The Organ Forum

I hate cell phones, palm pilots, mp3 players, etc. I only have a cell phone because I was forced to get one out of convenience. I never use it accept for emergencies, and it sits in my room charged up, and almost $100 worth of minutes available on it. All these disposable, noisy, annoying, superfluous, and chintzy gadgets are rather obnoxious, let alone their minimalist design.

Amen, brother; could not agree more!

Hammondlover:

Soubasse, you'll have to define an age bracket.

An age bracket for 'those young folks'?

I don't know, but I'll tell you it includes me.  Of course! 

Anyone remember the IBM Selectrics with the interchangeable balls?  When you got around 90 wpm, there was resistance from the keyboard.  It was an art to type on them.  Then, there was the Smith Corona manual typewriter I learned on.  I, too, learned in 4th grade to type.  I failed handwriting (cursive), so I typed everything.

Cell phones?  I've charged mine about 5 times since November.  I leave it off and only turn it on to make calls.  My wife thought I should have one for my birthday!  Grrrr.

Michael

Cell phones?  I cannot be without mine for more than a few minutes!

Even though it seems that I'm on the Forum constantly  I actually spend a great deal of time on the road, driving to and from my various commitments.

My phone is one of those fancy ones that contains my entire calendar (some spreadsheets & documents too), Bluetooth, WiFi, stereo audio/video player, etc. etc.  A few times I've responded to the Forum via it (though it is rather 'twiddly').  There is a tiny keyboard that slides out (which I never use); I choose to use the stylus instead.  But for that you have to learn the 'graffiti' character recognition software.  It's always something. 

An interesting thread!  I took typing in high school in the 60s (there were more girls than boys in my class, too), and did OK.  I was far from the best in the class.  That didn't stop me from using the skill, however:  I immediately went into the business of typing papers for others, something I did all the way through college and graduate school.  I now type around 50-60 wpm.  On the other hand, my wife, who has had no formal training in piano or organ, types more than 100 wpm.

When the personal computer revolution started in the 1980s, it was amusing seeing guys in places like tire stores using the GPS (guess, peck, and swear) method because a few years earlier, "typing was for girls"!

DR
 

I taught myself to type on a little Olivetti manual bought for my older sister when she was doing secretarial studies at college. Moving across to computer was easy enough, though I did have to use a couple of electric typewriters along the way. My speed got very high indeed at one point. RSI has reared it ugly head again in recent weeks and all sorts of errors are creeping in right now. I sometimes hit the keys nextdoor to the ones I want, there were 4 corrections needed in typing this so far and it's taken around a minute, so that's a measure of how I've had to slow down and take care.

The same thing is true of my playing at the moment - there are pieces that I won't touch as I know they'll trip me up. I need to practice them, but am hampered by the RSI pain barrier. I can play through it (and indeed type through it if I'm writing to a copy deadline) but I'm not sure that's a good idea. Still, with a few anti-inflammatories and painkillers, and a week or two, the proble will go away for a while at least.

I love the GPS description, Dana. I've seen that so many times.

Just slightly OT, but connected, do musicians find sending and receiving morse code easier than non-musicians. Are they better at it? I know I found it pretty easy, as I was listening to the rhythm of the code, as much as the individual letters and had good control of the morse key right from the start.

 Andy

myorgan:

Anyone remember the IBM Selectrics with the interchangeable balls?  When you got around 90 wpm, there was resistance from the keyboard.  It was an art to type on them.  Then, there was the Smith Corona manual typewriter I learned on.  I, too, learned in 4th grade to type.  I failed handwriting (cursive), so I typed everything.

Cell phones?  I've charged mine about 5 times since November.  I leave it off and only turn it on to make calls.  My wife thought I should have one for my birthday!  Grrrr.

Michael

I took typing my Jr. year in high school with the basket ball coach who also taught typing.  He was fresh out of college, and such a nice man.  I thought he was the best male teacher I could have ever had.  I played piano and organ, and did type faster than most of the guys in my class according to the charts kept on the poster board.   I had a new Smith Corona typewriter at home with was a manual typewriter. We had manual typewriter at school.  All of our work was done at school and there was no work accpeted in typing class done at home.

Then in college I took typing from a "hell cat" a bitch of a woman who gave us so much typing homework it is was unreal.  She talked down to us like we were dogs or serfs, etc.  She was a hateful old hag!    We had manual typewriters there, and she was interested in getting all new IBM Selectrics.  I took this class as an elective, and it was called Production Typing.  Well, we felt like we had been in production when that class was over.  The only two days she was nice was the first and last day.  I got a B under her, but in high school I made straight C's.  I guess it comes from having CWPM.  I am and have always been lacking there.  By the way, I went to college with my brother, and he was in the class too.  He got a C, and in high school under the same teacher he got A's the first semester, and B's the second semester.

I now find my typing to be such a mess as I try to type faster on the computer keyboard, and I am full of mistakes.  I am always backing up and having to delete so many mistakes.  I think so fast, and try to type that way I think is the root of the problem.

I am older as well as very set in my ways.  I only used a Tracfone when absolutely needed other than call a few people long distance.  I prefer to pay as I go.  I wouldn't part with my land line phone for anything, but the cell is a comfort to have in this day and time.

Michael, it sounds like your wife is very thoughtful!  She can "reach out and touch you" when she wishes.

I hate cell phones, palm pilots, mp3 players, etc. I only have a cell phone because I was forced to get one out of convenience. I never use it accept for emergencies, and it sits in my room charged up, and almost $100 worth of minutes available on it. All these disposable, noisy, annoying, superfluous, and chintzy gadgets are rather obnoxious, let alone their minimalist design.

Don Furr:

Way back in the 60's.....

1960's or 1860's, you need to be more precise.   

I use to piss off the student teacher because I was typing around 90 wpm and I was faster then she was.  I had been taking piano for about 8 years and typing came very natural for me. 

During the few years I lived in Seattle I took typing... I was a wiz, teachers got angry with me.  But of course I was approaching the age wherein I just knew everything.  What an arse h*** I was, just ask my mum.  

But it has all worked out well.  With my current job at a bank in London I have ample opportunity to communicate with prospective customers regarding loans.  My emails fly off the keyboard, and so it goes... but I still dream of playing the Percy Whitlock Organ Sonata.  What a glorious morning, we're not talking the weather.  (Americans here should catch the reference to Lexington and Concord.)     

Hammondlover:

I hate cell phones, palm pilots, mp3 players, etc. I only have a cell phone because I was forced to get one out of convenience. I never use it accept for emergencies, and it sits in my room charged up, and almost $100 worth of minutes available on it. All these disposable, noisy, annoying, superfluous, and chintzy gadgets are rather obnoxious, let alone their minimalist design.

Ah, a man of maxi-minimalist design.  And what about those large beach shirts you fancy, not to mention the big boat you drive? 

Sorry, couldn't resist.  I love my iPod -it has the best collection of Anglican canticles on the planet- but otherwise I hate my mobile phone.  It invades my privacy, a couple of years ago I got really drunk in Hereford (after a particularly festive Evensong) and threw my mobile phone into the River Wye.  A lovely splash.  It was so beautiful to watch.  

Back in London, okay I got another of those damned things.  I accept calls from prospective sub jobs and my S.O.  That is all.       

Jason E:

Don Furr:

Way back in the 60's.....

1960's or 1860's, you need to be more precise.   

I use to piss off the student teacher because I was typing around 90 wpm and I was faster then she was.  I had been taking piano for about 8 years and typing came very natural for me. 

During the few years I lived in Seattle I took typing... I was a wiz, teachers got angry with me.  But of course I was approaching the age wherein I just knew everything.  What an arse h*** I was, just ask my mum.  

But it has all worked out well.  With my current job at a bank in London I have ample opportunity to communicate with prospective customers regarding loans.  My emails fly off the keyboard, and so it goes... but I still dream of playing the Percy Whitlock Organ Sonata.  What a glorious morning, we're not talking the weather.  (Americans here should catch the reference to Lexington and Concord.)     

Really Jason it was the 1760's.....B***H !!!!! No really it was the 1960's.  I graduated in 1965.  Yeah, yeah I know....I'm old enough to be your dad.

So wish me happy father's day!!!!! 

Don Furr:

Yeah, yeah I know....I'm old enough to be your dad.

So wish me happy father's day!!!!! 

Well Happy Father's Day, my good mate.  You are the greatest.  SB32 knows -via PM- that my mum is getting married in October.  Finally I get a dad after almost 15 years.  (Although certain "lifestyle" issues vis a vis this "dad" are going to be questioned.)   Stay tuned, soon I'll have to deal with receptions and stuff... more to come in the fall.  Oh glory... neither my mum nor her "love" are Anglican.  Oh the perfidy of it all...