40 thoughts on “August 5, 2019: Could Be A Lot Worse”

    1. You hate to see a team beset with injuries like this but it is the Yankees when Cleveland is going to be playing them in a little over a week.

    2. The team is so cursed that they had to settle on Bob Costas doing play-by- play. The horror!

  1. Anybody have advice on new smart phones? I think i need to replace my Samsung. I'm sticking with Verizon so just looking for any opinions on phones.

    I'm not much of an Apple fan.

    1. I just got my first smart phone last Friday. Finally made the switch.

      I think it's okay, but I kind of miss my dumb phone right now. I got a Samsung something or other. There are times I feel like the screen doesn't read my touch perfectly well. Is that typical, or just a thing with my phone, or possibly in my head? Does my alarm require swiping in order to turn off, instead of just a tap, like snooze? These are the things that plague me now.

      1. Also, now that I have a smart phone, I am interested in downloading and listening to podcasts. Any recommendations for programs for doing this stuff? I open up an app store and mostly I feel inspired to immediately close it, since there's no obvious way to distinguish quality apps from crap ones, except by recommendations of people I don't know or trust.

        1. Also, are these stupid "content not supported" text messages from numbers that don't have enough digits to be a phone number just spam messages, or am I missing out on something I should be trying to figure out?

          Geez, I got old all of a sudden. I liked things simpler.

    2. I have stuck with Samsung. The rest of the family had IPhones and they always seem to have more issues than I do. I always buy down to the previous version, so I don't pay the premium on this years hot new model.

      1. That's what I usually do. Wife just got pixel and likes it. And I think Sean said security is better with it than Samsung.

        1. Your security list from best to worst: any Apple phone that's still supported, Pixel phones from Google, dumb phone.

          If I were to get a phone right now, it'd be the Pixel 3a. It has the best cameras of any phone plus a headphone jack, without the flagship prices. Custom Android ROM on your phone. It's also plastic instead of a glass back like the Pixel phones which makes it less breakable.

          The rest of the Android phones.

          1. I've got the 3a, the camera is indeed amazing. The headphone jack is also amazing.

            The processor seems a little slower than the s9, but I'll gladly take the upsides.

            It's also twenty dollars a month cheaper.

    3. Also not an Apple fan, so Samsung Galaxy is a fine choice, all things considered. Like zoomy, no need for the cutting edge version.

      Avoid all apps unless you get first hand recommendations from someone knowledgeable. There are a whole lot of great utility apps out there, and any one of us can give recommendations. I'll throw one randomly out for you: GasBuddy

      1. My main complaint is Bixby. Stupid dedicated button, and when you mistakenly swipe right from the home page, it launches. Annoying. But I have no idea if it is useful.

    4. Depending on how premium you want to go, I've had good luck with Nokia. With the latest management, they have prioritized software update speed and camera quality.

    5. I have and would recommend the Pixel 3a. Great camera, headphone jack, NO BLOATWARE (glares at Samsung), and it was far cheaper than Samsung or Apple's flagships.

      1. I got a cheapish LG to replace the other cheapish LG I just broke. This one came with a bunch of Amazon apps I didn't want and of course couldn't delete.

        I deleted the apks with ADB and then lo and behold they were back the next day.

      2. I also have a 3a XL. I was pleasantly surprised by the experience too. I'm a Verizon customer, but I bought directly from the google store. I just put the sim card from my old phone (Galaxy S7) into the 3a sim slot and everything was good. Very nice not having to interact with Verizon at all. Google also followed up with $100 credit to their store, so I picked up a case and wireless charger (but it turns out the 3a doesn't support wireless charging, oops). The battery lasts about 3x longer than my abused Galaxy. If I lose this one, I'd get another Pixel, but probably not the XL. I thought it was going to be about the same size as my Galaxy, but it's much bigger.

          1. S8 has wireless charging and the upgraded USB port (not micro). But the wireless dies not work through my case.

            Not a huge fan of the all-glass, curved screen (back is glass too). The size and edge-to-edge is nice, but when text gets near the curved edge it can be hard to read/manipulate. Minor problem.

            1. Agreed about the curved Glass. It seemed like an innovation that no asked for, wanted, or liked. And they just keep doubling down on it.

              Fwiw, the new Pixels do usb-C, as well

    6. I am on, I think, my third Samsung (S8). I have been fairly happy with each successive generation. Battery life is not as good as my work iPhone, but I find it easier to use.

      I bought this one unlocked from Walmart. Transferring everything was easy to do myself.

      I like the form factor ok. I installed the Google keyboard. Better than the default, but fat thumbs are still a problem, as is autoincorrect. Camera is good. Audio is good. Apps are abundant.

      1. I got mine off eBay. And yes, Bixby is a total waste.

        Not sure the enamoration with headphone jack - I have great wireless earbuds and Bluetooth is definitely the way to go. Bought three wireless chargers too ($11 eBay) that my wife and I use by our bed our my work PC. The wired charger connection has always been hit or miss as time passes.

  2. It's a "one of your cats throws up a couple times and the other manages to lay in it" kind of day today.

    1. I've had the cat under observation today. Last night she managed to lick up some of her topical flea treatment and was acting really strange - lethargic and disconnected one minute, seemingly fine the next. There was also some mild shuddering, not like a seizure, more like a bad shiver. She seems fine now.

    2. Cats. We got a male kitten 5 weeks ago and it continually terrorizes my female adult cat. Jumps on her back with claws and all. Its getting time to bring him to the vet to get declawed and fixed. Hopefully settles him down.

      1. Our cats are good buddies now, though if they are awake they're probably wrestling.

        The shocking good news was that I took the younger one into the tub to hose him down fully expecting to need some neosporin, but I held him by the scruff and sprayed his belly off with no protesting. He was unusually calm during it.

Comments are closed.