AI Warnings

AI is taking over...well...everything. Right now I use it to proofread documents that I write just to make sure I didn't miss anything (I really really can't proofread my own work!). Other people at work use AI for absolutely everything. I am still a bit cautious with AI for a myriad of reasons and I think everyone should use some common sense around AI.

• If your job can be wiped out by AI, definitely becomes debt-free ASAP and develop multiple sources of income.
• And I always back up my files on multiple thumb drives, not to the cloud (to avoid something like this happening).
• Just recently I have started downloading my monthly banking and investment account statements (not sure how useful this would be if AI hijacks my accounts though).
• Then there is the threat of AI stealing my identity...yikes!
• And a massive number of AI scams which are growing exponentially.
• AI chatbots can be evil.
• And AI slop is becoming more prevalent on platforms such as YouTube and Amazon.
• In fact, AI is taking over everything!  eeekkk

Those Luddites may have been on to something...

This Week Is...

It's a busy (holiday-ish) week...

• Monday the 26th: Full Hunter's Moon
• Monday the 26th: National Pumpkin Day
• Wednesday the 28th: National First Responders Day
• Thursday the 29th: National Cat Day
• Saturday the 31st: Halloween
• Sunday the 1st: Daylight Savings Time Ends 
• Sunday the 1st and Monday the 2nd: Dia de los Muertos

The Ageing Thing

I found this list on Facebook and decided these will be on my "to do" list for this weekend!

 

Prices Are Seriously Out of Control!

I don't go shopping (except for food) very often so imagine my shock when I saw these prices when I went to Target yesterday...

$22.49 for NyQuil??? Let's hope we don't get sick this winter!

And $14.99 for some Benadryl tablets??? 

Body wash for $9.99?? (not even a big bottle!)

And some sort of lip gloss for $10?!?

Since when are batteries this expensive? (I bought some rechargeable ones that we use now)

Then there are these tiny, single serving bags of Doritos for $2.79...that's highway robbery!

 

Weather and Other Stuff

This month has just flown by! Work is still fine (but I definitely need to start thinking about retirement), gas prices (along with everything else!) are insane, and the weather was pretty stormy for a few days which was a nice change!

Quick Update

It's been a busy couple weeks as we move into fall...

• We are enjoying the lower temperatures (yes we can actually feel the difference between 110 degrees and 95 degrees!).
• Work is still in some ways a PITA. There are several old guys on our team that are one annoyance away from retiring with a few day's notice...I am probably right behind them!
• Prices on everything continue to rise. Our food stockpile is bursting at the seams so we don't want to buy much more (we don't want to waste it because it expires before we can eat it).
• We look forward to getting outside and doing more activities in the fall since we have been practically home-bound all summer.
• It may storm tomorrow (I love storms in the desert!).
• Monday is Labor Day. There are lots of sales but at this point, we literally don't need a single thing.
• The feral cats are still cute as ever...

!0 Things from This Week

In no particular order...

1. I cant believe it is almost September! This year has flown by!
2. RIP Dolly Parton. I knew she had been sick but like other larger-than-life cultural icons, you never think they will actually die.  :(
3. Our sunrises are as pretty as our sunsets! 
   
   
   
   
   
4. Exactly half of our lemon tree is suddenly dead, no idea why  :(  
   
   
   
5. We replaced all of the carpet upstairs with vinyl plank flooring last week (we did the downstairs a couple years ago). It should be cooler and easier to clean--not to mention it won't collect dust and dirt like carpet--but it takes a bit of getting used to on our feet. Also, hubby and I determined we are way too old and frail to be moving furniture these days.
6. According to my work email (and meetings...and fire app), most of the west is on fire! eeekkk 
   
   
   
7. Speaking of disasters, September is National Preparedness Month. Here is a great daily calendar of preparedness tasks everyone should complete for the month.
8. I can't believe that everywhere we go there is wall-to-wall Halloween advertising--the holiday is still a full two months away!
9. Here is an interesting 'Almost Tariff-Proof' Grocery Guide.
10. I'm thinking about retiring. I love my job so I am not in a hurry to retire but it suddenly dawned on me that I am nearing retirement age (how did that happen??? It seems like I was just 40 a year or so ago!). So I guess making a graceful exit from the world of work is something I should start planning for.