OnTheJourney

LOL...in our living room there are holes at various places (concealed under furniture) where, at one time or another, I drilled through and ran wires down through the floor, across the basement drop ceiling, and back up to speakers that were in different locations over the years. They're no longer at any of the locations I once used, so now I look back on having gone through the trouble. Oh well, it served its purpose at the time. Too preoccupied with retro I suppose. Up until about 2 years ago, our living room tv was still a big Panasonic CRT. Those old tvs are so heavy. It went to our local electronics recycling center. Replaced it with a 28" LG. Love it. Can't go any bigger since it won't fit in the entertainment cabinet. Big wall (or floor) tv would surely be nice I suppose, but just not really into it all that much and no idea where I'd go with it. Most of the time when the tv is on we're both reading and 'sort of' watching it, unless we put in a movie that we really want to watch with fairly undivided attention.

Yeah, just depends what it is. If you find the right buyer for just about anything, they're willing to pay. Other times, with a few of my eBay sales, you almost pay someone to take it off your hands depending on where it's being shipped! DW is always talking about cleaning out / even looking to downsize at some point. I totally get it, and we have unloaded some of the stuff unlikely to use anymore, but lots more could go.

You totally lost me! Not familiar with a single name that you mention with the exception of Mitsubishi, which I only identify with the automobile brand!

Yep...whatever "floats your boat", as the saying goes. Still have my vintage guitars too...just too sentimental to pass them along, although I'm seriously considering listing my 70s Epiphone 6-string acoustic on my eBay site. I think that, at least for many of us, we got caught up in our parents' depression-era mentality, being only one generation removed from it. My Dad was of the 'never get rid of most anything cause you never know when you might need it'. True enough, sometimes, but othertimes can be a curse. What we own can start to own us.

Yeah, I recognize some of those brochures, since they're so similar for different models. My BIC brochure does not include any mention of the Formula 7s, so I'm wondering if those were introduced after '76? Once I had my 6s and the rest of the components, I really didn't keep up with what else came along after, and never upgraded any of the components other than to add the cassette deck and various combo VHS/DVD players over the years. meaning...what exactly? Sounds like a pretty impressive setup for sure! I never went further than having what I bought back in '76. No home theatre, and no TV bigger than 28", no extra speakers / subwoofers, etc. At heart I'm more of a musician than an audiophile I suppose. The Kenwood has, for years, a buzzing sound when you turn it on until I jigger some of the potentiometer controls, and the turntable's speed is sometimes erratic so I've already had that apart and sprayed de-oxit on the pots. Hanging on to this old stuff, just like my '95 and '97 cars...long story on those. Have never owned a car manufactured in the 21st century, though getting closer to that point. Hey, if you're going to be a pack rat, at least being an organized one is the way to go. 😉 It's those disorganized ones that present some problems.

My brother had a pair of these - pretty sure he got them through an Army Px after being in 'Nam. https://audio-database.com/CORAL/speaker/bx-1200.html Great speakers also. This is what inspired me to buy a multi-speaker system. Of course, we're talking WAY before internet came along so I used to subscribe to "Stereo Review" magazine. Probably found out about the BICs that way. I remember ordering the Kenwood, speakers, and turntable through an outfit called Illinois Audio. Still have the boxes the BICs came in- they make great storage...to hold other boxes!

I'd probably list that stuff on eBay.

Well, yeah, I'm GOING to miss it once we don't have the Jeep any longer. The cassette player in my '95 Buick stopped working a few years ago already, but the one in the Jeep still works great.

Love it. What model Kenwood? Mine's KR-7600. 70 watts per channel (always thought it was 80 but just looked it up). I have BIC Formula 6s. I'm not that familiar with the 7s and actually forgot that they made that model. Always liked the BIC line. I had a set of Formula 1s for awhile in a college dorm room. For the size, those speakers impressed alot of people. I think I used a Sansui receiver with it. I didn't have all that stuff very long - sort of recall selling those components to another student before graduation.

True enough! Remember 8-tracks? When I was in college my Dad had rigged up a bracket and mounting and installed an 8-track player. Man, I thought that was the bomb... History repeats itself...look at the resurgence of vinyl. I've sold off several of my vintage vinyl collection on eBay - sometimes for a good buck depending on what it is. All this can lead to a discussion on the whole analog vs digital debate. Everytime I listen to vinyl I can understand the argument that it is a "warmer" sound. Even when I transfer vinyl to digital, I sort of like hearing the old 'ticks' and 'pops' or the sound of the stylus coming down on the record. Still have my Pioneer direct-drive turntable and Kenwood receiver (big, heavy component) - both bought in '76. Have a Pioneer double-cassette deck also, and combo VCR /DVD player. I still use my '03 imac too since I like the old "Pictureproject" software as well as the older version of garageband to do my guitar recordings. What can I say...old school all the way.

LOL....I hear you. I haven't bought a new car in 27 years, and so when I started looking at vehicles manufactured in the 21st century, the newer technology required a bit of a learning curve. Fanciest thing on my car is cornering lights that go on with the turn signals - no GPS / navigational equipment, back-up camera, US ports, etc. DW and I have only ever bought 4 cars between us in our 42 years of marriage. She still has her '97 Jeep and I have my '95 Riviera - both bought right off the lot - have never "ordered" a car - a prospect I'm looking at to get a new hybrid.

Granted, but my '97 Jeep Grand Cherokee has a cassette and CD player...you don't find either of those anymore! 😉

Yes but I suspect that's a special amenity being offered solely for suite guests.

Try Viking...which does a very nice tea every afternoon between 3 and 5 in their lovely Wintergarden on their ocean ships. Three-tiered trays with crustless finger sandwiches, macaroons and other miniature pastries, and warm scones with clotted cream and jam. Passengers can select from a huge tea menu, or order Champagne, wine and other spirits for an extra fee. Usually a solo entertainer plays during tea.

Plus...plan a definite visit to Park Güell and La Sagrada Familia. Both are amazing. If you're spending at least an extra day there, I highly suggest a private tour through Viator. You get to skip all the lines and have the expertise of the guide to provide information. Las Ramblas is surely worth it as well to experience the local culture. Very crowded though, at least when we were there. And, when you're in Catalonia you have to try a sampling of tapas! I second a recommendation to do HOHO. We only had one full day there post-cruise and easily could have spent probably 2 more. We mostly used the bus as a means of getting back to our hotel after touring the Park and Sagrada, though did go all the way around one of the routes.

LOL!! You gotta pick up and read Greenlaw's "Tales from the Dry Dock Bar". Check it out. You'd enjoy. The real name is: "All Fishermen are liars: True Tales from the Dry Dock Bar". Sort of conveniently (though not deliberately mentioned on the sly....honest...) I'm selling that one and two others as a trilogy of Greenlaw books on my ebay site 🤔) Like I said, I just don't plan to re-read. Book shelves are too overcrowded so some things have to go. Since I recently listed them (with not a single view thus far...so they might wind up going to our church flea market in summer) is what brought it to mind, along with your mentioning sea tales. I'd LOVE to hear some of that stuff between you and Andy.

I suspect you're right. I don't think our cruise schedules have ever aligned however to meet up. What I would enjoy is seeing you and Andy have a lively conversation at the bar. All that 'ship talk' could be very educational, along with undoubtedly humorous anecdotal mariner tales 😁 Speaking of which, not sure how much you're into commercial fishing, but I picked up and read several of Linda Greenlaw's books - she was the captain of the 100-ft. sword boat "Hannah Boden" that figured prominently in the book (and movie) "The Perfect Storm" (of Halloween '91. Good writer. Everything you probably never needed to know about both sword and lobster fishing. Interesting - for a first read anyway, not interested in a re-read of any of them.

Jim... a most interesting and well thought-out post. Some of your thoughts could easily dovetail into a larger scale discussion on many different environmental / global concerns and how they are impacted by politically-driven motivations.

The recent Bar Harbor decision is applicable.

I didn't look back a few pages but figured this was all likely already discussed. Thanks for this info. Most recent update from only refers to still being in critical.

Even if you're not really an NFL fan, please pray for the family of Damar Hamlin, the 24-yr. old Buffalo Bills player who was tragically injured during last night's Monday night game. It was probably the most shocking and saddening incidents I've ever seen during a game. Latest word, it appears, is that he's still in critical condition. 🙏

I remember this well. We were docked right next to you on the RCL Serenade during our Baltic cruise.

LOL..I don't believe I'll forget that one being that I was there!

Either way, most unfortunate to have yet another mishap for Viking, especially so soon after the Antarctica and riverboat incidents.