Short Cuts: The Fun and Foibles of Fast Food!

 

Redartz:  One facet of Bronze Age life (and life today, as well) that loomed large for kids was the phenomenon of Fast Food. Few of us were immune to the appeal of a cheeseburger and french fries, courtesy of Ronald McDonald, the Burger King, or some other purveyor of prefab cuisine. It may have been a weekly family meal. It may have been a trip to get a cone after a ball game. It may even have been an afterschool job (my first real job was flipping burgers at McDonalds). Whatever the origin, most of us have some experience, and hence some memories, of these restaurants. 

 

 

Most prominent, and most frequently visited by our family, was McDonald's. I couldn't resist those fries. And  to this day I've a fondness for the Filet-O-Fish sandwich. Just keep Ronald at a distance, please; clowns can be...discomforting.

One standout memory of McDonald's for me actually stems from my brief period of employment therein. One summer's day I went out with a friend to play tennis all afternoon, foolishly forgetting about any sunscreen. That night I was scheduled to work the grill, and all was fine at first. But as the evening wore on, my sunburn became more and more evident, and painful. It got to the point I was almost feverish standing in front of that grill, so I found some relief by ducking back into the freezer repeatedly until my shift ended. Not a pleasant night. 

 

Another chain that we patronized fairly often was Burger Chef: pretty similar to McD's overall, but with a more local flavor. "Burger Chef and Jeff" were the animated spokesmen who enticed kids to drag their families in for a "Fun Meal". This combo of a sandwich, fries and drink also included a toy, which MeDonald's soon 'borrowed' in the form of the "Happy Meal". One fond memory of  Burger Chef is the sight across the midwest of birdhouses in the shape of a Burger Chef store. They can still be seen on occasion, usually with the old logo long faded away. Burger Chef itself faded away in the 1980's, as it was absorbed by Hardee's. 

That's two stories from two fast food places. How many more stories await from you, and how many other such restaurants attracted your patronage? Did you go for the big national chains, or prefer smaller local outfits? Who made the best burgers? Who had the worst commercials? Who watered down the Cokes ? It's all to go this week...

Short Cuts: School Yearbooks- The Past Preserved, For Better or Worse...

 

 

Redartz:  As Summer begins, schools are closing; just has they have since we attended those crowded halls of learning. One of the most anticipated parts of the end of the school year was the distribution of yearbooks. Usually accompanied by a vigorous round of mutual book signing, reminiscing and sharing of summer plans. 

 

 

Shift to the present: looking at these bound volume time capsules now can be an exercise in both nostalgia and cringing embarrassment. As a youth I used to look through my parents' yearbooks and was amused at the photos, certain that my memories would never be so...quaint. Time got the last laugh, though. My yearbooks now contain ample evidence of the cultural and fashionistic excesses of the Bronze age. Along with quite a few handwritten messages from friends, acquaintances, old girlfriends and teachers, with all the accompanying emotional detritus. For the most part, these volumes sit collecting dust on my shelves, forgotten. But every once in a while, I'll pull one out for a laugh and bit of remembrance. 

 

Thus, for our discussions this week, what are your thoughts about yearbooks, the process of reminiscence, and the end of school in general?  Do you have any amusing tales of pranks, parties, or partings? Did you keep your yearbooks ( and in the case of your parents, did they keep all your school pictures- mine presented me with a whole manila envelope some years ago, containing twelve years' worth of uncomfortable portraits)? And just to show you that I'm devoted to journalistic integrity and full disclosure (not to mention possessing no sense of personal dignity), I leave you with one of those school photos of early Bronze age Redartz, I'll probably regret this...

 

Short Cuts: Snow, Snow, Snow....

 

Redartz: As of this writing, much of the United States is experiencing a snowstorm. Well, that is, except where I live. All around us it's snowing, we're getting freezing rain and sleet, doggone it. Sorry to gripe, but I love snow, and get frustrated at missing all the good storms. Anyway, that's what gives us our topic; those frosty flakes (Not Frosted Flakes, sorry Tony the Tiger) that provided so much fun to so many of us. Of course many of us have few or even no memories of snow, largely dependent upon where we grew up. But this go-round, let's talk about what we have experienced, or heard, or imagined. 

My  personal snow stories arise from a youth in central Indiana. We could expect at least a couple pretty good snowstorms each winter, and were seldom disappointed. The announcement on tv of a"Winter Storm Warning" was met with concern by parents, but with glee by us kids.  It meant the possibility of a "snow day" escape from school. But even if that didn't come to pass, the snow itself provided cause for celebration. Our neighborhood would, with a couple inches on the ground, erupt in snowball fights that left us soggy, half frozen but laughing like idiots. I was always perfectionistic;  making snowballs as round as I could. And, I'd always try to wear a coat with a hood; otherwise some wise guy would surely sneak up behind you and ram the dreaded "slush ball" down your neck. Ooog

 

Closely associated with snowball fights were snow forts. Usually built to provide some degree of protection from 'enemy projectiles', they required a bit of cooperation to build. Although if you were operating in an area which had been plowed, you had a head start- the piled-up snow from plowing made a great fort, with little adjustment needed. And we would, if the pile was big enough, dig tunnels into it. Never caved in on us; it's probably another example of 'things we did that our parents would faint over'. 

Speaking of plowing- that brings to  mind another benefit of snow. When we got older, it provided an opportunity for some money-making. We lived in a neighborhood that had a couple good hills, with the streets accordingly loopy. If you got a decent snowfall, those streets were traps for most cars that dared attempt them. I made many a decent tip during my teens, trudging to the bottom of our hill with snow shovel in hand, and giving a bit of a push to some stuck motorist. . 

Ok, I'll leave some storytelling for you all. Besides, the snow outside my window has finally started to fall in earnest, we may get a few inches yet. Hope springs eternal...

 

Short Cuts: "Giant BitBA Holiday Grab Bag"

 

Redartz:  Ah, here we are; Christmas week. Another year coming rapidly to a close, and what a year it has been. We're all bound to be a  bit preoccupied this week, so in the spirit of Marvel's classic Bronze age "Holiday Grab Bag" Treasuries, BitBA simply offers up a selection of holiday sounds and images; hopefully to bring a little smile or two. Feel free to share any thoughts, memories, wishes, or whatever comes to mind. To all of you, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Peaceful Kwanzaa, Festive Festivus, and heartfelt best wishes. And thanks for  being part of the BibBA community, whether you're a commenter or reader. You all make it fun. Now please excuse me; I've gotta go set out some cookies...

 

 

Short Cuts: Quick (non-medicinal) Mood Lifters...

 

Redartz:  Hi gang! Today, here in the US, there's something going on that will occupy most folks' attention. Can't quite recall it but I'm sure it'll come to me. Anyway, it seems appropriate to keep things quick and light here this go-round. Therefore, it's just a single question, one whose answers may be helpful to us all from time to time. 

 When you are looking for a brief diversion, mood improvement, or just something to make you smile, what comic title / music/ anything do you turn to?

My remedy for a pick-me-up is an issue of DC's Sheldon Mayer classic, "Sugar and Spike". Those two torrid tots never fail to evoke a smile and a chuckle. Just wonderful light-hearted, charming fun. If no comics are within reach, I'll fire up the tablet and play anything by the B-52's. There's simply no way you can hear that group and not perk up noticeably. Perk up, and probably break out in embarrasing Dad Dancing movements...

 Ok, like I said, quick and light.  So what lifts your spirits in a  pinch?

Short Cuts: "And Now, the News"...

 

Redartz: With all the craziness in our world today, most of us keep tabs on current events; via the tv news, the net, even (yes, still) the newspapers. But how about 'back then'? When you were a kid, did you pay any attention at all to the news? Did you read any of the paper aside from the comics? 

When I was little, my folks always tuned in Walter Cronkite with the CBS News. Even to

day, when I think of tv journalism, Walter"s is the image that appears in my mind.  Dignified and personable, he
was the one I turned to all through college. 

A few years earlier, I (and every Saturday Morning cartoon viewer) got bits of the news from "In the News",  short featurettes during commercial breaks and between shows. Those jounalistic episodes might have helped foment my later thirst for news and analysis.

 

 How about you? Send us all a bulletin; just the facts...

 

Short Cuts: Dipping Into the Cookie Jar...

Redartz: This week, our subject is both short and sweet: cookies! Or, for our UK contingent, biscuits (correct me if I'm wrong here, guys and gals). Anything and everything about those wonderful little round edibles. Which are your favorites? Which do you avoid at any cost? Home-baked or store bought? Any recommended recipes? What cookie commercials do you remember? It's all fair game, from the bag to the crumbs. 

My  personal favorite: chocolate chip cookies, no contest. Preferably home baked and fresh from the oven, with a glass of cold milk ( I've always told  my wife, if for some reason I'm ever on death row and they ask me for my final meal choice, it will include a big plate of warm chocolate chip cookies and cold milk). Of course, I'll never turn down a bag of Chips Ahoy!, or even some Oreos (particularly fond of the chocolate Oreos). 

To put you in the munchie mood, here's a few vintage cookie ads you might recall... 

Chips Ahoy!

Oreos

Keebler

Fig Newtons

Oh, and for the benefit of our UK contingent, here's what I see when I hear 'biscuits'...

Bon Apetit!

Short Cuts: A Little Musical Mashup...

Redartz:  Okay, today we have a sort-of 3-in-1 discussion. Let me explain...

The other day I was listening to a playlist on my tablet, a very eclectic one I might add. One song that came up was  "Heartless" by Heart. It suddenly struck me as somewhat amusing that a song with that title would be performed by a group with that particular name; call it ironic, call it oddity, call it a "nudge, nudge, wink, wink" from the artists. Anyway, I got to thinking, what other song titles become amusing when paired with the performer's name? Another one that quickly came to mind was "Who Are You?, by the Who. A busy work day prevented me from coming up with more, and that's where you come in. 

Today, we'll play a little musical wordplay game (hence the triple category discussion above). What song titles can you link to a performer in order to make it ironic, punny, amusing, self-contradictory? And for our exercise, you aren't limited to songs and the specific artists who performed them. You are free to pull any song title and join it to any musical artist. For instance, I submit a one-hit wonder group from 1975,  (known for "Magic"): performing an Alan Parsons hit, gives you Pilot, "Eye in the Sky".  Get it? Granted, not the greatest example; but you can do better. Have at it, crew...
 

Short Cuts: Bad Movies!

Martinex1: "Bad" movies!  There were some doozies Back in the Bronze Age!  Some couldn't succeed no matter how hard they tried.  Some were so bad that they were good. Video stores lined up some of the worst.  Cable TV repeated some that were unwatchable.  Some "B" movies made the grade and others were just horrible.  What were your favorites?  Let's discuss...