Bought an Old Valve Radio Today!
 

"Keith G" wrote in message
...

"Jim Lesurf" wrote



OK, if we're swinging the lantern!

I remember that when we were kids and the weather was too bad to play out,
my mother used to give me and my sister the toaster and a loaf of bread so
we could amuse ourselves making toast for a while, which we did. The
toaster
was a spring-sided affair where you pulled the side down, put your piece
of
bread on it and released the side suddenly to see if you could actually
flip
the bread right out. This meant that quite often the bread would stick
fast
to the vertical bars which were placed about an inch apart, in front of
the
heating element. When this happened, I used to use a (bone handled) knife
to
prise the toast off when it was done - plumes of smoke and squeals of
excitement! (No sappy 'automatic' rubbish in those days!) I never knew
what
the slapping in my elbow was, that I could feel at these times.... :-)

Also, my own post reminds me of the time when I was on a large building
site
in Sarf London*, doing the same job as mentioned before, which used to
involve using powerful handtools under extreme load and blowing fuses with
monotonous regularity. Anyhoo, I remember one day it suddenly went very
quiet and everything stopped (and I mean *everything* including the
traffic). I was enjoying a very peaceful ciggie, listening to the birds
when
I heard a conversation from one of the floors below (I'm about 5 or 6
floors
up) saying that 'someone's going to cop it - the substation's blown'!! I
spent the next 10 minutes feverishly running down the stairs, ripping the
silver foil (from cigarette packets) off all my fuses in the extension
boxes
on each landing......


*Parker Morris tenement block renovations, for the 'Housing Control' PhD
students amongst us.....



Swinging the lantern just a little bit more....

My first shock at a very early age (can't remember quite when) was through
pushing a dandelion stalk into a heater touching the spiral wound electric
element, my other hand was holding the metal heater body.
Been careful ever since though I did have a very close call concerning 440V
and a 10cm Radar Scanner.
Remember also being splattered with hot metal from a disintegrating 440V
motor contactor. On a ship in the Indian Ocean when the air conditioning
packed up. The lecky was working on it when I got a call saying the starter
contactor coil has burnt out with no spare - me being helpful said okay I'll
rewind the old coil. Which I did..put the coil back in, checked with the
lecky, he said go ahead and pushed start. What I didn't know was that other
engineers had the over current trip disabled. What actually happened in the
first place before the contactor coil burnt out was the motor winding had
shorted out... a nice 440 bang.
Since that I check everything for myself. Survival is a sharp learning
curve hopefully ;-)

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today!
 

"Mike Gilmour" wrote

snippage

Swinging the lantern just a little bit more....

My first shock at a very early age (can't remember quite when) was through
pushing a dandelion stalk into a heater touching the spiral wound electric
element, my other hand was holding the metal heater body.
Been careful ever since though I did have a very close call concerning
440V
and a 10cm Radar Scanner.
Remember also being splattered with hot metal from a disintegrating 440V
motor contactor. On a ship in the Indian Ocean when the air conditioning
packed up. The lecky was working on it when I got a call saying the
starter
contactor coil has burnt out with no spare - me being helpful said okay
I'll
rewind the old coil. Which I did..put the coil back in, checked with the
lecky, he said go ahead and pushed start. What I didn't know was that
other
engineers had the over current trip disabled. What actually happened in
the
first place before the contactor coil burnt out was the motor winding had
shorted out... a nice 440 bang.
Since that I check everything for myself. Survival is a sharp learning
curve hopefully ;-)


:-)

Dandelions? Jeez, you've just reminded of another 'shocking experience'!
:-)

So, as Martin has especially requested them, here's another one called
'Bonzo Does HT' !!

(Give the lantern a push, would ya......?)

Many moons ago, when Pontious was a pilot, I was scudding around the
village, I lived in, on me mum's Cyclemaster* with the throttle wanged right
over - a great source of delight at the time! (This was a little moped based
on a bicycle with the engine in the back wheel - good for about 180 mph,
IIRC.... ;-)

Wish I still had the bugger now but I killed it with an 'experimental'
Cellulose Thinners cocktail at a later date! (Perhap I should cross-post
this to uk.rec.clueless.about.chemistry.also !!)

Anyhoo, I spotted some mates and, er, 'screeched' to a stop for a natter.
After a while, one of them (one 'Bonzo' Savage - the clue is in the name)
bent down, picked a large and sopping wet dandelion leaf (it been raining
all day) and thought it would be fun to stop my engine by shorting out the
plug to the 'inner' wheel with it. This he did, the engine stopped, Bonzo
stood up a bit quick and said nothing. (Looked a bit queasy to me...... :-)

Heh heh! (Remembering a 100 other events from those days now - How TF did we
survive them???)


(* Which the ignorant, but curious can see at
http://freespace.virgin.net/stones.ukp/cyclemaster.htm... ;-)

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today!
 

"Mike Gilmour" wrote

snippage

Swinging the lantern just a little bit more....

My first shock at a very early age (can't remember quite when) was through
pushing a dandelion stalk into a heater touching the spiral wound electric
element, my other hand was holding the metal heater body.
Been careful ever since though I did have a very close call concerning
440V
and a 10cm Radar Scanner.
Remember also being splattered with hot metal from a disintegrating 440V
motor contactor. On a ship in the Indian Ocean when the air conditioning
packed up. The lecky was working on it when I got a call saying the
starter
contactor coil has burnt out with no spare - me being helpful said okay
I'll
rewind the old coil. Which I did..put the coil back in, checked with the
lecky, he said go ahead and pushed start. What I didn't know was that
other
engineers had the over current trip disabled. What actually happened in
the
first place before the contactor coil burnt out was the motor winding had
shorted out... a nice 440 bang.
Since that I check everything for myself. Survival is a sharp learning
curve hopefully ;-)


:-)

Dandelions? Jeez, you've just reminded of another 'shocking experience'!
:-)

So, as Martin has especially requested them, here's another one called
'Bonzo Does HT' !!

(Give the lantern a push, would ya......?)

Many moons ago, when Pontious was a pilot, I was scudding around the
village, I lived in, on me mum's Cyclemaster* with the throttle wanged right
over - a great source of delight at the time! (This was a little moped based
on a bicycle with the engine in the back wheel - good for about 180 mph,
IIRC.... ;-)

Wish I still had the bugger now but I killed it with an 'experimental'
Cellulose Thinners cocktail at a later date! (Perhap I should cross-post
this to uk.rec.clueless.about.chemistry.also !!)

Anyhoo, I spotted some mates and, er, 'screeched' to a stop for a natter.
After a while, one of them (one 'Bonzo' Savage - the clue is in the name)
bent down, picked a large and sopping wet dandelion leaf (it been raining
all day) and thought it would be fun to stop my engine by shorting out the
plug to the 'inner' wheel with it. This he did, the engine stopped, Bonzo
stood up a bit quick and said nothing. (Looked a bit queasy to me...... :-)

Heh heh! (Remembering a 100 other events from those days now - How TF did we
survive them???)


(* Which the ignorant, but curious can see at
http://freespace.virgin.net/stones.ukp/cyclemaster.htm... ;-)

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today!
 

"Keith G" wrote in message
...

"Mike Gilmour" wrote

snippage

Swinging the lantern just a little bit more....

My first shock at a very early age (can't remember quite when) was
through
pushing a dandelion stalk into a heater touching the spiral wound
electric
element, my other hand was holding the metal heater body.
Been careful ever since though I did have a very close call concerning
440V
and a 10cm Radar Scanner.
Remember also being splattered with hot metal from a disintegrating 440V
motor contactor. On a ship in the Indian Ocean when the air
conditioning
packed up. The lecky was working on it when I got a call saying the
starter
contactor coil has burnt out with no spare - me being helpful said okay
I'll
rewind the old coil. Which I did..put the coil back in, checked with
the
lecky, he said go ahead and pushed start. What I didn't know was that
other
engineers had the over current trip disabled. What actually happened in
the
first place before the contactor coil burnt out was the motor winding
had
shorted out... a nice 440 bang.
Since that I check everything for myself. Survival is a sharp learning
curve hopefully ;-)


:-)

Dandelions? Jeez, you've just reminded of another 'shocking experience'!
:-)

So, as Martin has especially requested them, here's another one called
'Bonzo Does HT' !!

(Give the lantern a push, would ya......?)

Many moons ago, when Pontious was a pilot, I was scudding around the
village, I lived in, on me mum's Cyclemaster* with the throttle wanged
right
over - a great source of delight at the time! (This was a little moped
based
on a bicycle with the engine in the back wheel - good for about 180 mph,
IIRC.... ;-)

Wish I still had the bugger now but I killed it with an 'experimental'
Cellulose Thinners cocktail at a later date! (Perhap I should cross-post
this to uk.rec.clueless.about.chemistry.also !!)

Anyhoo, I spotted some mates and, er, 'screeched' to a stop for a natter.
After a while, one of them (one 'Bonzo' Savage - the clue is in the name)
bent down, picked a large and sopping wet dandelion leaf (it been raining
all day) and thought it would be fun to stop my engine by shorting out the
plug to the 'inner' wheel with it. This he did, the engine stopped, Bonzo
stood up a bit quick and said nothing. (Looked a bit queasy to me......
:-)

Heh heh! (Remembering a 100 other events from those days now - How TF did
we
survive them???)


(* Which the ignorant, but curious can see at
http://freespace.virgin.net/stones.ukp/cyclemaster.htm... ;-)





'Spose were getting off topic here but that reminded me off when I heard
frantic yelling..traced it to a garage down the street where this bloke had
been working on his motorbike, he'd put his finger in the spark plug hole &
turning the flywheel to get TDC anyway the piston came up ok but his finger
was bent so couldn't get it out and the bike was just propped up slipped
away so he couldn't reach the flywheel...there he was stuck.
I chuckled and backed of the flywheel as he didn't think the kickstarter
would be a good idea ;-) ...back to audio now

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today!
 

"Keith G" wrote in message
...

"Mike Gilmour" wrote

snippage

Swinging the lantern just a little bit more....

My first shock at a very early age (can't remember quite when) was
through
pushing a dandelion stalk into a heater touching the spiral wound
electric
element, my other hand was holding the metal heater body.
Been careful ever since though I did have a very close call concerning
440V
and a 10cm Radar Scanner.
Remember also being splattered with hot metal from a disintegrating 440V
motor contactor. On a ship in the Indian Ocean when the air
conditioning
packed up. The lecky was working on it when I got a call saying the
starter
contactor coil has burnt out with no spare - me being helpful said okay
I'll
rewind the old coil. Which I did..put the coil back in, checked with
the
lecky, he said go ahead and pushed start. What I didn't know was that
other
engineers had the over current trip disabled. What actually happened in
the
first place before the contactor coil burnt out was the motor winding
had
shorted out... a nice 440 bang.
Since that I check everything for myself. Survival is a sharp learning
curve hopefully ;-)


:-)

Dandelions? Jeez, you've just reminded of another 'shocking experience'!
:-)

So, as Martin has especially requested them, here's another one called
'Bonzo Does HT' !!

(Give the lantern a push, would ya......?)

Many moons ago, when Pontious was a pilot, I was scudding around the
village, I lived in, on me mum's Cyclemaster* with the throttle wanged
right
over - a great source of delight at the time! (This was a little moped
based
on a bicycle with the engine in the back wheel - good for about 180 mph,
IIRC.... ;-)

Wish I still had the bugger now but I killed it with an 'experimental'
Cellulose Thinners cocktail at a later date! (Perhap I should cross-post
this to uk.rec.clueless.about.chemistry.also !!)

Anyhoo, I spotted some mates and, er, 'screeched' to a stop for a natter.
After a while, one of them (one 'Bonzo' Savage - the clue is in the name)
bent down, picked a large and sopping wet dandelion leaf (it been raining
all day) and thought it would be fun to stop my engine by shorting out the
plug to the 'inner' wheel with it. This he did, the engine stopped, Bonzo
stood up a bit quick and said nothing. (Looked a bit queasy to me......
:-)

Heh heh! (Remembering a 100 other events from those days now - How TF did
we
survive them???)


(* Which the ignorant, but curious can see at
http://freespace.virgin.net/stones.ukp/cyclemaster.htm... ;-)





'Spose were getting off topic here but that reminded me off when I heard
frantic yelling..traced it to a garage down the street where this bloke had
been working on his motorbike, he'd put his finger in the spark plug hole &
turning the flywheel to get TDC anyway the piston came up ok but his finger
was bent so couldn't get it out and the bike was just propped up slipped
away so he couldn't reach the flywheel...there he was stuck.
I chuckled and backed of the flywheel as he didn't think the kickstarter
would be a good idea ;-) ...back to audio now

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today!
 

On Wed, 19 Nov 2003 21:21:03 +0000 (GMT), Dave Plowman
wrote:

In article ,
Stewart Pinkerton wrote:
Why would you wire a 1 farad capacitor to anything if you didn't know
about electronics? And where would you get a high voltage 1 farad
capacitor that might blow up and what would you be using it for?

Well, I heard a guy drop a spanner into a 1 farad 3kV capacitor one
day. He was temporarily blinded, permanently deafened in one ear, and
the rest of us at that end of the building were left with ringing ears
for a few days. The spanner disappeared entirely..................

Don't mess with big radar sets!

They let someone who doesn't know anything about electronics mess with
radar? Does the BAA know this?

The BAA doesn't use missile guidance systems AFAIK..................

Besides, the techie was very experienced. BTW, in the same building
there was an ex-Navy guy who was missing his right forearm, because he
had been a sunbmariner and his wrench slipped, slamming down
againstthe main battery buss. Took off his hand and wrist before
melting. He was highly trained, too...................
--

Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today!
 

On Wed, 19 Nov 2003 21:21:03 +0000 (GMT), Dave Plowman
wrote:

In article ,
Stewart Pinkerton wrote:
Why would you wire a 1 farad capacitor to anything if you didn't know
about electronics? And where would you get a high voltage 1 farad
capacitor that might blow up and what would you be using it for?

Well, I heard a guy drop a spanner into a 1 farad 3kV capacitor one
day. He was temporarily blinded, permanently deafened in one ear, and
the rest of us at that end of the building were left with ringing ears
for a few days. The spanner disappeared entirely..................

Don't mess with big radar sets!

They let someone who doesn't know anything about electronics mess with
radar? Does the BAA know this?

The BAA doesn't use missile guidance systems AFAIK..................

Besides, the techie was very experienced. BTW, in the same building
there was an ex-Navy guy who was missing his right forearm, because he
had been a sunbmariner and his wrench slipped, slamming down
againstthe main battery buss. Took off his hand and wrist before
melting. He was highly trained, too...................
--

Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today!
 

"Fleetie" wrote in message
...

"Mike Gilmour" wrote
Thanks, your post just nudged my memory & brought back to me something
I'd
completely forgotten about. Countless years ago while doing radio
training I
designed and built a 12 hr digital clock using lots of 74 series ic's &
6
nixies hh/mm/ss compete with nixie drivers. Can remember thinking the
logics
out on how to go from 12 to 1. The clocking was initially 50hz mains
freq
& schmitt trigger to square it , remember messing around with Xtal
clocking
later on. It kept time really well but trouble was everytime there was
a
lightening storm the thing went haywire. Never got around to 'scoping
the
clock during a storm.....went on to another project.

Yeah, embarrassingly, I clocked my freq counter off 50Hz mains! Pretty
useless really, and I intended to raid a cheap garage digital watch
or perhaps with more prospect of luck, an electromechanical quartz-driven
clock movement, for a 1Hz source, but again, never got round to it.

Also a coincidence that you mention nixie clocks, because I
REALLY WANT ONE now! But I've looked at the prices on the web,
and can't justify that at the moment, and can't be bothered
going though the hassle of making one myself now, because I don't
really do electronics any more.

But one day, I would really like to get my hands on a nice
nixie clock; it's in the same category as valve stuff with me.


Martin
--
M.A.Poyser Tel.: 07967
110890
Manchester, U.K.
http://www.fleetie.demon.co.uk



you can buy Russian versions of 'Nixie' tubes for a price

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today!
 

"Fleetie" wrote in message
...

"Mike Gilmour" wrote
Thanks, your post just nudged my memory & brought back to me something
I'd
completely forgotten about. Countless years ago while doing radio
training I
designed and built a 12 hr digital clock using lots of 74 series ic's &
6
nixies hh/mm/ss compete with nixie drivers. Can remember thinking the
logics
out on how to go from 12 to 1. The clocking was initially 50hz mains
freq
& schmitt trigger to square it , remember messing around with Xtal
clocking
later on. It kept time really well but trouble was everytime there was
a
lightening storm the thing went haywire. Never got around to 'scoping
the
clock during a storm.....went on to another project.

Yeah, embarrassingly, I clocked my freq counter off 50Hz mains! Pretty
useless really, and I intended to raid a cheap garage digital watch
or perhaps with more prospect of luck, an electromechanical quartz-driven
clock movement, for a 1Hz source, but again, never got round to it.

Also a coincidence that you mention nixie clocks, because I
REALLY WANT ONE now! But I've looked at the prices on the web,
and can't justify that at the moment, and can't be bothered
going though the hassle of making one myself now, because I don't
really do electronics any more.

But one day, I would really like to get my hands on a nice
nixie clock; it's in the same category as valve stuff with me.


Martin
--
M.A.Poyser Tel.: 07967
110890
Manchester, U.K.
http://www.fleetie.demon.co.uk



you can buy Russian versions of 'Nixie' tubes for a price

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today!
 

"G.Snail" wrote in message
...
"Fleetie" wrote:


I recall prodding about in a live monitor with a wooden spoon. That
was pretty ****ing stupid. The best one was when I electrocuted myself
by pushing a mains plug into a socket with a finger trapped underneath

isnt that normal for the older full metal pin UK Mains plugs......

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today!
 

"G.Snail" wrote in message
...
"Fleetie" wrote:


I recall prodding about in a live monitor with a wooden spoon. That
was pretty ****ing stupid. The best one was when I electrocuted myself
by pushing a mains plug into a socket with a finger trapped underneath

isnt that normal for the older full metal pin UK Mains plugs......

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today!
 

"Fleetie" wrote
"Wally" wrote
Fleetie wrote:

Anyway, you lot, it's all very well taking the ****, especially as I'm
so sure none of you has ever had anything similar happen to you at any
stage, and made a rash move at a time of excitement and
anticipation....

I've never played guess the socket, but I've bought old valve radios, I've
had them blow up on me, and I've even managed the odd repair or two. If you
know how to solder and can test components, you should get there.

Yeah, hope so! Ordered valves from Colomor today.

Great news (for me, anyway):

I got the new valves on Friday, and I've just plugged them in now,
and now the radio works!

"Excellent, Smithers! With my new thermionic soniferous ether-ripple
demodulator, I can control the whole world. Mu-ha-ha-haaaa!"


Martin
--
M.A.Poyser Tel.: 07967 110890
Manchester, U.K. http://www.fleetie.demon.co.uk

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today!
 

"Fleetie" wrote
"Wally" wrote
Fleetie wrote:

Anyway, you lot, it's all very well taking the ****, especially as I'm
so sure none of you has ever had anything similar happen to you at any
stage, and made a rash move at a time of excitement and
anticipation....

I've never played guess the socket, but I've bought old valve radios, I've
had them blow up on me, and I've even managed the odd repair or two. If you
know how to solder and can test components, you should get there.

Yeah, hope so! Ordered valves from Colomor today.

Great news (for me, anyway):

I got the new valves on Friday, and I've just plugged them in now,
and now the radio works!

"Excellent, Smithers! With my new thermionic soniferous ether-ripple
demodulator, I can control the whole world. Mu-ha-ha-haaaa!"


Martin
--
M.A.Poyser Tel.: 07967 110890
Manchester, U.K. http://www.fleetie.demon.co.uk

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today!
 

I wrote:
Great news (for me, anyway):

I got the new valves on Friday, and I've just plugged them in now,
and now the radio works!

"Excellent, Smithers! With my new thermionic soniferous ether-ripple
demodulator, I can control the whole world. Mu-ha-ha-haaaa!"

I now have it hooked up to one of my Mission 752F speakers.
My suspicion about the speaker and the output transformer was
correct; the speaker in the radio casing is NOT a high-Z (800 ohm)
type; it measures about 3 ohms at DC, out of circuit, so it must
be a replacement. Indeed, scrutiny of the output xformer (which,
if you recall what I said I discovered on the web, namely that
this model of radio should not HAVE an output xformer), reveals
that it is bolted to the chassis with shiny, new-looking bolts.
The speaker, which must also be a replacement one, looks plenty
old and manky, though!

It goes quite loud, too, but gets very distorted when I turn it
up too far.

I'm kinda half-tempted to rebuild the thing onto a proper chassis,
as valve equipment _should_ be constructed, and not on a naff
early PCB, as it is now. Not sure I can be arsed, though. The LW band on
it is pretty much useless; I can only seem to get one station, and that
poorly. It doesn't have FM. But I didn't buy it for it to work particularly
well; I just wanted a valve-powered "nostalgia" piece that was vaguely
capable of picking up at least some stations, which this does fine.



Martin
--
M.A.Poyser Tel.: 07967 110890
Manchester, U.K. http://www.fleetie.demon.co.uk

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today!
 

I wrote:
Great news (for me, anyway):

I got the new valves on Friday, and I've just plugged them in now,
and now the radio works!

"Excellent, Smithers! With my new thermionic soniferous ether-ripple
demodulator, I can control the whole world. Mu-ha-ha-haaaa!"

I now have it hooked up to one of my Mission 752F speakers.
My suspicion about the speaker and the output transformer was
correct; the speaker in the radio casing is NOT a high-Z (800 ohm)
type; it measures about 3 ohms at DC, out of circuit, so it must
be a replacement. Indeed, scrutiny of the output xformer (which,
if you recall what I said I discovered on the web, namely that
this model of radio should not HAVE an output xformer), reveals
that it is bolted to the chassis with shiny, new-looking bolts.
The speaker, which must also be a replacement one, looks plenty
old and manky, though!

It goes quite loud, too, but gets very distorted when I turn it
up too far.

I'm kinda half-tempted to rebuild the thing onto a proper chassis,
as valve equipment _should_ be constructed, and not on a naff
early PCB, as it is now. Not sure I can be arsed, though. The LW band on
it is pretty much useless; I can only seem to get one station, and that
poorly. It doesn't have FM. But I didn't buy it for it to work particularly
well; I just wanted a valve-powered "nostalgia" piece that was vaguely
capable of picking up at least some stations, which this does fine.



Martin
--
M.A.Poyser Tel.: 07967 110890
Manchester, U.K. http://www.fleetie.demon.co.uk

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today!
 

Hi,

In message , Keith G
writes

OK, if we're swinging the lantern!

This thread reminds me of a week of 'work experience' my school arranged
for me when I was fourteen or so. I went out with a BT engineer for a
week, and learned quite a bit, but I was a bit surprised when on the
first day, when were in the local exchange checking circuits, to find
this old boy using his fingers to check each circuit. This was an old
analogue exchange. He gave me a notepad with phone numbers on, and as he
prodded the terminals, the conversation went:

him: 50 volts. me: tick
him: 50 volts. me: tick
him: 50 volts. me: tick
him: Ooohh ****...that one's ringing! me: What do I write then?
him: Don't be ****ing stupid! Me: (quietly) ok
50 volts, tick
50 volts, tick etc. etc.

I had no idea you could get a shock from a phone line!

My first proper electric shock was when I was trying to build a sound to
light controller for my mobile disco. There were some 10 amp thyristors
in the thing, and I was pointing out what each component did to a mate.
As my screwdriver waved past one of the thyristors I got a bit close,
there was a big flash, I thought my fillings were coming out, and the
screwdriver leaped out of my hand and hit him square on the nose. He
swears to this day I did it on purpose.

By the way, did anyone else play silly buggers with four blobs of blue
tack and a metal sheet soldered to a long wire? The idea is that you
blue-tack the metal sheet to the telly screen (making a crude DIY
capacitor) and wander around with the other end of the wire looking for
victims. Very, very, daft. I won't do again, mum, I promise.


--
Regards,
Glenn Booth

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today!
 

Hi,

In message , Keith G
writes

OK, if we're swinging the lantern!

This thread reminds me of a week of 'work experience' my school arranged
for me when I was fourteen or so. I went out with a BT engineer for a
week, and learned quite a bit, but I was a bit surprised when on the
first day, when were in the local exchange checking circuits, to find
this old boy using his fingers to check each circuit. This was an old
analogue exchange. He gave me a notepad with phone numbers on, and as he
prodded the terminals, the conversation went:

him: 50 volts. me: tick
him: 50 volts. me: tick
him: 50 volts. me: tick
him: Ooohh ****...that one's ringing! me: What do I write then?
him: Don't be ****ing stupid! Me: (quietly) ok
50 volts, tick
50 volts, tick etc. etc.

I had no idea you could get a shock from a phone line!

My first proper electric shock was when I was trying to build a sound to
light controller for my mobile disco. There were some 10 amp thyristors
in the thing, and I was pointing out what each component did to a mate.
As my screwdriver waved past one of the thyristors I got a bit close,
there was a big flash, I thought my fillings were coming out, and the
screwdriver leaped out of my hand and hit him square on the nose. He
swears to this day I did it on purpose.

By the way, did anyone else play silly buggers with four blobs of blue
tack and a metal sheet soldered to a long wire? The idea is that you
blue-tack the metal sheet to the telly screen (making a crude DIY
capacitor) and wander around with the other end of the wire looking for
victims. Very, very, daft. I won't do again, mum, I promise.


--
Regards,
Glenn Booth

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today!
 

Glenn Booth wrote:

50 volts, tick etc. etc.

I had no idea you could get a shock from a phone line!

Neither did I until until I was putting in a extension at my parents
home at age of 16 (ish), I had developed the bad habbit of using my
teeth to strip wire then, just as someone rang......

--
Nick

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today!
 

Glenn Booth wrote:

50 volts, tick etc. etc.

I had no idea you could get a shock from a phone line!

Neither did I until until I was putting in a extension at my parents
home at age of 16 (ish), I had developed the bad habbit of using my
teeth to strip wire then, just as someone rang......

--
Nick

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today! (long)
 

"G.S. Nail" wrote in message
...
"malcolm" wrote:

I recall prodding about in a live monitor with a wooden spoon. That
was pretty ****ing stupid. The best one was when I electrocuted myself
by pushing a mains plug into a socket with a finger trapped underneath

isnt that normal for the older full metal pin UK Mains plugs......

I don't know.. was it "normal" to electrocute yourself in the old
days? :=)


--
S i g n a l @ l i n e o n e . n e t

Yes it was - lots of things have changed, read and learn :-)

According to today's regulators and bureaucrats,
those of us who were
kids in the 40's 50's, 60's, 70's and early 80's probably shouldn't have
survived, because... Our baby cots were covered with brightly coloured
lead-based paint which was promptly chewed and licked. We had no childproof
lids on medicine bottles, or latches on doors or cabinets and it was fine
to play with pans. When we rode our bikes, we wore no helmets, just flip
flops and fluorescent 'clackers' on our wheels.

As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or airbags riding
in the passenger seat was a treat. We drank water from the garden hose and
not from a bottle and it tasted the same. We ate dripping sandwiches, bread
and butter pudding and drank fizzy pop with sugar in it, but we were never
overweight because we were always outside playing. We shared one drink with
four friends, from one bottle or can and no-one actually died from this. We
would spend hours building go-carts out of scraps and then went top speed
down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into
stinging nettles a few times, we learned to solve the problem.
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were
back before it got dark. No one was able to reach us all day and no one
minded. We did not have Play stations or X-Boxes, no video games at all. No
99 channels on TV, no videotape movies, no surround sound, no mobile phones,
no personal computers, no Internet chat rooms. We had friends -we went
outside and found them. We played elastics and street rounders, and
sometimes that ball really hurt. We fell out of trees, got cut and broke
bones and teeth, and there were no lawsuits. They were accidents. We learnt
not to do the same thing again.
We had fights, punched each other hard and got black and blue we learned
to get over it. We walked to friend's homes. We also, believe it or not,
WALKED to school; we didn't rely on mummy or daddy to drive us to school,
which was just round the corner. We made up games with sticks and tennis
balls and ate live stuff, and although we were told it would happen, we did
We rode bikes in packs of 7 and wore our coats by only the hood. Our
actions were our own. Consequences were expected. The idea of a parent
bailing us out if we broke a law was unheard of. They actually sided with
the law. Imagine that!

This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers and problem
solvers and inventors, ever. The past 50 years have been an explosion of
innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and
responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all. And you're one of
them. Congratulations! Pass this on to others who have had the luck to grow
up as real kids, before lawyers and government regulated our lives, for our
own good. For those of you who aren't old enough, thought you might like to
read about us.

This my friends, is surprisingly frightening......and it might put a
smile on your face.
The majority of students in universities today were born in
1983........They are called youth. They have never heard of We are the
World, We are the children, and the Uptown Girl they know is by Westlife not
Billy Joel. They have never heard of Rick Astley, Bananarama, Nena or
Belinda Carlisle. For them, there has always been only one Germany and one
Vietnam. AIDS has existed since they were born. CD's have existed since they
were born. Michael Jackson has always been white. To them John Travolta has
always been round in shape and they can't imagine how this fat guy could be
a god of dance. They believe that Charlie's Angels and Mission Impossible
are just new films out last year. They think that N-Trance "set you free" is
an Old Skool song. They can never imagine life before computers. They've
never heard of Pac-Man or Space Invaders or BBC computers that have Bat n
Ball games.

They'll never have thought Jazz was the sexiest aftershave ever. They'll
never have pretended to be the A Team, Red Hand Gang or the Famous Five.
They'll never have applied to be on Jim'll Fix It or Why Don't You. They
can't believe a black and white television ever existed and don't even know
how to switch on a TV without a remote control. And they will never
understand how we could leave the house without a mobile phone. Now let's
check if we're getting old...

1. You understand what was written above and you smile.
2. You need to sleep more, usually until the afternoon, after a night
out.
3. Your friends are getting married.
4. You are always surprised to see small children playing comfortably
with computers.
5. When you see teenagers with mobile phones, you shake your head.
6. You've developed more and more feelings about your work. It's now
your life.
7. You spend less and less time talking on phone with your friends
daily.
8. You meet your friends from time to time, talking about the good old
days,repeating again and again all funny stories you have experienced
together

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today! (long)
 

"G.S. Nail" wrote in message
...
"malcolm" wrote:

I recall prodding about in a live monitor with a wooden spoon. That
was pretty ****ing stupid. The best one was when I electrocuted myself
by pushing a mains plug into a socket with a finger trapped underneath

isnt that normal for the older full metal pin UK Mains plugs......

I don't know.. was it "normal" to electrocute yourself in the old
days? :=)


--
S i g n a l @ l i n e o n e . n e t

Yes it was - lots of things have changed, read and learn :-)

According to today's regulators and bureaucrats,
those of us who were
kids in the 40's 50's, 60's, 70's and early 80's probably shouldn't have
survived, because... Our baby cots were covered with brightly coloured
lead-based paint which was promptly chewed and licked. We had no childproof
lids on medicine bottles, or latches on doors or cabinets and it was fine
to play with pans. When we rode our bikes, we wore no helmets, just flip
flops and fluorescent 'clackers' on our wheels.

As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or airbags riding
in the passenger seat was a treat. We drank water from the garden hose and
not from a bottle and it tasted the same. We ate dripping sandwiches, bread
and butter pudding and drank fizzy pop with sugar in it, but we were never
overweight because we were always outside playing. We shared one drink with
four friends, from one bottle or can and no-one actually died from this. We
would spend hours building go-carts out of scraps and then went top speed
down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into
stinging nettles a few times, we learned to solve the problem.
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were
back before it got dark. No one was able to reach us all day and no one
minded. We did not have Play stations or X-Boxes, no video games at all. No
99 channels on TV, no videotape movies, no surround sound, no mobile phones,
no personal computers, no Internet chat rooms. We had friends -we went
outside and found them. We played elastics and street rounders, and
sometimes that ball really hurt. We fell out of trees, got cut and broke
bones and teeth, and there were no lawsuits. They were accidents. We learnt
not to do the same thing again.
We had fights, punched each other hard and got black and blue we learned
to get over it. We walked to friend's homes. We also, believe it or not,
WALKED to school; we didn't rely on mummy or daddy to drive us to school,
which was just round the corner. We made up games with sticks and tennis
balls and ate live stuff, and although we were told it would happen, we did
We rode bikes in packs of 7 and wore our coats by only the hood. Our
actions were our own. Consequences were expected. The idea of a parent
bailing us out if we broke a law was unheard of. They actually sided with
the law. Imagine that!

This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers and problem
solvers and inventors, ever. The past 50 years have been an explosion of
innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and
responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all. And you're one of
them. Congratulations! Pass this on to others who have had the luck to grow
up as real kids, before lawyers and government regulated our lives, for our
own good. For those of you who aren't old enough, thought you might like to
read about us.

This my friends, is surprisingly frightening......and it might put a
smile on your face.
The majority of students in universities today were born in
1983........They are called youth. They have never heard of We are the
World, We are the children, and the Uptown Girl they know is by Westlife not
Billy Joel. They have never heard of Rick Astley, Bananarama, Nena or
Belinda Carlisle. For them, there has always been only one Germany and one
Vietnam. AIDS has existed since they were born. CD's have existed since they
were born. Michael Jackson has always been white. To them John Travolta has
always been round in shape and they can't imagine how this fat guy could be
a god of dance. They believe that Charlie's Angels and Mission Impossible
are just new films out last year. They think that N-Trance "set you free" is
an Old Skool song. They can never imagine life before computers. They've
never heard of Pac-Man or Space Invaders or BBC computers that have Bat n
Ball games.

They'll never have thought Jazz was the sexiest aftershave ever. They'll
never have pretended to be the A Team, Red Hand Gang or the Famous Five.
They'll never have applied to be on Jim'll Fix It or Why Don't You. They
can't believe a black and white television ever existed and don't even know
how to switch on a TV without a remote control. And they will never
understand how we could leave the house without a mobile phone. Now let's
check if we're getting old...

1. You understand what was written above and you smile.
2. You need to sleep more, usually until the afternoon, after a night
out.
3. Your friends are getting married.
4. You are always surprised to see small children playing comfortably
with computers.
5. When you see teenagers with mobile phones, you shake your head.
6. You've developed more and more feelings about your work. It's now
your life.
7. You spend less and less time talking on phone with your friends
daily.
8. You meet your friends from time to time, talking about the good old
days,repeating again and again all funny stories you have experienced
together

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today! (long)
 

"Mike Gilmour" wrote


snip Mike's 'Yoof Of Today' rant


Mike, I didn't need to see this post today! - I'm having one of *those*
days - I still haven't found my shaving mirror which seems to have gone
missing (a lifetime first!), for no reason at all I became acutely aware
that two of us here have no less than 16 teaspoons in the cutlery drawer (I
actually counted them!), my emails consisted of the usual mile of Yankee
spam plus *yet another* direct reply (emailed to me) to a post in ukrav
(what is it about that group - nobody posts there, any replies I do get
always come direct!??) and I logged in here with an even greater sense of
futility and feeling even more stupid than I normally do! And, sure enough,
there's the inevitable (nowadays) vinyl thread, the usual ludicrous
crossposted crap (cable crimping or summat, this time!!!) a few posts from
obvious kiddies asking, quite frankly, *stupid* questions and one or two
posts from some (very obviously) young smartarse expressing views on 'Jazz'
so alien to me I can't put my arse up to them! Nothing at all from the 'Old
Gang' who all seem to have had a simultaneous Reality Attack and, wisely,
seem to have all ****ed off!

Then I get to your post!

Let me say, first off, I see where you are going and broadly agree with the
sentiments expressed. I don't agree about the lead paint and I can't relate
to your 'flip flops and fluorescent 'clackers' on our wheels' at all - in my
time it was cigarette packets or playing cards and I ain't ever worn 'flip
flops' in my entire life!. (Strange that because, at 56, I thought I was
only 4 years older than you, but this seems to come from at least a decade
later?) Beef dripping on (on bread, with a sprinkle of salt - not in a
'sandwich') I not only *can* relate to - I sometimes lie awake of a night
fekkin' thinking about it! :-)

You have addressed a great many issues that are very close to my own heart
and I would only say that if I could go back in time twice it would be to
1914 and 1939, with a bundle of magazine photos of the mindless, uniformed
sheep, that kids have become today, to try and persuade a few million decent
youngsters not to throw their lives away just so that some gormless little
**** can spend part of his £200 a week pocket money on a new jingle for his
bloody mobile phone!

Having seen a 'University Hairdressing Student' (???) on the telly last
night expressing her opinons on student grants, seen a weather report from a
geezer (whose own garden was apparently underwater) forcasting rain being
followed by some BS about he 'we need to save water' and reservoirs down to
20% of normal or somesuch, then hearing that because a 1,000 people a year
are alleged to die from passive smoking 'they' are trying to get half the
planet decreed 'No Smoking Areas' while selling fags on every street corner,
followed by a 'tough ****' report that 22,000 people did/will die from
hypothermia in the winter, hearing that the Labour Government wants to
become the 'Employers Government too', hearing that some Dago has turned
down an OBE for some fekkin' poetry while some **** gets one for kicking a
ball about and so it goes on.......!!!! (And that's only overnight FFS!)

Then I get on to this group.....

Like I said, a few truly stupid questions which have been asked a hundred
times, the ever-present (thanks to the, er, American connection) ludicrous
crossposted crap, the general view that Jazz (the 'New Rock N Roll'?) is now
deemed (by the aforementioned kiddies, who have instigated *nothing* new in
their entire lives and, most likely, never will) to be virtually *anything*
that is a) performed by persons *without* pierced navels or b) doesn't have
a cello in it. (Let's not mention the use of mics in 'Opera' these days or
the somewaht unrelated fact that Hollywood is entirely capable of coming up
with an original/new idea for a film.....!)

Like I said, The 'Old Hands' in this group appeare to have lost interest and
wandered off and the 'New Wave', to be quite frank, is about as interesting
as watching a turd dry out. Compared with some, this group has much
'community' spirit as the Harrods New Year's Sale and the normal 'tone' here
is that of a school playground at best. My own efforts here, during the last
12 months - Webpages, posting like a demented thing, Show N Tell
'interactivity', new vinyl group - have come to naught. (The best fun I've
had in a long while was smashing Rudi into submission yesterday! :-)

Your post has somehow backlit all of the above and my own feelings of
foolishness, logging on here, are now at the 'it's time to **** on the fire
and call in the dogs' stage! I do believe Mike, you have done what a 1,000
Chicago ****heads cound *never* have achieved - I think you've helped me
realise it's time to move on!

I think what I need is:

To find my shaving mirror.
Cut the number of teaspoons down, round here.
Follow the 'smart money' and jack this ng in.
Get a life.....


More, later (probably).......

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today! (long)
 

"Mike Gilmour" wrote


snip Mike's 'Yoof Of Today' rant


Mike, I didn't need to see this post today! - I'm having one of *those*
days - I still haven't found my shaving mirror which seems to have gone
missing (a lifetime first!), for no reason at all I became acutely aware
that two of us here have no less than 16 teaspoons in the cutlery drawer (I
actually counted them!), my emails consisted of the usual mile of Yankee
spam plus *yet another* direct reply (emailed to me) to a post in ukrav
(what is it about that group - nobody posts there, any replies I do get
always come direct!??) and I logged in here with an even greater sense of
futility and feeling even more stupid than I normally do! And, sure enough,
there's the inevitable (nowadays) vinyl thread, the usual ludicrous
crossposted crap (cable crimping or summat, this time!!!) a few posts from
obvious kiddies asking, quite frankly, *stupid* questions and one or two
posts from some (very obviously) young smartarse expressing views on 'Jazz'
so alien to me I can't put my arse up to them! Nothing at all from the 'Old
Gang' who all seem to have had a simultaneous Reality Attack and, wisely,
seem to have all ****ed off!

Then I get to your post!

Let me say, first off, I see where you are going and broadly agree with the
sentiments expressed. I don't agree about the lead paint and I can't relate
to your 'flip flops and fluorescent 'clackers' on our wheels' at all - in my
time it was cigarette packets or playing cards and I ain't ever worn 'flip
flops' in my entire life!. (Strange that because, at 56, I thought I was
only 4 years older than you, but this seems to come from at least a decade
later?) Beef dripping on (on bread, with a sprinkle of salt - not in a
'sandwich') I not only *can* relate to - I sometimes lie awake of a night
fekkin' thinking about it! :-)

You have addressed a great many issues that are very close to my own heart
and I would only say that if I could go back in time twice it would be to
1914 and 1939, with a bundle of magazine photos of the mindless, uniformed
sheep, that kids have become today, to try and persuade a few million decent
youngsters not to throw their lives away just so that some gormless little
**** can spend part of his £200 a week pocket money on a new jingle for his
bloody mobile phone!

Having seen a 'University Hairdressing Student' (???) on the telly last
night expressing her opinons on student grants, seen a weather report from a
geezer (whose own garden was apparently underwater) forcasting rain being
followed by some BS about he 'we need to save water' and reservoirs down to
20% of normal or somesuch, then hearing that because a 1,000 people a year
are alleged to die from passive smoking 'they' are trying to get half the
planet decreed 'No Smoking Areas' while selling fags on every street corner,
followed by a 'tough ****' report that 22,000 people did/will die from
hypothermia in the winter, hearing that the Labour Government wants to
become the 'Employers Government too', hearing that some Dago has turned
down an OBE for some fekkin' poetry while some **** gets one for kicking a
ball about and so it goes on.......!!!! (And that's only overnight FFS!)

Then I get on to this group.....

Like I said, a few truly stupid questions which have been asked a hundred
times, the ever-present (thanks to the, er, American connection) ludicrous
crossposted crap, the general view that Jazz (the 'New Rock N Roll'?) is now
deemed (by the aforementioned kiddies, who have instigated *nothing* new in
their entire lives and, most likely, never will) to be virtually *anything*
that is a) performed by persons *without* pierced navels or b) doesn't have
a cello in it. (Let's not mention the use of mics in 'Opera' these days or
the somewaht unrelated fact that Hollywood is entirely capable of coming up
with an original/new idea for a film.....!)

Like I said, The 'Old Hands' in this group appeare to have lost interest and
wandered off and the 'New Wave', to be quite frank, is about as interesting
as watching a turd dry out. Compared with some, this group has much
'community' spirit as the Harrods New Year's Sale and the normal 'tone' here
is that of a school playground at best. My own efforts here, during the last
12 months - Webpages, posting like a demented thing, Show N Tell
'interactivity', new vinyl group - have come to naught. (The best fun I've
had in a long while was smashing Rudi into submission yesterday! :-)

Your post has somehow backlit all of the above and my own feelings of
foolishness, logging on here, are now at the 'it's time to **** on the fire
and call in the dogs' stage! I do believe Mike, you have done what a 1,000
Chicago ****heads cound *never* have achieved - I think you've helped me
realise it's time to move on!

I think what I need is:

To find my shaving mirror.
Cut the number of teaspoons down, round here.
Follow the 'smart money' and jack this ng in.
Get a life.....


More, later (probably).......

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today! (long)
 

On Thu, 27 Nov 2003 14:06:22 -0000, "Keith G"
wrote:


"Mike Gilmour" wrote


snip Mike's 'Yoof Of Today' rant


Mike, I didn't need to see this post today! - I'm having one of *those*
days - I still haven't found my shaving mirror which seems to have gone
missing (a lifetime first!), for no reason at all I became acutely aware
that two of us here have no less than 16 teaspoons in the cutlery drawer (I
actually counted them!), my emails consisted of the usual mile of Yankee
spam plus *yet another* direct reply (emailed to me) to a post in ukrav
(what is it about that group - nobody posts there, any replies I do get
always come direct!??) and I logged in here with an even greater sense of
futility and feeling even more stupid than I normally do! And, sure enough,
there's the inevitable (nowadays) vinyl thread, the usual ludicrous
crossposted crap (cable crimping or summat, this time!!!) a few posts from
obvious kiddies asking, quite frankly, *stupid* questions and one or two
posts from some (very obviously) young smartarse expressing views on 'Jazz'
so alien to me I can't put my arse up to them! Nothing at all from the 'Old
Gang' who all seem to have had a simultaneous Reality Attack and, wisely,
seem to have all ****ed off!

Then I get to your post!

Let me say, first off, I see where you are going and broadly agree with the
sentiments expressed. I don't agree about the lead paint and I can't relate
to your 'flip flops and fluorescent 'clackers' on our wheels' at all - in my
time it was cigarette packets or playing cards and I ain't ever worn 'flip
flops' in my entire life!. (Strange that because, at 56, I thought I was
only 4 years older than you, but this seems to come from at least a decade
later?) Beef dripping on (on bread, with a sprinkle of salt - not in a
'sandwich') I not only *can* relate to - I sometimes lie awake of a night
fekkin' thinking about it! :-)

You have addressed a great many issues that are very close to my own heart
and I would only say that if I could go back in time twice it would be to
1914 and 1939, with a bundle of magazine photos of the mindless, uniformed
sheep, that kids have become today, to try and persuade a few million decent
youngsters not to throw their lives away just so that some gormless little
**** can spend part of his £200 a week pocket money on a new jingle for his
bloody mobile phone!

Having seen a 'University Hairdressing Student' (???) on the telly last
night expressing her opinons on student grants, seen a weather report from a
geezer (whose own garden was apparently underwater) forcasting rain being
followed by some BS about he 'we need to save water' and reservoirs down to
20% of normal or somesuch, then hearing that because a 1,000 people a year
are alleged to die from passive smoking 'they' are trying to get half the
planet decreed 'No Smoking Areas' while selling fags on every street corner,
followed by a 'tough ****' report that 22,000 people did/will die from
hypothermia in the winter, hearing that the Labour Government wants to
become the 'Employers Government too', hearing that some Dago has turned
down an OBE for some fekkin' poetry while some **** gets one for kicking a
ball about and so it goes on.......!!!! (And that's only overnight FFS!)

Then I get on to this group.....

Like I said, a few truly stupid questions which have been asked a hundred
times, the ever-present (thanks to the, er, American connection) ludicrous
crossposted crap, the general view that Jazz (the 'New Rock N Roll'?) is now
deemed (by the aforementioned kiddies, who have instigated *nothing* new in
their entire lives and, most likely, never will) to be virtually *anything*
that is a) performed by persons *without* pierced navels or b) doesn't have
a cello in it. (Let's not mention the use of mics in 'Opera' these days or
the somewaht unrelated fact that Hollywood is entirely capable of coming up
with an original/new idea for a film.....!)

Like I said, The 'Old Hands' in this group appeare to have lost interest and
wandered off and the 'New Wave', to be quite frank, is about as interesting
as watching a turd dry out. Compared with some, this group has much
'community' spirit as the Harrods New Year's Sale and the normal 'tone' here
is that of a school playground at best. My own efforts here, during the last
12 months - Webpages, posting like a demented thing, Show N Tell
'interactivity', new vinyl group - have come to naught. (The best fun I've
had in a long while was smashing Rudi into submission yesterday! :-)

Your post has somehow backlit all of the above and my own feelings of
foolishness, logging on here, are now at the 'it's time to **** on the fire
and call in the dogs' stage! I do believe Mike, you have done what a 1,000
Chicago ****heads cound *never* have achieved - I think you've helped me
realise it's time to move on!

I think what I need is:

To find my shaving mirror.
Cut the number of teaspoons down, round here.
Follow the 'smart money' and jack this ng in.
Get a life.....


More, later (probably).......



So you can't do Thursdays either?

Sigh...

d

_____________________________

http://www.pearce.uk.com

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today! (long)
 

On Thu, 27 Nov 2003 14:06:22 -0000, "Keith G"
wrote:


"Mike Gilmour" wrote


snip Mike's 'Yoof Of Today' rant


Mike, I didn't need to see this post today! - I'm having one of *those*
days - I still haven't found my shaving mirror which seems to have gone
missing (a lifetime first!), for no reason at all I became acutely aware
that two of us here have no less than 16 teaspoons in the cutlery drawer (I
actually counted them!), my emails consisted of the usual mile of Yankee
spam plus *yet another* direct reply (emailed to me) to a post in ukrav
(what is it about that group - nobody posts there, any replies I do get
always come direct!??) and I logged in here with an even greater sense of
futility and feeling even more stupid than I normally do! And, sure enough,
there's the inevitable (nowadays) vinyl thread, the usual ludicrous
crossposted crap (cable crimping or summat, this time!!!) a few posts from
obvious kiddies asking, quite frankly, *stupid* questions and one or two
posts from some (very obviously) young smartarse expressing views on 'Jazz'
so alien to me I can't put my arse up to them! Nothing at all from the 'Old
Gang' who all seem to have had a simultaneous Reality Attack and, wisely,
seem to have all ****ed off!

Then I get to your post!

Let me say, first off, I see where you are going and broadly agree with the
sentiments expressed. I don't agree about the lead paint and I can't relate
to your 'flip flops and fluorescent 'clackers' on our wheels' at all - in my
time it was cigarette packets or playing cards and I ain't ever worn 'flip
flops' in my entire life!. (Strange that because, at 56, I thought I was
only 4 years older than you, but this seems to come from at least a decade
later?) Beef dripping on (on bread, with a sprinkle of salt - not in a
'sandwich') I not only *can* relate to - I sometimes lie awake of a night
fekkin' thinking about it! :-)

You have addressed a great many issues that are very close to my own heart
and I would only say that if I could go back in time twice it would be to
1914 and 1939, with a bundle of magazine photos of the mindless, uniformed
sheep, that kids have become today, to try and persuade a few million decent
youngsters not to throw their lives away just so that some gormless little
**** can spend part of his £200 a week pocket money on a new jingle for his
bloody mobile phone!

Having seen a 'University Hairdressing Student' (???) on the telly last
night expressing her opinons on student grants, seen a weather report from a
geezer (whose own garden was apparently underwater) forcasting rain being
followed by some BS about he 'we need to save water' and reservoirs down to
20% of normal or somesuch, then hearing that because a 1,000 people a year
are alleged to die from passive smoking 'they' are trying to get half the
planet decreed 'No Smoking Areas' while selling fags on every street corner,
followed by a 'tough ****' report that 22,000 people did/will die from
hypothermia in the winter, hearing that the Labour Government wants to
become the 'Employers Government too', hearing that some Dago has turned
down an OBE for some fekkin' poetry while some **** gets one for kicking a
ball about and so it goes on.......!!!! (And that's only overnight FFS!)

Then I get on to this group.....

Like I said, a few truly stupid questions which have been asked a hundred
times, the ever-present (thanks to the, er, American connection) ludicrous
crossposted crap, the general view that Jazz (the 'New Rock N Roll'?) is now
deemed (by the aforementioned kiddies, who have instigated *nothing* new in
their entire lives and, most likely, never will) to be virtually *anything*
that is a) performed by persons *without* pierced navels or b) doesn't have
a cello in it. (Let's not mention the use of mics in 'Opera' these days or
the somewaht unrelated fact that Hollywood is entirely capable of coming up
with an original/new idea for a film.....!)

Like I said, The 'Old Hands' in this group appeare to have lost interest and
wandered off and the 'New Wave', to be quite frank, is about as interesting
as watching a turd dry out. Compared with some, this group has much
'community' spirit as the Harrods New Year's Sale and the normal 'tone' here
is that of a school playground at best. My own efforts here, during the last
12 months - Webpages, posting like a demented thing, Show N Tell
'interactivity', new vinyl group - have come to naught. (The best fun I've
had in a long while was smashing Rudi into submission yesterday! :-)

Your post has somehow backlit all of the above and my own feelings of
foolishness, logging on here, are now at the 'it's time to **** on the fire
and call in the dogs' stage! I do believe Mike, you have done what a 1,000
Chicago ****heads cound *never* have achieved - I think you've helped me
realise it's time to move on!

I think what I need is:

To find my shaving mirror.
Cut the number of teaspoons down, round here.
Follow the 'smart money' and jack this ng in.
Get a life.....


More, later (probably).......



So you can't do Thursdays either?

Sigh...

d

_____________________________

http://www.pearce.uk.com

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today! (long)
 

"Keith G" wrote in message
...

"Mike Gilmour" wrote


snip Mike's 'Yoof Of Today' rant


Mike, I didn't need to see this post today! - I'm having one of *those*
days - 'do ah wanna fly, do ya wanna see me try'
The other day got my foot caught in flex & broke missus's lighted two sided
mirror & broke the non magnifying side, gotta fix it.
Teaspoon concern?? here its 23!!! and god knows how many assorted/chipped
coffee cups.
Change flip flops and replace a pair of dull shoes - not a logo in sight.
Those clackers held with wooden clothes pegs??
Keith I'm 60 already..'University Hairdressing Student' Cheez ... Late
afternoon, sandwich in hand, switched on TV, 'Salon' girl getting colonic
irrigation, shot of exit clear tubing, put sandwich down uneaten ...yes
times have changed.

Not got time for a rant, getting sound gear checked & loaded for a weekend
gig, 12 piece band, Saturday, Inverness, (Falcon Square 11am - 1pm, 2-5pm)

I think what I need is:

To find my shaving mirror.
Cut the number of teaspoons down, round here.
Follow the 'smart money' and jack this ng in.
Get a life.....


More, later (probably).......


'Don't give up'.......

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today! (long)
 

"Keith G" wrote in message
...

"Mike Gilmour" wrote


snip Mike's 'Yoof Of Today' rant


Mike, I didn't need to see this post today! - I'm having one of *those*
days - 'do ah wanna fly, do ya wanna see me try'
The other day got my foot caught in flex & broke missus's lighted two sided
mirror & broke the non magnifying side, gotta fix it.
Teaspoon concern?? here its 23!!! and god knows how many assorted/chipped
coffee cups.
Change flip flops and replace a pair of dull shoes - not a logo in sight.
Those clackers held with wooden clothes pegs??
Keith I'm 60 already..'University Hairdressing Student' Cheez ... Late
afternoon, sandwich in hand, switched on TV, 'Salon' girl getting colonic
irrigation, shot of exit clear tubing, put sandwich down uneaten ...yes
times have changed.

Not got time for a rant, getting sound gear checked & loaded for a weekend
gig, 12 piece band, Saturday, Inverness, (Falcon Square 11am - 1pm, 2-5pm)

I think what I need is:

To find my shaving mirror.
Cut the number of teaspoons down, round here.
Follow the 'smart money' and jack this ng in.
Get a life.....


More, later (probably).......


'Don't give up'.......

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today! (long)
 

"Mike Gilmour" wrote

Keith I'm 60 already..


OK, got the leads in the wrong way round (nothing new there!) - at least I
got the '4 years' bit right!


Not got time for a rant, getting sound gear checked & loaded for a weekend
gig, 12 piece band, Saturday, Inverness, (Falcon Square 11am - 1pm, 2-5pm)


:-)


I think what I need is:

To find my shaving mirror.
Cut the number of teaspoons down, round here.
Follow the 'smart money' and jack this ng in.
Get a life.....


More, later (probably).......


'Don't give up'.......


OK. 'Probably' then.....


Mike, I *never* give up - I actually *invented* the 'wot it takes' and the
'die trying' methodologies and have applied them all my life - there's a big
difference in sticking with something that matters and switching something
off that don't matter when it gets boring!

Anyway, today is a better day (maybe Don's right - maybe I just can't *do*
Thursdays! :-):

The shaving mirror turned up. (Some **** had left it behind the telly,
apparently.........)
A savage cull of the teaspoons *has* been executed. (It's simple - use the
wrong size spoon and yer cup o' tea suffers.....)
I'll mebbe hang around for a while yet and have some 'fun'. (I checked - my
'Year Of Self-Imposed Good Behaviour' has just expired!)
I've also remembered that I *had* a life and it's fekkin' wore me out!

So look for another (Post) post or two in the next few minutes! :-)

(I know *someone* who will be happy.....!! :-)

Bought an Old Valve Radio Today! (long)
 

"Mike Gilmour" wrote

Keith I'm 60 already..


OK, got the leads in the wrong way round (nothing new there!) - at least I
got the '4 years' bit right!


Not got time for a rant, getting sound gear checked & loaded for a weekend
gig, 12 piece band, Saturday, Inverness, (Falcon Square 11am - 1pm, 2-5pm)


:-)


I think what I need is:

To find my shaving mirror.
Cut the number of teaspoons down, round here.
Follow the 'smart money' and jack this ng in.
Get a life.....


More, later (probably).......


'Don't give up'.......


OK. 'Probably' then.....


Mike, I *never* give up - I actually *invented* the 'wot it takes' and the
'die trying' methodologies and have applied them all my life - there's a big
difference in sticking with something that matters and switching something
off that don't matter when it gets boring!

Anyway, today is a better day (maybe Don's right - maybe I just can't *do*
Thursdays! :-):

The shaving mirror turned up. (Some **** had left it behind the telly,
apparently.........)
A savage cull of the teaspoons *has* been executed. (It's simple - use the
wrong size spoon and yer cup o' tea suffers.....)
I'll mebbe hang around for a while yet and have some 'fun'. (I checked - my
'Year Of Self-Imposed Good Behaviour' has just expired!)
I've also remembered that I *had* a life and it's fekkin' wore me out!

So look for another (Post) post or two in the next few minutes! :-)

(I know *someone* who will be happy.....!! :-)