My investigation into the questionable and unfathomable art of arm-pitting is moving forwards, albeit at a snail’s pace, perhaps a case of two steps forwards and one step backwards. My purchase of a Waterfly bum bag fanny pack (I always laugh at that term. You can too if you like!) with RFID blocking was, as predicted, a total flop and waste of time. I guess I should have spent more than the £17.00 it cost.
On its arrival my first test was to slip the mobile phone into the supposedly RFID bag, call it from Choccy Muffin’s phone and see if my phone rings. Now, I don’t know if this is a valid test or not but the phone rang instantly, so the RFID stuff inside the bag is total crap. It’s now been returned and my money refunded. I had hoped this would be better than placing the phone into an armpit, but I guess not. My phone is too large for my armpit anyway, or I need larger armpits! Or perhaps it could be concealed somewhere else. Any suggestions?
So, next step was to purchase something that would actually block all the signals either leaving or being received by my mobile phone. It’s a Google Pixel 8 Pro, by the way. After further research, including viewing a few videos on YouTube where this type of product was reviewed and tested, I sent off for the Mission Darkness Faraday Bag, costing around £26.00. It was also purchased on Amazon.
It is claimed to prevent “WIFI (2.4 & 5GHz), Bluetooth, cell signals including 5G networks, GPS, RFID, and radio signals from low MHz to 40GHz.” from reaching the mobile phone. The online blurb is very special forces military and highly technical and it will even protect the phone from an EMP or Electro-Magnetic Pulse. Heartening to know that my phone will survive any future AI/Robot Takeover/Nuclear Armageddon/Apocalypse, though rather pointless when everything else will be fried! This one is simply a pouch, rather than the waist bag I initial bought. The plan is to carry it inside my North Face Y2K bag which will keep it within easy reach.
By-the-way, I dispelled the so-called urban myth that you can use a foil crisp packet to block your mobile phone signal. It does not work. I tried. And you should not believe everything you see in the movies, even if it was said by Sarah Conner in Terminator: Dark Fate! Don’t bother trying yourself or your phone will get all greasy, or salty, or cheesy, depending on the flavour of your crisps.
Okay, it’s now sometime later and the Mission Darkness Faraday Bag has arrived and initial testing by placing the mobile phone inside the bag and trying to call it provided a success. Nothing seems to get through. I am now ready to get out turfing and start my investigation into the art of arm-pitting. However, I am having some concerns about this. What if I find an easy, inexpensive and reliable method that works, arm-pitting on demand? Should I actually reveal the details here in Planet Gary or should I keep them to myself?
The one question I’m pondering is arm-pitting cheating? Technically you are not in the zone for the entirety of the take, only part of the take. Is that wrong or just sneaky turfmanship? Mind you, come to think of it, there have been occasions when the zone-take only partly completed, the turfman stalling part way through the take, but finished the take later on as I was heading for the next zone. Seems somewhat similar, I suppose. Food for thought.
And finally, added a couple of turfer uniques to the collection yesterday, in Edinburgh, Andytc and Nybegynner. An early morning visit to Roslyn gave me terroirmerroir and Silverbirch and just before teatime today, a new turfer appeared here in Bonnyrigg, going by the turfname ismellsnow. Total now stands at 585. Back soon.
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