Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[Brumby]

In my first job (in a data processing department) I made the mistake of letting my knowledge of things electrical show.  I got all manner of things brought in to work from a car radio cassette to a mixmaster.  The radio cassette didn't play tapes too well.  I fixed that without any dissasembly by getting a shovel (well, that's what it felt like) to remove the oxide build up on the heads followed by sacrificing a dozen long stemmed cotton tips wet with alcohol.

It only takes one or two successes before your status is "legend" - and then there's no guessing what will come your way.  I very quickly got to the stage of saying "I'll have a look at it" and taking my time.  I ended up only dealing with low hanging fruit.

Family still does it to me - and I don't mind trying to help, but sometimes it's a lot of time.

[mnementh]

So I didn’t realize until I saw that bulkhead that you were loading an ABF pup trailer. 

Currently making the morning cuppa and waiting for the scheduling office to open so I can request a pickup.

mnem

[Brumby]

This is when you discover the difference between friends and people who just want to know you because you're useful.

Don't let 'em know you have a 3D printer or you will get many new "friends" all of a sudden.

Don't ask me how I know this ... 

Good to know.

* Thinks: Who have I told so far? *

[Brumby]

Any guesses as to what it's going to look like at the other end?

[BU508A]

Any guesses as to what it's going to look like at the other end?

I bet the entropy will be increased by a significant amount. 

[bd139]

It'll be fine. Mnem is not a Hermes or UPS driver 

[BU508A]

It'll be fine. Mnem is not a Hermes or UPS driver 

Ok, I'll bet one of these:



 

[bd139]

Ahh der Kieferficker!

[BU508A]

Ahh der Kieferficker!

 

That's a bit harsh to these poor yummi Gummibears, isn't it?   

Edit:
Just as a well-meant advice: stay away from the sugarless Gummibears! Why? Well, read yourself:
https://www.amazon.com/Haribo-SUGAR-Classic-Gummi-Bears/product-reviews/B006J1FBLM

[Addicted2AnalogTek]

Any guesses as to what it's going to look like at the other end?

WARNING: 
Contents may have shifted during transit!

[/b]

[bd139]

Ahh der Kieferficker!

 

That's a bit harsh to these poor yummi Gummibears, isn't it?   

Edit:
Just as a well-meant advice: stay away from the sugarless Gummibears! Why? Well, read yourself:
https://www.amazon.com/Haribo-SUGAR-Classic-Gummi-Bears/product-reviews/B006J1FBLM

Hahaha yes. I know someone who brought a bowl of them into their work. Was not good 

[mnementh]

In my first job (in a data processing department) I made the mistake of letting my knowledge of things electrical show.  I got all manner of things brought in to work from a car radio cassette to a mixmaster.  The radio cassette didn't play tapes too well.  I fixed that without any dissasembly by getting a shovel (well, that's what it felt like) to remove the oxide build up on the heads followed by sacrificing a dozen long stemmed cotton tips wet with alcohol.

It only takes one or two successes before your status is "legend" - and then there's no guessing what will come your way.  I very quickly got to the stage of saying "I'll have a look at it" and taking my time.  I ended up only dealing with low hanging fruit.

Family still does it to me - and I don't mind trying to help, but sometimes it's a lot of time.

Yeah... now imagine being “that guy”, only with multiple disciplines in which you’ve worked long enough to be called a professional...

ASE Auto Mechanic
Certifiable IT Tech/HellDesk
EE/Electronics Tech
Welder
Machinist
RC Car/Aircraft Mechanic
Certified Appliance ASP
HP/Dell/Toshiba/Panasonic OEM ASP

The only way to have any peace is to be a total unreliable dick that takes forever to get it done so they don’t bother you.

Case in point: A couple months ago, I gave Franken-Cruiser to my brother-in-law. 2 days ago, he calls me all frantic because it died, can I please stop MOVING to come & fix it for him.

And of course... I go over and look at it... it’s the fuel pump I replaced a year ago, failed because he ran the tank dry and burned up the motor trying to get it to start. I pulled the carpet up in the back, cut loose the caulking and opened up the flap door I’d cut in the floor last time I changed the fuel pump and showed him what he needed on the Advance Auto website.

Then I told him to either take it to a mechanic or get a friend who knows what he’s doing to do it, because he has no tools and is literally the technology AntiChrist and will probably get blowed up doing it himself.

mnem

[bd139]

The ones that get me are the "can you fix my computer so I can watch porn again" lot. Laptop keyboard usually jammed with ash and mysterious binder. Three pairs of nitrile gloves later  . Think I'd rather handle dimethylmercury.

[mnementh]

Any guesses as to what it's going to look like at the other end?

Pretty much the same. Everything heavy enough to worry about has been strapped down individually; I bought 2 dozen extra 3,000lb straps on top of my existing basket-full of various tie-downs & bungees. Those in the pic are the last two; the entire truck is a web of those blue straps, plus a bunch more in green & orange.

Anything that falls, FUCK IT.

mnem

*currently having a sordid & unnatural relationship with this cup of coffee*

[mansaxel]

The ones that get me are the "can you fix my computer so I can watch porn again" lot.

I do not touch computers with Windows on. Not qualified, see. Yeah, my mother is exempt. Can't say no there. Wife is as deep into tech as am I, so she'll do her own and the children's.

[Zucca]

It only takes one or two successes before your status is "legend"

[mnementh]

The ones that get me are the "can you fix my computer so I can watch porn again" lot. Laptop keyboard usually jammed with ash and mysterious binder. Three pairs of nitrile gloves later  . Think I'd rather handle dimethylmercury.

”I’m not touching that thing unless you run it through the dishwasher first.” 

mnem
True story.

[Zucca]

Wife is as deep into tech as am I, so she'll do her own and the children's.

Can you rent me your wife?

[mnementh]

Mine took note of the fact I made coffee and is currently cooking up a MFT of bacon - like 6 packages - to stick in my little Igloo for munching on the trip.

Did I mention I married fucking Wonder Woman...?

mnem
You may commence being totes jelly now.

[Martin.M]

the strongest relation between the wife and Test Equipments is the WAF (womens acceptance faktor)..
bec the refrigerator in my workroom must be removed to put the fat Oldie Computer there, she don`t want to allow that (flowers dont help)
and now? 
I don`t want to give that nice machine to a museum, too much sexy the apparatus (100% windows free system)

[tggzzz]

The ones that get me are the "can you fix my computer so I can watch porn again" lot.

I do not touch computers with Windows on. Not qualified, see.

I say I'm not clever enough to use Windows. If they look quizzical, I tell them all the things I don't need to know about.

[bd139]

I'm clever enough to charge danger money to touch computers with windows 

I'm a very expensive Google search most of the time

[Specmaster]

So I didn’t realize until I saw that bulkhead that you were loading an ABF pup trailer. 

Currently making the morning cuppa and waiting for the scheduling office to open so I can request a pickup.

mnem

How much more have you got to do before the big off then?

[Specmaster]

The ones that get me are the "can you fix my computer so I can watch porn again" lot. Laptop keyboard usually jammed with ash and mysterious binder. Three pairs of nitrile gloves later  . Think I'd rather handle dimethylmercury.

That is one job I'd certainly refuse to do, if they can't be bothered to keep it clean, then they deserve everything they get.

[don.r]

In my first job (in a data processing department) I made the mistake of letting my knowledge of things electrical show.  I got all manner of things brought in to work from a car radio cassette to a mixmaster.  The radio cassette didn't play tapes too well.  I fixed that without any dissasembly by getting a shovel (well, that's what it felt like) to remove the oxide build up on the heads followed by sacrificing a dozen long stemmed cotton tips wet with alcohol.

It only takes one or two successes before your status is "legend" - and then there's no guessing what will come your way.  I very quickly got to the stage of saying "I'll have a look at it" and taking my time.  I ended up only dealing with low hanging fruit.

Family still does it to me - and I don't mind trying to help, but sometimes it's a lot of time.

I get that too now but its mostly elderly neighbours wanting me to set up their iPad to their home WiFi. My reward is happy smiles and home baking.