Surviving the 70's

It 's a miracle through the '60s and '70s lived.

As if Richard Nixon, Vietnam, mutual assured destruction, and really, really bad fashion were not dangerous enough, I faced the daily threat of mass-marketed toys that could maim and wound warp. Mattel? Kenner? Hasbro? Wham? Endless fun with a bit of mutilation thrown in for good measure. The children's toy of my youth would never make the cut today - but dear to my heart as he returnedOthers

'S of toys from my childhood - do you love?

Let me count the ways.

The poisonous

In the 20 years between 1960-1979, nothing said FUN like toxic chemicals and fumes. The Bubble Jet, a fancy water gun you shoved bubble-producing cyanide tablets has been reproduced in large. If women inject the solution into a friend's eyes or mouth, or your meant chemical Good Clean Fun. If you're bored of toxic bubble fun, you can relaxand hit with a shot from your counterfeit cigarettes (or inhale) some 'artificial chemical smoke. If smoking is not your thing, it was time for some of Superelastic Bubble Plastic. When the smoke of Goo blob of plastic is placed still want to fry some brain cells do not lose the key, psychedelic colors of the bubbles were finished safely in Blow Your sense. It was always the classic standby, on Sep Chemistry, always full of toxic potential. "HeyMommmmm! It combines an experiment! (That is to say every damn .. powder mixing and solution of the set together). "" How nice Johnny. Just do not be late for dinner. Johnny? Johnny? What is the terrible smell? "

I find the intoxicating smell of burnt flesh, once was a healthy buzz from sniffing and snorting worked some good things up, it was time to get to the real economy. If you do not have a steel bar at 373 Kelvin, it was not funny. I think 'Iron Red Hot Poker'is not very marketable. Instead, they call this fun offering Wood Burning Kit Designed for the young artist to pursue painting designs on the beautiful face regular virgin forest, we found much more fascinating and rewarding to see That our sister was flammable toys. The fun lasted until we ran things by fire, or burned the hell out of one of our fingers. The kit of wood had the added advantage of this a bit 'over toxic fumes when a plusfun from head to toe before had brought out.

One of the most memorable toys of my youth had the potential to provide fun and third degree simultaneously. Creepy Crawlers have your own bugs and reptiles colored rubber pressing some Goo liquid metal into a mold, then placed in a heated bath water incredibly hot. The mixture of high-voltage electricity, water, toxic goo and stifling heat was intoxicating. I do not remember what the hell wewith the rubber bugs, but makes sure was fun. If you were really adventurous, you have the version that Incredible Edible twofer combines the above risks associated with the use over the (alleged 'edible') product, with a high-risk toys. What a bargain!

For girls, it was always the classic Easy Bake Oven, which makes the potential need for skin grafts with the strength of a light bulb. But the little brownies were really good that can help them, is the mindburns out.

Finally, the children really ambitious, there was Estes Rocket Kit. He spent weeks carefully mounting the model rockets, from real solid fuel motor, and then laboriously preparing Rocketship Blastoff. Three weeks of work was in a few seconds like jumping off a rocket in the world next to be generally never seen again. After a couple of starts, of course, progress to the next logical step - with missiles on their side and will start after the 'Street. We were among the most popular boys in the neighborhood. Finally, we also want to tire problems with the rocket at all, and if the band engine household items on hand (such as cola bottles, empty glass) and fire like this. Good Clean American Fun!

You put your eyes!:

We're damn close several times. At that time the federal government too busy to worry about either betweem idealism and corruption, and war in the dark corners of the worldAs the children were playing. One of my playmates principal, Bonnie Higham, had one of his eyes gouged out with a missile launched by his brother. As I remember, even for a primary school girl, Bonnie WAS pretty hot, although it might be a bit 'disconcerting to see her nice little' blue eye glass drift toward one side, while the other piercings you saw right through. If the loss of the eye was not enough to play for you, you might as well complete with skulls on polesthe elder brother of the Dart, JARTS, better known as Lawn Darts. "These bad boys were big enough to do serious harm, and were so tempting, adults usually disappear with them. Add a little 'alcohol and klutziness adults and had a recipe for fun crazy or tragedy, depending on the your luck.

And, of course, we had the old S-standby mode, the Daisy BB Gun. When we tired of shooting at squirrels, crows, and the windows of the neighbors did not like, it was only a matter of timefirst turned to us. Lets face it. We saw it coming.

There have been other, less weapons forboding. The FLI paddle back was a personal favorite. There is a great weapon with a nice stand-off distance, so you should start a who were in the back of the head to decide his fists, a counterattack. Provided the risk has been hard hit ball in your face if you're not careful, or break the rubber band, sending the bullet from GodKnow where it is determined to break a family heirloom of some sort. If you wanted to take the hostility of a notch, you may call the Red Eye Ball in action. A modern bat, were hard blunt tips almost lethal when it runs at full speed. Finally, an important weapon in the arsenal of many a childhood Johnny Reb Cannon, hard plastic balls on the Damn Yankees, with almost frightening fury was hurled. I wish I lived in a land of cotton.

I will call your eyes, andYou raise a blunt head trauma: It 's amazing that none of us losing our children without traumatic brain injury. Even the simplest of games in my time had the potential to maim. One of my favorites was the boomerang. Ironically, even then, people knew that the traditional hunting Australian boomerang is a weapon, but was still in your stocking at Christmas. It could take years to launch the boomerang perfect sample, since a rapid, sweeping, beautiful arches and beginrunning back to you and your starting point. It took only seconds to realize that he had no idea what to do against it, since sliding into his head to 90 mph. Run for your life!

We all remember the joyous laughter of a slumber party pillow fight. This was not surprising proven marketing time to enjoy the memories hazy with socks boppers. The nostalgic memories of past struggles cushion quickly faded, as they were beaten on the head and shoulders with a few loudBrian Elkins cross from the right, the guy is across the street. could be "Knock Em boppers Senseless was" a more descriptive moniker.

Sometimes you do not need someone else to access all major head trauma experiences. could, in pre-skates, an instrument of death as Strap-On Skate on almost all platforms in America are known sighted. After class, you must use your strap-on Buster Brown shoes or Keds, with your skate special 'to make themWere for the ride of your life. Everything was generally quite good, until you have been taken to a stone floor or happened on the sidewalk, at which point all bets are off. The runners had an interesting trend, easy to reach a certain date. The only salvation is that the maximum speed available has been around with shoes on what is a short walk normally. Fortunately, this time all children were required to wear their head protection when skating special. We calledtheir "baseball caps.

Vehicles of Death:

If you are driving to your death, why not set up its own asshole 'wheels? This is my philosophy of life anyway. After the accident, he turned to 10 years April 24, 1972 PBW (Pre-Big Wheel) I have the ability to sport a trip truly elegant and functional, was robbed. Unfortunately, our vehicles were lame, and generally dangerous as hell. The most dangerous of which was the menacing aspect Skat Skoota. A set of 4Wheels, two pedals with plastic red mark could not succeed Houdini escaped his clutches. Moreover, even if it was possible to cross the road to it without breaking your neck, you could make very cool. Bummer.

Another classic mode those days was the Hasbro Inch Worm. The vehicle itself was perfectly harmless. But when she discovers he rode the thing ridiculous, not your safety could be guaranteed. It may take up to High Schoolrecover for the tech. The only plus point was the inchworm catchy jingle.

In reality, our choices were riding in the day so woefully inadequate, we were forced to create our own. In its lowest form, this could mean that some beans and some stilts jar made of flax rope. But my most memorable experience involved two childhood friends Motorsport twins, David Reynolds and Eddie. With plywood and nails (many), on top of a Radio Flyer wagon frame, erected a monumenttransport still unrivaled. They form on this page is like a lemon, even painting is as clear as the last glorious touch. Carefully, we dragged the top Larkspur Drive, the steepest point happened in our neighborhood. Eddie, not too quickly upwards (if you tell the truth) drew the lucky straw as our primary driver. Outbound car lemon. The countdown started fatal, and with a gentle push, he headed up the slope, gathering speed as hegone. Since our establishment, rushed down into the abyss, we suddenly realized our plan was just intoxicating a fatal mistake. He could not control a Radio Flyer wagon. If the car lemon is the maximum speed of 25 mph hit, he decided it was a 90 degree turn in order. Plywood, nails and Eddie Reynolds, however, decided to continue Larkspur Drive. There was a beautiful finale. The lesson? We do not need dangerous toys. It 'was natural.

I am also pleased to recoil and typical childhoodThe activities, which then embraced. When my brother turned 10, got a set of archery and the destination for Christmas. We regularly fired real arrows at high speed past each other ears. Hilarious, surprising, and ummmm .... rather silly in retrospect. I would never do that even my children ask, but again, if they are missing some basic training to life, the security of your X-Box and Play Stations. You have shared the dangers of my youth. The next time I'm in with delight the stories of some of myfavorite toys. Maybe if I'm really really lucky, you'll share your memories too.