With my windows open most of the year, I've often heard the rustling
of paper, the clanging of cans and the clinking of beer bottles
against one another. Instantly I'd know that another homeless person
was outside my building on ground level foraging through the garbage
dumpster - a.k.a. "dumpstering". They often looked the part, too.

But just last week, I stumbled upon a find that changed my tune. I
found a 1.1 GHz 256MB RAM 20 GB hard drive Compaq Presario in the
dumpster outside of my building. There was a keyboard and monitor and
everything you'd need, but I already have numerous monitors. I've
been getting into rebuilding old systems lately, so I figured someone
tossed an old unit that didn't work any more and maybe I could salvage
something from it.

I brought it inside, hooked it up to a monitor, plugged it in and
turned it on. Wallah! The thing worked. Not "stunningly" so, of
course, but it was servicable. The prior owner left all of her
information on it as well as some pictures, but apparently decided to
throw it out because it had a virus. That's the trouble with these
college kids - everything's disposable, I swear. Don't bother trying
to FIX the damn thing, mommy & daddy will just buy you a new one.
Pfeh... Of all the luck...

Anywho, I had to sacrifice a few programs I don't use anyway, but I
was able to fix the system up with no problem. I called the local LE
to inquire as to whether or not it might be stolen, they said they had
no reports but would let me know. The girl lives in my building, I'm
sure she would've reported it by now. It was a genuine throwaway. I
now have a beautifully functional extra computer, all thanks to
McCulture - and my friendly neighborhood dumpster.

Since then, I've become a convert. I now check out the local
dumpsters regularly. I've found enough working computer parts in one
of them (including hard drives and memory) to combine them with what I
already have to make another two computers (minus networking cards - I
still need two of those). Gleaned ostensibly off of someone else's
upgrades. At this rate, I'll have enough processing power to take
over the world by mid-Winter. ;-) I've also found a cherry-finish
shelf with hardly a scratch on it (real wood, too - not even particle
board!), a nice hutch for my computer desk, a few chairs, a night
stand... Oh and the COUCHES! Goodness, if I really wanted a couch
I'd have no problem at all finding one. Someone just tossed a
mid-range leather sofa in the trash down the street just about two
weeks ago that - had I anyone to help me carry it up 4 flights of
stairs - I probably would have gone for. Leather or vinyl are about
the only kinds of sofas I'd consider from off the street - fabric just
has too much potential for "infestation" and is too hard to clean
completely.

All this, and I've only been looking at the dumpsters within a 3 block
radius. It's rather addictive. Every time I take the dog for a walk
I try to check out a dumpster I hadn't checked out the day before. I
almost always find something I _could_ use if I had the room for it,
but what can you do? My apartment's only so big.

Of course I look for messes, cockroaches or any other little
"critters" before bringing anything into my apartment, but so far I
haven't had any problem in that regard.

Anyway, just sharing the strangeness. I never would have guessed
dumpstering could be so lucrative... It just amazes me what people
will throw away. :-)
--

With my windows open most of the year, I've often heard the rustling
of paper, the clanging of cans and the clinking of beer bottles
against one another. Instantly I'd know that another homeless person
was outside my building on ground level foraging through the garbage
dumpster - a.k.a. "dumpstering". They often looked the part, too.

With my windows open most of the year, I've often heard the rustling
of paper, the clanging of cans and the clinking of beer bottles
against one another. Instantly I'd know that another homeless person
was outside my building on ground level foraging through the garbage
dumpster - a.k.a. "dumpstering". They often looked the part, too.

But just last week, I stumbled upon a find that changed my tune. I
found a 1.1 GHz 256MB RAM 20 GB hard drive Compaq Presario in the
dumpster outside of my building. There was a keyboard and monitor and
everything you'd need, but I already have numerous monitors. I've
been getting into rebuilding old systems lately, so I figured someone
tossed an old unit that didn't work any more and maybe I could salvage
something from it.

I brought it inside, hooked it up to a monitor, plugged it in and
turned it on. Wallah! The thing worked. Not "stunningly" so, of
course, but it was servicable. The prior owner left all of her
information on it as well as some pictures, but apparently decided to
throw it out because it had a virus. That's the trouble with these
college kids - everything's disposable, I swear. Don't bother trying
to FIX the damn thing, mommy & daddy will just buy you a new one.
Pfeh... Of all the luck...

With my windows open most of the year, I've often heard the rustling
of paper, the clanging of cans and the clinking of beer bottles
against one another. Instantly I'd know that another homeless person
was outside my building on ground level foraging through the garbage
dumpster - a.k.a. "dumpstering". They often looked the part, too.

But just last week, I stumbled upon a find that changed my tune. I
found a 1.1 GHz 256MB RAM 20 GB hard drive Compaq Presario in the
dumpster outside of my building. There was a keyboard and monitor and
everything you'd need, but I already have numerous monitors. I've
been getting into rebuilding old systems lately, so I figured someone
tossed an old unit that didn't work any more and maybe I could salvage
something from it.

I brought it inside, hooked it up to a monitor, plugged it in and
turned it on. Wallah! The thing worked.

Not "stunningly" so, of
course, but it was servicable. The prior owner left all of her
information on it as well as some pictures, but apparently decided to
throw it out because it had a virus. That's the trouble with these
college kids - everything's disposable, I swear. Don't bother trying
to FIX the damn thing, mommy & daddy will just buy you a new one.
Pfeh... Of all the luck...