1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: Brought to you by the reinvented two thousand twelve camera. 2 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:09,000 Speaker 1: It's ready. Are you get in touch with technologies? With 3 00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:17,960 Speaker 1: tech Stuff from how stuff works dot com. Hello there, everyone, 4 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:20,600 Speaker 1: and welcome to tech stuff. My name is Chris Poette 5 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:23,080 Speaker 1: and I'm and the tech editor here at how stuff 6 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: works dot Com. A cross from me, as he often 7 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:30,000 Speaker 1: does on afternoons such as this one would be senior 8 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:35,480 Speaker 1: writer Jonathan Strickland. Hey there, all right then, so time 9 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:37,920 Speaker 1: to talk about you know, this time of year we 10 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:40,239 Speaker 1: kind of get to uh wanting to talk about our 11 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:45,040 Speaker 1: favorite stuff. Yeah, because turns and easy and it gives 12 00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:49,080 Speaker 1: hence to certain significant others and family members and friends 13 00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:52,599 Speaker 1: of what to get us for Christmas or any other 14 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:56,440 Speaker 1: kind of holiday. It's Christmas for me. Yeah, Well, I 15 00:00:56,440 --> 00:00:59,280 Speaker 1: mean I could say Hanakah, but let's I'm not Jewish. 16 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:02,680 Speaker 1: Well there you go, but it's it's you know, it's 17 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:05,160 Speaker 1: all over the world now people are you see ads 18 00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:08,040 Speaker 1: everywhere about stuff? You know, we could buy this stuff 19 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:12,399 Speaker 1: and electronic gizmos and gadgets. You know, our Baileywick is 20 00:01:12,680 --> 00:01:16,080 Speaker 1: one of the biggest segments of the uh, the economy. 21 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:18,360 Speaker 1: Around this time of year, we do a lot of 22 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:21,559 Speaker 1: business so so. But but this year, we're not really 23 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:23,680 Speaker 1: doing a gift guide so much as we are talking 24 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:27,560 Speaker 1: about some of the favorite things that Yeah. Yeah, we 25 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:31,039 Speaker 1: had a listener right in UM and unfortunately I have 26 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:33,399 Speaker 1: misplaced the email, but we had a listener right in 27 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:36,720 Speaker 1: and asked us behind the couch what our favorite tech 28 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:40,399 Speaker 1: gifts were actually our favorite pieces of tech total, but 29 00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:42,920 Speaker 1: that's a huge category. So Chris came up with the 30 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:45,160 Speaker 1: brilliant idea, like, Hey, the holiday season is coming up, 31 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:48,560 Speaker 1: how we talk about the our favorite tech thingies that 32 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:51,720 Speaker 1: we have received as gifts on the holidays? Yeah, and 33 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:53,760 Speaker 1: and part of the reason I did that was because 34 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 1: some of the biggest tech stuff I've ever owned I 35 00:01:57,200 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 1: never got as a gift, and I thought some of 36 00:01:59,880 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 1: the coolest tech stuff I got wasn't really gadgety enough. 37 00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 1: So I figured this worked out. It'd be a little 38 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 1: different with order to the geek squad. Right, we're not 39 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:11,799 Speaker 1: talking just about about gadgets or uh are we. We 40 00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:14,080 Speaker 1: We opened up the category a little bit so that 41 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 1: it'll be a little easier. So let's take a little 42 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:18,640 Speaker 1: walk down memory lane and chat about some of the 43 00:02:18,639 --> 00:02:20,840 Speaker 1: stuff that we got as UM We're gonna start with 44 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:23,360 Speaker 1: some stuff that we got as kids that kind of 45 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:26,520 Speaker 1: sort of falls into the toy slash tech line and 46 00:02:26,639 --> 00:02:28,920 Speaker 1: uh and and work our way up from there. Now, 47 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:31,880 Speaker 1: we're not gonna obviously go year by year, because no, no, no, 48 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 1: I would take too long. Chris and I have lived 49 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:36,440 Speaker 1: far too long for that. Yes, thanks a lot for 50 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 1: pointing right now. God, I feel so old. Yeah, start 51 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:43,519 Speaker 1: go to your first one. Okay. The first one I 52 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:47,800 Speaker 1: really wanted to bring up, uh was something um that 53 00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:50,799 Speaker 1: I got under the tree at my grandmother's house when 54 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:53,359 Speaker 1: I was I think eight years old, And that would 55 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:56,920 Speaker 1: be Milton Bradley's Big Track and the Transport. Have you 56 00:02:56,960 --> 00:02:59,240 Speaker 1: never seen this thing? I have no idea what you're 57 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 1: talking about. I am impressed, you know, well, I am 58 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:05,320 Speaker 1: older than than Jonathan is. However, um, someone will right 59 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:07,640 Speaker 1: in and and and vindicate how cool this thing was. 60 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:11,720 Speaker 1: Big Track was. Go ahead, it's it's t it's t 61 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:15,760 Speaker 1: R a K. However, um and Big Track was. And 62 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 1: in my opinion, this totally fits into tech stuff though, 63 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:20,800 Speaker 1: because it was a programmable tank. It's sort of like 64 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:24,680 Speaker 1: a tank of the future. Look at that thing. Yeah, 65 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:27,840 Speaker 1: it was really cool. Um And it would allow you 66 00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:30,239 Speaker 1: to do and it had like a nu merit keep 67 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:32,799 Speaker 1: had on them back on the top of it, and 68 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 1: um it would allow you to give it a simple 69 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:38,040 Speaker 1: program like you could say, I want you to go left. 70 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:43,760 Speaker 1: I don't know that it had a specific uh distance 71 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:46,880 Speaker 1: programmed into it. You had to kind of go, okay, 72 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:50,200 Speaker 1: I want you to go ahead five some things and 73 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:53,160 Speaker 1: turn left, and then I want you to go forward 74 00:03:53,440 --> 00:03:57,160 Speaker 1: seven some things. And by trial and error, you could 75 00:03:57,200 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 1: program it to go into the next room and shoot 76 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:06,600 Speaker 1: its little laser cannon at the dog, the television, your parents, uh, 77 00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:08,840 Speaker 1: some random corner, and then you'd have to take it 78 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:12,520 Speaker 1: back in reprogram it to turn the other direction. But 79 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 1: it also came with a really cool transport which you 80 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:17,120 Speaker 1: could plug into the back and it was like a 81 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:20,400 Speaker 1: dump truck thing because you know, every robotic tank needs 82 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:22,599 Speaker 1: a dump truck thing that goes in the back. But 83 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:26,560 Speaker 1: you could also you know, go in, turn around, shoot 84 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:29,400 Speaker 1: at the dog and dump the three nerve balls that 85 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:33,240 Speaker 1: you piled into the back of the transport. UM anyway, 86 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 1: really cool basic programming thing and really techy sort of 87 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:40,360 Speaker 1: went along with the starboard, which I also got one 88 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:43,880 Speaker 1: of um no programming involved there. But it did have 89 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 1: an accelerometer in it so that you know, because you 90 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:48,640 Speaker 1: turned it on and it made engine noises. And it 91 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:52,080 Speaker 1: was basically a little spaceship. Uh. And you can modify 92 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:54,480 Speaker 1: it by taking little spaceships on and off of it, 93 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 1: you know, sort of vultron like you could plug it in. 94 00:04:57,120 --> 00:05:00,599 Speaker 1: But um, if you tilted it up, the the sound 95 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:02,880 Speaker 1: would get, you know, higher in pitch to make it 96 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 1: sound like it wasn't climbing, or you know, you turn 97 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:06,680 Speaker 1: it down and it would go lower, so you could 98 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:09,160 Speaker 1: fly around the house annoy the living daylights out of 99 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:11,479 Speaker 1: your parents. And uh, you know they were sort of 100 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:14,719 Speaker 1: related because we were both from Milton Bradley, now owned 101 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:18,719 Speaker 1: by a much larger company that starts with hasbro Um, 102 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:22,000 Speaker 1: but both neat tech gizmos I got as a kid, 103 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:25,080 Speaker 1: and I just I love those things throve my parents crazy. 104 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:27,920 Speaker 1: I still have I still have all of that stuff. 105 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:30,839 Speaker 1: You know what that makes me think of? What's that? Okay, 106 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:33,440 Speaker 1: I wasn't gonna start with this. Actually this wasn't even 107 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:35,480 Speaker 1: on my list. It was only because after hearing you 108 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:38,839 Speaker 1: that it sparked a memory. Okay, Um, I have the 109 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:42,960 Speaker 1: Blue Army me fisto, rumble robot. I don't think I'm 110 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:46,400 Speaker 1: familiar with that, the rumble robots. First of all, I 111 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:49,720 Speaker 1: have to admit, rumble robots are not very old. You 112 00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:52,320 Speaker 1: see what the picture looks like right there, that's him 113 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:55,720 Speaker 1: right there, So that that's totally not interesting to all 114 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:58,360 Speaker 1: you audio podcast people out there. So go look up 115 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:01,880 Speaker 1: me FISTO M E F I S t O, and 116 00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:04,640 Speaker 1: that's a rumble robot. Um. All right. First of all, 117 00:06:04,760 --> 00:06:07,520 Speaker 1: interest a full disclosure. I got this gift maybe four 118 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:10,760 Speaker 1: years ago, so this is not a kid gift. This 119 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:14,560 Speaker 1: is a big kid gift. It's meant for little kids. 120 00:06:14,960 --> 00:06:17,880 Speaker 1: But I have the mentality and emotional development of a 121 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 1: little kid, so it worked out well. But this was 122 00:06:20,960 --> 00:06:23,360 Speaker 1: a present to me from a friend of mine, a 123 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 1: friend that he goes by the nickname oz Oz also 124 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:30,040 Speaker 1: has a rumble robot. Oz, by the way, is at 125 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:33,520 Speaker 1: least six years older than I am. Actually he's older 126 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:35,840 Speaker 1: than that, but I'm going to be nice to oz 127 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:40,640 Speaker 1: Um and so Um, a person even older than I am, 128 00:06:40,960 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 1: went out and bought rumble robots so that we could 129 00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:47,719 Speaker 1: have robot fights. And that's what these things are. They're 130 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:52,320 Speaker 1: remote controlled rumble Rumble robots. They have UM an ability 131 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:55,720 Speaker 1: to uh both a physical attack and a little laser attack. 132 00:06:56,040 --> 00:06:58,520 Speaker 1: And the way that you determine how strong your robot 133 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:02,720 Speaker 1: is is you have elector cards that you scan, and 134 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 1: you could scan up to I think it's three or four. 135 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:06,440 Speaker 1: I can't remember now, it's been a long time since 136 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 1: we played with these UM, but you could scan three 137 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:12,320 Speaker 1: or four of these cards, which gives your robot certain abilities, 138 00:07:12,360 --> 00:07:14,880 Speaker 1: like it will actually determine how fast it can move. 139 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 1: So if you have a speed of five, it's gonna 140 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 1: go much faster than someone who has a speed of 141 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 1: three and you so you could determine how hard it strikes, 142 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:25,240 Speaker 1: how fast it moves, how powerful it's laser is, how 143 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:28,840 Speaker 1: good its defenses are, and uh, and put your robot 144 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:31,960 Speaker 1: in battles with another robot. You could also buy supplemental 145 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:36,280 Speaker 1: armor and weapons, which I did so that I could 146 00:07:36,320 --> 00:07:40,360 Speaker 1: defeat my my hated opponent. UM. We really should have 147 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 1: entitled this one Tech Toys, because I have a feeling 148 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:44,680 Speaker 1: where we've started a threat that we're just gonna go 149 00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:46,680 Speaker 1: through all the different toys that we've owned. Yes, this 150 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:49,960 Speaker 1: was this was a gift that a gift that my 151 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:52,200 Speaker 1: wife would say, it's the gift that keeps on taking 152 00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:54,840 Speaker 1: as and it takes her sanity bit by bit as 153 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:59,280 Speaker 1: her husband that rolls the robot around and and uh essentially, 154 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 1: when ever Oz was not over for us to have 155 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:05,920 Speaker 1: our robot Wars, I was using the Rumble robot to 156 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:12,560 Speaker 1: antagonize our dogs, which was hysterical alright. Anyway, that that 157 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:16,400 Speaker 1: technically was not the one I was gonna start off with. Um. 158 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:19,680 Speaker 1: I was actually gonna talk about a collection of the 159 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:21,840 Speaker 1: stuff that I got as a kid that really got 160 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:25,960 Speaker 1: me kind of interested in technology and allay, So now 161 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:28,360 Speaker 1: I would I grew up in the in the late 162 00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:32,000 Speaker 1: seventies early eighties, so I grew up just as the 163 00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:36,480 Speaker 1: merchandizing craze began for for like, where the cartoons and 164 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:40,680 Speaker 1: the toys were really closely tied in together. So you know, 165 00:08:40,920 --> 00:08:44,480 Speaker 1: started by Star Wars. Okay, so Star Wars Lucas he 166 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:47,239 Speaker 1: hit on something brilliant. He managed to hit that merchandizing 167 00:08:47,559 --> 00:08:50,480 Speaker 1: nail right on the head. So of course I did 168 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 1: own a lot of Star Wars toys, including the Millennium Falcon, 169 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:56,400 Speaker 1: which I count as a gadget because it made noises 170 00:08:56,920 --> 00:08:59,400 Speaker 1: and it was awesome. And I had uh you know, 171 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:01,680 Speaker 1: I had like a high interceptor at a Thai fighter 172 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 1: had the X Wing fighter. Um, I didn't have a 173 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:08,800 Speaker 1: y Wing. I need to talk to my parents. And 174 00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:10,840 Speaker 1: I have an ad AT either. That's what I always wanted, 175 00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:13,400 Speaker 1: was one of the ad ats, the huge ad ats, yes, 176 00:09:13,800 --> 00:09:18,319 Speaker 1: the all terrain attack transports. Um did not have one. 177 00:09:18,559 --> 00:09:21,320 Speaker 1: A friend of mine did though, and we we used 178 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:24,560 Speaker 1: to have amazing battles. So. But I also was a 179 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:28,360 Speaker 1: big human fan. I don't make apologies. I was a kid. 180 00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:30,760 Speaker 1: I had no sense of taste. So I had a 181 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:33,680 Speaker 1: castle gray skull at a snake mountain. Uh. And I 182 00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:36,079 Speaker 1: was a big Transformers fan, so I had lots of Transformers, 183 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:38,160 Speaker 1: which also kind of sort of count as gadgets, but 184 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:40,720 Speaker 1: not really because then you know, again, it was something 185 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:44,200 Speaker 1: that got me interested in science fiction and gadgetry in general. Um, 186 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:47,800 Speaker 1: these toys. Yeah, and the robots, which literally led to 187 00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:51,360 Speaker 1: my enjoyment of the Rumble robot. Um. But these were little, 188 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:54,400 Speaker 1: tiny building blocks upon which I began to build my 189 00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:59,079 Speaker 1: obsession for gadgets in tech. I I just thought of something. 190 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:02,400 Speaker 1: They thank you for that, because I actually just thought 191 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:04,440 Speaker 1: of something that fits perfectly in that. Oh, dear lord, 192 00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:05,760 Speaker 1: this is good. This is going to be like a 193 00:10:05,760 --> 00:10:09,000 Speaker 1: fifteen minute podcast. You know. I will mention it briefly. 194 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:11,839 Speaker 1: Do you remember those kids that you used to be 195 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:13,280 Speaker 1: able to buy at radio shack. I don't know if 196 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:14,680 Speaker 1: you could still do it, but the ones with the 197 00:10:14,720 --> 00:10:19,000 Speaker 1: little springs and wires and basically they were a very 198 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:22,959 Speaker 1: simple computer and you could you attach you know, you 199 00:10:23,320 --> 00:10:25,960 Speaker 1: attach a wire to spring six and oh, you know, 200 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:28,000 Speaker 1: you you move it over to other stuff. Now they 201 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:30,319 Speaker 1: have stuff like this and uh, you know, make magazine. 202 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:34,600 Speaker 1: They have much more advanced versions of this where you 203 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:36,680 Speaker 1: can you know, basically pull the wires in and out 204 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:38,800 Speaker 1: and it's it's it's not the same type of thing. 205 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:41,160 Speaker 1: This was really aimed at kids. But you could make 206 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:45,760 Speaker 1: like a basic AM crystal radio receiver thing, and you could, 207 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:48,160 Speaker 1: you know, modify at different places. I haven't. I have 208 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:50,080 Speaker 1: no idea where that thing went. I have most of 209 00:10:50,080 --> 00:10:51,960 Speaker 1: my choice from childhood, but I don't have that. But 210 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:54,560 Speaker 1: I do remember getting that early on, probably when I 211 00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:57,120 Speaker 1: was you know, uh, you know, ten years old or 212 00:10:57,160 --> 00:11:00,240 Speaker 1: something like that. Yeah, right around that same time, same age, 213 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:02,240 Speaker 1: not the same time, but when I was about ten 214 00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:05,720 Speaker 1: years old. Um, I got one of my favorite gadget 215 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:09,199 Speaker 1: gifts of all my childhood, which is weird concerning the 216 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:11,480 Speaker 1: fact that I never really developed a proficiency with it. 217 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:16,720 Speaker 1: It was a Cassio keyboard. The musical keyboard, not the 218 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:21,400 Speaker 1: computer keyboard. We're talking about a a little electronic piano. 219 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:23,680 Speaker 1: Please tell me. It wasn't a little itty bittye with 220 00:11:23,720 --> 00:11:27,440 Speaker 1: the It wasn't that. No, No, it was a model. 221 00:11:27,559 --> 00:11:30,880 Speaker 1: It was a step up from that. Um No, it 222 00:11:30,960 --> 00:11:36,360 Speaker 1: was that one definitely definitely had the horrible pre programmed 223 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:40,520 Speaker 1: electronic drum tracks. Yeah, and I can't remember. I can't 224 00:11:40,520 --> 00:11:43,319 Speaker 1: remember what the demo song was anymore. But I could 225 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:46,360 Speaker 1: only play by ear and because I never learned to 226 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:49,439 Speaker 1: really play the thing. But I really enjoyed it. Um 227 00:11:49,480 --> 00:11:52,240 Speaker 1: and uh and I remember that. Uh. I was a 228 00:11:52,280 --> 00:11:55,040 Speaker 1: big fan of learning different songs somehow. I mean, I 229 00:11:55,480 --> 00:11:57,960 Speaker 1: think it's just a law that if you own a 230 00:11:57,960 --> 00:12:01,200 Speaker 1: little electric keyboard, eventually, even if you've never heard the 231 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:04,360 Speaker 1: song before, you eventually learned how to play Heart and Soul. Yeah. 232 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:07,200 Speaker 1: I don't know how that happens, because that was one 233 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:09,360 Speaker 1: of the songs I learned to play by ear. I 234 00:12:09,400 --> 00:12:12,200 Speaker 1: don't ever remember hearing that song before I had the keyboard, 235 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:15,079 Speaker 1: and I don't know how the hell I I encountered it, 236 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:18,080 Speaker 1: but I learned how to play it, and thankfully it 237 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:20,400 Speaker 1: has replaced I mean, the Heart and Soul is at 238 00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:23,840 Speaker 1: least timeless. When I was around a lot of people 239 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:27,040 Speaker 1: who were playing around with those, it was axel lef from. 240 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:29,360 Speaker 1: I did learn how to play that. I learned how 241 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:32,959 Speaker 1: to play the Empire March from the Impress dricks back 242 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:37,400 Speaker 1: the Imperial March. Um. Yeah, I learned a few pretty 243 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:40,280 Speaker 1: lame songs. I also was very envious of my friend 244 00:12:40,280 --> 00:12:43,120 Speaker 1: who lived down the street because he had one of 245 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:46,560 Speaker 1: the electronic keyboards that allowed you to record a a 246 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:48,360 Speaker 1: sound bite and then it would play it back at 247 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:52,080 Speaker 1: different pitches, which of course meant that we spent hours 248 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:56,040 Speaker 1: of fun giggling over saying naughty words into the synthesizer 249 00:12:56,080 --> 00:12:59,000 Speaker 1: and then making it play it at chipmunk and uh 250 00:12:59,040 --> 00:13:03,120 Speaker 1: and like super stoner speeds. And you know, we have 251 00:13:03,320 --> 00:13:07,320 Speaker 1: a whole lot of people who are are our younger 252 00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:10,120 Speaker 1: listeners who are just going, dude, I could so totally 253 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:13,040 Speaker 1: do that. You just gave them all ideas. It's there's 254 00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:18,680 Speaker 1: nothing like playing jingle bells using an expletive at different 255 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:22,000 Speaker 1: pitches as the only note through the whole thing. Okay, 256 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:24,160 Speaker 1: so I'm going to change the subject now, Okay, go ahead, 257 00:13:24,160 --> 00:13:26,720 Speaker 1: I'm any of their parents. I'm actually about to start 258 00:13:26,760 --> 00:13:30,400 Speaker 1: giggling all over again. I'll bet you are. I wish 259 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:33,240 Speaker 1: I could remember the name of the manufacturer because it 260 00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:35,320 Speaker 1: wasn't a brand name. But I got one of my 261 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:38,559 Speaker 1: very first portable cassette player. I got us a gift, 262 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:43,160 Speaker 1: and uh it, it's really cool because it's not cool now. 263 00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:46,640 Speaker 1: It was really cool then because it had a cassette 264 00:13:46,640 --> 00:13:49,959 Speaker 1: adapter that would allow it to receive radio. So you know, 265 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:51,760 Speaker 1: I could take out the tape and put in this 266 00:13:51,840 --> 00:13:54,640 Speaker 1: adapter and you know, scroll a things sideways and it 267 00:13:54,679 --> 00:13:56,800 Speaker 1: would actually get radio, which was really cool. I used 268 00:13:56,800 --> 00:13:59,400 Speaker 1: it for years and years to paint war off of it. Yes, 269 00:13:59,600 --> 00:14:03,360 Speaker 1: it had paint. And were they actually broadcasting radio back then? 270 00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:10,520 Speaker 1: Jonathan h Later it turned so ugly before the end 271 00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:12,200 Speaker 1: of the podcast and the in the in the not 272 00:14:12,360 --> 00:14:16,840 Speaker 1: too uh even distant past, it's probably five or six 273 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:21,120 Speaker 1: years well now, it's probably around two thousand, two thousand one. 274 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:24,640 Speaker 1: I got a my last portable device that wasn't an 275 00:14:24,640 --> 00:14:28,480 Speaker 1: all digital device would be the Reo volt player from 276 00:14:28,480 --> 00:14:31,760 Speaker 1: Sonic Blue, which was would allow you to play discs 277 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:33,560 Speaker 1: like I had a couple of discmn that I bought, 278 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:36,280 Speaker 1: actually got one as a gift, you know, My very 279 00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:39,160 Speaker 1: first discman was a gift. But the Sonic Blue was 280 00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:40,800 Speaker 1: kind of cool because it would allow you to play 281 00:14:40,840 --> 00:14:43,200 Speaker 1: to make a disc of MP three files, so you 282 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:45,960 Speaker 1: could listen to a you know, off the shelf CD, 283 00:14:46,160 --> 00:14:48,640 Speaker 1: or you could listen to a CD of m P three's, 284 00:14:48,640 --> 00:14:55,040 Speaker 1: which until I got an iPod, was really useful. Yeah, um, 285 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:57,160 Speaker 1: that was kind of cool. It actually got stolen along 286 00:14:57,160 --> 00:15:01,200 Speaker 1: with a pair of den On headphones, really awesome headphones 287 00:15:01,240 --> 00:15:03,760 Speaker 1: that guy as a gift from my dad. Um and 288 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:06,560 Speaker 1: unfortunately those we're both stolen when my house was broken into. 289 00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:10,880 Speaker 1: But anyway, those were all my music type gadgets together. Well, 290 00:15:10,920 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 1: if I'm talking about music type gadgets, they're really only 291 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:16,840 Speaker 1: two that I can talk about. There were gifts. One 292 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:19,880 Speaker 1: was my very first CD player, which was a portable 293 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:22,560 Speaker 1: CD player. You plugged headphones into it, it didn't you know, 294 00:15:22,720 --> 00:15:25,040 Speaker 1: or you could plug it I guess you could have 295 00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:26,760 Speaker 1: a male to male connector and plug it into an 296 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:29,680 Speaker 1: auxiliary for you know, some other radio. But it had 297 00:15:29,760 --> 00:15:33,720 Speaker 1: no native speakers. It's just a little c CD player 298 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:35,840 Speaker 1: And uh, I got it. It was probably a couple 299 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:37,760 Speaker 1: of years after CDs came out. Like, guys, you gotta 300 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:41,200 Speaker 1: remember if you weren't around when compact disks first came out, 301 00:15:41,840 --> 00:15:46,280 Speaker 1: Compact displayers, like all new technology, were pretty expensive. Um, 302 00:15:46,320 --> 00:15:49,080 Speaker 1: that was something where I really wanted one. But at 303 00:15:49,080 --> 00:15:51,160 Speaker 1: the same time I knew that it was it was 304 00:15:51,320 --> 00:15:53,600 Speaker 1: kind of an extravagant gift, so I felt badly about 305 00:15:53,640 --> 00:15:56,320 Speaker 1: asking for one. But my parents did get me. They 306 00:15:56,320 --> 00:16:01,080 Speaker 1: got me a refurbished uh portable CD player or Christmas gift, 307 00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:03,560 Speaker 1: a couple a couple of years after the CD players 308 00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:06,160 Speaker 1: had first hit the market, so still they're still in 309 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:09,120 Speaker 1: the fairly expensive rangel that they weren't extravagantly expensive at 310 00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:12,680 Speaker 1: that point. Um, and I think that gift, I think 311 00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:15,720 Speaker 1: they ended up really liking that gift for me, because 312 00:16:16,040 --> 00:16:19,480 Speaker 1: from on subsequent Christmas is I would ask them for um, 313 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:21,800 Speaker 1: classical music cd s, which I don't know if you've 314 00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:24,280 Speaker 1: ever gone shopping for classical music CDs, but you can 315 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:27,240 Speaker 1: buy like fifty for a buck. I mean, it's crazy 316 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:30,400 Speaker 1: how many you can purchase, uh for a really cheap price. 317 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:32,320 Speaker 1: And so they were like, you know, my sister would 318 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:34,480 Speaker 1: be asking for a new computer, and I'd be asking 319 00:16:34,520 --> 00:16:37,720 Speaker 1: for you know, I would like this Broms collection. So 320 00:16:38,320 --> 00:16:40,240 Speaker 1: uh so that ended up being the gift that kept 321 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:44,440 Speaker 1: on giving. But the other music present that I received 322 00:16:45,160 --> 00:16:49,280 Speaker 1: was my first MP three player, which was a Creative 323 00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:53,240 Speaker 1: Zen Touch twenty gigabyte. And you might have heard me 324 00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:57,200 Speaker 1: talk about this once before, the Creative Zen Touch. It 325 00:16:57,400 --> 00:17:01,280 Speaker 1: was what a heavy MP three player that thing was. 326 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:04,879 Speaker 1: I mean, it felt like a brick of lead, but 327 00:17:05,359 --> 00:17:08,119 Speaker 1: it was awesome. It held so much music. It was 328 00:17:08,160 --> 00:17:10,520 Speaker 1: the first time I had ever had a device that 329 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:15,520 Speaker 1: could hold that much content, uh, you know, considering how 330 00:17:15,560 --> 00:17:17,640 Speaker 1: small it was. And I had a little touch sensitive 331 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:19,440 Speaker 1: bar in the center that would allow you to scroll 332 00:17:19,520 --> 00:17:21,479 Speaker 1: up and scroll down, although that did get a little 333 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:24,760 Speaker 1: wonky towards the end of its life. But that was 334 00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:28,000 Speaker 1: a great device. I really enjoyed it, um despite the 335 00:17:28,040 --> 00:17:31,800 Speaker 1: fact that it did weigh just under a metric time. Yeah, 336 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:35,119 Speaker 1: actually that reminds me because um my, uh, you know, 337 00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:38,199 Speaker 1: I wasn't actually done with my music gadgets the very 338 00:17:38,280 --> 00:17:43,280 Speaker 1: last one was my my very first iPod, the click Wheel, 339 00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:46,760 Speaker 1: the very last black and white, which is still running fine, 340 00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:49,399 Speaker 1: thank you very much. Battery life is terrible when I 341 00:17:49,440 --> 00:17:52,920 Speaker 1: haven't had it replaced. Unda, you can't even get through 342 00:17:52,960 --> 00:18:00,800 Speaker 1: the whole song. It darnish um now, um, actually it's 343 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:02,040 Speaker 1: kind of hard to get through, and it got a 344 00:18:02,200 --> 00:18:07,160 Speaker 1: veto on a new iPods a long song. It approximately 345 00:18:07,359 --> 00:18:11,119 Speaker 1: lasts about as long as your average German opera. No, 346 00:18:11,400 --> 00:18:14,040 Speaker 1: I'm just just teasing now, um, but yeah, that was 347 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:18,159 Speaker 1: my my first all digital player and coincidentally, uh just 348 00:18:18,359 --> 00:18:21,280 Speaker 1: before No, it was just after my my house was 349 00:18:21,359 --> 00:18:25,400 Speaker 1: broken into. But my wife and I exchanged iPods that year, 350 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:29,560 Speaker 1: decided to well here's your here's your iPod. Well now 351 00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:32,199 Speaker 1: we have a reason nice. Well now we got them 352 00:18:32,240 --> 00:18:35,600 Speaker 1: engraved with our names, so sweet you know yea, So 353 00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:37,480 Speaker 1: now I'm going, okay, I need to recyclist. But it 354 00:18:37,560 --> 00:18:42,000 Speaker 1: has my naming graved on. Darn now someone will know 355 00:18:42,119 --> 00:18:44,359 Speaker 1: my name. Well you never know, you got it. You 356 00:18:44,440 --> 00:18:45,960 Speaker 1: have to run it through the shredder and it it 357 00:18:46,040 --> 00:18:47,919 Speaker 1: just match this big mess. Yeah, you definitely don't want 358 00:18:47,960 --> 00:18:50,960 Speaker 1: people seeing how many like of the Wiggles songs you 359 00:18:51,080 --> 00:18:54,359 Speaker 1: have on there or whatever. I do have wiggles songs. God, 360 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:56,760 Speaker 1: I was hoping you didn't. I was so hoping I 361 00:18:56,840 --> 00:19:01,480 Speaker 1: also have children. This is true, all right. So so 362 00:19:01,880 --> 00:19:05,720 Speaker 1: game consoles. I've actually received three game consoles as gifts. 363 00:19:05,800 --> 00:19:09,040 Speaker 1: Now I own more than three game consoles, but only 364 00:19:09,119 --> 00:19:14,399 Speaker 1: three of them were presents. It could me me also, um. 365 00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:17,280 Speaker 1: And then I also got a Sega Dreamcast, and I 366 00:19:17,320 --> 00:19:20,159 Speaker 1: got the Sega Dreamcast after the Dreamcast was already a 367 00:19:20,320 --> 00:19:24,000 Speaker 1: dead product. So but it didn't matter to me because 368 00:19:24,119 --> 00:19:26,760 Speaker 1: the games were still awesome. You could pick up any 369 00:19:27,040 --> 00:19:30,920 Speaker 1: used game form for a song. And also that was 370 00:19:30,960 --> 00:19:33,479 Speaker 1: really embarrassing going in and singing to those people. Well, 371 00:19:33,560 --> 00:19:36,520 Speaker 1: but didn't get anything. I'm a ham like I care. 372 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 1: I'll go in and sing anywhere. People have to stop 373 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:41,200 Speaker 1: me from singing here. Uh. And then the third one 374 00:19:41,400 --> 00:19:44,800 Speaker 1: was the PlayStation two. Ah, yes, which I also got 375 00:19:45,320 --> 00:19:49,199 Speaker 1: well after it had started to Uh well, I mean 376 00:19:49,240 --> 00:19:51,800 Speaker 1: it's still they're still making games for it. So yes, yes, 377 00:19:51,880 --> 00:19:54,479 Speaker 1: well I actually got mine. Uh. I bought my PlayStation two, 378 00:19:54,560 --> 00:19:56,560 Speaker 1: but got one of the very last ones before they 379 00:19:56,560 --> 00:20:01,200 Speaker 1: went to the new slim design. Um. Yeah, the actually 380 00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:03,760 Speaker 1: wasn't a gift around a holiday or anything like that. 381 00:20:03,840 --> 00:20:06,440 Speaker 1: It was one of those things that I think my 382 00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:09,920 Speaker 1: parents just decided to spring on me because they wanted 383 00:20:09,960 --> 00:20:13,200 Speaker 1: to and nice an occasionally. Hey, you know what, surprise 384 00:20:13,359 --> 00:20:16,000 Speaker 1: here it is, so it counts it's a gift. I 385 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:19,520 Speaker 1: also got a Sega Genesis as a holiday gift one 386 00:20:19,600 --> 00:20:21,280 Speaker 1: year or so. That was kind of If any of 387 00:20:21,359 --> 00:20:24,560 Speaker 1: these sounds unfamiliar to you, guys, because you're fourteen to 388 00:20:24,640 --> 00:20:26,120 Speaker 1: the end, are a lot of you who are four teens? Yeah, 389 00:20:26,119 --> 00:20:27,399 Speaker 1: I go to the internet and look them up, and 390 00:20:27,480 --> 00:20:29,840 Speaker 1: you can see what kind of crazy game systems these 391 00:20:29,880 --> 00:20:32,120 Speaker 1: two old fogies like to play when they were kids. 392 00:20:32,520 --> 00:20:34,760 Speaker 1: Have another older gadget too, but it's not a game system. 393 00:20:34,920 --> 00:20:38,119 Speaker 1: What's that? Uh? I got my very first p D 394 00:20:38,240 --> 00:20:43,159 Speaker 1: a Personal Digital assistant, uh when for a gift one year, 395 00:20:43,480 --> 00:20:46,480 Speaker 1: which was the hand Spring Visor Deluxe, which ran on 396 00:20:46,560 --> 00:20:49,040 Speaker 1: the old Palm operating system. So a p d A 397 00:20:49,119 --> 00:20:50,359 Speaker 1: for those of you who don't know, it's like a 398 00:20:50,440 --> 00:20:55,119 Speaker 1: smartphone without the phone. Yeah, yeah, black and white. You know, 399 00:20:56,359 --> 00:20:58,760 Speaker 1: I think, what's sixteen shades of gray? I don't know anyway, 400 00:20:59,240 --> 00:21:05,159 Speaker 1: uh No, but it was no. It was my my 401 00:21:05,240 --> 00:21:08,680 Speaker 1: introduction to the world of handheld computing because I hadn't 402 00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:12,200 Speaker 1: ever had anything that was that advanced before. But you know, 403 00:21:12,320 --> 00:21:16,280 Speaker 1: it was actually kind of a cool device UM because 404 00:21:16,320 --> 00:21:19,440 Speaker 1: it allowed you to plug in cartridges with other programs 405 00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:23,120 Speaker 1: on it from other manufacturers. UM, something that I feel 406 00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:25,720 Speaker 1: like kind of got underutilized by short of people, but 407 00:21:26,440 --> 00:21:30,000 Speaker 1: nonetheless a nice idea. UM. And of course, Handspring went 408 00:21:30,080 --> 00:21:34,240 Speaker 1: on to UH start the Trio line of smartphones and 409 00:21:34,440 --> 00:21:38,880 Speaker 1: then later was acquired by the company who's founders founded 410 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:44,560 Speaker 1: both companies, Palm. You know, then Palem went on to 411 00:21:44,640 --> 00:21:48,119 Speaker 1: do other smartphones and stuff like that. But anyway, my 412 00:21:48,320 --> 00:21:51,080 Speaker 1: very first PDA was a gift and that was very cool. Now, 413 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:55,520 Speaker 1: if even if we had just uh decided to restrict 414 00:21:55,600 --> 00:21:59,800 Speaker 1: this to favorite games you've ever received as gifts, it 415 00:21:59,800 --> 00:22:02,400 Speaker 1: would be an incredibly long podcast for me because I've 416 00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:05,400 Speaker 1: received lots and lots of games as presents, which that's 417 00:22:05,440 --> 00:22:09,359 Speaker 1: great because I love playing various computer and video games. UH. 418 00:22:10,119 --> 00:22:12,360 Speaker 1: But I decided to narrow it down to my two 419 00:22:12,480 --> 00:22:15,159 Speaker 1: favorites which have a theme in common. See if you 420 00:22:15,200 --> 00:22:19,320 Speaker 1: can spot it, there is Sid Meyers Pirates and this 421 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:23,480 Speaker 1: was the pirate game for the UM the Apple to 422 00:22:23,840 --> 00:22:28,960 Speaker 1: actually I believe was the original one recent remake which 423 00:22:29,040 --> 00:22:33,159 Speaker 1: I also owned for the Xbox UM. But no, this 424 00:22:33,359 --> 00:22:37,240 Speaker 1: the original one, which I think was for the Apple too. 425 00:22:37,280 --> 00:22:39,440 Speaker 1: I don't think it was for our PC. And then 426 00:22:39,680 --> 00:22:43,159 Speaker 1: the second one was The Secret of Monkey Island. Do 427 00:22:43,240 --> 00:22:46,840 Speaker 1: you spot the theme? Well? Should I be? Is this 428 00:22:46,920 --> 00:22:49,520 Speaker 1: for me to spots this for our listenersers can totally 429 00:22:49,560 --> 00:22:53,320 Speaker 1: spot it. This is for you. It's a challenge for you. 430 00:22:53,480 --> 00:22:56,639 Speaker 1: It's that challenge for them. They're smart. Well, see seeing 431 00:22:56,640 --> 00:23:03,280 Speaker 1: as how that I I've never played either one of them. 432 00:23:03,320 --> 00:23:06,440 Speaker 1: In um okay, Well, the the hint is in the 433 00:23:06,560 --> 00:23:08,639 Speaker 1: title of one of the two games, and it's not 434 00:23:08,840 --> 00:23:18,680 Speaker 1: Monkey Okay. Sid is There's nothing like playing a game 435 00:23:18,720 --> 00:23:21,240 Speaker 1: of pirates. I was gonna say, though, isn't there aren't 436 00:23:21,240 --> 00:23:24,440 Speaker 1: there monkeys and in Pirates? Though? No, not in the 437 00:23:24,480 --> 00:23:27,000 Speaker 1: original one. No. I mean maybe in some of the 438 00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:29,119 Speaker 1: game aren't somewhere in the background, But no, there's no Like, 439 00:23:29,240 --> 00:23:31,520 Speaker 1: it's not like Oregon Trail. It's not like you're sailing 440 00:23:31,560 --> 00:23:34,399 Speaker 1: your trail. No. I'm just saying like, it's not like 441 00:23:34,480 --> 00:23:36,520 Speaker 1: you're sailing between ports and you suddenly get a message 442 00:23:36,520 --> 00:23:41,480 Speaker 1: saying your ship was beset by monkeys. It doesn't happen. No, 443 00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:44,280 Speaker 1: that would be awesome. So in the next Pirates game, said, 444 00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:46,960 Speaker 1: if you're listening and your next Pirates game, make sure 445 00:23:47,040 --> 00:23:49,840 Speaker 1: you have a moment where just on by random chance, 446 00:23:49,960 --> 00:23:51,960 Speaker 1: like if you were struck by lightning or something, you 447 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:54,080 Speaker 1: will get a message that just says your ship was 448 00:23:54,200 --> 00:23:57,240 Speaker 1: beset by monkeys. Maybe you lose like half the crew 449 00:23:57,359 --> 00:24:00,199 Speaker 1: and all the bananas are gone or something like that. Um, 450 00:24:01,359 --> 00:24:04,200 Speaker 1: so that's the only that's the that's the representative game 451 00:24:04,440 --> 00:24:07,000 Speaker 1: I decided to choose. I mean again, the list itself 452 00:24:07,040 --> 00:24:09,680 Speaker 1: as exhaustive. I would take forever to go throw them all. 453 00:24:09,800 --> 00:24:13,040 Speaker 1: But um yeah, if you guys haven't played sid Meyer's Pirates, 454 00:24:13,240 --> 00:24:15,640 Speaker 1: there is a version out for a newer version out 455 00:24:15,680 --> 00:24:18,359 Speaker 1: for computers and for the x the old Xbox, not 456 00:24:18,440 --> 00:24:21,879 Speaker 1: the Xbox three sixty. Um, and there might be for 457 00:24:22,040 --> 00:24:24,119 Speaker 1: other for the other platforms as well. It's just I 458 00:24:24,160 --> 00:24:26,360 Speaker 1: happen to have it for the Xbox. It's a fun game. 459 00:24:26,440 --> 00:24:28,760 Speaker 1: It's not quite the same one that I played back 460 00:24:28,840 --> 00:24:32,640 Speaker 1: on the Apple two, but um it's it's really faithful 461 00:24:32,680 --> 00:24:36,240 Speaker 1: to the original and it's uh, it's it's interesting. The 462 00:24:36,280 --> 00:24:39,160 Speaker 1: only thing that's weird is there's now a dance game 463 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:42,840 Speaker 1: included in the the new version where you have to 464 00:24:43,000 --> 00:24:44,320 Speaker 1: you know, it's one of those we have to time 465 00:24:44,359 --> 00:24:46,680 Speaker 1: the button press to to match what's on the screen 466 00:24:47,320 --> 00:24:51,359 Speaker 1: that was not in the original version the original game, Okay, 467 00:24:51,680 --> 00:24:54,800 Speaker 1: a little mini game inside of it. I'm trying to 468 00:24:54,920 --> 00:24:57,800 Speaker 1: think of my favorite, just to just to choose one 469 00:24:57,960 --> 00:25:01,399 Speaker 1: game that was a gift. Um, I'll stick with the 470 00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:03,840 Speaker 1: Sigemira theme, and I'm going to go with Civilization To, 471 00:25:04,560 --> 00:25:07,080 Speaker 1: which was my introduction to SIV games, which I think 472 00:25:07,240 --> 00:25:10,040 Speaker 1: it was a huge improvement over the first one. Yeah, 473 00:25:10,119 --> 00:25:11,760 Speaker 1: and and a lot of people said that the three 474 00:25:12,440 --> 00:25:15,160 Speaker 1: was sort of a disservice to fans of two. Yeah, 475 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:18,200 Speaker 1: two was great, and three felt I liked three, but 476 00:25:18,400 --> 00:25:19,760 Speaker 1: I didn't like it as well as I like Too. 477 00:25:19,800 --> 00:25:22,560 Speaker 1: And I haven't played for Yeah because I just simply 478 00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:26,080 Speaker 1: don't have. Tom Merritt dissed me when I when I 479 00:25:26,160 --> 00:25:29,240 Speaker 1: said Civilization To with superior to Civilization and so Tom, 480 00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:32,760 Speaker 1: this is just calling you out. You're wrong. Civilization Too 481 00:25:33,080 --> 00:25:35,800 Speaker 1: was a superior game to the first Civilization. Well, I've 482 00:25:35,840 --> 00:25:39,600 Speaker 1: never played Civilization one, so I will you know now, granted, 483 00:25:39,680 --> 00:25:43,400 Speaker 1: it did. It did still get a little irritating when 484 00:25:43,440 --> 00:25:47,240 Speaker 1: you would use a tank to attack a pike like 485 00:25:47,720 --> 00:25:50,520 Speaker 1: an Italian of people who all are armed with our pikes, 486 00:25:50,600 --> 00:25:53,720 Speaker 1: and they would beat you, because occasionally that could happen 487 00:25:54,480 --> 00:25:57,240 Speaker 1: and you're thinking, seriously, what did you do with that 488 00:25:57,480 --> 00:26:01,640 Speaker 1: stick that destroyed this tank? Well, they do have little 489 00:26:01,840 --> 00:26:05,800 Speaker 1: you know, maybe they found the exhaust port. Yeah, exactly. 490 00:26:07,080 --> 00:26:10,280 Speaker 1: Look that exhaust port is got to be less than 491 00:26:10,359 --> 00:26:12,760 Speaker 1: three ms wide. There's no way you can hit that. 492 00:26:14,359 --> 00:26:15,920 Speaker 1: You all know that I set him up for that, 493 00:26:16,040 --> 00:26:18,200 Speaker 1: right night? Okay, okay, well you know many both ins 494 00:26:18,280 --> 00:26:22,920 Speaker 1: died for this podcast returned too. My last, my last, 495 00:26:23,680 --> 00:26:26,200 Speaker 1: my last present that I received. Um well, oh wait, 496 00:26:26,240 --> 00:26:29,199 Speaker 1: well I get sticking with Star Wars really quickly. Um. 497 00:26:29,280 --> 00:26:31,800 Speaker 1: You know I mentioned Star Wars early on in my childhood. 498 00:26:32,280 --> 00:26:35,679 Speaker 1: So my parents, their their memories are long. Obviously, they 499 00:26:35,720 --> 00:26:39,760 Speaker 1: remember back when I was a little wee lad enjoying 500 00:26:39,800 --> 00:26:43,920 Speaker 1: my Chewbacca and uh that was not a youth, don't 501 00:26:43,960 --> 00:26:46,880 Speaker 1: write in. So they decided to give me a gift 502 00:26:46,920 --> 00:26:50,320 Speaker 1: a few years ago. Um, you've seen the the lightsaber replicas, 503 00:26:50,359 --> 00:26:52,560 Speaker 1: the ones that have the actual fluorescence where it lights 504 00:26:52,640 --> 00:26:55,399 Speaker 1: up and makes all the noises and everything. I have 505 00:26:55,560 --> 00:26:59,280 Speaker 1: one of those, and it is the most awesome toy ever. 506 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:01,560 Speaker 1: That same buddy I was telling you about the guy 507 00:27:01,600 --> 00:27:04,480 Speaker 1: who got the robots, as I called him, over the 508 00:27:04,600 --> 00:27:08,040 Speaker 1: day I got my my lightsaber and he drives up 509 00:27:08,080 --> 00:27:11,000 Speaker 1: into the driveway and it's, uh, it's dusk, so the 510 00:27:11,440 --> 00:27:14,160 Speaker 1: lights are down. I fire that thing up and he's 511 00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:17,960 Speaker 1: just like ah, and we're we revert to you know, 512 00:27:18,400 --> 00:27:21,440 Speaker 1: eight year old boys. It's awesome and then you can't 513 00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:24,080 Speaker 1: help but run around the neighborhood going wow, wow wow 514 00:27:24,200 --> 00:27:29,880 Speaker 1: and terrorizing other kids. Well other kids. Well, as I said, 515 00:27:29,960 --> 00:27:33,680 Speaker 1: we revert to that age. It happens. Um, yeah, you 516 00:27:33,760 --> 00:27:37,960 Speaker 1: know back when Star Wars was first out. I I 517 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:40,320 Speaker 1: don't remember. This was a gift and it's certainly not 518 00:27:40,520 --> 00:27:44,399 Speaker 1: very techy. I got an original Star Wars lightsaber. I 519 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:49,240 Speaker 1: don't want these. The original. It was an inflatable vinyl 520 00:27:49,560 --> 00:27:53,320 Speaker 1: tube that you know, sealed like a balloon and an 521 00:27:53,359 --> 00:27:55,760 Speaker 1: attached to a flashlight. No. I had one of these 522 00:27:55,840 --> 00:28:01,359 Speaker 1: two and it took I'd give it maybe six minutes 523 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:04,840 Speaker 1: before sprung a leak, and I could never find the 524 00:28:04,960 --> 00:28:06,639 Speaker 1: I mean, we stuck that thing in a tub to 525 00:28:06,760 --> 00:28:09,080 Speaker 1: try to you know, inflatable. If you've ever done this 526 00:28:09,119 --> 00:28:10,640 Speaker 1: with a big schole tire, you know what I'm talking about. 527 00:28:10,640 --> 00:28:12,800 Speaker 1: You know, to put some soap on it, maybe on 528 00:28:12,880 --> 00:28:15,240 Speaker 1: the seams, or you know, stick it underwater in the bathtub. 529 00:28:15,400 --> 00:28:16,840 Speaker 1: Never could find the leak on that thing. I still 530 00:28:16,840 --> 00:28:20,200 Speaker 1: have the flashlight. Clearly the force is weak for you, 531 00:28:21,720 --> 00:28:24,240 Speaker 1: certainly weak with that toy. So did you want to 532 00:28:24,280 --> 00:28:26,960 Speaker 1: mention anything that you wanted? Yeah, we'll do this really 533 00:28:27,040 --> 00:28:29,720 Speaker 1: quickly because this is running long. So this year, what 534 00:28:29,880 --> 00:28:34,120 Speaker 1: I would like for Christmas as a tech gift. Well, 535 00:28:34,200 --> 00:28:36,240 Speaker 1: you might remember last year I mentioned that I wanted 536 00:28:36,280 --> 00:28:38,880 Speaker 1: an Xbox three sixty or maybe a PlayStation three. I 537 00:28:39,200 --> 00:28:42,120 Speaker 1: remember that that still holds true. This year, someone did 538 00:28:42,200 --> 00:28:45,640 Speaker 1: not get the hint. I'm looking at you, jolly red 539 00:28:45,720 --> 00:28:49,560 Speaker 1: Elf up there in North Poland. Um, I would very 540 00:28:49,680 --> 00:28:52,080 Speaker 1: much like an Xbox three six or p S three. 541 00:28:52,120 --> 00:28:54,760 Speaker 1: They're even better than they were last year, so there's 542 00:28:55,000 --> 00:28:57,520 Speaker 1: more reason to buy one for me. Um. I also 543 00:28:57,560 --> 00:28:59,880 Speaker 1: would like a nook, but apparently I'm too late for that, 544 00:29:00,120 --> 00:29:01,680 Speaker 1: so I'm gonna have to wait till next year before 545 00:29:01,720 --> 00:29:04,240 Speaker 1: I can get a knook. Um. Yeah, I actually I 546 00:29:04,560 --> 00:29:07,440 Speaker 1: like the Nook design. I'm now granted maybe it's a 547 00:29:07,480 --> 00:29:09,320 Speaker 1: good thing that I'll have to wait because I can 548 00:29:09,600 --> 00:29:12,360 Speaker 1: read the reviews. The one thing I'm curious about is 549 00:29:12,480 --> 00:29:15,200 Speaker 1: the Nook. Of course, it's an e ink e reader, 550 00:29:15,360 --> 00:29:18,040 Speaker 1: you know, sort of like the Kindles, except that it 551 00:29:18,120 --> 00:29:20,600 Speaker 1: has a touch screen at the bottom. And that touch 552 00:29:20,680 --> 00:29:22,760 Speaker 1: screen at the bottom, I'm wondering if that puts a 553 00:29:22,800 --> 00:29:25,160 Speaker 1: bigger drain on the battery life. So I wonder how 554 00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:27,720 Speaker 1: long the battery lasts for the Nook. What's color? So 555 00:29:27,880 --> 00:29:31,200 Speaker 1: you know that that that one color, a little touch 556 00:29:31,240 --> 00:29:34,360 Speaker 1: screen at the bottom, it's gonna draw probably significantly more, 557 00:29:34,720 --> 00:29:36,040 Speaker 1: which is why I want to know how long the 558 00:29:36,080 --> 00:29:38,720 Speaker 1: battery life, because the Amazon can last for like two weeks, 559 00:29:39,480 --> 00:29:42,240 Speaker 1: but how long can the Nook last? If the battery 560 00:29:42,280 --> 00:29:44,240 Speaker 1: life is not that great, then I would prefer a 561 00:29:44,360 --> 00:29:47,200 Speaker 1: Kindle to as opposed to the Nook. But I love 562 00:29:47,280 --> 00:29:50,480 Speaker 1: the design of the Nook. Yeah, I actually like all 563 00:29:50,680 --> 00:29:53,000 Speaker 1: of the different major e readers for different reasons. I 564 00:29:53,040 --> 00:29:54,800 Speaker 1: wouldn't mind Anook, I wouldn't mind a Kindle, and I 565 00:29:54,840 --> 00:29:58,480 Speaker 1: wouldn't mind the the Sony Reader, the touch version, you know, 566 00:29:58,560 --> 00:30:01,560 Speaker 1: because it's got the touch screen technology and all. You know, 567 00:30:01,680 --> 00:30:03,640 Speaker 1: I'm pretty sure all of them out at least Sony, 568 00:30:03,680 --> 00:30:05,160 Speaker 1: when I know works with Mac, and I'm pretty sure 569 00:30:05,160 --> 00:30:08,320 Speaker 1: that the Kindle does too. Um, you know, I would 570 00:30:08,320 --> 00:30:09,880 Speaker 1: certainly want one of those, and I wouldn't mind one 571 00:30:09,920 --> 00:30:11,480 Speaker 1: of the gaming system I wouldn't like a nice pair 572 00:30:11,480 --> 00:30:13,960 Speaker 1: of headphones. I kind of missed my nice pair of headphones. 573 00:30:13,960 --> 00:30:16,120 Speaker 1: I haven't really I replaced the ones that got stolen 574 00:30:16,160 --> 00:30:18,600 Speaker 1: into the break in, but uh, the case on them 575 00:30:18,680 --> 00:30:21,480 Speaker 1: cracked and it costs a pretty significant amount of money 576 00:30:21,520 --> 00:30:23,920 Speaker 1: to have them sent back to the manufacturer and fixed. 577 00:30:24,600 --> 00:30:26,240 Speaker 1: I have to say, it is pretty sad to walk 578 00:30:26,280 --> 00:30:29,800 Speaker 1: by Poulette's desk and see him wearing those massively huge 579 00:30:29,920 --> 00:30:34,320 Speaker 1: headphones that eventually cut off all circulation to his brain. Yes, 580 00:30:34,640 --> 00:30:36,800 Speaker 1: what were we talking about again, Let's see he was 581 00:30:36,840 --> 00:30:40,800 Speaker 1: wearing them just before this podcast. All right, Well, um, so, 582 00:30:40,920 --> 00:30:43,440 Speaker 1: if any of you are dying to buy your favorite 583 00:30:43,520 --> 00:30:47,480 Speaker 1: text stuff, hosts of Present, now you have an idea 584 00:30:48,120 --> 00:30:51,440 Speaker 1: of what to get that you should No, I'm told 585 00:30:51,560 --> 00:30:53,440 Speaker 1: over and I'm told over and over again that we're 586 00:30:53,480 --> 00:30:56,800 Speaker 1: not supposed to solicit gifts. Although Stuff you should Know 587 00:30:56,920 --> 00:31:03,200 Speaker 1: has received several gifts, by the way, Yes, including liquor. Really, 588 00:31:03,280 --> 00:31:07,080 Speaker 1: I am not joking. I am not joking. Um, I'm 589 00:31:07,120 --> 00:31:10,120 Speaker 1: not asking for liquor because I don't drink. Yeah, we 590 00:31:10,160 --> 00:31:11,320 Speaker 1: would just have to give it to the stuff you 591 00:31:11,360 --> 00:31:13,120 Speaker 1: should know guys. So I guess if you really love 592 00:31:13,160 --> 00:31:14,680 Speaker 1: stuff you should know, you can send us licker and 593 00:31:14,720 --> 00:31:16,520 Speaker 1: we can give it to them. But they're already drunk 594 00:31:16,560 --> 00:31:21,840 Speaker 1: as it is, so what No, I'm not right now. 595 00:31:22,160 --> 00:31:24,080 Speaker 1: Well maybe right now. They're not in the office, so 596 00:31:24,160 --> 00:31:26,520 Speaker 1: who knows what those two are up to. But uh no, 597 00:31:26,760 --> 00:31:29,720 Speaker 1: we love stuff you should know. They're great guys. Uh No, 598 00:31:29,960 --> 00:31:33,320 Speaker 1: don't send us stuff that went on a lot longer 599 00:31:33,360 --> 00:31:36,400 Speaker 1: than anyway. Okay, we'll wrap it up with a little 600 00:31:36,640 --> 00:31:43,240 Speaker 1: listener mail. Okay, this listener mail comes from Frank G. 601 00:31:43,480 --> 00:31:46,280 Speaker 1: And this is overdue. So I apologize Frank, because you 602 00:31:46,480 --> 00:31:50,360 Speaker 1: are owed a kudos because Frank was the one who 603 00:31:50,440 --> 00:31:54,120 Speaker 1: figured out what it meant when I said, Michael, let's 604 00:31:54,200 --> 00:31:57,440 Speaker 1: drive to Congress. Do you figured out that it has 605 00:31:57,600 --> 00:32:01,640 Speaker 1: a connection through the actor who played both the voice 606 00:32:01,680 --> 00:32:07,440 Speaker 1: of Kit and John Adams in the musical seventeen seventy six. Yes, 607 00:32:07,520 --> 00:32:10,880 Speaker 1: it's the same actor and he is brilliant in both roles. 608 00:32:11,640 --> 00:32:13,920 Speaker 1: I kept on hoping that he would start bursting out 609 00:32:13,960 --> 00:32:16,680 Speaker 1: into song as Kit, but he never did. So watch 610 00:32:16,760 --> 00:32:20,200 Speaker 1: seventeen seventy six. It's fun. It's a goofy musical. It'll 611 00:32:20,240 --> 00:32:23,400 Speaker 1: teach you a little bit about the history of America. Um, 612 00:32:24,360 --> 00:32:27,120 Speaker 1: some of it's accurate. Turns out, the Failing Fathers did 613 00:32:27,200 --> 00:32:30,440 Speaker 1: not regularly burst out into song and dance, but if 614 00:32:30,480 --> 00:32:32,720 Speaker 1: they did, it would look a lot like seventeen seventy six. 615 00:32:33,160 --> 00:32:34,680 Speaker 1: Some of them did not have much of a sense 616 00:32:34,680 --> 00:32:38,000 Speaker 1: of humor to begin with. Yeah, John Adams among them, actually. 617 00:32:38,800 --> 00:32:41,520 Speaker 1: But if any of you have any comments, questions, suggestions 618 00:32:41,560 --> 00:32:43,080 Speaker 1: you want to yell at us because we spend an 619 00:32:43,200 --> 00:32:45,960 Speaker 1: entire podcast talking about stuff that we love. Uh, you 620 00:32:46,000 --> 00:32:48,520 Speaker 1: can email us. Our address is tech stuff at how 621 00:32:48,560 --> 00:32:50,880 Speaker 1: stuff works dot com. And if you want to read 622 00:32:50,880 --> 00:32:53,520 Speaker 1: about the stuff we talked about. I don't know what 623 00:32:53,680 --> 00:32:55,920 Speaker 1: the heck is wrong with you, but I'm sure you 624 00:32:56,000 --> 00:32:58,480 Speaker 1: can find many of the articles on how stuff works 625 00:32:58,520 --> 00:33:00,640 Speaker 1: dot com. Chris and I will out to you again 626 00:33:01,160 --> 00:33:06,880 Speaker 1: about stuff that you care about really soon, for moralness 627 00:33:06,960 --> 00:33:09,440 Speaker 1: and thousands of other topics. Is it how stuff works 628 00:33:09,480 --> 00:33:11,560 Speaker 1: dot com and be sure to check out the New 629 00:33:11,640 --> 00:33:14,200 Speaker 1: Tech Stuff blog now on the House Stuff Works homepage, 630 00:33:19,120 --> 00:33:21,680 Speaker 1: brought to you by the reinvented two thousand twelve camera. 631 00:33:22,000 --> 00:33:23,040 Speaker 1: It's ready, are you