For What It's Worth » nostalgia

Old Movies

Rick — Tue, 25 May 2010 10:42:16 +0000

Are there any movies that you absolutely loved when you were younger that you’ve watched again and found awful or ridiculous?

How much younger are we talking about? I still love the movies and TV shows that I loved as a kid. A lot of them are just as awful and riduculous now as they were then but I still love them.

If any movie fits the question, it would have to be Deep Throat, the 1972 classic porn film starring Linda Lovelace. I laughed my ass off the first time I saw it. Watching it again years later, it seemed so trite, so stupid, so dated. On the other hand, I still enjoy the classic films of Marilyn Chambers. She was a true porn goddess.

For what it’s worth…

G.I. Joe, Barbie, and Ken

Rick — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 19:42:35 +0000

Back when I was a kid, G.I. Joe was a full-sized, poseable action figure for which you could purchase a wide variety of uniforms, weapons and other action accessories. They were so much better than today’s G.I. Joe toys.

Of course, my sisters had Barbie and Ken and when G.I. Joe was on R&R, Barbie would be his whore when Ken (who secretly wanted to be his bitch) was at at the office or whatever. (Love you long time, GI. No shit.) It’s true that Barbie, Ken and Joe were not anatomically correct so you had to imagine they had “certain” parts. You know that Joe’s imaginary parts were much more impressive than Ken’s.

For what it’s worth…

Naked Pizza

Rick — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:44:36 +0000

A few days ago somebody entered the words “naked pizza” into a search engine and landed on this blog, probably finding my post of 29 September 2008, No shirt, no pants, no pizza in which I commented on a news article about a man who was denied service at a pizzeria while wearing only a pair of running shoes.

I have my own “naked pizza” memory from my youth. We were sitting around the kitchen in the wee hours of the morning, stark naked, enjoying a pizza. Why, you ask? Because we were hungry.

For what it’s worth…

Writer’s Block: Looking Back

Rick — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:05:00 +0000

LiveJournal is turning 10 and we’re feeling nostalgic. What was your first LJ post about?

First post, 2 Sep 2004:

My daughter-in-law sent me a link to her online journal, which I read (comments and all). Then I said, to myself, “Self, this could be fun. Let’s give it a try.” And so, here I am.

Right now I’m watching the Graham Norton Effect on Comedy Central. It’s such an outrageous show! After the show, it will be time to pay some bills — so depressing! But it has to be done.

Why is it that disasters/crises at work always happened just before 5:00? “My computer just crashed and it’s critical that I have it up and running in the morning!” Sorry about your luck, dude. When you get a BSOD in the Recovery Console, it’s bad, really bad. I’m thinking it’s most likely a case of demonic possession.

Sorry if I seem to be rambling but it’s my first time.

Writer’s Block: Back to School

Rick — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:50:00 +0000

What fictional high school—from tv, film, or a book—would you most like to attend? Or would you rather never go near high school again, fictional or otherwise?

I’ve been out of high school for … a lot of years. Nixon was President for cryin’ out loud. No, I don’t want to go back. Haven’t even been to a reunion. It would have been cool to go to Riverdale High and hang with Archie, Jughead, Betty, and Veronica. I’d have nailed Betty under the bleachers for sure.

February Sucks

Rick — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:07:00 +0000

Today’s Quote: “There we were in the middle of a sexual revolution wearing clothes that guaranteed we wouldn’t get laid.” ~ Denis Leary

Song: Gimme Some Lovin’
Artist: The Spencer Davis Group
Album: The Best of the Spencer Davis Group
Released: 1966

The timing of my birth was just a little bit inconvenient. When The Beatles came to America, I was too young to fully appreciate them. It wasn’t until I was about 17 that I really began to listen to Rock ‘n’ Roll and it would be several more years before I truly began to appreciate the great music that came into being during my childhood. By the time I graduated from high school, the hippies were all but extinct and the sexual revolution had peaked and was on the downhill slide. I was probably in the right age bracket for disco but it never held any appeal for me. Rock ‘n’ Roll had already established a permanent residence in my soul.

But there were at least one benefit to being born when I was. When I became eligible for the draft, it was just about over. I don’t believe I even knew what my number was. Vietnamization was well underway and ground troops were being withdrawn from Southeast Asia. South Vietnam would fall within three years and I’d witness the fall of Saigon from a thousand miles away..

So much for nostalgia.

And now back to the original subject, February sucks. The weather sucks and then there’s that dreaded holiday, a month and a half after Christmas when men are brow beaten by the media to prove their love yet again through the purchase of diamond jewelry or $90 teddy bears from Vermont. The Christmas bills are still rolling in and we’re expected to spend huge amounts of money to prove our worthiness to actually be liked by a woman. When does it end? Why can’t we prove our undying love the old fashioned way? How about slaying a dragon or writing a sonnet? Or even a simple hug and a heart-felt “I love you”?

You’ll have to excuse me if I’m rambling (and I know I am) but the fingers seem to be on their own as they skim across the keyboard. There are probably a host of other reasons why February sucks but I won’t go into them here. You’ll just have to take my word for it.

My Words Come Back To Haunt Me

Rick — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 03:00:00 +0000

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – Deja Vu

Today’s Quote: “Time sneaks up on you like a windshield on a bug” — John Lithgow

Over the weekend I was going through some things I wrote back in the 80s and 90s. Back in the early 90s, shortly before I retired from the circus, I remarked that I was fat because I weighed 170 to 173 pounds. One of my New Year’s Resolutions for 1993 was to get down to 150 pounds by my birthday. Even then I was complaining about my love handles and my man boobs. Oh, what I’d give now to get down to 170. I honestly doubt I’ll see 150 pounds again although I’ve been told by doctors that my ideal weight is 145 pounds.

In April, 1992, I briefly considered getting into computer repair as a civilian career because I seemed to have a knack for it. Prophetic words?

Deja Vu is the opening track on the CSNY album of the same name, released in 1970. It’s a classic album.

Heidi was quite impressed

Rick — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 03:22:00 +0000

Blind Willie McTell – Broke Down Engine Blues

Today’s Quote: “I did stick socks in my pants.” — Former HP CEO Carly Fiorina recalls her days at Lucent and silently wonders how many HP board members were pulling the same stunt.

That reminds me of an incident in my past. I was on a mission in England and a bunch of us were sitting around one of the hotel rooms watching movies. I spied someone’s rolled up Ace bandage on the night stand and discretely stuffed it down the front of my pants. I excused myself to use the facilities and as I stood up, Karen (aka Heidi) was about eye level to my hips. Her eyes got as big as saucers and her jaw dropped. I do believe she was suitably impressed. It was a good laugh and a priceless moment.

I’ve taken another step in my ministry. My church has a name — the Temple of the Agnostic Savior. I still don’t have a congregation but that’s okay. I’m not ready to take responsibility for anyone’s soul but mine. Ultimately, we’re all responsible for our own souls anyway.

How About Some Blues For Breakfast?

Rick — Sun, 02 Apr 2006 20:16:00 +0000

What this town needs is a radio station that at least pays homage to the Blues. Without the Blues, there would be no Rock ‘n’ Roll.

WTUE has Breakfast With The Beatles on Sunday morning, which is a great program especially if you’re a Beatles fan. I’d like to see WTUE do a similar program for those of use who appreciate the great legacy of the Blues. I believe WTUE could be the best station in Dayton for this since they seem to be the only radio station in the area that even acknowledges the existence of the Blues.

When I lived in Hawaii back in the early 90s there was a Honolulu radio station, KPOI, who started playing an hour of blues on Sunday morning. They called it Blues for Breakfast. They played classics by the legends of the Blues, as well as songs by contemporary artists in the genre. The show was so popular that they expanded it to two hours. The deejay would give the title and artist for each song and sometimes a little background. They also did requests. I looked forward to Sunday mornings then; it was like church for me.

Could something like this actually happen in this day of corporate chains of radio stations managed from afar? I hope so but I have my doubts. The suits don’t know about the Blues, much less understand them. All they know about is markets, demographics, and the bottom line. The have no concern for history, traditions, or legacies. Those things aren’t part of the formula.

Remembering the 1960s

Rick — Sun, 29 Jan 2006 06:19:00 +0000

King Harvest – Dancing In The Moonlight

Today’s Quote: “The judges [who want 'under God' out of the Pledge of Allegiance] simply do not understand the First Amendment. It does not bar religious expression in public settings or anywhere else. In fact, it expressly PROHIBITS federal interference in the free expression of religion. Far from mandating strict secularism in schools, it instead bars the federal government from prohibiting the Pledge of Allegiance, school prayer, or any other religious expression. The politicians and judges pushing the removal of religion from public life are violating the First Amendment, not upholding it.” — Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas)
Posted by Jeff Miller at The Curt Jester

I remember we had prayer in school when I was in the first grade. Everyday before we went to lunch, we said a little prayer. I also remember that each morning we would stand at our desks, face the flag, put our right hands over our hearts, and recite the Pledge of Allegiance, every word of it, to include the words “under God.” I’m don’t recall exactly when these things disappeared from my classrooms but it was probably the second or third grade as I don’t recall doing these things beyond the first grade. (Related post: 1st Amendment Thoughts)

Duck and Cover

I also remember those yellow placards with the radioactivity symbols on them designating my elementary school basement as a Civil Defense fallout shelter. You don’t see those anymore. Ah, memories of the Cold War before the policy of Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD) was popularized by the Johnson administration. I don’t have any recollections of “Duck and Cover” drills (hiding under my desk to protect myself from a nuclear explosion) but we may have practiced marching to the Civil Defense shelter in the basement instead. That was, like, a lifetime ago. It seems that much of the hysteria about a nuclear attack by the Soviet Union had died down by late 1960 although our closest brush with nuclear annihilation was yet to come. I don’t recall knowing anyone who actually had a bomb shelter under their backyard. Maybe people in my neighborhood were too poor to have them. (A septic tank is a very poor substitute.)

Wouldn’t it have just sucked to be in school when The Bomb hit? There you’d be, huddled under your desk, waiting for the inevitable blast, heat, shock wave, and fallout, and then you’d remember you were no longer allowed to pray in school.

Music Trivia Quiz:
1. From which musical comes the melodic song On My Own? A) Les Miserables B) A Chorus Line C) Cats
2. According to Seasons of Love from the musical “Rent,” how many minutes are in a year? A) Too precious to count B) 525,600 C) 665, 200
3. Which Baroque composer wrote The Four Seasons? A) Henry Purcell B) George Frederic Handel C) Antonio Vivaldi
4. What is the name of the Russian stringed instrument similar to a guitar with a triangular body? A) Ukulele B) Balalaika C) Zither
5. Who wrote the music for “West Side Story”? A) George Gerswhin B) Frederick Lowe C) Leonard Bernstein

She’s Always After Me Lucky Thong

Music Trivia Answers
1. A) Les Miserables
2. B) 525,600 [Based on a year of 365 days, that is correct. 24 x 60 x 365 = 525,600. A leap year is 527,040 minutes, not nearly as romantic.]
3. C) Antonio Vivaldi [You mean it wasn't Frankie Valli?]
4. B) Balalaika [I got this one through a process of elimination. I knew it wasn't a ukulele or a zither so it had to be the other one.]
5. C) Leonard Bernstein [This is the only one I actually knew.]

This quiz has absolutely no point value and will not be on the final.