BS: To the Wayback Machine!

Subject: RE: BS: To the Wayback Machine!
From: Marion
Date: 09 Oct 01 - 07:52 PM

If the question is "What really critical advances in culture (especially in music)and civilization have taken place since 1970?" then the answer is obvious:

My birth!

Marion

Subject: RE: BS: To the Wayback Machine!
From: SharonA
Date: 09 Oct 01 - 07:04 PM

Troll said: "Cartoons that aren't just a commercial for their spin-off toys.
I miss POGO! "

Me too, Troll, as I've said before. I hate to be the one to tell ya, but when I was a kid in the '60s, I remember playing with Pogo tie-in toys. Specifically I remember Churchy's and Albert's heads as the caps on kids' shampoo bottles. I think I had a couple of poseable figures, too.

Subject: RE: BS: To the Wayback Machine!
From: Metchosin
Date: 09 Oct 01 - 12:38 PM

Take some heart Bartholomew, in 1970, 36% of the world's population was undernourished and by 1990 the figure had dropped to 20% and this at a time when the world population had doubled from about 3 to 6 billion. Hunger hasn't been eliminated, as it should, but in the 1970's, common thought was, that it would never be possible to feed the current population, let alone double, but the world made headway, despite the huge increase in mouths to feed. (UN figures)

On a personal level, in the 1970's there was a time when I fed my children bread and jam for dinner, because that was all that was left in my cupboard, while those who owed us payment for work done, went skiing to relieve their "stress". I wouldn't trade now for then on a bet.

Subject: RE: BS: To the Wayback Machine!
From: catspaw49
Date: 09 Oct 01 - 12:34 PM

Here

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: To the Wayback Machine!
From: Jeri
Date: 09 Oct 01 - 12:30 PM

Perhaps the biggest impact technological developments have had on my life ARE related to music.

Music availabilty: I can find songs on the internet, whether they're recordings, words and/or tunes. I can find information about the songs. Even information from libraries is more available.

I don't know that I ever would have written songs or tunes without word processing and music notation software. I used to write poems, but I stopped years ago. I don't know whether it's due to a learning disability I had as a kid or a lack of attention span, but if I thought of lines, they'd be out of my head before I got them on paper. I might have tackled tunes without software, but being able to hear them while I write has been a big reason why I can and want to do it.

When I moved to a new place in 1998, I already knew some people, and knew about the folk music environment there. On previous moves, it had taken a year or more to ferret out the folkies. I have friends in far away places I never would have communicated with or met if not for the internet.

One other important thing - I have friends who wouldn't be alive if not for the advances in medical technology made since 1970.

Subject: RE: BS: To the Wayback Machine!
From: Peter T.
Date: 09 Oct 01 - 12:02 PM

On the other hand there were at least a billion fewer people, lots more rain forest, and we still had a chance to do something about global warming. Not having disco yet does balance that out though.

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: BS: To the Wayback Machine!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 09 Oct 01 - 11:32 AM

(Chuckling knowingly) Thanks, CarolC -- your thoughts were pretty much my immediate thoughts, too. I remember "Help Wanted - Male" and Help Wanted - Female" -- guess which jobs were better! And my parents not wanting to send me to college cuz I'd just get married and waste the education. And employers didn't want to pay you because you'd "just get married and leave" -- and the government let them pay you less! (And if they found out you were lesbian, they'd fire you.) And pre-Pill, there wasn't a lot of "choice" or control in reproductive matters! -- but in 1970 doctors wouldn't prescribe it unless you were married.

And, in those pre-Vietnam and pre-Watergate days, we didn't pay that much attention to what the government did because "the government knows what's best for us."

As for music, well both Curmudgeon and I think it's great that rare recordings are being released on CD and that such an incredible wealth of information is available on the internet.

"Celebrities" (at least authors, musicians, etc. that I care about) are a lot more accessible than they used to be in pre-email days. Not to mention the wonderful community here at Mudcat and the sort of communication systems that have allowed us to get to know each other and share information as quickly and easily as we do.

Hey, I live in an owner built house that is heated by wood and we have a composting toilet. Tom and I sing songs that are fifty or more years old. I put shit, not chemicals, on my garden and we haven't watched television since 1983 (but have a HUGE video library). You DO have choices, not only in what technology you use, but in what you devote time to be interested in. There's more useless crap around than ever before in history -- but you don't have to give it house or mind room.

Bat Goddess

Subject: RE: BS: To the Wayback Machine!
From: Trevor
Date: 09 Oct 01 - 11:09 AM

I recently discovered a time machine here in the UK, at www.friendsreunited.co.uk. This is a site which can put you back in touch with old school mates and through which I've contacted a couple of people I hadn't seen or heard of for 35 years, including my first girlfriend who is now a great-granny! Part of the site is for sharing memories of school, teachers and so on and once I started reading it I was transported back there. I'm sure it wasn't all roses at the time but I've found the experience funny, poignant, exciting and scary. Mind you, it's also prompted me to fish out some old photos. Gordon Bennett, I can't believe I wore a suit like that, even though it was 1973!

Subject: RE: BS: To the Wayback Machine!
From: catspaw49
Date: 09 Oct 01 - 10:42 AM

A stable wormhole into the future that we could access to get back to now? Uh, yeah........sure..............Say Donuel, do you think you could send me some of that shit you're smokin'? Seems to be workin' for you and I'd like to cop a quality buzz myself.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: To the Wayback Machine!
From: Jim the Bart
Date: 09 Oct 01 - 10:31 AM

OK. Advancements in Women's Rights. Perhaps you could expand it to advancements in human rights, generally. But I believe we were moving in that direction in the 60's, so I believe we would have gotten there anyway.

I'm not convinced that we couldn't live pretty well without the rest, although you have all come up with some good stuff. E-mail is terrific, but THX? I'm sorry, no. M. Byers has made some particularly good points, but Amos - as much as I generally appreciate your POV - Reaganomics?? You must have been kidding.

And, by the way, GUEST - what value does asking that same sorry question add to this forum? Just wondering.
Have a great day, all.
Bart

Subject: RE: BS: To the Wayback Machine!
From: Naemanson
Date: 09 Oct 01 - 09:24 AM

It's easy enough, Bartholomew. Just give up all the things you've seen listed here an live on a hill out of the popular culture. I do it regularly and earn some humorously scathing remarks from my kids and co-workers.

Subject: RE: BS: To the Wayback Machine!
From: A Wandering Minstrel
Date: 09 Oct 01 - 09:05 AM

AAh the infinite care with which we had to treat our Vinyl LP's. How it all comes back...... :D

Subject: RE: BS: To the Wayback Machine!
From: Donuel
Date: 09 Oct 01 - 09:02 AM

Regarding the way back machine and time travel the biggest conundrum is still how to deliver oneself into the past. There are actually some workable models that work up until the last millisceond and then explode. Sending a stable wormhole into the future and then picking it up later at its destination would allow you to go into the past from when it was sent. This does not allow you to go farther back in time than the invention of the stable wormhole but "you can't have everything"*G*. If we however borrowed the machine of another civilization that had devleoped it in antiquity one might go back and have a photographer release a photo of J Edgar Hoover in a dress in 1960 and change the entire course of history.

However there are many other means that lie outside the realm of classical time travel. For example if you wanted to communicate with yourself in the future it is fairly simple. I have done it. Just mail an email to yourself.

Subject: RE: BS: To the Wayback Machine!
From: Mike Byers
Date: 08 Oct 01 - 11:29 PM

Well, ok...guess I'm just in a good mood this evening. To begin with, I think there's been major advancement in the availability of all sorts of good music; stuff that you sure couldn't find in 1970 without a major search, if you could find it at all. And there are a lot of people making some nice guitars today, not just guitars available from factories. And the people to play them! In art, there's the influence of the Pilchuck and Camp Colton schools (yeah, I work with glass) and the oil paintings of Wison Hurley. In architecture, there's almost too much to list: everything from Earthship houses to that way cool museum in Spain. I can't remember if John Crowley was writing in 1970, but if he was I hadn't yet found his books. Aegypt, for example. But I do miss Pogo...

Subject: RE: BS: To the Wayback Machine!
From: Troll
Date: 08 Oct 01 - 11:07 PM

Don't get yer knickers in a twist GUEST. It'll change.
As to what happened, maybe people matured and started taking an interest in other things as well as music. After all. if a terrorist blows up my favorite venue, it's bound to affect me.
For those who actually make money playing music, the Govt,s policies can make a big difference in the old paycheck.
I see th DT/MC as being like the neighborhood tavern; sometimes we have a session and sometimes we just sit and visit with our friends.
Join us or not. It's up to you.

troll ***He'll never see this but oh well.***

Subject: RE: BS: To the Wayback Machine!
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Oct 01 - 10:37 PM

Six of the current eight top threads are B.S.

And people wonder, "what has happened to the DT/MC

Subject: RE: BS: To the Wayback Machine!
From: Gypsy
Date: 08 Oct 01 - 10:33 PM

No VCR, answering machine, or womens rights. No choice of having or not having children. Unawareness of the evils of disposability (yep, that is when we had:disposible lighters, aluminum pans, tons of paper plates, paper towels....) Not alot of awareness as to polluting water/oceans/and land. The past is always rosier perhaps because we were all younger. It sure is easier to live NOW for me, anyway

Subject: RE: BS: To the Wayback Machine!
From: mmm1a
Date: 08 Oct 01 - 10:30 PM

You would have to go through the whole disco crap again. Good Lord I would'nt wish that on anyone, ok maybe bin ladin but certainly not anyone else mmm :)

Subject: RE: BS: To the Wayback Machine!
From: Troll
Date: 08 Oct 01 - 10:28 PM

Cartoons that aren't just a commercial for their spin-off toys.
I miss POGO!

troll

Subject: RE: BS: To the Wayback Machine!
From: AliUK
Date: 08 Oct 01 - 10:16 PM

No cable tv, old style national geographic where the page numbers for one issue ran on to the next. No dolby stereo, no thx at the cinema. Forget about microwaveble popcorn.

Subject: RE: BS: To the Wayback Machine!
From: Troll
Date: 08 Oct 01 - 10:11 PM

If you can't find a Wayback Machine -I think Peabodys had patent infringment problems- call Mister Lizzard the Wizard.
He had pretty good success sending Tooter the Turtle back in time. Try the Yellow Pages under "Time Travel Agencies". Tell 'em troll sent you.
Tvizzle Tvazzle Tvozzle tvome. Time for zis vun to come home.

troll

Subject: RE: BS: To the Wayback Machine!
From: Amos
Date: 08 Oct 01 - 10:08 PM

Well, you'd have Reaganomics to re-do, for one thing. No on-line services, meaning no Amazon or Mudcat as you said. Maybe the biggest single thing you would be without is word processing, meaning you'd be back to the age of multiple carbons, Whiteout, hard erasers, barely electric typewriters with only one font, and you wouldn't even KNOW the word font. Pacemakers, microwaves, ABS braking systems, electronic fuel injection systems, compueterized timing circuits -- it would be hello timing light, points and plugs. Tuning carburetors! You want to communicate with drawings, you'd have to draw them yourself, by hand. Multiple communications? Mimeograph or litho print, mailing lists maintained on carboard or aluminum Addressograph plates. There's be a lot fewer Dylan tunes, but at least you could have all four Beatles in one place.

Tell ya what mate -- give it a go, and then leave me a note somewhere of your choosing, where I can pick it up, and let me know how it seems to ya!

Don't forget to tell me where I can get the note before you leave or the experiment will fail!

A.

Subject: RE: BS: To the Wayback Machine!
From: AliUK
Date: 08 Oct 01 - 09:21 PM

1970!!? jeepers! I was only five, I wouldn't like to be five again.

Subject: RE: BS: To the Wayback Machine!
From: Allan C.
Date: 08 Oct 01 - 08:36 PM

Carol is right. No more of that "keep them barefoot and pregnant and standing in front of the cookstove" stuff anymore. We have microwaves ovens now.

You've got to know that I'm kidding, folks!

Subject: RE: BS: To the Wayback Machine!
From: CarolC
Date: 08 Oct 01 - 07:16 PM

If you were a woman (well, most women anyway), you wouldn't be asking that question. Sorry if that sounds flippant, but it's true.

Subject: To the Wayback Machine!
From: Jim the Bart
Date: 08 Oct 01 - 07:01 PM

'Catters, ya gotta help me. . .

Everything that's gone on lately, combined with the increasing vapidity of the popular musical world and my own advancing years, has just about convinced me that the last 30 odd years have gone for naught. I can think of very few things that have come into this world since 1970 that I couldn't do just as well without.

Here is my question to all of you: What really critical advances in culture (especially in music)and civilization have taken place since 1970?

Other than missing my immediate family unit and the internet (and by that I mean the 'Cat), why shouldn't I just jump back in the Wayback Machine (modeled on the one used in Peabody's Improbable History, on The Rocky & Bullwinkle Show) and go back to 1970 to try the past 31 years over again?

I know there must be something, it's just hard to think of right now.

Thanks
Bart