Pickles by Brian Crane for January 13, 2024

Earl has a good point. For once.

Or dial a rotary phone.

Sure. First find me a typewriter.

The old college portable typewriter still works.

They’d ask “what’s a typewriter? Why does it need a ribbon?”

If you really want to confuse them write out, in cursive, how to drive a stick shift vehicle!

Haven’t seen my typewriter in years, but I know how to put a set of new toner cartridges in my laser printer.

Or fill a car battery.

“….or mend a buggy whip or knap a flint spear.”

Like to see them change a tire.

Or read a map.

Kids now-a-days don’t know how to go down to the Rexall Drug Store and test the vacuum tubes from the Admiral TV.

I like Opal’s top and can’t figure out what that white spot on Earl’s head might be- the one above his left eye.

When will they age so they go into a nursing home and Nelson goes to middle school? Is their last name Pickle or Pickles?

Nelson, what’s a typewriter?

Or change a car’s flat tire.

But the thing is, Earl…can YOU remember how to change a typewriter ribbon?

They could learn quickly if they’re trapped in a old mansion infested with bio-engineered zombies!

Opal tis only a slim few things that today’s kids are good at and it has been this way for many generations ;-)

type-type-type-type-DING-SLAP-type-type-type-type

And the joy of carbon paper and typing erasers.

… But can our kids find decent jobs TO work? (“Do you want fries with that?”)

Opal is not wearing polka dots!

What’s a Floppy Disc ?

Or use to correct method to wack a TV when the picture gets fuzzy.

Do they even know what a typewriter ribbon is?

I think I’m doing good. I taught my daughter the difference between atheism and agnosticism and she “converted” to the latter, not knowing it existed (For the record, she’s 12 and I’m 38, so don’t bother playing the “she’s too young” card.)

Ageist

LOL That’s something I remember struggling with—and then you’d get ink on your fingers.

When the attack comes and it will wipe out all technological advancements, the survivors will be over the age of 45!

Funny and topical for me! My granddaughter has appropriated my old Olivetti Lettera 32 typewriter. She thinks it’s cool to type all her school papers on it. Recently, she called me to ask if I could replace the ribbon for her.

Not only does her old abuelo know how to change the ribbon but he’s got a secret stash of new replacement ribbons he purchased many years ago in case she uses this one up!

There you go! Something YOU know! I guarantee you my kids could. Pretty easy compared to the things they’ve figured out!

This was already. The money back!

We need to stop judging the youth by their ability/inability to operate things they will never use. Get over it

Lego now has a model typewriter kit. I saw it at Target a few weeks ago. I don’t know it it really works.

What’s a typewriter?

They might know modern stuff, but it was US that potty trained them

Meanwhile, Gens X and Z are laughing at all the current things we old fogies don’t know how to do. Each generation learns how to use the technology of its day. Then the next generation of technology and people comes along and leaves the previous generation feeling smug about what the younguns don’t know how to do—even though they’ll never have the need to do it.

I got a portable one for either my birthday or Christmas during my junior or senior year. It was blue.

I’d like to see that, too.

Atta boy Earl……

The more things change, the more they stay the same

I can. That is how I first learned to type.

I must be an old guy because I DO know how to change a typewriter ribbon.

Or read an analog clock, or read cursive writing, or use a dial landline phone.

Nelson: What’s a typewriter?

It’s not so much the skills we can learn from elders but the wisdom of persistence and humor while learning new ones.

Or the font ball on an IBM Selectric.

Or skin a rabbit

When you were young the elders didn’t know how everything worked. They just lied to you and left you with the impression that they did. Opals is coming to the same realization that her grandmother came to.

I’d like to see them identify a typewriter ribbon.

You showed THEM, Earl!

I did it many time…want me to show you too?

Or change a tire, jump-start a car, change the direction a ceiling fan turns, fix a leaky faucet, etc..

Information is power, and the share of information, for example how to videos on YouTube, is unprecedented -and a wonderful thing.

You can get it on Amazon.

Just thinking about this turned the tips of my fingers black…

Yeah……. ME too

If they expect the new generation to be able to change a typewriter ribbon, I expect them to know how to herd cattle. Same logic, they expect the newer generation who had no training in this obsolete thing to be able to instantly understand it.

I’m old, but I think even today’s youth could figure out how, with the right guidance. We have to believe in them and respect them … they are the future.

I’m not that old but I asked for and received an electric typewriter in the 7th grade. It was one of my favorite gifts.

Thanks for bringing up a horrible memory, Earl!

Or extricate and salvage an all-but-eaten cassette tape from a voracious recorder.

Some youngsters would look at a typewriter and try to text a friend on it.

I remember when I finally got a computer (for business) and found that I could type on it and could correct a mistake “WITHOUT” having to re-type the whole paper ……. I was in hog heaven ….. :)

i still have my typewriter

Actually not true. Too many of them are living with their parents because they can’t figure life out.

Touche’

Speak for yourself, Opal! I’m probably older than she is, and I teach math to middle schoolers.

I haven’t seen a typewriter ribbon in so long, I forgot what they looked like. And I’m younger then they’re supposed to be.

I’d like to see them install points inside a distributor cap, plus gap the points.

I’ll take that action! Bet I can.

There might be one at Goodwill.

The trick to changing a typewriter ribbon is TO NOT REMOVE THE OLD RIBBON UNTIL YOU HAVE THE NEW RIBBON AT THE TYPEWRITER. Unwrap the new ribbon and place it on the desk in front of the typewriter. Orient the new ribbon on the desk in the same position as the old ribbon on the typewriter. Pay attention to which direction the ribbon is wrapped around the spools. Remove only one spool of the old ribbon from the typewriter. Place the corresponding spool of the new ribbon in its place. Slowly remove the old ribbon from the ribbon guides as you replace it with the new ribbon. Continue across the the carriage until you get to the second spool of the old ribbon. Remove that spool and install the second spool of the new ribbon. That wasn’t so difficult, was it?

Or drive a standard transmission.