Dilemma

[Felix]

For about half a year now my internet provider has had a program where families with kids who are on the free lunch program (which has its own set of means testing requirements) are eligible for $10 a month cable internet. I haven't applied despite being far below the poverty line because a requirement of the program is that you be without internet for 90 days prior, have no outstanding internet bills, and have no unreturned equipment. That would mean for me almost half a year of no internet before I could access the program. I don't know if we can deal with that.

We're in a huge apartment complex in a midsized city, but we are very isolated. Without the internet I have few friends and not the first clue how to pay bills. I don't know how to look for apartments. I can use the library but they have time limits, only certain hours, the other people on the public computers make me nervous, and I'd need someone to watch my kid if it wasn't the middle of school hours.

But then, paying 10 instead of 50 could change our quality of life dramatically. I'm scared and I'm tired and I'm selfish. The misery in the world is staggering. Even when I'm happy and doing alright, the misery in the world is staggering. I don't know how to handle it. Especially without the internet.

[King Malachite]

Man that's a hard dilemma.  Is there a way you could access public wifi from your home?

[Felix]

Man that's a hard dilemma.  Is there a way you could access public wifi from your home?

I'd have to have a better computer. I have an iMac that I found in a dumpster. It won't properly load half the websites I visit because the operating system doesn't support current browsers, and the machine doesn't support current operating systems.

That's a good start, though. We have a place called FreeGeek where if you spend enough time doing volunteer work you can earn a computer. Maybe I could see if there's a way to get a laptop out of that. They also have volunteer tracks that teach basic building and programming. Hmm.

[madwoman_in_the_attic]

The misery in the world is staggering. Even when I'm happy and doing alright, the misery in the world is staggering. I don't know how to handle it. Especially without the internet.

I agree 200%. GAH.

If you are the Felix I was previously corresponding with, we are in the same city and it is high time we meet and strategize together. I don't have lots more money than you but I have low rent so I'll pay for the beverage and snacks. Next week is good for me - I'll send email with ideas. (HA and if you're not "the" Felix, then the Felix I previously corresponded with will get that email and wonder whether I've gone mad(der), which will be fun for him. ROFL.)

I have no leads on apartments, but I think what the previous poster suggested is that if you could use "free wi-fi" at cafes for 90 days that would allow you to qualify for this staggeringly lower cost program.

EXCEPT that using free wi-fi would restrict you (FOR 90 DAYS) to only being on when you could get to the cafes. And you are so generous with your time here, in the middle of the night, reaching out to others and encouraging them, and you'd have to give that up for 90 days...it's too awful to contemplate the increase in isolation that would represent.

AND the other issue is that as far as I understand it, it's important to use free wi-fi ONLY when there is a password. Even if it's chalked on a public board or something, the presence/use of a password means that the router uses basic encryption so that "firesheep" and similar programs can't swipe the passwords of everyone who is logged in to anything. After all your adventures to date, to have one's internet identities swiped and misused would ALSO be super annoying. My info may be several months old - Firefox may have plugged that vulnerability by now - happy if others know more.

Now I'm thinking that if someone next door to you has a really "loud" router and you could explain that you just want to use their password for 90 days and in exchange you'd be willing to swap something, like babysitting or math tutoring...

OK, well, anyway, going to write an email now.

Hugs,

Maddie

[King Malachite]

I agree 200%. GAH.

If you are the Felix I was previously corresponding with, we are in the same city and it is high time we meet and strategize together. I don't have lots more money than you but I have low rent so I'll pay for the beverage and snacks. Next week is good for me - I'll send email with ideas. (HA and if you're not "the" Felix, then the Felix I previously corresponded with will get that email and wonder whether I've gone mad(der), which will be fun for him. ROFL.)

I have no leads on apartments, but I think what the previous poster suggested is that if you could use "free wi-fi" at cafes for 90 days that would allow you to qualify for this staggeringly lower cost program.

EXCEPT that using free wi-fi would restrict you (FOR 90 DAYS) to only being on when you could get to the cafes. And you are so generous with your time here, in the middle of the night, reaching out to others and encouraging them, and you'd have to give that up for 90 days...it's too awful to contemplate the increase in isolation that would represent.

AND the other issue is that as far as I understand it, it's important to use free wi-fi ONLY when there is a password. Even if it's chalked on a public board or something, the presence/use of a password means that the router uses basic encryption so that "firesheep" and similar programs can't swipe the passwords of everyone who is logged in to anything. After all your adventures to date, to have one's internet identities swiped and misused would ALSO be super annoying. My info may be several months old - Firefox may have plugged that vulnerability by now - happy if others know more.

Now I'm thinking that if someone next door to you has a really "loud" router and you could explain that you just want to use their password for 90 days and in exchange you'd be willing to swap something, like babysitting or math tutoring...

OK, well, anyway, going to write an email now.

Hugs,

Maddie

I like the loud router thing.  It's genius but I hope you can get that free laptop but the pubic router thing does bring up another challenge of paying your bills online....that could kind of hinder it and I don't know if the person with a loud router might be smart enough to steal that info.

[Kyyn]

I wish you lived in Brisbane. I worked at a 24hr net cafe for 2 years (practically lived there) I'd totally let you come use my old staff account for free.
I hope it works out

[madwoman_in_the_attic]

Hi Malachite. Awesome picture, by the way.

I don't know if the person with a loud router might be smart enough to steal that info.

Good point. I'd actually talk to them and get their permission, make it above board, swap for something.

One of the places I stay ... one of the network names is Arsene Wenger Is God. the neighbors try to out-clever each other with the network names and it's pretty easy to find out which router goes with which person. Yeah, maybe it's a long shot ...

Hi Kyyn - hope you are staying high and dry! I worked as a process server in Brisbane for a very short time and have great memories of the city...

[Felix]

Thanks for the reminder about the sidejacking thing. I haven't had a laptop in close to half a decade, and back when I did I only used public wifi to access journal articles and submit math assignments. Hmm. God I'm slow.

The people in my building have constant back and forth about wifi. The turnover is high, but people who stay often work out agreements about network access. If I can acquire a laptop (not sure how long it would take, but not going to try to get anything beyond barebones) then I could post a notice on our bulletin board.

When I first moved here my whole life (my work, my calendar, etc) was on my laptop, and I remember finding lots of nominally secure networks at coffeeshops and hotels. Places where they had a password but didn't charge extra to use it. I don't mind working a little for access.

But I don't do my own things except at night, really. In business hours I'm always either on call or working on day to day life stuff, and any other time I'm not free unless my kid is asleep. Well.

Thanks for all the food for thought everybody. And Maddie I'd love to meet, whether it comes to anything or not.

[Kyyn]

Hi Kyyn - hope you are staying high and dry! I worked as a process server in Brisbane for a very short time and have great memories of the city...

Haha, trying my best. Scary - the Brisbane river was lapping onto the sidewalks this morning when i was on my way to a job interview. Made me nervous about living near the river.
3 more days of rain to come.  Eep.

[madwoman_in_the_attic]

Haha, trying my best. Scary - the Brisbane river was lapping onto the sidewalks this morning when i was on my way to a job interview. Made me nervous about living near the river.
3 more days of rain to come.  Eep.

Yes, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you all. Haven't forgotten watching the bits of Riverwalk drift away in the LAST flooding and feeling so helpless and far away. Good luck re the interview!!

Felix, it'd be great to meet. I didn't realize you had a day job (which is good news). We'll work around that AND the child care thing, or meet somewhere you and the child can come together. Heck, I'll borrow a child (I have 2 to choose from) so you don't feel weird bringing yours.

Must sleep now but thank you both for the chat.

[Felix]

Yes, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you all. Haven't forgotten watching the bits of Riverwalk drift away in the LAST flooding and feeling so helpless and far away. Good luck re the interview!!

Felix, it'd be great to meet. I didn't realize you had a day job (which is good news). We'll work around that AND the child care thing, or meet somewhere you and the child can come together. Heck, I'll borrow a child (I have 2 to choose from) so you don't feel weird bringing yours.

Must sleep now but thank you both for the chat.

Aw. *hangs head* I don't have a day job. The last one I had involved cleaning up macaque dung, and I quit because the 9 dollars an hour was less than I had to pay to keep my kid safe and supervised while I was working. Also I couldn't join the union and they expected me to take uninsured dysentery with a smile.

I mentioned business hours because of my daughter. We live on goverment programs, and her, um, problems are only raining hell upon me during business hours, so after 5pm I usually turn my phone off. There comes a point where her physical presence (and any hitting and screaming it might entail) is a lot less stressful than my paying the bureaucratic price for her not being with me. On top of the social ramifications of our situation, we incur various forms of legal wrath from time to time, too. It's really hard. That's what I meant by "being on call."

It's great to know you've known kids. Mine is okay, really. She really is charming and great to be with 95% of the time. I hate that her sometimes being an over-the-top vicious lunatic is so often what defines her.

[madwoman_in_the_attic]

Felix: Wow. Um.

Not much to say except I will take your advice and definitely not laugh as the hearse goes by.

(And I've sent an email about meeting and ... )

Must go offline now but talk to you again soon!

[Felix]

Felix: Wow. Um.

Not much to say except I will take your advice and definitely not laugh as the hearse goes by.

(And I've sent an email about meeting and ... )

Must go offline now but talk to you again soon!

Lol. I got your email but I only just now checked this thread. Reading it in print does make it all sound kinda nuts. I need to come up with more obfuscating and chill ways to describe this stuff.