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ICC
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# Posted: 5 Oct 2024 03:15am - Edited by: ICC
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Quoting: travellerw Sigh.. I feel like I have sold my soul to Amazon though.
Living out in a rural area my family was ordering stuff to be delivered years before Amazon existed. Before the internet existed. Thick paper catalogs like Sears and JCPenney. Thinner paper catalogs like Bailey's (logging), Allied (electronics), Tandy Leather, and many others. The post office delivered a lot of packages. Most orders were phoned in. Party line phone with a crank. I remember when Dad got a desk phone in the ranch office with our own number, 35422. But I digress...
Lots or Amazon orders these days. Home Depot, Lowe's too. Vitacost (nonperishable foods). Rock Auto (parts)... I have a very long list of online sellers I buy all sorts of stuff from going back many years. Keep a password manager with all the pertinent data.
@paulz... You may have discovered this, or not... Amazon has a handy wishlist feature. Save things you are interested in. You can make and name as many lists as wanted. Make them private or viewable by others. In our family everyone has lists and we share ones for birthdays, C-mas and so on. Smart marketing by Amazon. I use assorted lists of things as bookmarks of items on Amazon.
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paulz
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# Posted: 13 Jan 2025 07:36am - Edited by: paulz
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Quoting: ICC Quoting: travellerw Sigh.. I feel like I have sold my soul to Amazon though.
I hear ya. In the last two weeks I’ve had packages dropped off at both my house and cabin locations. Even though at the house, the CVS drug store, Ace hardware, Safeway etc are minutes away, it’s just easier (and cheaper). I do need 100’ rolll of drain pipe, probably get that local, haven’t checked yet.
Things are really changing this century for this old cabin coot. Speaking of which, what are those little white and black squiggly square stickers you’re supposed to hold your phone up to? Gets on the internet?
And I never talk into the phone to type stuff for texting or whatever, just a lousy one finger typist. You guys do that?
Never been on Tik Talk or Facebook…
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 13 Jan 2025 09:50am
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Im pretty much like you in all that too
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paulz
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# Posted: 13 Jan 2025 10:48am
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My buddy Mitch (who helped frame the cabin) does that talk/text. I’ll get a text that says ‘My left ball hurts’. I’ll write back what? ‘Sorry, the left wall works’.
Probably a good idea I don’t know how to use that.
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 13 Jan 2025 11:22am
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Sounds like my wife talking to me (she claims Im the one who doesn't understand  )
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paulz
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# Posted: 14 Jan 2025 08:12am - Edited by: paulz
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Ha, same here. Not sure what’s worse, her mumbled speech or my bad hearing. Funny thing is i hear the radio pretty well and others hear everything she says. Getting to the point where she texts me while sitting side by side. I just talk to the dog now he listens and never talks back.
Back to Amazon, my pickup needs a new windshield. One thing Amazon doesn’t seem to sell. They have wipers, shades…
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ICC
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# Posted: 14 Jan 2025 04:49pm - Edited by: ICC
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Quoting: paulz what are those little white and black squiggly square stickers you’re supposed to hold your phone up to? Gets on the internet?
QR codes. Basically a shortcut link to some page on the internet. I like them for things like , something you buy has a paper inside the box with a QR code that takes you to the user manual that you can download when clicked on. Simple, fast, and probably secure as the manufacturer put it there. I only use with known-name products. I will not click on any codes that appear on posters and signs that are just sitting there in the open. There's a chance it could be phishing if placed there by someone with bad intentions. You can get apps that let you make your one QR codes.
Facebook. I use a little for a few groups I like and use which have no other internet presence (no forum for example). Mostly car-related. I'd rather use a forum where you can have your own login for each one. Zuckerberg doesn't need to know what I am doing so I prefer not to be there. If you can have a mindset where you ignore the advert stuff they throw at you you are ahead of the game, IMO. No other social media apps. A little youtube use, with emphasis on "little". IMO there is as much trash and wrong info there as on the other social media sites. Manufacturer videos can be helpful.
My extended family uses a forum I setup just for us. We can send messages to everyone, a select few or an individual. Post images, etc. It makes planning for events & gatherings easy. And it's private. Usable on a PC, Android, or iPhone.
Speech-to-text works very well, but can take some getting used to. Sometimes it needs a little training on a person's voice. It helps if you enunciate clearly and proofread as it is not 100% foolproof. I find it faster for longer messages than poking at a keyboard image on a phone screen.
Windshield.... some things need real people.
her mumbled speech or my bad hearing.
Maybe some speech sounds mumbled because your hearing is bad? That's me; hearing aids are worn about 16+ hours a day. Hearing loss may make it more likely to develop dementia and hearing aids can help keep the brain fit.
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paulz
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# Posted: 14 Jan 2025 05:34pm
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Thanks Izzy. I’ll try the QR code. I used to be on car and motorcycle forums but now just this, you guys are stuck with me!
And I’ve heard the same thing about hearing aids and the brain. I do hear her much better when on but everything else in life i do pretty well without, and they are a pain..
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ICC
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# Posted: 14 Jan 2025 06:16pm
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Quoting: paulz and they are a pain..
I hear ya there wearig ear protection in the shop is a pain. Changes in altitude (mountain driving or flying) can be exasperating when my ears don't pop because I forget to mouth breath during an ascent or descent.
I found it took a couple of months, maybe three, for me to really get used to them. Now, some ten years later I find I forget they are on my ears at times. Sometimes I forget to take them off before showering and it is only the realization that I can hear the water from the showerhead so well that reminds me to take them off. Bluetooth connection to my phone with the latest pair made a big difference in phone calls. If I was a prepper I would have a second set stored in an EMF-proof metal can, I consider them so vital.
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 14 Jan 2025 08:39pm
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Quoting: paulz This morning I got an email from ‘Amazon Prime’ telling me (my wife actually) that my 30 day free trial has started, automatically rolling over to 15$ a month. I’ve done nothing on Amazon to solicit this, neither has she.
Careful, phising scam, never happened, but you think it did and boom, call them and give backing info so they can reverse charges, bingo, got info...
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paulz
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# Posted: 15 Jan 2025 07:16am
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Thanks Tmt. Yeah seems like this phishing crap is a daily occurrence now, both email and text. I’m wise to it, but the wife, who was given both an iPhone, iPad And Amazon account while I was out of commission, is still learning (Oh, you want my SS number, it’s xxxx).
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paulz
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# Posted: 19 Jan 2025 07:19pm
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Quoting: ICC QR codes. Basically a shortcut link to some page on the internet. I like them for things like , something you buy has a paper inside the box with a QR code that takes you to the user manual that you can
Tried it. I was waiting for my nutritious meal at the Jack in the Box window and took a picture of that QR code. Brought up the job application.
I’ll see how I feel after dinner. 
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 19 Jan 2025 08:53pm
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I see you can buy a car on Amazon now too!
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paulz
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# Posted: 20 Jan 2025 08:06am
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Quoting: gcrank1 I see you can buy a car on Amazon now too!
New or used? Can I put some of my old junk on there?
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paulz
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# Posted: 19 Mar 2025 01:12pm
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Might try an Amazon item return. Do they want original packaging etc? Is it a hassle?
I just bought this hearing aid. It does everything except raise the volume. Charged up, hooks to Bluetooth, little leds come on, even dings when buttons pushed. Bluetooth shows the device is connected but no controls etc.
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 19 Mar 2025 02:06pm - Edited by: MtnDon
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Go to your orders page, select the item, click the return or replace button and follow the prompts. I've returned a few things without hassles. I usually have the item packaging but you generally do not need the original shipping box or envelope. Everything I have returned has been no charge shipping and most are just fropped off st my local UPS store.
Headphones? Aids?
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paulz
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# Posted: 19 Mar 2025 03:19pm - Edited by: paulz
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Quoting: MtnDon Headphones? Aids?
Oh crap, I looked them up, I guess they are just headphones. So if I play music on my iPhone and turn on the Bluetooth it should come through? Don’t need that.
I liked this idea because it has the controls on the neck band instead of fumbling at the ears. Plus if one side falls out as usual, it’s caught. Maybe they have similar in hearing aids. I’ll take a look, and give these to the kid down the street.
Thanks!
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 19 Mar 2025 04:19pm
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I have behind-the-ear hearing aids. The little button-toggle on each is a PITA to use. PLus I often find that I turn one off when I put ear sound protection muffs on over them. Mostly I use the phone app to make any adjustments. The phone is usually in a pocket because the phone bluetooths to the hearing aids making calls easier and more clear.
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paulz
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# Posted: 19 Mar 2025 05:13pm
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Yeah I have (expensive) behind the ear ones too. I don’t even bother with those controls with my fumbly hands, they hook to the phone too. But here at the cabin I don’t use them, every tree I walk by gets one left on it like Christmas tree decorations, plus it’s only my wife’s babbling I have to try and understand.
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paulz
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# Posted: 24 Mar 2025 10:23am - Edited by: paulz
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I bought very similar item, only advertised as hearing amps, not headphones. These work, and again I love the design, controls at the base of the neck, and always latched on if one falls out. Being amplifiers, not ‘hearing aids’, and still under 50 bucks, they lack the sound quality of my megabuck behind the ear Bluetooth aids, which I will still wear to public functions, but these are great for cabin use, where I only care to hear the radio news or my wife once in a while.
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 24 Mar 2025 10:43am
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Ive been considering that type; which did you get?
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paulz
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# Posted: 24 Mar 2025 10:55am
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Cesliff
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 25 Mar 2025 05:35pm
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Quoting: paulz they lack the sound quality of my megabuck behind the ear Bluetooth aids
If it's ok to stick my nose in here, I have a comment.
The hearing loss that most of us experience affects ranges of frequencies. Likely the loss is not linear, that is, the ear may not hear some frequencies as well as others. The range where I have the most loss is 2000 to 8000 Hz. Unfortunately, those are the frequencies that are very necessary to be able to quickly recognize speech. I do hear lower frequencies quite well, but those are not so useful in understanding the spoken word.
The potential problem with using an amplifying device instead of a hearing aid is that the amplifier increases the volume of all the frequencies. If everything is amplified the frequencies that we could hear okay without amplification will get louder and possibly mask those frequencies we don't hear too well. So, some of the amplified frequencies may also be loud enough to cause further damage by being too loud.
Note that research shows that people with hearing loss who do not wear proper hearing aids are more likely to develop dementia that people who do wear their aids all of their waking hours, except for things like showering or swimming. That has something to do with brain activity rather than the simple loss of hearing.
My aids are small enough and-or my hearing protection muffs are large enough that I can wear the protection over my ears and aids while working with power tools. Most of the time it is trouble free though sometimes the muff presses the switch and turns one aid off. It's a small nuisance I put up with for being able to hear.
I wish I had been smarter when I was younger; too many weekends crewing my friend's funny car mixed in with too many hours of loud woodworking machines (planers, routers and circular saws are the worst.). I really do not want to be any more deaf than I am.
Be careful out there.
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FishHog
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# Posted: 25 Mar 2025 06:03pm
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Quoting: MtnDon I wish I had been smarter when I was younger
you and me both. But we just didn't know or maybe didn't listen.
For the record, I have Lexie hearing aids, which are over the counter around $1000. I had them tested and compared by a professional who was interested in them, compared them to their suggestion of over $6000 aids. She was actually quite impressed with their performance. Not quite as good and in back to back tests I could slightly tell the difference, but not $5000 worth. At least not at this point in my hearing loss adventures.
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 25 Mar 2025 07:08pm
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Makes me wonder if the lack of audible stimulus of someone in solitary confinement also can lead to dementia?
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 25 Mar 2025 10:41pm
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Yes, you are bang on. Solitary confinement can cause significant harm to the brain, potentially leading to memory loss &impaired cognitive function.
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 25 Mar 2025 10:44pm
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Guess I'll have to stay on good behavior.....
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 26 Mar 2025 08:37am
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Aids and brain function---
https://www.truhearing.com/articles/ask-a-provider/will-hearing-aids-slow-hearing-los s-ears/#:~:text=Answer%3A,not%20slow%20down%20hearing%20loss.
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