My Android phone that I’ve had for several years just died forever and I am currently without a phone (other than Google Voice on my computer).
I’m in the US. Carrier is T Mobile. I understand I’d have to place my order through a third party.
Things I care about: All of the above, as long as I can do my work.
I have the budget.
Things I do regularly:
Make phone calls.
Check my email.
Text messages.
Signal
Podcasts and Audiobooks (I’m currently going nuts trying to do chores without my normal audio stimulation). I need Audible and I need some app that will let me keep all my subscriptions and Patreon benefits.
Magic Arena.
Lemmy (I currently just use it in a browser, last time I tried Jerboa it was super buggy)
ChatGPT app.
I also “Hey Google” all the time. I’m not sure what the state of deGoogled voice assistants is. If I could “Hey ChatGPT” it would be orders of magnitude more useful than “Hey Google.” Losing voice assistance isn’t a deal breaker, but it’s something I do use frequently.
Probably 40% of my phone use is Magic Arena and 40% is podcasts and audiobooks. Then probably 5% is “Hey Google, set an alarm for 5 minutes / OK Google, set an alarm for 6:00 AM.”
Google Services I need for work… but I’m willing to hack my way around to get them, as long as it’s possible.
Google Voice (non negotiable, sadly).
My work email is through Google.
My work video conferences are through Google Meet.
My work calendar is through Google and my phone gives me 10 minute notifications before a meeting.
I would like to degoogle as much as possible, but these are work requirements, and my ADHD brain can’t handle having two phones (one will get left uncharged / lost / never turned on and the odds are that will be the work one).
It’s reskinned D&D 3.5, very rules light. The stats are Strength, Dexterity, Fortitude (Con), Book Smarts (Int), Street Smarts (Wis) and Charm (Cha). Classes are called “Trots” (because you can trot however you want, and that’s OK, buckaroo!) Core classes are Bad Boys (Fighters), Sneaks (Rogues), Charmers (Bards), Wizards (Wizards) and True Buckaroos (Bard / Cleric / Sorcerer / Shit Chuck made up). Core races are Humans, Big Feet, Raptors, Unicorns and Living Motorcycles. The game rules state that “Due to the nature of the Tingleverse, it is not allowed to create a character under 18 years of age.” However, the contents of the book are very PG13… It’s up to you to decide how explicitly “real” you want to make “love” in your storytelling game. There is some very sparse lore about Billings Montana, the Void, the City of Devils (Los Angeles) and the rest of the Tingleverse. If you didn’t know the Tingleverse was a Stephen King parody, you will after reading the rule book. There are no “guns” (they were never invented in this timeline) and it seems to me the game would be fully compatible with any D&D 3.5 equipment list.
I haven’t tried it yet, but I’m planning to run it next year at a gaming con at Burning Man (yes, that’s a thing). My copy has been ordered and should get here within days.
And if you attempt to erase your own memory, you will only succeed in opening a portal to the void, from a which a physical manifestation of your own fear and loathing will emerge. This might seem terrifying, but in reality your fear and loathing will be gentle, friendly and intensely attractive, will help you overcome your own self imposed limitations and then will consentually pound you in the butt in a surprisingly wholesome way and with an overall message of love and positivity.