I was a proud man!!!... long ago... - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: GlennSprigg
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2021, 11:44:37 am
content: Why have I ended up on such a 'Forum'... I really have no idea. I 'guess' I simply desire to keep mylimited 'brain'active...I've NEVER had 'tickets-on-myself', but simply loved the work I used to do, to the point that it was 'never a chore!'I've had Engineers tell me that I've obviously loved my work, and found pleasure in just 'contributing'. and that WAS my life!!I've had life-long interests in the likes of electronics, physics, maths, astronomy & general science, and I can NOT understand howpeople can not be interested so!!... but then my 'life' changed...Without going into details, I have limited time here on this interesting Planet, so I find myself questioning why I pursue knowledge???I 'think' it is just a matter of NOT admitting to myself that 'days' are numbered, but mainly as I said, to keep my 'brain' active'...I recently responded to a kind man with a personal message, finishing by saying...I forget so many things now, but still strive via home projects, and Forums like this... to try and keep my 'brain' active & useful...Back when I was in High-School, I was evidently (here in Australia) within the top 10 in the State regarding Physics & Maths!! Sigh...Now, I'm just watching the World pass me by, observing the Dust-Cloud left behind by others!, but that's OK...I don't mind being "Left behind in the dust cloud", as I'm now just an old outside observer...but i hope that along the way... I've been at least able to contribute, something, and converse with friends!

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2021, 11:55:57 am
content: My young daughters always ask me why I participate on these forums and why I do what I do. I guess it is simply the passion for what we like and whatnot. I commend you to keep participating here as long as it feels right for you. I personally can say I like your posts and our occasional interaction. Cheers!

author: GlennSprigg
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2021, 12:09:11 pm
content: Quote from: rsjsouza on August 01, 2021, 11:55:57 amwow... Off to be now, with tears

author: greasemonkey
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2021, 01:43:32 pm
content: Quote from: GlennSprigg on August 01, 2021, 11:44:37 amI guess the answer is very simple. For people like us there is nothing more rewarding than accumulating and creating knowledge no matter how trivial."Knowledge" is a very special thing. Consider the following propositions:1) Knowledge can travel at the speed of light as information and impact matter without containing any energy. E.g. one day we may receive instructions from an extraterrestrial civilization on how to make solar roadways work.2) A single human cell contains all the knowledge needed to create a knowledge creator.3) Knowledge makes us special. We occupy the only place in the known universe as far as we know that has it. Ours is the only region that has awakened and tries to understand itself. We have an obligation to keep the flame going.4) Knowledge is limitless. We started creating really useful knowledge roughly 400 years ago an look how far we have gone. Who knows where we will be in another 400.I don't believe that our lives have any intrinsic meaning. We give meaning to life. What better way to spend our limited (for now) time than to seek and create knowledge.

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2021, 01:56:30 pm
content: Quoteisn't a phrase I have ever heard. Google to the rescue:https://slll.cass.anu.edu.au/centres/andc/meanings-origins/t"To have an exaggerated sense of one’s own importance or value; to be conceited."I am guessing the use of "proud man" was not intended to mean: "having an inordinately high opinion of oneself; arrogant or haughty" but rather "having proper self-respect"https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proud

author: mawyatt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2021, 02:52:35 pm
content: No need to "Watch the World Pass by", and you don't have to "Observe the Dust Cloud created by others". Create some of your own "Dust" and keep doing so until you run out of gas.You enjoy science/engineering so keep doing what you enjoy, and keep posting here because your past achievements/knowledge enlighten and inspire othersBest,

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2021, 03:49:05 pm
content: Haha, fancy ME giving out a 'Cheer Up!', but there's a way to try, in sincere manner.TRY: Keep a little notepad, or just a folded sheet, for the day, for MEMORY function.For ATTITUDE: You could try a few outstanding comedy movies, usually the more ridiculous the better.I've tried "It's a Mad Mad Mad World" (YouTube).I heard about some famous celebrity, had cancer or some such: He played every comedy he could find!And don't forget Dave Jones' comedic delivery, on Solar Roadways, (for insomnia).For adults, in California, there is 'extra' pain relief, by way of local Medical Cannabis (i.e. 'pot').I fondly recall observing an older club / dispensary, filled to the gills, with patients, sick and dying. The San Francisco club, 1995, many many of them now passed.They looked, a little, happy, and that's how I remember (the crowded club).Thanks, Dude !

author: mawyatt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2021, 04:43:08 pm
content: BTW, don't know what level of electronics you are into and what equipment you have on hand. During my career I didn't get into the lab much later on, since my "value" was deemed doing research and design, and I really enjoyed the "hands on" experience rather than banging on a keyboard!!After retiring I got a couple old analog Tek scopes and HP DMMs to repair and play with. This rekindled my "hands on" fire and so took the plunge into the modern MSO world.These modern MSOs are a blast to use and play around with, so versatile and just plane fun!! They can do FFTs, Bode Plots, and so on. Highly recommend for us old, retired types.I started with a 100MHz, then after a few brews it was a 200MHz, another brewski 350MHz, then another and it was 500MHzCAUTION!!!! This is addictive, so beware and prepare to open your walletHowever, it's way cheaper than going to a shrinkBest

author: Gregg
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2021, 07:49:59 pm
content: Instead of thinking that getting older involves watching the world pass by, think of it as looking for opportunities to pay it forward when opportunities are available to pass on your wisdom and experiences. This forum is a perfect place to look for such opportunities.

author: Rick Law
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2021, 05:20:19 pm
content: I too am here to "keep my old brain active." This is an interesting forum, with mostly technologies and from all over the world.For those of us with more road behind us than ahead of us, I believe reflecting is normal. Thinking about what all that that was and the sum total of them, and thinking what else could be with less and less left to change the balance.Being a proud man is a good thing. To be proud means you have something to be proud of -- implies you can take pride in many of the things you have accomplished on that road that was behind you. You have accomplished things that are worthy of pride and that is a good thing. I wish you can do more things you can take pride in with what is left on your road -- as I do for myself.I used to aspire in "doing and experiencing," now I aspire to "knowing and understanding." I have little left on that road to experience much, but "knowing and understanding" is more efficient thus I can get more out of what remains. This forum doesn't explain some of the larger questions like "what's inside a black hole," but it certain explain many other more at hand stuff.In the end, knowledge we have will not matter, we do take that with when we go. Only the knowledge we shared stay. So, I am on this forum to share what I know. The knowledge I shared today may be useful for the ones who acquired that knowledge by my sharing. That knowledge sharing increased the "foot print" I left behind. In sharing knowledge with someone or in helping someone solve a problem, I helped made that someone having a better day or perhaps even a better life. That sharing would then be a "good" I manage to leave behind. If and when the "good" surprises the "bad" that i might have done, the sum-total would be a positive. I hope I can accomplish that. I hope by the fact that I have crossed a person's path in life made that person's life better if even in the smallest of ways.Best to you all, and may you have more joy that you will experience than joy you have already experienced.

author: andy3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2021, 06:41:06 pm
content: GlennSprigg, you just spoke my mind! Great post.

author: fourfathom
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2021, 06:59:29 pm
content: For me, it's the joy of creating something new (I think of it as an art form), and the challenge and intellectual stimulation of solving problems. I used to get paid for doing this stuff, and I've been doing it since I was in elementary school. It's not just what I do, it's who I am.

author: GlennSprigg
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2021, 01:13:26 pm
content: Wow!! (O.P. here)... I've been away from this forum (and other things!) for a few days now...I debated at the time if I should have said anything at all... but the responses here have left me speechless!As such... I will en-devour to answer people properly, after considerable thought... SOON!...

author: Refrigerator
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2021, 02:49:01 pm
content: To be fair i don't even know why i come here, i guess i just like the community.I don't ever meet any people IRL who know anything about electronics (much less who are interested or passionate), so i can discuss it here with like-minded people.Having bad memory sucks, i've had bad memory for as long as i can (more like can't) remember.

author: GlennSprigg
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2021, 12:55:18 pm
content: O.P. here...I 'GUESS' what I was meaning about 'Once' being a 'Proud Man'....Was not so much to 'put myself down', for what I 'used' to be able to Achieve, but the realization that I no longerhave that ability to 'contribute' & 'pass on knowledge' that I at least 'Think' I once had!!! But I don't Mind that!!,as long as I was able to contribute something when & if I could over the years!!! I'm NOT one's everyday person!My GREATEST joy years back, was in conversing with/helpingnewcomers/apprentices/work-experienceeven lads,where I would lovingly teach them EVERYTHING I know. Whereby SOME of my 'associates', would 'admit' to actuallyteaching them 'nothing', because'Passing-On-Knowledge' meant that they would lose there jobs/necessity !!!I NEVER ever thought that way, throughout the decades of my careers!! And people trusted/appreciated me for it!!!...I THINK that is what I meant when I originally used the phrase... "I have no tickets on myself", to which a friendly responder HERE,'joeqsmith' said he had to look the phrase up on 'Google'!!!... To be honest, I thought it was globally understood, but yes!, I NEVERthink I know it all, or even a fraction of that!, but there are SOME things i DO know/understand, that I have been known to 'SHARE' withfamily/friends that I 'think' they would be better for 'knowing' !!! hahahaha...My days are numbered... but I still have a seemingly unquenchable thirst for certain knowledge... Maybe I'm in denial about the inevitable,and maybe it's just the lifelong "Quest for knowledge" thang!! I really don't know?......I ONLY would like to FEEL that I've contributed SOMETHING!! over my decades. and I hope those I've helped over the years, remember!!

author: fourfathom
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2021, 04:18:41 pm
content: I'm pretty happy with my professional legacy, people helped, friends made. But now that's wound down I still have fun learning, designing and building. A couple of years ago I helped out a bit at the local high school STEM program, helping kids troubleshoot and understand the electronics part of their projects (one was a submersible ROV). I hope to do more of that.

author: paf
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2021, 05:35:10 pm
content: Age is very important but only for wine, cheese and electrolytic capacitors!When considering humans, the best way to check the age of someone is to check if they want to learn.If they don't want to learn, they are already dead and just have not noticed yet...

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2021, 04:16:13 am
content: Glenn, (your) legacy can often be subject to all kinds of good and bad RANDOM. Sometimes just holding back with obvious trouble-making gets you on the 'good' track.Obvious examples, those that, (last century), participated in the, almighty, Atom Bomb must have had all kinds of thoughts, regarding 'consequences'.Just my view, (but be careful of my advice lol).

author: CatalinaWOW
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2021, 04:31:07 am
content: I see no reason to be ashamed or unhappy. I am on this forum for several reasons and suspect many of them are also true for you.1. While I don't learn as fast or easily as I once did, I still enjoy learning new things.2. I feel I have been able to help others on occasion. While I am seldom the best informed on almost anything here, I can still provide useful information on a few subjects.3. (See 1). The huge supply of smart and well informed people on this forum have already answered many questions that I once would have dived into and solved myself. No need for me to re-invent every wheel.4. It is a larger collection of like minded folk by far than I can find in my current physical surroundings. Those who really enjoy these kinds of things are thin on the ground worldwide as far as I can tell. Once you get out of the concentrations associated with full time employment it gets to be pretty slim pickings.Others can be enumerated, but they all speak to the idea of community. A sum that is greater than the sum of the parts, and where all pieces large and small are part of the whole.

author: mawyatt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2021, 02:45:05 pm
content: Quote from: paf on August 06, 2021, 05:35:10 pmDon't forget LM399s and LTZ1000sBest,

author: GlennSprigg
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2021, 12:38:33 pm
content: Quote from: RJHayward on August 09, 2021, 04:16:13 amHa!!... yea... I've always wondered how much of 'life' is truly 'random', as opposed to what we may 'put in it'!! (Yes,I know that's important too!).40-50 years ago, I may have stopped at the same set of traffic lights I always did, but turned left instead of right, as I needed fuel from a Stationaround the corner... I run into an old friend there I've not seen in ages, and after chatting, get invited to a BBQ on Saturday! Instead of the WifeI 'had', I meet a pretty girl, fall in love, and marry 'her'. I also discuss projects/work with that mate & friends, and end up starting a business withthem! Go forward a few decades, and I have a totally different life, with different wife & kids, working a whole different career, and living in a wholedifferent State/house/friends... JUST because I turned 'left' on that fateful/pleasant day!!!