Vagueness and the Aftermath - A sporadic diary

[Tractor]

No carcases ever found? No road kills? No photographs? No hard evidence of any kind? 

"Big cats are out there". Actually mate, no, they're not.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-16760599

Living in Gloucestershire, this debate runs and runs in the pubs, there are loads of Munkjacks, Foxes etc all roaming around every night, guaranteed every night home from pub/poker one or two dart across the road in front of you.
Normally the passenger in the car (whos had a few pints) will think it was a "big cat"

[RED-DOG]

Have many of you ever played pinball? Almost every cafe had one of these when I was a young man. They were incredibly popular and hugely addictive, even though the only reward for 'Winning' was a re-play.


The object of the game was basically to pit your with against gravity by keeping a steel ball-bearing in play for as long as possible using electronic paddles which were operated by pushing two little buttons, one on either side of the machine.

Conventional wisdom had it it that you could gain an advantage by rocking the machine from side to side as you played, thereby affecting the ball's trajectory in such a way as to prevent it from going down the out of bounds chute. Pinball machines however, were very sensitive to this form of angle shooting and would quickly go on tilt, voiding your game and confiscating your money into the bargain.

Shaking the machine was such a big risk to gain a tiny, perhaps even non-existent advantage, but all the cool kids did it, even me.


There's a news story today (Complete with a fantastic, nostalgic, geeky vid) about a bloke who has opened a pinball museum in Vegas, 'The Las Vegas Pinball Hall of Fame'. 

The next time I'm there, I'm deffo paying him a visit.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16838228

[RED-DOG]

No carcases ever found? No road kills? No photographs? No hard evidence of any kind? 

"Big cats are out there". Actually mate, no, they're not.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-16760599

Living in Gloucestershire, this debate runs and runs in the pubs, there are loads of Munkjacks, Foxes etc all roaming around every night, guaranteed every night home from pub/poker one or two dart across the road in front of you.
Normally the passenger in the car (whos had a few pints) will think it was a "big cat"

Bloody townies.

[rex008]

Have many of you ever played pinball? Almost every cafe had one of these when I was a young man. They were incredibly popular and hugely addictive, even though the only reward for 'Winning' was a re-play.

About 9 years ago I bought one. Only cost me £300, which I thought was a bargain at the time. Got really quite good at it, but played less and less. When we moved house 3 years ago the glass got smashed, plus some other bits need some TLC, and it's still sitting in the garage, waiting for me to do something about it...

This one:


When you hit a certain bonus, the rotating flashing light on top actually starts up. It's fantastic .

You can pick them up on ebay still, but I think 3 of the 4 main manufacturers have gradually gone bust in the last 20 years, so they are getting pretty rare.

[RED-DOG]

Have many of you ever played pinball? Almost every cafe had one of these when I was a young man. They were incredibly popular and hugely addictive, even though the only reward for 'Winning' was a re-play.

About 9 years ago I bought one. Only cost me £300, which I thought was a bargain at the time. Got really quite good at it, but played less and less. When we moved house 3 years ago the glass got smashed, plus some other bits need some TLC, and it's still sitting in the garage, waiting for me to do something about it...

This one:


When you hit a certain bonus, the rotating flashing light on top actually starts up. It's fantastic .

You can pick them up on ebay still, but I think 3 of the 4 main manufacturers have gradually gone bust in the last 20 years, so they are getting pretty rare.

Hang on to it imo it will only get more valuable. What's more, I'll be able to pop round to yours and while away the odd hour on it when I get old.

[RED-DOG]

Paperwork day today. Oh I do hate it so.

FML!

[Kev B]

I lived on pinball machines as a teenager in the 70's. Def going to visit that place in Vegas.

[kinboshi]

More here:  http://imgur.com/gallery/L3rLC

[RED-DOG]

More here:  http://imgur.com/gallery/L3rLC

  Too much time on your hands Boshi

[RED-DOG]

Q: What is ET short for?

[outragous76]

Q: What is ET short for?

Because he has little legs !

[rex008]

Hang on to it imo it will only get more valuable. What's more, I'll be able to pop round to yours and while away the odd hour on it when I get old.

Was planning to, but need to get it fixed. There's 3 places still existent in the UK that will refurb them; Preston, South Wales, and Brighton. None of which are particularly local to Nottingham, unfortunately. One of these days, when I have spare time and spare money...

In Vegas end of March. Will really need to persuade the 3 fellas I'm with to go visit the pinball museum place I think. Looks amazing.

[bobAlike]

My dads cafe in the 70's had the old style pinball machines. There were no flippers and had numbered holes which the ball could go down in doing so completing bingo type cards. There were usually 6 bingo cards on the upright facia and completing lines would gain the player credits for free play.

My dad used to pay out cash for credits. These machines were very popular amongst the foreign students, mainly from the middle east, who would play pretty much all day long. Many times I can remember dad staying well into the early hours feeding the needs of these young degens.

I'm on phone at the moment and can't post any pics.

[RED-DOG]

My dads cafe in the 70's had the old style pinball machines. There were no flippers and had numbered holes which the ball could go down in doing so completing bingo type cards. There were usually 6 bingo cards on the upright facia and completing lines would gain the player credits for free play.

My dad used to pay out cash for credits. These machines were very popular amongst the foreign students, mainly from the middle east, who would play pretty much all day long. Many times I can remember dad staying well into the early hours feeding the needs of these young degens.

I'm on phone at the moment and can't post any pics.

I remember those. They were like an electronic version of the old bagatelle.

Click to see full-size image.

[RED-DOG]

Could someone please try to upload a picture to 'TynyPic.com'

I can access the site, but when I try to upload something it just given me a continuous 'Uploading, please wait' message.