July 18, 2012
— Maetenloch
Childhood's End - The Shrinking Range of Kids
It's not your imagination - kids today really do roam their neighborhoods far less than they did even a generation or two ago.
A British study called One False Move, investigating the mobility of children, found that the average eight-year-old saw its 'home habitat' shrink to one-ninth of its size within a single generation. In 1970, 80% of British kids 7 or 8 years of age were allowed to go to school unsupervised; by 1990, this figure had dropped below 10%.
The result of this gradual shrinkage of children's habitat, is the effective end of the outdoor childhood.
And here's a map showing how much the range of one family's children in Sheffield, England has shrunk in four generations:
I've seen this in my own lifetime as well. As a kid I was lucky to have some woods just a mile or two from our house so quite often my friends and I would announce that we were going 'exploring', stuff some food and water into our backpacks, and head off into the woods with our dogs for most of the day.
We probably only got a mile or two into woods - and in retrospect given their size couldn't have gotten truly lost if we'd tried - but to us it felt like we were very, very far from home and on our own. And I won't even go into the many hours of fun we had wandering along the railroad tracks.
But my nephews (9 and 11 years old) who now live just on the other side of the very same woods have never walked into them on their own. In fact I doubt they've ever walked or biked beyond a half mile radius of their house. And it's not like they're lazy or homebodies - they're quite active and play sports year round - or in a bad neighborhood or that my sister is the over-worrying mother type.
Mostly it's because they have far less free-time to wander around than I did, there's already a lot of fun stuff to do at each others houses and there is constant low grade pressure from *all* the parents to not stray too far. So I doubt that they'll ever walk into the woods just a mile and half away. And that's a shame.
U.S. Becoming a Nation of Dependents
The Obama administration is rapidly pursuing its vision of a "transformed" America-an America in which most people are dependent on government, and therefore the party of government, the Democrats, will be dominant.
And one of the stealth ways of doing this is by slowly expanding the reach of government benefits until nearly everyone is compromised to some degree or other by them. And we're pretty much already there.
Here are the effective tax rates i.e. taxes paid minus government benefits received as a percent of income from back in 2009.
Bottom quintile: -301 percent
Second quintile: -42 percent
Middle quintile: -5 percent
Fourth quintile: 10 percent
Highest quintile: 22 percentTop one percent: 28 percent
The negative 301 percent means that a typical family in the bottom quintile receives about $3 in transfer payments for every dollar earned.
The most surprising fact to me was that the effective tax rate is negative for the middle quintile. According to the CBO data, this number was +14 percent in 1979 (when the data begins) and remained positive through 2007. It was negative 0.5 percent in 2008, and negative 5 percent in 2009. That is, the middle class, having long been a net contributor to the funding of government, is now a net recipient of government largess.
"What is the most Burkean line from Animal House?"
A classic 2001 column from Jonah Goldberg.
Regardless, now that my spirit has been renewed and I, like Jackson, can return to my public ministry (if he can have one, why can't I?), I feel I must fulfill my covenant with my readers and address the deeply pressing question, "What is the most Burkean line from Animal House?"
If you're not familiar with Edmund Burke, well the short version is that he was The Man of original conservative thought. Probably a good half of all the conservative ideas rattling around in your brain were first (and better) expressed by him back in the 1790s.
And here are some suggestions that were rejected by Jonah:
Many readers were convinced that "fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life" was the apotheosis of Burkean thought. This can't be right, because it would rule out the lifestyles of many British Monarchs, whom Burke supported.
A more promising guess comes from the line during the trial of the Delta House. Eric "Otter" Stratton says: "The issue here is not whether we broke a few rules, or took a few liberties with our female party guests - we did. [winks at Dean Wormer]...Well, you can do whatever you want to us, but we're not going to sit here and listen to you badmouth the United States of America!"
This is an excellent suggestion on several points. It shows a deep appreciation of the integral role that institutions play in the social fabric. But it also displays a degree of unquestioning patriotism bordering on jingoism. No, sorry: close but no cigar.
Then there's my absolute favorite suggestion: "The Negroes stole our dates!"
Considering Burke's moral clarity on racial issues, I must say this fails, but I just think it's hilarious. Hold on to it for my quiz on the line from Animal House most befitting Calhoun.
You'll have to read the column to find out the answer.
How to Really Test Bullet-Proof Vests
It's one thing to design a bullet-proof vest that based on specs can also stop intermediate powered bullets - but it takes true confidence in your design to let someone fire an AK-47 into your chest from a few feet away.
I wonder what ever happened to those guys.
There's a special hotel just for you:
Located in the Elqui Valley in Chile's Norte Chico region, Elqui Domos is one of the few astronomical hotels in the world. The area is renowned for its sparkling clear skies and Elqui Domos takes advantage of this by offering lodgings in a series of geodesic domes with elevated loft beds and open rooftops as well as recently added wooden cabins designed with star-gazing in mind. .Both the geodesic domes and observatory cabins are furnished with their own telescopes for guest use.
...Daytime activities include hiking, horse riding, mountain biking, wine tasting and yoga. Prices at Elqui Domos start from US$120 per couple per night.
Upon defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games, two porn stars made a bet on Twitter with the stipulation they'd give oral sex to Heat fans if their team won the title.In order to fulfill their promises, the duo, better known as Sara Jay and Angelina Castro, formed a website, TeamBJNBA, for fans to cash in on their "winnings." They set up the rules of their free giveaway because, you know, if they were actually paid for their services that would be both wrong and illegal. But who are we to judge?
Needless to say, this got the duo in a bit of hot water with the ultra-PC NBA. Not wanting to see their carefully crafted image destroyed, the league moved to stop the giveaway.
...The NBA has demanded that the entire website and picture be pulled off the Internet and that the URL Teambjnba.com and Twitter handle @teambjnba be transferred to its ownership.
Not phased, the duo are still planning to go ahead to make many people's day.
Teh Tweet!
Yahoo group. That is all.
Tonight's post brought to you by subterranean lady lovers:
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Posted by: Maetenloch at
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| Comments (577)
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Posted by: Lemmiwinks at July 18, 2012 06:03 PM (61yvg)
Posted by: Big Johansson at July 18, 2012 06:05 PM (aZcPb)
Posted by: steevy at July 18, 2012 06:05 PM (6o4Fb)
Posted by: AltonJackson at July 18, 2012 06:06 PM (JMmQ9)
Posted by: Ben at July 18, 2012 06:06 PM (VPxJg)
Posted by: steevy at July 18, 2012 06:07 PM (6o4Fb)
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at July 18, 2012 06:08 PM (yh0zB)
Posted by: Things Dad would say at July 18, 2012 06:09 PM (4s44r)
BJNBA?
A lot of ball handling, and then the shot.
And now David Stern controls all that. What a killjoy.
Posted by: Reader C.J. Burch writes..... at July 18, 2012 06:09 PM (sJTmU)
Posted by: Stinky Feet at July 18, 2012 06:10 PM (aanT8)
Posted by: Things Dad would say at July 18, 2012 10:09 PM (4s44r)
"Be back when it gets dark." (things that Mom would say)
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at July 18, 2012 06:10 PM (yh0zB)
Posted by: General Woundwort at July 18, 2012 06:11 PM (DWgdc)
PS--don't tell us about the BJNBA if it is not still active. That just makes me sad......
Posted by: FOWFan at July 18, 2012 06:12 PM (B8z6M)
-------
As an Army brat, I grew up on military bases in exciting. Some of which were quite large.
Spent a couple of years living in Dugway Our house was on the edge of the living area, just a block from the desert (one end of Mosier Drive, if you know the place). I used to go for long, long walks in the desert. Play in the sand dunes. All kinds of fun. I once walked out to the air field.
Of course, that was before I had any clue what they were *doing* in that desert...
In Stuttgart, lived in Robinson Barracks, which is a large base on top of a hill. There was a great big grassy area between my house and the school. Some peach trees; I gather it used to be an orchard before WWII. Of course, we walked to school; a couple of miles.
Italy was Camp Darby. We lived on the economy in Tirrenia, a couple of blocks from the Mediterranian. There was a big chunk of forest just north of where we lived; big, tall, umbrella pines.
However, somewhere in Italy I discovered books and became a homebody.
Posted by: Anachronda at July 18, 2012 06:13 PM (1c58W)
I carry because I'm too old to fight, too fat to run, and too mean to die.
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at July 18, 2012 06:13 PM (yh0zB)
Posted by: moki at July 18, 2012 06:13 PM (dZmFh)
The world may or may be safer/more dangerous than when I was a child growing up (in the 1960's), but the perception is that things are worse.
I used to ride the bus all over town when I was 11 or 12 to go places. My wife thinks that was crazy. When I was 13 I got up a 4 am to deliver the morning paper. And thinking about that now, seems like it was crazy.
But I rarely felt like things weren't safe or that I was in any danger. I think it's the drugs, and the stories of sexual predators that scares people today.
Posted by: Reader C.J. Burch writes..... at July 18, 2012 06:15 PM (sJTmU)
Posted by: AltonJackson at July 18, 2012 06:15 PM (JMmQ9)
Posted by: The Huggable Robot Devil at July 18, 2012 06:16 PM (DNTer)
Posted by: moki at July 18, 2012 10:13 PM (dZmFh)
Not if you teach them right. Of course, these days the sight of a kid with a .22 rifle or a 20 gauge shotgun would be enough to cause heart attacks.
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at July 18, 2012 06:16 PM (yh0zB)
Posted by: Truck Monkey at July 18, 2012 06:16 PM (jucos)
Posted by: Y-not at July 18, 2012 06:16 PM (5H6zj)
Posted by: Long Island at July 18, 2012 06:18 PM (kzp9t)
Posted by: moki at July 18, 2012 06:18 PM (dZmFh)
The song remains the same.
Posted by: Shirley Anger at July 18, 2012 06:19 PM (7+pP9)
Posted by: Reggie1971 at July 18, 2012 06:19 PM (03CLp)
Posted by: Boulder Toilet Hobo at July 18, 2012 06:20 PM (QTHTd)
With us, it was "Be back when the streetlights are on." Like Maet, I have great memories of exploring the woods near my home. Suburban boomer kids really lived in a Golden Age of Childhood. 100 years earlier and we would have toiled in factories. My Depression era parents spent their summer vacations helping out on the farm. Kids today are shuttled from one adult-supervised activity to another. Or else they're texting the kid who lives across the street. We had both time and freedom to explore.
Maybe that's why the Boomers turned out so disasterously in the end. They expected all of life to be as idyllic as childhood and threw a hissy fit when it wasn't.
Posted by: Donna V. at July 18, 2012 06:20 PM (EflcN)
Posted by: steevy at July 18, 2012 06:21 PM (6o4Fb)
Romneys next ad should be the style that the dumbocrats used (Apple commercial style) with about 15 registered dems giving a sentence on why they're voting for Romney.
That there would be a proverbial kick in his tiny nuts.
Posted by: Hal Burton at July 18, 2012 06:21 PM (iYvMQ)
Whoa, she got '70s bush!
Posted by: Jay at July 18, 2012 06:22 PM (QTHTd)
Posted by: Reader C.J. Burch writes..... at July 18, 2012 10:15 PM (sJTmU)
I don't think it's any more dangerous, I think you just hear about it more in this age of instant communications. Our world used to be very small, now it is very large.
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at July 18, 2012 06:23 PM (yh0zB)
Posted by: Ezra's Equal at July 18, 2012 06:24 PM (BAnxQ)
A bj from a porn star? I'll have to pass.
Posted by: GnuBreed at July 18, 2012 06:24 PM (ccXZP)
Posted by: nerdygirl at July 18, 2012 06:25 PM (96XVT)
Posted by: Truck Monkey at July 18, 2012 06:25 PM (jucos)
Understand this like you understand cops ticketing speeders at 8 AM when school is not in session.
Revenue, revenue, revenue
Posted by: Boulder Toilet at July 18, 2012 06:25 PM (QTHTd)
Posted by: AltonJackson at July 18, 2012 06:25 PM (JMmQ9)
According to police reports obtained by The Daily Caller and reported Monday by the RedState blog, HealthBridge Management Health Care Centers alleged that union employees in at least three of its facilities intentionally mixed up or removed patient name plates, photos, medical bracelets and dietary advisories as they began their strike. Additionally, the police reports include allegations of both vandalism and larceny.
... but hey, they care !!
Posted by: Florence Nightingale at July 18, 2012 06:26 PM (e8kgV)
Posted by: steevy at July 18, 2012 06:26 PM (6o4Fb)
Posted by: DailyDish at July 18, 2012 06:26 PM (+b3dK)
Posted by: Ezra's Equal at July 18, 2012 06:26 PM (BAnxQ)
That is such a good line I want to steal it.
Regarding the shrinking world of children: Don't think that it doesn't have political consequences. Most persons raised with little independence are going to see dependency as the natural order of things. Rather than looking at freedom of the individual as something that only occasionally ought be curtailed for the sake of the whole, they're going to think freedom is something doled out in grudging little dollops for the individual's own good. You just can't be trusted to know what's best for you, and you have to be protected by those who do.
Posted by: Nicholas Kronos at July 18, 2012 06:27 PM (IGYyt)
Yeah, I can put my dick in an oven for free and it'll only get burnt that one time
Posted by: Boulder Toilet Hobo at July 18, 2012 06:27 PM (QTHTd)
Posted by: no good deed at July 18, 2012 06:28 PM (0lYad)
Growing up in Saint Paul, as long as we were home for dinner and then home by the time the street lights came on all was well. If my Dad had to come looking for us it was not going to be a pleasant night me and my brother. We would spend hours at the lake swimming or playing in the woods a couple miles from out house. I actually feel sorry for the kids nowadays that they don't have that. But having two little ones of my own, it's hard to let them roam like we did. It just seems like there's so many more creeps out there. Maybe it's just that the news covers it more and my wife and I argue over how much freedom to roam to give them. If it was up to her she'd never let them out of the front yard. But then I wonder how I'd feel if something happend and I relent. It's a tough call.
Posted by: Minnfidel at July 18, 2012 06:28 PM (tmbXy)
I was lucky enough to grow up in a rural area, with the family farm a mile from my house. Our range was miles...the only place we weren't supposed to go was into town. The farm itself provided all kinds of wilderness, but we also had mountains nearby.
What the hell am I doing here in an urban area?
Posted by: USS Diversity at July 18, 2012 06:28 PM (2d71t)
Posted by: Ezra's Equal at July 18, 2012 06:28 PM (BAnxQ)
Posted by: Truck Monkey at July 18, 2012 06:28 PM (jucos)
Greetings from the fever swamps of the Northern Neck of Virginia.
Hope it is a good day for all of you.
Posted by: Jinx the Cat at July 18, 2012 06:29 PM (k3Mlu)
Posted by: Reggie1971 at July 18, 2012 06:29 PM (03CLp)
Posted by: Ezra's Equal at July 18, 2012 06:30 PM (BAnxQ)
Posted by: Hal Burton at July 18, 2012 06:30 PM (iYvMQ)
Posted by: Truck Monkey at July 18, 2012 06:31 PM (jucos)
Bah- talk about dependence- kids today couldn't make a sandwich if you spotted them two slices of bread and a slab of bologna!
...and get off my lawn!
Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at July 18, 2012 06:31 PM (hgSh3)
Posted by: AltonJackson never gets to quote the really good lines at July 18, 2012 06:31 PM (JMmQ9)
Posted by: steevy at July 18, 2012 06:31 PM (6o4Fb)
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at July 18, 2012 10:23 PM (yh0zB)
I vaguely recall reading somewhere that the relative number of true stranger kidnappings has been constant since the early 70's. We're just much more aware of them these days.
Of course when it comes to predators and weirdos a group of kids together is smarter than any individual child. So even on our own I doubt we were ever really at risk.
Posted by: Mætenloch at July 18, 2012 06:32 PM (pAlYe)
Bike helmets!We rode like maniacs,jumped homeade ramps etc with no helmets.I don't remember anyone I knew getting seriously hurt.I chipped a front tooth once,big whoop.
I jumped a ramp when I was 10 on a bike I had outgrown. Did a face plant in a gravel parking lot. Literally tore my nose half off.
Posted by: USS Diversity at July 18, 2012 06:32 PM (2d71t)
Posted by: Truck Monkey at July 18, 2012 06:33 PM (jucos)
In a small town in the early 70's my two cousins and i roamed as far as we cared to walk...always home at dusk. During the winter we wore bread bags over our socks. Of course, the persperation made them wet but we thought we were pretty smart!
Those woods and trails seem so much smaller now...
Posted by: Cicero Kid at July 18, 2012 06:33 PM (iSrxa)
-------------------------------------------------------
What part of St Paul? Do you remember tarred and sanded streets?
Posted by: Truck Monkey at July 18, 2012 10:31 PM (jucos)
East Side. And Yep. Still have the scars!
Posted by: Minnfidel at July 18, 2012 06:33 PM (tmbXy)
Posted by: steevy at July 18, 2012 06:34 PM (6o4Fb)
Posted by: Ben at July 18, 2012 06:34 PM (VPxJg)
Posted by: Justamom at July 18, 2012 06:34 PM (Sptt8)
Posted by: mallfly at July 18, 2012 06:34 PM (NI3M5)
Shell apparently hasn't noticed that their ad contest gallery has been taken over by the environazis. Good times.
Posted by: tdpwells at July 18, 2012 06:35 PM (7vA7k)
Posted by: Truck Monkey at July 18, 2012 06:35 PM (jucos)
Posted by: Boulder Toilet Hobo at July 18, 2012 06:36 PM (QTHTd)
Jarts was fun, so were my many electronics "experiments" on electrical appliances @ 110 volts.
Posted by: Hal Burton at July 18, 2012 06:36 PM (iYvMQ)
Back in my youth, child molesters or child killers were either executed or locked away so far they had to have sunlight pumped to them. Nowadays, they're out in a few years because some "expert" pronounced them "rehabilitated".
Back then, there also wasnt the jackpot justice we have now, if the neighbor's kid skinned his knee on your sidewalk you didn't get served with papers the next morning
I don't remember many summers where you didn't have at least one kid with a cast on his arm or leg
Posted by: kbdabear at July 18, 2012 06:36 PM (Y7XKa)
Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at July 18, 2012 06:37 PM (hgSh3)
Posted by: Justamom at July 18, 2012 06:37 PM (Sptt8)
Posted by: moki at July 18, 2012 06:38 PM (dZmFh)
Posted by: Truck Monkey at July 18, 2012 06:38 PM (jucos)
Posted by: Ezra's Equal at July 18, 2012 06:39 PM (BAnxQ)
That US Becoming a Nation of Dependents article is so depressing. Something else that needs to be pointed out more, is how government agencies can so easily make criminals out of good people using tons of regulations. Gibson Guitars was the first big case I noticed. But John Stossel's highlighted many other cases and the 700 Club had a great report a day ago on farmers robbed by the government.
One man was going to be let off lightly until his case made the media. Then he was made an example for anyone else that might get uppity.
Posted by: Stateless_Infidel at July 18, 2012 06:39 PM (8UijS)
Posted by: rickl at July 18, 2012 06:39 PM (sdi6R)
Then again I grew up in a suburb 40 minutes from a major city. So my parents weren't as worried about strangers. I would think their main concern was me doing something stupid and getting hurt, which did happen on more than one occasion.
Posted by: Ben at July 18, 2012 06:39 PM (VPxJg)
Posted by: Scobface at July 18, 2012 06:39 PM (IoNBC)
Posted by: Reggie1971 at July 18, 2012 06:39 PM (03CLp)
One thing to consider is that with the high divorce rate, a lot of kids don't get the chance to explore. They move back and forth from one parent's house to another, so they are never let out of sight and never have enough time to learn all of the streets and backyards and such.
Posted by: Alex at July 18, 2012 06:40 PM (3+RPg)
Posted by: AltonJackson never gets to quote the really good lines at July 18, 2012 06:40 PM (JMmQ9)
East Side. And Yep. Still have the scars!
Posted by: Minnfidel at July 18, 2012 10:33 PM (tmbXy)
-----------------------------------------------------------
Highland Park here. Never understood the tarring and sanding thing. Used to drive my mom insane as we always tracked though the house with fresh tar on our sneakers/
LOL Not Sure why but many wipeouts happend
Posted by: Minnfidel at July 18, 2012 06:40 PM (tmbXy)
Those were good times.
Posted by: Ben at July 18, 2012 06:41 PM (VPxJg)
Posted by: nerdygirl at July 18, 2012 06:41 PM (96XVT)
Its not that the kids do not want to roam... its that we do not let them. We now hear about any horror story of crime from all over the Country, and sometimes the entire world... so we think we need to keep them safe.... when in reality crime is DOWN on a National Level.
Its not the ALL the kids.... its also the Parents.
Posted by: Romeo13 at July 18, 2012 06:42 PM (lZBBB)
At least some of us manage to get out.
Posted by: zombie trayvon martin at July 18, 2012 06:43 PM (vDl/w)
Many good times going down to the local landfill and playing inside the fully doored refrigerators.
OK, that was a lie. But that reminds me of many fun times lying.
Posted by: Hal Burton at July 18, 2012 06:43 PM (iYvMQ)
Posted by: mallfly at July 18, 2012 06:44 PM (NI3M5)
(Not Burkean....but submitted to honor the current state of American education)
Posted by: Mallamutt, RINO President for Life at July 18, 2012 10:31 PM (OWjjx)
What's Pearl Harbor?
Posted by: The true current state of American Education at July 18, 2012 06:45 PM (GULKT)
Posted by: nerdygirl at July 18, 2012 06:45 PM (96XVT)
Posted by: Yoshi, Aggrieved Victim of the White Man at July 18, 2012 06:45 PM (csi6Y)
Posted by: kbdabear at July 18, 2012 06:46 PM (Y7XKa)
Live is what happens while you are busy making other plans strapping on your elbow and knee pads!
Fixed it!
Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at July 18, 2012 06:46 PM (hgSh3)
Posted by: Justamom at July 18, 2012 06:47 PM (Sptt8)
Posted by: Hal Burton at July 18, 2012 06:47 PM (iYvMQ)
Posted by: Truck Monkey at July 18, 2012 06:47 PM (jucos)
Posted by: Injuin Blackfoot Barry, the one who eats dogs at July 18, 2012 06:47 PM (Cydud)
Or facing the necessity of having to stop the bike quickly
Posted by: kbdabear at July 18, 2012 06:48 PM (Y7XKa)
As kids my friends and I pretty much roamed all over our small town playing or we rode our bikes everywhere. No computers, Wii, X-Box, 3 channels on the TeeVee and chores to do if you stayed home and complained that there was nothing to do. I feel sort of sorry for today's kids, but I know that if I had any I'd want to keep them close to home. Too many weirdos out there.
Posted by: Theresa at July 18, 2012 06:49 PM (36Yg+)
I fell off my horse on a gravel road once and hit my head hard enough that I couldn't remember more than 24 hrs,
----
LOL - reminds me of the time I fell off the top of the slide onto the gravel. Woke up to my parents putting some greasy salve on the bump on my head. As if thats going to do anything.
Posted by: Hal Burton at July 18, 2012 06:49 PM (iYvMQ)
Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at July 18, 2012 06:50 PM (hgSh3)
Posted by: steevy at July 18, 2012 10:31 PM (6o4Fb)
I think that, along with fear of kidnapping, this is a huge part of what's changed. Now if a kid gets hurt there's often police involvement, and the fear of that is enough to make a lot of parents decide not to even take the chance by letting the kids roam. God forbid that a child die while playing. It used to be considered a tragedy and the parents consoled, now the (*possibly* overblown, I admit) fear that any other kids you have will be taken away means it just isn't worth the risk.
Posted by: Polliwogette, teahada Hobbit at July 18, 2012 06:51 PM (AMLP7)
Posted by: Yoshi, Aggrieved Victim of the White Man at July 18, 2012 06:51 PM (csi6Y)
Posted by: rockmom at July 18, 2012 06:51 PM (vvEHK)
Posted by: Truck Monkey at July 18, 2012 06:51 PM (jucos)
Posted by: Reggie1971 at July 18, 2012 10:39 PM (03CLp)
I remember watching that.
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at July 18, 2012 06:53 PM (yh0zB)
Posted by: Scobface at July 18, 2012 06:54 PM (IoNBC)
Posted by: Truck Monkey at July 18, 2012 06:54 PM (jucos)
Starting fields on fire was something someone did every summer cooking out and of course, everyone had a BB gun to shot shit with. Climbing into an through drain pipes was a big hit too. Riding your bike to school, about a mile away, was not an option. Mom sure as hell was going to take you unless it was snowing or you had a report.
This still is done in the South and Mid West.
Posted by: Billy Bob, pseudo intellectual at July 18, 2012 06:54 PM (Cydud)
Posted by: Ralphie at July 18, 2012 06:54 PM (BAnxQ)
Posted by: Cicero Kid at July 18, 2012 06:54 PM (iSrxa)
Posted by: TSA inspector at July 18, 2012 06:55 PM (vDl/w)
Posted by: nerdygirl at July 18, 2012 06:55 PM (96XVT)
Posted by: USS Diversity at July 18, 2012 06:55 PM (2d71t)
Posted by: Stateless_Infidel at July 18, 2012 06:56 PM (8UijS)
Posted by: Scobface at July 18, 2012 06:57 PM (IoNBC)
Posted by: Justamom at July 18, 2012 06:57 PM (Sptt8)
Posted by: Clemenza at July 18, 2012 06:57 PM (qA9lG)
Posted by: rockmom at July 18, 2012 10:51 PM (vvEHK)
Here's the difference...in 1975 everyone in the immediate area knew about it, but away from there, not so much. These days EVERYBODY knows about it thanks to the miracle of 24 hour news cycles. So, we tend to keep our kids closer.
And I hope they caught that guy and strapped him down to Old Sparky, after giving Dad about 15 minutes and a baseball bat.
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at July 18, 2012 06:57 PM (yh0zB)
Posted by: Hal Burton at July 18, 2012 06:57 PM (iYvMQ)
Posted by: Kratos at July 18, 2012 06:57 PM (c1WVm)
Posted by: Truck Monkey at July 18, 2012 10:54 PM (jucos)
*************
He hates these oil cans!!!!
Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at July 18, 2012 06:58 PM (hgSh3)
Perhaps the most fun we had was crawling through the honeysuckle tunnels around the General's house made by his pair of Basset Hounds. If we were VC we could've slit his sorry ass neck, the dumbfuck that he was.
There's a reason why people use child soldiers.
Posted by: Mitt Anger at July 18, 2012 06:58 PM (7+pP9)
Posted by: Stateless_Infidel at July 18, 2012 10:56 PM (8UijS)
I've never had a house key to my parents home. And I'm pretty sure that if we needed to make copies it would likely be easier to go out and buy all new door locks.
Posted by: buzzion at July 18, 2012 06:58 PM (GULKT)
Posted by: Theresa at July 18, 2012 10:49 PM
That in a nutshell is the number one reason that we have the "obesity epidemic" that has the Nanny Bloombergs grabbing the Slurpees out of our hands. Weight gain is caused when caloric intake is not offset with calories burned by physical activity
The Amish eat huge portions of "non-healthy fatty" foods but they work their asses off 6 days a week
Posted by: kbdabear at July 18, 2012 06:59 PM (Y7XKa)
Posted by: Minnfidel at July 18, 2012 06:59 PM (tmbXy)
Posted by: Little Miss Spellcheck at July 18, 2012 06:59 PM (a5ljo)
124
LOL - reminds me of the time I fell off the top of the slide onto the gravel. Woke up to my parents putting some greasy salve on the bump on my head. As if thats going to do anything.
I tell kids that people hated kids in the '70's and my evidence is that the 'padding' under the jungle gyms at my school was gravel. Yeah, imagine that. Kid falls off the jungle gym, whew!! Good thing those rocks were there to break his fall!
Posted by: J. Random Dude at July 18, 2012 07:00 PM (72afg)
And don't let the little bastards play with your plastic dry cleaning bags--they might eff up your dresses!
Posted by: betty draper at July 18, 2012 07:00 PM (vDl/w)
Posted by: Scobface at July 18, 2012 07:00 PM (IoNBC)
Posted by: Clemenza at July 18, 2012 10:57 PM (qA9lG)
Sucks being you...
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at July 18, 2012 07:00 PM (yh0zB)
I was in southern California when Samantha Runyon was taken from her own front yard. I was in the Bay Area when Polly Klaas was taken from her own bedroom. I don't blame parents for getting a little paranoid.
For one thing, there was so much coverage that every single parent must have started seeing kidnapping child-rapists behind every bush.
Posted by: Dianna at July 18, 2012 07:00 PM (mKMj1)
One of the great joys of my childhood was having a tree house which consisted of 4 boards nailed across two branches in the tree in our backyard for the platform. You had to jump up to grab the lowest branch on the tree and swing yourself up so you could climb up. Spent many happy hours there.
Posted by: Theresa at July 18, 2012 07:01 PM (36Yg+)
Posted by: Justamom at July 18, 2012 07:02 PM (Sptt8)
"You'll put somebody's eye out"
"I'll give you something to cry about"
"There's starving kids in China you know"
"Do that again and I'll kick your ass till your nose bleeds"
Back then, a dad's belt did more than hold his pants up
Posted by: kbdabear at July 18, 2012 07:02 PM (Y7XKa)
Posted by: Little Miss Spellcheck at July 18, 2012 07:02 PM (a5ljo)
Posted by: Damn Sockpuppet at July 18, 2012 07:02 PM (Asr6U)
Posted by: Truck Monkey at July 18, 2012 07:02 PM (jucos)
Posted by: Polliwogette, teahada Hobbit at July 18, 2012 10:51 PM (AMLP7)
Had three friends out riding two dirt bikes, one ran into the other and killed one of them. Broke another's leg. Number 3 got back on the bike and went for help. No one got sued, it was an accident, that's all.
Have you settled on a place to move yet?
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at July 18, 2012 07:02 PM (yh0zB)
they're quite active and play sports year round - or in a bad neighborhood or that my sister is the over-worrying mother type.
About the time parents begin to think they worry too much about their kids, a couple of girls from a nearby small town go missing.
http://tinyurl.com/ctjhz2x
Posted by: katya, the designated driver at July 18, 2012 07:03 PM (bMLFV)
No helmet-laws for bicycles or motor-bikes. How did we manage to survive?
Nowadays, our parents would be arrested and we would be in the custody of CPS while they looked for foster-homes.
Posted by: ChrisP at July 18, 2012 07:04 PM (VshXf)
***
I zing zat zomething could be arranged.
But first ve vill require ze proof zat you could be vun of us. You know ze drill, jawhol?
Posted by: Ilse the She Wolf at July 18, 2012 07:05 PM (AUeaU)
Posted by: Damn Sockpuppet at July 18, 2012 07:05 PM (Asr6U)
Posted by: lock at July 18, 2012 07:05 PM (4Ymj9)
Posted by: Truck Monkey at July 18, 2012 10:38 PM
Holy shit I remember those. I think every kid in school had a set. I remember my father screwing with the set I had and exploding them in the living room. Mom freaked. Yeah they blew up in a high velocity shower of fragments.
Posted by: Berserker at July 18, 2012 07:06 PM (FMbng)
Posted by: Theresa at July 18, 2012 07:06 PM (36Yg+)
Posted by: 18-1 at July 18, 2012 07:06 PM (AUeaU)
For one thing, there was so much coverage that every single parent must have started seeing kidnapping child-rapists behind every bush.
Posted by: Dianna at July 18, 2012 11:00 PM
Remember the pervert who raped and killed a girl in Sarasota FL after he'd been let out of jail by an idiot judge a week or so before? It made national news, and Bill O'Reilly screamed at the judge live on his show, while the judge was unrepentant
That's only a few blocks from where I live now. I worry a bit when I see a kid walking alone and it's a pretty typical suburban neighborhood
Posted by: kbdabear at July 18, 2012 07:06 PM (Y7XKa)
To our great disappointment it simple flashed up.
Today I'd be arrested for attempting to make a terrorist device, possession of ammunition by a minor, and my parents would be arrested for letting me have access to the shells.
Posted by: Billy Bob, pseudo intellectual at July 18, 2012 07:07 PM (Cydud)
Posted by: Scobface at July 18, 2012 07:07 PM (IoNBC)
Posted by: Minnfidel at July 18, 2012 07:07 PM (tmbXy)
***
LAWN DARTS.
Almost killed my grandmother's cat with those - completely accidental too - she ran out of the woods to see what that multi colored hoop on the ground was as I had one in flight.
I don't think I've ever prayed so hard for a miss in my life.
Posted by: 18-1 at July 18, 2012 07:07 PM (AUeaU)
I made the mistake one day of saying "Send this to them then."
My Mom was not one of those "Wait till your Dad gets home!" sort of mothers. I never made that mistake again. Or at least, I never made the mistake of saying it out loud again.
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at July 18, 2012 07:08 PM (yh0zB)
When I taught in South Korea, one of the things that really surprised me was seeing the kids walking home 10:30 and 11:00 PM after the after-school schools let out. I remember seeing girls walking alone down the dark streets and thinking how you don't do that in Detroit.
My co-workers were young and just out of university. It was almost funny that they wouldn't jaywalk, but would always seem to use the crosswalks.
Posted by: Stateless_Infidel at July 18, 2012 07:09 PM (8UijS)
***
Actually, wasn't there a news item recently where some teenage girl was blowing up old toilets ON HER OWN PROPERTY and the Feds busted her for the full panoply of terrorism charges?
Posted by: 18-1 at July 18, 2012 07:09 PM (AUeaU)
Posted by: Jenny Tries Too Hard at July 18, 2012 07:10 PM (FIYvq)
********************* Heh- I was youngest of seven boys. My folks probably wouldn't have noticed if I went missing. If they did it would have been "Hey- where's little whasisname?"
Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at July 18, 2012 07:10 PM (hgSh3)
Posted by: nerdygirl at July 18, 2012 07:11 PM (96XVT)
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at July 18, 2012 11:02 PM (yh0zB)
I *really* appreciate the input everyone gave but am very much just in fact-finding mode at the moment. I still don't know if we're going to move or not. There's a lot of good stuff for the kids here, as in the 14 year old is going to start teaching traditional Jewish dance to anyone in the church who wants to learn which isn't needed in CO (because that's where the dance group we learned from is). A big part of the problem is that the house is about 8 years old, and not built wonderfully well, so there's getting to be a lot of little repairs that need done and I can't find anyone to do them.
The truth of the matter is that I'm mostly becoming exhausted from being the one who has to be responsible ( I was *very* spoiled) and more and more afraid that I'm going to screw everything up somehow so that we're left with nothing to provide for us.
Posted by: Polliwogette, teahada Hobbit at July 18, 2012 07:11 PM (AMLP7)
Posted by: VW Zao at July 18, 2012 07:11 PM (vWZa0)
160 Posted by: Bacitracin at July 18, 2012 10:58 PM (wFzJ2)
Bacitracin ("Bactine") was for rich kids. We got the Merthiolate.
Posted by: Scobface at July 18, 2012 11:00 PM (IoNBC)
No, Bacitracin (an ointment) and "Bactine" (a spray) were different animals. As were Mercurochrome and Merthiolate. The former didn't hurt and was full of mercury goodness!
Posted by: Mitt Anger at July 18, 2012 07:12 PM (7+pP9)
Posted by: Truck Monkey at July 18, 2012 07:12 PM (jucos)
***
I remember watching the masterlock commerical where they shoot the lock and it still works.
Well, that was cool...so I set up my masterlock on my bb gun target range. Knelt down, took aim, hit is dead center, and suddenly in slow motion I could see it heading right back for me.
Instinticly I told me body to drop...and it did...but nowhere near fast enough.
The good news is I was wearing glasses, and while the BB smacked it squarely it did not break them.
Lesson learned - don't be too accurate with spherical projectiles...
Posted by: 18-1 at July 18, 2012 07:12 PM (AUeaU)
Posted by: Theresa at July 18, 2012 07:13 PM (36Yg+)
Posted by: ObjectionSustained at July 18, 2012 07:13 PM (WO3mu)
We played doctor with the boys. We had out first swig of Jim Beam whilst crouched away behind the school. We used to skateboard on the metal roofs of walkaways between the school buildings. We played bike tag and double-dog-dared each other to do tricks on the monkey bars.
After one very not-cool episode with an older kid down the street, the eagles' eye became much sharper and we had to remain within yelling distance, but were still given a great deal of freedom to play until we were sunburned and, if we skinned our knees, our grandparents would apply merthiolate, then off we went again.
No fear of swimming with gators and moccasins or of breaking a limb pulling stunts on our bikes.
Good times.
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at July 18, 2012 07:13 PM (piMMO)
Posted by: Waterhouse at July 18, 2012 07:14 PM (SGAnK)
Posted by: Robert at July 18, 2012 07:14 PM (HWUv9)
Posted by: Hal Burton at July 18, 2012 07:14 PM (iYvMQ)
My mom HAD to be one of the: "Wait 'till your father gets home", as I could out-run her. I would stay 'just ahead' yelling; "Everybody's looking at you."
She would give-up and I would lay-low until dad got home. He would always listen to my side before the 'beatin'. Often, there wasn't one. She was nuckin' futz...
Posted by: ChrisP at July 18, 2012 07:14 PM (VshXf)
Posted by: Waterhouse at July 18, 2012 07:15 PM (SGAnK)
I understand.
Texas and Florida both have good weather (mostly) and no income tax. Every state has something going for it. Might want to see how close to family (yours or his, either one, as long as the relationships are good) you can get.
Have faith.
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at July 18, 2012 07:15 PM (yh0zB)
Posted by: ObjectionSustained at July 18, 2012 07:16 PM (WO3mu)
I can assure you I made it back to land before anyone else.
Posted by: Billy Bob, pseudo intellectual at July 18, 2012 07:16 PM (Cydud)
Posted by: Truck Monkey at July 18, 2012 07:16 PM (jucos)
Posted by: Waterhouse at July 18, 2012 07:16 PM (SGAnK)
Posted by: steevy at July 18, 2012 07:16 PM (6o4Fb)
Posted by: Ben at July 18, 2012 07:16 PM (VPxJg)
At nite, when all was quiet.
The neighbors from 5 miles away would comment, that I was drunk and out blowing shit up.
Posted by: lock at July 18, 2012 07:17 PM (4Ymj9)
Posted by: Yoshi, Aggrieved Victim of the White Man at July 18, 2012 07:17 PM (csi6Y)
Posted by: Justamom at July 18, 2012 07:18 PM (Sptt8)
Posted by: Yoshi, Aggrieved Victim of the White Man at July 18, 2012 07:19 PM (csi6Y)
And that 13 year old girl, Cassie something (I always want to saddle the child with the name of a girl I knew in high school, and I know it's not the right name), who was taken at the car wash - her mother was not that far away! It's enough to give any parent nightmares.
Posted by: Dianna at July 18, 2012 07:19 PM (mKMj1)
****
I remember that Mercurochrome hurt less that Merthiolate.
Remember black salve?
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at July 18, 2012 07:19 PM (piMMO)
Posted by: Waterhouse at July 18, 2012 11:16 PM (SGAnK)
I don't get it.
Posted by: Frank Ucker at July 18, 2012 07:19 PM (AUeaU)
Evening, y'all.
I don't ever remember seeing "Missing Kid" faces on milk cartons, when I was growing up.
I think this has a lot to do with why parents started keeping their kids closer to home.
....Crimes against kids.
We would take off for the woods in the morning....come back for lunch...then go back to the woods and stay there till dark.
We caught lightning bugs....and put them in jars, which worked pretty good as a dim light source.....if you put enough of them in there.
If someone was bleeding bad enough to need stitches or something....then we'd get home in a hurry.
Nice ONT, Maetenloch.
Thanks.
Posted by: wheatie at July 18, 2012 07:20 PM (MbB0O)
Posted by: Yoshi, Aggrieved Victim of the White Man at July 18, 2012 07:20 PM (csi6Y)
Posted by: ChrisP at July 18, 2012 11:14 PM (VshXf)
Ha. My Mom was the oldest of 6, she had 4 brothers between her and her younger sister (Grandma and Grandpa were good Catholics) and she was expected to keep them in line while her parents worked the farm. She did, too. She's in her 70s now and I still won't fuck with her.
My kids think she's the nicest person they have ever met. HA!
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at July 18, 2012 07:20 PM (yh0zB)
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at July 18, 2012 11:15 PM (yh0zB)
I'm lucky with family since they're both in the same town, advantage of being high school sweethearts. Southern WY would only be an hour from them, but I don't know if I can take the wind (I *hate* the sound of wind). I'd love to convince my parents to move here since my dad would be a great handy-man and those seem to be in short supply. My in-laws would like to be closer, but both have arthritis and even short visits in the humidity become a problem for them so they're pretty sure they're not going to move here.
Posted by: Polliwogette, teahada Hobbit at July 18, 2012 07:20 PM (AMLP7)
Posted by: Truck Monkey at July 18, 2012 07:21 PM (jucos)
Posted by: Robert at July 18, 2012 07:21 PM (HWUv9)
***
Heck, you'd love my story.
Posted by: Richie Tozier at July 18, 2012 07:21 PM (AUeaU)
Posted by: andycanuck at July 18, 2012 07:21 PM (vDl/w)
Posted by: Scobface at July 18, 2012 07:22 PM (IoNBC)
I guess that's why most of the group are independent conservatives.
But you didn't do that by yourself.
Mom and Dad helped.
Posted by: Billy Bob, pseudo intellectual at July 18, 2012 07:22 PM (Cydud)
Remember all those TV ads and warnings in school about playing with unused refrigerators? We were actively looking for one, just to see if someone would really be unable to get out on their own. Never could find one of the damned things. From the PSAs you'd think they were everywhere.
Posted by: epobirs at July 18, 2012 07:22 PM (kcfmt)
Posted by: Preznit Training Pants at July 18, 2012 07:22 PM (jucos)
Posted by: Robert at July 18, 2012 07:23 PM (HWUv9)
Posted by: VW Zao at July 18, 2012 07:23 PM (vWZa0)
Posted by: derit at July 18, 2012 07:23 PM (ruiF1)
204
I remember my Mom driving me to preschool. I'd sit in the front seat with no seat belt. We never wore seat belts. I knew one kid's Mom who would make us all wear them when I rode with them, and I remember thinking she was odd.
Posted by: Reggie1971 at July 18, 2012 07:23 PM (9qIKa)
Posted by: Robert at July 18, 2012 07:25 PM (HWUv9)
It is amazing how easy kids can disappear when you are out with them. Really you can't always focus 100% of your time on them...and it doesn't take much time to wonder off.
I remember when iw as young myself - maybe 7 - wandering off because I saw a ball pit. I walked maybe 20 ft away before they noticed and they freaked out for a while before finding me...
Posted by: 18-1 at July 18, 2012 07:25 PM (AUeaU)
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at July 18, 2012 11:20 PM (piMMO)
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at July 18, 2012 07:26 PM (yh0zB)
Posted by: AltonJackson at July 18, 2012 07:26 PM (JMmQ9)
Posted by: Preznit Training Pants at July 18, 2012 07:26 PM (jucos)
Posted by: steevy at July 18, 2012 07:26 PM (6o4Fb)
Posted by: Robert at July 18, 2012 07:26 PM (HWUv9)
Walked through a mile or so of garden plots to the PX. Nine to 11 years old.
Moved to Munich. The housing area was at the edge of the city: Perlacher Forrest. Waked miles into the 'state forest' with friends, 11-12 years old
Before that, as a six to nine years old, roamed into neighboring areas of Yonkers, along the Hudson. Never heard of a child being attacked, etc
Posted by: Wally in Walla Walla at July 18, 2012 07:26 PM (Dll6b)
Posted by: Robert at July 18, 2012 07:27 PM (HWUv9)
Posted by: lock at July 18, 2012 07:27 PM (4Ymj9)
Posted by: Barack Obama at July 18, 2012 07:27 PM (uv9eO)
Posted by: Grumpy the Younger at July 18, 2012 07:28 PM (jts1f)
Posted by: Z Ryan at July 18, 2012 07:28 PM (tsC/8)
Posted by: Preznit Training Pants at July 18, 2012 07:28 PM (jucos)
Posted by: Justamom at July 18, 2012 07:28 PM (Sptt8)
Posted by: Eisenhorn at July 18, 2012 07:28 PM (OjQYm)
Posted by: Jenny Tries Too Hard at July 18, 2012 07:28 PM (FIYvq)
Posted by: Robert at July 18, 2012 07:29 PM (HWUv9)
Posted by: steevy at July 18, 2012 07:29 PM (6o4Fb)
Spending the night at a friend's house was always a great way to get into trouble in junior high.
Stayed overnight at a friend's house when I was 12 or so, circa 1979, and we walked to a nearby Winchell's Donut Shop on May Avenue (Oklahoma City). Started talking to the night security guard. He offered to give us a ride in his security vehicle, showing off his handcuffs, pistol etc. We got in, and he was showing off, speeding, tearing down May Avenue when an OKC cop in his cruiser pulls along side of us and rolls down his window, he sees us 'yutes in the car and laughs and says to the security guy, If you wanna race, you're gonna have to pedal faster!" and then tears off ahead of us doing >60mph on May Avenue at 3 in the A.M. The donuts tasted awesome that morning.
Good times, good times.
Posted by: King Ding Dong at July 18, 2012 07:29 PM (EFl3q)
*Holds up a sign with a question mark
Posted by: Wily E Obama at July 18, 2012 07:29 PM (AUeaU)
Posted by: Hal Burton at July 18, 2012 07:30 PM (iYvMQ)
Wind? Really? My daughter lives in Casper WY, I really need to get out there one day. I remember driving a motorcycle across Wyoming from Rapid City SD across Ten Sleep to Thermopolis and then down Wind River Canyon to Riverton. The trip back we rode through Hell's Half Acre. Interesting places. I still have the motorcycle, maybe one day I'll get it running again.
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at July 18, 2012 07:31 PM (yh0zB)
Posted by: lock at July 18, 2012 07:31 PM (4Ymj9)
Posted by: jake in ID at July 18, 2012 07:32 PM (RQjPS)
Posted by: Robert at July 18, 2012 07:32 PM (HWUv9)
***
I remember walking home from school years ago, and I some creepy guy is in his front yard - he asked me if I wanted to come in for some ice cream.
I said no and picked up the pace - so I guess my parents drilled that lesson into me well.
I wish to this day I had mentioned it though, as I am pretty darn sure I hadn't just met a good Samaritan. And he lived near the middle school...and he had no compunction about inviting kids into his house...
Posted by: Wily E Obama at July 18, 2012 07:32 PM (AUeaU)
Posted by: Z Ryan at July 18, 2012 07:33 PM (tsC/8)
Posted by: Emmett Anger at July 18, 2012 07:34 PM (7+pP9)
Posted by: Truck Monkey at July 18, 2012 07:34 PM (jucos)
Posted by: lock at July 18, 2012 07:34 PM (4Ymj9)
Posted by: steevy at July 18, 2012 07:35 PM (6o4Fb)
Posted by: Scobface at July 18, 2012 07:35 PM (IoNBC)
I remember when my cousin and I were about ten years old our grandparents would give us about three bucks a piece and drop us off at the mall to see a movie. We of course would buy a ticket to see a G rated film and then promptly go into another screening room and see something R rated. That's how I saw Deathwish II.
Posted by: Reggie1971 at July 18, 2012 07:36 PM (9qIKa)
***
I can imagine how much that hurts!
Posted by: Rachel Maddow at July 18, 2012 07:36 PM (AUeaU)
Posted by: AltonJackson at July 18, 2012 07:37 PM (JMmQ9)
Posted by: Justamom at July 18, 2012 07:37 PM (Sptt8)
Posted by: steevy at July 18, 2012 07:37 PM (6o4Fb)
And Rosie O'Donnel thinks fire can't melt steel.
Posted by: Scobface at July 18, 2012 11:35 PM (IoNBC)
What could possibly go wrong???
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at July 18, 2012 07:37 PM (yh0zB)
Posted by: Twala Anger at July 18, 2012 07:37 PM (7+pP9)
Posted by: steevy at July 18, 2012 07:40 PM (6o4Fb)
Maybe if all these helicopter parents would actually let their kids walk out the door they would get rid of some of those pounds.
It's no wonder that today's kids are a bunch of tubby wimps. Too many parents want to make their kids spend their childhood in bubble-wrap.
Posted by: MrHobbit at July 18, 2012 07:40 PM (sbaXF)
Posted by: Robert at July 18, 2012 07:40 PM (HWUv9)
Posted by: DC in Towson at July 18, 2012 07:41 PM (N/WI2)
Posted by: Hal Burton at July 18, 2012 07:41 PM (iYvMQ)
Posted by: lock at July 18, 2012 07:41 PM (4Ymj9)
Posted by: Truman North, iPhone snob at July 18, 2012 07:42 PM (I2LwF)
Posted by: @PurpAv at July 18, 2012 07:42 PM (UQVV6)
In winter at our grade school the snowplow would pile the playground's snow up along one side of the fence into a huge ridge and we'd play King of the Castle all recess long. We'd yell "I'm the king of the castle and you're the dirty asshole!" but I only discovered in the past 10 or so years that the real rhyme is supposed to have been "dirty vassal".
When we were quite young and so quite light, we'd play broomball hockey on the ice on top of the tarp of our in-ground swimming pool over the shallow end until we got too heavy and a friend put his leg through the ice and the tarp. I think the same friend was also the one who got his arm caught in my mom's clothes-wringer causing some breakage but not serious. My mom was furious and forced my dad to buy a clothes-dryer afterwards. My dad is/was one of those types who either had to be the first to have something on the block or the last. The friend's a doctor in the States now BTW.
Posted by: andycanuck at July 18, 2012 07:42 PM (vDl/w)
Posted by: DC in Towson at July 18, 2012 11:41 PM (N/WI2)
Lurk on, Citizen. Lurk on.
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at July 18, 2012 07:42 PM (yh0zB)
First team to have all its members incapacitated loses?
Posted by: Waterhouse at July 18, 2012 07:42 PM (SGAnK)
Once we were driving to Northern WA in the winter to visit family, pulling through some little burg, my brothers were fighting, Dad yells at them, crosses some railroad tracks and sees a train coming at us, slowly, but coming at us, and is able to turn the car and go down the slight embankment off the tracks as the train moves by. I was lying in the back, felt the car turn (none of us remember hearing the train whistle) and I sat up and saw the train coming at us. I was too scared to even scream.
Posted by: Theresa at July 18, 2012 07:44 PM (36Yg+)
Bumper sticker:
America, you fucked up, you trusted us - the Democrats.
Posted by: @PurpAv at July 18, 2012 07:44 PM (UQVV6)
Posted by: jake in ID at July 18, 2012 07:45 PM (RQjPS)
*Groan*
Roll of caps. Lots of charcoal. Lighter fluid.
My dad never forgave me.
But seriously, the comb-over never was very convincing, anyway.
Posted by: Dianna at July 18, 2012 07:46 PM (mKMj1)
I do remember some dialogue from Deathwish II
Bronson: Do you believe in Jesus?
Thug: Yes sir.
Bronson: Good, because you're about to meet him.
Posted by: Reggie1971 at July 18, 2012 07:46 PM (9qIKa)
Lets see: we would play in the woods, play in falling-down barns, explore rickity sheds on vacant land, crawl through ditch drainage thingies, swim in the creek and through the ditch drainage thingies under the road going over the creek, fish in the muddy pond in the woods, wade in the muddy pond in the woods, ride bikes all over the gravel roads in town WITHOUT helmets, rode double on each other's bikes, run around barefoot all summer WITHOUT sunscreen, play outside for hours in the freezing Winter, climb trees, throw rocks at each other, get stung by bees and wasps the pull ticks out of our skin that were buried past their heads. Oh yeah, my brother and I used to collect the unburnt fireworks the day after the fourth, peel them open and dump out the gunpowder, line it up on the sidewalk and set it on fire. When were bored we would pull fat ticks off the dogs, set them on the sidewalk, walk back several feet and throw rocks at them to see the splat when we hit them.
Posted by: katya, the designated driver at July 18, 2012 07:46 PM (bMLFV)
Posted by: 18-1 at July 18, 2012 07:46 PM (AUeaU)
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at July 18, 2012 07:46 PM (r4wIV)
Posted by: Scobface at July 18, 2012 07:47 PM (IoNBC)
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at July 18, 2012 07:48 PM (yh0zB)
Fk the blank rounds cost the same as real ammo.
Posted by: lock at July 18, 2012 07:50 PM (4Ymj9)
Posted by: Jethro Anger at July 18, 2012 07:50 PM (7+pP9)
Posted by: AltonJackson at July 18, 2012 07:51 PM (JMmQ9)
Oh yeah ... spending entire Saturdays playing hockey outdoors. Sometimes I wonder how we did it.
Posted by: Waterhouse at July 18, 2012 07:51 PM (SGAnK)
Looks at the round scar on his leg....
Bamboo spears.... 14 year old boys.... some assembly required...
Posted by: Romeo13 at July 18, 2012 07:51 PM (lZBBB)
Posted by: steevy at July 18, 2012 07:51 PM (6o4Fb)
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at July 18, 2012 07:51 PM (yh0zB)
Speaking of drive ins, we'd always collect the aluminum can tabs, and make necklaces out of them. Kind of faggy now that I think about it. So was ripping the stomach off the lightning bugs and wearing it as a ring.
Posted by: Hal Burton at July 18, 2012 07:51 PM (iYvMQ)
It's happened, I fear; usually early in the morning. I think it's like those times you see someone's coffee mug on the roof of the car.
Posted by: Dianna at July 18, 2012 07:52 PM (mKMj1)
Posted by: jake in ID at July 18, 2012 07:52 PM (RQjPS)
It would suck to be a kid today. Imagine being 8 years old and having to sit in a car seat. Maybe water wings should be mandatory until 21.
Posted by: Z Ryan at July 18, 2012 07:53 PM (tsC/8)
Posted by: StuckOnStupid at July 18, 2012 07:53 PM (R5yLq)
Posted by: Truck Monkey at July 18, 2012 07:53 PM (jucos)
There was also one lot at the end of our street that was wooded (it's since been replaced by about five free-standing houses to give you an idea of its size) that we called "The Jungle"; and there was a large wooded lot next to my grade school that we called "The Woods". Alot of fun tooling around there.
Posted by: andycanuck at July 18, 2012 07:53 PM (vDl/w)
------------
There were times when we were out for a short little jaunt and it was easier for mom to put down the tailgate and let us sit on it than pile us all in the car.
Vista Cruiser. What a car that was.
Posted by: Anachronda at July 18, 2012 07:53 PM (1c58W)
Posted by: Scobface at July 18, 2012 07:54 PM (IoNBC)
Posted by: cthulhu at July 18, 2012 07:54 PM (kaalw)
Posted by: The Dude at July 18, 2012 07:55 PM (tw6Ar)
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at July 18, 2012 11:31 PM (yh0zB)
The wind blows constantly in the Cheyenne area, which is where I'd be looking since the goal's to be near family. And yes, I know it sounds dumb but I have "issues" with wind that come from having our modular house shake as the wind came along the first row of foothills where the house was placed. A family friend had her brick wall moved in by a wind storm when I was very young and impressionable.
Posted by: Polliwogette, teahada Hobbit at July 18, 2012 07:55 PM (AMLP7)
Posted by: The Jackhole at July 18, 2012 07:56 PM (DU15A)
Posted by: StuckOnStupid at July 18, 2012 07:56 PM (R5yLq)
The best line I remember from an episode of Death Wish was one word from Bronson after a spring trap hit a CRAZED THUG in the face. A neighbor pointed at the board seeing something bloody on it asked "What's that"?
Bronson. "Teeth".
Posted by: Ohio Dan at July 18, 2012 07:56 PM (JKNDp)
Posted by: Dianna at July 18, 2012 07:57 PM (mKMj1)
Posted by: The Dude at July 18, 2012 11:55 PM (tw6Ar)
HA ! I got knocked out by a rock. I also shot a kid with a kmart arrow, right in the forehead. He has the scar to this day
Posted by: The Jackhole at July 18, 2012 07:58 PM (DU15A)
Posted by: Justamom at July 18, 2012 07:58 PM (Sptt8)
Posted by: Reggie1971 at July 18, 2012 07:59 PM (9qIKa)
OK, I'm really going this time.
ONT! WHY CAN'T I QUIT YOU???!!!???
OK. Laterz!
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at July 18, 2012 07:59 PM (yh0zB)
Posted by: Starship at July 18, 2012 07:59 PM (tsC/8)
Posted by: jake in ID at July 18, 2012 07:59 PM (RQjPS)
There's a baseball field in my hometown named after twins who were too reckless and stupid to survive childhood. One OD'd before graduating HS, the other dove headfirst into a submerged pipe in an unexplored part of a lake and never came up.
Posted by: @PurpAv at July 18, 2012 07:59 PM (UQVV6)
Throwing fire crackers at each other was fun also. Timing them to not blow up in your hand and instead blow up in your opponents ear was fun.
Seriously I loved it, but now I look back..
Posted by: lock at July 18, 2012 08:00 PM (4Ymj9)
Posted by: andycanuck at July 18, 2012 08:00 PM (vDl/w)
Posted by: Cicero at July 18, 2012 08:02 PM (zMouK)
Posted by: The Jackhole at July 18, 2012 11:58 PM (DU15A)
only have three scars, one is a blue dot on my chest from me and a friend stabbing each other with sharpened pencils, my right eyebrow has a huge gash behind it from getting hit in the eye by a glass bottle (broke my orbital bone) and a large gash on my throat from me falling out of the treehouse only to catch my neck between a Y in the tree base (fell a good 20 feet, still surprised I didn't break my neck).
Posted by: The Dude at July 18, 2012 08:02 PM (tw6Ar)
Posted by: jake in ID at July 18, 2012 08:04 PM (RQjPS)
Posted by: Red Forman at July 18, 2012 08:04 PM (N/WI2)
Posted by: Jenny Tries Too Hard at July 18, 2012 08:04 PM (FIYvq)
Time: Semi-monthly let's race.
Participating this particular evening: Everyone (yes Gary Everyone).
We're off, usual scrambling for 1st to the turn, back and forth and zip
my 3 years younger, 1 ' and 20# fastest middle-school freshman is in front. 1/4 way down the hill and no one can pass. He's holding off all challengers. Then the high speed front tire wobble (Huffy not built for speed). Down he goes, I'm wrecked. He's in the middle of the street and EVERY kid on the block wrecks into him or his bike. He gets a few bruises. I watch kids flipping ass over tea-kettle everywhere like it was moto-cross.
My nephews have helmets and don't really appreciate this story.
Posted by: DaveA at July 18, 2012 08:05 PM (yVsIQ)
And that was the end of the girls/boys games.
Posted by: Uncle Jed Anger at July 18, 2012 08:05 PM (7+pP9)
Posted by: Skookumchuk at July 18, 2012 08:05 PM (0Db2g)
Posted by: StuckOnStupid at July 18, 2012 08:05 PM (R5yLq)
Posted by: Cicero at July 18, 2012 08:05 PM (zMouK)
Posted by: Scobface at July 18, 2012 08:06 PM (IoNBC)
Posted by: The Jackhole at July 18, 2012 11:58 PM (DU15A)
only have three scars, one is a blue dot on my chest from me and a friend stabbing each other with sharpened pencils, my right eyebrow has a huge gash behind it from getting hit in the eye by a glass bottle (broke my orbital bone) and a large gash on my throat from me falling out of the treehouse only to catch my neck between a Y in the tree base (fell a good 20 feet, still surprised I didn't break my neck).
Posted by: The Dude at July 19, 2012 12:02 AM (tw6Ar)
My friends sister fell out of the treehouse and fell at least 15 feet. To this day I don't know how she wasn't killed.
I have a giant horsehoe scar on my head from flying from standing in the back seat of the car, between the bucket seats and into the dash and the open ashtray. My mom put a diaper on my head on the way to the hospital.
Posted by: The Jackhole at July 18, 2012 08:07 PM (DU15A)
It involved an old electroplating tank full of cyanide. At an early age, I was given a healthy respect for poisons, chemicals, and dangerous industrial equipment by my dad.
Posted by: @PurpAv at July 18, 2012 08:08 PM (UQVV6)
Posted by: StuckOnStupid at July 18, 2012 08:08 PM (R5yLq)
Posted by: AltonJackson at July 18, 2012 08:09 PM (JMmQ9)
Posted by: jake in ID at July 18, 2012 08:09 PM (RQjPS)
Posted by: Truck Monkey at July 18, 2012 08:09 PM (jucos)
Posted by: Bill R. at July 18, 2012 08:11 PM (QnRSM)
Posted by: Scobface at July 18, 2012 08:11 PM (IoNBC)
Posted by: StuckOnStupid at July 18, 2012 08:12 PM (R5yLq)
Posted by: steevy at July 18, 2012 08:12 PM (6o4Fb)
Posted by: jake in ID at July 18, 2012 08:13 PM (RQjPS)
And somehow? we all survived....
Had a few bears on 4th of July about 5 years back... and taught my then 16 year old Son how to shoot bottle rockets, from your fingers....
Bottle Rocket fight with the neighbors ensued....
X wife heard about it and ranted about taking me to court... LOL...
Posted by: Romeo13 at July 18, 2012 08:13 PM (lZBBB)
HA ! I had a little container of mercury and was always looking in old houses to get the mercury switch out of the thermosats.
another stupid thing we did was keep lead pellets for our air rifles in our mouth. That way you could reload faster.
I used to shoot a carton of BBs in a weekend with the red ryders. Shit we would wear them out pretty quick.
Posted by: The Jackhole at July 18, 2012 08:13 PM (DU15A)
“No, Are you really in?” She demanded.
Posted by: steevy at July 19, 2012 12:12 AM (6o4Fb)
Something she asks Barry on their monthly Sex night?
Posted by: Romeo13 at July 18, 2012 08:14 PM (lZBBB)
Posted by: andycanuck at July 18, 2012 08:15 PM (vDl/w)
Posted by: StuckOnStupid at July 18, 2012 08:15 PM (R5yLq)
Posted by: rickl at July 18, 2012 08:16 PM (sdi6R)
Posted by: The Dude at July 18, 2012 08:17 PM (tw6Ar)
Posted by: Valeria Jarret at July 18, 2012 08:17 PM (RQjPS)
Posted by: Jinx the Cat at July 18, 2012 08:17 PM (k3Mlu)
Posted by: StuckOnStupid at July 18, 2012 08:18 PM (R5yLq)
Posted by: epobirs at July 18, 2012 08:18 PM (kcfmt)
Posted by: The Dude at July 19, 2012 12:17 AM (tw6Ar)
Ruthless, some of that stuff is just burned in your memory
Posted by: The Jackhole at July 18, 2012 08:18 PM (DU15A)
Got hundreds of Estes motors for like $.05 for a box of three when Two Guys was going out of business and blowing everything out. I still got some of those left decades later.
Posted by: @PurpAv at July 18, 2012 08:19 PM (UQVV6)
Posted by: Romeo13 at July 19, 2012 12:13 AM (lZBBB)
never did bottle rocket fights, only roman candles with everyone decked out in crappy jeans and a white tee
Posted by: The Dude at July 18, 2012 08:20 PM (tw6Ar)
Posted by: Jake in ID at July 18, 2012 08:20 PM (RQjPS)
Posted by: Skookumchuk at July 18, 2012 08:21 PM (0Db2g)
Posted by: Scobface at July 18, 2012 08:24 PM (IoNBC)
Posted by: zeera at July 18, 2012 08:24 PM (XtxRN)
Posted by: lock at July 18, 2012 08:24 PM (4Ymj9)
Posted by: Skookumchuk at July 19, 2012 12:21 AM (0Db2g)
when it came to chemicals, we only had gasoline. Pie tins filled and throwing them like a frisbee (dad did it during block parties). Then one day we dropped a lit match into a gallon red container filled, we spazzed out and poured it out on my neighbor's yard. Almost 20 years later and grass still doesn't grow in the spot. That was a sad end to fun.
Posted by: The Dude at July 18, 2012 08:25 PM (tw6Ar)
Posted by: lock at July 19, 2012 12:22 AM (4Ymj9)
nope, built a shit ton of potato launchers though (don't ever aim them at anyone, it doesn't feel good)
Posted by: The Dude at July 18, 2012 08:27 PM (tw6Ar)
Nope. That shit was dangerous, and I knew it. Its even dangerous as an adult knowing exactly what you're doing. Its screwing on the 2nd endcap that gets people killed. All it takes is one spec of powder on the threads, and they can blow when the caps are torqued down.
I suppose a glued together PVC bomb with externally applied frag materials could be assembled a lot safer...
Posted by: @PurpAv at July 18, 2012 08:27 PM (UQVV6)
My 6th grade teacher was... special. She was low on cleaning products for her bathroom, so she mixed bleach and ammonia in her toilet. The fire department had to come to clean up.
She never knew not to do that. Ah, California, you had the worst fucking schools.
Posted by: Z Ryan at July 18, 2012 08:28 PM (tsC/8)
Ohhhh....
gasoline + Styrofoam = expedient napalm
Posted by: @PurpAv at July 18, 2012 08:29 PM (UQVV6)
my mom was telling me not to do that since the 3rd grade, same with drinking to much liquor in about the 5th,
Posted by: Jake in ID at July 18, 2012 08:29 PM (RQjPS)
Posted by: Bill Ayers' Zombie Girlfriend, Diana at July 18, 2012 08:31 PM (FIYvq)
Took my daughter out to dinner with some "boyfriend" and started telling a story about how when I was his age I was painting grafitti on a wall when two cops came up asking me what I was doing. So I shot them.
The look on the kids face for a couple seconds was priceless.
Posted by: Hal Burton at July 18, 2012 08:32 PM (iYvMQ)
Across the universe
Posted by: lock at July 18, 2012 08:37 PM (4Ymj9)
My Triumph decided to start spraying gas all over the place. MotoGP in a week and a half, and a part that is super easy to find in some alternate dimension.
Posted by: Clutch Cargo at July 18, 2012 08:40 PM (Qxdfp)
Posted by: cthulhu at July 18, 2012 08:40 PM (kaalw)
Posted by: cthulhu at July 18, 2012 08:43 PM (kaalw)
"pros" do it damp and allow ample drying time, and work on anti-static pads w/wrist straps and such. Basically all the kit needed for electronics assembly with CMOS devices.
Posted by: @PurpAv at July 18, 2012 08:43 PM (UQVV6)
Dollar night at the drive-in.
Mama filled grocery sacks full of popcorn before we left.
Daddy put Brian and me on the roof (with a giant bag of popcorn) so everybody would be able to see.
Goddam, that was fun. Posted by: Scobface at July 18, 2012 11:47 PM
Yes, it was. Fat ass Fred didn't yell yabba dabba doo when he caught me and Pebbles at the drive in 12 years later
Damn that Pebbles was hot. She was a ginger though
Posted by: Bam-Bam Rubble at July 18, 2012 08:44 PM (Y7XKa)
Posted by: Clutch Cargo at July 19, 2012 12:40 AM (Qxdfp)
if you're curious, here is a link to the prints
http://tinyurl.com/7v7wswj
Posted by: The Dude at July 18, 2012 08:45 PM (tw6Ar)
Yes, I knew that
Posted by: Barney Frank at July 18, 2012 08:45 PM (Y7XKa)
I think crashing into something or throwing yourself off is part of everyone's motorcycle learning experience.
My friend moved to Taiwan and bought a motorcycle, didn't know anything about it but is so pig-headed he figured he was a Hell's Angel. He nearly immediately tore up his knuckles in a crash. The next accident was only a few days later when he threw his girlfriend off the back when pulling out of a stop light.
She was pissed.
Posted by: Z Ryan at July 18, 2012 08:47 PM (tsC/8)
What advice would you give for kids?
Posted by: lock at July 18, 2012 08:47 PM (4Ymj9)
Posted by: @PurpAv at July 18, 2012 08:48 PM (UQVV6)
Posted by: @PurpAv at July 19, 2012 12:48 AM (UQVV6)
primal fascination with fire
Posted by: The Dude at July 18, 2012 08:49 PM (tw6Ar)
Posted by: Big T Party at July 18, 2012 08:50 PM (EhUTA)
When we were children, we liked to start fires, wet the bed and torture animals.
Why are you looking at me like that?
Posted by: Z Ryan at July 18, 2012 08:50 PM (tsC/8)
Posted by: lock at July 18, 2012 08:51 PM (4Ymj9)
Posted by: Z Ryan at July 18, 2012 08:51 PM (tsC/8)
Posted by: Bill Ayers' Zombie Girlfriend, Diana at July 18, 2012 08:51 PM (FIYvq)
Posted by: Anachronda at July 18, 2012 11:53 PM
Fantastic car to take your girl to the Drive-in with, before the advent of custom vans
I was at a car show once and a couple older guys smiled at a 47 Hudson and one said "I wonder how many cheerleaders lost their cherry in the back of that one"
Posted by: kbdabear at July 18, 2012 08:52 PM (Y7XKa)
Posted by: Isobel Ingoldesthorpe at July 18, 2012 08:53 PM (PDKu6)
Don't build pipe bombs if you plan on living long enough to graduate HS.
Miniature working replicas of medieval siege engines (catapult, trebuchet, etc) are far more interesting and more valuable as mechanical and engineering skill developers. Those will serve you well later in life. Pipe bomb construction skills have limited utility.
Posted by: @PurpAv at July 18, 2012 08:54 PM (UQVV6)
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at July 18, 2012 08:57 PM (r4wIV)
Posted by: Isobel Ingoldesthorpe at July 18, 2012 08:58 PM (PDKu6)
Yep. Works fine in kerosene lanterns. JP4 is basically kero with a little better refining to remove crud and paraffin content. It won't smoke up as bad as ordinary pump kero in a lantern, it just costs more.
Posted by: @PurpAv at July 18, 2012 08:58 PM (UQVV6)
Posted by: lock at July 18, 2012 09:04 PM (4Ymj9)
When I was a lad I served a term
As office boy to an Attorney's firm.
I cleaned the windows and I swept the floor,
And I polished up the handle of the big front door.
I polished up that handle so carefullee
That now I am the Ruler of the Queen's Navee!
CHORUS REPEATS
As office boy I made such a mark
That they gave me the post of a junior clerk.
I served the writs with a smile so bland,
And I copied all the letters in a big round hand--
I copied all the letters in a hand so free,
That now I am the Ruler of the Queen's Navee!
CHORUS.
In serving writs I made such a name
That an articled clerk I soon became;
I wore clean collars and a brand-new suit
For the pass examination at the Institute,
And that pass examination did so well for me,
That now I am the Ruler of the Queen's Navee!
CHORUS.
Of legal knowledge I acquired such a grip
That they took me into the partnership.
And that junior partnership, I ween,
Was the only ship that I ever had seen.
But that kind of ship so suited me,
That now I am the Ruler of the Queen's Navee!
CHORUS.
I grew so rich that I was sent
By a pocket borough into Parliament.
I always voted at my party's call,
And I never thought of thinking for myself at all.
I thought so little, they rewarded me
By making me the Ruler of the Queen's Navee!
CHORUS.
Now landsmen all, whoever you may be,
If you want to rise to the top of the tree,
If your soul isn't fettered to an office stool,
Be careful to be guided by this golden rule--
Stick close to your desks and never go to sea,
And you all may be rulers of the Queen's Navee!
CHORUS
Posted by: cthulhu at July 18, 2012 09:09 PM (kaalw)
Posted by: cthulhu at July 18, 2012 09:10 PM (kaalw)
JP-4 is a nonconductive liquid, prone to build up static electricity when being moved through pipes and tanks. As it is volatile and has a low flash point, the static discharge may cause a fire. Since the mid 1980s, an antistatic agent was added to the fuel to lower the charge buildup and decrease the corresponding risk of fires. Flow rates must be controlled, and all the equipment used must be electrically interconnected and well grounded.
The desire for a less flammable, less hazardous fuel led the U.S. Air Force to phase out JP-4 in favor of JP-8; the transition was completed by the fall of 1996.
Posted by: lock at July 18, 2012 09:10 PM (4Ymj9)
I was in the 4th and 5th grade. We kids found a corral outside town with a few horses in it, but no owner in sight.
We got up on the corral fence, then waited until the horses came near to investigate and jumped on them to ride around bare-back.
Cool. Except for the kid who pissed off one horse, who chased him and bit him on his back while he was trying to climb the fence and escape.
In our wanderings we also found an oasis with a clump of trees in the otherwise parched land a couple of miles outside the little town of Mountain Home. We called it "Russia", and walked out there with sleeping bags and enough food for long weekends . No tents , just sleeping under the stars, playing "Army" and having a great time without any adults to "supervise".
Posted by: Jim Sonweed at July 18, 2012 09:11 PM (fBsx6)
Posted by: Isobel Ingoldesthorpe at July 18, 2012 09:13 PM (PDKu6)
Posted by: @PurpAv at July 18, 2012 09:14 PM (UQVV6)
They gave off smoke with a smell that I can't quite remember, but will never forget.
Posted by: Jim Sonweed at July 18, 2012 09:16 PM (fBsx6)
It's not the all the sudden prevalence of freaks. It's the collapse of community thanks to social division that leads to enhanced risk. Yet another great product from brand D.
Posted by: MikeTheMoose Troll Hunter! at July 18, 2012 09:16 PM (GE1+K)
Posted by: Z Ryan at July 18, 2012 09:19 PM (tsC/8)
Even in Mountain home we had a case of that. Some guy tried to pick up little girls, one of whom was my sister.
My parents called the cops, and damned if the guy didn't drive by while we were talking to the police!
They gave chase, and we later learned that the perv was, in the finest tradition of the Old West, run out of town.
Posted by: Jim Sonweed at July 18, 2012 09:19 PM (fBsx6)
Posted by: Z Ryan at July 19, 2012 01:19 AM (tsC/
Explain how Dora got teen pregnant just before Diego was deported.
Posted by: Robert at July 18, 2012 09:19 PM (4ixH5)
Posted by: Jim Sonweed at July 19, 2012 01:11 AM
You can hide, but I'll find you!
Posted by: Your Mom with a tray of Smores at July 18, 2012 09:20 PM (Y7XKa)
Posted by: Z Ryan at July 18, 2012 09:21 PM (tsC/8)
Posted by: kbdabear at July 18, 2012 09:23 PM (Y7XKa)
Posted by: Robert at July 18, 2012 09:25 PM (4ixH5)
160 Posted by: Bacitracin at July 18, 2012 10:58 PM (wFzJ2)
Bacitracin ("Bactine") was for rich kids. We got the Merthiolate.
Posted by: Scobface at July 18, 2012 11:00 PM (IoNBC)
No, Bacitracin (an ointment) and "Bactine" (a spray) were different animals. As were Mercurochrome and Merthiolate. The former didn't hurt and was full of mercury goodness!
***********
Correctamente!!!
Bactine was indeed a spray. Their ad went "Sssst! Goes the Bactine! Ssst! Goes the Bactine! Down go the mean old germs."
Merthiolate was Red Orange Death. Hurt like hell, and not just because it was dissolved in alcohol.
I have had a small bottle of the French equivalent of Mercurochrome in my medicine cabinet for years, and when I want to kill something really nasty (like infections from cuts sustained while breaking up lobster shells), I haul it out.
No Minimata disease....thus far.
Posted by: Jim Sonweed at July 18, 2012 09:27 PM (fBsx6)
Those paper wrapped tadpole shaped things that explode when tossed on a hard surface are cool too. I think they're metallic picrate crystals.
We used to make nitrogen triiodide and sprinkle it on the floor near the door to the HS chem lab. Good times as the teach walked in and the stuff crackled like frying bacon when stepped on.
Posted by: @PurpAv at July 18, 2012 09:28 PM (UQVV6)
Did you watch the facehugger scenes in Alien too much as a child?
Posted by: Z Ryan at July 18, 2012 09:29 PM (tsC/8)
Posted by: Z Ryan at July 19, 2012 01:28 AM (tsC/
Santa sleeping with mom on Christmas morning. Wrong fucking year to wake up early
Posted by: The Dude at July 18, 2012 09:29 PM (tw6Ar)
Posted by: Z Ryan at July 19, 2012 01:29 AM (tsC/
having notices of me playing Bazooka Cafe on the screen of the people on my friend list would be interesting
Posted by: The Dude at July 18, 2012 09:32 PM (tw6Ar)
Posted by: Z Ryan at July 18, 2012 09:32 PM (tsC/8)
Posted by: Z Ryan at July 19, 2012 01:28 AM (tsC/
I was born durin' the Carter Administration.
*Blues riff*
So ugly the nurse hit me twice.
*Riff*
Papa said she was takin' out her frustration
*Riff*
Cause he had jizzed all over her eyes!
*Riff*
I got da blues!
Posted by: Robert ain't never gonan make it as a songwriter at July 18, 2012 09:33 PM (4ixH5)
Posted by: gushka's got a Kitty what plays fetch! ! at July 18, 2012 09:33 PM (r7Ddb)
Posted by: Isobel Ingoldesthorpe at July 18, 2012 09:33 PM (PDKu6)
Santa sleeping with mom on Christmas morning. Wrong fucking year to wake up early
Posted by: The Dude at July 19, 2012 01:29 AM (tw6Ar)
that makes me so glad to be jewish. of all my traumas, that was NEVER one of them
Posted by: gushka's got a Kitty what plays fetch! ! at July 18, 2012 09:34 PM (r7Ddb)
Posted by: The Dude at July 18, 2012 09:34 PM (tw6Ar)
Posted by: gushka's got a Kitty what plays fetch! ! at July 19, 2012 01:34 AM (r7Ddb)
sad part is I started whaling on my dad, didn't know it was him
Posted by: The Dude at July 18, 2012 09:35 PM (tw6Ar)
I got nothing for that. I did wrestling and discus/javelin in HS which were all pretty uneventful injurywise, and avoided football and skiing where all the major knee/back injuries happened. Those dudes were always on crutches.
Didn't have any mini-bikes, snowmobiles, or go karts, and was smart enough to avoid falling off the barn roof or out of trees, and learned how to swim before I could walk, so I never had any water related dramas.
Posted by: @PurpAv at July 18, 2012 09:37 PM (UQVV6)
Posted by: Z Ryan at July 18, 2012 09:39 PM (tsC/8)
Posted by: Robert at July 18, 2012 09:41 PM (4ixH5)
Posted by: a cynical but rarely angry Adriane at July 18, 2012 09:41 PM (qmMAj)
Now this show I'd watch.
Posted by: Robert at July 19, 2012 01:27 AM (4ixH5)
Looks good to me.
*******************************
Would you hit it? Now be honest.
Posted by: Robert at July 19, 2012 01:25 AM (4ixH5)
Doesn't.
Posted by: cthulhu at July 18, 2012 09:43 PM (kaalw)
Posted by: The Dude at July 18, 2012 09:44 PM (tw6Ar)
Neighbor hooked me up with the remains of bottle of Oxycotin they didn't use up after hysterectomy incase the Vicodin don't cut it.
Posted by: @PurpAv at July 18, 2012 09:44 PM (UQVV6)
• Including the concept planning and pre-production phase, the game has already been in development for over 4 years.
• It entered full production in January 2010, a month after FFXIII was released in Japan. Since then it has had a development team of just over 200 people.
• The director is the same person who directed FFVI, FFIX and FFXII, Hiroyuki Ito.
• The co-director led a small part of the development team to make Tactics Ogre for the PSP in parallel with FFXV. He’s currently multi-tasking as lead UI designer of FFXIV 2.0 and co-director of FFXV.
• The game design and battle system will be a major evolution of FFXII.
• The game will be open world and have sprawling, crowd-filled cities on par with Assassin’s Creed.
• The battle system now allows you to target different parts of an enemy’s body like in Vagrant Story.
• Yoichi Wada (president of Square Enix) wants the game to have a world scale and volume of content that surpasses The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. He also wants the game to surpass FFVII in worldwide sales and critical reception.
• Will release on all major current gen platforms.
Posted by: The Dude at July 18, 2012 09:46 PM (tw6Ar)
Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith at July 18, 2012 09:46 PM (qN9Zh)
Posted by: Robert at July 19, 2012 01:41 AM (4ixH5)
if you look on my mobile uploads you will see her coming home from her vet visit in my friend Melanie's hat!
After saddle breaking i do not know what Ellie's next adventure will be. depends on how brave she is. if only moderately brave she will be a trail horse. If very brave, Mounted combat. Whatever the case, she will get bred and have such pretty babies. I want to breed my black mare now, too.
Posted by: gushka's got a Kitty what plays fetch! ! at July 18, 2012 09:47 PM (r7Ddb)
Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith at July 18, 2012 09:47 PM (qN9Zh)
Posted by: cthulhu at July 18, 2012 09:49 PM (kaalw)
Posted by: Robert at July 18, 2012 09:51 PM (4ixH5)
http://tinyurl.com/7wjg5e4
Posted by: @PurpAv at July 18, 2012 09:53 PM (UQVV6)
Posted by: gushka's got a Kitty what plays fetch! ! at July 18, 2012 09:55 PM (r7Ddb)
Posted by: cthulhu at July 18, 2012 09:58 PM (kaalw)
Posted by: gushka's got a Kitty what plays fetch! ! at July 18, 2012 09:59 PM (r7Ddb)
http://tinyurl.com/7wjg5e4
Posted by: @PurpAv at July 19, 2012 01:53 AM (UQVV6)
Very nice. Some lovely pelts there.
Posted by: Buffalo Bill at July 18, 2012 10:03 PM (kaalw)
Posted by: Robert at July 18, 2012 10:06 PM (4ixH5)
Posted by: gushka's got a Kitty what plays fetch! ! at July 19, 2012 01:59 AM (r7Ddb)
It's good to hear. We're scrambling around because the BH has an extended business trip to NC on Saturday, so I'm going to have to sack out soon tonight.....and I didn't want to think that it'd be weeks and weeks before you were here again.
Hope all is well with you and yours.
Posted by: cthulhu at July 18, 2012 10:08 PM (kaalw)
Sweet. Good to know they're looking out for the peeps.
http://news.yahoo.com/obesity-drug-qsymia-gets-ok-fda-170836451.html
Have we got a problem with too many empty hospital beds or something?
Posted by: @PurpAv at July 18, 2012 10:08 PM (UQVV6)
Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith at July 18, 2012 10:10 PM (qN9Zh)
I'll have to start wearing this.
http://tinyurl.com/87ucrol
Posted by: Robert at July 19, 2012 02:06 AM (4ixH5)
I've got a little knit Cthulhu ( about this size --http://tinyurl.com/6qg95jg ) that keeps me company next to the keyboard. But I don't (yet) have a cap like that one.
Posted by: cthulhu at July 18, 2012 10:13 PM (kaalw)
I used to think the FDA was overly paranoid, now I'm starting to think they're more reckless than a redneck tweaker that just stole a Bugatti Veryron and loaded the passenger seat with a 24-pack of Bud and took off on their own personal One Lap of America.
Posted by: @PurpAv at July 18, 2012 10:16 PM (UQVV6)
Posted by: cthulhu at July 18, 2012 10:16 PM (kaalw)
And by keeps me company I mean gets up on my stomach and rubs against the screen while sticking her ass in my face.
Posted by: Robert at July 18, 2012 10:16 PM (4ixH5)
Posted by: @PurpAv at July 18, 2012 10:19 PM (UQVV6)
Posted by: @PurpAv at July 19, 2012 02:19 AM (UQVV6)
Unfortunately, sticking their ass in your face also seems to keep cats entertained for hours. Of course, I'm allergic as hell -- even when I'm lucky enough to get the "good" end.....but I've observed it time-and-time-again with friends.
Posted by: cthulhu at July 18, 2012 10:23 PM (kaalw)
Posted by: Robert at July 18, 2012 10:24 PM (4ixH5)
My stepmother's cat decided that if I was sitting at the dining table working then I wasn't paying him enough attention. I'd spend the next 15 minutes putting the cat on the floor only to have him jump up on the table again and lay across my laptop.
Posted by: Alex at July 18, 2012 10:26 PM (3+RPg)
ZH sez that the Stennis will make FOUR carriers in the ME, then hints at whether an October surprise might be a comin'. I suggested last week that this might be the case, because the JEF will do anything to get reelected.
Now of course Israel is real pissed about the Bulgaria attack -- they won't let this one pass without retaliation of some sort. I can't blame them either -- women and children were the terrorist's targets.
May we live in interesting times.
Posted by: GnuBreed at July 18, 2012 10:34 PM (ccXZP)
Posted by: @PurpAv at July 18, 2012 10:35 PM (UQVV6)
Posted by: a cynical but rarely angry Adriane at July 18, 2012 10:37 PM (qmMAj)
ZH sez that the Stennis will make FOUR carriers in the ME, then hints at whether an October surprise might be a comin'. I suggested last week that this might be the case, because the JEF will do anything to get reelected.
I don't know what scares me more, if he were to launch an attack and succeed, giving him the boost to reelection, or if he were to launch an attack and it failed, possibly catastrophically.
Posted by: Alex at July 18, 2012 10:40 PM (3+RPg)
Posted by: a cynical but rarely angry Adriane at July 18, 2012 10:42 PM (qmMAj)
Posted by: a cynical but rarely angry Adriane at July 18, 2012 10:44 PM (qmMAj)
That would be pretty transparent, and unnecessary...
Iran imports most of its gasoline through one terminal due to lack of refineries for gasoline. One Tomahawk in the right place at that terminal could put a huge part of their economy on the ropes within a couple of weeks.
A couple of Tomahawks targeting the power transmission lines to the underground facilities where the centrifuges shutdown the centrifuges. You can't spin thousands of centrifuges with a backup generator for too long. No centrifuges spinning == no splody toys.
Posted by: @PurpAv at July 18, 2012 10:44 PM (UQVV6)
How often is it you're *pleasantly* surprised by a computer?
Posted by: @PurpAv at July 18, 2012 10:48 PM (UQVV6)
I'm not worried about losing to them, but that we would suffer some losses and have a few setbacks. Frankly, Iran isn't going to stop their push towards a nuclear weapons capability without some regime change.
Posted by: GnuBreed at July 18, 2012 10:49 PM (ccXZP)
Posted by: @PurpAv at July 18, 2012 10:51 PM (UQVV6)
per a quick check at wiki, the Iranians have 9 refineries:
Abadan Refinery (NIOC), 450,000 bbl/d (72,000 m3/d)
Arak Refinery (NIOC), 150,000 bbl/d (24,000 m3/d)
Tehran Refinery (NIOC), 225,000 bbl/d (35,800 m3/d)
Isfahan Refinery (NIOC), 265,000 bbl/d (42,100 m3/d)
Tabriz Refinery (NIOC), 112,000 bbl/d (17,800 m3/d)
Shiraz Refinery (NIOC), 40,000 bbl/d (6,400 m3/d)
Lavan Refinery (NIOC), 20,000 bbl/d (3,200 m3/d)
Bandar Abbas Refinery (NIOC), 232,000 bbl/d (36,900 m3/d)
Kermanshah refinery (NIOC), 21,000 bbl/d (3,300 m3/d)
Plus they have some pipeline capacity bringing in refined stuff. It's not as easy to shut them completely down as you might think.
Posted by: GnuBreed at July 18, 2012 10:54 PM (ccXZP)
A big chunk of their military budget for the past 10 years has been spent on coastal anti-ship missile batteries. They got a LOT of them...enough to overwhelm any given vessels defenses if they ganged it all up on one target and tossed in a couple dozen of those crazy suicide boats for distraction.
Posted by: @PurpAv at July 18, 2012 10:56 PM (UQVV6)
“The trains carrying coal to power plants are death trains. Coal-fired power plants are factories of death.”
Posted by: GnuBreed at July 18, 2012 11:00 PM (ccXZP)
I know that part. My concern is that the Iranians have been preparing for this kind of fight for a while. If they can bloody our nose, especially early on, then it sends a signal to a lot of other players that the US is severely weakened. There has always been an element to our strength that was due to the perception of US power.
In the long run, we'd win, but it could cause some serious recalculations regarding power around the world, and not to our advantage.
Posted by: Alex at July 18, 2012 11:02 PM (3+RPg)
Pipelines are just a target, not an asset if there's any shooting
Posted by: @PurpAv at July 18, 2012 11:05 PM (UQVV6)
What we need are some of those smaller ultra quiet German diesel/electric subs designed for littoral work. Our sub force is still largely designed around confronting the Soviets.
Posted by: @PurpAv at July 18, 2012 11:09 PM (UQVV6)
Posted by: GnuBreed at July 18, 2012 11:13 PM (ccXZP)
Opiates rock.
Posted by: @PurpAv at July 18, 2012 11:13 PM (UQVV6)
Obama has a hard time admitting he was wrong about shit, a real hard time. I think its a bluff, or he's waiting for Israel to do something so he can wash his hands of it and say "I tried to stop them".
Posted by: @PurpAv at July 18, 2012 11:17 PM (UQVV6)
Heh. I say bring it on Mitts. My dad was complaining to me last week that Romney didn't seem to be fighting back very hard (and sounding quite pessimistic in the process). I told him that he was getting too much info from TV news and the local McClatchy rag.
Yes, I want the gloves to come off. It's nad racking time.
Posted by: GnuBreed at July 18, 2012 11:18 PM (ccXZP)
Posted by: Robert at July 18, 2012 11:20 PM (4ixH5)
It would be quite easy and straightforward to reduce Iran. In the popular vernacular, it would be "bombing 'em back to the stone age."
There are two problems that can arise in such an operation. First, there is the possibility that the natural state of affairs is actually paleolithic....in which case, you merely peel back the thin veneer of civilization and leave the warlords unbound (see "Afghanistan"). Second, you might inflame "the cult of victimhood" and end up with the MSM, the UN, and the left against you for "oppression" (see "Israel").
The problem is that the cult of victimhood has no way of dealing with Iran besides appeasement.
Posted by: cthulhu at July 18, 2012 11:21 PM (kaalw)
Posted by: GnuBreed at July 19, 2012 03:18 AM (ccXZP)
Things are getting interesting.
I so wish this song were Romney's campaign theme.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LObb3PAyDQ
Posted by: Robert at July 18, 2012 11:22 PM (4ixH5)
Tell dad, the place to get a decent roundup of US news is not the US media. The Brits and Germans are doing a MUCH better job of covering US news than US media is, and its a fucking disgrace.
Posted by: @PurpAv at July 18, 2012 11:22 PM (UQVV6)
Posted by: GnuBreed at July 18, 2012 11:25 PM (ccXZP)
Did you hear the one about me being a drunk?
Did you hear the one about me losing my nerve?
Or how I'm just another fucking sheep in the herd?
Did you hear about the money, how it made me change?
So funny to me, all the time that they waste.
Did you hear the one about me giving a shit?
Cause if I ever did I don't remember it.
Did you hear the one about me playing the game?
Selling my soul and changing my name.
Did you hear the one about me being a prick?
Did you know I don't care? You can suck my...
Did you hear the one about me trying to die?
Fist in the air and a finger to the sky.
Do I care if you hate me? Do you wanna know the truth?
C'est la vie... adiós... good riddance... fuck you!
Posted by: Mitt Romney channeling Five Finger Death Punch at July 18, 2012 11:26 PM (4ixH5)
Yea, but it deals with the pain ;->
I'm getting drowsy...and I'm normally a vampire hitting prime time right now. I could handle having an arm chopped off with a rusty hatchet better than this tooth pain shit. This is just a different kinda pain.
Posted by: @PurpAv at July 18, 2012 11:27 PM (UQVV6)
Posted by: @PurpAv at July 19, 2012 03:27 AM (UQVV6)
Exceedingly well!
Good night!
Posted by: Robert at July 18, 2012 11:28 PM (4ixH5)
Posted by: @PurpAv at July 18, 2012 11:29 PM (UQVV6)
Posted by: GnuBreed at July 18, 2012 11:31 PM (ccXZP)
Posted by: Robert at July 18, 2012 11:37 PM (4ixH5)
Posted by: cthulhu at July 18, 2012 11:40 PM (kaalw)
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at July 19, 2012 12:21 AM (yh0zB)
Mow the lawn.
And...
Nope, just gotta mow the lawn.
Guess I'll just stop by my buddy's shop and ask him what time he'll be at the theater on Friday to see Dark Knight Rises.
After that...nothin'. Just I'll just screw around and watch Pirates of the Caribbean 3.
Posted by: Robert at July 19, 2012 12:26 AM (4ixH5)
After that...nothin'. Just I'll just screw around and watch Pirates of the Caribbean 3.
Posted by: Robert at July 19, 2012 04:26 AM (4ixH5)
Going to the drive-in with the Mustang club tomorrow night to see that and Dark Shadows. Should be fun.
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at July 19, 2012 12:44 AM (yh0zB)
Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at July 19, 2012 12:51 AM (yh0zB)
Posted by: Thunderb at July 19, 2012 01:38 AM (Dnbau)
Posted by: Thunderb at July 19, 2012 01:52 AM (Dnbau)
Posted by: teej at July 19, 2012 02:40 AM (vzfrq)
Posted by: teej at July 19, 2012 02:44 AM (vzfrq)
Posted by: teej at July 19, 2012 02:51 AM (ZFXqT)
Posted by: Robert at July 19, 2012 02:53 AM (4ixH5)
Posted by: Robert at July 19, 2012 02:56 AM (4ixH5)
Posted by: Thunderb at July 19, 2012 02:57 AM (Dnbau)
Posted by: teej at July 19, 2012 03:02 AM (Vdd8W)
The DNC just released a new Romney horse ad yesterday:<P>Mitt Dancing Around The Issues Volume I <P>http://tinyurl.com/7qnr77x
Posted by: Erica at July 19, 2012 04:13 AM (9znHX)
Posted by: Robert at July 19, 2012 04:41 AM (HWUv9)
Posted by: hadsil at July 19, 2012 08:36 AM (HYDTz)
Playground equipment isn't any fun anymore, either. The playground equipment at the park in my hometown (still there the last I checked) is very old, mega-sturdy, and pretty dangerous by today's wimpy standards. Every so often, a kid would fall off of something or get hit by it and maybe break an arm or a collarbone.
There was one piece of equipment, like a giant witch's hat on a very sturdy, tall pole. Kids stood up on the wooden "brim" of the witch's hat and held on to a metal railing that encircled the hat. You had to hold on and trot around in a circle on the ground to get it going, at first, but then you jumped onto it, and it circled the pole in lazy fashion for awhile with either side of it rising and falling gently as it circled.
There was another piece of equipment that would take too long to describe very well, but it was essentially a giant, horizontally-moving, wooden swing on a very sturdy metal frame that lots of kids could pile onto at one time. Once again, you had to hold onto it and walk alongside for awhile, back and forth, to get it going, and then jump on.
With both of these pieces of play equipment, the bigger kids would usually get the thing going after the little kids had already gotten on. Then the big kids would jump on, too.
All of that old equipment was lots and lots of fun. I took my own kids to play on it when we visited my hometown. Today's playground equipment is boring, boring, boring, IMO.
Posted by: elisheba at July 19, 2012 12:03 PM (54sKT)
In a small town closeby where I live, just this last week, two little girl cousins, aged 10 and 8, have disappeared while riding their bicycles not far from their grandmother's home, in a park near a small lake. So far, nothing has been found but the two bicycles, and one girl's little purse plus a cell phone that one of them was carrying which has been no help in the investigation. They have had so many people wanting to help search that they had to tell people not to come. They are currently draining the lake. Family-,member abduction is not suspected at all in this case.
I think it is really is more dangerous nowadays than it used to be. Creepy people feel much more "entitled" to act out their evil fantasies than they used to, is all that I can think of to explain this.
I have enjoyed reading about all of your exploits, above. My friends and I ran all over town, too, a town of 1,000 people at that time, smaller now. My husband lived in a suburb with a forest preserve nearby, and he and his friends just lived in the forest preserve in the summer. I would never let kids do that by themselves, now. Sad.
Posted by: elisheba at July 19, 2012 12:11 PM (54sKT)
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Posted by: GGE of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at July 18, 2012 06:01 PM (yh0zB)