House Projects
Mike discusses his progress on a couple home improvement projects in the works - including a home security and control system for his smart devices, and a home audio bluetooth network in development.
Good morning, this is Mike George coming at you from the one and only Crimson House — or at least the Louisiana version, since the goal is to establish multiple locations for my nonprofit shenanigans. It is 8:00 on 28 May 2022, and I am currently in a whirlwind of activity surrounded by a mess of home improvement projects. My hair is the first thing that needs improving, but I’ve mostly been focused on the house.
I’ve been changing out my door locks, but I’m having a hard time justifying these $200 smart locks just to protect "basic shit" that is already insured. My mama taught me never to spend $60 on a lightbulb, even if Thomas Edison himself made it, so I’m building a "ghetto security system" instead. I’m using a Raspberry Pi named HODA to act as a smart home hub. I’ve heard that a Raspberry Pi can actually outperform the limited, expensive products Google and Amazon try to sell you.
While working, I’ve been watching the George Carlin "American Dream" special on HBO. Carlin is a hero of mine—a brilliant, foul-mouthed genius who represents the skepticism of my generation,. I’m 36, born in 1986, which is right on the cutoff between Millennial and Gen X. I definitely subscribe to the Gen X identity because I absolutely hate texting, which is why I do these "orally and off-the-cuff" Facebook Lives instead of typing status updates. It’s been ten years since I was in the "cloistered bubble" of academia, and I'm still adjusting to the culture of the real world,,.
I’ve been reflecting a lot on my career, specifically my five years at my hometown power company in Columbus. I miss it, and I miss Columbus. Now I’m in Louisiana working for what I call "the little utility that could," and honestly, it’s a struggle. It feels like a situation of "more stress, less money, and more bullshit". I’m constantly "flying by the seat of my pants" and feeling behind, and the stress is really taking a toll on me.
Despite the work stress, I’ve been charmed by Louisiana. The rent is less than half of what I’d pay in Portland, and the people have that famous southern charm. I’ve also been diving into the history of the Acadian people. It blew my mind to learn that they are here because they were forced out of Quebec and driven south, which reminds me of the Trail of Tears.
Since it’s Memorial Day weekend, I wanted to play the Star-Spangled Banner. I’m a traditionalist who stands for the anthem, but trying to play it was a disaster. We were promised flying cars by 2022, yet I can’t get Bluetooth audio to work without it crackling like a nightmare. I tried using a protocol called VBAN (Virtual Bluetooth Audio Network) to broadcast music from my PC to other devices like a radio, but the interference from my phone kept butchering the sound,,. It took three painful attempts, but I finally got it to play.
Just as I finished the anthems, my neighbor Pinky stopped by to say hello. We talked about breakfast; I’ve got a "shit ton" of waffles and some spicy chorizo and eggs ready to go.
I’m staying put in Alexandria today to carry on with my brazen jaywalking campaign against car culture. Happy Memorial Day, y'all. Kiss a soldier for me, honor your loved ones who served, and please — take care of each other.
