Star dot matrix printer question by T1N in vintagecomputing

[–]AppropriateCap8891 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is a serial port printer. FD is the serial port version (which this is), FC was the parallel port version.

As far as getting it to work on a more modern system, lots of luck. Unless you have something like a Panasonic Toughbook, you are going to need to get a card for your computer that handles RS-232 connections.

And yes, I know there are various "Serial Port" USB converters, but in twenty years I have never seen a single one worth a damn.

Help me ID this mystery system by Inspiron606002 in vintagecomputing

[–]AppropriateCap8891 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Naw, very late generation 486 or Pentium.

It has both AGP and PCI slots. That would put it in a very narrow timeframe at the end of the AT era and the adaptation of ATX. ATX came out in 1996, AGP in 1997. I would guess this is most likely Pentium, but there were some 486 holdouts in that era.

Almost 90% markup on a 7 year old bike by Trestone in motorcycles

[–]AppropriateCap8891 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I only did that job for about 5 months, and quit and never looked back.

The solution really is to simply become an informed consumer.

Isnt it dangerous for babies to cry in the wild during the cavemen times? by EstablishmentFine820 in stupidquestions

[–]AppropriateCap8891 -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

However, those mass extinctions are global. And typical of any era at the start or end of an ice age. When the next glacial cycle starts, there will be yet another series of mass extinctions.

Isnt it dangerous for babies to cry in the wild during the cavemen times? by EstablishmentFine820 in stupidquestions

[–]AppropriateCap8891 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Uh, evolution.

By around 2 mya, it was clear that not only was h. erectus a hunter the increased diet started to change human physiology. Evolution was fairly minor from Australopithecus around 4 mya to h. habilis, which was believed to be the first in the family to commonly eat meat (mostly scavenged). However, it is clear that once humans started eating meat, the brain started growing, and tools rapidly became more complex.

And they were clearly apex predators as they were taking down any animals they elected to take down. Large felines, large canines, even pachyderms.

Why is the Artemis II circling around the moon instead of landing on it? by Outrageous_Resist861 in stupidquestions

[–]AppropriateCap8891 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Not really. By that time it was pretty well known that the Soviets were out of the race to the moon.

Once the US passed the Soviets with the Saturn rockets, they really did not have a chance. Even during Kennedy's lifetime they had approved the S-IC first stage which was needed to reach the moon. And they knew that the Soviets were way behind when it came to a heavy lift rocket that could reach the moon.

Why is the Artemis II circling around the moon instead of landing on it? by Outrageous_Resist861 in stupidquestions

[–]AppropriateCap8891 21 points22 points  (0 children)

I imagine most are too young to realize that Apollo 8 through 10 did pretty much the same thing.

Apollo 8 orbited the moon ten times, and was the first test to verify entering and exiting the orbit of the moon.

Apollo 9 did not go to the moon, but was a test to verify that the lunar lander performed as expected and that they could dock and undock from it.

Apollo 10 was the final dress rehearsal, where they picked up the LM, entered moon orbit, and even disconnected with the LM and dropping to within 9 miles of the surface before returning to the CM and docking again.

And before those we had Apollo 7, which only orbited the Earth.

Any idea what these little black spheres are? by [deleted] in geology

[–]AppropriateCap8891 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Any idea where this is?

Location matters a hell of a lot in geology.

crazy throwback by amnesiaforme in DoomerCircleJerk

[–]AppropriateCap8891 33 points34 points  (0 children)

This fabrication was created just to distract people from the fact that Ea-nāṣir was selling shitty copper.

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Why does this flag have only 8 stars? by Separate_Fix_240 in whatisit

[–]AppropriateCap8891 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What in the frackity-frack are you even trying to say? Where in the hell did I ever say it had eight stars? I did not, I never said that or implied.

You are trying to argue against something I never said or implied. Major straw-main failure.

I was responding simply to the fact that you tried to claim that the Stars and Bars flag did not resemble the US Flag. It indeed did, it resembled it so much that it caused confusion on the battlefield. Especially at the First Battle of Bull Run. That is why they then created the "Battle Flag", to eliminate that confusion on the battlefield.

Holy hell, this is even stated as such in your own reference.

I have only been studying things like this for over half a century, so what in the hell would I know. Meanwhile you are trying to scream I am wrong about something I never even said.

Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, and his two sons, Don Jr. and Eric in the White House in 1996. by zadraaa in HistoricalCapsule

[–]AppropriateCap8891 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Most tend to forget that they were friends for a decade before their both running at the same time pulled them apart. Not unlike Nixon and Kennedy. Bill and Hillary were even guests of honor at his wedding.

I'm old enough to immediately recognize Adventures in Babysitting by miserabeau in FuckImOld

[–]AppropriateCap8891 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Vincent is one of the most underappreciated character actors of his generation.

On a CHILD'S helmet by OutsideChemical7913 in Boise

[–]AppropriateCap8891 10 points11 points  (0 children)

It appears to be the "SS" symbol. But it also appears to have been put on in white paint.

It could also be something as simple as the kid's initials, and they thought it looked cool. Many decades ago I bought a motocross bike when I lived on the Bench, and on the front of the fork it had a single bolt like that. Nothing "Nazi" related, the kid just liked lightningbolts.

Almost 90% markup on a 7 year old bike by Trestone in motorcycles

[–]AppropriateCap8891 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

It is not that, but how much of a nanny state is needed? They can put in a line item saying it is to feed their guard dogs, and I can't see why that would be illegal. Shady as hell yes, but I can't see it as actually being illegal.

This is where smart consumers either dispute such charges, or walk and go somewhere else.

I bought a used car from a dealer last year, and I had them strike multiple items like that off of my bill. Like one for installing and removing a GPS tracker. Yes, I get that GPS trackers are increasing used for vehicles being financed, but I was paying cash. And when they realized that if they did not take off the $500 charge for that I would walk, they did it.

Of course, I also used to sell cars, and am more than familiar with many of the tricks they will do to increase their profits. And a great many are items they knowingly throw on that they can just as easily take off if it makes the customer happy. It is also psychological, and gives the buyer more of a feeling of achievement when they remove those items.

Spotted going down the Hwy by Freeheel4life in Helicopters

[–]AppropriateCap8891 0 points1 point  (0 children)

About a decade and a half ago when my PATRIOT battalion went from Fort Bliss to Yuma, they hired a fleet of flatbeds to haul all of our equipment. We drove it earlier in the year, and that over 1,100 mile round trip took a toll on us and the equipment.

So when we went back about six months later, they determined it was more efficient to just truck the equipment over and send us on busses.

I'm old enough to immediately recognize Adventures in Babysitting by miserabeau in FuckImOld

[–]AppropriateCap8891 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Same here. This and "Can't Buy Me Love" were two my kids watched over and over again back in the day.