Earlier this month, I had a routine appointment with my primary care physician. One of the things we discussed was a medication I take — a blood thinner called Eliquis — and how expensive it is, even with my insurance coverage. The doctor asked if I had ever considered a procedure involving a device called “Watchman,” which would eliminate the need for the Eliquis. I had not heard of it, so he gave me a brief tutorial on how it worked.

That was the extent of it, except that he suggested I should check further with my cardiologist if I was interested. End of discussion.

During my time in his office, my iPhone was not turned off. However, it stayed safely tucked away in its wallet; I did not activate it, and no one called me.

But when I got home from that appointment a short time later, and checked my emails as I do a few times a day, there were several ads for . . . would you like to take a guess? . . . Watchman!!! And they have continued to pop up every day, several times a day, since then.

Now, I know that the industry and the researchers assure us that our smart phones do not have the capacity to spy on us. And I do get dozens of email ads . . . Every. Single. Freakin’ Day . . . for all sorts of oddities. But those are generally triggered by an online search that I’ve done, or another ad that I looked at. This was not that.

The timing of this ad — one I do not recall having seen before — popping up an hour after I discussed the product in the presence of my phone is just . . . well . . . spooky.

Maybe it was coincidental. But I don’t trust the tech industry any further than I can throw an anvil. And you know how terrified I am of the whole AI thing. So I’ve made a decision, in what may be an excess of caution, but I don’t care: From now on, when I’m having a private conversation with anyone, my phone is going to be switched off. Not just silenced . . . completely off.

If the machines are coming to get us, I’m at least going to put up a fight.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
9/26/26