On 4/18/2021 8:23 PM, jmcquown wrote:
> On 4/18/2021 8:05 PM, Dave Smith wrote:
>> On 2021-04-18 7:55 p.m., jmcquown wrote:
>>
>>> Home computers hadn't been invented when my grandparents were alive.
>>> My parents wouldn't have known what to do with one.
>>>
>>> As for dealing strictly in cash, there are a few businesses (farm
>>> stands mostly) that operate on a cash-only basis. I never have more
>>> than $20 in cash in my wallet at any given time. Reason being, if my
>>> wallet/purse is stolen I can't call the bank and expect them to do
>>> anything about cash. I can, however, cancel my debit card and the
>>> bank will issue a new one with a different number. I still write
>>> checks for some things. The guy who takes care of the yard work, for
>>> example. Just had some HVAC work done a week ago and I wrote a check
>>> for that, too.
>>>
>>>
>>
>> You must be younger than I thought.
>
> Why would you say that? I'm not.
>
>> I always have at least $200 cash in my wallet.
>
> That's the amount my mother always wanted to withdraw when I took her to
> the bank. She didn't keep it in her wallet, she put it in her jewelry
> box. She felt she always had to have about $200 in cash in the house.
> For what, I don't know. Her bills - even groceries - were paid by check.
> Rarely cash. She just liked to have it around. Not me.
>
>> I still use my debit card for most purchases and credit card for
>> online purchases and curbside orders. I still like to have cash for
>> emergencies. I even have a stash of US cash at home.
>>
> If there's the threat of a hurricane or something like that, sure, I'll
> withdraw cash ahead of time and stash it in the fireproof suitcase safe
> where I store important documents. I definitely have no reason to have
> cash in the house at all times, much less in my wallet.
>
> Jill

Don't bother if it's one of those plastic "fire proof" safes... I've
seen them melt to nothing - only good for 30 minutes or so. I have a
metal fire-proof safe, with a sticker on top "insulated with 1/4"
asbestos on all sides. I keep my car titles, house deeds, few hundred
dollars cash, social security, birth certificate, etc. in there.

On 4/19/2021 4:55 AM, Cindy Hamilton wrote:
> On Sunday, April 18, 2021 at 7:36:57 PM UTC-4, Michael Trew wrote:
>> On 4/18/2021 3:18 PM, Dr. Bruce wrote:
>>> Gary wrote:
>>>
>>>> Michael Trew wrote:
>>>>> You might be surprised to learn that I'm 26 years old. And old
>>>>> soul, I guess they say. I started using cash only a few years ago
>>>>> when I lost my job and started hauling scrap metal, buying/selling
>>>>> furniture, antiques, flea markets, shows, etc. All of these worked
>>>>> in all-cash only. As I've watched a digital push, and have heard
>>>>> of places that won't take cash (I've only experienced one
>>>>> personally), I've dug in and dumped my debit card.
>>>>>
>>>>> I suppose that regardless of my age, your point stands that people
>>>>> like me are in the minority. I'll probably be one of the few
>>>>> holdouts in 40-50 years with a gasoline powered car, refusing
>>>>> digital currency, etc.
>>>>
>>>> You're only 26? I suspect you are the youngest poster here by far.
>>>> And you've already turned into an old stubborn fart.
>>>> Good for you! lol
>>>
>>> He could meet his grandparents here.
>>>
>> My grandparents don't use computers
>
> My 87-year-old mother does.
>
> Cindy Hamilton

I had a 90-some year old great uncle that was sharp with a computer. I
guess some people catch on. My mother's parents wouldn't touch one, no
interest what-so-ever.

On Monday, April 19, 2021 at 6:44:16 PM UTC-10, Leo wrote:
> On 2021 Apr 18, , dsi1 wrote
> (in >):
>
> > Desktop computers are good at editing graphics and photos. These days, I have
> > to rely on auto light correcting programs for photos. They work surprising
> > well. I used to edit graphic by cutting up paper or photo negatives and
> > pasting them on to layout sheets. I'm glad those days are behind me.
>
> Did you work in or own a print shop? Ah, the old Multigraph Multilith, I used
> to watch the shop owner print on one of those for hours while his brother
> made layout sheets, dark-roomed and burned them onto flexible plates. The
> printing was of excellent quality, and we all left drunk. Good times!
> Seventies stuff.

Indeed I did work in print shops. On the mainland, I worked on a Multilith Systems press. This had a inline plate maker that autoloaded the plates on the cylinder, printed the sheets, and loaded them into a 50 bin collator. When that press was working at speed it was as if the paper was water rushing downstream. I worked 20 years in printing and have a fondness for presses and paper - not so much for ink though! As we all know, everybody loves the old Multi 1250.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTB6PRruE0A

On 4/19/2021 9:47 AM, GM wrote:
> On Monday, April 19, 2021 at 8:03:01 AM UTC-5, Gary wrote:
>> Dave Smith wrote:
>>> The death of many of the groups is because some trolls have met it a
>>> mission in their lack of a life to destroy them.
>>
>> I disagree. Trolling and crossposting is definitely a way to destroy a
>> newsgroup but most of them disappeared once ISP's stopped carrying
>> newsgroups. Even before that, most people that I know here had never
>> even heard of Usenet.
>>
>> Then along came Facebook and Google Groups. It's your new Usenet.
>
>
> Also Twitter, Snapchat, Tik-Tok...
>
> Usenet is an old person's hobby, what is the average age of posters here, around 70...and yes, ISP's have not provided Usenet for many years now...
>
> [Frankly, I was shocked when Michael Trew said he was 26, that's about a third of the average age here, lol... ]
>
> rec.travel.air was one of my faves years ago, many of those posters have passed on, that has happened here, too...many of us are getting ever closer to our "expiration dates"...
>
> :O
>

I am very interested in antique radios... my step great-grandfather,
who's now into his 90's (also does not use a computer), went for
schooling in the 50's to repair them. He's given me boxes of resistors
and other parts. Circa 2016, rec.antiques.radio+phono was very well and
alive. I'm sad to see that there is maybe one post per month now.
Almost no signs of life. The political groups are alive, but they are
just spam and garbage. I enjoy misc.news.internet.discuss ... not many
others.

On 4/18/2021 8:32 PM, jmcquown wrote:
> On 4/18/2021 8:01 PM, Dave Smith wrote:
>> On 2021-04-18 7:52 p.m., Mike Duffy wrote:
>>> On Sun, 18 Apr 2021 12:02:39 -0700, dsi1 wrote:
>>>
>>>> Cash is like old-school cryptocurrency in this day
>>>> and age i.e., it's not easily tracked.
>>>
>>> You don't think the banks record the serial numbers when they load the
>>> ATMs? Do you think they ignore the serial numbers when they make a big
>>> haul of dirty cash at the border, &c?
>>>
>>
>> Banks do not record the serial numbers. They have counting machines
>> that count out the number of bills that go through it, but they do not
>> scan for serial numbers and no one records them. Unless you know
>> better... for sure.
>>
>>
> When a bank receives a delivery of paper currency the serial numbers are
> definitely recorded. It's basic accounting/inventory control. They might
> not go into the ATM machine in that order but when hundreds of thousands
> are dropped off in the vault, they have a record of those serial numbers.
>
> Old bills are often taken out of circulation and those serial numbers
> are invalidated. If someone suddenly starts spending bills from a 1930's
> bank heist, someone might notice.
>
> Jill
If someone has bills that haven't been circulated since the 1930's, I'd
hope they take them to a coin shop or auction, rather than spend them in
general currency. Then again, I occasionally give a cashier an
Eisenhower dollar or something odd (especially if they are a younger
female) just so I can enjoy her confusion... one once told me that it
wasn't a real coin... lol I asked for the manager

On 4/18/2021 9:05 PM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> On 4/18/2021 7:52 PM, Michael Trew wrote:
>
>>>
>>> Indeed I am surprised at your age and you are a minority. OTOH,
>>> that's the way people that only deal with cash are. I can see how
>>> cash gives you a great sense of freedom, but maybe also some
>>> paranoia. Cash is like old-school cryptocurrency in this day and age
>>> i.e., it's not easily tracked.
>>
>> The only dilemma would be if I lost my wallet, which would be
>> terrible... that's $200 give or take down the drain. I have a pretty
>> good track record, knock on wood. Seven year old me somehow convinced
>> my mother to buy me a leather wallet from and end cap store display.
>> 19 years later, I still have it, although it's half-way bound in duct
>> tape.
>
>
> Think money clip.
>
> My wallet has my license, credit cards, medical ID, etc. No cash. I keep
> the bills in front pocket with a money clip. If I lose one or the other
> I still have a way to get home. Fortunately I've never lost either.

That's a good idea... an old cab driver told me that once. He only kept
ones in his wallet. I really ought to get one.

On 4/18/2021 8:41 PM, dsi1 wrote:
> On Sunday, April 18, 2021 at 1:53:01 PM UTC-10, Michael Trew wrote:
>> On 4/18/2021 3:02 PM, dsi1 wrote:
>>> On Saturday, April 17, 2021 at 4:14:40 AM UTC-10, Michael Trew wrote:
>>>> On 4/17/2021 1:02 AM, dsi1 wrote:
>>>>> On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 5:06:41 PM UTC-10, Michael Trew wrote:
>>>>>> On 4/16/2021 1:47 PM, dsi1 wrote:
>>>>>>> My phone works fine but I'm thinking that I need a phone that's capable of point-of-sale contactless payments i.e., has NFC capabilities. It's pretty obvious that contactless payments on cell phones are the future of purchasing stuff.
>>>>>> No thanks. I only carry cash. No cards or smart phone. If they don't
>>>>>> take cash, I'm not buying. You couldn't pay me enough to trust these
>>>>>> smart phones and related companies like Google to have access to my
>>>>>> financial info.
>>>>>
>>>>> These days, it's not real important what you or I think or do as far as influencing trends or shaping the future. It's the younger generation that will lead the way to the world of tomorrow. We're pretty irrelevant as far as the marketing guys are concerned. That's the breaks.
>>>>> All I know is that NFC capability will become an increasingly important feature in phones very shortly. "NFC" by the way, does not mean "Nobody ****ing Cares."
>>>>>
>>>>> https://www.engadget.com/sf-bay-area...125028599.html
>>>>>
>>>> You might be surprised to learn that I'm 26 years old. And old soul, I
>>>> guess they say. I started using cash only a few years ago when I lost
>>>> my job and started hauling scrap metal, buying/selling furniture,
>>>> antiques, flea markets, shows, etc. All of these worked in all-cash
>>>> only. As I've watched a digital push, and have heard of places that
>>>> won't take cash (I've only experienced one personally), I've dug in and
>>>> dumped my debit card.
>>>>
>>>> I suppose that regardless of my age, your point stands that people like
>>>> me are in the minority. I'll probably be one of the few holdouts in
>>>> 40-50 years with a gasoline powered car, refusing digital currency, etc.
>>>
>>> Indeed I am surprised at your age and you are a minority. OTOH, that's the way people that only deal with cash are. I can see how cash gives you a great sense of freedom, but maybe also some paranoia. Cash is like old-school cryptocurrency in this day and age i.e., it's not easily tracked.
>> The only dilemma would be if I lost my wallet, which would be
>> terrible... that's $200 give or take down the drain. I have a pretty
>> good track record, knock on wood. Seven year old me somehow convinced
>> my mother to buy me a leather wallet from and end cap store display. 19
>> years later, I still have it, although it's half-way bound in duct tape.
>
> You're living off the grid. Perhaps you're Chinese. Those old pake guys didn't believe in banks. My pake friend was sure his dead grandma buried a jar of cash in her yard. He spent some time digging up the yard. Those crazy pakes! My Korean mother-in-law would hide money in her house. My wife would find wads of cash in in her drawers years before and after she died.

Well, I do have a checking account. I doubt anyone would be surprised
to hear that I write checks and mail them to pay bills. I usually don't
even carry a check book, almost no one takes checks anymore.

On Monday, April 19, 2021 at 8:16:47 PM UTC-10, Michael Trew wrote:
> On 4/18/2021 9:05 PM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> > On 4/18/2021 7:52 PM, Michael Trew wrote:
> >
> >>>
> >>> Indeed I am surprised at your age and you are a minority. OTOH,
> >>> that's the way people that only deal with cash are. I can see how
> >>> cash gives you a great sense of freedom, but maybe also some
> >>> paranoia. Cash is like old-school cryptocurrency in this day and age
> >>> i.e., it's not easily tracked.
> >>
> >> The only dilemma would be if I lost my wallet, which would be
> >> terrible... that's $200 give or take down the drain. I have a pretty
> >> good track record, knock on wood. Seven year old me somehow convinced
> >> my mother to buy me a leather wallet from and end cap store display.
> >> 19 years later, I still have it, although it's half-way bound in duct
> >> tape.
> >
> >
> > Think money clip.
> >
> > My wallet has my license, credit cards, medical ID, etc. No cash. I keep
> > the bills in front pocket with a money clip. If I lose one or the other
> > I still have a way to get home. Fortunately I've never lost either.
>
> That's a good idea... an old cab driver told me that once. He only kept
> ones in his wallet. I really ought to get one.

I have one of these instead of a wallet. It's totally unsuitable for holding cash. The size is right though. These days I'll never carry or sit on one of those fat wallets again. In the future, I'm hoping to replace any cards I have with a cell phone or perhaps an implant.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GLN38MH

On 4/19/2021 11:25 AM, Mike Duffy wrote:
> On Mon, 19 Apr 2021 08:45:10 -0400, Gary wrote:
>
>> I've always wanted to try that at home just to see how it tastes. It's
>> on my bucket list. Heck, maybe I'll try it today???
>
> FFS. Go whole hog, and give us a report on Honey Boo-Boo's spaghetti
> sauce recipe she got from her Mom: Ketchup & melted butter.

LOL. I think I'll skip that one.

I *DID* finally try the poverty tomato soup yesterday. It was about time
after hearing about it in the 1960's.

Just made a small sample batch:
- 4oz hot water
- good squeeze of ketchup
- little bit of salt
- generous amount of preground black pepper

I stirred it all well then tasted a couple of spoonfuls.
Surprisingly, it wasn't all that bad. It definitely cryed out for some
enhancement but the basic broth was decent enough. It would definitely
be better than nothing if you had nothing to eat.

It was good enough that I added the rest to my bowl of chicken vegetable
soup. I'm glad I finally tried it.

Michael Trew wrote:
> jmcquown wrote:
>> If there's the threat of a hurricane or something like that, sure, I'll
>> withdraw cash ahead of time and stash it in the fireproof suitcase safe
>> where I store important documents. I definitely have no reason to have
>> cash in the house at all times, much less in my wallet.
>>
>> Jill
>
> Don't bother if it's one of those plastic "fire proof" safes... I've
> seen them melt to nothing - only good for 30 minutes or so. I have a
> metal fire-proof safe, with a sticker on top "insulated with 1/4"
> asbestos on all sides. I keep my car titles, house deeds, few hundred
> dollars cash, social security, birth certificate, etc. in there.

If anyone doesn't have a "fire proof" safe, a good place to keep
important paper documents (including cash) is between pages in the
middle of a thick book, on a shelf surrounded by many other books. Most
house fires are put out before that would be affected.

Naturally, a safe deposit box at the bank is better.

Michael Trew wrote:
> I am very interested in antique radios... my step great-grandfather,
> who's now into his 90's (also does not use a computer), went for
> schooling in the 50's to repair them. He's given me boxes of resistors
> and other parts.

My grandfather-in-law (gone now) used to collect antique radios. When we
visited (in 1979) he showed me his collection. A whole room full of old
tube-type radios. Beautiful old things.

Most of them still worked too. He turned one on and that's where I was
disappointed. Such a cool old radio...it just seemed wrong to hear
modern music coming out of it. That work of art deserved to be playing
old 1930's music. Was weird with it playing 1979 stuff.

He also collected National Geographic magazines. He had two full sets
starting with 1st issues and all up to 1979. He also had many 3rd copies
and he gifted me about 6 of them since I liked old magazines.

I still have them. All are circa 1900 and all in black and white. The
best parts are the old full page advertisements. Very interesting.

Michael Trew wrote:
> If someone has bills that haven't been circulated since the 1930's, I'd
> hope they take them to a coin shop or auction, rather than spend them in
> general currency. Then again, I occasionally give a cashier an
> Eisenhower dollar or something odd (especially if they are a younger
> female) just so I can enjoy her confusion... one once told me that it
> wasn't a real coin... lol I asked for the manager

LOL. Same confusion happens with using $2 bills. Many people think they
are counterfeit bills. A customer once paid me in cash, all $2 bills. I
had fun spending those.

I still have a 1953 $2 bill. Saved that one since it's my birth year.

On Mon, 19 Apr 2021 23:14:21 -0400, Dave Smith wrote:

> I would have to head south by way of Buffalo, and if there were a bad
> enough winter storm that I had to vacate, conditions would probably be
> much worse at and across the border because it is a notorious snow belt.

For Gary & Carol:

Probably he wants $US just so if he even needs to go south on a personal
emergency / whim, he does not want to be 'gouged' by currency traders if
the more reasonably-priced banks are on a bank holiday.

Inflated traders include ALL credit card companies when the bill comes in.

On 2021-04-20 7:50 a.m., Gary wrote:
> Â*Michael Trew wrote:
>> If someone has bills that haven't been circulated since the 1930's, I'd
>> hope they take them to a coin shop or auction, rather than spend them in
>> general currency.Â* Then again, I occasionally give a cashier an
>> Eisenhower dollar or something odd (especially if they are a younger
>> female) just so I can enjoy her confusion... one once told me that it
>> wasn't a real coin... lol I asked for the manager
>
> LOL. Same confusion happens with using $2 bills. Many people think they
> are counterfeit bills. A customer once paid me in cash, all $2 bills. I
> had fun spending those.
>
> I still have a 1953 $2 bill. Saved that one since it's my birth year.
>


We always had $2 bills but about 25 years ago they switched from paper
to coin. We had already had a $1 coin for a number of years. One side
of the $1 coin had a look image so it became known as a Loonie. When the
$2 coin came out it was the Twoonie.

On 2021-04-20 8:16 a.m., Mike Duffy wrote:
> On Mon, 19 Apr 2021 23:14:21 -0400, Dave Smith wrote:
>
>> I would have to head south by way of Buffalo, and if there were a bad
>> enough winter storm that I had to vacate, conditions would probably be
>> much worse at and across the border because it is a notorious snow belt.
>
> For Gary & Carol:
>
> Probably he wants $US just so if he even needs to go south on a personal
> emergency / whim, he does not want to be 'gouged' by currency traders if
> the more reasonably-priced banks are on a bank holiday.
>
> Inflated traders include ALL credit card companies when the bill comes in.
>
Exactly. We went on a trip to Georgia a couple years ago. I had used
my credit card and debit card more than I expected and ended up with
about $500 cash left over at the end of the trip. Last summer we were
supposed to go on a club trip to the Adironacks so I paid the woman who
organized in cash. Then the trip got cancelled because of Covid19 and
I got it back.

You tend to get screwed a lot on exchange rates, even when using credit
cards. Whatever the current exchange rate is, they charge you a higher
rate for everything you charge and a lower one for returns. I learned a
hard lesson on gas. I had not anticipated the prepay for gas and because
of the foreign card I could not pay directly at the pump. I could not
just leave the card with the clerk. I had to make a payment for what I
expected to pay and then come back and get a credit for the balance. So
I was getting gouged with a higher rate on my pre payment and screwed
with a lower rate on my return. To make it even worse, there was a
charge to do the exchange on each transaction.

On Tue, 20 Apr 2021 09:27:44 -0400, Dave Smith wrote:

> Exactly.[...] club trip to the Adironacks
> [...] get screwed a lot on exchange rates,
> [...] hard lesson on gas.
> [...] to make it even worse

To make it even worse, you had to go inside twice every time you needed
to buy gas. Surely perchance at some time another driver has had his eye
on your pump but it's not obvious to you because his gas filler is on the
other side, and he thinks it's because you just want to buy smokes the
first time you go in. This in a place where everyone expects everyone to
pay at the pump.

On 2021-04-20 10:28 a.m., Mike Duffy wrote:
> On Tue, 20 Apr 2021 09:27:44 -0400, Dave Smith wrote:


> To make it even worse, you had to go inside twice every time you needed
> to buy gas. Surely perchance at some time another driver has had his eye
> on your pump but it's not obvious to you because his gas filler is on the
> other side, and he thinks it's because you just want to buy smokes the
> first time you go in. This in a place where everyone expects everyone to
> pay at the pump.
>

I have heard of that scam. I am pretty careful about stuff like that and
tend to take a pump with no one else around. I think the greatest rip
off there is the exchange rates and transaction fees, much higher risk
than someone doing a hose switch.

I once had a paid subscription to a web service I didn't want anymore
and planned to cancel. They had gone ahead and renewed me
automatically. I was at the computer when the email came in thanking me
for renewing. I contacted them immediately and explained I didn't want
it anymore and they agreed to cancel it and refund my money. I got it
with the double exchange rate scam again. I contacted the credit card
company and took up enough of the guy's time that he finally relented.
He kept saying something about the exchange rate. I kept telling him
there was no exchange rate. I had been improperly charged and I had them
cancel it. It was money that should not have been paid, was never paid,
should not have been any exchange rate at all. There had been a charge
and it was cancelled..... no frigging charge on which to pay exchange.
It was only IIRC $1.32.... but it was the principle.

On 2021-04-20 8:57 a.m., Dave Smith wrote:
> On 2021-04-20 10:28 a.m., Mike Duffy wrote:
>> On Tue, 20 Apr 2021 09:27:44 -0400, Dave Smith wrote:
>
>
>> To make it even worse, you had to go inside twice every time you needed
>> to buy gas. Surely perchance at some time another driver has had his eye
>> on your pump but it's not obvious to you because his gas filler is on the
>> other side, and he thinks it's because you just want to buy smokes the
>> first time you go in. This in a place where everyone expects everyone to
>> pay at the pump.
>>
>
> I have heard of that scam. I am pretty careful about stuff like that and
> tend to take a pump with no one else around.Â* I think the greatest rip
> off there is the exchange rates and transaction fees, much higher risk
> than someone doing a hose switch.
>
> I once had a paid subscription to a web service I didn't want anymore
> and planned to cancel.Â* They had gone ahead and renewed me
> automatically. I was at the computer when the email came in thanking me
> for renewing. I contacted them immediately and explained I didn't want
> it anymore and they agreed to cancel it and refund my money.Â* I got it
> with the double exchange rate scam again. I contacted the credit card
> company and took up enough of the guy's time that he finally relented.
> He kept saying something about the exchange rate. I kept telling him
> there was no exchange rate. I had been improperly charged and I had them
> cancel it. It was money that should not have been paid, was never paid,
> should not have been any exchange rate at all. There had been a charge
> and it was cancelled..... no frigging charge on which to pay exchange.
> It was only IIRC $1.32.... but it was the principle.

There's a company in the UK that takes your payment with the order and
not at the time of shipping. The item I wanted was back ordered and when
they couldn't get it, they refunded my money. By then, the exchange rate
had changed and I actually lost money on the deal. Not enough to scream
about and I am also aware that it could have gone the other way.

On 2021-04-20 11:21 a.m., Graham wrote:
> On 2021-04-20 8:57 a.m., Dave Smith wrote:
it was cancelled..... no frigging
>> charge on which to pay exchange.
>> It was only IIRC $1.32.... but it was the principle.
>
> There's a company in the UK that takes your payment with the order and
> not at the time of shipping. The item I wanted was back ordered and when
> they couldn't get it, they refunded my money. By then, the exchange rate
> had changed and I actually lost money on the deal. Not enough to scream
> about and I am also aware that it could have gone the other way.

I did it on the princple. It wasn't much money, but I had been ripped
off for the exchange rate on a transaction that had been cancelled
within minutes.

Michael Trew wrote:

> On 4/19/2021 9:47 AM, GM wrote:
> > On Monday, April 19, 2021 at 8:03:01 AM UTC-5, Gary wrote:
> > > Dave Smith wrote:
> > > > The death of many of the groups is because some trolls have met
> > > > it a mission in their lack of a life to destroy them.
> > >
> > > I disagree. Trolling and crossposting is definitely a way to
> > > destroy a newsgroup but most of them disappeared once ISP's
> > > stopped carrying newsgroups. Even before that, most people that I
> > > know here had never even heard of Usenet.
> > >
> > > Then along came Facebook and Google Groups. It's your new Usenet.
> >
> >
> > Also Twitter, Snapchat, Tik-Tok...
> >
> > Usenet is an old person's hobby, what is the average age of posters
> > here, around 70...and yes, ISP's have not provided Usenet for many
> > years now...
> >
> > [Frankly, I was shocked when Michael Trew said he was 26, that's
> > about a third of the average age here, lol... ]
> >
> > rec.travel.air was one of my faves years ago, many of those posters
> > have passed on, that has happened here, too...many of us are
> > getting ever closer to our "expiration dates"...
> >
> > :O
> >
>
> I am very interested in antique radios... my step great-grandfather,
> who's now into his 90's (also does not use a computer), went for
> schooling in the 50's to repair them. He's given me boxes of
> resistors and other parts. Circa 2016, rec.antiques.radio+phono was
> very well and alive. I'm sad to see that there is maybe one post per
> month now. Almost no signs of life. The political groups are alive,
> but they are just spam and garbage. I enjoy
> misc.news.internet.discuss ... not many others.

I used to enjoy alt.home.repair but it's mostly spam and very little on
topic now. I re-entered to ask a few pure home repair questions an
couldn't get any replies at all.

Michael Trew wrote:

> On 4/18/2021 8:41 PM, dsi1 wrote:
> > On Sunday, April 18, 2021 at 1:53:01 PM UTC-10, Michael Trew wrote:
> > > On 4/18/2021 3:02 PM, dsi1 wrote:
> > > > On Saturday, April 17, 2021 at 4:14:40 AM UTC-10, Michael Trew
> > > > wrote:
> > > > > On 4/17/2021 1:02 AM, dsi1 wrote:
> > > > > > On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 5:06:41 PM UTC-10, Michael
> > > > > > Trew wrote:
> > > > > > > On 4/16/2021 1:47 PM, dsi1 wrote:
> > > > > > > > My phone works fine but I'm thinking that I need a
> > > > > > > > phone that's capable of point-of-sale contactless
> > > > > > > > payments i.e., has NFC capabilities. It's pretty
> > > > > > > > obvious that contactless payments on cell phones are
> > > > > > > > the future of purchasing stuff.
> > > > > > > No thanks. I only carry cash. No cards or smart phone. If
> > > > > > > they don't take cash, I'm not buying. You couldn't pay me
> > > > > > > enough to trust these smart phones and related companies
> > > > > > > like Google to have access to my financial info.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > These days, it's not real important what you or I think or
> > > > > > do as far as influencing trends or shaping the future. It's
> > > > > > the younger generation that will lead the way to the world
> > > > > > of tomorrow. We're pretty irrelevant as far as the
> > > > > > marketing guys are concerned. That's the breaks. All I
> > > > > > know is that NFC capability will become an increasingly
> > > > > > important feature in phones very shortly. "NFC" by the way,
> > > > > > does not mean "Nobody ****ing Cares."
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
https://www.engadget.com/sf-bay-area...125028599.html
> > > > > >
> > > > > You might be surprised to learn that I'm 26 years old. And
> > > > > old soul, I guess they say. I started using cash only a few
> > > > > years ago when I lost my job and started hauling scrap metal,
> > > > > buying/selling furniture, antiques, flea markets, shows, etc.
> > > > > All of these worked in all-cash only. As I've watched a
> > > > > digital push, and have heard of places that won't take cash
> > > > > (I've only experienced one personally), I've dug in and
> > > > > dumped my debit card.
> > > > >
> > > > > I suppose that regardless of my age, your point stands that
> > > > > people like me are in the minority. I'll probably be one of
> > > > > the few holdouts in 40-50 years with a gasoline powered car,
> > > > > refusing digital currency, etc.
> > > >
> > > > Indeed I am surprised at your age and you are a minority. OTOH,
> > > > that's the way people that only deal with cash are. I can see
> > > > how cash gives you a great sense of freedom, but maybe also
> > > > some paranoia. Cash is like old-school cryptocurrency in this
> > > > day and age i.e., it's not easily tracked.
> > > The only dilemma would be if I lost my wallet, which would be
> > > terrible... that's $200 give or take down the drain. I have a
> > > pretty good track record, knock on wood. Seven year old me
> > > somehow convinced my mother to buy me a leather wallet from and
> > > end cap store display. 19 years later, I still have it, although
> > > it's half-way bound in duct tape.
> >
> > You're living off the grid. Perhaps you're Chinese. Those old pake
> > guys didn't believe in banks. My pake friend was sure his dead
> > grandma buried a jar of cash in her yard. He spent some time
> > digging up the yard. Those crazy pakes! My Korean mother-in-law
> > would hide money in her house. My wife would find wads of cash in
> > in her drawers years before and after she died.
>
> Well, I do have a checking account. I doubt anyone would be
> surprised to hear that I write checks and mail them to pay bills. I
> usually don't even carry a check book, almost no one takes checks
> anymore.

Not really. I electronically pay most bills, using my own bank's
interface for that. Some require a check like animal licenses here.

On 2021-04-20 12:27 p.m., cshenk wrote:
> Michael Trew wrote:

>> Well, I do have a checking account. I doubt anyone would be
>> surprised to hear that I write checks and mail them to pay bills. I
>> usually don't even carry a check book, almost no one takes checks
>> anymore.
>
> Not really. I electronically pay most bills, using my own bank's
> interface for that. Some require a check like animal licenses here.
>

We can get pet licenses on line with credit card. I got a freebie this
year and I don't feel at all guilty about it. It has been contracted
out to a company somewhere in the province. You pay by credit card and
they send a receipt and the license by email.

Earlier this year they sent me an email asking if I wanted to renew
early by automatic renewal? What? No. I saw no reason to renew early
and did not want it renewed automatically, so I ignored it.

About a week later I got another email thanking me for using the
automatic renewal and had a reciept on a document file attached. Okay,
it's renewed, not a big deal.

Later than day I got notice from MasterCard about a rejected payment. It
was an easy one to solve. I had a new credit card and new number. Now I
have a receipt and a license that I definitely did not ask for.

Sorry, no sympathy for them. I reject the idea of an annual fee to own a
dog when the money goes to support the local pound. There are no local
dogs available for adoption in the local pound. They have so few strays
that they import them from pounds in the US or from native reserves in
the north. What they do have are lots of cats, and cats don't have to
be licensed. I don't want to pay a dog license fee to look after cats
and imported dogs.

On Tue, 20 Apr 2021 10:57:46 -0400, Dave Smith wrote:

> I have heard of that scam. [...] hose switch.

I was thinking more about Americans (with guns, &c) getting ****ed-off
when you trot back inside again while they are in a position blocking
other likewise-armed clients in order slip into your spot as you leave
the pump.

And sometimes this might be via a U-turn in reverse.

Dave Smith wrote:

> On 2021-04-19 10:58 p.m., cshenk wrote:
> > Gary wrote:
> >
> >> Dave Smith wrote:
> > > > You must be younger than I thought. I always have at least $200
> > > > cash in my wallet. I still use my debit card for most purchases
> > > > and credit card for online purchases and curbside orders. I
> > > > still like to have cash for emergencies. I even have a stash of
> > > > US cash at home.
> > >
> > > What's wrong with your Canadian cash?
> >
> > I think Dave lives near the border so if there is some sort of 'get
> > out of Dodge fast' event, he may need to come here. Been some
> > really bad ice storms at times where the best answer was go south.
>
>
>
> I would have to head south by way of Buffalo, and if there were a bad
> enough winter storm that I had to vacate, conditions would probably
> be much worse at and across the border because it is a notorious snow
> belt.

Figured something. Fires maybe might have you stock some. I recall a
big one some years ago and some had to come south to escape it.

On Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 11:27:49 AM UTC-5, cshenk wrote:
>
> Michael Trew wrote:
>
> > Well, I do have a checking account. I doubt anyone would be
> > surprised to hear that I write checks and mail them to pay bills. I
> > usually don't even carry a check book, almost no one takes checks
> > anymore.
> >
> Not really. I electronically pay most bills, using my own bank's
> interface for that. Some require a check like animal licenses here.
>
I'm surprised he said he is 26 years old but pays his bills with a check.
Many 26-year-olds won't even write a check and have no paper checks.
But I would like to know what country, city, or planet he's posting from
what establishments he's frequented that will not accept a check???

The two bills that I definitely write a check for are my property taxes and
license renewal each year. Yes, they will take credit or debit cards but they
charge a fee for that convenience. Not the city or state, but the company
that handles those transactions. The 'convenience' fee for my property
taxes is just under $49 so they most assuredly get a check!

On 4/20/2021 7:46 AM, Gary wrote:
> On 4/19/2021 11:25 AM, Mike Duffy wrote:
>> On Mon, 19 Apr 2021 08:45:10 -0400, Gary wrote:
>>
>>> I've always wanted to try that at home just to see how it tastes. It's
>>> on my bucket list. Heck, maybe I'll try it today???
>>
>> FFS. Go whole hog, and give us a report on Honey Boo-Boo's spaghetti
>> sauce recipe she got from her Mom: Ketchup & melted butter.
>
> LOL. I think I'll skip that one.
>
> I *DID* finally try the poverty tomato soup yesterday. It was about time
> after hearing about it in the 1960's.
>
> Just made a small sample batch:
> - 4oz hot water
> - good squeeze of ketchup
> - little bit of salt
> - generous amount of preground black pepper
>
> I stirred it all well then tasted a couple of spoonfuls.
> Surprisingly, it wasn't all that bad. It definitely cryed out for some
> enhancement but the basic broth was decent enough. It would definitely
> be better than nothing if you had nothing to eat.
>
> It was good enough that I added the rest to my bowl of chicken vegetable
> soup. I'm glad I finally tried it.
>
>

I make a lot of depression era recipes. Cheap and easy! Ever heard of
water pie? I might have to post that one.

On 4/20/2021 7:47 AM, Gary wrote:
> Michael Trew wrote:
>> jmcquown wrote:
>>> If there's the threat of a hurricane or something like that, sure, I'll
>>> withdraw cash ahead of time and stash it in the fireproof suitcase safe
>>> where I store important documents. I definitely have no reason to have
>>> cash in the house at all times, much less in my wallet.
>>>
>>> Jill
>>
>> Don't bother if it's one of those plastic "fire proof" safes... I've
>> seen them melt to nothing - only good for 30 minutes or so. I have a
>> metal fire-proof safe, with a sticker on top "insulated with 1/4"
>> asbestos on all sides. I keep my car titles, house deeds, few hundred
>> dollars cash, social security, birth certificate, etc. in there.
>
> If anyone doesn't have a "fire proof" safe, a good place to keep
> important paper documents (including cash) is between pages in the
> middle of a thick book, on a shelf surrounded by many other books. Most
> house fires are put out before that would be affected.
>
> Naturally, a safe deposit box at the bank is better.
>
>
>
>
>

I have a heavily insulated 50's iron and steel stove - Chambers brand.
The salesmen used to brag that people should put their valuables in the
oven when leaving home for a trip, so they wouldn't perish in a fire.
Of course, the 70 year old oven doesn't have a pilot - it's match lit.

On 4/20/2021 12:07 PM, cshenk wrote:
> Michael Trew wrote:
>
>> On 4/19/2021 9:47 AM, GM wrote:
>>> On Monday, April 19, 2021 at 8:03:01 AM UTC-5, Gary wrote:
>>>> Dave Smith wrote:
>>>>> The death of many of the groups is because some trolls have met
>>>>> it a mission in their lack of a life to destroy them.
>>>>
>>>> I disagree. Trolling and crossposting is definitely a way to
>>>> destroy a newsgroup but most of them disappeared once ISP's
>>>> stopped carrying newsgroups. Even before that, most people that I
>>>> know here had never even heard of Usenet.
>>>>
>>>> Then along came Facebook and Google Groups. It's your new Usenet.
>>>
>>>
>>> Also Twitter, Snapchat, Tik-Tok...
>>>
>>> Usenet is an old person's hobby, what is the average age of posters
>>> here, around 70...and yes, ISP's have not provided Usenet for many
>>> years now...
>>>
>>> [Frankly, I was shocked when Michael Trew said he was 26, that's
>>> about a third of the average age here, lol... ]
>>>
>>> rec.travel.air was one of my faves years ago, many of those posters
>>> have passed on, that has happened here, too...many of us are
>>> getting ever closer to our "expiration dates"...
>>>
>>> :O
>>>
>>
>> I am very interested in antique radios... my step great-grandfather,
>> who's now into his 90's (also does not use a computer), went for
>> schooling in the 50's to repair them. He's given me boxes of
>> resistors and other parts. Circa 2016, rec.antiques.radio+phono was
>> very well and alive. I'm sad to see that there is maybe one post per
>> month now. Almost no signs of life. The political groups are alive,
>> but they are just spam and garbage. I enjoy
>> misc.news.internet.discuss ... not many others.
>
> I used to enjoy alt.home.repair but it's mostly spam and very little on
> topic now. I re-entered to ask a few pure home repair questions an
> couldn't get any replies at all.

I have been there before also... the spam pushed me away.

On 4/20/2021 7:49 AM, Gary wrote:
> Michael Trew wrote:
>> I am very interested in antique radios... my step great-grandfather,
>> who's now into his 90's (also does not use a computer), went for
>> schooling in the 50's to repair them. He's given me boxes of resistors
>> and other parts.
>
> My grandfather-in-law (gone now) used to collect antique radios. When we
> visited (in 1979) he showed me his collection. A whole room full of old
> tube-type radios. Beautiful old things.
>
> Most of them still worked too. He turned one on and that's where I was
> disappointed. Such a cool old radio...it just seemed wrong to hear
> modern music coming out of it. That work of art deserved to be playing
> old 1930's music. Was weird with it playing 1979 stuff.
>
> He also collected National Geographic magazines. He had two full sets
> starting with 1st issues and all up to 1979. He also had many 3rd copies
> and he gifted me about 6 of them since I liked old magazines.
>
> I still have them. All are circa 1900 and all in black and white. The
> best parts are the old full page advertisements. Very interesting.
>
>
>

Hopefully they weren't junked when he passed. People don't think of
these things sometimes, and just want to clean house. I have a circa
1948 Sears Silvertone console radio here waiting to restore. I picked
it up for $18 -- amazingly, the station push-buttons still automatically
turn the dial. One of these days...

On 4/20/2021 7:50 AM, Gary wrote:
> Michael Trew wrote:
>> If someone has bills that haven't been circulated since the 1930's, I'd
>> hope they take them to a coin shop or auction, rather than spend them in
>> general currency. Then again, I occasionally give a cashier an
>> Eisenhower dollar or something odd (especially if they are a younger
>> female) just so I can enjoy her confusion... one once told me that it
>> wasn't a real coin... lol I asked for the manager
>
> LOL. Same confusion happens with using $2 bills. Many people think they
> are counterfeit bills. A customer once paid me in cash, all $2 bills. I
> had fun spending those.
>
> I still have a 1953 $2 bill. Saved that one since it's my birth year.
>
>
>

I actually have a 1956 $2 bill (I believe) in my wallet. Some time in
the 50's. My great aunt gave it to me several years ago before she
passed. She told me that she's had it in her wallet since she was first
married. Her father gave it to her - and told her to hold onto it in
case something happened or an emergency and she needed to get home. I
would imagine that it would be close to $20 in today's money. It's in
near mint condition, aside from being folded into quarters.

On 2021-04-20 10:47 a.m., Dave Smith wrote:
> On 2021-04-20 12:27 p.m., cshenk wrote:
>> Michael Trew wrote:
>
>>> Well, I do have a checking account.Â* I doubt anyone would be
>>> surprised to hear that I write checks and mail them to pay bills.Â* I
>>> usually don't even carry a check book, almost no one takes checks
>>> anymore.
>>
>> Not really.Â* I electronically pay most bills, using my own bank's
>> interface for that.Â* Some require a check like animal licenses here.
>>
>
> We can get pet licenses on line with credit card.Â* I got a freebie this
> year and I don't feel at all guilty about it.Â* It has been contracted
> out to a company somewhere in the province. You pay by credit card and
> theyÂ* send a receipt and the license by email.
>
> Earlier this year they sent me an email asking if I wanted to renew
> early by automatic renewal?Â* What? No. I saw no reason to renew early
> and did not want it renewed automatically, so I ignored it.
>
> About a week later I got another email thanking me for using the
> automatic renewal and had a reciept on a document file attached. Okay,
> it's renewed, not a big deal.
>
> Later than day I got notice from MasterCard about a rejected payment. It
> was an easy one to solve. I had a new credit card and new number. Now I
> have a receipt and a license that I definitely did not ask for.
>
> Sorry, no sympathy for them. I reject the idea of an annual fee to own a
> dog when the money goes to support the local pound. There are no local
> dogs available for adoption in the local pound. They have so few strays
> that they import them from pounds in the US or from native reserves in
> the north.Â* What they do have are lots of cats, and cats don't have to
> be licensed. I don't want to pay a dog license fee to look after cats
> and imported dogs.

Particularly as they are often pitbulls saved from being put down in US
shelters. We don't need their problems!!!

On 4/20/2021 2:30 AM, dsi1 wrote:
> On Monday, April 19, 2021 at 8:16:47 PM UTC-10, Michael Trew wrote:
>> On 4/18/2021 9:05 PM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
>>> On 4/18/2021 7:52 PM, Michael Trew wrote:
>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Indeed I am surprised at your age and you are a minority. OTOH,
>>>>> that's the way people that only deal with cash are. I can see how
>>>>> cash gives you a great sense of freedom, but maybe also some
>>>>> paranoia. Cash is like old-school cryptocurrency in this day and age
>>>>> i.e., it's not easily tracked.
>>>>
>>>> The only dilemma would be if I lost my wallet, which would be
>>>> terrible... that's $200 give or take down the drain. I have a pretty
>>>> good track record, knock on wood. Seven year old me somehow convinced
>>>> my mother to buy me a leather wallet from and end cap store display.
>>>> 19 years later, I still have it, although it's half-way bound in duct
>>>> tape.
>>>
>>>
>>> Think money clip.
>>>
>>> My wallet has my license, credit cards, medical ID, etc. No cash. I keep
>>> the bills in front pocket with a money clip. If I lose one or the other
>>> I still have a way to get home. Fortunately I've never lost either.
>>
>> That's a good idea... an old cab driver told me that once. He only kept
>> ones in his wallet. I really ought to get one.
>
> I have one of these instead of a wallet. It's totally unsuitable for holding cash. The size is right though. These days I'll never carry or sit on one of those fat wallets again. In the future, I'm hoping to replace any cards I have with a cell phone or perhaps an implant.
>
> https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GLN38MH

My father never carried a wallet. To this day, he has a larger, maybe
1.5 inch binder-type paper clip to hold cards together, and kept cash
wrapped around the cards clipped in place. The black clips with the
metal arms that bend back to open it.

Chip implant?! Over my cold, dead body! That's a hard no for me! On
the topic of mobile payment, you're SOL if your phone dies or you drop
it and the screen breaks. Good luck buying gas with a phone that won't
turn on.

On 4/20/2021 2:01 PM, wrote:

>>
> I'm surprised he said he is 26 years old but pays his bills with a check.
> Many 26-year-olds won't even write a check and have no paper checks.
> But I would like to know what country, city, or planet he's posting from
> what establishments he's frequented that will not accept a check???
>
> The two bills that I definitely write a check for are my property taxes and
> license renewal each year. Yes, they will take credit or debit cards but they
> charge a fee for that convenience. Not the city or state, but the company
> that handles those transactions. The 'convenience' fee for my property
> taxes is just under $49 so they most assuredly get a check!
>

I wrote a check today. First one in 6 months. Taxes were paid on line
with no fee but I think it was a bank transaction, not a CC. I wrote a
total of 3 checks since Jan. 2020. Two were to one company that I now
pay on line by CC.

It has been so long since I used one, I put the check in the envelope
and forgot to sign it. Didn't mail it though.

On Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 8:48:16 AM UTC-10, Michael Trew wrote:
> On 4/20/2021 7:50 AM, Gary wrote:
> > Michael Trew wrote:
> >> If someone has bills that haven't been circulated since the 1930's, I'd
> >> hope they take them to a coin shop or auction, rather than spend them in
> >> general currency. Then again, I occasionally give a cashier an
> >> Eisenhower dollar or something odd (especially if they are a younger
> >> female) just so I can enjoy her confusion... one once told me that it
> >> wasn't a real coin... lol I asked for the manager
> >
> > LOL. Same confusion happens with using $2 bills. Many people think they
> > are counterfeit bills. A customer once paid me in cash, all $2 bills. I
> > had fun spending those.
> >
> > I still have a 1953 $2 bill. Saved that one since it's my birth year.
> >
> >
> >
> I actually have a 1956 $2 bill (I believe) in my wallet. Some time in
> the 50's. My great aunt gave it to me several years ago before she
> passed. She told me that she's had it in her wallet since she was first
> married. Her father gave it to her - and told her to hold onto it in
> case something happened or an emergency and she needed to get home. I
> would imagine that it would be close to $20 in today's money. It's in
> near mint condition, aside from being folded into quarters.

I have a dollar that was signed by the Secretary of the Treasury. It has his signature twice. Once, printed on the bill and another, written on the bill. It's a pretty funny dollar.

On 2021-04-20 2:54 p.m., Graham wrote:
> On 2021-04-20 10:47 a.m., Dave Smith wrote:
>> On 2021-04-20 12:27 p.m., cshenk wrote:
have a receipt and a license that I definitely did not ask for.
>>
>> Sorry, no sympathy for them. I reject the idea of an annual fee to own
>> a dog when the money goes to support the local pound. There are no
>> local dogs available for adoption in the local pound. They have so few
>> strays that they import them from pounds in the US or from native
>> reserves in the north.Â* What they do have are lots of cats, and cats
>> don't have to be licensed. I don't want to pay a dog license fee to
>> look after cats and imported dogs.
>
> Particularly as they are often pitbulls saved from being put down in US
> shelters. We don't need their problems!!!

Oh yeah... and that is another thing. Pit Bulls were banned in Ontario a
number of years ago. You were not allowed to bred them or to import
them. They Humane Society runs the pound and is paid to enforce dog
control laws. The one they seem to enforce is the dog tag law.

The daughter of a friend adopted one from the Humane Society. At had
been imported from the US. So the guys we pay to enforce the law that
bans importing pit bulls imported a pit bull

Before the online dog tags some dolt used to come door to door selling
them. With two dogs barking at the door I could not say I didn't have
one. He once asked about my neighbour. saying that he was a friend and
had not seen him for a while. When the guy left my neighbour's two pit
bulls were outside, running around his car. Another pit bill law not
enforced. I really didn't care about the dogs over here. They were not
a problem. Just pointing out that they only laws they enforced with the
money from dog tags is the that you have one.

On Tue, 20 Apr 2021 07:49:28 -0400, Gary wrote:


>
> He also collected National Geographic magazines. He had two full sets
> starting with 1st issues and all up to 1979. He also had many 3rd copies
> and he gifted me about 6 of them since I liked old magazines.
>
> I still have them. All are circa 1900 and all in black and white. The
> best parts are the old full page advertisements. Very interesting.

People rearely throw away their National Geographics and they accumulate in
basements all over N.America. They are also very heavy. I know of a
mathematics professor who calculated the resulting dip in the Earth's Crust
if all those magazines were stacked in one place:-)

On 2021-04-20 1:00 p.m., Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> On 4/20/2021 2:01 PM, wrote:
>
>>>
>> I'm surprised he said he is 26 years old but pays his bills with a check.
>> Many 26-year-olds won't even write a check and have no paper checks.
>> But I would like to know what country, city, or planet he's posting from
>> what establishments he's frequented that will not accept a check???
>>
>> The two bills that I definitely write a check for are my property
>> taxes and
>> license renewal each year.Â* Yes, they will take credit or debit cards
>> but they
>> charge a fee for that convenience.Â* Not the city or state, but the
>> company
>> that handles those transactions.Â* The 'convenience' fee for my property
>> taxes is just under $49 so they most assuredly get a check!
>>
>
> I wrote a check today.Â* First one in 6 months.Â* Taxes were paid on line
> with no fee but I think it was a bank transaction, not a CC.Â* I wrote a
> total of 3 checks since Jan. 2020.Â* Two were to one company that I now
> pay on line by CC.
>
> It has been so long since I used one, I put the check in the envelope
> and forgot to sign it.Â* Didn't mail it though.

I can pay my taxes online but I always pay by cheque to a bank teller.
That way I have paper trails in any dispute. I had a serious one with
the feds 3 years ago and a xerox of that paper trail settled things quickly.

On 2021-04-20 1:04 p.m., Graham wrote:
> On Tue, 20 Apr 2021 07:49:28 -0400, Gary wrote:
>
>
>>
>> He also collected National Geographic magazines. He had two full sets
>> starting with 1st issues and all up to 1979. He also had many 3rd copies
>> and he gifted me about 6 of them since I liked old magazines.
>>
>> I still have them. All are circa 1900 and all in black and white. The
>> best parts are the old full page advertisements. Very interesting.
>
> People rearely throw away their National Geographics and they accumulate in
> basements all over N.America. They are also very heavy. I know of a
> mathematics professor who calculated the resulting dip in the Earth's Crust
> if all those magazines were stacked in one place:-)
>
OOPS "rarely"

On Tue, 20 Apr 2021 17:28:52 +0000, Mike Duffy wrote:

> On Tue, 20 Apr 2021 10:57:46 -0400, Dave Smith wrote:
>
>> I have heard of that scam. [...] hose switch.
>
> I was thinking more about Americans (with guns, &c) getting ****ed-off
> when you trot back inside again while they are in a position blocking
> other likewise-armed clients in order slip into your spot as you leave
> the pump.
>
> And sometimes this might be via a U-turn in reverse.

And I would be a klutz-victim at the pumps. I've even tried to pay inside
for a car the same colour next to mine.

On 2021-04-20 2:58 p.m., Michael Trew wrote:
> On 4/20/2021 2:30 AM, dsi1 wrote:
>>
>> I have one of these instead of a wallet. It's totally unsuitable for
>> holding cash. The size is right though. These days I'll never carry or
>> sit on one of those fat wallets again. In the future, I'm hoping to
>> replace any cards I have with a cell phone or perhaps an implant.
>>
>> https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GLN38MH
>
> My father never carried a wallet.

I had a friend who never carried a wallet. Maybe he really did, but he
often seemed to have forgotten it at home when we went to a bar and it
was his round.