Radio Shack

From: Russ Blakeman <rhb57_at_vol.com>
Date: Fri Feb 15 12:40:21 2002

FARCE is about it and I've pulled even big HV tubes from Tv sets with no
shock unless the anode cap was still on it, so I get nailed by the CRT
capacitance - I've met this same type myself but soon put them cautiously in
their place - I was in charge as the instructor and had professional manuals
and military tech data to rub all over their faces. 8 wonderful years
playing games with people's heads, I miss that.

=> -----Original Message-----
=> From: owner-classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org
=> [mailto:owner-classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org]On Behalf Of John Chris Wren
=> Sent: Friday, February 15, 2002 8:20 AM
=> To: classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org
=> Subject: RE: Radio Shack
=>
=>
=> I generally prefer to order from Digikey, but sometimes you
=> need a part
=> right *now*. And, if you're really lucky, RS may even carry it
=> (we used to
=> have a RadioShack.com about 20 miles away, but they've folded.
=> Ever since
=> they went from being Tech America to RadioShack.com, they "consumerfied"
=> their stock, and started hiring idiots, then went out of business. But I
=> digress).
=>
=> So assuming RS carries this part, I'm forced to go down to
=> my local store.
=> Now I usually have nothing personal against the actual employees on an
=> individual basis, but mostly as a class of sales people (just
=> like you may
=> know one honest used car dealer, but slam them as a whole).
=> However, we've
=> got "Frank". Frank is the manager of the store. There's nothing Frank
=> doesn't know. Frank knows things he doesn't even know he knows
=> about. Why,
=> with what all Frank knows, I can't figure out why he doesn't have a cold
=> fusion research grant, instead of managing a mere Radio Shack
=> store. Frank
=> is a genius, I tell you!
=>
=> A few weeks ago I went into Franks Amazing Radioshack
=> Consumer Extravaganza
=> (FARCE), and said "Ah, you've rearranged the store. Where might
=> the modular
=> handset plug crimping tools have been moved to, my good man?"
=> What ensued
=> was being informed that the cord between the wall and the
=> telephone was not
=> a handset sized plug but a RJ-11 or RJ-12, and that I didn't
=> really want a
=> handset crimper (which, it turns out, they don't carry), but a RJ-12
=> crimper. I explained that "No, I really *do* want a handset
=> plug crimper,
=> which would be known under the USOC, or Universal Service Order
=> Codes, as a
=> RJ-10, or 'Registered Jack #10', because I AM NOT CONNECTING A DAMN PHONE
=> WITH IT!".
=>
=> Another time I was regaled with a story of how he and his
=> buddies used to
=> use the high voltage section from an old TV to charge "tubes" which they
=> would throw at each other, counting on the "catch" reflex to
=> catch them, and
=> then laugh as their friend got a good shock. I enquired as to whether he
=> meant a "capacitor", because tubes (with the exception of picture tubes,
=> which would be a little difficult to toss across the room) don't hold a
=> charge. He was *sure* he meant tubes. This was early on in my visits to
=> the store, before I realized how smart Frank was.
=>
=> Most recently, I went in to grab a few 10uf 16V capacitors.
=> Frank enquired
=> as to what I was building, so I thought I would probe the range of his
=> remarkable intellect, and explained I was building a Flux
=> Capacitor. Frank
=> then told me how the 16V rating on the capacitors was entirely
=> inadequate,
=> and that I most likely should use a capacitor with a minimum
=> rating of 250V.
=> I nodded my head, and said "Why, it could be you're entirely right, but
=> since these are but a few cents, and I *really* need to get this running
=> tonight, and his fine store didn't carry anove 250V rated
=> capacitors, I'll
=> give these a try.". I didn't mention that the Flux Capacitor would be
=> installed in my DeLorean time machine, figuring I wouldn't have
=> time for the
=> lengthy but accurate explanation of why 88 MPH wouldn't be
=> enough to trigger
=> the time circuits, and that a Monteverdi might be a better choice than a
=> DeLorean, since the Swiss know more about time, and make such damn fine
=> watches.
=>
=> Frank has the most amazing ability to service 3 or 4
=> customers at once,
=> also. He may be in the process of ringing up your sale, and
=> suddenly, using
=> his Amazing Frank Hearing, he may overhear another employee making a
=> suggestion to a customer. Immediately, Frank will loudly
=> interject a better
=> suggestion to both employee and customer. For Frank is never
=> wrong, and a
=> Frank suggestion is the best thing you could use that day.
=>
=> I hate that store. It's the only around for 8 miles, though.
=>
=> --John
=>
Received on Fri Feb 15 2002 - 12:40:21 GMT