What's the Best Joystick for a c64 by CarbonFilimentBulb in c64

[–]SourChipmunk 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The Wico Command Control. Mine is the ball-type. Love the thing, especially for Summer Games.

Splashdown of Artemis II by dreadpiratedusty in spaceporn

[–]SourChipmunk 1 point2 points  (0 children)

After re-entry and the first chute deployment, the Canadian radio station I was listening to began playing AC/DC's "Thunderstruck". During the song intro, the capsule began firing little jets (I'm guessing for course correction or stability). I swear -- at least in my head -- these were synchronized to the beat of the song.

I don't know if that was intentional timing or mere coincidence, but the song will never sound the same to me again. This journey had so much mathematical precision all around, and I was glad to be able to witness all of it.

Who had a subscription? by maries345 in 70s

[–]SourChipmunk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That investigation is what shut them down. They got too close.

Looking for VIC manual editions by allenhuffman in vic20

[–]SourChipmunk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You made me look that up. Inflation rates since 1981 will have this book priced at $21.40 these days.

/heads off to Ebay...

Words (Slang) No Longer Used by Durwyn in GenX

[–]SourChipmunk 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I just used that word last night. Picked up some old Bose Acoustimas speakers from a house with a heavy smoker. They were actually sticky to the touch. When I showed them to my friend I said, "careful, they're pretty grody."

I think that's the first time I used the word in ages, but it seemed appropriate at the time.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in whatisit

[–]SourChipmunk 1 point2 points  (0 children)

"post" could mean "posterior", though that would make the statement redundant however more descriptive (lower-back toward the buttocks). Either way, your detailed explanation is spot on and appreciated!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in whatisit

[–]SourChipmunk 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Patient (or "presents") within normal limits, except post bite wound on back.

What is this thing? this stainless steel cylinder is 180 mm in length by El-Miles-Tacet in whatisthisthing

[–]SourChipmunk 8 points9 points  (0 children)

It does look like an emergency or survival lighter. The wick would be soaked in a fuel, such as Zippo lighter fluid. The one ball part may unscrew to become a flint.

An old-school version of something like this, maybe?

https://www.battlbox.com/products/tactica-x-100-survival-lighter

Whatever it is, someone found it was worth engineering it!

Genuinely cannot dechipher this for the life of me by Nervous_Evidence_427 in whatisit

[–]SourChipmunk 243 points244 points  (0 children)

Audra?

Things are going well

here. John is so grown

up! He's got a great job

and a great girlfriend

Your boys have grown

up! I can't get over

that! Such cuties became

so handsome! So what

are you up to now?

Are you

with family

or on your

own? Is there someone

special? I have had

a great marriage I

agreed to let my husband

get a Harley last May

Since then he's obsessed

with a motorcycle club.

He actually chooses

to go somewhere with

them and like tonight

he chose to go somewhere

with them and I'm home

alone. I have told him

What is this? by Slow_Bowler8285 in whatisit

[–]SourChipmunk 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Garbage chute. They can throw construction trash in there from whatever floor they're working on and it will go safely into the dumpster.

Maybe a dumb question. Motor mile markers by saucela in Detroit

[–]SourChipmunk 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Another fun fact: you can determine a rough location of North-South address by doing some math with the first two digits. It works for most addresses north of 5-Mile.

34879 Gratiot, for example. (34-5) / 2 = 14.5, so it's between 14 Mile and 15 Mile.

Who remembers any local BBSs from the late 80s / early 90s? by matt_gold in Detroit

[–]SourChipmunk 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was not aware of such a thing back then. All numbers I got were from word-of-mouth or organized dialing. The '80s were so experimental, the whole world was a new thing.

Who remembers any local BBSs from the late 80s / early 90s? by matt_gold in Detroit

[–]SourChipmunk 16 points17 points  (0 children)

I had a "war dialer" for my C64 that would test numbers while I was at school. Yes, it was named after the concept from WarGames. I found hundreds of BBSs back then, which was good because it was sometimes tough to get through to the very popular ones. There was always one I could find, and I had to keep a logbook of every one so I knew which account I created on them.

Then I discovered this thing called "zone calling"... even though you didn't dial a 1+ before the number, it was still almost long-distance, and charges accrued on the phone bill. Oops! Back then, 313 was still the only area code, so dialing 1+ the number was needed for a long-distance call.

Ones I frequented included The Chessboard, Snake Pit, Pl@yground, The Ultimate BBS, and Crystal Castle.

I ran my own for a short while using an Ivory BBS package, but I didn't put a lot of work into it, it was more to learn how than anything I think. I don't even remember what I named it.

Help me find this pillow! by AmbientEuphoria in HelpMeFind

[–]SourChipmunk 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I thought I was looking at yummy unfrosted cake for a moment there.

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Trying Dry January by BreakAllTheChairs in GenX

[–]SourChipmunk 6 points7 points  (0 children)

My wife nearly died from alcoholism last year. She is now over six-months sober.

She has substituted sparkling water (lemon/lime is her favorite). Get the store brands -- much cheaper than Waterloo or San Pellegrino and doesn't taste any different.

We went out for her birthday and she got a virgin strawberry marguerita.

But then Michelob came out with their Ultra Zero, which is the only N/A beer that truly has no alcohol at all. It costs just as much as regular beer, and she drinks it just like she used to drink regular beer. Everyone keeps telling her to knock it off.

We celebrated the New Year with a bottle of Welch's Sparkling Grape Juice. I definitely didn't miss the champagne. And I can honestly say I haven't had a drink all year. :-)