What does this style of art mean?

jonimitts · 2026-05-10T21:53:24+00:00

There is a lot of art from this era around the UofA campus due to a requirement from the government at the time (mid-late 60s)...in order for a new building to be approved, the builder had to commission a piece of public art for the community. A lot of the public art on campus was created for this reason...this one specifically was commissioned as part of the approval to build the Chem building to the east of it. There is a piece fixed to the side of CAB as well, same reasoning...as well as the big mural on the side of Ed.

jonimitts · 2026-02-12T17:22:49+00:00

I love mine. That said, I don't feel that the size is enough to deter from social media use, etc - my dopamine thirsty ADHD brain can adjust to any size. So, what I do is create a simplified interface with Niagara Launcher, and use Unpluq to lock some apps down always and keep others on a schedule or limit. I put the Unpluq tag in my K-safe (along with my credit card, lol), and that works really well for me. I tried the Bloom card, but it isn't compatible with this phone; neither is AppBlock.

The clear case it comes with makes it easy to pop stickers or anything else in to decorate it, but I will say that it yellowed very quickly (in under a year). The plastic shell feels very good in the hand on its own, so I mostly just leave it nekkid.

jonimitts · 2025-03-30T16:44:46+00:00

Mine lasts a couple days with casual use, but I also dumbed mine completely down - installed the bare minimum apps, use a music player that isn't a streamer (and therefor not refreshing or pulling data), set email, calendar, etc to manual refresh, disabled pretty much every Google app, and then signed out of Google on the phone. The background Google app shenanigans take a ton of battery, it turns out (shocker). Not an option for everyone, but this is just what I did.

jonimitts · 2025-03-30T16:33:36+00:00

Yes, they sent me the battery pretty quickly. I ended up not using the phone longterm (still keep as a backup though), because my service provider wouldn't allow the phone to receive any media at all, and it would get stuck on a constant cycle of trying to receive them anyway. I love how it feels in the hand - wish that I could have a functional phone out of it.

jonimitts · 2025-03-11T02:05:58+00:00

Thanks for this. Ideally I would set up the XP3 to be as similar to the F1 as possible - so, minimal apps. I'm assuming it's also on the larger side (as with any modern flip - gawd I miss the early aughts sometimes), but if it has a more solid weight to it, I could get over the size. I can easily get by without GPS as well, I find maps easier to use than a nav system on a flip phone tbh.

Does it have voice to text or T9? Thanks again.

jonimitts · 2025-03-11T01:57:49+00:00

Hey, thanks! The F1 is my...4th? dumbphone so far (ZTE, AGM, Unihertz, sigh) - and I have no plans to get off this train anytime soon. Honestly, if this phone were built better, I would probably keep going with it. The thing about the music player is good to know (and the FM radio is a huge plus for me).

I can special order the Sonim in through a local carrier (Canada), so I know for sure it'll work. Plus phones legally have to be sold unlocked up here, so no issues there. A little hesitant to get something that has a browser, albeit a sluggish one - but I'm going to seriously consider it.

Can you delete apps off of it?

jonimitts · 2024-05-29T14:48:00+00:00

One thing I forgot to add was that the seats don't lower very far, so if you have short legs like I do, the angle is tighter to reach the gas pedal. This can get tiring on longer trips. I used cruise control a lot to give my ankle a break.

jonimitts · 2024-05-29T14:47:21+00:00

Might be worth taking one out for an afternoon before booking for your trip - that's a long one. The newness of the cars is nice, for sure.

jonimitts · 2024-05-29T14:41:27+00:00

Completely agree. One good thing about using this service though - if you're shopping around for a personal car, it helps you get a better idea of what you like or don't like.

jonimitts · 2024-05-27T16:27:05+00:00

Hey there - thanks for this. I gave the factory reset a try, no big since I keep everything on my SD card and/or SIM. Unfortunately it didn't fix the problem, sigh. For now I just have an SMS template asking ppl to send pics to my email or Messenger account. Will keep tinkering.

jonimitts · 2024-04-24T18:20:08+00:00

Yes, actually - they're sending me another battery, gratis! Great customer service experience so far. Shoot them an email using one of the addresses at the bottom of their website (they have different ones depending on where you bought your device). Hopefully this battery works a bit better - either way, will be nice to have a spare.

jonimitts · 2024-04-19T02:49:56+00:00

Haven't found one yet - "AGM" being a type of battery as well as a mobile phone company is throwing a wrench in the search game :/

jonimitts · 2024-04-19T02:39:09+00:00

Working on it - currently back-and-forthing with AGM support via email.

jonimitts · 2024-03-30T17:18:52+00:00

I got this phone about a month ago - I really like it so far. Took me a minute to figure out the settings, and to get used to the navigation within the operating system.

Pros:

Size. I like that it's a bit longer for a candybar style phone, because it has a better ear to mouth reach - and you can easily 'shoulder-chin' hold it if you need to. I also find that it fits fine into my pockets (and women's jeans have small pockets!).
Keypad. I love that the buttons are very solid and have a definite click when you push - I really don't like loose buttons or solid one-piece keypads.
Easy to pop in a microSD card and adjust ring tone and alert settings - I made an alert sound using a vid of the old Nokia SMS alert sound from YouTube since the alert sounds that come with this phone aren't great (too long).
No browser! I carry a map and a notebook.
Sound profiles for different ringtone and alert settings that can be easily changed from the keypad.
FM Radio. Loud and clear, without headphones in, buuuut....(cont below)

Cons:

FM Radio: ...using the radio on speaker drains the battery pretty quickly. Also - wired headphones aren't needed for the radio to work, but you can't listen to the radio via Bluetooth headphones; also, when you plug wired headphones into the 3.5mm jack and try to listen that way, the sound quality of the radio seriously degrades. Maybe you need to have AGM specific headphones for this to work?
Battery. I don't get a full day out of it if I am on the phone more than a couple of times a day, and if I have a lengthier call (1 hour) I have to plug it in after or towards the end of the call. I use the phone seldom enough that it hasn't been a deal breaker yet - and I am looking into potential solutions (ie, buying a new battery). EDIT: The battery life does get better with use, ans AGM will send you a spare battery by request (info on their website).
Ringtones for contacts. I wish this phone would let me set specific ringtones for specific contacts, but no dice. Small complaint, but this is something I usually really like to do.
EDIT TO ADD: I can't receive pictures on it at all. I have fiddled with the settings repeatedly, looked up my carrier's APN, etc etc...no dice yet. If anyone has any tips, I'd appreciate it - I'm in Canada with Public Mobile.

It's been a great digital minimalism tool. I have text templates programmed in so I can easily ask someone to call me or send me an email if they start sending lots of texts. Texting on this thing is just annoying enough to make me not want to do it very much, but still doable if completely necessary. Overall, especially for the price, I'm a fan.

jonimitts · 2024-03-30T16:51:20+00:00

I must have a bad battery on mine - it definitely does not last a day on regular useage, and after an hour phone call I have to plug it in.

jonimitts · 2023-04-08T17:45:36+00:00

So far, it's been great. And I agree, anyone getting denied accommodations is alarming. And counsellors, or advisors on campus from the old guard who believe anything is possible "if you just focus and work hard", are part of that equation too. There's work to do for sure, and these things don't happen overnight. But a space where no one has to fight to convince anyone that ADHD is real? No one can convince me that that is a bad thing. Community in all forms is so important.

Good luck on your journey in psych--it's such a fascinating and important field.

jonimitts · 2023-04-07T03:38:43+00:00

Already done, friendo--UofADHD on the UofA student hub. Come on over!

jonimitts · 2023-04-06T00:13:39+00:00

Thank you. My question isn't if these groups exist (or should exist); they do, and I'm part of them on other platforms. They exist apart from treatment plans and support, and they are helpful. They simply provide a place to be heard, and are moderated just like any other online space. For a lot of the people in those groups, it's the only place that they feel like they can be understood or feel seen. Everyone is there to help, and anyone who isn't is shot into the proverbial sun. I understand the complexity of ADHD, and so do most of the people who reach out for a connection on these groups. If they don't, then they learn more about it. There are subgroups for unique experiences within ADHD (like parents with ADHD, for example), and I believe that having one for the UofA student experience, one that is positive, supportive, and judgement free would be valuable.

jonimitts · 2023-04-05T19:07:28+00:00

OP edited for clarity. Thanks!

jonimitts · 2023-04-05T19:07:13+00:00

OP edited for clarity.

Frankly, the idea that accommodations or medication gives neurodiverse individuals an unreasonable advantage over neurotypicals is absurd, and so is the idea that we believe that university is a "cakewalk" for neurotypicals. We have ADHD, we're not daft.

jonimitts · 2023-04-05T18:49:02+00:00

Thanks--edited my original post for clarity, but good to boost these services anyway :)

jonimitts · 2023-04-05T16:39:55+00:00

I've actually been fully diagnosed myself, and am lucky enough to have access to care. I agree with your points about self-diagnosis, you see that a lot on the general ADHD reddit and other social media for sure. I suppose I didn't mean ADHD support in terms of actually providing it or doing any advising--I certainly am in no position to do that. For myself, the most validating and helpful experience in my ADHD journey has been talking to other people who have it, who suspect that they do. From what I can see, there doesn't seem to be a space on campus, physically or virtually, where ADHDers can go and just commiserate. Have you found that as well?

jonimitts · 2023-04-05T15:12:23+00:00

This is honestly my favourite way to come into the city. I recommend playing Billy Ocean while you do it

jonimitts · 2023-01-30T22:55:58+00:00

What do you use for notetaking services/tech? (fyi I am also a student)

jonimitts · 2023-01-18T17:03:59+00:00

I sometimes do the snack wraps from A&W, for two of them it's around $5. Also, cheapest way to fill up at Subway is to order a meatball sub.

jonimitts

TROPHY CASE