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The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com>: May 22 12:20PM -0700 On 05/22/2019 07:25 AM, rbowman wrote: > I trust the Russians more than our homegrown Stasi. I've been using > Kaspersky on my Windows boxes for a long time. If it's stealing my data > at least it doesn't let other people grab it.   The Russian guy who wrote the EBookDroid app provides excellent customer service for an absolute pittance. We asked him how we could pay more (apparently paypal doesn't work in Russia), but he said just buy the 'pro' app. He also speaks (or at least writes) excellent English, such that I wonder if he's just pretending to be Russian.   -- Cheers, Bev "Everyone ought to stop and smell crayons once in a while." -- DA

rbowman <bowman@montana.com>: May 22 08:26PM -0600 On 05/22/2019 01:20 PM, The Real Bev wrote: > (apparently paypal doesn't work in Russia), but he said just buy the > 'pro' app. He also speaks (or at least writes) excellent English, such > that I wonder if he's just pretending to be Russian.   I think a lot of the Russian hype is a smokescreen. A lot of the really evil stuff comes from a small middle eastern country Trump seems to love.

bitrex <user@example.net>: May 23 09:59AM -0400 On 5/22/19 10:26 PM, rbowman wrote: >> that I wonder if he's just pretending to be Russian.   > I think a lot of the Russian hype is a smokescreen. A lot of the really > evil stuff comes from a small middle eastern country Trump seems to love.   Saudi Arabia? A lot of US presidents have seemed to love them which is surprising given just how horrible they are. Not exactly a role-model.

bitrex <user@example.net>: May 23 10:03AM -0400 On 5/23/19 9:59 AM, bitrex wrote:     > Saudi Arabia? A lot of US presidents have seemed to love them which is > surprising given just how horrible they are. Not exactly a role-model.   Imagine if after discovering the Japanese government was responsible for Pearl Harbor instead of lighting them up the US government signed a crude oil purchase agreement and sold them our latest aircraft <boggle>

"Rod Speed" <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com>: May 24 02:01AM +1000 "bitrex" <user@example.net> wrote in message news:gHxFE.902$9A4.169@fx02.iad...   >> I think a lot of the Russian hype is a smokescreen. A lot of the really >> evil stuff comes from a small middle eastern country Trump seems to love.   > Saudi Arabia? A lot of US presidents have seemed to love them   Not love them so much as realise that they arent as bad as some of the others in the middle east.   Same with Jordan.   which is > surprising given just how horrible they are.   Not really.   > Not exactly a role-model.   Sure, but certainly not as bad as the worst of the rest.

"Rod Speed" <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com>: May 24 02:03AM +1000 "bitrex" <user@example.net> wrote in message news:5LxFE.53327$365.2466@fx42.iad...   > Imagine if after discovering the Japanese government was responsible for > Pearl Harbor instead of lighting them up the US government signed a crude > oil purchase agreement and sold them our latest aircraft <boggle>   Saudi has never done anything even remotely like Pearl Harbor.

bitrex <user@example.net>: May 23 12:23PM -0400 On 5/23/19 12:03 PM, Rod Speed wrote: >> for Pearl Harbor instead of lighting them up the US government signed >> a crude oil purchase agreement and sold them our latest aircraft <boggle>   > Saudi has never done anything even remotely like Pearl Harbor.   Oh, honey.

bitrex <user@example.net>: May 23 12:24PM -0400 On 5/23/19 12:01 PM, Rod Speed wrote:     > which is >> surprising given just how horrible they are.   > Not really.   They only _occasionally_ decapitate and crucify prisoners

Tim R <timothy42b@aol.com>: May 23 07:26AM -0700 I got a grab bag of CFLs cheap at a thrift store, and one of them is a Maxlite 32W that looks like this: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=maxlite+growight&ref=nb_sb_noss although it doesn't say growlight, but I don't know why else you would have one. I've never seen a super CFL that size.   Is there any risk to running one of these in a basement ceiling fixture?   During the winter I do my morning wakeup under bright light, this kind of lamp might be easier than my current setup. But not if it's going to explode or break during use.

tabbypurr@gmail.com: May 23 08:28AM -0700 On Thursday, 23 May 2019 15:26:21 UTC+1, Tim R wrote:   > I got a grab bag of CFLs cheap at a thrift store, and one of them is a Maxlite 32W that looks like this: > https://www.amazon.com/s?k=maxlite+growight&ref=nb_sb_noss   0 results   > although it doesn't say growlight, but I don't know why else you would have one. I've never seen a super CFL that size.   So you have a non-growing use for it, but no-one else has?   > Is there any risk to running one of these in a basement ceiling fixture?   nothing beyond the usual minor risks of lamps.   > During the winter I do my morning wakeup under bright light, this kind of lamp might be easier than my current setup. But not if it's going to explode or break during use.   why do you think it would it explode? Seems an odd idea. Break...all lamps do if whacked.     NT

tubeguy@myshop.com: May 22 08:16PM -0500 This website discusses it, but never really identifies the part. This is the meter I am working on and I too wondered what the SA1 and SA2 parts are. I never saw that symbol.   https://www.antiqueradios.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=117824   Schematic on the webpage.

Fox's Mercantile <jdangus@att.net>: May 22 08:29PM -0500 > This website discusses it, but never really identifies the part. This is > the meter I am working on and I too wondered what the SA1 and SA2 parts > are. I never saw that symbol.   Bear in mind Radio Shack doesn't make ANYTHING. They are a reseller. A lot of their gear, is branded Micronta or Realistic.   Secondly, Realistic and Micronta are Japanese suppliers. I wouldn't expect them to 100% follow US standards for schematics.       -- "I am a river to my people." Jeff-1.0 WA6FWi http:foxsmercantile.com

John-Del <ohger1s@gmail.com>: May 22 06:39PM -0700 > are. I never saw that symbol.   > https://www.antiqueradios.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=117824   > Schematic on the webpage.       Wild guess: spark gaps for protection.

Fox's Mercantile <jdangus@att.net>: May 22 08:55PM -0500 On 5/22/19 8:39 PM, John-Del wrote:   >> Schematic on the webpage.   > Wild guess: spark gaps for protection.   Despite posting the forum link where they are identified as Surge Arresters, Tube Guy posted the "what are they?" question over here.       -- "I am a river to my people." Jeff-1.0 WA6FWi http:foxsmercantile.com

tubeguy@myshop.com: May 23 12:13AM -0500 On Wed, 22 May 2019 20:55:03 -0500, Fox's Mercantile <jdangus@att.net> wrote:     >> Wild guess: spark gaps for protection.   >Despite posting the forum link where they are identified as Surge >Arresters, Tube Guy posted the "what are they?" question over here.   No one on that forum CLEARLY said what they are. Just guesses..... Guesses are not real answers.....

ggherold@gmail.com: May 23 06:41AM -0700 > >Arresters, Tube Guy posted the "what are they?" question over here.   > No one on that forum CLEARLY said what they are. Just guesses..... > Guesses are not real answers.....   Some sort of transorb, TVS diode perhaps. GH

John-Del <ohger1s@gmail.com>: May 23 07:08AM -0700 > >Arresters, Tube Guy posted the "what are they?" question over here.   > No one on that forum CLEARLY said what they are. Just guesses..... > Guesses are not real answers.....     Well, here's something 100% accurate: that meter is a piece of shit and of no real value to anyone who requires a good meter and knows how to use one. Total waste of time.

tabbypurr@gmail.com: May 23 08:24AM -0700 On Thursday, 23 May 2019 15:08:23 UTC+1, John-Del wrote:   > > No one on that forum CLEARLY said what they are. Just guesses..... > > Guesses are not real answers.....   > Well, here's something 100% accurate: that meter is a piece of shit and of no real value to anyone who requires a good meter and knows how to use one. Total waste of time.   I have a whole pile of cheap meters as well as good ones. They're useful IME.     NT

Mike <ham789@netscape.net>: May 22 05:52PM -0700 >> use a different wiring configuration to produce some leakage current.   > that may be a reason to go new.   > NT   Conspiracy theory notwithstanding...   I suggest that some designer made a bad decision to use a cheap part to manage the flashlight modes. Some manager made an uninformed decision to remarket the result. Everybody saved a penny, except the user. Caught with their pants down, some vendors are now advertising flashlights with zero parasitic drain. It's unlikely that Duracell had any malicious intent in this.   There really is no clean fix for this. If you use your flashlight every day, it won't affect you much. If you use it infrequently for emergencies, you absolutely, positively want it to work when needed. About all you can do is put an insulator somewhere in the battery assembly and remove it when the emergency happens.   Next time, buy one that advertises zero parasitic drain.

Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com>: May 22 07:26PM -0700 >Conspiracy theory notwithstanding...   I just hate it when someone ruins a perfectly good conspiracy theory. Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity. Hanlon's Razor.   Standby/parasitic current drain of various flashlights (including leakage current and estimated battery life): <https://lygte-info.dk/info/standbyCurrent%20UK.html>   >Caught with their pants down, some vendors are now advertising flashlights >with zero parasitic drain. >It's unlikely that Duracell had any malicious intent in this.   There is already a class action suit to prove otherwise:   "Duracell Class Action Says LED Flashlights Drain Batteries Quickly" <https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/consumer-products/877506-duracell-class-action-says-led-flashlights-drain-batteries-quickly/> <https://www.classaction.org/blog/in-the-dark-allegedly-defective-duracell-led-flashlights-drain-batteries-when-turned-off-class-action-lawsuit-claims> <https://www.classaction.org/media/siddle-et-al-v-the-duracell-company-et-al.pdf> (12.4MB) The case seeks to cover a proposed nationwide class of consumers who bought Duracell's 250, 300 or 350 LED flashlight models from Duracell, Costco, Home Depot or Amazon during the to-be-defined claim period.   >you absolutely, positively want it to work when needed. >About all you can do is put an insulator somewhere in the battery >assembly and remove it when the emergency happens.   With alkaline cells, I like to store them outside of the device in a plastic bag. I've had too many problems with alkaline cells leaking all over the inside of flashlights, radios, and toys.   >Next time, buy one that advertises zero parasitic drain.   Probably a good idea. I guess I've been lucky as none of mine seem to have the problem. However, I haven't measured it, so I'm not really sure.     -- Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com 150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

Mike <ham789@netscape.net>: May 23 01:33AM -0700 On 5/22/2019 7:26 PM, Jeff Liebermann wrote: > consumers who bought Duracell's 250, 300 or 350 LED > flashlight models from Duracell, Costco, Home Depot or > Amazon during the to-be-defined claim period.   You can sue anybody for anything. Sometimes you even win. BUT I don't expect anybody at Duracell ever sat down with the evil intent to sell defective flashlights as a means to increase battery sales. It's much more likely that someone in purchasing decided they could make a buck on flashlights and did zero evaluation.   I skimmed part of the attached links.   Should they be punished for not recalling them? Probably, but what is the appropriate punishment? We all have stuff that performs less than expected. Where do you draw the line?   I'd bet that Costco took back any presented for refund. Don't know about the others.   The people with flashlights ain't gonna get rich, but the lawyers sure will get rich off this lawsuit.   I have several of these that I bought at garage sales. Didn't take long to discover why they were almost free. I probably won't be able to make a claim without a receipt. Stick a piece of plastic between the battery pack and the spring. They'll be fine when needed in an emergency. Another strategy is to leave batteries in the flashlight, wait for them to leak, get reimbursed for leaky batteries.   If I were to sue Duracell, it would be over leaky batteries that ruin the devices they power. I'd get behind serious punishment for that. Although I've had them replace seriously damaged devices on demand.   It's all about the Benjamins. If replacement cost is less than the additional profit, that's what controls the decision. In this case, they pissed off the wrong ambulance chasers. ;-)

tabbypurr@gmail.com: May 23 06:44AM -0700 On Thursday, 23 May 2019 09:33:33 UTC+1, Mike wrote: > BUT > I don't expect anybody at Duracell ever sat down with the evil > intent to sell defective flashlights as a means to increase battery sales.   Usually companies are busy looking for the next wheeze, the next way to sell more product. And we surely know that a lot of these ideas are knowingly not in the consumer's interest.   > It's much more likely that someone in purchasing decided they could > make a buck on flashlights and did zero evaluation.   a company that size with a large reputation doing zero evaluation? Not credible     > Should they be punished for not recalling them? Probably, but what > is the appropriate punishment? We all have stuff that performs > less than expected. Where do you draw the line?   afaik parasitic drain is not a crime. I don't know any law that prohibits it.     > If I were to sue Duracell, it would be over leaky batteries that ruin > the devices they power. I'd get behind serious punishment for that. > Although I've had them replace seriously damaged devices on demand.   Batteries leak, it's inherent in the design. If you force companies to pay out then the price of batteries goes up. Effectively you force everyone to buy an insurance policy. Why aren't you blaming the product mfrs for not using gold plated contacts that wont' corrode & easy wipe battery holders?     NT

tubeguy@myshop.com: May 22 05:02PM -0500 I have a vintage Micronta (Radio Shack) analog multimeter. model 22-214. Its a great meter. And I usually prefer analog meters for most stuff. (old habits are hard to break).   Anyhow, the meter works fine except the continuity selection. There is a buzzer inside thats supposed to beep. It does, but it's very quiet. I can barely hear it. If I apply some pressure to it, with my finger or a pencil eraser, it gets louder but wont stay that way. So I know it's the buzzer itself thats bad, not the circuit.   Since I can no longer get replacement parts from Radio Shack, I have to get a generic replacment. All my years of electronics, but I have never replaced or used a buzzer for anything.   How do I select the right type? There is 2 to 2.5 volts DC going to the buzzer when it's active. So, I need something for that voltage. It's NOT mounted on the printed circuit board, so thats a good thing. There is plenty room in the case to mount anything. Glue it, or screw it on. So, how do I get the right buzzer? Or is it just based on the voltage? I really dont know much about them.....

tabbypurr@gmail.com: May 22 04:41PM -0700 > plenty room in the case to mount anything. Glue it, or screw it on. So, > how do I get the right buzzer? Or is it just based on the voltage? I > really dont know much about them.....   1. voltage 2. physical space limits 3. Magnetic (low frequency bzz) or high rfequency piezo.   Any replacement will be too loud, soft glue on the bleeper will be needed.     NT

Fox's Mercantile <jdangus@att.net>: May 22 06:43PM -0500 > Since I can no longer get replacement parts from Radio > Shack, I have to get a generic replacement.   <https://www.ebay.com/itm/132977627929>     -- "I am a river to my people." Jeff-1.0 WA6FWi http:foxsmercantile.com

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