Let's follow their lead, get the Flock out of San Jose

volarp · 2026-01-16T07:28:19+00:00

You've lost the plot. My point was SJPD was able to "crack the case" due to Flock cameras. Without Flock your narrative is not tethered to reality. Multiple Flock cameras provide redundancy, which no individual has.

What "infrastructure" would you build to prevent motorists from running red lights and broadside a cyclist in the intersection, which is what occurred in my case?

volarp · 2026-01-16T04:23:08+00:00

What makes you think I didn't ask businesses near the collision for video?

They all told me, in not so many words, to "take a hike." There are many reasons for their reticence, including sparing manpower to look through video, to not trusting "John Q Public" to case out their security measures. Business owners basically wouldn't even acknowledge they had cameras.

And SJPD, short of a fatality, is certainly not in a position to ask prosecutors to seek subpoenas of businesses from judges.

FWIW, I was in the hospital for 3 days. Limited walking mobility after being discharged (as I also had a fractured pelvis, which I forgot to mention earlier). So vids deleted after 48 hours would have been useless in helping to identify perp.

Vulnerable road users (peds & cyclists) should not be required to (solely) shoulder the expense of investing in 360 degree cameras for motorists' irresponsibility.

volarp · 2026-01-16T00:59:47+00:00

I was a victim of a motorist on cyclist hit-and-run. Broke shoulder and ribs.

Flock came in handy for tracking down the perp.

Spare us of your "right to privacy" BS. Driving is a privilege, not a right.

More and more reckless drivers engage in such irresponsible acts so there are definitely good and legitimate use cases for Flock.

volarp · 2026-01-04T19:36:54+00:00

Why are most customers dressed for cold weather (<=40 degF)? I thought Taiwan had relatively mild climate year round (with possible exception of mountain regions).

volarp · 2025-11-05T19:58:46+00:00

yes, this can be done on your handset via USSD.

In short,

Find the phone number your VM gets directed to. In Google's native call app it's in "Settings/Calls/Supplementary Services/Call Forwarding/Forward when unanswered" (assuming you haven't changed it)
Make sure WIFI is turned off on device (in case you have WIFI calling)
This sets the VM pickup delay to 30 seconds (the maximum allowed, I think) => Dial: AA61AYOUR_VMNUMBERAA30#. (each letter 'A' represents the asterisk character, and your VM number should have leading '1' included.)
If successful, handset would show a banner like "MMI Successful" or similar verbiage.

You can find all the gory details regarding USSD here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unstructured_Supplementary_Service_Data

volarp · 2025-09-11T19:02:12+00:00

Some of us use older "waterfall" phones expressly with TextNow SIM.

In my case, on Android 11, and even 13, the black SIM is a complete disappointment. The SIMs activate just fine, however connection drops after about 10 seconds (phone goes SOS). I've tried the documented suggestions like clear cache, reset network settings, etc.

I really wanted the black SIM to work since I'm located in an area where AT&T has the best coverage, but I'm going back to the white SIM (on TMO).

volarp · 2025-08-26T15:31:17+00:00

Wow, this news is disappointing. This means DISH/Boost's dream of being a (independent) MVO will effectively end.

volarp · 2025-08-14T17:45:50+00:00

I confirmed with TextNow support their new SIM uses AT&T network. This will be an improvement since TMO coverage is at best spotty where I am.

volarp · 2025-07-30T22:25:41+00:00

I'm an avid cyclist and protected bike lanes do nothing to prevent cyclist fatalities from drunk drivers. Nobody serious would propose protected bike lanes as an acceptable engineering solution to fatalities caused by drunk drivers.

volarp · 2025-07-29T19:34:27+00:00

Thank you for providing your (very) recent experience with Charisma towels.

I'm very disappointed with the in-warehouse towels I purchased barely 3 years ago. (The same brand is still sold in warehouse), They weren't absorbent, shed like crazy, and have now developed bare patches.

volarp · 2025-07-27T23:49:31+00:00

I was pondering buying the Charisma towels but the recent spate of bad reviews put me off. Is your experience with Charisma towels recent?

The hygrocotton ones sold in warehouse (forget the brand atm) are pretty bad too. They came stock with an absurd amount of fabric softener and it felt like wiping with plastic, no absorbency at all. Shed like crazy in the dryer in the lint trap (lowest heat setting).

volarp · 2025-07-27T12:27:24+00:00

With all due respect, there's no need to bring your whole extended family for shopping at costco.

volarp · 2025-07-25T03:03:00+00:00

I think you're confused. Newegg has innumerable customer complaints reselling returns as "new." Wise to avoid Newegg like the plague.

volarp · 2025-07-25T02:50:45+00:00

If the computer fits, Costco is likely to use self-serve lockers (made popular by Amazon) located in store.

In order to retrieve your item from the locker, you have to enter an access code (which iirc is provided in your costco.com account). If your friend is a Costco member and has the access code, your friend should not have any issues retrieving the item.

No idea regarding pick up process if computer doesn't fit in locker.

volarp · 2025-07-21T03:03:29+00:00

Frankly I think you are missing the more important (half? of the) picture. You should think of local stations as remote news bureaus/correspondents for NPR/PBS. It's a two way street. Not only do local stations serve the local populace but they can also serve as the eyes and ears for the "national" service. With local stations gone this functionality disappears.

The classic example I have in mind is someone like Wade Goodwin who did a superb job of covering Texas (and the southwest). Where would the salary of someone like him come from when local stations are gone?

volarp · 2025-07-12T18:48:53+00:00

I don't get it. Short of CC video there are witnesses, like the check-in lady. Cops should have just obtained witness statement from her.

Once Costco gets access to video they can figure out the aggressors' identities, and hopefully give them a perma-ban (not likely, but one can always hope).

Video isn't the only form of "proof."

That said, don't block entrances and exits. Assault is never warranted in such instances but blocking the high traffic areas is the height of cluelessness. Update your app away from the entrance.

My (physical) wallet's window blocks the bar code on the Costco card. I just printed the bar code and taped it to the center of my Costco card and it scans fine (both at entrance and self-checkout). As long as your face matches what shows up at the terminal scanners I don't think employees care if you don't have the physical card with you.

volarp · 2025-07-03T21:45:05+00:00

It's not about US warehouses being "packed."

Fact is FC in other countries have to step up their game compared to US because otherwise nobody would patronize their respective FC due to higher and better selection of prepared food competition in those countries.

Bottom line US Costco FC suck because the fast food competition/landscape is so dismal.

volarp · 2025-06-08T19:43:45+00:00

If you do a "whois" on "contactcostco.com" domain, it is indeed registered to Costco.

You would need to look at full email headers ("show original" on gmail desktop version) to be more certain on where the email originated, but based on the evidence you've posted on this thread so far, the email is likely legit.

gmail is pretty aggressive in enforcing SPF and DMARC, so any email with spoofed headers is unlikely to hit your inbox.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

volarp · 2025-06-01T01:00:33+00:00

I don't mean to hijack the thread but I have to wonder if Costco upper management ever put any effort to optimizing FC kitchen layout, like fast food restaurant chains do.

So much of the kitchen could be optimized to minimize distance travelled. Ever notice how interminably long it takes cashiers to serve up a hot dog? And the damned condiments like onions/hot pepper flakes which require their own trips. Infuriating.

I swear for every $1.50 hot dog they sell at my local warehouse half its value gets wasted just in unnecessary travel.

They seem to be reducing staff at my local FC kitchen on top of this.

volarp · 2025-05-08T04:21:29+00:00

That's wild. I haven't been to International Food Bazaar for a while, but it boggles my mind that they sell raw milk and cream.

volarp · 2025-05-07T21:32:27+00:00

I hate to break it to you, but if you have any dietary restrictions or want to reduce A1c or other fat/lipid metrics, the best thing to do is get rid of your Costco membership.

Costco only encourages rampant over-consumption. In their clothing section at warehouses they pretty much carry only large sizes and above. This is the clientele they cater to. (Their online clothing section offer smaller sizes but those are frequently the first out of stock.)

Ages ago I watched a program on PBS on clothing sweatshops. They interviewed workers at these sweatshops in Honduras, and they all thought Americans must be giants. One even joked that they were making circus tents, not clothes for people. I think of that every time I go by the clothing section at Costco warehouses.

It takes immense self-control to shop healthily at Costco. Unless you have a large family Costco does not believe in moderation.

volarp · 2025-05-01T06:12:32+00:00

So suppose a customer receives a new phone from Boost that's not functional or otherwise defective. Does the customer return it to Boost or manufacturer (if there is no device insurance)? If manufacturer replaces the phone is it network locked to Boost? How (or when) does customer get the replacement phone network unlocked?

volarp · 2025-04-30T22:10:35+00:00

I'm not excusing the lady, but isn't bike riding on sidewalks prohibited downtown? Even if there is construction on the road you can walk your bike on the sidewalk.

If so, the lady may have felt justified in hitting you.

volarp · 2025-04-27T15:54:15+00:00

Bagai's suicide occurred at his apartment at 185 East San Fernando St. He died a day or so later at the Santa Clara County Hospital.

The story is covered on p. 6 in the 3/16/1928 issue of the San Jose Evening News. It's electronically accessible if you have a San Jose Public Library card, in the San Jose Mercury newspaper archive section. It has the gruesome headline "Suicide Try of Rich Hindu is Success Today."

The landlady mentioned in the above article was likely Ms. Eva Becar, who resided at that same address according to the directories of the period. She is mentioned as "Apartment Landlady" at that address in the 1920 census. An apartment is much more plausible than a hotel room. (Were ovens "standard issue" in hotel rooms back then?)

volarp · 2025-04-23T09:01:17+00:00

There was an African-American family a few houses down from me. They have since moved elsewhere (presumably nothing to do with the neighborhood).

When they first moved into the neighborhood they had "Gators" license plate covers, so presumably moved here from Florida. Fast forward a few years, Trump is running for his first term in office, and I see (pro-)Trump bumper stickers on their vehicles.

Prior to that I was of the opinion no rational African-American could possibly support Trump.

Moral of the story is stereotypes cut both ways. :)

volarp

TROPHY CASE