I recently picked up The Shining and The Deadzone for something different to read. I've never been into King except the Stand, and I got them cheap

I'm almost to embarrassed to ask this question, my wife and I build and repair our own computers, but what is the deal with the boiler? My heating and air system has a digital thermostat, I push a button to make it hotter or colder. What exactly does Jack have to do to that thing to keep it from blowing? I've only caught bits of the movie and the mini-series, so I might've missed it there. But I'm stumped.

Also, when Jack calls Ullman from the payphone before the snow comes, he makes the call, puts in the coins, then apparently goes over the time. The phone rings and the operator tells him to put in more coins. It's a payphone! What's to stop him from just walking off?

Milo he has to keep it under a certain temperature or else it will blow remember this was written around late 70's

2nd question I dont remember that but maybe thats how it was back then

What I want to know is why did Kubrick feel the need to change the room number from 217 to 237?

I believe the story is that the hotel they were shooting the film at had a room 217, but didn't want one of their rooms associated with the film, so they substituted 237, of which there was no room at the hotel with that number.

Bingo! That's exactly it.

Interestingly, the Stanley Hotel (the model for the hotel in the book...King wrote the novel while staying there in room 217...this is also where they filmed the mini-series) has a little plaque outside room 217 advertising the association with "The Shining." In fact, the reputed hauntings there form a small cottage industry for the hotel.

Fascinating truly, but what about the boiler?

He has to keep the level guage under a certain pressure poundage , which is done by releasing the steam.

Milo did you actually read what I said in reply or do you only read every 2nd post?

I read it, but I don't get it. I told you I can tear apart computers and whatnot, but I couldn't change the sparkplugs on my car to save my life.

What I am saying is I have no freaking clue how a boiler works. I'll take a guess though, the water is heated into steam (boiled), thus increasing the pressure. This pressure is used to force the steam/water through pipes into the rooms of the hotel to give off radiant heat. With the hotel being vacant, not as much heat is being used so the pressure could build up in the system. Jack is letting this off (to where?) to keep that from happening. Am I close?

I just thought of another question, couldn't the power level be lowered so just enough steam is created to keep a minimum heat level for the Torrance's and to keep the pipes from freezing? Or does the steam have to be at a certain level to even work?

tks, and don't freak
(come take your medicine, pup)
out dude, it's just a conversation.

Milo

Ok where is an experiment

Get a pot fill it 3/4 with water turn the gas onto high on the stove and watch it now when the water heats and starts bubbling up to almost the top what would you do to stop it from overflowing [besides taking it off the stove of course]?

Remove some of the contents. Less mass, less pressure. Right?

Yep

I kept thinking it was something like that, but I just kept wondering why he didn't just turn the damn thermostat down