Random 5 for March 9, 2025 – Technology, Cell phone, adjustments, blogging tech, Ukraine

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I fought the tech and the tech won – I had two incidents with technology this week. One involved a car wash, and I’ll post about that later this week after I have recovered from the trauma. The other involved my spiffy new iPhone (which I mostly love). I should to be able to verbally order my usual Starbucks through Siri. I hadn’t tried it yet but this week the “order Starbuck” icon popped up, so I thought it was time. This is something you can’t practice unless you are buying a drink. Practicing it could result in 5 drinks in your name sitting on the store counter and a large amount of money out of your pocket. This morning I decided to give it a go. “Hey Siri” I called. The phone flickered. I thought that was a good sign. I asked it to “order Starbucks.” Nothing. Nada. No recognition of anything. I tried twice with the same results and then decided that doing the same thing over and over again with the same results was stupid.  I decided to watch a YouTube video on Siri today. Technology! I have a love-hate relationship with it.

Now for the good stuff – I love the camera on my phone and the technology behind it. I don’t label my photos, but I have enough that the camera does a collage of similar shots. It did a group on Sasha and called it…wait for it…Sasha! It’s eerie! How did they know her name? I enjoyed the shots. Last year when my cat Gracie (RIP) started to barf every day, I took photos to show the vet. Yes, this week my iPhone gave me a collection of barf shots (Note to self: DELETE THOSE!) I also get the photo titled “remember 3 years ago” which was before I had the phone. My photos were transferred from my old phone which was not nearly as thoughtful or caring. It makes me smile.

This is Lily our resident deer at our last house. She liked to take selfies on our wildlife camera.

Adjusting – We don’t like to drive in the dark. Our area is rural which means there are no streetlights, lots of deer (who do not look before crossing the street) and idiots on the road (that may be a universal problem). Aging eyesight and slower reflexes make driving trickier too. We moved our social gatherings to lunchtime. When you include those with medical appointments, contractor visits and other stuff, the daytime hours are full. The longer daylight lets us move socialization back to dinnertime. Yay!

For bloggers – Did anyone besides me see that the WordPress techies put the word Reader back on the top band next to the icon that has two circles but is supposed to be spectacles? Guess I wasn’t the only one that thought it looked like two circles.

Ukraine – I am upset at how we are treating Ukraine. Ending the war by making the victim give up is not ending the war. I understand the tactics behind it, but I don’t approve. It goes against my sense of good and evil. Borrowing from a school idiom, “when the bully wins everyone’s lunch is in jeopardy.” We are better than that or are we? Next time they might come for your lunch.

So how was your week?

 

69 thoughts on “Random 5 for March 9, 2025 – Technology, Cell phone, adjustments, blogging tech, Ukraine”

  1. Thank you for your thoughts on Ukraine. I thought it was so disgraceful the way Pres. Zelenskyy was treated by Trump & Vance last week at the White House!!

    I have been to Ukraine, and found the people there very warm & friendly – also very hard-working and honest. That poor country has been through so much already – invaded by Hitler, then Stalin, and now Putin. They deserve so much better than what they are getting!

    Liked by 1 person

  3. I love the nod to Ukraine and the graphic! I agree 100% with you Ukraine shouldn’t have to give up anything or be threatened with trade deals. They definitely belong in NATO and hoping the EU will all stand strong for that!

    Pauleen Driscoll

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  4. Agreed with everything. I had no idea Siri would order coffee for you though! I’m one of those people who will own something and never figure out all the things it can do.

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  5. We certainly join the throng of people who think things are getting out of control. Control freaks aren’t necessarily the right ones to run things. Our hearts go out to Ukraine – the steps forward are now going back. That’s “progress” ? I don’t think so. Anyway, we don’t have iPhones but they do make us wonder if humans are running the world anymore! LOL

    Hugs, Pam

    Liked by 1 person

  6. we hear you for the streets… it seems after hunting season is closed, they all left their hiding places and walk on the streets… even at uncommon times… so we slow down and scan the area like soldiers…

    Liked by 1 person

    • Since a deer ran into my car, I’m paranoid about them. I avoid dawn and dusk as much as possible but as you say, they wander around at uncommon times.

      Like

  8. I love watching youtube videos when I need to learn how to do something. My prayers are with those in the Ukraine, such a sad situation. XO

    Liked by 1 person

  9. When I have to decide whether to get a new technology or not, I think I do an unscientific cost-benefit analysis: how much time will it take me to learn it vs. how much time it will save me, how useful it will be vs. how annoying to get used to it, and what would I rather be doing right now. Like I said, it’s unscientific.

    I cry for the brave people of Ukraine. And, I don’t want my country to be part of the Axis of Evil. We’re certainly heading in that direction, though. It couldn’t be good for our defense contractors either with countries around the world realizing that American weapons have kill-switches that someone like Trump can turn off at will. After selling Tesla stock, I told my investment advisor to buy European defense stocks. Besides being a good buy, our allies (former allies?) need them.

    Liked by 1 person

    • I am intrigued by your investment strategy. That is putting your money where your heart is. As for the phone, I needed an upgrade for sure. My android wasn’t functioning well with my new hearing aids so I decided to go Apple. It’s my first Apple product. Since it’s a new model and a far cry from my basic smart phone, I expected a steep learning curve. I’ve been amazed by a lot of stuff though. So according to your unscientific analysis I’m glad I got it (and that’s something I don’t alway say!).

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  10. I didn’t notice the word “Reader” there, but I knew it was glasses, however, I needn’t feel smug about that since my Duolingo French site where I’m learning French, had two ways to listen to a sentence for clarity. One was a microphone, the other something I thought was just a blob. Turns out the blob is a turtle, to slow it down. Hmm – who knew? So maybe I needed new glasses. 🙂

    I am having tech issues since installing a VPN and cannot get into some sites. So I may have to shut it off to access sites – so what is the point of having it? Crazy – everything is crazy anymore. So, here’s a crazy carwash story for you.

    Before starting college, my parents bought me a new VW Super Beetle. It looked like a VW Bug, but no clutch and you shifted into second gear only if you went above 45 mph. The car was a lemon from Day #1, but my trip to the carwash once was unforgettable. I drove up to the proper place to get onto the conveyor belt and put the car in neutral. The car and the car wash had a major malfunction that day. Halfway through the carwash, the conveyor belt quit working and would not go forward and so they turned off the soap and water and yelled for me to just drive the car out. I put it in “Drive” – nothing happened. The car always had an issue when it rained or snowed, which is why my father eventually took it over after my Allstate road insurance cancelled me for too many tows. The car wash guys had to push (they said “lift” but that may be suspect) the car out of the car wash, then I needed a tow as it wouldn’t move. Not fun!

    I like that picture of Ukraine and I feel badly for them. I don’t usually comment on politics as I’m not an American citizen and especially now due to the friction with Canada, but I’m very sad about what is going on right now and spend a lot of time dwelling on it.

    Liked by 1 person

    • I’m going to post about my car wash story this week but you may have me beat! As for our treatment of Ukraine, it’s un-American. That’s all I can say about it. The chaos is affecting a lot of people.

      Liked by 1 person

      • I’ll look forward to your carwash story … yes, my story is pretty special isn’t it? Sometimes I think I could write a book about the peculiar things in my 68+ years.

        Liked by 1 person

  12. Which # I-phone did you get? It’s time for me to upgrade (I think I have the 11?) but I’m afraid. Very afraid. I just use the Starbucks app on my phone to order our Starbucks. My voice is not dependable. 🙂

    I dislike new technology because it takes me too long to figure it out. Now, WP has taken away my ability to use the Classic Editor easily (I typed this the first time and suddenly the paragraph disappeared) – Uh, BIG BROTHER. I’m having a difficult time writing and posting on my blog now. Double the time. URGHHHHHHHH.

    And as far as our bullying president and his sidekicks. Our country is better than this. At least I hope so…..

    Liked by 1 person

    • I have the iPhone 16 and I love it but it can be frustrating but I transitioned from an android basic smart phone. I use the Starbucks app but it gets complicated. I can’t order from my driveway because I now have a detour that takes longer. If I order too early, my drink isn’t hot so I pull over to the side and order on my app halfway there. I’d love to ask Siri to do it. I spent the afternoon looking at YouTubers about the phone and also on our grocery store rewards program because the dang thing (also on an app) didn’t work for me today and I don’t know why. Bullies? Indeed!

      Liked by 1 person

      • Ah, that’s the new one I’m thinking about. And I understand about the timing on the Starbucks! I like my Earl Gray Tea Latte (no syrup, lots of foam) nice and hot. 🙂
        Ban the bullies!!!!

        Liked by 1 person

        • I have the iPhone 16 and my husband has the iPhone 16 Plus. The difference is his screen is slightly longer. The iPhone 16 Pro has more features. Mine is fine for what I need.

          Liked by 1 person

  13. I am broken hearted that so much has happened — firing Joint Chiefs, firing objective oversight people and putting Loyalists in their place, putting such incapable Loyalists in Cabinet slots, appointing author of Project 2025 Russell Vought as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and more — that sets up a framework for Dictatorship. More brokenhearted that so many in our country don’t pay attention, OR don’t recognize propaganda techniques, OR are just selfish to the core and so voted for the destruction of Democracy in America. Embarrassed for all of us that the world now thinks we are all fools.

    Liked by 2 people

    • I’m hoping people make their wishes known by their vote and communication to their representatives in Congress. He made a mess of the pandemic but people have short memories. I would gladly paid $20 for a dozen eggs and have a lot less chaos.

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  14. The Reader thing might have been me. As you know, I love your blog and read comments. Our team at Automattic (WordPres.com) is constantly trying to make things easier and smoother for people using the product.

    I do know I shared some of the feedback I’ve read in comments regarding the Reader. That’s a different division from the one I’m currently in so I didn’t keep up on what happened after I made my case. Seems like they listened 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    • Perhaps cat’s eye style glasses would have worked! 🙂 Can you do something about block editor? Most of us strictly bloggers who don’t monetize our blogs find it unwieldy with no benefit.

      Liked by 1 person

      • What are you trying to change about it? I personally find it a lot easier to use. But many don’t, I know. Do you use the classic block?

        Liked by 1 person

        • I use the old classic but my comments section uses block. Mostly I find adding and adjusting pictures harder. I also write in Word, then copy and paste. That may have something to do with it.

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  15. I noticed ‘reader’ too. They are forever tinkering. Now I can’t reblog anything unless in Block editor, and if I make a mistake with scheduling, can’t edit it!!!
    Agree on the Ukraine issue. Recent events are disgraceful and I feel for my American friends.

    Liked by 2 people

  17. I didn’t know you could order from Starbucks via Siri. It took me some time before I could even locate my Reader. Looked like circles to me. The Ukraine art is lovely! Love it! I hate that we seem to have abandoned Ukraine and have become a bully. Good week here.

    Liked by 1 person

  18. I find Siri to have selective hearing at times, especially using Apple CarPlay, when I’d really like her to be listening 😤. I agree with you about Ukraine – that was disgusting to watch.

    Deb

    Liked by 1 person

    • I know what he does. He likes to break his opposition down so they are forced to capitulate. Not a trait I admire. It’s like in business when your manager bullies to you work harder. It backfires in the long run.

      Liked by 1 person

  21. Sometimes Siri is helpful (when I’m driving), but mostly I think Siri more like Big Brother. Right now Siri is spying for big corporations, but how long until it’s for a fascist administration?

    Liked by 2 people

  22. Glad you’re finding new ways to utilize all the capabilities of your new phone. I’m sure if you asked a barista they can help you set up the Siri ordering function (or even a tech person at your nearest phone store). It can be entertaining (and slightly creepy) whenever Siri says “I’m sorry I didn’t understand xxx” when it seemed to have picked up a conversation on TV or at the dining room table. Talk about a Twilight Zone moment! {shudder}

    Liked by 1 person

  23. We are better than that or are we? Next time they might come for your lunch.

    I want to believe we are better people, but evidence suggests otherwise. Case in point The Donald won the election.

    Liked by 4 people

  25. I’m not happy with so much that has happened with the current administration. When did we vote Elon as president? The Ukraine treatment is wretched, not to mention all the lives that have been thrown into utter chaos. And more to come. Maybe I’ll take something to put me in a comma for four years…wake me after that.

    Liked by 3 people

  26. I concur about Ukraine . . . but I am unhappy about most of the news from DC these days. Trump and his cronies are going about almost everything the wrong way.

    Liked by 3 people

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