What is You.Radio?
I’m not finding any real information about the service, except what the Lyrion player is showing about where it originates. I’ve added several of You.Radio’s “Exclusively” channels to my Lyrion favorites.
Author: DOuG pRATt
Drug Money
Under Medicare Part D, there is now a $2000 out-of-pocket limit for prescription drugs.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/medicare-2000-prescription-drug-cap-january-1-2025-how-it-works/
In preparation for my afib ablation, I have to start taking Eliquis twice daily on the 15th. With my insurance, a 90-day supply costs just under $500.
Will I be on Eliquis forever? Probably, but it depends on the outcome of the ablation. Assuming I need to continue taking the medication, that will be $2000 this year.
Next year, the price of Eliquis will be negotiated by the government. Two years after that, generic versions should be available.
Bye Bye Johnnie
I’m listening to a BBC Radio 2 tribute show for DJ Johnnie Walker, who passed away on December 31. I followed his “Sounds of the 70s” show on Sundays for years.
Happiness Is…
… getting things working the way you want. I had a blast working on the Lyrion setup yesterday. In the process I learned that the results of updating from Logitech to Lyrion are very different from a fresh install. The latter is preferred.
From Logitech to Lyrion
The Lyrion project is headed by, and apparently mostly programmed by, Michael Herger, who has done an outstanding job of updating the software.
It’s been fifteen years since I bought a Logitech Squeezebox Radio for the bedroom and installed the music server software on a Windows XP netbook. Later, I acquired a second radio for the kitchen, and a Squeezebox Touch for the living room stereo. I use the SqueezePlay program on several of my Windows systems.
Searching this site for references to LMS would reveal instances of frustration, and even desperation, in my efforts to keep the system running after Logitech discontinued the product line. It’s been a long road, and I’m glad I didn’t give up, because thanks to the die-hards it hasn’t ended yet.
After so many years, I wasn’t going to risk replacing my LMS installation with Lyrion until I had tested it on another system to be sure everything works. Indeed it does, and in fact it’s better than LMS in some significant ways, not the least being the user interface. I can continue using the Squeezer controller app on my Android phone, but I’m finding myself preferring the new Web browser interface. As long as the excellent old Logitech hardware continues to hold up, I’m good.
On another tech note, tastewar informs me there’s a gadget with a slight twist on the dograt name, branding it as a voice-activated garage door opener interface!
https://paulwieland.github.io/ratgdo/
This is his New Year’s project. I found this article to see what’s involved with the installation, especially the wiring. Go, tastewar!
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/09/i-home-automated-my-garage-door-finally-with-a-ratgdo/
Too Much of a Good Thing?
I have long felt that exercise is a cure for many things. The latest lab science backs that up, at least with mice.
In my case, I overdid it. “Long-distance running is the unhealthiest thing you can do to your heart.” So says the Mass General electrophysiolgist cardiologist who will be performing the ablation procedure for my atrial fibrillation next month.