Vintage Things That Have Disappeared In Your Lifetime?

[Zombie_61]

Branch banks, and physical banking locations in general.

They haven’t disappeared entirely, and it’s unlikely they will in my lifetime, but there are many more closing than opening.

Today, for the first time in a long time, I had reason to stop in at a branch bank. There was one teller at a facility that would accommodate at least 10. And not a soul at any of the dozen or so desks in the low cubicles on the other side of the building.

This. I recently had reason to go into the local branch office of "my" bank at a time of day that I would expect to have normally stood in line for a while as the other customers were assisted. However, I was one of only two customers, and bank personnel were scarce; a single Teller finally appeared from a back room to assist me. I'm not so sure there will be a return to what we remember as "normal" after all of this pandemic precautions.

 

[tonyb]

… I'm not so sure there will be a return to what we remember as "normal" after all of this pandemic precautions.

It seems that the pandemic added fuel to a trend already well in motion. Digital technologies are having profound effects, many of which we’ve already witnessed, some are within our vision, and others we’re bound to be blindsided by.

In recent months I’ve read some scary predictions of what artificial intelligence has in store for us. I suppose that most of those writers are much better versed on the matter than I’ll ever be, so I don’t dismiss their concerns out of hand. But it doesn’t frighten me too terribly much. Like just about all technological advances, it should, after the initial shaking out, make our existing tasks less tedious and strenuous and eventually have us accomplishing things we scarcely would have imagined.

 

[Zombie_61]

...In recent months I’ve read some scary predictions of what artificial intelligence has in store for us...

I have too, and the potential for crime could lead to a lot of sleepless nights. For example, with only a sample of a person's voice and the right software Artificial Intelligence can fabricate an entire conversation using that voice to "authorize" any number of things that could, potentially, financially wipe out a person or family. We, as a global society, simply aren't prepared for the levels of harm it could create.

 

[Turnip]

Wrigley‘s Spearmint is about to be phased out in the German market.

 

[Turnip]

An 8 minute sand timer from the days the telephone net here has been exclusively operated by Deutsche Bundespost and a billing unit was 8min.

 

[Trenchfriend]

I rarely see anyone in Germany making Eierkuchen (East-german for pancakes) themselves, these days.

As kid, what team were you?

-Sprinkle sugar on top and roll it - Team?
-Smear nougatcream on top - Team?
-Smear hearty stuff on top - Team?
-Team Pure?
-Team Blueberry?

 

[The one from the North]

I rarely see anyone in Germany making Eierkuchen (East-german for pancakes) themselves, these days.

As kid, what team were you?

-Sprinkle sugar on top and roll it - Team?
-Smear nougatcream on top - Team?
-Smear hearty stuff on top - Team?
-Team Pure?
-Team Blueberry?

Team Blueberry, absolutely!

 

[Turnip]

Team Blueberry and Team Calvados with apple purée here.

 

[Trenchfriend]

Sprinkle sugar on top and roll it - Team.

 

[Turnip]

An aunt of mine went to Sweden for holidays every year and always returned with a trunk full of bottled blueberries she made there, pure childhood goodness.

 

[LostInTyme]

As a child, it was butter and maple syrup on top. As an adult, fruit (blueberry, apple or strawberry mixed in the mixture then butter on top with appropriate fruit flavored syrup on top, or once again, plain pancakes with butter, cinnamon and maple syrup on top. Perhaps my favorite.

 

[Steven65]

Radios are all but a memory..........

 

[tonyb]

Radios are all but a memory..........

I’m rarely listening to radio these days. It wasn’t so long ago that I had it on almost constantly, as background noise if nothing else.

 

[LostInTyme]

Just a nostalgia piece. It works, but there isn't much to actually listen to these days.

 

[Trenchfriend]

It works, but there isn't much to actually listen to these days.

Wait. No Jazz/Chanson channels on FM??

 

[tonyb]

Wait. No Jazz/Chanson channels on FM??

It appears to be AM only.

 

[LostInTyme]

Just AM. The days of AM are WAY behind us.

 

[tonyb]

Just AM. The days of AM are WAY behind us.

You could, if you were so inclined (as I’m not) rig up a little AM transmitter to play other audio media through it. I have a modest collection of four old radios myself, but truth be told they’re mostly just to look at.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I've been doing this for years -- it's my primary source of home entertainment.

 

[LostInTyme]

I actually have a Bose Wave radio under the old AM radio, and I have a USB music stick on the Aux input for the Bose. I turned on the AM radio with the volume off and the Bose on, (but disguised so it couldn't be seen). Then I called my dear wife in to listen to the new station I found on the AM radio. She was impressed, but not fooled.