Re: The joy of FORTRAN

On 3/13/25 12:37 PM, rbowman wrote:

On Thu, 13 Mar 2025 03:09:05 -0400, c186282 wrote:
 

    Ha Ha ... all sorts of sensory-deception tricks are possible.

 I remember the records when 'stereo' was first coming on the market that
would create the impression of a freight train driving through the living
room.

   We used to have a "hi-fi" set, built into a very nice
   wooden cabinet. The sound was good - just not "stereo".

It might be my ears or my less than stellar sound systems but it seems
some of the more pronounced effects of the '60s have been toned down. A
the time I had a decent turntable, amp, and speakers I'd built. I think it
was one of the Rolling Stone songs that starts with a car horn. A friend
who I was demoing the system to thought it was somebody out in the
driveway.

   Well, the 60s especially were a time for musical/tech
   "experimentation". Stereo effects were intentionally
   increased, warranted or not. There's a guitar down-
   slide in "Whole Lotta Love" that goes across the room ...

Like you I got into ear protection at the range and motorcycle helmets a
little too late in life. Even in my youth I recognized some of the high
frequencies audiophiles oohed over would benefit the cat more than me.

   Despite living in a relatively hot/humid place I *always*
   wore a full helmet for safety. Too many idiots on the road.
   Plus, you could adorn the helmet with reflective tape so
   you'd be much more obvious after dark. At night a motorcycle
   close-up registers as a car far-off to automobile drivers ...
   you need more if you want to live.
   Oh, WORST cycle headlight arrangement, two parallel
   lamps. AMPLIFIES the 'far off' instant perception !
   Took to the striped-up helmets AND a class-3 yellow/reflective
   vest day or night. Geeky, but good. Was not a "biker", but
   a "motorcyclist". "Bikers" wear all-black everything all the
   time - and usually die young. I made it a clean million miles
   (worked it out) with NO crashes before the legs got too weak
   to hold up the cruisers. Also got too much UVA ... which has
   had annoying effects, esp on the hands/forearms most exposed.
   Should probably wear elbow-length leather gloves 24/7 now ...
   but it's kinda genetic/familial too. Sorry, fashion-wise,
   CAN'T wear elbow-length leather gloves in the USA fer-sure ...
   but you CAN buy them .........
   EAR protection ... just the helmet. Guess it kinda helped.
   IMHO plain old AGE did the most to kill the high-end audio.
   What a drag it is getting old ....
   GAWD I hated the sound of those TV/monitor flyback
   transformers back in the day - like having teeth drilled.
   Wiki sez they were 30-150khz, TVs 15khz ... but no WAY
   hearing 150khz ... maybe sub-harmonics.
   ANYway, had my fun - enough weird stuff to last the
   rest of my life, without even trying. Next 5/10/20
   years ... BILLS. Lucky I didn't spend every dime
   and earned a decent pension. Yea, yea, SO boring ...
   but, long term, it WORKS. Haven't even applied for
   US "Social Security" yet ... likely won't exist by
   the time Trump/Musk are done ... 25% of salary
   just GONE .... but nobody ever said life is fair.
   As I choose to see it, I supported my Mom and old
   relatives - good enough.