[TenTec] #253 Tuner

[DUANE BUDD]

A flameless answer for my friend, Jim Roller:

I read with interest the responses your inquiry provoked. Most were pretty
good, though I would class one of them a little "smoky", if not actually in
"flames".

I have a couple of comments:

1. After years of the practice of medicine, I am not a strong believer in
the secondhand smoke theory, but I am sure it may have some small effect. I
usually ask for "non-smoking" in the restaurant, but will accept "first
available" if they are busy. I smoked for about 25 years myself.

2. You have no idea how bad you smell, nor any idea about how your car
reeks, etc. If you ever quit, you will be amazed. You can tell a smoker by
being in the room with him.

3. The yellow-brown film left on everything by smoke is not nicotine, at
least not much of it - nicotine is colorless. But the tars (various colors)
and carbon particles (black) are major components of this residue. And while
carbon is a conductor of electricity, the whole mess may be more
cosmetically annoying than actually detrimental.

4. At the risk of stirring up some hard-liners, I believe the crammed-down
opinion of the media and hard-liners is not correct - smoking tobacco
products is NOT "addictive". It is terribly habituating, but not truly
addictive. I told my smoking patients that if and when they ever made up
their mind to stop, they would be amazed at how easy it is. And many of them
confirmed this over the years. The truly hard part of quitting is making
your mind up that you REALLY WANT to quit.

5. I wish you'd make up your mind to quit. You are a great guy, and an asset
to the ham community. Dad used to say, in the days before the facts were in
on disease-related issues, "I don't know for sure if smoking is bad for you,
but I KNOW it ain't GOOD for you".

So give yourself a nice Christmas present, Jim - just quit. And have a Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Year whether or not!!!

73

Budd, K4AAE
-----Original Message-----
From: Jimmy D. Roller <jdroller@tricon.net>
To: tentec@contesting.com <tentec@contesting.com>
Date: Saturday, December 20, 1997 7:53 AM
Subject: [TenTec] #253 Tuner


>I have owned and used the #253 Automatic Antenna Coupler for nearly 2
>years now with an OMNI VI and the Hercules II amplifier. Absolutely no
>problems at all; the box has never been opened.
>
>I have a question. I do not normally turn over equipment frequently and
>have never been a "horse trader" so I guess I'm a bit naive. I often see
>equipment listed as being owned by a non-smoker. I am and have been a
>smoker for more years than a lot of folks have been alive, so I am
>curious. What, specifically, is the attraction of equipment owned by a
>non-smoker? I know that I have blunted my senses of taste and smell, not
>to mention many other more serious side effects, from years of smoking,
>so I may be totally insensitive to the issue. However, I take great
>pride in all things Ten-Tec, keeping all the boxes dusted and cleaned on
>a regular basis. I know that the smoke deposits a brown film on
>everthing over time, but I keep this at bay with regular cleaning with
>Endust for Electronics cleaner. Not only does this product clean like a
>bandit, it has a very pleasnat smell. So...what am I missing? I really
>would like to know. I'm not being facetious or trying to stir up a
>controversy, just curious.
>
>Your comments would be appreciated but, please, no flames (pun
>intended). I know all about my habit, it's bad effects on me and/or the
>folks around me, my weak moral character, etc. It is my choice and my
>life, thank you.
>
>Vy 73, MX/HNY de Jim N4IR
>
>
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