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My Next Running Shoe

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My next running shoe started with this IG post.

Finding this shoe wasn’t that straightforward since it’s not widely available. It was sold out on Brooks, and Dicks Sporting Goods would charge shipping to Hawaii. But a Google search found this available on Zappos, and Zappos offers an educational discount. Yes, kinda expensive, but I haven’t had recent luck with Nike running shoes.

The React Infinity Run 2 has been a disappointment in its second rendtion. The very first React Run was absolutely great but another colorway oddly wasn’t as good. I returned the Pegasus 38 since it was nothing special. Most recently, I got the Invincible Run, but that foam stack feels so unstable. It’s extremely cushioned but I get the sensation that I could topple over merely walking in them.

So I’m gonna give these Brooks Aurora-BL a chance based on this performance review and hope this Brooks combination of design, tech, and materials is right for me.

Connecting an Orbi RBR750 and RBS40V

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Like the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV, I was totally helpless against my Tampa Bay Buccaneers aka my Orbi wifi gear. After getting a newer Orbi mesh system (RBR750) for better performance and coverage for the household, I wanted to continue using existing gear like my Orbi Voice (RBS40V). Unfortunately, the two systems are not fully compatible. Fortunately, the primary function I want is to be able to play music on the Harmon Kardon-powered RBS40V and that function is supported.

Here are some notes:

Configure the RBSV40V in extender mode (not Orbi mode). This status is indicated by a blue colored LED ring (white is Orbi mode). Follow these steps to change to extender mode.

Update to the latest firmware if available. But update the firmware using a computer/laptop. First, while connected to the Internet, download the firmware. Then switch network connections, attaching to the NETGEAR_EXT configuration network. Once connected to that wifi, use a web browser and go to https://www.mywifiext.net/ . The NETGEAR_EXT is a separate, private network just to configure the RBS40V. Log in, create a local account and password then proceed to update the firmware using the .chk file you downloaded. After updating, the device automatically restarts.

Download and install the NetGear Nighthawk mobile app to setup and configure the RBS40V. Yeah, it’s really odd but necessary. When going to extender mode, it seems the Nighthawk firmware/OS loads on the device. When in white-ringed Orbi mode, the Orbi firmware/OS loads accordingly. So even though the RBS40V is an Orbi device, it’s in extender mode, needing the Nighthawk app for setup.

With the mobile Nighthawk app, I actually cycled the 40V into Orbi mode then back to extender mode, simply to restart the configuration setup with the latest firmware. Not sure if this is needed.

Reconnect to the NETGEAR_EXT wifi network and even better, disable LTE on your mobile device so that network connectivity is strictly wifi.

Launch the Nighthawk app which should find the RBS40V and initialize the extender setup. Personally, I extended only the 5GHz wifi, skipping the extension of the 2.4 GHz network. Since the 2.4 GHz network is the NETGEAR_EXT wifi, I didn’t want to disrupt that configuration channel.

After several more steps and minutes, the RBS40V was configured in extender mode, and the Nighthawk app prompted me to register with Amazon Alexa. This was actually my main goal since that’s the step that allows Amazon music to stream. After all of this, the RBS40V is connected to Wifi and can play music.

YouTube Videos Stuck in Fast Forward?

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That was really odd. On Safari in Mac OS 11.1 Big Sur, YouTube videos were playing in fast forward with no audio. Using Chrome, the video playback was stuck, but the audio playback was fine.

My simple fix was to restart my Mac. Googling this issue, it seems like fast forward playback of any videos on the Mac has been an on-again-off-again issue for years. The “most unfortunate” solution offered was hosted on YouTube where I couldn’t see the solution in 2 seconds of fast forwarded playback. But the offered solution is accurate – force quit the coreaudiod service using Activity Monitor.

Here’s the solution described in text and augmented with video.

More COVID Closures

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In these Rona times, the closures due to COVID continue to climb. While walking around Ala Moana, I noticed a few more shuttered storefronts.

Banana Republic, amazingly, has been closed for some time.
Abercrombie for Kids closed its doors.
Forever 21 didn’t make it in 2021.

Foot traffic at the mall does seem to be picking up as the weeks go by, but it’s much less crowded now than during the peak holiday season. Hoping more businesses can weather the prolonged COVID economic impact.

AT&T Chat to the Rescue!

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In these COVID times when left is right, down is up, now is later, and face-to-face means online, who knew text chatting with a total stranger on a computer would provide better results than talking to real people in real life? That’s what happened with AT&T support chat who managed to make things right with my new iPhone.

Amazingly, this interaction initiated online as well on Twitter after I complained.

In Twitter Direct Messages, I was directed to contact AT&T support via chat. So I did, and that started my road to resolution. The avatar known as Jason listened to my complaints and managed to do what I had been asking various AT&T personnel in-store – trade in an old iPhone 7, change my plan to unlimited, and get this new 5G-ready iPhone 12 Pro connected.

As I learned, in order for this promotion to work, you needed an unlimited data plan already. But I pointed out to Jason that my phone ordered in November only arrived in January so why should I pay for a 5G plan when I did not have a 5G device, the new iPhone? But since I was within the 14-day return period, he said he could essentially start this promotion transaction again, making sure of the right sequence of steps. I also asked Jason about the conflicting answers of discounts, and he explained how the starter unlimited data plans did not qualify for discounts but other plans did qualify.

Thanks to this invisible voice, my questions and concerns about “upgrading” to a new iPhone were being answered and taken care of. Now, I don’t understand why this could not have happened at any of the local AT&T locations I visited. It almost seemed like these locations could only do tasks from a set script or menu. Anything off script was met with (polite) declines.

So my plan has been changed to unlimited with 5G, the iPhone 12 Pro is activated and connected, and I’m waiting for the trade-in box to mail in the iPhone 7. Thanks for chatting, AT&T!

Taking Ls All Day

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Today has been a day full of “taking Ls.” Here’s a quick example. I need to order more address pouches from UPS for mailing labels, and this is what I get.

Currently unavailable…

Merry Christmas

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Happy holidays and Merry Christmas to all. Hope your holiday season is going as well at it can, and hope Santa blessed you with some goodies.

If StockX were Santa, here’s what I would be getting under the Christmas tree.

StockX picks for me

What can I say other than “Nailed it!”

Okay, maybe not… I doubt I would even wear those Jordan 12 Reverse Flu games. Maybe the Swatch x Tape camo watch.

Regardless, the holidays aren’t solely about the material things as this year has pointed out, so go ahead and enjoy time with family and friends (virtual or hopefully in person).

How Do I Do Cyber Monday?

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By watching War Games on Netflix.

Would you like to play a game?

– WOPR

Gotta love seeing the old school tech in action and the youth of Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy. I have to guess this 1983 movie was remastered since it looked decent on an HD television. The picture wasn’t pixelated or cropped or anything weird. It was HD quality of course but very passable and watchable.

I remembered the DEFCON level indicator looking cooler instead of a (big) horizontal traffic light signal. The only way to hack, obviously, is shirtless in bed surrounded by paper printouts. And what did David do to the pay phone to get a free call?

Black Friday Morning at Ala Moana

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Stopped off at Ala Moana at 7am on Black Friday, and it was surprisingly empty, very empty. The lighting of the still-rising sun was nice.

Walking through the mall was mellow but colorful.

While I was there, I had to do the obligatory escalator check. Were they all in service? Most were.

Stores were ready for the crowds with stanchions for queues but only a handful of stores had customers waiting at 7:30am.

The Makai Wing had the most customers with people waiting to get in Zara, Uniqlo, and Lululemon. I didn’t really pick up anything this morning other than this Salted Caramel Mocha from the Nordstrom’s eBar.

I did hear that Ala Moana got crowded after lunch. I guess everyone had to wake up from their Thanksgiving meal coma, do some online shopping, then headed to the mall.

Hello, Black Friday?

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Is this thing working? Sadly due to COVID and all its social distancing restrictions, Black Friday shopping doesn’t feel like Black Friday shopping. Sure, online sales have already started earlier in the week and more specials are inbound, so maybe the frenetic craziness of BF shopping may actually happen.

In any case, hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving!

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