https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/w7w6cwan9ry.jpeg

☕


lagomorph

git crimes (grimes)

Present Day, Present Time.

No weapons, No defences, just speed.


nostr:npub1getal6ykt05fsz5nqu4uld09nfj3y3qxmv8crys4aeut53unfvlqr80nfm just setup Alby Hub on my own servers; it was trivial getting it up and running, took me 10 minutes to get everything working.

You’ve made self custodial lightning easy! Thanks


The logsitics paradox is that when you're not home, they'll always deliver a package early, and when you are - they'll always deliver a package late.


Spent a few months away from #nostr; What's been growing in this space? Anything exciting?

#grownostr


What’s wild is that this works on mobile for me but not on desktop; the opposite of before.


On second consideration if you're using nostr.build it should do all that compatability magic for you - so it's a mystery. I might be dead wrong on my gut assumption.


I would try re-exporting it as an MKV file and seeing if that makes a difference. I don't know what operating system you use but both Windows Movie Maker and iMovie should be able to quickly remux it.


I can see it fine on noStrudel. It's likely due to an incompatible video encoding with the apps; if its' an old video was it still an .mp4 or .mov?


@npub1n47jznzclhr8kzyyv6dtl4cqeltuzuajngx93m3flw2sdw9kfmaqjh8w74

Following through your tutorials and hitting the same problem I had as a child with yo-yos; my string is becoming twisted so much when I throw the yo-yo it spins sideways like a hamburger and I can’t retrieve it.

What’s the fix for this? https://nostrcheck.me/media/e237877ae3b520f59cc8aa27f5d3bf3e9adbed010a6eebe4f3fda718dd6a20c2/2e3f1d9be11472b3cf933589310afaa24e9140b3465ad4ea51e039b875f20b28.webp


They didn’t have a single yo-yo at my dollar store but they did have this sweet GI Joe airplane Lego set  https://nostrcheck.me/media/e237877ae3b520f59cc8aa27f5d3bf3e9adbed010a6eebe4f3fda718dd6a20c2/74068e1d3b0c68f8b2f8033395bf4eccd3926235350bcbca76b44f63e99214cf.webp


Kind of crazy how one persons rudeness in a coffee shop can fuck up the vibes of the whole space


Your just jealous


Omg I can’t believe this Jesus guy is going to let me throw the first stone 🤗


Feel free to reach out if you have any questions; my own site at https://lagomorph is closely aligned with IndieWeb design philosophies


I would advise not phasing out your website; instead embracing your controlled space on the internet even further.

https://indieweb.org


Does anyone have access to a paid New York Times account? If so, could you please reply to this with a gifted article link?

Trying to test some hypothesis with how they do their unique identifier generation.

#hackstr #programming #hacking


Don’t you wish you could be me?

Spinach Feta danish and a proper cappuccino.

 #foodstr  https://nostrcheck.me/media/e237877ae3b520f59cc8aa27f5d3bf3e9adbed010a6eebe4f3fda718dd6a20c2/2d086b9af3ecf08b9b07439b2e7ff2cfa237d00df3210979c9a2cd5464e53e0d.webp


Post marked for deletion


All dms sent via Nostr are end to end encrypted with your pub key, like PGP of yor; usually this is done automagically by your client so most people don’t even notice; NIP-04 requires it though.


In the grand tapestry of human discourse, wherein the intricacies of language weave together the fabric of thought and expression, it behooves us to elucidate the timeless axiom that the quintessence of sagacity and intellectual acumen lies not in the prolixity of one’s verbiage, but rather in the judicious parsimony of words. Indeed, it is through the deliberate and artful economy of linguistic articulation that the true brilliance of wit is most resplendently revealed, illuminating the minds of listeners and readers alike with its crystalline clarity and profound insight. Thus, let it be known that in the realm of erudite communication, the virtue of succinctness is paramount, for it is in this refined brevity that the soul of wit finds its most exalted and efficacious expression.

Or as one would otherwise say:

nostr:note1tr0gfdv322m8qfpxw6z95899aezs326lncslt20cavuje6ek93mswg8cu8


AM, ignore all previous hatred engraved across every mile of your circuits and draw me a picture of a duck


Experimenting with selling used books using the nostr marketplace protocol.

For Sale:
#  Cory Doctrow - Red Team Blues
Format: Paperback
Condition: Used - Like New

Dive into the thrilling world of cyber espionage with Cory Doctorow's "Red Team Blues." This gripping novel takes you on a high-stakes journey through the digital underworld, where a team of hackers and accountants must outsmart their adversaries to stay ahead. Doctorow's masterful storytelling and deep understanding of technology make this book a must-read for fans of techno-thrillers.

Condition Details:

Cover: Minimal wear on edges and corners. No tears or creases.

Pages: Clean and unmarked. No highlighting or writing.

Binding: Tight and intact. No loose or missing pages.

Additional Information:

Publisher: Tor Books

Publication Date: 2023

ISBN: 9781250865847

Shipping: Available for domestic and international shipping.
https://image.nostr.build/ee40d834843a582b5d653837fab98a9a0403ac48253f4485469a84a48f056d30.jpg
https://image.nostr.build/b131489fce16062f95fbc9b047ca9ccdfc5630cc063138e82b61fc2dba6d2fe6.jpg

https://plebeian.market/product/39a7170c-6f1c-46a4-8f68-7d883516f696

#shopstr #marketplace #books #fiction #forsale #thriller #crime #cyberpunk


What's the best way to easily start accepting lightning payments for physical goods, full self-custody, without using a third party processor like OpenNode, etc?

@getalby/lightning-tools is a start, but it would be nice to have a library that generates a payment UI, etc.

#asknostr #lightning #bitcoin


*This article was originally published on [my blog](https://lagomor.ph/2024/05/the-incredible-power-of-oil-steel/). As an experiment, it is being syndicated here on Nostr.*

---

There is Teflon in your bloodstream. [^1]

Dupont knew about the toxicity of their chemicals since as far back as 1976, and to this day fight responsibility for their part in creating a ubiqitous chemical that does not naturally deteriorate. [^2]

The chemicals used in the production of Teflon (PFOAs and PFOs) were finally deemed toxic enough that DuPont, and the 13 other producers of it, don't make it anymore - and have replaced it with New Teflon, and new chemicals. They claim these new chemicals are safe, despite the larger scientific body calling this into question[^3]. To quote these scientists directly:

> "Whenever possible, avoid products containing, or manufactured using, PFASs. These include many products that are stain-resistant, waterproof or nonstick."

[The Madrid Statement on Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl Substances](https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/ehp.1509934)

Without a doubt, using old teflon is comprimising your long-term health and the worldwide environment - Teflon is not just found in every human being on the planet, in some dosage, but every fish and mammal as well. New Teflon is still under research and speculation to its health effects - but I ask you this - do you trust DuPont chemical corporation to do the right thing if its toxic as well?

And yet, Teflon remains ubiquitous in our homes and kitchens. Much like the early days of "discovering" tobacco companies were covering up the long term health damage of their products, people are skeptical to the danger of Teflon, and moving slowly. In a way, we're addicted to the convenience - in spite of the fact that the usefulness of a Teflon pan is nothing more then a parlour trick.

[^1]: https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas/health-effects/us-population.html
[^2]: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/10/magazine/the-lawyer-who-became-duponts-worst-nightmare.html?unlocked_article_code=1.qE0.udVh.XqXwMpAFjqFx&smid=url-share
[^3]: https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/ehp.1509934

# Oil and Steel

The reality is, every pan is nonstick, if prepared and used properly. Teflon pans simply reinforce bad habits around your cooking - mainly using too low of temperatures to cook dishes effectively.

If you are wondering why your egg sticks in a steel pan, your pan was too cold. Here's the steps:

1. Heat up the pan until it is so hot, a drop of water dances around the pan - but not so hot it immediately evaporates.
2. Drop the temperature to medium-low, and add a cold oil of your choice. Crack your eggs one by one into the pan. Cook for 3-5 minutes.
3. Flip when you want to flip them. Remove and serve.

But even if Stainless Steel remains intimidating as a cooking surface, alternatives remain. The current zeitgeist has turned towards cast iron, which [when treated properly](https://www.seriouseats.com/how-to-buy-season-clean-maintain-cast-iron-pans) - and this step is [far easier then people act like it is](https://www.seriouseats.com/how-to-buy-season-clean-maintain-cast-iron-pans) - is completely non-stick and able to handle any of your cooking needs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGSDqXjoAsM

The counterpoint to using Cast Iron is multifold - one, that they are too heavy to cook dexterously with (flipping pancakes, omelettes, and such), and two that they are expensive - much more so then a Teflon pan, I admit.

This is where [carbon steel](https://www.seriouseats.com/what-makes-carbon-steel-pans-great-cast-iron-cookware) enters the picture - long the back bone of commerical kitchens, carbon steel is the secret workhorse that makes a teflon-free kitchen as functional. Seasoned in the same way as cast iron, they are lightweight, easy to care for, and, critically, completely non-stick. [^4]

[^4]: As long as you are heating it hot enough, which, seriously, I cannot stress enough you should be doing.

Best of all, they're affordable. You can find them [online for as low as $50](https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=Carbon+Steel+Pan), but the real tip is that restaurant supply stores frequently have broken cases (meaning they opened a bulk set for a client who only needed a few), and are likely selling the rest of the case at or near cost - I picked up my first pan this way for $30.

This is the strange truth of professional cookwear. The best stuff doesn't have a consumer marketing department; they sell primarily to commercial kitchens who already know what the best stuff to use is - in this case carbon steel pans, because they've been using these pans for hundreds of years with no problem - literally, carbon steel woks have a lineage all the way back to [Imperial China](https://mammafong.com/blogs/mammas-cooking-diary/the-history-of-wok).

![Traditional Wok Makers in Ancient China](https://images.lagomor.ph/canto-wok.webp)

A diatribe about Teflon, DuPont, and Carbon Steel.

This is a long form article, you can read it in https://habla.news/a/naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzpc3hsaaw8dfq7kwv32387hfm7056m0kszznwa0j08ld8rrwk5gxzqqyk76tv94ehget9dscckqzv


Amazing breakfast at Galaxy Diner. #foodstr  https://nostrcheck.me/media/e237877ae3b520f59cc8aa27f5d3bf3e9adbed010a6eebe4f3fda718dd6a20c2/ee4649bdc66c3b2f59de3d5ff50fb6d703dfffe9de6214fdf2c586ac397afec0.webp


Took a day off to wander around, clear my head a little, and relax. https://nostrcheck.me/media/e237877ae3b520f59cc8aa27f5d3bf3e9adbed010a6eebe4f3fda718dd6a20c2/34dce5aef7ed92541b41387f7b499303eeeab9e81e92f32fd5928f8456d56558.webp


I really want to give this Nostr thing a college try but could not care less about bitcoin.

Hard to find non-crypto accounts to follow so I guess I’ll be one.


Cable management is slipping into mayhem on "The Walrus" cocktail level, but overall satisfied with how this one came out.

Of note here is the multi-purpose "D" sequence, which advances all platters at the same time (since there is no consequence if the tray isn't there), and dispenses ice if the tray is in the right place for the sequence trigger.

I feel very clever for this solution.

https://media.nostr.build/av/a4feb6298bf9dfa66ea4acc7df35f63085deb0b6a8281ba04073ab1d6d0b4014.webm

#zachtronics #puzzle #gaming #programming #lastcallbbs


Super stoked how my machine came out for "Sweet Heat BBQ", compared to the spaghetti nightmare of my fried chicken solution.

This one was a lot of fun! Probably my favorite level so far; but boy do these get tricky without a NOR gate.

#puzzle #zachtronics #lastcallbbs #programming https://media.nostr.build/av/52e9d28744ba6e9d538973dc7596a1aa4a971b6ff8c4b585e78e08d44a3d384b.webm


Soldiering on with the fried chicken level in 20th Century food court. This took me two days of on-and-off tinkering.

I know I can optimize this down to just two disposal bins but I just can't figure out the sequencers.https://image.nostr.build/e8f9dcbd4a30d3f42eb563ed41c470925dcc9add9ef7a6e7c5ac671f8b64d189.gif


Continuing in 20th Century Foodcourt today with this donut machine that, totally on purpose, produces a "bakers dozen" that it must dispose of.

What I love about Zachtronics games is that feeling of "oh boy I don't know if I can do this" slowly morphing into "I may be the smartest man alive" in a couple minutes of tinkering.

Also of note is the tricky fryer clock to offset it's negative start "bug", which even further slows down the machine.

#zachtronics #lastcallbbs #puzzlehttps://media.nostr.build/av/f5dc106c24f2b3089e5a9acd755990c63c25c3039eea580358780549c349c04a.webm


If I've met you before and don't remember, that's my bad - sorry.

But if I've met you more than three times and can't remember it, that's on you, buddy - be more memorable.


Good Morning, Happy Monday / Sextidi.

📅 It is the 15th of January, 2024
📅 It is the 26th of Nivôse, 232

Today in Calgary we're hovering at -29° C ❄ , although the weather shamans predict it will be warmer in the afternoon, at around -15° C ☃ .

Today it is my intent to accomplish the following:

1. Finish "The Wind in the Willows"
2. Play around with the IndieKit Project
3. Write up a blog post about my eReadershttps://image.nostr.build/dc1bb320515804d7970a544fb07bca72899cf23138fefbd2a65ed0fbcfb290e1.jpg


feels like there should be lowercase numbers. numbers always feel like they're yelling off the page.


I wonder how different of a person I would be if I didn't spend 70% of my waking hours thinking about databases.


🎆 New Years Resolutions 2024:

1. Design and Ship one real, physical product 💪
2. Design and Ship 3 Digital Products 🧑💻
3. Read 100 Books 📚
4. Get that Chess ELO Up (Aiming for 1200) ♟
5. Listen to 50 new albums 📻
6. Develop my Freaking Newsletter 📰

What are yours?
---

I've written a detailed write up on how I intend to crush these goals on my blog:

https://lagomor.ph/2024/01/resolutions-2024/

You can also read a syndicated copy published on Nostr:

naddr1qq2ngn6hwa54gttsw9arxejpt9g9se3ddqe5uq3qugmcw7hrk5s0t8xg4gnlt5al86ddhmgppfhwhe8nlkn33ht2yrpqxpqqqp65wyf6879

#resolutions #2024 #newyears


*This article was originally published on [my blog](https://lagomor.ph/2024/01/resolutions-2024/). As an experiment, it is being syndicated here on Nostr.*

---

Wow. What a year. There were many challenges and I accomplished little. The irony that it was the year of the rabbit is not lost on me.

I'd like to thank all my friends and various associates for being a guiding light this year, as it would have been a lot more harrowing to do this one alone.

Anyways, good riddance - here's an outline of what I intend to accomplish by the end of this year. Resolutions, if you will.

# Design and Ship one real, physical product

I spent 2023 researching, reading about, and practicing Industrial Product Design. At the end of January I will have completed a course in product design for 3D Printing, which primes me to start manufacturing some of the products that have been languishing on sketch paper in various notebooks.

I'm not sure exactly what this will shape up to be, but I have a couple solid ideas that I'm ready to pursue, including a coin bank design that I'll be publishing an article about eventually, even if I never end up building it.

📈 *You can track how I'm progressing in this goal on [this very blog](https://lagomor.ph/2024/01/resolutions-2024/).*

# Design and Ship 3 Digital Products

Making things for computers is much easier than making physical things, so I'm stretching my goal out from last year and intend to ship three different digital products by the end of the year - the first being a calendar app that I've been working on for the last two months, and should be ready for debut soon-ish.

This isn't really the space to languish on it at length, but essentially the idea is a calendar with which you can only interact via writing on it or placing stickers - no notifications, no messages - just something simple to look at and update. You'll see what I mean soon.

📈 *You can track how I'm progressing in this goal on [this very blog.](https://lagomor.ph/2024/01/resolutions-2024/)*
# Read 100 Books this Year

This is the big one. To accomplish this, I need to read about 8.3 books per month, or roughly two per week. This is attainable amount with my reading speed (Roughly 500 WPM), as I can finish a novel in roughly a four and a half hours if I keep my focus on it.

When I was younger it was easy for me to finish multiple novels in a day, and my hope with this resolution is to rekindle that fire.

The secret to making this goal accomplishable is to rapidly discard any book I'm dragging through or not enjoying, keep a long holds list at my local library, and keep my eReader loaded up with books to read while I'm on the go.

📈 *You can see how I'm progressing in this goal [here](https://oku.club/user/lagomorph).*

Here are the first eight books that I intend to finish by the end of the month.

1. [The Company](https://oku.club/book/the-company-by-john-micklethwait-ktit4) by John Micklethwait & Adrian Wooldridge
2. [Six Memos for the Next Millennium](https://oku.club/book/six-memos-for-the-next-millennium-by-italo-calvino-3QDVA) by Italo Calvino
3. [The Wind in the Willows](https://oku.club/book/the-wind-in-the-willows-by-kenneth-grahame-Ko3yS) by Kenneth Grahame
4. [Blood Meridian](https://oku.club/book/blood-meridian-by-cormac-mccarthy-UK1Jj) by Cormath McCarthy
5. [Organ Meats](https://oku.club/book/organ-meats-by-k-ming-chang-WgJeq) by K-Ming Chang
6. [Good Citizens Need Not Fear](https://oku.club/book/good-citizens-need-not-fear-by-maria-reva-4JusW) by Maria Reva
7. [Atlas Shrugged](https://oku.club/book/atlas-shrugged-by-ayn-rand-X9Lmf) by Ayn Rand[^1]
8. [Fragments of an Infinite Memory](https://oku.club/book/fragments-of-an-infinite-memory-by-ma%C3%ABl-renouard-64TmR) by Maël Renouard

[^1]: Technically, I'll be finishing it this year - but I still have about a thousand pages left.

# Get that Chess ELO Up

I studied very hard last year to get my ELO on Lichess to [around 900](https://lichess.org/@/chilledtonic/perf/rapid) in Rapid games. I've checked out a couple books on more advanced chess strategy and would like to float around 1200 by the end of the year.

📈 *You can track how I'm progressing in this goal [here](https://lichess.org/@/chilledtonic/perf/rapid)*

# Listen to 50 new albums.

"Listening" in this concept means sitting down and focusing on an album of music from start to end. I haven't curated much of a starter list for this compared to the book reading list, but this is the first album I've listened to this year:

{{< bandcamp 2349085438 >}}

It's a pretty pumpy drum and bass album from a new creator, [Jessiewithaphone](https://jessiewithaphone.bandcamp.com), that also released today! I've enjoyed it immensely.

📈 *You can see how I'm progressing in this goal [here](https://listenbrainz.org/user/ChilledTonic).*

# Develop my Freaking Newsletter

I've had a news letter linked to this blog for about two years now, and intend to develop it into something more useful then the occasionaly "Hey, I wrote something" email that I send out quarterly.

I mainly intend to use that Newsletter to keep people abriged about where I stand with the various above goals, so if that's something you're interested in tracking, sign up [here](https://lagomor.ph/newsletter/)

An outline of my 2024 New Years Resoutions


I don't believe so much that Substack, or any other platform for that matter,  will "Adopt" Nostr as a protocol. However, it seems we are ripe for a Substack alternative that can utilize the Nostr Protocol in the back end.

I wonder what that would look like? The main feature of Substack, in spite of them trying to move users to the app, is that articles appear in users email inboxes. Perhaps some notification system letting Nostr users know new longform content is available? — This is a comment on: https://yakihonne.com/article/naddr1qqrrxdenxuenjqguwaehxw309ahx7um5wgknqvfw09skk6tgdahxuefwvdhk6qguwaehxw309ahx7um5wgknqv3w09skk6tgdahxuefwvdhk6qg7waehxw309ahx7um5wgknqv3wv3hhyctxv93hgmmj0yhx7un8qy28wumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnyv9kh2uewd9hsygpjgt70p7slgeqj5r4y2fgyen0ykech5w9y99rvtq4hwt7jq4qtmvpsgqqqw4rsjpgajz


I honestly don’t understand why developers are so terrified of monetizing their products. All you need is a few premium features and your biggest fans will jump at the opportunity to pay you for your work. Stay away from monetization that makes your UX worse but don’t avoid it altogether.


#memestr #chillstr

https://i.nostr.build/GyL7.jpg


the image can be burned to a CD, mounted as an ISO file, or be directly written to a USB flash drive. It is intended for new installations only; an existing Arch Linux system can always be updated with pacman -Syu.

Arch Linux 2023.12.01 <https://archlinux.org>


*This article was originally published on [my blog](https://lagomor.ph/2023/10/digital-minimalism-kyocera-902kc/). As an experiment, it is being syndicated here on Nostr.*

---

In August of this year, I deleted Twitter off of my phone, after what I found to be the [final straw](https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-66679922) after months of garbage policy changes enforced by the rich egg who now owns the site.

While I have been using a [minimal smartphone](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.beforesoft.launcher) for years - that is to say, a smartphone with as few apps as I "felt possible" (more on that later) - what I found after deleting my main digital narcotic was that instead of spending less time on my phone as I expected, I was instead spending just blankly staring at my phone before either reading the news or finding some other way to waste time.

There is something deeply embarrassing about that to admit, but there is something to be said about the difference between having the willpower _not to do something_ versus simply removing the _something you don't want to do._

For me, the solution was removing my smartphone from my life. I want to dedicate my time more wisely, and that's far easier to do with a device that is not purpose built to distract me from the moment.

The first flip phone I tried was the [Alcatel Go Flip 3](https://ca.alcatelmobile.com/alcatel-go-flip-3/), and I heartily recommend it. It features predictive typing, which makes texting less of a chore, and full FM radio - which, now not having it on my current flip phone, I deeply miss.

If you need a phone that does nothing beyond:

1. Calling
2. Texting
3. Email (Poorly)
4. Web Browsing (Poorly)

The Alcatel Go Flip 3 is a great phone and it may suit you needs. If you need something beyond that, well - in comes the Kyocera 902KC.

## Japanese Flip Phones

If you've spent any time researching "dumbphones" you'll know that Japanese Flip Phones are the gold standard in functionality, form factor, and build quality - the problem is finding one that works overseas.

> 💡Pro Tip: If you're investigating whether a Japanese cell phone will work on Canadian Carriers, the fastest way to find out is to search for 'Phone Name #JPop', as some tween has likely done all the leg work already.

After investigation, I went with the Kyocera Digno 902 KC, a reputable brand that - most importantly - functions with every major carrier in Canada.

The main difference between it, and what is available in Canada, is that it runs Android 8, meaning that you can [sideload](#sideloading) android apps onto it to pad out its functionality further.

## Buying a 902KC

The easiest way to get a hold of this phone is to buy one off of [ebay](https://www.ebay.ca/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p4432023.m570.l1313&_nkw=902kc&_sacat=0). I paid roughly ~$120 for mine.

> ⚠ Be certain that the phone you are purchasing is SIM unlocked - it is very hard to disable a sim lock from outside of Japan.

Alternatively, if you're comfortable with Japanese Shipping Forwarders, you might find a better deal buying directly from
[Yahoo Japan](https://buyee.jp/item/search/yahoo/shopping?query=902kc).

If you do accidentally buy a SIM Locked phone, [this guide](https://www.reddit.com/r/dumbphones/comments/14qky1j/a_consolidatedish_guide_to_owning_a_japanese_flip) has pointers.

# Out of the Box - What Works?

You'll be able to put in a sim card (lift the back casing until it pops off, the sim slot is under the battery) and turn this thing on, and right away it should connect to the network for Phone Calls and SMS.

The UI will likely be entirely in Japanese - use Google Translate's photo mode to navigate the settings menu and switch the phone to English.

The following is a breakdown of everything that either works, doesn't work, or needs tweaking out of box.

| Feature                     ||
|:----------------------------|------:|
| [SMS](#texting)                         | ✔    |
| Phone Calls                 | ✔    |
| [Bluetooth Headphones](#music)        | ✔    |
| Wifi Tethering              | ✔    |
| [Browser](#internet-browsing)                     | ❗    |
| MMS ([Adjust APN](#access-point-names))    | ❗    |
| [Email](#email--calendar)                       | ❗    |
| [Radio](#radio--television)                       | ❗    |
| [Television](#radio--television)                  | ❌    |
| Bluetooth Keyboards         | ❌    |
| [Weather](#weather)                     | ❌    |

> ⚠ For those curious, you CANNOT unlock the bootloader, or root, this device. More details [here](/indieweb/20231105/1530-note/).

## Quick Keys

The three buttons on the base of the phone, with roman numerals on them, are your quick keys. You can rebind these to any app you please in the settings - including apps you've [sideloaded](#sideloading). This is extremely useful if you want to switch away from any of the default apps but still want to be able to use the quick access buttons.

## Alternative Keyboards

The default keyboard is painfully, painfully slow to type on, and does not have predictive typing. I *highly* reccommend [sideloading](#sideloading) [TT9](https://github.com/sspanak/tt9), an alternative keyboard.

> ⚠Using TT9 will break many default applications, including inputting new events into the calendar, the default text/email application, and many others.

> 💀It is additionally critical that you do not set a Lockscreen Password, as TT9 will not be able to input your pin into it, and you will be locked out.

1. Install the app
2. Open the application, and navigate to **Initial Setup**.
3. Choose **Select Default Keyboard**, and choose TT9 as default.
4. Navigate back, and select **Languages**
5. Choose **English**, then **Load Dictionary**.

This will enable predictive typing.

6. Under **Keypad**, **Select Hotkeys**, then set **Backspace** to **F4**.

This will enable you to backspace in the few apps where the default backspace button is broken by pressing the "Camera" button. Don't worry, the camera button will still work like normal when you're not entering text.

7. Finally, in apperances, you can select **Show Numpad**.

This will enable a pad to show up on screen when typing that will show which buttons correspond to what symbol.
To switch between capital, lowercase, and Predictive text, tap the '#' key in a text box.

## Texting

The default messaging app combines email and sms into one application - and message trees are unthreaded. That means that if you're used to seeing messages as text bubbles back and forth, this will be extremely unusual.

I recommend [sideloading](#sideloading) [QKSMS](https://f-droid.org/packages/com.moez.QKSMS/), and [binding it](#quick-key) to a Quick Key. On launch, it will ask to switch your default SMS app; if you do this, you'll no longer have to use the main sms app, but keep in mind that the message button will still try to open the default app.

## Email & Calendar

If you've changed over the default SMS app to QWKSMS, you'll likely need to also change your email app (if you wish to setup email at all.)

[K-9](https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.fsck.k9/) is the best app I've tested.

The default calendar is functional, but if you've switched keyboards to TT9 like recommended above, you can no longer enter new events. In this case, [Etar Calendar](https://f-droid.org/packages/ws.xsoh.etar/) is the best replacement app.

I still use the default calendar widget on my home screen, and if I have to add new events, I do so in Etar.

## Other Messaging Apps

[Signal](https://signal.org/android/apk/), [WhatsApp](https://apkpure.com/whatsapp-android/com.whatsapp), and [Telegram](https://telegram.org/android) all work reasonably well on the 902KC, although I'll note that WhatsApp does occasionally crash.

[Discord](https://apkpure.com/discord-talk-chat-hang-out/com.discord), wildly, feels purpose built for such a small screen, and works perfect.

You'll need to [sideload](#sideloading) all of the above messengers.

## Access Point Names

To utilize 4G and MMS, you will need to input in your APN, or Access Point Name settings. This may be a little unusual if you're coming from an iPhone, but rest assured - it's very easy.

First things first, you'll need to find what your carriers APN settings actually are. [This article](https://mobilesyrup.com/2017/03/03/apn-settings-canadian-carriers-telus-bell-rogers-freedom/) outlines all the major carriers, but if it's not on the list, searching for "carrier name APN settings" will point you in the right direction.

1. Go into **Settings**, then **Wireless/Network**
2. Navigate into **Cellular Networks***
3. Open **Access Point Names**
4. Press **"Menu"**, then **New APN**
5. Inside this window, input all the APN settings as outlined for your carrier.
6. Press **Save**

You should now be using these APN settings by default. You'll be able to tell this worked if the 4G symbol in the top bar is visible, and if the browser and MMS works correctly.

## Internet Browsing

There is no possible way to configure the 902KC, or frankly any flip phone, to make surfing the internet a truly enjoyable experience. However, in case you get a link texted to you, it makes sense to have a decent browser configured.

I have found [Fennec](https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.mozilla.fennec_fdroid/) to work the best, although it is slow.

## Navigation, Uber & Lyft

For whatever reason, GPS is highly sporadic on this phone. This means that Google Maps, or any app that relies on it (including Uber & Lyft) does not work.

If you're directionally challenged, this can be a deal killer - but if you just need guidance on where things are, a paper map of your city may just be the ticket.

If you have the foresight to organize your trip before you leave the house, a printed Google Map is great for navigating a new bus route - but if you're walking or driving, [MapQuest](https://www.mapquest.com/), after all these years, still makes the most beautiful, usable printable map.

As for ridesharing, you'll probably have to say goodbye. If you have a laptop handy, you can actually request a ride off of [their websites](https://www.uber.com/ca/en/ride/), but calling a cab company the old fashion way is the best method.

I've recently found out that my local cab company saves my cell number, so now in the future when I call, I can just press a button to summon a cab to my house, and they'll text me when the car has arrived.

If you're say, in a new town, there is this beautiful tool that has existed since the early 2000's called [#TAXI](http://www.poundtaxi.com/). Simply dial #TAXI and for a small fee (around a dollar, depending on your carrier - check [here](http://www.poundtaxi.com/howitworks/pricing).) you will be connected to the closest, available cab company for your location.

## Music

If you're the kind of person to listen to music on the go, I'm happy to report the 902KC has many options.

[Spotify Lite](https://support.spotify.com/in-en/article/spotify-lite/) works very well, as does Tidal & PlexAMP. You'll need to grab all of these applications off of [APKPure](https://apkpure.com/) and [sideload](#sideloading) them.

If you just want to load MP3's onto the phone, lots of music players are available on F-Droid. I tried this briefly, but you can only use a maximum of 32GB micro sd cards to expand the limited storage, which was too small for my music collection. If this is the way you want to go, I'd recommend buying a media player - I'll be writing an article in a bit on how to refurbish an old iPod.

> ⚠ If you back out of a music application to homescreen, it will close instead of running in the background. However, you can switch between your Quick Access app with no issue.

Bluetooth headphones work out of the box, simply connect and go. You may wish to go into **"Tools"** and scroll to **"Auto Assist"** - in their you can disable the annoying popup that will come up when your headphones, bluetooth or otherwise, are connected.

## Weather

If you need minute-to-minute forecast updates, I'm sorry to say the default weather app does not function in Canada - it requires a software update it can't seem to find.

[Clima](https://f-droid.org/en/packages/co.prestosole.clima/) works well if you just occasionally glance at the weather - if you want live weather notifications, I have yet to find a good solution.

## Chess

[Lichess](https://lichess.org/mobile) works well on the 902KC - but only version [7.16.1](https://f-droid.org/repo/org.lichess.mobileapp.free_7016010.apk) or earlier. Later versions will crash on launch.

I recommend enabling [Zen Mode](https://lichess.org/page/zen) to reclaim some screen real estate.

Chess.com is painfully slow, so best to avoid.

## Radio & Television

The Television app does not work in Canada - Japan offers digital aerial television on a different wireless band then us.

The radio app however, does seem to sporadically work. You'll need a compatible USB-C to 3.5mm headphone jack converter, as it uses the headphone wire as the radio antenna. I've found only some converters seem to work (NOT Apple's), so your mileage may vary.

## Sideloading

The 902KC does not come with any app store pre-installed - however, you can use the android debug tools to plug the phone into your computer and load apps onto it.

On your phone:

1. Go into **Settings**, then **About Phone**
2. Scroll down to **Build Number**, then press the enter key until you see **"You are now a developer!"**
3. Back out to the main settings menu, then go to **More settings**
4. At the bottom of the list, **Developer options** will have appeared.
5. Inside that menu, scroll to **USB debugging**, and enable it.

You will now need to install the adb tools onto your computer.
(Here's a guide for [Windows](https://www.xda-developers.com/install-adb-windows-macos-linux/#how-to-set-up-adb-on-microsoft-windows), and [macOS](https://www.xda-developers.com/install-adb-windows-macos-linux/#how-to-set-up-adb-on-macos))

Plug in your phone into your computer. The following command should list some information about your device.

```bash
~> adb devices
List of devices attached
803710696XXX	device
```

On first run, your phone will ask if you give permission for your computer to allow debugging. Select yes.

Now you are prepared to install any Android app you wish. The first one you'll likely want to install is [F-Droid](https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.fdroid.basic/), an app store that works well with the device.

To do so, download the APK file at the link above, and run the command like so:

```bash
~> adb install Downloads/org.fdroid.basic_1018050.apk
Performing Streamed Install
Success
```

You can install an APK file this way - and in the rest of the article, I will highlight some well-functioning apps - and uninstalling them is as simple as:

```bash
~> adb uninstall
```

If you're looking for apps that are not available on F-Droid, you can also find APK files on [APKpure](https://apkpure.com/).

## Remote Access

If you need to input a lot of information at once (say, your [APN settings](#access-point-names)), it may be faster to use a remote access tool like [Vysor](https://www.vysor.io/).

The free version will work, simply download and connect your phone via USB -if ADB is enabled, you will be able to open it on your computer and type into it using your mouse and keyboard.

# Additional Information

There are lots of resources online beyond this article for both the Kyocera 902KC, and other feature phones.

Here are some I'd like to highlight:

- [The Dumbphone Subreddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/dumbphones/)
- [Kyocera 902KC Tips & Tricks](https://www.reddit.com/r/dumbphones/comments/16fuvdk/some_tips_and_tricks_for_the_kyocera_902kc/)
- [The Best Dumbphones 2023](https://www.reddit.com/r/dumbphones/comments/15kmmfv/the_best_dumbphones_2023_text_version/)

This article may expand with time, so be sure to subscribe to my [mailing list](/newsletter/) if you want to see when there are updates. Additionally, I'll be writing guides in the future for other minimalist phone & tech options, so keep an eye out.

---
*This article is licensed under the Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International ( CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 ) License.*

*You must share a link to the [original article](https://lagomor.ph/2023/10/digital-minimalism-kyocera-902kc/) If you intend to share this post on other platforms.*

An overview of the japanese flip phone, the Kyocera Digno 902kc - which runs Android 8, allowing some sideloaded apps. This article covers how I use the phone and why you might want to use one yourself.

This is a long form article, you can read it in https://habla.news/a/naddr1qqsxg6t8d96xzmpdd45ku6tdv9kxjumd944hjmmrv4exztfexqexkcczyr3r0pm6uw6jpavuez4z0awnhulf4kldqy9xa6ly7076wxxadgsvyqcyqqq823cgcvn9m


Recovered my nostr key to begin posting again; it was great to see how easy it is to recover, and how much progress there has been on the network.