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10 in 10 Again

July 29th, 2010 - Uncategorized - 40 Comments »

There used to be a series on this blog that was purely an excuse for us to wax nostalgic.

[Side note: Man, I finally did it! I've wanted to use that phrase – wax nostalgic – for so long now. It just sounds so...lyrical. Feeling pretty good right now. Pretty...pretty...pretty good.]

Where was I? Oh yes. Here’s another ten things that I’m betting you haven’t thought of in ten years.

1. Brian Dunkleman – Remember Brian? He co-hosted the first season of American Idol with Ryan Seacrest…and then quit. At least he’s able to laugh at himself about it.

2. Flying Toasters screensaver – If I remember correctly, this was the first screensaver ever. I remember staring at my screen in disbelief at the infinite nature of the whole thing. Good news: you can download it here.

3. Stefan Urquelle – I was always a little sad when he changed back to Steve Urkel. I needed a role model, and I thought I had found one in Stefan. Check out what Stefan…er, Jaleel…is up to now.

4. Surge – What a horrible liquid.

5. Koosh balls – I’m not proud of this, but I used to watch The Rosie O’Donnell Show. Yes, every day after school. I’ll tell you one thing, though. She had that audience in the palm of her hand. The sole reason? Koosh balls. Brad, if you’re reading this, is it OK if I shoot Koosh balls into the audience at Catalyst? I think it would really set Tripp and I up for success.

6. Turning off computers – In days of yore, leaving computers on when you were finished was ludicrous– no, make that idiotic. It just didn’t happen. Now, I haven’t shut down her down in 6 months.

7. Max Headroom – I’m not sure who he was or what he did, but I do know that I liked it when he was on my television screen.

8. Lil’ Penny – Speaking of Lil’ Penny, remember Anfernee Hardaway? What happened to that Blue Chip?

9. 10-10-220 – I think the main concern of most Americans in this era was not going over on their minutes. That and who had the best rates on long distance. As far as I can remember, this is all anyone talked about.

10. Tear Jerkers – I can’t prove this, but I think popularity in my middle school depended on how many Tear Jerkers you were in possession of, how many you were willing to freely give away, and how high your tolerance was for the yellow one.

Your turn. What haven’t we thought of in 10 years?

And for some of the other 10 in 10 posts, click here.
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Post sponsored by Atlanta Personal Injury Attorney, Robert N. Susko

  • Kit

    1) Nintendo Power
    2) Pogo Ball
    3) Reebok Pump Shoes

  • http://bryanallain.com bryan a

    56K Modem Speed – Remember connecting to the web on dial-up and crossing your fingers that you'd get on with 56K instead of 28K? And if you got stuck with 28K, you had that tough decision. Do I take 3 minutes to reconnect and risk getting an even lower 14K, or do I just stick with the 28K? Long live broadband.

    CD Lyrics – remember buying a CD at FYE, popping it into your 5-disc player tray, and cracking open those liner notes to see if they had song lyrics?

    The 50/50 Lifeline in Millionaire – Did the computer REALLY remove two options at random? Or was it some dude in the production van getting rid of the two answers the contestant had already ruled out while talking to himself? These are the things that kept me up at night.

  • http://www.logankstewart.blogspot.com logankstewart

    Surge was possibly the greatest soft drink ever. Now I'm just a hollow individual with an outdated longing for a thirst that can never be quenched.

  • http://YouTube.com/calebcanal Caleb Canal

    Señor Frog’s Tshirts. Seems like every cool kid in high school had the T and the tank top whether they had ever been to one or found it at Goodwill.

  • http://www.tylertarver.com Tyler Tarver

    Power Rangers- My favorite was always the black one, I think mainly cause he reminded me of the reading rainbow guy and/or the earth dude from Captain Planet. Which, in case there was debate, are the 3 coolest guys on the planet. Although, the white power ranger, Tommy I believe, had long hair, which made him rad.

    I originally wanted to mention these metal top-like things you placed in a flip-phone type thing (pre actual flip-phones) that popped open and spin this little metal top, in a mcdonald's penny donation type bowl where they would spin and bash each other. However, I couldn't recall the name and Google failed me for the first time ever. Reason of transfer, I had the Power Ranger edition metal spinny top battler things.

    Also, Crossfire.

    Also, longest comment ever.

  • Kerry

    The flying toasters! Well-played, Tyler, well-played.

    And, I too miss Surge.

    But, remember Clear Pepsi??? I was in middle school when it came out…it was all the rage after gym because of the soda machine in the locker room…you could have the coolest new drink AND soda outside of the lunchroom…instant star status.

  • http://twitter.com/mikeyhopper mikeyhopper

    Coed naked t-shirts. Hard Rock Cafe t-shirts. Guess jeans. JNCO jeans. Chess King. Crystal Pepsi. Making a collect phone call, C&C Music Factory…

  • Martha

    hypercolor or skidz (you know the big baggy plaid pants?)

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/TaterHouse TaterHouse

    1. Beanie Babies – the silly bandz of 1999
    2. The Blair Witch Project
    3. Napster
    4. 7th Heaven – I can still sing the theme song
    5. Dawson's Creek – I humbly admit that I loved this show. Shame.

  • Dresch

    Button Your Fly – Glad that went away cause it was a pain and what was wrong with the zipper anyway?

    Eyepoppers – A Tear Jerker ripoff. They got so popular that my sister’s traveling softball team was named after them. The Eyepoppers (softball team) candy of choice? Blow Pops of course.

  • Kyle

    The first three are things that I think about constantly. But the rest are awesome!

  • http://intensedebate.com/profiles/leetaft Lee Taft

    I can bring up something you haven't thought about in 10 years AND how it combined another thing you mentioned.

    The software that had the flying toasters was called After Dark. On 90210, when Valerie magically had enough money to open a night club next door to the Peach Pit and called it the Peach Pit After Dark, the logo for the night club was — A flying toaster!!! Nothing is better than pop culture referencing other pop culture.

    I will now go hang my head in shame for admitting my love for 90210.

  • http://themindofmalloy.com Gerald

    Penny Hardaway is begging the Miami Heat to resign him. He says he can still contribute…translation…I want an NBA Championship ring.

  • Bryan

    Possibly the best 10 in 10 list. My own 10 in 10: Word Searches, Danny Tartabull, Madden All-Time on Madden '94, You Can't Do That on Television, La Casuela, Goal-rillas, Wearing Camouflage, Wall-Ball, 10-speed bikes, Ski-Bobs

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/zingersandwich David Robertson

      Ha! La Cazuela. That was our official after-church lunch from 1993 to 1999. And my family still has the Ski-bob. It's been patched a lot. Well done Bryan.

  • Noah

    They gave SURGE away for free at my Highschool one afternoon. Those were the good days…

  • nate

    when was the last time you avoided the noid?

  • http://fireandgrace.blogspot.com David

    - Spry Mosaic
    - Pogs
    - Jolt Cola
    - The Gong Show
    - Atari
    - Making less than $100K a year
    - Jimmy Carter

  • Mike Dyson

    i hope you are aware that surge currently exists in the form of coca-cola's 'energy soda,' vault.
    just sayin

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/Claygirlsings Claygirlsings

    cinnamon toothpicks? That may be going back 20 yrs, but they were all the rage in school for awhile. You knew you were liked if someone gave you a cinnamon toothpick.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/Claygirlsings Claygirlsings

    The Rand-McNally Road Atlas. We used to buy one to look up our trip routes and plan vacations. My husband bought them every year, because of road updates. I just tossed one last month from 2004.

  • http://intensedebate.com/profiles/dtdorrin dtdorrin

    Oh man, Stephan Urquelle was the best. As long as I remember that Steve finally got the girl in the end, I can never lose faith in humanity. Because who would want to live in a world where Urkel never ended up with Laura?

  • http://intensedebate.com/profiles/mrimperial mrimperial

    Josta. Combined with Surge, I had the energy to attend 200 science club meetings.

  • GrammarGirl

    I think it would really set Tripp and I up for success.

    Would you say set I up for success? No, so use me in the sentence above as well.

    Thanks!!!

    • http://ilovemrpibb.blogspot.com Greta

      Weren't you making a Bachelorette reference with that comment Tyler?

  • http://Andnowforthevows.com Thigpen

    Big Dog clothes

    Everybody Duck t-shirts

    Parisians

  • rebeccamillwood

    My mouth for real started watering when I was reading about the yellow tear jerker, that’s how powerful they were

  • adam keyes

    Ace of Base (coming out w/ a new album this Fall…so does that still count?)
    – thanks for the Larry David reference

  • http://intensedebate.com/profiles/colejennette colejennette

    I still get a tightening in my throat when I think of tear jerkers and then oddly really want one.

  • Todd Weiden

    Elian Gonzalez, Turbo Graphix 16, and Airheads (they were the best “business” to have in middle school). Snag 250 for $8 at Sam’s Club, then sell them for $.25 a pop. Boom.

  • http://ilovemrpibb.blogspot.com Greta

    Jenga. Now that's old school.

  • Amanda

    The real Disney Channel shows… Flash Forward and The Torkelsons. Oh and THE best game show of all time…Legends of the Hidden Temple. Silver Snakes all the way!

  • Andrea

    The Prayer of Jabez NOT in a discount bin

  • Kim S.

    Here you go:
    -Secret World of Alex Mack
    -Salute Your Shorts
    -Double Dare
    -Legend of the Hidden Temple
    -Skaters wearing baggy jeans NOT skinny jeans
    -Puff Daddy or Puffy not "P.Diddy"
    - Boy Bands with Dance routines
    - Oregon Trail
    - Ms. Pacman/PacMan

  • Anthony Razz

    - Rocket Power
    - N64 (still the best game system of all time)
    - Mortal Kombat
    - Snake (on all nokia cell phones)
    - Tree houses

  • Leigh

    I thought it was "wax poetic" but maybe you can wax however you want. Maybe grammar girl knows. I've been searching for someone who remembers dinsour eggs–the candy with many layers that ends, well, sour. If you could get me one, I'll buy one of your books and give it away as a Labor day gift. And to Bryan – Ski Bob now rolls his cart out at Bay Creek Park in Grayson 6 days a week. I want to be him when I grow up.

  • http://intensedebate.com/profiles/leetaft Lee Taft

    Here's something I saw in my car today, but clearly hadn't thought about in 10 years — the FF/RW buttons on the CASSETTE TAPE PLAYER in my car. Remember when you couldn't hit repeat on the iPod, or magically go whatever song you wanted on the CD? Crazy.

  • David Robertson

    - Cereal
    - Abraham Lincoln
    - Football

  • Cindy

    In my neck of the woods: Mapsco. People in the DFW area couldn't go around the block without a Mapsco. You didn't give your address, you said your Mapsco address, "Where's your new house?" , "Oh, we're in Dallas, 26A." Too bad about GPS killin' that deal.

  • Observer Girl

    "Be kind rewind" signs at the video rental store