THE WAYBACK MACHINE
THE NEFF ZONE -- BY JIM NEFF
CADILLAC NEWS -- FEBRUARY 17, 2024
I recently recorded another click on my life's odometer. This triggered memories of bygone days. Once you reach a certain level of “experience,” every click means there is more to remember.
Cue the Wayback Machine. Whippersnappers will be clueless by this reference, but those of us who recall the “Rocky and Bullwinkle Show” will know exactly what it means. It was the device used by Mr. Peabody and Sherman to travel back in time. See, things were different way back when.
For example, breakfast choices were pretty basic. “Some popular breakfast foods have evolved and endured, but others that were once considered staples of the typical American kitchen have faded into nostalgic obscurity.” Dishes like milk toast, pork and beans, codfish, and meat hash are no longer on many menus.
Meat hash was a WWII staple. “ Hash for breakfast was an economical way to use up dinner leftovers and stretch those precious quantities of rationed meat. Wartime ads reminded Americans that 'our war needs make it vital now to save every bit of food left over,' and offered a free booklet called '69 Meat Ration Recipes' that included breakfast hash recipes.” (https://historyfacts.com/arts-culture/article/5-things-people-used-to-eat-for-breakfast/)
Dinner was a mixed bag, too. “Look at an old menu or family dinner photo and you’ll probably notice food that used to be everywhere but that’s not at all common today.” When was the last time you had ambrosia salad with marshmallows, chicken a la king, or offal masquerading as sweetbreads? (https://www.interestingfacts.com/nostalgic-dishes/ZaHfLMxyeQAHDhHU)
One common memory, though, is the Jell-O Salad. “Nothing screams retro quite like a centerpiece savory gelatin salad, molded into an elaborate shape and often with showy colors. It wasn’t just sturdy vegetables that appeared in these concoctions — everything from lettuce to ham to ranch dressing could be made into jiggly edible art.”
Perhaps nothing has changed more over the years than communication. Sometimes our language has suffered. “The amazing trove of the American lexicon contains a world of expressions that have faded into antiquity. These words, once the staples of everyday talk, have become buried treasures waiting to be rediscovered.”
DictionaryScoop.com has suggested twelve words that should make a comeback. One word in particular appealed to me – respair. “Working as a diametrically opposed concept to 'despair' the word 'respair' expresses renewed hope or reprieve after a period of distress. This antiquated but poetic gem transmits the beauty of resilience, offering comfort in the face of life's trials.” (https://www.dictionaryscoop.com/article/12-Words-That-Should-Make-a-Comeback)
DictionaryScoop.com also notes that television has has had a major influence on our language. “From memorable catchphrases to poignant one-liners, some idioms have transcended their on-screen origins, embedding themselves in our everyday conversations and shaping the way we express ourselves. “
For instance, a CBS News phrase impacted generations of Americans. “The iconic sign-off 'And that's the way it is' was popularized by one of the most respected figures in television news, Walter Cronkite. As the longtime anchor of the CBS Evening News, Cronkite would conclude his broadcasts with this definitive statement, emphasizing the factual nature of the news presented.”
Not all TV phrases are serious. “Possibly one of the most famous onomatopoeias to ever emerge from the TV, 'd'oh!' has become an iconic catchphrase synonymous with exasperation, and its origin can be traced back to the 'Simpsons' animated television series.” (https://www.dictionaryscoop.com/article/From-The-Screen-to-the-Streets-12-Phrases-That-Were-Popularized-By-TV-Shows)
Not only has language changed over the years, but noise has also been transformed. “Decades ago, the world didn’t just look different; it sounded different, too. As technology has progressed, so has the noise we hear every day. A smartphone buzzing on a table would have been an unfamiliar noise twenty years ago — and a lot of stuff we used back then has fallen silent today.” When was the last time you heard the crank of an adding machine, the dialing of a rotary phone, or the rewinding of a cassette tape? (https://www.interestingfacts.com/sounds-you-dont-hear-anymore/ZZ3ZKsxyeQAHDhAR)
Sounds from that Interweb thingy come to mind. Luckily, you can still hear these on that YouTubery.whatever. A dial-up modem is at: https://youtu.be/gsNaR6FRuO0?si=VMaqvU95FlxSujJp. Hear the AOL email announcement at: https://youtu.be/fzRC37grckk?si=MQPAcRqGX_DSyooG. For something even before the Net, listen to a landline phone busy signal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jE4cZpXXueM.
Finally, in all reality, nothing has impacted our lives like the Internet. “Picture yourself navigating through the city with a paper map or asking strangers for directions on the street. In the old days, those were some of the daily challenges. Staying connected with a friend was no easy task; you had to take the time to write a letter and wait days or weeks for the mail to cover the distances. While life today seems impossible without the convenience of instant connection and communication, there was a time when these elements were not part of our reality.”
An article titled “Ten interesting facts about the history of the Internet” is a fascinating read. See it at: https://www.dictionaryscoop.com/article/Did-you-know-you-can-still-visit-the-first-ever-website.
One cool fact is that you can still see the first website in the world at: https://info.cern.ch/hypertext/WWW/TheProject.html. “This site was born in 1991 and was designed to share and classify information about the World Wide Web project. But don't expect it to be like today's sites. Entering there will feel like taking a trip to the times when the web was taking its first steps.” Now, that's a dandy trip in the Wayback Machine.
Jim Neff is a local columnist. Read Neff Zone columns online at CadillacNews.com and NeffZone.com/cadillacnews.
