Doug T.
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Post by Doug T. on Feb 4, 2015 13:22:21 GMT -5
Hi All! It's been a while since I posted. There are a lot of reasons, partly a change in lifestyle, partly a change in interests. I've gone back to work, which at my age wasn't an easy transition, and I've been spending a lot more time with my writing instrument collection. There is an important (to me at least) reason for coming back. Please excuse any rants. When I went back to work, ca.6 months ago, I found that I needed a new cell phone as mine was outdated. I found what was just right for me. A Trac phone. Let me add that I'm, at 62, the oldest at work. One of my colleagues suggested that I go have coffee with them. I aggreed to, so she says " Send me a text, when you've got time." I said that I'm sorry, I don't know how to text. Of course everyone in the office thought that was a real hoot, and are trying to teach me. The thing is, I don't really care if I know how to or not. For me, a phone is a tool used to speak to someone. I don't need to get online with it. I don't need to take photos with it. And I certainly DON"T want to be available around the clock It seems I've sold all my film cameras for all the wrong reasons. I forgot that fiddling around with them reminded me of simpler times, maybe even times that I was happier than now. I still have quite a few digitals, and cheap TLRs that I use for TTV photography. It's very relaxing. Cameras still serve a purpose, even if it's almost impossible to get film for them, and get it developed. I'm done ranting. I'm back. Doug
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Feb 4, 2015 14:22:15 GMT -5
Doug T,
The thing is, I don't really care if I know how to or not. For me, a phone is a tool used to speak to someone. I don't need to get online with it. I don't need to take photos with it. And I certainly DON"T want to be available around the clock
DougThose are the very same reasons I resisted getting a cell phone for 13 years after I retired and gave mine away with my business despite the urging of relatives and friends. When I turned 80 and had to take an old geezers' driving test I got 100%. Now, for me that was awesome - very rare. I immediately fell in love with the lovely young supervisor who gave me that mark. After the test she asked everybody who had a phone in their car to raise a hand. I was the lone exception. I was kind of smug. Then she started rhyming off the reasons I should always have one in my car. I was getting uncomfortable. Finally she asked if I had ever had a flat tire. I said 'several times'. Then came the question 'What would you do if you had one during a drive in the countryside today?' Pause---------------. Longer------------------. Still longer-----------------. OK. That was and is one of my favourite get aways to take pictures. She said she would not release my test results unless I promised to get a cell phone PDQ. I sheepishly took an oath and thanked her. I now have one. It takes lousy pictures. My outgoing message states that I will neither send nor respond to texting as well as a number of other caveats if they want me to call back. It does all kinds of things that a phone should not do. I have had my ground lines disconnected and can not go anywhere without that miserable little contraption. So now I can hardly wait until I get a flat. Mickey
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2015 17:46:07 GMT -5
A couple of years ago we dropped our land line and transferred that number to my mates cellphone. We each have a cellphone and although we don't do much internet surfing with them we both use that feature from time to time. We also dropped our print newspaper subscription (I was once managing editor of a daily newspaper) and do our reading on the computer,our phones or a recently-acquired IPad. I haven't bought a printed book in about four years but have more than 100 electronic books. I didn't think I would ever embrace digital to this degree but barring an EMP attack I'm not likely to switch back. Same with cameras -- in fact soon I'm gonna start trying to divest myself of a good share of my film gear--mainly because I don't want it thrown in the trash when I'm gone. We're starting to try to sort things out so we can downsize at some future date. With digital I can live in a lot smaller house and still maintain a huge book and photo library.
W
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truls
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Post by truls on Feb 5, 2015 3:09:18 GMT -5
Welcome back Doug! Mickey and Wayne states the truth. Lession learned, Electronics are all over us, and we have to cope With it whether we like it or not. We have a coffee machine... An Electronic one, from Switzerland. We push he button, the coffee is ready in 30 Seconds. It also states when it is out of beans, need cleaning, full of Garbage, and so on. The coffee quality matches the best coffee in fine restaurants. I will never manually Cook my coffee, I like the "Electronic" one.
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Feb 5, 2015 4:04:15 GMT -5
Welcome back Doug! Mickey and Wayne states the truth. Lession learned, Electronics are all over us, ...."It is technology gone mad. Truls, Your coffee machine makes coffee only. Good coffee. That is as it should be. It knows its place. It doesn't take pictures, text, record messages, wash your car or any other things that are not natural for a coffee machine. It is civilized. Mickey
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Post by Rachel on Feb 5, 2015 9:28:06 GMT -5
Mickey, I would be happy with anything that would wash my car .......
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Doug T.
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Post by Doug T. on Feb 5, 2015 10:48:54 GMT -5
I'd like something that would make the snow in my driveway disappear. Maybe if I let my nephew next door borrow my tablet, he'll do it for me! That would be a good use of modern technology!!
Doug
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Feb 5, 2015 12:22:10 GMT -5
I'd like something that would make the snow in my driveway disappear. Maybe if I let my nephew next door borrow my tablet, he'll do it for me! That would be a good use of modern technology!! Doug
Doug, Try this. Mickey
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Feb 5, 2015 12:29:41 GMT -5
Mickey, I would be happy with anything that would wash my car .......
Your wish is my command. Mickey
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Post by philbirch on Feb 5, 2015 13:03:54 GMT -5
Mickey, I would be happy with anything that would wash my car ....... £5 and a couple of local kids ought to do it
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Post by philbirch on Feb 5, 2015 13:16:43 GMT -5
This has gone from 'still collecting' to technology in our life. I love the way this forum just goes completely off topic!!
I bought a Sony e-book from the QVC outlet about four or five years ago for £50. It's never out of my pocket. It reads books only. No internet or video playing. I can read it in bright sunshine too. Try that with your tablets.
I downloaded about 100,000 books from a dodgy online resource, I don't intend to read them all but if I hear of an author I'll look him/her up in my mini library. Its a great way to discover new (to me) writers too. I've been reading the classics and Hemingway too.
I still buy printed books, but mainly reference types. Once I've read a novel I pass it on, I don't like paying £7 or £8 for something I won't keep. I have a copy of McKeowns on my tablet which is great as the book weighs in at about 1.5 kilos.
Back on topic. I am trimming my collection down a bit. I have the Leica that I promised myself and a small outfit of lenses. I'm getting rid of 40 or so cameras. I'll list them here in the market place before ebaying them. I'm concentrating mainly on interchangeable lens rangefinders now.
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Feb 6, 2015 2:24:01 GMT -5
Welcome back Doug! Mickey and Wayne states the truth. Lession learned, Electronics are all over us, and we have to cope With it whether we like it or not. We have a coffee machine... An Electronic one, from Switzerland. We push he button, the coffee is ready in 30 Seconds. It also states when it is out of beans, need cleaning, full of Garbage, and so on. The coffee quality matches the best coffee in fine restaurants. I will never manually Cook my coffee, I like the "Electronic" one.
Truls, I still make my coffee the way my grandfather did in a little pot on the stove. Except the pot is now glass instead of copper and the stove is a microwave. My method takes five minutes and 30 seconds. By the way I still save the grounds for scouring pots and pans and then as fertilizer for my tangled, ugly garden. I modestly admit my ersatz Turkish coffee is better than the real stuff in many coffee shops and I can not use real sugar, only the artificial stuff allowed diabetics. Not following the leader can be creative and fun.
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truls
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Post by truls on Feb 6, 2015 5:04:59 GMT -5
Welcome back Doug! Mickey and Wayne states the truth. Lession learned, Electronics are all over us, and we have to cope With it whether we like it or not. We have a coffee machine... An Electronic one, from Switzerland. We push he button, the coffee is ready in 30 Seconds. It also states when it is out of beans, need cleaning, full of Garbage, and so on. The coffee quality matches the best coffee in fine restaurants. I will never manually Cook my coffee, I like the "Electronic" one. Truls, I still make my coffee the way my grandfather did in a little pot on the stove. Except the pot is now glass instead of copper and the stove is a microwave. My method takes five minutes and 30 seconds. By the way I still save the grounds for scouring pots and pans and then as fertilizer for my tangled, ugly garden. I modestly admit my ersatz Turkish coffee is better than the real stuff in many coffee shops and I can not use real sugar, only the artificial stuff allowed diabetics. Not following the leader can be creative and fun.
I appreciate Your disobedience for authorities, not being mainstream. That is a healthy point of view. I am not good at making good coffee, that takes special skills doing right. Manually made coffe is the best, when done properly. Turkish coffee is a delicacy, not easy to make!
As for the technological point of view, I hope the NeXT edition of the coffee machine not are sending data to my doctor, claiming I drink too much coffee! (haha)
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Post by genazzano on Feb 6, 2015 12:22:42 GMT -5
I love reading these posts. The posts from you guys confirms that I am in the right place. I hope I am not the only one who hates twitter. I refuse to twit anyone.
Ciao!
David
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Feb 6, 2015 15:59:29 GMT -5
I love reading these posts. The posts from you guys confirms that I am in the right place. I hope I am not the only one who hates twitter. I refuse to twit anyone. Ciao! David
David, I, too, refuse to become a twit. Furthermore since I am not very sociable I disdain the "Social Media". I am just an old grouch, I guess. But a relatively happy old grouch. Mickey
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