1. If you have children and/or young adults for whom you provide a smartphone, how many goddamned times have you had to pay for repair or replacement of said device and/or meet insurance deductibles for same?
2. In your opinion, how is it fucking possible that an otherwise intelligent and not completely irresponsible person could repeatedly lose/smash a device that he or she deems as necessary to his or her existence as astronauts regard a reliable source of breathable air?
3. Do you think it is possible to acquire a vintage mobile phone to serve a protective shell for an iPhone 7? I mean, it’s lasted all these decades! Other cases don’t seem to work — maybe that’ll do the fucking trick!
4. If you own a vehicle that is equipped with tire sensors, did that system work past 10K miles, or have you been resetting that annoying fucking invalid and apparently unfixable sensor fault message for the past 90K miles?
5. Do you believe automakers who incorporate technologies that routinely fail, such as tire sensors, should be obligated to turn off that feature rather than advising customers to reset the fucking message every time they start their car?
Thanks for participating in this survey! Open thread!
BGinCHI
Somebody’s out of vodka.
sdhays
I’m past 40K miles on my 2012 Mazda and the tire sensors still work.
SiubhanDuinne
These are all hypotheticals, right, Betty?
dlwchico
I wish car alarms were an option you could choose to not have when you buy a car these days.
They are worthless at best and down right annoying most of the time.
trollhattan
Spouse and kid insist on iphones so hrrumph, pay for your own goddamn glass replacement and vacate my lawn. I prescribe one of these and don’t give a fig if they “don’t like” Android. There is no glass to shatter.
Discovered my TPMS only alerts me when the pressure is down to about 50%, which seems woefully too damn late. However, when I tell it to shut up (a.k.a. reset) it stays quiet. Runflat tyres are a related matter I’m not crazy about.
Brachiator
I asked my sister how many times she has had to replace the smartphones (and laptops) of her two kids. She refused to answer, said thinking about it gave her a headache.
I wonder whether there is some fed or state regulation that says that the feature cannot be disabled.
TaMara (HFG)
Betty, honey, put down the big knife and step far, far away from the computer. If there is no wine in the house, send out an SOS and just like with our pet caravans, we’ll find someone/someway to get wine to you.
trollhattan
@dlwchico:
Can it be programmed off? A lot of electronics can be altered/overridden by the dealer or somebody with a magic programming dongle for their model car.
jacy
1) 4 this year.
2) Unpossible.
3) No — I tried.
4) I don’t know.
5) Yes! I would also like a million dollars and shirtless Robson Green to give me a nightly foot massage.
Wait, were these rhetorical questions?
OnkelFritze
You kind of answered question #2 by yourself.
…
…
Betty Cracker
@SiubhanDuinne: To quote the horse trader in True Grit: “I do not entertain hypotheticals; the world as it is is vexing enough!”
trollhattan
In which George Snuffleuppigus commits an act of journalism, and on the best of targets.
petesh
@Betty Cracker: Hypotheticals entertain ME.
MattF
Asking for an ex-friend.
schrodingers_cat
When Bank of Mom and Dad underwrites the iPhones, why worry about the replacement cost.
Mike J
I have a habit of losing phones off sailboats. I don’t pay $700 for iphones. For less than $100 you can get an android from which you can text, tweet, browse, run windfinder and navionics. You could probably do all that on a $35 phone, but screen size, etc. Of course I don’t have pictures of fruit on the case to impress my friends.
Bruce K
Question 2 probably has a simple answer: they get used to it and take it for granted. And durability and dynamic obsolescence tend to be in conflict.
Cheap Jim, formerly Cheap Jim
2013 car, 30K miles. Tire sensors still work, even after running over the occasional curb.
wuzzat
Otterbox is your friend, Betty.
Keith P.
#4 My tire system worked for something like 60k miles. I had it replaced via warranty work, and they lasted another 50k. It’s the batteries that go out.
For the smartphone stuff, no kids, but I *hate* smartphones and am going to a “regular” phone ASAP (ideally, I’d like a phone that can take photos, do SMS, and maybe read emails…I’m on the fence on that). But absolutely NO web access or non-SMS notifications…anything smaller than a tablet is too frustrating as a browser (and keyboard, frankly)
OzarkHillbilly
1. Why on Dog’s green earth would you? People have been raising children without them for millennia.
2. Because it’s not his/her problem?
3. Oh, hell no.
4. Don’t own such a vehicle, mine does have other useless shit that I curse at on a daily basis tho.
5. I believe that when all automotive engineers die there is a special place in hell where they get to spend all of eternity working on the things they designed while laying in a gravel drive with hot oil dripping into their face and their hands and arms fractions of an inch away from red hot exhaust pipes/manifolds/mufflers/catalytic converters, and just like Sisyphus, every time they have it just about all put back together it goes “CABLOOOEY!” with a JESUS! clip plinking them right in the eye and causing them to jerk there head back and hitting it on a frame member.
Gin & Tonic
@OzarkHillbilly: That’s an awfully, um, detailed belief. Bordering on a theology.
Annie
I’d insist that if the kid broke the phone, they pay for the replacement. They’ll be a lot more careful once it’s on their tab.
I’ve had my iPhone for 4 years and haven’t managed to even crack it, but then I’m not a teenager.
evodevo
@OzarkHillbilly:#5 LOL THIS!
OzarkHillbilly
@Gin & Tonic: There’s a special place in Hell for Republicans too. I won’t tell you what happens to them for all of eternity.
Soprano2
My tire pressure thing still works after 40,000+ miles and four years. I hate in in the winter though – when the temps drop suddenly from the 40’s into the 20’s, the thing comes on and won’t go off until I put more air into all four tires. It would be much more useful if it told you which tire was low. Don’t get me started on the tire shop I went to last year when it went off; they told me it was the temperature, even though it wasn’t that cold, and added some air to my tires. A couple of days later, when it went off again, I went to another shop where they actually looked at my tires; they found a screw with a washer on it in one of them! Obviously the guys at the first shop didn’t look at my tires, because even an idiot could have seen that on the tire. I was tempted to take it to them and say “See what another shop found in my tire? I’m never coming here again!” but I didn’t.
As for that other stuff, I have no experience with it.
Peale
Yeah. I was watching a Thai series this weekend and the lead got so upset that he threw his iPhone on the ground, shattering it. I was shocked. Whatever could make someone so upset that they would do such a thing? The image still haunts me. I keep thinking “that’s $800”. If I were a parent, I think I’d rather my kids got in perpetual fistfights with other kids and teachers rather than damage their phones.
Major Major Major Major
Why are y’all assuming she has no booze rather than has already been partaking?
mai naem mobile
My nephew used to be really bad about his phones – losing and breaking them but he’s gotten better. My niece is still bad aboit her phone and only recently started using a case which she refused to use before because she didn’t like the feel and size.
My Nissan Pathfinders tire sensor worked till 150K and then they wanted some ridiculous amount of money to replace so I told them no thanks.
Original Lee
1-3. Mr. Teenager lost his phone twice when he was in middle school, but once he got a smartphone, he’s never lost track of it for longer than part of a day. He has never smashed the screen or otherwise broken it. Miss Teenager never lost her phone, even before she got a smartphone. I think that the “keeping track of my stuff” part of the teenage brain develops differently in every kid, so yes, if that part of the brain is under construction, there will be lost items. We all have OtterBoxes for our smartphones, except for The Spouse, who has a Lifeproof case for his. The Spouse is very hard on his phones – he even accidentally dropped one into a large beaker of sulfuric acid, which was an amusing phone call with iPhone customer service – and once he switched to a Lifeproof case, he’s been able to keep his intact for almost two years. I don’t know that a vintage case would necessarily work.
4. and 5. The tire pressure indicator on one minivan worked until around 200,000 miles and then started demanding regular resetting. At that point, I hit a really bad pothole at speed and had to have the entire wheel assembly for the right front wheel replaced, and lo! the problem was fixed. I think a lot more of the electronic stuff on cars needs to be optional.
Kelly
@dlwchico:
Yes worthless
and would people please turn off their fog lights when there isn’t any fog.
J R in WV
I like having a smartphone, and we have two Samsung Android phones we have had for at least 4 years. I like being able to do a search online and phone the business I find via that search. Sometimes you can just click the little handset icon, other times you have to memorize the number for the 30 seconds it takes to bring up the phone dialer.
When I make a call and get a commercial phone system that wants me to press “4” to get what I need, does anyone know how to do that in Android? Cause I can’t get that to work for me!!! I can call someone and ask them to call who I need to talk to and give them my cell number to call me. Total pain!
My tire sensors work OK on my 2011 vehicle, but I don’t drive it as often as the newer SUV, and it often has lost air in one tire or another, really. Haven’t had battery failures or technological failures. We use Sirius/XM radio a lot and found to our dismay that a car we bought (expensive 2011 import) with an antenna did NOT have sat radio installed by the manufacturer, and it couldn’t be done by the dealer (or they refused to) and the aftermarket device they installed free is totally worthless. Dead, now, and I’ve unplugged it.
Nothing that uses the cell network will work on our vehicles, as cell connectivity is around 15% where we live. Useless. Do not want automated driving tools!!! Have used Nav systems when on tour, often fail as many roads are NOT in most navigation systems. Newer Android tablet can be helpful if you download maps before leaving wi-fi connectivity.
Had a nice larger Google Nexus tablet that failed after being dropped, battery became disconnected, no one is willing to open it up and reconnect that power source! Dammit! It was expensive, but nothing like fruity tablets!!
TenguPhule
@OzarkHillbilly:
Spiked tentacles, M-preg and birth of tentacle demons. For all eternity.
Tarragon
@Major Major Major Major:
Not mutually exclusive.
TenguPhule
@Major Major Major Major:
Because she didn’t post any funny stories. Obviously a sign of lack of booze.
MisterForkbeard
1. I’ve never had to do this, because I don’t let me kid have a smart device. But then, she’s almost 3. :P
2. Couldn’t tell you, but I remember almost destroying and/or losing my glasses several times when I was 13. For the “lose” part, I would recommend attaching a “Tile” to it. Look up the Tile app and see what’s up, it’s pretty useful.
3. Fuck it, buy your kiddo a Nokia. They’re re-making the old ones from the 90s now, and they’re damn near indestructible.
4. They still work in my Subaru (and Volt) about 40k miles in. So far, so good.
5. Absolutely, we need to shut off computer-operated sensors and features if they start malfunctioning. :(
Major Major Major Major
@Tarragon: Fair enough.
Cheryl from Maryland
#4 — Our car has tire sensors. The first time the sensors went off, we actually had a slow leak. The next time — it was a September when it was warm during the day and cold at night — the sensors went off the next morning. The dealer told us to check the pressure (we now have a pressure gauge) and if the numbers are right, then the dealer told us how to re-set the sensors. Fine since. FYI, our car doesn’t have a spare, the flat automatically inflates and is good for 50 miles or more. It really works (ran over a piece of metal).
maurinsky
RE: cell phones
I have not had to replace any phones for either of my children, but both of my stepchildren have had numerous free replacements, including for the time one of them got mad at the results of a soccer game and responded by throwing his phone across the room. If this were my child, they would be phone free for quite some time, but alas, I am only the step parent.
Re: Tire sensors
I have a 2011 Nissan Altima that has broken sensors on >1 tire, but the tires need to be replaced before winter, so I just check the air every other week or so and ignore the light. I think it’s a stupid place for the sensor to be located, since tires take so much damage.
TriassicSands
@Peale:
For some people $800 is an insignificant amount of money. On the other hand rich people are often the cheapest (as in frugal) people.
Then again, it was TV, right?
J R in WV
@Kelly:
Lights~!!! What is with these people driving around in black Audi SUVs with NO Frickin lights on in the pitch dark?
I know your driving lights are on, and you can see to drive like that… but people coming up behind you CAN NOT SEE YOUR ASS at all because your black SUV is invisible after dark.
Needs to be a sensor that calls you a dumbass if you don’t turn your lights on in the Fqn dark!!!
All the high tech in the world and we still have people driving around in the dark with no taillights. Just don’t let them shift out of Park if there’s no headlights on and it’s dark out!!!
zhena gogolia
@jacy:
Somebody watched Grantchester last night!
bystander
@wuzzat: Otterbox? So is Launch-box but it doesn’t sound as if Betty is ready to make new friends.
Cheryl from Maryland
Oh, and as for #1, plenty of my 20 something colleagues at work have smashed their iPhone screens. Me, I bought an Otterbox since I ice-skate using the iPhone for music and to talk to my spouse. Some kid ran into me once, and I went down. Had giant bruises on my ass and forearms, but the iPhone was okay (it was in my back pants pocket). Otterbox rules.
OzarkHillbilly
@maurinsky:
Step parenting is hard. Invisible lines are everywhere.
Original Lee
Dagnabit, my comment got eated.
1-3. Mr. Teenager lost his phone twice before he got his smartphone. Since then, he has never lost or damaged it and has only misplaced it for part of a day. Miss Teenager has never lost, damaged, or misplaced her phone. The “keeping track of things” part of the teenage brain develops differently in each kid, so there will always be lost stuff. With my sister, it used to be eyeglasses, for instance. I think parents notices the phone stuff more because it’s expensive, and the jackets, hats, bookbags, lunchboxes, textbooks, soccer balls, jockstraps, shoes, etc. became part of the noise and hardly register any more. Everyone in this household uses OtterBox for their phones, except for The Spouse, who uses LifeProof cases. The Spouse is very hard on his phones – he once accidentally dropped one into a beaker full of sulfuric acid, which led to a rather amusing phone call with iPhone customer service – but the LifeProof boxes seem to keep his phone intact and he’s had his current one for two years.
4-5. The tire pressure sensor on the minivan worked well until 200,000 miles and then went on the fritz. About six months later, I hit a large pothole at speed and had to replace the whole right front wheel assembly, which fixed the tire pressure sensor problem. I wish they would show which tire was the problem, and I wish more of the electronic gizmos were optional. I also wish for some apple pie a la mode.
Lee
To answer one of your questions.
My oldest breaks her phone on a regular basis. My youngest has not broken hers yet and she is almost out of contract with her second phone.
Since it is an open thread here is an insight for the group.
I’ve never really given the Queen of England’s status a second thought. Just a ‘meh, she seems nice enough’. Now that we have our own ‘unelected’ head of state who’s family is also acting as representtives of the head of state without going through any confirmation hearings, I can certainly now sympathize with those that want to do away with the monarchy.
OzarkHillbilly
@Cheryl from Maryland:
For many things.
Patricia Kayden
I love all of Betty’s questions. I can see the steam coming out of her head as she types them.
If only our Democratic politicians were asking such questions with the same passion about Trump’s wheelings and dealings. There is nothing wrong with righteous anger.
James Powell
Re #4 & 5 – The first rule of owning a car that doesn’t have problems is you do not talk about your car that doesn’t have problems.
James Powell
@Patricia Kayden:
I think some of them do, but with no control over any part of the government, there’s really nothing they can do but fulminate.
PonB
1) Never in more than 10 years
2) Because they don’t pay for it
3) No
4) Has not failed yet
5) Available as a free service? Yes. Obligated? No.
…and yes, I am constantly grateful that I helped raise two responsible young adults…
Raven
Put a piece of electrical tape over the warning light.
gvg
Get an Otterbox
I went years with no phone issues then damaged or lost like 3 in 2 years while raising 2 a toddler. I think distraction of trying to remember many different things plus a bit of sleep deprivation was the cause but I accepted that things had changed and researched the toughest and most water resistant phone. I ended up with a samsung rugby pro with otterbox (possible overkill) and had no more problems. also toddler grew up. possibly spawn need to prune some distractions of get more sleep?
My tire sensor worked to my annoyance this winter at over 90K miles. Maybe check the online forums for your car year/model to see if you have a dud or if there is a doable fix.
Raven
@Cheryl from Maryland: yep
The Moar You Know
Does my wife count? She’s a teacher, the phone handles 50+% of her workload, and we lose a screen every year and replace that phone every two. It gets used HARD.
Shit happens. I’ve run two phones – not iPhones – through the washer.
Bottom line: modern giant-screen cell phones are poorly designed for durability. If you want them to hold up, make them smaller. Those smaller phones don’t sell.
Shouldn’t happen. Does FL have lemon laws? That would fall under CA’s rules for declaring the vehicle a lemon. FWIW, mine lasted over 50,000 miles before I sold the vehicle (Toyota Tacoma), and my wife’s went 125,000 before the car was destroyed in an accident (Honda CRV). The TPMS sensors on the CRV all still worked afterwards until the battery died.
No, they should be forced to fucking fix it.
MisterForkbeard
@James Powell: Yep. We have quite a few Democrats who are pushing this as hard as they can, but the media (mostly) ignores them or treats it as a purely partisan complaint. And due Republican control of House and Senate, there’s very little they can force in real terms.
FlyingToaster
1) I’m refusing to let WarriorGirl have a phone before middle school, and I expect to otterbox or otherwise rubberize it.
2) Not having to pay for it themselves means that they aren’t careful. HerrDoktor replaces phones twice as often as I do, but he has to pay for it himself.
3) No. I have a screen protector and a 10-pack multicolor rubber case (change out colors seasonally, currently BLACK like my heart). I also have leather case with velcro closure on a lanyard when I have to have the phone in less safe areas.
4) Yes. I have a 10 year old Sienna with run-flat tires that set off at 75%. The sensor takes about 5 miles of driving after I refill the tire(s) to reset. If it takes longer, it might be broken, or something weird has happened. I had one constantly going off; it turned out there was a nail in the side of one tire where we couldn’t see it until the van was on a lift. It wasn’t leaking much, but it kept setting the sensor off.
5) There should be an option to disable non-safety features (no, you can’t disable airbags or seat belt sensors). The manufacturer will claim that the tire sensor is a safety issue. Talk to Talahassee — the feds won’t help you anymore.
Offer to buy an Otterbox Defender and refuse to replace it again.
Belafon
I have three kids. Every member of our family has a cell phone. The only cell phone that is broken is my wife’s.
The sensors on my 2013 Fiesta work fine even after 70K miles.
MisterForkbeard
@The Moar You Know:
I’ve done this too. Or more precisely, in college I accidentally ran my Nokia brickphone through the washer THREE TIMES. It still worked great. Those things were marvels of engineering.
JCJ
Are some car manufacturers better than others with the tire pressure monitors? My first Honda Insight had no problems at the six year/115K mile mark. New Insight is fine at two years/35K miles.
Raven
My wife dropped her 6s in a torrent running down the street, it was fully immersed and it works fine a year later. I hear that Apple has made them waterproof but doesn’t want to put it in writing because we all know someone would fuck one up and sue!
Raven
@JCJ: is a bullfrog waterproof?
Kay
I love the tire sensor but I’ve always been a stickler on proper inflation :)
I really do love it though- it’s vitally important I know whether it’s 32 or 33, for some reason.
The cracked screen is easy- just don’t replace it- they don’t care. They use it JUST FINE with a cracked screen :)
PhoenixRising
Otterbox Defender or Incipio wallet plus glass screen protector, 0 casualties in 5 years of 3 smartphones.
5 years before that, my wife went through 3 screens. It was when we added a device for the teen that I looked into protective enclosures, and since then, no problems.
I was in the 200 beta testers of the first smartphone, the Treo 600. Cases were expensive and didn’t do a lot, so when I fell in the pool while skimming, I got a 650, then a 700 after a horse stepped on it. I’m hard on delicate stuff due to a combination of overconfidence and clumsiness, but the kid is a careful person and the Otterbox is an engineering miracle. I ran it over with the truck. Really.
Major Major Major Major
@Raven: I swear I’ve seen ads that show the phone underwater.
Uncle Cosmo
@sdhays: >36K on a 2012 Kia Forte, tire sensor has lit up twice, both for a verified problem. Had what at first seemed like false warnings on the prior 2008 Kia Spectra – apparently cold weather can drop the tire pressure below the threshold until the tires have warmed up with use.
Bill
1. At least four times on the insurance deductible. Although I regard that as one of the best policies I’ve ever bought.
2. No idea, but it probably stems from the same place that makes otherwise functioning humans put dishes in the sink when the dishwasher is a mere foot away.
3. I’d make it out of the same material as an airplane black box.
4. 60,000 on my Buick and they work perfectly. Tells me which tire is low and exactly what the pressure is.
5. Yes! Let’s start with the “check engine” light. Not once when that thing goes on in my Explorer has there actually been a problem that needed fixing.
willard
Buy an OtterBox Defender, it’s worth it. I spent years doing field work, including months on a boat, without damaging my phone. I dropped my phone in the water on several occasions, I dropped myself in the water with the phone in my pocket more times than I can count. I landed hard on the phone while launching from unimproved boat ramps (i.e. mud slope that didn’t drop off too quickly).
The Moar You Know
I’ve used a similar brand to Otterbox, can’t remember the name, but Otterbox works VERY well at keeping the phone from breaking. Hard shell inside, huge rubber surround outside. It also makes it the size of a paperback book, so kind of defeats the whole “portability” thing.
MisterForkbeard
@Major Major Major Major: The iPhone 7 is IP67 rated, which means it’s rated for up to 30 minutes up to 1m in depth. Those are probably the ads you’ve seen.
The iPhone 6 isn’t supposed to be water resistant, but it’s rated as sealed against dust. It’s probably water resistant to some degree as a result, but not to the IP67 standard. Maybe IP65, which basically means you can take it in the shower with you. :)
Pensive
I’ve bought cases for my iphones (iphone 5 and now iphone 6) from Lifeproof. They are supposedly drop proof and waterproof (although never really had to test the latter). I’m probably not as hard on my phone as a teen but if your phone is reasonably new it’s about $50. Amazon had one for iphone 7 for $42. Since using those I’ve never had any damage due to dropping it.
? ?? Goku (aka The Hope of the Universe) ? ?
@The Moar You Know: That’s what I’ve always used and it works great. Unfortunately my Samsung galaxy edge, because of the way it is shaped, leaves the screen exposed to being broken easily it if gets dropped. Which it already has
mirele
No kids but I can reflect on my own experience back in the ’60s and ’70s.
1) I broke the frames on my glasses 15 times when I was seven. They had a replacement policy so off we went to the optometrist every single time. I hated my glasses.
2) I kept losing my bus pass when I was 12. After a few times of having to walk home, I figured out I had to be responsible.
For the record, I know adults who are completely irresponsible about their personal electronic equipment, to the point where they are blacklisted from replacement insurance.
ETA Otterbox FTW.
Mike J
@Kay:
I’m old enough to remember when being in favor of proper tire inflation was a scandal in a presidential election.
JanieM
OMG don’t get me started.
I bought a brand new car in 2013, the only time I’ve ever done that and probably the only time I ever will. It’s still going strong, I’ve had no serious problems with it (fingers crossed), and I generally love it.
But the car’s clock gains time. Slowly, but relentlessly, over months…until when it gets up to five or so minutes fast, I reset it.
I have never had a clock before that did this. Every time someone starts talking about self-driving cars, all I can think about is: the people who can’t even make the clock work right expect me to believe they can make it safe make the car drive itself?
Bah.
My daughter had a car where the tire sensors kept signaling a problem when there was no problem. It was illegal to disable them. I have more stories about tire sensors, but I had better leave them alone. But:
Yes.
geg6
I can only provide an answer to #4.
My VW Jetta has tire sensors that work very well. It’s a 2008 with 78,000 miles, so maybe it’s just your car.
maurinsky
When I bought my kids cell phones, I required them to also put an Otterbox on their phones; when my older child (who is a married and responsible adult) got a new phone, I bought her one as a gift, because she and her hubby have copious student loans they are paying.
JanieM
P.S.
Why do some of the car climate settings remember themselves when I turn the car off, and others don’t? Maddening.
Why can’t I disable the automatic door locking? On my old car I could. On this one I can’t.
ETA: I hate it when some engineer decides that s/he can make a machine that knows what I want better than I know what I want. WTF anyhow. Betty, you struck a nerve!
MomSense
1. Lost count
2. This is why I color my hair
3. OTTER BOX the biggest, ugliest model is the one you want
4. After the first time I had the VW tires rotated the tire sensor light went off. I checked the pressure DID ALL THE THINGS and called my mechanic. Finally I discovered through the intertuubz that there is a reset button in the glove compartment. WHY?????
5. The more gizmos and doodads the automakers install in your vehicle the more things you will have to fix. Greedy assholes.
No Drought No More
“You want a car now? You’re lucky to have a pair of foockin’ shoes..”.
A John Lennon lyric from the song Serve Yourself, his response to Bob Dylan’s song Got To Serve Somebody
stinger
Regarding survey questions 4 and 5, I took my car (2010 Civic, +100K miles) in recently to have a flat repaired, and they rotated my tires at the same time. Afterward, the desk guy asked me if my tire pressure warning light was on much, and I said yes, constantly. (I have the pressure checked at every oil change, so I’ve just been ignoring the warning light.)
He said the battery for the pressure detection mechanism (paraphrasing — I am NOT mechanically minded) only lasts about 5 years. He could replace the battery, or replace the entire mechanism, or I could continue to ignore the light (as I’d been doing for over a year). Guess which option I chose?
Tazj
I had a Toyota Sienna and the tire sensor was an on and off problem for most of the 8 years I had it. I remember taking it in and finding out that there was nothing wrong with the tires. The dealership told me that it might have had something to do with the cold mornings and warm afternoons(who knows?) and I think they adjusted the settings but I don’t remember. I got so used to just ignoring it that I did ignore it for a while when I had an actual tire problem. I have a Highlander now(about 35,000 miles) with tire sensors but I haven’t had a problem, maybe the technology has improved.
My kids don’t have phones yet but I know I’ve spent a fortune on new chargers for their tablets and ipods.
Kay
@Mike J:
Hah! Remember that? They were so mad about the tire gauge.
Fair Economist
1 5 times IIRC – 4 in one year. We made him pay part via chores or gift money.
2 It’s a mystery, more complex than that of the Holy Trinity.
3 No, it’s like planning for Murphy’s law. Smartphones in teen hands create a kind of reality distortion field.
4 Almost 100K on a 2010 Chevy Malibu and going strong.
5 Yes, and can I have a unicorn too?
Kay
@Mike J:
I actually loved Obama for saying it,because it’s such a dorky thing to say. I knew they would make fun of it but they’re wrong :)
Fair Economist
We made our son get a phone case. What did he do? He took it out as much as possible because it didn’t look “cool”. :rolleyes:
Juice Box
I just spent $400 for a salvage brake sensor because I just could not get into my 16 year old car and drive around blithely with the brake warning light on. The salvage guy said the high price was due to the high popularity of the teeny little part which costs $1400 new. My husband thinks that I should stop wasting money on car repairs and just buy a new car, but it’s kind of a point of pride.
gene108
I like a lot of the new tech on cars. I replaced my 14 year old Toyota Corolla, with a new car in April.
The ways in which tech has advanced is amazing.
I like the back-up camera.
I like being able to plug my phone in and stream music or podcasts and have maps displayed on the touch screen, like I have a GPS.
I honestly don’t get what people have against car tech.
New cars do so much more and are so much safer than old cars. They have a bajillion air bags standard. In 2003, I had to pay extra to get side impact air bags in my Toyota. ABS is pretty much standard on most models. Had to pay extra for it before.
The only new doo-dad I wish I’d gotten with my new car is a blind-spot monitor.
Otherwise, I don’t get why people don’t like new tech in cars.
Now washing machines…that’s another story…I don’t need a bunch of electronics to wash my clothes…
There are somethings that are meant to stay dumb, and I think one of those is a washing machine…
Betty Cracker
Regarding tire sensors: we have three vehicles, three different makes, and model years ranging from 2003 to 2015, and none of tire sensors work!
Roger Moore
@Original Lee:
Somehow I got the “keeping track of things” part of my brain working at a very young age. I have never had a problem remembering where stuff is. This is helpful at work, since I am the one person in the lab who can keep track of all the useful stuff. I also seem to have the knack of being gentle with fragile things, so I have never had to replace a phone because it was mistreated.
Barbara
1. Never? Kid #1 is unbelievably Type A. Kid #2 is unbelievably un-type A, but knows it and so has decided to get one kind of phone that is now so obsolete she gets it through some international dealer that refurbishes old phones. It’s unbreakable and no one would ever steal it. Kid #3 has been deemed by mom to be too young to get a phone. When he does, I expect that he will more than make up for the luck I have had so far with his sisters.
2. It’s like an old friend. Sometimes you get so used to it you think you can get away with anything.
3. Why does your kid have an IPhone 7?
4. My tire sensors still work at about 50,000 miles. But yeah, I would find that to be really annoying.
5. Yes, they should be obligated to turn them off. Absolutely.
HeleninEire
This is so damn funny. I love kids, but I don’t have any. Thank the Goddess. That shit would drive me mad.
Also, too, Betty, get some Booze. It’ll help.
RandyG
@J R in WV: While your call is active, a “dialpad” button will appear on the right side.
Kay
I buy used ‘Merican cars for cash, then I sell them when they have “too many” miles- purely my sense of “too many”, so I have had a lot of different cars.
The most useful frivolous thing I have had in a car was this little shelf to the right of the instrument panel with a latching lid for the driver. I still miss that shelf. I don’t even recall the car really, but I loved that shelf.
phein55
They don’t really need them, no matter how much they complain..
Out of our four offspring:
One lived with a phone with a cracked screen for almost two years, waiting for the “free” upgrade, rather than pay the deductible.
One let a phone slip between the cushions of the couch, where I found it over a year later because he couldn’t be bothered to stick his hand down the inside of the couch.
One left an iPhone at an ex-girlfriend’s house for 4 months before telling us (we inactivated it).
Two have now grown up enough to pay their own phone bills, and it’s amazing how careful they can be.
Patricia Kayden
@James Powell: Fulminate louder then. Fulminate every day that you’re in session in Congress. Fulminate on political talk shows. Fulminate on radio shows.
Republicans fulminated so well that they went from being the minority party in 2008 to being in full control now. And they didn’t do it by playing nice with President Obama or Democrats. We can take a page from their book.
RobertDSC-iPhone 6
I have used Ballistic brand 2-piece cases on my iPhone 4, 6, and iPad Mini. So far, I have not had any issues. The iPhone 6 and iPad have clear glass screen protectors and neither has cracked.
JaneE
I had tire sensors in a 2010 Toyota Rav4 – the last year with a full size spare hanging off the back. High Desert area – hot days and cold nights in the winter. Regularly, every year, the first time we were out late after it started dropping below freezing, the spare tire sensor would trigger the low pressure light. The difference in temp combined with possibly a super slow leak would be enough to drop the tire pressure out of spec. After we knew what the problem was it still an annoyance, but not so scary as the first time when we were 50 miles from home at 2 in the morning.
The only time my other cars complained there really was a problem – both times I had picked up a nail causing a slow leak.
As for phones, I can’t keep me or my husband from dropping them – case or not. It is called old age.
hovercraft
1. Twice within three months.
2. Since they know that you will provide a replacement, it’s not like they will be without their lifeline longer than a day or two, so no biggy.
3. I resorted to replacing it with a much cheaper crappy phone, I was rewarded with a sulky teenager for a few weeks who refused to speak to me. That also meant that she wasn’t hitting me up for shit for weeks, so all in all a win win. I did also tell her that she was free to give the phone to her younger brother and go without if the replacement was not good enough, for some reason she chose to keep the phone.
Roger Moore
If the sensor broke after 10K miles, it should have been fixed under warranty. If the company can’t fix it, they should have to replace the car under lemon law. Tire pressure sensors are now mandatory as safety equipment- low tire pressure leads to tire damage and accidents- so they shouldn’t be telling you to ignore the problem under any circumstances.
FlyingToaster
@gene108: Re: the Washing Machine problem:
What I need is the 15-year-old top load Kenmore with a new motor and clutch. Full height agitator; 4-levels (1/4, 1/2, 3/4, full); HandWash, Delicate, Normal, Heavy Duty; Cold/Cold, Warm/Cold, Warm/Warm, Hot/Cold. NOTHING ELSE. I’ll take the comforters to the Laundromat.
I’ve done a 3/4, a half, and a full load today so far. My water bill has been about the same since WarriorGirl started preschool. The clothes get clean, and don’t get destroyed. I don’t waste water if I can just fill the tank 1/4 of the way on the small loads.
daverave
Never bred so can’t answer those questions…
My Ford F-150 (2013) has the TRMS system. The first time one went off we had no idea what it was and what it meant as this was our first “modern” vehicle. We blissfully ignored it of course. A few minutes later one of our tires was completely flat, actually shredded, and there I was on a very narrow dirt road trying to change it. Of course with any new to you vehicle, the first step is looking in the owner’s manual to figure out how to change the tire and how to get the spare down from its lair.
Good times…
randy khan
@Mike J:
Sorry for this, but I find myself obliged to point out that there is a certain amount of snobbery here. People buy phones from particular manufacturers for a variety of reasons. The claim that, essentially, people are only buying iPhones for the logo doesn’t really account for the product’s long-term success. (In fact, a lot of analysts spent years predicting Apple’s doom based on that hypothesis, and now they’ve mostly stopped.) Android phones are good for some people; iPhones for others; and I hear there even are some people who like Windows phones (if you can find one). There’s nothing wrong with any of those choices.
Of course, if you drop and/or lose your phone constantly, then you really probably shouldn’t be getting an expensive one, but that’s just part of the equation to consider.
Steeplejack
@Betty Cracker:
The only guy with teenagers that I know claims that he has kept the phone replacement rate down by telling his two kids that if they break or lose their phone they can either (1) pay for the replacement or (2) be issued a cheap, lame, semi-smart granny phone with gigantic buttons and minimal features that will make them the laughingstock of their peer group.
I would tend to discount his story as bravado except that once or twice I have seen a “He’s just crazy enough to do it!” look on his kids’ faces when some other contentious issue came up. And I think the wife backed his play with the statement: “I don’t care if you have a smart phone. All we need is to be able to get hold of you and for you to be able to call us.”
Eric U.
the smartphone question makes me sad, because my daughter let herself suffer one two many manic episodes, and the paranoia seems to have taken hold permanently. So any idiot that wants to kill her is a good friend, but her parents are trying to keep her from an independent life. So she pays for her own walmart iphones instead of being part of the family plan.
I have never had trouble with the TPMS sensors on any of our cars. I don’t put the sensors on the snow tires, but everything else has them.
p.a.
@Brachiator:
Here in RI if your car has one and it’s not working the vehicle will fail inspection. Unless youse knows a guy.
gene108
@Patricia Kayden:
Republicans have their own dedicated news channel: Fox News. They have thousands of radio stations, hundreds of T.V. stations, and plenty of talking heads dominating the air waves in both radio and T.V. Plus they have a vast network of print media.
A Republican whispers and the right-wing media, if they are so inclined, will turn into the biggest news story of the day.
Rick Santelli, on CNBC, blabbered something about a taxed enough already protest that needed to be staged, like our forefathers in Boston or something, form the floor of the Chicago Stock Exchange, in February 2009.
On April 15, 2009 and moderately well attended set of protests against taxation were organized throughout the country. Fox News gave it 24/7 news coverage, and then the rest of the networks picked it up and gave it way more attention than the size of the protests warranted.
The anti-Iraq war protests were several times larger, but totally ignored by the media.
To get equivalent coverage to what the Taxed Enough Already protests got in April 15, 2009, the Women’s March had to be the largest fucking demonstration ever organized on the planet, and had to included dozens of countries, as well as dozens of cities in the USA.
We can bitch and complain about Democrats not getting the message out, but liberals did not sink in money to buy up media to push their agenda, unlike conservatives. They want what they want and they want it badly enough they have sunk billions into dominating the media over the last 40 years. And it is paying off for them.
The Moar You Know
@Betty Cracker: At this point I think you have a “repair guy” problem. That’s off the charts unlikely.
catclub
@Keith P.:
Mine probably worked for even longer than 60k, so well out of warranty. It is just the battery, but the replacement cost is between$250-$600 for 4 sensors, you cannot just replace the battery – it is potted in. I am interested in turning off the (now useless) warning if I coujld do that. Instaed I just ignore the yellow tire icon and check tire pressure with a gauge.
Juju
When I was a teen if I wanted something expensive or special, I paid part or all of what it cost. I paid for all my contact lenses. I never lost a single lens, not even when they came out with disposable lenses.
I’ve recently read that when sensors are working well not to say anything, so I’ve got nothing to say in that regard.
I have an iPhone 6 and this is the first time I’ve ever had a case or protective screen. I have a Pelican case and Zagg invisashield. I registered both. The case had a rubber edge coming off issue and it was replaced free of charge and the invisashield has been replaced four times and I paid for postage. Who knew that biting a phone so you could aim the flashlight while working with both hands would crack the protective screen? I sure didn’t. I highly recommend both of those products. Pelican seems durable but less bulky than Otterbox.
The Moar You Know
@Betty Cracker: This has really gotten under my skin. Assuming the most likely explanation, inept repair guy, is not the cause. Do you or any family members run amateur/ham radio gear in these cars? THAT can jack your TPMS sensors (and some other stuff) pretty badly.
Option #2: do you live near a military base? There’s one here in San Diego that, when they fire up their radar, kills every remote key fob (same frequency as TPMS) within miles.
catclub
@gvg:
You would think you could outwit the toddler at card games. Call, don’t raise.
JustRuss
Regaring Otterbox, drove off once with the phone on top of the car. Someone found it and returned it, phone was fine.
Tire Sensors: My Toyota and Honda have over 100K miles, sensors work fine. My mom’s 2005 Pontiac, they started failing after a few years. Judging from forums, it’s a common problems with that model of GM vehicle (Grand Am).
Ruckus
@Kelly:
Was test driving a car once and the salesman told me how cool the car was because it had fog lights and you could turn them on all the time. My response was along the lines of “Why the fuck would I want to turn on the fog lights when it wasn’t foggy? That’s the stupidest fucking thing I’ve ever heard of. You do know they call them FOG lights for a reason don’t you?” The look on his face told me that he thought he’d blown the sale. He didn’t, I bought the car, but it was a great bargaining tactic for me.
Mel
Seatbelt sensors that give you barely 1/10 of a second after your behind hits the seat before they begin emitting an endless, ear-splitting shriek as a “reminder” to fasten your belt drive me nuts.
I’m old, damn it. I don’t move quickly enough to beat the clock before the Blitz siren kicks in.
lurker dean
i changed my wheels (rims) and forget to ask the mechanic to swap over the tire pressure sensors. a piece of black tape over the dash warning light helps your sanity. just keep an eye on the tires and regularly check the pressure. the sensor should last longer than 10k miles though.
Gelfling 545
@trollhattan: So if I hold up the local convenience store and the till happens to be empty it’s no harm, no foul, right?
Gavin
Child should be required to keep an otterbox defender on the phone at all times, including meeting random spot checks from parental units to ensure they’re actually doing it at school as well. I will make this clear to my children when the time comes.. the insurance deductible is double the cost of the defender, so there should be no option on this.
Greg
1. The kids aren’t old enough for smartphones. But I’ve trashed two in six years, the wife 1, and I just replaced the screen on her most recent.
2. We don’t do a very good job of taking care of our air, either.
3. The two phones I trashed were both submersions. I’ve not had a case on a phone in almost 5 years and no problems since.
4. I just finally bought a vehicle with a pressure sensor. So no idea.
5. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! TM CinemaSins.
Stan
We have five children and we were in the midst of chewing one of them out because he had lost his cell phone. Then he told us why.
He was playing basketball with his friends in one of the many courts in our city. They’d all put their hoodies, phones etc. on a bench while they played. When they heard gunshots, they all ran as fast as they could.
They did not slow down to grab their hoodies or phones.
We agreed that was a pretty damn good excuse for losing a phone.
mattH
@BGinCHI: Me! Send moar. ;-)
As for the phone, sounds like it’s time for the $30 pay as you go phone, then it’s like getting 3 (or more) for the price of the insurance deductible, AND the threat of having an uncool phone. :-D
ETA: I see Steeplejack beat me to it.
catclub
@Mel:
They do this before the key is inserted or the engine is turned on? That is new to me.
1. Get in car.
2. Buckle seat belt.
3. Insert key and start car.
No beeping.
brendancalling
this reminds me, I have to take some time today to add my kid to my phone account for the duration of his visit.
Central Planning
1. how many goddamned times have you had to pay for repair or replacement of said device – Once. 3 kids. One kid bought his own replacement phone (android lover)
2. In your opinion, how is it fucking possible… What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immoveable object?
3. Do you think it is possible to acquire a vintage mobile phone to serve a protective shell for an iPhone 7? No. Nothing will protect it the way you want.
4. If you own a vehicle that is equipped with tire sensors, did that system work past 10K miles, or have you been resetting that annoying fucking invalid and apparently unfixable sensor fault message for the past 90K miles? Yes. One vehicle at 30K, another at 60K. Acura/Honda. Good luck so far. Tire sensors are cheap. Get them replaced.
5. Do you believe automakers who incorporate technologies that routinely fail, such as tire sensors, should be obligated to turn off that feature rather than advising customers to reset the fucking message every time they start their car? Use tape to cover the light.
SWMBO
@OzarkHillbilly:
@Gin & Tonic:
Hillbilly’s Engineering Lifelong Liturgy. I know a lot of folks who would sign up for this theology.
Major Major Major Major
@catclub: gee, it’s almost like this is the whole idea!
Aaron
At sprint you can at the second replacement you get cut off. Also there is a 200$ deductible. So far Ive dont it once. ever. in over 10 years.
Also the first pre smart phone notepad, I had it in my pocket and brushed against the corner of a table and cracked the screen. Since then I never put a cellphone in my pocket with the screen out, always facing in, and always in a pocket without keys in it.
ymmv
Betty Cracker
@The Moar You Know: No ham radio, but we do live pretty close to an airbase!
catclub
@Central Planning:
I disagree. the dealer will quote $150 each for them, the internet will quote them for $45 each – but then you have to unmount and remount the tires as well.
$200 for 4 tires at a minimum.
d58826
FSM a NC Congress swine is arguing that the CBO used the wrong year in it’s analysis of Trumpcare. By using 2016 the CBO inflates the number of people dropped by Trumpcare at 23 million. But if they only use the correct year (i.e.2017) only 18 million people will be thrown off the system. NOW that is putting lipstick on a PIG.
trollhattan
@catclub:
You got me curious and I’m now informed a set of four for my car is $240. Plus, you know, they have to be put in but presumably that’s not an upcharge if you’re getting tires anyway.
trollhattan
@Betty Cracker:
Damn, check to see if Scully and Mulder are hanging around the hood.
Mrs. D. Ranged in AZ
I know these are probably rhetorical but I’m OCD and can’t help myself (AND I like to commiserate).
1. 15 yo stepson and 14 yo daughter have broken their phones 3 times each. I refuse to pay a cent for either one. I would make them use old flip phone that is cheap to replace and even possibly pre-paid. Their fathers are the suckers on this one.
2. If it’s a teenager, they are almost incapable of thinking about consequences or they have friends who are incapable of it (2nd time stepson destroyed phone, he was pushed into a pool w/it in his pocket). If it’s an adult, they’re simply absentminded and/or klutzy. I fall into this category. In which case, get him/her a) a rubber Otter case (this has saved my a$$ a number of times) and b) if the phone is expensive to replace, an insurance policy.
3. Otter cases for iPhone
4. Nissan Versa brand new, sensors were forced on every so many miles to make me come into dealer. I would ignore them for months on end. Get a mechanic and have the damn thing turned off or removed permanently. Just check your air every so often.
5. I think they should all be tarred and feathered.
Mrs. D. Ranged in AZ
Well, it ate my first windy response.
Get an Otter case…they’re life savers
Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes
1. If you have children and/or young adults for whom you provide a smartphone, how many goddamned times have you had to pay for repair or replacement of said device and/or meet insurance deductibles for same?
At least a dozen, if not more. Sends me into a frothy rage every fucking time, and even seeing your post sent me into PTSD over the wasted money.
2. In your opinion, how is it fucking possible that an otherwise intelligent and not completely irresponsible person could repeatedly lose/smash a device that he or she deems as necessary to his or her existence as astronauts regard a reliable source of breathable air?
I simply assume that said spawn are not biologically mine, as a true child of mine would be incapable of such abject stupidity.
3. Do you think it is possible to acquire a vintage mobile phone to serve a protective shell for an iPhone 7? I mean, it’s lasted all these decades! Other cases don’t seem to work — maybe that’ll do the fucking trick!
When my oldest child was first in college, I bought her an indestructible, water resistant flip phone designed for use by men who worked in construction jobs. It got destroyed; eventually, I learned that her then boyfriend and his friends were throwing it at a wall during a party to check out its indestructibility. I was, in a word, unhappy.
4. If you own a vehicle that is equipped with tire sensors, did that system work past 10K miles, or have you been resetting that annoying fucking invalid and apparently unfixable sensor fault message for the past 90K miles?
Depends on the price of the car. With my old jeep, sensors triggered and just stayed that way. Not so with my current pricey hybrid.
5. Do you believe automakers who incorporate technologies that routinely fail, such as tire sensors, should be obligated to turn off that feature rather than advising customers to reset the fucking message every time they start their car?
If you take a ball peen hammer to the section of the dash where that sensor light goes off, that should solve the issue.
stinger
@catclub:
There, that’s the detail I was trying to remember. It’s the battery, not the sensor, but the battery is built in somehow, so you have to replace the whole thing at @$500. I can live with ignoring the warning letters, and just checking the pressure externally.
TenguPhule
@d58826:
Too early to start drinking yet here.
TenguPhule
@Mel:
The solution is simple.
Buckle up.
THEN insert your key into the ignition.
vhh
My solution to this—even for myself—is to buy inexpensive Android phones like the Moto G or cheap phones like Blu. I never pay more than $180 and often pay much less by buying used phones off ebay. Just bought (on ebay) a ZTE dumb QWERTY phone for use as a backup phone (calls/text only) for additional SIM while traveling. Price = $17.50 incl shipping. And interestingly, because of a corollary of Murphy’s Law (the probability of breakage is proportional to replacement cost), NONE of these cheap phones has ever had a cracked screen or other major damage.
J R in WV
@RandyG:
Thanks !!
I got the dialer pad, pressed 4, it showed up on the screen, and nothing happened, and the recipient phone system started it’s spiel again. Three times. I can’t figure why/what else I need to do to send the number I press to the recipient of the call. Grrrr!!!
And what I wanted to ask the Enterprise car rental guys about was how to get the FUQN key out of the ignition!~! I was afraid I was gonna break it off when I finally got it to slide in a little further, which released it to turn counterclockwise another few degrees and pop out.
Hated feeling so helpless, almost just went into the grocery with the key still in the car’s ignition….
Mike in NC
On my CR-V, the technician at NAPA said the trick to resetting the tire pressure monitor was to have the engine running and the car in Park.
The Moar You Know
@Betty Cracker: The sensors are battery powered and talk to the receiver via 315MHz radio (located in trunk or glovebox, usually). Have you replaced the sensors? (would have cost about $250-300 at Discount Tire, more at no-name crapshops)
ETA: asking to try and figure out if you’ve got bad transmitters in one of the TPMS sensors or if you’re getting receiver interference.
Eric U.
I have reset the TPMS light a couple of times. It was always because the tire was low on pressure, but I was too lazy to stop. On a Toyota, you just press a button. Or maybe you have to cycle the power, I forget.
Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes
@randy khan:
I buy iphones because I don’t desire a customized operational environment. I simply want something I can turn on and can link to my office exchange while working nicely to browse, play video and do streaming and recorded music.
different-church-lady
I already got nothin’.
Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes
Oh, I did forget one phone break of mine – one Friday afternoon, wife’s boss had noticed a salty facebook exchange I’d had with a guy who’d turned out to be our friend’s father -in-law (he was a Trumper, and I called him a “fucking dolt”). The boss thought it was funny and didn’t give out specifics, I was picking her up to go out to eat that afternoon. The next morning, I was taking my shower and apparently, some part of that conversation came across on some other of friend’s feed that she shared with the wall I was conversing on – and that friend was a customer of hers, who was also a friend of the guy I called a “fucking dolt” – who, as I came to find out, knew several of her customers.
She crashes the bathroom door, starts shouting and spikes my phone on the bathroom tile – cracked the tile and shattered little bits of iphone everywhere. It was a mighty frosty weekend.
Since then, I’ve been somewhat more restrained, and always look for occupations and mutual acquaintances before posting insults.
Betty Cracker
@The Moar You Know: On my car, the tire sensor thingy will tell you the pressure in all four tires. A few years ago, one of the sensors went bad, and I did have it fixed by a dealer during a horrendously expensive service visit for other purposes because they practically threw it in for free. My car has relatively low miles but is almost 15 years old. When another sensor croaked shortly thereafter, I was unwilling to pay for the repair ($200 range), so three tire sensors work and one doesn’t.
Our other cars just tell you if there’s a problem with the tires; I don’t think they specify which one, indicate pressure levels, etc. I think both of those systems say there’s a problem with the sensor, not that a tire is bad. Those two cars are much newer than mine. We didn’t try to fix the sensors once we found out it wouldn’t be covered under the warranty.
dww44
@Kay: I believe that might have been a Ford Taurus of the 1980’s. I recollect that my mom had a car of that vintage that had a a shelf. At any rate it was a Ford vehicle of some sort and I, too, liked that shelf. A handy and very accessible (to a driver) to stash stuff.
JPL
Since I don’t have cable, I listened to Wimbledon radio during the Nadal/Muller match. If you are in need of escaping the trumpettes around you, I might suggest you listen to brits call a tennis match. My stomach will never be the same.
Seanly
@phein55:
No kids but this thread is making me happy with the decision.
And wow, that is some weapons grade lazy even if exaggerating the length. I’m lazy and even I’ll dig out peanuts or Doritos between the couch cushions right away. I don’t eat them at that point, one of my two dogs will gladly take it (or at least that’s what I do when the wife is there).
Mike J
JPL
@Mike J: Oh no, how many hours will fox news spend mocking him?
rikyrah
Trump’s Inner Circle Met With No Ordinary Russian Lawyer
by Martin Longman
July 10, 2017 1:16 PM
Hopefully, by now you know what the following tweet refers to:
……………………………….
These headlines are missing the actual scandal here. Natalia Veselnitskaya is a lot more than a “Russian lawyer.” To fully explain who she is would require me to write a novel length post, so I’m going to ask you to do a little of the work here by following some of the links. You can start by skimming through the complaint that then-U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara filed against Denis Katsyv and his corporations. What you’ll find is a painfully detailed description of the biggest tax heist in modern Russian history and the astonishing amount of work that went into laundering the proceeds from the robbery. You’ll discover that the conspiracy was hatched and carried out by members of the Klyuev Group. Members of the Klyuev Group are described as Russian mobsters linked to the Russian government. In this case they’re linked to the Russian government through connections in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Tax Ministry, and the courts. Without these connections, the tax heist would not have been possible.
The conspiracy was very, very complicated and I spent many hours over the weekend reading up on it. I won’t attempt to retell the whole story here. One thing you need to know, though, is that the folks who uncovered the conspiracy have not had an easy time of it. The first man to piece it all together died at the hands of the Interior Ministry. Another was recently pushed out of a 4th story window.
The key figure in Bharara’s case, Denis Katsyv, was represented by Natalia Veselnitskaya. She was the guest who met with Trump’s inner circle. Another key figure, Andrey Pavlov, is described as “the consigliere for the Klyuev Group.”
Now, one of the most curious things about this case is that it involved a $230 million theft from the Russian treasury but Vladimir Putin hasn’t shown the least bit of concern about the lost money. Instead, he’s been happy to see the whistleblowers and investigators arrested, beaten to death and pushed out of windows.
At this point, we need to discuss an act of Congress called the Magnitsky Act:
rikyrah
Trump’s Inner Circle Met With No Ordinary Russian Lawyer
by Martin Longman
July 10, 2017 1:16 PM
……………………………….
These headlines are missing the actual scandal here. Natalia Veselnitskaya is a lot more than a “Russian lawyer.” To fully explain who she is would require me to write a novel length post, so I’m going to ask you to do a little of the work here by following some of the links. You can start by skimming through the complaint that then-U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara filed against Denis Katsyv and his corporations. What you’ll find is a painfully detailed description of the biggest tax heist in modern Russian history and the astonishing amount of work that went into laundering the proceeds from the robbery. You’ll discover that the conspiracy was hatched and carried out by members of the Klyuev Group. Members of the Klyuev Group are described as Russian mobsters linked to the Russian government. In this case they’re linked to the Russian government through connections in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Tax Ministry, and the courts. Without these connections, the tax heist would not have been possible.
The conspiracy was very, very complicated and I spent many hours over the weekend reading up on it. I won’t attempt to retell the whole story here. One thing you need to know, though, is that the folks who uncovered the conspiracy have not had an easy time of it. The first man to piece it all together died at the hands of the Interior Ministry. Another was recently pushed out of a 4th story window.
The key figure in Bharara’s case, Denis Katsyv, was represented by Natalia Veselnitskaya. She was the guest who met with Trump’s inner circle. Another key figure, Andrey Pavlov, is described as “the consigliere for the Klyuev Group.”
trollhattan
@JPL:
“Back in the day” I relished listening to cricket, rugby and Aussie rules football on BBC and ABC. Their adroitness describing sports I know nothing about and evidently have rules of some sort will always be a thing of wonder to me.
We discussed a few days back how Le Tour would be nothing without Phil Liggett and his cohorts doing the call. Probably the world’s best sportscaster.
Peej01
The tire sensors on my Prius are fine after 100k miles. However, when the battery (the regular one, not the hybrid one) decided to die, it screwed up things so badly the car couldn’t be jump started and had to be towed to the dealership.
p.a.
@Betty Cracker:
generally (ymmv) an initial flashing indicator that then stays lit indicates loss of signal. if it comes on steady at once it’s low tire pressure.
I change over to snows and need the mechanic to reset, at approx $50 every time. He says my car (Suzuki) and VW are the most problematic because those companies are big on tech proprietary rights issues for ‘unauthorized’ mechanics.
p.a.
my comment disappeared. I mentioned the names of several car models, nothing else untoward I can think of.
The Moar You Know
@Betty Cracker: Right. This car, you have dead/dying batteries in the sensors. Not a receiver issue.
They’re only supposed to last for five years! Which means they have to be replaced. Call Discount Tire or Costco and ask for what it would cost to replace all four. It should not be more than $300.
@Betty Cracker: This is more normal and infuriating as fuck, because you don’t know which one it is and so you gotta replace all four. It’s either “working” or “not working”. Or a tire genuinely has low pressure, which is what they were made to show you in the first place. I assume that’s not the case. And yeah, no warranty. If you have this fixed and it works and then dies after a year, well, then it’s not the receiver but they sold you some used TPMS sensors with near-dead batteries. Find another shop.
Hate to say it, but if you can have a male family member take the cars in instead of you, I’d do that. It’s Florida. They will rip off women because “they don’t know any better and they keep coming back, lolz”. If that’s not an option, well, I had the guys at Discount show me the new ones and give me back my old ones when they were done, just so they couldn’t sell them to someone else, because that shit does happen.
SWMBO
We have had good luck with the tire sensors. We gave our daughter and SIL the old Mazda 5 when I got a new Odyssey. The Mazda didn’t have a tire sensor and they had a blowout at speed on the turnpike. Nearly threw them under an 18 wheeler (also at speed). They hit the steel guard rail and spun. It did major damage to three sides of the vehicle and totaled it. They replaced it with a brand new Mazda 5 that DID have tire sensors. Seems important now.
On the phone, I’m with the rest: Otterbox. It has saved my phones many times over.
Open Thread: If Iam36 is out there, my husband’s Esquire magazine came in today. Idris is on the cover. You’re welcome.
JPL
@trollhattan: I grew up listening to the Red Sox on the radio. The British announcers were great, but because tennis is such a fast game, I must admit that it is easier to watch. Although this particular match would cause angst no matter how you viewed.
J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford
My wife insists that she needs a new phone because her current phone gets too hot. I suggested that the reason why it gets hot is because she uses it all day long, whether she is talking with friends, talking with family overseas or letting my daughter watch YouTube Kids videos.
Of course she didn’t take my suggestion all that well. But she really does talk on the phone all day long, whether it’s cellular or via an app like IMO, Tango, Line, etc.
I have T-Mobile for 2 lines with the Simple Choice Promo ($50/line for unlimited calls/text/data + insurance + the program that allows me to upgrade phones) and just finished paying off her handset (Galaxy 6), which is less than 2 years old and already been warranty replaced 3 times ($5 x 3, which is reasonable, but you get a refurb back).
So, I’m guessing I sound like an ass claiming she talks on the phone all day long but you haven’t heard the minute count yet. She has used 1775 minutes (of unlimited) with 11 days left in the cycle. Last cycle she used 3778 minutes. My numbers for comparison, 70 minutes so far this month, 118 minutes last month.
3778 minutes is almost 63 hours or 2.625 days of talking. And I don’t think that counts the wifi apps. I know the minutes probably get rounded up, but not that much. Thank goodness for unlimited.
When I show my wife the bill she doesn’t believe it.
hueyplong
@d58826: One has to work to earn the title of biggest a-hole in the NC delegation, but that has the stench of Pittinger about it.
Rich P
Otterbox…we decided to get our daughter a phone when she went to jr high…that was almost 2 years ago…the discussion was short and brief – you can have a phone, but it will have an Otterbox…it has been dropped numerous times, and is none worse for wear.
Alain the site fixer
Betty, Lifeproof case is the plan. A friend’s son found an iPhone in the case in an Alaskan river. Dried it it with rice and it boots but no more. I did some research and swear that when I get a 7s or 8, I’ll get that good case for it.
danielx
2) you left out phones being dropped in toilets by psychotic roommates, which is one I’ve heard about.
5) …should be obligated to turn off that feature rather than advising customers to reset the fucking message every time they start their car?
No. They should be taken out and maimed.
Does Betty need vaIium or similar assistance with better living?
SWMBO
@The Moar You Know</
I was taking in my VW for warranty work and they would break something else every time, it seemed. The last time I went in, I took my hearing impaired ADD 4 year old with me. This was a VW/BMW dealer. I turned him loose to play. He got into a $42,000 BMW and was jumping on the leather seats and honking the horn (and laughing his ass off). They politely asked me to retrieve my child and I did. Then he got hungry and I bought him a chocolate bar from the waiting area vending machine. He wandered off to eat it in a different expensive car. The manager came out and asked me why we were there. I told him I was getting warranty work done AGAIN because they couldn’t seem to fix it. He asked which vehicle was mine and it was done in less than 45 minutes. It was fixed and I never had to take it back and wait again. It is useful if you have access to a small wild child though.
RSA
Nice Etsy or Makerspace project. But it doesn’t need to be an iPhone 7. You can pick up a used iPhone 4 or 5 for as little as $100.
Exurban Mom
We force our child to use a Lifeproof case. She has not yet broken her phone. It has survived many falls, etc. Highly recommended. Yes, they are spendy, but they work. and if they fail, they will replace it for free.
Eric S.
Late to the party here but my 2005 Caddy with 60k+ has tire pressure sensors. They still accurately read the pressure. UNFORTUNATELY, the sensors are in the tire and don’t know when they are rotated. The right’s note on the left side of the display and vice versa.
WaterGirl
@jacy: Wondering if you would be interested in a *double-date with James Norton and myself?
*willing to trade James Norton for Robson Green at some point during the evening if all consenting adults are consenting.
trollhattan
@SWMBO:
Heh, great story. My not-yet-spouse when into the Subaru-Alfa dealer (odd combo, right?) with her young, twin, towhead nephews and her decrepit Civic. They’d lock themselves inside various Alfas (for some reason Subarus had zero draw) and screw around to their hearts’ content while the dealer folks became nervous wrecks. Got a tidy discount, trade-in of car that barely ran and outta there in an hour with financing and a new Subaru..
Miss those kids.
Ohio Mom
So sorry about your daughter. Brain diseases are the worst. I hope you have found a good support system for yourself, and I’ll wish for safe havens for your daughter, always.
? Martin
1) Both kids have had multiple iPhones. Had to replace one under warranty due to a faulty power connector. After 11 smartphones in the family, have yet to crack a screen or need a service due to damage. Most reckless child was mandated to have case, though, which did save it several times.
2) No problem with the boy. The girl (16) however has perhaps one outfit with a pocket that the smallest sized iPhone would fit into. I blame an unsmashed patriarchy for any physical damage incurred to a woman’s smartphone.
3) Lifeproof case as noted above.
4) Don’t have air pressure sensors. Bought a proper air compressor instead, so I can fill my tires as the mood strikes me. I can also drive nails, and the air hammer in a teenager’s hands is a fantastic reminder to the neighbors of what a noisy child can actually sound like, if they think this is some sort of competition.
5) Automakers are utterly clueless. They won’t be missed.
Ohio Mom
@Ohio Mom: oops, That was for@Eric U.:
I need a nap
ruemara
I’ve never had a phone without buying a holster for it. Even my first flip phone. Usually, the cases protect my phones to the point where they look new. Mind you, the ex managed to lose his phone out of his ridiculous top free holster. Twice. I finally said no more to that thing.
randy khan
I haven’t had any problems with the tire sensors on my 6-year old Acura. They show actual pressure by tire and seem fairly reliable. Generally they only show low pressure one day a year in the winter – basically the first really cold day every year – and I always think of that as something of a check to make sure they’re working.
WaterGirl
@OzarkHillbilly: I laughed my way through your entire comment.
TerryC
Tire sensor problems drive my wife crazy. We have them but they don’t bother me, I just don’t notice.
I eschew cases for my iPhones in order to experience the product as designed. I’ve had more iPhones than there have been years of iPhones. The clear sapphire shielding is a good thing to get as it holds the screen together after it develops spider web cracks and doesn’t noticeably change the user experience, IMHO.
My first iPad’s screen was cracked by a falling black walnut fruit, right where I am sitting now.
VeniceRiley
iPhones are so polished and user friendly. But you can’t customize a dang thing. That’s why I went android. Which I have done a workaround on that enables my to tether for free. No way would I pay 50 bucks a month for tethering. I can also load .apk’s on it that aren’t in the google play store easily. So. Kodi and other apps like LiveTV that give thousands of US and international channels. It’s a groovy option if you want your kids to be tech proficient, while you save money.
I have a S6 … but only because I wanted a nice hookup to a 100 buck VR headset.
WaterGirl
It’s probably too late, Betty, but I’ll share my two cents anyway.
re: smartphones, I would do what we did with our 8-year-old who was desperate to have a watch. We got him a cheap one and told him that if he could manage not to lose that one for 6 months we would get him a nice watch. Clock starts ticking with a new, cheap watch, and three strikes and you’re out.
He made it in two! Good job, Cody!
Alternative option:, the first replacement of an iPhone for your beloved young adult is free, after that, they pay for replacements.
Groucho48
I provide phones to 3 kids and 2 grandkids. I’d say they, in total, break/lose 2 phones a year. I only replace them on Christmas as their Christmas present. I spend about 100-150 on a phone. The grandkids get them when they turn 10. Another one turns 10 in November. It’s as much a convenience for us as it is for them. They know they have to answer if we call/text or no phone for a while. I don’t bother with insurance.
RandyG
@J R in WV: I’ve never had a problem communicating in that way via a dialpad. You shouldn’t have to do anything besides pressing the appropriate number, as the tone (signal) being transmitted should activate the response on the other end. I suspect the problem may be on the other end. Some systems will sometimes expect a “#” to indicate the end of your input, but that would typically be only in cases where you’re entering a longer number, not selecting a menu option.
If you get into a loop with an automated menu, pressing “0”, again and again if necessary, will often connect you to a real person.
? Martin
@VeniceRiley: I thought all the carriers tethered for free now. Our basic AT&T plans have tethering as part of the plan for all 4 phones. Works great.
Mel
@catclub: @TenguPhule:
Yep, except when you have an autoimmune condition that causes a lot of severe hand pain when you pull/latch/adjust your belt.
Not a problem to do the belt first and then fuss with the belt in temperate weather, but when it’s 95 degrees outside and 120 inside the car, it’s nice to start the engine and get the AC going before spending a couple of minutes in the heat, fiddling with the belt.
My grumping was because it would be nice to be able to adjust the volume for the reminder siren to a lower volume or with a slightly longer wait time before it blasts.
Being a little physically slower because of a disability does not necessarily make one unable to understand how things work.
Mel
Oops! Missed the edit window on the priot comment. Should read “…fuss with the belt first then the ignition…”
Mea culpa!
VeniceRiley
@ Martin: Haven’t checked on a couple years. Last I checked, some offered 5 or 10 gigs of tether a month. But I’m a heavy user and want it unlimited, and no throttle back to 3g at a certain point either.
I also have no one to share a plan with. But I like my android for the other reasons stated as well. I can do things to it to make it what I want. That’s a lot to me.
Mel
@Raven:
@Major Major Major Major:
We had an iPhone 6 take an accidental swim in a pot of pasta water earlier this year. It has survived (knock on wood) unscathed so far…
TenguPhule
@Mel: There are gel packs which can be stuck in the freezer to retain the cold for up to 8 hours that can be wrapped around your wrist to make it easier.
Granted, around here they retail for $60, so YMMV.
TS
@Lee:
Dead thread – but to note – the Queen and her family have ZERO political power. Very different to he who would be king in the White House. The main complaints about the Queen and Co is their cost – but the loss of tourism would be massive without them.
El Conquistador
@wuzzat:
Otterbox Defender is the way to go. I think they’re fallout-rated.
Stan
@OzarkHillbilly: Yup, well said
Ruckus
@ruemara:
I have a 13 yr old Blackberry that still boots and it would still makes calls if I put a sim in it. Only time it was not in a holster was when I was talking or charging it. However the little trackball that runs everything decided that it wanted it’s second permanent vacation and there aren’t any replacements. I used that phone for 11 yrs and would still use it, if it was still usable beyond getting a signal. So I blame Blackberry for making me buy a smartphone.
JAFD
Was born in Truman’s administration. Decided (‘be not the last to put the old aside’) I probably should get a smartphone, this past winter. Managed to fumble, break glass, within month. Hadn’t even got connected to network yet. Feh.
Finally got fixed, connected to world. Found former phone company very possessive about data in their phone, easier to copy than pull thru their cloud. So going thru ‘Contacts’ list on 2010 vintage flipphone, wondering “Who ARE these people”???
Back when I was knee-high to grasshopper, could dial uncles, aunts, and grandparents with five digits, and parents could identify everyone with family name in local white pages…
satby
1. Once. I’m kind of hardcore, if I dropped a lot of money on any item and the kids broke it, they had to replace it themselves out of their own funds (my kids had jobs after age 16). They seldom had a repeat.
2.as many times as they get a free one.
3.no idea, see answer 1
4&5 I can’t answer, I never had that problem
My kids are now in their 30s and show no ill effects from being held accountable for taking care of their belongings. When one of their friends does something particularly bone-headed, they sometimes thank me for being a tough love mom.
marv
Don’t really have a dog in this hunt because I’ve never had a cell phone, and our kids, now in their 30’s, have been fending for themselves in that regard for a decade or so (God bless ’em), but I like the way you write, Betty
Ruckus
@satby:
I had an allowance for one semester of HS because my parents sent me to a technical school far away and I could no longer get my paper route done by dark, so I had to quit. Said allowance was for me to purchase lunch. Even before the paper route, if I wanted to purchase anything, I had to earn the money by doing yard work for neighbors. What it taught me was to be as self sufficient as one person can be. Unfortunately as one gets to the stage of geezer, that level gets lower. For some of us a lot lower. But it has served me well for many decades.
Ramalama
Seriously, what the hell are tire sensors? I’m a web developer…not a Luddite. Well, not so much.
No One You Know
@wuzzat: Otterbox Defender: can attest to the survival of four butterfingers drops on concrete, one from shoulder height (they test at 4′, I think).
1. None. Three available phones for destruction. The Spawn’s phone has a Kevlar jacket because Otterboxes are “too big.”
2. Unpossible. I actually lost my phone regularly until I put a Tile app on it.
3. See #1.
4. Yes, the Honda still accurately senses low tires at over 100k. The Subaru did, too.
5. TESTIFY! This is why I wish I knew programming languages. Fortunately, my car is both old and reliable, so I won’t really have automation issues until it gives up the ghost.
Chad
#1. Once. After that, its their problem.