Questions you want answered.

RawkGWJ wrote:
Vector wrote:

Does LEGO still make relatively inexpensive simple sets? Around 8 steps contains a small main build and a figure. For my daughter's fourth birthday I brought my old LEGO out and each night we've been building one set. In a few weeks I'll run out of the simple small stuff and can't seem to find those kinds of sets on Amazon.ca or the website.

Lego.com is a better place to buy than Amazon. Way better selection and they have great images of the sets.

If you think your daughter is too sophisticated for Duplo, there is a line of lego that is meant for little ones like her. I forget what it’s called but they are Lego that are designed for small hands.

One thing that Lego is really good at is creating sets that span every size and price range. I’m sure you will find something you like.

Are you referring to the Junior line?

lunchbox12682 wrote:
RawkGWJ wrote:
Vector wrote:

Does LEGO still make relatively inexpensive simple sets? Around 8 steps contains a small main build and a figure. For my daughter's fourth birthday I brought my old LEGO out and each night we've been building one set. In a few weeks I'll run out of the simple small stuff and can't seem to find those kinds of sets on Amazon.ca or the website.

Lego.com is a better place to buy than Amazon. Way better selection and they have great images of the sets.

If you think your daughter is too sophisticated for Duplo, there is a line of lego that is meant for little ones like her. I forget what it’s called but they are Lego that are designed for small hands.

One thing that Lego is really good at is creating sets that span every size and price range. I’m sure you will find something you like.

Are you referring to the Junior line?

The Junior line has recently been rebranded as "4+" so search for that if that's what you're looking for.

Thanks for all the responses. This is about the size I am looking for. Granted, this is from 1990 but that's about the size and complexity of what I want.

IMAGE(https://i.imgur.com/jvtrvjS.jpg)

See if this filtered search helps, Vector. Looks like there are a few that come in at CA$15 or less.

Thanks. I had looked at that the LEGO website yesterday as well as with Amazon. Doesn't look like they do things in the very small and $5-$10 price range anymore. We have enough to keep us busy for a while longer and I'll keep an eye out for some of these other little sets.

Edit: I say that and after creating an account and running the search again I find two of exactly what I'm looking for. Police Water Plane and Road Worker.

I'm not sure if there is a better place to put this question, but I do want it answered, so I guess I'll start here.

I loathe doing yardwork and I've tried to make it more tolerable in various ways. One way that would make it more tolerable would be to listen to podcasts or something similar while enduring the dreaded mowing chore along with everything else, but I have no idea how to do it logistically. What do people use to do this? If they use their phone, then what do they do with it so that it's not always in the way or at risk of getting crushed? What about headphone/earbud cords or is it all bluetooth?

In any case, I read all these posts everywhere on the internet from people who find things like mowing to be relaxing and they talk about turning on the music or whatever and then just having this huge stress-free experience, but for me, everything about it is a huge struggle, so please help me to make this whole thing bearable before I spend every day until December in a high state of anxiety and stress. Thanks!

Yes, bluetooth.

My wife has taken over lawnmowing since she discovered that putting the big pair of noise-cancelling wireless heaphones to mow the lawn is super meditative.

Alternative plans - modest dose of edible pot an hour before gardening.

Even better - stop caring about crappy your yard looks, and you can cut your yardwork substantially.

Jonman wrote:

Yes, bluetooth.

My wife has taken over lawnmowing since she discovered that putting the big pair of noise-cancelling wireless heaphones to mow the lawn is super meditative.

Alternative plans - modest dose of edible pot an hour before gardening.

Even better - stop caring about crappy your yard looks, and you can cut your yardwork substantially.

Would you happen to have a link to the ones she uses?

If I didn't live in a city that had an ordinance, I wouldn't do anything because I really don't care about any of it, but if I don't at least look like I'm trying to do something, I know a neighbor will eventually report me. It's happened before and so I exist in a state of constant stress over it. I'd pay someone, but the mythical teenagers with lawn mowers don't exist and everyone else wants hundreds of dollars a month. But I figure if I can at least feel like I'm not wasting time by having a podcast or something on, it might be at least tolerable.

bekkilyn wrote:

I'm not sure if there is a better place to put this question, but I do want it answered, so I guess I'll start here.

I loathe doing yardwork and I've tried to make it more tolerable in various ways. One way that would make it more tolerable would be to listen to podcasts or something similar while enduring the dreaded mowing chore along with everything else, but I have no idea how to do it logistically. What do people use to do this? If they use their phone, then what do they do with it so that it's not always in the way or at risk of getting crushed? What about headphone/earbud cords or is it all bluetooth?

In any case, I read all these posts everywhere on the internet from people who find things like mowing to be relaxing and they talk about turning on the music or whatever and then just having this huge stress-free experience, but for me, everything about it is a huge struggle, so please help me to make this whole thing bearable before I spend every day until December in a high state of anxiety and stress. Thanks!

Earbuds, best if Bluetooth, with the over the ear ear protection. Phone goes in shorts pocket or similar.
You can hear at a reasonable level and still have hearing protection.

bekkilyn wrote:

I loathe doing yardwork and I've tried to make it more tolerable in various ways.

Jonman wrote:

Alternative plans - modest dose of edible pot an hour before gardening.

She didn’t ask how to make it seem like she had been mowing for hours, when in fact she had started only 10 minutes prior.

-

I don’t have wireless earbuds. I just use the Apple wired earbuds and run the wire from my back pocket, where my phone is, up under my shirt and out the collar and into my ears. Wireless EarPods or high quality over the ear headphones are something I’ll indulge in some day. Hmm... My birthday is about six weeks away...

Yes I use my iPhone + AirPods while doing yard work and listen to podcasts. I use the Overcast app and there are plenty of decent podcast apps.

Another thing to make yard work easier is go electric with battery tools. Much less hassle than dealing with gas and cleaner too. $$ though!

When I used to mow with a gas mower, I used earbuds with a pair of these over top. I have an electric mower now, so the noise from the mower is significantly less, so I don't need the earmuffs anymore, but they worked really well for keeping the noise out. I would always run the earbuds wire through my shirt to avoid it getting snagged on things, but you can get some "true wireless" earbuds now for a relatively affordable price.

bekkilyn wrote:
Jonman wrote:

Yes, bluetooth.

My wife has taken over lawnmowing since she discovered that putting the big pair of noise-cancelling wireless heaphones to mow the lawn is super meditative.

Alternative plans - modest dose of edible pot an hour before gardening.

Even better - stop caring about crappy your yard looks, and you can cut your yardwork substantially.

Would you happen to have a link to the ones she uses?

If I didn't live in a city that had an ordinance, I wouldn't do anything because I really don't care about any of it, but if I don't at least look like I'm trying to do something, I know a neighbor will eventually report me. It's happened before and so I exist in a state of constant stress over it. I'd pay someone, but the mythical teenagers with lawn mowers don't exist and everyone else wants hundreds of dollars a month. But I figure if I can at least feel like I'm not wasting time by having a podcast or something on, it might be at least tolerable.

They're fancy ass nose cancelling ones. Sony WH-1000XM, replete with eye watering price tag. But they're superb.

Jonman wrote:
bekkilyn wrote:
Jonman wrote:

Yes, bluetooth.

My wife has taken over lawnmowing since she discovered that putting the big pair of noise-cancelling wireless heaphones to mow the lawn is super meditative.

Alternative plans - modest dose of edible pot an hour before gardening.

Even better - stop caring about crappy your yard looks, and you can cut your yardwork substantially.

Would you happen to have a link to the ones she uses?

If I didn't live in a city that had an ordinance, I wouldn't do anything because I really don't care about any of it, but if I don't at least look like I'm trying to do something, I know a neighbor will eventually report me. It's happened before and so I exist in a state of constant stress over it. I'd pay someone, but the mythical teenagers with lawn mowers don't exist and everyone else wants hundreds of dollars a month. But I figure if I can at least feel like I'm not wasting time by having a podcast or something on, it might be at least tolerable.

They're fancy ass nose cancelling ones. Sony WH-1000XM, replete with eye watering price tag. But they're superb.

But many people enjoy the smell of a fresh cut lawn.

edit. If I had an ass nose, I'd definitely pay to have it canceled, regardless of how fancy it might be.

I bought a pair of 3M Worktunes. They’re $43 on Amazon. They’re not fashionable but it makes it so I can hear a podcast over the lawnmower. Love it.

There's another DIY option that I chose: buy a set of earbuds with removable earpads, use a small amount of thermoplastic to make a mold of your ear canals, drill a small hole through the mold, insert the mold onto the earbud while it's still soft. The result is a set of noise-canceling earbuds that are custom-fitted to your ears, they block outside noise, and they won't fall out (which is a HUGE problem I have with normal earbuds).

Advising folk to pour molten plastic in their ears is very on-brand for 2020, Stone.

LOL the whole making a mold of the ear canals is way more work than I'd want to attempt!

Since I rarely have pockets, and the rare occasions when I do, the phone likes to try to jump out or get crushed, I'm looking into one of those armband things that will hold the phone and then figure out which bluetooth headphones to use. The cords just don't work for me no matter where I try to put them.

Thanks! It is good to feel I have some direction about this now!

Jonman wrote:

Advising folk to pour molten plastic in their ears is very on-brand for 2020, Stone.

All the millennials are doing it!

Helps you to focus on the taste of the Tide Pods.

Does anybody know the proper procedure for becoming an anonymous whistleblower, while also being taken seriously?

No noise cancelling, and in-ear, but it comes with a few sizes in-the-box and they are excellent value for money:

1MoreStylish

I mostly use them when walking the dog, but also when mowing the lawn.

Rawk, depends on the organization. A company? Local, state, Federal government? Military?

It’s a state government in a different state than I live. I reached out to an activist group in that state which I’m very loosely affiliated with. I did it on Facebook, but Facebook is so weird that I’m not sure this group will even see my message. If I don’t get a response from them I’ll try another route.

Does gmail still allow people to have anonymous accounts? I’ve had very little free time to pursue this issue.

First off, don't go posting about it on social media. Just quit it.

Use a secure comms method. The classic one is Signal.

This will help you get started.

Robear wrote:

First off, don't go posting about it on social media. Just quit it.

Use a secure comms method. The classic one is Signal.

This will help you get started.

Awesome!! Thanks for that.

What is a first person perspective game appropriate for kids (5&9) other than Minecraft? My kids learned first person controls by playing Minecraft and now I want to give them something new to try that is hopefully faster paced and gets them more comfortable in first person games.

That slime rancher game? Isn't that first person?

Portal?

Robear wrote:

That slime rancher game? Isn't that first person?

I think I have that on Xbox. Will see how they like it.

Mixolyde wrote:

Portal?

Games like Portal are exactly the reason I want them to develop FPS skills. I want them to get confident enough in first person that when I introduce them to the greats they are ready. I worry they aren't quite ready for the precision that Portal requires but I'd love to find out I'm wrong so I'll let them give it a try soon.