Do you remember the first computer you ever worked on? My friend Jackie is sitting here with me and we’re reminiscing over our elementary days of learning BASIC on the TRS-80s that were in the library. Yeah….we were awesome because we could make a picture of a clown (comprised of different keyboard symbols) appear on the screen by entering a short list of, oh, 50 commands in that high tech computer language. Can you imagine how cool we felt? Only almost as cool as we’ll feel when we have our retro-80’s night while she’s visiting this weekend. If you’re good, maybe you’ll get to see some photos. I know….you just can’t wait. :)
Here’s a commercial of that TRS-80. Ours didn’t have to plug into the TV, it actually had a monitor and everything….except a mouse….and the interenet……and color…..and sound….
Did you remember that there was a Punky Brewster cartoon as well? I’d forgotten about that. It appears that Frye was the voice for Punky there, too.
That intro makes me pine for the good old days of TV dinners in the aluminum tin. What can I say? I’m weird, I liked those. Plastic from the microwave just isn’t the same. :)
I usually don’t catch Medium, for some reason I always forget when it’s on. It’s a pretty good show, but my main motivation for watching it is so that I know what the heck’s going on when I head over to read Sheila’s b5 blog, Medium Dreams, which is about the show. She cracks me up, and it’s a good reason to check her out over there. And I did happen to catch it tonight. :)
What the heck does this have to do with The 80’s Club, you ask? Well, this episode featured one of my favorite 80’s moody/confused/frustrated/angst-filled teens, Cameron from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Alan Ruck was perfect in the role of Cameron, I thought, and cracked me up in Spin City. The promo for next week’s Medium showed a clip with Eric Stoltz. He did star in one of my favorite 80s movies of all time. I take it he’s been a visitor to Patricia Arquette before?
If they keep throwing all my favorite 80’s movies stars in the show I may just become a regular!
And you must include Rambo and the sequels. At the time it was filmed, Rambo III was said to be the most violent movie ever. I especially loved how it tried to mirror our political stature at the time (the “save the world from Communism” post Cold War mentality) with each installment, despite the fact that most of those who watched it were hardly seeking political commentary.
She also mentions the upcoming Rambo 4. Stallone’s been busyagain!
You can find Taxgirl blogging here and here. Thanks for participating!
Bald Man and I watched Superman Returns tonight. I’m not usually much of a comic book/sci-fi kinda girl, but this one was fun. I do remember watching a few of the late 70s/early 80s Superman movies starring Christopher Reeve as Superman. It was kinda scary how very much the new Superman (Brandon Routh) looked like Christopher Reeve in a few of the scenes.
And, of course, the special effects have come such a long way in a short 20 years. At one point, when Lois and Superman were flying off into the sunset, Bald Man even commented, “Hey, you can’t even see the strings anymore!” :D
I remember when the Rubik’s Cube came out and how unexcited I was to get and solve one. Seriously, it looked like absolutely no fun at all to me. My brother got one, and I think he was able to solve it, without even taking the stickers off and just replacing them. I tried it, I couldn’t get it, I didn’t care.
Now a new generation of kids, and an old generation of middle-aged people who still think they’re kids, can try to solve a new version of their favorite old game. Head on over to Hsien’s post to find out how you can try to win a yet-to-be released Rubik’s Revolution. Can you guess how anxious I am to get my hands on one of these? ;)
By far, one of my favorite sitcoms ever was Night Court. It happens to be one of Bald Man’s, too, and this was his pick for this week’s sitcom theme. We should actually watch it together sometime, now that we’re both old enough to finally get all of the jokes. ;)
Looking to bring a little 80’s into your Valentine’s Day? Well, you can start with this Pure 80’s Love collection. I actually own this one, and it is fantastic. (Did I really just admit that?) And now it is streaming through the house, because there are just too many good songs on it not to listen to it RIGHT NOW.
Anyway, fun album. Tell me the truth, how long before these songs are appearing on the oldies stations? Don’t tell me that they’re on there already, please. Seriously, don’t tell me.
Have you seen this 80’s lyrics quiz yet? I’d taken it once before, but, as with most things these days, I don’t think I remembered anymore on it this time than I did the first time!
My final score was 96. I blame a few on spelling errors, a few on those “Dang it, I know it but I can’t come up with it!” moments, and a few that I never would have gotten. Go ahead and take it and head to the comments to let me know how you did!
Ingrid cracks me up. Seriously, I don’t know that anyone else I’ve read on-line has actually made me laugh out loud more times than Ingrid. And, really, I’m laughing with her, I promise. :D
Here are Ingrid’s picks:
How about Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. I love that movie. Or Labyrinth. I love David Bowie in that movie. I spent my childhood with tights tucked into red santa boot-like stalkings (free from Burger King!) because I thought he dressed so cool in that movie.
OMG I am sharing too much.
Too much.
/me hides
Okay, I think it is all too appropriate that Ingrid wrote “red santa boot-like stalkings” instead of “stockings” because, well, she’s not only funny but quite scary as well. :D
