Daily Dirt: Growing up in the 1960s and early 1970s was no piece of cake

Daily Dirt for Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024

‘Twas a time when that dastardly rock and roll music promoted “rebellion and defiance” … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make Vol. 1,139 of The Daily Dirt.

1. If you’re a boomer, have you ever thought about things we consider normal today but were highly frowned upon during our formative years in the 1960s and early 1970s?

How many of the following ring a bell?

• The Beatles’ long-hair look might have been the No. 1 point of contention between parents and teenage boys. How many of us heard, “You’re not going to look like a girl” from their parents when it was time for a haircut? 
• Addressing elders casually or by their first name was totally taboo. Adults were referred to as “Mr.” or “Mrs.” or “Miss.” No exceptions.
• Cohabitation before marriage? Yikes.
• Tattoos were another cultural no-no unless you were some sort of “hippie freak,” according to most parents. They were considered “marks of delinquency.”
• “Rock and roll,” even into the late 1960s and beyond, was deemed “too provocative” for youngsters by most adults. The “wild rhythms and lyrics” promoted rebellion and overall youthful defiance.
• Vegetarians were labeled “health nuts” or hippies. (Let’s face it, hippies had a rough time back then.)
• Birth-control pills remained closely guarded secrets.
• Casual workwear or school attire was all but prohibited by the strict times. Suits and ties were demanded by most employers and jeans were not permitted at school. And girls or women? Anything but dresses were highly frowned upon.

These were the good ol’ days? 

2. Did you know (Part 213) …

• Americans guzzle down about 3 billion cans of energy drink each year.
• The honey bee is the lone insect that produces food eaten by humans.
• Fried chicken originated in Scotland.
• Blue Diamond Almonds has released two new flavors: Snickerdoodle and Frosted Brownie.
• New Pringles chip flavors hitting the stores are Loaded Hot Dog and Pizza.
• Kellogg’s has released new Glazed Donut Holes flavors for Frosted Flakes and Apple Jacks.
• Snickers, Twix and Milky Way varieties of “candy bar chocolate milk” are coming, and reportedly even have 15 grams of protein.
• There is a smoke alarm for the deaf that sprays out a synthesized wasabi odor into the air, designed to instantly wake up the deaf person(s) nearby. 

3. The best of this week’s “Found on Facebook”:

• “Sure, skydiving is scary, but have you ever been at someone’s house and the toilet won’t flush?”
• “What do you call a Christmas wreath made with $100 bills? Aretha Franklins.”
• “I hate it when I see an old person and then realize that we went to high school together.”
• “This morning, I was walking down the street and I was hit by a violin, then a clarinet and then a French horn. I think it was an orchestrated attack.”
• “My favorite outdoor activity is going back inside where it’s warm.”

Steve Thought O’ The Day
Isn’t lasagna simply spaghetti cake?

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. We wondered what Steve with a Beatles haircut would have looked like in the 1960s. Couldn’t find the long-haired option, however.