Curious Canid

Very cute! That isn’t just lying on a pillow. That’s cuddling.

Take a look at the suggestions in this article: https://www.lifewire.com/stop-alexa-from-listening-5121012

If you disable the microphone, except when you want to use it, that should severely limit what it can do. If you also set the option that tells Amazon not to keep any of your recordings that should keep you fairly safe.

The caveat is that Amazon can decide to cheat at any time. They have repeatedly lied about what information that acquire, how long they retain it, and what they do with it. At the moment, they don’t seem to be cheating on the Echo functions, but that could change at any time with an invisible firmware update. There isn’t anything you can do about this except to be aware of the possibility.

It is definitely worth using the privacy options they offer, even if they aren’t enforced through hardware.

Huge Digital Clock Pro is the app I mentioned. Just bear in mind that it only does a small part of what you’re looking for.

I’d be interested in that too. I have an app that adjusts between day and night illumination levels based on the actual sunrise and sunset, but it just toggles between high and low.

If an app still works, it doesn’t matter whether or not it is being maintained.

That is a concern, but they seem to have taken precautions to prevent that from being exploited, at least in the short term. We’ll have to see how it works out. I haven’t given up on them yet.

Startpage is a good choice. I am currently experimenting with searXNG. It seems a little messier to use, but I’m getting more relevant results and less junk.

Memento. From one perspective it’s a happy ending, but …

Somebody owes Handel a whole lot of money.

They look so proud! A lot of effort went into that. :-)

You may well be right. I do not have enough familiarity with the situation in India.

I think the principles still apply, but how to carry them out might well be very different.

Thank you for your comment.

First, get them out of the situation. If they don’t have somewhere to go that the abuser doesn’t know about, see if you have a local women’s shelter. Leaving the area entirely, at least temporarily, may be a good option.

Second, help them take action about the abuse. Contact the police or find a lawyer to help with the process. There are lawyers who will work cases like this without charging. There may also be local government agencies that are specifically tasked with investigating abuse.

Third, get them to seek help in recovering. There are likely to be local organizations that provide counseling and other resources. This is not going to be a short or easy process, but working at it will make a world of difference over the rest of their life.

I’ve been through this with more than one friend. Every bit of it is tough. Having your support will make a big difference. Abusers try to make their victims feel powerless and alone. Having a friend who will help works against that, as well as providing comfort.

I wish you both all the best!

I live in an urban area where the cost are slightly above average, but not by much.

Depending on whose statistics you accept, somewhere between 55% and 62% of the country are living paycheck to paycheck with little or no savings. That is a literal majority of Americans. It really is that bad and it’s getting steadily worse. I was quite comfortable 20 years ago and reasonably so ten years ago. The dividing line passed me about five years back.

Consider me as a data point. My salary is in the low six figures. I have a reasonable mortgage and car loan. I also live paycheck to paycheck and have trouble paying my bills every month. I am currently in default on several thousand dollars of medical debt, that I am trying to pay off gradually, but I’m not always keeping ahead of my new medical debt.

Part of my income goes to helping out some relatives and friends who are in much worse shape, but even without that, I would have trouble breaking even.

I am just barely short of being in the top 10% of US incomes. The income inequality in this country has left the vast majority of the population struggling. Many can no longer afford enough food or housing.

Every years or so I try out a bunch of alternate keyboards. Then I go back to using Gboard. {sigh}

I’ve been using swipe typing for years and I just can’t get by without it. None of the privacy oriented keyboards do it well enough to really be usable yet.

Glad I could help. :-)

I had somehow missed that one. Thanks for giving me something else to laugh about.

How could even Microsoft release a product named WinCE? I’ve marveled at it for decades.

Looks like an Australian/Pillow hybrid. He’s beautiful!

So cute! And I love the one ear sticking up.