I got my first voicemail on my new Galaxy phone yesterday. Thankfully it was a butt-dial from my brother, because it took me a while to listen to it. When I tried, I was told the visual voicemail app requires precise location permissions. I never saw this before, so I guess it was enabled on my old phone? I don't get myself too worked up about every corporation in the world wanting to know what uninteresting things I'm up to, but this seems particularly egregious. I haven't seen an explanation of why Verizon or Google would need my location to play back my own voicemails for me (I doubt there's an acceptable one). But I haven't seen a workaround either. I was able to access the voicemail by dialing in (after resetting a password I hadn't used in ages). But that was a nightmare. I had listen to about a minute of robot voice prompts telling me about my message, and then I had to listen to all three minutes of rustling and background noise before I could delete it since I didn't remember the shortcut. I'll try and hold out trading privacy for convenience in this case, which I may be able to do since I don't get a lot of voice messages. But I also wonder why I bother. I'm sure they've got the full book on me already.

Voicemail Round-up
Thanks Ant and Neutronbeam.

Breakfast Links

• Bird flu FAQ: What is avian influenza? Thanks Acleacius.
• First F-16 Viper pilots to engage the MiG-29 in mock air combats explain what it’s like to dogfight against the Fulcrum. Thanks Max.

Stories

• One Man’s Quest to Revive the Great American Vacuum Tube (may require registration or subscription).
• "House of the Dragon" Season 2 Shortened.
• Credit Suisse whistleblowers say bank has been helping Americans dodge U.S. taxes. Get that shocked look off your face. Thanks Acleacius.

Science

• Scientists Created a New Recyclable Plastic Not Made From Crude Oil. Thanks Max.
• For the first time, astronomers have linked a mysterious fast radio burst with gravitational waves. Thanks Acleacius.
• Ascension water plant worker fired, arrested after video showed him urinating in water supply. Unauthorized leak. I get it. Thanks Acleacius.

Media

• Asteroid City - Official Trailer.

Follow-up

• Well-Known Buffer Against Cognitive Decline Has Zero Effect, Study Finds.