Nancy Young wrote:

> Becca wrote:
>
>> Someone mentioned "commisary" in this group, so I looked it up on
>> Wikipedia and they do not list commisary, but I know the word is
>> legit. I have never been to a "commisary", so I was curious.
>
> Being an Army brat, I know from commissaries. I'm sure you know
> it's a military base supermarket. Not especially super that I
> remember, but you get the idea.
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commissary


In a number of the high-rise apartment buildings along the lakefront here in
Chicago there are small grocery stores, these are often referred to as
"commissaries"...


--
Best
Greg

Becca wrote on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 09:49:09 -0600:

> wrote:
>> Interesting. I'm 63, and I've never before heard the word
>> "stovetop." Wikpedia doesn't acknowledge it either.
>>
>> -- Larry

> It is a commonly used word. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/stovetop

> Someone mentioned "commisary" in this group, so I looked it up
> on Wikipedia and they do not list commisary, but I know the
> word is legit. I have never been to a "commisary", so I was
> curious.

It's quite an old word. The first OED citation is from 1362 and, in the
US military sense of a store, from 1882. In the sense of a person, have
you never heard "Marching Through Georgia"?

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

On Fri, 22 Jan 2010 11:00:30 -0500, wrote:

>On Fri, 22 Jan 2010 10:50:09 -0500, brooklyn1
> wrote:
>
says...
>>>> sf > wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Interesting. I'm 63, and I've never before heard the word "stovetop."
>>>> Wikpedia doesn't acknowledge it either.
>>
>>For SIXTY THREE YEARS widdle warry has been a friggin' imbecile:
>>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stove_Top
>
>Try the "kitchen stove" article, dim bulb. And notice that despite the
>fact that "stove top" redirects to "kitchen stove," the "kitchen
>stove" article never uses the term "stove top," but uses "cooktop"
>throughout.
>
Which is a clue that the terms are interchangeable.

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

On Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:33:07 -0500, wrote:

>On Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:25:13 -0800, sf > wrote:
>
>>On Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:07:59 -0500, wrote:
>>
>>>I also have a very small set of battery-powered motorized rollers --
>>>about 8" x 8" x 1" -- which you can place on an outdoor grill, or a
>>>pan, or anything hot. They work well, too.
>>
>>Sounded great until I realized there would be no burn marks.
>
>If you mean cross-marks, there aren't any from the electric hot dog
>cookers, either. But the plain rollers get quite hot, and the dogs do
>get charred.
>
That's what I meant, but I like big black blisters too. When a hot
dog is too well done for most people, or fell in the fire... give it
to me. It's perfect.


--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

Nancy Young wrote:
> Being an Army brat, I know from commissaries. I'm sure you know
> it's a military base supermarket. Not especially super that I
> remember, but you get the idea.
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commissary
>
> nancy

Thanks, I must have misspelled the word.


Becca

On 2010-01-22, sf > wrote:

> That's what I meant, but I like big black blisters too. When a hot
> dog is too well done for most people, or fell in the fire... give it
> to me. It's perfect.

I'm with you on that one, sf. If it ain't burnt, it ain't done!

nb

On Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:40:27 -0800 (PST), Cindy Hamilton wrote:

> On Jan 21, 2:33*pm, sf > wrote:
>
>> BTW: Would you please fix your line length? *It's not wrapping well.
>> Mine is set at 70.
>
> Sorry. Google Groups is exceedingly limited. I had a thought about
> how to control that, but the thought arrived too late to aid my
> previous post.
>
> Cindy

looked o.k. to me (40tude dialog).

your pal,
blake

On Jan 22, 10:13*am, notbob > wrote:
> On 2010-01-22, sf > wrote:
>
> > That's what I meant, but I like big black blisters too. *When a hot
> > dog is too well done for most people, or fell in the fire... give it
> > to me. *It's perfect. *
>
> I'm with you on that one, sf. *If it ain't burnt, it ain't done! *
>
> nb

Me too!! I like 'real' hot dogs, sausages well spiced in real
casings that blister up and get cracklin and crispy and when you take
a bite the flavor and juices burst in your mouth. Gotta have em
charred!!!

wrote:
> On Wed, 20 Jan 2010 11:36:22 -0800, sf > wrote:
>
>>> Only if it's part of a stove. Otherwise, a cooktop.
>>>
>> I have used one practically all of my life. There were no kitchen
>> ranges in my life unless I was living in an apartment as a young adult
>> and have *always* called it a stove top. The top of a range is a
>> range top. Stove top covers them all. I guess it's the US equivalent
>> of hob.
>
> Interesting. I'm 63, and I've never before heard the word "stovetop."
> Wikpedia doesn't acknowledge it either


You never heard of Stove Top Stuffing Mix? My kids used to love that crap.



--
Janet Wilder
Way-the-heck-south Texas
Spelling doesn't count. Cooking does.

On 2010-01-22, Janet Wilder > wrote:
> wrote:

>> Interesting. I'm 63, and I've never before heard the word "stovetop."
>> Wikpedia doesn't acknowledge it either
>
>
> You never heard of Stove Top Stuffing Mix? My kids used to love that crap.

The term seems pretty self-explanatory to me.

nb

"Steve B" > wrote in message
news
>
> > wrote in message
> ...
>> On Fri, 22 Jan 2010 10:20:23 -0500, I am Tosk
>> > wrote:
>>
>>>Really? That's something. Here in the NYC area, we call it a stove top.
>>
>> I grew up in central NJ. The word "range" was dominant then and there
>> to refer to the cooktop portion, and "oven" for the baking portion.
>>
>> Stove was pretty much used only for the pot-bellied type.
>>
>> Have to admit that I didn't think of "Stovetop Stuffing." Though I
>> might just be blocking it out, along with Hamburger Helper, Sham-Wows
>> and the Slap-n-Chop.
>>
>> -- Larry
>
> I saw a new product called Hob Stuffing once, but it never caught on.

Nope! Never heard of that in UK)

--
--
https://www.shop.helpforheroes.org.uk/

>>> On Fri, 22 Jan 2010 10:20:23 -0500, I am Tosk
>>> > wrote:
>>>
>>> I grew up in central NJ. The word "range" was dominant then and there
>>> to refer to the cooktop portion, and "oven" for the baking portion.
>>>
>>> Stove was pretty much used only for the pot-bellied type.
>>>
>>> Have to admit that I didn't think of "Stovetop Stuffing." Though I
>>> might just be blocking it out, along with Hamburger Helper, Sham-Wows
>>> and the Slap-n-Chop.

I lived in Central NJ for 30 years. I had a stove. In my house in South
Brunswick I had a wall oven and a cooktop, but when I went to put a pot
on the cooktop, I put it on the "stove". When some asked when dinner was
going to be ready, they were told it's on the stove.

The only time I heard the word "range" was the full name of an electric
stove, which we all knew was an electric range. I don't think I ever
heard a gas stove referred to as a "range" ever in my entire 63 years.

--
Janet Wilder
Way-the-heck-south Texas
Spelling doesn't count. Cooking does.

On Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:06:54 -0600, Janet Wilder
> wrote:

>>>> I grew up in central NJ. The word "range" was dominant then and there
>>>> to refer to the cooktop portion, and "oven" for the baking portion.
>>>>
>>>> Stove was pretty much used only for the pot-bellied type....
>
>I lived in Central NJ for 30 years. I had a stove. In my house in South
>Brunswick I had a wall oven and a cooktop, but when I went to put a pot
>on the cooktop, I put it on the "stove". When some asked when dinner was
>going to be ready, they were told it's on the stove.
>
>The only time I heard the word "range" was the full name of an electric
>stove, which we all knew was an electric range. I don't think I ever
>heard a gas stove referred to as a "range" ever in my entire 63 years.

Well, of course -- you lived in out in the country in South Brunswick.

Up in Edison and then in Princeton (37 years), we kept up with all the
modern terms. 8

-- Larry

In article >,
Christine Dabney > wrote:

> >There you go! I picked up a one-piece Trudeau spatula at TJ Maxx a
> >couple years ago, love it so much that I ordered 3 more from Amazon,
> >http://tinyurl.com/yblak7o; the red, orange, and yellow ones. I like
> >that they are one piece * no gunk catchers where handle inserts into
> >head.
>
> Dayum. I just found out something else I "need". Should I curse you
> now or later?
>
> Christine, who wants all of them.


<g> Christine, I poke fun at you occasionally for your vast collection
of cookware of all types, but I've got my own oversupply of spatulas
(metal and non-metal both) and wood spoons wazoo. Those Trudeaus,
Cookie, are the bomb. I don't regret a dime of their cost. You'll be
thanking me, not cursing me. I garontee.
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://web.me.com/barbschaller 1-9-2010

In article >,
"J. Clarke" > wrote:

> Grits and oatmeal did it for mine.

I also prefer the one-piece spatulas because the head never separates
from the handle.
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://web.me.com/barbschaller 1-9-2010

blake murphy wrote:

> On Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:40:27 -0800 (PST), Cindy Hamilton wrote:
>
>> On Jan 21, 2:33 pm, sf > wrote:
>>
>>> BTW: Would you please fix your line length? It's not wrapping well.
>>> Mine is set at 70.
>>
>> Sorry. Google Groups is exceedingly limited. I had a thought about
>> how to control that, but the thought arrived too late to aid my
>> previous post.
>>
>> Cindy
>
> looked o.k. to me (40tude dialog).


Cindy's posts look just *fine* to me...it's just that "sf" always has to
concoct something stoopid to whine about.


--
Best
Greg

On Sat, 23 Jan 2010 03:07:05 -0600, "Gregory Morrow"
> wrote:

>blake murphy wrote:
>
>> On Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:40:27 -0800 (PST), Cindy Hamilton wrote:
>>
>>> On Jan 21, 2:33 pm, sf > wrote:
>>>
>>>> BTW: Would you please fix your line length? It's not wrapping well.
>>>> Mine is set at 70.
>>>
>>> Sorry. Google Groups is exceedingly limited. I had a thought about
>>> how to control that, but the thought arrived too late to aid my
>>> previous post.
>>>
>>> Cindy
>>
>> looked o.k. to me (40tude dialog).
>
>
>Cindy's posts look just *fine* to me...

I use the same reader as sf. Mine is one version prior but that has
little difference and none in this case. Cindy's post showed up like
any other properly composed post does. I kf'd sf long ago but when I
saw replies I went back and got her and Cindy's posts. I assume sf
will blame her issues on someone else.

>it's just that "sf" always has to
>concoct something stoopid to whine about.

I'd say she'd make a perfect government employee but she's already
done that. I'm sure she fit in perfectly.

Lou

On Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:40:27 -0800 (PST), Cindy Hamilton
> wrote:

>On Jan 21, 2:33*pm, sf > wrote:
>> On Thu, 21 Jan 2010 10:16:41 -0800 (PST), Cindy Hamilton

>> BTW: Would you please fix your line length? *It's not wrapping well.
>> Mine is set at 70.
>
>Sorry. Google Groups is exceedingly limited. I had a thought about
>how to control that, but the thought arrived too late to aid my
>previous post.

There was nothing wrong with your post and you don't have to apologize
for her stupidity.

Lou

> Cindy's posts look just *fine* to me...it's just that "sf" always has to
> concoct something stoopid to whine about.

Mama says stoopid is as stoopid does.

Steve

In article
>,
Cindy Hamilton > wrote:

> On Jan 21, 1:00*pm, sf > wrote:
>
> > You can find people of either gender don't like to cook.
>
> Of course you can. This is what got me going:
>
> In the local paper last Sunday, there was a column by a woman who,
> when she was young, was seized by something she called "feminism".
> I'll reproduce it here in full; screw her copyright. By the time I
> got to the bottom, though, I realized she's just dumb.

I thought she was just writing a humor article.

--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://web.me.com/barbschaller 1-9-2010

Melba's Jammin' wrote:
> In article >,
> Christine Dabney > wrote:
>
>>> There you go! I picked up a one-piece Trudeau spatula at TJ Maxx a
>>> couple years ago, love it so much that I ordered 3 more from Amazon,
>>> http://tinyurl.com/yblak7o; the red, orange, and yellow ones. I like
>>> that they are one piece * no gunk catchers where handle inserts into
>>> head.
>> Dayum. I just found out something else I "need". Should I curse you
>> now or later?
>>
>> Christine, who wants all of them.
>
>
> <g> Christine, I poke fun at you occasionally for your vast collection
> of cookware of all types, but I've got my own oversupply of spatulas
> (metal and non-metal both) and wood spoons wazoo. Those Trudeaus,
> Cookie, are the bomb. I don't regret a dime of their cost. You'll be
> thanking me, not cursing me. I garontee.

Oooo, they sure look good to me! I have a kitchenaid one that I love,
but it is 2-piece and does get a case of the gunkies inside. Thanks for
the tip!

TammyM

wrote:
> On Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:06:54 -0600, Janet Wilder
> > wrote:
>
>>>>> I grew up in central NJ. The word "range" was dominant then and there
>>>>> to refer to the cooktop portion, and "oven" for the baking portion.
>>>>>
>>>>> Stove was pretty much used only for the pot-bellied type....
>> I lived in Central NJ for 30 years. I had a stove. In my house in South
>> Brunswick I had a wall oven and a cooktop, but when I went to put a pot
>> on the cooktop, I put it on the "stove". When some asked when dinner was
>> going to be ready, they were told it's on the stove.
>>
>> The only time I heard the word "range" was the full name of an electric
>> stove, which we all knew was an electric range. I don't think I ever
>> heard a gas stove referred to as a "range" ever in my entire 63 years.
>
> Well, of course -- you lived in out in the country in South Brunswick.
>
> Up in Edison and then in Princeton (37 years), we kept up with all the
> modern terms. 8

I lived in Edison for 6 years. South Brunswick borders Princeton. My son
lives in Twin Rivers and his wife grew up there and later in
Connecticut. She never heard the stove being called a "range" My DD
lives in Princessland (Marlboro) and she never heard anything called a
"range" unless someone was talking about an electric one.

I'm thinking that it's not geography that causes you and I to recognize
different terms differently.

--
Janet Wilder
Way-the-heck-south Texas
Spelling doesn't count. Cooking does.

On Sat, 23 Jan 2010 15:01:49 -0600, Janet Wilder
> wrote:

>> Well, of course -- you lived in out in the country in South Brunswick.
>>
>> Up in Edison and then in Princeton (37 years), we kept up with all the
>> modern terms. 8
>
>I lived in Edison for 6 years. South Brunswick borders Princeton.....
>
>I'm thinking that it's not geography that causes you and I to recognize
>different terms differently.

Surely not. I'm just kidding you about South Brunswick (where I'll be
next weekend -- my sister still lives in Kendall Park...)

-- Larry

wrote:
> On Sat, 23 Jan 2010 15:01:49 -0600, Janet Wilder
> > wrote:
>
>>> Well, of course -- you lived in out in the country in South Brunswick.
>>>
>>> Up in Edison and then in Princeton (37 years), we kept up with all the
>>> modern terms. 8
>> I lived in Edison for 6 years. South Brunswick borders Princeton.....
>>
>> I'm thinking that it's not geography that causes you and I to recognize
>> different terms differently.
>
> Surely not. I'm just kidding you about South Brunswick (where I'll be
> next weekend -- my sister still lives in Kendall Park...)
>

That's where I lived. What's her name? I lived there for 25 years -
1972 to 1996


--
Janet Wilder
Way-the-heck-south Texas
Spelling doesn't count. Cooking does.

On Sat, 23 Jan 2010 15:01:49 -0600, Janet Wilder wrote:

> wrote:
>> On Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:06:54 -0600, Janet Wilder
>> > wrote:
>>
>>>>>> I grew up in central NJ. The word "range" was dominant then and there
>>>>>> to refer to the cooktop portion, and "oven" for the baking portion.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Stove was pretty much used only for the pot-bellied type....
>>> I lived in Central NJ for 30 years. I had a stove. In my house in South
>>> Brunswick I had a wall oven and a cooktop, but when I went to put a pot
>>> on the cooktop, I put it on the "stove". When some asked when dinner was
>>> going to be ready, they were told it's on the stove.
>>>
>>> The only time I heard the word "range" was the full name of an electric
>>> stove, which we all knew was an electric range. I don't think I ever
>>> heard a gas stove referred to as a "range" ever in my entire 63 years.
>>
>> Well, of course -- you lived in out in the country in South Brunswick.
>>
>> Up in Edison and then in Princeton (37 years), we kept up with all the
>> modern terms. 8
>
> I lived in Edison for 6 years. South Brunswick borders Princeton. My son
> lives in Twin Rivers and his wife grew up there and later in
> Connecticut. She never heard the stove being called a "range" My DD
> lives in Princessland (Marlboro) and she never heard anything called a
> "range" unless someone was talking about an electric one.
>
> I'm thinking that it's not geography that causes you and I to recognize
> different terms differently.

i also thing of 'stove' as gas and 'range' as electric. not sure why,
though.

your pal,
blake

On Sun, 24 Jan 2010 13:22:47 -0500, blake murphy
> wrote:

>i also thing of 'stove' as gas and 'range' as electric. not sure why,
>though.

I think "range" is the proper term for an integrated cooktop and oven
unit.

Did you know rangetops and cooktops (neither one is attached to an
oven) are two different things?

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

Any VitaMix fans out there? I bought a mint condition older VitaMix at a
church sale and would like some ideas for using it that are unique to
the appliance. A stick blender takes care of simple tasks. jh

On Sun, 24 Jan 2010 11:07:14 -0600, Janet Wilder
> wrote:

>> Surely not. I'm just kidding you about South Brunswick (where I'll be
>> next weekend -- my sister still lives in Kendall Park...)
>
>That's where I lived. What's her name? I lived there for 25 years -
>1972 to 1996

Rae O'Shea, on Concord Drive.

-- Larry

On Mon, 25 Jan 2010 02:13:11 -0500, wrote:

>On Sun, 24 Jan 2010 11:07:14 -0600, Janet Wilder
> wrote:
>
>>> Surely not. I'm just kidding you about South Brunswick (where I'll be
>>> next weekend -- my sister still lives in Kendall Park...)
>>
>>That's where I lived. What's her name? I lived there for 25 years -
>>1972 to 1996
>
>Rae O'Shea, on Concord Drive.
>
Larry - not sure how long you've been online, but this type of
conversation should not be public. That sort of information should be
emailed, not plastered all over usenet. Looking at your headers, it
seems like you don't want your information out there - so don't do it
to other people, especially unsuspecting third parties. If you don't
want to email, we have a chat channel where you can have a more
private conversation... or it can be totally private if you open up a
private chat window.



--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

On Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:11:59 -0800, sf > wrote:

>Larry - not sure how long you've been online, but this type of
>conversation should not be public. That sort of information should be
>emailed, not plastered all over usenet...

Thanks for the advice, but:

Longer than you or anyone else in this newsgroup, in all likelihood.
Since the earlest ARPAnet days. I was listed in the first NSF/BBN
Internet Manager's Phonebook.

My sister's "in the book", as am I. If you think that basic
information can't be found easily on *anyone* in a very few minutes,
you're kidding yourself.

-- Larry

wrote:
>
>>Larry - not sure how long you've been online, but this type of
>>conversation should not be public. That sort of information should be
>>emailed, not plastered all over usenet...
>
> Longer than you or anyone else in this newsgroup, in all likelihood.
> Since the earlest ARPAnet days. I was listed in the first NSF/BBN
> Internet Manager's Phonebook.

When they still tried to track all ARPAnet users I was listed in the NIC
as DJF3.

> My sister's "in the book", as am I. If you think that basic
> information can't be found easily on *anyone* in a very few minutes,
> you're kidding yourself.

Still, I don't think it's a good idea to post contact numbers for folks
no matter that I've posted with my own email address for all these
years. It's my address not someone else's.

Doug Freyburger wrote:
> wrote:
>>> Larry - not sure how long you've been online, but this type of
>>> conversation should not be public. That sort of information should be
>>> emailed, not plastered all over usenet...
>> Longer than you or anyone else in this newsgroup, in all likelihood.
>> Since the earlest ARPAnet days. I was listed in the first NSF/BBN
>> Internet Manager's Phonebook.
>
> When they still tried to track all ARPAnet users I was listed in the NIC
> as DJF3.

Youngsters.

I was posting so long ago that my computer ran on kerosene.

George L

On Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:00:07 -0500, wrote:

>On Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:11:59 -0800, sf > wrote:
>
>>Larry - not sure how long you've been online, but this type of
>>conversation should not be public. That sort of information should be
>>emailed, not plastered all over usenet...
>
>Thanks for the advice, but:
>
>Longer than you or anyone else in this newsgroup, in all likelihood.
>Since the earlest ARPAnet days. I was listed in the first NSF/BBN
>Internet Manager's Phonebook.
>
>My sister's "in the book", as am I. If you think that basic
>information can't be found easily on *anyone* in a very few minutes,
>you're kidding yourself.
>
So post your own name and information, don't do it to your sister.

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

On Mon, 25 Jan 2010 23:19:14 +0000 (UTC), Doug Freyburger
> wrote:

>> Longer than you or anyone else in this newsgroup, in all likelihood.
>> Since the earlest ARPAnet days. I was listed in the first NSF/BBN
>> Internet Manager's Phonebook.
>
>When they still tried to track all ARPAnet users I was listed in the NIC
>as DJF3.

Man, you're old. 8

>Still, I don't think it's a good idea to post contact numbers for folks
>no matter that I've posted with my own email address for all these
>years. It's my address not someone else's.

I didn't post any "contact numbers." Just a name and a street name.

-- Larry

On Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:02:01 -0800, sf > wrote:

>So post your own name and information, don't do it to your sister.

Look, SF, it's none of your business. Butt out.

-- Larry

On Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:06:20 -0500, wrote:

>On Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:02:01 -0800, sf > wrote:
>
>>So post your own name and information, don't do it to your sister.
>
>Look, SF, it's none of your business. Butt out.
>
You made it my business by posting on usenet.


--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

> wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:11:59 -0800, sf > wrote:
>
>>Larry - not sure how long you've been online, but this type of
>>conversation should not be public. That sort of information should be
>>emailed, not plastered all over usenet...
>
> Thanks for the advice, but:
>
> Longer than you or anyone else in this newsgroup, in all likelihood.
> Since the earlest ARPAnet days. I was listed in the first NSF/BBN
> Internet Manager's Phonebook.
>
> My sister's "in the book", as am I. If you think that basic
> information can't be found easily on *anyone* in a very few minutes,
> you're kidding yourself.
>
> -- Larry

You, sir, are a diplomat!

Steve

wrote:
> On Sun, 24 Jan 2010 11:07:14 -0600, Janet Wilder
> > wrote:
>
>>> Surely not. I'm just kidding you about South Brunswick (where I'll be
>>> next weekend -- my sister still lives in Kendall Park...)
>> That's where I lived. What's her name? I lived there for 25 years -
>> 1972 to 1996
>
> Rae O'Shea, on Concord Drive.
>
> -- Larry

That's a whole new area over there. I don't think all those houses were
even built when I left. I do think your sister has a wonderful name,
however.

I lived in the original Kendall development. I just looked at my old
house on Google Earth and those idiots who bought it have not kept the
lawn up the way we did.

--
Janet Wilder
Way-the-heck-south Texas
Spelling doesn't count. Cooking does.

wrote:
> On Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:11:59 -0800, sf > wrote:
>
>> Larry - not sure how long you've been online, but this type of
>> conversation should not be public. That sort of information should
>> be emailed, not plastered all over usenet...
>
> Thanks for the advice, but:
>
> Longer than you or anyone else in this newsgroup, in all likelihood.
> Since the earlest ARPAnet days. I was listed in the first NSF/BBN
> Internet Manager's Phonebook.
>
> My sister's "in the book", as am I. If you think that basic
> information can't be found easily on *anyone* in a very few minutes,
> you're kidding yourself.

Finding "basic information" on John Smith in NYC is a lot harder than
finding "basic information" on Joe Btfsplk in Dogpatch, Tennessee. In any
case it's not courteous to provide information that would help someone find
another person.

And it's not the earliest ARPAnet days anymore--there _are_ people out there
who will hurt you if you give them a chance.

George Leppla wrote:
> Doug Freyburger wrote:
>> wrote:
>
>>> Longer than you or anyone else in this newsgroup, in all likelihood.
>>> Since the earlest ARPAnet days. I was listed in the first NSF/BBN
>>> Internet Manager's Phonebook.
>>
>> When they still tried to track all ARPAnet users I was listed in the NIC
>> as DJF3.
>
> Youngsters.
>
> I was posting so long ago that my computer ran on kerosene.

My oldest surviving post in the google archive is a forward of an e-mail
about the second Star Wars film that had just come out. JPLLSI:OUG
and inhp4!escher!doug were my accounts at the time. VAXen ran on
electricity so you have me beat. Or do you ...

When I was a kid I remember ordering a mechanical computer kit from
Edmund Scientific. Four bits with sliding cards and programmable with
little plastic tubes that stuck out and formed stops. My mechanic Dad
was fascinated at how it worked. I glanced at the design and started
fiddling with the pegs to do programming. My first computer experience
ever and like yours it didn't even use electricity. It would have been
late-1960s. I'd love to find such an antique these days. I don't think
I've ever touched a tube computer, though.

Nowadays my crock pot has as much computing power as the first
electronic computers I touched. Latest crock pot recipe is super
simple. Meatballs from Ikea, barbeque sauce. One button.

Wow - A bit of googling pointed me to an article on the mechanical
computer that has an ASCII diagram and all sorts of discussion.

http://206.168.1.1/netstuff/folklore/toy.computers -

"
| | | | | |
---0-1------0-1------0-1------0-1------0-1------0-1----- Numbers
---0-1------0-1------0-1------0-1------0-1------0-1------ attached here
---0-1------0-1------0-1------0-1------0-1------0-1----- show in windows
| | | | | |
set clear set clear set clear
bit 0 bit 0 bit 1 bit 1 bit 2 bit 2

A thin vertical metal rod (indicated by | in the diagram -- WARNING:
NEW USERS SHOULD NOT ATTEMPT TO READ THIS USING SCANDINAVIAN ASCII)
"

Wow - There's even a web page that emulates the machine. It looks so
much like the plastic toy I remember from elementary school.

http://www.scoopsfolks.com/digicomp1/

Once I knew it was named Digi-Comp-1 some more googling told me they
have sold on eBay for a grand. Note to self - Go back in a time machine
and get my parents to store it somewhere.