https://www.joelevi.com/blog/ Articles by Joe Levi on technology, Android, smart homes, liberty, finances, gardening, and more. en-us Thu, 19 Aug 2021 05:09:00 +0000 https://www.joelevi.com/blog/tales-from-a-computer-guy-something-exploded-in-there/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/tales-from-a-computer-guy-something-exploded-in-there/ Thu, 19 Aug 2021 05:09:00 +0000 Joe Levi Humor If you read my previous article, you know that I used to work for the now-defunct Totally Awesome Computers (a chain of local computer sales/repair shops in… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/the-great-hack-of-2020/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/the-great-hack-of-2020/ Tue, 15 Dec 2020 11:30:19 +0000 Joe Levi Activism SolarWinds is a company that offers server monitoring (among other things). It does so through a user with administrative access to servers. Many companies… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/regarding-texas-petition-to-the-supreme-court-concerning-the-2020-election/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/regarding-texas-petition-to-the-supreme-court-concerning-the-2020-election/ Fri, 11 Dec 2020 12:23:25 +0000 Joe Levi Politics Regarding the election, and Texas' petition to the US Supreme Court regarding the handling of the elections in the States named in their complaint, here are a… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/tales-from-a-computer-guy-it-wont-turn-on/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/tales-from-a-computer-guy-it-wont-turn-on/ Mon, 09 Nov 2020 20:53:06 +0000 Joe Levi Humor I used to work for the now-defunct Totally Awesome Computers . This was a chain of local computer sales/repair shops in Northern Utah. What made us stand out… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/oppo-watch-review/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/oppo-watch-review/ Fri, 18 Sep 2020 11:00:55 +0000 Joe Levi Product Reviews Apple has just released its new wearable which incrementally improves on their prior version. But despite all the new bells-and-whistles, Apple Watch series 6… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/product-review-keysmart-pro-star-trek-edition-with-built-in-tile/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/product-review-keysmart-pro-star-trek-edition-with-built-in-tile/ Wed, 10 Jun 2020 17:50:24 +0000 Joe Levi Product Reviews Background Some years ago, I was browsing Kickstarter and came across what I thought was a pretty cool gadget which was beautiful in its simplicity: two… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/ha-2-installation-hardware-considerations/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/ha-2-installation-hardware-considerations/ Wed, 11 Dec 2019 09:01:32 +0000 Joe Levi Smart Home First off, the official Home Assistant "Getting Started" page has a bunch of information that is VERY useful. The problem with options is that sometimes it… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/ha-1-yet-another-home-assistant-convert/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/ha-1-yet-another-home-assistant-convert/ Tue, 10 Dec 2019 15:21:25 +0000 Joe Levi Smart Home Welcome to yet another article about Home Assistant . First, what is Home Assistant ? Second, why do we need yet another series of articles about it? What is… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-5g-what-it-is-what-it-isnt/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-5g-what-it-is-what-it-isnt/ Tue, 17 Sep 2019 18:00:54 +0000 Joe Levi Pocketnow 5G is all the rage with wireless carriers these days, but as with everything new, there’s a lot of confusion and misinformation circulating. Let’s dig into… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/do-something-meaningful-to-stop-mass-murders/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/do-something-meaningful-to-stop-mass-murders/ Thu, 08 Aug 2019 10:58:52 +0000 Joe Levi Self-Defense Have you noticed that the vast majority of these mass-murders occur in locations which have "no guns allowed" policies? These policies turn every person… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/aredn-node-in-cache-junction/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/aredn-node-in-cache-junction/ Tue, 11 Jun 2019 12:48:45 +0000 Joe Levi HAM Radio I'm a firm believer in HAM Radio as a tool for communications especially during emergencies when traditional methods may not work. Before I jump into what… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/why-am-i-republican/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/why-am-i-republican/ Sat, 01 Jun 2019 09:00:40 +0000 Joe Levi Politics Words have meaning. I know that sounds obvious, but think about it for a moment: to effectively communicate, we all have to have a basic understanding of what… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/scc/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/scc/ Wed, 10 Apr 2019 14:12:38 +0000 Joe Levi Politics Cache County SCC Attendance, 2017-2019 I do not have data on those who left early (leaving your voice unheard), but here is the attendance data, taken… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/what-is-wifi-6/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/what-is-wifi-6/ Wed, 20 Feb 2019 11:00:43 +0000 Joe Levi Pocketnow Wi-Fi (which is short for “Wireless Fidelity”) is on the brink of a major update: 802.11ax, also known as “WiFi 6”. For devices which include the new standard… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/our-dog-ate-my-new-phone/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/our-dog-ate-my-new-phone/ Tue, 29 Jan 2019 15:02:17 +0000 Joe Levi Humor My daughter's phone finally kicked the bucket. She, being a vibrant teenager, had more "need" of a phone than her frumpy ol' dad. Being the nice guy that I… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/halloween-costumes/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/halloween-costumes/ Thu, 25 Oct 2018 09:26:31 +0000 Joe Levi Republican Natives Politics As the Halloween season approaches, the question of “appropriate” costumes is raised. Regarding the question of “cultural appropriation” or “racism” regarding… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/lifes-not-so-good-with-our-lg-dishwasher/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/lifes-not-so-good-with-our-lg-dishwasher/ Wed, 29 Aug 2018 12:18:17 +0000 Joe Levi Product Reviews Updated August 2020! TL/dr I'd advise that you DO NOT BUY this or any LG appliance. Don't by any LG products until you know how this turns out , and then ONLY… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/choetech-50w-6-port-desktop-usb-charger-product-review/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/choetech-50w-6-port-desktop-usb-charger-product-review/ Thu, 16 Aug 2018 14:32:55 +0000 Joe Levi Product Reviews For better or worse, most gadgets these days are charged via USB. Most use standard, A-Type connectors on the supply-side, but the load-side can vary widely… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/being-offended-vs-taking-offense/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/being-offended-vs-taking-offense/ Mon, 07 May 2018 10:56:58 +0000 Joe Levi Definitions of·fend·ed əˈfendəd/ adjective resentful or annoyed, typically as a result of a perceived insult. Whether its a flag, a religion, a dress, a political party… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/problem-with-utah-politics/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/problem-with-utah-politics/ Tue, 20 Mar 2018 14:05:39 +0000 Joe Levi Politics Politics: Poly, meaning many; Ticks, blood sucking bugs. Chapter 1: The Background I've always hated politics. In high school, one of my teachers offered an… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/gun-friends-support-amazon-march-1st-2018/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/gun-friends-support-amazon-march-1st-2018/ Wed, 28 Feb 2018 12:34:36 +0000 Joe Levi Self-Defense The Leftists have called for a boycott of Amazon because of their relationship with the National Rifle Association. Let's counter that boycott by buying… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/anatomy-web-address/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/anatomy-web-address/ Wed, 24 Jan 2018 21:49:51 +0000 Joe Levi Background We often take for granted the ease at which we can retrieve "stuff" over the Internet. Recently, at work, I was asked what sounded like an easy… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/finally-successfully-utgop-scc-meeting/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/finally-successfully-utgop-scc-meeting/ Tue, 19 Dec 2017 13:36:28 +0000 Joe Levi Politics I got involved in the Utah Republican Party because I didn't like what I saw going on in Washington, D.C, and even in our own State. I felt like, despite my… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/utgop-coup/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/utgop-coup/ Fri, 15 Dec 2017 14:50:53 +0000 Joe Levi Politics Heads UP It looks like there is a coup happening RIGHT NOW in the Utah Republican Party!! Why doesn't Chairman Anderson want the SCC to meet and resolve the… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/monumental-misconceptions/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/monumental-misconceptions/ Thu, 07 Dec 2017 15:13:20 +0000 Joe Levi Republican Natives Politics On a winter Monday in December 2017, President Donald Trump was in Utah, signing two proclamations which effectively shrank the Bears Ears and Grand… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/geico-house-hits-car-part-2/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/geico-house-hits-car-part-2/ Thu, 21 Sep 2017 10:22:53 +0000 Joe Levi Never trust a talking lizard trying to sell you insurance. To recap, while taking my wife on a date, parts from a tiny house being towed hit my brand new car… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/republic-dead-long-live-republic/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/republic-dead-long-live-republic/ Wed, 16 Aug 2017 09:53:20 +0000 Joe Levi Politics Last night, Count My Vote, SB54, and the Buckshot Caucus won - and the Republican process lost. A "former" Democrat didn't care about your elected… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/pocatello-arc-eclipse-planning-meeting/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/pocatello-arc-eclipse-planning-meeting/ Fri, 11 Aug 2017 09:46:58 +0000 Joe Levi My wife (Natalie, KG7EEZ) and I (Joe, KF7NWA) attended the Eclipse Event Planning Meeting held at ISU by the Pocatello ARC last night. Here are the notes and… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/help-keep-solar-affordable-utah/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/help-keep-solar-affordable-utah/ Wed, 09 Aug 2017 08:42:19 +0000 Joe Levi The Utah Public Service Commission is scheduled to hold a Public Witness Hearing (Net Metering 14-035-114) today, 09 August 2017 to discuss Investigation of… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/samsung-flow/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/samsung-flow/ Thu, 03 Aug 2017 01:34:20 +0000 Joe Levi Pocketnow Security & Privacy: Secure Your Computer with your Samsung Galaxy smartphone (August 3, 2017): Security & Privacy are two vitally important components of… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/waiting-for-the-end/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/waiting-for-the-end/ Wed, 02 Aug 2017 07:32:30 +0000 Joe Levi Most of you probably don't know this: back in the day, I was in the Advanced A Cappella Choir at Layton High School. I love percussion and songs with strong… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/chevy-volt-just-get-hit-house/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/chevy-volt-just-get-hit-house/ Sat, 29 Jul 2017 16:59:40 +0000 Joe Levi Uncategorized I was minding my own business, driving SB I-15 near Willard, Utah a when strips of vinyl siding from a tiny house flew off and collided with my brand new 2017… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/banned-from-using-segways/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/banned-from-using-segways/ Fri, 21 Jul 2017 20:43:13 +0000 Joe Levi Nevada Las Vegas, Nevada: According to a story which originally ran on KVVU-TV Fox 5 in Nevada, Dell Schanze and his wife recently ran into some trouble when they… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/t-mobile-screw-up/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/t-mobile-screw-up/ Thu, 06 Jul 2017 15:11:18 +0000 Joe Levi I've been with T-Mobile for a long time. How long? I had a VoiceStream-branded Nokia - that's how long. Over the years, I put up with VoiceStream's limited… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/hidden-risks-of-wifi/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/hidden-risks-of-wifi/ Thu, 29 Jun 2017 02:01:52 +0000 Joe Levi Pocketnow Security & Privacy: The Hidden Risks of WiFi (June 29, 2017): Security & Privacy are two vitally important components of any successful society. Today’s… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/your-fingerprint-isnt-your-password/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/your-fingerprint-isnt-your-password/ Wed, 14 Jun 2017 12:49:06 +0000 Joe Levi Pocketnow Security & Privacy: Your Fingerprint isn’t your Password – and neither is your face or iris (June 14, 2017): Security and Privacy are two vitally important… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/they-know-where-you-are-location-tracking/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/they-know-where-you-are-location-tracking/ Wed, 07 Jun 2017 07:24:04 +0000 Joe Levi Pocketnow Security & Privacy: Location Tracking, ergo ‘They Know Where You Are’ (June 7, 2017): Security and Privacy are two vitally important components of any… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/thank-you-what-an-experience/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/thank-you-what-an-experience/ Thu, 25 May 2017 15:12:25 +0000 Joe Levi About Joe Levi Politics It has been an honor and privilege to travel the state and meet so many passionate and courageous members of the Utah Republican Party. From the beginning, I… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/the-art-of-bartering/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/the-art-of-bartering/ Tue, 25 Apr 2017 16:48:26 +0000 Joe Levi Finances One of the often-overlooked topics in prepping is barter. bar·ter - ˈbärdər, verb (gerund or present participle: bartering) exchange (goods or services) for… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/how-to-physically-secure-your-phone/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/how-to-physically-secure-your-phone/ Thu, 20 Apr 2017 01:46:09 +0000 Joe Levi Pocketnow Security & Privacy: How to Physically Secure Your Phone (April 20, 2017): Security and Privacy are two vitally important components of any successful… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/security-privacy-introduction/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/security-privacy-introduction/ Wed, 05 Apr 2017 14:11:26 +0000 Joe Levi Pocketnow Security and Privacy, two words that we all can agree are vitally important and an integral part of any successful society. That makes it sound like we’re… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/vote-joe-levi/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/vote-joe-levi/ Tue, 28 Mar 2017 15:19:45 +0000 Joe Levi About Joe Levi Politics 💡 Who Is Joe Levi? When my wife and I married almost 20 years ago, we moved away from the hustle and bustle of the suburbs into a small farming community, off… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/too-late-to-apologize-a-declaration-video/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/too-late-to-apologize-a-declaration-video/ Mon, 20 Mar 2017 09:36:52 +0000 Joe Levi Politics “On this day, 227 years ago, 39 courageous men signed the Constitution and forever changed the course of history.” — Lee Skabelund, Leg 18 Chair Not one of my… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/symbolism-of-flags/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/symbolism-of-flags/ Thu, 23 Feb 2017 16:02:58 +0000 Joe Levi Politics Why do we use flags? Flags are symbols, but they’re also made up of symbols. Throughout history, flags (or banners) have been flown to tell others that a… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/liberty-isnt-easy/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/liberty-isnt-easy/ Wed, 09 Nov 2016 10:40:34 +0000 Joe Levi Politics Here's my obligatory, post-election political post - but it's not what you might think. In Utah, we have something called the Caucus and Convention System… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/future-of-wifi-is-mesh/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/future-of-wifi-is-mesh/ Tue, 25 Oct 2016 10:01:27 +0000 Joe Levi Pocketnow The secret to unlocking all the cool technological stuff you can do in your home is centered around a very reliable network. Smartphones and tablets; TVs and… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/stop-buzzing-play-music-phone-car/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/stop-buzzing-play-music-phone-car/ Mon, 26 Sep 2016 10:00:45 +0000 Joe Levi Product Reviews I've got a smartphone that I use to play music, podcasts, or even audio books during my daily commute. When I plug it into my AUX port I get an annoying… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/inconvenient-truth-behind-robin-hood/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/inconvenient-truth-behind-robin-hood/ Thu, 08 Sep 2016 14:29:57 +0000 Joe Levi Politics Everyone knows the story of Robin Hood. "Robin Hood is a heroic outlaw in English folklore who, according to legend, was a highly skilled archer and… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/best-usb-wall-outlet/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/best-usb-wall-outlet/ Fri, 02 Sep 2016 08:49:38 +0000 Joe Levi Product Reviews Plugging a wall wart into an outlet is a pain. You've got a thing dangling from the wall that drains power whenever it's plugged in, you have to plug a cord… https://www.joelevi.com/blog/save-lawn-summer-heat-rachio/ https://www.joelevi.com/blog/save-lawn-summer-heat-rachio/ Mon, 29 Aug 2016 13:18:58 +0000 Joe Levi Product Reviews We just built our new home, and being the geek that I am, I've been equipping it as a "smart home". I can open and close my garage doors from the internet, I…