Strollerderby : retro

Crafty Playdate: Birthday Tees From Way Back

JeanneSager — Fri, 08 May 2009 18:31:00 GMT

I sometimes think my constant persusal of craft blogs is proof I'm a bit of a masochist at heart. Because looking at some of these totally rockin', oh so easy to do at home projects is like driving a knife into my still carpal tunnel from pregnancy plagued wrist.

I'm not Martha.

So when I find something that makes me go, dude, I could so totally do that, I have to share it with you. Because if I could do it, a completely untrained monkey flown in and suffering from the affects of ebola could probably do it.

And hey, I love monkeys. Who doesn't?

So what's the craft? Yeah, yeah, I'm getting to that.

Over at Tangled and True, Jenn takes you through the entire process of making a totally retrolicious vintage tee for baby.She gives you the font, walks you through the stencil making, even tells you what paint to buy. OK, so stencil practically readymade and a keep it simple stupid walk through? Hello, sold to the non-Martha mom browsing the net. Although, it's free, so is it really sold?

Anyway, the number shirts caught me - because with my daughter's birthday coming up, I've been debating "is it too dorky to buy her a 4 tee for her 4th?" Because right now, I don't care. I've found a craft project she and I can do together, that will result in a funky tee for her birthday, and (cha ching) work as birthday gifts for all the kids whose parents say "oh, they don't need anything and refuse to give me a blessed idea of what their kids like."

Check out the whole process over at Tangled and True and get cracking - summer birthday parties are coming up fast!

Image: Tangled and True

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles No Longer Teenaged

JeanneSager — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 18:21:00 GMT

Dude! Our kids are watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and we were around when they came out. Cowabunga, we're old.

The TMNT were on top of the Empire State Building this past week because apparently that's how turtles celebrate their twenty-fifth birthdays.

Wait, twenty-five? I know! Somehow, this one is really getting to me. It's only a quarter of a century, but I distinctly remember being sucked into my baby brother's TMNT sword fights (I was always April O'Neil, the grown-up, wisecracking reporter . . . go figure, huh?) and trying desperately to return the TV to something more my speed after he'd commandeered the VCR with yet another showing of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with an as yet relatively unknown Sam Rockwell.

A prankster to this day, his first "joke" came when he was three - about a turtle talking on his turtle-com. So unfunny it can ONLY be the stuff of family legend, it was rooted in his love of all things green and half-shelled.

So check out the picture gallery over at the Best Week Ever, and call in your kids. They'll be impressed when you can name all four . . . and their favorite food. Throw in a "cowabunga, dude," and you might even earn some serious street cred.

Image: Best Week Ever

Kate Gosselin Dreamt Of A Husband and Children - Did You?

Brett Singer — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Christianity Today has an excerpt from Kate Gosselin's book "Multiple Blessings":

"I'll say it again: Like most little girls, I had dreamed of the day when I would meet my husband, have children, and settle down to live a happily-ever-after kind of life."

Is that what "most little girls" dream of? Getting married and having kids? Am I living in some fantasy world where women have moved beyond the notion that this is what they should do? I realize that Kate isn't saying "all little girls" or even "women belong at home in the kitchen." And most of the rest of the excerpt (I didn't read it all) talks about Kate and her faith, which is a different topic. But isn't this notion that little girls dream of getting married (perhaps in a princess gown) and making babies kind of 1950's? Is "today's Christian woman" (the slogan on the website) the same as yesterday's Christian woman? What the heck, Kate?

Oh, and while you're up, could you get me a beer? Thanks babe.

Source: Christianity Today

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Retro Electronic Toys

Brett Singer — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:36:00 GMT

Sometimes I think I might be psychic. For example, right now, you are reading this blog post. And you think the joke I just made wasn't all that funny.

See what I mean?

Anyway, I was talking to my son the other day about the handheld electronics I used to play with. Then I'm online, reading my email, and in my gmail toolbar I see the title of a Wired.com article: "Forgotten Electronic Games."

Hmmm. Maybe Google is reading my brain waves. Wouldn't put it past them.

But enough about my psychic ability. (I know that you don't want to hear any more about it. You see? You see what I mean?) What did Wired dig up? Here are some highlights:

Big Trak: Man, did I want one of these. You could program it to move around and stuff! And it had a laser! Well, it was just a little light that flashed, but it made a cool noise.

Vectrex: Another one that I didn't actually own. This little gem was a self-contained gaming system, complete with a monitor that displayed vector graphics (hence the name). The system is still popular with some folks -- Wired points out that there are even new games being made. http://www.classicgamecreations.com/

Microvision: This I had. And I wish I still did. The Microvision was really the first Gameboy, albeit a technologically inferior version. The controls consisted of a dial and a squishy membrane that became various buttons depending on which cartridge was inserted. The screen was a series of black squares on a gray background. But at the time, it was the coolest thing around.

Merlin: It seemed like everyone had one of these, except for me. I didn't care for it but it was hugely popular. Lots of beeping and more than one game to play. It looked (and sounded) like a futuristic telephone from a movie made in 1979.

Not on the list are some of my personal faves, like the Pac-Man knockoff Epoch Man:

"It's not just a game! It's a digital clock, with a musical alarm!" Things were much simpler in the early 80's.

Bring back any memories?

Source: Wired.com

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Show Your Kids What Christmas Was Like in the '80s

Jen Chaney — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:03:00 GMT

Know how you're always telling your kids that they don't know what it was like when you were growing up? Well, here's one way to show them: spend some time with "A Beta Max Xmas," a fantastic holiday-themed Web site that loads massive amounts of '80s Christmas programming into a super-old school television screen.

That's right, you can delve into such gems as the "He-Man and She-Ra Christmas Special," commercials for Toys R Us (starring Geoffrey Giraffe!) and a music video of Billy Squier rocking out to "Christmas Is a Time to Say I Love You" alongside MTV VJs Martha Quinn and Mark Goodman. A TV Guide -- featuring the cast of "Diff'rent Strokes," natch -- and a remote control also appear on the page for those who want to peruse their viewing options.

I have already sacrificed a solid chunk of time to this site and still can't contain my admiration for its sheer awesomeness. Serious kudos to Jeffrey Bennett, a San Francisco digital designer who created this work of Internet genius.

So click, enjoy, share the retro joy with your kids (who will be appalled after about five seconds at how lame the '80s were) and prepare to watch hours of your life get sucked away into a delicious World Wide Web vortex.

Crafty: Shrinky Dink Your Christmas Tree

JeanneSager — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:36:00 GMT

If you're not one of those "everything has to match" holiday tree people, you're my kind of parent. The more nursery school Santas and one-eyed reindeer the better in my book.

With the economy, well. . . you know what the economy is like . . . this year we'll be decorating the tree in a way that's both nostalgic AND futuristic. Think shrinky dinks (remember those?) from recycled plastic.

Instead of picking up the sheets of shrinkable plastic from a retro toy store online, rescue clear #6 plastic from your recycling bin (it's usually in the form of those single-serve take-out boxes from restaurants, salad bar containers or those the grocery stores use to store strawberries and blueberries).

Cut off the excess plastic so you have a flat sheet to work on, pour out a pile of markers and let them have at. Have your cookie cutters out to make holiday cookies? Trace around them, and let them add their embellishments. Let them write out a holiday message . . . whatever. Then cut around the picture. Make sure you cut a small hole near the topto later slip a string through to hang the ornament on your tree.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and drop the rack to the lowest spot it can go in the oven. Create a "tray" out of aluminum foil, and place the kids' plastic pictures across it - just make sure you keep the pieces spaced an inch apart.

The plastic will start to get wavy in the oven, but it will flatten out, shrinking to about one third of the original size and nine times the original thickness. For a piece that's about six inches across, cooking time is about three and a half minutes - a little less for smaller pictures. You can keep an eye on the plastic through the oven door and take it out after it's finished the shrinking process and flattened out. Remove carefully (using tongs) - when the plastic is still hot, it is still relatively pliable.

Stick your string through after the "ornament" is cool, and commence decorating.

Image: Playlibrary

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Parents Going For 'Retro' Toys This Holiday Season

SunnyChanel — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:30:00 GMT

With rampant consumerism on the wane, instead of the mini kid-sized BMW Z4 Roadster or a Swarovski crystal encrusted piggy bank, little Dick or Jane may instead be getting a “retro” toy (read=inexpensive) this Holiday Season.

The AP is reporting something that we all already know. ‘Cash –strapped’ parents will be embracing items with less zeros on the price tag this holiday season. One way to do gift giving on the cheap is with what they are calling ‘retro’ toys. What items do they cite as being biggies this season? Old favorites like Lincoln Logs, TinkerToys, Cabbage Patch Kid Dolls and Easy-Bake Ovens. Parents, they say, “find retro toys a safe bet for the holidays, since they have (sic) tried-and-true appeal.” Yeah, I can see that with all of those, except perhaps the Cabbage Patch Dolls. I always thought those were creepy.

The AP quotes Anita Frazier, a 'toy analyst', as saying, "'Retro' or 'nostalgia' toys can be viewed as the 'comfort food' of the toy industry and I do think folks naturally gravitate to what made them happy when they were young, or what is familiar to them."

What toy from your childhood would you like to introduce your child to?

Via: Salon/ AP

Maybe The 80s Are Retro

Brett Singer — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 17:30:00 GMT

When I first started to notice that television producers and marketing executive was using the 80's to induce nostalgia and/or referring to it as retro, I was annoyed. Eventually I got used to it, but still found it troubling. Come on, I said. It wasn't THAT long ago. Sure, lots of things have changed. But 1988 was only 20 years ago. That's not retro, is it? Translation: I'm not THAT old, am I?

Take a look at these TV commercials from 1988.

That hair. Joe Isuzu. Geraldo Rivera braying that our children may become victims of a Satanic cult.

Ouch. I guess I am that old.

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Magic Garden out on DVD

Brett Singer — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:00:00 GMT

OK, so clearly my Babble List (25 Great Children's TV Shows That Aren't On DVD) is taking the entertainment world by storm.

First, you had the Banana Splits' comeback (kinda). Now, after more years than I care to admit, Carole, Paula, the Chuckle Patch and the rest of The Magic Garden will be available on DVD.

I loved this show when I was little. Carole and Paula were like the best babysitters you ever had. Looking back, I realize that I had crushes on both of them. They were young, attractive, played guitar – the feeling I get remembering them is the same that I get when I think about Gina, my first real-life babysitter. She was… well, I remember her fondly. Let's just leave it at that.

The path from "lost classic" to "found classic" wasn't that easy. Like so much television back in the day, no one thought "The Magic Garden" would ever be valuable, so the tapes – yes, videotapes – weren't stored terribly well by WPIX, the station that aired the show. After discovering that some of those tapes had been destroyed, a search was started to find every episode. Eventually, they succeeded, and now we have this DVD. I think its ironic that the TV shows we – and by we I mean me – would most like to watch is often the hardest to find, whereas the stuff we – me – would be least interested in is readily available. The package also includes a CD of Carole and Paula songs – "See ya, see ya, hope you have a good good mornin'…" If you want a little preview of the tunes (or in my case, a flashback), check out this fan site.

I haven't watched it yet; when I do, I'll post my review. For now, it makes me smile just to know that this great show is at least available for current and future generations to see.

The 2 DVD/1 CD set will be available on October 14th. To order, click here. For more about the ladies of the Garden, visit caroleandpaula.com.

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The Breakfast Club Would So Not Shop at JCPenney

Jen Chaney — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:32:00 GMT

I have a question for the marketing team at JCPenney: Does Barry Manilow know that you raid his wardrobe? Or, to put it another way, do you know how offensive it is that you are completely ripping off "The Breakfast Club" in your latest back-to-school ad campaign?

I'm all for younger generations appreciating the masterful work of Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez and co. Truly. Everyone should be exposed to Anthony Michael Hall's "Chicks can not hold they smoke" speech, or the elegant way Ally Sheedy flings a piece of bologna in the air. But there's a difference between that and outright co-opting the quintessential Gen X movie so you can sell some crappy American Living sweatshirts. The fact that one of the undernourished teen girls in this commercial is wearing a Nirvana T-shirt just adds further insult to injury. (See video of the debacle at the bottom of this post.)

For those of us who came of age in the mid-'80s, when "TBC" made its debut, this movie wasn't merely well-regarded or popular. It was important. It gave voice to our adolescent insecurities. It reflected the way we spoke. It acknowledged that Simple Minds was freaking awesome. And when Judd Nelson pumped his fist in that final freeze frame, it felt like a vaguely subversive triumph over The Man. You know, as much as one can triumph over The Man in a movie distributed by Universal Studios, which, as we all know, is closely affiliated with The Man.

Some things are sacred and should not be borrowed for the sake of advertising, especially for a second-rate department store. "The Breakfast Club" is one of those things.

For committing this offense, I hereby give JCPenney a full Saturday of detention. You must write an essay, of no less than a thousand words, describing to me who you think you are. And when I say essay, I mean essay. I don't mean a thousand words repeated.

Hopefully you'll learn a little something about yourself. But more than anything, I hope you learn that it is completely uncool to mess with the John Hughes canon. Your commercial claims that "every day matters." Well, this movie matters even more.

Sincerely yours,

Jen Chaney, the Breakfast Club and that dude who played Carl the janitor

RetroFitted: Can Space Invaders Stage a Comeback?

Jen Chaney — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:34:00 GMT

Before there was Super Mario or The Sims -- hell, before there was even Pac-Man -- there was Space Invaders, the 1978 video game that gave us all the ability to shoot freaky buggers from outer space while sitting in the comfort of our own living rooms. It was so popular, even the British fell in love with it (by the way, I love that Super Breakout is characterized as "educational" in this commercial):

Like all wonderful things from the '70s and '80s, Space Invaders is getting revamped for this millennium. Specifically, the game was re-released last month as Space Invaders Extreme. "Extreme" -- that makes it sound so daring, so high-octane, so Vans Warped Tour, doesn't it?

Turns out all that means is that the basic Invaders concept has gotten a little flashier: cooler lasers, room for multiple players, etc. So far, several reviewers -- including Clive Thompson at Wired -- have lavished high praise on the new version, which is available on the Nintendo DS and PSP. (Why not for the Wii? Why????)

The reason for the accolades: Space Invaders Extreme stays true to its original concept and doesn't try to get too elaborate. Here's my feeling about video games: For the most part, I should be able to understand the premise in a sentence. Pac-Man: You eat pellets and run away from monsters. Cool. Space Invaders: You shoot at aliens, who keep coming at you faster and faster, so you keep shooting. Excellent. I get that. It's games that go like this -- "Well, first you have to capture the golden orb, which gives you extra lifelines, at which point you advance to Level Supremus, then you try to capture the super-secret sword" -- that lose me. I don't have time for that. Just let me take 10 minutes after dinnertime and before bed to shoot a few extra-terrestrials and then I'll take the check, thanks.

Long story short, Space Invaders worked in 1978 because its premise was fun, compelling and classic. It will work in 2008 for those same reasons. Now, for the love of God, just make it for the Wii.

RetroFitted appears every Thursday on Strollerderby.

RetroFitted: Another Outbreak of Pac-Man Fever?

Jen Chaney — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:58:00 GMT

In the early '80s, an epidemic swept through this nation, infecting millions. They called this affliction Pac-Man Fever. And it drove unsuspecting Americans out of their minds.

The wildly popular video game was inescapable shortly after it was released in 1980. It dominated arcades, then spawned various handheld, tabletop and cartridge versions. And there was all the other Pac-Man merchandise: T-shirts, a Saturday morning cartoon show, Buckner and Garcia's aforementioned hit song, "Pac-Man Fever," and even the breakfast cereal advertised in this stellar commercial:

While the mania subsisded, Pac-Man never went away. The game continues to get re-released and that little yellow chomper remains a recognizable icon. Which is why one movie studio probably thinks it's very smart to turn Pac-Man into a major motion picture.

And that might be the dumbest idea since that time when I briefly contemplated writing a novel based on the game Hungry, Hungry Hippos. Seriously, even if today's kids and hardcore gamers remain intrigued by Pac-Man and his old lady, Ms. Pac-Man, it's hard to imagine that they'd pay to see a movie about them. Even harder to imagine: What that movie would be about.

I mean, I saw the holiday special "Christmas Comes to Pac-Land." Trust me, there isn't much material to mine there.

As a game, Pac-Man remains a classic because of its simplicity: Everyone intuitively understands the concept of munching on dots and avoiding Inky, Blinky and Clyde. But trying to elevate the video game into something more than it is? That's a bad RetroFit.

RetroFitted appears every Thursday morning on Strollerderby.

Night Out: Boeing-Boeing on Broadway

Brett Singer — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:00:00 GMT

Every now and then the wife and I actually get to leave the house while its still dark out, leaving the kids behind for an evening out. This is what happens.

Theatergoing has gotten so expensive ($100+ per ticket for a full-price Broadway show) that it can be tough to justify the purchase. "Macbeth", which we paid close to full price for, was not even remotely worth the money, sadly. "Jersey Boys" was so much fun that I would go back and pay full price a second time (really, it's great.) "Boeing-Boeing", now playing at the Longacre (220 West 48th Street), isn't quite as good as "Jersey Boys" but it was a lot of fun, especially at the relative bargain price I found using a discount code from BroadwayBox.com (similar codes can be found at nytheatre.com, Theatermania, Playbill and BroadwayWorld.)

This is a revival of a play from the 1960's; the pre-show music, featuring popular 60's pop songs sung in French, is a nice bonus. Refreshingly, there is no revising of the attitudes, which are playfully retrograde and yes, sexist -- but that's how they wrote 'em back then. It's impossible to take anything that happens in the play seriously, which is a good thing. The plot deals with an American living in Paris and juggling three women, all of whom are his fiancée. How does he physically accomplish this feat? Because all are "air hostesses" for different airlines. He consults a timetable like the Bible, marking his calendar and tightly scheduling visits from each lovely airborne lass.

The cast is a big reason why the show works: Bradley Whitford ('West Wing', 'Studio 60') is probably the weakest link, but he's more than good enough. Mark Rylance is brilliant as the friend who arrives unexpectedly. Gina Gershon is funny and sexy as Whitford's Italian bride-to-be, and Kathryn Hahn is your basic loud-mouthed Ugly American who has a sequence in the second act that almost steals the show. That honor, though, goes to Mary McCormack (aka Howard Stern's Movie Wife), playing a German Lufthansa "hostess". McCormack plays everything for broad laughs, and the stage lights up every time she's on it. Hopefully she'll do more comedy in the future because she's the funniest thing in a very funny show. (She received a well-deserved Tony nomination.) Christine Baranski has the smallest role as the long-suffering French housekeeper. She's brilliant as always whenever she's on stage but it's not really her play.

"Boeing-Boeing" runs a little bit long at 2 hours and 40 minutes, but for a light-hearted evening out of adult entertainment, it fits the bill. Highly recommended.

image: boeingonbroadway.com

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Review: The Shins on Yo Gabba Gabba!

Brett Singer — Fri, 23 May 2008 19:00:00 GMT

I've mentioned the Nick Jr. show Yo Gabba Gabba! before, and I must admit that I didn't fully get the show at first. But after checking out an episode from the new season featuring indie-rock stalwarts The Shins (premiering today on Nick Jr.), I think I understand why it's so popular.

This is clearly a program meant for Nick Jr.'s target age group of 2-5 year-olds. If DJ Lance Rock's hat doesn't grab the little ones attention, the brightly colored (and Daytime Emmy Award-nominated) design scheme definitely will. I watched this episode with Thing 2, and he was completely mesmerized throughout.

But while the show definitely targets younger kids, there is definitely stuff in there for us old folks. 1980's and 90's hip-hop star Biz Markie has a regular segment where he beatboxes; having The Biz on to make the music with his mouth is something that brings back fond musical memories for folks of a certain age (such as, you know, me.) The whole idea of a DJ with a giant boom box – kids, that's what the guy in the funny hat is carrying on his shoulder when he enters – is totally retro, especially in this age of iPods and MP3s. Even the basic concept of DJ Lance interacting with characters who are toys that seem to come to life is reminiscent of Mr. Rogers' Land of Make Believe.

The episode premiering today features The Shins, a popular indie-rock band that broke through to a wider audience after having their music included in the film "Garden State." Their 2007 album "Wincing the Night Away" sold more than 100,000 copies in its first week and was nominated for a Grammy. So while they ain't exactly Raffi, they fit in just fine, popping up to sing on YGG's "Super Music Friends Show" segment. The announcer says, "Here they are to remind us, it's OK, try again – The Shins!" And there they are indeed, in full flannel-shirt and horn-rimmed glasses glory. The song delivers a simple message – "sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but it's OK, to try again" – and features The Shins pleasant pop style.

Yo Gabba Gabba! is simple enough for a very young child to grasp, and there are enough retro-fun touches so that adults won't feel their brains crawling out of their ears. (Hideous Purple Dinosaur, I'm looking in your direction.) Besides, as DJ Lance says, "Listening and dancing to music is… AWESOME!" How are you going to argue with that?

photo: Nick Jr.

80s TV Flashback

Brett Singer — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 15:30:00 GMT

A friendly tipster emailed and asked if anyone remembered an educational segment that ran in the 1980's called "Dear Alex and Andie." I immediately recalled the song, or at least the part with the title in it. Jen Chaney gave the correct title ("Dear Alex and Annie") and the full set of lyrics:

"Dear Alex and Annie ... What should I do? ... Dear Alex and Annie ... I'm desperate ... Dear Alex and An-nieee!"

So I did a little digging. Here's what I found out:

- According to Yahoo!, "Dear Alex and Annie" aired on ABC, popping up during their Saturday morning cartoon block, sort of like the better-known Schoolhouse Rock. The show answered, "child-related problems, submitted by viewers, through specially written songs."

- A bit of trivia: the songwriter for "Dear Alex and Annie" appears to be Lynn Ahrens, who went to be a Tony Award-winning Broadway lyricist (Ragtime, Once on This Island). The name is spelled "Lyn Aherns" but that appears to be a mistake.

- Further digging turns up a listing on IMDB that says the 5-minute segments aired as part of a larger show called "Kids Are People Too". Wait a minute, I remember that one. More digging: Bob McAllister of Wonderama was the host, at least for part of the show's run. Michael Young took over at some point (information is a bit spotty).

- JumpTheShark has more info on "Kids Are People Too", including discussion of various guests that appeared on the show. These include Patti Smith - yes, that Patti Smith - and none other than Kiss, who introduced Eric Carr as a member of the band. (Considering Gene Simmons' most recent screen appearance, I think it's safe to say that he's a multi-faceted entertainer who can appeal to all age groups - just not at the same time.)

Now comes the good part: video! YouTube has the Patti Smith and Kiss appearances, which you can see below.

Thanks to the email tipster for sending me on a trip down Saturday Morning TV Memory Lane. Anyone have any favorite forgotten kids' shows?

image: tvhistory.tv

Patti Smith sings "You Light Up My Life"

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The Sordid Pasts of Your Favorite Toys

Kelly Mills — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 20:33:00 GMT

Raise your hand if you are a history dork! I love this kind of stuff: The real life stories behind the invention and marketing of classic toys like the Slinky and Mr. Potato Head. Who knew that our most beloved playthings had dark pasts and endorsement campaigns and interesting tales along the road to becoming the crap you step on in the middle of the night on your way to the bathroom? Here's a great rundown of the twisted inception and careers of seven classic toys.

For example, did you know the Slinky was marketed and made successful by a genius woman when her husband's midlife crisis led to him joining a Bolivian religious cult? Or that Play Doh was an early example of product placement and celebrity endorsement, when one Captain Kangaroo took a share of the profits? Mr. Potato Head used his own celebrity to both campaign against smoking (I totally remember when he puffed on a pipe) and pimp Burger King fries, which seems like creepy cannibalism to me. Now gimme the dirt on Barbie and GI Joe, and I'll be satisfied.

Old Birth Control Dilemma Comic

Kelly Mills — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 17:43:00 GMT

"Darling, it's so awful feeling this way! I love you--and I want you, but I'm so afraid I'll get pregnant again I freeze when you just kiss me." Thus begins this excellent Planned Parenthood comic from 1956/1962, posted with care on Comics With Problems and found via Boing Boing, who are doing an awfully good job. Joan and Ken Harper have three kids, and while they are all hot for each other still, Joan doesn't wanna get knocked up AGAIN. The sexual tension leads to some burnt toast and a brawl, and then an industrial accident. A common tale, I know. I think the rural edition involves a combine.

While the doctor is patching Ken up, he mentions birth control. Ken is scared, but as the doc says, "The government wouldn't let birth control products be sold if they were harmful." Oh, the rosy innocence of the 50's. Anyhow, some bright nurses fix Joan right up, and the couple can love without fear once again. Shoot, I gave the ending away! Oh well, you should still check it out for yourself, because they just don't make public health message comics like they used to.

Who Knew Toast Was This Much Fun?

Karen Murphy — Wed, 30 May 2007 14:37:00 GMT

Almost every day at my house involves toast or some form of toaster use. Although we have a cheap and cranky retro brushed-aluminum toaster that's mostly serviceable, how much better our mornings could be if we had something a little different, something like, maybe, a Hello Kitty toaster? Or maybe one that makes pirate toast? Or how about one that's simply a design statement?

Slashfood has a round-up of toasters that claim not to be your mama's toaster. I'm pretty sure they're right, and any one of these just may get your picky toddler to eat bread. My favorites? Brilliant design-wise, though not so practical unless you're a family of one, is the Transparent Toaster. And winning major points also for design and definitely in uniqueness yet leaving me wondering about excessive crumbs on the counter (me? anal? what makes you ask?) is the portable printer look-alike by Jaren Goh Designs. Clearly a winner in the WTF category is the Holy Toast maker, which either will offend everyone you know or make you a mint on eBay when you list your mysterious holy toast, I can't tell which. And my hands-down overall favorite, winning points in design and versatility plus being a clear kid-pleaser, is the Pop Art Toaster that comes with 6 plates that emboss your toast with different designs. Whoever said you can't play with your food?

Mother's Day: Retro Gifts for the Modern Day Mrs. Cleaver

Stefania Pomponi Butler (CityMama) — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 19:09:00 GMT

Still stumped about what to get "Mom" (whomever that may be for you) for Mother's Day? Several online retailers have fabu offerings for moms who are into the retro-vintage-mid-century thing.

Fred Flare offers up sweet recipe journals and tins, swan lake sunglasses that would make Mary Tyler Moore proud, and a pink breakfast in bed tray (my kids are huge fans of breakfast in bed as Mother's/Father's Day presents.)

Sweet moms with a sweet tooth might enjoy this sugar-laden gift box filled with four pounds of retro candy including Necco Wafers, candy cigarettes (who doesn't love those?), and Pixy Stix.

If you are sure your wife won't smack you over the head with it, you can give her a lovely retro apron to wear while she's cooking and serving your meals. (Or to wear for some saucy role-playing...)

Finally, no vintage gift would be complete without a card that calls to mind crinolines and pearl chokers.

Get shopping!