(no subject)

[twistedchick]

This is your check-in post for today. The poll will be open from midnight Universal or Zulu Time (8pm Eastern Time on Friday to midnight (8pm Saturday Eastern Time).

Poll #23805 Daily poll

This poll is closed.
Open to: Access List, detailed results viewable to: Access List, participants: 75

How are you doing?

I am OK
65 (86.7%)

I am not OK but I don't need help right now
9 (12.0%)

I could use some help
1 (1.3%)

How many other humans live with you?

I am living single
32 (43.8%)

One other person
23 (31.5%)

More than one other person
18 (24.7%)

Please, talk about how things are going for you in the comments, ask for advice or help if you need it, or just discuss whatever you feel like.

Comments

[smilingslightly]

Landlord thought over my points about why losing connectivity during a pandemic is not a small thing and found them uncompelling. He texted back today that he's unwilling to give the sole ISP in town any more money. Not sure exactly when they'll be turning it off. Could be tonight. Or...?

On the plus side, the library has posted that their parking lot will have daytime WiFi coverage now so at least I have a solid destination when I head into town. Not sure if it will be stable / secure enough for telehealth but will find out, I suppose.

My mental health has not historically weathered disconnection well so that also will be an adventure.

[sylvanwitch]

That's monumentally shitty of your landlord, seriously. Internet is a requirement of human life now. Connectivity is practically a *right*. (It should be, anyway.)

Can you use a hotspot? I mean, if you had one, could you use it?

[smilingslightly]

I'm not... exactly sure what a hotspot means in this context?

A friend gave me her old Samsung phone [Android 8.1] at the end of last year, and while it wasn't compatible with my carrier's SIM card, it's an awesome little portable computer that I can take with me to use the publicly accessible WiFi. But. I think you are asking something else? :)

I have an Acer netbook of undetermined age, as well, running Mint Linux er 16 but it doesn't do well unplugged so not good parking lot material.

[sylvanwitch]

So, I am not a tech person but any means, but my school provided students who had iPads (which we provide) with "hotspots" if they didn't have home internet access. It's a device that acts as a mobile internet signal, or mobile wifi, that you can use anywhere.

Here's an example (though I do not know if this is a good product): https://www.amazon.com/ZTE-Velocity-Mobile-Hotspot-Unlocked/dp/B00O84PEWS?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_7

I know they work with phones and tablets, but I believe they also work with netbooks, etc. I am unclear on maintenance, like if it's something you have to purchase a plan for.

If you want to do some investigating to figure out what would work with your tech, I'd be happy to PayPal you what you need to purchase one, no strings and no expectations. I just think it's really important for us as fellow human beings to take care of each other, and I know how vital connectivity has been for me during all of this, and I'm as low-tech as they come without being an actual dinosaur.

It's totally up to you, but I'd be happy to help you if I can. You can drop me a message here on DW if you'd like. If not, that's totally cool too.

[smilingslightly]

That is beyond generous of you ♥ From a quick look at things this would involve having a phone contract (outside of Lifeline) and a data plan, so probably wouldn't work under the circumstances, or possibly at all in the boonies where I have to go to the main road to get a signal, but I will ask around a bit — to be better informed if nought else!

In any case, thank you so much for making the offer. It sounds like a cool program your school has!

[sylvanwitch]

You're so welcome at any time, so if it turns out this is something that's doable, let me know. I'm one of the lucky ones--I'm teaching on an eLearning platform from home now, and my husband is an "essential worker" at a grocery store, so while I spend a LOT of time worrying for his health, we are in no financial difficulties, unlike so many, many people. I just want to do what I can, you know?

My school was definitely prescient (unintentionally) in going one-to-one some years ago, so we've been in a good position to switch from traditional classroom to online learning. That makes it sound like it was easy--it was not--but we were in a position to be able to provide students without internet access the access they'd need to keep learning. I fully recognize how blessed we are as a school community because there are schools right here in our area that are not able to help their students in the same way we have.

[dewline]

Your landlord's being a jerk. Sadly, you already know this first-hand.

[smilingslightly]

Yeahh. Not sure why he has to do this now. Thanks :)

[mific]

What a bastard. I do hope you can get an OK wifi connection on your outings.

[smilingslightly]

Thank you ♥ The commiseration helps :)

[feng_shui_house]

Depending where you are, cutting off utilities, including the internet I believe, during the pandemic, might be ILLEGAL.

I would strongly suggest you try to find out if this is the case. I doubt your landlord would like to be in trouble with the law.

And even if it's NOT illegal, perhaps you could contact the ISP directly and find out what options, if any, there are.

[smilingslightly]

These are good suggestions, thank you, and I don't mean to be defeatist in my response.

The good thing about having a unique and 'informal' rental situation is having a place to live where they're difficult to come by. The less good thing is not having much legal recourse, at least not much that doesn't start with first losing that living space. A home with power and water with space for a garden and my chickens is invaluable at any time to a person in my situation and, frankly, the landlord knows it.

Regarding the ISP, I don't have any of the account information, other than the address, of course, but I've read through their C19 and low-income plans, among the stingier out there, I'm afraid, and none apply. A friend volunteered to make a customer service call on my behalf but we haven't been able to get anywhere as regards the current account without having the details in hand.

[feng_shui_house]

*Huggles* I was afraid you'd tried all the options, but hoped you'd overlooked one.

If you have laying hens, I wonder if the eggs are now valuable enough to barter with the landlord for internet?

Obviously appealing to landlord's humanity hasn't helped, but self-interest might.

Yes, that's far fetched. I wish I could think of something actually helpful.

[smilingslightly]

Aww, thank you ♥