I have a an 83-year old friend with no computer who wants something but
isn't sure what she wants. I brought her a laptop and she didn't like
that.
Now she's talking about a smart phone, but mostly to use the web, not
make phone calls.
I was thinking an Android tablet might suit her more, mostly becasue the screen is bigger, but some questions:
1) Can you install Uber and Lyft on a tablet and if there is wifi where
you are get a taxi with them?
2) Can you install Skype on an android tablet and where there is wifi,
use it to make phone calls.
Only occsionally. Most of her talking will
still be from her landline at home, and she doesn't even go out much,
only to an occasional doctor. She's the widow of a good friend, and
I've already given her a couple thousand in cash, and I feel like
treating her now like I treat myself, trying to find a used one at an upcoming hamfest, or on Ebay. But if it's old, or new and cheap, will
it have a microphone and a speaker?
3) If she wants, I'll get her one of those bluetooth keyboards I just
learned about. Or should I assume any normal person would rather type
on the keyboard than on the virtual tablet keyboard?
Her next door, attached neighbor said she can use his wifi and we did
for about 10 minutes when she had the laptop. It worked fine.
I'm
planning to check parts of her house farther from his to see if there is
a signal there too, but I think there will be.
So she won't have to pay
for internet. (I'm not generally in favor of this sort of thing, but I suspect she'll use the web maybe two hours a week, and even if there's a discount price for old or poor people, it's still a lot for 8 hours a
month, and even that only until she loses interest.)
On 2023-06-04, micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> wrote:
I have a an 83-year old friend with no computer who wants something but
isn't sure what she wants. I brought her a laptop and she didn't like
that.
If she has no computer, she's already going to be difficult to help.
Now she's talking about a smart phone, but mostly to use the web, not
make phone calls.
As you are aware, the web on any phone, even a phablet, is too small for older people whose eyesight isn't what it used to be a 60 years prior.
I was thinking an Android tablet might suit her more, mostly becasue the
screen is bigger, but some questions:
An inexpensive laptop seems to me to be the best bet overall if she is only going to use it at home. The larger the better (for the bigger keyboard).
1) Can you install Uber and Lyft on a tablet and if there is wifi where
you are get a taxi with them?
Yes. Of course.
2) Can you install Skype on an android tablet and where there is wifi,
use it to make phone calls.
Yes. Of course. Google Voice will be a better choice than Skype though.
Only occsionally. Most of her talking will
still be from her landline at home, and she doesn't even go out much,
only to an occasional doctor. She's the widow of a good friend, and
I've already given her a couple thousand in cash, and I feel like
treating her now like I treat myself, trying to find a used one at an
upcoming hamfest, or on Ebay. But if it's old, or new and cheap, will
it have a microphone and a speaker?
Probably. Almost certainly.
3) If she wants, I'll get her one of those bluetooth keyboards I just
learned about. Or should I assume any normal person would rather type
on the keyboard than on the virtual tablet keyboard?
An older person has problems all around with any keyboard other than the
full sized kind. Which is why I suggest a larger laptop if she'll take it.
Her next door, attached neighbor said she can use his wifi and we did
for about 10 minutes when she had the laptop. It worked fine.
If you have a spare old router, you can set it up as a wireless bridge
client & repeater where the router picks up & amplifies that Wi-Fi.
I'm
planning to check parts of her house farther from his to see if there is
a signal there too, but I think there will be.
There are good Wi-Fi debugging apps for Android that you can use to test.
So she won't have to pay
for internet. (I'm not generally in favor of this sort of thing,
but I
suspect she'll use the web maybe two hours a week, and even if there's a
discount price for old or poor people, it's still a lot for 8 hours a
month, and even that only until she loses interest.)
My suggestion is you treat Wi-Fi separately from the tablet/laptop/phone.
Here's what I'd do (if she is willing to accept it) for the Wi-Fi
(1) I'd put an old router along the wall adjoining the neighbor
(2) I'd set it up as a wireless client repeater bridge
(3) Then I'd change the AP SSID & passphrase to something only she knows
(4) I don't know how to do it but you can also "isolate" her AP from his
(5) That gives her (and you) full control over her Wi-Fi independent of his
Now that she has reliably and strong Wi-Fi in her house, then you can work
on the computing device - whether that is a phone, a tablet or laptop.
Teaching her anything (no matter what it is) will be problematic for sure. What is she familiar with? Android? iOS? Windows? macOS? Chrome?
2) Can you install Skype on an android tablet and where there is wifi,
use it to make phone calls.
Yes. Of course. Google Voice will be a better choice than Skype though.
Is it possible to RECEIVE calls at a google voice number?
Mine insists
on forwarding incoming wifi calls to my cell number, which is exactly
what I DON'T want. Making calls works fine as long as I have a decent connection.
If you're going to configure it for her and it's a really old machine, consider putting one of the user-friendly linux distros on it. She can browse, send email, etc. with no more difficulty than with windows and
it won't trouble her as much with mysterious messages.
3) If she wants, I'll get her one of those bluetooth keyboards I just
learned about. Or should I assume any normal person would rather type
on the keyboard than on the virtual tablet keyboard?
An older person has problems all around with any keyboard other than the
full sized kind. Which is why I suggest a larger laptop if she'll take it.
I would never choose a virtual keyboard over a real one, and I would
never choose ANY real keyboard over an IBM Model M.
So she won't have to pay
for internet. (I'm not generally in favor of this sort of thing,
Whyever not? The neighbor can do whatever he wants with his connection.
Teaching her anything (no matter what it is) will be problematic for sure. >> What is she familiar with? Android? iOS? Windows? macOS? Chrome?
I have to wonder how you arrive at the age of 83 with no computer
experience. I'm a little younger than this woman, and we got our first
one when I was 36. First windows computer when I was 49.
On 2023-06-04, micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> wrote:
I have a an 83-year old friend with no computer who wants something but
isn't sure what she wants. I brought her a laptop and she didn't like
that.
If she has no computer, she's already going to be difficult to help.
Now she's talking about a smart phone, but mostly to use the web, not
make phone calls.
As you are aware, the web on any phone, even a phablet, is too small for older people whose eyesight isn't what it used to be a 60 years prior.
I have a an 83-year old friend with no computer who wants something but
isn't sure what she wants. I brought her a laptop and she didn't like
that.
Now she's talking about a smart phone, but mostly to use the web, not
make phone calls.
I was thinking an Android tablet might suit her more, mostly becasue the screen is bigger, but some questions:
2) Can you install Skype on an android tablet and where there is wifi,
use it to make phone calls.
Only occsionally. Most of her talking will
still be from her landline at home, and she doesn't even go out much,
only to an occasional doctor. She's the widow of a good friend, and
I've already given her a couple thousand in cash, and I feel like
treating her now like I treat myself, trying to find a used one at an upcoming hamfest, or on Ebay. But if it's old, or new and cheap, will
it have a microphone and a speaker?
3) If she wants, I'll get her one of those bluetooth keyboards I just
learned about. Or should I assume any normal person would rather type
on the keyboard than on the virtual tablet keyboard?
On 6/4/23 5:31 PM, Incubus wrote:
On 2023-06-04, micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> wrote:
I have a an 83-year old friend with no computer who wants something but
isn't sure what she wants. I brought her a laptop and she didn't like
that.
If she has no computer, she's already going to be difficult to help.
Now she's talking about a smart phone, but mostly to use the web, not
make phone calls.
I HATE using my phone for browsing. That's what real computers with 27" >monitors are for. We put mine together in 2011 and I'm still happy with
it. If her eyes are no better than mine she'll hate the phone just as
much as I do.
I have to wonder how you arrive at the age of 83 with no computer >experience.
I'm a little younger than this woman, and we got our first
one when I was 36. First windows computer when I was 49.
On Sun, 4 Jun 2023 20:41:44 -0700, The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com>
wrote:
On 6/4/23 5:31 PM, Incubus wrote:
On 2023-06-04, micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> wrote:
I have a an 83-year old friend with no computer who wants something but >>>> isn't sure what she wants. I brought her a laptop and she didn't like >>>> that.
If she has no computer, she's already going to be difficult to help.
I agree. Starting with any kind of computer--desktop, laptop, tablet,
smart phone, etc.--is going to be an enormous burden for almost anyone
that age. My advice to Mickey is that he should dissuade her from
wanting any kind of computer. She's likely to be unable to learn how
to use it, and it will end up just being a waste of money.
Now she's talking about a smart phone, but mostly to use the web, not
make phone calls.
I HATE using my phone for browsing. That's what real computers with 27" >>monitors are for. We put mine together in 2011 and I'm still happy with >>it. If her eyes are no better than mine she'll hate the phone just as
much as I do.
My real computer has a 34" monitor. It was relatively inexpensive
($299), and not a great one, but it's fine for my uses, and I love
its size.
I also hate using my phone for browsing. I do it occasionally, mostly
when I'm reading in bed and want to look up something I just read.
It's awkward and clumsy and my typing skills on the tiny keyboard are terrible, but it's a lot easier than getting up and going into the
other room.
I have to wonder how you arrive at the age of 83 with no computer >>experience.
She was around 45 when the first PCs became common. I think that it
was fairly rare for someone that age to start with technology that's
new to her.
I'm a little younger than this woman, and we got our first
one when I was 36. First windows computer when I was 49.
I'm a little older (85) and I got my first PC when I was 50. Despite
my age, I had no problem with the technology, since I had worked for
years as a programmer and manager of various computer departments.
I have a an 83-year old friend with no computer who wants something but
isn't sure what she wants. I brought her a laptop and she didn't like
that.
Now she's talking about a smart phone, but mostly to use the web, not
make phone calls.
I was thinking an Android tablet might suit her more, mostly becasue the >screen is bigger, but some questions:
1) Can you install Uber and Lyft on a tablet and if there is wifi where
you are get a taxi with them?
2) Can you install Skype on an android tablet and where there is wifi,
use it to make phone calls. Only occsionally. Most of her talking will
still be from her landline at home, and she doesn't even go out much,
only to an occasional doctor. She's the widow of a good friend, and
I've already given her a couple thousand in cash, and I feel like
treating her now like I treat myself, trying to find a used one at an >upcoming hamfest, or on Ebay. But if it's old, or new and cheap, will
it have a microphone and a speaker?
3) If she wants, I'll get her one of those bluetooth keyboards I just
learned about. Or should I assume any normal person would rather type
on the keyboard than on the virtual tablet keyboard?
Her next door, attached neighbor said she can use his wifi and we did
for about 10 minutes when she had the laptop. It worked fine. I'm
planning to check parts of her house farther from his to see if there is
a signal there too, but I think there will be. So she won't have to pay
for internet. (I'm not generally in favor of this sort of thing, but I >suspect she'll use the web maybe two hours a week, and even if there's a >discount price for old or poor people, it's still a lot for 8 hours a
month, and even that only until she loses interest.)
So she won't have to pay
for internet. (I'm not generally in favor of this sort of thing,
Whyever not? The neighbor can do whatever he wants with his connection.
Note that many Android tablets that have support for LTE data can be
used as a mobile phone, complete with a phone number, i.e. <https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1666477-REG/hyundai_ht8la1rbkna01_hytab_plus_allwiner_a133.html>;
you're not limited to Google Voice or other VOIP solutions. This is not possible on cellular iPads.
On 2023-06-06, sms <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:
Note that many Android tablets that have support for LTE data can be
used as a mobile phone, complete with a phone number, i.e.
<https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1666477-REG/hyundai_ht8la1rbkna01_hytab_plus_allwiner_a133.html>; you're not limited to Google Voice or other VOIP solutions. This is not possible on cellular iPads.
A SIM slot isn't expensive to add and it makes the tablet more useful.
Are you sure there isn't a Wi-Fi iPad (maybe new ones?) with a SIM slot? Maybe it's hidden from view as an eSIM nowadays?
On 2023-06-05, The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> wrote:
2) Can you install Skype on an android tablet and where there is wifi, >>>> use it to make phone calls.
Yes. Of course. Google Voice will be a better choice than Skype though.
Is it possible to RECEIVE calls at a google voice number?
Yes. There have been many support issues about the device not ringing due
to setup issues (for example, a tablet without a SIM card but on Wi-Fi),
but if the tablet is set up correctly, the tablet will ring (even a PC will ring) when someone calls the Google Voice number.
Mine insists
on forwarding incoming wifi calls to my cell number, which is exactly
what I DON'T want. Making calls works fine as long as I have a decent
connection.
I'm aware of that. I'm also aware that often the tablet (without SIM on Wi-Fi) will only ring if the Google Voice app is open. But as far as I'm aware, these are only due to setup issues (Google Voice setup stinks).
Apple wants its customers to buy both an iPhone and an iPad.
Just as the
reason that there have not been any touch-screen Macs is because they
don't want to cannibalize iPad sales.
Lots of iPads with SIM slots but the can't be used as phones, the SIM is
only for data.
Unless the service is a VOIP service like the old FreedomPop or the old Unreal Mobile, then you're limited to services like Google Voice on the cellular iPads. This also means that services like WhatsApp and WeChat
are limited, and 2FA via SMS will often not work since many entities
won't send 2FA to a VOIP number.
You can see the rationale for this approach. An iPad Mini is not that
much larger than an iPhone Pro Max:
iPad Mini: 131.5 x 64.2 x 7.4 mm
iPhone 14 Pro Max: 160.7 x , 77.6mm x 7.85mm
Apple wants its customers to buy both an iPhone and an iPad. Just as the reason that there have not been any touch-screen Macs is because they
don't want to cannibalize iPad sales.
Apparently the default is 'forward calls to the cell number', which is exactly wrong; I would never have chosen that. Why would you have a
free google voice number if you wanted calls forwarded to the number
that you pay for?
On 6/5/2023 8:39 PM, Incubus wrote:
On 2023-06-06, sms <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:
Note that many Android tablets that have support for LTE data can be
used as a mobile phone, complete with a phone number, i.e.
<https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1666477-REG/hyundai_ht8la1rbkna01_hytab_plus_allwiner_a133.html>; you're not limited to Google Voice or other VOIP solutions. This is not possible on cellular iPads.
A SIM slot isn't expensive to add and it makes the tablet more useful.
Are you sure there isn't a Wi-Fi iPad (maybe new ones?) with a SIM slot?
Maybe it's hidden from view as an eSIM nowadays?
Lots of iPads with SIM slots but the can't be used as phones, the SIM is
only for data.
Unless the service is a VOIP service like the old FreedomPop or the old
How do 2FA sites even know that a Google Voice number is a VOIP number?
Apple never even wanted to make a large iPhone until they were forced to.
I have a an 83-year old friend with no computer who wants something but
isn't sure what she wants. I brought her a laptop and she didn't like
that.
Now she's talking about a smart phone, but mostly to use the web, not
make phone calls.
I was thinking an Android tablet might suit her more, mostly becasue the screen is bigger, but some questions:
1) Can you install Uber and Lyft on a tablet and if there is wifi where
you are get a taxi with them?
2) Can you install Skype on an android tablet and where there is wifi,
use it to make phone calls. Only occsionally. Most of her talking will
still be from her landline at home, and she doesn't even go out much,
only to an occasional doctor. She's the widow of a good friend, and
I've already given her a couple thousand in cash, and I feel like
treating her now like I treat myself, trying to find a used one at an upcoming hamfest, or on Ebay. But if it's old, or new and cheap, will
it have a microphone and a speaker?
3) If she wants, I'll get her one of those bluetooth keyboards I just
learned about. Or should I assume any normal person would rather type
on the keyboard than on the virtual tablet keyboard?
Her next door, attached neighbor said she can use his wifi and we did
for about 10 minutes when she had the laptop. It worked fine. I'm
planning to check parts of her house farther from his to see if there is
a signal there too, but I think there will be. So she won't have to pay
for internet. (I'm not generally in favor of this sort of thing, but I suspect she'll use the web maybe two hours a week, and even if there's a discount price for old or poor people, it's still a lot for 8 hours a
month, and even that only until she loses interest.)
Note that using Uber on a tablet, via Wi-Fi is dicey because of 2FA
which I found didn't work on Uber using a VOIP number.
Lyft did work
with my Google Voice number.
<https://medium.com/deductingtherightway/solved-using-uber-with-a-voip-phone-number-f0a8b8f0f36f>
She does plan to write, not just read, so i don't have time before
tomorrow but I will get her a bluetooth keyboard.
She has macular degeneration but only in one eye and can still read the newspaper without glasses, so the phone is big enought to read, but that doesn't mean bigger isn't better.
I have a an 83-year old friend with no computer who wants something but
isn't sure what she wants. I brought her a laptop and she didn't like
that.
Now she's talking about a smart phone, but mostly to use the web, not
make phone calls.
I was thinking an Android tablet might suit her more, mostly becasue the >screen is bigger, but some questions:
1) Can you install Uber and Lyft on a tablet and if there is wifi where
you are get a taxi with them?
2) Can you install Skype on an android tablet and where there is wifi,
use it to make phone calls. Only occsionally. Most of her talking will
still be from her landline at home, and she doesn't even go out much,
only to an occasional doctor. She's the widow of a good friend, and
I've already given her a couple thousand in cash, and I feel like
treating her now like I treat myself, trying to find a used one at an >upcoming hamfest, or on Ebay. But if it's old, or new and cheap, will
it have a microphone and a speaker?
3) If she wants, I'll get her one of those bluetooth keyboards I just
learned about. Or should I assume any normal person would rather type
on the keyboard than on the virtual tablet keyboard?
Her next door, attached neighbor said she can use his wifi and we did
for about 10 minutes when she had the laptop. It worked fine. I'm
planning to check parts of her house farther from his to see if there is
a signal there too, but I think there will be. So she won't have to pay
for internet. (I'm not generally in favor of this sort of thing, but I >suspect she'll use the web maybe two hours a week, and even if there's a >discount price for old or poor people, it's still a lot for 8 hours a
month, and even that only until she loses interest.)
At some point on date%, micky wrote:
She does plan to write, not just read, so i don't have time before
tomorrow but I will get her a bluetooth keyboard.
My advice is make sure she knows how to use voice to text on that phone.
Practice... practice... practice... >https://support.google.com/gboard/answer/2781851
Then have her practice some more.
She has macular degeneration but only in one eye and can still read the
newspaper without glasses, so the phone is big enought to read, but that
doesn't mean bigger isn't better.
The problem with MD is everything in the center is distorted so my advice >here is to make sure she knows how to use text to voice on that phone!
Practice... practice... practice... >https://support.google.com/accessibility/android/answer/6006983
Then have her practice some more.
The problem with MD is everything in the center is distorted so my advice >>here is to make sure she knows how to use text to voice on that phone!
I heard that somewhere. No, wait, that was the opposite.
It seems nice quite but gsmarena says it came out October of 2021 and
the sale price was only $53.31. Isn't that very cheap? Or maybe I'm >confused about prices.
The symbol in the top line, V, is either full like an rounded ice-cream
cone, or one level less than full, but even when full it says the signal
is not strong enough for wifi calling**.
maybe I should be looking at the symbol next to it, which is a white
triangle sitting on one side. What does that mean? It looks like it
shoudl have bars but it has no bars.
**But she doesn't plan to take the phone with her and she doens't need
the wifi calling, only the web browser, and maybe email later. One
thing at a time.
Her next door, attached neighbor said she can use his wifi and we did
for about 10 minutes when she had the laptop. It worked fine. I'm
planning to check parts of her house farther from his to see if there is
a signal there too, but I think there will be.
She does plan to write, not just read, so i don't have time before
tomorrow but I will get her a bluetooth keyboard.
My advice is make sure she knows how to use voice to text on that phone.
I'm amazed at how good it is on the Pixel2. I'm a lousy thumb typist.
I use the AI.type virtual keyboard which provides a tiny microphone key.
The problem with MD is everything in the center is distorted so my advice >>>here is to make sure she knows how to use text to voice on that phone!
MD may be a lot or a little. Mine just results in a tiny squiggle, but
my MIL's caused her to doubt the big E on the eye chart. Glaucoma
attacks the peripheral vision, but is curable with eyedrops..
In comp.mobile.android, on Wed, 7 Jun 2023 06:14:46 +0300, Falafel Balls <YoussefGamalNOSPAM@etisalat.eg> wrote:
At some point on date%, micky wrote:
She does plan to write, not just read, so i don't have time before
tomorrow but I will get her a bluetooth keyboard.
My advice is make sure she knows how to use voice to text on that phone.
Good point. I should learn to do that too.
Practice... practice... practice... >>https://support.google.com/gboard/answer/2781851
Looks easier than I remembered. Maybe it was good for me to have waited
a couple years.
Then have her practice some more.
She has macular degeneration but only in one eye and can still read the
newspaper without glasses, so the phone is big enought to read, but that >>> doesn't mean bigger isn't better.
The problem with MD is everything in the center is distorted so my advice >>here is to make sure she knows how to use text to voice on that phone!
On Wed, 07 Jun 2023 01:13:44 -0400, micky wrote:
The symbol in the top line, V, is either full like an rounded ice-cream
cone, or one level less than full, but even when full it says the signal
is not strong enough for wifi calling**.
Nobody looks at those tiny symbols which are often notoriously useless.
maybe I should be looking at the symbol next to it, which is a white
triangle sitting on one side. What does that mean? It looks like it
shoudl have bars but it has no bars.
Looking at the symbols (and asking anyone about them) is a waste of time.
There is no excuse for not using an app that tells you the signal strength. https://play.google.com/store/search?q=wi-fi%20signal%20strength%20meter&c=apps
**But she doesn't plan to take the phone with her and she doens't need
the wifi calling, only the web browser, and maybe email later. One
thing at a time.
Signal strength is signal strength. It has nothing, per se, to do with any specific use of the connection (whether Wi-Fi calling or the Internet).
You want something like -60 decibels (dBm) or more for good connections.
Her next door, attached neighbor said she can use his wifi and we did
for about 10 minutes when she had the laptop. It worked fine. I'm
planning to check parts of her house farther from his to see if there is
a signal there too, but I think there will be.
The best way to test for Wi-Fi signal strength is to install a meter onto your phone and then walk around the house & watch the meter needle twitch. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.keuwl.wifi
In article <u5npu0$q83u$1@dont-email.me>, Incubus <u9536612@gmail.com>
wrote:
How do 2FA sites even know that a Google Voice number is a VOIP number?
by the owner of the block.
How do 2FA sites even know that a Google Voice number is a VOIP number?
by the owner of the block.
Not really.
My land line phone is actually "transparent" VoIP. The "block" is
reserved for landline.
It's a Motorola Moto G Pure, with 32G memory and probably 3G RAM
It seems nice quite but gsmarena says it came out October of 2021 and
the sale price was only $53.31. Isn't that very cheap? Or maybe I'm >confused about prices.
On Wed, 07 Jun 2023 01:13:44 -0400, micky wrote:
The symbol in the top line, V, is either full like an rounded ice-cream
cone, or one level less than full, but even when full it says the signal
is not strong enough for wifi calling**.
Nobody looks at those tiny symbols which are often notoriously useless.
< Isn't that strange? Or
maybe I should be looking at the symbol next to it, which is a white
triangle sitting on one side. What does that mean? It looks like it
shoudl have bars but it has no bars.
Looking at the symbols (and asking anyone about them) is a waste of time.
There is no excuse for not using an app that tells you the signal strength. >https://play.google.com/store/search?q=wi-fi%20signal%20strength%20meter&c=apps
**But she doesn't plan to take the phone with her and she doens't need
the wifi calling, only the web browser, and maybe email later. One
thing at a time.
Signal strength is signal strength. It has nothing, per se, to do with any >specific use of the connection (whether Wi-Fi calling or the Internet).
You want something like -60 decibels (dBm) or more for good connections.
Her next door, attached neighbor said she can use his wifi and we did
for about 10 minutes when she had the laptop. It worked fine. I'm
planning to check parts of her house farther from his to see if there is
a signal there too, but I think there will be.
The best way to test for Wi-Fi signal strength is to install a meter onto >your phone and then walk around the house & watch the meter needle twitch. >https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.keuwl.wifi
In article <id66ljx05d.ln2@Telcontar.valinor>, Carlos E.R. <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
How do 2FA sites even know that a Google Voice number is a VOIP number? >>>by the owner of the block.
Not really.
yes really. there are even websites that will show whom.
My land line phone is actually "transparent" VoIP. The "block" is
reserved for landline.
sounds like it's owned by the local phone company.
In comp.mobile.android, on Wed, 7 Jun 2023 14:38:36 +0800, Patron Saint <patron@saint.com> wrote:
On Wed, 07 Jun 2023 01:13:44 -0400, micky wrote:
The symbol in the top line, V, is either full like an rounded ice-cream
cone, or one level less than full, but even when full it says the signal >>> is not strong enough for wifi calling**.
Nobody looks at those tiny symbols which are often notoriously useless.
What about the one that shows if you have gotten a phone call? or the
one that shows a number of bars representing cellular signal strength?
Or the one that shows how much battery is left? Or the one that shows
if you're charging or not? No one looks at these?
Nobody looks at those tiny symbols which are often notoriously useless.
What about the one that shows if you have gotten a phone call?
or the
one that shows a number of bars representing cellular signal strength?
Or the one that shows how much battery is left? Or the one that shows
if you're charging or not? No one looks at these?
Signal strength is signal strength. It has nothing, per se, to do with any >>specific use of the connection (whether Wi-Fi calling or the Internet).
I think use makes a difference.
Wnen talking on the phone, via wifi or
not, all the data has to be delivered as quickly as one would talk, or listen. When it's email or a page of the NYTimes it can take as long
as it takes and if it takes 2 seconds longer, it doesn't matter.
Especially outgoing email or an outgoing text.
The best way to test for Wi-Fi signal strength is to install a meter onto >>your phone and then walk around the house & watch the meter needle twitch. >>https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.keuwl.wifi
To quibble, my goal was not per se to measure signal strength, but to
know where in the house the phone would work, and the closest task-
related method seems to me to be to try the phone in places she would be
when she wanted to use it.
Best evidence, so to speak If I only had a
signal strength number, I wouldn't know what featires, if any, of the
phone were working.
On 2023-06-07, The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> wrote:
MD may be a lot or a little. Mine just results in a tiny squiggle, but
my MIL's caused her to doubt the big E on the eye chart. Glaucoma
attacks the peripheral vision, but is curable with eyedrops..
With wet macular degeneration, they have 2 recently FDA-approved treatments both of which require injection monthly into the eye (which nobody likes).
You can't stop it but you can slow it down in some cases.
On 2023-06-06 19:35, nospam wrote:
In article <u5npu0$q83u$1@dont-email.me>, Incubus <u9536612@gmail.com>
wrote:
How do 2FA sites even know that a Google Voice number is a VOIP number?
by the owner of the block.
Not really.
My land line phone is actually "transparent" VoIP. The "block" is
reserved for landline.
How do 2FA sites even know that a Google Voice number is a VOIP number? >>by the owner of the block.
Not really.
My land line phone is actually "transparent" VoIP. The "block" is
reserved for landline.
A long time ago you could look at the owner of the block of numbers.
With number portability that no longer works.
Now they can tell by the ANI codes.
When you port a number from a
landline to a mobile number the ANI code will be changed and when you
port it to a VOIP service it will be changed.
On 6/7/2023 4:31 AM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
On 2023-06-06 19:35, nospam wrote:
In article <u5npu0$q83u$1@dont-email.me>, Incubus <u9536612@gmail.com>
wrote:
by the owner of the block.
How do 2FA sites even know that a Google Voice number is a VOIP number? >>>
Not really.
My land line phone is actually "transparent" VoIP. The "block" is
reserved for landline.
A long time ago you could look at the owner of the block of numbers.
With number portability that no longer works.
Now they can tell by the ANI codes. When you port a number from a
landline to a mobile number the ANI code will be changed and when you
port it to a VOIP service it will be changed.
With Google Voice, when you try to sign up, it looks at the ANI code and won't let you port a landline number. You first port to a mobile carrier which changes the ANI code so you can port to Google Voice, and then the
ANI changes again.
<https://www.nationalnanpa.com/number_resource_info/ani_ii_assignments.html>
On 6/6/23 9:29 PM, micky wrote:
In comp.mobile.android, on Wed, 7 Jun 2023 06:14:46 +0300, Falafel Balls
<YoussefGamalNOSPAM@etisalat.eg> wrote:
She has macular degeneration but only in one eye and can still read the >>>> newspaper without glasses, so the phone is big enought to read, but
that doesn't mean bigger isn't better.
The problem with MD is everything in the center is distorted so my
advice here is to make sure she knows how to use text to voice on that phone!
MD may be a lot or a little. Mine just results in a tiny squiggle, but
my MIL's caused her to doubt the big E on the eye chart. Glaucoma
attacks the peripheral vision, but is curable with eyedrops..
Certainly.
On 2023-06-07 21:17, sms wrote:
A long time ago you could look at the owner of the block of numbers.
With number portability that no longer works.
Correct.
You used to be able to look at a number block and know who the carrier
was, whether landline or mobile. That all went away with number
portability, at least in the U.S.
Not sure where nospam is from, but in
the U.S. you can't go by number blocks anymore.
On 6/7/2023 2:32 PM, sms wrote:
You used to be able to look at a number block and know who the carrier
was, whether landline or mobile. That all went away with number portability, at least in the U.S. Not sure where nospam is from, but in
the U.S. you can't go by number blocks anymore.
BTW, a useful site is <https://www.freecarrierlookup.com/> where it will return the carrier of a phone number (VOIP numbers will show a carrier
like Neutral Tandem, Bandwidth, or Google). My Google Voice numbers show
as Bandwidth.
On 6/7/2023 6:19 AM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
<snip>
Certainly.
You used to be able to look at a number block and know who the carrier
was, whether landline or mobile. That all went away with number
portability, at least in the U.S. Not sure where nospam is from, but in
the U.S. you can't go by number blocks anymore.
On 6/7/2023 6:19 AM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
<snip>
Certainly.
You used to be able to look at a number block and know who the carrier
was, whether landline or mobile. That all went away with number
portability, at least in the U.S. Not sure where nospam is from, but in
the U.S. you can't go by number blocks anymore.
On 2023-06-07 08:15, The Real Bev wrote:
On 6/6/23 9:29 PM, micky wrote:
In comp.mobile.android, on Wed, 7 Jun 2023 06:14:46 +0300, Falafel Balls >>> <YoussefGamalNOSPAM@etisalat.eg> wrote:
...
She has macular degeneration but only in one eye and can still read the >>>>> newspaper without glasses, so the phone is big enought to read, but
that doesn't mean bigger isn't better.
The problem with MD is everything in the center is distorted so my
advice here is to make sure she knows how to use text to voice on that phone!
MD may be a lot or a little. Mine just results in a tiny squiggle, but
my MIL's caused her to doubt the big E on the eye chart. Glaucoma
attacks the peripheral vision, but is curable with eyedrops..
Ah! Now I know why my ophthalmologist periodically tests my peripheral
vision :-D
Good to know. Yes, I take my drops.
On Wed, 07 Jun 2023 08:35:12 -0400, micky wrote:
Nobody looks at those tiny symbols which are often notoriously useless.
What about the one that shows if you have gotten a phone call?
Sorry for the confusion.
I was only talking about the signal strength icons in the status bar.
Some (but not all!) of those other icons in the status bar are certainly >useful - but I'll bet almost nobody knows all of them. I certainly don't.
https://guidebooks.google.com/get-started-with-google/get-started/icons-on-your-phone
or the
one that shows a number of bars representing cellular signal strength?
Think about it.
You have how many bars? Maybe four? Maybe five? Six?
And how many decibels can they indicate?
Think of it as indicating how much liquid is in a jar using only 4 fingers. >Versus how many milliliters.
And then walk around the house doing that survey using only yoyur fintgers. >Instead of decibels (dBm).
Or the one that shows how much battery is left? Or the one that shows
if you're charging or not? No one looks at these?
Again, I'm sorry I wasn't perfectly clear I was talking about the decibels. >(Although to be fair to myself I _did_ talk about the decibels, didn't I?)
Signal strength is signal strength. It has nothing, per se, to do with any >>>specific use of the connection (whether Wi-Fi calling or the Internet).
I think use makes a difference.
It doesn't. Not in a material sense anyway. But it doesn't even matter.
Your signal strength (in decibels) is whatever it is.
Wnen talking on the phone, via wifi or
not, all the data has to be delivered as quickly as one would talk, or
listen. When it's email or a page of the NYTimes it can take as long
as it takes and if it takes 2 seconds longer, it doesn't matter.
Especially outgoing email or an outgoing text.
If you don't even know what it is, why bother wasting my time talking about >it when you are using your fingers to say how much liquid is in a glass?
The best way to test for Wi-Fi signal strength is to install a meter onto >>>your phone and then walk around the house & watch the meter needle twitch. >>>https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.keuwl.wifi
To quibble, my goal was not per se to measure signal strength, but to
know where in the house the phone would work, and the closest task-
related method seems to me to be to try the phone in places she would be
when she wanted to use it.
Answer this (bearing in mind that sensitivity & strength work together).
What is the signal strength, right now, as you walk around your house?
Best evidence, so to speak If I only had a
signal strength number, I wouldn't know what featires, if any, of the
phone were working.
Answer this (bearing in mind that sensitivity & strength work together).
At what signal strength (dBm) does your phone drop the Wi-Fi connection?
On 6/7/2023 2:32 PM, sms wrote:
On 6/7/2023 6:19 AM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
<snip>
Certainly.
You used to be able to look at a number block and know who the carrier
was, whether landline or mobile. That all went away with number
portability, at least in the U.S. Not sure where nospam is from, but in
the U.S. you can't go by number blocks anymore.
BTW, a useful site is <https://www.freecarrierlookup.com/> where it will >return the carrier of a phone number (VOIP numbers will show a carrier
like Neutral Tandem, Bandwidth, or Google). My Google Voice numbers show
as Bandwidth.
It also will give you the SMS/MMS gateway e-mail address for mobile numbers.
On 2023-06-07 23:32, sms wrote:
On 6/7/2023 6:19 AM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
<snip>
Certainly.
You used to be able to look at a number block and know who the carrier
was, whether landline or mobile. That all went away with number
portability, at least in the U.S. Not sure where nospam is from, but in
the U.S. you can't go by number blocks anymore.
I know.
Here (Spain) there is no portability between land line and mobile, here
it is trivial to know if a number is fixed or mobile: start with 8 or 9, fixed. Start with 6, mobile.
But it is no longer possible to know the location of the land line, or
the telco.
In comp.mobile.android, on Wed, 7 Jun 2023 23:07:53 +0200, "Carlos E.R." ><robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
On 2023-06-07 08:15, The Real Bev wrote:
On 6/6/23 9:29 PM, micky wrote:
In comp.mobile.android, on Wed, 7 Jun 2023 06:14:46 +0300, Falafel Balls >>>> <YoussefGamalNOSPAM@etisalat.eg> wrote:
...
She has macular degeneration but only in one eye and can still read the >>>>>> newspaper without glasses, so the phone is big enought to read, but >>>>>> that doesn't mean bigger isn't better.
The problem with MD is everything in the center is distorted so my
advice here is to make sure she knows how to use text to voice on that phone!
MD may be a lot or a little. Mine just results in a tiny squiggle, but >>> my MIL's caused her to doubt the big E on the eye chart. Glaucoma
attacks the peripheral vision, but is curable with eyedrops..
Ah! Now I know why my ophthalmologist periodically tests my peripheral >>vision :-D
Good to know. Yes, I take my drops.
I had my last eye-test about 2 years ago, but I've arranged for periodic >peripheral vision tests by having mice run by in the hall. So far, so
so good.
With no history of glaucoma and only using reading glasses, how often
should I get tested by a doctor?
On 2023-06-07 08:15, The Real Bev wrote:
On 6/6/23 9:29 PM, micky wrote:
In comp.mobile.android, on Wed, 7 Jun 2023 06:14:46 +0300, Falafel Balls >>> <YoussefGamalNOSPAM@etisalat.eg> wrote:
She has macular degeneration but only in one eye and can still read the >>>>> newspaper without glasses, so the phone is big enought to read, but >>>>> that doesn't mean bigger isn't better.
The problem with MD is everything in the center is distorted so my
advice here is to make sure she knows how to use text to voice on that phone!
MD may be a lot or a little. Mine just results in a tiny squiggle, but
my MIL's caused her to doubt the big E on the eye chart. Glaucoma
attacks the peripheral vision, but is curable with eyedrops..
Ah! Now I know why my ophthalmologist periodically tests my peripheral
vision :-D
Good to know. Yes, I take my drops.
I've had 4 area codes (including 'none') with the same phone number
since 1960.
At one point there was the possibility that, instead of
forcing everyone in a given area to change area codes in order to
increase the availability of numbers needed by the proliferation of cellphones, cellphones would be given their own new area codes. This
was rejected because some idiot thought that it was somehow
discriminatory to label phones as cell or landline.
I've had 4 area codes (including 'none') with the same phone number
since 1960.
in 1960, there definitely were area codes.
you'd have to go back to before 1947 for there to be 'none'.
I date from the "Murray Hill 5" days of AT&T phone numbers where even today
I don't know why sometimes I have to include the international "1" and sometimes I do not.
Why is that?
Ah! Now I know why my ophthalmologist periodically tests my peripheral
vision :-D
My former ophthdoc said she would be able to see any optical nerve
damage (from the high pressure, which is cured by the beta-blocking
drops) before it would be perceptible to me. OTOH, I'm not fully happy
about the cataract surgery she did, but what I have now is certainly
better than the +4 with +2 astigmatism I had before.
Good to know. Yes, I take my drops.
Fortunately they're cheap.
I've had 4 area codes (including 'none') with the same phone number
since 1960.
in 1960, there definitely were area codes.
you'd have to go back to before 1947 for there to be 'none'.
On 2023-06-08, The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> wrote:
Ah! Now I know why my ophthalmologist periodically tests my peripheral
vision :-D
My former ophthdoc said she would be able to see any optical nerve
damage (from the high pressure, which is cured by the beta-blocking
drops) before it would be perceptible to me. OTOH, I'm not fully happy
about the cataract surgery she did, but what I have now is certainly
better than the +4 with +2 astigmatism I had before.
They had to "spot weld" my retina sheet back onto my eye as it pulled away making sparkles all over until they welded the curtain back to the wall.
Good to know. Yes, I take my drops.
Fortunately they're cheap.
My eye doctor suggests the Bausch & Lomb AREDS2 vitamins.
For vitamins, they're not cheap.
https://ir.bauschhealth.com/news-releases/2021/05-11-2021-115919456
However, once they start porting, each consecutive number can belong to
a different telco.
In comp.mobile.android, on Wed, 7 Jun 2023 15:36:49 -0700, sms <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:
On 6/7/2023 2:32 PM, sms wrote:
On 6/7/2023 6:19 AM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
<snip>
Certainly.
You used to be able to look at a number block and know who the carrier
was, whether landline or mobile. That all went away with number
portability, at least in the U.S. Not sure where nospam is from, but in
the U.S. you can't go by number blocks anymore.
BTW, a useful site is <https://www.freecarrierlookup.com/> where it will
return the carrier of a phone number (VOIP numbers will show a carrier
like Neutral Tandem, Bandwidth, or Google). My Google Voice numbers show
as Bandwidth.
Thanks. Mine shows:
Carrier: T-Mobile US-SVR-10X/2
Is Wireless: y
SMS Gateway Address: nnnnnnnnnn@tmomail.net
MMS Gateway Address: nnnnnnnnnn@tmomail.net
If I added 1 or 2 to my phone number, would it likely still be T-Mobile.
That is, do carriers get blocks of consecutive phone numbers to use?
On 6/7/23 7:29 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
On 2023-06-07 23:32, sms wrote:
On 6/7/2023 6:19 AM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
<snip>
Certainly.
You used to be able to look at a number block and know who the
carrier was, whether landline or mobile. That all went away with
number portability, at least in the U.S. Not sure where nospam is
from, but in the U.S. you can't go by number blocks anymore.
I know.
Here (Spain) there is no portability between land line and mobile, here
it is trivial to know if a number is fixed or mobile: start with 8 or 9,
fixed. Start with 6, mobile.
I've had 4 area codes (including 'none') with the same phone number
since 1960. At one point there was the possibility that, instead of
forcing everyone in a given area to change area codes in order to
increase the availability of numbers needed by the proliferation of cellphones, cellphones would be given their own new area codes. This
was rejected because some idiot thought that it was somehow
discriminatory to label phones as cell or landline.
So few snipers, so many politicians.
But it is no longer possible to know the location of the land line, or
the telco.
It is for numbers that people have had for a long time, but that's
probably just a small percentage of users.
In comp.mobile.android, on Wed, 7 Jun 2023 23:07:53 +0200, "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
On 2023-06-07 08:15, The Real Bev wrote:
On 6/6/23 9:29 PM, micky wrote:
In comp.mobile.android, on Wed, 7 Jun 2023 06:14:46 +0300, Falafel Balls >>>> <YoussefGamalNOSPAM@etisalat.eg> wrote:
...
She has macular degeneration but only in one eye and can still read the >>>>>> newspaper without glasses, so the phone is big enought to read, but >>>>>> that doesn't mean bigger isn't better.
The problem with MD is everything in the center is distorted so my
advice here is to make sure she knows how to use text to voice on that phone!
MD may be a lot or a little. Mine just results in a tiny squiggle, but >>> my MIL's caused her to doubt the big E on the eye chart. Glaucoma
attacks the peripheral vision, but is curable with eyedrops..
Ah! Now I know why my ophthalmologist periodically tests my peripheral
vision :-D
Good to know. Yes, I take my drops.
I had my last eye-test about 2 years ago, but I've arranged for periodic peripheral vision tests by having mice run by in the hall. So far, so
so good.
With no history of glaucoma and only using reading glasses, how often
should I get tested by a doctor?
On 6/7/23 2:07 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
On 2023-06-07 08:15, The Real Bev wrote:
On 6/6/23 9:29 PM, micky wrote:
In comp.mobile.android, on Wed, 7 Jun 2023 06:14:46 +0300, Falafel
Balls
<YoussefGamalNOSPAM@etisalat.eg> wrote:
She has macular degeneration but only in one eye and can still
read the
newspaper without glasses, so the phone is big enought to read,
but that doesn't mean bigger isn't better.
The problem with MD is everything in the center is distorted so my
advice here is to make sure she knows how to use text to voice on
that phone!
MD may be a lot or a little. Mine just results in a tiny squiggle,
but my MIL's caused her to doubt the big E on the eye chart.
Glaucoma attacks the peripheral vision, but is curable with eyedrops..
Ah! Now I know why my ophthalmologist periodically tests my peripheral
vision :-D
My former ophthdoc said she would be able to see any optical nerve
damage (from the high pressure, which is cured by the beta-blocking
drops) before it would be perceptible to me. OTOH, I'm not fully happy about the cataract surgery she did, but what I have now is certainly
better than the +4 with +2 astigmatism I had before.
Good to know. Yes, I take my drops.
Fortunately they're cheap.
On 2023-06-08 05:41, micky wrote:
I had my last eye-test about 2 years ago, but I've arranged for periodic
peripheral vision tests by having mice run by in the hall. So far, so
so good.
With no history of glaucoma and only using reading glasses, how often
should I get tested by a doctor?
Here, the "glass shop" can do a quick test. Not that precise, some times
more uncomfortable, but enough to tell you to go visit a doctor or not.
There are apparently two quick methods. One, the optometrist touches
lightly the cornea with what seems a the back of a pencil with a tiny
rubber bubble. I'm sensitive to that and he has to try a few times.
Another, a machine suddenly blows a bit of air into your eye, and
measures something. This is not annoying at all, just the surprise of
the air.
Another, most precise, used by doctors, they put some drops that are
quite irritant, which I suspect are a light anaesthetic, and then they
touch the cornea with something.
On 2023-06-08 16:33, The Real Bev wrote:
My former ophthdoc said she would be able to see any optical nerve
damage (from the high pressure, which is cured by the beta-blocking
drops) before it would be perceptible to me. OTOH, I'm not fully happy
about the cataract surgery she did, but what I have now is certainly
better than the +4 with +2 astigmatism I had before.
Good to know. Yes, I take my drops.
Fortunately they're cheap.
Huh, no, mine are expensive, but covered in part my the National Health Service here. Latanoprost, in single dose vials.
Certainly, but by looking at the number in the tables (I have a copy of
said tables) I can not say where the line is because I can't know if it
has been ported. In the past, I could say city and street.
use one of many websites which use more accurate tables.
Say which.
I have the official tables.
In article <1dr9ljxbck.ln2@Telcontar.valinor>, Carlos E.R. <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
Certainly, but by looking at the number in the tables (I have a copy of
said tables) I can not say where the line is because I can't know if it
has been ported. In the past, I could say city and street.
use one of many websites which use more accurate tables.
On 6/8/23 1:59 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
On 2023-06-08 05:41, micky wrote:
I had my last eye-test about 2 years ago, but I've arranged for periodic >>> peripheral vision tests by having mice run by in the hall. So far, so
so good.
With no history of glaucoma and only using reading glasses, how often
should I get tested by a doctor?
Here, the "glass shop" can do a quick test. Not that precise, some times
more uncomfortable, but enough to tell you to go visit a doctor or not.
Optometrists do that here too. They also adjust your frames even if you bought the glasses elsewhere.
There are apparently two quick methods. One, the optometrist touches
lightly the cornea with what seems a the back of a pencil with a tiny
rubber bubble. I'm sensitive to that and he has to try a few times.
Another, a machine suddenly blows a bit of air into your eye, and
measures something. This is not annoying at all, just the surprise of
the air.
Your eyeball's internal pressure. Ought to be somewhere around 13-14
units per unit :-)
Another, most precise, used by doctors, they put some drops that are
quite irritant, which I suspect are a light anaesthetic, and then they
touch the cornea with something.
I hate those damn things. They make my eye itch for 10 minutes or so.
Last time it wasn't bothersome, though. Apparently the standard is two different dilation drops, but one of the nice techs suggested just
trying the first one and see if that's good enough. It was. One less bump.
On 2023-06-08 16:33, The Real Bev wrote:
On 6/7/23 2:07 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
On 2023-06-07 08:15, The Real Bev wrote:
On 6/6/23 9:29 PM, micky wrote:
In comp.mobile.android, on Wed, 7 Jun 2023 06:14:46 +0300, Falafel
Balls
<YoussefGamalNOSPAM@etisalat.eg> wrote:
She has macular degeneration but only in one eye and can still
read the
newspaper without glasses, so the phone is big enought to read, >>>>>>> but that doesn't mean bigger isn't better.
The problem with MD is everything in the center is distorted so my >>>>>> advice here is to make sure she knows how to use text to voice on >>>>>> that phone!
MD may be a lot or a little. Mine just results in a tiny squiggle,
but my MIL's caused her to doubt the big E on the eye chart.
Glaucoma attacks the peripheral vision, but is curable with eyedrops..
Ah! Now I know why my ophthalmologist periodically tests my peripheral
vision :-D
My former ophthdoc said she would be able to see any optical nerve
damage (from the high pressure, which is cured by the beta-blocking
drops) before it would be perceptible to me. OTOH, I'm not fully happy
about the cataract surgery she did, but what I have now is certainly
better than the +4 with +2 astigmatism I had before.
Good to know. Yes, I take my drops.
Fortunately they're cheap.
Huh, no, mine are expensive, but covered in part my the National Health >Service here. Latanoprost, in single dose vials.
On Thu, 8 Jun 2023 23:03:04 +0200, "Carlos E.R."
<robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
On 2023-06-08 16:33, The Real Bev wrote:
On 6/7/23 2:07 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
On 2023-06-07 08:15, The Real Bev wrote:
On 6/6/23 9:29 PM, micky wrote:Ah! Now I know why my ophthalmologist periodically tests my peripheral >>>> vision :-D
In comp.mobile.android, on Wed, 7 Jun 2023 06:14:46 +0300, Falafel >>>>>> Balls
<YoussefGamalNOSPAM@etisalat.eg> wrote:
She has macular degeneration but only in one eye and can still >>>>>>>> read the
newspaper without glasses, so the phone is big enought to read, >>>>>>>> but that doesn't mean bigger isn't better.
The problem with MD is everything in the center is distorted so my >>>>>>> advice here is to make sure she knows how to use text to voice on >>>>>>> that phone!
MD may be a lot or a little. Mine just results in a tiny squiggle, >>>>> but my MIL's caused her to doubt the big E on the eye chart.
Glaucoma attacks the peripheral vision, but is curable with eyedrops.. >>>>
My former ophthdoc said she would be able to see any optical nerve
damage (from the high pressure, which is cured by the beta-blocking
drops) before it would be perceptible to me. OTOH, I'm not fully happy >>> about the cataract surgery she did, but what I have now is certainly
better than the +4 with +2 astigmatism I had before.
Good to know. Yes, I take my drops.
Fortunately they're cheap.
Huh, no, mine are expensive, but covered in part my the National Health
Service here. Latanoprost, in single dose vials.
I also take Latanoprost. It's free for me--covered in full by my
health insurance.
On 2023-06-09 23:36, Ken Blake wrote:
I also take Latanoprost. It's free for me--covered in full by my
health insurance.
I have to pay a percent, which varies. Sometimes it can be 50%, usually
in the range 30..15%, and in some very expensive items, it can be 1%. I
don't know what is the full price and what is it I pay, the ticket
doesn't have that much detail. I think I paid 9€ for the last box.
Google says the price is 15.61€, but I have the feeling it was more than that a year or two ago.
Interestingly, ants like it. They get inside the used containers. They
also like my mouth wash, Listerine. I have seen them drowned inside the closed bottle, which I had to filter while pouring to another bottle.
I had to put a "poison glue wall" around the ledger in the bathroom! :-D
Ants march around the rim of the bathtub and leave by
the entrance, which seems just plain weird. I've found that Terro
(little bottle, dribble a few drops on a piece of plastic and put it in
the path) seems to wipe out an infestation within a week. They're OK as
long as they stay outside, but entering the house is a capital offense.
On 2023-06-08 09:50, micky wrote:
In comp.mobile.android, on Wed, 7 Jun 2023 15:36:49 -0700, sms
<scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:
On 6/7/2023 2:32 PM, sms wrote:
On 6/7/2023 6:19 AM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
<snip>
Certainly.
You used to be able to look at a number block and know who the carrier >>>> was, whether landline or mobile. That all went away with number
portability, at least in the U.S. Not sure where nospam is from, but in >>>> the U.S. you can't go by number blocks anymore.
BTW, a useful site is <https://www.freecarrierlookup.com/> where it will >>> return the carrier of a phone number (VOIP numbers will show a carrier
like Neutral Tandem, Bandwidth, or Google). My Google Voice numbers show >>> as Bandwidth.
Tried the url on a fixed number of mine, said it is not mobile. Tried >another, says "invalid capcha" every time. Had to reload the page.
Doesn't know that the number is in fact VoIP.
Thanks. Mine shows:
Carrier: T-Mobile US-SVR-10X/2
Is Wireless: y
SMS Gateway Address: nnnnnnnnnn@tmomail.net
MMS Gateway Address: nnnnnnnnnn@tmomail.net
If I added 1 or 2 to my phone number, would it likely still be T-Mobile.
That is, do carriers get blocks of consecutive phone numbers to use?
Yes, maybe millions of numbers. Up to the authorities of whatever country.
However, once they start porting, each consecutive number can belong to
a different telco.
On 6/9/23 3:06 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
On 2023-06-09 23:36, Ken Blake wrote:
I also take Latanoprost. It's free for me--covered in full by my
health insurance.
I have to pay a percent, which varies. Sometimes it can be 50%, usually
in the range 30..15%, and in some very expensive items, it can be 1%. I
don't know what is the full price and what is it I pay, the ticket
doesn't have that much detail. I think I paid 9€ for the last box.
Google says the price is 15.61€, but I have the feeling it was more than >> that a year or two ago.
How long does a box last?
If 3 months, our costs are comparable. I
keep hearing about how shitty and expensive the American medical system
is, but this particular instance doesn't sound all that awful.
Interestingly, ants like it. They get inside the used containers. They
also like my mouth wash, Listerine. I have seen them drowned inside the
closed bottle, which I had to filter while pouring to another bottle.
That's creepy. Ants march around the rim of the bathtub and leave by
the entrance, which seems just plain weird. I've found that Terro
(little bottle, dribble a few drops on a piece of plastic and put it in
the path) seems to wipe out an infestation within a week. They're OK as long as they stay outside, but entering the house is a capital offense.
I had to put a "poison glue wall" around the ledger in the bathroom! :-D
I assume you meant "ledge" here...
On 10/6/2023, The Real Bev wrote:
Ants march around the rim of the bathtub and leave by
the entrance, which seems just plain weird. I've found that Terro
(little bottle, dribble a few drops on a piece of plastic and put it in
the path) seems to wipe out an infestation within a week. They're OK as
long as they stay outside, but entering the house is a capital offense.
Talcum powder kills ants by breaking their exoskeleton but killing the
worker ants won't do a thing because the queen will make more of them.
What you need to do is use something delayed but toxic (boric acid works well) that workers will bring back to the nest which will kill the queen.
Otherwise, the lifespan of the queen is as long as your cat's but she can make a _lot_ more babies than your cat can in its reproductive lifetime.
What I do is mix up juicy stuff (ants apparently don't have salivary
glands) like a sugar/water/boric acid powder - and paste it somewhere.
Since it's wet and mushy, I generally put it on a piece of plastic dish.
Typically, for a day or two, they swarm it - and then - suddenly - they're gone and the plan is to have killed off the queen so workers eventually get bored and go somewhere else if they haven't been killed off by it.
However, if they're outside, my rule is the same as yours. Leave 'em alone.
On 6/9/2023 12:33 AM, nospam wrote:
I've had 4 area codes (including 'none') with the same phone number
since 1960.
in 1960, there definitely were area codes.
you'd have to go back to before 1947 for there to be 'none'.
I date from the "Murray Hill 5" days of AT&T phone numbers where even today
I don't know why sometimes I have to include the international "1" and >sometimes I do not.
Why is that?
On 10/6/2023, The Real Bev wrote:
However, if they're outside, my rule is the same as yours. Leave 'em alone.
On 6/7/23 2:07 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
On 2023-06-07 08:15, The Real Bev wrote:
On 6/6/23 9:29 PM, micky wrote:
In comp.mobile.android, on Wed, 7 Jun 2023 06:14:46 +0300, Falafel Balls >>>> <YoussefGamalNOSPAM@etisalat.eg> wrote:
She has macular degeneration but only in one eye and can still read the >>>>>> newspaper without glasses, so the phone is big enought to read, but >>>>>> that doesn't mean bigger isn't better.
The problem with MD is everything in the center is distorted so my
advice here is to make sure she knows how to use text to voice on that phone!
MD may be a lot or a little. Mine just results in a tiny squiggle, but >>> my MIL's caused her to doubt the big E on the eye chart. Glaucoma
attacks the peripheral vision, but is curable with eyedrops..
Ah! Now I know why my ophthalmologist periodically tests my peripheral
vision :-D
My former ophthdoc said she would be able to see any optical nerve
damage (from the high pressure, which is cured by the beta-blocking
drops) before it would be perceptible to me. OTOH, I'm not fully happy
about the cataract surgery she did, but what I have now is certainly
better than the +4 with +2 astigmatism I had before.
Good to know. Yes, I take my drops.
Fortunately they're cheap.
However, if they're outside, my rule is the same as yours. Leave 'em alone.
Sue has the same rule for spiders. We have a plastic gadget on a stick
which catches them (usually) without harming them, so as I don't dislike
them (not the ones we have here anyway) I get to be a good Buddhist and
catch them and transport them to external safety. Then exit stage left singing "The things we do for love."
Talcum powder kills ants by breaking their exoskeleton but killing the
worker ants won't do a thing because the queen will make more of them.
I dust the inside of food cupboards with sodium bicarbonate. They don't survive it for long, so they learn to avoid that place. They are welcome elsewhere.
What you need to do is use something delayed but toxic (boric acid works
well) that workers will bring back to the nest which will kill the queen.
Is it safe near our food? I mean, safe for us?
Interesting trick.
On 2023-06-08 23:56, The Real Bev wrote:
On 6/8/23 1:59 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
On 2023-06-08 05:41, micky wrote:
I had my last eye-test about 2 years ago, but I've arranged for periodic >>>> peripheral vision tests by having mice run by in the hall. So far, so >>>> so good.
With no history of glaucoma and only using reading glasses, how often
should I get tested by a doctor?
Here, the "glass shop" can do a quick test. Not that precise, some times >>> more uncomfortable, but enough to tell you to go visit a doctor or not.
Optometrists do that here too. They also adjust your frames even if you
bought the glasses elsewhere.
There are apparently two quick methods. One, the optometrist touches
lightly the cornea with what seems a the back of a pencil with a tiny
rubber bubble. I'm sensitive to that and he has to try a few times.
Another, a machine suddenly blows a bit of air into your eye, and
measures something. This is not annoying at all, just the surprise of
the air.
Your eyeball's internal pressure. Ought to be somewhere around 13-14
units per unit :-)
Oh, I know that's the final result, but I mean they measure "something"
in the air they blow or rebounds, I don't know exactly what. The measure >something, do some calculations, and end by figuring out your eyeball >internal pressure :-)
Back upon a time, I worked at a place that made tests machines. I want
to know how that machine works. :-)
Another, most precise, used by doctors, they put some drops that are
quite irritant, which I suspect are a light anaesthetic, and then they
touch the cornea with something.
I hate those damn things. They make my eye itch for 10 minutes or so.
Last time it wasn't bothersome, though. Apparently the standard is two
different dilation drops, but one of the nice techs suggested just
trying the first one and see if that's good enough. It was. One less
bump.
Those are another type of drops. The ones I mention don't do dilation.
On 2023-06-08 05:41, micky wrote:
In comp.mobile.android, on Wed, 7 Jun 2023 23:07:53 +0200, "Carlos E.R."
<robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
On 2023-06-07 08:15, The Real Bev wrote:
On 6/6/23 9:29 PM, micky wrote:
In comp.mobile.android, on Wed, 7 Jun 2023 06:14:46 +0300, Falafel Balls >>>>> <YoussefGamalNOSPAM@etisalat.eg> wrote:
...
She has macular degeneration but only in one eye and can still read the >>>>>>> newspaper without glasses, so the phone is big enought to read, but >>>>>>> that doesn't mean bigger isn't better.
The problem with MD is everything in the center is distorted so my >>>>>> advice here is to make sure she knows how to use text to voice on that phone!
MD may be a lot or a little. Mine just results in a tiny squiggle, but >>>> my MIL's caused her to doubt the big E on the eye chart. Glaucoma
attacks the peripheral vision, but is curable with eyedrops..
Ah! Now I know why my ophthalmologist periodically tests my peripheral
vision :-D
Good to know. Yes, I take my drops.
I had my last eye-test about 2 years ago, but I've arranged for periodic
peripheral vision tests by having mice run by in the hall. So far, so
so good.
With no history of glaucoma and only using reading glasses, how often
should I get tested by a doctor?
Here, the "glass shop" can do a quick test. Not that precise, some times
more uncomfortable, but enough to tell you to go visit a doctor or not.
There are apparently two quick methods. One, the optometrist touches
lightly the cornea with what seems a the back of a pencil with a tiny
rubber bubble. I'm sensitive to that and he has to try a few times.
Another, a machine suddenly blows a bit of air into your eye, and
measures something. This is not annoying at all, just the surprise of
the air.
Another, most precise, used by doctors, they put some drops that are
quite irritant, which I suspect are a light anaesthetic, and then they
touch the cornea with something.
On 6/10/23 11:26 AM, micky wrote:
In comp.mobile.android, on Fri, 9 Jun 2023 03:11:31 +0200, "Carlos E.R."
<robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
Oh, I know that's the final result, but I mean they measure
"something" in the air they blow or rebounds, I don't know exactly
what. The measure something, do some calculations, and end by
figuring out your eyeball internal pressure :-)
Back upon a time, I worked at a place that made tests machines. I
want to know how that machine works. :-)
I sort of thought they measured the deflection of light that they
bounced off the eye. I can't imagine what else they could measure.
https://www.brightfocus.org/glaucoma/article/how-eye-pressure-measured
On 10/6/2023, Carlos E.R. wrote:
Talcum powder kills ants by breaking their exoskeleton but killing the
worker ants won't do a thing because the queen will make more of them.
I dust the inside of food cupboards with sodium bicarbonate. They don't
survive it for long, so they learn to avoid that place. They are welcome
elsewhere.
I looked up what baking soda does to ants because killing the workers isn't what you want (the queen will make more when fewer return to the nest).
This says it won't work all by itself but when they eat it they explode. https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-make-a-natural-homemade-ant-killer-apartment-therapy-tutorials-189111
Most articles on the net are from pesticide companies so we have to take
what they say with a grain of salt but this says it kills quickly. https://vandenbergepestcontrol.com/does-baking-soda-kill-ants/
If it kills only the workers, it doesn't really solve the problem imho.
What you need to do is use something delayed but toxic (boric acid works >>> well) that workers will bring back to the nest which will kill the queen. >>Is it safe near our food? I mean, safe for us?
I wouldn't eat boric acid powder & I might even wash my hands after using. http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/boricgen.html
Luckily we're using only half a teaspoon at a time in the kitchen. https://www.bugtech.com/borax-and-boric-acid/
I don't bother but you should use all the normal precautions. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/poison/boric-acid-poisoning
Interesting trick.
Farmers use it by the ton as an insecticide around their crops. https://www.homedepot.com/p/JT-Eaton-25-lb-Boric-Acid-Insecticidal-Dust-in-Resealable-Pail-3625/205018850
Even homeowners use by the pound in their gardens and surrounding homes. https://southernag.com/product/boric-acid-roach-powder/
The key is to kill the queen so the workers have to bring it to her.
In comp.mobile.android, on Fri, 9 Jun 2023 03:11:31 +0200, "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
Oh, I know that's the final result, but I mean they measure "something"
in the air they blow or rebounds, I don't know exactly what. The measure >>something, do some calculations, and end by figuring out your eyeball >>internal pressure :-)
Back upon a time, I worked at a place that made tests machines. I want
to know how that machine works. :-)
I sort of thought they measured the deflection of light that they
bounced off the eye. I can't imagine what else they could measure.
The NHS is a mixed blessing though - it's falling apart rapidly under
the influence of the rising population age and under the weight of an enormous, totally unnecessary bureaucracy. Sue's sister has to wait a
year at least for a hip replacement - along with many other folk. As we
have never needed insurance here few people have it, so there's little alternative but to wait - only wealthy people can afford to pay for
private treatment.
I would never try to kill ants in the garden. I only kill insects when
they destroy too many of my plants.
On 2023-06-10 21:36, The Real Bev wrote:
On 6/10/23 11:26 AM, micky wrote:
In comp.mobile.android, on Fri, 9 Jun 2023 03:11:31 +0200, "Carlos E.R." >>> <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
Oh, I know that's the final result, but I mean they measure
"something" in the air they blow or rebounds, I don't know exactly
what. The measure something, do some calculations, and end by
figuring out your eyeball internal pressure :-)
Back upon a time, I worked at a place that made tests machines. I
want to know how that machine works. :-)
I sort of thought they measured the deflection of light that they
bounced off the eye. I can't imagine what else they could measure.
https://www.brightfocus.org/glaucoma/article/how-eye-pressure-measured
Ah, thanks. :-)
"Air-Puff Tonometry", that's the one I was thinking of.
In article <kcu9ljxi3v.ln2@Telcontar.valinor>, Carlos E.R. <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
Certainly, but by looking at the number in the tables (I have a copy of >>>> said tables) I can not say where the line is because I can't know if it >>>> has been ported. In the past, I could say city and street.
use one of many websites which use more accurate tables.
Say which.
one such website was posted by the person who claimed it no longer
works, but in doing so, he contradicted himself, as he often does.
another is
<https://www.ipqualityscore.com/phone-number-validator>
a simple search will find *many* more.
note that some are better than others and they don't all report exactly
the same data.
I have the official tables.
you have the official tables for every phone number on the entire
planet? and always kept up to date?
On 6/10/23 12:56 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
I would never try to kill ants in the garden. I only kill insects when
they destroy too many of my plants.
Yes. Pillbugs just eat decaying veg, so they're OK. I will go out of
my way to crack the shell of any snail I see, but slugs are more
numerous and need to be squashed with some sort of implement that I
won't want to touch again, so I let most of them live. Potato bugs (Jerusalem crickets) get thrown high into the air over the street -- if
they land safely they can walk to the other side. Their pupae get cut
in half with the garden trowel.
On 2023-06-10 23:48, The Real Bev wrote:
On 6/10/23 12:56 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
I would never try to kill ants in the garden. I only kill insects when
they destroy too many of my plants.
Yes. Pillbugs just eat decaying veg, so they're OK. I will go out of
my way to crack the shell of any snail I see, but slugs are more
numerous and need to be squashed with some sort of implement that I
won't want to touch again, so I let most of them live. Potato bugs
(Jerusalem crickets) get thrown high into the air over the street -- if
they land safely they can walk to the other side. Their pupae get cut
in half with the garden trowel.
Snails are easy. There is a blue granulate of "something" that they love
to eat, but makes them dissolve and vanish. You just sprinkle it around
the plants they are eating, and in a day or two they are gone, you only
find the empty shells.
On 2023-06-10 23:48, The Real Bev wrote:
On 6/10/23 12:56 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
I would never try to kill ants in the garden. I only kill insects when
they destroy too many of my plants.
Yes. Pillbugs just eat decaying veg, so they're OK. I will go out of
my way to crack the shell of any snail I see, but slugs are more
numerous and need to be squashed with some sort of implement that I
won't want to touch again, so I let most of them live. Potato bugs
(Jerusalem crickets) get thrown high into the air over the street -- if
they land safely they can walk to the other side. Their pupae get cut
in half with the garden trowel.
Snails are easy. There is a blue granulate of "something" that they love
to eat, but makes them dissolve and vanish. You just sprinkle it around
the plants they are eating, and in a day or two they are gone, you only
find the empty shells.
On 6/10/23 12:47 AM, Bob Henson wrote:
The NHS is a mixed blessing though - it's falling apart rapidly under
the influence of the rising population age and under the weight of an
enormous, totally unnecessary bureaucracy. Sue's sister has to wait a
year at least for a hip replacement - along with many other folk. As we
have never needed insurance here few people have it, so there's little
alternative but to wait - only wealthy people can afford to pay for
private treatment.
When I finally decided to get it I had a 19-day wait for the hip
replacement, mainly due to needing pre-op test appointments. It would
have been months at the closer hospital because of COVID backups.
Doctors typically now work out of several offices, 1 day in each (or
less) each week, so if you want to choose your office the wait might be
1 or 2 months. Or you might get lucky and get in this week. One more
crap shoot.
My super-GP retired, so now I don't have one. I don't actually need
one, but I suppose I SHOULD have one so there will be a central
repository of my medical records -- of whatever value that is. (When I
look at them myself I wonder where THAT error came from.) The problem
is that docs can make more as specialists, leaving the 'family medicine'
or 'GP' careers to what seem to be the less-capable med school grads. I lucked into the super-GP because she happened to be a super
gerontologist who actually was willing to make a house call to check out
my mom.
Anyway, the selection of local GPs (some are "internists") is pretty
damn thin :-(
On 10.6.23 11:21 pm, Carlos E.R. wrote:
On 2023-06-10 23:48, The Real Bev wrote:
On 6/10/23 12:56 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
I would never try to kill ants in the garden. I only kill insects when >>>> they destroy too many of my plants.
Yes. Pillbugs just eat decaying veg, so they're OK. I will go out
of my way to crack the shell of any snail I see, but slugs are more
numerous and need to be squashed with some sort of implement that I
won't want to touch again, so I let most of them live. Potato bugs
(Jerusalem crickets) get thrown high into the air over the street --
if they land safely they can walk to the other side. Their pupae get
cut in half with the garden trowel.
Snails are easy. There is a blue granulate of "something" that they love
to eat, but makes them dissolve and vanish. You just sprinkle it around
the plants they are eating, and in a day or two they are gone, you only
find the empty shells.
The "something" used to be metaldehyde, which was thought to be species specific, but actually is toxic to most animals and hence is now banned
in the UK (and as far as I know in the USA too). Current ones are
nowhere near as effective and contain ferric (iron) phosphate.
Bob,
Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England
If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything. — Mark Twain
Bob,😂
Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England
If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything. — Mark Twain >>
No need to remember the lies, that's true.
You need to put "-- " at the start of a new line to separate your
signature from the body of the post. It is a standard.
On 11.6.23 10:58 am, Carlos E.R. wrote:
Bob,😂
Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England
If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything. — Mark Twain >>>
No need to remember the lies, that's true.
You need to put "-- " at the start of a new line to separate your
signature from the body of the post. It is a standard.
Betterbird insets it automatically on all my messages. Why it's missing
here I don't know - as it only leaves one line space between the quote
and the separator, I suspect fat and arthritic fingers :-)
On 10.6.23 8:30 pm, The Real Bev wrote:
Anyway, the selection of local GPs (some are "internists") is pretty
damn thin :-(
We have the same problem here. It used to be every doctor's ambition to
be a GP, and positions in areas like this (Cotswold Hills) used to be
fought over. As an area to live in this is about as good as it gets. Nowadays, recruitment of experienced doctors is nearly impossible. The surgery that my pharmacy was in had just that problem, as did the nearby surgery where SWMBO worked for some time. You can imagine what sort of
GPs they get in the areas where no-one wants to live.
Having grown up in an era where, if you needed a GP, you just went and
sat in his waiting room and got seen before he left for lunch/dinner,
you can imagine what I think of the current methods. We have to phone an unqualified receptionist and persuade her to book a telephone
appointment with a doctor (not necessarily the one you want to see)
which may be one to two weeks away. When you speak to him/her and if
they decide to see you you have another wait of possibly a couple of
weeks before you see them face to face.
There are now private GP services springing up, but you need to be very wealthy to use them - they aren't for the likes of us normal mortals.
On 2023-06-11 10:01, Bob Henson wrote:
On 10.6.23 11:21 pm, Carlos E.R. wrote:
On 2023-06-10 23:48, The Real Bev wrote:
On 6/10/23 12:56 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
I would never try to kill ants in the garden. I only kill insects when >>>>> they destroy too many of my plants.
Yes. Pillbugs just eat decaying veg, so they're OK. I will go out >>>> of my way to crack the shell of any snail I see, but slugs are more
numerous and need to be squashed with some sort of implement that I
won't want to touch again, so I let most of them live. Potato bugs
(Jerusalem crickets) get thrown high into the air over the street --
if they land safely they can walk to the other side. Their pupae get >>>> cut in half with the garden trowel.
Snails are easy. There is a blue granulate of "something" that they love >>> to eat, but makes them dissolve and vanish. You just sprinkle it around
the plants they are eating, and in a day or two they are gone, you only
find the empty shells.
The "something" used to be metaldehyde, which was thought to be species
specific, but actually is toxic to most animals and hence is now banned
in the UK (and as far as I know in the USA too). Current ones are
nowhere near as effective and contain ferric (iron) phosphate.
Oh.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metaldehyde https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metaldeh%C3%ADdo
Safety
Metaldehyde is classified as a 'moderate risk' pesticide by the World
Health Organization and is toxic to all animals that ingest it in large quantities. Metaldehyde is highly toxic by inhalation, moderately toxic
by ingestion, and slightly toxic by dermal absorption.
Metaldehyde is not a carcinogen.
Doesn't seem to be prohibited here, at least the Spanish wikipedia
doesn't mention it.
It seems the granulate is not metaldehyde alone, but mixed with some
other substance as bait.
On 2023-06-11 20:56, The Real Bev wrote:
Snarol was metaldehyde and is now banned. Haven't tried any of the legit
stuff.
I have a package and a half of the old stuff. I will use it, of course, because if I throw it to the garbage it will just end polluting the environment as well who knows where. In my house I know there are no
pets. I saw this morning two large salamanders or similar, while
previous times I saw only one, and I have used the stuff with them
around somewhere. It must be a good hunting ground for them.
On 6/11/23 2:58 AM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
On 2023-06-11 10:01, Bob Henson wrote:
On 10.6.23 11:21 pm, Carlos E.R. wrote:
On 2023-06-10 23:48, The Real Bev wrote:
On 6/10/23 12:56 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
I would never try to kill ants in the garden. I only kill insects
when
they destroy too many of my plants.
Yes. Pillbugs just eat decaying veg, so they're OK. I will go out >>>>> of my way to crack the shell of any snail I see, but slugs are more
numerous and need to be squashed with some sort of implement that I
won't want to touch again, so I let most of them live. Potato bugs >>>>> (Jerusalem crickets) get thrown high into the air over the street
-- if they land safely they can walk to the other side. Their
pupae get cut in half with the garden trowel.
Snails are easy. There is a blue granulate of "something" that they
love
to eat, but makes them dissolve and vanish. You just sprinkle it around >>>> the plants they are eating, and in a day or two they are gone, you only >>>> find the empty shells.
The "something" used to be metaldehyde, which was thought to be
species specific, but actually is toxic to most animals and hence is
now banned in the UK (and as far as I know in the USA too). Current
ones are nowhere near as effective and contain ferric (iron) phosphate.
Oh.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metaldehyde
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metaldeh%C3%ADdo
Safety
Metaldehyde is classified as a 'moderate risk' pesticide by the World
Health Organization and is toxic to all animals that ingest it in large
quantities. Metaldehyde is highly toxic by inhalation, moderately toxic
by ingestion, and slightly toxic by dermal absorption.
Metaldehyde is not a carcinogen.
Neither is a gun...
Doesn't seem to be prohibited here, at least the Spanish wikipedia
doesn't mention it.
It seems the granulate is not metaldehyde alone, but mixed with some
other substance as bait.
Snarol was metaldehyde and is now banned. Haven't tried any of the legit stuff.
On 6/11/23 12:18 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
On 2023-06-11 20:56, The Real Bev wrote:
Snarol was metaldehyde and is now banned. Haven't tried any of the
legit stuff.
I have a package and a half of the old stuff. I will use it, of course,
because if I throw it to the garbage it will just end polluting the
environment as well who knows where. In my house I know there are no
pets. I saw this morning two large salamanders or similar, while
previous times I saw only one, and I have used the stuff with them
around somewhere. It must be a good hunting ground for them.
I associate salamanders with swamps. We have lots of lizards and ONE
horned toad when I was maybe 10.
I don't see many snails, but I have a lot of pots and slugs seem to like
to cling to the bottoms. Nasty things.
What am I saving the Snarol for? <ponder>
On 6/10/23 1:06 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
On 2023-06-10 21:36, The Real Bev wrote:
On 6/10/23 11:26 AM, micky wrote:
In comp.mobile.android, on Fri, 9 Jun 2023 03:11:31 +0200, "Carlos E.R." >>>> <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
Oh, I know that's the final result, but I mean they measure
"something" in the air they blow or rebounds, I don't know exactly
what. The measure something, do some calculations, and end by
figuring out your eyeball internal pressure :-)
Back upon a time, I worked at a place that made tests machines. I
want to know how that machine works. :-)
I sort of thought they measured the deflection of light that they
bounced off the eye. I can't imagine what else they could measure.
https://www.brightfocus.org/glaucoma/article/how-eye-pressure-measured
Ah, thanks. :-)
"Air-Puff Tonometry", that's the one I was thinking of.
It's still not clear what's being measured. The diameter of the flat
spot? Its depth? Something completely different?
On 6/11/23 12:18 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:
On 2023-06-11 20:56, The Real Bev wrote:
Snarol was metaldehyde and is now banned. Haven't tried any of the legit >>> stuff.
I have a package and a half of the old stuff. I will use it, of course,
because if I throw it to the garbage it will just end polluting the
environment as well who knows where. In my house I know there are no
pets. I saw this morning two large salamanders or similar, while
previous times I saw only one, and I have used the stuff with them
around somewhere. It must be a good hunting ground for them.
I associate salamanders with swamps. We have lots of lizards and ONE
horned toad when I was maybe 10.
| Sysop: | Keyop |
|---|---|
| Location: | Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK |
| Users: | 297 |
| Nodes: | 16 (2 / 14) |
| Uptime: | 01:28:46 |
| Calls: | 6,666 |
| Calls today: | 4 |
| Files: | 12,212 |
| Messages: | 5,335,482 |