These are a dime a dozen any more, but if anyone out there does NOT have a Gmail account, drop me a line, I have hundreds of invitations I can send out. All I need is your e-mail address to send you one. And don't worry, I won't sell or otherwise use or abuse your e-mail address. Being a Product of the Seventies you can count on the fact that I'll forget it immediately after I use it. I blew out my short term memory back in '78.
Gmail is Google's new free e-mail service. 2 gigs of storage (and growing), excellent spam and virus protection, feature packed, it's the BEST email service out there, and this includes those that are not free. I do not use regular email provided by my ISP or any other POP based e-mail any more. No reason to. I forward e-mail for all the domains I own to Gmail accounts. It's THAT great.
If you have questions on this, leave a comment or drop me a line to the Gmail address I have listed on the side (productoftheseventies at gmail dot com).
What were once drugs, are now meds
Friday, September 30, 2005
Thursday, September 29, 2005
How We've Changed
How have you changed since the seventies? Physically, mentally, politically, sexually, and so forth?
My political story, and hopefully this will trigger stories from others, which I will GLADLY post.
From the start, I was a conservative, raised by someone in the real estate and banking industry. Followed in the same footsteps, was active in the "Young Republicans" organization, and was a student volunteer in Ford's re-election campaign in 1976. I wasn't extremely right wing, but I was uncomfortable with the left wing radicalism on campuses, including our local campus.
Cut to the future, 20 plus years later. We owned a sporting goods store (including guns), and depended on a large portion of right wing customers. To even HINT at political support of anything but the right would have been economic suicide. I listened to Rush daily, subscribed to the Limbaugh Letter, and slid into the comfortable world of Dittoheads. You don't have to think for yourself, Rush is happy to do it for you.
We sell the store (effectively lose it), I go back to school to get a technical education. Rush isn't making as much sense any more. As our income drops to less than $20,000 a year with 5 kids and a house, we take advantage of free school lunches and the WIC program. We fight tooth and nail to keep our house and survive. We struggle back, and rise above the poverty level once again. In the meantime, we are challenged with a child suffering from Bipolar Disorder, have a brother that comes out of the closet, and have closely held beliefs challenged. Rush is starting to sound pretty wacked.
The wife and I, while we don't agree on everything, DO agree that the respect for life is our over-riding political concern. We are pro-life, anti-death penalty, anti-war. In other words, we aren't welcomed by any party. Bush's republican party doesn't want us, as we haven't believed a word they've said about Iraq from the start, and our doubts have ALL been borne out. And we refuse to let people forget that those are OUR kids being killed and maimed over there. The democrats don't want us, as we are NOT comfortable with abortion, and don't like the radical fringe animal rights, environmental, and other similar groups.
We ended up registering as Independents. We essentially throw away our votes, choosing idealogy over party.
But, I still like a good political discussion, so if this post has you seeing red, let me know why.
Enough on politics, and how they've changed for me since the seventies. I'd be interested in your stories!
My political story, and hopefully this will trigger stories from others, which I will GLADLY post.
From the start, I was a conservative, raised by someone in the real estate and banking industry. Followed in the same footsteps, was active in the "Young Republicans" organization, and was a student volunteer in Ford's re-election campaign in 1976. I wasn't extremely right wing, but I was uncomfortable with the left wing radicalism on campuses, including our local campus.
Cut to the future, 20 plus years later. We owned a sporting goods store (including guns), and depended on a large portion of right wing customers. To even HINT at political support of anything but the right would have been economic suicide. I listened to Rush daily, subscribed to the Limbaugh Letter, and slid into the comfortable world of Dittoheads. You don't have to think for yourself, Rush is happy to do it for you.
We sell the store (effectively lose it), I go back to school to get a technical education. Rush isn't making as much sense any more. As our income drops to less than $20,000 a year with 5 kids and a house, we take advantage of free school lunches and the WIC program. We fight tooth and nail to keep our house and survive. We struggle back, and rise above the poverty level once again. In the meantime, we are challenged with a child suffering from Bipolar Disorder, have a brother that comes out of the closet, and have closely held beliefs challenged. Rush is starting to sound pretty wacked.
The wife and I, while we don't agree on everything, DO agree that the respect for life is our over-riding political concern. We are pro-life, anti-death penalty, anti-war. In other words, we aren't welcomed by any party. Bush's republican party doesn't want us, as we haven't believed a word they've said about Iraq from the start, and our doubts have ALL been borne out. And we refuse to let people forget that those are OUR kids being killed and maimed over there. The democrats don't want us, as we are NOT comfortable with abortion, and don't like the radical fringe animal rights, environmental, and other similar groups.
We ended up registering as Independents. We essentially throw away our votes, choosing idealogy over party.
But, I still like a good political discussion, so if this post has you seeing red, let me know why.
Enough on politics, and how they've changed for me since the seventies. I'd be interested in your stories!
Alien Song
An short animated take-off on the disco world by an incredible animator. This is the clip that caught the attention of Pixar, and got this young animator a career at Pixar. This is a hilarious "must see".
Alien Song
Alien Song
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Still Rockin'? Dream On!
Aerosmith has just announced the first 10 dates for their fall tour of North America behind their upcoming new CD, Rockin' the Joint. With Lenny Kravitz opening, the Boston-based rockers will kick off the trek with an Oct. 30-Nov. 1 two-night stand in Uncasville, Conn. Other cities announced so far include Washington, D.C., Uniondale, N.Y., East Rutherford, N.J., Ottawa, Toronto, Philadephia, Atlantic City, N.J., and Winnipeg, Manitoba. Featuring highlights from a Jan. 11, 2002, Las Vegas concert, Rockin' the Joint is due Oct. 25 via Columbia Records. - Billboard
Best Selling Books - 1970
I ran across some lists with best sellers. This is some fun stuff! How many of these would you re-read today?
Remember sneaking quick reads from "The Sensuous Woman"? That was some STRONG stuff back then.
And multiple books by Rod McKuen? How many coffee tables in the seventies did NOT have a Rod McKuen book on them?
We'll make this a regular feature on Product Of The Seventies.
1970 Fiction:
1. Love Story - Erich Segal
2. The French Lieutenant's Woman - John Fowles
3. Islands in the Stream - Ernest Hemingway
4. The Crystal Cave - Mary Stewart
5. Great Lion of God - Taylor Caldwell
6. QB VII - Leon Uris
7. The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight - Jimmy Breslin
8. The Secret Woman - Victoria Holt
9. Travels with My Aunt - Graham Greene
10. Rich Man, Poor Man - Irwin Shaw
1970 Nonfiction:
1. Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sex but Were Afraid To Ask - David Reuben, M.D.
2. The New English Bible
3. The Sensuous Woman - "J"
4. Better Homes and Gardens Fondue and Tabletop Cooking
5. Up the Organization - Robert Townsend
6. Ball Four - Jim Bouton
7. American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language - William Morris
8. Body Language - Julius Fast
9. In Someone's Shadow - Rod McKuen
10. Caught in the Quiet - Rod McKuen
Remember sneaking quick reads from "The Sensuous Woman"? That was some STRONG stuff back then.
And multiple books by Rod McKuen? How many coffee tables in the seventies did NOT have a Rod McKuen book on them?
We'll make this a regular feature on Product Of The Seventies.
1970 Fiction:
1. Love Story - Erich Segal
2. The French Lieutenant's Woman - John Fowles
3. Islands in the Stream - Ernest Hemingway
4. The Crystal Cave - Mary Stewart
5. Great Lion of God - Taylor Caldwell
6. QB VII - Leon Uris
7. The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight - Jimmy Breslin
8. The Secret Woman - Victoria Holt
9. Travels with My Aunt - Graham Greene
10. Rich Man, Poor Man - Irwin Shaw
1970 Nonfiction:
1. Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sex but Were Afraid To Ask - David Reuben, M.D.
2. The New English Bible
3. The Sensuous Woman - "J"
4. Better Homes and Gardens Fondue and Tabletop Cooking
5. Up the Organization - Robert Townsend
6. Ball Four - Jim Bouton
7. American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language - William Morris
8. Body Language - Julius Fast
9. In Someone's Shadow - Rod McKuen
10. Caught in the Quiet - Rod McKuen
Community
One of the main differences, at least in my eyes, between The Seventies and today is the concept of "community". We had a much stronger concept of community back then.
For example, we had a neighborhood grocery store. We knew everyone by name, and they knew us. We didn't go to another neighborhood's store, there was no reason to. Our store was our store. Ditto with the Pharmacy. We knew everyone there, and they sold everything - candy, books, records (45s and albums), jewelry, and so forth.
Today, we shop at mega-stores, or warehouse-style bag your own stores. The management changes regularly, the store manager was inevitably in Cleveland last year, and will be in Denver next year.
This community extended to schools, the neighborhood school was YOUR school, and you didn't cross lines. To do so was to go looking for trouble. You went to school in YOUR neighborhood. Today, in our community, it seems that all the inner city schools are "magnet" schools, drawing students interested in various sciences or vocations. The other schools are basically "open" for enrollment, you can sign up for almost any school, you aren't limited to neighborhoods.
Another big thing was radio. Your radio station was YOUR radio station. Today, it's Corporate Clear Channel radio no matter where you are, even by satellite. Ditto TV - local TV was much more local than we have today.
Now, all of the above is not necessarily good. For example, 20 years ago you did NOT see a minority student walking down the street in suburban neighborhoods. It just didn't happen. Segregation was MUCH worse than it is today. For improving this, I think we're much stronger. We are now a much stronger consumer conscious society, the neighborhood grocer can not compete with Walmart. This means lower prices for the consumer, but at a huge community cost. Media, well, that's a topic for another post.
We have made good societal gains at the expense of community, but not every change has been for the positive.
Any thoughts, positive or negative, on this topic?
For example, we had a neighborhood grocery store. We knew everyone by name, and they knew us. We didn't go to another neighborhood's store, there was no reason to. Our store was our store. Ditto with the Pharmacy. We knew everyone there, and they sold everything - candy, books, records (45s and albums), jewelry, and so forth.
Today, we shop at mega-stores, or warehouse-style bag your own stores. The management changes regularly, the store manager was inevitably in Cleveland last year, and will be in Denver next year.
This community extended to schools, the neighborhood school was YOUR school, and you didn't cross lines. To do so was to go looking for trouble. You went to school in YOUR neighborhood. Today, in our community, it seems that all the inner city schools are "magnet" schools, drawing students interested in various sciences or vocations. The other schools are basically "open" for enrollment, you can sign up for almost any school, you aren't limited to neighborhoods.
Another big thing was radio. Your radio station was YOUR radio station. Today, it's Corporate Clear Channel radio no matter where you are, even by satellite. Ditto TV - local TV was much more local than we have today.
Now, all of the above is not necessarily good. For example, 20 years ago you did NOT see a minority student walking down the street in suburban neighborhoods. It just didn't happen. Segregation was MUCH worse than it is today. For improving this, I think we're much stronger. We are now a much stronger consumer conscious society, the neighborhood grocer can not compete with Walmart. This means lower prices for the consumer, but at a huge community cost. Media, well, that's a topic for another post.
We have made good societal gains at the expense of community, but not every change has been for the positive.
Any thoughts, positive or negative, on this topic?
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Would you believe ... ?
What POTS does not remember Don Adams? Get Smart? Maxwell Smart, Secret Agent? And his sidekick, Agent 99?He passed away yesterday, at 81. A permanent "Cone of Silence".
What a great show that was.
Monday, September 26, 2005
Al Kooper
Al Kooper is one of the most influential seventies musicians that you've never heard of. Musician, producer, he's played with virtually EVERYONE who's anyone.NPR did a great segment on him this morning, and it's well worth a listen. You can find the audio link here: Al Kooper Interview
Saturday, September 24, 2005
You Knocked My Block Off!
We hit a couple of garage sales this afternoon, and look what I scored:
That's right, Rock-Em Sock-Em robots in excellent, working condition. The decals are even still on. Man, I really wanted this when I was a kid. But, I have it now, and I'm really just a kid anyway...
By the way, some of you may notice the harvest gold counter tops. I am NOT actively pursuing the seventies look in my kitchen. Our house was built in 1970, and hasn't been updated since then. We bought it 2 years ago, and are chipping away at it a little at a time, but haven't tackled the kitchen yet.
That's right, Rock-Em Sock-Em robots in excellent, working condition. The decals are even still on. Man, I really wanted this when I was a kid. But, I have it now, and I'm really just a kid anyway...
By the way, some of you may notice the harvest gold counter tops. I am NOT actively pursuing the seventies look in my kitchen. Our house was built in 1970, and hasn't been updated since then. We bought it 2 years ago, and are chipping away at it a little at a time, but haven't tackled the kitchen yet.
This Week On Austin City Limits
This week on Austin City Limits is "Beck". This is a re-run of a show that originally aired in 2003. Beck is backed by "The Flaming Lips", a very cool band.
Austin City Limits is one of the greatest shows on television. It features music from bands that you may not hear anywhere else, and they're all good. Only top notch performers and performances are shown, so you are assured of great entertainment.
Check your local listings (you can do that here) for times in your area.
Friday, September 23, 2005
Music for Products of the Seventies - Part 2
This is a semi-regular feature here. Too many POTS are stuck in the seventies, musically speaking. This is an attempt to show some newer music that would appeal to us POTS.
Paul Thorn is an incredible songwriter. He's not well known, but is highly respected. He's part folk singer, part country, part blues, part rock. The one thing you don't want to do is pigeonhole him, he'll prove you wrong every time. Here is a song he recorded back in 1999, on an album called Ain't Love Strange.
Where Was I
On a black and white TV, back in grammar school
I was watching Neil Armstrong walking on the moon
That same day I pretended I was an astronaut
On the playground monkey bars, I flew above the stars
I was in a Dallas disco the night John Lennon died
The DJ played "Imagine" and everbody cried
I remember a thousand lighters held up in our hands
All we were saying was "Let's give peace a chance"
Where was I when you stopped loving me?
When did I become history?
There's not many things that escape my memory
Tell me where was I when you stopped loving me?
Every 20,000 years that comet lights up the night
On a blanket we watched it sail across the sky
A moment like that comes just once in life
It felt like our first time at 11:35
Where was I when you stopped loving me?
When did I become history?
There's not many things that escape my memory
Tell me where was I when you stopped loving me?
I remember when I met you, the taste of our first kiss
I remember your goodbye, but would you tell me this?
Where was I when you stopped loving me?
When did I become history?
There's not many things that escape my memory
Tell me where was I when you stopped loving me?
Paul Thorn is an incredible songwriter. He's not well known, but is highly respected. He's part folk singer, part country, part blues, part rock. The one thing you don't want to do is pigeonhole him, he'll prove you wrong every time. Here is a song he recorded back in 1999, on an album called Ain't Love Strange.
Where Was I
On a black and white TV, back in grammar school
I was watching Neil Armstrong walking on the moon
That same day I pretended I was an astronaut
On the playground monkey bars, I flew above the stars
I was in a Dallas disco the night John Lennon died
The DJ played "Imagine" and everbody cried
I remember a thousand lighters held up in our hands
All we were saying was "Let's give peace a chance"
Where was I when you stopped loving me?
When did I become history?
There's not many things that escape my memory
Tell me where was I when you stopped loving me?
Every 20,000 years that comet lights up the night
On a blanket we watched it sail across the sky
A moment like that comes just once in life
It felt like our first time at 11:35
Where was I when you stopped loving me?
When did I become history?
There's not many things that escape my memory
Tell me where was I when you stopped loving me?
I remember when I met you, the taste of our first kiss
I remember your goodbye, but would you tell me this?
Where was I when you stopped loving me?
When did I become history?
There's not many things that escape my memory
Tell me where was I when you stopped loving me?
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Redesign
The redesign of this site is coming along. I'm still not 100% happy with it, but it's better than it was.
How about some input? I was shooting for seventies colors, but I'm worried it's too orange? Does the green look out of place? Any other input?
How about some input? I was shooting for seventies colors, but I'm worried it's too orange? Does the green look out of place? Any other input?
Drug Use Today
What do you see when your pupils contract
and you're out in the alley after your act
and you're not quite home where the straight world's intact...
Where are you then, my friend?"
Any POTS (Products of the Seventies} still use drugs recreationally? How many 50 to 70 year olds haven't completely left that culture behind? Is it still worth the risk? Why or why not? What drugs do you still use, or what do you avoid, and why? Leave comments and let us know. You can leave anonymous comments if desired.
Now a few closing words from that great band, The Austin Lounge Lizards:
Can I borrow the car keys, Pop?
Sure a ten's really all you got?
Does your truck still smell like grass, Dad?
How long you gonna live in the past?
Get a haircut Dad!
Get a haircut Dad!
Make it your next stop,
down at the barber shop.
Get a haircut Dad!
Get a haircut Dad!
C'mon enough is enough,
Yo! Dad! Grow up!
and you're out in the alley after your act
and you're not quite home where the straight world's intact...
Where are you then, my friend?"
Any POTS (Products of the Seventies} still use drugs recreationally? How many 50 to 70 year olds haven't completely left that culture behind? Is it still worth the risk? Why or why not? What drugs do you still use, or what do you avoid, and why? Leave comments and let us know. You can leave anonymous comments if desired.
Now a few closing words from that great band, The Austin Lounge Lizards:
Can I borrow the car keys, Pop?
Sure a ten's really all you got?
Does your truck still smell like grass, Dad?
How long you gonna live in the past?
Get a haircut Dad!
Get a haircut Dad!
Make it your next stop,
down at the barber shop.
Get a haircut Dad!
Get a haircut Dad!
C'mon enough is enough,
Yo! Dad! Grow up!
Marcia or Laurie?
Marcia Brady or Laurie Partridge? They were both super-foxes to an entire generation of Products of the Seventies (POTS). Marcia was the girl you wanted to bring home to meet Mom. Laurie had that pouty, sexy look.
Check out some more recent pics:
Check out some more recent pics:
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Music for Products of the Seventies
A lot of POTS (products of the seventies) are still IN the seventies, musically speaking. They spend their time listening to oldies, and are frequently heard to complain that music today isn't what it used to be. Ummm - OK. The generation that brought us "Muskrat Love", "Havin' My Baby", "Which Way You Goin', Billy" and "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" does have some room for improvement.
A semi-regular feature of this blog will be to try and open some eyes to music out there today that is pretty incredible.
"Nine Volt Heart" is one such song. This is a tune that was co-written by Rod Hodges from the Iguanas, and Dave Alvin. The Iguanas are one of New Orlean's best known party bands, and some incredible musicians. Like a party version of Los Lobos. Dave Alvin is an American music legend, beginning with the band "The Blasters" and extending into a successful solo career.
A semi-regular feature of this blog will be to try and open some eyes to music out there today that is pretty incredible.
"Nine Volt Heart" is one such song. This is a tune that was co-written by Rod Hodges from the Iguanas, and Dave Alvin. The Iguanas are one of New Orlean's best known party bands, and some incredible musicians. Like a party version of Los Lobos. Dave Alvin is an American music legend, beginning with the band "The Blasters" and extending into a successful solo career. 
NINE VOLT HEART
Dave Alvin/Rod Hodges
(Blue Horn Toad Music, BMI/Blowout Music, ASCAP)
His mama said “Baby, wait for me in the car,”
And she went lookin’ for his daddy inside a bar
So he sat and let the radio take him far away
Listenin’ to XPRS and KRLA.
Plastic silver nine-volt heart
You click it on and let the music start
And the radio was his toy
The radio was his toy.
Well Rachel was twenty and he was seventeen years old
Sittin’ in a parked car on a country road
Runnin’ his fingers through her long black hair
And the Staples singin’ “Baby, I’ll take you there.”
Plastic silver nine volt heart
You click it on and let the music start
And the radio was his toy
The radio was his toy.
Doin’ the dishes long after midnight
Talkin’ about the evenin’ news with his wife
The baby wakes up and starts to cry
So they turn the radio on for his lullaby.
Plastic silver nine volt heart
You click it on and let the music start
Plastic silver nine volt heart
You click it on and let the music start
And the radio was his toy
The radio was his toy.
Plastic silver nine volt heart
Plastic silver nine volt heart
You click it on and let the music start.
Friday, September 16, 2005
Intro
I'm a walking, talking, blogging, Product of the Seventies. Born in 1959, graduated from high school in 1977, married in 1980. Every formative experience I had was firmly rooted in the seventies.
As the generation that launched ADD, my life has been an ongoing testament to that frame of mind. I'm on my 4th career since college. I've dabbled in every hobby under the sun. But, luckily and amazingly, I'm still on my first wife. A testament to HER patience and good nature.
So bookmark us, check in regularly, comment, and join in the discussion.
As the generation that launched ADD, my life has been an ongoing testament to that frame of mind. I'm on my 4th career since college. I've dabbled in every hobby under the sun. But, luckily and amazingly, I'm still on my first wife. A testament to HER patience and good nature.
So bookmark us, check in regularly, comment, and join in the discussion.
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