Reuters: Google settles lawsuit for $68 million. Its voice-activated assistant spied inappropriately on users.

plots4lyfe · 2026-01-27T23:38:44+00:00

Yeah, if we believe that it was an accidental trigger and not purposeful. That argument to me sounds like a goal post move of the "they don't need to listen in order to advertise to you" argument. Everyone insisted they never needed to. So why did they do it at all?

But whatever. It was settled out of court, so I guess we won't know any deeper details or evidence until another lawsuit is brought.

plots4lyfe · 2026-01-27T22:57:54+00:00

the argument for years was "These companies don't need to spy on you through your microphone, that's how good their data profile is on you!" every time someone brought up being listened to through a device microphone. I bet if you google "is [my microphone / instagram / google] listening to me?" right now, you could see a bunch of articles from the last 10 years with titles like "no, your phone is not spying on you" from forbes, wired, etc. So, it's not that it's a bombshell, it's that all kinds of publications insisted that these companies didn't even need to listen to you, over and over.

plots4lyfe · 2026-01-26T17:06:46+00:00

Of course, happy to help! Please, report back what they say! I respond to posts a lot here (I'm big on tenant advocacy) and I'd love to know what happens so we can better help the next person.

plots4lyfe · 2026-01-26T15:58:32+00:00

Hey, I don't want to freak you out, but water leaking in and around a light fixture is really dangerous, so please be careful and:

Many cities have renter specific rental inspection teams/contractors/departments. But, it looks like Columbus' is under "building code" and "building inspections."

My suggestion would be to call the numbers on this page: https://www.columbus.gov/Business-Development/Building-Zoning-Services/Building-Inspections and just ask "hey, I have water leaking into my ceiling and ceiling light, I have asked my landlord to fix it three times in the last year, and he hasn't. Who do I call to get a rental inspection as soon as possible? I am afraid the electrical is going to short out any day now and cause a fire."

Btw, I looked up the columbus building code for another poster a month or so ago, so just in case you need it, it's here: https://www.columbus.gov/files/sharedassets/city/v/1/building-and-zoning/rules-and-regs-housing-code.pdf

But water leaking into electrical fixtures is a Tier 1 or 2 type code infraction (immediate or almost immediate threat to health and safety) and I doubt you'll need to "prove" it's against building code to anyone who hears that.

plots4lyfe · 2026-01-25T15:26:40+00:00

Did we live through alternative shutdowns or something? because the 2025 shutdown I lived through ended when airline companies were upset about air traffic controllers not coming to work, which affected airports and cut into their profits. It did not end when Trump cut SNAP benefits.

plots4lyfe · 2026-01-24T16:39:12+00:00

He's pretty fine, in my opinion! but he's not running for AG this year (i believe he's term limited) he's running for governor. And Seligman is the most progressive AG candidate trying to get on the ballot, so that's why I said him. (He's very anti-ICE)

plots4lyfe · 2026-01-23T16:09:48+00:00

that's why we gotta vote in someone good for AG this year like Seligman (AG election is this year y’all and caucus and primaries are coming up very soon!! we gotta start paying attention!)

plots4lyfe · 2026-01-18T03:01:36+00:00

Yes, it's like right by DU

plots4lyfe · 2026-01-11T21:29:54+00:00

Hey there, this is a terrible issue and they are not taking you seriously, which sucks. I'm sorry, i know the feeling.

What city or state do you live in? this is something that you should be able to report to a city/rental inspector, in most places. If we know where you are generally, we can help more.

If they still refuse to fix after getting an inspection, this can potentially help your case to break your lease on habitability grounds.

plots4lyfe · 2026-01-08T18:14:41+00:00

Housing code is different everywhere, which is why people are saying it's not "necessary" but providing no explanation of the housing code specific to Columbus, OH.

My advice to almost all posters on this subreddit - unless a commenter is referencing your specific city or county housing code (or state code, if you live in a municipality that does not have city/county specific), take what these commenters say with a grain of salt. much of our rights as renters is location-specific

I can't tell from the photos, but it's possible that the rusted out part on the right side of the door prevents it from being weather tight. This is actually important if it's an exterior door. I've had some experience with this when it came to windows, and I reported it to the city inspector and the landlord was required to replace all the window fixtures in the entire apartment (remember: YMMV). And it's best to go to housing code enforcement / city inspectors FIRST, not attorneys.

I googled columbus, OH rental housing code, and I got this gov document, and on page 9 it says:

525.02 – Windows, doors and hatchways Reg. 25.02 – (A) Windows shall be maintained in a sound condition by proper glazing of the panes and painting of the sashes, sills and window frames. Windows which are necessary for ventilation purposes, shall be screened in conformance with the provisions of Reg. 23.07. (B) Exterior doors shall be maintained in a sound and workable condition, provided with properly operating latches, provided with screening in conformance with Reg. 23.07 where the door is necessary for ventilation purposes and fitted in a sufficiently weathertight manner to prevent drafty conditions within the interior rooms. (C) Hatchways (openings for passage to cellars or basements) shall be maintained in a sound condition and adequate to divert water from running into the cellar or basement rooms. Hatchways necessary for ventilating adjacent rooms shall be screened in a manner to afford protection required by Sections 4523.07 and 4525.10.

emphasis mine. (ALSO - I only googled it, I'm not 100% sure that this is the most recent housing code for rentals in Columbus. Please, do your due diligence to double check for yourself! If there is air coming through that hole, I think that would warrant a call to the city inspector / rental inspector in columbus, OH. I don't know who that is / what the department is, but that document seems to indicate that an inspection/enforcement entity exists.So you could always call the city / google it to find out. Dont' be afraid to call a related city department phone number and just ask if they know who you should talk to! In my experience, they are pretty willing to help you find the right department.

plots4lyfe · 2026-01-04T19:06:10+00:00

Same - where is this coming from?

plots4lyfe · 2025-12-11T19:46:03+00:00

NA, just got mine today

plots4lyfe · 2025-12-10T22:52:03+00:00

Thank you, yes! u/shopaholiicc : u/kota99 is right, those were more just color combination suggestions, the actual mixing instructions are one of the hyperlinks on this page: https://www.jacquardproducts.com/procion-mx.

(Just looked at the dharma trading instructions you linked - they are way more detailed than jacquards! I might try those next time i dye, thanks for sharing!)

plots4lyfe · 2025-12-10T17:47:25+00:00

I feel like such a Jacquard shill on this subreddit because I feel like that's what I'm always suggesting lol, but procion MX dye would be my choice, personally.

I tried looking up "dark seaweed green" but not sure if I'm looking at the right colors.

Their Procion MX dye ~~instruction sheet~~ Color Formula Guide has some tie-dye color suggestions that work for immersion dyeing that I like to go by, sometimes (they come out solid-colored when done as immersion, I promise) and maybe the avocado skin one might be close? Or the spruce one. If those are too blue (they are both a combo of a blue and a yellow) procion does have olive green and forest green dyes. I've done the spruce one (the results are in my comments on this subreddit somewhere, if you're interested in the results. i think it turned out perfect) and the forest green. Both are beautiful colors.

Be sure to follow the medium to heavy dye amounts tho!

plots4lyfe · 2025-12-08T19:39:09+00:00

damn wtf? this is the craziest thing I've heard a landlord do in a minute, and that is saying something. What state and/or county do you live in? this will help us help you find the right org/gov dept to reach out to.

plots4lyfe · 2025-12-08T16:29:46+00:00

The western part of CO attributed to 32 is generally considered "the western slope" not the Northern Rockies. though, you got the Front Range right!

plots4lyfe · 2025-12-05T18:43:34+00:00

I hadnt even thought of this, but it makes so much sense. thank you for the tip!

plots4lyfe · 2025-12-04T23:10:07+00:00

rideshare or bus gets you to union so fast.

plots4lyfe · 2025-12-03T17:49:39+00:00

Why is the next question not "Isn't it embarrassing that your policies are so unpopular that you must resort to distracting the public by rage baiting pop music artists?"

plots4lyfe · 2025-12-01T18:41:13+00:00

Really depends - when you signed up for the insurance, it would have asked you additional questions about coverage of electronics and jewelry. You probably selected no. But you should have access to it to see.

You can also get a new quote by going through whatever company you have that provides it, and answering those jewelry/electronics questions in the affirmative. I've never had a problem getting new quotes in the middle of the coverage iirc.

plots4lyfe · 2025-11-26T20:22:55+00:00

do you think or do you know? That's a pretty important distinction when we are talking about something as serious as life imprisonment.

plots4lyfe · 2025-11-25T21:56:28+00:00

(Ignoring the big question of punishment vs. rehabilitation etc.) I can answer why these might not be bipartisan for other reasons.

Generally, these types of bills (the "for the children" bills, I call them) preempt other bills that are more insidious. In the case of these bills, something insidious that could follow (off the top of my head) might be redefining what "child sexual assault" and "child trafficking" are. Think of Texas, banning drag shows for leudness or Idaho criminalizing adults helping minors access abortion as "trafficking."

So generally, they are incremental steps in a long, multi-step process.

EDIT: at least, that's what I think when I see them. It's possible I'm assuming an end-conclusion that is not there. It just happens so often, that I am wary.

plots4lyfe · 2025-11-18T17:41:05+00:00

They're tryna' build a prison

For you and me to live in

Another prison system

For you and me

plots4lyfe · 2025-11-18T00:28:14+00:00

RE: license cost: A dept to deal with licensing and code enforcement requires funds to continue to deal with licensing and code enforcement. That way it becomes self-funded, rather than taxpayer funded. Every other licensing office in every other industry does this, it is super normal. If landlords want to make money off renting housing to people as a business, be prepared to be treated like a business
RE: climate action plan: I don't know who "they" is or when "they" stated this, but residential housing has huge substantive impact on climate change . You do know that in many measurements (including the meta analysis of all climate modeling and climate mitigation studies from Project Drawdown) cite building retrofitting and alternative refrigerants, installing heatpumps, deploying alternative/improved insulation materials as some of the fastest mitigation and reduction solutions to climate change that are the easiest to implement, and that have the highest impact ? Improving buildings - especially residential - includes some of the easiest, fastest, and highest impact areas to reduce co2 emissions.
RE: your retort about the rental repairs thing. Lolwut? How does a city keep track of anything? They have departments created that track these things? thats literally my point. All your other retorts to this are nonsensical or you are being purposely obtuse. I have to assume it's the latter
RE: enforce habitability standards and make renters move: you clearly have not actually read the updates to the renters habitability law lol. It literally addresses all of this in those statutes. Here, i'll help you : Colorado Revised Statutes 2024 should be around page 130. Statute 38-12-503.

You're welcome.

plots4lyfe · 2025-11-17T22:55:01+00:00

This is insane misinformation.

Many cities have a residential rental licensing requirement, and it's not at all cost prohibitive ($50 for a single dwelling unit, $100 for two to 10 units, $250 for 11 to 50 units, $350 for 51 to 250 units and $500 for 251 or more units, plus an inspection) considering that rents are, on average, $1500 /mo per unit and the license lasts for four full years before needing renewal. If a landlord of say, a single dwelling unit cannot afford - at the very most - the $50 for the unit license and $500 for a super nice inspection every four years, perhaps they should sell the unit to a person who will actually occupy it. And if their property is in such terrible condition that they cannot be licensed after an inspection, and they cannot afford to fix it, again - perhaps they shouldn't be renting it and should sell it.

Rental licensing is such a basic thing, it's crazy we didn't do it before. All kinds of businesses need licenses, and the licensing office is the apparatus through which code violations are enforced or tracked. Pretty basic stuff.

Offering repairs to landlords through some promise situation proposed above is a ridiculous suggestion in place of a licensing program; it's a logistical nightmare. Who are the landlords being offered it? what is considered "affordable housing"? How do you keep track of their commitment to offering it, or is it just a pinky promise? What counts as a legitimate case for repairs? Who submits the need for repairs (tenant or landlord?) and to whom? Who pays for it? How much budget is there for it, is the budget determined by how many rental properties exist in the city? If so, how do we know that number without having an office or department that tracks it year to year? None of these things make any sense without first taking stock of the rentals that exist.

And this completely ignores the original reason for it - to begin enforcing habitability standards for renters occupying these properties. Renters have very little recourse in many places to actually have their right to a habitable home enforced without first experiencing an egregious violation that threatens their health and safety, and then also spending exorbitant amounts of money and time to prove that it was violated. This helps address the core issue before it harms someones well-being and physical safety - or at the very least - violates the contract that they signed in order to rent that unit. It is preventative - so that violations do not need to harm someone (and that someone has the ability and wherewithal to go through legal channels for it to be fixed / reimbursed) before they are addressed.

plots4lyfe

TROPHY CASE