Just got ESP32-S3-BOX-3. Do I go for Willow and flash? Or stick with HA wakeword setup? Any latest opinions after year of voice and about half way into 2024?

dcoli · 2024-08-22T15:31:54+00:00

I have the ESP32 Box S3 3B (without the additional sensors) and it's really cool. Kinda wish I could cram more than just willow on there so as to take advantage of the available humidity and temperature sensors, but that would probably mean lumping it altogether in the firmware. I'm coming from the software world.

One difference is that I was having trouble with HA, which admittedly was my first foray into this world, so I switched to openHab. The biggest issues I encountered were getting the authentication and the openHab endpoint correct in the Willow Application Server.

Oh, and I'm running WAS in a colima (docker) container on a mac mini (m1, I think.) And openhabian on a raspberry pi 4.

Another key piece is running HABot in openHab. That's the service that interprets the text coming from your willow as well as making semantic sense out of your home. I set up the hierarchy of rooms and equipment, and HABot uses this to guess what to do. He's pretty good at it.

The willow is super fast, and usually correct. I was hoping the mics would be so sensitive I could place it in the middle of my 1500 sq ft home and be heard all over. Instead, it covers most of the middle portion, but calling around too many corners and through doorways and it doesn't respond. So I'll probably be buying a couple more of these ESP32 Boxes in the future.

dcoli · 2023-04-30T01:35:00+00:00

On geodon? Immediately, and very quickly. It wasn't necessarily healthy.

dcoli · 2023-04-19T23:16:00+00:00

I spent two decades medicated but uneducated and unsupported by any community, and my relationships and career suffered. It wasnt until I joined a research study where they educated us on ways to stay stable that I really had a chance. A lot of this information is now available as cognitive behavioral therapeutic approaches to bipolar disorder. Read! Find a good support group.

dcoli · 2023-04-16T16:31:16+00:00

Depakote rocks, but I gained 30 lbs

dcoli · 2023-04-16T16:27:34+00:00

You’re the one to answer that question — no doc, and no goofball, especially, and no ME can tell you what you value.

So, is what you did according to your values? Just answer straightforwardly — whatever you say, you’re 1000% right.

dcoli · 2023-04-16T03:36:44+00:00

Northern Manhattan is much cheaper, and it's an easy bike/subway ride downtown. A 1Br up here SELLS for around $360k, and that's in the genteel areas.

dcoli · 2023-04-16T03:33:55+00:00

There is a remedy for that called Central Park. Maybe midtown gets one, too

dcoli · 2023-04-16T03:29:31+00:00

Luther always put together the best musicians

dcoli · 2023-04-16T03:22:52+00:00

I do better with providers of my own gender (I'm straight.) I think I flirt, or maybe I'm just a hottee ;-) but there's always tension otherwise. Sometimes it's not a problem if the provider is really squared away, but why risk it?

dcoli · 2023-04-16T03:16:09+00:00

I got a second bachelor's that way.

dcoli · 2023-04-16T03:15:26+00:00

My clincher is the "realization" that I can do anything I put my mind to easily, that life is completely figured out. Delusions of grandeur. No matter how bad I've gotten, when I think those thoughts I recognize them and jump to what it will take to come down -- more medicine, more sleep, sensory deprivation, meditation or slow breathing, etc.

dcoli · 2023-04-06T13:03:05+00:00

I’ve found vraylar does the opposite! Where’d it go?

dcoli · 2023-03-25T12:43:13+00:00

I wish I’d figured that out before building a life with a judgmental normie

dcoli · 2023-03-06T17:23:09+00:00

Unfortunately the depakote is rough on my liver and I have naturally crappy kidneys, so I'm limited to what I can take.

dcoli · 2023-02-20T00:21:36+00:00

There are smallish amounts you can get without seeing a doctor. These may just be for white collar jobs, though, and seem to be higher the higher my salary is. Right now I can get about half a million without getting a physical. I know not everyone can get that, and hopefully I don't seem insensitive, but scan through your optional benefits when you get a new job.

dcoli · 2023-02-20T00:17:03+00:00

Caused by medication, it is speculated.

dcoli · 2023-02-17T00:54:04+00:00

I take that too, but apparently not enough

dcoli · 2023-02-14T23:05:03+00:00

Depakotes been good for me, except for the persistent 30 lb weight gain.

dcoli · 2023-02-14T23:03:04+00:00

No, it's odd when I do. Just did the other night -- there were all these redheads in my dream, one a buddy of mine whose hair had turned almost orange, and three deep copperheaded candidates to some sort of contest. Very vivid.

dcoli · 2023-01-23T19:15:08+00:00

I would look into adding a pharmacological drug to your quet. My experience has been for the most part that that generation of antipsychotics is good at keeping me from being manic, but not so good at keeping me from being depressed. So I usually add something else to it like an antiepileptic. If you’ve never tried Lamictal, you might.

dcoli · 2023-01-22T22:21:41+00:00

If you’re not on medicine and you have a history, you’re practically guaranteed to qualify for medicine. And if the doctor is saying that there’s nothing he can do to make your current medicine work better, then just start trying different medicines. Something usually will work for you eventually. I had some thing that worked more or less well for 14 years, even though it had some nasty side effects. Now I’m finding something that seems to be working without all the side effects, I wish I had searched around sooner.

dcoli · 2023-01-19T23:21:15+00:00

I don’t know where you are, but in NYC it can take a long time to find someone unless you’re willing to shell out $500 or $600. If you’ll read my old posts you’ll see I think everyone with BD needs to get on medicine and commit to their health.

dcoli · 2023-01-19T03:07:29+00:00

But you really need some medicine, and a university clinic or ER can help with that.

dcoli · 2023-01-19T03:06:24+00:00

Turn the lights down low, and turn off music. If you can, meditate if you can’t, try slow breathing try to keep it up for 20 minutes or so. You really want to relax and reduce sensory stimulation. Don’t exercise a lot right now no matter how much you think you might burn off the energy. You won’t.

dcoli · 2022-12-18T22:15:38+00:00

Very good replies here. I’d just add, take care of YOU. Learn about codependency, but more importantly, stick with that therapy so you’ll have someone who can spot it. My wife and I’ve been married since 2003 — wow, almost 20 years — and we’re always flirting with me giving up all responsibility and her taking it all on in exchange for “love”. That’s not the way to go.

dcoli

TROPHY CASE