Bob Fairbairn

Over the last several years I have been working to cost reduce very high quality stereo systems. I have had some great success and I want to share!

Hulu, Disney , etc. are changing their rules

We have highlighted some of the changes for your reference:

 

• We're adding information regarding billing and payment processes.

 

• We are clarifying that, as we continue to increase the breadth and depth of the content we make available to you, circumstances may require that certain titles and types of content include ads, even in our 'no ads' or 'ad free' subscription tiers.

 

• We're clarifying that the same arbitration agreement applies to Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu."

Yesterday, they changed their policy on “AI that causes harm."

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy081nqx2zjo

I have always had a love/hate/love for what Google (and Microsoft) are doing.   My Defcon level has been rising for the last couple of years when I watched the Windows 11 OS as a spyware process that Microsoft seems to be taking. With the end of support for Windows 10 looming, I plan to execute some actions.  But I digress. This is about Google.

At one customer's request, I moved them to Google Workspace a couple of weeks ago.  I am about to migrate another customer to something this week, and we were thinking of Google.  Now I am not sure it is a good idea.

I have multiple customers who use Chromebooks; my family uses some Google hardware and software, including one of the TVs in the house.

My moral compass is spinning like something in a movie.  So, I write this all down to help me think, share it with others, and finally get it out of the back of my brain.

Personally, I think it will be hard to eliminate all things Google. In our world, this may seem like a very small thing.  

No more Gmail, no more Chrome OS, no more Android, no more browsers based on Chromium .  

That is not all; what services are we using that use Google or Microsoft as the cloud back end?  My head hurts.

Over the years, I have been working to find little corners of the world to visit and enjoy. We have traveled to that end, and I have been able to find some digital corners to live in. I can only emotionally afford to put energy into a few places. I cannot watch or read mainstream news. I can no longer tolerate the massive systems just to see the photos of my grandkids, etc.

I have found a couple places to put my trust in. First, I write about audio stuff, mainly over at Audiophile Style. I am re-introducing myself to expand my connections in other areas here at MB. I have put a toe in the river of activity pub, and it is just too hot and fast for me. I may learn to narrow the noise down.

I have found two places where I can safely read about the world. The first is at 404media, four pros helping navaginte some parts of the cycle of information. I also subscribe to “The Verge” I have a couple of Mac and IOS places to hang out in MacStories and TidBits.

@bobfa

The back garden has to be reworked as the tree roots were taking all the water from the garden plants:

1/17/25,…

I remembered that I had stopped blogging. The new micro.one system was the trigger, and I thought, what the heck? I did miss doing this.

Twelve hours later, I reactivated my account, and poof @manton had saved my old blog. Thank you very much.

It’s time to catch up.

First time trying a winter garden. I am being very optimistic. The grandkids and I mixed up some more Mel’s Mix (square-foot gardening). We planted some seeds. They are growing.

New Project at ham-comm.com

This one must be an over achiever:

I have just completed a three year project! The story will appear on Audiophilestyle.com soon. Here is picture of the finished project and a link to the summary video.

Victrola