u/Royal_Try_99

When I set up my workshop (still in progress, it's my first, I'm learning as I go) I decided to get an Amazon echo to stick in there, partly for music, partly for the ability to call someone if I accidentally cut off an arm and can't reach my phone.

But bonus - Alexa likes fractions.

I can be all hands occupied, measuring and marking something up, and yell out "hey Alexa, what's 3 and 3/32 of an inch plus 5 and 7/16 of an inch" and she happily does all the work for me. Sure I could probably add two fractions in my head and be correct 80% of the time. But get a string of 4 or 5 of them in a row and I'm second guessing myself and trying to find scrap wood to scribble it out on.

Just thought I'd share that in case you've got a device like this and hadn't thought of using it this way! (Or want one now so you can)

My dog (4yo mixed breed male, large) doesn't have general separation anxiety. I can leave the house and he's perfectly calm, just naps until I get home. He also loves car rides. But as soon as I leave the car to go into a store or whatever (not in the heat, please don't come at me for that) he starts barking. Sometimes he will stop when I'm out of sight, but sometimes he barks for the whole 5 or 10 minutes I'm gone.

I'm mostly just concerned about his comfort. Obviously he is upset about being in there alone or about not being allowed to join me. I've tried giving treats before and after, I've tried leaving him with a favorite toy or bone to chew on. He isn't destructive - no chewing seats or anything. Just noisy.

Any tips?