Joe wrote:
No kidding Scotty... I felt the deck shutter the slamdown was so solid.
Lets hope MM stays around as our new king of tech news and advice,
clearly the commode has fallen way behind the times.

I apologise. I am not normally so rude to people but after having read
this, (among a half dozen others) newsgroup for some time now, I am sick
of the miasma of rudeness, arrogance and inanity that seems to surround
our little iPod denigrating pretend sailor. The final straw for me was
his recent ad hominem attack on other men's wives.

I am also blessed with an attractive, charming and very intelligent
wife, but if she for one instant thought that I valued her only for her
sex appeal she would be extremely offended. If she was to find me using
her to put other women down, she would probably go out and have her face
tattooed or something similar, to teach me a lesson. She would also
permanently lose all respect for me.

It has been a trying time here (Oz - Queensland) with very high
temperatures compounded by a succession of violent storms. Have had our
boat on the hard for the past week and after several days of breathing
anti-fouling dust, had a sudden storm that destroyed a two-pack
brightwork makeover. Had just finished - everything still wet when it
hit, complete with gale force winds, dust then rain and hail.

My more delightful half has gone to cooler climes, visiting a daughter
down south, and entrusting me to my own devices. One of which was
actually responding to a newsgroup post.



Thanks for the real scoop on ipods MM!

The video iPods, as far as video goes, are of limited use to someone
like me. Very much a one person thing. My kids love them for personal
viewing but I only tend to watch a movie etc., as a shared experience,
so don't find that aspect so useful. The resolution is too poor to be
used as media source for displaying on a larger screen, but as a device
for storing music, audio of all types, and photos, they are hard to
beat. I have, as well as a great deal of music, a large collection of
old-time radio shows, all available on the net and legal, not under
copyright. Everything from Amos and Andy to The Shadow. My wife and I
find them entertaining, often more so than many modern TV shows. They
are also good for audio books, language courses etc.



Any suggestion on a flat screen TV?
I have 22"X34" of space... viewers will only be 8 ft from the screen.
Should I go plasma, LCD, what? Like to keep it under 2K and fill the
space. Needs to be 4" thin ambient lighting would be cool to. What do
you suggest?

Hard to make a suggestion for someone without knowing what is available
locally to them. My answer, while ideal for me might not suit many
others. I have a MacIntosh iMac with a 21" widescreen that serves as my
main computer, my Nav computer and as a media centre when swiveled to
face the Saloon. It also feeds - via UHF radio, flat screen (LCD not
plasma) TVs in the staterooms and crew cabins. The system has DVD and
audio plus mast mounted all weather security cameras triggered by active
infrared sensors that will pop up on screen whenever triggered. I don't
find the difference in quality between Plasma and LCD to justify the
cost, though in the early days the difference was noticeable. The iMac
has two external 240 gig drives for media storage and can store in
excess of 200 full length, full quality DVDs. We record a great many
movies and shows when able, for viewing when cruising. It allows us to
rent, record and return videos for later viewing, much better and less
illegal than copying DVDs.

I do not use an inverter, all of my AC electronic devices use twelve,
six, five and three volt rails and I have a current limited power supply
providing these voltages when and where required and have modified all
equipment to input what is necessary. They still work when plugged into
conventional AC outlets but work from the ship's 12 volt supply without
the losses incurred by an inverter.

BTW, I have a 22 Metre, Danish designed, locally built, all steel, pilot
house, cutter rigged sloop, (Regina Bellus) purchased after previously
sailing for more than twenty-five years with a Roberts Mauritius Ketch.
She heels a lot more than a ketch would, much taller rig, but
considering her size, the rig in conjunction with (radio controlled)
remote steering is about all that will allow her to be single handed if
necessary. We usually have volunteer crew, but often sail with just the
two of us. Haven't *had* to test her single handed yet, but it shouldn't
pose a problem if need be.

I am English born, ex Navy, relocated to Australia in the eighties, now
have an Australian born wife. We sold our primary home, plus the
Mauritius and one of our investment homes five years ago to purchase the
Regina Bellus and haven't had cause to look back since. I am in my
fifties and my wife in her early forties - we have quite a few years of
cruising ahead of us. I am a writer, my wife a photographer and we
supplement our income with our skills. Don't make a fortune, but
sufficient to avoid dipping into our savings or selling another
investment home.

I often read various sailing oriented newsgroups but seldom post, mostly
because of the constant foolish and annoying behaviour of people like
Capt. Rob and his apparent collection of either sock puppets or
emulators. I will try to ignore him in future rather than set an equally
bad examples for others.

We have to be back in the water by Feb in order to keep a rendevous with
cruising friends in Vanuatu so the recent setbacks are more than usually
annoying. It is also much hotter on the hard as far as living aboard
goes, (I don't believe in air conditioning ... but have recently
purchased a number of industrial quality fans ) so am looking forward
to Feb.

Cheers

Michael