Topics

1

Talk Story / Hello, Again!

« on: July 27, 2010, 01:28:45 AM »

It's been years since I was here, or on any light forum. I had to get away from the temptation to keep buying lights. Over the next few weeks I'll be looking around to see what's new.

My collection is the same, haven't sold or lost a thing, knock in Ti! I'm taking a big bite to catch up, that's for sure, especially trying to do the same on CPF as well.

Hope to see some old names...

2

General Flashlight Discussion / I found it! An old light from the past...

« on: March 26, 2007, 11:02:12 PM »

I had a couple of Tekna dive lights over the years. Mixed and matched the parts after they both quit working. One of my evolutions in EDC.

Was cleaning today, dropped an old cookie tin and the lid came off. Inside was my Tekna Mono Lith. I never was sure which model they were. Black bezel from one light, yellow body from the other.

Unscrewed it and the smell of Lithium battery emerged. No leakage on the Radio Shack DL123 inside. And, it's been in there since the early nineties! Dodged a bullet. 

Dropped in a fresh Battery Station CR123 and the light was on! It's more yellow than I remember, probably a combo of dust on the lens and the contacts are probably not all they should be. Maybe a memory trick as well, or LEDs have spoiled me.

Wasn't sure I'd ever see this light again. Gonna use it a bit tonight, then ponder the best ways to clean it, etc. Originally these were surprise gifts, and what a nice little one it was today!

3

Talk Story / Lead Singer of Rock Group Boston Dies...

« on: March 11, 2007, 04:16:04 AM »

I heard this while driving home the other day. Now I really regret not seeing them. Never ranked them as high as Pink Floyd or some other groups, but they were a good band nonetheless.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,258108,00.html

4

Talk Story / Please Help Me Find An Answering Machine That Will Call Out With The Message!

« on: May 18, 2006, 02:38:32 AM »

We have an answering machine at work that will call us when a message is left on it. It quit dialing out. This has resulted in my co-worker and I having to call in and retrieve messages at least every hour - from 8 am to 1 am. That's seventeen hours a day! And that time extends longer on the weekend, as we are on on call 24/7 every other week.

The bosses are willing to buy another machine. Problem is none of us can find one that will call a number with messages! We've checked BestBuy, Circuit City, Office Max, Staples, Office Depot, etc., all to no avail.

I'm going nuts from this. It's taxing me with stress and a lack of sleep (can't even catch naps during those times, at least for not more than an hour). Watching the clock is a real drag, too. Apparently Call Notes (which I'm told would do this) is not an option from the company's phone provider.

I don't know the brand of the existing machine, but am going to find out and contact the manufacturer. I may call all major manufacturers soon. Google searches are not helping, might be my poor search technique, or perhaps fatigue or both.

This has been going on for quite some time, and I can't take much more. I'll probaby get serious and change jobs if no resolution is found. It's bad enough being on call 24/7 every other week with no additional compensation, but calling in this way is like Chinese water torture.

Sorry to vent/whine/moan/b*tch/boo hoo poor little me. To cut to the chase: Anyone know where I should look to find one that will do this?

5

Talk Story / Texans to draft DE Mario Williams first! Aww, man!!

« on: April 29, 2006, 12:54:36 AM »

http://www.houstontexans.com/news/detail.php?PRKey=2543

I'm sure not happy with this!    I know the guy is supposed to be a once in a decade DE, and that he's tall, strong, fast and athletic, with the wingspan of a condor, but sheesh!

I'm boycotting Texans games this year. Yeah, I may be wrong, I hope I am. Reggie Bush could be a bust, he could be too expensive for them, they could be concerned about the house scandal going on, I don't know, they must know something I don't.

Bottom line is I'm not happy at all with this choice. I'm guessing they are being cheap and like to lose. I know they are losers in my opinion right now, for doing this. Yeah, defense and the trenches win games, but oh man! 

6

Talk Story / Storm Damage!

« on: April 21, 2006, 08:51:45 PM »

I was awakened about six this morning by the storms coming through. The house was shaking. I thought it was thunder, as lightning was flashing. Went back to sleep.

When I got out of bed hours later, the water pressure was off. They have been remodeling the school at the end of the road, and it's not unusual (though they haven't done it lately) for them to turn off the water. Put my shoes on and went to walk down to the school to see. Stopped dead in my tracks as I looked down the driveway. A huge branch, what is really half a tree, was down. Took out the garage, and broke the pipe to the washing machine below the cut off valve. Also damaged the back of the house in at least one place, crushed the eve and overhang and damaged the roof.

I have insurance and filed a claim, but they said the area's a catastrophe, and can't tell me when an adjuster will be out. I had a plumber come and he was brave enough to enter the collapsed garage and cap the pipes, so I have water but not hot. No biggie at this time of year here.He cut the gas off, just to be safe. Electric to the garage is turned off as well.

I'm grateful no one was hurt, and that I can probably live here in the mean time. I hate to have to deal with a claim, I've never filed one. I hope it goes well.

7

Talk Story / Happy Easter!

« on: April 16, 2006, 01:52:32 AM »

Wanted to wish everyone a happy Easter, Spring Holiday, Bunny Day, etc...

8

Talk Story / New Cars Album - Music

« on: April 01, 2006, 12:37:30 AM »

The Cars have reformed and are touring. Two original members and three new. New vocalist is Todd Rundgren. Ric Ocasek declined to participate, supposedly not wanting to tour, and Ben Orr died around the turn of the century (Orr did more lead vocals than most people are aware of).

The new album is mostly old songs done live at a private concert, and three new studio tracks. AOL has a video of one new song. My friends and I like it. It's true to the sound of the band, and the new lead vocalist fits seamlessly, IMHO. Tour dates are limited and not many big city stops. Nothing in Houston, only Texas stop is, I believe, Grand Prairie.

9

General Flashlight Discussion / Orb Raw NS arrives!

« on: March 24, 2006, 09:46:32 PM »

At long last it's here. I've only done a preliminary handling on it, but build quality seems better than the Raw. I'll check (with eyeballs) the output after dark against the Raw. It's kinda nice to take a break from all the car buying hassles and get back to lights! Sorry if there is a thread like this already, just merge or delete this one if so.

10

Talk Story / New Car: Buying or Leasing - The Pros and Cons

« on: March 09, 2006, 04:40:21 AM »

I know that internet advice is worth what you pay for it, but want to run this buy the forum. Any replies are appreciated.

I can lease a new car, with an option to buy, for much less a month than buying it outright. I like the idea of being able to get another one in 3.5 years (yes I could do this with buying as well). There's an option to buy. I know that mostly what is paid is the cost of depreciation plus some profit for the dealership. Contracts can be specific as to the balloon payment and what you pay a month may not count much toward the final price. I could wind up paying a big chunk of money over the 3.5 years and have nothing to show for it, aka a long term rental.

What other pitfalls should I be concerned with besides mileage (not a factor for me at this time) and "excessive wear"? The car in question (the one I like best of all the models I tested) is a Mitsubishi Galant ES, 2006.

Thanks for any replies!

11

Mr. Bulk / Chameleon Battery Question.

« on: February 03, 2006, 10:25:35 PM »

I plopped a protected RCR123 that I got from Lighthound into the bead blasted Chammie. Now, the battery wants to stay in it! I can't shake or pull it out of the tube. Are we not supposed to use protected? Should I try plyers of some sort? I'm sharing batteries for now, I need more from Lighthound, but want to know about the tight fit first, and running unprotected instead. Thanks!

Edit: Plyers did the trick. I was real gentle. Man, the beam on these things are awesome. Great tint as well. Gonna try the Ti now.

12

General Flashlight Discussion / LED Logic Striker flashlight.

« on: January 13, 2006, 12:11:31 AM »

Has anyone here ever used one of these? I"m in a group passaround on CPF for this, and just received the light a few hours ago. I'm gonna have some fun tonight. I've good impressions of the light so far. Adjustable, bright (big bezel), has a side switch, and a strobe.

Call it the sincerest form of flattery, but the group passaround concept from CPF is awesome. Maybe some day something liike that could be done here as well?

In the meantime, it's nice to have a new light to play with while awaiting the Chammie(s). Of course I'll probably have to get one of these now too, and I really should stop buying lights for a whiile.

13

Talk Story / Yeah, Right! Real strange thread...

« on: December 24, 2005, 07:02:05 AM »

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=102229

I remember when he posted the first thread about 800 D cell batteries left over from Y2K. It only got stranger, and this new thread takes it more so. I'll bet he's having a good laugh, because it can't be serious. I think he really needs some lithium cells, or pills!

14

Talk Story / It's not just a mini light, it's a mini solar system - Chamealeon!

« on: November 30, 2005, 11:55:17 PM »

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/02/09/fun_sized_solar_system/

I found this in the news, and thought it interesting. Even if the name is spelled different than the light. And a doctor Kevin Luhman. Real puns!

Man, I need the Chameleon bad! 

Edit: D'oh, this belongs in the Talk section. I guess the constellation name got me too worked up!

15

General Flashlight Discussion / Finally catching the Questing Beast!

« on: November 24, 2005, 01:24:59 AM »

After waiting a while, my McLux PDIII is here. This was an elusive light in my particular case, for a variety of reasons.

The finish is better than expected. I have the older style clip, and I like it, though I don't usually clip my lights, I've carried this one around with me clipped in the pocket of the jeans.

The beam is nice. Small donut hole at less than six inches, flawless beyond that. The hotspot is tighter than I would have expected. I don't know if this one is a "joker" Luxeon or not. The sidespill is quite wide. It's a tad green on the lower setting, but I was expecting this. The low is enough for most tasks in the dark.

The twist switch is so easy to operate with one hand. The piston is gonna give me thumb muscles like Mr. Universe!

It's a nice, simple to use light.  Since I've always had a thing for glow in the dark, I got tritium, and it's cool!

I now have choice when it comes to single 123 lights. now. I'm starting to carry a ridiculous number of lights around with me.