Plan 9

I once installed this on my Dell Inspiron 3700 laptop (circa 1998) in the waning days of 2009 and promptly sent it back to 1990 (as you can see from the screen shot.)

Plan 9 has some things in common with classic UNIX, some old-school UNIX commands are recognized, but everything else goes way off the beaten path. There's a whole different learning curve to Plan 9. 

A whole different learning curve.

The documentation goes on extensively how Plan 9 sets out to be different from any other operating system out there you've used and on that, they have succeeded. 

Giving Plan 9 commands (after a few years of working with terminals, it's pretty simple. It's just that your average Windows non-geek is going to shit a twinkie when faced with the expectations of Plan 9) on how to run programs, how to mount writable media, how to display pictures and play games and read man pages and HTML files, how to copy and paste. Copy and paste is actually "snarf and paste" in the Plan 9 OS. Different, it is. Other than that, it's about as functional as Congress.

Plan 9 replaced UNIX at Bell Labs as the organization's "primary platform in the mid '80s for research and explores several changes to the original UNIX model that facilitate the use and programming of the system, notably in distributed multi-user environments." 

But it doesn't do Flash.

It was first released to the public in 1992. But next to Windows 3.1 or Mac of the time, it looked awfully primitive.

And it still does. Not the big seller in the world of modern computing. I shudder to think how this will even handle a mere DOS emulator, to say nothing of a simple MP3.....

Here's a video of Plan 9:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJZMsaxaNIo

Plan 9 was really just a massive headache to me. But if you're a budding programmer/developer who really wants to get in on the ground floor of something in relatively uncharted waters and make it work, then hit the manual on Plan 9.

http://plan9.bell-labs.com/sys/man/index.html

But here's a handy tip if you're an average computer user who likes to easily surf the web. download anything and easily summon up music. photos and documents on Plan 9 - FORGET IT.

I just wish Plan 9 would get rid of that fat, jelly-bean like rabbit as it's mascot. Find a better logo....PLEASE! 

Like I said, Plan 9 is out there and ready for some SERIOUS R&D. But otherwise, it's not going to amount to much more but a computer hobbyist toy. But that's a one-up in itself: Ever heard of a virus that attacks a Plan 9 computer yet?

Gay Bob

"He comes dressed in mucho macho plaid shirt blue jeans that open with a smart snap to reveal his private parts......He lives in a closet....."

But this wasn't the first 'gay' doll.......

THIS was.....

Airwick Magic Mushroom

Sexing All Fowl

Exactly the kind of book you want to fall out of your backpack in public........

XXX Adult Records of The '70s

Donny & Marie's Super Energy Drink Recipe

Actual Swedish Magazine

The Electronic Secratary - America's First Telephone Answering Machine

The Electronic Secretary (1949) was the first telephone answering machines available in America (even earlier systems were used in Europe, but strangely forbidden in America due to resistance from AT&T and the FCC.)

They were used exclusively for businesses at this time. The original model recorded on wire and used a pre-recorded, professionally voiced 45 rpm record as the outgoing message. Succumbing to consumer demand, the Bell System companies and GTE rented this machine to mostly higher income residential customers by the early 1960s (the rental fees were big.)

In spite of it's availability (and the machines used cassette tape by the '70s), The answering machine was still fairly rare however and never really took off in America until the breakup and deregulation of AT&T in 1983 when they were finally sold direct to consumers outside of the phone companies.

Need A Typewriter?

Sometimes, there's a part of me that still misses using a typewriter.

I just like how it looks, each letter embossed into the paper rather than just photocopied from the office program on my computer.

And it's a delicious thrill for me to have my most formal paper correspondence look like crazed manifestos or ransom letters.....

And yes, typewriters are STILL being made. And you'll never guess for whom.

Eccentric old people?

Conspiracy nuts?

Nope.

They're made for prisoners.

So you're likely getting something SUPER rugged. And they come in clear cases (never underestimate those hardcore criminal minds.) And very few solid metal parts to get "creative" with.

And apparently, they are sold to the public as well.

http://www.swintec.com/clear-typewriters/10-2410cc.html

Feen-A-Mint Commercial

                         
                             


Feen-A-Mint.....sounds like mint-flavoured cocaine. But it was a women's laxative that came in a chewing gum as well as pills. But I remember this commercial for how tacky it was (how you ever noticed in '70s laxative commercials how people just randomly stopped everything to loudly talk about their "irregularity" problem?)

And the daughter here gets the gum while stuffy old mom takes the pills.

Frank N' Stuff Hot Dogs

Frank N' Stuff were Hot Dogs that had chili stuffed inside. They also came with cheese inside instead of chili.

Phone Sex

You MUST Have THIS: Mail Order Madness

The ULTIMATE DJ Turntable.....

.....circa 1930.....

Cricket Records

Someone once asked me about Cricket Records (as they always seem to turn up in any random box of musty old 45s and this label design is iconic, if the actual music garbage with modern kids)

Yes, they were a children's record label for 45 and 78 RPM records and they were an early product of Pickwick Records, a $1.98 budget record label of the '50s and '60s. In fact, Cricket was certainly the very last record label in America to regularly press 78 RPM records, well into the '60s (and by some reports, until 1968!)

Milk Brands

Foremost was once ubiquitous on the West Coast. Today Foremost is pretty much concentrated in the Midwest and on Guam.

Vitamilk was a Seattle based dairy.

"Homo" milk probably wasn't the best selling moniker for Oak Farm's main dairy product (or at least I'm sure the name never caught on.)

Before They Were Stars: "You're A Grand Old Flag" Sally Field (1965)

Today's Flag Day.....

Unbelievable McDonald's Ad From The '70s

"You don't have to get dressed up, there's no tipping...." REALLY?

.....and what's "Dinnertimin'"?

'70s Tupperware

In the 1970's, Tupperware came in four basic colours: Orange, Yellow Avocado Green and Brown.

No others.

The reason was because these actually were the basic colours of '70s kitchens.

Indeed it wasn't until 1980 when Tupperware added different colours to their kitchen lines. And initially, only one - Beige. Others were added a few years later. 

'80s Neon Sunglasses

Happy Gay Pride Month!