What's the last thing you bought?

I'd suggest saving the wood glue for when you need to glue some wood... This is not an approach to cleaning I'd want to use. (Except, perhaps, "just to try" on a junk record that would only be played back using a stylus I didn't particularly care about.)

Magic J wrote:Got myself a copy of Dark Side of the Moon for 30p once, since it was moldy. Splash of alcohol, good as new. Well, not quite, but still pretty good.

I have a sense I have a copy that I got for 99 cents at Goodwill. I can't remember the condition, although such memories aren't necessarily helpful. The cartridge I probably had at that time was a lot more tolerant of worn records than what I've used most recently.

How interesting!

I'd always assumed that cars would be too bumpy to even try fitting a turntable.

I find it interesting, too. I think there might have been aftermarket phonographs, too, that I saw in old catalogs. But I can't remember for sure. But the idea seems hugely impractical--even 8-track tape was a more practical car format.

I've seen portable turntable cases with speakers built in

Having speakers built is problematic in its own right--the turntable will likely pick up vibrations from the speakers. It might not be enough to make the record skip, but it could impair the turntable performance. (That said, I've sometimes thought I'd like an old console stereo or old radio as a toy--but it would be a toy, not a primary audio system.)

The current cheap portable turntables with built in speakers get reviled in audiophile circles for poor performance and excessive record wear. I don't have much experience, but I can say that I heard one such turntable, and it sounded positively ghastly.

Have you guys given thought that you'd make for proud "8 Track Tape Player" owners?

mxguy01 wrote:Have you guys given thought that you'd make for proud "8 Track Tape Player" owners?

I actually have one, which was made by Radio Shack. It is complete with "simulated walnut wood grain" veneer (proudly advertised on a label).

It was an amusing toy to play with (and perhaps could be an amusing conversation piece one day...). I also could imagine if I ever had a really old collector car from the 8-track era that I might have an 8-track player in it. And I'd be curious to hear whatever was a top 8-track player of the day, just to hear what the format was like at its best. But it's not a format I really see myself seriously using.

On the other hand, the vinyl LP was once appealing to me for several reasons. One was a hugely practical reason--used LPs were once very cheap, and there was a huge library of LPs out there. And I felt the performance of a good LP on a good record playing system was, when I got my first good system about 1990, was better than CD. Today, CD is very attractive for low cost used CDs, a large library, and its certainly a convenient format.

Finally got around to washing some more 99 cent clearance shirts that I found at a thrift store. Not ideal--one is a bit too big, one has a bit too much wear--but for 99 cents each I can't complain too much.

The worn one was originally sold by Land's End, and I remember seeing shirts like this advertised in their catalog many years ago. Part of the reason for getting it was just to live with it a while, and see if I feel like it lives up to the catalog sales pitch!

A little bit more of Microsoft stock. FTC is fucking around announcing investigations and such which made it take a slight hit this morning. I'm betting everyone will shortly forget. I think in my retirement this will become my hobby, my past time, my part-time-job and an source of extra income for discretionary spending. Just an hour or two a day should do nicely. I guess there are worse ways to live an retirement.

John27 wrote:... I found at a thrift store...

I've re-furnished much of my apartment via the local re-sale/donations/thrift shop. It's close by so I just stop in while going by and see what might be there. In the one case I got an antique dresser with one of those mirrors that swivels horizontally. The wood is walnut! Like real solid walnut not some veneer! There's a little bit of nicks, dents and such but nothing major. A f sanding and some combined stain-n-varnish I could easily turn it around for a decent profit. But it's too cool to let go.

mxguy01 wrote:A little bit more of Microsoft stock. FTC is fucking around announcing investigations and such which made it take a slight hit this morning. I'm betting everyone will shortly forget.

I'd guess everyone will soon forget, too. I don't know anything about any investigations, but I truly doubt anything would happen, past maybe a token investigation. Microsoft survived the anti-trust suit in the early 2000s, and so I'd expect nothing to happen today.

I think in my retirement this will become my hobby, my past time, my part-time-job and an source of extra income for discretionary spending. Just an hour or two a day should do nicely. I guess there are worse ways to live an retirement.

There are worse things one could do.

The one problem I see, though, is that it seems likely we'll sooner or later have a stock market crash again. I'm hearing some commentators suggest a general economic crash as bad or worse than 2008. We'll see what happens, of course...

Of course, if one has the resources, a stock market crash means a chance to buy stocks "on sale."

mxguy01 wrote:I've re-furnished much of my apartment via the local re-sale/donations/thrift shop. It's close by so I just stop in while going by and see what might be there. In the one case I got an antique dresser with one of those mirrors that swivels horizontally. The wood is walnut! Like real solid walnut not some veneer! There's a little bit of nicks, dents and such but nothing major. A f sanding and some combined stain-n-varnish I could easily turn it around for a decent profit. But it's too cool to let go.

Most of the furniture I have is also from thrift shops. Although, alas, I've never had a chance at an antique walnut dresser. Best I've seen (but not bought) were oak--but usually $$$$, and with significant problems. Indeed, most of what I've acquired has been just "functional and cheap". Maybe when I'm living someplace better, I'll be able to start upgrading...

One local thrift store (a Goodwill) no longer carries furniture. I'm not sure why that decision was made--I suspect it had to do with wanting the floor space for other things. When they did have furniture, it was an amazing mix of absolute junk, outrageously priced stuff, and the occasional bargain. More than once, I was tempted by an old TV cabinet ("entertainment center") that hit unbelievably low prices. (Probably because the locals have big flatscreen sets now?) A good cabinet like that would probably be good enough for me--I can't imagine having a 200 inch TV set (I exaggerate), but i didn't have the floor space with my current living room.

John27 wrote:

The problem with Goodwill is that a lot of people would drop their trashed stuff there that was not reusable.

I paid $99 which was way high but I thought it looked pretty nice so I went for it anyways.

And yes, when the market crashes it's followed by a rebound. It's a good reason to keep a portion in cash (or near equivalent) so that you can weather the down turn and even capitalize on it. In the stock market, there are winners and losers. Someone has to loose if I plan on being on the winning side. Just a fact of life.

Yes, Goodwill is definitely used as a dumping ground. Although they may not be unique. I know smaller thrift stores in my area often have big signs out that say after hours donations are a no-no. I somehow have gotten the feeling that those after hours "donations" they refer to are things that are probably better "donated" to the town dump!

Thanks for sharing the picture of the dresser! It looks really nice! I love the wood grain on the drawer fronts, and the carved mirror supports.

More Microsoft.

Started playing World of Warcraft again. So I bought the BFA expansion.

Tobias wrote:Started playing World of Warcraft again. So I bought the BFA expansion.

Cute.

Have you tried Uldum and Vale Assaults?

A new jug of laundry detergent. Not a very exciting purchase, but I needed detergent. This way I'll be ready to wash the next 99 cent thrift store shirt!

Something for lunch today.