The 80's

[Hucklebubba]

On an only somewhat-related note, the '89-'92 quadade saw the release of some of the coolest G.I. Joe figures ever.

[DarthToad]

DocD83 said:

Please, I got you all trumped. God once appeared in my apple pie. Said he just got back from a tortilla in Mexico.

That's Homer Simpson right?

Wendy's is better than McDonalds. I don't ever remember having any birthday parties at either, but, while we're on the 90's, I do remember having birthday parties at the Discovery Zone. They also had the smallest pizza slices you could imagine; they were at least a third of the size of Yacov's. Ah...I remember Yacov's so well. It was kosher so they only had cheese and mushroom (though, luckilly, I liked mushrooms when I was young) but the slices were huge, and they were so good. And the place had such an 80's feel to it. But my fondest memories of being a child of the 90's were:

Power Rangers
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Animaniacs
Watching Space Ghost Coast to Coast at 12:00 AM in my basement, in fourth grade, with my friends with a sleepover with about 50 people (good memories)
Nicktoons
Every Super Mario game
Twisted Metal (even though my PSX broke about 6 months after we got it. But some games worked. I played NHL '97 thousands of times)
Renting Goldeneye 007
Watching the Mask when I was 6 at a drive in (my first PG-13 movie. My first R rated movie was Jackie Brown in 4th grade I think. My father has an obsession with those types of movies.)

Overall, the 90's definitely had some sort of distinct feel to a kid like me, but it wasn't until later (about 1998 or so) when I got into Nirvana, and the 90's ended with me being 13 years old.

Also, to end my ramble, the top 5 reasons the 00's won't ever be remembered:
5. Who would want to remember anything on the radio nowadays? I'm being honest, I STILL like a lot of 90's music, even if it is pop.
4. No one will want to remember reality TV. Never.
3. Cell phones. 'Nuff said.
2. George W. Bush
1. The Recession

I think that has some vague relation to this thread. The 80's did sound pretty cool though, even though I only experienced 3 years of it (and only half a year of true 80's-ness).

[Hucklebubba]

DarthToad said:

...even though my PSX broke about 6 months after we got it...

I'm fairly certain that breaking one's first PSX is some sort of rite of passage. I electrocuted mine. Long story, though it's actually kind of a short one.

I had my left hand on the PSX's power button as I was about to pull out the metal power knob on my TV. (Yes, I said knob. And pull. 'Twas an old one.) The instant I touched said power knob, a rather unpleasant zorching sensation happened, (Akin to a heavy static shock, which was probably exactly what it was.) and from then on, the blasted contraption wouldn't read memory cards. Fortunately, it was still under warranty, or somesuch.

The point is, it got fixed, and I came away from the experience having learned a valuable lesson about forming circuits.

The End.

DarthToad said:

5. Who would want to remember anything on the radio nowadays? I'm being honest, I STILL like a lot of 90's music, even if it is pop.

You can be my wingman anytime.

[PoolMan]

Despite a 11 year history now of working with electronics in some fashion or another, I've only managed to electrocute myself a couple of times. I DO remember, however, as kids that we'd take the tinsel at Christmas and hold it to the TV screen. When you turned the tube off, it would discharge itself through the tinsel, and therefore, through you. Good fun had by all.

Remember kids, important safety tip. When you're working around electricity, always use just one hand. Keep the other one in a pocket or something.

[Vorlina]

I imagine that "don't use a knife with a metal handle to retrieve toast" is another good one. As learnt by my cousin. It's ok, his hair's grown back now. Mostly.

[PoolMan]

Good safety tip, thanks Egon Vee.

Actually, you CAN put a knife in the toaster, but only if it's unplugged. I say that because I know sometimes you've just gotta jam a knife in there, but don't do it while it's plugged in.

[pfrsue]

Bamboo tongs are great for removing debris (chartoast) from toasters. However greyhounds enjoy reducing bamboo tongs into toothpicks.

This shouldn't present a problem to most people.

My safety tip of the day is: Never iron a wrinkle out of a shirt while you're wearing it. Even if it's just a little wrinkle.
I have a friend who did this. She's feeling a lot better now, thanks.

Sue

[duckie]

This hijacked thread reminded me of my brother... my brother, who took a screwdriver and placed it into the wall outlet, and got a bit of a jolt. And my mother, who yelled at him, not necessarily because she was concerned about his safety, but more like "you better not blow the fuse or I'll ground you!"

I guess parents get that way after they've had enough kids, and know that kids get into everything... ;D

[DocD83]

If you are replacing a fuse in your car, always be sure to remove the penny from the cigarette lighter first. I ran through two fuses that way.

I shocked myself on a computer chip eraser (a drawer with a UV light in it). I'm not entirely sure how I managed to do that.

[Hucklebubba]

If I'm not mistaken, lawnmowers come with a little label next to the grass-flinging hole that says something along the lines of, "Don't stick any part of your body in here while the blades are moving."

It hurts me inside to think that such a warning is necessary.

[DocD83]

Probably just lawsuit insurance--anyone stupid enough to do that wouldn't be dissuaded by a sticker.

[PoolMan]

duckie said:

"you better not blow the fuse or I'll ground you!"

You know, the fact that that's a TERRIBLE (and probably unintended) electrical pun makes it that much funnier. ;D

It's amazing what's "necessary" to protect a company from lawsuits these days. But ever since one brave woman sued McDonald's for selling her coffee that was <gasp!> hot...

[duckie]

Oh, coming from my mom, that would have definitely been an unintended pun... ;D

Truth be known, that story has been told sooo many times that I no longer remember if that was her exact quote... but, when I typed that in last night, I did read it back, and groaned