrSVsWQFfu6CscwwDHS-3-Iso57kFwemAWuCmIAyUw/w596-h336/IMG_20221213_092655851.jpg" width="596" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Speaking of oranges... When I was a kid, I loved to crawl under the Christmas tree and watch the lights and colors from the ornaments bounce all around the inside of the tree. It was magical. The morning light bouncing around the inside of our fully-loaded naval orange tree often has the same magical appeal as those Christmas tree crawls. So... I crawled inside and took this photo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wQExtnst5buHlHWCFWAej9xc5fAmPENbg3OIaOVngGU7xKHQPwAhnVbOrBwLwDDQXO4OyxQk5tJmzY44xAzP1OGZOXarm3BVIvD-rfd7c9TnQyabJpm6KpCtKB1ZGeesfY3q_Cexy33O7d-EXcbVwi9L_K4d3LLzF5WOunDrfDfL9pUYSASY1nMHbA/s1025/IMG_20211203_090032680.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="737" data-original-width="1025" height="417" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wQExtnst5buHlHWCFWAej9xc5fAmPENbg3OIaOVngGU7xKHQPwAhnVbOrBwLwDDQXO4OyxQk5tJmzY44xAzP1OGZOXarm3BVIvD-rfd7c9TnQyabJpm6KpCtKB1ZGeesfY3q_Cexy33O7d-EXcbVwi9L_K4d3LLzF5WOunDrfDfL9pUYSASY1nMHbA/w579-h417/IMG_20211203_090032680.jpg" width="579" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This is an extreme close-up of our bougainvillea's long-lasting colored bracts (modified leaves) and one of its short-lived, tiny white flowers. Most people see these plants as giant bushes heaped with color. The bracts come in red, purple, pink, white and all sorts of hybrid shades. But those tiny flowers are always white and frequently overlooked. So I hereby feature one!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9wQLghl37Lra-PBBArzWVdxYqGXtx2MtI0nexJLwPvmT5Yd-kNHcK_th6l_-BQYc31lB0E3KNHz88otujH7xTo8goXoSG5GAQWvdlbrynYhZUKtxsFhxQS3TUOS3xKAnfp1OenoPcV0HxmWsFj0j7BTaw_s8MebNy0be-9CJOBht5iVSEe7Fzx5MvHg/s3195/20230320_093056-COLLAGE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3195" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9wQLghl37Lra-PBBArzWVdxYqGXtx2MtI0nexJLwPvmT5Yd-kNHcK_th6l_-BQYc31lB0E3KNHz88otujH7xTo8goXoSG5GAQWvdlbrynYhZUKtxsFhxQS3TUOS3xKAnfp1OenoPcV0HxmWsFj0j7BTaw_s8MebNy0be-9CJOBht5iVSEe7Fzx5MvHg/w588-h442/20230320_093056-COLLAGE.jpg" width="588" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Sometimes the early morning sun sneaks up behind a bloom and showcases its overall form and delicate veins. Such was the case with these backlit beauties. <i>Left: red vriesea bromeliad. Right: red canna lilly.</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #202124; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nature Pushes Back</span></h3><div><span face="Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #202124;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span face="Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #202124;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7VC9zHDmZABcl5diRs8X7MhLRVMKdbJW976oz5pDgNn0tVq9dMZf13Jj8dbC84PbhwnByzCJXT3wzumiP9UJ-nxYMctIfvf5_jmUFccMsgNSVN_Jn4EbvElqOLTF7Bo5lTflZDrTV2tRDk_s-r1zhj2V8qNr2KgclD7dIpka2zI1mhdsww5IGhElonw/s604/%5BUNSET%5D" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="604" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7VC9zHDmZABcl5diRs8X7MhLRVMKdbJW976oz5pDgNn0tVq9dMZf13Jj8dbC84PbhwnByzCJXT3wzumiP9UJ-nxYMctIfvf5_jmUFccMsgNSVN_Jn4EbvElqOLTF7Bo5lTflZDrTV2tRDk_s-r1zhj2V8qNr2KgclD7dIpka2zI1mhdsww5IGhElonw/w493-h370/%5BUNSET%5D" width="493" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Above) Our nearby wetlands often look like this from late February through May. These "daisies" are found on bushes that can grow up to 7 or 8 feet tall. Rabbits and foxes are in there, as well as blue herons and egrets. That "private property" sign and border fence don't mean much to these hardy flowers. They will pretty much go wherever they please!</span></span></div><div><span face="Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #202124;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span face="Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #202124;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmOevM7jhUHws6-yqLWp-whZRNNouOVgLgc2Vxn7PiHeQdlspGNs9TvVaX-aHt3dYZiAXAvRrHmnDcRWaj59px47CIXqCeBAcfoq4R3mjhXmwcaS2xAh59E6D8F5Lp4mczh8EbMSSYBn6yZIJAdsbGw8VsAT79BQLejcUd-a9sF8HIIKWxIPxUbEgREA/s2298/IMG_20220811_124323140.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2298" data-original-width="1777" height="459" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmOevM7jhUHws6-yqLWp-whZRNNouOVgLgc2Vxn7PiHeQdlspGNs9TvVaX-aHt3dYZiAXAvRrHmnDcRWaj59px47CIXqCeBAcfoq4R3mjhXmwcaS2xAh59E6D8F5Lp4mczh8EbMSSYBn6yZIJAdsbGw8VsAT79BQLejcUd-a9sF8HIIKWxIPxUbEgREA/w354-h459/IMG_20220811_124323140.jpg" width="354" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This stop sign is at an intersection along our local bike path. The landscaping crew who maintain the path have worked hard to cut back a bougainvillea bush growing at its base. The bougainvillea had other ideas. This stealthy and determined plant managed to snake its way up through the hollow sign post and burst out the top. </span><br /></span><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-tRo3x-W4C3zUmdTthn30inW8GzmHbBr6n3b-keKj-FKAlhtUsPz3EHbKc1jSJYB4E5UOp9_lnp7r2iHIbfo8mba-t_T-6sKWsZn4wm9b5I8ah9h1Ttb_By4BFbC0U84hK88TU5SyeVSypEgR6as_ZAkp-hzxkJQICxlefpgiHs0oBigxGqAnaS_4w/s720/%5BUNSET%5D" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-tRo3x-W4C3zUmdTthn30inW8GzmHbBr6n3b-keKj-FKAlhtUsPz3EHbKc1jSJYB4E5UOp9_lnp7r2iHIbfo8mba-t_T-6sKWsZn4wm9b5I8ah9h1Ttb_By4BFbC0U84hK88TU5SyeVSypEgR6as_ZAkp-hzxkJQICxlefpgiHs0oBigxGqAnaS_4w/w576-h432/%5BUNSET%5D" width="576" /></a></div><div><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #202124;">This is what's left of a breakwater near a local beach. It's about 15 feet tall and formerly was a wall of solid steel with rocks piled on both sides and a big wooden beam on top. Such breakwaters are set up perpendicular to the ocean to help prevent beach erosion. I've been watching this one deteriorate for several years now. Once a mighty man-made wall, it's now almost completely gone. The tide pool rocks at its base are covered with barnacles, mussels, crabs and a starfish or two hidden deep in crevices. The ocean will soon reclaim this spot entirely.</span></span></div></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #202124;"><br /></span></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #202124;">Birds</span></span></h3><div><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #202124;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHGTaa5X9ne-pobyi9K58z2T2fYxw23zXU_rFmLs_tX154KHaS4srXOu7zbP272_tQkDHirIolIgxUDFxA7mnUAT6VzbZYM2QYEY4CiaPzCQNPeJ1_7n9O2to3Wj3HdYFmfrC8QQjMFUl5v1eg8Gfy918sMPHOCFl0tMmd47asmEUrXCuRxLCCiTbL9Q/s2400/Beach-Action.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1445" data-original-width="2400" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHGTaa5X9ne-pobyi9K58z2T2fYxw23zXU_rFmLs_tX154KHaS4srXOu7zbP272_tQkDHirIolIgxUDFxA7mnUAT6VzbZYM2QYEY4CiaPzCQNPeJ1_7n9O2to3Wj3HdYFmfrC8QQjMFUl5v1eg8Gfy918sMPHOCFl0tMmd47asmEUrXCuRxLCCiTbL9Q/w581-h350/Beach-Action.JPG" width="581" /></a></div><br /><div>The photo above is an accident. My intent was to sneak up on a large flock of grounded seagulls and capture them clumped together watching the waves. As I knelt and focused and held my breath to click my picture a rowdy dog came from out of nowhere, startling them into mass flight. At first I was angry at the dog. But when I saw the results, I realized that this was one of my best photo accidents ever!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqY80Zrg0Q3n7w-nrXN6ZO1c-481AMQRYr7_w_CsnhNvNqny2ocMUqawOFaq9rMWffFjsZwX_HDDaw-ZFOANmsVh4AFSG2n40hDGPx6arw8xLIHpXO8JqQeunBCtjxVCVnUPfeHZ7ANzgk5lI2vbRYiWT4XbJnmqTfsDX4cClHaS5EtUZGMxT52JM22A/s2048/PA090119.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqY80Zrg0Q3n7w-nrXN6ZO1c-481AMQRYr7_w_CsnhNvNqny2ocMUqawOFaq9rMWffFjsZwX_HDDaw-ZFOANmsVh4AFSG2n40hDGPx6arw8xLIHpXO8JqQeunBCtjxVCVnUPfeHZ7ANzgk5lI2vbRYiWT4XbJnmqTfsDX4cClHaS5EtUZGMxT52JM22A/w574-h431/PA090119.JPG" width="574" /></a></div><br /><div>This pair of mallards and their reflection creates an amazing visual symmetry. Like so many photos of members of the bird family, they are as much about form and composition as they are about the content of the image.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg10cK5pAJtSUbEy4t42-lYlC_2wUfDvtPvd67bEIQ5UykWhvHLB4N_SbsHb_ZYn7YqIc4c8acoCCQF3WzuJ72P8ZLXIAOxbe8HAfwGEZfNS0LRC7IdYESplCukkT1Pt2tnY4TV81clU4ZUKN9K1-RJQ0fCTNfue8Z2azk2UzkG6kbi9DzmmlWSH_LOcQ/s3549/Heron-maybe-1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2021" data-original-width="3549" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg10cK5pAJtSUbEy4t42-lYlC_2wUfDvtPvd67bEIQ5UykWhvHLB4N_SbsHb_ZYn7YqIc4c8acoCCQF3WzuJ72P8ZLXIAOxbe8HAfwGEZfNS0LRC7IdYESplCukkT1Pt2tnY4TV81clU4ZUKN9K1-RJQ0fCTNfue8Z2azk2UzkG6kbi9DzmmlWSH_LOcQ/w573-h327/Heron-maybe-1.JPG" width="573" /></a></div><div><br /></div>A young heron resting between meals.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjI-c-uP9qJKDt_fZhD4vTCI6U4E59Xll8gIKurobweOGv12K1YJahoBC1z7s92gJgPtDX65h1yJ6LCA6iyzorNOo4Bi6aTL9frLB5OA15NylXApBwPmq9SDh0a4PRP2yv1ciEKGSl572v95_1PlEcHB-B9Pab7suO-ICzONHClmdKattxwAh2wK3AUA/s1847/PB290224.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1279" data-original-width="1847" height="401" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjI-c-uP9qJKDt_fZhD4vTCI6U4E59Xll8gIKurobweOGv12K1YJahoBC1z7s92gJgPtDX65h1yJ6LCA6iyzorNOo4Bi6aTL9frLB5OA15NylXApBwPmq9SDh0a4PRP2yv1ciEKGSl572v95_1PlEcHB-B9Pab7suO-ICzONHClmdKattxwAh2wK3AUA/w579-h401/PB290224.JPG" width="579" /></a></div><br /><div>I'm often struck by how casually birds seem to intermingle. Here a heron and a pair of egrets hang out together watching ducks and coots. No segregation here!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDi2Q1gCaciw2SygYJMr_zl5LmW_PrnbBxsZd13h0gznDfUnhFfH4xVjfedJbPDzgIpCjWt48gN7jkNN79lczcZxkqe4HNV3cxIGTL6gl2H-tw1lDPgst51W4sZ_cLLtsT__EMgGb6kapSoa3ftJes0h1uEBarMT0ca4vMM0MHkgIGTMg6S0XTk2l0Vw/s1075/Vista-del-Mar-Owl-3.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="811" data-original-width="1075" height="439" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDi2Q1gCaciw2SygYJMr_zl5LmW_PrnbBxsZd13h0gznDfUnhFfH4xVjfedJbPDzgIpCjWt48gN7jkNN79lczcZxkqe4HNV3cxIGTL6gl2H-tw1lDPgst51W4sZ_cLLtsT__EMgGb6kapSoa3ftJes0h1uEBarMT0ca4vMM0MHkgIGTMg6S0XTk2l0Vw/w583-h439/Vista-del-Mar-Owl-3.JPG" width="583" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This is one of several burrowing owls that live in the dunes along the bike path near the ocean. These guys seem to enjoy watching bikers passing by. I guess they're confident of their ability to fly away if bothered. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6mPj1fWNMpQF8fBMVWE3Oo32xMfNYQX40gijnuxAjrX5WlquxjMXEw42VYOWRye_DAJuBIS_Eyok_X4OZGlFXsMBrcXcDoTVY9FUgRIFQWd2N2xoaPwcU4t30vah-RGbWFJ7K6gBPlCCpRTB1ofjq90WFH4YDGthgu4V1tCZTvhaP7Wt-NisA94F0Q/s3264/PB300030.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6mPj1fWNMpQF8fBMVWE3Oo32xMfNYQX40gijnuxAjrX5WlquxjMXEw42VYOWRye_DAJuBIS_Eyok_X4OZGlFXsMBrcXcDoTVY9FUgRIFQWd2N2xoaPwcU4t30vah-RGbWFJ7K6gBPlCCpRTB1ofjq90WFH4YDGthgu4V1tCZTvhaP7Wt-NisA94F0Q/w604-h452/PB300030.JPG" width="604" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2015/06/a-lesson-from-humble-pelican-find-your.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="3196" data-original-width="2400" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8d20aPOrm1GSupGtPJoLtBkCBQGS_0hyXT5CFhLLXh6kAJuare2GZjd7aJvgbiFQQf8CQn24QXZx1BMdslIK4sQNJttT6EWxmT70GBmFA327NCDN-0D15nqTZ5ZxQS1W4RT264oAgDE5NI3e3k8Dvn2NMLDDThX9D-ai_-Gnah2a7epln8dNnvfLoBA/w257-h341/20230324_095412-COLLAGE.jpg" width="257" /></a><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2015/06/a-lesson-from-humble-pelican-find-your.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="228" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2uVVY9eaZg3xS0bmVHqvXS5ms1gUDOkl2nxg-FDG9OV21Njn5H8AEi8AiRb3g2eErVUhh7fwGdZl4WvaDv3j7U6wwBEmjj1wghIaOoP5iYfc-DY_FZAb6gfG9TfRYjuABL1OFg7OSMiezSCV3lv6YsX6ylgBfPvVi5EKuxqHc4Xh5zedfrp7teJDHw/w237-h269/Pelican-on-Redondo-Business-Roof-close-up.jpg" width="237" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Okay, a confession... I have a mild obsession with pelicans. And I have taken way too many pictures of them to show here. But if you'd like to see some of them, check out this <a href="https://youtu.be/HmkS58pAXgs" target="_blank">video</a> and this pelican-philosophizing article: <a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2015/06/a-lesson-from-humble-pelican-find-your.html" target="_blank">A Lesson from the Humble Pelican: Find Your Unique Mission, Then Soar!</a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIc1N5F8nwQYLMGEYqtokc0KG6GKG1skBJbAEYvs9gcndQLvRhwz6BykSdAqKWAcjZWiO90VBSHvzOY9QWht0Sz8oSi7g4RtAgYyBVHqCNfSZTOGbdl1GFNbzZ1pSK2PgmWz0l-6s3uf-wgWFgSWOSOS__1Le7wcQr7d3EM8uMAxzC-JRE_aHUkIKHPA/s686/%5BUNSET%5D" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="686" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIc1N5F8nwQYLMGEYqtokc0KG6GKG1skBJbAEYvs9gcndQLvRhwz6BykSdAqKWAcjZWiO90VBSHvzOY9QWht0Sz8oSi7g4RtAgYyBVHqCNfSZTOGbdl1GFNbzZ1pSK2PgmWz0l-6s3uf-wgWFgSWOSOS__1Le7wcQr7d3EM8uMAxzC-JRE_aHUkIKHPA/w451-h356/%5BUNSET%5D" width="451" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>And finally... another kind of "bird." I walked past this soaring bird of paradise that appeared to be trying to escape the confines of its yard. There's something dramatic about this bright flower on a pure blue field of sky.</div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Miscellaneous </h3><div><br /></div><div>Below are some favorites that I couldn't fit into any particular category. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWx98pZNC1P01bi6-zm9oKsab_MH3h3sh7UY4dLO0hc08i9EJqLMtR-WzHcrZO2qm94bAkaL7AwWJuJ1mIvwIGj5RETzvEIkQyBtNpgQ6T65HeF9dmAXBA7R43CJdBV7rsclNCGpL87rIomgsFZiH7dMAS1ffVYshzYGhHN0aAxiP6gijVtC_S9kgPvw/s3196/20230321_172751-COLLAGE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3196" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWx98pZNC1P01bi6-zm9oKsab_MH3h3sh7UY4dLO0hc08i9EJqLMtR-WzHcrZO2qm94bAkaL7AwWJuJ1mIvwIGj5RETzvEIkQyBtNpgQ6T65HeF9dmAXBA7R43CJdBV7rsclNCGpL87rIomgsFZiH7dMAS1ffVYshzYGhHN0aAxiP6gijVtC_S9kgPvw/w589-h442/20230321_172751-COLLAGE.jpg" width="589" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">That's me (left) walking in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valle_de_la_Luna_(Chile)#:~:text=El%20Valle%20de%20la%20Luna,carved%20by%20wind%20and%20water." target="_blank">Valley of the Moon</a> in the Atacama Desert at over 16,500 fee elevation in the Andes. I was in South America to <a href="https://greerspmresources.blogspot.com/2009/12/sharpening-galileos-quill-my-amazing.html" target="_blank">teach a PM Basics workshop </a>for some of the <a href="http://almaobservatory.org/en/home/" target="_blank">ALMA</a> team based in Santiago, Chile. <i>[ALMA stands for Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array — In other words, it’s an array (collection) of radio telescopes (66, to be exact!) that was under construction in the Atacama desert.]</i> My client/scientist host (right) decided to take me to the "high site" before the workshop to provide some perspective on this crystal-clear sky-viewing location which hadn't had any measurable rainfall in over 400 years! We visited this spot at sunset to hear the rocks and sand creak and crackle as the cold of night fell upon them. It was amazing!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1G7QiOfO9tYL-d2YFjX4aFx3x-I2cqbEm5jJ3qER48GG3mhwpWzH1gDky4nRgEuT3b_1qpKDkla6RuuVuGyvR3pj0FJxqpEfrXhA1mOBbksD7Do2hK75kBVePRnK90RePuNST8tKZS2-nYP71pEaNDKB8_ZcMWZnU9VreEXhXtKPPbNQi839NiZHNLw/s2048/Artist-yawning-selling-wares.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1G7QiOfO9tYL-d2YFjX4aFx3x-I2cqbEm5jJ3qER48GG3mhwpWzH1gDky4nRgEuT3b_1qpKDkla6RuuVuGyvR3pj0FJxqpEfrXhA1mOBbksD7Do2hK75kBVePRnK90RePuNST8tKZS2-nYP71pEaNDKB8_ZcMWZnU9VreEXhXtKPPbNQi839NiZHNLw/w532-h400/Artist-yawning-selling-wares.JPG" width="532" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This man is an artist in Santiago, Chile enduring an outdoor market where he is trying to sell his creations. He personifies the problem many artists face: It's much more interesting to create art than it is to try to sell it! </div><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhXg2hmb6syzqVNIgiUl5SbwvinxBJcmylUzc8TaLTgtnQIf4VCPQI4Mc1je1oW3ECBq6OR-X9RZ_CzrYZK_e1t_sCrXzKOiA9lit5kCus9HMVfaHoQc-CI5jZDN8ESSAfMJn1MwWZSN8P-n2oGT4npwlsl1zA5QDSkM6jBqHjsxOTDs-vCfV_pdpAoQ/s4608/IMG_20221116_134414759~3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhXg2hmb6syzqVNIgiUl5SbwvinxBJcmylUzc8TaLTgtnQIf4VCPQI4Mc1je1oW3ECBq6OR-X9RZ_CzrYZK_e1t_sCrXzKOiA9lit5kCus9HMVfaHoQc-CI5jZDN8ESSAfMJn1MwWZSN8P-n2oGT4npwlsl1zA5QDSkM6jBqHjsxOTDs-vCfV_pdpAoQ/w544-h306/IMG_20221116_134414759~3.jpg" width="544" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The sun ducks behind a palm tree at a secluded local beach. At moments like this the Pacific ocean can feel like it's on the edge of the earth.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNtQCngYmJWYqcTOOFMxiOgF2imXB8uZZ2d1MGugGlBgUtwLMajRCEzW3EcvpVAnVOTeOfpHA1Yjg8VB1hm4DOoC01ugL2Bi59OnOgJ7__lbdKx1k9uh8_UF4QGOpAVmM0j284DZt8Ek9yPJ5Hir9Rs-bO8emkJnP_E1ChT0JrNaPJUxu6DpPnivrqg/s4608/IMG_20220112_144313276.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNtQCngYmJWYqcTOOFMxiOgF2imXB8uZZ2d1MGugGlBgUtwLMajRCEzW3EcvpVAnVOTeOfpHA1Yjg8VB1hm4DOoC01ugL2Bi59OnOgJ7__lbdKx1k9uh8_UF4QGOpAVmM0j284DZt8Ek9yPJ5Hir9Rs-bO8emkJnP_E1ChT0JrNaPJUxu6DpPnivrqg/w555-h312/IMG_20220112_144313276.jpg" width="555" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">An overcast day at the beach can be more interesting visually than a sunny day. Such lighting highlights the steely grays and blues and shiny reflections on the rocks. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfSq9C5Q_JrYxaIzgiMdEz-DtLGa2bRjardY73eU0DCX7xpOltuwqAZiOP9SIlnvIVFAY_y7KYxPqaoMy2r0AWX0qJxH_5gJzgY6Z05PzhQj1h_1VCzChEq3KlQ4KDHzGG2JUgF_a8H6OZMldIVW2zUeEuXe-4pBbPCI-CzArKU90xRAW2pK_o1d-rfg/s2046/IMG_20190314_123928820_HDR-COLLAGE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2046" data-original-width="1535" height="726" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfSq9C5Q_JrYxaIzgiMdEz-DtLGa2bRjardY73eU0DCX7xpOltuwqAZiOP9SIlnvIVFAY_y7KYxPqaoMy2r0AWX0qJxH_5gJzgY6Z05PzhQj1h_1VCzChEq3KlQ4KDHzGG2JUgF_a8H6OZMldIVW2zUeEuXe-4pBbPCI-CzArKU90xRAW2pK_o1d-rfg/w545-h726/IMG_20190314_123928820_HDR-COLLAGE.jpg" width="545" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Here are a couple of shots of the "superbloom" near Lake Elsinore, CA in March of 2019 following an unusual wet rainy season. Miles and miles of poppies blanket the mountain slopes and hillsides.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcnAKzSfIXCvUowCJx9iAl3QOuEzmkxln07YRUXSVEbgNRF17BVtL5DEfzmWzNy-waWbiKbcKEcbexyY3-3_kpel6K5w2G16DuAldV0OGfgoKSpp0hr1DBreXZuZmJZ7t6p-BaicuOR7GWzTCX1AWtxMm0xjAH7eZIyLvErK2MJmyoZMTZ5ywJpnxNg/s1024/20180414_193718-COLLAGE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcnAKzSfIXCvUowCJx9iAl3QOuEzmkxln07YRUXSVEbgNRF17BVtL5DEfzmWzNy-waWbiKbcKEcbexyY3-3_kpel6K5w2G16DuAldV0OGfgoKSpp0hr1DBreXZuZmJZ7t6p-BaicuOR7GWzTCX1AWtxMm0xjAH7eZIyLvErK2MJmyoZMTZ5ywJpnxNg/w532-h532/20180414_193718-COLLAGE.jpg" width="532" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Amaryllis flowers everywhere! We lit a backyard fire in honor of our own amaryllis superbloom!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1ww3W0o8hkUQlKNi2XpKrtXM26yox4u6I-R-GMraZ3A6DUnAHSTGGGV_-IQsEHkF-rmlkBWg4ozwY5QBhVKYxhp3vv7o8uJC_RfEFRi0wllpGM1wGHJQbV-vgI4xSaKKaFYhKHKacR1BdCg8eAn56JU0OQhiZITqY-C6455l_D_xzKnDEkALKX0mtw/s3195/20230322_102947-COLLAGE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3195" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1ww3W0o8hkUQlKNi2XpKrtXM26yox4u6I-R-GMraZ3A6DUnAHSTGGGV_-IQsEHkF-rmlkBWg4ozwY5QBhVKYxhp3vv7o8uJC_RfEFRi0wllpGM1wGHJQbV-vgI4xSaKKaFYhKHKacR1BdCg8eAn56JU0OQhiZITqY-C6455l_D_xzKnDEkALKX0mtw/w489-h367/20230322_102947-COLLAGE.jpg" width="489" /></a></div><div><br /></div>A couple of amaryllis close-ups showcase their bee-tempting stamens & pistils.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLqAeJSW1gHz6VqbvZZaRfImIx0DdlV0UvVv-tgtY_BYpgq3YxYywnd8jGM3PMR_u9mW4uqTED3it1kZZ7YAU9zxWOjEUNeOLJFRFryvvrMEFVhs9KypaAzTqvnCMGBIpFNMfmNRrVNPnB1inkxsZ1QZQHDeNlM3lInKM7M38KDIpl76VpWraQwqmeUQ/s1024/20190420_155146-COLLAGE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="495" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLqAeJSW1gHz6VqbvZZaRfImIx0DdlV0UvVv-tgtY_BYpgq3YxYywnd8jGM3PMR_u9mW4uqTED3it1kZZ7YAU9zxWOjEUNeOLJFRFryvvrMEFVhs9KypaAzTqvnCMGBIpFNMfmNRrVNPnB1inkxsZ1QZQHDeNlM3lInKM7M38KDIpl76VpWraQwqmeUQ/w495-h495/20190420_155146-COLLAGE.jpg" width="495" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Just a small sample of the many, many flowers my wife keeps going in our colorful back yard. Here are (top left) our short-lived clivia, (top right & bottom left) our ever-blooming canna and (bottom right) our red bottle brush tree blooms. <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5-EcNuPxv3Qhi9WY5voAGupKxncyky6dvPweH5V2bXfpmCGkZUci6m3uhXXhQ6pWRAyNzQSzr7u5zOodV5a3O1XvW2jHjUZkOvQSA0gSQei-CnaBDEzNXJbOMHLzosRkPkAJRSmz3AefFogG2oukZQ3X8xXiLpYpbf1f7NFmUUCP80yMqH1R94skfg/s2880/20230324_113452-COLLAGE.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="2880" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5-EcNuPxv3Qhi9WY5voAGupKxncyky6dvPweH5V2bXfpmCGkZUci6m3uhXXhQ6pWRAyNzQSzr7u5zOodV5a3O1XvW2jHjUZkOvQSA0gSQei-CnaBDEzNXJbOMHLzosRkPkAJRSmz3AefFogG2oukZQ3X8xXiLpYpbf1f7NFmUUCP80yMqH1R94skfg/w438-h438/20230324_113452-COLLAGE.jpg" width="438" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A California scrub jay gets rowdy in our bird bath. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0vOjGlKe6k5RFjioImrzb_i-zcT4D52dz3vVvBOkA0zTH6zvLFf15ilyCdqotz0_W8udKZG0rsK5Ba_XsDKQ0HA-shZmihszuXdZnb5zEua_tJdPiC1RErTSez-nnkkjz_iPXMCo7vR-uYRhMrjRP4e8x8A-vMpUZ4gq-xok9cPrXAlrv7F8DyconA/s1234/IMG_20230309_151318951~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1038" data-original-width="1234" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0vOjGlKe6k5RFjioImrzb_i-zcT4D52dz3vVvBOkA0zTH6zvLFf15ilyCdqotz0_W8udKZG0rsK5Ba_XsDKQ0HA-shZmihszuXdZnb5zEua_tJdPiC1RErTSez-nnkkjz_iPXMCo7vR-uYRhMrjRP4e8x8A-vMpUZ4gq-xok9cPrXAlrv7F8DyconA/w443-h373/IMG_20230309_151318951~2.jpg" width="443" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Speaking of rowdy... This goose (?) at a local park protests... something or other!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8KIYjYJ6vo4IrS8uKuggmlHkCYSaJGhDUAfUWmE96HTrsUZr8erDRTEd32R_OlGuToCNa5hGFxE2a2d3zVh2p1KL3ofVsUAC8kdtlV_n_drFLRQutSYh02uIb0QD_mHIkCe9tvu2ecnL7dcZTmanvEJ9faGjKoJPzIj-2k9d2buNDMjHYQLrkDKEvdw/s562/IMG_20230117_152812504.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="553" height="485" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8KIYjYJ6vo4IrS8uKuggmlHkCYSaJGhDUAfUWmE96HTrsUZr8erDRTEd32R_OlGuToCNa5hGFxE2a2d3zVh2p1KL3ofVsUAC8kdtlV_n_drFLRQutSYh02uIb0QD_mHIkCe9tvu2ecnL7dcZTmanvEJ9faGjKoJPzIj-2k9d2buNDMjHYQLrkDKEvdw/w478-h485/IMG_20230117_152812504.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The essence of sunbathing!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvg8ruEvfn9YepgEc5kCNCqpBMF3v7UOgqZKGU9GCnWSUG5bB4zfKEmbttPZK971Y10cr0PPKo45Dl1gnPeoKryAT2bu1wJJiUbLhip1sh_rXp4Fgv6wZ-pbX7EMtAkzZ7hraG7cPZ86RbIYnhLVYduJC0NAKmv7b5BdEWaQZ6YF4a6OFYj4bidomOg/s604/%5BUNSET%5D" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="604" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvg8ruEvfn9YepgEc5kCNCqpBMF3v7UOgqZKGU9GCnWSUG5bB4zfKEmbttPZK971Y10cr0PPKo45Dl1gnPeoKryAT2bu1wJJiUbLhip1sh_rXp4Fgv6wZ-pbX7EMtAkzZ7hraG7cPZ86RbIYnhLVYduJC0NAKmv7b5BdEWaQZ6YF4a6OFYj4bidomOg/w517-h388/%5BUNSET%5D" width="517" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our local bike path, daisy-lined in Spring, shoots arrow-straight toward the ocean.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2Lc_7mmNbjkGlCl45qvz3NZNcG_PLxtCNale_vehidDPbSudBNco_08kuUKSS1qimj4VLOjxl6geWlznFLEa3nzxDb3NqOBgytuq5nJ3aw8o2VD6wZEmApLvWdw9QuzOcfhCh7mZ-TkahvVhyL67YW6ZYNzC4osM9Z1uJ0dm3jKd2Z4Z8uetnLdhWQ/s720/%5BUNSET%5D" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="484" data-original-width="720" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2Lc_7mmNbjkGlCl45qvz3NZNcG_PLxtCNale_vehidDPbSudBNco_08kuUKSS1qimj4VLOjxl6geWlznFLEa3nzxDb3NqOBgytuq5nJ3aw8o2VD6wZEmApLvWdw9QuzOcfhCh7mZ-TkahvVhyL67YW6ZYNzC4osM9Z1uJ0dm3jKd2Z4Z8uetnLdhWQ/w519-h349/%5BUNSET%5D" width="519" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another warm CA day ends with gold and red tones at sunset. <i>(This photo was shot and saved "clean," with no color sweetening or post processing whatsoever.)</i> I could "feel" those incredible warm colors as I rode my bike home through the balmy ocean breezes.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">======== Related =======</h3><div><ul><li><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2017/05/searching-for-picture-how-camera-in.html" target="_blank">Searching for a Picture: How a Camera in Your Hands Can Improve Your Vision</a></li><li><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2015/12/why-i-use-google-photos-not-facebook-to.html" target="_blank">Why I Use Google Photos, not Facebook, to Share Photos</a> </li><li><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2020/03/bored-consuming-content-feeling-anxious.html" target="_blank">Bored passively consuming content? Feeling anxious? Maybe it's time to create something!</a></li><li><a href="http://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2016/04/top-five-free-apps-to-capture-ideas.html" target="_blank">Top Five Free Apps to Capture Ideas & Leverage Creativity</a></li></ul><div></div><div></div></div>Mike Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10761717181465329763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383729925064099332.post-44132041721065729182023-02-28T15:30:00.146-08:002023-03-25T22:48:46.595-07:00Smart speaker not useful? Give it more smart things to control!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfbPbbYfIjWgc2ljFFvLDjibr8x2bl3FagJnRMdeAGQeBsc-iBnGuCAqoH8Nj4XXWThBCW_-4nqsgQocWHuUL4WJ2FiGiN-oIfoMQZZpdDcfwe5ytqwf1jrS8_Q5BuQY3WU7a9X_X-jxOkZVYxbOa3rcpUrDPIOgqp5ErvtZjTy3JldWdNh7o_kpMLQ/s600/Smart-home-overview-Jan-23-blog-post-600-px.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfbPbbYfIjWgc2ljFFvLDjibr8x2bl3FagJnRMdeAGQeBsc-iBnGuCAqoH8Nj4XXWThBCW_-4nqsgQocWHuUL4WJ2FiGiN-oIfoMQZZpdDcfwe5ytqwf1jrS8_Q5BuQY3WU7a9X_X-jxOkZVYxbOa3rcpUrDPIOgqp5ErvtZjTy3JldWdNh7o_kpMLQ/s16000/Smart-home-overview-Jan-23-blog-post-600-px.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Your smart speaker can control LOTS of stuff!</span></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Overview</h3><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This article is <b>meant to help you get the most out of your smart speaker and begin setting up your smart home.</b> It's a deep dive into what I've learned first-hand by setting up and managing our own smart home devices. The <b>main sections</b> include: </div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Is your smart speaker simply a brain without a body? </li><li>Real Life Examples: A Typical Day in Our Smart Home</li><li>Summary of Our Smart Home Components</li><li>Getting Started with Your First Smart Room</li><li>Types of Devices That Seem to Work Well & Some That Don't </li><li>The Smart Home Brands We Use and Recommend</li><li>Conclusion</li></ul><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Is your smart speaker simply a brain without a body? </h3><div><br /></div><div>Anybody who's seen Star Trek knows that a star ship's crew lives in a kind of sentient cocoon, surrounded by smart devices that are coordinated by a central brain that's always ready to assist. Merely speak the wake word "Computer..." then make a request and that request is fulfilled.</div><div><br /></div><div>Contrast this with that solitary smart speaker that your Uncle Billy bought, plopped in the corner of his living room and ignores except to ask it for the weather and set timers. He says he's not sure why he bought it and would certainly not waste money on another one. </div><div><br /></div><div>Here's the thing. Uncle Billy is simply not thinking big enough! The omnipresent "Computer" on that starship is connected to a navigation system, lighting and heating controls and all manner of devices which can deliver everything from "Tea ... Earl Grey, hot" to a multimedia, multi-sensory experience on the holodeck. Without these linked devices, that computer is just a disembodied voice. It might be an amusing conversation partner, but not truly useful in getting things done in the physical world.</div><div><br /></div><div>And so it is with that smart home speaker. It needs a family of linked devices to live up to its full potential. And that family of devices can be easily matched to Uncle Billy's unique needs. Smart plugs, smart bulbs, smart cameras and media gear are all out there waiting to be brought home and connected. And they don't cost that much! </div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Real Life Examples: A Typical Day in Our Smart Home </h3><div><br /></div><div><div>I really like our smart home! It may not be the most sophisticated, but it just works. It consists of <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Nest_(smart_speakers)" target="_blank">Google Home/Nest speakers</a></b>, a bunch of <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_plug" target="_blank">smart electric plugs</a></b> that switch ordinary "dumb" devices on/off, some <b><a href="https://www.feit.com/collections/smart-wi-fi-light-bulbs" target="_blank">smart light bulbs</a></b>, a few <b>security cameras</b> and some <b>smart media</b> equipment. </div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Note: We own a couple of Amazon Echo devices but have found them to be much less useful and dependable than our Google devices. So <b>the interactions described here all take place within our Google Home/Nest ecosystem.</b> All eight of these are strategically positioned so we can talk to them anywhere we happen to be in our house, garage, patio or back yard.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>So what does all this stuff do for us? Here's <b>a typical day in our relatively "smart" home. </b></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Starting the Day</h4><div><br /></div><div>I say upon waking, "OK, Google: Neighborhood weather."</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>"Neighborhood weather" is a custom routine I set up in the Google Home app. </li><li>My Google Assistant (bedroom speaker) responds by reporting the current 1) temperature, 2) wind speed & direction, 3) humidity & 4) "feels like" temperature in our specific micro climate so I can dress appropriately.</li></ul><div>In the bathroom I say, "OK, Google: Play my news." </div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>"Play my news" triggers playback of the latest episodes from my list of pre-selected news podcasts.</li><li>If I don't finish listening to these in the bathroom, I simply say "pause" and <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/" target="_blank">Google Podcasts</a> will<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://store.google.com/product/google_nest_mini?hl=en-US" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="172" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWCfpW5Vz1VTCTkCmGQW0myGeE2Xu7qXm6z16kXW-n5IGUV3325xIGultzO2D5sCEWZAfTVCyq-0CsgfLr2jXsuQXB6wqLF5PoKYd8xvU4IMpRGOwLA7FVWCne-RbQVusZzSByc77_Q2txiqDe5F0licIuN939PuLHQfj7dKkA71y6cCOBj7Vsy_E4A/w87-h121/Google-Home-Mini-Smart-Speaker-upright.jpg" width="87" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://store.google.com/product/google_nest_mini?hl=en-US" target="_blank">Google Home Mini<br />Smart Speaker</a></i></td></tr></tbody></table> continue where I left off by playing them later on my phone earbuds, Android Auto or in another room with a different Google Home speaker.</li></ul><div>In the kitchen I say, "OK, Google: Set kitchen lights to 100% brightness & daylight color."</div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The strings of LED smart lights encircling the kitchen, above the cabinets, act as instructed. </li><li>We make our coffee, breakfast, etc. in a nice bright kitchen.</li></ul><div>On the way to our office/exercise area, I say, "OK, Google: Turn on office heater" and "Turn on office lights."</div></div></div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>When I get to the office/exercise area the "dumb" little space heater (attached to a smart plug) is chugging away, warming up the room from the overnight chill while the smart lights brighten the room so I don't trip over any exercise equipment.</li><li>While stretching and warming up, I play podcasts on the room's smart speaker. These will be continued during my outdoor exercise walk on my phone via the Google Podcast app.</li></ul><br /><h4 style="text-align: left;">Throughout the Day</h4><div><br /></div><div>Throughout the day as we move around our property we give our Google Home devices instructions like these:</div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li> "Add blueberries to the Shopping List." -- The item is added to our shared <a href="https://www.google.com/keep/" target="_blank">Google Keep</a> shopping list for synchronized reference from our phones. I also have lists called "Ideas" and "Chores" that I instruct Google to add items to as needed.</li><li>"Turn on fountain." -- Google turns on a small backyard fountain, powered by a smart plug, adding some waterfall ambiance. </li><li><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Google-Home-Smart-Speaker-Google-Assistant-Light-Grey-White/54742302?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=13003&adid=22222222227000000000&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=42423897272&wl4=pla-51320962143&wl5=1013962&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=117578154&wl11=online&wl12=54742302&veh=sem&gclid=Cj0KCQiA6fafBhC1ARIsAIJjL8kkZ4eCuNmm88PFx8glkcui2-https://www.walmart.com/ip/Google-Home-Smart-Speaker-Google-Assistant-Light-Grey-White/54742302?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=13003&adid=22222222227000000000&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=42423897272&wl4=pla-51320962143&wl5=1013962&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=117578154&wl11=online&wl12=54742302&veh=sem&gclid=Cj0KCQiA6fafBhC1ARIsAIJjL8kkZ4eCuNmm88PFx8glkcui2-cvcxtxV7sPlnAIZ5iu7U9T1cZkAj0aAuoZEALw_wcB" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="175" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGsOgBtfiUfiKv4KqZeKov2D__u8zGT-EUhlRon7YNG3UD3Uf8F6GT0350PWCHfOwagO9-ca7Q7lhTKXYyMCiXWP2KyYSCu-v2GZPt73_XsUzWU39oRX9lvmFy7cedhjuhcUC1RsIBKfA87cqmJoqn4eJenN8So4_WEvujyEiEAZAwMxHHUbx3ILElVA/w96-h141/google-home-smart-speaker.jpg" width="96" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Google-Home-Smart-Speaker-Google-Assistant-Light-Grey-White/54742302?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=13003&adid=22222222227000000000&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=42423897272&wl4=pla-51320962143&wl5=1013962&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=117578154&wl11=online&wl12=54742302&veh=sem&gclid=Cj0KCQiA6fafBhC1ARIsAIJjL8kkZ4eCuNmm88PFx8glkcui2-https://www.walmart.com/ip/Google-Home-Smart-Speaker-Google-Assistant-Light-Grey-White/54742302" target="">Google Home<br />Smart Speaker</a></i></td></tr></tbody></table>"Turn on hot water." -- Google turns on a circulating pump attached to our tankless hot water heater. This way we use the gas/electric only as needed for showering, laundry, dishes, etc.</li><li>All day long we issue voice commands to turn on and off various lights and switches, play music, stream news and do all sorts of other useful stuff.</li><li>While doing chores like laundry, dishes, yard work, etc. we give verbal commands to activate podcasts & music, adjusting with voice commands as needed.</li><li>Because they're powered by Google's world-class Search engine, we get answers anytime to any question that comes to mind by just asking one of our smart speakers.</li><li>We can also set timers, run a stopwatch, set alarms, set/check Google Calendar appointments and even get recipes, followed by verbal, step-by-step coaching from the kitchen smart speaker to help prepare the recipe.</li><li>When we need to make a road trip or run errands, we ask for traffic conditions en route to a particular destination before we go. Google then recommends a route and sends this info to one of our phones where we use <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/about/#!/" target="_blank">Google Maps</a> and <a href="https://www.android.com/auto/" target="_blank">Android Auto</a> to guide our trip. (This Google Maps guidance also works well for <a href="https://support.google.com/maps/answer/6142130?hl=en" target="_blank">bus or train trips</a>, including <a href="https://support.google.com/maps/answer/9332056?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid" target="_blank">Live View</a> walking instructions to the final destination.)</li><li>During dinner, prep & clean up, we often direct our smart speakers to stream stand-up comedy or music from Pandora in our kitchen and dining areas.</li></ul><div><b>Because our smart speakers are activated by voice commands, we never have to pick up a phone or tablet to accomplish any of the above. We can simply continue using our hands, doing whatever chores we're doing</b> while a nearby <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Assistant" target="_blank">Google Assistant</a> acts as instructed. </div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">In the Evening</h4></div><div><br /></div><div>In the evening, <b>while streaming video entertainment</b>, there's another collection of voice commands we invoke:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://store.google.com/product/nest_audio?hl=en-US" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="551" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXK49qdcLeH6-THe3fon3oo4XYWXJfBRLoVLini16p-rMdfNuOg4J7QUI2S0r4kIqXa_vZfARGFvKLQRrL92N7jGdymz2ymavnq-7TxoATnWz0Ap-0bdpkndhwZ9neiE3aQhgJywJbjCViuKECM5F3jWdfiVC5kDMLHzrLxXLq3Owp6LWMDATF0Pbmw/w114-h147/Screenshot_20230227-093615.png" width="114" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://store.google.com/product/nest_audio?hl=en-US" target="_blank">Google Nest Audio</a></i></td></tr></tbody></table>"Set video lighting" -- Google turns on a smart LED string light attached to the back of the TV and turns on two other smart lights in the room. It sets all lights to candle light color temperature and about 40% brightness. This enhances our video viewing.<br /></li><li>"Set kitchen to night light" -- Google changes the color of our kitchen lights to a warm, reddish hue and drops the brightness to around 35%.<br /></li><li>"Mute/Unmute TV" -- Google mutes or unmutes our Android TV during commercials, etc.<br /></li><li>"Set volume 40 [or whatever]" or "Increase/decrease volume" -- Google adjusts volume on our <a href="https://www.sony.com/ug/electronics/android-tv" target="_blank">Sony Bravia Android TV</a> as needed.</li><li>We also use various voice commands on our <a href="https://www.roku.com/products/roku-ultra" target="_blank">Roku Ultra</a> remote or <a href="https://www.sony.com/ug/electronics/android-tv" target="_blank">Android TV</a> remote as needed.</li></ul><div>Sometimes while streaming, we might <b>hear a strange noise outside</b> and decide to use one of these commands: </div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://store.google.com/us/product/nest_doorbell?hl=en-US" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="247" data-original-width="99" height="92" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVQgN8siv02fdpP36M3A_3s-2LcK3C0DeOAgsmUHRAOS7rXCDhjFTdPOrJVyx0c1zbDgQjj1nVpaaMx8DOrvWnsB4a2xnNTpuagpp5rIameba__XTpL5ivOmhaqfgYPDlGI17t_lZQ5H0CBCOhQRNLw-oc2MiGsSpWW1Qfx9QrOy3NrQsDxEq-uGsdQ/w37-h92/nest-doorbell-camera.jpg" width="37" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://store.google.com/us/product/nest_doorbell?hl=en-US" target="_blank">Nest Doorbell<br />Camera</a></i></td></tr></tbody></table>"Show front door camera [or patio camera, etc.] on TV" -- Google streams the requested camera to our <a href="https://www.sony.com/ug/electronics/android-tv" target="_blank">Sony Bravia Android TV</a> screen for analysis.</li><li>"Intruder alert" -- Google turns on a noisy a.m. radio and light hidden in the front yard to startle a potential intruder. It also turns on the porch light and streams the front-facing doorbell camera to our <a href="https://www.sony.com/ug/electronics/android-tv" target="_blank">Android TV</a> so we can see and hear what's going on.</li><li>"Turn on porch light" -- Google quietly turns on the porch light so we can go out and investigate.</li></ul><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">At Bedtime</h4><div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEittWZethuAZk655xbLD8zztUbe0Pd8Z6tHp3VqF4DMgQLs32BFzP2zoovvNzVamHmhC3kuRzGNHvPZ638cpwMvi0VGutxuoxVozojWHNKzGvwmMduGBP-Kr5mlKt5AwvlOFXPYTaQB77D8tq9rgEUCXcdicKo7G-cX8F_4OS-opAYrXNjLMrxYMeJC6A/s209/Google-Home-Mini-Smart-Speaker-lay-flat.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="199" data-original-width="209" height="88" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEittWZethuAZk655xbLD8zztUbe0Pd8Z6tHp3VqF4DMgQLs32BFzP2zoovvNzVamHmhC3kuRzGNHvPZ638cpwMvi0VGutxuoxVozojWHNKzGvwmMduGBP-Kr5mlKt5AwvlOFXPYTaQB77D8tq9rgEUCXcdicKo7G-cX8F_4OS-opAYrXNjLMrxYMeJC6A/w92-h88/Google-Home-Mini-Smart-Speaker-lay-flat.jpg" width="92" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://store.google.com/product/google_nest_mini?hl=en-US" target="_blank">Google Home Mini<br />Smart Speaker</a></i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div>When it's time for bed we instruct Google to: </div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>"Turn on bedroom lights" -- Google turns on the appropriate lights and adjusts color temps and brightness levels to help us get sleepy.)</li><li>Make necessary adjustments to hot water, security cameras and lights, etc.</li><li>Play the restful sounds of a babbling brook, complete with sleep timer shutoff, to help us fall asleep. </li></ul><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Summary of Our Smart Home Components</h3><div><br /></div><div>Our smart home system is based on eight <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Nest_(smart_speakers)" target="_blank">Google Home/Nest speakers</a>, strategically located throughout the property so one of them is always within range of a voice command and can easily be heard when it replies to a request, makes an announcement or plays music. Empowering these smart speakers is an ever-changing collection of <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_plug" target="_blank">smart electric plugs</a></b> that switch ordinary "dumb" devices on/off, many <b><a href="https://www.feit.com/collections/smart-wi-fi-light-bulbs" target="_blank">smart light bulbs</a></b> and LED strings that are WiFi enabled to dim/change colors, a few security cameras and some smart media playback devices. </div><div><br /></div><div>All these things have been set up and are managed fairly easily from a smart phone or tablet using the <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.chromecast.app&hl=en_US&gl=US" target="_blank">Google Home app</a>. The app allows us to assign devices to rooms, cluster devices together for joint operations and <a href="https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/7029585?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid" target="_blank">create automated routines</a> (simple, user-generated mini-programs) like those mentioned above. (On our wish list, but not yet acquired: smart wall switches for ceiling lights/fans, a smart garage door opener, and a couple of updated security cameras.)</div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Getting Started with Your First Smart Room</h3><div><br /></div><div>The simplest (and least intimidating!) first step toward a smart home is to set up a single smart room. The good news is you can do this for as little as $100! </div><div><br /></div><div>The examples below assume that you'll be using <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Nest_(smart_speakers)" target="_blank">Google Home</a> devices, since I think you'll ultimately find them to be more useful than <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Echo" target="_blank">Amazon's Echo</a> devices. However, if you decide to use Amazon devices most of this will still apply. Here's how to get started:</div><div><br /></div><div><b>1. Choose a room where you will be spending a lot of time,</b> such as a living room, den, office or home theater. <br /><br />Consider the devices you might want to control with voice commands in this space. Will you want to control smart light bulbs? ... "dumb" devices such as a porch light, lamps or a space heater? ... a smart sound system? ... a smart TV?) </div><div><br /></div><div><b>2. Set up your first Google Home or Nest smart speaker. </b></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://store.google.com/category/nest_speakers?hl=en-US" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="631" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzQsN7Fit9cuEFT1-1qJZhx3uupb4nJhf36UhXIUB7o-VhJQK1aTZ-rw8p5KpWMOn5iLByupy-srij6GNlm6KGg3hHa79LDN3mzbgSBACfDYyuusDpbjMjle93m3Q4NRPaLl0Ic-iVwvHoPEyfd-7uwkzHmkMxd7M6GjhBV9NWCQuAzmA7tX8Ke_O9Q/w176-h134/Screenshot%202023-02-25%205.26.45%20PM.png" width="176" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://store.google.com/category/nest_speakers?hl=en-US" target="_blank">Google Home (left)<br />Nest Audio (right)</a></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Start with a single <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Nest_(smart_speakers)" target="_blank">Google Home or Nest smart speaker</a>. Note that to execute your commands and control other smart devices, it doesn't matter what size speaker you choose because they are all equally capable. However, if your budget is tight and you'll be relying on this lone smart speaker for quite a while, you might get one of the larger models (the soup-can sized Google Home* or larger Nest Audio). This way your streaming music will sound a little better, giving you more bang for those first bucks spent!</div><div><br /></div><div>This is also a good time to set up your <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.chromecast.app&hl=en_US&gl=US" target="_blank">Google Home app</a> and poke around in its settings and controls to get a feel for it. At this point the app will most likely show only your home WiFi devices and that first smart speaker. But it's worth exploring early, before you get too many devices going.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>3. Next, add smart plugs and smart lights. </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Smart plugs and smart lighting devices (bulbs, strip lights, lighting panels, etc.) are inexpensive and easy to set up and use. <i>(I'll recommend specific brands later in this article.)</i> By hooking that "dumb" lamp, space heater or radio to a WiFi enabled smart plug, you will be able to have Google Assistant turn it on or off. Alternately, by replacing a regular light bulb with a WiFi enabled smart bulb you can transform your old lamp into one that can change colors, brightness and turn off or on by giving your Google Assistant voice commands. Finally, strips of WiFi enabled LEDs can be mounted just about anywhere to create different colored illumination with varying brightness levels to match your mood.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvijE6U0iYW5oZM9l27NIhb-scwn95RJf6t9AC7UZFzgB17Ti_dPLilF7awcb8x-08nudDOOxmAywPHK4u2UzfkzUWcoPuig0SrPeYSIZBnUNQ9EVXt67drzs3DJ2tS-28tT8UQqaRTYdgFKLAWEEubWJ1ffWvo5PgRfeqRskAva9fdQpoCQmH6tmyA/s304/Screenshot%202023-01-14%202.01.27%20PM.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="243" data-original-width="304" height="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvijE6U0iYW5oZM9l27NIhb-scwn95RJf6t9AC7UZFzgB17Ti_dPLilF7awcb8x-08nudDOOxmAywPHK4u2UzfkzUWcoPuig0SrPeYSIZBnUNQ9EVXt67drzs3DJ2tS-28tT8UQqaRTYdgFKLAWEEubWJ1ffWvo5PgRfeqRskAva9fdQpoCQmH6tmyA/w134-h107/Screenshot%202023-01-14%202.01.27%20PM.png" width="134" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Smart plugs and smart lights are typically set up using a unique app provided by the device's manufacturer. But using this specialized app is a one-time thing. After set up, you will probably not use it again until you buy more smart things from the same company. After initial set up, and after giving the Google Home app permission to interact with each manufacturer's particular products, <b>you can use the Google Home app as your dashboard to control all your smart home devices.</b> In fact, we use our Google Home app to control devices from five different manufacturers! This single user interface makes it easier to make adjustments. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>4. Add more sophisticated devices, such as a camera or smart TV.</b></div><div><br /></div><div>After you've spent some time using your Google Assistant to control your smart plugs and lighting you may be ready to add other more sophisticated devices. In <b><i>very broad terms</i></b>, here's the process: <br /><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Plug in and power up the new smart device. If it's a Chromecast with Google TV, for example, make sure it's tied into your WiFi/ethernet network, hooked into the TV's HDMI jack, etc.</li><li>Open the Google Home app and look for the plus symbol ("+"). Click it to find the device and start setup.</li><li>Follow the instructions in the Google Home app to add the device to a room, etc. The app will guide you through the unique process specific to setting up each device.</li></ol></div><div><b>5. Now play around with your "smart room."</b></div><div><br /></div><div>At this point you should be ready to explore and experiment with using your Google Assistant to control devices in your newly-equipped smart room. So kick back, put your feet up and issue commands! You'll soon see what works well for you and how you might want to tweak your setup. And don't forget to play around with the Google Home phone/tablet app and see how it can silently control things by tapping buttons and sliding dials. This is particularly useful when some members of your household are asleep and don't want to hear you talking aloud to your Google Assistant!</div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Types of Devices That Seem to Work Well & Some That Don't </h3><div><br /></div><div>After several years working with our smart home devices, we've found that some things are easier to set up and more dependable than others. Specifically: </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Smart plugs and smart bulbs work best with really "dumb" devices.</b> In particular, if you can turn the device on and off by simply plugging it in and unplugging it, then it's likely a good match for a smart switch. And if a lamp accepts ordinary light bulbs and has a switch that can be left in the "on" position, so it returns to the "on" state after you have a power failure, then it's likely a good match for a smart bulb. It's really great to be able to give that old "dumb" device a new life as a smart citizen on your home network!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Smart plugs and smart bulbs don't work well with things that go into a "stand by" or "power saving" state when they lose power</b> (via brown out or power failure) <b>or that require the use of a device-specific remote. </b>For example, we have a small space heater which requires that its own remote control be used to activate it every time it "wakes up" after being turned off. The same is true of one of our media sound bars and a couple of our remote controlled fans. When these devices are turned on with a smart switch, they don't fully wake up. Instead they enter a "stand by" state requiring them to receive commands from their own special remote controls to get up and running properly. Our old, super-simple fans, lamps and space heaters work great, however, with smart plugs and lights.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>The bottom line:</b> If you're buying new space heaters or sound bars or any other device that claims to be usable with your smart home, <b>be sure to check if it is compatible with Google Home or Amazon Echo voice commands.</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Smart Home Brands We Use and Recommend</h3><div><br /></div><div>Some smart home device brands work better than others. Here are the ones that we recommend because they are 1) easy to set up, 2) stay properly (dependably) connected to our network and, 3) play nice with Google Home smart speakers and the Google Home tablet/phone app: </div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Feit Smart Plugs, Lights & Bulbs</h4><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.feit.com/collections/smart-products" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="620" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb7zxtSPHSBV0JaRpS4RJUPRZbvmJOZNuxANEmU14gCxiSQeqK51BUJ2UOflOnD9eYd4hLbeQV5MRalpF32AD5f_o2lx3amlXANv1TG3MXm4sxGe-is7zlGlGSTW8YfqjB7p0Wq3wfquF4avDLhGMY7n5yKoCizT4gxW2rneu52n-fDMVGhtIWmkGShA/w400-h339/Feit-smart-home-lighting-&-plugs-600-px.png" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.feit.com/collections/smart-products" target="_blank">Feit smart things are easy to set up & dependable.</a></span></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />As I mentioned above, we replaced all our finicky Wemo plugs with <a href="https://www.feit.com/collections/smart-products" target="_blank">Feit smart devices</a>. They're reasonably priced, easy to set up and work flawlessly. They're available at <a href="https://www.costco.com/CatalogSearch?dept=All&keyword=feit" target="_blank">Costco</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/FeitElectricCompany/FeitElectricCompany/page/4ED3FB57-4257-4D17-9520-9629D4583C8F" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://www.walmart.com/c/brand/feit-electric" target="_blank">Walmart</a>, <a href="https://www.lowes.com/pl/Feit-smart-wifi--Light-bulbs-Lighting-ceiling-fans/4294801215?refinement=1421090541803" target="_blank">Lowes</a> and lots of other places. Be sure to search for "Feit smart WiFi devices," since they make <a href="https://www.feit.com/" target="_blank">many other not-so-smart lighting products</a>.<div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Arlo Security Cameras</h4><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.arlo.com/en-us/cameras" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="1050" height="89" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgePV6lopOiRITgJfy-JKzm-_JcwO2uHfpW3Z8O0XDEmr02fNJBcZeCskKBieC8Rfux-ipxB14yUOoRU3UYFaQTTB1HkvC6-2XpANWzBNXJ18Fo3CFpgQieeBAjH97mfOdrjr1Pz_Rc8kDkNr_GfnaAkCigs-rf-psy5-psaIotAgrT5CdWGNx9woFR3g/w111-h89/Screenshot_20230227-094250.png" width="111" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.arlo.com/en-us/cameras" target="_blank">Arlo Security<br />Camera</a></i></td></tr></tbody></table>We have four <a href="https://www.arlo.com/en-us/cameras" target="_blank">Arlo security cameras</a> that we can access easily through our Google Home app, even when we're away from home. They're several years older than our Google Home devices, but they integrated into our smart home system without any problems. Someday soon we may replace these with newer Arlo models with additional features like audio, etc. </div><div><br /></div><div>Overall, we're quite pleased with them. They are reasonably priced and available at <a href="https://www.costco.com/CatalogSearch?dept=All&keyword=arlo+camera" target="_blank">Costco</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=arlo+security+camera+system+wireless&crid=3U0EXYIF27I0G&sprefix=arlo+%2Caps%2C221&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_5" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://www.walmart.com/browse/electronics/security-camera-systems/arlo/3944_1229875_6357978_5718781/YnJhbmQ6QXJsbwieie" target="_blank">Walmart</a>, <a href="https://www.lowes.com/pl/Arlo--Security-cameras-Security-surveillance-cameras-Home-security-Smart-home-security-wi-fi/4294546211?refinement=1452280589" target="_blank">Lowes</a> and other places. Be sure to search for "Arlo Wireless or WiFi compatible" cameras and make sure the model you want is compatible with Google Home or Amazon Echo. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><span style="color: red;"><b>UPDATE, March 25, 2023: </b></span></i><b>We just replaced 3 of our 4 Arlo cameras with <a href="https://store.google.com/us/product/nest_cam_battery?hl=en-US" target="_blank">Google Nest Cams (Battery)</a>. </b><i>(Costco sold us a <a href="https://www.costco.com/google-nest-cam-(outdoor-or-indoor%2C-battery)-3-pack-.product.100798317.html" target="_blank">3-pack for just $329!)</a> </i>They are really great! Unlike the Arlo cameras they are able to distinguish people from animals and from general motion events. So there are no false positives to deal with! And they include the ability to record audio and interactively talk "live" via a built-in microphone and speaker on each camera. They installed seamlessly with the rest of our Google stuff, allowing easy setup/control/playback via the Google Home app. </div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Google/Nest Devices: The Core of Our Smart Home</h4><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcyAZywsYf5V4SM2zjST69-EuxeTM30fSCCgKwocDIkkIt5qWm36mDvDTL1XH5WoYVi6r_7162Pyfa3diB0cH4_cNXNfUJ1tlZpEokPe7pWkthTXgjUGRhQ_4yQGQyUqrfJb_mtyEpjv_euBnGIikZrypEc0c9LFDokBiF6p6AyJfB8pKOlfKK4cJxoQ/s600/Our%20Google%20Smart%20Home%20Products%20600px.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="600" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcyAZywsYf5V4SM2zjST69-EuxeTM30fSCCgKwocDIkkIt5qWm36mDvDTL1XH5WoYVi6r_7162Pyfa3diB0cH4_cNXNfUJ1tlZpEokPe7pWkthTXgjUGRhQ_4yQGQyUqrfJb_mtyEpjv_euBnGIikZrypEc0c9LFDokBiF6p6AyJfB8pKOlfKK4cJxoQ/w400-h304/Our%20Google%20Smart%20Home%20Products%20600px.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;">--- Our Google Smart Home Devices ---</span></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>As noted earlier, the core of our smart home system is a collection of smart speakers and other stuff from Google. Specifically, we are using: </div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>One <a href="https://store.google.com/us/product/nest_audio?hl=en-US" target="_blank">Google Nest Audio* </a> smart speaker</b> -- This is our best-sounding smart speaker. We use it to listen to music, podcasts, comedy, etc. in our living room, as well as enlist its help in executing any of the commands and queries listed above. I'm told these can be paired and calibrated to function as stereo speakers, though we haven't done that yet. I imagine they would sound pretty great, since this lone speaker easily fills the room with a full sonic range. <i>(See footnote* below before buying.)</i></li><li><b>Four <a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Google-Home-Smart-Speaker-Google-Assistant-Light-Grey-White/54742302?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=13003&adid=22222222227000000000&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=42423897272&wl4=pla-51320962143&wl5=1013962&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=117578154&wl11=online&wl12=54742302&veh=sem&gclid=Cj0KCQiA6fafBhC1ARIsAIJjL8kkZ4eCuNmm88PFx8glkcui2-https://www.walmart.com/ip/Google-Home-Smart-Speaker-Google-Assistant-Light-Grey-White/54742302?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=13003&adid=22222222227000000000&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=42423897272&wl4=pla-51320962143&wl5=1013962&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=117578154&wl11=online&wl12=54742302&veh=sem&gclid=Cj0KCQiA6fafBhC1ARIsAIJjL8kkZ4eCuNmm88PFx8glkcui2-cvcxtxV7sPlnAIZ5iu7U9T1cZkAj0aAuoZEALw_wcB" target="_blank">Google Home</a>* smart speakers</b> -- In terms of sound quality, these speakers are nearly as high-fidelity as the Nest Audio. We have one in the kitchen, the office, the patio and a bedroom. And, like their larger sibling, they are always on-hand, ready to help execute commands and queries. <i>(See footnote* below before buying.)</i></li><li><b>Three <a href="https://store.google.com/us/product/google_nest_mini?hl=en-US" target="_blank">Google Home (Nest) Mini </a>smart speakers</b> -- Given their bargain price, these speakers sound remarkably good! We have the in utility areas, including the garage, bathroom and a bedroom so they are always accessible for executing commands or queries. </li><li><b>Two <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromecast#Chromecast_Audio" target="_blank">Google Chromecast Audio </a>devices</b> -- We have two of these. They are not smart speakers. We hook them to two different stereo soundbars (one in the living room and one on the patio) in order to "cast" audio to them from any mobile app that has casting enabled. They work great! Unfortunately, Google no longer sells them but you may be able to find some on e-Bay or an equivalent device from another manufacturer at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Google-Chromecast-Audio-Gloss-Black/dp/B0BFXMQYJF/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=Google+Chromecast+Audio&qid=1677630495&sr=8-3&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.08f69ac3-fd3d-4b88-bca2-8997e41410bb" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.</li><li><b>One <a href="https://store.google.com/us/product/chromecast_google_tv?hl=en-US" target="_blank">Chromecast with Google TV</a></b> -- We have one of these hooked to our older TV to stream beautiful 4K and HD video. It's not a smart speaker, but it works great and the remote uses a built-in microphone to allow some streaming-related voice commands. <a href="https://store.google.com/us/product/chromecast_google_tv?hl=en-US" target="_blank">Click here to learn more.</a></li><li><b>One <a href="https://store.google.com/us/product/nest_doorbell?hl=en-US" target="_blank">Nest Video Doorbell</a></b> -- We have the wired version of this device at our front door. When the doorbell button is pressed by a visitor all of our smart speakers announce that someone's at the door. In addition, if it's a regular visitor that the camera recognizes, the announcement will include that person's name. And, like any security camera, it makes video recordings of all events that are triggered by outside motion, loud noises or ringing the doorbell. And our Google Assistant, activated through a smart speaker voice command, can live stream the doorbell camera to our smart TV so we can see the "big picture" of what's going on outside from the safety of our living room! <a href="https://store.google.com/us/product/nest_doorbell?hl=en-US" target="_blank">Click here to learn more.</a></li><li><i>[Update, 3/25/2023: <b><a href="https://store.google.com/us/product/nest_cam_battery?hl=en-US" target="_blank">Three Google Nest Cams</a> </b>-- See full explanation in update note above.]</i></li></ul></div><div>All of these Google products work well together and are easily adjusted, controlled and used as groups by using the <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.chromecast.app&hl=en_US&gl=US" target="_blank">Google Home app</a>. </div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h3><div><br /></div><div>At the beginning of this article I recalled Star Trek's omnipresent "Computer." I've shared all of the above to help you build your own unique smart home that emulates that ubiquitous computer. I've found the process of designing and setting up my smart home to be a fun and gratifying journey. And, with a little patience and effort, I'm sure you will too. </div><div><br /></div><div>_____________________________________</div><div><br />* <b>Goodbye, <a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Google-Home-Smart-Speaker-Google-Assistant-Light-Grey-White/54742302?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=13003&adid=22222222227000000000&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=42423897272&wl4=pla-51320962143&wl5=1013962&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=117578154&wl11=online&wl12=54742302&veh=sem&gclid=Cj0KCQiA6fafBhC1ARIsAIJjL8kkZ4eCuNmm88PFx8glkcui2-https://www.walmart.com/ip/Google-Home-Smart-Speaker-Google-Assistant-Light-Grey-White/54742302?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=13003&adid=22222222227000000000&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=42423897272&wl4=pla-51320962143&wl5=1013962&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=117578154&wl11=online&wl12=54742302&veh=sem&gclid=Cj0KCQiA6fafBhC1ARIsAIJjL8kkZ4eCuNmm88PFx8glkcui2-cvcxtxV7sPlnAIZ5iu7U9T1cZkAj0aAuoZEALw_wcB" target="_blank">Google Home</a>! -- NOTE: </b>We purchased our first Google Home smart speaker shortly after it was introduced in late 2016. It was Google's only smart speaker at the time and cost roughly $130. We liked it so much we bought three more and are still happily using them many times each day. However, Google stopped selling them at the <a href="https://store.google.com/us/category/connected_home?hl=en-US" target="_blank">Google Store</a> in mid 2020, though some are still available online at substantial discounts from several retailers, including <a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Google-Home-Smart-Speaker-Google-Assistant-Light-Grey-White/54742302?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=13003&adid=22222222227000000000&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=42423897272&wl4=pla-51320962143&wl5=1013962&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=117578154&wl11=online&wl12=54742302&veh=sem&gclid=Cj0KCQiA6fafBhC1ARIsAIJjL8kkZ4eCuNmm88PFx8glkcui2-https://www.walmart.com/ip/Google-Home-Smart-Speaker-Google-Assistant-Light-Grey-White/54742302?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=13003&adid=22222222227000000000&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=42423897272&wl4=pla-51320962143&wl5=1013962&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=117578154&wl11=online&wl12=54742302&veh=sem&gclid=Cj0KCQiA6fafBhC1ARIsAIJjL8kkZ4eCuNmm88PFx8glkcui2-cvcxtxV7sPlnAIZ5iu7U9T1cZkAj0aAuoZEALw_wcB" target="_blank">Walmart</a>. </div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ap1LzDnDtZdu9lVc7-x-oYSUh9lYQssx0in3qfICfiadC7n26QDvuOigLAdnyIMP4qsuJTdGq7o5BribA9nJuGFSNIrKMfvARX0axeJNiBgAcDNj1R14R5p99a1fz1UNqLVBzTqyLTSKRBrydDrsibkscu1AFYZExTjUNGgvIo-L4IwrXS2USu53KA/s631/Screenshot%202023-02-25%205.26.45%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="631" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ap1LzDnDtZdu9lVc7-x-oYSUh9lYQssx0in3qfICfiadC7n26QDvuOigLAdnyIMP4qsuJTdGq7o5BribA9nJuGFSNIrKMfvARX0axeJNiBgAcDNj1R14R5p99a1fz1UNqLVBzTqyLTSKRBrydDrsibkscu1AFYZExTjUNGgvIo-L4IwrXS2USu53KA/w320-h243/Screenshot%202023-02-25%205.26.45%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The Discontinued Google Home (left) & <br />the Google Nest Audio (right) that replaced it</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />In the meantime, Google has replaced the original Google Home with the <a href="https://store.google.com/us/product/nest_audio?hl=en-US" target="_blank">Google Nest Audio </a>smart speaker, which currently retails for $99. As I said earlier, the Nest Audio sounds a little better than the discontinued Google Home. <b>If I were in the market today for Google smart speakers I would definitely buy the Google Nest Audio instead of the discontinued Google Home. </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>======== More Tech-Related Articles ==========</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2022/11/stuck-waiting-doing-mindless-chores.html" target="_blank">Stuck waiting? Doing mindless chores? Don't be frustrated or bored: Fire up a podcast & learn or just be entertained.</a></li><li><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2022/01/replacing-google-play-music-how-i-store.html" target="_blank">Replacing Google Play Music: How I Store & Stream 22 GB of My Own Music (MP3s) for a One-Time Cost of $7.99</a></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2017/09/a-dozen-free-google-apps-to-keep-your.html" target="_blank">A Dozen Free Google Apps to Keep Your Family or Team Organized [Part 1 of 2]</a></li><li><a href="http://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2017/10/a-dozen-free-google-apps-to-keep-your.html" target="_blank">A Dozen Free Google Apps to Keep Your Family or Team Organized [Part 2 of 2</a>]</li><li><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2020/11/6-podcasts-to-help-you-become-amateur.html" target="_blank">6 Podcasts to Help You Become an Amateur Tech Geek</a></li><li><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2015/12/why-i-use-google-photos-not-facebook-to.html" target="_blank">Why I Use Google Photos, not Facebook, to Share Photos</a> </li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2020/10/how-to-customize-your-google-news-feed.html" target="_blank">How to Customize Your Google News Feed [video included]</a></li><li><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2021/11/is-your-video-streaming-tap-leaking.html" target="_blank">Is your video streaming tap leaking money? Here's a 4-step strategy for taking control.</a></li><li><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2022/07/secure-fast-customizable-why-i-ditched.html" target="_blank">Secure, Fast & Customizable: Why I Ditched My Windows PC for a Hot Rod Chromebook</a></li></ul></div><div><br /></div>Mike Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10761717181465329763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383729925064099332.post-59403610729175311842023-01-29T23:47:00.003-08:002023-03-07T16:10:59.016-08:00Inside the Black Box: Thoughts on Judgement, Intuition, Synthesis & Artificial Intelligence<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvX6p7Qx0oIAgQh2jTWXcmXnlGsVgVM4xnFa-KKr1_tdwrXp45k--jH4FE-suEtql2G_0bqIi_tw12Le1p5-8EHYUk47eRsNBALhO9R-adB2fKgDs9jeRzgQSay_MSMD9A2VLH6Vm3ZqpqSeCCFAhhkB6-bZ-OIZ7tgRfxBG2IJbrZI5h6f1kYTMKiqA/s457/wisdom-filter.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="457" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvX6p7Qx0oIAgQh2jTWXcmXnlGsVgVM4xnFa-KKr1_tdwrXp45k--jH4FE-suEtql2G_0bqIi_tw12Le1p5-8EHYUk47eRsNBALhO9R-adB2fKgDs9jeRzgQSay_MSMD9A2VLH6Vm3ZqpqSeCCFAhhkB6-bZ-OIZ7tgRfxBG2IJbrZI5h6f1kYTMKiqA/s16000/wisdom-filter.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Your Inner "Wisdom Filter" & Decision-Making</span></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Note: This article was inspired by a comment from a Facebook friend, one of the smartest people I know, after I posted a link to a news article about the potential for AI systems to attain singularity with humanity very soon. She said, "... as a writer and artist, I am not convinced that the divine spirit that informs great writers and artists can be replicated by computers." This comment poked at me for days, irritating and causing me to abandon the half-written article I had been working on. There is an old saying that sometimes writers write to figure out what they are actually thinking. Below is my response to my friend's comment, in which I have begun to figure out what I think about AI's place in our world. - MG]</span></i></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Why You Can "Trust Your Gut" </h3><p>A few years back, when I was teaching project management (PM) for new project managers, I encouraged them to overcome their decision-making doubts and "analysis paralysis" by showing them a graphical depiction of why their so-called "gut decisions" or intuitions were actually grounded in their many valuable life experiences. (See diagram above.) I later captured the matching narrative in a <a href="https://archive.org/details/ipt-trust-your-judgment" target="_blank">podcast</a> then an essay which became the chapter <a href="https://archive.org/details/worth-sharing-pressbooks-pdf-download-7-27-2915/Worth-Sharing-2022-update-w-note-re-links/page/143/mode/2up?q=judgment" target="_blank"><i>Why You Should Trust Your Judgement (Your "Inner Wisdom" Filter)</i></a> in my book <a href="https://archive.org/details/worth-sharing-pressbooks-pdf-download-7-27-2915/Worth-Sharing-2022-update-w-note-re-links/" target="_blank"><b>Worth Sharing: Essays & Tools to Help Project Managers & Their Teams</b></a>. </p><p>Here's a quick summary: </p><p></p><blockquote>"... Your intuitions, <b>“gut feelings,” and hunches are derived from, and ultimately grounded in, your unique life experiences</b>, both good and bad. <b>And because of this, they have behind them the solid proof of your reality.</b> To illustrate how all these experiences come together to generate solid, trustworthy judgments, I present to you the analogy of the common kitchen strainer... Your inner voice (i.e., your judgment) operates pretty much like that kitchen strainer! Let’s say you have to make a difficult decision and don’t have time to think about it. <b>All sorts of possibilities and pertinent facts and constraints and outcomes rattle around in your brain. Your “internal strainer” is activated to deal with this. </b>The wires in your strainer are made up of a vast set of unique experiences that you’ve acquired over your lifetime. Successes, failures, joys, miseries, and all sorts of life events combine to form this internal screening mechanism.... <b>when all the possible solutions and issues related to a problem are dumped into that strainer, the good stuff — a unique and powerful judgment — emerges.</b> It’s a judgment that’s automatically informed by all of your life experiences. And, as such, it’s powerful and trustworthy!" - <i>from</i> <a href="https://archive.org/details/worth-sharing-pressbooks-pdf-download-7-27-2915/Worth-Sharing-2022-update-w-note-re-links/page/143/mode/2up?q=judgment" target="_blank"><i>Why You Should Trust Your Judgement (Your "Inner Wisdom" Filter)</i></a></blockquote><p> <span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Literary, Artistic and Intellectual Inspiration: Your Wisdom Filter as Synthesizer</h3><p></p><p>If you add to your personal history the experiences of engaging (i.e., being exposed to) or trying to create a piece of art or literature or philosophy, you can see how these might be woven into your internal strainer, enabling it to generate a unique and inspired creation. The graphic below illustrates.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzE5wyHSHtmYvV5XeznhKHEeGbUuc52b47_6mnZ5HNQtILrj_aS1zOsPiuCL-aaxynY1ooW5Dzipzikh8iSiT_x1ynnR6Ty5E_sKnOHKgkH-YvCxqPwqS1XhjmqlrZKHc6l5GtkxOgNhebLh1CLjr-5Rq97OzPcWprzQor765XGDm7OJJhnmUwYoSWkA/s600/Artistic,%20Intellectual%20Synthesis%20via%20wisdom%20filter-600px.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="374" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzE5wyHSHtmYvV5XeznhKHEeGbUuc52b47_6mnZ5HNQtILrj_aS1zOsPiuCL-aaxynY1ooW5Dzipzikh8iSiT_x1ynnR6Ty5E_sKnOHKgkH-YvCxqPwqS1XhjmqlrZKHc6l5GtkxOgNhebLh1CLjr-5Rq97OzPcWprzQor765XGDm7OJJhnmUwYoSWkA/s16000/Artistic,%20Intellectual%20Synthesis%20via%20wisdom%20filter-600px.png" /></a></div><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Why AI Systems are Legitimate, "Inspired" Creators </h3><p>Given what I'm learning about artificial intelligence systems, <b>I don't think AIs differ from humans in the way they synthesize their creations.</b> They pull from human experiences that are well-documented and reside on the web. If anything, they have the potential for super human leaps of "inspiration," given the sheer volume of material available for them to search, sift and synthesize. Compared to the world wide web's near-infinite mass of experiences and memories, an individual human's collection is minuscule! </p><p><b>Whether the creator is human or AI, the creative output is brought about by mixing together inputs from a variety of sources and then synthesizing something new.</b> And in both cases, <b>the flash point that combines and synthesizes that something new happens inside a "black box"</b> of sorts that neither psychologists nor AI developers can precisely explain. But I'm betting that<b> the divine source energy</b> which we speculate to be <b>sparking the human creation might also find a welcoming environment for combustion within the electronic innards of our AI siblings.</b> </p><p><b>Both AI and human creations are derived from human experiences that have been collected and exist separately outside the individual human that initially experienced them. </b>Whether the original encoded memories were shared among human brains via stories around a campfire or captured, transmitted and stashed among far-flung electronic network nodes, they are still encoded human memories. In the former they exist in a collection of organic synapses and neurons in a meaty body with an expiration date. In the latter they reside in a collection of somewhat longer lasting microchips and circuit boards. Still, in both cases, their existence outside the human who originally experienced them can be objectively confirmed. </p><p>What's more, while I'm not a programmer, I do know that AI developers are humans who create algorithms that reflect human thought processes and reasoning methodologies such as decision trees and other logical structures. Thus <b>whatever is going on inside that AI black box we can assume it's applying human mental operations</b>, though undoubtedly whizzing along much faster than you or I can! </p><p>Here's the thing: <b>Whether an act of creation starts with an individual human</b> who reaches into his or her own limited collection of memories/experiences <b>or it starts with an AI entity </b>accessing the vastly larger collection on the world wide web, <b>the result is the same: experiences, fragments of knowledge and expressions of art are braided together in a unique way, using human thought structures</b> to create something new.</p><p>For all of these reasons, I<b> </b>believe<b> AI generated art or literature is as legitimate as that which is generated by individual humans, since they both have their roots in human experiences and both are generated by mechanisms of human thought.</b></p><p>As to the question of who properly "owns" an AI creation or who should claim credit for it... I'll leave that to the lawyers and copyright nerds. Though, in purely practical terms, it ought to be owned by all of humanity. </p><p>_________________________________________________</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;">Bonus: Some Examples of AI Working for Me</h3><p>I'm a newbie when it comes to using AI tools. However, since consumer-grade, user-friendly tools have recently been made available at little or no cost, I've experimented with several. Below are some of the results. (I've included links to the tools so you can play with them yourself. Go ahead! It's fun!)</p><p><b>_________________________________________________</b></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lyrebirdstudio.toonart&hl=en_US&gl=US&pli=1" target="_blank">ToonArt: Cartoon Yourself</a> ("powered by AI technology")</h4><p><b><i>Input</i></b>: A few ordinary "mug shot" photos of myself which I hoped to convert to cartoon-like like avatars for use with my social media accounts</p><p><i><b>Best Result</b></i>: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9jTIKF0MxkcBhk5RbyeOzt5dKu01g5_pi0Wc401IGInxkYKP9dcMiPCEgHuc0T0kNIL6b42QU_sAdNzKswbKkpKFdt3zRNf4mAjAZZexQhYPvZQBpRPkGXNf_K0RT6CRQDEFS1nHkIAL1r_6QWJQ6xVwJ07CcxQ5yWsQ44MZkcfwB68Gd64gdZtXvEQ/s1024/1670786872112.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9jTIKF0MxkcBhk5RbyeOzt5dKu01g5_pi0Wc401IGInxkYKP9dcMiPCEgHuc0T0kNIL6b42QU_sAdNzKswbKkpKFdt3zRNf4mAjAZZexQhYPvZQBpRPkGXNf_K0RT6CRQDEFS1nHkIAL1r_6QWJQ6xVwJ07CcxQ5yWsQ44MZkcfwB68Gd64gdZtXvEQ/w200-h200/1670786872112.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><b>_________________________________________________</b></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lensa.app&hl=en_US&gl=US" target="_blank">Lensa: Photo/Pictures Editor</a> (uses artificial intelligence to render digital portraits) </h4><p><b><i>Input</i></b>: A few ordinary "mug shot" photos of myself which I hoped to convert to interesting avatars for use with my social media accounts</p><p><i><b>Some Questionable (!?) Results</b></i>: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy3urfdjMeMSK8uSGUJ6mNANrriDRScQIeqdsSVmMEeNd3KlofjtCNw81Cs1Mjyphf76-CnlWEyFS4-PxdEd5ELthoFrsNmuW-qnPxov-b2YiaOSR9YG1GIrVv_RaJMtDa6mBIQxvje-w96o9euRtiLbwFUNDYlWpe-pLOV-whWZdtYnmcdEJ6msDNkQ/s1024/967b1370bb95389938cbce3199173634.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy3urfdjMeMSK8uSGUJ6mNANrriDRScQIeqdsSVmMEeNd3KlofjtCNw81Cs1Mjyphf76-CnlWEyFS4-PxdEd5ELthoFrsNmuW-qnPxov-b2YiaOSR9YG1GIrVv_RaJMtDa6mBIQxvje-w96o9euRtiLbwFUNDYlWpe-pLOV-whWZdtYnmcdEJ6msDNkQ/w200-h200/967b1370bb95389938cbce3199173634.jpg" width="200" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv2ga2l4ml1VVrGM0aVlTFXKCvMRGIce1zfcy_Cx70yxgkGZs2YIbt_oG-pPE9yjKWSnDOcGxuakgWqdebUSbOlzHYKy8263B4-nUFcPaA2OT3D2LtrGI0vLL9LwIBjV2E1LtKMq4HflEfjQbEnRHCstE4pp1fHuIoRKyvIhzkAJSFTwFO3Q9g5Oxg0w/s1024/b993e4611eba179e8261efb42060fd61.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv2ga2l4ml1VVrGM0aVlTFXKCvMRGIce1zfcy_Cx70yxgkGZs2YIbt_oG-pPE9yjKWSnDOcGxuakgWqdebUSbOlzHYKy8263B4-nUFcPaA2OT3D2LtrGI0vLL9LwIBjV2E1LtKMq4HflEfjQbEnRHCstE4pp1fHuIoRKyvIhzkAJSFTwFO3Q9g5Oxg0w/w200-h200/b993e4611eba179e8261efb42060fd61.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjgLIey6lqcMeLDxoeXZut8cN112syInLDpEveqhG2l4XyHWEkofFBPHSW030Ubiw7RQF0yTAjzgZeUsDIJjZ37Xmc_8ZXnoM6NSb6XIG3k_KsVSpoXo_p_o1jckq1gmuKMjYbrW-5gL0ilbQS8mE8mNym-_jp-H87DsSOWjhlGA35_a4HArEtL2hlnw/s1024/044a96229c959d1bbc0cf3b8f3cd9427.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjgLIey6lqcMeLDxoeXZut8cN112syInLDpEveqhG2l4XyHWEkofFBPHSW030Ubiw7RQF0yTAjzgZeUsDIJjZ37Xmc_8ZXnoM6NSb6XIG3k_KsVSpoXo_p_o1jckq1gmuKMjYbrW-5gL0ilbQS8mE8mNym-_jp-H87DsSOWjhlGA35_a4HArEtL2hlnw/w200-h200/044a96229c959d1bbc0cf3b8f3cd9427.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFw_l1PZ-iF7IdGvBI1wAuHscCKoR4A7QVzrp56uu3es-rCpvz1OZP3FlHK5mA1ZGvXyGUmlE5xlVUqQMHzso4TjFim4FG8ezQLPho1MMp_f_Riyn5R8ATOm35eclnswlO3JyRjMZYpSLRdMVwfAQBT9MQQK0IAX5EDF-QFXUJ8_rL7v0pY6Fq5wNUA/s1024/222ae93d04917da7e439f98154617125.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFw_l1PZ-iF7IdGvBI1wAuHscCKoR4A7QVzrp56uu3es-rCpvz1OZP3FlHK5mA1ZGvXyGUmlE5xlVUqQMHzso4TjFim4FG8ezQLPho1MMp_f_Riyn5R8ATOm35eclnswlO3JyRjMZYpSLRdMVwfAQBT9MQQK0IAX5EDF-QFXUJ8_rL7v0pY6Fq5wNUA/w200-h200/222ae93d04917da7e439f98154617125.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqSCTnKuymnGE5r53QQeFr4jm_gEwikLtpv_1MKvj2AxXApFYD3_4hPAixq_hPCCZYT72Y7sf2oNIVs3OWAbbAmPgSZ50Sy11whXM4CvAoHO-n8inuwEk8y1Tb7XENgiKJsqqoIIKIyWaYwWd0jiQtuHuUAJE3uyA7UkNwWRxVwTWrrStcTNjHnoS4A/s1024/fb023b11e0a02782e1f3785a93b12dd4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqSCTnKuymnGE5r53QQeFr4jm_gEwikLtpv_1MKvj2AxXApFYD3_4hPAixq_hPCCZYT72Y7sf2oNIVs3OWAbbAmPgSZ50Sy11whXM4CvAoHO-n8inuwEk8y1Tb7XENgiKJsqqoIIKIyWaYwWd0jiQtuHuUAJE3uyA7UkNwWRxVwTWrrStcTNjHnoS4A/w200-h200/fb023b11e0a02782e1f3785a93b12dd4.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><b>_________________________________________________</b></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt/" target="_blank">Chat GPT</a> (a chatbot that responds conversationally to answer questions, create essays, & more)</h4><p><b><i>Query:</i></b> "How would Michael Greer, Project Management Minimalist, explain project team requirements for donuts and coffee?"</p><p><b><i>ChatGPT Reply:</i></b> "Michael Greer, the author of Project Management Minimalist, advocates for a simple and efficient approach to project management. In regards to team requirements for donuts and coffee, he would likely stress the importance of identifying the specific needs of the team and ensuring that they are met in the most cost-effective and streamlined way possible. He would likely advise against providing unnecessary luxuries, such as gourmet donuts and coffee, unless they are shown to directly improve team productivity and morale. Additionally, he would likely suggest looking for ways to automate or delegate the purchasing and provision of these items to minimize the amount of time and effort required from the team."</p><p><b style="font-style: italic;">Note: </b> I have never written anything whatsoever about team requirements for donuts and coffee. Chat GPT apparently synthesized the answer above, inferring my likely response from info in one of my books and a couple of other articles I published. And it created this reply in about 3 seconds!</p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><b>_________________________________________________</b></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://labs.openai.com/" target="_blank">DALL-E </a> (AI art generator) </h4><p><i><b>Query:</b></i> While I don't remember exactly what I asked DALL-E to generate, it went something like this: "smiley face, smart speaker, cartoon." </p><p><b><i>Results: </i></b>I got several results and finally settled on the one below for my article, <i><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2022/11/stuck-waiting-doing-mindless-chores.html" target="_blank">Stuck waiting? Doing mindless chores? Don't be frustrated or bored: Fire up a podcast & learn or just be entertained</a></i>..</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoK1JG7nx05RcM-3GdUnvaW5PLeCig7fq6dqqftGwFeGZJfOsEi4Yz-f_s_DQTP8KPKRZV7NNBJ0W7cC8aCVZuZO1kAJT_jKEOX7zBv2xIOhyGl84sySnuQJxE4TKkB4r0iiyE-SoWH18CMWHDGFncBSRkyDpDHV8UPhYBnPBhvC6AZuGyJU8SHyUo0w/s266/Smart-speaker-from-Dall-e-AI-generator.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="266" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoK1JG7nx05RcM-3GdUnvaW5PLeCig7fq6dqqftGwFeGZJfOsEi4Yz-f_s_DQTP8KPKRZV7NNBJ0W7cC8aCVZuZO1kAJT_jKEOX7zBv2xIOhyGl84sySnuQJxE4TKkB4r0iiyE-SoWH18CMWHDGFncBSRkyDpDHV8UPhYBnPBhvC6AZuGyJU8SHyUo0w/w200-h198/Smart-speaker-from-Dall-e-AI-generator.png" width="200" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Mike Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10761717181465329763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383729925064099332.post-21612035371988320522022-12-22T14:16:00.001-08:002022-12-23T08:23:07.642-08:00In Case You Missed Them: My Best Articles of 2022<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi3jBi8BL2xjXLy8NRipX0GXqq12n_w8v5yUJE8SzdgI_eRu_3CV_kt9vezpJeA-gKzaNj6Vet0C7C8C5AYAiyUt4SHjwPDY15JDug59pQE7AzJsCnoetMG8O79c61LIjrJ4nSCb-HcJGRElHihY0weUPdDAHNir5o0mMYrKi4JdTbJdbFS-2wbnLTEA/s600/My%20Best%20of%202022.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="464" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi3jBi8BL2xjXLy8NRipX0GXqq12n_w8v5yUJE8SzdgI_eRu_3CV_kt9vezpJeA-gKzaNj6Vet0C7C8C5AYAiyUt4SHjwPDY15JDug59pQE7AzJsCnoetMG8O79c61LIjrJ4nSCb-HcJGRElHihY0weUPdDAHNir5o0mMYrKi4JdTbJdbFS-2wbnLTEA/s16000/My%20Best%20of%202022.png" /></a></div><br /><p>Here are five articles that I spent a lot of time researching and writing in 2022. They are all <b><i>loaded with links</i></b> that will take you even deeper into the topics presented. I'm proud of these and I hope you find them informative. <i><b>Happy New Year! </b></i>🎉 🎆 😁</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i>_______________________</i></b></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h4><h3 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2022/01/replacing-google-play-music-how-i-store.html" target="_blank">Replacing Google Play Music: How I Store & Stream 22 GB of My Own Music (MP3s) for a One-Time Cost of $7.99</a></h3><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>[excerpt] "</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here are the </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">key components of my Google Play Music replacement</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">:</span></span></span></p><ul style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #202124; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.doubleTwist.cloudPlayerPro&hl=en_US&gl=US" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><b>CloudPlayer Platinum</b></a> app: <b>$7.99 one-time</b> purchase</span></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #202124; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><b>15 GB </b><a href="https://www.google.com/drive/" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><b>Google Drive</b></a> cloud storage account: <b>Free</b></span></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #202124; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><b>5 GB</b> <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/onedrive/compare-onedrive-plans?activetab=tab:primaryr1" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><b>Microsoft OneDrive</b></a> cloud storage account: <b>Free</b></span></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #202124; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><b>2 GB</b> <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/basic" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><b>Dropbox</b></a> cloud storage account: <b>Free</b></span></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #202124; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>[for buying new music</i>] </span><a href="http://mp3caprice.com/" rel="" style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; pointer-events: none; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank"><b>Mp3Caprice.com</b></a><span style="color: #202124; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> account: $0.12 - 0.22 <i>(Yes, that's 12 - 22 cents!!)</i> per MP3 song, one-time purchase fee</span></span></li></ul><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: x-small;">Using the components above, </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I am able to do pretty much everything I was able to do with Google </span></b><span style="color: #202124; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Play Music, including casting music to any cast-enabled device...." </b></span></span><div><span style="color: #202124; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #202124;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>[<a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2022/01/replacing-google-play-music-how-i-store.html" target="_blank">Read the full article here.</a>]</i></b></span></span><b><i> </i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>_______________________</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-ba08ea55-7fff-b642-905b-37bc188df0c6"> </span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2022/02/become-armchair-expatriate-with-these.html?" target="_blank">Become an armchair expatriate with these 55 video series that'll take you out of the U.S. & around the world!</a></h3><p><i style="font-size: small;">[excerpt] "</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;">Below is a </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;">list of 55 fictional series we have seen and recommend,</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"> categorized by the part of the world to which they will take you. The majority of these are from two low-cost sources:</span><a href="https://acorn.tv/" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; font-size: 13.2px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"> Acorn TV</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"> ($5.99/month) and </span><a href="https://www.pbs.org/passport/videos/" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; font-size: 13.2px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">PBS Passport</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"> ($5/month). A few are from </span><a href="https://www.hulu.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; font-size: 13.2px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Hulu</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"> and </span><a href="https://www.netflix.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; font-size: 13.2px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Netflix</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;">. ..." </span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #202124;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>[<a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2022/02/become-armchair-expatriate-with-these.html?" target="_blank">Read the full article here.</a>]</i></b></span></span><b><i> </i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>_______________________</i></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2022/04/music-to-get-lost-in-brief-introduction.html" target="_blank"><b>Music to Get Lost In: A Brief Introduction to Jam Bands</b></a></h3><p><i style="font-size: small;">[excerpt] "</i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;">I like all kinds of music: blues, rock, psychedelic, R&B, jazz and occasionally even folk/bluegrass and their offshoots. And </span></span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I especially like long, well-developed performances that I can get lost in </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">-- the kind of music that musicians love playing as they engage a melody and soar side by side like the Blue Angels in tight formation and then diverge into solo musical loops and barrel rolls, eventually converging back at the melody where they started. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>This kind of musical aerobatics is the domain of the jam band..." NOTE: Article includes </b><u><b><i>links to 9 full-length pieces of music</i> </b></u><b>from my favorite jam bands. </b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #202124;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>[<a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2022/04/music-to-get-lost-in-brief-introduction.html" target="_blank">Read the full article here.</a>]</i></b></span></span><b><i> </i></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i>_______________________</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2022/07/secure-fast-customizable-why-i-ditched.html" target="_blank"><b>Secure, Fast & Customizable: Why I Ditched My Windows PC for a Hot Rod Chromebook</b></a></h3><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><div><i style="color: black; font-family: Tinos; font-size: small;">[excerpt] </i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>"[In this comprehensive article]</i>...you can <b>skim through the stuff in bold</b> to find the big ideas. <b>Or you can just scroll down to one of these main sections:</b></span></div><div><ul style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">After 30 years, enough with Windows, already!</span></i></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Chromebooks dominate in education because they're powerful & easy to use.</span></i></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Chromebooks are REALLY secure.</span></i></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Chromebooks are fast! (Thanks to the ChromeOS.)</span></i></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Chromebooks are customizable.</span></i></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Buyer beware! It may be cheap, but when does that low-cost Chromebook expire?</span></i></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">My Chromebook: Part of a Powerful Ecosystem of Google Tools</span></i></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Final Thoughts: How 40 Years of Personal Computing Has Led Me to a Chromebook</span></i></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Bonus Tip: Don't throw away that old Windows PC or Mac. You might be able to make it a Chromebook!</span></i></li></ul></div></div><blockquote style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #222222; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">[<b>FYI</b>: This article contains <b>over 60 links to references</b> for further research. Enjoy!]"</span></i></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: #202124;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>[<a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2022/07/secure-fast-customizable-why-i-ditched.html" target="_blank">Read the full article here.</a>]</i></b></span></span><b><i> </i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i>_______________________</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2022/11/stuck-waiting-doing-mindless-chores.html" target="_blank"><b>Stuck waiting? Doing mindless chores? Don't be frustrated or bored: Fire up a podcast & learn or just be entertained.</b></a></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">[excerpt] "</span></i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>... </i>Podcasts are the answer to dealing with mental "downtime." They give you your own <b>custom-tailored content stream </b>which you can access <b>at your own pace </b>and <b>on your own schedule</b>. Specifically: </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><ul style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">You can <b>pause them when you need to switch your attention</b> to your otherwise boring chore and then pick them up later. </span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">If you miss something because your chore needs you for a few minutes, you can <b>easily "rewind" the podcast and go back and repeat</b> what you missed.</span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">You can <b>listen to them at high speed</b>, without chipmunk voices, but with the pauses and spaces squeezed out. <i>(See the settings in your podcast player or <a href="https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-use-the-google-podcasts-app-on-ios-and-android" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">this on Google Podcasts' "Podcast Controls" from PC Mag</a>, for details.)</i></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">You can <b>save them for later and even binge listen</b> to a whole series you may have missed. </span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><b>With today's smart speakers</b> (Google Home, Amazon Echo, etc.) you can <b>do all of the above completely hands free </b>while you move around your house. </span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><b><a href="https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/10477665?hl=en&ref_topic=9739148" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Using Android Auto</a> or <a href="https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/9910360?hl=en" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Apple CarPlay</a> </b>you can start or continue listening to your <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Google Podcasts</a> <i>(and most other podcast apps) </i>while you drive. </span></li></ul><div><h3 style="margin: 0px; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">How to Get Started </span></h3><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Are you new to podcasts? Here's an easy way to get started... "</span></div></div></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: #202124;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i>[<a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2022/11/stuck-waiting-doing-mindless-chores.html" target="_blank">Read the full article here.</a>]</i></b></span></span><b><i> </i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i>_______________________</i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><i>See also:</i></h3></div><p></p><ul style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><i>[from December, 2021]</i> <a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2021/12/in-case-you-missed-them-some-ideas.html" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">In Case You Missed Them: Some Ideas “Worth Sharing” from the Past Couple of Years</a></li></ul></div></div>Mike Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10761717181465329763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383729925064099332.post-1329517785583857132022-12-10T11:49:00.002-08:002022-12-10T11:53:01.286-08:00Why It's Pointless to Argue about Politics or Religion<p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRftbU13RzYAq8evtk8s_gT1UmMMGLf_VAkFTkQPq_FYzryoMQGS-O8dzUd2t7hn6y89V5oI2xnZLEAmPEdwCxKjjFRfUwwK2sVQeeWrKElftcmlSt1HxGvlDg8vwf-HTa1p42rqPLoqMqGA1eGt4IhO4fI55JSF-udWRp0CECoz7s5LoaluZ0JF8plA/s620/dueling-politics-religion-perspectives-620px.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRftbU13RzYAq8evtk8s_gT1UmMMGLf_VAkFTkQPq_FYzryoMQGS-O8dzUd2t7hn6y89V5oI2xnZLEAmPEdwCxKjjFRfUwwK2sVQeeWrKElftcmlSt1HxGvlDg8vwf-HTa1p42rqPLoqMqGA1eGt4IhO4fI55JSF-udWRp0CECoz7s5LoaluZ0JF8plA/s16000/dueling-politics-religion-perspectives-620px.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>"My experience tells me... You're wrong!"</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I used to argue a lot, especially in The Before Times.. before Trump... before Covid... before the January 6th Insurrection. <b>I'm ashamed to say I disrupted many a dinner or visit with extended family and friends by holding forth with my rants and my "well thought out" positions on the political issues of the day. </b>And worse, sometimes these drifted into my noisily defending my half-baked religious philosophy. </p><p>Predictably, this left a trail of broken, or at <span style="font-family: inherit;">lea</span>st slightly dented, relationships. After a while I realized that I came away from these confrontations not feeling better but worse, having stubbornly held my ground and made my points come hell or high water. When the dust settled, I felt a little sad and sometimes ashamed that I was leaving behind post-brawl wounds that might never fully heal. </p><p><b>Like most writers, I sometimes write to figure out what I'm really thinking. That was the case when I created the rather lengthy essay </b><i><a href="https://archive.org/details/why-its-pointless-to-argue-politics-or-religion" target="_blank"><b>"Why Its Pointless To Argue About Politics Or Religion."</b></a> </i> <b>I decided to revive it from the archives </b>at this time when we are so very fractured as a nation. And I'm also sharing this <b>just in time for the holidays.</b> Maybe it can help you avoid inflicting scars on relationships that are important to you. </p><p><br /></p>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="384" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="https://archive.org/embed/why-its-pointless-to-argue-politics-or-religion" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Related Articles: </h4><div><ul style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 1.4; list-style: square; margin: 0px 0px 24px 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><li><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="https://archive.org/details/worth-sharing-pressbooks-pdf-download-7-27-2915/Worth-Sharing-2022-update-w-note-re-links/page/103/mode/2up?q=chihuahua" rel="noopener" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="Go to article, "Forgive Them...""><span style="font-family: inherit;">Forgive Them. It’s Just Their Inner Chihuahua.</span></a> </span><span style="color: #333333;">(<i>chapter in my free book </i></span><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="https://archive.org/details/worth-sharing-pressbooks-pdf-download-7-27-2915/Worth-Sharing-2022-update-w-note-re-links/page/103/mode/2up?q=chihuahua" target="_blank"><i>Worth Sharing: Essays & Tools to Help Project Managers & Their Teams</i></a></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2021/02/from-political-hobbiest-to-political.html" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">From Political Hobbyist to Political Activist: Why and How to Make the Shift</a></li><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><ul style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"></ul></div><li><a href="http://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2017/08/5-things-you-can-do-to-get-positive.html" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">5 Things You Can Do to Get Positive Political Results in a Soul-Numbing, Negative Media World (w/ links to tools & resources)</span></a></li><li style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2016/10/the-truth-finder-3-questions-lots-of.html" style="background-color: white; color: #2288bb; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Truth Finder: 3 Questions & Lots of Links to Help You Distinguish Fact from Fiction</span></a></li><li style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2016/03/media-induced-ignorance-how-to.html" rel="noopener" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Media-Induced Ignorance & How to Neutralize It</a> </span></span></li><li style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.journalism.org/2014/10/21/political-polarization-media-habits/" rel="noopener" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Political Polarization & Media Habits</a></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"> -- This is</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"> </span><strong style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">a great article</strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">based on Pew Research Center's surveys. It helps show where particular media outlets lie along a liberal/conservative continuum. You could</span><strong style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"> use this to search for opposing points of view on any topic! </strong></li><li style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.factcheck.org/issue/fake-news/" rel="noopener" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">FactCheck.org's special report & video: How to Spot Fake News</a> </span></span></li><li style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://archive.org/details/worth-sharing-pressbooks-pdf-download-7-27-2915/Worth-Sharing-2022-update-w-note-re-links/page/195/mode/2up?q=curate" rel="noopener" style="color: #2288bb; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="Go to article/video: "Curate Your Own News:..."">Curate Your Own News: Why You Should & How You Can</a> </span></span>(<i>chapter in my free book </i><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="https://archive.org/details/worth-sharing-pressbooks-pdf-download-7-27-2915/Worth-Sharing-2022-update-w-note-re-links/page/195/mode/2up?q=curate" target="_blank"><i>Worth Sharing: Essays & Tools to Help Project Managers & Their Teams</i></a></span></li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Mike Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10761717181465329763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383729925064099332.post-65055516430574376452022-11-19T10:48:00.002-08:002022-11-19T12:31:52.875-08:00Stuck waiting? Doing mindless chores? Don't be frustrated or bored: Fire up a podcast & learn or just be entertained.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1T9cZuNw0L6oRtX783RXdQy7g3FO2cxRM1_PNCBQu0Xw-2w0OHS7b-2PiunIf-vDY959xHkHrtb4tn5RhRKBGVhwZvoi0qd8lN_71vtZl-UlInslxy35eG4iNI3XV2N3IByNDyxApHXbJqAGJqIowEjmmot_vb4mCPgB0HV9Y2E0AmB9F9JabOyb4g/s601/Blog-Post-about-Podcasts-test-1-600px.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1T9cZuNw0L6oRtX783RXdQy7g3FO2cxRM1_PNCBQu0Xw-2w0OHS7b-2PiunIf-vDY959xHkHrtb4tn5RhRKBGVhwZvoi0qd8lN_71vtZl-UlInslxy35eG4iNI3XV2N3IByNDyxApHXbJqAGJqIowEjmmot_vb4mCPgB0HV9Y2E0AmB9F9JabOyb4g/s16000/Blog-Post-about-Podcasts-test-1-600px.jpg" /></a></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></h3><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When your body must be present, but your mind isn't engaged... </h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not everything we do requires our full mental engagement. Whether it's a "mindless" chore or an unavoidable waiting period, <b>it can be boring or downright frustrating to find yourself stuck "killing time" with your brain disengaged.</b> What's the solution? For me, it's podcasts! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are some perfect <b>opportunities</b> <b>to</b> <b>tamp down your boredom or impatience and crank up your mental engagement with podcasts: </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Waiting in line at the bank or shopping</li><li>Waiting for a ride</li><li>Travelling on a bus, train or plane</li><li>Slogging through traffic while driving to work, running errands or on a road trip</li><li>Exercising</li><li>Showering, shaving, putting on makeup and generally getting ready for your day</li><li>Doing household chores or yard work </li><li>Cooking or cleaning up after the meal</li></ul><div>I find that <b>doing any of the above while listening to podcasts makes the time pass much more quickly.</b> And since <b>most podcasts are designed as pure listening experiences</b> <i>(no video screen needed),</i> <b>I'm free to use my eyes </b>to pay attention to traffic or shaving or my tool/chores or whatever. Best of all, depending on the podcast I'm listening to, I come away from the otherwise boring experience having learned something new or useful. </div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Say "No" to YouTube, TikTok, Facebook and other algorithm-driven time wasters.</h3><div><br /></div><div><div><b>A typical response</b> to mindless work or waiting is to <b>click through Facebook posts or the algorithm-driven freak shows that are served up by TikTok or YouTube. </b>Sure, these can help you pass the time. But they are <b>a kind of mental candy, engaging your brain in a quick and often stimulating way, but leaving you hungry </b>when the engagement is over. Wouldn't it be better to spend these little bursts of down time learning something useful or digging deeper into one of your interests?</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqcR9wytYZWTBi1zPDCpqB0G9FF5UulfNDtzBOlEmC_yggvTvRY4Rs8mfRUw1SXb1SQzvleW4HlnwhFeKG2XC504-8YI8gIcAQ8rXixnjMkUO0Cz1vh9GE7lZiSiTkevPjS0wsvRcnewIfdW-OeO6SMiecrSpFen7YIiQzTC8tn34aISIdvx1aFrcdA/s450/Algorithm%20pushes%20or%20I%20download-450px.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqcR9wytYZWTBi1zPDCpqB0G9FF5UulfNDtzBOlEmC_yggvTvRY4Rs8mfRUw1SXb1SQzvleW4HlnwhFeKG2XC504-8YI8gIcAQ8rXixnjMkUO0Cz1vh9GE7lZiSiTkevPjS0wsvRcnewIfdW-OeO6SMiecrSpFen7YIiQzTC8tn34aISIdvx1aFrcdA/s16000/Algorithm%20pushes%20or%20I%20download-450px.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Who's in charge: A mindless algorithm or your own conscious choices?</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Say "Yes" to <i>your</i> podcasts & <i>your</i> content stream on <i>your</i> schedule.</h3><div><br /></div><div>Podcasts are the answer to dealing with mental "downtime." They give you your own <b>custom-tailored content stream </b>which you can access <b>at your own pace </b>and <b>on your own schedule</b>. Specifically: </div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>You can <b>pause them when you need to switch your attention</b> to your otherwise boring chore and then pick them up later. </li><li>If you miss something because your chore needs you for a few minutes, you can <b>easily "rewind" the podcast and go back and repeat</b> what you missed.</li><li>You can <b>listen to them at high speed</b>, without chipmunk voices, but with the pauses and spaces squeezed out. <i>(See the settings in your podcast player or <a href="https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-use-the-google-podcasts-app-on-ios-and-android" target="_blank">this on Google Podcasts' "Podcast Controls" from PC Mag</a>, for details.)</i></li><li>You can <b>save them for later and even binge listen</b> to a whole series you may have missed. </li><li><b>With today's smart speakers</b> (Google Home, Amazon Echo, etc.) you can <b>do all of the above completely hands free </b>while you move around your house. </li><li><b><a href="https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/10477665?hl=en&ref_topic=9739148" target="_blank">Using Android Auto</a> or <a href="https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/9910360?hl=en" target="_blank">Apple CarPlay</a> </b>you can start or continue listening to your <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/" target="_blank">Google Podcasts</a> <i>(and most other podcast apps) </i>while you drive. </li></ul><div><br /></div><div><h3 style="text-align: left;">How to Get Started </h3><div><br /></div><div>Are you new to podcasts? Here's an easy way to get started: </div><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Get the Google Podcasts app.</b> It's <b>easy to use</b>, it's <b>free</b> and it <b>leverages Google's powerful search</b> capabilities to unearth all kinds of brilliant and crazy podcasts. Get it here: </li><ul><li><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.podcasts" target="_blank">Google Podcasts at the Google Play store</a> <i>(Android devices)</i></li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/google-podcasts/id1398000105" target="_blank">Google Podcasts at the Apple App store</a> <i>(iOS devices)</i></li></ul><li><b>Decide on one or more topics you want to learn about or subject areas you might find simply find entertaining.</b> For example, comedy podcasts are among the most popular. But so are podcasts that provide "how to" info, political analysis, tech updates/analyses and business/market news. </li><li><b>Search your chosen topic using Google Podcasts' </b>search function and see what comes up.</li><li><b>Review the brief descriptions</b> of the podcasts that turned up in the search. </li><li>If something looks good you can either <b>subscribe </b>(almost always for free) <b>to get automatic updates</b> of that podcast or <b>"test drive" the podcast by playing a few episodes</b> to see if you want to commit to the subscription. <br /><i>(<b>Note:</b> <b>Most podcasts are free and supported by ads.</b> Rarely, I'm told, a podcast is only available behind a paywall. I can't confirm that, since I've never paid for a podcast. Re: ads... it's easy to fast forward through the ads if they are obnoxious.)</i></li></ol><i><b>Pro Tip:</b></i> One of my favorite features of <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/" target="_blank">Google Podcasts</a> is the ability to <b>download podcasts and store them, then sequence them in a custom playlist. </b>This way when you're offline you can play these without incurring any data charges for downloads. This can be especially useful when you're waiting for an appointment somewhere deep within a building or some other location where there is no cell service.</div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">For your consideration: That's a actually a podcast?!?</h3><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMETJ-J4R6JwXVo_A5icn7f_5GtaY7TrG-8sjvLHfm_L2Qr88iu03HGDczRmb1xqgMXxWCkQ9EeatcinKMeblN46Q5IlQaG8f-h0EYhACcv1DRYKsUM3CytuCysT1VaRKI72ZP0KqvIpLILdi5FO5yegMsk7pdX5y_OY_ZLwW6CImSNXre2Ojb2meXg/s500/podcast-samples-500px.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="82" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMETJ-J4R6JwXVo_A5icn7f_5GtaY7TrG-8sjvLHfm_L2Qr88iu03HGDczRmb1xqgMXxWCkQ9EeatcinKMeblN46Q5IlQaG8f-h0EYhACcv1DRYKsUM3CytuCysT1VaRKI72ZP0KqvIpLILdi5FO5yegMsk7pdX5y_OY_ZLwW6CImSNXre2Ojb2meXg/s16000/podcast-samples-500px.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Podcasts: Plenty of topics to choose from...</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>To show you the wide range of podcasts that are available, I did a <b>quick Google Podcasts search</b> using a bunch of different search terms. Here's a <b>sample of what I found: </b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLmxpYnN5bi5jb20vMjc2NjYyL3Jzcw" target="_blank">Terrible Lizards "Terrible Lizards is a podcast about Dinosaurs..."</a> <br /></li><li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly90aGVqb2VnYXJkZW5lcnNob3cubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M" target="_blank">The joe gardener Show - Organic Gardening - Vegetable Gardening </a></li><li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5saWJzeW4uY29tLzMyMTg4Ny9yc3M?sa=X&ved=0CAMQ4aUDahgKEwiY0_GPvOr6AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQiwo" target="_blank">Tackle Talk - Bass Fishing Podcast</a> </li><li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50d2l0LnR2L3R3aXMueG1s?sa=X&ved=0CAMQ4aUDahgKEwiY0_GPvOr6AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQ5Aw" target="_blank">This Week in Space (Audio) </a><i>["covers the new space age."]</i></li><li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2hvcHdhZy9mZWVkLnhtbA" target="_blank">History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps</a> </li><li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9ydm1pbGVzLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2ZlZWQv" target="_blank">RV Miles Podcast</a> -<i> ["... the RV camping lifestyle..."]</i></li><li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hdWRpb2Jvb20uY29tL2NoYW5uZWxzLzQ4NTU5NTcucnNz" target="_blank">MuggleCast: the Harry Potter podcast</a></li><li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9jaGFuZ2Vsb2cuY29tL3ByYWN0aWNhbGFpL2ZlZWQ?sa=X&ved=0CBoQ27cFahgKEwjQt-ew66v7AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQngk" target="_blank">Practical AI: Machine Learning, Data Science</a></li><li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xODIyNjc1LnJzcw?sa=X&ved=0CB4Q27cFahgKEwjQt-ew66v7AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQ_go" target="_blank">Headbanger's Rock Show</a></li><li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9yc3MuYXJ0MTkuY29tL2dvb2Qtb2wtZ3JhdGVmdWwtZGVhZC1jYXN0" target="_blank">Good Ol' Grateful Deadcast</a></li><li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xMjI5NzE3LnJzcw" target="_blank">The Offshore Wind Podcast</a></li><li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8xZTg4N2M1MC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw" target="_blank">Women's Voices</a> <i>["...current events/interviews with women's rights activists."]</i></li></ul></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">A Few of My Favorite Podcasts</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhacXpHOrKZAwYo9R8CJVTh_1BYyEHQDjflAs5h60L6fg1ndbutroYM5wxaUzYjwJMzuRsKoueRxZWW8A6pWBrzJIKuMe9AWhEh3o9mcWvDyc7dOprHgvMDN53XLQaUjYOva1_q_SzNkDAKXLzvEi2bLU_C6Pkk8cxh9zZIR9H33V4ECfA5MtNARcULTA/s1525/My-top-6-favorite-podcasts.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="1525" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhacXpHOrKZAwYo9R8CJVTh_1BYyEHQDjflAs5h60L6fg1ndbutroYM5wxaUzYjwJMzuRsKoueRxZWW8A6pWBrzJIKuMe9AWhEh3o9mcWvDyc7dOprHgvMDN53XLQaUjYOva1_q_SzNkDAKXLzvEi2bLU_C6Pkk8cxh9zZIR9H33V4ECfA5MtNARcULTA/w587-h103/My-top-6-favorite-podcasts.png" width="587" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Here are <i><b>my six absolute favorite podcasts: </b></i></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5ucHIub3JnLzUxMDMxOC9wb2RjYXN0LnhtbA" target="_blank"><b>Up First from NPR</b></a><i> - Provides context for major news you'll hear about later in the day</i></li><li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5ucHIub3JnLzUwMDAwNS9wb2RjYXN0LnhtbA" target="_blank"><b>NPR News Now</b></a> <i>- A quick, 5 minute summary of the latest news, updated hourly, 24/7</i></li><li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50d2l0LnR2L3R3aWcueG1s" target="_blank"><b>This Week in Google (Audio)</b></a> <i>A huge, rambling discussion (2 - 3 hours!) about Google and all things related to the web and smart home with Leo Laporte and my favorite feisty tech geeks</i></li><li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubWFya2V0cGxhY2Uub3JnL2ZlZWQvcG9kY2FzdC9tYXJrZXRwbGFjZQ" target="_blank"><b>Marketplace</b></a> <i>- An interesting daily summary of business & marketplace news for regular people</i></li><li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9sZWZ0cmlnaHRhbmRjZW50ZXItZmVlZC5rY3J3LmNvbS8" target="_blank"><b>Left, Right & Center</b> </a>- <i>A balanced analysis/debate of the week's top political topics</i></li><li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5wYnMub3JnL25ld3Nob3VyL3Jzcy9wb2RjYXN0LnhtbA?sa=X&ved=0CAMQ4aUDahgKEwjorp7x8Kv7AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQ_QE" target="_blank"><b>PBS Newshour - Segments</b></a> <i>- A collection of brief, individual segments (audio only) from PBS' nightly Newshour [Also available: <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucGJzLm9yZy9uZXdzaG91ci9mZWVkcy9yc3MvcG9kY2FzdHMvc2hvdw?sa=X&ved=0CAMQ4aUDahgKEwjorp7x8Kv7AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQsAI" target="_blank">PBS NewsHour - Full Show</a>]</i></li></ul></div><div>And <i><b>I also </b></i><b><i>enjoy these podcasts:</i></b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50d2l0LnR2L3R3aXQueG1s" target="_blank">This Week in Tech (Audio)</a> "... top tech journalists and pundits in a roundtable discussion of the latest trends in tech." </li><li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhlZ3VhcmRpYW4uY29tL25ld3Mvc2VyaWVzL3RoZS1hdWRpby1sb25nLXJlYWQvcG9kY2FzdC54bWw" target="_blank">The Audio Long Read</a> "... a selection of the Guardian’s long reads... including in-depth writing from around the world on immigration, crime, business, the arts and much more."</li><li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubWFya2V0cGxhY2Uub3JnL2ZlZWQvcG9kY2FzdC9tYXJrZXRwbGFjZS10ZWNo?sa=X&ved=0CBsQ9sEGahcKEwiw2q_qk6z7AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQFg" target="_blank">Marketplace Tech</a> "... demystifies the digital economy in less than 10 minutes."</li><li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLndueWMub3JnL29udGhlbWVkaWE" target="_blank">On the Media</a> "... [This] Peabody Award-winning... podcast is your guide to examining how the media sausage is made."</li><li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50cmFuc2lzdG9yLmZtL3RoZS1nb29kLW5ld3MtcG9kY2FzdA?sa=X&ved=0CAoQ9sEGahgKEwiw2q_qk6z7AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQqAM" target="_blank">The Good News Podcast</a> "... your thrice weekly reminder that not all news is bad."</li><li><a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLndueWMub3JnL25ld3lvcmtlcnJhZGlvaG91cg?sa=X&ved=0CCUQ9sEGahgKEwiw2q_qk6z7AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQzwo" target="_blank">The New Yorker Radio Hour</a> "... The New Yorker’s award-winning writers, editors and artists ... present a weekly mix of profiles, storytelling, and insightful conversations about the issues that matter."</li></ul><div><br /></div></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Actually, just about everybody's got a podcast!</h3><div><br /></div><div>It's amazing how <b>many television shows, radio shows and YouTube programs, which would normally require you to sit and stare at a screen, are also available as in-your-ears, downloadable podcasts to use on-the-go! </b>In addition to the <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5wYnMub3JnL25ld3Nob3VyL3Jzcy9wb2RjYXN0LnhtbA?sa=X&ved=0CAMQ4aUDahgKEwjorp7x8Kv7AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQ_QE" target="_blank">PBS NewsHour</a> <i>(as noted above)</i>, many regular <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/search/abc%20news" target="_blank">ABC</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/search/nbc%20news" target="_blank">NBC</a>, and <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/search/cbs%20news" target="_blank">CBS</a> news programs are available as audio podcasts. Even such venerable network offerings as <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9yc3MuYXJ0MTkuY29tL2ZhY2UtdGhlLW5hdGlvbg" target="_blank">Face the Nation</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9wb2RjYXN0ZmVlZHMubmJjbmV3cy5jb20vbWVldHRoZXByZXNz" target="_blank">Meet the Press</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vRVNQODc2MDUxODQ5OQ" target="_blank">This Week with George Stephanopoulos</a> and <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9yc3MuYXJ0MTkuY29tLzYwLW1pbnV0ZXM" target="_blank">60 Minutes</a> can be downloaded to your podcast player. And if you are a regular NPR listener, like I am, you'll be pleased to know that <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/search/NPR" target="_blank">almost all NPR programs</a>, even some of your local station content, are available as discrete podcasts.</div><div><br /></div><div>What I've shared above are just examples. And they might not interest you. But <b>you need only name a topic and there's probably a podcast out there that deals with it. See for yourself: </b>Just go to <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/" target="_blank">Google Podcasts</a> and search for topic, subject or whatever that might interest you. You'll be surprised what you find. </div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h3><div><br /></div><div><i><b>Remember</b></i>: <b>When you're faced with mental downtime, the choice is yours.</b> <b>Will you get sucked into</b> <b>mindlessly thumbing through</b> Facebook posts or the<b> algorithm-driven freak shows </b>served up by TikTok, YouTube and the like?<b> Or </b>will you make the decision to <b>listen to stuff that you hand pick for yourself to enlighten or entertain you on your own terms? </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Take charge! And enjoy.</i></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Related Articles</h3><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2020/11/6-podcasts-to-help-you-become-amateur.html" target="_blank">6 Podcasts to Help You Become an Amateur Tech Geek </a></li><li><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2017/04/ten-podcasts-that-can-challenge-you.html" target="_blank">Ten Podcasts that Can Challenge You, Irritate You & Deepen Your Understanding of Current Events</a></li><li><a href="https://inspiredprojectteams.blogspot.com/2018/02/from-archives-inspired-project-teams.html" target="_blank">From the Archives: The Inspired Project Teams Coaching Guide (58-pages & 5 hours of audio, NOW FREE!)</a> -- <a href="https://archive.org/details/inspired-project-teams-coaching-guide-mar-05-2010" target="_blank">(Also at Internet Archive here.)</a></li><li><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2022/01/replacing-google-play-music-how-i-store.html" target="_blank">Replacing Google Play Music: How I Store & Stream 22 GB of My Own Music (MP3s) for a One-Time Cost of $7.99</a></li><li><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2021/11/is-your-video-streaming-tap-leaking.html" target="_blank">Is your video streaming tap leaking money? Here's a 4-step strategy for taking control.</a></li><li><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2020/07/get-award-winning-movies-tv-shows-audio.html" target="_blank">Get award-winning movies & TV shows, audio books, graphic novels, & ebooks FREE (no ads!) from your local library.</a></li><li><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2022/04/music-to-get-lost-in-brief-introduction.html" target="_blank">Music to Get Lost In: A Brief Introduction to Jam Bands</a></li><div><br /></div></ul><h4></h4><h3 style="text-align: left;"><i>Bonus Fun Fact: </i></h3></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDq_FhnTEvCe-O_ry9VQO9CMINJlFgknU-bZJ1kt8pM_iZq3how0K0TaN2by7G0CfoQULqFFfv7JpeeK0m9UgK4UcuT2ddVPeP_jFNexAciK9n12YaTYDtyaA6kr9FWMUASSq0DTQyzIu1ozSq39in-QhJJddhKVQHgBHhJm3ZH3pfG6CpIZ-SfyvLPg/s266/Smart-speaker-from-Dall-e-AI-generator.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="266" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDq_FhnTEvCe-O_ry9VQO9CMINJlFgknU-bZJ1kt8pM_iZq3how0K0TaN2by7G0CfoQULqFFfv7JpeeK0m9UgK4UcuT2ddVPeP_jFNexAciK9n12YaTYDtyaA6kr9FWMUASSq0DTQyzIu1ozSq39in-QhJJddhKVQHgBHhJm3ZH3pfG6CpIZ-SfyvLPg/w204-h202/Smart-speaker-from-Dall-e-AI-generator.png" width="204" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://openai.com/blog/dall-e-now-available-without-waitlist/" target="_blank"><i>Thanks, DALL-E!</i></a> <br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>This image of a smart speaker, which I used in the intro graphic in this article, was generated by the <a href="https://labs.openai.com/" target="_blank">DALL-E AI art generator</a> which is now available for free for anyone to use. While I don't remember exactly what I asked DALL-E to generate, it went something like this: "smiley face, smart speaker, cartoon." I got several results and finally settled on the one above. Pretty cool, eh? AndI owe ZERO ROYALTIES for using it! You can learn <a href="https://openai.com/blog/dall-e-now-available-without-waitlist/" target="_blank">more about DALL-E here</a>. </div><div><br /></div></div></div>Mike Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10761717181465329763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383729925064099332.post-3795926447568012982022-10-11T14:57:00.002-07:002022-11-19T11:17:48.272-08:00Too confused to VOTE? Get fast, accurate info on local candidates, issues & where/how to vote.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8xIFSZ0M6aDC4DM5Kq5Szyox9t8eHHwfdYCR9lMOXQXMQkg2mEf92O7Oc_YQuZPNahKxlbO1tTHbRuI7SqRzkjCR-0UVYwj0_wKsP70--d_c_eJe8MKSDumJf05IWiF3GDRuj1kUpqMn6jBXFTy0WrH7nTRCsxWu7zExp-K4znuFKEdyHrlTwkHSrg/s600/VOTE!!%20Blog%20post,%20Oct%20'22%20-%20600px.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8xIFSZ0M6aDC4DM5Kq5Szyox9t8eHHwfdYCR9lMOXQXMQkg2mEf92O7Oc_YQuZPNahKxlbO1tTHbRuI7SqRzkjCR-0UVYwj0_wKsP70--d_c_eJe8MKSDumJf05IWiF3GDRuj1kUpqMn6jBXFTy0WrH7nTRCsxWu7zExp-K4znuFKEdyHrlTwkHSrg/s16000/VOTE!!%20Blog%20post,%20Oct%20'22%20-%20600px.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><b>This article will help you:</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Quickly get accurate info on any candidate or issue</b> that is on your ballot. <i>(i.e., Eliminate confusion about the candidate or issue.)</i></li><li><b>Quickly find out how and where to vote</b> in your particular voting jurisdiction. <i>(i.e., Eliminate logistical confusion about casting your ballot.)</i></li></ol><div>So <b>if you feel stuck in a state of "analysis paralysis" or logistical overwhelm</b> about the upcoming election, you can <b>use the tools below to get unstuck! <br /><br /></b><span><a name='more'></a></span></div></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Fast Path to Info on a Candidate or Ballot Measure </h3><p style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My favorite, and fastest, way to get summary info on a candidate or a ballot measure is to <b>simply Google it, asking about supporters, endorsers and funders.</b> I use Google search queries like these:</p><p style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>"Who is supporting [candidate, ballot measure, etc.]?... Why?"</li><li>"What organizations or people are endorsing [candidate, ballot measure, etc.]?... Why?"</li><li>"Who are the major funders behind [candidate, ballot measure, etc.]?... Why?"</li></ul><div>To find out a particular <b>candidate's vision, values and track record</b> I use search queries like these:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>"What are [candidate's name] overall policies and areas of advocacy?"</li><li>"What is [candidate's name] track record regarding [a specific policy or issue]?"</li><li>"What are [candidate's name] specific proposals regarding [a specific policy or issue]?"</li></ul></div><p></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Your Google search will likely produce brief, rapid answers to your questions and help you <b>create your personal "Cliff's Notes" summary</b> to help you make your voting decisions.<br /><br /></p><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Fast Path to Info on How and Where to Vote</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.vote.org/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="216" data-original-width="601" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2N__3m1mV-2pl965lgXxWrpEy3GXjxL5t-26vcopQQ3oJejwbEPlI47eNvkK6KAnBrkmAKDNep0qEptqITo_FJJoTNVqBvxEilqDsC1BqZ1R3Vx1zAlRkxxZ0S4l44XvA34EVjj0zerOOY2CE_IQb2fUTX-PYKnqzQPbDt9YjJ4sgC07EXXfu3tjrg/w400-h144/Vote-dot-org-website-thumbnail-600px.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Check <a href="http://Vote.org">Vote.org</a>.</b></div></td></tr></tbody></table><p>If you have a <b>specific voting-related task you want to accomplish, <a href="http://Vote.org">Vote.org</a> can help!</b> They provide <b>single-click access, directly from their home page</b>, to help you: </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><ul><li>Check your registration.</li><li>Register to vote.</li><li>Vote by mail.</li><li>Get election reminders.</li><li>Pledge to register.</li><li>Find early voting locations.</li><li>Locate your polling place.</li><li>Locate a dropbox.</li><li>Track your ballot application.</li></ul><div><br /></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ready to vote blue? </h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://bluevoterguide.org/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHvnvffo4mOJFwyKUw2-ir1tYQwh0PUl_COxL9aQN42HGTWZ2Gu8jAPYEpuFN740X8AqRJrTCEczpaUOU4sESfUPA9BteVDw7ySjedVnKFQyvtj3nM8FT1t4dor3SQ74VCjZmTA1pPthWKzF5hvCoHnQuL5yIB9Hv6thtE3INDITKGAYJYyMp0ggkzA/s16000/Blue-Voter-Guide-landscape-thumbnail-500px.png" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://bluevoterguide.org/" target="_blank"><b>Go to Blue Voter Guide & Build Your Custom Ballot!</b></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Are you ready and eager to <b>vote your liberal or progressive conscience, but baffled by a zillion choices (some familiar, some obscure) on your ballot?</b> If you're lucky enough to live in </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><b>Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, or Wisconsin</b> you have a very cool tool, the <a href="https://bluevoterguide.org/" target="_blank"><b>Blue Voter Guide</b></a>, to help you sort through all those choices! From their website: </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><blockquote>"<a href="https://bluevoterguide.org/" target="_blank">Blue Voter Guide</a> makes voting easy by <b>clearly showing the endorsements of a wide range of progressive organizations</b>. <a href="https://bluevoterguide.org/" target="_blank">Blue Voter Guide</a> will show your ballot for all <b>national offices, all statewide offices and ballot measures, and your state legislators</b>. If you live in a large population county or in a state capitol, you’ll see local races as well... Our data is<b> sourced from a neutral, non-partisan not-for-profit organization focused on politics and policy, which exclusively relies on official information.</b>" -- from <i><a href="https://bluevoterguide.org/about-blue-voter-guide/" target="_blank">About The Blue Voter Guide</a></i></blockquote><p>The Guide will help you <b>evaluate</b> <b>candidates, judges, and propositions</b> and then <b>create your personal guide</b> to help you <b>fill out your mail-in ballot</b> or take with you into the voting booth and then <b>share with friends & family </b>and on social media.<br /><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Not quite ready? Maybe need a nudge or some simple tools? </h3><p>Okay... So maybe you're not quite feeling motivated or you're looking for that extra nudge or some simple tools to get your voting process started. Here's a 2018<b> </b><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2018/10/vote-why-how-in-3-simple-steps-wlinks.html" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">article from the archives</a><b> that includes a fun and inspirational video </b><i>(only 4 minutes!)</i><b> from then-President Obama</b>, some quick motivational quotes from others, followed by <b>tools and lots of links to help you simplify the process of voting. </b></p><p><b><i>Check it out, follow the simple instructions, use the tools, then submit your ballot!</i></b></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2018/10/vote-why-how-in-3-simple-steps-wlinks.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="969" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguay73QNr5YEEvi6zQaWG-z-R0O0MeUHvvEWlyZCqDOvEFCp0OIPquGqcyWXQlbGpvOArqc_YPlN0AwS-AcWh9QmU-y3YZEk4gg55sKKMd9HqPx7RxWcD45tBIRFlNT4eo8kZnjAHxH7WgNoKk-kheHWdlYyuLJYj32aqW1sxQrkuxzZywujMHjJ51cg/w400-h235/Thumbnail-VOTE-archive-article.png" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2018/10/vote-why-how-in-3-simple-steps-wlinks.html" target="_blank">Go to article & tools:<br />VOTE! Why & How in 3 Simple Steps...</a></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;">Now go vote!</h3><p>That's it! You've got the tools & the info. <b>Now just do it!</b> And help <b>save our democracy while taking control of your future. </b></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p></div>Mike Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10761717181465329763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383729925064099332.post-71104597235087536702022-09-16T18:12:00.002-07:002022-09-16T18:15:37.647-07:00Worth the Money: My Top 5 Paid Android Apps<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBa1tB_YrzBhIXi5dJzOg4HurTaaQH4iN9o-1OIR2oDNsdEV2I-bcw-NBcZGKiORkOQAZdXweM7W9Kyt83xVCVlUKWL5bAL8i5sbp2vVDKFLhSA7FHFIL8K78XLtMKd3X8roluzdyE5X9NcGXsbyC-mnUB_YtsTDEuJeyypvcBpum7jJAo1Nb7cY20Q/s600/My%20Top%205%20Android%20Apps%20Worth%20Paying%20For%20-%20600px.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="600" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBa1tB_YrzBhIXi5dJzOg4HurTaaQH4iN9o-1OIR2oDNsdEV2I-bcw-NBcZGKiORkOQAZdXweM7W9Kyt83xVCVlUKWL5bAL8i5sbp2vVDKFLhSA7FHFIL8K78XLtMKd3X8roluzdyE5X9NcGXsbyC-mnUB_YtsTDEuJeyypvcBpum7jJAo1Nb7cY20Q/w400-h313/My%20Top%205%20Android%20Apps%20Worth%20Paying%20For%20-%20600px.png" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">What makes an app worth paying for? </h3><p>There are three criteria that make me willing to shell out a little cash for an app:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>It's really good at what it does.</b> That is, it's powerful, efficient, does something unique/amazing or it's a real time saver.</li><li><b>I use it a lot and I don't want to be distracted by ads!</b> Maybe I'm spoiled by years of ad-free media streaming and browser ad-blockers, but seeing ads in an app that I frequently use drives me nuts! So I'm glad to pay a reasonable fee to remove the ad clutter.</li><li><b>I want to support the app's developers. </b>After all, if I don't want them to monetize their app with ads and they have created an app that I really value, then I have a moral obligation to see that they somehow get paid for their work!</li></ul><p></p><p>The apps described below meet all three of these criteria. If you're an Android user, you should consider them. <i>(FYI, Apple users: a couple of these are also available for iOS.)</i></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">AccuWeather Premium </h3><p><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.accuweather.android" target="_blank"><img alt="Screenshot of AccuWeather Premium listing at Google Play Store" height="70" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/h7xO5cYBV1JkkORuHsWneG6b7pSVywEGnNMzXvx_xlJp97WRgYz-TiKc6DOLkvihYcd2IPEPhvmheB-4Y46bAVukGKRhpm9eS7VwDnSAPSOOmCYDmEpJwg3MFVhq6HeHAz1tXMn4mKN0cIIg6jjQ1dE=w400-h70" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 4px solid rgb(0, 0, 255);" width="400" /></a></p><p>This is <b>my always-on app. I use it several times a day to track outdoor conditions and help me decide when to exercise, how to dress/sunscreen for the weather, when to plan/postpone errands, etc. </b>And I find their predictions to be extremely accurate, so they truly live up to their name! Their <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.accuweather.android&authuser=0" target="_blank">Play Store listing</a> summarizes: </p><p>"[AccuWeather provides]... Live weather forecasts including:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>MinuteCast®</b> forecasts for Minute by Minute® precipitation updates <i>[Note: In my experience these are amazingly accurate! I have timed many outdoor exercise sessions down to the minute between rain events by using these. -- MG]</i></li><li><b>Local weather</b> including severe weather alerts, temperature, precipitation, and allergy outlooks for your day </li><li><b>WinterCast™</b>: winter weather forecasts giving you advanced warnings of snowfall probabilities and accumulation</li><li><b>Daily forecasts</b> include rain probability, cloud coverage, wind, live radar, air quality index, snowfall, and even UV index</li><li><b>Advanced weather radar </b>gives you up to the minute views of storm tracking, snow, rain, ice, temperature changes, and much more</li><li><b>RealFeel® & RealFeel Shade Temperature™ </b>technology helping you get a better sense of how the weather actually feels... "</li></ul><p></p><p>The <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.accuweather.android&authuser=0" target="_blank">Google Play Store listing</a> provides lots more details. <b>Apple users </b>please note that the app is also available at the <a href="https://apps.apple.com/bt/app/accuweather-weather-forecast/id300048137" target="_blank">Apple App Store</a>. </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Bitdefender Mobile Security </h3><p><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bitdefender.security" target="_blank"><img alt="Screenshot: Bitdefender Mobile app from Google Play Store" height="68" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/TgSx21N9z39A5njFuQ3ibiukaE7oXrV53cgQTu3l32N1DU4GJECSzVRz6ski0s0vhELZ0ck9XjAF8_J1CRJWTJhcjoKTWZdGSl5zAkZzAFSOgCM4PeyUHj1sgIsPXDS7lu2gGTrd5GY3VOcHDR6R4Y0=w400-h68" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 4px solid rgb(0, 0, 255);" width="400" /></a></p><p>It's this simple. I have installed <b><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bitdefender.security" target="_blank">Bitdefender</a></b> on each of our Android devices to help protect them. With a <b>single yearly subscription you can install the app on as many devices and for as many users as you wish. </b>(I got a 50% discount for the first year at $7.99.) Currently I have the app running on 10 devices (3 phones, 5 tablets & 2 Chromebooks) belonging to my wife and me. I manage these through the separate, but free, <b>Bitdefender Central</b> app. </p><p>From <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bitdefender.security" target="_blank">their Play Store listing</a>: </p><p>"...Bitdefender Mobile Security & Antivirus is the most powerful antivirus app for Android. It <b>protects your smartphone and tablet against viruses, malware and online threats and keeps your private information secure from hackers</b>... Bitdefender Mobile Security for Android - 5 TIMES winner of AV-Test’s “Best Android Security Product” (2021, 2020, 2017, 2016, 2015). Try it free for the first 14 days."</p><p><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bitdefender.centralmgmt " target="_blank">Bitdefender Central</a> is a "free management tool for all your Bitdefender security products..." Bitdefender Central places your local and network cyber security at your fingertips. Use it to control security for all your Bitdefender-protected devices... With <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bitdefender.centralmgmt " target="_blank">Bitdefender Central</a> you can:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Install</b> Bitdefender <b>protection on all your devices</b></li><li><b>Manage</b> <b>security</b> and protect your kids online</li><li><b>Scan, clean and optimize</b> any device remotely</li><li>Get i<b>nstant notification</b> whenever Bitdefender detects a <b>threat</b></li><li>Quickly access your <b>activity dashboard</b></li><li><b>Receive security updates</b> for your devices <b>24/7</b></li></ul><p></p><p>The <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bitdefender.security" target="_blank">Google Play Store listing</a> provides lots more details. <b>Apple users</b> please note that the app is also available at the <a href="ttps://apps.apple.com/us/app/bitdefender-mobile-security/id1255893012" target="_blank">Apple App Store</a>. </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">CloudPlayer Platinum </h3><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-b1dc2329-7fff-2ad0-2cdb-894cac1bfd5b"><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.doubleTwist.cloudPlayerPro" target="_blank"><img alt="Screenshot: CloudPlayer Platinum app from Google Play Store" height="68" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/OTLnIoVyAqSudCON3mBFG5EF69ZWV-1Bcvc_Yp1SgIQV_46SqOrdCQUV5JmW5Ba0E_Z-dHkdCl9WnC1BJV3vukoiS1JLeLM0NJ9HJa-Fkdd7_yjqAyAzMrKpEvmpH9E9bNQusR67NFTXGMy7godpd4I=w400-h68" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 4px solid rgb(0, 0, 255);" width="400" /></a></span></p><p>I use this app several times a day to stream my own MP3 music files, for free, from their storage locations on my various cloud drives to my earbuds, smart speakers, etc. <i>(See details about my process here: "<a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2022/01/replacing-google-play-music-how-i-store.html" target="_blank">Replacing Google Play Music: How I Store & Stream 22 GB of My Own Music (MP3s) for a One-Time Cost of $7.99</a>")</i></p><p>Here's a summary from <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.doubleTwist.cloudPlayerPro" target="_blank">their Play Store listing</a>, my bold added: </p><p>"CloudPlayer is a revolutionary <b>music player</b> that puts you in <b>control of your music, no matter where it's stored.</b> Use it as an offline music player or link your <b>Dropbox, OneDrive and Google Drive</b> [Google Drive is supported for existing users only, not new users] to create <b>a giant cloud jukebox for all your music</b>. Stream or download from your cloud accounts for offline playback. Enjoy built-in cloud playlist back-up & sync, <b>Chromecast</b> support, hi-fidelity FLAC & ALAC lossless sound, gapless playback, 10-band EQ, <b>Android Wear & Android Auto</b> support and more."</p><p><i>[<b>Note to Apple users:</b> It appears that this app is not available for iOS devices. However, the publisher's website has a<a href="https://www.doubletwist.com/help/platform/mac-os-x/" target="_blank">n entire page with topics devoted to "doubleTwist for Mac OSX</a>." I know <b>nothing</b> about the Apple/iOS world, so you'll have to investigate this on your own here. Sorry! -- MG] </i> </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Package Buddy Pro </h3><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-cd6b161d-7fff-0a70-6a76-08354f344351"><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.psyrus.packagebuddypro" target="_blank"><img alt="Screenshot: Package Buddy Pro app from Google Play Store" height="71" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/28MxnydjEQjdQFjTN80ZQ0z6XHSbM1MRmZcEVmzD-hQIpfFlCHGKbMhebEPz5vUDoV9TqZwZF5cYP4x4TcarRIIeUrmA93Ne5O_r09Mu4r1yFv9BO2KVQ8JbGDUWIdFwKy79NCOJD5qIFIA8Ug1eP7E=w400-h71" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 4px solid rgb(0, 0, 255);" width="400" /></a></span></p><p>I've been using this for years to track all my packages, regardless of shipper, across all my devices (tablets, phone, Chromebook). Just enter the tracking code and (optionally) add your custom name for the shipment and the app picks up all the rest of the info from the web. Open the app to see the updated progress of your shipment. It also keeps a historical record of stuff I've sent/received. Recently I counted well over 100 carriers tracked by these guys! (<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.psyrus.packagebuddypro" target="_blank">See the whole list at their Play Store listing</a>). </p><p><i>[This app does <b>not</b> appear to be <b>available</b> at the <b>Apple App Store</b>.] </i></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">PDF converter pro & PDF editor - pdf merge</h3><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-bbdeb71f-7fff-6993-92e3-f875a283a2c2"><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pdfbuddies.pdfutilspro" target="_blank"><img alt="Screenshot PDF converter pro from Google Play Store" height="66" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/tA-h36G_Z6cDwi1ZpRs7F4I1dVXQyU6FUrHsqxHNZG4YManorMmdqbNVuDaCC61OGGVIBUgwYim1uPlGCX8ivEzagTuEriNz6RPgnJdOUDrvrSInfkQ_njqc79foxaHiwXxp74zAjQj7ql7pXpWR9JM=w400-h66" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 4px solid rgb(0, 0, 255);" width="400" /></a></span></p><p>I don't use this often, but when I need it it proves to be <b>a real powerhouse for manipulating, converting and generally doing anything you want with PDFs.</b> <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pdfbuddies.pdfutilspro" target="_blank">Their Play Store listing</a> summarizes <i>(I've substantially edited for brevity --MG)</i>: </p><p>"PDF Converter & PDF Editor is very comprehensive tool to perform various operations on PDF files: </p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Convert Word (or Doc</b>) files to PDF file </li><li><b>Convert JPG Image</b> to PDF file </li><li><b>Convert a html webpage </b>into PDF and save for later</li><li><b>Merge/Combine PDF documents</b> into a single one.</li><li><b>Split PDF file</b> into smaller units.</li><li><b>Encrypt</b> your PDF file & <b>add password protection</b></li><li><b>Remove password</b> from a file</li><li><b>Delete selected pages</b></li><li><b>Extract selected pages</b> (and extract <b>graphics</b>)</li><li><b>Add a watermark</b> to your file</li><li><b>Rotate selected pages </b>of a file</li><li><b>Compress</b> (reduce size) of a PDF document</li></ul><p></p><p><i>[This app <b>does not appear to be available at the Apple App Store</b>, though there are many PDF editors and converters listed there. For more on what's out there for your iOS device, see techradar's "<a href="https://www.techradar.com/best/best-pdf-reader-for-mac" target="_blank">Best PDF reader for Mac 2022: Free and paid</a>" or iGeeksblog's </i><a href="https://www.igeeksblog.com/best-pdf-editor-iphone-ipad-apps/" target="_blank"><i>Best PDF editors for iPhone and iPad in 2022 [Reviewed]</i></a></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h3><p>Over the years I've paid for many more apps than the above five. Some of those I've bought are oddball, esoteric or have proven to be not so useful over time. <b>I decided to share the apps above, however, because each is powerful, a good value and can be valuable for almost anyone!</b> So I<b> hereby endorse them</b> as being worth the small purchase price they ask from their users. If you need any of the capabilities they provide, I highly recommend you <b>check them out! </b></p>Mike Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10761717181465329763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383729925064099332.post-50137578169606352542022-08-27T13:03:00.000-07:002022-08-27T13:03:13.591-07:00Project Management: "A Technology of Manifestation"<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4UVer0y8i7QGTFv0ITa4MLRTR1ZU6BYRyKfdGhkdAeU3zbSeVxYbIW-0HHN1P3HWZNm37MNQrcZ5599k7-0QkYa3wKmrPYCGhoiok-EW2wP3weM6AgxvwjgKQEDpBM_y_jASSn8faG4q7v-2-0-3Nn1s92clyLKrzC8DEbWU0LG0iy7KtLS0dQQ6Gg/s300/PM-a-Technology-of-Manifestation_1-01_edited.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4UVer0y8i7QGTFv0ITa4MLRTR1ZU6BYRyKfdGhkdAeU3zbSeVxYbIW-0HHN1P3HWZNm37MNQrcZ5599k7-0QkYa3wKmrPYCGhoiok-EW2wP3weM6AgxvwjgKQEDpBM_y_jASSn8faG4q7v-2-0-3Nn1s92clyLKrzC8DEbWU0LG0iy7KtLS0dQQ6Gg/s16000/PM-a-Technology-of-Manifestation_1-01_edited.jpeg" /></a></div><p></p><p><i>(Sometimes it takes someone on the outside looking in to provide you with that “whack on the side of the head” that changes the meaning of what you are doing. Such was the case with this simple email from a student.)</i></p><p>A while back I taught an online class based on my book, <a href="https://greerspmresources.blogspot.com/p/new-book-project-management-minimalist.html" target="_blank"><b><i>The Project Management Minimalist</i></b>.</a> After the class I received this email from one of the attendees: </p><p></p><blockquote>“Thank you for your class, ‘Become a Project Management Minimalist!’ The practical tools and skills-in-attitude you teach are a source of inspiration and clarity for me. As a young project manager with a passion for social impact, I’m clear that the tools you share will help me become an effective presence for my community and teams. Project management as you teach it is truly a technology of manifestation! — <i>Best Wishes, Soheil Majd</i> ”</blockquote><p></p><p>As you might imagine, I’m always glad to get good feedback from a class participant. Most of the time, when I teach one of these online classes, I feel a bit like The Maytag Repairman: I’m fairly sure I provided a useful product, but I seldom hear much feedback from the attendees. </p><p>But beyond the fact that someone took the trouble to thank me, Soheil’s email really stuck with me. I found myself going back and reading it several times, largely because of the unusual perspective he expressed about the session.</p><p>Here are some of his unexpected insights that stuck with me:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><b>“… practical tools and skills-in-attitude… are a source of inspiration and clarity…”</b></i></p><p>Now I am well aware that my classes focus on practical tools and skills. That’s no accident. I value the practical and the useful above all else. I’ve always believed that <b>all the esoteric and complex PM theory is of absolutely no value if isn’t embraced and easily put to use</b>. So, the litmus test for me of any PM tool or practice is “Is this practical and useful in the real world?”</p><p>However, the phrase “skills-in-attitude” is a fascinating one! I am conscious that I try to share with my PM newbie students the attitude of “project manager as facilitator.” And I’m also aware that I encourage PM newbies to apply all PM tools and processes gently and respectfully, so as not to get in the way of the smart people on their teams doing their jobs according to their professional best practices. But this phrase, “skills in attitude” was a wonderful leap that Soheil made — a real insight. The PM <b>practice of an attitude of respect and deference toward the professional skills brought by the team,</b> when applied repeatedly to each of the “nuts and bolts” tools I shared, turns out to be essentially a “meta skill.” In other words, it’s truly a “skill in attitude.” Wow! Who knew? </p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><b>“… will help me become an effective presence for my community and teams.”</b></i></p><p>Now translating this concept of “being a presence” in the real-world while inside a whirling, activity-filled project is difficult. The best a new project manager can do is simply be vigilant for opportunities to help… be alert to potential obstacles and remove them… <b>be ready to fight for your team so they can do their work unencumbered by administrivia.</b> I now see that all this translates to “become an effective presence for my community and teams.” Well, said, Soheil!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><b>“Project management as you teach it is truly a technology of manifestation."</b></i></p><p>Now, to be honest, it is the sentence above that truly blew me away and caused me to re-read Soheil’s email several times. As the years of my life accumulate and the miles traveled on the PM road pile up, I look back on all the folks I’ve tried to guide as they join me on this road. And what stands out above everything I’ve seen and done is that no matter how accurate we are in applying our official PM guidelines… no matter how religiously we apply our official PM best practices… <b>we are in the business of manifestation!! New products, new processes, new events… all of these come into existence as projects</b>. And to the extent that the soft technology (i.e., management practices) of PM support the birth of any of these new entities, they do indeed form a “technology of manifestation.”</p><p>Reading Soheil’s insights above, culminating in that incredible vision of PM as technology of manifestation, gave me a bit of a thrill! Think of it! If we practice this pursuit we call PM in an effective way, we manifest visions! Dreams of what might be are transformed into reality by our PM teams!</p><p>I’ve always been passionate about teaching my unique PM vision in my own peculiar way. And now thanks to Soheil’s insights, I have been consciously connected to a formerly unseen, yet profound, theme that has been running through this vision all along! Wow! Who knew?</p><p>So the next time you’re putting together a project charter or revising a project budget, take a moment and reflect on how you may be a bit like Leonardo. Think about how you might be manifesting a dream!</p><p><i>Thank you, Soheil!</i></p><p>________________________</p><p><i><b>Addendum: Cleaning Up Elephant Dung & The Thrill of Helping Smart People Make Beautiful Music</b></i></p><p>While PM at its most transcendent may indeed be seen as a “technology of manifestation,” the PM practitioner should also be ready to grab a broom now and then and do the mundane work of keeping the team’s path clear! (As you’ll see below, this can have its own rewards.)</p><p>In my classes, as well as in the occasional interview, I love to make this analogy: A project manager should frequently behave like the guy in the parade who follows the elephants with a shovel, broom and wastebasket.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOM0qouvZjnZL59R82vUcSPPILT_PQ56_nfzR6SQP3J2SBfnWfO1t20Uu-9TEx6YohiPrFLQ-UXOlTutW-v5USKyHmRR3LqtNe-R8flHGalAxqcJrZLzFxuz8JMJ0NxlTKl2Tic5EPUQNGhD1yJvU-zBLER5uER-M_19LmKC5K8sPLn02pE53V66CjA/s499/PM-a-Technology-of-Manifestation-elephants-02.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="117" data-original-width="499" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOM0qouvZjnZL59R82vUcSPPILT_PQ56_nfzR6SQP3J2SBfnWfO1t20Uu-9TEx6YohiPrFLQ-UXOlTutW-v5USKyHmRR3LqtNe-R8flHGalAxqcJrZLzFxuz8JMJ0NxlTKl2Tic5EPUQNGhD1yJvU-zBLER5uER-M_19LmKC5K8sPLn02pE53V66CjA/s16000/PM-a-Technology-of-Manifestation-elephants-02.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i><b>The project manager… following the elephants?</b></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><i><b>Picture this:</b></i> A parade is in motion and features a marching band that will share their uplifting music with the crowd. Preceding the marching band is a beautifully-decorated group of elephants who, unfortunately, have no sense of propriety and release their waste somewhat at random. Now unless this voluminous elephant dung is quickly removed, the marching band may step in it and slip, fall, and ruin their performance.</p><p><b>It comes down to this: No matter how talented the band, they are going to need all the nasty elephant droppings removed from their path so they can keep marching and so their music can ring out and inspire the crowd. </b>Without this humble street cleaner, all their musical talent and rehearsal could end in a discordant trip-and-fall disaster! It’s a dirty job, but an important one — and someone’s gotta do it!</p><p>So it is with project management. <b>No matter how talented, how creative, how burn-the-midnight-oil your team is, if they are encumbered by obstacles, all their talent and creativity may never have a chance to shine.</b> They need someone to “sweep the dung” out of their path! And when you, as project manager, are willing to jump in and grab a broom and start cleaning, you are likely to be rewarded with the thrill of seeing your team soar and dazzle with their work products.</p><p>The truth is <b>I knew I was a true project manager when I realized that my sense of gratification and pride had shifted from doing great work myself to seeing great work created by a team whose path I had carefully tended.</b></p><p>My wish for you, project manager, is that you become comfortable with a broom and learn to thrill at your marching band’s great music!</p><p>[Note: This essay was published as part of the #PMFlashBlog event “What does project management mean to me?” Learn more here: <a href="https://dantotsupm.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/pmflashblog.pdf" target="_blank"><i>Free e-Book “What Project Management Means to Me” from #PMFlashBlog Authors</i></a>]</p><p>________________________</p><div>The above article is an excerpt from <i>Part 1 (The Meaning of Project Management)</i> from my book <a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2015/07/worth-sharing-on-pmbok-post-it-notes.html" target="_blank"><i><b>WORTH SHARING: Essays & Tools to Help Project Managers & Their Teams</b></i></a>. Other essays in that Part of the book include: <i>The Project Manager as Plate-Spinning Juggler & The Origins of My PM Minimalism: It’s Not Merely Simple-Minded... It’s About PM Essences. </i>In all, this book contains <b>300+ pages & 54 chapters.</b> And while you can buy a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012H6LYUO/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i3" target="_blank">hard-copy or Kindle version of this book on Amazon</a> I have also made it available absolutely <a href="https://archive.org/details/worth-sharing-pressbooks-pdf-download-7-27-2915" target="_blank">FREE -- 300+ pages & 54 chapters in PDF format -- at Internet Archive</a>.]</div><div><br /></div><div>Better yet, you can get all my best creations (audio, video, texts & tools) in my <a href="https://archive.org/details/fav-michael_greer" target="_blank">Favorites collection at Internet Archive.</a> Download any or all of them for <b><i>free</i></b>. <i>Enjoy!</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Mike Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10761717181465329763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383729925064099332.post-69190407124108257852022-07-18T23:38:00.012-07:002022-07-22T15:49:21.551-07:00Secure, Fast & Customizable: Why I Ditched My Windows PC for a Hot Rod Chromebook<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://phandroid.com/2021/08/09/the-incredible-asus-chromebook-flip-cx5-is-now-available-for-pre-order-from-amazon/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Go to Phandroid Article: "The Incredible Asus Chromebook Flip CX5..."" border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="955" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTij-QJ5t471KcqH437JUEtaIfk6Cf4gYp1DY3wcu_TpjhMbYj3hp5eAfu_5lL9Uxrqjvaq6-PvgHujFrdGjb_4WhrCid06nUBVz8CCsPmDSZ3zOCq0slDPCUS5-NSS7C1zW-s4wLyvt_5M4h8_9DGUL3ej6oIK91E-rSDXO6VWJO0np4W_b6vdYzBg/w574-h362/Asus%20Flipbook%20CX5%20from%20Phandroid%20Website-2.png" title="Go to Phandroid Article: "The Incredible Asus Chromebook Flip CX5..."" width="574" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Overview</h3><div><div><br /></div><div>In this article I explain <b>why, after over 40 years using personal computers (mostly Windows-based), I switched to a powerhouse Chromebook.</b> And I'm loving it! <b>If you're in a hurry</b> (and you're willing to skip my carefully-crafted prose😞) you can <b>skim through the stuff in bold</b> to find the big ideas. <b>Or you can just scroll down to one of these main sections:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i>After 30 years, enough with Windows, already!</i></li><li><i>Chromebooks dominate in education because they're powerful & easy to use.</i></li><li><i>Chromebooks are REALLY secure.</i></li><li><i>Chromebooks are fast! (Thanks to the ChromeOS.)</i></li><li><i>Chromebooks are customizable.</i></li><li><i>Buyer beware! It may be cheap, but when does that low-cost Chromebook expire?</i></li><li><i>My Chromebook: Part of a Powerful Ecosystem of Google Tools</i></li><li><i>Final Thoughts: How 40 Years of Personal Computing Has Led Me to a Chromebook</i></li><li><i>Bonus Tip: Don't throw away that old Windows PC or Mac. You might be able to make it a Chromebook!</i></li></ul></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>[<b>FYI</b>: This article contains <b>over 60 links to references</b> for further research. Enjoy!]</i></div></div></blockquote><div><div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>______________________________________________________</b></i></div></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span><a name='more'></a></span><b><br /></b></i></div><div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After 30 years, enough with Windows, already!</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's been over <b>40 years since I used my first personal computer.</b> <i>(See last section for details.) </i> The most recent of those 30 years were spent working with Windows operating systems, starting with Windows 3.1 in 1992. So I've had <b>a lot of experience dealing with different PCs and their support (or lack thereof!) of useful, user-friendly software. </b>Worse, I've spent <b>a lot of time learning about the latest threats from hackers, downloading security updates, then updating, rebooting, etc. </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Until recently I was convinced that the only way I could get the computing horsepower I needed was with a Windows-based PC (<i>or a Mac, you say? Uh... no, thanks!</i>). <b>My go-to software for decades was Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Google's Chrome browser.</b> Eventually, as I began online collaboration with teams using documents on a shared Google Drive, <b>I learned to use Google's versions of my big three: Google Docs, Sheets & Slides. Over time, these tools evolved and became as powerful and feature-rich as the Microsoft tools.</b> And the workspace for all this was online, via Google's Chrome browser, where I spent much of my PC time anyway researching, surfing the web, emailing, visiting YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, etc. and generally consuming lots of media. In short, <b>pretty much everything I have been doing on my computer has been through the Chrome browser on the web. </b>And, better yet, I was able to do many of these things <b>kicked back in a recliner, without the PC, by connecting to the web on my phone or tablet. </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So recently, when our 10-year-old Windows-based Asus PC began to develop signs of aging and requiring all sorts of Windows updates, I decided to take the advice of my favorite tech podcaster & radio host, <a href="https://twit.tv/shows/the-tech-guy" target="_blank">Leo LaPorte</a>, and see if a Chromebook wouldn't be a better choice. Leo has been saying for years that t<b>he only reason to get a Windows PC is if you absolutely must run unique, Windows-only software or if your company/business demands you run Windows. </b>Since neither of these applied to me, I began <b>my Chromebook investigation. Here's what I found.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Chromebooks dominate in education because they're powerful & easy to use.</h3><p>The first Chromebooks went on sale in June of 2011. They were developed for use in the classroom as a <b>low-cost and safe tool for kids who were working with the net. </b>Since then "... according to analytics research by Edweek Market Brief in 2019, <b>Chromebooks make up 60% of the devices sold for K-12 schools in the U.S. </b>This figure since then has <b>only seen improvement</b> as Chrome OS continues to dominate the educational sector..." <i>(from <a href="https://chromeready.com/" target="_blank">Chrome Ready's</a> post <a href="https://chromeready.com/9255/reasons-why-schools-use-chromebooks-instead-of-laptops/#:~:text=According%20to%20analytics%20research%20by,to%20dominate%20the%20educational%20sector." target="_blank">9 reasons why schools use Chromebooks instead of laptops</a>)</i></p><p>Over the years Chromebooks have <b>become much more powerful and able to run all sorts of programs, apps and tools used by creators. </b>This has largely been <b>driven by the needs of teachers</b> who demanded Chromebooks help them with <b>complex classroom presentation, communications and distance learning and networking chores.</b> Today, those <b>ever-improving Google programs (like Docs, Sheets & Slides) are in the hands of most of our kids</b>, along with other classroom-specific tools that greatly enhance their learning. And <b>for most of us, we will never need more tools and computing power than those kids and their teachers are using, right there on their Chromebooks. </b></p><p>What's more, this <b>latest version of the <a href="https://www.google.com/chromebook/whatsnew/" target="_blank">ChromeOS</a> comes with <a href="https://www.engadget.com/google-screencast-cast-moderator-chrome-os-announced-160011068.html" target="_blank">Screencast</a>, a real video-creating powertool.</b> It lets anyone easily make, record, and edit screen-based videos while automatically generating a searchable transcript! And there's <b>no additional software needed!</b> <a href="https://www.engadget.com/" target="_blank">Engaget</a> explains: "[Screencast is] a new built-in app that allows teachers to build a video library of lessons and demos students can turn to if they miss a class or need help with a homework assignment. Available as of ChromeOS version M103, the software includes tools for trimming and transcribing clips." <i>(from <a href="https://www.engadget.com/google-screencast-cast-moderator-chrome-os-announced-160011068.html" target="_blank">Google's Screencast app for Chrome OS lets teachers record video lessons...</a>) </i></p><p>Check out this YouTube video from <a href="https://chromeunboxed.com/" target="_blank">Chrome Unboxed</a> for more on the super-cool <a href="https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/11972236?hl=en#:~:text=Community-,Use%20Screencast%20to%20record%20and%20share%20on%20your%20Chrome%20OS,%2C%20trim%2C%20and%20translate%20screencasts." target="_blank">Screencast</a> features... and consider all the things you could do with it, even if you aren't a teacher: </p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DahYp-vjPrc" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Chromebooks are REALLY secure.</h3><p>Many tech experts recommend Chromebooks for banking and other uses requiring strong online security. Here's a quick list of what makes Chromebooks so secure. The list (and all quotes) are from <a href="https://www.techadvisor.com/article/731955/are-chromebooks-more-secure-than-laptops.html" target="_blank"><i>Are Chromebooks more secure than laptops?</i></a> from the <a href="https://www.techadvisor.com/" target="_blank">Tech Advisor</a> website.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b><i>Automatic Updates:</i></b> Chromebook <b>updates are automatic and more frequent than Windows</b> updates, rolling out every 2-3 weeks as compared to monthly. And the user typically doesn't need to do anything... they just roll out and install when you turn on the computer.</li><li><b><i>Sandboxing:</i></b> "<b>Each tab in ChromeOS acts as a separate entity with a restricted environment or ‘sandbox’</b>. This means that only the affected tab is vulnerable, and that it is very difficult for the infection to spread to other areas of the machine." </li><li><i><b>Verified Boot:</b></i> "Whenever a Chromebook is turned on it goes through a self-diagnoses process, looking for any code that doesn’t belong. <b>During this Verified Boot the device automatically quarantines and removes anything that isn’t from Google.</b>"</li><li><i><b>Data Encryption: </b></i> "The <b>majority of software on a Chromebook is stored and run in the cloud. There are still local files, which take the form of downloads, browser caches, cookies, and whatnot. </b>These can be used by hackers to find out what a person has been doing online, so <b>Google encrypts them on the device to prevent any snooping</b>. Turning it off and on again really does fix things." </li></ul><p></p><p>And to Tech Advisor's list above, <b>I would add <a href="https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/183084?hl=en" target="_blank">Chromebook's Powerwash</a> capability</b>. This <b>erases everything on the device and resets it to factory settings.</b> Sound drastic? Sure. It's a "last resort" kind of measure. But since <b>almost</b> <b>everything</b> (your data, account info, etc.) on your Chromebook <b>lives in Google's cloud, cleanly & safely backed up, it can be quickly restored. </b><i>(See <a href="https://www.insider.com/" target="_blank">Insider's</a> article <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/powerwash-chromebook" target="_blank">How to 'Powerwash' your Chromebook and reset all of its data</a>.)</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Chromebooks are fast! (Thanks to the ChromeOS.)</h3><div><br /></div><div>Why are Chromebooks so <b>noticeably faster than Windows or Macs? </b><a href="http://Laptopmag.com" target="_blank">Laptopmag.com</a> explains: </div><blockquote><div>"Chrome OS is a <b>lightweight operating system compared with Windows 10 and macOS. </b>That's because the OS centers around the Chrome app and web-based processes. Unlike Windows 10 and macOS, you can't install third-party software on a Chromebook -- all the apps you get come from the Google Play Store. This is both a pro and a con. With Chrome OS, you don't have to worry about a bunch of Windows junk programs clogging up your storage space. Chrome OS is also speedier than Windows and macOS for this exact reason -- <b>Chrome OS isn't weighed down by dozens of processes running in the background</b>. On the flip side, you simply can't run all your legacy Windows or macOS programs on a Chromebook." <i>(from <a href="https://www.laptopmag.com/articles/chromebooks-vs-windows" target="_blank">Chromebooks vs. laptop: what's the difference and what should you buy?</a>)</i></div></blockquote><div>What's more, since <b>many</b> <b>Chromebooks come with solid state drives (no spinning disk for read/write chores),</b> they move at the speed of electrons! And as you can see by the screenshot below of my new <a href="https://www.costco.com/asus-14%22-touchscreen-cx5400-chromebook---intel-i5-1130g7---1080p.product.100801388.html" target="_blank">Asus Chromebook sale page from Costco</a>, you can <b>load up with plenty of RAM and some powerful chip sets </b>to <b>keep all your chores flying.</b> <i>[NOTE: I share this link for your research purposes only. It provides detailed specs for your review. <b>I get zero compensation from Costco.]</b></i></div><p style="text-align: center;"><i></i></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.costco.com/asus-14%22-touchscreen-cx5400-chromebook---intel-i5-1130g7---1080p.product.100801388.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="959" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3wTG9oNU4iaP_QI2ultmY-ixsq-l0nsREnwtUGiugaGZ6aRqwVh1sDOlk-ze9vwnUO8BwmPW_nXuDxskztesAqwboJPdrqDdXQNdNisGjsAEMMHPTHc8EW7UKYz0XpVHklZInsF5YCHMgepz7bUpqXwQ1WuqHSDfhuyKpVl1HXbb6Rzq5DzCmA0MEZg/w400-h249/Costco%20listing%20of%20our%20aces%2014-in%20Chromebook.png" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.costco.com/asus-14%22-touchscreen-cx5400-chromebook---intel-i5-1130g7---1080p.product.100801388.html" target="_blank">This link is for your research purposes only. <br />It provides detailed specs for your review. <br /><b>I get zero compensation from Costco.</b></a></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><h3 style="text-align: left;"> Chromebooks are customizable. </h3><p>The 6-year-old article <a href="https://www.smore.com/ewk33-customize-your-chromebook" target="_blank">Customize Your Chromebook</a> remains a great introduction to the many ways you can make your Chromebook your own. I've highlighted the methods it lists (and several more). All of which are still available today: </p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i><b>Personalization</b></i>: Set up your own profile picture, wallpaper, etc.</li><li><i><b>Keyboard settings</b></i>: Set up unique key functions, find your favorite shortcut keys, change touchpad settings, etc. (Here's <a href="https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/183101?hl=en" target="_blank"><i>Google's list of ALL Chromebook keyboard shortcuts</i></a>. Or get an excellent <a href="https://www.chrmbook.com/" target="_blank">PDF reference poster for your office wall here.</a>)</li><li><i style="font-weight: bold;">Voice typing (dictation)</i> Why type at all? Just use the <a href="https://youtu.be/hTDztr0F_JA" target="_blank">Chromebook's microphone to dictate and have your speech translated</a> to text in any document or web page field.</li><li><i><b>Apps and extensions</b></i>: Add your favorite Android apps, Chrome browser extensions, unique launcher & more.</li><li><i><b>Offline Use:</b></i> Set up your Google Drive and tools like Docs, Sheets, etc to work offline.</li><li><i><b>ChromeOS flags:</b></i> If you're a bit adventurous, you might want to try some "<a href="https://chromeos.dev/en/productivity/experimental-features" target="_blank">ChromeOS flags</a>" to use new, powerful features that haven't been finalized by Google. Many of these eventually become stable features of ChromeOS as Google approves them for everyone to use. Some are really powerful and useful. Learn more here in this <a href="https://chromeunboxed.com/" target="_blank">Chrome Unboxed</a> article: <a href="https://chromeunboxed.com/enabling-chrome-flags-experimental-settings/" target="_blank"><i>How to use Chrome flags for experimental settings</i></a>. </li></ul><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">Here's a <b>screenshot of the Chro</b><b>meOS flags that I have enabled</b> (and really like!) on our new Asus Chromebook: </p></blockquote><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_kroY7wFF1_y_vWET_5mwPEo4vzlcF4TYh9LL9WA0t5isyQLYKsW4w_resebCFkQlqJ9GmaV7xePhcHcEBadAgt-pWknn7YAYVU9rysHzs4wBgAOMUlKNeIPKU8tno81ABIXLNB-t9XXjCWbVW9GksI_iJ7FikuXCBhyWXp4FXc-jVrEKmc37_1WbA/s878/Our%20Chromebook%20Flags%20enabled%20as%20of%20July%2016th%202022-2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="724" data-original-width="878" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_kroY7wFF1_y_vWET_5mwPEo4vzlcF4TYh9LL9WA0t5isyQLYKsW4w_resebCFkQlqJ9GmaV7xePhcHcEBadAgt-pWknn7YAYVU9rysHzs4wBgAOMUlKNeIPKU8tno81ABIXLNB-t9XXjCWbVW9GksI_iJ7FikuXCBhyWXp4FXc-jVrEKmc37_1WbA/w534-h440/Our%20Chromebook%20Flags%20enabled%20as%20of%20July%2016th%202022-2.png" width="534" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For <b>LOADS of good info and deep dives into the ChromeOS power tools and tweaks </b>check out <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/4/18514843/google-chromebook-os-how-to-app-customize" target="_blank"><b>The Verge Guide to Chrome OS & Chromebooks</b></a>. It is a rich reference resource, in plain language, about all things Chromebook. And it is frequently updated as ChromeOS changes. In particular, check out <i><a href="https://www.theverge.com/23143316/google-chromebook-customize-desktop-how-to" target="_blank">Chromebook 101: how to customize your Chromebook’s desktop</a>. </i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><h3><span>Buyer beware! It may be fast, but when does that low-cost Chromebook expire?</span></h3><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>As noted earlier, one of the main reasons people buy Chromebooks is that they offer rigorous security, courtesy of Google. So, <b>since it's an online-mostly tool, it's critical that your device keep getting updates from Google. However, every device has an "expiration" date for receiving Google security updates.</b> (<i>True story</i>: I initially ordered a much cheaper, deeply discounted Chromebook... not the Asus descrubed above. But I quickly cancelled the original order when I found out that it would only be getting 2 years of Google updates (just through 2024)! The one I finally ordered, pictured above, "expires" in June of 2029. And by then I'll probably have worn it out anyway!)</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>Here's how <b>Google explains</b> this: </span></div><blockquote>"<b>Chrome devices (e.g. Chromebook, Chromebox, Chromebase, Chromebit) receive automatic updates that enhance both the device and its software</b>. Device updates provide the latest features and keep the device secure, and are applied across the operating system, browser and hardware. These updates depend on many device specific non-Google hardware and software providers that work with Google to provide the highest level of security and stability support. For this reason, <b>older Chrome devices cannot receive updates indefinitely to enable new OS and browser features.</b>" <i>(-- from </i><a href="https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?hl=en#zippy=" target="_blank"><i>Google's Auto Update policy)</i></a></blockquote><div>So <b>if you're shopping for a new Chromebook, go to <a href="https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?hl=en#zippy=" target="_blank">Google's Auto Update policy page,</a> scroll down and find the make/model of your potential new device and find out when it will stop receiving Google support.</b> If it's a good deal (assuming it has the power and features you need) and you are happy with the potential security lifespan, then you might want to buy it. But if it expires in a couple of years (or worse, has already expired!) then you might want to get a different device.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">My Chromebook: Part of a Powerful Ecosystem of Google Tools</h3><p>So how do I use my Chromebook? <b>I work with Google creation tools on my Google Home smart speakers, phone, tablet and Chromebook. Here's an example of how they fluidly integrate</b> to keep me focused on creating.</p><p><b>This article began as a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Keep" target="_blank">Google Keep</a> note. </b>The basic concept occurred to me while I was o<b>n an exercise walk. So I popped open Google Keep on my phone </b>and <b>began dictating</b> a bunch of rough notes via the microphone on my earbuds. <b>Later, when I got home, I opened my tablet and began researching</b> some of the articles linked here, adding them to the Keep note. For a few days I went <b>back and forth like this from phone to tablet with Keep capturing a whole bunch of ideas</b> and references. A couple of <b>ideas even occurred to me while I was showering, so I yelled them out to my </b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Nest_(smart_speakers)" target="_blank"><b>Google Assistant smart speaker</b> </a>in the bathroom, who added them to the Keep note for me. Eventually, using my Chromebook, I went to my account at this <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blogger_(service)" target="_blank">Google Blogger </a>website, begin a new blog post,</b> pulled in the rough notes from Keep, then added some s<b>creenshots I had stashed in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Photos" target="_blank">Google Photos</a> </b>and later edited with<b> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Drawings" target="_blank">Google Drawings</a>. </b>Finally, I polished the finished post, adding formatting, links, etc. </p><p>As you can see, t<b>he integration of all these tools and the ability to use most of them offline makes for a fluid user experience that enhances, rather than gets in the way, of the creative process! </b><i>(And I hope to expand my Chromebook uses in the near future to include the creation of "how to" videos using the new <a href="https://www.engadget.com/google-screencast-cast-moderator-chrome-os-announced-160011068.html" target="_blank">Screencast</a> tools.)</i></p><p>And, of course, <b>our Asus Flipbook Chromebook</b> (see photos above) is also a <b>high-speed 'net surfing wonder, playing back all sorts of media trouble-free in its partly folded "tent" form or as a compact tablet.</b> In addition, as a Google Cast-friendly device, we can <b>cast anything we want to stream or photos to display on our big-screen Sony Bravia Android/Google TV.</b></p><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Final Thoughts: How 40 Years of Personal Computing Has Led Me to a Chromebook</h3><p>As I said earlier, I've experienced over 40 years of personal computer use. I've seen <b>lots of operating systems, user-friendly (and unfriendly) software</b> and more than my share of <b>hacking scares, virus overruns and relentless upgrades, </b>reconfigurations and re-booting. Here the history:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.old-computers.com/museum/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Go to Old-Computers.com Museum" border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="853" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjqC53M5_pBFyaqiILy3Rv6ESigGGyxaDQJHOZz-nzPONvtc2zuuq-pxi8UuGhQLA2x8jhY3ynz8JK8hLe-YvJ-24y7bOrEBNotjJnPGbnfaF9AcwJUu9UXMHZy5jFwCQ6_rK_8CQaX0BYQx_39IQLk1Qa66OO10EeL44A8UFnlSpmSXcNEhE0IUwmw/w400-h274/Epson%20&%20Mac%20PCs.png" title="Go to Old-Computers.com Museum" width="400" /></a></p><p><b>Our PC Life Before Windows</b><br /><br /><b>Our early clients were tech companies (Epson, Apple, Xerox, etc.). </b>They expected us, as instructional design (ID) contractors, to be tech-savvy, early adopters of the same tools they were using. <b>So my PC experiences began long before Windows</b>, as listed below: <br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=2&c=200" target="_blank"><b>The Epson QX 10 w/Valdocs</b></a> <i>(as in "valuable documents") </i>- This was <b>my first ever</b>, as part of a instructional design (ID) contract with Epson. It ran the Epson-only <b>TPM operating system</b>, had <b>no hard drive</b> and did all its work with two 5 1/4" floppy disks. Software was <b>text only, green characters on a black screen.</b> But it was a start.</li><li><b><a href="https://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=161&st=1" target="_blank">Apple Macintosh SE</a> </b>- Our team got two of these things via a contract with Apple for instructional design (ID) and development. It <b>ran OS System 4.0 & Finder 5.4 and early versions of MacWrite & Visicalc</b> (an ancient spreadsheet). We ditched these right after the contract was complete because they weren't compatible with anything other clients were using.</li><li><b><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/467178161320724865/" target="_blank">Northgate PC</a> </b>- <i>(<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northgate_Computer_Systems" target="_blank">History</a>)</i> Can't remember all the details, but as our ID contracting business became more complex we <b>spent $10,000 on this complete with its character-based (<i><u>not</u></i> WYSIWYG) screen</b>, along with a cheap dot-matrix printer. It ran both the<b> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CP/M#:~:text=CP%2FM%2C%20originally%20standing%20for,Kildall%20of%20Digital%20Research%2C%20Inc." target="_blank">CP/M</a></b> and Microsoft's Windows precursor, <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DOS" target="_blank">MS-DOS</a> </b>operating systems, rudimentary spreadsheet/accounting programs and our venerable ID word processing tool, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WordPerfect" target="_blank"><b>WordPerfect</b></a>. We also had a primitive Northgate laptop with a character-based screen.</li></ul><p></p><p><b>Early Windows Machines</b></p><p>Based on our <b>need to remain compatible and interact with our corporate clients</b>, we adopted <b>many iterations of Windows</b> machines over the years, <b>starting with</b> a couple of <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_3.1x" target="_blank">Windows 3.1</a> PCs</b> from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gateway,_Inc.old">Gateway.</a> Here's the list of our workhorse Windows computers, as best as I can recall them: </p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6383729925064099332/6919040712410825785#" target="_blank"><b>Gateway</b></a> - Two desktop machines and a couple of laptops got us started with Windows.</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dell_Inspiron" target="_blank"><b>Dell Inspirons</b></a> - We used <b>several</b> of these over many years.</li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dell_Vostro" target="_blank"><b>Dell Vostro</b></a> - A powerhouse for its time, we upgraded its Windows OS many times over the <b>10 years</b> it was in use!</li><li><a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Asus-11-6-Touchscreen-Laptop-Intel-Core-i3-4GB-RAM-500GB" target="_blank"><b>Asus touchscreen</b></a> - This is <b>our final Windows machine</b>, it's high-quality Asus hardware came with annoying, never-ending Windows security issues. It works fine, so <b>we'll probably turn it into a Chromebook.</b> <i>(See details on that Windows to Chromebook conversion below.)</i></li></ul><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I shared the details above to assure you that <b>I've had a long and deep relationship with Windows and that I speak from extensive and sometimes painful experience. </b>I've shared all sorts of Microsoft engendered miseries and minor annoyances. And <b><u>now that I've tasted the security, speed and sheer power of my Chromebook I know this: I will never return to the relentless hacking attacks, vigilance about upgrades, slow speeds, crashes and general pain-in-the-ass life with Windows. </u></b></div><div><br /></div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Bonus Tip: Don't throw away that old Windows PC or Mac. You might be able to make it a Chromebook!</h3><p>If you're ready to ditch your old PC because it's slowing down or can't be updated properly, then you may be able to convert it to a safe-to-use-online Chromebook running Chrome OS Flex. <a href="https://gizmodo.com/" target="_blank">Gizmodo</a> says: </p><p></p><blockquote>"<b>Google’s Chrome OS Flex has officially arrived to rejuvenate old PCs and Macs, by turning them into Chromebooks.</b> Eventually, your Mac or PC will struggle to run after being bogged down with software or crippled from wear and tear following extensive use. It could take a few years or a decade, depending on various factors, but there is practically no escaping the inevitable. Instead of repurposing or recycling your aging system, you can now use Chrome OS Flex to convert a PC/Mac into a Chromebook." - <i>from <a href="https://gizmodo.com/google-chrome-os-flex-macbook-old-pc-businesses-schools-1849182811?utm_source=pocket_mylist" target="_blank">Google's Chrome OS Flex Is Here to Revive Your Old Mac or PC</a></i></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For additional information see: <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/14/23215019/google-chrome-os-flex-operating-system-pc-mac-available" target="_blank"><i>Google’s Chrome OS Flex is now available for old PCs and Macs: Businesses and schools can now install Chrome OS on existing hardware</i></a> & </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2022-07-19/google-s-chromeos-flex-aims-to-bring-new-life-to-old-computers" target="_blank">To Revive Old Computers, Google Had to Find Them First</a> (Bloomberg)</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>______________________________________________________</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i>For further Chromebook research:</i></b> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/brookecrothers/2020/04/12/how-to-go-full-time-chromebook-save-money-and-ditch-the-macbook-and-windows-10-update/?sh=45c4e70f5c9f" target="_blank">Go Full-Time Chromebook In 2020, Save Money, And Ditch The MacBook And Windows 10: Here’s Why</a> <i>(Forbes)</i></li><li><a href="https://www.howtogeek.com/324761/three-ways-chromebooks-are-better-than-pcs-or-macs/" target="_blank">Three Ways Chromebooks Are Better Than PCs or Macs</a> <i>(How-to Geek)</i></li><li><a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/402141/chromebooks-versus-windows-laptops-which-should-you-buy.html?utm_source=pocket_mylist" target="_blank">Chromebooks versus Windows laptops: Which should you buy?</a> <i>(PC World)</i></li><li><a href="https://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/best-chromebooks-5" target="_blank">Best Chromebook in 2022</a> <i>(Laptopmag.com)</i></li><li><a href="https://qz.com/emails/quartz-obsession/2049346/chromebooks/?utm_source=pocket_mylist" target="_blank">Chromebooks: an overview</a> <i>(Quartz)</i></li><li><a href="https://chromeunboxed.com/" target="_blank">Chrome Unboxed website</a> & <a href="https://www.youtube.com/chromeunboxed" target="_blank">Chrome Unboxed YouTube Channel</a></li><li><a href="https://www.computerworld.com/article/3237230/chromebook-tips-for-maximum-productivity.html" target="_blank">50 Chromebook tips for maximum productivity</a> <i>(ComputerWorld)</i></li><li><a href="https://www.maketecheasier.com/chromebook-keyboard-tips/" target="_blank">11 Essential Chromebook Keyboard Tips You Need to Know</a> <i>(MakeTechEasier)</i></li><li><a href="https://www.online-tech-tips.com/computer-tips/the-20-best-chromebook-keyboard-shortcuts/" target="_blank">The 20 Best Chromebook Keyboard Shortcuts</a> <i>(Online-Tech-Tips)</i></li></ul></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><b>Check out these related articles from my WORTH SHARING website:</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><ul><li><a href="http://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2017/11/quick-reference-pdf-dozen-free-google.html" target="_blank">Quick-Reference PDF: A Dozen Free Google Apps to Keep Your Family or Team Organized</a></li><li><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2017/09/a-dozen-free-google-apps-to-keep-your.html" target="_blank">A Dozen Free Google Apps to Keep Your Family or Team Organized [Part 1 of 2]</a></li><li><a href="http://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2017/10/a-dozen-free-google-apps-to-keep-your.html" target="_blank">A Dozen Free Google Apps to Keep Your Family or Team Organized [Part 2 of 2</a>]</li><li><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2015/12/why-i-use-google-photos-not-facebook-to.html" target="_blank">Why I Use Google Photos, not Facebook, to Share Photos</a></li><li><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2020/11/6-podcasts-to-help-you-become-amateur.html" target="_blank">6 Podcasts to Help You Become an Amateur Tech Geek</a></li></ul></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Mike Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10761717181465329763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383729925064099332.post-83261037877048282232022-06-26T17:00:00.005-07:002022-06-30T08:42:11.228-07:00Screwed up projects? Here's a PM Minimalist quick fix strategy!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbVHHqPSLRa24Og5vEpdamAo2UT9KDzRkS5Qv7za_yIK9cX1NcG8U18JbYsWLdfX_QxR8EuV9M62JZSGnLmxhWPgLbIJLf5nHXJc-gmwjNcqYSvmhgGzh3ZAwks-EUENSCUpniB2JpfgAtWyI2NziFjlU6iA-ZYWL8KJ1lE22efEyf3Hlgdu0B_vwoQ/s600/Fixing-Broken-Projects-RS-600px.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="201" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbVHHqPSLRa24Og5vEpdamAo2UT9KDzRkS5Qv7za_yIK9cX1NcG8U18JbYsWLdfX_QxR8EuV9M62JZSGnLmxhWPgLbIJLf5nHXJc-gmwjNcqYSvmhgGzh3ZAwks-EUENSCUpniB2JpfgAtWyI2NziFjlU6iA-ZYWL8KJ1lE22efEyf3Hlgdu0B_vwoQ/s16000/Fixing-Broken-Projects-RS-600px.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The PM Minimalist Quick Start Checklist: Helping You Solve Your PM Puzzle!</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b>Budget overruns, schedule delays, unsatisfied customers, low quality deliverables...</b> Whether it's a DIY project at home or a complex new initiative for your organization these <b>symptoms of poor project management</b> (PM) are the same. But you don't need PMP certification or extensive training in project management to address these problems and make sure your projects run smoothly. In fact, <b>you can make substantial improvements with a quick and easy-to-use one page checklist!</b> </p><p>When I first introduced the <a href="https://greerspmresources.blogspot.com/p/the.html" target="_blank">PM Minimalist approach</a> I developed <a href="https://archive.org/details/pm-minimalist-quick-start-guide-ver-2" target="_blank">this checklist</a> so that PM newbies could ease themselves into taking charge of their projects. Check out the article below, from my <a href="https://greerspmresources.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">PM Resources Archives</a> website, for details. It will help you <b>unscramble your project puzzles and make the pieces fit!</b></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">NOTE Regarding Updated Links</h3><p>You might find a few "dead links" to the free PM Minimalist tools referenced in the archived article linked below. Some of the stuff has moved since this was first published. Not to worry! Below is an<b> updated list of links where you can download all the documents</b> from my <a href="https://archive.org/details/fav-michael_greer" target="_blank"><i>PM Minimalist collection at Internet Archive</i></a> as <b>free PDFs</b>, including the <a href="https://archive.org/details/pm-minimalist-2nd-edition-1-17-2011" target="_blank"><i>entire PM Minimalist book</i></a>. </p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b><i><a href="https://archive.org/details/pm-minimalist-quick-start-guide-ver-2" target="_blank">The PM Minimalist Quick Start Guide: The Absolute Least You Can Do</a> </i></b>-- Includes 1-page <i>Quick Start Checklist</i>, <i>Quick Start Post Mortem Worksheet </i>and other quick-references and tools.</li><li><a href="https://archive.org/details/pm-minimalist-2nd-edition-1-17-2011" target="_blank"><i><b>The Project Management Minimalist: Just Enough PM to Rock Your Projects! [2nd Edition]</b></i></a> -- The <b>entire book in PDF form</b>, absolutely <b>free</b>! It contains 122 succinct pages of PM guidance, including 35 PM tools with PM "Minimalist Squeeze" strategies for tightening up your PM, and more! </li><li><a href="https://archive.org/details/fav-michael_greer" target="_blank"><b><i>ALL PM Minimalist References, Media & Tools, free at my Internet Archives "Favorites" Collection</i></b></a> -- All the PM Minimalist stuff, including videos, audios, coaching guidelines and even a do-it-yourself PM workshop outline. </li></ul><p></p><div>Click the image below to go to the <b>archived article & video overview. </b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://greerspmresources.blogspot.com/2018/02/applying-pm-minimalism-manage-your.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Go to article Applying PM Minimalism: Manage Your Project with a One-Page Checklist!"" border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuUFTWnI-bXFTYx8sAumWrxMY2prtw3cqWg1sseJNy2eRVkei85xEWRh_w4c5ZiG3xXwvZv_G72nWKglNbigCI8Q4epCk7GBN6T1Xj7eQHdjWoX67JGiGv3Vmh2rf7khOE_4FcEttGeyiVAvz7Yn2Kbpog7Gmpy4XJVy-rhXcnQSUafX21g3wYk4iqWg/s16000/Apply-PM-Minimalism-Archive-Thumbnail-RS-600px.png" title="Go to article Applying PM Minimalism: Manage Your Project with a One-Page Checklist!" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div>Interested in <b>more PM tools, videos and lots of other free stuff?</b> </div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Check out the <b>complete inventory</b> of resources at my <a href="https://greerspmresources.blogspot.com/2018/03/table-of-contents.html" target="_blank">PM Resources Archives</a> website. </li><li>Check out this list of <a href="https://archive.org/details/michael-greers-publications-in-internet-archives" target="_blank"><b>all my archived </b></a><span style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://archive.org/details/michael-greers-publications-in-internet-archives" target="_blank"><b>publications</b></a>, stashed forever and downloadable, <b>at <a href="https://archive.org/details/michael-greers-publications-in-internet-archives" target="_blank">Internet Archives</a></b>.</span></li></ul></div><div><b>Enjoy!</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p><br /></p>Mike Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10761717181465329763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383729925064099332.post-20320043752724482292022-05-26T22:58:00.002-07:002022-05-27T07:15:25.275-07:00Taking Care of Yourself: Some Tools & Tips from the Archives<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGlNpizbOTMqJf3srluwFExEGyIg13WADUZPiijixKfGparEEvVdLrLDDhudpBnNzwihypFSLDdOJ8SJWLDXbsGNyVcHo0vqQcmh_Ic5Syar8cDfROdxHpdRm8Qa1-L_BKygMbMqgRI8L9ToUY9rG82hDqb2MfLAYm7V_6mKwKr4URiLSjD6QYvxs-A/s600/Take-Care-Yourself-Combo-600px-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="342" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimGlNpizbOTMqJf3srluwFExEGyIg13WADUZPiijixKfGparEEvVdLrLDDhudpBnNzwihypFSLDdOJ8SJWLDXbsGNyVcHo0vqQcmh_Ic5Syar8cDfROdxHpdRm8Qa1-L_BKygMbMqgRI8L9ToUY9rG82hDqb2MfLAYm7V_6mKwKr4URiLSjD6QYvxs-A/s16000/Take-Care-Yourself-Combo-600px-1.png" /></a></p><p>This article is for the work-weary professional, manager or anyone else who feels swamped, is always getting interrupted and who feels like screaming in frustration! The selections below are from my collection <a href="https://inspiredprojectteams.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><i><b>Inspirations: Optimize Your Attitude, Maximize Your Results</b></i></a>. These three are hand-picked to inspire you to take care of yourself, reclaim your humanity, enhance your job satisfaction and find some peace of mind.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Set and respect "office hours."</h3><span></span><div><br /></div><div>This excerpt from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Michael-Greer/e/B001KIVUFA" target="_blank"><i><b>The Project Management Minimalist</b></i></a> is a short pep talk and set of practical guidelines that will help you set aside uninterruptible office hours so you can be more productive and get into that "flow" state in which we all do our best work. </div><div> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://inspiredprojectteams.blogspot.com/2017/12/this-book-excerpt-is-from-taking-care.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="600" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYB6vkMqyiwBlni-l8SFZpsLdONrO77s7kxTK7soPpYY8lxnKR_uZ-6JfjlPZKwPtM21QCbQg2jsV4N9zZsnLIn5R01kVeE-UYqa4hvgcoKSGPcplu4Jq1B6qUJPm8RxwDQc8WC-KDbtQnNzEGrpFAB8snimw7IHhzVgAz80KsYaMfb-A868JIWQzCQ/w400-h217/Set&Respect-Office-Hours-600px-1.png" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><a href="https://inspiredprojectteams.blogspot.com/2017/12/this-book-excerpt-is-from-taking-care.html" target="_blank">Check out the book excerpt.</a></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Leverage your signature strengths.</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There is much happiness, emotional satisfaction and, arguably, higher-quality output to be had when you are doing what you are purpose-built to do. Are you leveraging your "signature strengths?" Learn more in this excerpt from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Michael-Greer/e/B001KIVUFA" target="_blank"><i><b>The Project Management Minimalist.</b></i></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://inspiredprojectteams.blogspot.com/2017/12/best-practice-identify-your-signature.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="600" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjsKUz6VWh-ug8wY_XjRWPGol6V8mVBCyKscWzgzRCEx9Np1AkI80Jp4L99VcjLYY6Ry4affB17Oxx75Cha6-tBF7T99vZU04rNS9OHsfb9_rZM-ZoTCzyeV0Pl2yFAlHAPSSVmZgVndsJp-I5SmQjjQp3YgWKn39Ased1aGmw9D3sMyd_rHo0r6Rbg/w400-h209/Signature-strengths-600px-1.png" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><a href="https://inspiredprojectteams.blogspot.com/2017/12/best-practice-identify-your-signature.html" target="_blank">Check out the book excerpt.</a></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Is it time to go "off the grid?"</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ever feel like running away and simply disappearing for a while? Getting lost, going completely off the grid, can be one of the most energy-renewing, creativity-enhancing and simply joyful things you can do! This article from the archives makes the case for doing so. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://inspiredprojectteams.blogspot.com/2017/12/unplug-change-your-patterns-press-reset.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="323" data-original-width="600" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhiTs8f7Hn8FzUpTwyMHJEDfkBRGAhQ3vUQHtWxJ1C25yGtdmT0wM6exLNFm1ica8Rt1uO-BrNxMtUz4Ael0nsdfva0Rd0V2iX5Qc82Knzjk3g310RCuM90cEZGs2Q6QDeXBjzakBmsM-B5hvxuzLfL2m7rHWGAPhwhyXgF0cLUfsburfewqoqDRGbww/w400-h215/Unplug-press-reset-600-px-1.png" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><a href="https://inspiredprojectteams.blogspot.com/2017/12/unplug-change-your-patterns-press-reset.html" target="_blank">Check out the article.</a></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Get <i><b>The Project Management Minimalist</b></i> from Amazon or as a free PDF.</h3><p></p>If you find the preceding samples to be valuable, why not go a little deeper. Specifically:<br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Learn all about <i><b><a href="https://greerspmresources.blogspot.com/p/the.html" target="_blank">Project Management Minimalism here</a>.</b></i> </li><li>Get <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Michael-Greer/e/B001KIVUFA" target="_blank"><i><b>The Project Management Minimalist</b></i></a> book in hard copy, paperback or kindle format <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Michael-Greer/e/B001KIVUFA" target="_blank">here at Amazon.</a></li><li>Get <i><b>the entire book for FREE: </b></i><a href="https://archive.org/embed/pm-minimalist-2nd-edition-1-17-2011" target="_blank">Download the full book, at no cost (and no strings attached) in PDF format here. </a></li><li>Get all things related to <i><b>PM Minimalism</b></i> (including a do-it-yourself PM course outline, videos, audios and team-building/class materials) <a href="https://archive.org/details/fav-michael_greer" target="_blank">FREE at my Internet Archives Favorites collection</a>.</li></ul><p></p><p><i><b>Enjoy! </b></i></p>Mike Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10761717181465329763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383729925064099332.post-48004774510223168732022-04-28T23:36:00.009-07:002022-05-12T08:56:41.071-07:00Music to Get Lost In: A Brief Introduction to Jam Bands<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwAXuOPpBIHiWltRe0Wgu2iZEoSKmhW1hJzaNew8J0EN9xFpSMq1LUrZS_2tNYlr0GmqPBc_Fcll3wtpqOZDhPcXCLemPjDeHEcGg-Z44umUdiijzlsQUKR0-xPmw8Ho6QcRf7Cm3rrQOo-RjtlKMnqoIpEm0KIzFzhD2-P3biRv6OXOPzqtYhxfpKQ/s600/jam-bands-framed-blog-ready.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwAXuOPpBIHiWltRe0Wgu2iZEoSKmhW1hJzaNew8J0EN9xFpSMq1LUrZS_2tNYlr0GmqPBc_Fcll3wtpqOZDhPcXCLemPjDeHEcGg-Z44umUdiijzlsQUKR0-xPmw8Ho6QcRf7Cm3rrQOo-RjtlKMnqoIpEm0KIzFzhD2-P3biRv6OXOPzqtYhxfpKQ/s16000/jam-bands-framed-blog-ready.jpg" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What's a jam band?</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I like all kinds of music: blues, rock, psychedelic, R&B, jazz and ocassionally even folk/bluegrass and their offshoots. And <b>I especially like long, well-developed performances that I can get lost in </b>-- the kind of music that musicians love playing as they engage a melody and soar side by side like the Blue Angels in tight formation and then diverge into solo musical loops and barrel rolls, eventually converging back at the melody where they started. <b>This kind of musical aerobatics is the domain of the jam band. </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">In introducing its comprehensive and always-growing <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_jam_bands" target="_blank">list of jam bands, <b>Wikipedia</b></a><b> summarizes:</b> "Jam band performances often feature <b>extended musical improvisation ('jams') over rhythmic grooves and chord patterns, and long sets of music that cross genre boundaries.</b>" </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Elsewhere, <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jam_band#:~:text=A%20jam%20band%20is%20a,%22jams%22%20during%20their%20concerts" target="_blank">Wikipedia traces jam band origins</a>: "The jam-band musical style spawned from the psychedelic rock movement of the 1960s. The Grateful Dead and The Allman Brothers Band became notable for their live improvisational jams and regular touring schedules, which continued into the 1990s." Wikipedia also identifies the <b>"stylistic origins" of jam bands to include: jazz, folk, country, psychedelic rock, progressive rock, jazz fusion, blues, rock, and Southern rock.</b> In fact, many jam band tracks (songs) seem to slide effortlessly among several of these musical genres within the same piece. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>(Rather not read my wise & wonderful background info? Then scroll down & start listening.)</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8ZEVh3d--hurE8BO_n2ovjVoZHdXA_nJVKUKluRqyUhlA0PzWUPUInyVX0kR1sqWLmYPTvclAygv4YWZqDsXRNKq5KizgFnD5nhynQZcOKdvQzxFC7VnyDOojj6YHXDAmK1oMzVC1rXLSt4pqjULptXM9URc5PhUtslZn9Z9LpI86l3pktPsavNyJQ/s600/Jam%20Bands%20Playlist%20Thumbnail.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8ZEVh3d--hurE8BO_n2ovjVoZHdXA_nJVKUKluRqyUhlA0PzWUPUInyVX0kR1sqWLmYPTvclAygv4YWZqDsXRNKq5KizgFnD5nhynQZcOKdvQzxFC7VnyDOojj6YHXDAmK1oMzVC1rXLSt4pqjULptXM9URc5PhUtslZn9Z9LpI86l3pktPsavNyJQ/s16000/Jam%20Bands%20Playlist%20Thumbnail.jpg" /></a></div><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What's so great about jam band music?</h3><span><a name='more'></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Individual jam band tracks (songs) are typically <b>much longer than pop music pieces, lasting up to 1/2 hour or longer.</b> So a jam band piece can<b> take the time to develop and evolve </b>through varying forms, structures, solo instrumentations and rhythms. Because the musical piece moves fluidly in and out of different genres, jam band music has a timeless quality about it. A typical song doesn't feel dated, but retains some of the classic qualities of each of the different genres that inspire it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Jam band pieces can behave like mountain streams racing downhill. Comprised of different rivulets which converge and mesh into a tightly blended melody and then, as though hitting a rock, songs split apart into different smaller streams that you can follow as you focus on the guitar, keyboard, sax, violin or other solo instrument. For this reason <b>I prefer to listen with headphones or earbuds in order to hear the distinct instruments and sub-melodies in different parts of my sound field</b> -- some in the left ear, some in the right ear, others appearing in the center.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> </div></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">What about lyrics? </h3><div><br /></div><div>For me, lyrics can be problematic, since I often find the musical composition and instrumentation of a song to be completely immersive while the lyrics can act like a sort of speed bump. By attempting to elicit my sympathies or empathies or passions over issues such as lost love, injustice, etc., lyrics seem to be trying to recruit me to share a songwriter's mood or grievance. Sometimes they represent feelings that I'm simply not interested in engaging. <b>When I come to get lost in the music, I want to simply hear music. Period. And I want to be able to bring my own feelings </b>to the party, unshaped by somebody else's lyrics. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Happily, in most jam band pieces, the lyrics, at most, serve to introduce a melody or a musical home base to which the band returns briefly throughout the song.</b> For the most part, however, you can float lyric-free and ride along with the solo instrumental musician who's turn it is to take the lead at any point in time.</div><div><br /></div><div><h3 style="text-align: left;">My First Jam Band Experiences </h3><div><br /></div><div><b>My first jam band experience</b>, like that of so many baby boomers, <b>was courtesy of the <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grateful_Dead" target="_blank">Grateful Dead</a></b>. The specific piece that got me hooked was <a href="https://youtu.be/0VXJaGa8pzU" target="_blank">Truckin'</a> on their beautifully-produced (and live) triple album <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe_%2772" target="_blank">Europe '72</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>What blew me away was that this mostly instrumental 13-minute piece seemed to go on and on, morphing into several different musical genres, even becoming abstract at times. It was completely different from the 3-5 minute vocal-driven, repetively structured tunes that dominated the pop radio playlists of the time. I listened to it over and over, each time discovering new hidden instrumental gems. I added other extended pieces from that album to my playlist, like <a href="https://youtu.be/NDuZfdf4hFQ" target="_blank">Morning Dew</a> and <a href="https://youtu.be/aPxDN3g1RDg" target="_blank">Prelude</a> which, to me, seemed abstract, equally improvisational and downright exciting! <b> Listening to this album was always a put-on-the-headphones and close-your-eyes kind of experience.</b> I nearly wore out all of its vinyl tracks.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>From the Grateful Dead, I moved on to the <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Allman_Brothers_Band" target="_blank">Allman Brothers Band</a> and then other jam bands.</b> I started to search for albums with live, well-developed pieces (over 10 minutes) that showcased individual band members' virtuosity. And I learned to endure recordings that included a lot of crowd noises, hooting, whistling, etc. I've learned tha<b>t the best live albums are produced so as to drive this extraneous noise into the background while capturing just enough audience sounds to help the listener understand how the crowd helped inspire the bands' performances. </b></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Some Recommendations and a Sampler for Jam Band Newbies</h3><div><br /></div><div>Over the years, I've decided that <b>the best way to find jam band music is to search YouTube.</b> Most jam bands have their own YouTube channels where they post live concerts, cuts from albums, etc. There you can listen to entire pieces, watch the band perform and decide if you like what you're experiencing. So <b>I start by exploring YouTube and then make a list of stuff I want to purchase as MP3s. I then take this list to <a href="https://mp3caprice.com/" target="_blank">MP3 Caprice</a>, buy the tracks I want, download them and enjoy them. </b>(<i>For detailed info on owning and streaming your own music see my earlier article </i><b><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2022/01/replacing-google-play-music-how-i-store.html" target="_blank"><i>Replacing Google Play Music: How I Store & Stream 22 GB of My Own Music (MP3s) for a One-Time Cost of $7.99</i></a>)</b></div><div><br /></div><div>But it doesn't make sense to spend a lot of time talking (or in my case writing) about jam band music. The best way to learn about it is to just jump in and begin experiencing it. <b>Below are samples from a few of my favorite jam bands. There are also lots of links where you can learn more</b> about the band and buy the piece that's in the sample. <i>Enjoy!</i></div></div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">The Grateful Dead: Truckin' </h4><div><br /></div><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0VXJaGa8pzU" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">The Grateful Dead: Fire on the Mountain</h4><div><br /></div><div> <iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZGPeO9jZYvM" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><i><b>Go deeper: </b></i></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/gratefuldead/featured" target="_blank">Grateful Dead YouTube Channel</a></li><li><a href="https://mp3caprice.com/release/europe-72-remastered-29274" target="_blank">Buy the MP3 of Truckin' for just 17 cents!</a></li><li><a href="https://mp3caprice.com/release/cornell-5-8-77-175497" target="_blank">Buy the MP3 of Fire on the Mountain for just 17 cents!</a></li><li>Read <a href="https://www.notesfromtheroad.com/about/grateful-dead-jams.html#:~:text=The%20Eyes%20of%20the%20World%20is%20one%20of%20the%20best.&text=A%20long%2C%20jazzy%20Weather%20Report,monsters%20of%201974%20Grateful%20Dead.&text=Some%20consider%20this%20the%20Grateful,sync%20jam%20of%20all%20time." target="_blank">"Best Grateful Dead Jams for Travel and Road Trips"</a> from <i>Notes from the Road</i></li></ul><div><i><br /></i></div></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Allman Brothers Band: Mountain Jam (Theme From “First There Is A Mountain”)</h4><div><br /></div><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5-3L1MFBKZY" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe> </div><div><br /></div><div><i><b>Go deeper: </b></i></div><div><p dir="ltr"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiIe7qOxLXxRpLSEuGHp5rw" target="_blank">Allman Brothers Band YouTube Channel</a></li><li><a href="https://mp3caprice.com/release/at-fillmore-east-deluxe-edition-32218" target="_blank">Buy the MP3 of Mountain Jam for just 27 cents!</a></li></ul><p></p></div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The String Cheese Incident: <span face="Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Missin' Me</span></span></h4><div><span face="Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/J14CpSAp0IE" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><h4>The String Cheese Incident: <span style="color: #202124;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Black Clouds</span></span></h4></div><div><span style="color: #202124;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RyXaUAZ9XGY" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe> </div><div><br /></div><div><i><b>Go Deeper:</b></i></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp0-IPbm6I9LlBG2fWUNmLg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The String Cheese Incident YouTube Channel</span></a></span></li><li><a href="https://mp3caprice.com/release/carnival-99-live-225831" target="_blank">Buy the MP3 of Missin' Me and Black Clouds here for just 17 cents each!</a></li></ul><br /></div><div><h4>Tedeschi Trucks Band: Bound for Glory</h4></div><div><br /></div><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uaCgScbULso" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><h4>Tedeschi Trucks Band: Uptight </h4><h4><br /></h4><h4><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QFQxaSatiZc" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></h4><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><i><b>Go Deeper:</b></i></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/TTBFromTheRoad/featured" target="_blank">Tedeschi Trucks Band YouTube Channel</a></li><li><a href="https://mp3caprice.com/release/everybody-s-talkin-97696" target="_blank">Buy MP3 of Bound for Glory and Uptight for just 17 cents each!</a></li></ul></div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Phish: Chalk Dust Torture</h4><div><br /></div><div> <iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IAaEQAjlulk" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Phish: Ghost</h4><div><br /></div><div> <iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xCQb4dVIM14" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe> </div><div><br /></div><div><i><b>Go Deeper: </b></i></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/phish/featured" target="_blank">Phish YouTube Channel</a></li><li><a href="https://mp3caprice.com/release/2015-12-30-madison-square-garden-new-york-ny-usa-live-226863" target="_blank">Buy MP3 of Chalk Dust Torture for just 22 cents</a>!</li><li><a href="https://mp3caprice.com/release/amsterdam-115550" target="_blank">Buy MP3 of Ghost for just 22 cents!</a></li></ul><div>__________________________________________________________</div></div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Honorable Mention: Check These Out!</h4><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC287KlHNFH9zHXCNu516WTw" target="_blank">Gov't Mule YouTube Channel</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/davematthewsband" target="_blank">Dave Matthews Band YouTube Channel</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKmXntvZFs9VBYknXMMzIbw" target="_blank">Widespread Panic YouTube Channel</a></li></ul></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">A Few Jam Band References</h4><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jam_band#:~:text=A%20jam%20band%20is%20a,%22jams%22%20during%20their%20concerts" target="_blank">Jam Band (Wikipedia</a>)</li><li><a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_jam_bands" target="_blank">List of jam bands (Wikipedia</a>)</li><li><a href="https://digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_artists-jam.html" target="_blank">100 Greatest Jam Bands (Digital Dream Door)</a></li><li><a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/readers-poll-the-10-best-jam-bands-176464/" target="_blank">Readers’ Poll: The 10 Best Jam Bands (Rolling Stone)</a></li></ul><h4 style="text-align: left;">Related</h4></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2022/01/replacing-google-play-music-how-i-store.html" target="_blank">Replacing Google Play Music: How I <b>Store & Stream </b>22 GB of My Own Music (MP3s) for a One-Time Cost of $7.99</a></li><li><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2022/02/become-armchair-expatriate-with-these.html" target="_blank">Become an armchair expatriate with these 55 video series that'll take you out of the U.S. & around the world!</a></li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p></p>Mike Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10761717181465329763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6383729925064099332.post-66403429042944602122022-03-30T23:19:00.009-07:002022-05-22T15:31:11.304-07:00Book Review -- "Flashing Back: Coming of Age in the American 1960s"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/198103207X?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_tab_ap_product_detailsNOVn3TP0FATPF8fa0Sx0Ej9UW8m4t7XqDN93cOpNqwwN3g0IzYN04trItmGc0oUb1PDRAjpVg_PWKl6TMsAKrsfj-CEkrw/s1638/Screenshot_20220329-224119_LastPass-02.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="839" data-original-width="1638" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3R5LNbWhNJpa78bqyucrnYuRmxsMgdFYJtrySkfCO1W7akdLCUKqhJh-yKBkKE9RuYccRVkpjGw8LmHLJRsU7pobrZ3ZkNOVn3TP0FATPF8fa0Sx0Ej9UW8m4t7XqDN93cOpNqwwN3g0IzYN04trItmGc0oUb1PDRAjpVg_PWKl6TMsAKrsfj-CEkrw/w400-h205/Screenshot_20220329-224119_LastPass-02.jpeg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Amazon Listing for </i><b><i>Flashing Back: Coming of Age in the American 1960s</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><i>[Note: As a baby boomer and a survivor of the 1960s, I found this to be one of the most powerful and authentic books I've ever read. Below is my heartfelt review & recommendation. - Mike G.]</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>----------------------------------------------------------------------------</i></p><p></p><blockquote>"The wall on which the prophets wrote is cracking at the seams..." - <i>from King Crimson's "Epitaph," 1969</i></blockquote><p></p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-ec44c6a8-7fff-a690-87f1-0c5c2464e0d7" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The 1960s were a swirling maelstrom of assassinated heroes, civil rights and racial strife, and the draft turning young men too young to vote (or even needing to shave every day) into cannon fodder, compelling them to kill and die in an unpopular war for reasons still unfathomable. The walls on which our prophets wrote cracked and crumbled as we discovered our institutions victimizing us rather than serving us. An entire generation called “bullshit” on the whole thing. Finding ourselves groping along an uncharted path, we tried to figure out what was going on and how we could survive. We got high. We protested and raised hell in the streets, and at our family dinner tables. Our new, over-amplified music blasted our ideals at deafening levels, a unifying force too loud to ignore. We hit the road partying, leaving the draft, the war, and Ward Cleaver’s America in our rear-view mirror. This disaffected population demographic coalesced into a counterculture of alienated youth with long hair, weird clothes, and loud music: the hippie-freaks. It was indeed a long, strange trip. It was also a passionate trip, a trip motivated by a genuine search for justice, freedom, truth, spirit, and personal authenticity. </p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-ec44c6a8-7fff-a690-87f1-0c5c2464e0d7" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-ec44c6a8-7fff-a690-87f1-0c5c2464e0d7" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The stereotyped version of the 1960s promoted by the media is brittle and empty, a nothingburger. The corporate media depicts the 60s through their hollowed-out, soulless caricatures: vacuous, glazed-eye-staring, peace-sign-flashing, buffoon hippies wearing bad wigs. Madison Avenue morphed the truth of the rough-edged counterculture into a convenient fiction, sanitized drivel suitable for a TV sitcom. Ignoring the raging primal-screams in our music, they foisted the likes of The Monkees and Sonny & Cher on us. Tepid, derivative tunesmithing was concealed by exterior hippie packaging. These “Hollywood hippies” aped the real musicians, the artists who raged, innovated, took chances and and pushed the culture forward. </p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-ec44c6a8-7fff-a690-87f1-0c5c2464e0d7" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-ec44c6a8-7fff-a690-87f1-0c5c2464e0d7" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">To this day, media depictions of 60s freaks are these two-dimensional cartoonish hippie archetypes often accompanied by misleading information.* What’s been missing (and seemingly impossible to capture) is an accurate rendering of the hippie-freak passion, earnestness and the drive for personal integrity that had its roots organically tangled in the events and failing institutions of the times. That is to say, all that has been missing until this book. </p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-ec44c6a8-7fff-a690-87f1-0c5c2464e0d7" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-ec44c6a8-7fff-a690-87f1-0c5c2464e0d7" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">“<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/198103207X?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_tab_ap_product_detailsNOVn3TP0FATPF8fa0Sx0Ej9UW8m4t7XqDN93cOpNqwwN3g0IzYN04trItmGc0oUb1PDRAjpVg_PWKl6TMsAKrsfj-CEkrw/s1638/Screenshot_20220329-224119_LastPass-02.jpeg" target="_blank">Flashing Back</a>” is a unique, high-definition telling of one young man’s journey through the American 60s. It takes us from coast to coast, from small towns to big cities, from the Boston Common to the Haight Ashbury. It is the singular quest of an individual. Yet, at the same time, it documents in vivid detail the forces at play in the world and in the hearts of the hundreds of thousands of young people holding common values helping shape his journey. In this sense, it is a universal “everyman’s” trek through the period. </p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-ec44c6a8-7fff-a690-87f1-0c5c2464e0d7" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-ec44c6a8-7fff-a690-87f1-0c5c2464e0d7" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">This book should be in every public library, though I don’t envy the librarians who would decide where to locate it. While it is first and foremost a vivid autobiography, it’s also aliberally-footnoted work of cultural and political history, sociology, and philosophy, complete with rare photo-artifacts of long extinct underground publications. Eugene’s crisp descriptions illuminate the path for us as we join him on his adventures and follow him up some blind alleys. At the same time, his unobtrusive footnotes anchor these idiosyncratic personal scenes in the larger context of well-documented and academically-analyzable history. </p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-ec44c6a8-7fff-a690-87f1-0c5c2464e0d7" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-ec44c6a8-7fff-a690-87f1-0c5c2464e0d7" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">In short, if you want to know the true nature of the 60s and the freaks who created the counterculture, then this book is required reading. </p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-ec44c6a8-7fff-a690-87f1-0c5c2464e0d7" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-ec44c6a8-7fff-a690-87f1-0c5c2464e0d7" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The price of admission to all this insight is tolerance. This book is a first person narrative in the first-person voice of a young man who is both raging at the prevailing culture and delighting in his discoveries. You’ll find F-bombs, raunchy street expressions, and frequently rude or graphic tales of his experiences. Tolerate these and join him on possibly the most authentic confessional and coming of age story you’ll ever read. </p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-ec44c6a8-7fff-a690-87f1-0c5c2464e0d7" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-ec44c6a8-7fff-a690-87f1-0c5c2464e0d7" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">If your parents or grandparents are from the boomer generation, pay particular attention. You’ll find a lot of things here your elders may not have been able (or were possibly too afraid) to articulate. Understanding these things is essential to fully understanding this unique era in the history of the American 20th century. </p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-ec44c6a8-7fff-a690-87f1-0c5c2464e0d7" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-ec44c6a8-7fff-a690-87f1-0c5c2464e0d7" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Finally, this is a life story that is somehow, all at once, engaging, frightening, poignant, triumphant and hopeful. If you haven’t yet read it, I envy you. You’re in for a hell of a ride!</p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-ec44c6a8-7fff-a690-87f1-0c5c2464e0d7" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">------------------------------------------</p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-ec44c6a8-7fff-a690-87f1-0c5c2464e0d7" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-ec44c6a8-7fff-a690-87f1-0c5c2464e0d7" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><i>* Footnote added by the book's author re: The History Channel DVD Days of Rage and Wonder: “The Hippies is an example, not so much as their facts are bad, it’s that they have presenters who are manifestly ignorant of/hostile to their subject. It is generally slanted throughout to be socially acceptable. This is the program’s main failure. A large part of the 60s was socially unacceptable. Leave that out and you cannot possibly portray any accurate history of the time. The program about half redeems itself with its chronological history of the events and persons era.” </i></p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-ec44c6a8-7fff-a690-87f1-0c5c2464e0d7" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">------------------------------------------</p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-ec44c6a8-7fff-a690-87f1-0c5c2464e0d7" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left;"><i><b>Other Articles for Your Consideration </b></i></div></div><div><ul style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li><a href="http://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2018/09/travel-back-in-time-through-mountains.html" style="background-color: white; color: #33aaff;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Travel Back in Time, Through the Mountains of France & Around the World with Robert Louis Stevenson</span></a></li><li style="color: #222222; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2018/05/how-to-honor-fallen-warriors-stop.html" style="color: #33aaff;" target="_blank">How to Honor Fallen Warriors: Stop Glorifying War & Become an Activist for Peace [with Links to Many Resources]</a> </span></li><li style="color: #222222; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2018/08/reality-check-practical-tools-for.html" target="_blank">Reality Check: Practical Tools for Finding the Truth</a></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222;"><a href="https://mikegreersworthsharing.blogspot.com/2021/02/from-political-hobbiest-to-political.html" target="_blank">From Political Hobbyist to Political Activist: Why and How to Make the Shift</a></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://worthsharingessays1.pressbooks.com/chapter/why-you-should-trust-your-judgment-your-inner-wisdom-filter/" target="_blank">Why You Should Trust Your Judgment (Your "Inner Wisdom Filter")</a></li></ul><div></div></div><div><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>Mike Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10761717181465329763noreply@blogger.com