Best Of
Re: Want to replace older cell phones but keep same service plan if possible
I thiiiiink you might be out of luck when it comes to replacing your phones and keeping your current service plan. Those phones do not have SIM cards, so the plan is kind of tied to the phone. Someone else might be more knowledgeable, but I think that option's kind of gone.
Before I continue with a couple ideas, it's worth noting that if what you're trying to do is a bit out of the ordinary (and it is, data plans are pretty much the standard nowadays), you're probably going to have to come up with something a bit hacky, which probably means a bit of experimentation, or putting up with some quirks.
- It's been a long time since I did this (think Blackberry era), but I used to do the 'smartphone-with-no-data-plan' thing. My trick was just to get a plan - any plan - that simply didn't have data - so long as it had a SIM card, I could then buy a smartphone whose radio was compatible with the plan (finding this out just involves a bunch of googling, this helps), install the SIM card, and then away I went. This might not be feasible anymore, as 'no data' is going out of vogue.
- Since the problem is 'without increasing our costs,' you can try looking into a mobile virtual network operator. These are companies that, in a nutshell, sell you a plan but use a bigger carrier's network. Boom Mobile is an example of a virtual carrier that uses the Verizon network, and they have an individual plan that offers no data. Again, experimentation is required - they might suck. Furthermore, it would be wise to use your own phone instead of buying one through them... that way if they suck, it's easier to get away from them. However, using your own phone is costly.
- You COULD embrace data. No, not as in a 'suck it up and get with the times' way, but by using something similar to Project Fi. The idea here being that your phone number gets ported to Google Hangouts, so that all calls and texts are done over data. Now, I've heard some folks say they use unsupported phones (like a OnePlus device) on Fi and it WORKS, you just end up only using one half of the service (ie, the OnePlus One only has one radio, so it wouldn't be able to benefit from switching back and forth between networks). This is a pretty cheap alternative.
- In the same vein as number 3, it's possible to port your number to google voice (which, however, may be deprecated in the future) and make all your calls and texts via hangouts. In this situation, all you need is the smallest LTE data plan - no talk, no text (because all that goes through data). This is actually what I'm doing right now.
Each of these idea has its own caveats - you risk running into devices that Simply Don't Work with what you're trying to do, or companies that won't grandfather you in sometime down the line... but experimentation and janky ideas is part of doing something nonstandard.
Myrmidon
Desert Bus for Hope TEN. SMOOK BUS ERRY DAY

Welp, here we go again.
You know the drill by now, so say it with me. DESERT BUS IS BACK, BAYBEEEEE. Kicking off Saturday, November 12 at 10AM PDT, the bus gets rolling for it's tenth tenure in the endless expansion of sand and arid skies. Donate. Challenge. Beg. Talk trash about Dix. Complain about Liz. Do it all in the coming week while we watch Loading Ready Run torture themselves in a 24/7 livestream while playing the worst game ever made.
Join us in mumble, grab a beverage or six, and have some laughs (and maybe even a chat ban!). Dis gun b gud.
Still don't know how to Desert Bus cuz you a scrub? Graham got u fam.
You can donate now, or you can wait until they're live to challenge them to do stupid things. Or, if you can really wait on your dosh, you might be able to win a super sweet live auction. . Pick a challenge, pick a waifu, pick a reason to get banned. It's time to bus.
Watch on twitch.tv, or if you're truly pro, watch on @UPSKingpin custom dashboard: http://sclisi.com/db/
So grab your wallet and prepare your butt. Desert Bus is goin' in raw.
Previous threads:
Desert Bus 3
Desert Bus 4
Desert Bus 5
Desert Bus 6
Desert Bus 8
Desert Bus 9
I'm not dlunk. You're dlunk.
UPSLynx
Re: Any watch nerds on Icrontic?
An interesting small batch watch project just came up. It's the EMG DL63. It hearkens back to the Hamilton Chronomatic or the Longines Heuer Camaro.
Specs
- Case: 42mm diameter Seagull 1963 case
- Lug to lug 46mm
- 22mm lug width
- 13mm height
- Mixed brushed and polished finish bezel and case
- Crystal: mineral. (a domed acrylic option is being explored)
- Movement: seagull ST1901 handwinding mechanical chronograph movement
- Dial: matte white with black recessed/bowled subdials
- Applied indices
- BGW9 blue lume
- Raised internal tachymetre bezel
- Strap: 22mm perforated racing leather. Tapered.
There's room for 50 backers, and an MOQ of 40 is required to get the project going:
First 25 - $240 + $30 shipping for most locations.
Second 25 - $260 + $30 shipping for most locations.
$100 deposit required when project is initiated.
Contact emgwatches@gmail.com to get signed up and to receive updates.
Thrax
Re: Battlefield 1
@aspieRommel said:
@UPSLynx Where's that menu music soundtrack I asked about?
BRUV IT'S RIGHT HERE.
UPSLynx
Raid Summary 11/7/2016 7/7N full clear + 5/7H Emerald Nightmare
Looks like our little break paid off, because we came back to Emerald Nightmare with a vengeance.
On Sunday we did a full clear with mostly 1-shots of Normal EmN. We introduced a couple of new raiders to the group and had no trouble stomping all over the raid. We continued on with a clear of heroic Nythendra and Dragons of Nightmare to finish off the night.
On Monday, we came into heroic EmN with clear heads, a bit of a new team comp, some new progression team members, and bellies full of flasks and food, and it worked. We proceeded to have a very hairy Ursoc clear (furry?), with some heroic last-second performances from @Angaliki and @MAGIC helping to down the hoary ol' bear.
We moved on to the dreaded Il'Gynoth, which has given us a bit of trouble in the past; not sure what happened but we absolutely smashed it, cleared it on our first attempt, and moved on. Emboldened, we headed to Elerethe Renferal.
It was a rough start but we did everything exactly right: We improved each phase in bits and pieces, learned from our mistakes, made corrections, pushed further, and then suddenly everything clicked into place and we easily downed the spiderbird, with everyone alive at the end. Beautiful
We finished the night by getting some excellent practice on Cenarius. We are holding the lockout and we will be continuing our progression on heroic Cenarius next Monday.
HUGE congrats, IC! We are now 5/7H EmN!
Re: Board Game Arena is best arena
@GHoosdum said:
I joined.Calling more icrontians! @Tushon @GnomeQueen @CrazyJoe @Zanthian @sharkydart @Colgere
I really need to learn more of these games besides Love Letters and Tokaido...and I think I still need to learn Tokaido 








