Topic: Text Messaging

The hosts critique an NPR segment on maintaining long-distance friendships, which they find overly sentimental and "pathetic." One host describes his habit of sending supportive texts to friends facing medical procedures, attributing the change in behavior to his religious faith. The other host finds the idea of "spying" on friends' doctor appointments offensive, leading to a humorous clash of perspectives.

The hosts criticize the lavish lifestyles of COP28 attendees in Dubai, noting the use of private jets and personal hairdressers. The segment also references the controversy surrounding Ursula von der Leyen's deleted text messages regarding Pfizer vaccine deals.

A new theory suggests the January 6th events may have been a "deep state setup," citing the missing Secret Service text messages as a potential smoking gun. Former First Lady Melania Trump issued a statement claiming she was unaware of the Capitol breach because her chief of staff, Stephanie Grisham, failed to brief her. Melania asserted that she was busy documenting White House renovations and would have denounced the violence had she been informed.

The House Select Committee investigating January 6th released text messages from Fox News host Sean Hannity to Mark Meadows expressing concern about the "next 48 hours" before the riot. While some media outlets linked these messages to Donald Trump's cancellation of a scheduled news conference, reports suggest the cancellation was actually due to advice from senior Republican senators.

A discussion on the intrusive nature of political fundraising reveals that both hosts are being bombarded with text messages from the GOP and Lindsey Graham's campaign. They criticize the "chip in" messaging and the poor audio quality of Graham's YouTube pre-roll ads. The hosts also discuss the difficulty of blocking these ads on YouTube and the alternative of using platforms like BitChute.

The hosts compare fundraising text messages received from the Mike Pence and Joe Biden campaigns. Pence's messages use aggressive marketing tactics like "900% match," while Biden's messages use a more personal, soft-sell approach asking for specific amounts like $12. One host mentions receiving a "Platinum Trump Card" as a premium for a $100 donation.

Audio from the Minnesota rally shows Donald Trump mocking Nancy Pelosi's intelligence and performing a dramatic reading of text messages between FBI agents Peter Strzok and Lisa Page. Trump uses these dramatizations to frame the Russia investigation as a "phony hoax" and an "insurance policy."

The hosts analyze the aggressive fundraising tactics used by the Trump campaign via the WinRed platform. Adam Curry reads a series of high-pressure text messages claiming donations will be "4x matched" to fight the "impeachment witch hunt," noting that the impeachment inquiry has become a financial goldmine for the GOP.

The California Public Utilities Commission is considering a proposal to tax SMS text messages to fund phone services for low-income residents. The wireless industry opposes the plan, arguing it is unfair because it exempts internet-based messaging services like Apple's iMessage and Facebook Messenger.

A review of the Nokia 3110 3G remake concludes the device is inferior to older models like the E71 due to software instability and limited memory. The speaker describes a troubleshooting experience with T-Mobile where it was discovered that a build-up of text messages caused the phone to crash. The segment emphasizes the difficulty of finding modern hardware that supports a "zero tracking" lifestyle.

Adam Curry points out that the printed text messages between Peter Strzok and Lisa Page in the IG report lack emojis, which he argues are essential for understanding the context and tone of modern communication. He suggests the information provided to Congress is incomplete without these visual cues, jokingly speculating on the types of emojis the "FBI lovers" might have used.

Adam Curry recounts a frustrating experience with AT&T's international roaming charges for his daughter in London, where text messages cost nearly a dollar each. John C. Dvorak mentions a listener who received an $8,000 bill after a week in Finland. They advise travelers to use unlocked phones and local GSM SIM cards to avoid "bait-and-switch" pricing from major carriers.

The hosts discuss technical frustrations with Google Voice's numbering system and voicemail notifications. They transition to political media, noting Sarah Palin's keynote speech at the Tea Party convention aired on C-SPAN.

Media coverage of Tiger Woods focuses on allegations of infidelity and leaked text messages. The hosts discuss how Woods' controlled image is crumbling as more women come forward. They highlight a Japanese news recreation of the incident involving his wife and a golf club, comparing the animation style to the "Legend of Zelda."

A shooting occurred in the parking lot of Skyline College following an altercation between two groups. The school utilized a text-messaging alert system to instruct students to "shelter in place," a move the hosts compare to Virginia Tech protocols. Witnesses reported the suspects fled in a "fluorescent purple" Ford Escort with spinning rims and paper license plates.

The Ubuntu 8.1 operating system is praised for its "live CD" functionality and user-friendly interface. In media news, Becky Worley's Nightline report on teenage text messaging addiction is discussed, featuring a girl who sent over 36,000 texts in one month. The evolution of communication habits among "star children" is contrasted with older generations.

The reliability of mobile networks is questioned following missed text messages and delayed voicemails while traveling between the United Kingdom and the United States. Technical issues involving network hopping between O2, the 3 network, and AT&T resulted in a three-day delay for a message regarding Holland's Got Talent tickets. Plans are made to switch to a local UK number on a new iPhone to bypass international routing complications.

Managing multiple international phone numbers presents logistical hurdles, particularly regarding SMS. While services like Grand Central (acquired by Google) allow for voice call forwarding, the lack of a standardized routing facility for text messages forces users to rely on complex manual workarounds involving Bluetooth and local computers.