Let's get this thread to 1,000 pages! or a million posts.

[Magni Prime]

Work is devouring your life, good sir. I worry about your health, as always.

I don't know . . . believe it or not, I bought a new rubber mallet for that express purpose, but I fear I'd be putting new dents in the fender more than gently bending back into place. Kinda keeping the demon I know than risking more damage to try and remove it. Short of an actual body shop, I don't think that it will be repaired beyond the current state. Thus, its something that I will have to live with.

I'm so sorry about your phone. I'm a complete phone/net addict. I certainly hope you can get a replacement soon- one that works well or even better than the one that went down on you.  

[Magni Prime]

I'm glad to hear you moving to an arguably more stable work situation. You deserve to have a nice time, good friend. The tradeoff of pay and benefits sounds like it is basically the same situation but with a bit more responsibility on you. More time for yourself also sounds like a good boon.

A phone is a phone- replacement is just a new device to do what you need it to. I'm not really all that big on brand loyalty. That said . . . I've never had an apple device. All have been Android.  

[Magni Prime]

A positive spin would be that you are in demand, always a good thing. Being recognized as valuable is so rare anymore that you should enjoy it to a degree. While I would have liked to of seen you in a better situation, I can only assume the counteroffer was attractive enough to convince you to stay. We all must make the best choices we can for ourselves- I just hope you are going to be okay.

The cost is not so much for the hard or software. It is for the prestige and newness of it. Just like games and other media, the newer it is, the more expensive it is. Perfectly viable games, movies, books, shows, and all manner of tech are available that work perfectly . . . but not being new makes them far less expensive- despite being no different than the day they were the most expensive they could be.

As a side note- how did you get that icon by your name? The zodiac symbol one?  

[Magni Prime]

Loyalty is a rare thing- particularly in this economy. Relish what they offered you, good sir. I have a suspicion that they appreciate you staying put. They have a skilled person where they need it, and you chose to stay. It's a mutually beneficial kind of thing and you should be riding high.

yeah, cost savings are a good thing, again in this economy. It can be hard to wait, but doing so can give significant value. It's a waiting game. What is more valuable? Your money to buy it as soon as is possible, or your time to wait for the cost to come down? Sometimes you don't have the choice.

Modular phones- jeez, I remember that nightmare. It was good in theory, but the companies didn't make nearly enough money off of it, and unlike lego, programming limitations ensured that the idea was a logistical nightmare.

I remember using some spare dollars to get donation items. Back when they were called donation items. I wasn't here back when they handed out the original devil tail or halo, but close. I just have trouble buying that they have so many pushes for money, ads, gaia cash, and all that has been done as Kira claimed to "make it too commercial," and still be dying. If it goes down, it's their fault. Not the people that have been here forever. I don't know how much they are going to try to milk the user base for, but it shouldn't be that dire a situation.