Thread: HAVE YOU EVER.... ?

I have heard a lot about Sinclair computers.

British techies (technical people) often mention it with a great deal of nostalgia. Many people mention it as the first PC they worked with.

I don't know what a Sinclair PC looks like and I could not find a picture that seemed right. If Aimak or anybody else knows what this PC looks like, could you post a picture?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZX80
http://www.kymatasound.com/images/SinclairZX80.JPG

Да, это он. ТОлько на фотографии компьтер заводской сборки. У него встроенный блок питания. У меня он был размером с клавиатуру. Блок питания был отдельный. Компьютер подключался к телевизору. Он загружался с магнитофонной кассеты.


Yes it it. ONLY on a photo a computer of factory manufacturing. At it the built in pover block. At me was in size with the keyboard. The pover block was separate. The computer was connected to the TV. It was loaded from the recorder cartridge.

It was the dream of my salad days.
I bought a second-hand ZX80 (£40, my aunt’s present) somewhere in Tottenham Court Road.

Originally Posted by Johanna

Does it have heating?

Of course it have, it's not a problem in a car with a water (liquid) cooling system. Even "Запорожец" car that had an air cooling had the heater, it worked on gasoline and smelled awful . The problem in so-called "classic" Ladas is that the heater flows only on driver and a front passenger. While they are feel pretty warm and even hot in winter the rear passengers are freezing.

The car that you got from your father is..... elegant! Classic. It looks like it was made in the 1950s.

All "classic" Ladas are clones of "Fiat 124 Familiare", it was considered "the car of the year" in 1966.

I wouldn't mind having a car that looked like that. Honestly.

You actually can, if you want ! (But I am strongly not advising ) They are still produced. The new one costs something about 3000 Euro.

It's not legal to drive in Russia when you are 14, right? I guess you and your father must have ignored the minimum age...

Yep . The minimum age is 18.

Grown your own vegetables?
Every year. Tomatoes were bad this summer, peppers will knock your head off! Spices all year.

Fixed a broken car that wouldn't start?
Re-built engines, love old cars. I'm a bit of a motorhead.

Fainted Yes.

Been robbed (mugged) on the street?
Stabbed, thrown in Intracoastal Waterway.

Crossed the International Date Line? no

Shot/trapped an animal and later eaten it?
Duck, pheasant, lots of fish. 150 years ago I would have hunted whales. It was a big business here.

Been awake for 48 hours without any sleep?
Many times.

Been on a serious hiking/camping trip in the wilderness?
Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine. Then back.

Fired a [real, potentially lethal] weapon?
I own a .22 and 12 gauge shotgun, I sold the bigger rifles.

Picked berries or mushrooms in the forest?
Berries, yes; mushrooms, NO WAY!

Made your own applesauce or similar, from scratch?
First period cooking class in High School. Never since.

Been in Church for an Easter or Christmas Service?
Plenty, called a "C & E Christian"

Visited Kazakhstan? nope

Lived in a house that did not have electricity/and or running water?
Sailboat for a few years, but had 2 toilets, hot shower, etc.

Been inside a Mosque? no

Been to the funeral of a close family member?
Father 2 years ago

Built a computer from separate components?
not yet, repairs etc, but no home-breeds yet.

Been in the military?
I served my country well, I DID NOT join.

Travelled without paying on public transport?
(1 L) Plenty, used to make slugs for Boston subway, forged bus passes.

Visited Texas?
YYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE HHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!! Hell yeah boy!

Been on TV?
2 episodes of Miami Vice. In the background.

Passed out from too much booze?
College graduate (yes)

Been arrested by the police?
A few times

Travelled on the Transiberian Railway? (one "L") no

Bought a VERY EXPENSIVE piece of clothing that you NEVER used?
No, I'm a man.

Lived in a different country than the one you live in now? No

Kept a blog or a diary for over a year?
Ship's logs

Had your house broken into? No

Studied a foreign language other than Russian/English?
Oui, Si.

Painted a room yourself?
Whole houses.

Made a dress / skirt / trousers / top yourself that you use often? no

Won a big competition?
High school marching band.

Been attacked by a hooligan?
see above

Won in a lottery?
$1,250 in Florida lottery. I blew it on a weekend drive to Key West.

Capecoddah - you have a nice lifestyle, based on your answers! Where do you live? Wherever it is, it seems like a nice place.

Miami Vice, ROFL!!!! 1980s class!

Originally Posted by Johanna

Capecoddah - you have a nice lifestyle, based on your answers! Where do you live? Wherever it is, it seems like a nice place.

Miami Vice, ROFL!!!! 1980s class!

You won't believe this!
He lives on the Cape Cod, Massachusetts (his nick more or less suggests that).

Originally Posted by Ramil

Originally Posted by Johanna

Capecoddah - you have a nice lifestyle, based on your answers! Where do you live? Wherever it is, it seems like a nice place.

Miami Vice, ROFL!!!! 1980s class!

You won't believe this!
He lives on the Cape Cod, Massachusetts (his nick more or less suggests that).

Johanna!!!! You made my morning!!!!

Haha ok!!!
I had heard the name before but had no idea where it was located... Well, good for him! It sounds like a very nice place.

He is also the first person who has one a substantial sum in a lottery!

I was a live-aboard in South Florida during the late 1980's. Pretty much a different planet at the time. I had a neighbor a few boats away that worked for casting 'Miami Vice'. First show I was in the background, playing pool in a dive of a bar; not a bad afternoon, plenty of free food, beer and pool. I was paid $65. Second show, I was a bartender serving a drink to a 'bad guy', I can actually be seen for about 2 seconds. Painfully boring day, the bottles were filled with colored water and most of the people were out of their minds on coke. I was paid $125.

Google Cape Cod Johanna, it's a pretty nice place.

Is this still open to post? I have been a wee bit busy for the past couple of weeks, thus my reason for not being able to visit the forum regularly. Sorry.

HAVE YOU EVER......

Grown your own vegetables?
Yes, we plant a garden every year. Tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, corn, lettuce, all sorts of beans, etc. and so forth. (we have to be careful though, as the little rabbits and other critters like to creep in and help themselves.) OH and I live in Baltimore City so it is rather unheard of for gardens, but we do it!

Fixed a broken car that wouldn't start?
Yes, however I am much much better at killing my vehicles (I am a girl after all and really WHY do I want to change my oil or anything like that ... ) But I know how to. My father was a mechanic and so are 4 of my brothers, so I kinda had to learn (at least) the small repairs.

Fainted?
No

Been robbed (mugged) on the street?
No

Crossed the International Date Line?
No

Shot/trapped an animal and later eaten it?
Yes, my father is from West Virgina (isn't that an explanation in and of itself? hehee) Um ... he taught me how to use a bow and arrow and a shot gun. So we would go hunt when we went to family reunions when I was younger. He taught me to be still and quite, to aim, shoot and kill, To skin and clean out the innards. Taught me how to "dress" it (prepare it) to cook. He also taught me to fish with a stick and string. Dig up my own worms too. (just eeewwww) also how to kill pigs and chickens. Sigh .. but ... I appreciate the lessons. My husband does not even know how to do all of this.

Been awake for 48 hours without any sleep?
Yes, then I feel sick later. Like I had been drinking all night.

Been on a serious hiking/camping trip in the wilderness?
Yes Yes Yes. Love doing it.

Fired a [real, potentially lethal] weapon?
Shot gun, so yes.

Picked berries or mushrooms in the forest?
Yes

Made your own applesauce or similar, from scratch?
Nope, but my grandmother did.

Been in Church for an Easter or Christmas Service?
Yes

Visited Kazakhstan?
Nope

Lived in a house that did not have electricity/and or running water?
Well ... when we go to the family reunion every year in VW, yes. We own a mountain there and it well ... is VERY antiquated. No electricity or indoor plumbing. Let me tell you running out to the outhouse is NO FUN! Bugs, smelly, just another eeewwww for me. Also having to pump water from the well or go to the stream to haul water back for cooking and cleaning. Ah well ... again appreciate the experience and makes me love modern things!!

Been inside a Mosque?
No

Been to the funeral of a close family member?
Yes

Built a computer from separate components?
No

Been in the military?
No

Travelled without paying on public transport?
Yes

Visited Texas?
Yes ... Houston!

Been on TV?
Yes, locally

Passed out from too much booze?
No, thankfully. Close but no.

Been arrested by the police?
No

Travelled on the Transiberian Railway?
No

Bought a VERY EXPENSIVE piece of clothing that you NEVER used?
No

Lived in a different country than the one you live in now?
No (I wish though)

Kept a blog or a diary for over a year?
YES

Had your house broken into?
Yes

Studied a foreign language other than Russian/English?
Yes (spanish, had to in high school)

Painted a room yourself?
Yes

Made a dress / skirt / trousers / top yourself that you use often?
Yes, in the past.

Won a big competition?
No ... but will one day with ballroom dancing.

Been attacked by a hooligan?
No

Won in a lottery?
I wish.

HAVE YOU EVER......

Grown your own vegetables?
No, not me personally. But my parents had some carrots and rubarb (maybe some other vegetabales) in the garden and as kids we were forced to help out.

Fixed a broken car that wouldn't start?
No. But I'm proud to say I know how to check and change my oil .

Fainted?
Yes, twice in a short period of time.

Been robbed (mugged) on the street?
No

Crossed the International Date Line?
No

Shot/trapped an animal and later eaten it?
No.

Been awake for 48 hours without any sleep?
I think 40 hours is the longest I've been without any sleep. Don't like it though.

Been on a serious hiking/camping trip in the wilderness?
No. Well, I don't know if you would count a 2-day hiking trip in the Swiss mountains a serious trip.

Fired a [real, potentially lethal] weapon?
No.

Picked berries or mushrooms in the forest?
No.

Made your own applesauce or similar, from scratch?
Yes. In fact, I did yesterday! And it was yummy .

Been in Church for an Easter or Christmas Service?
Yes, every year.

Visited Kazakhstan?
No, but I would really want to some day.

Lived in a house that did not have electricity/and or running water?
No.

Been inside a Mosque?
Yes.

Been to the funeral of a close family member?
Yes, grandparents. I hope it will be a long time before going to another one.

Built a computer from separate components?
No. Computers have a way of crashing when I just look at them so I don't think building one would turn out successful.

Been in the military?
No.

Travelled without paying on public transport?
Yes.

Visited Texas?
No.

Been on TV?
Maybe. I was interviewed for Russian television when I was in Moscow but I don't know if it ever aired.

Passed out from too much booze?
No.

Been arrested by the police?
No.

Travelled on the Transiberian Railway?
No, but planning to.

Bought a VERY EXPENSIVE piece of clothing that you NEVER used?
No.

Lived in a different country than the one you live in now?
Three months in Russia (Moscow).

Kept a blog or a diary for over a year?
On and off yes.

Had your house broken into?
No.

Studied a foreign language other than Russian/English?
Yes: French, German and Spanish.

Painted a room yourself?
Yes.

Made a dress / skirt / trousers / top yourself that you use often?
No.

Won a big competition?
Yes.

Been attacked by a hooligan?
No.

Won in a lottery?
Yes, a long time ago. Maybe 10 or 15 euros (it was still Belgian francs back then).

Grown your own vegetables?
no, but I grown some flowers, actually I grown one flower, which is now beside my monitor.

Fixed a broken car that wouldn't start?
never.

Fainted?
no... not yet...

Been robbed (mugged) on the street?
hm... no. But I am often losing my money.

Crossed the International Date Line?
no. But I will.

Shot/trapped an animal and later eaten it?
no (OK.all my questions start with "no" ) I am a vegetarian.

Been awake for 48 hours without any sleep?
Yes!!!! when I was on excursion with my school but after that I slept for 48 hours

Been on a serious hiking/camping trip in the wilderness?
I was in wilderness, but no on a serious trip. it last one day.

Fired a [real, potentially lethal] weapon?
no... but I hold some weapon in my arms. there is one day when Belgrade (I am from Serbia) citizen can spend time with military and watch their staffs or try it. So I hold some arms, or go in tank.

Picked berries or mushrooms in the forest?
I have house in village in west Serbia, so I spent one day in forest near my house. so yes, i did that.

Made your own applesauce or similar, from scratch?
I think I'm not.

Been in Church for an Easter or Christmas Service?
no. I am atheist.

Visited Kazakhstan?
no. I am from Serbia, it is similar. ha ha I'm kidding.

Lived in a house that did not have electricity/and or running water?
no.

Been inside a Mosque?
нет

Been to the funeral of a close family member?
thanks God no!

Built a computer from separate components?
If I do that, I will probably burn my house

Been in the military?
yes, in day of military

Traveled without paying on public transport?
not yet, but you can do that in Serbia

Visited Texas?
no.

Been on TV?
no, but I was two times in newspapers

Passed out from too much booze?
no.

Been arrested by the police?
no. or not yet....

Travelled on the Transiberian Railway?
нет

Bought a VERY EXPENSIVE piece of clothing that you NEVER used?
hm... I bought some things, but they were not so expensive.

Lived in a different country than the one you live in now?
no. I love my country

Kept a blog or a diary for over a year?
I have diary which I gave my friend every month, so she could read it. and she gave me hears. And we do that almost a yer, but we stopped. our lives became boring.

Had your house broken into?
thanks god no.

Studied a foreign language other than Russian/English?
I want to learn Spanish, and I started, but I don't have enough time

Painted a room yourself?
my parents don't allow me to do that.

Made a dress / skirt / trousers / top yourself that you use often?
o, yes. I made skirt, and everybody like it because it is unique

Won a big competition?
never

Been attacked by a hooligan?
no.

Won in a lottery?
never, I don't play lottery.

HAVE YOU EVER......

Grown your own vegetables?
yep or my dad does
Fixed a broken car that wouldn't start?

yeah stupid battery wouldn't start in -30 degree weather and got it jumped.

Fainted?
Not that i know of.

Been robbed (mugged) on the street?
nope. nothing ever happens in minnesota.

Crossed the International Date Line?
no

Shot/trapped an animal and later eaten it?
yeah a deer

Been awake for 48 hours without any sleep?
ive been awake for 72 hours in the summer.

Been on a serious hiking/camping trip in the wilderness?
no

Fired a [real, potentially lethal] weapon?
a ak-47 it was fun

Picked berries or mushrooms in the forest?
yeah blueberries in canada

Made your own applesauce or similar, from scratch?
nope

Been in Church for an Easter or Christmas Service?
every one

Visited Kazakhstan?
never, i dont plan on it.

Lived in a house that did not have electricity/and or running water?
yeah my cabin. i dont know if being there for 5 months counts

Been inside a Mosque?
im christrian

Been to the funeral of a close family member?
yeah, my cat

Built a computer from separate components?
yeah, plenty of times

Been in the military?
im almost in the air force

Travelled without paying on public transport?
no

Visited Texas?
no

Been on TV?
i wish

Passed out from too much booze?
not yet

Been arrested by the police?
yeah, long story haha

Travelled on the Transiberian Railway?
never been anywhere but us and canada

Bought a VERY EXPENSIVE piece of clothing that you NEVER used?
nope i only buy clothes when i need them

Lived in a different country than the one you live in now?
no but i want to move somewhere in europe or russia

Kept a blog or a diary for over a year?
no, never found the need

Had your house broken into?
yeah, they stole everything and spray painted everywhere and for some reason pooped on our floor!

Studied a foreign language other than Russian/English?
spanish, norwegian

Painted a room yourself?
no

Made a dress / skirt / trousers / top yourself that you use often?
no

Won a big competition?
yeah, football

Been attacked by a hooligan?
sure

Won in a lottery?
nope, and i never will. well unless you count winning one dollar on a scratch off...

Interesting answers from Belgium, Belgrade and Minnesota!
I love the hunting stories!

Not a single person yet has crossed the international dateline!
I had no idea it was so unusual.

Kolokol, can I ask you something? Are Russian and Serbian actually mutually intelligible languages? There is an old Yugoslavian film where it seems like two people are speaking to each other in Russian and a Yugoslavian langauge (not sure which)... They seem to understand what the other is saying... Or did I get confused by the (very bad) dubbing?

Originally Posted by Johanna

Kolokol, can I ask you something? Are Russian and Serbian actually mutually intelligible languages? There is an old Yugoslavian film where it seems like two people are speaking to each other in Russian and a Yugoslavian langauge (not sure which)... They seem to understand what the other is saying... Or did I get confused by the (very bad) dubbing?

I'll try to explain my hearing of Slavic languages. Belorussian and Ukrainian are easy to understand for Russian ear. Frankly speaking these are just dialects of Russian artificially transformed into separate languages. Native Russian speaker can easily communicate with people, who speak these languages, even if they are don't speak Russian at all (that's almost impossible). Polish are MUCH harder to understand, but when hearing it, I can still understand the meaning of separate words and even phrases. Funny, but when being in Poland, I wasn't able to read street signs (almost at all), but being later in Czech Republic I could read many of street signs in Czech, but almost couldn't understand a word in Czech language. Serbian are also almost impossible to understand for my ear, althogh I didn't hear Serbian in real life, only on TV and so.

Originally Posted by Johanna

Not a single person yet has crossed the international dateline!
I had no idea it was so unusual.

You can cross it only if you travel from American continents to Asia or Australia or back.
We don't have too many members from Asia and the Americans we have do not travel there apparently.
DDT I think could cross it since he's been living both in Australia and USA.