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Post by moss on Dec 12, 2018 6:46:08 GMT -8
....guilty of quietly participating... Hey, moss , at least you are participating! I keep coming to see what's happening and I see you visit a few times a day That's nice to see. I am wondering if the new members are finding the content too specific to my local area and therefore few threads that inspire a comment? Maybe, in fact, a look-around makes people back away, thinking "nothing here for me!"
There is a place for Random Chat where anyone can start a new comment to get replies from others! And this Day Begins thread is a version of a thread on another forum I started years ago where the Good Morning thread is used by many of the members; 2000 members. with 100+ active every day! There are also a few hundred visits each day but that ishardly relevant. Chinese hackers? Anyway, I am open to comments and ideas to add more general content that all seniors could be interested in! Is the 2.8 SS bump next month a nice but? Or will it get taken by an increase un some Medicare bump? Do you know there's a link here to check prices on prescriptions? Both my helper and I have found GoodRX useful. I need to mention, nothing here is meant to sell you anything! Any link is simply to point to more info. This forum does not earn me a dime. So yes, my day begins. More research planned, I should get started. It takes lurkers like me time to engage😉
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Post by moss on Dec 12, 2018 7:54:03 GMT -8
Is the 2.8 SS bump next month a nice but? Or will it get taken by an increase un some Medicare bump? Do you know there's a link here to check prices on prescriptions? Both my helper and I have found GoodRX useful. I need to mention, nothing here is meant to sell you anything! Any link is simply to point to more info. This forum does not earn me a dime. So yes, my day begins. More research planned, I should get started. I'm still a little over a year away from Medicare. SS even further out. My wife is on both so we welcome any increase, but I can't imagine it will offset increases elewhere. The first of the year I hope to tackle finding savings in TV/Internet/Phone. It's all bundled with AT&T and their recent increases are too much to sustain. I've been inspired by your ideas in this area and will dive into it in January.
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Post by Steve on Dec 12, 2018 11:25:59 GMT -8
TV/Internet/Phone...bundled with AT&T I'll be tempted to move this bit to the " Money" section because this could be a conversation that should interest more people. But here I go with some ideas... I used to pay for Comcast bundled services. I chose Comcast over AT&T for the simple technical reason that Comcast is several times faster! A dedicated cable is simply faster than a phone line and in my business I needed to transfer lots of large files. It served me well, but that was then, this is bow. Changes... • Do you really beed a land line? I don't know how AT&T does it but Comcast charges rent for the VOIP 〈Voice Over Internet Protocol〉 modem. With to cellphone only! I dropped Verizon and switched to Consumer Cellular and have great service (same number) at less (lots less) than half the price/ And now @bluzeman has brought Ting to the game! Ting is cheaper yet. Two lines are still cheaper than one wired line. I' m not selling Comcast, but I must mention that now I can switch the chip in my phone and use my home wi-fi network to handle my calls for free! I can save $25/month and strep away from Consumer. • TV? There are a variety of ways to cut the cord (technology marches on!) especially if your location is not mountainous like mine. You can get an antenna (not the old aluminum tree type) for under $100 and get loads of stations without cable TV. You still want Internet, of course. Special stuff from TV? There are many ways to get TRV programs online. And with a Roku pr Apple TV, stream them to your 60" hi-def wall unit. In other words, you can make several changes to lower your expenses.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2018 4:33:53 GMT -8
Internet/tv is costly especially when Bundling. I had Verizon/Fios. It's not bad what they do is they put in Sports channels into the bundle with the most popular channels people want, so the taxes are very high with the bundle. I've cut the cable all together because it's just repeats to me and I dont have time for much tv. I bought a 10 dollar antenna for my tv's and they pick up all the channels in the area. As for phone I have a landline and prefer it. With a cell 911 doesn't know your location, they get the nearest ping from a tower. So their is a safety feature in having a landline. You can have a landline without long distance to cut down on the cost. As for cell phone, I bought a trafcone years ago, I pay a 100 a year for the years card and I only use it in case of emergency and the points roll over so I have a load of those. As long as I renew yearly, I don't lose my points. This last time I found a way to just renew for the year for half price, cause it didn't add on any more points which I didn't need. Here is the link tracfonereviewer.blogspot.com/2017/06/best-deal-on-prepaid-minutes-tracfone.htmlIn case anyone is interested.
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Post by moss on Dec 13, 2018 6:15:42 GMT -8
When Google Fiber entered our market 4 or 5 years ago AT&T rushed in with their 1 gig service aggressively. We were on Time Warner at the time and they had a rats nest of wires in our neighborhood that led to all kinds of reliability issues. With the dedicated fiber AT&T provided at a considerable savings over TW we switched. It was great for the 3 years they were tied to that rate but about a year ago they jacked up my bill substantially. Time Warner is now Spectrum here and they are way cheaper than the AT&T rates I pay now so that is a possibility. Cord cutting and piece mealing a plan together another. I just need to figure out what to do so these discussions are very helpful.
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Post by Steve on Dec 13, 2018 9:51:29 GMT -8
With a cell, 911 doesn't know your location... True, but consider this: there are 911 centers that can accept a TXT message! From an iPhone, a TXT message can also include a map with GPS coördinates! I looked at a national list of places where 911 can accept txt messages and found my local county is ready for that, and FWIW, Texas lists loads of places. Here is the source of the list. But I do see your need for a wired line. Maybe the people here are also land line users? I have no idea. And moss mentions so many options available in Austin becoming a tangle? Hang on there, moss, you must be aware that Apple has just announced a new center coming that will have 5,000 more workers. Ill suppose more wiring will follow. In my own little world, I have decided to back away from the invite by the new manager to stand up at her planned Meet and Greet so I could introduce this forum! I did day I would burt now I think I will pass. Why? Not the least of reasons would be the inevitable questions about cost, privacy, how to use it, etc. I will find another way. I will come back here later to link to more thoughts on this. My mornings are getting busy.
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Post by moss on Dec 13, 2018 12:33:56 GMT -8
I do have 3 options with cable companies. Unfortunately Google Fiber hasn't wired our neighborhood so they aren't an option. Does anyone have experience negotiating your rate by threatening to switch? I really like AT&T but currently hate the price. And yes Steve, the Apple news was in the paper this morning. They currently have around 6K employees here so they will nearly double their presence here assuming it all shakes out.
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Post by Steve on Dec 14, 2018 6:29:30 GMT -8
Well, has the novelty worn off? A flurry of new members, a big number of Guests looking to see what's here, and now? Just us chickens: @rounds and moss to join in the conversation. I was hoping @bluzeman would be posting when he mention music editing. There is, in fact, a section waiting for music videos, but maybe it is yet to be discovered? I built this forum to help people with limited funds and mostly not so mobile, find help with filling time (along with other nerds..) Of course I rashly assumed everyone was computer literate, or at least able to access the Internet to find free books and music. But maybe I assumed too much? I started using my Mac in 1985. I willingly paid $1500 for my little Mac Plus, an 8Mhz box with an 8" screen, grayscale 72px resolution. I also paid $700 to add add an addition disk for one meg of storage. Today I use a 3.3 GHz iMac with a 26" monitor, 5000 px resolution and a terabyte 〈one million million bytes〉 of storage, and I spenrt less to buy it! I was 40, and as I started to talk with others about what was then a pretty new idea of having a computer, I was already hearing some say "Oh,I'm too old to learn that stuff!" Asroundung then, moreso now. I am told (by only two neighbors) that people here are not interested in computers or the inter webs. Not a really researched remark but I am not planning to step up to invite a meeting of residents to visit The Grapevine! Mainly because it can't be a quick mention. Nobody will be ready to write down an odd URL, and I would be inviting many questions about "how?" I will dare to invite people to come visit me to see a demo of how the internet can be used. And I always use my mom to counter the "tool old" remarks I still hear. I bought my mom and dad a Mac when they were in their 70s. Mom loved it and stayed a Mac user right into her 90s, actually missing being able to use it as she hit 100 years old. So I guess I'm congratulating the Seniors who dared join. When did you start using a computer? And now a legit question: is the forum too segmented? The Music section is a few step to evan find!Is there too much info to take in? I expect to call another low-income apartment complex to ask how they manage to have both a newsletter and a website used by members. Meanwhile, it's nice to have some activity here, and it is interesting to see the options in other areas. Keep it coming, folks.
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Post by moss on Dec 14, 2018 9:08:29 GMT -8
When did you start using a computer? And now a legit question: is the forum too segmented? The Music section is a few step to evan find!Is there too much info to take in? My introduction to computers when I got married in the early 90's. My wife had one and it was mostly used at that time for email and bookkeeping on Quicken. As for the forum, I have a habit of searching for either new threads, or new posts. The downside to that is it may take me awhile to get the hang of what you have to offer content wise.
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Post by Steve on Dec 15, 2018 12:21:03 GMT -8
¡Caramba! I am bummed out by two big changes I think I am deciding to make. 1. I am tired of Amazon! I am thinking Mr. Bezos has enough money now so he can do without more from me. I used to get packages in a few days with basic free delivery. That was then, this is now. I won't pay $120 a year for two-day, and now the standard "free" takes about two weeks. I swear they keep these in a special room to age before putting them on a trucks. So I am changing my habits. Goodbye Jeff. 2. Google makes billions from ads on every web page that exists. They own YouTube, and now I find that mast (all?) videos are starting with commercials! I don't WANT to watch a two-minute ad for Chinese dancers. So now I guess the fun of add some music videos here is going to bring ads to deal with, Nuts.
I get it. It costs money for everything. This forum is "free" for me to create and run but of course we see ads top and bottom so that Proboards can make money. No quibble there. I have the option of paying $6/month to replace the income they get from the ads, but so far I am reluctant to pay out the money when so few people are even looking. And maybe the music ads aren't that bad, but right now? I'm annoyed. There. That's how my day started.
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Post by moss on Dec 15, 2018 19:42:13 GMT -8
I reconcile Amazon's Prime fee with what we get for the money. In addition to the 2 day shipping, we use the video service often. Unlike Netflix, they have way more content of older movies and TV series that we seem to gravitate toward. I find the photo storage works well. We used to use Dropbox but it seemed like everytime we used that program we were told we needed to upgrade due to space requirements. Amazon has unlimited photo storage. I also quite often use their music service. Just search about any artist and all kinds of content is included with the Prime membership and available to play. Also my wife is a voracious reader. All the books she reads on her Kindle are delivered at no cost through our local library through Amazon, or for free with Prime Reading of Kindle First. If all you use Prime for is 2 day shipping I get why you're fed up. If you haven't explored any of these other offerings you might give them a try.
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Post by Steve on Dec 16, 2018 4:04:14 GMT -8
If all you use Prime for is 2 day shipping ... I need to explain a little better. In fact I understand and agree with all the benefits you enjoy! I have been an Amazon customer since 2001. I was a Prime member for the ;last many years, but my personal circumstances have made most of the benefits no longer of much use to me. I liked the Prime Video (even re-upped to watch Bosch (season one was excellent. two was stink, three was meh!) but since I have bad vision and don't see colors too well on top of partial blindness, the selection process drives me crazy with expanding flipping thumbnails. I recently tried to look up a specific product and the result page was a circus of other versions with "Others liked the..." or "have you looked at these?" and I simply could not find the one things I wanted to checkQ Buried in choices I did not want. I stopped looking and shopped at Walmart. So I really did enjoy the perks...until I couldn't. I can't read a book )but I have downloaded some Kindle works for my iPad) and I now find Audible worthwhile. I actually just bought a song from Amazon Music and was not crazy about having to install an app and then have to open and export the music to MP3 so it would play in my Apple equipment. iTunes is a breeze compared to Amazon, but that is just me experience. I can easily recommend Prime for all it offers if a person makes frequent purchases and has good vision, as most people do. I was mostly reacting to the ubiquitous advertising taking over places where my duscision was made, an ad is in my way! I wanted a song, not an ad for Chinese road show I cannot attend. I wanted a specific air fryer and couldn't actually find it in the clutter of other similar items (advertising) But again, this is all just me. It's all good. DSo what else shall we talk about?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2018 5:42:51 GMT -8
GM Steve, You have to realize it's the time of year where people are busy. Also some like to read verses part take in a forum. Give it time, as people feel more relaxed they may start to post more.
As for the 911. I know on my phone it's easier for me to call than to text a message out. My cell is just a reg. phone so I don't have a type key pad per say, 1 is ABC letters.
I wish we would go back to the pay phone days, myself. A lot less issues with those than with cell phones.
Amazon, I try to avoid it. They have gotten to big for my taste. A lot of businesses are being put out of business cause of them. Anything that monopolizes numerous markets in one shot is a danger to our economy. They really need to be controlled.
Soon all we will have is nothing but Amazon and that's not right.
I had used Amazon streaming services but it's nothing I want to pay in addition for. I enjoy my antenna tv and the shows from the 80s when people spoke normally and people weren't over sensitive but stronger and gave it right back. Just a different more normal time.
Moss, As for the cancelling service, ask to speak to the top person. The ones that answer the phones have no power. Say that you regret it but you'll have to be cancelling your service. Such and such company offered you a great deal and you've decided to go with them. Mention their competitor's name that helps. Actually cancelling does help too, they'll want you back. LOL Google stuff you speak of I never heard of. I avoid Google, youtube their all the same company and Google spies and lies. They block a lot of current information for their narrative. I have my own mind and will decide for myself what I believe, I don't need a company deciding for me what I should be directed to and not directed too.
Steve as for ads, their are adblockers for free you can use, to avoid seeing ads. Sure it may cut into companies profits but the ads they use, their not reimbursing us for selling our private information, are they? So as they say all is fair in love and war, or in this case, the companies and our privacy.
Have a great day everyone.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2018 4:31:55 GMT -8
I'm still checking in Steve, just don't have much time right now. End of the year, and all my clients who aren't non-profit and don't work on a fiscal year have money they want to spend before January 1st. So I'm really busy with vendors, trying to get the best price on everything from laptops to servers right now. Then after the first, I get to do all the setup and install stuff. It always slows down during the later winter and early spring months though.
Rounds, I agree about Amazon putting Mom and Pop stores out of business. I hate Wal-Mart for the same reason. I was talking to my sister awhile back about the town where we grew up. Back then, you could spend an entire day walking around downtown visiting all the different stores. Now they have two Wal-Marts, one on each side of town and downtown is now nothing but druggies and hookers. All the shops have closed down, windows all boarded up. It's really terrible, compared to what it used to be.
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Post by Steve on Dec 17, 2018 4:52:52 GMT -8
I got an early start today and had a laugh when I read a post on another forum I started several years ago. At that time, my vision was still pretty good, but last year I passed the torch, but I still visit every day to see how it's going. This morning I found a really l-o-n-g post from a guy who needed to complain about his frustration with CAPTCHA 〈Completely Automated Public Turing test to Tell Computers and Humans Apart〉, the (usually) visual test to allow your entry to a forum! You probably got one here? The most recent CAPTCHA tests I have faced have been a series of photos, you need to pick the several that contain road signs. The poor guy fails time after time. I so wanted to add my reply to explain that I am darn near blind and choose the distorted AUDIO test with a short string of letters or numbers spoken with a Martian voice. I have no trouble. But I resisted. So do you deal with CAPTCHA tests? Clearly you got past the one here. But I seem to recall that this one just asked me to stop or turn an arrow to make it point up! These tests are not solvable by a 'bot that comes sniffing to post spam. So see? My day is off to a good start. A little laugh, a cup of tea, life is good.
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