Big Paulie

This reaffirms my theory about litter: It should be mandatory...no trash collection. Then and only then will we understand the volume of waste we produce every day.

NotReady4Purple

I remember real sugar and not corn syrup as a sweetener.

It's not the same taste - as anyone drinking a Coke in Hawaii will notice.

stapfam

Don't agree with the comment- but the sentiment is all there. Society waste's a lot of resources and if every one was made to see what they are consuming and the packaging and the waste- they MAY be shocked. Re-cycling is hitting Europe in a big way and it is surprising how much we still throw away.

I was bought up on a farm and No rubbish collection- and very little waste. About the only thing we could not re-use- re-cycle or get rid off so it did not cause a problem was Food tins. All wrappings were paper or cardboard- and Food waste went to the chickens and anything burnable was burnt in the boiler to heat the house. Total waste each week was about 10 baked bean tins- and a couple of lbs of ash. In return we had heat and food. Still love Home Reared Chicken.

JanMM

That's pretty handy.

JanMM

This discussion doesn't require me to state that my first adult bike, a '73 Schwinn Continental, was anything but a mediocre boat anchor that didn't do anything as well as any bike I've had since then, does it?

webist

My Doctor used to know me by my first name. Now, I don't know my Doctor's first name. No wait. Yes I do. I beleive it's Blue, or something like that.

Artkansas 

I think you can also get it elsewhere around Passover. Kosher Coke, made with sugar.

Rabid Koala

Well, if we are *****ing about cars....

Air conditioners used to have those little sight glasses so you could tell when to add R-12. This was back in the days when a can of R-12 was about a buck.

I'd also lament the passing of breaker point ignition systems because you could easily repair them, but the electronic ones run so much better.

ad6mj

I've been getting them since I was 45! Hey a discount is a discount.

Indolent58

I remember when the smog was so bad in SoCal you could barely read the billboards from the freeway. And if you crashed your car your body smashed against the protruding metal edges of the dashboard and/or non collapsing steering column.

I remember going to the beach and getting tar stuck to our feet and getting cut on sharp beer can pop tops left in the sand.

And we loved it.!

Retro Grouch 

Norway, huh? I have no idea how to ship them but how badly do you want a pair of Velox bar end plugs?

Retro Grouch 

I had an opposite experience. When filling out the paperwork at my doctor's office one of the questions asked was "What name would you like us to call you by?" I replied Mr - (my last name). I have no idea why they asked the question because they certainly didn't bother to read my answer.

Big Paulie

"Sentiment" means nothing until everyone truly understands how much we generate. Look at New York City during a garbage strike. Tons of litter on every street within a few days. Then everyone gets upset, then the strike ends, then everyone forgets about it.

Big Paulie

There were probably intimidated by "Mr. Grouch."

Retro Grouch 

Coyote!

Customer service was certainly better. I've lately turned the whole negative experience into a game to see just how long I can remain "invisible" at the front of the line [MONEY IN HAND, mind you] while the staff find more pressing priorities.

Rober

...what's with this
Self Checkout crap?

Those machines are far more polite than most of the people who work there...

Artkansas 

I remember summers in L.A. where we'd just lie down in the afternoon waiting for the smog to blow out so we could breath. I also remember, one day, climbing to the top of the Baldwin Hills on my bike and having the distinct taste of lead on my tongue. I wasn't quite loving it.

Big Paulie

I lived in an area in So Cal with a large, freestanding foothill less than a mile from our house. Most days, you would have no idea there was a hill there, the smog was so thick.

That much has improved in the So Cal area.

aubinmg

Sorry Curtis but I beg to differ. I still have and occasionally use my 2 1/4 TLR and my ancient but perfectly good 35mm but my 10.2 megapixel SLR is the star of the show these days and in relative terms it cost about the same or less than my 35mm SLR did 30 years ago.
We are in a disposable culture, that Ipod is only meant to last two years, but durables like bikes and cars and appliances are far better built and better designed than they used to be. People worked on their own cars in the fifties and sixties out of self defence not pleasure. I have no nostalgia whatsoever for bending myself into impossible positions to get at shoddily built car parts so I could replace them with other poor quality items. When I get into my car today, whatever the weather, I know it will start first try instead of hope it will start. My bike and its parts are also of better quality. All that may be because I have more money that I did 30 years ago but I don't think so.
That's my rant for today. I'd love to read some counterpoints.

staehpj1

I agree about the modern plastic thingies, but Velox plugs are still available. Note the spelling, that is Velox not Velux. You should be able to find someone that will ship them if they aren't available where you are.

Dogbait

Velox Plugs

Big Paulie

Another source...

https://www.rivbike.com/products/list...product=16-077

stapfam

Ahh- but look at the weight of those things- They even have a metal screw adding yet extra weight.

I can still remember when you bought things for durability and by how good they did things. My first full size bike was a Raleigh Trent Tourist. What I really was a Blue Streak with five gears and drop handlebars but my dad- who was paying- said it would fall apart within a few years. He sold my Trent tourist 15 years later when I hadn't ridden it for 5.

Retro Grouch 

Good, light, cheap. Pick any 2.