A look into the past

Don Boudreaux of Cafe Hayek takes a stroll down memory lane with the help of the 1975 Sears catalog. He takes the time to adjust the prices for inflation, which really makes you appreciate Walmart on the one hand and technological progress on the other.

Money quote:

Other than the style differences, the fact most noticeable from the contents of this catalog’s 1,491 pages is what the catalog doesn’t contain. The Sears customer in 1975 found no CD players for either home or car; no DVD or VHS players; no cell phones; no televisions with remote controls or flat-screens; no personal computers or video games; no food processors; no digital cameras or camcorders; no spandex clothing; no down comforters (only comforters filled with polyester).

Of course, some of what was available to Sears’ customers in 1975 is also quite noticeable to those of us looking back from 2006: typewriters, turntables for stereo systems, 8-track players, black-and-white television sets. And lots and lots of clothing and bedding made from polyester.

Sometimes it's a little staggering to sit back and realize all the changes that have come down the pike since I was in high school back in the mid-70s.

Via The Club for Growth.

A look into the past

Don Boudreaux of Cafe Hayek takes a stroll down memory lane with the help of the 1975 Sears catalog. He takes the time to adjust the prices for inflation, which really makes you appreciate Walmart on the one hand and technological progress on the other.

Money quote:

Other than the style differences, the fact most noticeable from the contents of this catalog’s 1,491 pages is what the catalog doesn’t contain. The Sears customer in 1975 found no CD players for either home or car; no DVD or VHS players; no cell phones; no televisions with remote controls or flat-screens; no personal computers or video games; no food processors; no digital cameras or camcorders; no spandex clothing; no down comforters (only comforters filled with polyester).

Of course, some of what was available to Sears’ customers in 1975 is also quite noticeable to those of us looking back from 2006: typewriters, turntables for stereo systems, 8-track players, black-and-white television sets. And lots and lots of clothing and bedding made from polyester.

Sometimes it's a little staggering to sit back and realize all the changes that have come down the pike since I was in high school back in the mid-70s.

Via The Club for Growth.

Roscoe tried to miss 'em but he - didn't, quite...

Taking stock of the CDs I'm missing (and confirming that I didn't leave them on the bus) I see that among the missing CDs are the 100% Canadian Content and I Zombie II mix CDs, but fortunately nothing rare or difficult to locate like the Ultravox CDs; losng the Johnny Cash and Alice Cooper CDs, on the other hand, is really annoying since I'd had them for less than a month. Damn it. Well, the first of the replacements, James McMurtry's Saint Mary of the Woods, showed up in the post office box today, and I'm going to take the time to rip it tonight while I'm finishing up the StippleAPA. Just in case.

Speaking of the Stipple, didn't get any work on that done last night but I did get the bread done. I keep tweaking the recipe a little, and keeping the results in mind; this time I skipped the egg but threw in 2 tablespoons of oil since I wasn't sure there was a full tablespoon of butter in the leftover stub. The loaf came out shorter and heavier, which is good because I prefer solid, denser loaves over lighter, fluffier ones. (Freudian slip there; first time through I forgot the "a" in "loaves". Draw your own conclusions.) Waiting for the bread kept me up until almost midnight, but I changed stations on the clock radio and woke up ready to roll at 0630, feeling well-rested. Blood sugar was in the green, too, which was the first time in a while that's been true.

Tonight's agenda includes a litle bit of schoolwork, a little bit of Stipple writing, and probably an early bedtime since I have class tomorrow and a pretty full weekend schedule.

UPDATE Got through about six and a half pages of the APA and I guess I'll do the homework tomorrow at work since it's going to be a slow day anyway.

Roscoe tried to miss 'em but he - didn't, quite...

Taking stock of the CDs I'm missing (and confirming that I didn't leave them on the bus) I see that among the missing CDs are the 100% Canadian Content and I Zombie II mix CDs, but fortunately nothing rare or difficult to locate like the Ultravox CDs; losng the Johnny Cash and Alice Cooper CDs, on the other hand, is really annoying since I'd had them for less than a month. Damn it. Well, the first of the replacements, James McMurtry's Saint Mary of the Woods, showed up in the post office box today, and I'm going to take the time to rip it tonight while I'm finishing up the StippleAPA. Just in case.

Speaking of the Stipple, didn't get any work on that done last night but I did get the bread done. I keep tweaking the recipe a little, and keeping the results in mind; this time I skipped the egg but threw in 2 tablespoons of oil since I wasn't sure there was a full tablespoon of butter in the leftover stub. The loaf came out shorter and heavier, which is good because I prefer solid, denser loaves over lighter, fluffier ones. (Freudian slip there; first time through I forgot the "a" in "loaves". Draw your own conclusions.) Waiting for the bread kept me up until almost midnight, but I changed stations on the clock radio and woke up ready to roll at 0630, feeling well-rested. Blood sugar was in the green, too, which was the first time in a while that's been true.

Tonight's agenda includes a litle bit of schoolwork, a little bit of Stipple writing, and probably an early bedtime since I have class tomorrow and a pretty full weekend schedule.

UPDATE Got through about six and a half pages of the APA and I guess I'll do the homework tomorrow at work since it's going to be a slow day anyway.