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Ryan’s Bodacious Weekly Countdown
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 By Ryan Zimmerman
 Follow
Ryan on Twitter
@ryanzonline
New 09.11.09: Ryan here - back after a long hiatus and ready to
rock and roll with my latest Top 5 countdown. This time around we have
the Top 5 “Oh I almost forgot about those” of the 80s. Enjoy!
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Top 5 “Oh I almost forgot about those” of the 80s
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5. Choose your own Adventure books – It's a book. No- it's a game. No-
it's a Game Book! A vast array of titles in the series covered the
scary, the funny and the always mysterious paths of perplexity, as
readers could choose which route to take as they read. Would you help
your buddy Sam battle the One Eyed Dragon or would you run and hide
behind the tree while he would most certainly meet his ultimate demise.
The books would often be intense, at least for a 4th grader, and were
hard to put down. The adult film industry failed to capture the same
fame the CYOA book attained, with their attempt at filming “C.Y.A. -
Choose your own Bed-Venture.” |
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4. Glasses from Pizza Hut – For less than a buck, Pizza Hut offered totally wicked drinking glasses
adorned with your favorite cartoon characters when you purchased of one
of their pies. Muppets? Check! Star Wars? Check! Alvin and the
Chipmunks? Check! Care Bears? Check! The list was endless and
entertaining. Not only were the glasses awesome, but remember the Igloo
coolers they sold for $2.00? Those things were awesome, PLUS you could
bring them back all summer long for free refills! Bring those back . . .
and don't forget the Priazzo! |
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3.
Wonder Twins – Wonder Twin Powers - Activate! Zan and Jayna,
AKA the Wonder Twins, were crime fighting teenage aliens that helped
Superman, Wonder Woman and the rest of the Super Friends bunch. Their
ability to transform into virtually anything, allowed them to take down
the criminal cartoon crooks they faced. Little Known Fact: Brady Bunch
Housekeeper “Alice” also has a twin sister. They often would utilize
their powers and would both take the form of “bread” for a hearty Sam
the Butcher sandwich. |
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2.
M.A.S.H. – What's it going to be? Mansion? Apartment? Shack? House?
The incredibly simple game was utilized by 80s kids everywhere in an
effort to solidify their future dwelling, number of offspring, and their
eventual spouse. The game to this day has its own site at
http://mashgame.com as
well as a free iPhone App. I had high hopes as a youngster, often
picking Debbie Gibson and Christie Brinkley as my potential
wives to be, as well as Lamborghinis and Ferraris as my autos of
choice. I know the game was really for girls, but wanting to
spend some quality time with the ladies, I played it anyway.
This is also the same reason I played 4 square and Jump rope
(“Down in the Valley Where the Green Grass Grows”) at recess. I
may have been 8 years old, but I had the mind of a true playa. |
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1.
Cootie Catcher Fortune Teller –
The second all-telling device on our countdown is simple origami
with a kick. Fold a little here and fold a little there, throw
on some numbers and outcomes and there you have it . . . a
pocket-size paper predictor. While few boys made these, I again
capitalized on my hormonal ways by whipping up my own version.
No matter what my female friends would pick, the outcome would
ALWAYS be “You will hold Ryan's hand at Recess.” Was it
foolproof? Nope . . . but every now and then I would get a true
believer and get some hand on hand action at the monkey bars. |
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