IT Fun Stuff

Unboxing the Remington Monarch

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So as I said earlier, I decided to go buy a typewriter.  Just for the tactile feedback and the increased concentration it forces you to have.  I go a little ADHD when I write on a computer, and although that’s OK at some levels I think I’d like the discipline that comes with knowing you can’t cut-and-paste.  And besides, it was only $87.  And I had had a couple of beers.

So, I went and bought a 45-year old typewriter on eBay.  Turns out there’s quite the thriving market in such things, although even the best examples are not fetching a huge amount.  However, I couldn’t go past this portable typewriter – it was in excellent condition and exactly what I was looking for.  I’ve now received it, and it is in beyond excellent condition.  Yes, I need to pick up my typing (it’s amazing how slack computers let you become), but the typewriter itself is as it was when it came off the production line 45 years ago.  And I do mean that without the slightest hint of ‘for it’s age’.

And since I wonder sincerely whether my Netbook (now 1 year old) will still be operating in any shape in 44 years time (remember, that’s 2053 for crying out loud!), I thought it would be nice to give the Monarch the unboxing treatment, as it is my ‘brand-new’ gadget.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you… “unboxing the 1964 Remington Monarch.

Firstly, the eBayer who sold it to me knows their stuff had it very well packed:


I plan to introduce my children to the wonders of bubble wrap later. 

And you can see the size of it (it’s not diminutive, but it’s not impossibly heavy, as I remember my first typewriter was):


The carry case is the item that has had the most wear and tear over the years, and even it is in good condition:

With plenty of foam packaging, it was well-protected:


The Remington Monarch, with its travel protector and everything all there as well:

Everything inside the case is here, including some brushes for maintenance and the original (!) user’s guide:


The keys are in excellent condition, and after a little fiddling it was operational.  Not bad for a 45-year old machine:


And just for the record, here’s an example of its typing: 

Not bad – fortunately I do remember what it’s like to type on a typewriter.  It’s not always fun, and I will probably abandon it in favour of the computer again.  But for the moment it’s my gadget-of-the-week, and I think it does well in the longevity stakes. 

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There’s a dead snake in the tank…

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This little ditty was inspired by a Facebook status update of a friend, for clear reasons:

(to the tune of any bluegrass song you like)

Oh we found a dead snake in the tank
It’s really rather rank!
We found we were drinking water
When we really shouldn’t oughta!

(chorus)

Oh that wasn’t all we found in our water tank
There also was a dog, a possum and a gypsy.
Who do we think we really should thank?
Well I think the gypsy was rather tipsy.
And the dog was chasing a frog.
But that possum – he was just flotsam!

(chorus)

Oh the dead snake in the tank
It’s really rather rank!
The gypsy there was tipsy, the dog chased a frog
But I’m here to tell you
The possum was just flotsam!

(ta diddly a da – da da!)

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Geek Tragedy: Gail Trimble stripped… of the UC Cup

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Very saddened to hear that the Corpus Christi College was stripped of its University Challenge Cup from last week:  http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/03/03/2505642.htm

Apparently one member of the team, Sam Kay – who is not the one mentioned, ever, since the only one ever mentioned is Gail Trimble – was unfortunate enough to have a job at the time of the final, and said job is apparently in violation of the rules of University Challenge.

Well rules is rules, but someone should have picked it up as an issue sooner…  doesn’t mean of course that Trimble is any less intelligent (although as team captain perhaps she should have twigged that he had a job? – who knows?).  Perhaps one of life’s little lessons – unfortunately played out in front of the TV screens.

That of course means that Manchester picks up the cup, but I can’t imagine they’ll be proud and feel that they’ve got the glory.  A rematch, maybe (since it seems like he was only employed in the final?).

Poor blighter must have been the only uni graduate in England getting a job with an accounting firm – was he supposed to say, ‘no, sorry, actually look I’ve got this TV quiz coming up – could you hold the position open for me?’.  Well, yes, actually I suppose he should have done that, and I doubt he’ll be getting an Easter Egg from Ms Trimble.

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Me, unshaven and wondering how long it will last

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Me, unshaven some more., originally uploaded by Micheal Axelsen.

This is about day 10 of no-shaving. I’m thinking of buying suspenders and growing a beard for that full academic look.

I think I look like a young Leonard Maltin with a terrible beard. Don’t know how long it will last – previous best effort is about two weeks. I suspect I’ll be clean-shaven all next year.

Season’s greetings from Micheal Axelsen & applied insight pty ltd

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Click here for a full screen version of the eCard.

Just for you, I’ve created my very own Australian-themed Christmas card this year, complete with the Kingswood I had in 1992.  We’d gone on a trip to Northern New South Wales, mis-read a Refidex, and what can I say – apparently Kingswoods aren’t four-wheel drives, but I do like the photo.

applied insight pty ltd specialises in working with clients to deliver significant improvements in the governance, management and development of their business information and data.

applied insight pty ltd’s consulting services are all about using business information better –building good and useful databases, using social networking and online sharing tools for business results, and helping users create and retrieve documents and information more powerfully.

applied insight pty ltd increases the maturity of the client’s enterprise governance of information.