Mostly I just want it to be hybridized with Big Trak so it randomly shoots a laser while vacuuming. "Vroooooooooom... byew byew byew!"

Oh WOW I haven't thought about those in years. My older brother got one for Christmas when they came out. It's almost disturbing how long ago that was

(when it was dry, by the time you got to the last row, the first was often dry)

This! But for me (who came to it late in life enough to be charmed by it and not aggravated) this is the beauty of line laundry where I live. There isn't any waiting. I just put it up, then I take it down. And it's dry and smells all outdoorsy and breezy and clean.

What life lessons did you learn working in the Georgetown Haagen-Dazs?

Uhm... I would be in utmost fear of being somethinged-to-death by the killing machine that is Henry Rollins. I'd attempt some joke about his bad-ass-itude but all of them have been consumed by Chuck Norris.

Heh. My friend Ivor was a drummer in several DC hardcore bands, including SOA which featured a young Henry Garfield (nee Rollins) as lead singer. (Ivor was then in Faith and then Embrace. Not the current band called Embrace, but the pre-Fugazi thingie with Ian MacKaye). Anyway, Ivor also worked at the ice cream shops, as did Ian, I think. It was A Thing in that circle.

Oh WOW I haven't thought about those in years. My older brother got one for Christmas when they came out. It's almost disturbing how long ago that was

Same here, with the older brother at Xmas. Big Trak may have been the tipping point for me, where I went from Barbies to electronic toys, because I think it was the following year that I got Merlin and maybe the Magical Musical Thing.

I believe Big Trak is still in my brother's closet at my mom's. We pulled it out a couple years back and it still worked after we found enough batteries for it, although I seem to recall that the beeping was less enthusiastic than it used to be.

As a guy I can't speak for the "pretty-pretty princess factor" (in whatever your style), and everything has it's time and place. But how aren't electronics and the like more fun than dolls as a kid growing up? (This is probably choir preaching here?)

But how aren't electronics and the like more fun than dolls as a kid growing up? (This is probably choir preaching here?)

Dolls were good for boosting the numbers of my army of minions. The stuffed animals had to have lesser minions to boss around. I liked the idea of the electronic toys were okay, but I was always miffed that they didn't have Mind Control Ray options.

mulberry-eating grackle shit

Sarameg and I have the same memories of clotheslines. My mother didn't get a dryer until after my sister and I were out of diapers. Pre-disposables. In Chicago.

but I was always miffed that they didn't have Mind Control Ray options

Mhmm you and I are both STILL waiting on that one J

Jilli doesn't need Mind Control Ray technology, now. She has Clovis to take care of all of that.

Jilli doesn't need Mind Control Ray technology, now. She has Clovis to take care of all of that.

Except he frequently demands bribes. Note to self, bake gingerbread bats over the weekend to bribe the Devilbunny into getting you a new job. Or an insanely good book deal.