Ladies and gentlemen, here are your federal tax dollars at work. The Obama administration is spending $750,000 to develop a video game to help teach parents how to get their kids to eat their vegetables. I'm not kidding. You can't make this stuff up.
Look, I realize in the big picture of our national budget that 3/4 of a million dollars is barely a drop in the bucket. This is not about the money. It's about a small part of a much, much larger problem. The wasting of billions (if not trillions) of Joe Taxpayer's money. I work hard for my money and the federal government takes a sizable chunk every week. A sizable chunk for what? To teach lazy parents how to get their kids to eat vegetables... using a VIDEO GAME no less?! Here's a novel thought...
Michael: Dad, I don't want to eat my green beans.
Me: Ok, but you may not have dessert, play video games or watch TV until you do.
Michael: But dad, I don't wanna...
Me: It's your choice. I'll wait.
There. Problem solved. And it didn't cost me $750,000 to learn how to do it. Parenting is hard work, but it's not difficult if you use common sense.
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Television
I wasn't around when television was first invented. I can only imagine how incredible it must have been to those who were. A wooden box that showed moving pictures and sound... AMAZING! In the years since, our culture seems to have been completely consumed with television. However, I do remember a time when television wasn't completely pervasive in our lives. Don't get me wrong. I like television... in small doses. I'm not a couch potato who can watch anything and everything for hours on end, but I do enjoy watching a 30 minute, mindless sit-com or a sporting event from time time to time. This post is not about the total filth and garbage that is on TV today (that's a post for another day). This post is about the amount of time we spend watching TV today versus decades past and the availability of what is on TV now versus then.
Think back with me. Remember when there were only five channels (at the most)? You had 5, 9, 12, 19 and 48. Not only were there only five channels, but these channels signed off for the night too. In other words, TV wasn't a 24 hour/day affair. Also, remember when kids watched TV in the 60's and 70's? Saturday morning cartoons, Sunday night (The Wonderful World of Disney) and occasionally an after school special. That's it. Other than those times, kids weren't wasting away in front of the TV. Obviously the limited number of channels limited the availability of programming for kids, so this is a factor in the point I'm making. I remember the days of waking up on Saturday morning, pouring a bowl of cereal and plopping down on the floor in front of the TV to watch cartoons. After several hours the cartoons were over and they gave way to some made for television movie (BORING!). Mom would then gently encourage us kids (sarcasm here) to go outside and play. In actuality it was more like, "Turn off the TV and get your butts outside!". We also watched The Wonderful World of Disney on Sunday nights. This was usually a one hour program done in the typical Disney style of the day. The aforementioned after school specials usually came on at 4:00 (not every week) and had a cheesy movie trying to teach kids some life lesson. I was never a big fan of these specials and usually chose to go out and play baseball or something.
Fast forward to today. The dawn of cable and satellite television changed everything. Now there are literally hundreds of channels to choose from and they are on 24 hours a day. There is no concept of a channel signing off for the night. Whatever you want to watch is only a remote control click away... anytime you want it. Kids today have no concept of a time when there is nothing available to watch. There is always something to watch... (enter Nickelodeon, The Disney Channel, TV Land, The Cartoon Network, Boomerang, ABC Family, and countless other networks created solely for kids). Add to that the birth of the VCR, DVD players, computers, Netflix, the internet, Smartphones, iPhones and video games... I firmly believe this is why you rarely see kids playing outside anymore. There is so much instantly gratifying, stimulating entertainment available through these outlets there is really no reason for kids to go outside to seek stimulation or entertainment. When the world is at your fingertips inside, there is no reason to go looking for anything outside.
And speaking of TV from the old days... remember when you actually had to walk over to the television to change the channel? Remote controls were not even a thought or possibility. And when remote controls did enter American households, they were called "Space Age Technology". I remember as a child being called by my dad from the next room. I would dutifully answer dad's call only to see him on the couch, pointing to the television and hearing the following command, "Change the channel". In essence I was dad's remote control.
My how times have changed!
Think back with me. Remember when there were only five channels (at the most)? You had 5, 9, 12, 19 and 48. Not only were there only five channels, but these channels signed off for the night too. In other words, TV wasn't a 24 hour/day affair. Also, remember when kids watched TV in the 60's and 70's? Saturday morning cartoons, Sunday night (The Wonderful World of Disney) and occasionally an after school special. That's it. Other than those times, kids weren't wasting away in front of the TV. Obviously the limited number of channels limited the availability of programming for kids, so this is a factor in the point I'm making. I remember the days of waking up on Saturday morning, pouring a bowl of cereal and plopping down on the floor in front of the TV to watch cartoons. After several hours the cartoons were over and they gave way to some made for television movie (BORING!). Mom would then gently encourage us kids (sarcasm here) to go outside and play. In actuality it was more like, "Turn off the TV and get your butts outside!". We also watched The Wonderful World of Disney on Sunday nights. This was usually a one hour program done in the typical Disney style of the day. The aforementioned after school specials usually came on at 4:00 (not every week) and had a cheesy movie trying to teach kids some life lesson. I was never a big fan of these specials and usually chose to go out and play baseball or something.
Fast forward to today. The dawn of cable and satellite television changed everything. Now there are literally hundreds of channels to choose from and they are on 24 hours a day. There is no concept of a channel signing off for the night. Whatever you want to watch is only a remote control click away... anytime you want it. Kids today have no concept of a time when there is nothing available to watch. There is always something to watch... (enter Nickelodeon, The Disney Channel, TV Land, The Cartoon Network, Boomerang, ABC Family, and countless other networks created solely for kids). Add to that the birth of the VCR, DVD players, computers, Netflix, the internet, Smartphones, iPhones and video games... I firmly believe this is why you rarely see kids playing outside anymore. There is so much instantly gratifying, stimulating entertainment available through these outlets there is really no reason for kids to go outside to seek stimulation or entertainment. When the world is at your fingertips inside, there is no reason to go looking for anything outside.
And speaking of TV from the old days... remember when you actually had to walk over to the television to change the channel? Remote controls were not even a thought or possibility. And when remote controls did enter American households, they were called "Space Age Technology". I remember as a child being called by my dad from the next room. I would dutifully answer dad's call only to see him on the couch, pointing to the television and hearing the following command, "Change the channel". In essence I was dad's remote control.
My how times have changed!
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Restaurants of old
I'm not sure why I've been feeling so nostalgic lately. I've spent a lot of time this summer thinking about my youth and I'm really not THAT old. Maybe the realization that I'm now married to a 50 year old woman stirred something in me. She's a very young looking and acting 50 year old I might add. Maybe knowing my youngest child is a senior and will be off to college before I can blink has triggered this trip into the past. Whatever it is, I have enjoyed this stroll down memory lane.
Here's more:
Today I remember some restaurants in the bustling cities of North College Hill and Mt. Healthy. When I was a child my grandparents lived in Mt. Healthy. They would often take me to dinner in NCH and Mt. Healthy when I would visit. Their favorite place was Frisch's on Galbraith Rd. Obviously Frisch's is still in business, so this post is not about Big Boy. However, next to the old Frisch's building was Roy Rogers. Roy Rogers was a roast beef place much like Arby's (only much, much better). In addition to the good food, I also remember being a member of the Buckaroo Birthday Club. I have no idea what I got for being in that special club (probably a free kid's meal or something), but I do remember looking forward to going to Roy Rogers when my birthday rolled around each year. Who wouldn't want to be a Roy Rogers Buckaroo?
When I got a little older we stepped up a bit. My favorite restaurant was Mark Pi's China Gate. It was near the intersection of Hamilton Ave. and Goodman Ave. This place had the best Chinese food in the city. I am not kidding. Even as a teenager I knew good food and Mark Pi's had it. I always ordered the same dish. The Triple Delicacy was simply incredible. To this day it's the best thing I ever ate. I loved Mark Pi's China Gate and I am so sorry they went out of business many years ago.
Here's a place that's kind of obscure. Unless you lived in the immediate area, you probably didn't know about Sanker's (aka The Coach Light Inn). Sanker's was on Hamilton Ave. smack dab in the middle of Mt. Healthy. Sanker's was a bar/restaurant. Grandma liked it because she could order a Manhattan (yeah, Grandma liked to drink a little). Grandpa got a beer and I always ordered a Kiddie Cocktail (also known as a Shirley Temple). Aside from the cocktail party I had with my grandparents, I remember a few other things. First was the food. The food was typical for a place like this... (Double Deckers, sandwiches etc...). The second thing was the bowling alley in the back. In the rear of the restaurant was a door that led to an adjoining bowling alley. After we'd ordered our food, I always passed the time by going to watch people bowl.
Grandma and Grandpa went out to eat every Friday night. It was usually one of those four places. Usually it was Frisch's, but on special occasions it was one of the other three.
Oh, the memories!
Here's an old Frisch's sign with a modern advertisement. I don't think they had wraps back in the 70's.
This sign really takes me back!
Ah, Mark Pi's
And finally, Sanker's!
Here's more:
Today I remember some restaurants in the bustling cities of North College Hill and Mt. Healthy. When I was a child my grandparents lived in Mt. Healthy. They would often take me to dinner in NCH and Mt. Healthy when I would visit. Their favorite place was Frisch's on Galbraith Rd. Obviously Frisch's is still in business, so this post is not about Big Boy. However, next to the old Frisch's building was Roy Rogers. Roy Rogers was a roast beef place much like Arby's (only much, much better). In addition to the good food, I also remember being a member of the Buckaroo Birthday Club. I have no idea what I got for being in that special club (probably a free kid's meal or something), but I do remember looking forward to going to Roy Rogers when my birthday rolled around each year. Who wouldn't want to be a Roy Rogers Buckaroo?
When I got a little older we stepped up a bit. My favorite restaurant was Mark Pi's China Gate. It was near the intersection of Hamilton Ave. and Goodman Ave. This place had the best Chinese food in the city. I am not kidding. Even as a teenager I knew good food and Mark Pi's had it. I always ordered the same dish. The Triple Delicacy was simply incredible. To this day it's the best thing I ever ate. I loved Mark Pi's China Gate and I am so sorry they went out of business many years ago.
Here's a place that's kind of obscure. Unless you lived in the immediate area, you probably didn't know about Sanker's (aka The Coach Light Inn). Sanker's was on Hamilton Ave. smack dab in the middle of Mt. Healthy. Sanker's was a bar/restaurant. Grandma liked it because she could order a Manhattan (yeah, Grandma liked to drink a little). Grandpa got a beer and I always ordered a Kiddie Cocktail (also known as a Shirley Temple). Aside from the cocktail party I had with my grandparents, I remember a few other things. First was the food. The food was typical for a place like this... (Double Deckers, sandwiches etc...). The second thing was the bowling alley in the back. In the rear of the restaurant was a door that led to an adjoining bowling alley. After we'd ordered our food, I always passed the time by going to watch people bowl.
Grandma and Grandpa went out to eat every Friday night. It was usually one of those four places. Usually it was Frisch's, but on special occasions it was one of the other three.
Oh, the memories!
Here's an old Frisch's sign with a modern advertisement. I don't think they had wraps back in the 70's.
This sign really takes me back!
Ah, Mark Pi's
And finally, Sanker's!
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Home!
After all this talk about our record player and vinyl albums, the following little plaque seemed appropriate. We have thoroughly enjoyed listening to our records the last few days. We have listened to everything from classical, to Glenn Miller, to country, to light rock to 70's rock and roll... pretty much everything but hip hop. There are two things that won't ever be played on our record player. Hip Hop and Bruce Springsteen. Contrary to popular belief, Bruce Springsteen is NOT the boss.
Monday, August 11, 2014
More Record Player News
A stack of vinyl albums is so much better than this. Just sayin'...
Also, during our trip to the record store, we saw albums from the Record Theatre, Gold Circle, Rinks, Swallens and Peaches. Remember Peaches record store?
All this talk about record players makes me want to run out to "Sight and Sound" or "Hemsath Sound Center". Oh wait... those places are gone. Remember them?
Also, during our trip to the record store, we saw albums from the Record Theatre, Gold Circle, Rinks, Swallens and Peaches. Remember Peaches record store?
All this talk about record players makes me want to run out to "Sight and Sound" or "Hemsath Sound Center". Oh wait... those places are gone. Remember them?
For the Record
Yesterday I mentioned that Tami bought a record player. I wish I could say WE bought a record player, but it was all her idea and I can take no credit for it. Anyway, most of you are probably thinking,…
“What in the world do you need a record player for?”
“What happened, Mick? Did you lose your iPod?”
“Haven’t you ever heard of CD’s?”
“You mean record players still EXIST?”
I know, I know. It seems crazy to buy a record player when there are literally millions of songs at your fingertips by way of iTunes. Record albums are so cumbersome while iPods no larger than a postage stamp can hold thousands of songs. It seems nuts to listen to scratchy records when digitally mastered music is so clear and almost flawless (I would argue TOO flawless). There is no mistaking that today’s digital music is of high quality, but I must say the sound of a record player and vinyl albums is better. Why better? Well, I’ve been trying to come up with an apt description of the sound of a phonograph needle on a vinyl record and the word that keeps coming to mind is “rich”. Listening to albums on a record player has a richness that is lost on today’s digital music. A phonograph has faint pops and cracks as it plays, but that’s part of the character and mystique. Vinyl albums also have a raw sound that can’t be duplicated with the almost sterile perfection of digital music. I hope I’m making sense here. It’s just a different sound. A sound you would recognize if you grew up listening to records instead of downloading every song you want.
We picked up the record player yesterday (bought it off Craigslist from an old lady in Mason who said she was glad it was going to a good home). This record player/stereo/console is more than just a piece of audio equipment. It’s a piece of furniture and in a way it’s a piece of history. Let me tell you, this thing is HEAVY. My brother-in-law helped me carry it and it took all we had to get it in the house. Once the record player was in the house we just had to try it out. This spawned a trip to a record store (Yes, they still have them). We went to “Everybody’s Records” in Pleasant Ridge and spent about three hours browsing through crate after crate of used record albums. In the end we ended up with about 30 albums for about 45 bucks (so just over a buck apiece). We also took a trip to Goodwill. They sell albums for 50 cents. We picked up another 20 there. All told we have about 50 new (used) vinyl albums and spent a grand total of $55. Basically for the price of a nice dinner at a restaurant, we now have hours of listening enjoyment and reminiscing. We’ve been listening to record albums all weekend and it has been a real blast from the past.
On a funny note--- Abby peered into the cabinet as a record was playing and the look on her face was priceless. You could tell she had no idea what she was looking at. She admitted she had never seen anything like it. As we loaded albums onto the turntable and put records back into their dust jackets, my 23 year old niece flatly exclaimed, “That looks like too much work!”. Ha! Work indeed! She has no idea what she’s missing.
So there you have it. The Meyers are on the cutting edge of not-so-modern technology and WE. ARE. LOVING. EVERY. MINUTE!
Here's the record player, stereo and cabinet. State of the art for the early 70's
The turntable
Some of our new (used) albums
Note the old "Record Theatre" sticker
“What in the world do you need a record player for?”
“What happened, Mick? Did you lose your iPod?”
“Haven’t you ever heard of CD’s?”
“You mean record players still EXIST?”
I know, I know. It seems crazy to buy a record player when there are literally millions of songs at your fingertips by way of iTunes. Record albums are so cumbersome while iPods no larger than a postage stamp can hold thousands of songs. It seems nuts to listen to scratchy records when digitally mastered music is so clear and almost flawless (I would argue TOO flawless). There is no mistaking that today’s digital music is of high quality, but I must say the sound of a record player and vinyl albums is better. Why better? Well, I’ve been trying to come up with an apt description of the sound of a phonograph needle on a vinyl record and the word that keeps coming to mind is “rich”. Listening to albums on a record player has a richness that is lost on today’s digital music. A phonograph has faint pops and cracks as it plays, but that’s part of the character and mystique. Vinyl albums also have a raw sound that can’t be duplicated with the almost sterile perfection of digital music. I hope I’m making sense here. It’s just a different sound. A sound you would recognize if you grew up listening to records instead of downloading every song you want.
We picked up the record player yesterday (bought it off Craigslist from an old lady in Mason who said she was glad it was going to a good home). This record player/stereo/console is more than just a piece of audio equipment. It’s a piece of furniture and in a way it’s a piece of history. Let me tell you, this thing is HEAVY. My brother-in-law helped me carry it and it took all we had to get it in the house. Once the record player was in the house we just had to try it out. This spawned a trip to a record store (Yes, they still have them). We went to “Everybody’s Records” in Pleasant Ridge and spent about three hours browsing through crate after crate of used record albums. In the end we ended up with about 30 albums for about 45 bucks (so just over a buck apiece). We also took a trip to Goodwill. They sell albums for 50 cents. We picked up another 20 there. All told we have about 50 new (used) vinyl albums and spent a grand total of $55. Basically for the price of a nice dinner at a restaurant, we now have hours of listening enjoyment and reminiscing. We’ve been listening to record albums all weekend and it has been a real blast from the past.
On a funny note--- Abby peered into the cabinet as a record was playing and the look on her face was priceless. You could tell she had no idea what she was looking at. She admitted she had never seen anything like it. As we loaded albums onto the turntable and put records back into their dust jackets, my 23 year old niece flatly exclaimed, “That looks like too much work!”. Ha! Work indeed! She has no idea what she’s missing.
So there you have it. The Meyers are on the cutting edge of not-so-modern technology and WE. ARE. LOVING. EVERY. MINUTE!
Here's the record player, stereo and cabinet. State of the art for the early 70's
The turntable
Some of our new (used) albums
Note the old "Record Theatre" sticker
Sunday, August 10, 2014
Humor and nostalgia
I was talking to a guy at church today and he was telling me how much he enjoys husband and wife humor. He reeled off a few marriage jokes and we got a good chuckle. Think Henny Youngman (Take my wife... Please!) or Red Skelton (Honey, what's on the television? I think it's dust.) Or even this one... (Sir, you just passed gas before my wife. Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know it was her turn). I think this will be good fodder for a separate post in the near future.
On a different note, look for a post tomorrow about a nostalgic purchase Tami made yesterday. This is not a guessing game, so I will tell you she bought a record player in a big console cabinet. Before you think we've gone off our rockers, keep an open mind about using this medium to listen to music. As they say in the music biz... stay tuned.
Until tomorrow, here's a funny little bit of marriage humor.
On a different note, look for a post tomorrow about a nostalgic purchase Tami made yesterday. This is not a guessing game, so I will tell you she bought a record player in a big console cabinet. Before you think we've gone off our rockers, keep an open mind about using this medium to listen to music. As they say in the music biz... stay tuned.
Until tomorrow, here's a funny little bit of marriage humor.
Saturday, August 9, 2014
Google is dead
I would never say this about my wife and I would definitely never wear this shirt, but I do think it's kind of funny...
Friday, August 8, 2014
More Photos
More Photos... Only because I'm too lazy to post anything else this morning.
Goppa and his toothless girl
Michael's Grandpa Mick would have been proud. Not sure about making the girlfriend row the boat though...
Goppa and his toothless girl
Michael's Grandpa Mick would have been proud. Not sure about making the girlfriend row the boat though...
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