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I remember when cars had carburetors.
For reference I grew up in Los Angeles county..
I remember when TVs and stereos were furniture and changing the channel manually too.
I remember 'digital' clocks with numbers on little plastic squares that flipped when the time changed.
I remember when cartoons were only on Saturday mornings.
I remember when the Star Spangled Banner played before the TV went to rainbow bars.
I remember when cable came out and going from 3 channels to 6.
I remember when MTV came out. I was almost twelve and all my friends came over for the big event.
I remember Johnny Carson.
I remember when video games first came out.
I remember having a milkman.
I remember having rotary phones.
Me too. Though I was a bit older when MTV first came out. The MTV I remember was wall-to-wall music videos and few commercials. And not only do I remember the rainbow bars when the TV stations concluded their broadcast day but I also remember test patterns, including the one with the Native American on it.
How about early digital watches and calculators with the LED display?
... Gasoline was less than $1.00 a gallon ...
Around 1974 I got a 12" black and white TV with a digital clock in it. It had an alarm clock, and a timer so it would go off by itself...I was free to watch whatever of seven channels I wanted with no interference from anyone! Hot stuff!
Around 1975, I got a M109 field radio that cost Uncle Sam $14,000,
which was bolted onto my jeep, which was also brand-spanking new;
and, like the radio, I had to sign for. We ran radio ambushes up near
the Yugoslav border, and during break times I could switch dials and pick
up ships travelling through the Panama Canal which bounced Chicago AM
stations WLS and WCFL (the Rock of Chicago) signals.
Music and Notre Dame football broadcasts.
Radio Free Europe, something the Soviets tried to block, also played music.
That M109 was a helluva radio.
I remember being on vacation one summer down near Wilmington, NC. My Dad pulled our 1966 Oldsmobile Vista-Cruiser station wagon into an Esso station (that "Exxon" for you younger folks). Gas at that station was a shocking .50 cents a gallon. I recall my Dad saying (as he pulled out of the station to look for another), "I'll never pay .50 for a damn gallon of gas!"
How about early digital watches and calculators with the LED display?
I remember being on vacation one summer down near Wilmington, NC. My Dad pulled our 1966 Oldsmobile Vista-Cruiser station wagon into an Esso station (that "Exxon" for you younger folks). Gas at that station was a shocking .50 cents a gallon. I recall my Dad saying (as he pulled out of the station to look for another), "I'll never pay .50 for a damn gallon of gas!"
Disneyland sold different different books of tickets that you could use at the park. (I think that the highest cost $5.)
Knott's Berry Farm and Universal Studios were free.
Knott's Berry Farm was FREE?? Now that is amazing. My aunt is friends with the last living Knott sister.
I do remember E ticket rides at Disneyland though
Knott's Berry Farm WAS free, but that was in the 30s when it WAS a berry farm and then they added the restaurant, and then to occupy the patrons' time while waiting for their table, they added a ride, then another, etc. but the rides were never free.
HIGH SCHOOL -- 1960 vs. 2010
Scenario 1:
Jack goes quail hunting before school and then pulls into the school parking lot with his shotgun in his truck's gun rack.
1960 - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack.
2010 - School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for traumatized students and teachers.
Scenario 2:
Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school.
1960 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins.. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2010 - Police called and SWAT team arrives -- they arrest both Johnny and Mark. They are both charged them with assault and both expelled even though Johnny started it.
Scenario 3:
Jeffrey will not be still in class, he disrupts other students.
1960 - Jeffrey sent to the Principal's office and given a good paddling by the Principal. He then returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2010 - Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. He becomes a zombie. He is then tested for ADD. The school gets extra money from the state because Jeffrey has a disability..
Scenario 4:
Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.
1960 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college and becomes a successful businessman.
2010 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy is removed to foster care and joins a gang. The state psychologist is told by Billy's sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy's mom has an affair with the psychologist.
Scenario 5:
Pedro fails high school English.
1960 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English and goes to college.
2010 - Pedro's cause is taken up by the state. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit against the state school system and Pedro's English teacher. English is then banned from core curriculum. Pedro is given his diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.
Scenario 6:
Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from the Fourth of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle and blows up a red ant bed.
1960 - Ants die.
2010 - ATF, Homeland Security and the FBI are all called. Johnny is charged with domestic terrorism. The FBI investigates his parents -- and all siblings are removed from their home and all computers are confiscated. Johnny's dad is placed on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.
Scenario 7:
Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.
1960 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2010 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in State Prison. Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy.
A friend of mine sent me this email today. I thought it was rather funny.
No politics intended, and I don't want any debate on how things are better then/now. Just a funny email...
Cheers,