THINGS that USED to be FREE!

[KK4AMP]

... We'd go out with a large trailer and a power inverter...because who wants a used Curtis Mathes console when you can get a big screen Hyundai from Wal*Mart for $100?

...By the way, just turn the TV off, permanently. You'll have withdrawal symptoms for a couple months but after that you won't believe how FREE you feel. Honest.

Just out of curiosity, how big of an inverter did it take to fire up a 25+" CRT set?
As much as I'd love to completely pull the plug entirely, I cannot for employment reasons. Take comfort iin that most of my recreational viewing is of netflix and hulu.

[K4KYV]

Not exactly. Unless you bought an analog TV and antenna, the only way you could watch free was to go to someone elses house or business with a TV. Was there some "get a free TV" program that I missed back in the analog only days?

It's called kerbside. Back in the mid 70s, when I lived in the Boston area, I never paid any money for a TV. On trash pick-up day, there were always plenty of TVs left kerbside for the garbage truck. I would pick up a nice looking TV or two, and see if I could get one of them running. Usually was something simple: a bad tube, blown fuse or defective power cord. If the problem was more involved than that, I wouldn't waste any more time with it, and simply return it kerbside next trash day and look for another. I lived there for over 5 years and managed to keep a free working TV the whole time.

[KK4AMP]

Ah, I missed that... or avoided it. When I was in my early 20's and worked in a shop, instead of this mythical "kerbside program" we had "unclaimed repairs", which were usually a good deal. While 90 days was legally required, the boss would make us wait 1 year to buy 'em out.

[KC9UDX]

With most providers, when you sign up for a new 2 year contract, you get a new phone free, or at a big discount.

This is a scam. It just makes buying a decent phone obscenely expensive, and it fools people into paying extra every month. I remember the early analog phone days when you could buy whatever phone you wanted and you didn't pay for it every month as a hidden charge in the service rate.

Just out of curiosity, how big of an inverter did it take to fire up a 25+" CRT set?

I always had a 200W inverter, I think, although, it may have been more than that. That was a long time ago, back when inverters were obscenely expensive. Hard to remember. It was hardwired to my Junkpicking vehicle, and an extension cord was run to the curb. A lot of times, we'd leave the last TV plugged in and running when loading it on the trailer and leave it that way driving around, just because it wasn't an every day sight back then.

[NL7W]

Here in Alaska, the low to no income receive free phones and $1.00 / month service. They receive more free nationwide minutes a month than I do, and I pay $100 a month for lesser service.

For real...

Please ask them for a thank you... you're paying for their cellular service. In essence, you're also paying my salary, as I design/spec the cell sites, SATCOM backhaul network, and bush located central offices that are also subsidized by federal tax dollars.

Thank you very much...

With most providers, when you sign up for a new 2 year contract, you get a new phone free, or at a big discount.

How much you make has nothing to do with it.

73 de Jim, N2EY

[KA7RRA]

you can still use the pubilc restroom for free

[AC4BB]

Remember, when you could go to the gas station and get free air? Not anymore! Costs at least .50 to 1.00 to air up. some places even have pay water! and it used to also be free. I can recall when you you gassed up you could get free road maps "No Mas"
We still get a "Free Wednesday" paper although,not nearly as complete as the paid version and chocked full of Ad's.

[N2EY]

Here in Alaska, the low to no income receive free phones and $1.00 / month service. They receive more free nationwide minutes a month than I do, and I pay $100 a month for lesser service.

For real...

Please ask them for a thank you... you're paying for their cellular service. In essence, you're also paying my salary, as I design/spec the cell sites, SATCOM backhaul network, and bush located central offices that are also subsidized by federal tax dollars.

Yes, I know. Despite all the ballyhoo about how "independent" and "self-reliant" Alaska supposedly is, that state is consistently at or near the top when it comes to accepting Federal handouts (welfare) of all kinds.

73 de Jim, N2EY

[WF7A]

you can still use the pubilc restroom for free

But who wants to? Ewwwwww!

[KC9UDX]

But who wants to? Ewwwwww!

Use one in China, and you'll really appreciate the cleanliness of the one in the gas station in the middle of Nowhere, Texas every time.