Ah, the grand memories of youth. Born in 1965, I have toys made out of sharp metal and heavy rubber. Lincoln Logs were actually made out of wood, and I got splinters. Lead in the paint, asbestos in the ceiling tiles. Motgher watched Dark SHadows on tv and it warped my brain at an early age. Became a fan of Edgar Allan Poe in first grade when a teacher read to us: Leapfrog, and I learned my first big word: "conflagration."

Milk and cookie breaks in kindergarten, followed by recess on rusting, paint-flaking iron jungle jims and burning hot summer slides.

Rode our bikes everywhere, day or night, with hardly a reflector on it, but had playing card in the spokes to make noise.

Parents used the belt on us, washed out mouths out with soap, and teachers had a paddle on their desk and weren't afraid to use it (and our parents didn't mind). Teachers actually taught, forced us to learn about real things and not just placing on State test scores.

And don't forget we ate at concession stands run by kids and that weren't certified to serve food.

Boys played with boy dolls and not "Action Figures." Polyester was truly horrible and was quite flammable.

Comics were a quarter, and I could buy lots for my $3.00 allowence (and it took about 20 minutes to read and get a lot of story).

And we actually walked to school, through any weather, be it rain, sun, sleet, or 2 feet of snow.

And even though I love DVD's and the Internet, I know they helped top destroy my once perculating imagination. 

Ah, those were the days.

-- Jeff