How to Destroy Your Computer!

Ben Vitale

 

Did you ever wonder why your computer died? You used it yesterday and today it refuses to go on! A computer fails for many technical reasons, but I have destroyed three computers because of a static electric discharge, from my body. On two occasions I heard a snap, and saw a small spark as I pressed the power button on my computer; I knew immediately that my computer was destroyed. On another occasion I drew a spark to my keyboard; that destroyed Computer number three!

When humidity is low your body could charge up like a capacitor, to voltages in the area of 10,000 Volts. Did you ever draw a spark from your body when you touched a “ground” such as a water faucet? When you see and hear the spark you should also feel an electrical shock. Some computer components are only rated at 5 volts; you can imagine what 10,000 volts will do to these components!

It might be a good idea to position your computer near an available “ground” if possible!  I personally prefer to place a bare Copper wire across my desk that is attached to a “ground,” such as a water pipe or radiator.

When humidity is low and conditions are conducive to generating static electric charges, I usually get some advanced warning; every time I touch the room light switch, my body discharges through the light switch. So… When this happens I spray the room with Radio Shack Anti -Static Spray, before turning on my computer.

When you walk across the room to use your computer, always discharge your body to a “Ground” before touching or pressing the button to turn on the computer. Also; do not touch the keyboard before discharging your body. Once you discharge yourself do not move or slide any part of your body, before pressing the “on” button.

Do not attempt to install a ground wire without contracting your Electrician, to ascertain that your household wiring and equipment is safe to use.

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Did you ever play Stickball?

Ben Vitale

 

 

Many Long Island residents originally lived in the "Big City;" New York City. In the 50s, after the depression, money was scarce; very few people had money in their toy's budget. When I was a youth, my parents could not afford to buy me a Baseball Glove, and Baseball Bat. The name of the game for the entire population was to "improvise." Did I feel deprived...  Absolutely not; everyone that I knew was poor, but we did not know it! We simply did not have a frame of reference to compare against. It is amazing, how one could feel wealthy, in a poor community!

Most of my friends could not afford to buy real Baseball Equipment so we improvised! Someone that had a few dollars left over from his "Communion money" would buy a "Softball!" In Brooklyn, we called this a "Spaldeen." Now the scary part; we needed a Baseball Bat to play baseball, but no one could afford to buy one! “Hummm... “ Someone had to borrow a broomstick handle from their mother's broom, so that we could use it as a "Baseball Bat." The trick was to manage to get through the entire game, without breaking your mother's Broom Stick! If someone broke the Broom Stick, you would be in serious trouble! LOL.

OK! We managed to locate a Ball and a "Broomstick Bat," but where do we play Stickball? In the street of course; in the midst of moving Automobiles and Trolley Cars! LOL. Every city street had a "built in" Baseball Diamond; the "Sewer Covers" that were in every street made a wonderful "Home Plate" and "Second Base. "Hummm...” Where is first and third base? First and Third bases were the car door handles of any car that just happened to be parked on the side of the road. OMG; I certainly would not want anyone to use my car door handle for first base! It's amazing how one's perception of the same situation changes with age! LOL.

As soon as a game of Stickball began, concerned residents would hang out of their windows and remind us that if we broke their window we would have to pay for it!  Actually a “Spaldeen” ball would not damage anything that it hit except a glass window from a residence. I have never seen a “Spaldeen” break a car window! OMG a broken window was a year's worth of "Allowance!" OK… I managed to break one window; which put my allowance into austerity mode!

Stickball has become a tradition to many people. A group of people from across the country return to Brooklyn annually to play a “reunion game” of stickball. http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/stickball-reunion-mixed-reviews-brooklyn-neighborhood-play-ball-lost-article-1.385876

I just loved to play stickball when I was young… Yesterday I discovered a treasure at the local novelty store; a genuine “Spaldeen.” It is amazing how a simple object like a rubber ball could bring back so many wonderful memories!

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