I got close to disgust again at lack of response from OP's, found and re-read this, gave me a shot of 'stick around', thanks
Elliott
Showing 39 responses by elliottbnewcombjr
mahler123I agree, take no heed of the advice, just get what you had your eye on. Oh well. Once, I think my SUT, after a short number of responses, I told everyone, "I just couldn't wait, bought it". But that was after members had taught me a great deal about SUTs in another long thread, i.e. got me ready to choose. Searching for a long tonearm: Asked advice about the Blackbird 12.5" Russian Tonearm: I waited many months, but had to go against the advice given, I just had to. I was told by our missing Russian member Chakster: "Don't do it. The only thing Russians know how to make is weapons." I'm glad I risked it, turns out to be a winner. It was Chakster's warning that made me buy a 3 year Square Trade Warranty. It needed to be rewired (a design flaw since fixed), VAS re-wired it and Square Trade paid in full. 1. a quickie after asking .... 2, long delay, then against advice ... Luckily both worked out. I think those 2 are the only ones other members might think WTF, why did he ask!
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everyone, I started this when I was depressed that the DPReview camera site was going to shut down. Someone did something, it never closed. It did change from that goodbye/oh never mind period: less fun, more matter of fact, a few left and never returned .... some new ’I know it all’ types, some new terrific photographers, and is still a darn good site to stay involved in. |
antigrunge2I was just in need of a booster shot, I'm sticking around.
cbrez thanks, one thing is that you can speed read my posts, they are like a broken record, same answers, I should create a word document that I can cut and paste from. I'm having a ball importing photos now that I figured it out, soooo easy. |
noromance I joined DPR July 2012, awaiting the announced Sony rx100m1 camera, 1" sensor in a new miniaturized body. Revolutionary at that time. I got two of the original Made In Japan batch. yap, yap, yap, I just checked, I currently have18,596 posts there. lots of encouragement there, I am active on both the Sony Cyber-shot, and Olympus Compact forums. Have learned a lot there.
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noromanceonly 2mp, a lot back then, surprisingly enough for some darn good photos I hosted a mini-challenge, theme: UNDER 6 MP SENSOR SHOTS
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tunefuldude you read the title but not the posts. This is round two. Round one I was almost outta here (DPReview was closing at the same time, depressed me), many good people encouraged me to stay, and I did. round two, this revival of the old conversation, I just needed to tell someone that I was getting quite discouraged again. Not leaving, just knew good people responded to this originally. AND, I got to let people know that DPReview did not close. |
asvjerry"'diet' if you must" is good advice. I'm going into the hospital today, testing, see if I qualify for a clinical trial of a new Heart Mitral Valve (and it's less invasive insertion). If yes, keep me and do it. No, then it goes down to a repair job, using clip(s), keep me, do it. In either case, I won't be yapping so readily, and second phase of diet: I usually lose weight when in the hospital or in-patient rehab due to indescribable food. I got an infection in the bone of my foot, went into hospital Halloween 2022. After this and that, I was -34 lbs. Put some back on, recently got rid of some of that. In that year, Covid twice (got it in the hospitals); Pneumonia twice, trial drugs that nearly killed me, carried out on a stretcher, ... Despite all that, I've managed to yap quite a bit. ....................... My son, we call him Rescue Man, worked for 3 rescue squads, EMT for hospital, town and college, travelling educator, now a Fireman. When I was younger, he told me, when they carry the elderly on stretchers, move them from gurney to rolling bed, move again to hospital bed: They call it 'Slinging Lizards'. This time, all these years later, I'm on the gurney, he's there, concerned, I say, I guess I'm a Lizard now. Cracked him up. Donna wasn't laughing. |
dogberrythanks for the heads up. I see the Surgeon tomorrow, all testing done, including CT Scan of heart with and without contrast completed today, sooo, he sees results, hop, skip and jump over here, what do he and I think .....happens tomorrow sometime. |
asvjerryI'm gonna whine to revive this every 6 months, it seems it is good for me and many. supposed to meet heart surgeon today. all tests done, many questions, they rely on verbal trust, I want a few valve recipients to play cards with, get them liquored up, hear what spurts out of their memories. |
all, thanks for your concerns. IF I go with the Abbott TenDyne minimally invasive mitral valve, they would put me on Warfarin to prevent blood clots. It's a Clinical Trial, after many tests, critical measurements, hospital is about to submit data to 3rd party for review. All indicators suggest I will be deemed acceptable for the trial. Used in Europe, only 2 years trial data USA. I want to consider open heart surgery, tried and true metal/pig/cow valve. My GP says I am moderate risk for OHS. Isn't everybody 75 yrs old Moderate Risk? I can see how pigs and cows could have a grudge against me, but don't they have short memories? |
lewm It’s not for you, just to let others know: I have to do new calculations, but I think I was planning on total fees (eBay and PayPal) being 15%, even 20% is not bad considering the world of buyers who see your item. Just add it in the price, or keep your price lower and look at it as a commission you pay any agent selling for you. I charged lower prices on the sites with lower fees. Fee on shipping is annoying, however, sellers had figured out how to charge low prices for the item and high prices for the shipping, thus artificially reducing selling fees, SOOOO they put an end to that. It’s been a while, I forget how shipping costs worked out, R2R tapes and LP’s, media mail, often I would buy the shipping label from eBay because there is no way to mess up the verified shipping address. Other times, I might ship for less and give a credit to the buyer, that keeps them happy and reduces the fee charged by the amount of the credit. Or, I enter box size and weight, and that’s the cost. Prepaid shipping labels, via eBay or via my Stamps.com account (free) lets you simply put a pile of packages on the usps counter and walk away, no waiting in lines. |
lets hope this is NOT goodbye!!!! I'm having open heart surgery 12/28/23; new mitral valve made from Pig Heart Tissue. Entrance from side, no need to crack Sternum. This guys doing it: 3-5 days in hospital; 6 weeks recouperation at home. I need to get strong enough to drive to Maine for my mother's 101st birthday, so that explains the 28th to get started/done. ........................... I've had 21 surgeries, none serious like this one, but what has me anxious is getting a respiratory infection (I had covid twice and pneumonia twice earlier this year). Therefore Donna is wearing a Mask, I'm going nowhere, and I'm going to skip Christmas Day/Dinner with 14 family members, including 4 school kids among others who work in public situations.
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asvjerrySome wonderful humor within, thanks for the good wishes. I have intentions of beating the knockout countdown. 1st, I bet them I can get lower from 99 than ANY prior patient. Start: 99; 87; 17; -minus 7 ..... gone. no one said you have to count every digit! That will take their mind off what they are doing!
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grislybutter1,180 posts many of the most practical, sensible advices came from him, he has been always curious and clever. I hope it’s nothing health-related and irreversible NOT HEALTH RELATED. I'm not whining, or scolding, but you asked why: I kind of think of myself as the Art Dudley around here. People ask questions, I’m retired, have health issues that keep me less mobile thus on computer a lot. I also imagine OTHERS are following a thread that keep quiet but want to learn the subject or related info. I research their equipment, I look for available items on hifishark, I try to make my answers clear, pass on advice from many years, find things I think most people don’t know about, post links, tell stories for fun ... I keep many responses to only the equipment I have real experience with, that leads to repetition, I think many consider me a broken record. Even if the OP doesn’t agree, an acknowledgement of someone/anyone’s efforts could/should be noted, I cannot tell you how many times I check the ’related to you’, to see neither OP or members have anything to say about my posts. That’s in contrast to the DPreview Sony forum, where it’s one big happy family, and contributions are acknowledged. I've got over 18,800 posts there, many specific to/from me, and very many simply acknowledging people who posted their thoughts. DPreview is shutting down today, everybody is depressed, sharing emails, copying advice, trying to stay connected with each other in some way. I just figured, might as well end both forums at the same time. Sony forum will be a huge loss, and I will miss Audiogon, but you can understand it has been personally discouraging for a while. It's not about pride, but too often I feel I'm wasting my time. Repeat, there are many members I will miss, many have been kind and helpful, I've gained much by being here.
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bubba12The Audiogon system doesn't exactly make it easy to know anyone is actually responding to someone. I find it tricky. ....................... I have 'snuck' my email address via Private Messages and gained some new friends who come here, we listen, my stuff, their stuff, try their equipment here, compare cartridges ... 1. in Conn 1 in Montclair, NJ 1 in Budd Lake Area 1 in Burlington, NJ and we all know Steve and Ray at VAS, sometimes we meet and go together. It's pitiful that I am not trusted, and have to sneak personal info, another disappointing thing about the site I forgot to mention. Sony site: just send anything, all your info by Private Messages, I have some new friends from there, one lives in Vestal, NY, near McIntosh Headquarters and Audio Classics. I drop stuff off when I visit him. Another in Syracuse. We 3 get together and take photos all over the finger lakes region. Another from California, I met at B&H, had a great time. No sneaking needed. As I write, I realize the contrast of the two forums increases my disappointment Maybe I'll come back, time will tell. |
grislybutter1,195 posts ok, now that I see things clearly.... This was a retirement party scam! ..................................... I retired 12 years ago, no party then or since. We had an elderly stock broker and his son-in-law in our car pool to/fm NYC. Every single morning: "I'm gonna tell them I'm retiring TODAY. Every evening, "I'm gonna tell them tomorrow". Went on for years, until one day he didn't come out with his son-in-law. Sadly had passed away.
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Well, so far no one has said ’Good Riddance!) I appreciate these many encouraging thoughts, and also see many names I don’t recognize, part of my suspected OTHERS I suppose. Alright, based on the love, I’ll stick around! ................................................ I will tell another story. DPReview, Olympus Site. As I said, the Sony forum was a big happy family, so active that if you post something on the top of page 1, it’s on page 2 in a week or less. https://www.dpreview.com/forums/1009 Oly Forum, bought my first and only Oly, Stylus 1. Post something, it may stay on page one for 4 months (17 to 1 ratio of involvement). https://www.dpreview.com/forums/1008
I decided I would make an effort to ’lively up’ the place. Sony has weekly ’mini-challenges’. A host picks a theme, members post both exhibitions and up to 3 entries. Any cameras, any time, not just Sony cameras. Tell stories, a big part of it. End of week, host picks honorable mentions, and 3 ’winners’: his choice, no criteria, the purpose is to get a host for the next ’mini challenge. New host picks a theme, off we go for another week. Thus a family spirit is created/maintained (week #703: 13-1/2 years continuous at this time.). So, I propose something similar for the Oly site. OMG was I attacked, they couldn’t get past the idea of ’winners’. So, I try again, Weekly ’Share Photos’. Now many people write me private messages of support for the idea. (note private messages, they would not put it in writing for others to see). So, I start the 1st one: ’BIRDS’. Eh, decent response, selected new host didn’t start a new weekly theme. They don’t get it? I may have started #2, new theme. Eh, I realized, there was not a single post entered by any of the people who had encouraged/asked me to get it going. WTF? Birth Control to that Idea. ................................................... Next: I learned my camera inside out, I need written notes for myself and my lousy memory, so I post my notes as ’set-up suggestions’. Very well received, most bookmarked post, requests for copies .... I become ’the guy’ for that model, for years. Family no, Tech Site yes. Based on that, friendships in writing develop, but nothing like Sony. I’m also ’the guy’ for a few Sony models, set-up/features/methods, among many far more experienced than I. Point is: encouragement was given (privately), and no support of the idea followed. I’m still disappointed I couldn’t Lively Up the place. |
dogberry241 posts "I have pretty much stuck with film. Film cameras, vinyl records, tube amps, steam locos, and black powder muzzleloaders all get me going. I seem to have been born in the wrong era!" ................................... r2r tapes; vinyl (recently inherited 4000 lps had 2500); lot o cds; tt with 3 tonearms; vintage: tube tuner/preamp/amp vintage speakers https://www.audiogon.com/systems/9511 Not the wrong era, just old enough to know how good the vintage equip/technologies were in those eras. |
jjss495,999 posts is this like the doggie that barks to get some attention? .................................. didn't start that way, but this AM I saw the advantages, though I have told many a mutt to 'shut the ____ up' and the wifey has told me something similar. |
samureyex OP63 posts I can say since you worked your butt off, ............................ No joke, I arrived 165 lbs of twisting steel and sex appeal. Made a big deal of a project, stayed up 7 nights/8 days; result MONO. went down to 125 lbs. Called myself a Buttless Wonder, wallet just flapping around in the back pocket (no money in it a factor). Took many years to put the weight back on, then went up to 244 lbs taking clients to fancy NYC restaurants. Back down to 214, then past 5 months health issues, lost 34 lbs, put 20 back on, sitting at 200 lbs. |
riie52 posts Wanna bet you will be back? I put a twenty on it! ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, my big bet is $5.00 where do I send it? |
sokogear I would never troll. This encouragement ALL came after I said goodbye. Not only did I believe I was wasting my time, I imagined many who just wished I'd go away. Had no idea many 'quietly' thought my posts worthwhile. The DPReview photo site is closing, depressing, perhaps it was the other side of the coin, me being in control rather than 'them'. |
firberger thanks for the encouragement, I worked in Philly for 1 year, 1977 I think. Commuted from New Jersey, 1 hr 40 mins each way. Only saw the city during client meetings/lunches, construction project supervision. Physically it had an advantage over NYC, because NYC had destroyed so much historic architecture, a million boring metal storefronts installed; whereas Philly had retained those elements. Donna and I went for 3 day weekends a few times, not in a while though. |
samureyexYes, I remember our PM's. Thanks for your comments, after some fast encouragement, I decided to stick around, yapping more than ever. More than anything, I really dislike efforts to prevent us from contacting each other. I have 4 'regulars' nearby. For years we get together at each other's home to listen, lunch/dinner with spouses .... I have had to sneak my info, and gained 4 new friends, 3 in NJ, 1 in CT, they come here, we listen to music; equipment; cartridges; go out for meals ... (1 at a time due to covid precautions) DPReview, we encourage contact, I've made several new friends, I go there, they come here, we plan photo shoots. Someone visit's NYC, we meet, usually at B&H Photo, go from there. DPR is closing, many of us traded contact info asap. That's a very real community, Sony being the most friendly forum on the site. This site should encourage contact as well. I gather that some/many do not have many or no nearby friends to share their acquired system and music with. Members here probably live close enough to get together, they just don't know it. |
lewm, others I encourage you to re-consider eBay. It’s the largest audience of international buyers and sellers. I buy and sell on eBay very successfully for many years, as has Donna and her twin sister. I gotta get back to selling after my upcoming back surgery. Cameras and Lenses: I have bought and sold a few used on eBay. I don’t have any experience with other camera sites, except buying from B&H Photo used dept. Audio: eBay: bought tube amp, tube preamp, cd/sacd player; yamaha receiver; 2 pairs of AR-2ax speakers, Luxman Tube Amp; Chase Remote Line Controller(s); tube tester; AV Power Controller; 2 Turntables; several R2R tape decks; over 500 R2R tapes Sold lots of tapes, lps, McIntosh SS amp; McIntosh SS Preamp; Carver AM/FM; Carver Amp; helped a friend sell postal stamps to buyers all over the world. Buying: I always ask questions and get answers in writing, to have a ‘paper trail’ in case of rare trouble. I’ve had a few over the years, and always got full refunds. Also, I use my credit card with best protection to fund my PayPal account, to get double protection. The tonearm from Russia, I called the CC company 1st, they assured me I would be covered. Ship: I always double box and require it: because single box does not qualify for insurance claim if needed. Forget friends and family, pay or split the fee and get the buyer’s protection. Sell: I have carefully thought out ‘general’ notes, then I add ‘specific’ notes, darn good photos, and encourage questions. I take the time to understand both domestic and int’l shipping costs, weigh stuff, IOW, no surprises to me or buyer regarding shipping cost. Sometimes list the weight and box size, let the buyer figure it out. UPS Pack and Ship: I have both offered it, and used it. Buyer makes arrangements, seller simply drops unboxed item at local UPS office, buyer pays UPS directly to pack and ship. I always offer unconditional return/refund. I’ve had only 1 piece of equipment arrived destroyed (my fault that time), 1 tape destroyed by usps, 2 other R2R tapes when I gave full refund even though …. Feedback supports my 100% rating, if done right it can be fun and rewarding. I’ve used Facebook Marketplace, to sell tires, buy used bicycles, but that’s all ‘quick, real bargain’ deals, not a good source for selling in my experience. Hifishark has led me to many other sites, all successfully. I’ve got an account setup to bid on Yahoo Auctions, have the patience to wait for stuff from China, Japan, ….. Professionally, designing and building Corporate Office Space for 46 yeasrs: part of my success was in anticipating what could go wrong, and finding methods of preventing that. Got me ready for eBay! |
audphile1
fsonicsmith Everyone, Thanks for the good thoughts and Happy Holidays to all. I'll have my Laptop in the hospital, don't know when they will let me use it. |