Alexa...bite me! (Page 1/2)
williegoat DEC 07, 01:00 PM
I have been a Home Automation fan (hobbyist?) for over thirty years, starting with the X-10 stuff back in the late '80s.

Practically everything in my house is tied in with Echo, Ring, Insteon, etc.

Well, I woke up this morning and told Alexa good morning, and she ignored me, almost as if we were married.

I have said before that technology is great... when it works, but don't count on it. Echo (Alexa) and Ring both belong to Amazon and Amazon is currently having widespread system outages. Can I blame the Leftists or China or somebody? I actually had to push buttons to turn on my lights and turn on the radio to listen to Clay and Buck.



I think I am going to paint some protest signs, maybe loot a liquor store or something. Anybody got a good recipe for Molotov Cocktails?

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Let's go Brandon!

IMSA GT DEC 07, 01:16 PM

quote
Originally posted by williegoat:
....maybe loot a liquor store or something.




Have you lost your mind? You loot the music store for that 1959 Les Paul
Jake_Dragon DEC 07, 01:19 PM
hmm the service that has access to your home is having issues. I wonder if its the same issue facebook "didn't have"
MidEngineManiac DEC 07, 01:20 PM
Vaseline.....dish soap....kerosene....gasoline.

Dont drink the whole bottle in one sitting. The morning-after farts are really burn.
williegoat DEC 07, 02:50 PM
2.5 DEC 07, 02:57 PM
I look at Alexa and the other home automation cameras and listening devices items tied to the web as too much of a direct invasion of privacy, and I also don't really like being part of what helps AI learn.

Yes I'm aware much of this cannot be avoided.

[This message has been edited by 2.5 (edited 12-07-2021).]

williegoat DEC 07, 03:19 PM

quote
Originally posted by 2.5:

I look at Alexa and the other home automation cameras and listening devices items tied to the web as too much of a direct invasion of privacy, and I also don't really like being part of what helps AI learn.

Yes I'm aware much of this cannot be avoided.



I resisted for years, but one day I realized that if I am carrying an Android phone, they already have the ability to track and listen if they want. I have no cameras inside other than my phone, tablet and laptop; but I have three watching my front yard, front door and driveway. I have a sensor on my mailbox which starts a camera and announces when the mail arrives and have twice captured video and thwarted would-be mail thieves. I also have a lot of video of stray cats wandering through my yard.
2.5 DEC 07, 03:27 PM

quote
Originally posted by williegoat:

I have a sensor on my mailbox which starts a camera and announces when the mail arrives and have twice captured video and thwarted would-be mail thieves.



This sounds interesting. How were they thwarted?
williegoat DEC 07, 03:39 PM

quote
Originally posted by 2.5:


This sounds interesting. How were they thwarted?


One, in broad daylight, pulled up to the mailbox in an SUV. As soon as he opened the door, he saw the device and smoked the tires. The next, a woman walking down the street about 3 am, was hit with the floodlights as soon as she opened the door and made a hasty retreat.

Without the mailbox sensor, I would have never known about the attempts until I found that the mailbox door was left open, which I did find occasionally. In addition, Alexa announces when mail is delivered, so I can go right out and grab it. Even with the system down today, I still got the announcement. I just can't view video right now or run voice command routines that span between systems. It's like living in the horse and buggy days.

[This message has been edited by williegoat (edited 12-07-2021).]

Hudini DEC 08, 05:43 AM
I like that idea of the camera and sensor inside the mailbox.

Edit: Did you run power or ethernet cable to the mailbox?

[This message has been edited by Hudini (edited 12-08-2021).]