Obsolescence Project

Day 127 – 1GB hynix ram

ram

1GB hynix [insert about 80 odd characters here] ram.

Associated with Day 26’s hard drive – both replaced/upgraded at same time on my aging (obsolete?) macbook pro.

The first practical form of random-access memory was the Williams-Kilburn tube starting in 1947. [Wikipedia]

I’m not sure why ram and hard-drives are blue. Of course this is based on a very small sampling of the perhaps 5 hard-drives, and 8 sticks of ram I’ve replaced in the last few years. Maybe non-Apple ones are orange?  I prefer the original black and white.

“A close-up view reveals dots (ones) and spaces (zeroes) on the face of a tube. The bits had to be refreshed before the dots faded, in less than a second.” [Computer History Museum]

To learn more about this beauty visit the Computer History Museum

Status: The sea monster will need extra memory to process all those telegrams.

Kill-ratio: 28:1

Untitled Joke of the Day: “Untitled No 85298588345-x48761 You Forgot Your Keys on the Table”

Posted on by Deanne in Objects

Day 126 – Pedicure Toe Separators

Pedicure Toe Separators

Pedicure Toe Separators. Still in Plastic.

Yes, brand new. And they have been sitting in the bathroom drawer (well, it was renovated recently so not the same drawer) for over 9 years. Nine years. Clearly clutter, but because they’re “brand new” and shiny I haven’t tossed them yet. They also have a guilt association as they were a gift. The packaging was in better shape back then.

Perhaps they represent time. There will be that moment in time when I will have an hour or so to give myself a pedicure at home. There will be that level of pampering at home. There will be lots of time. I’m already breathing slower.

Pedicure Toe Separators

Status: Deadline to open these and use is the following Sunday. This weekend is already jammed. Next Sunday I make time, or out into the bin they go.

Kill-ratio: 11:1

Untitled Joke of the Day: “I’ll try the Untitled No.88  polish, don’t you think it suits my skin tone, Untitled No 35?”

Posted on by Deanne in Objects

Day 125 – Sherlock Holmes Book in Pitman Shorthand

Sherlock Holmes Shorthand

The Return of Sherlock Holmes, Volume III. Sir A. Conan Doyle in Pitman Shorthand (Advanced). New Era Edition.

Got this at the VPL’s (public library) annual garage/book sale. It was a discard from the UBC (university) library. The blue colour and small size stood out for me. When I noticed it was Sherlock Holmes, that sealed the deal. The Pitman Shorthand oddity was gravy.

It’s also illustrated, another bonus.

Not that I can read shorthand.

Sherlock Holmes Shorthand

Sherlock Holmes Shorthand

There is also something stamped in the front about its economical use of paper, being printed during war times. Forgot to shoot that.

Status: Although stamped discard and thus actively calling out for its release, I’m afraid it’s just too cute to let go. Surely some shelf space can be squeezed in. Learn shorthand…? I’m a big Sherlock Holmes fan.

Kill-ratio: 46:4 or 12:1

Untitled Joke of the Day: “Untitled No. 2, The Fair Sex is Your Department”

Posted on by Deanne in Books

Day 124 – British Pub Mats

British Pub Mats + 3

British Pub Mats (+3). Boxed Set. Garage Sale Find From Montreal, QC.

The box says a collectible edition of 25. I counted 28, so 3 slipped in from some other pubs, possibly not British.

Okay, these are not obsolete, in fact, some are unused, but they do fall into that general miasma of clutter that lingers. (For me anyhow, my partner generously lent them to Project Obso’s efforts.)

They’re also “old” – measuring by the interior/exterior of the box which has no website address for the company.

British Pub Mats Box

British Pub Mats

Status: Once again, off the hook, as not mine to decide. I would opt for a Craiglist’s uber find posting.

Kill-ratio: 38:3 or ~13:1

Funny, I gave up the ghost on the Untitled nonsense yesterday, but I find myself missing it.

So one Untitled Joke for the road: “Untitled no.8 You’re Lager’s Getting Warm, Are You Going to Finish That Untitled Brewskie or Shall I?”

Posted on by Deanne in Objects

Day 123 – Barber’s Clippers

vintage barber's clippers

Vintage Barber’s Hand Clippers, or Shaving Shears. Another garage sale treasure.

Not purchased by me – this is another borrowed object. The bathroom is now being mined in support of  Project Obso.

vintage barber's clippers

Reminds me of a vacuum cleaner, which is scary considering its proximity to your artery as it caresses your neck.

vintage barber's clippers

vintage barber's clippers

Status: Not mine to decide. Yahoo. I would vote for sell, even though they’re not worth much ($7.99 is the average on those sites).

Kill-ratio: I couldn’t edit this last one out, so it’s high. Or is that low?

21:4 or 5 to 1

[Untitledness has been temporarily retired so this is the end of the post]

Posted on by Deanne in Objects