well .. I was able to create a virtual switch and add it to a dashboard...
I can see it toggle true/false in the logs...
but my rule does not trigger...sigh! so close
attached is my rule.. with the url's masked out...
Note: verified the hub is in Day mode
Scary... don't know what i did... but... 
it started working... the virtual switch is controlling the light using my test dashboard....Hopefully I will be able to repeat my success for the next switches... 
Thanks everyone for all the help.. My first attempt with triggers worked... awkwardly... but it was a good learning experience.
All the pointers ... helped me see what virtual switches are and how to use them...
Won't have much chance to play for a while with the Christmas season in full swing... but come January I'll be back at it...
--- To add to the fun .. my hard drive is starting to die on my system...
Time for a fresh install.... Hopefully it will be stable till January 
..
I have my scripts backed up... so it shouldn't be hard... just time consuming...
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