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Technology advances and improves faster than we can adapt to the changes. Progress has always left some people in the dust, but the tempo has increased with the dawn of the Digital Age. That means that different generations are finding less and less in common with each other than before.

If you thought that the differences between millennials (aka Generation Y) and members of Gen Z were minor, think again. Nowhere are those generation differences more obvious than when members of the older generation show kids the tech that they used when they were small, only to be met with utter disbelief.

Bored Panda has collected some of the best examples when kids today couldn’t understand the technology the millennial generation grew up with. And, boy, do we feel old looking at these childhood memories! If you’d like to feel ancient and get a burst of nostalgia for the good old days, scroll down. Remember to upvote your faves or the ones that gave you the most 90s nostalgia and share this list with your friends (especially those whose birthdays are soon approaching).

#1

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This is a diskette, aka a floppy disc.
It stores information.

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Hans
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you ever installed Windows 95 from floppies (many, many of them), you will not forget.

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#3

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This is a cassette tape.
You can store music on it.
It was first developed in 1963, not the American Civil War which was fought between 1861 and 1865.

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tuzdayschild
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My dearest Emily, Gettysburgs was hell. I would never have survived without your kind and generous mixtape.

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Just to make sure that everyone’s more or less on the same page, Gen Y (millennials) refers to people born in the early 1980s and mid-1990s. In short, it’s safe to say that millennials were born sometime between 1981 and 1996, though different researchers use different definitions.

Meanwhile, members of Gen Z are considered to be those born from 1997 until the early 2010s and who grew up with digital technology and are comfortable using both the internet and social media.

#4

Old-Millennial-Things-Kids-Today-Have-No-Idea

This is a fascinating device from a bygone era that lets you manually roll down the car window.
It takes some getting used to.
You have to put your hand on the handle.
And then turn the handle to open the window.
The best part is, if you turn it the other way, the window closes.
Much wow. Such mystery.

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Sivi
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can hear my parents yelling at me to hurry up and close the window cause we are entering a long tunnel. Forget lifting weights, this was the arm workout.

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#5

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chi-wei shen
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Worst thing of all: You had to pay in order to find out how good or bad they were.

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#6

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chi-wei shen
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Young people also do not know that calling someone and asking 'where are you' is as young as mobile phones.

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Aside from tech and upbringing, what are the ways that the two generations differ? According to Amber Feitsma on Compan Young, Generation Z is far more pragmatic than Gen Y because of higher economic instability. Gen Z prioritizes security and stability (but, ironically, prefers experiences over material possessions which sounds counterintuitive).

And while the new generation has grown up surrounded by digital technology, it still values face-to-face interaction and tech that makes communication easy, simple, and convenient.

#7

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Kristy P
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My best friend and I had a notebook full of notes that we would pass back and forth. There ended up being 2 volumes. We STILL have them (graduated in 95) and trade them back and forth every few years:-)

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#8

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Amery
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep, film roll holder turned weed container, after film is developed~! (I think I still have some, haha!) ;)

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Magda_lena
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My brother still buys films. He believes that film photography is better than digital. He uses both tho. And once again.. just because I''m gen Z doesn't mean I have no idea what this is

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Sami
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was a photographer for awhile and started when film was still going strong. I used to love popping open a fresh film canister and taking a whiff. Lol. It smelled so good.

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Bob Connely
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sadly, Kodak seems to have gone out of the Stash-hiding bidness!

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Sue Sanders
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, yes, son. It had all kinds of uses, ya know. Not just weed but - give me a sec. - okay, no that's not it either. Son, you're absolutely right and there's nothing you can do about it now. Go to your room!

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Ronnie Beaton
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I miss these so *much*. They were *great* for storing all the fiddly little bits and pieces from boardgames in.

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Bobby Sammons
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You would be really old if you remembered when they were metal.

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Steve Cruz
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I found a shoebox filled with these and they each were filled with quarters. It was heavy, about 30 pounds.

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Crycket
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

that is what we used to make Girl Guide First Aid kits with

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Tabar
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you think this is "something you use to hide weed," then I hate to break it to you but the word "hide" doesn't mean what you think it means.

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Katherine Gilleland
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I never had to use them but I know what they are. My grandparents hung one on a string and used it to figure out how far to pull the car into the garage

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M O'Connell
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is it weird that I have a cigar box full of these? That's another container the kids will never know.

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Sydney Anderson
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

back in high school in the 60's we used the little Matchbook boxes!

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未周 陸
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

After taking Out the Film originally Inside to install in A Film Camera to take Only Photos, you can use it to store Coins, esp Quarters!

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Christopher Mayer
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'll go you one better" I actually have a CAMERA that still uses film!

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Cold Contagious
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Seeing everyone's comments on this one and I'm so reminded of Adam Sandler in the movie The Hot Chick, thought I'd share the clip of his advice https://youtu.be/7UOphJOPaHo

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Danieletc
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, that too. When the TCH potency was, like .25% STILL got buzzed!

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Alex Newell
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It held some quarters for when it was icecream day at school!

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Chase Berwick
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That’s what the “Gas Man” had his ulcer pills in in Dumb & Dumber. Also, film rolls.

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Emperor Kitten
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Arguably, you could hide weed in just about anything if you try hard enough.

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#9

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Calls, text messages, and mobile internet all used to cost more money than today because cellphones were considered a luxury item, while service providers incurred greater costs than nowadays.

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Nerevar
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Hungary 3 seconds talk were free. People looked like idiots calling for three seconds then calling back... that's how awkward mobile phone conversations was between teenagers and poor university students.

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Gen Z also blurs the lines between different devices, work, and leisure: editing documents on laptops at work, only to change a few things on the bus home (or add a flourish or two using their smart fridge while getting a midnight snack). To sum up, it’s a generation that tries to synthesize contradicting and contrasting ideas into a logical whole.

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Do you know what I’m looking forward to? Seeing how Generation Z will compare to Generation Alpha—those born from the early 2010s (and those who’ll join us on Planet Earth from the mid-2020s). Imagine the articles showing Gen A’s reactions to Gen Z’s tech. I can’t wait.

#11

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Daria B
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4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You call this "struggle"? Pfffff..... try Windows 3.1. Or even better... DOS!

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#12

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chi-wei shen
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

...and we were happy for having these three devices. Not everyone had them.

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#13

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Bob Beltcher
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I over out my parents made sure I got a phone plan with Verizon so all our calls and text would be free. That ended when I got a girlfriend and switched to T-Mobile so all our calls and text would be free lol.

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#15

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Cellphones could store very limited amounts of data.
While it seems funny that your phone couldn't make any more space for extra messages, consider how quickly photos and videos fill up your brand new smartphone.

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chi-wei shen
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You have to keep in mind that this phone only could store tiny text messages.

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#18

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This is a VHS tape.
You can store movies and video recordings on it.

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#19

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Hans
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Twitter needs an update when people who shout (all caps) get a posting ban for 12 hours.

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#20

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This is an overhead projector.
It projects things over your head.

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#21

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This is a public payphone.
You used it to call people.

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European other
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4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Although payphones are out it's not been that long since they were everywhere

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#23

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Monday
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

ahhhh I had a silver version of this exact one as a teenager....memories....

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#24

Old-Millennial-Things-Kids-Today-Have-No-Idea

This is an iPod.
It plays music.
The very first iPod came out in 2001, not 1955.
The iPod pictured appears to be an iPod Nano, the first of which were released in 2006.

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#25

Old-Millennial-Things-Kids-Today-Have-No-Idea

I still don't know how to burn CDs and I'm not a member of Gen Z.
On a theoretical level, it's clear that you copy information that's on your PC onto a disc. On a practical level, I end up messing up the disc and accidentally deleting the data I meant to copy over from the computer.

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Nerevar
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4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Read history about ancient Rome. Especially about Nero who lived in the ancient times and was the Emperor of Rome. He even burnt Rome beside CDs.

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#26

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This is a stereo, aka a boombox.
You use it to play music and be popular.

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Marky Mark
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My siblings and I still call them Ghetto Blasters as if we were stuck in the late 70's.

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#27

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#28

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Hendra Lim
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

me, wakes up at 5 am to download some songs, because the internet provider is suck at normal times, and only got moderate speed at 2 to 6 am

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#29

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This is a beeper, also known as a pager.
It can be used to transmit short messages or, in some cases, voice recordings.

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Rissie
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You know what's crazy? Hospitals still using these because they are so easy to use. They notify you clearly, give you a quick overview of the urgency and let you decide to call back immediately or attend to what you're doing at that point first. Leaving the decision making with the actual person while not having to set a gazilion options only to forget to turn the sound on when you were needed to save someone's life.

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#30

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This is a cellphone.
You use it to call people.

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Hans
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one is odd. Even two years old normally recognize those, but consider them toys instead of things an adult would use.

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#31

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EHops
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yup! It was a panic trying to close it when your playing with your mom's phone 😂

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#33

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Helen Haley
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is crazy. Cable tv is crazy expensive and you still have to watch commercials.

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#34

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kurisutofu
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, to be honest, a lot of people from older generations who have never used one would not know about the rotary thing.

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#35

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Falcon
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember watching a movie that my father recorded and I accidentally pressed the record button, so he got like a 5 second clip of a commercial in the middle of the movie. >_<

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#36

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Carol Emory
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4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

NOOOOO! Don't ever do this! I used to cringe when I worked at Nintendo of America and kids would call in saying the game didn't work even after blowing on the connector. Your game isn't working BECAUSE you've been blowing on the connector. It makes the contacts erode. Best thing to use is a cleaning kit or an old t-shirt or tea towel and rubbing alcohol. Never use a cloth or q-tips that have the chance of getting stuck or fraying/leaving strands behind.

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#38

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Jane Alexander
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We couldn't even search, just had to wait through the whole damn 'hit parade' to hear that certain one.

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#41

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Random Panda
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pfft, I remember when my dad used to have one of the earliest cellphones, it was as large as a brick. And he had a pager for texting. It feels surreal how fast things have changed.

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#42

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This is a pencil sharpener.
It sharpens pencils.

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TUBLOVER3
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not only that, it sharpens different sizes of pencils - the best!

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#43

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Anne
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lol.. Casette tape.. and stop recording when the dj started talking..

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#44

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This is also a cassette tape.
You can store music on it.

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Layla Corman
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4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My favorite band ever!! 😀😀😀😀 Can NOT wait to see them at Fenway in August!! *Edit- Crazy good album too!

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#45

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chi-wei shen
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

...or hitting a key more than three times because you needed a special letter like an Umlaut.

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#46

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TUBLOVER3
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And the movie was always one you'd already seen and didn't like ....

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#47

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J Mason
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4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Imagine someone like at Walmart calling the police or the Secret Service because you paid with one of those.

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#48

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athornedrose
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

yessssssss i had the purple one, which was like the only color option available

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#51

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#52

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chi-wei shen
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's a sign of a very fast development because Facebook is only 16 years old.

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#54

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Phil DeBlanc
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm really old. We used to use a clothespin and a playing card in our spokes. Of course, we had more that three spokes too, so...

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#55

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Hooked
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We did that too. But we had to rotate since we were shooed off every time we spent to long at the same hangout. The noise our heels made while banging them against the metal switch boxes would drive people crazy. Hmmm...those were the good old days....:-)

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#56

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Tacitus86
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Still kind of the fact. Verizon wireless is still more expensive than anywhere else for absolutely no reason.