Lord Liaden Posted October 3, 2023 Report Share Posted October 3, 2023 To all our American HEROphiles: If any of you know someone who keeps a secondary telephone for personal safety -- something they would not want certain people to know they have -- it's important that you tell them to turn it completely off tomorrow. The US government will be testing its Emergency Alert System (successor to the old Emergency Broadcast System) Wednesday, October 4, reportedly between 2:20 PM and 2:50 PM Eastern time, although that time frame may not be guaranteed or absolute. The full sound of the telephone may come through even if the 'phone is put on "mute," so the secondary 'phone should be completely shut off. Test details (among other news sources): https://www.npr.org/2023/10/03/1202900361/a-nationwide-emergency-alert-test-is-coming-to-your-phone-on-wednesday Why you should turn certain 'phones off on Wednesday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7QGjOSbmlw tkdguy, Ternaugh, Lawnmower Boy and 2 others 2 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
death tribble Posted October 4, 2023 Report Share Posted October 4, 2023 We don't get this sort of thing. We just expect trouble and then deal with it. Ragitsu 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starlord Posted October 4, 2023 Report Share Posted October 4, 2023 1 hour ago, death tribble said: We don't get this sort of thing. We just expect trouble and then deal with it. Americans need this type of warning system for important things like terrorist attacks, local child abductions or if a Kardashian dies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Man Posted October 4, 2023 Report Share Posted October 4, 2023 3 hours ago, death tribble said: We don't get this sort of thing. We just expect trouble and then deal with it. You literally got this sort of thing in April. Pariah 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starlord Posted October 4, 2023 Report Share Posted October 4, 2023 9 minutes ago, Old Man said: You literally got this sort of thing in April. Maybe he meant Tribbles, not Brits? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Man Posted October 4, 2023 Report Share Posted October 4, 2023 I thought Tribbles were Brits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Man Posted October 4, 2023 Report Share Posted October 4, 2023 Got mine two minutes early. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
death tribble Posted October 4, 2023 Report Share Posted October 4, 2023 2 hours ago, Old Man said: You literally got this sort of thing in April. Those of us of a certain age did not get it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cygnia Posted October 4, 2023 Report Share Posted October 4, 2023 6 minutes ago, death tribble said: Those of us of a certain age did not get it. I got it from Agnes! Pariah and BoloOfEarth 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Liaden Posted October 4, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2023 52 minutes ago, death tribble said: Those of us of a certain age did not get it. So your government considers your age bracket expendable? Lawnmower Boy and Starlord 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
death tribble Posted October 4, 2023 Report Share Posted October 4, 2023 They are like Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starlord Posted October 4, 2023 Report Share Posted October 4, 2023 1 hour ago, Cygnia said: I got it from Agnes! I gave it to Agnes. However, in my defense, I told her about it right after I got the test results from the doctor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoloOfEarth Posted October 4, 2023 Report Share Posted October 4, 2023 1 hour ago, Cygnia said: I got it from Agnes! She got it from Jim. We all agree, it must have been Louise who gave it to him. Cygnia 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pariah Posted October 4, 2023 Report Share Posted October 4, 2023 My 27 students and I all got it during 4th period today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclevlad Posted October 4, 2023 Report Share Posted October 4, 2023 I got it on my obsolete phone...that doesn't have a SIM card. I keep it around basically because it's got little trade-in value, but it can run the Hue app. So, it just stays in the living room. Also got it on my iPhone, AND on my VoIP line. I'm just glad it was late enough that I was actually semi-functional.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pattern Ghost Posted October 4, 2023 Report Share Posted October 4, 2023 My phone was at 20% battery when I left it downstairs to go take a shower and then order lunch. The alert went off right after I got upstairs. By the time I came back down, my phone had drained to 10% because the alert forced my screen to stay lit up until I cleared it manually. Great system. Kill any unattended phones with the alert, thus ensuring people who have low battery never receive it if they leave their phone unattended. It's a bit of an edge case, to be sure, but it's a stupid function nonetheless. Not sure if that's on the phone OS or is dictated by the emergency alert system's standards. Pariah 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Liaden Posted October 4, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2023 You mean it's the system's fault that someone didn't charge their 'phone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmjalund Posted October 5, 2023 Report Share Posted October 5, 2023 in case of emergency always keep a fully charged Power Bank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cancer Posted October 5, 2023 Report Share Posted October 5, 2023 It was amusing being in the Starbucks adjoining the clinic when every phone in the place started its alarm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pattern Ghost Posted October 5, 2023 Report Share Posted October 5, 2023 (edited) 6 hours ago, Lord Liaden said: You mean it's the system's fault that someone didn't charge their 'phone? Yes. If the goal of forcing a screen to be on displaying the message is to get the message read, then there's a design failure if it kills a battery in the process. Also keep in mind that phone batteries drain faster with age. You're supposed to swap them out after they take less than 80% of their original charge. People without the means to do so, who may even be getting by on hand me downs with weak batteries, would be negatively impacted. So, it's a system design that also impacts the poor. Of course, it's probably their fault for being poor, right? There are a lot of other situations -- including a large scale emergency -- that may result in a phone not being charged at all times. Edited October 5, 2023 by Pattern Ghost Ragitsu 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragitsu Posted October 5, 2023 Report Share Posted October 5, 2023 1 hour ago, Cancer said: It was amusing being in the Starbucks adjoining the clinic when every phone in the place started its alarm. Abruptly elevated heart rates plus caffeine? Bad combination! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Liaden Posted October 5, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2023 1 hour ago, Pattern Ghost said: Yes. If the goal of forcing a screen to be on displaying the message is to get the message read, then there's a design failure if it kills a battery in the process. Also keep in mind that phone batteries drain faster with age. You're supposed to swap them out after they take less than 80% of their original charge. People without the means to do so, who may even be getting by on hand me downs with weak batteries, would be negatively impacted. So, it's a system design that also impacts the poor. Of course, it's probably their fault for being poor, right? There are a lot of other situations -- including a large scale emergency -- that may result in a phone not being charged at all times. With respect, I believe you're over-thinking this. The purpose of this system is to get urgent information to as many people as possible, as quickly as possible. The chance of anyone with a seriously depleted 'phone not being around someone whose 'phone is fully functional, or who wouldn't be sought out by a loved one who had gotten the news, would be very small. Not that it couldn't happen, but no system is perfect. You have to weigh the benefits versus the drawbacks, and try to achieve the greatest good for the most number of people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
death tribble Posted October 5, 2023 Report Share Posted October 5, 2023 A public service announcement followed me the other day It's been a bad day, please don't take a picture Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cygnia Posted October 5, 2023 Report Share Posted October 5, 2023 A public service announcement once bit my sister... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hermit Posted October 5, 2023 Report Share Posted October 5, 2023 49 minutes ago, Cygnia said: A public service announcement once bit my sister... And after days of incredible agony... the Public Service Announcement DIED! Cygnia 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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