Sometimes I really worry about technology. Currently, we have an Alexa installed in our kitchen and I worry about it every day. I think about what she’s hearing, what she’s reporting, and what data she is sending back to Amazon. Even worse, I worry about what parts of our conversation she might be sharing with the government. It is terrifying to consider that there are technological advancements all around us that we poorly understand. We really have no idea what our cell phones are up to all the time, if our GPS is being tracked, or if our new smart cars are gathering personal information about us. That being said, I’m amused and terrified by the brand new smart thermostat that we installed in our house a few months ago. We had grown tired of the old thermostat game. We were sick of worrying about turning up and down the temperature all day long. Every morning, it was a huge deal if we forgot to turn off the central heating or cooling system before leaving for work. Every night, we were in big trouble if we didn’t remember to turn down the temperature a few hours before bedtime. In all of these instances, we could have saved ourselves a lot of trouble by having a smart thermostat with a designated temperature control program that moderated the HVAC equipment for us. So, we pulled the trigger and bought a smart thermostat. I love the thing, but it is a little creepy. For instance, it knows that I leave for work an hour early every Monday and turns down the air conditioner. The thermostat knows exactly when we go to bed every night, and comments on our routines. Weirdest of all, it recognizes that we always cook a big meal for dinner, and turns down the indoor air temperature in preparation. If we eat out instead, we get shaming notifications reminding us of our diets.