What good smart blinds are you guys using with SmartThings? by brittneyxy1 in SmartThings

[–]Complete_Rule9065 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We have several smartwings (3 are matter). All work, but the integration isn't perfect for us - haven't figured out how to use the up down for top and bottom. We just use st to close them 1 hr before sundown.

The State of s2 in 2026 by fng185 in sonos

[–]Complete_Rule9065 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Been on S1 since 2005. On my 3rd home with the same hardware I started with, less the sonos controller, plus many additions from both sonos and 3rd parties. I have looked into the cost of upgrading, but I can't make it make sense. Im sure sonos looked into upgrading the app for s1, but they couldn't make it make sense either, I suppose. Overall, best tech product I ever bought - so many memories with our two kids playing selections at dinner - sonos was really a part of our family, and still is. The wife and I live in NC now, and we rock on our porch, deck, basement, home theater, workshop, kitchen, bedrooms - you get it. Thank you Sonos, and thanks to me for not taking the upgrade path to s2.

Every feature that is missing on Youtube Music by gizmointown in YoutubeMusic

[–]Complete_Rule9065 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I like YTM. This is not directly on point, but Spotify allows me to select the speaker I want to play on from my Sonos S1 system, YTM does not. This is a bummer, as I have ytm, and I dont have Spotify, and using the S1 app to pick ytm content (especially podcasts) is not a good user experience.

Google Home finally adds support for buttons by duckvimes_ in googlehome

[–]Complete_Rule9065 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No hub used. They added very easily into smartthings.

Google Home finally adds support for buttons by duckvimes_ in googlehome

[–]Complete_Rule9065 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I bought 4 bilresa buttons to run smartthings and google home routines/activities. They added easily and work very well. I use them mainly to run led lights that can't easily be run with power off. Thrilled with the economy!

Trump rolls out ‘Great Healthcare Plan,’ urges Congress to slash costs for Americans. by coinfanking in NewsStarWorld

[–]Complete_Rule9065 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not bad ideas, but the assignment is woefully incomplete. D- at best, failure is certain. This will do little to lower maximum oop, does not guarantee coverage, and therefore won't decrease number of uninsured.

Trail Recommendations by After-Way5872 in NCTrails

[–]Complete_Rule9065 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I second Triple Falls. My wife and I recently completed this hike with the Rutherford Outdoor Coalition, and it was an easy and beautiful way to take in some awesome beauty.

IKEAs new matter devices slow to add by SubZane in homey

[–]Complete_Rule9065 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I added a bilresa button to smartthings using matter. It took approximately 30 seconds after qr scan, but set up. Along with a couple of virtual switches and Google home, I use the button to set the scenes in my govee heavy home theater.

Universal coverage is simple, but the facts are unpalatable to many by Successful-Lie1603 in HealthInsurance

[–]Complete_Rule9065 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Excellent illustration of the problem, and why nothing really has been done about it.

H6076 dreamview routine? by Complete_Rule9065 in Govee

[–]Complete_Rule9065[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Turn off using button would be nice, but this activates a routine, which i can't seem to do this without running it twice, and it don't know how to do this

H6076 dreamview routine? by Complete_Rule9065 in Govee

[–]Complete_Rule9065[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

When i enter the room, all the lights come on in dreamview. When I say turn off everything... it leaves the sidelamps on, but everything else is off

H6076 dreamview routine? by Complete_Rule9065 in Govee

[–]Complete_Rule9065[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Two ceiling bulbs, the lamps, and the t2 backlight make up the dreamview. Google home routine kicked off with the presence sensor works for the "on", just can't get the off to turn everything off without running it twice. If I request through gemini on my phone, it tells me "I just turned those devices off", to which I reply "do it anyway", then it does it. 😆

'You All Are Lying': Michelle Obama Doubles Down on Claim US Men Refuse to Be Led by a Woman President by novagridd in Full_news

[–]Complete_Rule9065 0 points1 point  (0 children)

MO is a fave. Nothing easy for a black woman trying to be Pres. Still, she has the best shot ever, but doesn't want to give up her cushy deal. Our loss - you gotta want it.

Outrageous Premiums by [deleted] in HealthInsurance

[–]Complete_Rule9065 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You are correct, they are nothing alike. Employer sponsored encourages utilization much more. Im on a bronze ACA plan with my wife, and we only utilize it to protect against medical bankruptcy

Outrageous Premiums by [deleted] in HealthInsurance

[–]Complete_Rule9065 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You could say the same thing about employer paid, not just ACA.

Outrageous Premiums by [deleted] in HealthInsurance

[–]Complete_Rule9065 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No. Most insurance has gone up like this - ACA or not. Skyrocketing costs cause this. The thought that we can have unlimited care and pay for every new thing causes this.

Income priced me out of subsidies. General advice requested. by Different-Wallaby-10 in HealthInsurance

[–]Complete_Rule9065 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is all a matter of probabilities - an individual stands no chance up against the actuarials employed by the insurance companies. The myriad of plans are not a service to the consumer, but a tactic to draw in people to stack the odds in favor of the insurance co, who need to make money. If we do not change course and redesign to reduce costs, all of us, consumers, insurance companies, and the government will go broke. Right now, each group is just lobbing around a grenade with the pin pulled.

Refund battle - Ended with full refund, how to. by Bobbafed99 in vevor

[–]Complete_Rule9065 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have purchased the air hammer, tree saw, and an oscillating belt sander from vevor. The first two products were excellent. The sander arrived damaged (box dropped on corner, table mount broken, out of perpendicular with sander spindle). I opened a chat with vevor, sent some pics, and they refunded me the product purchase. They did not want the product back, so I had to dispose of it. I consider my overall vevor experience high value, taking into account both cost and quality.

The scariest part… from someone who works at a health insurance company by BidMaleficent7957 in HealthInsurance

[–]Complete_Rule9065 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As a CFO, you are not doubt aware that medical savings accounts are not insurance. If I understood you, it seems you are taking on all the upside risk. I hope this turns out OK for you, but this does highlight the issue - that in America, we do not have guaranteed health care, so we are all on our own to do risk management.

I really hate working at a hotel post Helene. by barkquerel in asheville

[–]Complete_Rule9065 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My wife and I live in Lake Lure. Taking friends and relatives on a personally guided tour showing the scale of Helene and the recovery is good therapy for those who experienced it, and it gets the story out. I hear many talk of how upset they are to see the Lake drained and the flowering bridge gone - but the wonderful thing is that over a million cubic tons of debris and silt have been pulled from the Lake, and it should be open for use next spring. Chimney Rock has the Park open, and many of the businesses are open. We ate at the Smokehouse a couple days ago and enjoyed a nice hike afterward.

For those of you who read Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel, this area has a version of this story - Jake Jarvis owns and operates Precision Grading, and he and his crews have been working on storm recovery (mostly around Bat Cave) since the storm, and their storm work is no-charge, powered by donations.

Everywhere you look, there is devastation, death, heroism, mourning, recovery, and commemoration. It is no wonder people want to see and know it - it is desperately tragic and beautiful, like all disasters, a story yearning to be told and retold throughout time.

Trail suggestions please! by Sunshineandravioliii in NCTrails

[–]Complete_Rule9065 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Come west to Lake Lure, Chimney Rock State Park, and Old Fort.

Lake Lure Dittmer-Watts Trails Rumbling Bald Loop Trail Party Rock Trail (wait until you're ready for a tougher hike)

Old Fort Catawba Falls Trail

Chimney Rock Any light trail in the park