What Irked You Today?

[NOBLNG]

This!🥵

 

Edited May 11 by NOBLNG

[A modeler named mike]

I went to bed at 11:00 pm feeling tired but couldn't fall asleep. I felt as if I was wired up. So I tossed and turned and the last time I remember seeing on the clock was 3 something am. I just woke up after having a crazy dream about my now deceased dad. He had come home after being gone (missing) for two days. Only he was NOT himself in mannerism. He was smoking a cigar in the house (that was NEVER allowed nor was smoking for that matter), when he took off his shirt he had a Japanese style full back tattoo and one also on his chest (he was dead set against tattoos), he tried to pull apart his grandfather clock that he had made and prized. The worst thing was I was not able to figure out for the life of me how to use my cell phone to call anyone that could help with figuring out what the heck was going on with dad and I also couldn't find any written phone numbers list that I knew I had written. Then some how the two brothers from a local pizza shop was in the house (I had just visited that shop two days ago), they couldn't help me either with what was going on...I felt so fricken helpless. Craziest dream I've had in awhile. Now I'm wide awake and don't really want to go back asleep fearing I may have a continuation of that dream.

Edited May 12 by A modeler named mike

[peteski]

On 5/10/2025 at 9:07 AM, Falcon Ranchero said:

It is a transistor; this is the inside of it

Going by the date on the speaker, that thing is older than I am.   I assume you cleaned the battery contacts. 

The variable capacitor used for tuning is the large transparent cube in the upper left corner.  Since there aren't any contacts in those, they shouldn't need cleaning, but you might want to quickly spin the tuning knob fast few times from one end of the dial to the other .

The on/off and volume control potentiometer is the black circular item with three rivets located in the upper right side under the ferrite antenna.  That might need a spritz of tuner cleaner.  With a new battery does the speaker make any sound (like crackling) when you quickly change the volume from min to max?

The electrolytic capacitors could have dried up, but I would have expected this to happen gradually, not suddenly. Those are the cylinders with heat-shrink sleeve over them.  I guess one of the transistors could have died. Those are the cylindrical metal components with no heat-shrink.  rest of the components (ceramic disc caps, inductors, transformers) are pretty much bullet-proof but I guess maybe there might be a cold solder joint somewhere.  If you have an old-fashion TV/radio electronic repair shop or a Ham operators club nearby, they might be able to look at it and maybe fix it, but electronic repair shops and skilled techs familiar with old technology are getting rare.

[Falcon Ranchero]

7 minutes ago, peteski said:

  With a new battery does the speaker make any sound (like crackling) when you quickly change the volume from min to max?

Thanks for all the pointers; I do have yet to clean the battery contacts, though when I did put in the new battery, and squeezed it against the contacts while turning the volume, I did get louder crackling. Though I will attempt to clean and service all those parts you mentioned. If it still doesn't work after that, I know my dad says he knows some guy who is like a whiz with this sort of thing, so I may be able to have it fixed. But it's wierd the problem happend just suddenly, as it was working perfectly.

[peteski]

37 minutes ago, Falcon Ranchero said:

Thanks for all the pointers; I do have yet to clean the battery contacts, though when I did put in the new battery, and squeezed it against the contacts while turning the volume, I did get louder crackling. Though I will attempt to clean and service all those parts you mentioned. If it still doesn't work after that, I know my dad says he knows some guy who is like a whiz with this sort of thing, so I may be able to have it fixed. But it's wierd the problem happend just suddenly, as it was working perfectly.

Good luck with it. Old electronic gadgets are fun!

[TonyK]

I used to enjoy tinkering with electronic gadgets. The old Heathkits were so much fun and I loved the smell of electronic parts and solder, etc.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Ah yes, todays irk. Same as most days: second, third, and fourth rate overpaid "experts" doing as little real work as possible, and what they do being poorly executed, sloppy, and just flat wrong...with all of 'em thinking they're actually worth what they're paid, and their employers too ignorant or too afraid to call 'em out.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Today's irk: the delusional who are totally convinced they're the morally superior final arbiters of truth, who in reality have no clue about much of anything, but are absolutely certain they're right about everything.

I'm also irked by narcissistic neurotic sociopaths who talk about love and compassion and constantly tell you how much they care, but you can tell by their actions that they have zero regard for anyone but themselves, and if you call 'em out on it, they dodge and weave and deflect and refuse to give any kind of straight answer or accept accountability...ever.

Edited May 14 by Ace-Garageguy

[Kit Basher]

19 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Today's irk: the delusional who are totally convinced they're the morally superior final arbiters of truth, who in reality have no clue about much of anything, but are absolutely certain they're right about everything.

I'm also irked by narcissistic neurotic sociopaths who talk about love and compassion and constantly tell you how much they care, but you can tell by their actions that they have zero regard for anyone but themselves, and if you call 'em out on it, they dodge and weave and deflect and refuse to give any kind of straight answer or accept accountability...ever.

Amen, Brother!

[espo]

AT&T and their Email service. I can't express my frustration with their service here without getting this locked, but. Every time they have an update for our internet service, they no longer will recognize my password to get into my Email account. My wife is able to correct it with her past background working for Reynolds & Reynolds installing commercial systems in the past. Gets a little embarrassing having to have her jack with it almost every other day.  

[mk11]

On 5/13/2025 at 5:55 PM, Ace-Garageguy said:

Today's irk: the delusional who are totally convinced they're the morally superior final arbiters of truth, who in reality have no clue about much of anything, but are absolutely certain they're right about everything.

I'm also irked by narcissistic neurotic sociopaths who talk about love and compassion and constantly tell you how much they care, but you can tell by their actions that they have zero regard for anyone but themselves, and if you call 'em out on it, they dodge and weave and deflect and refuse to give any kind of straight answer or accept accountability...ever.

Agreed. Objects of their 'sympathy' are mere props for their virtue signalling 

[John M.]

I've been derelict in my duties in getting rid of the dust in my place so I spent an hour cleaning. Next were the cars in the display cases. The last one, an AMC Rambler by Johan was the dustiest of them all. I blew into the interior to get the dust out and it just about covered my face.  

Edited Sunday at 08:44 PM by John M.

[slusher]

My wall cases are dust free.

Edited Sunday at 10:15 PM by slusher
Typo..

[slusher]

Jet bike going up a down the street fast and loud..

[johnyrotten]

The ant-pacolypse currently occurring in my house. I think all the recent rain has driven them indoors. 

[A modeler named mike]

2 hours ago, johnyrotten said:

The ant-pacolypse currently occurring in my house. I think all the recent rain has driven them indoors. 

Yep, they're heading for high ground. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

17 hours ago, johnyrotten said:

The ant-pacolypse currently occurring in my house. I think all the recent rain has driven them indoors. 

Yeah, this time of year my house usually starts to get overrun with the little ants that smell like formic acid when you squash them. I've found a non-toxic (to humans and pets) liquid bait containing boric acid that gets rid of them in a few days. It works better than anything else I've ever tried.

This year, I've got the big black ants that are almost large enough to be pets. They go for the boric acid bait too (not all ant species will), and at the moment the house is pretty much ant free...but we're having a lot of rain, and that's usually when they get worse.

Edited 21 hours ago by Ace-Garageguy

[johnyrotten]

9 minutes ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Yeah, this time of year my house usually starts to get overrun with the little ants that smell like formic acid when you squash them. I've found a non-toxic (to humans and pets) liquid bait containing boric acid that gets rid of them in a few days. It works better than anything else I've ever tried.

This year, I've got the big black ants that are almost large enough to be pets. They go for the boric acid bait too (not all ant species will), and at the moment the house is pretty much ant free...but we're having a lot of rain, and that's usually when they get worse.

Thanks for the tip,I'll pick some up. I got under the crawlspace yesterday with some diatomaceous earth, this is the first time in 8-9 years owning the place I've had this issue to this extreme. 

[TonyK]

Yes, that Terro ant killer is pretty good but I switched over to Advion several years ago. More expensive but works in a day in the house and works well outside too.

My irk is the ever present rat I have in the backyard. I've posted on here before. I bought a Tomcat brand enclosed plastic thingy with poison bait in it that's "guaranteed" to work. It's been out there day and night in a couple of different spots where he is. I've literally watched him run right by it! Has no interest in it.

[NYLIBUD]

Smokes went up to $17 a pack here in NY.They were .$4.50 when I started.Might actually have to really think about quitting.And yes I know it’s a disgusting habbit.😮‍💨🚬😠😖

[johnyrotten]

1 hour ago, TonyK said:

Yes, that Terro ant killer is pretty good but I switched over to Advion several years ago. More expensive but works in a day in the house and works well outside too.

My irk is the ever present rat I have in the backyard. I've posted on here before. I bought a Tomcat brand enclosed plastic thingy with poison bait in it that's "guaranteed" to work. It's been out there day and night in a couple of different spots where he is. I've literally watched him run right by it! Has no interest in it.

Coat it with bit of peanut butter, it won't take much of the poison to do the trick

[Tim W. SoCal]

1 hour ago, NYLIBUD said:

Smokes went up to $17 a pack here in NY.They were .$4.50 when I started.

I can remember when cigarettes went from 35 cents to 50 cents a pack. My last cigarette was Aug. 11, 1990 and quitting smoking is one of the best things I've ever accomplished.

[johnyrotten]

4 minutes ago, Tim W. SoCal said:

quitting smoking is one of the best things I've ever accomplished.

It took a major heath situation at 38 years old for me to quit. I really didn't have a choice. 

[stavanzer]

5 hours ago, NYLIBUD said:

Smokes went up to $17 a pack here in NY.They were .$4.50 when I started.Might actually have to really think about quitting.And yes I know it’s a disgusting habbit.😮‍💨🚬😠😖

My Wife's Grandfather quit smoking when they went up to .25 cents a Pack! Said that a Quarter per pack was outrageous! He quit out of principal.

[Little Timmy]

When I first started smoking a pack cost about 85 cents. Gas was about the same and I remember sometimes trying to decide if I needed cigarettes  , or gas in my motorcycle. 

Two years ago I tried to quit smoking because I was going to have an operation. The doctor told me the nicotine in my system would hinder bone growth.  So I managed to quit ... for 7 days.

I ended up in the emergency room for something totally unrelated and am attempting to reschedule  my surgery. 

In the meantime,  I decided that $8 a pack ( per every 2 days ) was just throwing money away. So I figured out that if I went to the duty free store, (I live right on the border with Mexico ) I could get an entire carton of cigarettes for $15.

The downside, I have to actually walk across the border and back to get them. It takes me about 35-40 minutes to walk around and walking for me has become  an issue.

Now I'm seriously considering just how bad do I really want the cigarettes.

The walking is killing me, ... the cigarettes are killing me ...

 

 

 

Edited 12 hours ago by Little Timmy
Typo