Monday, January 30, 2017

Travel Tech: Even DETECTIVE Moto Could Not Solve The Case Of The DEFECTIVE Moto G4

Moto G (4th Gen.) Unlocked - White - 32GB

by Motorola

If you like to travel as much as I do, you know that when you travel internationally, you need an unlocked GSM (system used in most countries beside the U.S.) phone. With an unlocked GSM phone, you can buy a local SIM card and make calls, send texts, and surf the web at much lower prices than your carrier would charge while roaming abroad.
Well, I needed a new phone and had read good reviews about this phone on Amazon and well known tech websites, so being sick and tired of Apple’s products and their lack of customer focus, I decided to sell my iPhone (and soon my Mac) while I could still get $10-$20 for it and bought the Moto G4. Big mistake!

No because I regretted giving up my iPhone, which actually works most of the time, but because the Moto G4 is a piece of garbage. I wasted the first two days loading all of my apps, email accounts, and setting up the phone and it seemed to work ok. You have to swipe up across the screen to get to the password screen, but an easy swipe was not enough and I had to swipe and swipe and swipe even harder for the damn thing to open. If that were not irritating enough, the phone would randomly chime, turn itself on and show me what time it was. The screen is also far too big for my taste and once protected by the clunky case, it reminded me of the "bricks" (a walkie-talkie the size and weight of a brick) we used in the military.

Then, on the third day, the phone decided to turn itself off while I waiting for an important phone call. Then it turned itself back on, but would never boot with the screen turning itself on, then off, then on, then off, etc., etc., etc. I pushed and held the off button for nearly a minute and still nothing happened. After 5-15 minutes, it would finally boot, only to turn itself off again and so on and so forth. Having all of these major problems after just three days, I decided enough was enough.

I was not going to bother with tech support because the phone was obviously seriously flawed, so I went home and hit the "return" button on Amazon. Because I will not buy this model again, I had to also return the clunky case which actually was not that bad.

DO NOT BUY A MOTOROLA MOTO G4!

CombatCritic Gives The Motorola Moto G4 1 Bomb Out Of 10 And A Spot, Along With Apple, On My “WALL OF SHAME” … More Bombs Are Better!
One Bomb Equates To:
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Yelp - Elite '14/'15/'16/'17

Tabelog - Official Judge (Silver)

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Tabelog Reviewer CombatCriticView my food journey on Zomato!



Title: Travel Tech: Even DETECTIVE Moto Could Not Solve The Case Of The DEFECTIVE Moto G4

Key Words: Travel Tech, Moto, defective Moto G4, G4, G, 4, Motorola, phone, android, smart, smartphone, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, product, review, Yelp, Amazon, amazon.com

Translation for Civilians: FUBAR = "Fucked Up Beyond All Repair"

Sunday, January 29, 2017

Lawrence, KS: For Sale - 1860s Queen Anne Just 4 Blocks From Mass Street And 15 Minute Walk To KU

Great Victorian House, Excellent Price, Prime Location

1104 New York Street, Lawrence, Kansas 66044

PRICE RAISED!$154,900

Contact: forsalebyownerlfk@gmail.com
This quaint, mid-1800s home has been completely updated while maintaining its original details and charm. Perfect for a small family or students who want to walk to downtown with its numerous restaurants and bars or to KU, just a short 10-15 minute walk away. Old East Lawrence is the centerpiece of the city's exciting new Arts District, having a historic and eclectic feel with many new businesses moving in and 19th Century homes being renovated.


This charming 1860s two-story home with front and side porches is just a short walk from downtown (Massachusetts Street) and 10-15 minute walk to University of Kansas (KU) campus.

Beautiful cherry cabinets in kitchen with butcher-block counter tops, large, open living room, laundry room, and large bedroom on main level - built in 1860s. Two bedrooms and bath on second level - added in 1900. Bathroom has original clawfoot tub and shower, having been completely remodeled in 2015.

Original fieldstone foundation was renovated in 2015. New energy saving furnace and air conditioner as well as ductwork installed throughout the home in 2013. Recently painted inside and out. Hardwood floors in stairwell, landing, and all of second floor renovated in 2014. New $5000 sump system installed in 2014. Plumbing and electrical recently updated.

Large yard on three sides has pond in the back, all recently having been completely reseeded. Several large trees provide plenty of shade, reducing energy consumption and large rear patio coverage in summer. 

This "Queen Anne" Victorian is located in historic Old East Lawrence, just 3 blocks from downtown Lawrence (restaurants, bars, nightclubs, theatres, shopping), short walking distance to the University of Kansas campus, and in the center of Lawrence's new and flourishing Arts District.

Built in the 1860's, this may be one of the few wooden structures that survived the torches of Quantrill's raid on August 21, 1863. With three bedrooms and one bath, a large yard with pond, and off street parking, this 2-story home is in excellent condition and ready to move in.

Updates

- New furnace and AC system (including new ducts) installed in August 2013

- Bathroom and kitchen recently renovated

- Installed new $5000 sump pump system in the basement

- Recently repainted inside and out

- New subflooring, beams, and additional bracing added in the last 5 years 

- Fieldstone foundation recently renovated using original mortar mixture

- Hardwood floors on stairs and upstairs recently refinished

- Electrical upgrade completed in 2014

- Recently replaced the under structure of the original front porch

- Cleaned-up (significantly) and re-seeded the front and back yards

- Installed a rock driveway (2015)

Features

- Off-Street Parking (rare in this area) For 3+ Cars

- Architectural Plans For 2-Car Garage ($650 Value)

- Original windows all function, most still have their counterweights

- Home is remarkably energy efficient for its age (no drafts)

- Storm windows throughout

- Roof is approximately 10 years old and in good condition

- 1,165 Square Feet

- Home appraised in October for $155,000

Security (included)

- 100% wireless (cellular) alarm system and monitoring with door, window, motion, temperature, and flood sensors as well as cameras and real-time web-cased notifications and camera access (no contracts)

- Motion and time-activated flood lights in front, side, and back yards



If sale can be completed without realtors, there would be a savings of a 6% which we would rather pass on to the buyer. We will be happy to share the appraisal with serious buyers. 

This home will not be available for long because of the excellent condition of the house and its location, within easy walking distance to downtown and the University of Kansas campus. 

Once listed in March 2017, the 6% savings will no longer be an option and home will sell for full appraisal price.

View the Virtual Tour for an inside look and more details: https://youtu.be/bOp4caz2bP8


Floorplan

Lot
Douglas County, Kansas - Property Lines

Google Maps - 1104 New York Street

Large Main  Living Area - Built-In Bookshelves



Refinished Kitchen - Cherry Cabinets w/ Self Closing Drawers, Butcher Block Counters



Refrigerator, Glass Top Electric Range, And Microwave Included


Laundry Room
Kitchen







Large Bedroom/Office On Main Level





Medium Size Bedroom (#2) Upstairs



Remodeled Bath w/ Original Clawfoot Tub Between Two Upstairs Bedrooms





Smaller Bedroom (#3) Upstairs





Large Back Yard w/ Large Patio Space And Small Pond







Side Entry And Porch #2

Original Fieldstone Foundation Restored In 2016

Front Porch Substructure Reinforced In 2017

Original Queen Anne Front Porch - Relax And Watch The Sun Set Over KU



View the Virtual Tour: https://youtu.be/bOp4caz2bP8


Additional Listings:

MilitaryByOwner.com

InfoTube.net

Zillow.com

Trulia.com

Nextdoor.com

Title: Lawrence, KS: For Sale - 1860s Queen Anne Just 4 Blocks From Mass Street And 15 Minute Walk To KU

Key Words: 66044, for, for sale, home, house, Kansas, KS, KU, Lawrence, New York, New York Street, Queen Anne, realtor, sale, Trulia, university, University of Kansas, Zillow, 

Lawrence, KS: Café's Hopping, But No "Signs of Life" In This Bookstore

Signs of Life

722 Massachusetts Street
Lawrence, KS 66044
Phone number: (785) 830-8030
Prices: $$$$

The focus here seems to be more on the café and less on the bookstore which has a heavy Christian influence.

We only decided to go on Lawrence's Final Friday to hear University of Kansas (KU - #1 KU tromped #4 Kentucky earlier that evening by the way) opera students who were performing from 7:30 to 8:30 PM (every Final Friday during the school year). The café was doing a brisk business, but there were only a couple people browsing books during the hour we were there and one of them was my wife. I had a look around, trying to find a restroom during the opera intermission, but the counter on the book side was empty with not an employee in sight.
If you are a Christian book enthusiast, this may be a decent option in Lawrence, but be prepared to hike over the the café to get someone to help you. The café does have reasonably priced cookies, brownies and muffins (just $2 each), the most redeeming quality in my experience.

CombatCritic Gives Signs of Life 6 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!
Six Bombs Equates To:

Read Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp - Elite '14/'15/'16/'17

Tabelog - Official Judge (Silver)

Zomato - #1 Ranked "Verified" Foodie

View my food journey on Zomato!



... And Don't Forget To Subscribe To TravelValue TV on YouTube


Read Chris S.'s review of Signs of Life on Yelp

Tabelog Reviewer CombatCriticView my food journey on Zomato!



Title: Lawrence, KS: Café's Hopping, But No "Signs of Life" In This Bookstore

Key Words: Lawrence, Café, Signs of Life, signs, life, bookstore, books, Christian, Kansas, university, KU, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, review, Yelp, Massachusetts, street, Mass

Translation for Civilians: G2G = "Good To Go"