I heard about this and have searched for it once before. Thanks BoingBoing, my last name is Harton!

Geez. When I was in grade school in the late 70s our teachers brought in a gizmo that taught us how the phone system worked. We all got to play with a simple phone system and learned how to dial numbers. I was great.

I collect rotary phones and have one hooked up at home now. Works great still. I just miss the audible clicks as the dial returns to the starting position. It's not there anymore.

I still have mine and all sorts of silly attachments (telephoto, wideangle, etc). I have stacks and stacks of really bad photos. The thing was so cool. It fit in your pocket easily. I loved the thing until my Dad gave me his SLR and instructions on how to use it. Now I miss Kodachrome.

pantsravaganza said, "Mastering engineer (often a different guy in a separate studio; the ones responsible for the loudness wars)"

The mastering engineer is the one twisting the knobs to create the loudness, but I wouldn't say they are responsible. The mastering engineers that I know hate it just as much as everyone else. It is the artist and, even worse, the record label executives who are responsible. Everyone wants their song to be louder than the next guys on the radio or on an ipod. I've heard great mixes squashed into complete crap -- it's sad.

Wow. I made a cookie cutter and Dalek cookies when I was in eighth grade in '86. I probably have pictures somewhere, Mom still has the cookie cutter.