What has disappeared since you were a kid

[XYZ]

Re: What has disappeared since you were a kid

Pinball machines.

There's one company left that still makes them, mostly for collectors/enthusiasts. I suspect they're circling the drain, though.

Seconded. I don't drop the "best ever" nonsense too often...but the best pinball game ever, hands down: Guns n Roses. Not too many of them were made, either. 3500 maybe? Bastard played Nighttrain...loudly...until it was multi-ball time. Then it was time for Paradise City. Slash's Snake Pit Skill Shot, Gilby Rolls...oh the extras were awesome.

 

[Bakunin]

Re: What has disappeared since you were a kid

And how can we forget the time the homemade explosives burned down about four acres? Woops. Never got caught, either. Like it was our fault it was windy that day...

Many fires were started - thanks to the unpredictable nature of lighting entire packs of jumping jacks at once - but thankfully my friends and I were able to put them out before houses were jeopardized.

 

[XYZ]

Re: What has disappeared since you were a kid

Many fires were started - thanks to the unpredictable nature of lighting entire packs of jumping jacks at once - but thankfully my friends and I were able to put them out before houses were jeopardized.

Ever cut open a bunch of M-80's and pack the powder tightly into a larger entity? Maybe a toilet paper tube? Theoretically speaking, if you tape it tightly enough and get some fuse (which used to be theoretically available at a place like Fleet Farm), you could cause a real ruckus. In theory.

 

[Twitch Boy]

Re: What has disappeared since you were a kid

Man, I loved me some T2 and Addam's Family pinball in college. I destroyed T2 quite often. Eight Ball (IIRC) was my favorite old-school pinball machine.

If I ever end up with a place with more space, I'm thinking about purchasing one. They only cost a few thousand (sometimes they pop up on The Price is Right.) I understand they're a beeyotch to maintain, though.

I'd probably go with one of these or these. Even though I suck.

And handheld video games:

I grew up on the chunky white Tiger handhelds that passed themselves off as popular NES games.

 

[The Rube]

Re: What has disappeared since you were a kid

We'd just test the mettle of our GI Joes. Survive a black cat attached to you, a la suicide bomber? Ok, you're a keeper.

Or you always had the magnifying glass/black-marker-covered sheet of paper, and see who starts a fire the fastest. Then the stupid rich kid brings the 8"x11" page magnifier and kicks everyone's arses.

And of course, the Napoleon Dynamite bike ramps. If you didn't do that as a kid, something's wrong with you.

 

[The Rube]

Re: What has disappeared since you were a kid

If I ever end up with a place with more space, I'm thinking about purchasing one. They only cost a few thousand (sometimes they pop up on The Price is Right.) I understand they're a beeyotch to maintain, though.

I'd probably go with one of these or these. Even though I suck.

I grew up on the chunky white Tiger handhelds that passed themselves off as popular NES games.

TIGER! That's what I was trying to think of. I had a sh*load of those. And you are right in the maintenance of pinball machines. A HS buddy had an old-school (read: simplistic) pinball machine, and he said the maintenance is horrid.

 

[Bakunin]

Re: What has disappeared since you were a kid

Ever cut open a bunch of M-80's and pack the powder tightly into a larger entity? Maybe a toilet paper tube? Theoretically speaking, if you tape it tightly enough and get some fuse (which used to be theoretically available at a place like Fleet Farm), you could cause a real ruckus. In theory.

I wasn't that industrious. The most ridiculous things - in theory of course - would involve launching 8 oz rockets down the street. Inevitably, they'd curve violently off-course and bounce off a house. Supposedly.

And don't get me started on the games of chicken involving ripping out the sticks from whistlers and bottle rockets, lighting them, and throwing up 'em up in the air. Some neighborkid nearly lost an eye because of that... (had it hit him just a couple inches higher, it would have been baaaad - instead he just got a minor burn on the face).

 

[XYZ]

Re: What has disappeared since you were a kid

TIGER! That's what I was trying to think of. I had a sh*load of those. And you are right in the maintenance of pinball machines. A HS buddy had an old-school (read: simplistic) pinball machine, and he said the maintenance is horrid.

I've got a buddy who is some sort of arcade and pinball repair savant. His basement is packed with games he's refurbished. Someday I'm getting that GNR game - because I know who can make it right for cheap.

How about cap guns? Ever scrap the gun and just hit the whole roll of caps with a hammer? Yeah, that'll ring the ears for a few hours.

Bakunin: A narrow piece of PVC makes a great bottle rocket rifle. Model rocket engines also have some good potential...

 

[Twitch Boy]

Re: What has disappeared since you were a kid

Seconded. I don't drop the "best ever" nonsense too often...but the best pinball game ever, hands down: Guns n Roses. Not too many of them were made, either. 3500 maybe? Bastard played Nighttrain...loudly...until it was multi-ball time. Then it was time for Paradise City. Slash's Snake Pit Skill Shot, Gilby Rolls...oh the extras were awesome.

I went on a hockey roadie to Wisconsin and stayed with one of Flashy Man's relatives. He had one of those. In fact, he had about nine of the things.

I saw the first one sitting in his living room...then he opened the door to a side room and my jaw hit the floor.

 

[The Rube]

Re: What has disappeared since you were a kid

XYZ: did the hammer on the roll of caps. You are correct.

Bakunin: had a buddy (The Ohj) shoot a Roman Candle at my feet, while yelling "Dance, boy! Dance!" Alcohol may have been involved.

Also, Big Poppa (some of you know him) and I got lazy one day while camping and fishing, and instead of casting our rods, we attached a bottle rocket to the line, used an extra tent pole for the "cannon" part, lit the fuse, and boom, line is cast out onto the river. It worked like a charm.

 

[XYZ]

Re: What has disappeared since you were a kid

Also, Big Poppa (some of you know him) and I got lazy one day while camping and fishing, and instead of casting our rods, we attached a bottle rocket to the line, used an extra tent pole for the "cannon" part, lit the fuse, and boom, line is cast out onto the river. It worked like a charm.

That's pretty solid. We once rewired a vacuum so we could use the output to hover a wiffle ball so we had the world's most elaborate batting tee. Considering we were only about 11 I'm still impressed we actually made it work.

had a buddy (The Ohj) shoot a Roman Candle at my feet, while yelling "Dance, boy! Dance!" Alcohol may have been involved.

When it came to shooting things at each other we drew the line at bottle rockets. When it comes to general explosives, however, there's a lot of fun stuff out there. Of course, don't need to end up on some watch list so I'll refrain from a chemistry discussion.

"Do this outside on a somewhat windy day as the reaction will emit red gaseous fumes...."

 

[Bakunin]

Re: What has disappeared since you were a kid

How is it possible none of us were thrown in a juvenile detention center?

Were we that smart, or was law enforcement / parents that dumb/ignorant?

 

[The Rube]

Re: What has disappeared since you were a kid

That's pretty solid. We once rewired a vacuum so we could use the output to hover a wiffle ball so we had the world's most elaborate batting tee. Considering we were only about 11 I'm still impressed we actually made it work.

That. Is. Genius.

Amazing what kids can think of, huh?

I know in Boy Scouts, we were obsessed with making traps and such. Recreated the Return Of The Jedi Ewok Swinging Tree Trap, where a tree from each side flew into each other and smashed the Walker. Also did the Pit Trap, where there were spikes at the bottom of a pit, covered by thatch. And finally, did the snap-tree, where if you hit the tripwire, a sapling would snap towards you and hit you.

*sigh* we were evil bastiges who didn't realize the full consequences of our actions.

 

[Twitch Boy]

Re: What has disappeared since you were a kid

Compact disc + Dremel tool = disc rolling across floor with so much angular velocity it can hit a wall, bounce off, and keep rolling forward into the wall again.

 

[XYZ]

Re: What has disappeared since you were a kid

How is it possible none of us were thrown in a juvenile detention center?

Were we that smart, or was law enforcement / parents that dumb/ignorant?

It's obvious. We were smart enough to not get caught. On my end I grew up in the relative sticks, so we had a lot of space to operate in. Never really did anything to other people's property or anything. Plus I still have some uncanny knack for 1) not getting caught and 2) getting free stuff. I honestly don't know why.

"I don't think I want to know a six-year-old who isn't a dreamer, or a sillyheart. And I sure don't want to know one who takes their student career seriously. I don't have a college degree. I don't even have a job. But I know a good kid when I see one. Because they're ALL good kids, until dried-out, brain-dead skags like you drag them down and convince them they're no good. You so much as scowl at my niece, or any other kid in this school, and I hear about it, and I'm coming looking for you!'' -Buck Russell

 

[The Rube]

Re: What has disappeared since you were a kid

It's obvious. We were smart enough to not get caught. On my end I grew up in the relative sticks, so we had a lot of space to operate in. Never really did anything to other people's property or anything.

"I don't think I want to know a six-year-old who isn't a dreamer, or a sillyheart. And I sure don't want to know one who takes their student career seriously. I don't have a college degree. I don't even have a job. But I know a good kid when I see one. Because they're ALL good kids, until dried-out, brain-dead skags like you drag them down and convince them they're no good. You so much as scowl at my niece, or any other kid in this school, and I hear about it, and I'm coming looking for you!'' -Buck Russell

Yep. You knew what you could potentially get away with, and you bent those limits. And were smart enough to know when and where you could pull these stunts off.

 

[Bakunin]

Re: What has disappeared since you were a kid

I always wondered how my parents never noticed my shoes smelled like I had been in a burning building all afternoon (consequence of having to stamp out fires that got out of hand).

 

[The Rube]

Re: What has disappeared since you were a kid

They MIGHT still be around, but I haven't heard 'em:

Dr Demento Show (IIRC it was on Sunday nights in my part of the country)
Kasey Kasem's Top 40 Countdown on Sunday Mornings

 

[XYZ]

Re: What has disappeared since you were a kid

Yep. You knew what you could potentially get away with, and you bent those limits. And were smart enough to know when and where you could pull these stunts off.

You know, this makes me think of a discussion with a coworker from about a year ago. She's maybe in her early 50's (not sure it's relevant but she's a lesbian with no children) and we got on the topic of kids not seeming to be as active these days.

I've said it before, but at some point I said, "You know, if I ever have kids I'd almost be disappointed if one of them doesn't show up with a broken arm one afternoon."

She went mental. Clearly missed my point, but it's a point I stand by.

Obviously you don't want to turn your kids so loose they become Ed Gein's next lampshade, and they must be disciplined when need be, but I'd much rather see a kid with some imaginative and explorative qualities than some Doritos crunching sack of crap who plays WoW all day. With those qualities of course comes some risk, but I'd rather have that than nothing at all.

 

[XYZ]

Re: What has disappeared since you were a kid

Dr Demento Show (IIRC it was on Sunday nights in my part of the country)
Kasey Kasem's Top 40 Countdown on Sunday Mornings

Oh yeah, both for sure. I knew of Demento but I really never listened to it.

Listened to the Bucks, Brewers on 620AM and the Blackhawks on WMAQ (I think), but if those weren't going on....how about this one:

Bruce Williams and Talknet. I honestly don't think I paid attention to music until I was in high school.