What "old school" things do you still do?

Christmas cards?

Well, I do send out Christmas letters with a page of pictures to about 30 addresses. The letters are hand-written. I skip cards completely. Still, a typical mailing of address labels would cover that.
 
How do you use a sextant a few hundred feet below surface? Just kidding. Is there one mdified for periscope when close to surface?
On old 747s there was a port over the cockpit for sextant use over long overwater flights. They could be out of range even for LORAN.
On the submarine, we got a satellite fix by coming to periscope depth every so often and used a ship's inertial navigation system, as well as dead reckoning, to track our position between satellite fixes. And the surface ships used LORAN. But every single one of us who went through the Naval Academy back then learned and perfected our ability to to fix our position using a sextant, a watch and sight reduction tables, even though it had become unnecessary. I think they stopped teaching that skill about 10 years after I graduated.
 
"Maritime nostalgia, however, isn't behind the return.

Rather, it's the escalating threat of cyber attacks that has led the Navy to dust off its tools to measure the angles of stars.

After all, you can't hack a sextant."

Incidentally, the Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point requires proficiency with sextant.

When I was on research ship in 70ies, ships' officers and captain used sextant.

We in the science lab used the TRANSIT satellite system. It was cumbersome. Had to listen to satellite receiver for whistle of stallite coming over the horizon, then manually tune the local oscillator to zero beat, then lock.
The processor for the data I built, before embarking on the ship, at Lamont Observatory Electronics lab, many many transistor flip flops etc. on about 25 8x8 inch plug in boards. Was the first civilian data capture system. The receiver and antenna was given to us by the Navy.
Then the data was passed to the Freiden machine to generate punched tape of usually 15 to 20 feet long.
Then manually tell by toggling input switches of the PDP8 computer (a full 8 foot rack) with 2 kilobytes of memory, that a program tape was to load.

After the program was loaded, then another set of manual toggles telling PDP8 that data was coming via punch tape. After many minutes of blinking lights, PDP8 would print out on the Teletype machine the location of where we were when the data was receieved.

Given our max cruising speed of 6 knots, it was close enough, even for government work.

Then, over the intercom we would call the bridge with the location, for them to campare. And note on the charts.
 
We still write appointments, birthdays, etc. on a paper calendar in the kitchen. In cursive.
 
Well, I do send out Christmas letters with a page of pictures to about 30 addresses. The letters are hand-written. I skip cards completely. Still, a typical mailing of address labels would cover that.
DW sent over 150 last Dec. Easily that many cards during the year for BDs, get well, thinking-of-you, etc.

Glad I bought 600 stamps the day before the last postal increase!
 
DW sent over 150 last Dec. Easily that many cards during the year for BDs, get well, thinking-of-you, etc.

Glad I bought 600 stamps the day before the last postal increase!
Except for two paper cards I still send, I only send electronic cards now.
 
I still use a Franklin Planner. It came in handy when I was my wife's caregiver (for doctor appointments, when were meds changed, PT/OT schedules, etc). My memory is still very good but it helps to have a record of events both past and future. I've used one since November 1st, 1988 (yes I remember the exact month I began!).
Day planners sell very well on eBay. A lot of people who do field work like construction managers and such prefer them to electronic devices. No internet access needed. Battery can’t die. No issue reading it in bright sunlight.
 
On the submarine, we got a satellite fix by coming to periscope depth every so often and used a ship's inertial navigation system, as well as dead reckoning, to track our position between satellite fixes. And the surface ships used LORAN. But every single one of us who went through the Naval Academy back then learned and perfected our ability to to fix our position using a sextant, a watch and sight reduction tables, even though it had become unnecessary. I think they stopped teaching that skill about 10 years after I graduated.
We were taught celestial navigation when I was in Officer Candidate School in the late 1980s - partly. We learned how to take satellite measurements that were given to us and determine a position on a chart. This was mostly just looking up numbers in tables and doing some math.

But while sextants were shown to us we were not really taught how to use them. And we were taught nothing about how to identify the stars whose measurements were needed.
 
Still keep a good bit of Cash on hand in the Gun Safe, and in the pocket.
Besides the Leatherman, carry a compass, tape measure, and flashlight and afew more pounds of tools on my person.
If I was to list out all the kit I carry in the vehicles - it would be a long list....
Still write in Cursive, and since retirement have been making an effort to send out Cards and letters to folks.
Still go in to the Lobby at the Bank to get the Cash and all the folks know us and visit. Prefer
Face to Face for most meetings if possible - but in today's environment that is not near all the time.
I only recently wore out my last pair of steel toed boots left over from working. Now I wear non steel toed Cowboy/Work boots.
Still make Ice the correct way :D
VUeKM6b.png
 
When I was still flying general aviation aircraft, navigation was all done "old school." I had a little hand-held plastic "computer" where I entered things like winds-aloft, air speed, angle to the destination, magnetic compass correction, etc. It was called dead reckoning - not a comforting name, but pretty effective if the weather was half-way stable (and, of course, if you had a sectional map that was current.).

Now, it's pretty much all done by GPS on a "Glass" panel that does all the w*rk for you. If I ever few again, I'd find my old computer and do it that way. It's more hands-on and more "organic." Also, not everyone can afford a "glass cockpit." Garmins are expensive.
 
....

But at least our rotary phones still function off the copper phone lines.
You don't need copper lines to your house to use an old phone. The VOIP (Voice over IP) adapter boxes connect through the internet to a phone provider (like Ooma), and provide a port that 'looks' (physically and electrically) just like the old copper wire interface of old. So your rotary or touch tone phone will work into the internet age, and you can mix/match with a more modern cordless 'landline' phone.
 
You don't need copper lines to your house to use an old phone. The VOIP (Voice over IP) adapter boxes connect through the internet to a phone provider (like Ooma), and provide a port that 'looks' (physically and electrically) just like the old copper wire interface of old. So your rotary or touch tone phone will work into the internet age, and you can mix/match with a more modern cordless 'landline' phone.
You can get touch-tone phones to work with those adapters, but most VOIP systems wouldn't know what to do with the rotary pulses. And even if I did invest in a pulse-to-tone converter, I would still have to get some kind of a power supply to provide the power to the ringers, and have to figure out wiring that power into my phone system for all four of them.

Source: Rotary Phone-to-VOIP project link

When we upgraded our Internet from DSL to fiber a few years back, the technician told us that we would need to keep the copper phone lines to the house in order to still use the rotary phones, but that they were not planning on abandoning those lines any time soon.

So we have a Fiber-Optic line to the house for our Internet and a copper line for our phones.

Works for us. :cool:
 
I grew up farming in the 1970's. I could drive any farm implement made before I had a drivers license.

I know not many here have a farm background. It's not Green Acres anymore.

This may seem off topic to many, but I can still operate farm equipment without the aid of GPS auto steer systems. GPS steering took over farming about 20 years ago.

One day last spring there were some sun spots interfering with the GPS signals and many farmers (everyone but me and a couple old timers) stopped farming because their auto steer wasn't working. Honest to god they wouldn't ( couldn't ) steer a tractor. You have to remember most farmers today have enough invested in their farm equipment to buy a fairly new Leer Jet. Technology included. Driverless tractors are already here. So are Semi-tractors.

Anyone ever see the movie about the old astronauts called Space Cowboys? Well, that's me on the farm. If all he!! breaks loose and farmers need to drive tractors again I'm in demand.
 
I grew up farming in the 1970's. I could drive any farm implement made before I had a drivers license.

I know not many here have a farm background. It's not Green Acres anymore.

This may seem off topic to many, but I can still operate farm equipment without the aid of GPS auto steer systems. GPS steering took over farming about 20 years ago.

One day last spring there were some sun spots interfering with the GPS signals and many farmers (everyone but me and a couple old timers) stopped farming because their auto steer wasn't working. Honest to god they wouldn't ( couldn't ) steer a tractor. You have to remember most farmers today have enough invested in their farm equipment to buy a fairly new Leer Jet. Technology included. Driverless tractors are already here. So are Semi-tractors.

Anyone ever see the movie about the old astronauts called Space Cowboys? Well, that's me on the farm. If all he!! breaks loose and farmers need to drive tractors again I'm in demand.
I always wondered about that when I heard about the tractors more or less tracking by themselves in the field. What if the GPS system ever goes down. Do we starve??

Oh, and I loved "Space Cowboys." Great movie.

Thanks for sharing.
 
TLDR, but I don't print boarding passes at home. I get them at the check-in counter when I bring my bags. Just a bit of passive-aggressive on my part. Why should I do their job for them?

I saw a guy once who had his pass on his phone but then the phone ran out of batteries.....
 
TLDR, but I don't print boarding passes at home. I get them at the check-in counter when I bring my bags. Just a bit of passive-aggressive on my part. Why should I do their job for them?

I saw a guy once who had his pass on his phone but then the phone ran out of batteries.....
Not too bright to not charge your phone before a trip and also to not carry a portable charger when traveling. He could have just walked over and bought a Fuel Rod at the airport kiosk.

We always have screenshots of our boarding pass in case the internet signal is weak but we also print a paper copy as a backup.
 
You can get touch-tone phones to work with those adapters, but most VOIP systems wouldn't know what to do with the rotary pulses. And even if I did invest in a pulse-to-tone converter, I would still have to get some kind of a power supply to provide the power to the ringers, and have to figure out wiring that power into my phone system for all four of them.

Source: Rotary Phone-to-VOIP project link

When we upgraded our Internet from DSL to fiber a few years back, the technician told us that we would need to keep the copper phone lines to the house in order to still use the rotary phones, but that they were not planning on abandoning those lines any time soon.

So we have a Fiber-Optic line to the house for our Internet and a copper line for our phones.

Works for us. :cool:
Ahh, I forgot about rotary/pulse dialing. But I found that there are VOIP adapters that support pulse w/o another adapter, here's one that has two lines and you can set either to pulse/tone:

 
I grew up farming in the 1970's. I could drive any farm implement made before I had a drivers license.

I know not many here have a farm background. It's not Green Acres anymore.

This may seem off topic to many, but I can still operate farm equipment without the aid of GPS auto steer systems. GPS steering took over farming about 20 years ago.

One day last spring there were some sun spots interfering with the GPS signals and many farmers (everyone but me and a couple old timers) stopped farming because their auto steer wasn't working. Honest to god they wouldn't ( couldn't ) steer a tractor. You have to remember most farmers today have enough invested in their farm equipment to buy a fairly new Leer Jet. Technology included. Driverless tractors are already here. So are Semi-tractors.

Anyone ever see the movie about the old astronauts called Space Cowboys? Well, that's me on the farm. If all he!! breaks loose and farmers need to drive tractors again I'm in demand.
I haven't done farm work since the 70's, so never worked with the GPS systems.

But I find it a stretch to say they can't drive their tractors? I see you wrote "wouldn't(couldn't)" - I'd think they chose not to drive w/o GPS, because it provides so many features. I only know a bit about it, but as I understand, you'll have straighter paths, so better spaced rows when planting, which could increase yields slightly, and fertilizer is applied based on soil tests and varies the mix/amount as needed. Straight paths would mean you cover the ground as efficiently as possible, so less fuel waste, less compaction, less time spent running that tractor. So that saves money, better for the environment, and improves yields. I'm they could drive if the chose to.
 
TLDR, but I don't print boarding passes at home. I get them at the check-in counter when I bring my bags. Just a bit of passive-aggressive on my part. Why should I do their job for them?

I saw a guy once who had his pass on his phone but then the phone ran out of batteries.....
Same here. I don't print my own boarding pass. Until this past week, I haven't had a functioning printer for a long time. Also, I want to get the boarding pass as close to boarding time as possible. That way I know if there is some last minute issue.
 
Not too bright to not charge your phone before a trip and also to not carry a portable charger when traveling. He could have just walked over and bought a Fuel Rod at the airport kiosk.

We always have screenshots of our boarding pass in case the internet signal is weak but we also print a paper copy as a backup.
Interesting. I never saw a Kiosk for "Fuel Rod." I carry a back-up power source when I travel. It can run my phone and/or my lap top.
 
TLDR, but I don't print boarding passes at home. I get them at the check-in counter when I bring my bags. Just a bit of passive-aggressive on my part. Why should I do their job for them?

I saw a guy once who had his pass on his phone but then the phone ran out of batteries.....
Allegiant Air charges $5 for every boarding pass printed at the airport. I can print them from home, but trying to print them while travelling can be a hassle. Luckily, the last time I tried to print them at a Hotel, the Allegiant Air boarding pass printing site was having technical difficulties. I captured a screenshot of the "Oops" page. When I got to the check in line without a boarding pass and they tried to charge me the $5 per pass, I opened my laptop and showed them the screenshot. So they reluctantly waived the fees.
 
Interesting. I never saw a Kiosk for "Fuel Rod." I carry a back-up power source when I travel. It can run my phone and/or my lap top.
Most airports have them. You can buy a new charger or swap out one you already have if it's dead and you need power right away as they are fully charged in the kiosk. My daughter just bought a new one a couple of weeks ago in Philly. They also have kiosks at many tourist attractions. I know they have them in Disney World (or at least they did last time we were there).
 
Allegiant Air charges $5 for every boarding pass printed at the airport. I can print them from home, but trying to print them while travelling can be a hassle. Luckily, the last time I tried to print them at a Hotel, the Allegiant Air boarding pass printing site was having technical difficulties. I captured a screenshot of the "Oops" page. When I got to the check in line without a boarding pass and they tried to charge me the $5 per pass, I opened my laptop and showed them the screenshot. So they reluctantly waived the fees.
I have a policy of costing businesses such as this MORE than the charge they place on "helping" me - especially when it's such an insignificant amount of w*rk on their part. I understand that they are trying to change their customers' behaviors but I remind them that "oh, by the way I AM the customer." I remind them too that not everyone always has ready access to a printer or even a smart phone (I finally have both - at least when I'm home) but I don't add apps for THEIR convenience.

So, in keeping with the thread title of "old school" I still expect customer service and, to the extent possible, I demand it. I don't suppose I'll ever be the ONE person who changes a company's policy but maybe other people think like I do and together we WILL change policies from time to time. It's not a hill I'm willing to die on, but I'll at least I'll leave more of their blood on the hill than my own if I can. ;)

End of rant.
 
Most airports have them. You can buy a new charger or swap out one you already have if it's dead and you need power right away as they are fully charged in the kiosk. My daughter just bought a new one a couple of weeks ago in Philly. They also have kiosks at many tourist attractions. I know they have them in Disney World (or at least they did last time we were there).
Interesting. I never saw a Kiosk for "Fuel Rod." I carry a back-up power source when I travel. It can run my phone and/or my lap top.


Here's something "Old-School"

I thought fuel rods were what they used in Nuclear power plants, and once they were spent, they were carefully delivered to Colorado to be buried deep in a super secure hole. :biggrin:
 
I haven't done farm work since the 70's, so never worked with the GPS systems.

But I find it a stretch to say they can't drive their tractors? I see you wrote "wouldn't(couldn't)" - I'd think they chose not to drive w/o GPS, because it provides so many features. I only know a bit about it, but as I understand, you'll have straighter paths, so better spaced rows when planting, which could increase yields slightly, and fertilizer is applied based on soil tests and varies the mix/amount as needed. Straight paths would mean you cover the ground as efficiently as possible, so less fuel waste, less compaction, less time spent running that tractor. So that saves money, better for the environment, and improves yields. I'm they could drive if the chose to.
My good friend is a 69 year old farmer. We grew up together farming and raising livestock. He raised livestock and at his age his body is worn out. Full of injuries and used up. He stopped operating his equipment the day I spoke of when the GPS went down because he can't turn his neck to see where his tillage equipment is. I asked him why he didn't have his son take over and he told me "I never taught him how" "He can't steer a tractor without GPS"

So, there are people who don't know how to drive farm equipment without GPS. My neighbors, and most farmers under 40 won't, if they can they aren't good at it. It's like teaching a 15 year old how to text their friends on a rotary phone. Or telling a 21 year old airline captain to fly across country with a map and compass. They can try, but they haven't done it. Doesn't mean they can't do it, it just means they haven't done it yet.
 
Last edited:

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom