|
by Burton Kelso, The Tech Expert
If you're like me, you're probably always on the lookout for low-cost options when it comes to your streaming services. Traditional streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+ are seeing skyrocketing price increases which are putting a strain on your budget. If you are looking to lower your streaming expenses you need to look at some of the free streaming services that are emerging as a popular option to replace subscription streaming services. Now there is a trade-off, instead of a monthly bill, you’ll have to endure advertisements. That’s how these free services make their money. If you're looking to find a good free streaming service for your family, check out these options. As of this writing, there is no one-size-fits-all replacement for live TV streaming services other than a digital antenna, but the right free service could help you stay entertained while keeping your wallet happy. There are a couple of dozen free streaming services on the web. Here are a few services I recommend: Pluto TV. Pluto TV is owned by Viacom and runs over 100 free channels. It runs on Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Roku and PlayStation. Apps are available for Apple and Android devices. Sony Crackle. Crackle is owned by Sony, so it has a lot of Sony original content, plus programs and movies from other companies. You can watch some of your favorite TV shows, original programming and movies. It can be connected to a large variety of platforms such as TVs, mobile devices, set-top boxes, gaming consoles, and online. Tubi. A long favorite of mine, Tubi streams more than 12,000 titles. You can Stream anywhere and the service includes content from a plethora of other sources for kids of all ages and content that’s not streamed anywhere else. Freevee (formerly IMDb TV). Freevee is owned by Amazon and contains a lot of content -backed by Amazon. It offers on-demand movies and TV shows, live-streaming channels, and a small collection of original content. Roku Channel. The Roku Channel is an app for watching movies and TV shows that is attached to popular Roku streaming devices. Roku streaming devices and televisions come preloaded with applications that include the Roku Channel, but you also can get access to the content through smartphones, tablets, and computers. Hopefully, this article will help point you in the right direction as far as streaming services. There are more free streaming services out there. If you have time, check out some of the other services out there to see if it will be worth your time. Want to ask me a tech question? Send it to burton@burtonkelso.com. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I'm serious about making technology fun and easy to use for everyone. Need computer repair service near you? My company Integral offers the highest quality computer repair service nationwide. If you need on-site or remote tech support for your Windows\Macintosh, computers, laptops, Android/Apple smartphone, tablets, printers, routers, smart home devices, and anything that connects to the Internet, please feel free to contact my team. Our team of friendly tech experts organization can help you with any IT needs you might have. Reach out to us a www.callintegralnow.com or phone at 888.256.0829.
0 Comments
When I think about Easter, I think of ham … but also all the sides! From green bean casserole to mac and cheese, there are so many options to include. While our Easter plate is composed mainly of sides, sometimes we may lack a variety of vegetables. Think about what you usually put on your plate during Easter… how many of these dishes include vegetables? If the answer is none or not very many, below are some tips and tricks to add vegetables to your Easter in a fun and unique way! Start by visualizing your plate before the big Easter meal happens. Your plate should consist of ½ plate vegetables, ¼ plate protein, and ¼ plate of carbohydrate. Looking at the different food choices available can help you mentally pick your plate to make sure you are getting enough veggies. Another tip: Try to eat your vegetables first. All veggies are chock full of fiber! Fiber helps slow down the digestion of food in your stomach, leaving you feeling fuller for longer. After you have your fill of veggies, grab a protein option, like turkey or ham. This can help prevent overeating or feeling “stuffed” after a big meal. Vegetables can come in many different forms including salad, roasted vegetables, or raw vegetables with a dipping sauce. The texture of different vegetables can either encourage or discourage individuals from trying them. Here’s a recommendation: If there’s a vegetable you have tried before and it has not been your favorite, try roasting it! Roasting vegetables lightly tossed in olive oil and your favorite seasonings at 450 degrees for 30 to 45 minutes brings excellent flavor and texture to the table! Finally, if you have any kids who are picky about vegetables, try getting them involved in the kitchen! Making a veggie tray in the shape of a bunny head and serving with their favorite vegetable dip can make food “fun” and can help kids try to accept new foods and food groups. One of the easiest ways to add a vegetable to your Easter table is through a salad! Salads can be served as an appetizer, giving you something to satisfy your stomach before the main meal. They can also help subdue cravings throughout the day. But salads don’t just have to be a pile of leafy greens! One of my favorite salads is Shaved Asparagus Garden Salad. This salad combines sweet and savory flavors together while also packing in nutrients. Plus, asparagus is one of the first spring vegetables to come in season! Some of asparagus’ nutrients include antioxidants, fiber, vitamin K and folate, which in turn can help with our immune function, inflammation and much more. Try serving this at your Easter table to impress your guests and your taste buds! Shaved Asparagus Garden Salad Serves 6 (1 cup each) All you need: 12 oz asparagus spears 2 cups tightly packed baby arugula ¾ cup thinly shredded purple cabbage 2 whole red radishes, thinly sliced 1 tbsp finely chopped basil 1 tbsp finely chopped mint ½ cup blackberries ¼ cup honey-roasted sliced almonds ¼ cup Soiree traditional feta crumbled cheese ¼ cup Brianna’s champagne style vinaigrette dressing All you do:
Recipe source: March/April 2024 Hy-Vee Seasons magazine Are you ready for more tips and inspiration to incorporate nutrient-dense foods into your diet? Not only are vegetables good for you, but they can help stabilize your blood sugar. If you’re ready to take a deeper dive when it comes to regulating your blood sugar, check out our Balancing Your Blood Sugar program, an action-based group program for those with prediabetes or diabetes, but also for individuals looking to lower inflammation, reduce their sugar intake and control their cravings. To learn more, reach out to your Hy-Vee dietitian today or head to https://www.hy-vee.com/healthnew/dietitians. The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice. by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society Today I left the post office and took a walk, over to Front Street and west a couple of blocks. I turned North, back to Walnut. I proceeded further North on Thieme to Yennie, Yennie to Gregg Street, then South, back to the post office. Along the route, I took several photographs of houses in Grain Valley that are at least 100 years old. I have many more old homes to write about. But, when I began to write my article, I realized that all of the background information is at the Historical Society. That’s a problem because the museum is closed for a couple of weeks while the 25-year-old carpeting is being removed and new laminate flooring is being installed. So, while you usually learn about the historical society calendar page at the end of the month, this time the March photo description is early! Downtown Grain Valley
A view from Front Street, Circa 1950 Beginning on the left, Grain Valley had a pool hall in town during much of the 1940s and 1950s. I was never in the pool hall, as only men played pool in public. At least that was true in Grain Valley. In the early 1950s Dr. Charles Himmler had his office on the second floor. Dr. Himmler was a chiropractor and he also did eye exams. (He prescribed my first pair of glasses in 1959.) Next we see the Bank of Grain Valley, built in 1905. The door at the rear opened to stairs that lead to a meeting room. I recall that the Eastern Star met there and I have been told that the VFW also used the space. During World War II, various women’s groups met there to knit sweaters, hats, and gloves and make quilts to pack into gift boxes sent to local men stationed overseas. The third building is actually across Main Street. Over the years, that building has had a variety of businesses from hotel and marina to plastics plant, pawn shop, and tattoo parlor. The next building with the gas pumps out front was Huff’s Garage when this photograph was taken. In the late 1920s and 30s it was also a small hotel. Visitors to Sni-A-Bar Farms often stayed there while studying the agricultural experiments taking place on the farm. The upstairs rooms were converted to two or three apartments in the 1940s and 50s. Finally, we get a very small glimpse of the hardware store, Circa 1902. It burned, along with the Huff Building in December, 1959. The Historical Society will reopen on Wednesday, March 27 at 10:00 AM. Come visit and see our new floor! by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society I cannot be sure when the Yennie Addition was annexed into the Town of Grain Valley, but I do know it was around 1910. This is going to require another trip to the Recorder of Deeds office in Independence. I can tell you that the Yennie Addition covered the land from Walnut Street north to Yennie and from Gregg Street west to Thieme, a big square block with a branch running through the middle. Originally, Lots 1 through 6 were owned by Jasper N. Sanders, my great grandfather. It was on these six lots that he had three homes built; one for each of his daughters. The Sanders Sisters Mittie Frances (1889), Lula May (1887), and Ruth Arene (1892) Lula, the oldest married Walter Elliott and for a short time they lived in the middle house. By 1920 that home was sold to Ida Russell, a widow with a daughter, Goldie Russell Montgomery. Fant and Rena Ewing lived there through most of the 1940s and 50’s. The Johnson Family lived there in the 1960s and 70s. Tim and Stacey Hunter lived there in the 1980s and 1990s. More recently, the home was renovated, and the Hall family lives there. Mittie married Elmer Rumbo in July, 1906. I’m unsure of where their first home was, but I believe they moved to Walnut Street around 1910. I’ve been told their home at the corner of Walnut and Capelle was the first of the three to built. I know for certain their second daughter, my mother, was born in that house on April 29, 1914. She was so small she was placed on the oven door in the kitchen to keep her warm. He father took one look at her and called her a little “Mutt,” a name that stayed with her until he died. The Rumbos remained in the home until Mittie’s death in 1975. For a while, the Martin family lived there and the Nading Family. I do not know who currently owns the home. Ruth married James I. Belford. They only lived in the house on the east end of the block (corner of Walnut and Gregg) a few years before they moved to Oklahoma. Uncle Jib was born there before it became a state. The taxes were paid by Elmer Rumbo through 1933 and I sort of remember hearing that the house was rented to various tenants. In 1934, the property was purchased by Opal (Rumbo) and Clyde Fristoe. They lived there for the rest of their lives. Opal died in 1995 and Clyde died in December 1997. Since that time the house was owned by Mrs. Golden and for the last several years it has served as the parsonage for the First Baptist Church. Mittie & Elmer Rumbo Lula & Walter Elliott Ruth and James Belford
Next week I hope to present more “homes with a history.” Who says older, well-built homes won’t last a lifetime; maybe two or three lifetimes. If there is an older home in Grain Valley you would like to know more about, contact me. I’ll do my best. I’m at the Historical Society Museum on Wednesdays from 10 AM to 3 PM, or leave a message in the Valley News or on our website gvhistory1878@gmail.com. by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society You know what people say about hindsight. Looking back, I certainly wish we had some old calendars from previous Leap Years. Throughout history, various events have occurred on February 29, the actual day marking leap year. For example, George Armstrong Custer fought the Battle of the Little Bighorn (1876), the Titanic sank (1912), Benjamin Franklin proved that lightning is electricity (1752), and gold was discovered in California (1848). By inserting ("intercalculating") an additional day, a leap day, or month, a leap month, into some years, the drift between a civilization's dating system and the physical properties of the solar system can be corrected. We do have a 2024 Leap Year Calendar and the historic photographs for the year featuring Downtown Grain Valley. The February photo was given to the Historical Society by Alan Lefko and Mr. Lefko told me it was given to him by someone who noted it was the year he was born! (I hope he doesn’t mind that his age has been revealed.) Downtown Grain Valley, circa 1933
The photographer was probably standing on the east side of Main Street a block south of the railroad. It is difficult to determine what was in each of the buildings. In the foreground on the left we can see what must have been an auto repair shop. At least we can be sure they sold Goodyear tires. Across the tracks we clearly see the Bank of Grain Valley which still had a corner entrance. Beyond the bank was Storm’s Pharmacy and in the distance the Sni-A-Bar Bank building and the Christian Church. On the right side of the of the photograph is the old lumber yard. It is impossible to see the remaining buildings which would have been Loring Hardware, a hotel, the Ryan Building, and the grocery store which was owned by Edward and Otis Williams in the early 1930s. While there are few cars parked along the street, this shows our peaceful little town during The Great Depression (1929-1939) and just prior to World War II. It certainly makes one wonder how many families were still using horses or walking? Electricity was not in every home, certainly not water, and just out of view on the right there was an icehouse. Many homes got 25# blocks for their ice box. My grandfather would tell you that refrigerators were a luxury in most Grain Valley homes in the 1930s! If you have a leap year calendar you are will to part with, please bring it to the Historical Society Museum. It is open on Wednesdays from 10 AM – 3 PM. by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society The oldest Municipal Tax Book at the Grain Valley Historical Society begins with the year 1920. At that time, the houses along the north side of Yennie Street, from Broadway (now Main Street) to Thieme were known as the Johnson’s Addition to Grain Valley. There were 17 lots. In 1920, Harvey A Johnson owned the West 40 feet of lot 12 and all of lots 13, 14, 15, and 16. John W. Stephenson owned lot 17. James H. Webb owned 10 feet of the East side of lot 12 and all of lot 11, the Hard Shell Baptist Church (Valley News, January 23, 2024). The Stillion’s House
The house above sits on Lot 16. While I cannot know for sure when this house was built, I can only guess that it may have been built before 1920. At the very least, I believe there was some type of structure there because the taxes on lot 16 were $6.70 while the taxes on lots 14 and 15 were 70-cents each. Lot 13 probably had a building as well because it was taxed at $5.50. In 1922 someone wrote across the ledger, in pencil, ”not In town.” I’m not sure why they paid taxes if they were “not in town.” As always, when I research town history I’m left with more questions than answers! In the tax records we are missing between 1927 and 1933 Mr. Johnson sold his land as follows: West 40 feet lot 12 and lot 13 to B. C. Raines; lot 14 and East ½ of lot 15 to Fannie Graham; West ½ of lot 15 and lot 16 to Mary Grace and Emma Hoehn and lot 17 to Frank Anderson. As a young girl living in Grain Valley, I remember the Thompson house; the old church. I remember Mrs. Raines home. She was a widow by then. Mrs. Raines gave piano lessons. The house on lot 14/15 had been sold to Woody and Naomi Graham. Finally, the house in the photograph. It was known as the Stillions’ house but actually it was the Hoehn’s Sisters Home (No relation to the Haynes Sisters in White Christmas! It just sounds the same.) Frank Stillions came to Grain Valley to teach at the high school. He later became the superintendent. In 1946, at the age of 50 he married Grace Hoehn, a teller at the Bank of Grain Valley. The “old maid” sisters had shared the home until Emma died. It was then that Grace, also 50 years old, married Mr. Stillions. They left Grain Valley so he could teach for a year at CMSU, I believe. That was the first time that Jean and Bill Evans lived in the house. The Stillions returned for a couple of years and it was then that the garage and family room were added at the rear. Eventually, they retired or downsized as we say today. The Evans family bought the home where they lived until 1964. That was the same year that I left for Mizzou, so I do not remember the families that have lived in the home over the past 60 years. When I drive past the house today I think of the great times I had there with my good friend, Stephanie Evans. That house has stories to tell! Stop by the Grain Valley Historical Society any Wednesdays from 10:00am - 3:00pm. I can tell you a few! by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society It seems that every time I finish an article for this column I learn something more I could, perhaps should, have included in the story. That has been particularly true the last few weeks. Each time a story is published, someone has contacted me via email or in person to give me new information. That’s good for two reasons. First, I’m able to learn and share more information about our town. And second, it tells me that at least one person has read my column that week. I recently learned from an historical society member that her grandmother, Creola Warren, was a member of the Hard Shell Baptist Church –also known as Primitive Baptist. (Valley News, February 1, 2024) Indeed, the member’s ancestor, Zachariah Warren donated the land where the first New Liberty Baptist Church was built on Colburn Road. Zachariah’s son William A Warren built the first hardware store, circa 1900, in Grain Valley and moved into town. Creola was his daughter. Exactly when the Warrens began attending the Primitive Baptist Church is uncertain. They may have begun meetings in homes. At some point, they may have met in the home of James Webb. The location of his home may have been on Lot 11 and 10 feet on the east side of Lot 12 in the Johnson Addition. (located on the north side of Yennie Street). At the Grain Valley Historical Society, we have two property tax record journals. One dates from 1920 to 1925, and the second journal covers the years 1933 through 1945. From those journals I learned that the property was owned by James H. Webb in 1920. The first year that a tax exemption was given to the church was in 1924, perhaps the year church was established, or at least the year they congregants began meeting there on a regular basis. The property remained in Webb’s name until 1934. After that time the record simply read “church” and for a couple of years the record read “Primitive Church.” In 1945, the final recorded year in the journal, Lot 11 and 10 feet on the east side of Lot 12 was owned by Guy B. Thompson. Thus, we can only assume that the Hard Shell Baptist denomination existed in Grain Valley for at least 20 years, from 1924 to 1945. As for the two-story rock house on the northwest corner of Walnut and Capelle, (Valley News, February 8, 2024), another member of the historical society brought me a scrapbook filled with newspaper clipping kept by her grandmother, Ona Baumgardner. Among the clippings was a photograph of Rhoda Ashcroft Peerson at her loom. I further learned that she moved into the home around 1932, purchasing the home from Amy Wood, Dr. Wood’s widow. She moved to Grain Valley from her home southwest of Oak Grove after the death of her husband, John W. Peerson. The Peersons are buried in the Brown Cemetery on Stillhouse Road, southeast of Grain Valley. Rhoda Ashcraft Peerson, at her loom. Circa 1956. Photo credit: Grain Valley Historical Society
Reservations are made and it’s time to start packing your bags for Spring Break – but aside from the sunscreen and sandals, have you thought about how to pack the essentials when it comes to your nutrition? We all know that vacations can lead to unpredictable eating patterns, and that can lead to crabby kiddos, dehydrated adults and overall fatigue. I want to share with you my top five spring break travel hacks that will set you up for nutrition success whether you’re flying or driving to your final destination!
First and most important, pack a reusable water bottle! Whether you are road tripping or flying, having a reusable water bottle on hand is an excellent way to save money and help you stay hydrated. If you’re headed through security at the airport, don’t forget to dump any remaining liquid pre-screening and then refill at a water station as you head to your gate. I encourage you to pack balanced snacks. You’ll skip the feelings of hanger and avoid impulsive and expensive snack purchases while traveling. Snacks can be key to maintaining your energy levels and keeping the kids entertained and satisfied when traditional mealtimes are missed or delayed. Balanced snacks can help you stay on track with your healthy eating habits! Focus on packing snacks that contain protein and fiber to help keep you full longer. This could include protein bars, fruit or veggies and nuts or seeds, dried edamame or chickpeas, snack crackers and cheese and more! My advice: Come up with a plan to keep items temperature controlled whenever possible, and pack them in reusable containers or storage bags to reduce waste! I cannot stress the importance of avoiding dehydration while traveling. So, while this tip pairs closely to my number one tip – even if you don’t pack a reusable water bottle, I recommend packing your electrolytes. Dehydration is incredibly common when traveling and can lead to irritability, lack of ability to concentrate, fatigue, muscle cramps, digestive distress and more! To avoid these symptoms come prepared with electrolyte supplements that you can use on long flights, road trips, upon arrival or before departure to ensure you are getting a dose of vitamins, minerals and electrolytes to support your health and well-being while traveling. I highly recommend packing powdered electrolyte supplements such as Liquid I.V., BioSteel, Pedialyte or Nuun tablets to mix with your water. They will not take up excessive amounts of extra space but will provide exponential benefits! I love exploring new local restaurants and trying new foods when I am traveling, but I know that they may not prepare foods in the ways I would traditionally eat them at home. I also don’t always eat at the same time I normally would at home, especially if I am traveling within a different time zone. These shifts can lead to gastrointestinal distress or simply throw off your meal routine. If you dine out while traveling, I encourage you to enjoy dining out with these simple strategies: First, focus on still incorporating the food groups – fruits, vegetables, protein, grains and dairy. Fruits, vegetables and grains will help provide fiber, while protein and dairy can help further enhance satiety. Second, try splitting entrees when dining out to maintain portion control. Or if you’re staying in a hotel or residence with a kitchen, cook some of your meals to save money and use ingredients you would normally incorporate into meals at home. Last but certainly not least, have a plan for your return from vacation and schedule your Aisles Online order in advance. You might find yourself coming home to an empty fridge or bare pantry. Use Hy-Vee Aisles Online to schedule an order delivery or pickup that is ready for you when you return from vacation! This will save you from final pit stops on the way home and allow you to unpack and settle in before the return to work. Get started on https://www.hy-vee.com/aisles-online! Ready to give one of my tips a try? Check out these deliciously easy homemade snack bars, perfect for travel! They combine protein and fiber to help keep you full longer and are completely customizable to your family’s taste preferences. If storing for the long haul, I recommend cutting into single-serving bars and freezing to help keep other snacks cold and to prevent a sticky or smooshed mess of a protein bar in your carry-on or cooler. Once defrosted, they are ready to enjoy! No-Bake Peanut Butter Granola Bars All you need: 1 cup That’s Smart! creamy peanut butter ½ cup That’s Smart! honey 3 cups That’s Smart! 100% whole-grain quick-cooking oats ¾ cup desired mix-ins, such as: dried fruit, nuts and/or chocolate chips All you do:
Wondering how to get started on your health and wellness journey before Spring Break? Speak with a Hy-Vee registered dietitian who can help you create a plan that works for you. If you’re ready to learn how a Hy-Vee dietitian can help you, schedule a complimentary Discovery Session today by contacting our Discovery Call Center via email nutritionservices@hy-vee.com or calling (515) 695-3121. The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice. by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society The house we are looking at this week is in the Yennie Addition to Grain Valley. While I do not know the exact date when this addition was platted I would estimate that it was probably not until the late 1890s or early 1900s. Yennie Addition includes all of the lots from Yennie south to Walnut and from Gregg Street west to Thieme. There is a total of thirty-four lots in this addition. Born in 1877, Joseph Peter Yennie was only a couple of years old when his father died. His mother (Anastasia) moved to Kansas City and in 1881 she married Oscar Tesch. The Tesch family lived in Kansas City for many years, however, the 1920 U. S. Census listed their address as Sni-A-Bar, Missouri. Perhaps they followed her son Peter to Grain Valley, or maybe Anastasia’s first-born Anna Yennie Thieme, or their son Grover Cleveland Tesch as they were all three living in Grain Valley by 1900. When Joseph acquired the land that became Yennie Addition is unknown to me, however, my grandparents built their home on Lots 5 & 6 in 1910. A copy of the 1920 Property Tax for Grain Valley shows that Lloyd Williams sold Lot 7 to Dr. J. A. Wood during that year. A photograph at the Grain Valley Historical Society shows Dr. and Mrs. Wood and a group of “dressed to the nines’ ladies on the front steps of the home. They were identified as the Epworth League from the nearby Methodist Church having a “tea” at Dr. Wood’s home. By 1927, the taxes were paid by Amy wood, widow. The tax books are missing from 1927 until 1933, but in 1933, the taxes were paid by Rhoda Ashcroft Peerson. Ironically, her sister Lily was married to Grover Cleveland Tesch. Rhodie, as I knew her, was a Grain Valley “character!” She made and sold lye soap, beautiful rag rugs which she constructed on a huge loom that took up most of her dining room, and salve. She sold the salve in little tin cans and you can believe me, it would heal about anything from minor cuts to boils. Rhodie live there until her death in 1970. Ironically, I’m told the house is owned today by a great grandson of Lily Ashcraft Tesch. Another Grain Valley home packed with over 100 years of history and at least as many wonderful stories. Photo credit: Grain Valley Historical Society
AI isn't here to ruin your world, it's the opposite. It's here to make your life a lot easier. There's no complicated process to use Generative AI. If you can use Google, you can use AI and with the increase in applications of artificial intelligence, there are ways you can use it to your advantage in daily life.
Some of the things you can use AI for include: explaining in plain English what your doctor's report said or helping you create effective social media posts for your business. Maybe you need a recipe for a family gathering. You ask AI to help you solve issues and come up with solutions for problems you're having around the house as well as helping you with personal issues you're dealing with. AI can make daily life more pleasant, productive, and easy to manage. Read on to find out how. The term AI doesn't mean Generative tools currently available are living machines. It means that you can talk to these tools like you would a human. If you've struggled in the days of DOS, you know trying to talk to a computer in machine language is impossible. With the help of AI, you can sit in front of your computer or smartphone and have conversations with ChatBots who are there to help you. Think of AI as Google on steroids! There are many tools that you can use to help you with your journey to using AI. If you're getting started here is a list of ones to get started: ChatGPT: It's available from any web browser or you can download the app for iPhone or Android. You will need to create an account. The free version works for most people. You have the option to pay $20 a month if you think you need more advanced tools which are designed for people who are using AI at an advanced level. Perplexity: You can use it free on the web for general purposes. There’s also a $20 per month Pro plan if you want to be able to upload images and get access to advanced tools. AI.Google Bard: You can use it free from any browser on your computer or smartphone. It's completely free if you have a Google account. Microsoft Copilot: Use it on Chrome or Edge at Copilot.Microsoft.com. You need to sign in with an active Microsoft account. You can also download the Bing app to your iPhone or Android device. How do I talk AI's Language? AI communication works in the form of prompts. Prompts are a way of "programming" AI to give you the results you want. Choosing the right prompt is an important step. For example, if you’re working on creating a schedule for house cleaning, make you're putting in all of the information related to scheduling such as days you work and days you have off. What rooms do you want to clean regularly or on a casual basis? A good prompt would work like this: "I need help with my house cleaning schedule. I work Monday through Friday from 8 am - 5 pm. I'm struggling with keeping up with laundry, as well as cleaning my bathrooms and kitchen. Can you come up with a schedule that will help me keep my house clean and organized?" You can revise this to whatever works for you. Let's get started. If you can think of it, there’s probably an AI tool that can do it. Rather than using Google to find answers, use AI. Here are some uses to get you started. Handyman: There are plenty of things that can go wrong around your house. Sometimes you need to know if you can fix these situations on your own, or know if you should just call a professional. Use the following prompts: "I spilled red wine on my carpet. Can you show me some effective methods of removing the stain" Another would be: "I think the pipes in my house are frozen. Do you have some simple home remedies to fix this issue?" Family organizer: If you have an overwhelming household, you can use AI as your family organizer to make your life easier. Use the following prompts: “Can you help create a schedule that will allow me to have lazy mornings, and make sure I get my kids to school at 7:55 am and start my virtual workday at 9:30 am." Another prompt could be: "For the following month, I have to work 8 to 5 Monday - Friday, take the kids to basketball practice on Wednesdays at 5:30 pm. Can you help me create a schedule I can stick to?” Looking for Online Love: Creating an online dating profile can be a challenge because it’s hard to talk about ourselves! Instead of racking your brain to come up with the perfect profile, ask AI to help. Use the following prompts: "Can you help with my online dating profile? I need you to ask me a series of questions to figure out what things I need to include. Make sure the questions you ask are about me and the qualities I want in a partner." Another prompt would be: "Can you look at my current online dating profile and add some things to spice it up." You can then copy and paste your online profile to allow AI to read it and give you pointers. Business Brainstorming: It's easy to get stuck in a marketing rut when it comes to your business. Make AI can be your idea-generating machine. Feed the proper prompts that are related to your business, and watch as it shoots out creative business concepts. Use the following prompts: "I’m thinking about starting a new podcast. Can you be the marketing guru? I was hoping you could help me with a plan to get the word out. Where should I start?” Another prompt could be: "I have a newsletter that I've sent out for many years. I have a good size of subscribers. Can you help me think of ways that I could increase my subscribers?" Personal Chef. No, AI won't cook for you, but you can ask it to come up with a meal plan or help you prepare meals by telling it what ingredients and food items you have in your home. Use the following prompts: “I'm tired, but I need to prepare a meal for my family or four. Another prompt could be: "Can you help me with 3 quick and easy meals that I can make in less than an hour" Another prompt would be: "I need help with what foods to avoid. I am trying to lose 10 pounds. What suggestions do you have as far as meal choices?" Content creation concierge: Struggling to write website copy? How about material for your social media posts? AI can craft compelling website and social media copy, help with SEO (search engine optimization), and target the people you're trying to reach. Use the following prompts: “I need you to analyze the copy on the first page of my website to see if I have the right SEO to get more people to find my website" Another prompt would be: " I need you to come up with 7 days of social media content that will help me become more consistent with my social media posts." Hopefully, this will give you some ideas of how you can use AI in your day-to-day home or work life. There are even more AI tools that will help you generate images for your use at home or business, create spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, newsletters, and more. If you need a list of AI prompts for text or images, drop me a line and I can send you a cheat sheet to help you get more out of AI. Looking for More Useful Tips Tips? My Tuesday Tech Tips Blog is released every Tuesday. If you like video tips, I LIVE STREAM new episodes of 'Computer and Tech Tips for Non-Tech People' every Wednesday at 1:00 pm CST on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X. You can view previous episodes on my YouTube channel. Want to ask me a tech question? Send it to burton@burtonkelso.com. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I'm serious about making technology fun and easy to use for everyone. |
Categories
All
Archives
March 2024
|
Grain Valley NewsGrain Valley News is a free community news source published weekly online. |
Contact Us |