For me it’s Original Gourmet Lollipops. Anything else I have a tendency to set down and forget about.

If they would have spent the same amount of money

They did spend the same because they were getting the deal phones from their provider. You’ll have to bear in mind this switch was about 10 years ago.

I think what you’re saying contributes to why this Android/Apple discussion is still going on.

The level of Android device varies based on cost affecting the experience. If you buy an Apple you don’t have that issue because all their devices run relatively the same and are expensive. They don’t have a “cheap” option.

because having access to iMessage - and now right-colored bubbles - is a big part of why Americans go Apple to begin with.

Do you have something supporting this? I was the only iPhone user in my family years ago, now everyone in my family has one. They switched because their Androids were slow, buggy and had issues. Over time they decided to try iPhones and now their perception of iPhone is that it just works better and smoother than Android.

I think some go Apple for status, but still others go with it because they’ve personally had a better experience. For older people there’s probably also an element of support from their younger family. If their kids, grandkids etc. have iPhones then they can get help from them because they’re familiar with the device.

I use an iPhone and many other Apple products because I work in IT. I get tired of troubleshooting other people’s tech issues and I can come home and my Apple stuff all just works. I don’t think it’s the best, I actually have a Windows gaming computer and an Ubuntu box as a home server but the Apple ecosystem works well together and means I’m not still wearing my IT hat at home all the time.

The teen bullying is a social problem but it’s not that different than Starter jackets when I was in elementary school, branded sports apparel (particularly Nike) when I was in middle school, and having a pager when I was in high school.

I don’t really care what color the bubbles are when I send messages, as long as the go through.

Dónde está Santa Claus by Augie Rio

I hate Christmas music from years working in retail but this one really jams!

No thanks! I’ll take housing that only costs me property taxes. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed so I’d take that certainty today.

I totally agree and understand the use case. That plays into that more in depth type of self hosting most here do. All I have is storage via Synology, and Pi-hole, smart home controls and a media server in separate containers.

My use case is strictly QoL improvements that my wife would either just live without or switch to a more conventional, easy to use setup for her.

$208,063.88

This would pay off our mortgage and we could dump that monthly payment into saving for retirement.

However, if the question was how much do we need then it would be $0. We are far more fortunate than many.

If there was a line of all the people in this comment section waiting to get whatever amount they need I’d be one of those continuously moving to the back to let others go first.

I hope you all find improved quality of life, even if it’s not through some financial windfall!

I don’t self host to the extent many here seem too but I have had the same thought and joked with my wife about it.

Ultimately everything I’ve setup I’ve done in part because it’s my hobby and it interests me. When I’m gone my family will revert to whatever they’d normally be doing without me, because they don’t have interest in it like I do.

Bingo! I can’t believe I have to defend sharing my positive, limited, anecdotal experience with Guyanese people and culture.

What is your comment supposed to mean?

It’s supposed to mean I can’t speak for the country or all the Guyanese people based on my limited, anecdotal experience with one family.

I’m not informed on the regional geopolitics, I’ve never been there. Hell, I had to look up the appropriate demonym because I couldn’t remember if it was Guyanese or Guyanan.

It makes me sad to see this and think that people who were so nice and exposed me to Guyanese culture, a country I hadn’t even known existed and would have guessed was in South Asia, might see their cultural home attacked.

It’s supposed to mean I don’t know what I don’t know and I’m not comfortable making assumptions or inferences when I’m not informed.

Seems like that’s not a problem you have.

We had three families in our neighborhood, all related, that the parents/grandparents were from Guyana and the kids were born here.

I can’t speak for the country but those people were awesome! Super friendly, nice, hard working but most of all happy to share and explain their culture.

Ha! Although that offends me a little and I’m not even close to Austrian.

Edit: Ha! Obwohl mich das ein wenig beleidigt und ich nicht einmal in der Nähe von Österreich bin.

I’m always reminded of finding and playing the midi files from the game music on my 486 as background music.

Apogee Software for Rise of the Triad, Blue Sky Productions for Última Underworld and Bullfrog Productions for Syndicate.

Do you have any idea the toll three vasectomies has on a person?

Thank you! This is what I was wondering too!

For sure! The only reason I upgraded is because the OptiPlex costs a lot to run in terms of electricity.

For stuff I pretty much run 24/7 I really wanted better power efficiency.

I’m on board with this. I did something similar putting a Synology 920+ and an Asus NUC style machine running Ubuntu in place of my old OptiPlex and WD MyCloud setup.

I’m now the primary content provider for a bunch of my family!

I’ve been struggling with gout in my knee and ankle off and on. When it gets bad I’m almost immobile and I broke down and finally bought a cane to help me hobble around when it’s at its worst.

Mine also came from Ukraine and like you I wanted something with personality. I got an oak, ball top style stained cherry and I love it!

Good thing you read more of it than I did. I just searched the document for the word “salt”!

I was surprised to hear the claim too. I thought I had read years ago that it was metal fatigue at the welds. Akin to a paper clip being bent to many times some of the welds fatigued to failure due to years of flexing.