I lived in a triple decker back when I was in college and those featured sleeping porches for the summer time. We would drag a futon out there and sleep in the open air with the cool night breezes. Worked well most of the summer (except for rainy/stormy nights and the dog days of August). We did not have AC, just fans. (there were some people who had window AC units in their bedrooms in some of the units). But we lived in a city so our jobs mostly had AC and we would go to the pub, mall/stores, movies, library after work and just hang outside at weekend festivals etc… all AC or uneeded AC places. Frankly, it was just not hot enough here in the summer long enough to warrant a unit and the increased power bill. Once Labor Day came around it was Fall. In the winter we used electric blankets, long underwear, sweaters etc.

I just saw a YT clip about how the 25 y/o McMansions are all falling apart.

Yeah, I have tried to keep my central AC off as much as possible. My power bills over the past year have been insane.

I just don’t want OneDrive. Can it stop refusing to be deleted?

Well, we will at least have a whole new sequel plot for a new Fight Club.

Microslop OneDrive wants $20/m for 1T. However you slice it, we pay for them to back stuff up on a cloud that we used to just back up on our own physical storage. This also gives them access to all our info/pics etc to scan for their AI bots.

I liked Google Circles. Was sad it went away. It definitely made sure that my interactions/upvotes on Aunt Nancy’s account wasn’t seen by MIL who hates her guts and deems my interaction with her a sign of betrayal.

In order to sign up at the SS website on my laptop so I could get an updated statement, I had to use my phone to take pictures of my ID and myself. It kept failing/dropping. It was a giant PIA. Finally got it to work but I had to attempt a couple different days. I don’t know how someone who has no experience with a smart phone and laptop or tablet manages. I think I heard that about 25% SS employees were DOGE’d as well as many field offices closed and it can be incredibly difficult to get an appointment (some are just not staffed), especially if you reside in a rural county. I have to help my husband get signed up on the website and I dread it. He has a very thin frustration threshold with tech he can’t get to work. I foresee his phone flying across the room.

Elon…and Vance… and pretty much the entire Trump cabinet… come on, we would line up and pay for the pleasure.

Or at least a back door some hacker can drive a semi-truck through. All the screen will show is I HAZ ALL YUR HAMBERDERS

He spoke that into his phone’s microphone. His fingers are too important and valuable to do anything but wipe his own ass.

I have used Motorola for the last 5 years or so. They had superior battery life compared to the others and were inexpensive. I bought my last one for like 40 bucks on clearance. I won’t spend more than 100 bucks plus tax on a phone anymore. I use minimal apps, don’t take lots of pictures with it, mostly text and make phone calls on it. I don’t keep social media apps on it nor restaurant apps. I mostly use the Maps, the Notes, and the browser applications. I don’t like the android/google calendar interface but will use reminders/tasks. I also use book/reading/podcast apps (Librivox, Podbean, Kindle, and another one…). I had overly invested in Kindle years ago unfortunately. I don’t really watch video on the phone as it is too small, but have YT music on it. I could use advice for alternatives that are better.

Well, you need to understand, Palantir needs a library for their facial recognition software. What if those young people refused to take advantage of the smartphone biometrics? Don’t they know it is for their security??? /s

Monopolies are bad for everyone except their CEO and stockholders.

I have been permanently banned from Reddit for wishing for a natural disease process to occur in a certain individual. If only I were that powerful of a manifestor our world would be a better place.

Do you think a Linux phone would have the same weaknesses?

You can also use an old style camera that uses film or a polaroid. Take ziplocs or black bags to put in and hide like a cache bag.

also, tape recorders. And if you travel out of the country… buy a burner flip phone to use.

Yes, and printed maps still work. Keeping an address/phone book still works (so do sharpies on your arm).

yeah, you have to analog.