When our son was visiting other friends’ homes, and we wanted to be able to be in touch, it didn’t matter if the mom or the dad or the big brother answered, we just wanted someone who was at home. We didn’t want to call the mom’s or dad’s cell phone and reach them while they were out shopping. So we appreciated those households that still had landlines, and that was a reason we kept one ourselves.
That’s not relevant for us any more.
So far we’ve kept our landline, though I don’t like the ever-increasing cost. It’s still more reliable than our cell service and we keep an old desk phone that doesn’t rely on electricity in case of power outage.
Someone, I think Michelle, said they had a real good deal on landline. Any chance the rest of us could get in on that deal?
Our current carrier is upping the cost because we have copper lines. These lines have had issues, so we have had weeks with no coverage. They repaired them last summer again for us. One woman, not in our neighborhood, had the same issues and asked about repairs since they also had weeks without the line. They were told they would soon not be repaired at all. This couple got their first cell phones and cancelled the landline.
We mostly use one of our cell phones but do sometimes get messages from the dentist etc. one the landline. Those folks do have our cell phone number, however. Otherwise, it is mostly spam or someone trying to sell something (despite being on the do not call list). I do like that others, who do not have our cell phone number, can still call the landline. That does happen once in a while. Also, it is nice not to get calls when we are away from home.
We can get landline coverage through a digital method through the same company but am unsure that is worth it. Also, there is the issue of dialing 911 and not having a geographical location available if you are unable to speak. I am not sure how all of that works.
Mostly, I am old and hate the change, I suspect. 😉
I meant to mention that the landline was driving us crazy with multiple spam calls every day. We finally sprang for caller id (which upped the monthly cost) and got a phone that pre-screens calls for us. If the caller is on our “allow list”, it rings through. If not, it plays a message to the caller asking them to press * or # (I forget which). If they do within a reasonable time, it rings through. Otherwise it hangs up on them.
Robocalls don’t press * or #. And I think even live marketing/survey callers don’t because they don’t actually come on the line until their robodialer tells them the call has been answered, and by then our machine has hung up on them.
We don’t even hear the phone ring unless it’s someone we probably want to talk to.
Spam calls and rising monthly rates (and not ever really using it anymore) is what moved me to finally cancel the landline many years ago. I wondered, too, at Michelle’s mention of an inexpensive landline. Even if rates are now lower, I’d not be inclined to get one again. We have decent cell service (some higher up on the peninsula have issues, however).
Copper wires are a hot commodity here, they get stolen a lot.
Looks like it will be cooling off today, I just realized I have next week off, the first full (vacation) week off I’ve had in well over a year.
But lots to do today with a virtual port news conference, and eye appt right after that, and then 2 stories to write (with dilated eyes, should be fun) when I get back from that.
The 50th annual Grand Prix takes off today and for the rest of the weekend in the large ocean-front city next door — I lived there for about 10 years and remember first hearing the bee-like “buzz” of the cars (that could be heard all over our part of town), wondering what the sound was (this was before we had the city within our coverage area so I knew what was going on over the harbor in the area I covered, but not in the city I was living in — which is the 2nd largest city in LA County next to LA city proper).
The very large daily paper that covered that city for decades, probably for a century, dwindled and crashed; it once occupied a three-story historic building in the downtown; the building now is being turned into condos. 😦 So now we are the gathered-remnants of that and many other news outlets throughout LA and even into Orange County and the Inland mountain areas, all gathered under one name but with a fraction of the staffs that once covered all the news in those many cities.
Anyway, several staffers doing live coverage of the car races this weekend, I only had to do one of the big preview stories earlier this week and don’t have to physically be there to cover it, thankfully; some of my colleagues, several photographers (staff and freelance) and my own editor will be there, though. It’s something of a dreaded weekend for us due to all the work involved.
I’ll ask him when I see him again. It involved his cell phone, too, and the Internet which brought everything to about half of what ATT was charging. (My cell phone is with a different company–long story–but in fire country it helps if everyone has a different cell service, as we found out in 2017).
He crows every time he pays the bill.
BTW, Mr. Energy finally broke down and we now have solar panels. Because we’ve already done every energy downplayer known to man, our bill wasn’t as enormous as so many in the area (some people are paying like $900 a month for a 2K square foot home. And the prices rise every month).
However, this deal came with a “free” Tesla battery for uninterrupted storage. He liked that, and now has a new hobby–watching on his cell phone app to see how much solar power we’re sending back to P, G, and E each day.
Anything to keep him happy . . . 🙂
Ah, here he is.
Infinity. Covers cell, Internet, and landline. He said it reduced the cost by 2/3 at least.
*The ‘Quiet Revival’ Breaks Spiritual Stillness in the United Kingdom*
APRIL 11, 2025 | John Stevens
_________________________
~ In the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, the spiritual atmosphere in the United Kingdom seems to have changed. Evangelical churches have been reporting significant growth in attendance, as well as more conversions and baptisms. Congregations are more ethnically diverse, and people have been coming to church to seek God on their own initiative, often because they’ve been reading the Bible or engaging with the gospel online.
There are similar reports from evangelical churches in various denominations and coalitions. The Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC), to which my church belongs, is an association of more 660 independent gospel churches in the UK, and it’s probably the nation’s largest single conservative evangelical grouping. Among ourselves, members of the association have described what’s happening in our country as “low-level revival.” Ministry has been more encouraging than at any other point in the past 20 years.
What we’ve sensed anecdotally has now been confirmed by a major report published by the Bible Society, “The Quiet Revival.” (Bible Society link at the TGC article site) … ~
I seem to be growing some wild blue lettuce. I wonder if Mumsee has ever had any of it. I saw the greens can be eaten if cooked twice. It is mostly used for medicinal purposes because it has opiates in it. So far it is an uncontrolled substance. Who knew?
I have eaten wild lettuce though don’t know if blue was one of them. I eat them raw and cooked though never tried twice cooked. No opium in mine but the milky sap is supposed to be pain relieving and sleep inducing. My eating of it is probably not sufficient to cause ill effects.
Kathakeena – re: “Mostly, I am old and hate the change, I suspect.”
That’s how I am feeling with all that is going on with me these days. I’ve lost my husband, my long-time canine companion, and am facing having to leave my home of 25 years (so far). (Almost like a country song.) Moving will also mean losing the daily presence of Nightingale and Boy. Living on my own for the first time in 40 years or so is going to be a huge (and kind of scary) change.
Yes, I have been annoyed at times due to their having to use “my” bathroom and laundry facilities, and with my kitchen being the one used for meals, as I have expressed that here before. But I have always thought that it would be ideal if their section of the house, especially the bathroom, which included their laundry machines, could be repaired. We would be more separate, but still near for each other.
As time has gone on, though, I have come to realize that I cannot afford to keep this place. There are many serious repairs needed inside. Leaving is the right thing to do, but hard.
However, I am very grateful for the senior living apartments that I will be moving to eventually. Knowing that the rent will not be raised, and that it is a safe place, especially for seniors, is quite a comfort.
Wandering Views 
Good morning, all. Rather dark out so no idea what this day will bring. Not that I know anyway.
mumsee
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s Friday, and you know what that means.
Wait, I don’t remember. What does that mean?
LikeLiked by 2 people
What does Friday mean? I think I asked Chas that once, but I forgot his answer, if he ever did answer.
But here are the Friday Funnies, though I think they haven’t updated from last week.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It means:
Another day to rejoice and be glad in it! God has given us another day!
And it is a day we usually read the funnies.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Weighing in belatedly on yesterday’s QOD.
When our son was visiting other friends’ homes, and we wanted to be able to be in touch, it didn’t matter if the mom or the dad or the big brother answered, we just wanted someone who was at home. We didn’t want to call the mom’s or dad’s cell phone and reach them while they were out shopping. So we appreciated those households that still had landlines, and that was a reason we kept one ourselves.
That’s not relevant for us any more.
So far we’ve kept our landline, though I don’t like the ever-increasing cost. It’s still more reliable than our cell service and we keep an old desk phone that doesn’t rely on electricity in case of power outage.
Someone, I think Michelle, said they had a real good deal on landline. Any chance the rest of us could get in on that deal?
LikeLiked by 3 people
I noticed last week that there weren’t many new funnies, and this week there are none. I wonder if the cartoonists are all on vacation.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Our current carrier is upping the cost because we have copper lines. These lines have had issues, so we have had weeks with no coverage. They repaired them last summer again for us. One woman, not in our neighborhood, had the same issues and asked about repairs since they also had weeks without the line. They were told they would soon not be repaired at all. This couple got their first cell phones and cancelled the landline.
We mostly use one of our cell phones but do sometimes get messages from the dentist etc. one the landline. Those folks do have our cell phone number, however. Otherwise, it is mostly spam or someone trying to sell something (despite being on the do not call list). I do like that others, who do not have our cell phone number, can still call the landline. That does happen once in a while. Also, it is nice not to get calls when we are away from home.
We can get landline coverage through a digital method through the same company but am unsure that is worth it. Also, there is the issue of dialing 911 and not having a geographical location available if you are unable to speak. I am not sure how all of that works.
Mostly, I am old and hate the change, I suspect. 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
Me too, Kathaleena!
I meant to mention that the landline was driving us crazy with multiple spam calls every day. We finally sprang for caller id (which upped the monthly cost) and got a phone that pre-screens calls for us. If the caller is on our “allow list”, it rings through. If not, it plays a message to the caller asking them to press * or # (I forget which). If they do within a reasonable time, it rings through. Otherwise it hangs up on them.
Robocalls don’t press * or #. And I think even live marketing/survey callers don’t because they don’t actually come on the line until their robodialer tells them the call has been answered, and by then our machine has hung up on them.
We don’t even hear the phone ring unless it’s someone we probably want to talk to.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Spam calls and rising monthly rates (and not ever really using it anymore) is what moved me to finally cancel the landline many years ago. I wondered, too, at Michelle’s mention of an inexpensive landline. Even if rates are now lower, I’d not be inclined to get one again. We have decent cell service (some higher up on the peninsula have issues, however).
Copper wires are a hot commodity here, they get stolen a lot.
Looks like it will be cooling off today, I just realized I have next week off, the first full (vacation) week off I’ve had in well over a year.
But lots to do today with a virtual port news conference, and eye appt right after that, and then 2 stories to write (with dilated eyes, should be fun) when I get back from that.
The 50th annual Grand Prix takes off today and for the rest of the weekend in the large ocean-front city next door — I lived there for about 10 years and remember first hearing the bee-like “buzz” of the cars (that could be heard all over our part of town), wondering what the sound was (this was before we had the city within our coverage area so I knew what was going on over the harbor in the area I covered, but not in the city I was living in — which is the 2nd largest city in LA County next to LA city proper).
The very large daily paper that covered that city for decades, probably for a century, dwindled and crashed; it once occupied a three-story historic building in the downtown; the building now is being turned into condos. 😦 So now we are the gathered-remnants of that and many other news outlets throughout LA and even into Orange County and the Inland mountain areas, all gathered under one name but with a fraction of the staffs that once covered all the news in those many cities.
Anyway, several staffers doing live coverage of the car races this weekend, I only had to do one of the big preview stories earlier this week and don’t have to physically be there to cover it, thankfully; some of my colleagues, several photographers (staff and freelance) and my own editor will be there, though. It’s something of a dreaded weekend for us due to all the work involved.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll ask him when I see him again. It involved his cell phone, too, and the Internet which brought everything to about half of what ATT was charging. (My cell phone is with a different company–long story–but in fire country it helps if everyone has a different cell service, as we found out in 2017).
He crows every time he pays the bill.
BTW, Mr. Energy finally broke down and we now have solar panels. Because we’ve already done every energy downplayer known to man, our bill wasn’t as enormous as so many in the area (some people are paying like $900 a month for a 2K square foot home. And the prices rise every month).
However, this deal came with a “free” Tesla battery for uninterrupted storage. He liked that, and now has a new hobby–watching on his cell phone app to see how much solar power we’re sending back to P, G, and E each day.
Anything to keep him happy . . . 🙂
Ah, here he is.
Infinity. Covers cell, Internet, and landline. He said it reduced the cost by 2/3 at least.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Correction: X-finity.
LikeLiked by 1 person
From The Gospel Coalition:
*The ‘Quiet Revival’ Breaks Spiritual Stillness in the United Kingdom*
APRIL 11, 2025 | John Stevens
_________________________
~ In the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, the spiritual atmosphere in the United Kingdom seems to have changed. Evangelical churches have been reporting significant growth in attendance, as well as more conversions and baptisms. Congregations are more ethnically diverse, and people have been coming to church to seek God on their own initiative, often because they’ve been reading the Bible or engaging with the gospel online.
There are similar reports from evangelical churches in various denominations and coalitions. The Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC), to which my church belongs, is an association of more 660 independent gospel churches in the UK, and it’s probably the nation’s largest single conservative evangelical grouping. Among ourselves, members of the association have described what’s happening in our country as “low-level revival.” Ministry has been more encouraging than at any other point in the past 20 years.
What we’ve sensed anecdotally has now been confirmed by a major report published by the Bible Society, “The Quiet Revival.” (Bible Society link at the TGC article site) … ~
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/quiet-revival-united-kingdom/
LikeLiked by 3 people
I seem to be growing some wild blue lettuce. I wonder if Mumsee has ever had any of it. I saw the greens can be eaten if cooked twice. It is mostly used for medicinal purposes because it has opiates in it. So far it is an uncontrolled substance. Who knew?
LikeLike
I have eaten wild lettuce though don’t know if blue was one of them. I eat them raw and cooked though never tried twice cooked. No opium in mine but the milky sap is supposed to be pain relieving and sleep inducing. My eating of it is probably not sufficient to cause ill effects.
mumsee
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe I am mistaken, but I think Chas was referring to looking forward to the Friday Funnies.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kathakeena – re: “Mostly, I am old and hate the change, I suspect.”
That’s how I am feeling with all that is going on with me these days. I’ve lost my husband, my long-time canine companion, and am facing having to leave my home of 25 years (so far). (Almost like a country song.) Moving will also mean losing the daily presence of Nightingale and Boy. Living on my own for the first time in 40 years or so is going to be a huge (and kind of scary) change.
Yes, I have been annoyed at times due to their having to use “my” bathroom and laundry facilities, and with my kitchen being the one used for meals, as I have expressed that here before. But I have always thought that it would be ideal if their section of the house, especially the bathroom, which included their laundry machines, could be repaired. We would be more separate, but still near for each other.
As time has gone on, though, I have come to realize that I cannot afford to keep this place. There are many serious repairs needed inside. Leaving is the right thing to do, but hard.
However, I am very grateful for the senior living apartments that I will be moving to eventually. Knowing that the rent will not be raised, and that it is a safe place, especially for seniors, is quite a comfort.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Covering you in prayer still Kizzie. Thankful for His provision and your thankful heart for it through it all.
And yes you are correct. Chas was referring to the Friday funnies!!😊nj
LikeLiked by 3 people
Here’s a link to other, newer comics that might work: https://tinyurl.com/54h4tyn3.
I get a free news digest from WORLD in my email that has a comic at the end, and this link came from one of the emails.
I wonder if WORLD is going away from freebies and making us get a subscription for the comics.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Peter!
LikeLike