Quothe Tony Duell, from writings of Mon, Mar 31, 2003 at 11:40:58PM +0100: Are you sure? :-) That would mean that I'm not a collector either. However, if I'm not a collector, why then am I collecting interesting machines at random to use and modify... and, of course, preserve. I don't care about having one version of every machine, the machine's appearance, superficial mechanical damage, etc. If it's repairable (e.g. - multilayer circuit boards not broken in two), looks interesting, has interesting circuitry, does something that I need it to do, has the potential for interesting modifications, etc., then it's a good candidate for my collection. If it's not repairable (e.g., smashed circuit board and various bits missing), then perhaps I can use bits of it for other things (computer related or with other circuitry). Historical significance, and preservation, are of interest to me, but I still feel that what's most important is using the machine, even if that requires modifying it. Why should some "collectors" and museums object to usage and modification? Are not such modifications themselves an example of what people were doing with technology at a certain point in time, and good examples of how machines could be used? ...and let's not forget the feet, etc. Keeping one hand in the pocket won't help if one is standing barefoot in a puddle of water or leaning against a grounded object. Drinking from the garden hose while repairing a live HV supply, for example, is not a good idea... not that anyone on this list would do such a thing, but surely, somewhere, someone (most likely a sports fan (e.g., "duh, uh, let's watch footbawl or go play golf ...we ain't no *&$%#@*! intuhlechtuals") who likes Micro$oft products, and has just enough electronics knowledge to be dangerous) is doing such a thing as we think "no one would do that!" -- Copyright (C) 2002 R. D. Davis The difference between humans & other animals: All Rights Reserved an unnatural belief that we're above Nature & rdd(a)rddavis.org 410-744-4900 her other creatures, using dogma to justify such http://www.rddavis.org beliefs and to justify much human cruelty.

Trust me about getting electrocuted across the arms isnt fun.. I used to work as an electrician (mainly doing data & communications) and I got 415 Volts across the arms, from a faulty telecoms board, needless to say it was not fun ;) it stopped my heart, burnt my arms, and blew a piece of bone out of the bottom of my hand... Luckly, my co worker, knew how to get me off the board, and keep me going till the ambulance arived, and other than a scar on my hand now 7 years later I am fine.... Benjamin -- one you lock the target two you bait the line three you slowly spread the net and four you catch the man Front 242 Headhunter