by Storytime with GamerDude
As GamerDude has talked about in the past, he's a huge fan of trivia, and a lot of the little nuggets of knowledge he's learned over the years have been stuck in his head since childhood. This week, he shares some of that trivia. He talks about how John Tyler, the 10th President of the United States, still has a living grandson. He talks about how Marilyn Monroe and Queen Elizabeth II of England were not only contemporaries, but actually met each other. And, he talks about George Washington's knowledge of dinosaurs, and how recently famous actors and artists like Picasso, Salvador Dali and Charlie Chaplin were alive. GamerDude also talks about how the list of coincidences he read when he was younger, comparing Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy, is probably what set him down the road of accumulating trivia, and having it get stuck in his head. He talks about the coincidences in their lives, and their deaths. That's not to suggest that these facts are anything more than coincidences; they simply are what they are.
As an "old dude," GamerDude has seen a lot of things come and go in his life. This week, he talks about more of the things that were fixtures in his life that have either disappeared, or seem destined to do so. He talks about how important the Sunday newspaper was when he was growing up, and how much of a ritual it was to enjoy the Sunday paper each week. He talks about fax machines, and the old thermal fax paper that made instant document transmission a reality long before email attachments existed. He remembers mimeograph machines from school, and chalkboards with actual chalk. He also talks about how parking meters are disappearing in favor of credit-card driven kiosks. And, he predicts that wrist watches and alarm clocks may soon be going the way of the dodo bird.
GamerDude has another batch of TV tropes and themes to share this week. If you've ever noticed that the main character of a TV show is put in a life-threatening situation that you know they're going to survive, or if you see someone has to baby-sit an egg, or if it seems odd that people in TV shows never seem to be aware of what actually happens on TV, then the tropes this week are for you. And if you've noticed that, sometimes, a character will disappear from a show without a trace, you're not alone! GamerDude also shares some more classic theme songs from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. These theme songs are iconic, or memorable, or both, and GamerDude has 10 new ones for you to see if you remember (or know) the shows. *Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. No copyright infringement intended. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS*
As an old dude, GamerDude has learned a lot of things about life over the years. He wonders whether he would have taken "life advice" from his dad from his dad when he was growing up, if his dad had been the kind of guy to give it. He talks about how easy it is to live in the moment when you're in your 20s, and how it's not unusual to be short-sighted about the future. He also talks about how we are each in charge of our own lives, and our own happiness, and that it's up to us to make our own decisions, and find our own happiness, as we grow older. GamerDude talks about things he took for granted when he was younger, like finances, and health. He talks about the value of understanding the importance of planning for the future, both from a financial side, and from a health side. He remembers how easy it was to spend money on hot dogs, nachos, and beer, and how he never thought of the consequnces, and talks about the importance of having a long range plan in mind, both financially, and health-wise. He also talks about how your attitude towards partying, and alcohol, changes as you mature, which is in no small part due to the fact that, as you get older, it takes you longer to recover. And, he talks about how there is no manual to "adulting," and how we all have to make it up as we go along.
When GamerDude heard someone refer to "the late 1900s," he started thinking about some things from the last century that he grew up with and that were a part of everyday life, but that we either no longer use, no longer exist, or that we only see on TV or in antique shops. He remembers his mom's old sewing machine, and how she made clothes at home, with patterns and cloth she would buy at the "five-and-dime" store. He talks about the Welch's jelly glasses he used as a kid, and how the jelly glass was one of the first glass glasses he got to use when growing up. He remembers full-service gas stations, where they would actually check your oil and wash your windshield. He talks about "the good china," and how most families had plates that they used only a very special occasions. He remembers Corelle-ware, and the blue cornflower pattern that was practically everywhere. (He also talks about how he still uses his parents' Corelle-ware because, well, they're plates, and they still work!) He also remembers the appliance covers his mother used in the kitchen, and the salt-and-pepper shaker collection his grandmother used to have.
GamerDude learned about home improvement at an early age. He talks about how his dad just "magically" got things done, from patching screens to changing light switches. He also learned that there are some projects that you don't do yourself, and he talks about the attic fan and the addition to the house his parents had done. He also talks about the necessity of having to learn to do things himself, because he couldn't afford to hire someone to do it. He talks about learning how to replace a light switch, and a wall socket, and how to install a sink faucet. He talks about having to learn to sheet rock in order to replace walls and celings in a house he used to live in. He also discusses painting, and the tedious nature of the work. He explains it's all do-able, although it can be difficult, and expresses his admiration for people who work in construction, and painting, because the jobs can be so demanding. He also talks about his current project, which is painting a room, and how it's helped make clear for him that he's no longer a fan of undertaking home improvement projects.
GamerDude has always loved music, and talks about being in band for years, and teaching himself three chords on the guitar. He then shifts gears and talks about the music he grew up with, and how there were very distinct genres of music, like Rock, and Adult Contemporary, and Easy Listening, and Classical, with bright lines between the genres.He discusses how those genres have changed over the years, and wonders whether artists like James Taylor, Jim Croce, and America would have made it today. GamerDude also talks about Top 40 radio. He explains where "Top 40" came from, and how record sales determined the popular songs of the day. He remembers Casey Kasem's America's Top 40 countdown, and how he would get to hear parts of the countdown on Sunday mornings on the way to church. He also remembers mix-tapes. A mix-tape was a compilation of songs, from various records, recorded onto one tape. GamerDude describes the lost art of mix-tape-ology, and how taking the time to make a mix-tape for your girlfriend was a true sign of commitment when GamerDude was growing up. He also talks about the mix-CD, which was the natural successor of the mix-tape, and how much easier it is - emotioinally - to simply delete a playlist, then it was to stumble across a mix-tape you'd spent hours making.
In this "Best of" episode, GamerDude goes back to Season 1 and remasters some of the earliest stories he told from the first four episodes. First, he talks about radio being the "theater of the mind" and how interesting and entertaining it is to let your imagination create the world you're listening to. This is also where we first "meet" Mister Agador. Next, he tells the story about telephones being a fixture in the house when he was growing up, and how extension phones worked. He talks about collect and person-to-person calls as well. Finally, he talks about some of the board games he grew up with, and describes Parcheesi, Sorry and the famous "Pop-o-matic" that made the game of Trouble so popular.
Long-time listeners know about GamerDude's love for television. He grew up watching TV, and still enjoys watching it today. This week, he talks about how our TV viewing experience used to be, and how it has changed, from dials and knobs on big wooden boxes with picture tubes in them, to smart phones with 5 inch screens. He talks about growing up as his dad's remote control, because there were no remote controls when he was a kid. He also talks about how TV shows mirrored things in society. He talks about how hippies, and mini-skirts, and haircuts were featured in so many shows to show the changes that were going on in society in the 1960s and 1970s. He discusses the "generation gap," which has always existed, but which TV seemed to emphasize, and give a name to, when he was growing up. GamerDude also discusses the influence TV had on his driving habits. He talks about how "cool cars" became a thing in the 1960s and 70s, with the stars of shows like Mannix, and Starsky, and Jim Rockford driving the "cool cars," and how that impression has impacted his choice of cars all of his life.
When he was a kid, GamerDude's family vacations often consisted of non-kid-centric travel to places like Fort Ticonderoga, Colonial Williamsburg, and Washington D.C. (That's all before GamerDad discovered the value of sitting on a beach for two weeks!) But those early trips to places his mom found interesting and educational left GamerDude with the interest and desire to travel to and explore new destinations and new locales. This week, he talks about those early trips, and the things he liked about them. He also talks about how fortunate he is to have had the chance to travel to a lot of different places as a young adult. He talks about his first trip to Florida and the memory of seeing his first palm tree, as well as his first trip to DisneyWorld. He discusses the different life-styles, and paces of living, in different parts of the U.S. He also remembers some of the trips he's been able to take to places like Switzerland, where he was able to visit three countries in one day - on foot! He talks about how he was able to realize one of his childhood dreams by traveling to Mount Rushmore and actually visiting a place he'd only seen in pictures. He talks about seeing a prairie dog in the Badlands, and trying to get a picture of a bison. (Don't worry - it wasn't a close-up!) And, he talks about the value of a day-trip, just to get away from the ordinary day-to-day, and experience something new. He talks about the day-trips he and Mrs. GamerDude have taken to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and visiting the Amish community there.