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Pardon the poor quality 5 MP pictures here from my Alcatel Pop Icon Smartphone. I just ordered a Samsung Galaxy S7 from Tracfone, now that it's under $500, and I need the upgrade for both the camera and the memory (info at bottom) and the 4G Internet. Thomas, my sister's/nephew's/brother-in-law's beagle-pug mix puppy, went for his first walk in a park today. At first he was in shock at all the stuff new to him. At first he was upset about the around-the-neck and around-the-back collar/harness. He ran and hid under my nephew's bed. Then he didn't want to get in my car. Then he didn't want to be led away from the car toward the trails and woods, even though the temperature was close to 50F with little wind, leaving just traces of snow. I On the 3/4 mile walk from the car, Thomas was using his half-beagle nose - as I realized later - to form a smell-map of the park. He kept walking in clockwise circles around me (yet dogs turn counterclockwise when they mat-down a place to sit or poop in tall grass) trying to get a good whiff of all kinds of things my poor human sense of smell thought were insignificant. A half-hour walk took 47 minutes, including the red leash handle slipping out of my hand and having to run after Thomas for a few minutes - lucky my sprained ankle is mostly healed. He was very attentive and, after a few people we crossed paths with stopped to pet him, he was in a much better mood. On the way back to the car, he no longer went in circles around me - he knew where we were going and strained at the leash to get there. When we reached several places where the path diverged, he always picked the right direction. I wondered if it was just that he was more comfortable in the park or if he now had "smell mapped" the route, so as we approached the car I changed the path and entered the parking lot from a different place. Sure enough, as soon as I left the trail we used going away from the car, he began walking in circles again to get a "smell map." My new phone, the Samsung Galaxy S7, which Tracfone recently reduced to $429 from $629. It's Tracfone's only high-priced option for my zip-code. The next-best is the Samsung Galaxy J7 Sky Pro which is normally $149 but on-sale through March for $119. I almost got it but looked at YouTube videos of camera/video comparisons and it just doesn't do well in dim light. I've always bought $150 or less smartphones but decided to splurge for once: I've missed too many good pics and while those around me were getting good pictures or video with their phones. Both the S7 and J7 Sky Pro can be bought at Tracfone with a $125 Smartphone Plan: 1500 min talk, 1500 texts, 1500 MB G4 internet. I currently have 433 minutes, 1000 texts, and 1200 MB on my current Tracfone that will expire in June, 2019. So I'll now have and ending date of June, 2020 and since I don't use the phone/text/web phone options that much, I won't have to buy more airtime until then. A Brief Review: Best Android phones of 2018: Our top picks for February https://www.androidpit.com/best-android-phone Best under $500: Samsung Galaxy S7 If you're looking for a great phone around $500, the choice is easy. The Samsung Galaxy S7 is still a great phone, even at a year old. And now that the Galaxy S8 has been released, it's an even better value than before. The performance holds up and the photo quality is fantastic with the S7 and S7 Edge. The design is still modern and elegant, and it has water and dust resistance. · Samsung Galaxy S7 review: still a contender · Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge review: pushing the limit The Galaxy S7 combines old and new to become one of Samsung's enduring best. / © AndroidPIT The Galaxy S7 has a 12 MP camera on the rear, and a 5 MP selfie cam. With a battery capacity of 3,000 mAh, the S7 is capable of getting through the day with ease. The internal memory is a sufficient 32 GB, expandable via microSD card. If you have the budget, the Edge version is even more of a joy.

so it's the old Home Depot joke all over again? : Two seriously good-looking 20-21 year-old girls come over to your car as you are packing your car, They both start wiping your windshield with a rag and Windex, with their breasts almost falling out of their skimpy T-shirts. It is impossible not to look. When you thank them and offer them a tip, they say 'No' and instead ask you for a ride to McDonald's. You agree and they get in the backseat. On the way, they start undressing. Then one of them climbs over into the front seat and starts crawling all over you, while the other one steals your wallet. I had my wallet stolen February 4th, 9th, 10th, twice on the 15th, 17th, 20th, 24th & 29th. Also, March 1st, 4th, twice on the 8th, 16th, 23rd, 26th, 30th, three times last Saturday and very likely again this upcoming weekend. So tell your friends to be careful. P.S. Wal-Mart has wallets on sale $2.99 each

Many thumbs up. You won't get a "do-over" once you buy the annuity.

No one makes DH do anything, no one.

Did they make you take your helmet off?

It is now Mississsippppi I cannot cope with financial planning, tendonitis and Mississsippppi

The scale is still moving slowly..but damn...more and more people are commenting on my "weight loss"..a older guy who is a caretaker for the rich lady who occasionally gives me hand me downs...the UPS guy who sees me daily..and the 30 something window washer...we have chatted these past 6 years or so.."you're looking good...what are you doing?"...it all helps...

Yes, but not as bad as myolcoxafloppin.

I'm here. Jsharr and I are making a babeh. Couch

I think the chances of it working are slim. Most of them have a cousin in New Jersey and they go running to them. The public humiliation of a situation like that precludes me from ever considering that. Plus now Im married, but was single for 10 years Dont we have a Very high ranking politician on his 2nd one? Slovenia, close enough.

Probably the worst picture ever taken of me. Doesn't matter, I am BC bound soon.

That is quite enough of that foolishness!

I bet there is less competition on the BlackBerry market, I'd invest my time there. Then tackle the Microsoft Phone market.

Yea, that whole deal with VB and jsharr was a really low point of LF. BP was simply a horrible moderator. The truth be told, we have it much better with SW. At least he cares about the people here, even AWWC. And, I do find his jokes funny. Couch

Dang, that is the second time that has happened today!

I hate it when you can't find the nipple.

Yes, but I may want to flee to Switzerland.

I don't know this particular guy or the investment, but annuities often have nice payments for the people who sell them. The "planner" may not have your best interest at heart. Learning the basics of investing isn't hard, and you really owe it to yourself to understand the basics. There are plenty of people here who can help, or other resources if you want us to stay out of it. But please don't rush into anything you don't understand.

Ah, the wrestling match is about to begin! I still think Smokey Cat will win. Tom

Quit making up stupid chicken names. Layer or fryer. That is all we need to know.

Ducks are white, Aylesburys for example. A place I used to ride through has a sign about dismounting due to ducks in river. Lovely place and lovely sign, roughly handpainted on a scrap of olde ply.

I never get dropped by the pack. Just by a 13 year old kid.

Explain me this "He was arraigned and released on his own recognizance" How much of this recognizance stuff has a chap like this actually got?

I get to fly today. Maybe I'll get to see Wilbur up there. Couch

I like needling people too.

One word.......... welding helmet

Serenity now.

Dirt was invented Continental drift started

If there were any coconuts on the ground, I'd guess an African swallow.

Are you sure that's a good idea? So it seems this "advisor" is really an annuity salesman. Rethink this, dear lady.

I cannot believe none of you dolts posted the correct response.

Why not. I've seen worse attempts at a parody from your socks.

that was the first picture. Perfectly coiffed head of hair. But I'm looking up. Retake here but Rejected. Not looking straight forward & no hats Then tried again Sorry. No commercial advertising & no chest hair Finally got one to take. Technically a violation but got approved on a little known subsection called the "Martha I'm coming home clause"

Is this your passport picture?

Yes. And it's chilly in our basement - so if it was there I'm pretty sure I'd have seen it.

...here in California, my new and improved California D/L keeps me safe from the people who would harm democracy. That's what they told me.

My .02 to the conversation. You said your time frame is ten years. If you have access to Vanguard funds, try something like VTHRX. You can even build it yourself for less fees by using their ratios to create the same style of fund yourself. This might be a little trickier for you, as you have make sure that you are getting the ratios right. A target fund has equities of intl. and domestic funds and intl. bonds as well as domestic bonds. As you near retirement age, the bond holdings increase and the equity amount decrease. If you don't want to reallocate every year, then just stick with target funds. https://investor.vanguard.com/mutual-funds/target-retirement/#/mini/holdings/0695 VTHRX is made up like this: Holdings Underlying funds as of 02/28/2018 Rank Fund name Percentage 1 Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Investor Shares 42.6% 2 Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Investor Shares 28.2% 3 Vanguard Total Bond Market II Index Fund Investor Shares** 20.3% 4 Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund Investor Shares 8.9% Total 100.0% In regards to the annuity, don't be pressured. I looked up Pacific life and the fees end up being quite high. I was not impressed with their mutual fund listing at all. If you are not a rich person, you can not afford to pay a bunch of high fees. That will cut deeply into your nest egg.

That's not a wireless mic...plug it in, dumbass!

It would probably have ads.

It's Friday........ It really doesn't have any meaning when you have to work Saturdays. It's just another day.

Chickens can get up that high, well some of them. My Buff Orphington probably could not, she was fat. But my Golden Laced Wyandottes certainly could. But they were not white. I didn't have ANY white chickens. Does that make me a racists?

Group run. 3.3 miles @ 9:27 pace. Beautiful weather 67 and sunny!

The Germans bombed Pearl Harbor.

Bump. Couch

...thank you for your unrelenting dedication to quality control here.

Quit stressing about it. Stress makes you gain weight.

Meh - Pop Tarts sooooo disappoint. And, I am increasingly less and less happy with potato chips. Candy (mostly chocolate types), pizza, and ice cream REMAIN winners! Go eat one of those three superfoods. Tom