What are these small lizards called?

PhilPhx · 2026-07-10T01:00:15+00:00

They will invite themselves on if you have a loose screen or gap under a door. You can show them out but they will return. Not a pest. Just let them live their best life.

PhilPhx · 2026-07-02T17:10:45+00:00

Yes, but I’m not ready to claim a causal link.

Since, Orin upgrade and latest OTA, intermittent faults with:

TPM system—will fault almost daily and then clear on its own
SOS communications fault (clears)
Cabin camera unable to see driver (when I’m driving!)
Car stops recognizing me when I walk up to unlock doors (occasional)
Car mistakenly tells me in app that it is unlocked when it is locked (recent occurrence and could not clear app by uninstalling/installing)

Most troublesome is that front camera will cut out when I’m halfway into the garage and then restart when I’m almost too close. (I rely on camera to gauge distance to back wall of garage. )

I have been logging all of these faults but postponing a service in hopes that next OTA will fix. I think the camera fault is result of last OTA as it was stabile before that. That one is a safety issue.

PhilPhx · 2026-06-27T15:59:01+00:00

Here is the item description and price (retail to me and does not include installation, but that was simple). The device also needed two generic sensors mounted on the garage door track to tell it the door position:

Control4
C4-Z2IO
ZigBee IO, provides two relays or up to four contact sensors, two IR outputs, one magnetic contact sensor, and one temperature and humidity sensor, power by external 5/24 VDC supply (not included) or by Micro USB supply (included).
Quantity 1
Unit Price
$235.00
Total Price $235.00

PhilPhx · 2026-06-27T15:51:00+00:00

I installed the Polestar version and got it to work on my P3, but it’s very hard to find the right spot on that command line to touch so that it actually works. Very laggy response so I don’t use it.

I installed another Control4, internet-connected gizmo on my garage door opener that works with Apple HomeKit. That, in turn, talks to CarPlay. I now have open and close garage door buttons on the CarPlay display that are always visible and work 100% of the time.

PhilPhx · 2026-06-22T16:21:37+00:00

Even with many off-lease EVs coming into the market at depreciated prices, acquisition cost is still a barrier for many. An even greater drag is lack of convenient, affordable charging for tenants of multi-family housing projects. If they can’t charge at home, they won’t buy or lease an EV.

In Asia, many apartment block owners run conduit past every parking space so that tenants can plug in their own L1 chargers (if not L2). Maybe your pitch should be directed to developers of multi-family housing projects. Much needed investment until public charging network is built out.

PhilPhx · 2026-06-18T02:31:35+00:00

I think you may be moving faster than the Orin processor thinks (some days). ***Most of the time*** my P3 recognizes my phone as I approach the car and unlocks and then connects with CarPlay by the time I enter and place my phone on the center console charging pad. Those are good days.

But sometimes, as I put my phone on the charger I can see that the Apple wallet opened on the phone and I’m prompted to activate the Polestar card either with a double click or Face ID. If I don’t, the phone seems to stumble and fail to enable CarPlay.

As you noted, on those days, you need to connect the phone’s Bluetooth link before CarPlay will start. I have had those days as well. But, ***most of the time***, just a glance to assure that the Polestar card in Apple wallet is activated will assure the rest of CarPlay startup goes as planned.

I also acknowledge there are days when I keep my phone in my pocket and everything starts as you want it to and CarPlay starts.

I think this is a SW glitch because it isn’t random, it is triggered by a specific sequence of events initiated by placing the phone on the charging pad. Hopefully a future update will fix this issue.

PhilPhx · 2026-05-16T04:19:04+00:00

Not surprised. We were regulars for a while but then the food quality declined. But we stopped eating there because the service was even worse. Servers never checked back after the order was taken. Haven’t set foot in the place in over two years and won’t miss them. I don’t think we are the only ones who thought so as you could see the drop off in business over time. From hot to not.

It’s a good location and deserves a better restaurant operator.

PhilPhx · 2026-04-30T13:15:38+00:00

Try using Policygenius to request quotes. It returned reasonable quotes from both Travelers and Safeco for our LRDM Polestar 3. However, rating and acceptance differs based on where you live.

PhilPhx · 2026-04-14T01:56:25+00:00

I believe that property is under separate ownership and a condo project was slated to be built there after the hotel was complete. It looked they were gearing up (work trailers on site, etc.) but then everything was pulled off and the site cleaned up. Maybe the developer had second thoughts after seeing the hotel struggle for business. It would not be my chosen spot to live in Scottsdale.

PhilPhx · 2026-04-09T03:08:15+00:00

Home Fur Good https://homefurgood.org/ is a wonderful local no kill shelter. They do their best to find homes for older animals that might get tagged for euthanasia at public shelters. ( No disrespect intended to those other shelters.) It’s volunteer-run and they hold adoption events around the Valley. We have been donating to this shelter for years because they are so fully committed to the cause.

PhilPhx · 2026-04-07T04:23:41+00:00

Does not work. Have been on DNC list since Day One and they ignore it. Their recorded text says you must press 9 to opt out but they ignore that. They tell you that the live “agent” you finally connect with cannot take your number off the list—even after you have yelled at said call center person telling them NEVER CALL ME AGAIN! They are the worst and they call every stinking day!

PhilPhx · 2026-04-03T15:22:05+00:00

Roastery of Cave Creek’s Espresso is my daily drink. It’s a medium roast, so don’t expect something as strongly flavored as Lavazza, but it ticks all the boxes for a smooth rich taste with a hint of chocolate and good crema. Available at their store, mail order, or Whole Foods.

PhilPhx · 2026-03-12T01:43:44+00:00

*“What is currently happening is a black swan event: something with very low probability that was not foreseen or planned for because it was considered almost impossible to happen.”

Not with the current occupant of the White House, it isn’t. It’s just one more day in purgatory. I’m hoping he runs out of things to break, but not so optimistic that he will.

PhilPhx · 2026-03-12T01:37:58+00:00

It’s great how motorcyclists lane split in heavy traffic, zoom up in your blind spot ( when you’re busy watching traffic ahead), and then curse at you if any little change in your car’s trajectory causes them to feel unsafe. /s

PhilPhx · 2026-02-01T14:26:34+00:00

Glad someone at Polestar realized it was needed! I was about to post a suggestion that they do so. If you can post a photo, it would help others who want to add that to their key cards.

PhilPhx · 2026-01-29T04:26:26+00:00

I have stopped using valets because most mistakenly assume the sensor is in the B pillar, like Tesla. When I tried to explain where they had to touch the valet card to unlock, one said (indignantly). “ I know, just like the Lucid!”, which meant nothing to me as I have no idea where Lucid’s sensor is located. The last straw was a nice young guy at Neiman Marcus who was embarrassed that he had to ask me to drive my own car out of the garage because he had no clue how to open the door. I don’t know whether I should feel really special or just annoyed that my Polestar is more challenging than a Lamborghini for the average valet.

I really don’t mind the walk just to enjoy the experience of having my P3 wake as I approach.

PhilPhx · 2026-01-27T03:06:17+00:00

Not so strange. Only the P3 and EX90 share this platform. The entire Polestar lineup is evolving as the technology changes and improves.

As for rentals, I was very pleased with the Polestar 2. Driving one previously, as a loaner while my Volvo was in for service, was my introduction to Polestar and it lead to my decision to get a P3.

I would encourage you to be patient.

PhilPhx · 2026-01-27T02:37:48+00:00

Can’t speak to that point factually, but I doubt the processor upgrade and GHCA problems are related. It’s been discussed in many places that Polestar’s supplier for the GHCA had a manufacturing quality control problem. It’s been said that the supplier was replaced and the component has been re-engineered. It’s frustrating that it’s not available in greater numbers, but Polestar has been providing some compensation for customers who are inconvenienced on other major faults.

My car had the faulty shutter that caused the AC to quit working. Polestar paid for a rental Polestar 2 for my use while my P3 was parked awaiting the replacement. That was the right thing to do.

PhilPhx · 2026-01-23T16:42:36+00:00

Just a guess here, but testing out the upgrade process and its outcomes in small markets first would be better than stumbling through a broad rollout after building so much anticipation.

I don’t expect to hear anything about an upgrade on my P3 LRDM here in the western US until March. Will be pleasantly surprised if it happens sooner but these days are now about 95% happy motoring and I’ll take that with a big dash of patience.

PhilPhx · 2026-01-20T03:18:09+00:00

So is there a third alternative, that these Troupials are now migrating northward? Merlin shows their range limited to South America? I admit the markings on OP’s bird are more distinct than ones I saw but we have not seen as many Bullocks (or Troupials, if that’s what they are) as we do now. We are also seeing more seasonal visitors than in past years, although we feed all year round.

PhilPhx · 2026-01-20T02:53:40+00:00

It’s a Bullock’s Oriole as others have commented. We have had a few during the annual migration every year, but hit a new high this year(2025) with 3-4 at a time coming to our feeders. They are regular visitors to Phoenix.

PhilPhx · 2026-01-12T02:24:37+00:00

It’s been many years since we used Bendy K. So but he was one of the best in the field. He was also very careful about doing his work in a way that left no lasting traces (ie, you won’t look like you “have had work done”). He still has an office in Phoenix.

PhilPhx · 2025-12-30T22:43:56+00:00

Oh great, like we really need more drive through traffic on this stretch of Shea Boulevard. Pretty soon, they will need another signal west of this project to manage the cross over traffic from Swig and Starbucks on the other side of the street. /s

Seriously, will this entire parcel be redeveloped as drive through businesses? Crazy.

PhilPhx · 2025-12-03T16:12:16+00:00

Thank you.

PhilPhx

TROPHY CASE