Thursday, November 29, 2012

It's Getting Harder and Harder...

... to resist.  The latest love-note from Amazon sent me here, where I saw this:


Ah, but my Inner Luddite is still in control... and by that I mean I have a perfectly serviceable laptop, a state-of-the-art SmartPhone, a Kindle, and a spiffy desktop (ed: Wait.  Did you say you're a Luddite?)... so why on earth do I need a tablet?

Quick answer:  I don't.  But they sure are pretty and wouldn't all my family and friends be IMPRESSED?  Ah, there's the answer...

14 comments:

  1. "Status, man, status.."

    That's the answer my long-lost MIA good-friend RAVEN FAC (RAVEN 47) Sam Deichelman once said to a joint friend and fellow FAC Paul Martel when he said circa 1967 to Sam: "Sam, I notice you're carrying a Jack Kramer signature (the best wooden tennis racquet of its day) around and have a Nikon X (the premier camera of its day) sitting on the shelf, yet you don't play tennis and you know nothing about photography, what's the deal?" To which Sam answered: "Status, man, status.." LOL!

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    1. OT (gomenasai Buck-san) but VX, you were an F-4 guy back in the day correct? (I seem to recall something somewhere about you being in both C's and D's.) Pilot or WSO? This old WCS mechanic is curious. (If not downright strange.)

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    2. @Virgil: Yup... that IS what it's about, for some folks.

      @Sarge: Pilot, but I'll let Virgil speak for himself.

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    3. OldAf Sarge/

      Yes. I was a backseater in the C-model@DaNang with the 366TFW, then an AC with the 78thTFS, 81st TFW at RAF Woodbridge (the other two squadrons, (91st & 92nd) at our sister base RAF Bentwaters flew the C-model, although they both upgraded to the D-model after I left. Course the maj diff was improved wpns control computer, gunsight and radar(WRCS), BLS (bleed air--Boundry layer control ) and the fact that the gun pod on the D model was electricly driven, vs pneumatic on the C (had to be careful coming off the tgt/range as a few rounds would still pop off after trigger release due to pressure still in system)

      Plus I served a 6 mos tour after my first F4 gig as an in-country FAC flying both O-!/O-2s in I Corps.

      Typical AF story. Upon joining the 78thBushmasters@ Woody I was still a 1st Lt, but AC qualified. When I inquired as to when I would be put on orders for the front seat my "old school" Sq CO said: "Lt, you WILL NOT fly in the front seat of an F4D aircraft in my Squadron until you are a Capt." "Gee, thanks a lot." I thought..lol..luckily I made Capt about two mos later..

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    4. VX:
      That's how long it has been since my flight line days ('76 to '82) that I forgot that in our Air Force the GIF and the GIB were typically BOTH rated. Been hanging around Nasal Radiators and NFOs too much I guess. And that's another little tidbit that somehow leaked out of my old noggin at some point in time. The guy-in-front was also known as the AC, Aircraft Commander. A lofty and well-deserved title for a Phantom driver. (Also I just annotated my 781s to indicate that I appear to be leaking hydraulic fluid from my brain housing group.)

      You were a FAC? In country? How did you guys ever get airborne with all that brass swingin' down low? Some pilots think they have balls, FACs just know. You have my appreciation VX, err, excuse me , Thank You Sir!

      (Sorry to abuse your generous hospitality Buck. But you know how we Air Force guys can get all sentimental at times.)

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  2. I'm not sure it is status for me. I don't have all the best toys, but I wouldn't mind having the new Kindle.

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    1. I don't see the new Kindle doin' anythang all my other thangs can't do. But that's just me.

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    2. You are right. I do have all sorts of gadgets. But I just love new ones.

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  3. I too am sort of a Luddite. But I don't think it applies to really cool gadgets. (Such as those VX noted above.)

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  4. Buck - ditch the Kindle and get the Kindle Fire. Then you don't look so much like conspicuous consumption as staying up on the latest technology. :-)

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  5. And, you could hand-me-down the Kindle to various grandkids (who probably already have one), as has been pointed out to me by the mother of our youngest grandchild (already 4 months of age and comprehending that if you put a finger on the iPhone touchscreen and drag it, the pictures will move) who has her eye on my iPad.

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    1. I had to pull ya outta the spam trap yet again, Moogie. My grandkids are pretty well dialed-in, technologically speaking, already. They'd prolly be polite if I gifted them with old tech, but privately? That would be another story.

      Your four month old grandbaby is amazing!

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Just be polite... that's all I ask.