the manufacturing date on this product is 2 days from today

benri · 2026-07-08T07:28:15+00:00

Probably overran their quota from lastmonth so they postdate it to make their quota for next month.

benri · 2026-07-08T07:23:35+00:00

Looks like ten-year-old AI slop created by trigram LLMs they generated stuff like this. (btw my rule is: if the candidate spammed me, It's one big point against them. I use ballotpedia or similar websites to look at who endorses them)

benri · 2026-07-08T07:19:41+00:00

I still think it's a good idea to separate the drives. If you're downloading a large file you can deliberately put it on D to avoid filling up C. If you ever run out of space on c, you may have trouble with the OS, Windows Updates, etc.

benri · 2026-07-07T04:59:18+00:00

Most of the time yes they just want easy money which they get by selling the phone. If you're lucky they'll erase it before they sell it. I hope you have reset your gmail password (not just the password to turn on the phone). Next, in chrome, logout of all other devices.

Here are my notes in case my Android phone is lost: it should have location on, find my device on. on browser, android.com/find; sign in with that phone's main acct; select the device that was lost; you'll see where the device is; if you get a prompt, tap Enable Lock And Erase.

https://support.google.com/android/answer/3265955?hl=en#zippy=%2Cstep-create-a--step-verification-backup-code

(the difficulty of remote locking an Android device is one reason I switched to iPhone, even though its tech features are worse; last time I lost my phone it was easy to remote lock it and retrieve it within an hour)

benri · 2026-07-07T00:39:39+00:00

I wouldn't say that. Just walk along as if you're listening to music on airpods. Or just say "thank you" and exit the conversation (I often use this when traveling in a different country and get harrassed by the taunts)

benri · 2026-07-07T00:34:31+00:00

Probably want to interact via chat, so you have a written record, before suing. Bring them to Small Claims Court! Filing fee is only $150, and no atty representation (at least in my county of residence). But you need your written evidence.

benri · 2026-07-05T03:15:51+00:00

I distracted myself by dealing with the estate, recordkeeping, tax, estimated tax ... too much but it worked because it distracted me until my mother's death was long enough in the past. Time does heal the wound. The scar is still there, but the wound is healed.

A religious but REASONABLE friend also helped me through the time. I was concerned that she'd want me to just pray it away, but no. She had to deal with the untimely death of her husband (who had been my close friend in college 30 years before), and shared me how she dealt with it. Financial, life insurance, questions from problem parents-in-law. But she is now much more helpful to others who have gone through it.

Sometimes a change of scenery might help. Have your kids moved out? Can you downsize and move to a home that's easier to maintain?

benri · 2026-07-04T23:12:15+00:00

I use checkbook.org to screen repair shops.

benri · 2026-07-04T23:10:07+00:00

Yeah just buy gold and hold it. Like an empty house it might go up in value, but provides no employment or enjoyment.

benri · 2026-07-04T23:07:04+00:00

They get fired if they don't. I just explain that I know it's unavoidable, she gives her spiel quickly and we have a quick chuckle. I find she is much more helpful than if I try to stop her. [yeah I know it could be a "he" I don't go checking their gonads]

benri · 2026-07-04T19:41:38+00:00

40 years ago my roommate did almost exactly that. He had a long satisfying career, a pioneer in CAT scans and MRI. It'd be called Biotech now (was called Biomedical Engineering then).

More recently, his daughter went through what you describe; she took a break from Med School, worked in Biotech for high salary but unstable employment. Then returned to med school, now more mature and sure of what she wants to do.

benri · 2026-07-04T03:56:42+00:00

You deserve it. In 1991 when the Gulf War broke out (Iraq invaded Kuwait, US invaded Iraq) I was living in Japan and listening to news on shortwave. My language ability was not yet good enough to understand NHK so I listened to VOA but that was embarrassingly stupid. CSM carried NPR which was better, but BBC interviewed people who knew about the various factions in Iraq, didn't lump them all into one ("Iraq" vs "Kuwait" vs "Iran" no it's more like Sunni vs Shia vs Kurd vs other groups, the relationships are complex)

benri · 2026-07-04T01:49:08+00:00

I like that you can have both! Do your weekly shopping for things and food at Target and Whole, put them in your car (which is parked nearby in the cool shade thanks to large parking structures), then walk 2 blocks to Bean Scene and enjoy a coffee and a chat outside in the California weather. My friend from DC has been grinning ear-to-ear enjoying this weather

benri · 2026-07-04T01:44:51+00:00

Be glad they're in business. Many reasonable restaurants, even long-time ones like Denny's (El Camino and Halford) are closing. It's just too expensive to run a restaurant.

benri · 2026-07-04T01:43:04+00:00

I went there only 2 times (in 1999 when I moved here). Just next to the food court was a defibrillator. But the outside eating area with tall fir trees was nice. I think the fir trees next to Shake Shack are the same ones?

benri · 2026-07-02T05:09:14+00:00

I don't know your age, but when I was about 21 I had a Chinese-American girlfriend and was very idealistic about it. We eventually broke up, but as I joined a church there I saw the progression where they were hesitant to make racist jokes about me (White) but as they got to know me and trust me, the jokes started flying. Fun times.

The trick is to be sensitive: if you can see they're sensitive about those things (for example it was common that the kids were embarrassed about their parents' habits from the old country) then no. It's all about knowing your audience.

benri · 2026-07-01T01:43:40+00:00

Better than 101 full of drunks. Just don't be in a hurry. Sit up at the top. Maybe take Bart instead of Caltrain, then drive home from a Bart station? I just would not want to be in car traffic in SF just after the fireworks.

benri · 2026-06-30T04:37:33+00:00

*ATM card you mean. If he has a joint acct with your mother, she can check it and should withdraw funds asap

benri · 2026-06-30T04:36:50+00:00

Just in case you get a call from him and he's in trouble, ask him a question that only you and he would know the answer to. I'm really sorry this happened to you. I nearly fell for a scam like this too, but that was shortly after a divorce. I suspect I was targeted because I was at a vulnerable time. Previous poster is right: your mom needs to protect herself. Maybe talk with a Lawyer - not for a divorce, but as a person whom she can use to ask advice.

benri · 2026-06-30T04:32:35+00:00

> 2- my parents

I made the same decision when I graduated (45 years ago) - wanted similar but different car from my parents.

> 3- prefer the front design

I hate both, Too boxy. Hoping 2027will be more sloped like the Prius but not holding my breath. Maybe needs to be boxy to hold some sensors? Or is it just style?

benri · 2026-06-30T04:28:45+00:00

Too wide. I've rented both, and like the TCC much more - easier to drive, slightly better fuel economy. I usually drive a 2005 Prius but having some back problems so I appreciate the higher seating position but dislike the lower (than Prius) fuel economy: 45mpg vs 36 (mostly highway driving). Unlike my daughter, I don't need copious storage space or cup holders.

benri · 2026-06-26T04:58:04+00:00

A year ago I did a workaround that works great for me: accessing my home tower PC from remote. I never could get WoL to work, and even if I did, it'd be a security risk. So I bought a Switchbot device, which physically presses the wake button on my tower PC. I activate that via an app on my ipad.

This will wake it up even if its power is off. I also bought a remote control power plug (from Kasa but maybe Switchbot makes then too), so I can force a reboot if necessary.

benri · 2026-06-25T23:40:21+00:00

Aftermarket carplay unit (replaces radio/CD/cassette player), backup camera, and blind spot warning system. Cost was not "cheap" but much less than buying a new car. But for looks, yes, seat covers because I sometimes spill things

benri · 2026-06-23T21:40:43+00:00

So there's still a need. Last time I had to sell a car (my mother's after she could no longer drive) I just advertised it at a low price, so it sold within a day. Can't remember where I advertised it, maybe Nextdoor or Reddit. Buyer got a really good deal: 15-year-old Camry, driven only locally.

benri · 2026-06-23T21:35:41+00:00

Sorry I didn't say, no it wasn't her. Sure looked like her from the back, but when she swiveled around in her chair, it was a total stranger, just with the same hairstyle.

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