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Crazy old ape
Quote by rolandlytle
1. Blackjack chewing gum
2. Wax Coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar water
3. Candy cigarettes
4. Soda pop machines that dispensed glass bottles
5. Coffee shops or diners with tableside jukeboxes
6. Home milk delivery in glass bottles with cardboard stoppers
7. Party lines on the telephone - our cottage was on one until the late eighties, I think, maybe even early nineties
8. Newsreels before the movie
9. P.F. Flyers
10. Butch wax
11. TV test patterns that came on at night after the last show and were there until TV shows started again in the morning. (there were only 3 channels... if you were fortunate)
12. Peashooters
13. Howdy Doody
14. 45 RPM records
15. S&H green stamps
16. Hi-fi's
17. Metal ice trays with lever
18. Mimeograph paper - Mom was a church secretary in the eighties and was still using a Gestetner mimeograph machine to do service bulletin and newsletters. It was replaced with a laser copier/printer in the nineties, I think. I used them in school a few times, too.
19. Blue flashbulb
20. Packards
21. Roller skate keys
22. Cork popguns
23. Drive-ins - there was one not far from my home until, IIRC, the eighties
24. Studebakers - While these were officially gone by my time, a Stud enthusiast in my hometown was part of a movement trying to preserve, and even revive, the brand
25. Wash tub wringers
If you remember 0-5 = You're still young
If you remember 6-10 = You are getting older
If you remember 11-15 = Don't tell your age,
If you remember 16-25 = You're older than dirt!
I might be older than dirt but those memories are some of the best parts of my life.
I had 18!
Meredith (James) added a few more, but I do not know how to change the scoring.
26. 8-track tape players
27. Under the dash Record players
28. Duck tail haircuts
29. Poodle Skirts
30. Cloverine salve ointment
31. Henry J cars
32. Sock hop dances
33. Outhouses
34. Redball Jets
35. Shoe repair shops
36. Alleys behind houses
37. Waiting for a Radio to Warm-up
38. Cherry Cokes that had real bits of cherries in them
39. Black Cow floats
40. Car hops
There's quite a few items on there that were still around in the 70s so I scored a 13. Marked the ones I knew in bold. I did add some nostalgic notes to a few in italics.
For changing the scoring, you would probably have to work out percentages and translate those into ranges. Since it's all in good fun, probably too much work.
Crazy old ape
Starting a new story in my world, a sequel of sorts to Night of the Wind. Already realizing that magic is going to be a much bigger in this world than I had thought at one time. Niomi, the witch in the story, is moving into serious D&D wizard territory just in the first paragraphs. And I am not sure if I like that. Might cut back on it, though it also helps keep the timeline reasonable.
And that's a big thing with fantasy. Deciding how magical the world and the story is going to be, then being consistent in how it is used and the power level involved, is a big part of making the world more believable (in the sense of allowing a reader to suspend disbelief without being jarred loose by weird inconsistencies).
S-F can have the same problem. Star Trek frequently got itself out of jams using "technobabble" and then conveniently forgot it again, or presented a contradictory solution, in a future episode where it might have affected the plot. If a technology is stated to have x limitation in episode 10 and then does something that violates that limitation in episode 23, that's quite the same as a magic power being stated to have x limitation...
So, need to meditate a bit on how to handle the magic. Otherwise, I quite like what I have worked out for this story. Even has a vampire of a sort in it, one of my favorite fantasy-horror nasties (sorry, not a fan of sparkly loverboy vamps).
And that's a big thing with fantasy. Deciding how magical the world and the story is going to be, then being consistent in how it is used and the power level involved, is a big part of making the world more believable (in the sense of allowing a reader to suspend disbelief without being jarred loose by weird inconsistencies).
S-F can have the same problem. Star Trek frequently got itself out of jams using "technobabble" and then conveniently forgot it again, or presented a contradictory solution, in a future episode where it might have affected the plot. If a technology is stated to have x limitation in episode 10 and then does something that violates that limitation in episode 23, that's quite the same as a magic power being stated to have x limitation...
So, need to meditate a bit on how to handle the magic. Otherwise, I quite like what I have worked out for this story. Even has a vampire of a sort in it, one of my favorite fantasy-horror nasties (sorry, not a fan of sparkly loverboy vamps).
Crazy old ape
Did an hour walk along the river. It's a section of the parkway we haven't done in years, not since our son was still little. Probably will start using that section more. It was relatively quiet compared to the section that goes from the university to downtown. OTOH, the downtown section is closer to home and can be reached by bike. The section we did today would require riding on one of busiest streets in the city for at least part of the way unless we wanted to rack up more km getting there than we actually did on the trail. Of course, the ideal would be starting at the university and ending where we ended today, but that's a good couple hours even on a bike. My son did it in his prime biking days but not sure if we are up to it right now.
Crazy old ape
Quote by Rumple_deWriter
Gonna fill my mug, grab a handful of Sarah's cookies and go sit outside and bask in the 75f degree weather before the temp has a chance to hit the 106 mark later this afternoon.
Okay, I won't complain about the heat here. It's hot for this area in early June, but still well below 100F. 31C works out to about 88F. But we'll probably be more humid than you based on my visits to the Southwest (I've hiked in 90-95F in Southern Utah but doubt I could do that if they had high humidity like here in Southern Ontario).
Quote by Sugarbaby
Scott I will eat a BUG, IF you skydive with me. ...
How about we skydive together, then have a meal of bugs waiting on the ground to celebrate?
Putting the kettle on for a tea. Sunday Tea (black blend with French vanilla) or Irish Breakfast.
Crazy old ape
Wife and I watched a good documentary on the life and work of J. S. Bach hosted by the noted English conductor Sir. John Eliot Gardiner, a noted interpreter of Bach himself. Back - A Passionate Life is the title and it's up on YouTube (possible unofficially but it has been up for a while and not taken down).
Crazy old ape
Quote by Sugarbaby
On the news the other day, people are making chocolate covered cicadas...Ping can have the first taste.....
I have never understood the squeamishness about eating insects. They are arthropods and we (well, a certain percentage of us) happily eat other arthropods like shrimp or lobster.
Good afternoon. I am home from work. That sounds so weird, but it is true. I actually was in my office for a full workday today. Not sure yet how often this will happen, but likely more and more as time rolls on.
Time for afternoon tea and cookies. Maybe Sara could come up with some bug-shaped cookies. Surely those will prove more popular than actual bugs.
Crazy old ape
Much as I love flying, you'd never catch me jumping out of a plane. Looking down from a balcony gives me the willies. Step ladders haunt my nightmares. So parachuting is right out for me. I'll happily stay INSIDE the fuselage, thank you.
Raquel Welch is doomed to remain in my memory forever as the beauty in the animal skin bikini in One Million Years BC, but she's had quite an impressive career. She's 80, by the way. Time flies. Her daughter Tahnee was a beauty, too, and had a film career of her own but seems to have vanished of late. Not sure why. Even she is older than me. Read that again. Raquel Welch's DAUGHTER is older than me. And I am no spring chicken. Again, time flies.
Writing is happening but my usual pattern is, too. A thousand words and change in and I'm questioning the whole thing and flailing about trying to figure out where is it supposed to be going. Meaning I will stay at it for another day or so and then toss it on the dead pile.
Going to the office tomorrow. A meeting that apparently absolutely HAS to be in person. Oh well, I'm four weeks past first shot and we run a pretty tight ship being in health care and all.
Green tea and cookies time. G'night y'all.
Raquel Welch is doomed to remain in my memory forever as the beauty in the animal skin bikini in One Million Years BC, but she's had quite an impressive career. She's 80, by the way. Time flies. Her daughter Tahnee was a beauty, too, and had a film career of her own but seems to have vanished of late. Not sure why. Even she is older than me. Read that again. Raquel Welch's DAUGHTER is older than me. And I am no spring chicken. Again, time flies.
Writing is happening but my usual pattern is, too. A thousand words and change in and I'm questioning the whole thing and flailing about trying to figure out where is it supposed to be going. Meaning I will stay at it for another day or so and then toss it on the dead pile.
Going to the office tomorrow. A meeting that apparently absolutely HAS to be in person. Oh well, I'm four weeks past first shot and we run a pretty tight ship being in health care and all.
Green tea and cookies time. G'night y'all.
Crazy old ape
Good evening all. Nice to see the place livening up a bit.
Cool to hear the boot camp stories upthread. Have you guy written stories about your military careers at all?
Hello to Linda. Nice of you to pop by.
Rainy evening here after a decent day. Going to work on Friday and may start going more often after that. We shall see.
Writing is happening but we will see where it goes. I've had a few false starts of late.
Pecan divines should go well with my evening sencha.
Cool to hear the boot camp stories upthread. Have you guy written stories about your military careers at all?
Hello to Linda. Nice of you to pop by.
Rainy evening here after a decent day. Going to work on Friday and may start going more often after that. We shall see.
Writing is happening but we will see where it goes. I've had a few false starts of late.
Pecan divines should go well with my evening sencha.
Crazy old ape
Quote by MagnificentBastard
And now a helicopter. An f’n helicopter. Seriously? Who needs a traffic report at 5:23 am on a non-holiday Monday in Canada?
Who says it's a traffic chopper? We live near a hospital so 9 times out of 10, a helicopter flying over our place is an air ambulance. Especially recently with our hospitals taking COVID spillover from the GTA.
Good evening, everybody. Back to nice weather again so my office once again moved to the deck.
Kettle is on if anyone wants to join me for tea and cookies.
Crazy old ape
Quote by rolandlytle
Interesting note: Only Issac Asimov was listed on more than one group of choices.
I have not read any Asimov in years. He's definitely on my list, but not a top 5.
And somehow, I completely forgot to put Neil Gaiman on there. He should probably be in the spot I gave to Barker. Or maybe Stoker. Ramsey Campbell would be an alternate for just about any of the slots. Brilliant modern writer in the English ghost story school.
Crazy old ape
Will Ping ever tire of limoncello? And orangecello? Sound like you're branching out.
And who woulda thunk that Vegas would become a hotbed of hockey (or anything other than losing your shirt)?
Grass is cut and trimmed and a tree pruned. Limoncello might just hit the spot. And a couple cookies. * grabs one of each car *
And who woulda thunk that Vegas would become a hotbed of hockey (or anything other than losing your shirt)?
Grass is cut and trimmed and a tree pruned. Limoncello might just hit the spot. And a couple cookies. * grabs one of each car *
Crazy old ape
Quote by elizabethblack
Also the Rose of Sharon bush - lovely and hardy as they come. I am surprised you got the long straight root dug up.
It is a fairly small bush, only a couple years old, but yeah, I had to "go deep". We'll see how it fares. It was right under a window and we wanted it (a) further from the house and (b) somewhere where we could see it better. Only had a few blooms last year but they were lovely.
Crazy old ape
What's a poem that means a lot to you? Maybe it helped you through a tough time or was an inspiration or maybe carries a happy or important memory for you. If it is available online, link it, otherwise just give the title and poet.
While studying Classics for my B.A. I became enamoured of the Roman Augustan poet Horace. His reflections on life and how we live in the shadow of death became an influence on my outlook even before I realized how they were informed by Epicurean philosophy. Odes I,IV is one of the first Latin poems I even translated myself and remains a favorite. The poet rhapsodizes on the joys of Spring, then shifts tone with a stark reminder of our mortality and that these joys must be enjoyed while they can be. This translation is from A. S. Kline's website, where he has translated all of Horace's works.
While studying Classics for my B.A. I became enamoured of the Roman Augustan poet Horace. His reflections on life and how we live in the shadow of death became an influence on my outlook even before I realized how they were informed by Epicurean philosophy. Odes I,IV is one of the first Latin poems I even translated myself and remains a favorite. The poet rhapsodizes on the joys of Spring, then shifts tone with a stark reminder of our mortality and that these joys must be enjoyed while they can be. This translation is from A. S. Kline's website, where he has translated all of Horace's works.
Crazy old ape
Who are the authors you go back to time and again? Who intrigues, inspires, or entertains you enough to keep you coming back?
H. P. Lovecraft - for all the black marks against his name (basically, he was horrifically racist even by the standards of his time), his cosmic horror still carries a lot of power
Clark Ashton Smith - a somewhat forgotten contemporary of Lovecraft who wrote some amazing weird fantasy and created some memorable worlds
Clive Barker - from his early bizarre, often gruesome, horror to his weird, often cosmic, fantasies, Barker packs an incredible imagination and the talent to put it on paper
John Le Carre - while spy fiction made him famous, Le Carre's real forte was dealing with human characters caught up in political and social intrigue, often over their heads
Bram Stoker - yes, the guy is famous mainly for one novel. But what a novel. I come back to Dracula every few years for another run though.
H. P. Lovecraft - for all the black marks against his name (basically, he was horrifically racist even by the standards of his time), his cosmic horror still carries a lot of power
Clark Ashton Smith - a somewhat forgotten contemporary of Lovecraft who wrote some amazing weird fantasy and created some memorable worlds
Clive Barker - from his early bizarre, often gruesome, horror to his weird, often cosmic, fantasies, Barker packs an incredible imagination and the talent to put it on paper
John Le Carre - while spy fiction made him famous, Le Carre's real forte was dealing with human characters caught up in political and social intrigue, often over their heads
Bram Stoker - yes, the guy is famous mainly for one novel. But what a novel. I come back to Dracula every few years for another run though.
Crazy old ape
Who are your favorite characters in literature? Doesn't have to be in rank order or anything, but what characters have stuck with you over the years. Heck, if you can't come up with 5, that's even good.
George Smiley (John Le Carre's Circus novels) - a complex character with a complex relationship to the complex world of espionage
Sherlock Holmes (Arthur Conan Doyle) - the consumate "consulting detective"
Burke (Andrew Vachss) - an orphan ex-con with a memorable "posse" battling those who abuse children from the shadows
Willy Wonka (Roald Dahl) - a lively, eccentric trickster figure
Morpheus/Dream (Neil Gaiman) - the personification of dreams and stories who all too often is caught up in them himself. And yes, I'm counting graphic novels as literature
George Smiley (John Le Carre's Circus novels) - a complex character with a complex relationship to the complex world of espionage
Sherlock Holmes (Arthur Conan Doyle) - the consumate "consulting detective"
Burke (Andrew Vachss) - an orphan ex-con with a memorable "posse" battling those who abuse children from the shadows
Willy Wonka (Roald Dahl) - a lively, eccentric trickster figure
Morpheus/Dream (Neil Gaiman) - the personification of dreams and stories who all too often is caught up in them himself. And yes, I'm counting graphic novels as literature
Crazy old ape
Quote by AnnaMayZing
Good evening all.
Sorry, I couldn't help but overhear 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'!
Baron Bomburst lived in the most beautiful place in the world (in my humble opinion). Schloß Neuschwanstein.
I love Neuschwanstein. Mad King Ludwig may have been, well, mad but his architectural and musical sense (he patronized Wagner and helped get the Bayreuth Festspielhaus built) made up for it.
Crazy old ape
Quote by Verity
es of course, Roald. I’m going to try and hide my stupidity and blame it on my auto-correct. Speaking of Bond, I have to say that I much prefer the earlier Bond Films. I loved the humour and the various romantic interests. They were just jolly good fun to watch. I still watch the new ones but they are getting more like the Jason Bourne franchise. Too serious.
I have not watched the Daniel Craig movies as of yet. Parenting and career have really cut into my leisure time and what's left I tend to use for things other than movies. Reading, exercising, watching shorter stuff, writing.
I prefer my Bond a bit more serious. Not grimdark or anything, but my favorites are the early Connery films (Dr. No through to Thunderball), Dalton's two, and some of Brosnan's (he was actually my choice for Bond long before he got the part and I was happy with him, but the movies he was given are a mixed bag). Poor Lazenby's one shot was actually a good film, but he did not impress me. Moore's films just got too cartoonish for me and there is some of that in the later Connery films, too. Fun to watch (in fact, the first Bond I saw in a theater was The Spy Who Loved Me), but not faves.
I'll have a green tea, shaken not...no, that doesn't work, does it? Hey Sara, can we have cookies in the shape of Aston-Martin DB5s and Lotus Esprits?
Crazy old ape
Quote by Survivor
Good day to you, Verity. It's so lovely that you bring up Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, By coincidence, I just happened to be in a production of that work as a play on stage here at our local arts theatre. I played the nefarious Child Catcher.
You and "nefarious" are not two words that go together in my mind, but that's acting. I sometimes contemplate seeking out an amateur theater company to try out with but other than a strong voice (mostly used for preaching and other public speaking), not sure if I have any qualities suited to the stage. I live in a city with a fairly strong theatrical tradition so there's plenty happening stage-wise normally.
Moved a small tree/bush today. It was growing in an awkward spot. Not sure how it got there, but it's a Rose of Sharon (a type of hibiscus) and we have a couple others not far away so I guess it depends on how their seeds get spread. Still have some pruning to do but weather is supposed to be nice again tomorrow.
Afternoon tea and cookies time. Kettle is on and Sara says we are well stocked.
Crazy old ape
Quote by Verity
I will join you in raising a glass. Let’s not forget the he also wrote a children’s version of James Bond as well. It also featured a car that could do anything. It was of course, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Later adapted into a very successful film by none other than Roland Dahl.
Who, interestingly, also did the script for You Only Live Twice (and it's Roald, not Roland). The other writers, Ken Hughes (writer on the 1967 spoof version of Casino Royale) and Richard Maibaum (worked on most of the 007 films from the beginning until the mid-70s) also had Bond connections as did some of the cast (e.g. Gert Frobe, aka Auric Goldfinger).
One thing that has kind of gone dark are the Bond novels. The Fleming estate (currently operating as Ian Fleming Publications, but formerly known as Glidrose) were commissioning new novels up until 2018 but there haven't been any since Anthony Horowitz's Forever and a Day (which I didn't even know about, thought his Trigger Mortis was the last). Fleming's Bond is now public domain here in Canada and there's been at least one anthology of Bond short stories published collecting stories by Canadian writers taking advantage of that. Our copyright is life + 50 and Fleming died in 1964.
Good morning! Coffee is on and kettle is cheerfully bubbling away. It is sunny here but still windy and cool. Late May is feeling more like late April these days.
Crazy old ape
Quote by DenimAngel
She loves banana chips
I just tried banana tea (Orange pekoe with banana flavouring and bits of banana chips) recently. Yum. It was a free sample in my last shipment of loose leaf but I'm putting it on my wishlist so I remember to order some next time.
Crazy old ape
Picked up a couple boxes of cat treats. We seem to be getting inundated with felines right now. And a box of doggy treats for Victor so he doesn't feel left out. Not sure what Molly wants. She seems pretty happy just eating our cookies.
Sunny and cool right now, getting even cooler tomorrow. So nice, but not shorts weather like the other day.
Sunny and cool right now, getting even cooler tomorrow. So nice, but not shorts weather like the other day.
Crazy old ape
Quote by MagnificentBastard
I just had some of the best bubble gum gelato. I wonder if it’s made with real cats named bubble gum?
I’ve got some limoncello with your name on it. Stand by...
In the meantime, here’s what my bike looks like. I don’t think I’ll Easy Rider modify it with a big ass sissy bar, but maybe?!?
Bubble gum gelato? What a waste of good ice cream. (No, I'm not fond of bubble gum).
Nice bike. Take care, eh. I know a couple people who've had nasty accidents on this things. One had head injuries and has had trouble holding down a job since.
Good morning. Coffee and kettle are on for those what need'em.
Crazy old ape
Well, well, well, looks who's back. Wondered who owned that damn bike out front. How's it going, you magnificent bastard you?
And, yay, kitties! Bubblegum can join the rest of our menagerie (Miss Purr, Victor, Molly the monkey).
Putting on the kettle for a green tea and grabbing some summer cookies.
And, yay, kitties! Bubblegum can join the rest of our menagerie (Miss Purr, Victor, Molly the monkey).
Putting on the kettle for a green tea and grabbing some summer cookies.
Crazy old ape
Quote by AnnaMayZing
Did someone know something? 😱
Actually, anyone who was following the news out of China knew something. That was posted on January 25, 2020 at which point the Wuhan outbreak was underway, though no one really believed it would escalate the way it did.
But, yeah, in retrospect Keith's original post was somewhat prescient and is even better advice today than when he posted it.
Crazy old ape
Hi, Gil, nice to see you. Glad to hear your mother is on the mend.
Larry beat me to answering Roland's question so I'll just say, "Hi, Roland!! Hi, Larry!"
Then I'll praise the wondrous Sara for her gift of cookies as I grab some butterscotch mallows and ginger snaps to have with an evening tea.
Lovely day here today. Cleaned the car and got in a nice walk. Tomorrow is supposed to get steamy again so I am enjoying today's more moderate weather.
No writing happening right now. Just can't get myself interested in any of my lingering ideas and drafts. Soon, I hope, some inspiration will hit.
Larry beat me to answering Roland's question so I'll just say, "Hi, Roland!! Hi, Larry!"
Then I'll praise the wondrous Sara for her gift of cookies as I grab some butterscotch mallows and ginger snaps to have with an evening tea.
Lovely day here today. Cleaned the car and got in a nice walk. Tomorrow is supposed to get steamy again so I am enjoying today's more moderate weather.
No writing happening right now. Just can't get myself interested in any of my lingering ideas and drafts. Soon, I hope, some inspiration will hit.