See also

• ##layers@ buffer|alternative|batt ⇒security
• Shields@family_livelihood
• [20]random list@Protections

The range of threats, hazards …. is limitless. Missteps and swans are two of many types. At any time, our mind can only focus on a handful. Inevitably, many dangers fall under our radar, because it’s impossible to monitor 33 threats. As of Feb 2025, I’m dealing with A) parenting B) workload C) ex_China D) GP’s decline E) overseas rEstate

— Q: which batteries and shields are proven effective? Half ranked

1. batt::gz::quality_focus .. developed over 20Y, I rely on my quality focus to avoid mistakes even when juggling multiple issues. My colleagues trust me.
2. shield::gz::flexible_hours .. I am able to focus during a /power_surge/
3. .. batt::gz::annL .. well-developed habit of optimizing annL
4. batt::pff::medBx .. MLP and the GEL policy I decisively bought for boy. My other medBx (accumulated over 20Y) also matter, if I leave MLP.
5. shield::citizenship .. gov agencies are instrumental to my parenting challenges
6. batt::English writing skills… crucial in Singapore
7. batt::pff::warchest.. of liquid assets
8. shield::pff::brbr .. developed over 30Y. Provides a sense of cashflow security
9. batt::pff::nonwork_incomes .. [deposit interests, upcoming annuity payouts] provide a sense of cashflow security
10. shield::faith .. I believe in karma, kindness, a benevolent higher being. I have hope and optimism
11. batt::spare_laptops

Less specific, less noteworthy batteries and shields that proved effective (at least relevant) in this stressful period

• Shield::Marriage .. Strength of our marriage is being tested to some extent. I think this strength is proven effective.
• — wellness
• batt::daily_workout .. a habit built over 3 years.. highly effective
• batt::therapeutic_blogging and counsellors
• battery of self-care competency, deep and long experience .. print-out, camp-out in office
• .. battery of blogging system capabilities, accumulated over decades.
• battery of knowledge/xp of (semi-)gov support systems in Singapore
• batt::diet .. built over 6 years and effective… good appetite (for healty foods) maintained by raw veg diet
• batt::BMI_greenzone, muscle mass, bone density
• battery of wellness habits .. diet, dental
• — pff
• battery of diversified assets and investing experience .. SP500 + other U.S. stocks,,, BGC also proved an important diversification
• battery of annuity assets to provide better yield on my cash pile
• battery of exp tracking competency

— specific action items to strength my shields, recharge my batteries, reduce the stressors, protect my vital systems

• capture power_surge to make progress
• try to sleep early
• more raw veg

k_wechat

— cursor .. On 23 Jan 2025, I found my cursor unmovable in Wechat.

Aha ! Whatsapp, SMS … were unaffected. So it looked like an app-specific issue.

I was told to try apps >> theApp >> storage >> ClearCache. ClearCache is confirmed safe (ClearData is dangerous)

k_disk_hog ,,,, k_wechat,,, k_gCloud

— SD card.. I was able to transfer “everything” from internal storage to SD card, to reduce headache and stress-protect against phone loss.

Before I take out SD card, I will need to transfer back “everything” to internal storage.

— history search .. In each conversation, there’s a SearchHistory but not so useful. I consider this one of the worst weaknesses in this product.

— footprint .. You can see a breakdown of cache footprint by contact_name: me -> settings -> general -> manageStorage -> viewWechatSorage.

If your wife once logged into wechat on this device before, and saved 2GB of wechat data in this phone, you can clear it: me -> settings -> general -> manageStorage ->ClearOtherWechatChatHistory

Essential Wechat data takes about 992MB

— transfer wechat history from phone1 to phone2… For whatsapp, https://faq.whatsapp.com/481135090640375/?cms_platform=android shows how to (automatically) back up to gCloud.

After initial log-in, my phone2 showed full WhatsApp history. In contrast, wechat showed empty history after initial log-in.

https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1790065595389448166&wfr=spider&for=pc shows how to do it via wechat Windows Application.

Log-in requires a usable phone1 wechat “instance”. Then you can upload all conversations to windows instance.

Then log out on both windows and phone1. Log in on phone2 and then windows. This way, the windows insance is connected to the phone2 instance on . Then you can select the conversations to download (windows to new phone)

Data transfer goes through internet to wechat server. I prefer wifi rather than mobile data.

The real_estate constraint has driven world-wide innovations in the ubiquitous tiny keyboard. Some innovations are relevant to me. This bpost uses Samsung keyboard and GBoard just for illutration.

— feature: glide typing … SamsungKeyboard -> swipeTouchFeedback
— feature: predictive typing ..

google beats Samsung in type-ahead, esp. in Chinese. I don’t know if it is part of “predictive typing”

— feature: show punc marks on letter keys .. SamsungKeyboard -> layout -> alternative chars
Note hiding them saves real_estate.

— feature: cursor control .. real challenge for millions

Gboard glide-typing -> gestureCursorControl lets you swipe over spacebar (Practice!) to move cursor

Gboard and Samsung keyboard also have some “joystick” for cursor control.

— feature::real_estate: keyboard can be shrunk to save real estate, but keys can be too small for fat fingers.
Samsung .. find the triple dot beside the gear -> find the icon for keyboard size
Gboard … long press anywere on the special-keys row -> Resize button
— feature::real_estate:: show/hide row of number keys
— feature::real_estate:: show/hide row of special buttons above regular keys .. SamsungKeyboard -> keyboardToolbar
Let’s try out all the buttons for a while,  then disable the toolbar

The general problem — too many APPs in my primary phone. Many of them rarely used.
A specific problem — I need to maintain China mobanks for two persons, and I don’t want to “switch user” on (for example) icbc mobank.

The solution — host a number of APPs on a secondary smart phone

• China mobanks for “special” user account that I don’t need on the go.
• Alipay for wife
• Citi.sg
• AXS
• healthhub
• simplyGo
• mayb
• ^^^ done
• PNB digital?
• Singapss? Technically disallowed
• hsbc.cn .. secondary phone too LOW
• ChnM? would need it on primary phone while in China
• starhub? too slow in secondary phone  … confirmed with 1633
• Grab? No

I need a basic app with search feature. If money can buy stress relief and carefree ezlife, then this is a good example.

— app: Messages [by BatteryStatsSaver] .. no ads so far
🙂 better grouping by counterparty, with color. No need to search.

— app: Textra .. no ads so far:)
👎 line spacing too much
👎 confusing: new msg to new number
🙂 better multi-delete

==== unacceptables
— app: Messages [by Google] .. no search bar
— app: Telegram .. shows no SMS whatsoever
— app: “SMS Messenger” No message showing up
— app: Hi There [by KiteTech] .. ads inserted as SMS messages
— app: aMessage [by aMessage studio] .. too many ads
— app: Messages [by AppsSpecials] .. too many ads
— app: Messages [by iMessages. Icon shows 3 dots in a rectangle] .. too many ads
— app: #Messages [by “Messages-Messaging”] .. way too many ads
This app shows different icons in PlayStore or on desktop or list of running apps or
This app shows different titles in PlayStore or on desktop

I think the developer is trying to confuse users.

— some advantages of CmLink

• Hotline is 24/7 (better than Sgp telcos), faster at night, faster for Chinese language, because CMLink is designed for China nationals.
• Email support (cssg) is excellent .. fast and more efficient than call 🙂
• simple webGUI… no mobileAPP required. Low Sys2 load
• No contract
• No risk of excess data usage in China or Sg

— Monitor 余额+套餐流量 .. PPD (PrepaidDeposit/余额) is probably similar to Mainland ChnM system.

• 1st of each month system try to deduct monthly fee from PPD. If no PPD balance, (or  $x deficit amount) would be auto-charged to THE card. I have completed one-time card binding.
• .. I find this useful for BocDcard. I was able to top up $13 to my cmLink accounts.
• SMS (CX or CHECK to 75086) is easiest method, while in Singapore
• SSP [i.e. self-service portal] is easiest method while in China.
• You can check roaming data usage online but it would disappear after EOM. 套餐流量 esp. roaming balance.. updated every 2H roughly.
• No stupid mobile app (re Starhub) imposed on me

— talk time quota

• free incoming locally
• 100m local outgoing, including 100m from local to [China+US++] but must use +86xxxx. See SMS or SSP for details.
• Excess outgoing minutes .. charged at S$0.10/minute. Dialed number is reported in monthly statement.

— Roam
Risk of incurring roaming call charges .. is real. CMLink hotline told me system will let call through .. 秋后算帐

Risk of busting 10GB quota (cf Starhub roaming)? No such risk as of Oct 2024. Once you use up 10GB, system executes an immediate cut-off:) Before you can surve further, you must buy more roaming data:) You can add roaming package from your online account. ALL services are charged to the account and billed at end of month.

Check roaming balance … see [[monitor]].

Over Bj15D, I used 0.37GB only.

Put in the cmlink SIM only once a day to check gmail.

hotline while roaming: free to call +65 887 000 86 from China, according to cssg 🙂

Both SSP and cssg can enable/disable roaming, immediately. Confirmed with cssg@cmlink.com 🙂