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Technology/Sociology
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Technology/Sociology I bought my first transistor radio in the fall of 1958. It was made by the German Phillips Electronic Company. I was serving in the Army Infantry in Mannheim, Germany, at the time and bought the radio at the PX on board the Army base. The radio measured about 3/4 of an inch thick, by 4 or 5 inches long, and was 2-3/4 inches high. It was powered by 4-- AA batteries that were the same size they are today, although they didn't last nearly as long as today's Energizer batteries do. I paid about $30.00 for the radio. The rate of inflation since 1958 would make $30.00 in 1958 have the same buying power as $249.85 in 2016. (According to Google). The other troops in my platoon, were crazy about the radio. Most of them were always flat broke (a private's pay at that time was $36.00 a month), and on payday most of the troops gambled away what little money they had at poker, so none of them could afford to buy a similar radio for themselves. The barracks we lived in had no amenities in those days, so even a radio playing on "off" time was a luxury for us. I've never been interested in gambling, or cards, and early in my Army life,I became a loan shark. I'm not embarrassed to tell you that, because I'm actually proud of how little interest I charged on the money I loaned out. It was 10 percent, due on the next payday... In comparison, a couple of other guys charged double what the guy borrowed. One guy in another platoon had a gang of thugs who worked with him and if he didn't get his money at payday, fists would fly, noses would get bloodied and teeth would be knocked loose. This was the first radio of it's small size any of us had ever seen. The radio had a great clear tone, came with a small earplug speaker, and used the marvel--then-- of transistors instead of the big, heavy vacuum tubes all radios up until that time used. That little transistor radio was the beginning, at least in my observation, of the tremendous advancement in technology from that year-- 1958-- and continuing on through 2012. I don't remember the exact year I took my first full year course in Sociology. I think it was 1964, but I'm too comfortably seated at my desk with my feet up and my coffee perched on a small table near me, to go hunting through drawers and files to find some of my old college records to confirm that date. Sociology, the study of human tribes, groups, minorities, social mores and taboos... I would never have guessed the course would be so interesting and would benefit my life so much... Of course, the instructor, a Jewish man named Professor LOT, was really the reason the course was so fascinating to me and to most of his other students. Good teachers are invaluable contributors to every society. So you may be thinking about this time, if you've even made it this far, WTF is this post about? Okay, I know I'm long-winded once I get started, so the reason for this post is that in a nutshell, I think technology is leaving our human understandings back in the dust. Back in the time I'm writing about in this post, the relationships between people was more gentle. I mean I had a few fights in the Army, but no one tried to knife me. Some of the guys I fought hated my guts and we never became friends like directors like to have happen in flicks, but I wasn't looking over my shoulder expecting a knife in my back . In today's world, I think I would be. I sometimes worry about Marisol when she drives to Yucca Valley, or to Palm Springs by herself, or especially when she makes the long trip to Los Angeles. Things like Car Jacking-- back in the day-- never happened. Police chases like the ones shown on the news practically every day, never happened. Perhaps I've lived comfortably under a rock for 50 years and have just emerged into reality. Tech. stuff has grown exponentially since 1958 while human relationships have sunk to new lows of anger and misunderstanding between groups. Our two major political parties are constantly at war with one another without either party willing to compromise for the good of the country to try and accomplish SOMETHING. The DONALD, and Hillary, are currently in a race to see which one can destroy the other one first. November 8th, election day, will be here before we know it, and it's fascinating to me which one of these two will come out to be our new president... Incidentally, I thought I still had that old transistor radio.. but.. it no longer worked. I've dropped it too many times through the years..I wanted to take a picture of it for this post, but M. said she threw it out about a month ago.. M. gets rid of the things that I would probably hold on forever.. by david stardust... Friday morning, August 26 , 2016...    |
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I find I have to come back to your posts to read the comments you get and your responses. With some bloggers they can be as rewarding as the post itself and you are one of those bloggers. It struck me how even some of the popular songs emphasize how the technology has changed. As to the $30 vs $249, it is easy to remember how little some things cost "back then" but few consider that income was just as low. I am sure made little over $2 an hour then, certainly not $3. You're "right on" about the low pay back in the day! I remember picking strawberries on a berry farm when I was a kid for seven cents a quart... Of course, I also got to eat all the berries I wanted.. M. and I are actually in very good shape compared to other retired people we know. M. has a lot more money than I do, but I'm better off now than I was during the time I was working.. Also...living here on the desert, and going nude for most of the year, certainly cuts down on the clothing bills lol.. Thanks always for your intelligent comments, Justskin... david
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I love words David. Words, they are my "playthings". I miss the days when we used to write long love letters to each other. I miss receiving mail from people, instead of just bills. Alas, the world it is a changing, isn't it? Anyway, as my for quick draw fingers? Well, I type almost eighty words a minute, plus I read super fast. As for your friend? Nope not her, but maybe I read her and a little piece of the way she wrote stuck in my brain and that's what you're responding to. Did you go to China to get those Chinese teeth? The best course I ever took in a college setting was touch typing in the mid-sixties when I was out of the Army... I took a full year of it in Los Angeles City College... I was one of the very few men in a class of luscious women, and since I had an apartment right across the street from the college, a number of those luscious girls visited my place a number of times... In a few more years, even typing will be "old hat" with Artificial Intelligence being able to accurately type from our dictation.. My younger sister sends me emails all the time now that her Apple Phone sends out without her ever touching a keyboard.. Love you, Gypsy.. I'll be leaving this site again when Labor Day arrives, and will return once more May 1, 2017 if I survive through the winter (which I assume I will even though I'll be 80 when I return).. Just wanted to let you know that you're precious to me.. D..
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I find I have to come back to your posts to read the comments you get and your responses. With some bloggers they can be as rewarding as the post itself and you are one of those bloggers. It struck me how even some of the popular songs emphasize how the technology has changed. As to the $30 vs $249, it is easy to remember how little some things cost "back then" but few consider that income was just as low. I am sure made little over $2 an hour then, certainly not $3. If you see me in the real world, come say "Hi Justskin." I always behave. Preferably not well. 
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The only other person who could hold a candle to your ability to put up five comments faster then Matt Dillon could draw his Yummy, Gypsy, was that girl I asked you about weeks ago ---Cafsexnic--(her user name)... I thought perhaps you had reincarnated and cum back to me... lol . Your comments and posts are always welcome on this blog and as far as I'm concerned anywhere on this site.. I wouldn't mind taking out my Chinese teeth on one of your long bus rides and playing your sweet vagina like Sonny and Cher used to sing harmony... love, little lady, david Alas, the world it is a changing, isn't it? Anyway, as my for quick draw fingers? Well, I type almost eighty words a minute, plus I read super fast. As for your friend? Nope not her, but maybe I read her and a little piece of the way she wrote stuck in my brain and that's what you're responding to. Did you go to China to get those Chinese teeth? Live life to it's fullest! If you're bored, Read Hugs Gypsy
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You know...you made me laugh, you made me think, and you taught me something. I love the way your mind churns things david. And, you know what else, you aint looking too bad yourself. You know what I'm talking about...winky.
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Is that bob's burgers? Is it? My "daddy" just introduced me to it when I was up there last. And, yes, I still need to finish that story...I'm getting to it. Soon. Winky
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I do remember those old tiny transistor radios. Yep a seeming small start to all the changes. Some of the old songs of the 60s emphasize just how special that stuff was. The song "Brown Eyed Girl" had them listening to a transistor radio, because most radios were not. Heck, most radios did not even have FM! Then there is "Leaving on a Jet Plane". You knew they were going a long ways cause only long haul flights used jets and that was going in style. Now commuter flights of 100 or 150 miles are jets too. My first transistor radio I had my brother in the Army buy for me at the PX so I could listen to music while working on the farm. Tech is hurtling us along and not always in good ways. I think too much texting and not enough phone or face to face is not good. Sorry I have not been commenting of late. Been checking the blogs before the coffee has kicked in enabling me to do it clearly. Have a great day! Yes, things were a lot more simple, and life seemed to be easier to understand back in those days.. A lot of the old songs were great, where I barely listen to any of the stuff today. The thing that really struck me while writing this post above, was the difference in what thirty bucks would buy then and the inflation of that 30 bucks to $249.89 today... WOW.. Our money is shrinking to just about nothing in today's world. I hadn't thought about today's profusion of Jet planes even on the short flights of today. I also forgot that FM wasn't around back in the 50's either !! Be well my good friend, and it's such a shame that you can't show your beautiful "package" to the world anymore..!! Prudes still control this country!
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Looks like a good hobby to have David. hugsssssssss V
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Is that bob's burgers? Is it? My "daddy" just introduced me to it when I was up there last. And, yes, I still need to finish that story...I'm getting to it. Soon. Winky Live life to it's fullest! If you're bored, Read Hugs Gypsy
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You know...you made me laugh, you made me think, and you taught me something. I love the way your mind churns things david. And, you know what else, you aint looking too bad yourself. You know what I'm talking about...winky. Live life to it's fullest! If you're bored, Read Hugs Gypsy
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Looks like a good hobby to have David. hugsssssssss V Become a blog watcher sweet_vm
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I do remember those old tiny transistor radios. Yep a seeming small start to all the changes. Some of the old songs of the 60s emphasize just how special that stuff was. The song "Brown Eyed Girl" had them listening to a transistor radio, because most radios were not. Heck, most radios did not even have FM! Then there is "Leaving on a Jet Plane". You knew they were going a long ways cause only long haul flights used jets and that was going in style. Now commuter flights of 100 or 150 miles are jets too. My first transistor radio I had my brother in the Army buy for me at the PX so I could listen to music while working on the farm. Tech is hurtling us along and not always in good ways. I think too much texting and not enough phone or face to face is not good. Sorry I have not been commenting of late. Been checking the blogs before the coffee has kicked in enabling me to do it clearly. Have a great day! If you see me in the real world, come say "Hi Justskin." I always behave. Preferably not well.
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