I have a browser on my phone that has a voice function. I am not sure what triggers it. Usually, I notice that it has tried to do a web search for whatever I just yelled at my dog. And it never gets that right. These voice gadgets work about as well as giving your order to someone at a fast food place.

I have a browser on my phone that has a voice function. I am not sure what triggers it.

Just relax, Teri. You won't notice a thing...

People would be rightfully horrified if the government installed an obvious "bug" or microphone in your living room. But they trust Google (and who next, Facebook?) enough to pay Google good money, and even to install themselves, a bug that will enable Google to listen in on their private conversations?? Please tell me the general population ain't that stupid!

Please tell me the general population ain't that stupid!

They're not! Unfortunately, they're even stupider. They actually believe what Big Media tells them. They take it at face value.

It's true! Millions of people sit down and turn on the evening news to watch the anchorbabes tell them what to think about things, and they dutifully head-nod along as they breathe through their mouths, while planning to repeat to others what they just heard, and thinking about what they'd do to the anchorbabe if they ever got the chance.

But that is the only kind of real thinking they do. The rest of it is just impersonating a lemming.

"Global warming is real! AWK! "Polly want a cracker!" AWK! "Carbon footprint!" AWK!! "Hillary good, Trump bad!" AWK, AWK!!

...good parrot!

Hey, Google. Check and empty my septic tank. Hey, Google, see if that's a coyote in the back field and shoot it with the appropriate gun for the range. Hey, Google. Say my prayers for me today.

All the mics and cameras I've seen are wired to the mainboard of the device. Solution: pop off the cover and pull the plug, slip paper between the contacts or .... Google et al will then be deaf and blind, and no one will ridicule your pathetic attempts to become a video/audio legend because there won't be any such attempts.

Embrace the diversity of upper middle class western culture, for that is what is seen there with the same clothing worn by all participants, the same hairstyles, the same view of what is valuable to believe and what is not.