madkow, I know where you are coming from with the idea about your boy and the video games.  I did the same thing with mine.  I didn't want him to be all consumed with the tv, etc.  But I gotta tell you this.  Last year he had a real good friend.  That friend played video games, etc.  I went over to pick my son up after a sleep over and I say how upset he was because he didn't know how to play anything.  I mean he didn't even know how to hold the controls.  He connect with his friends on this level.  Now don't get me wrong when other kids his age were reading "see spot run" he was looking up words in the dictionary.  So on that level he didn't connect either.  But that isn't playing and being a kid.  Anyhow, I started feeling like I failed in some way, although my intentions were.  So that year I was talking to my husband about us getting some game toy thing (he's younger and was more into that stuff then I ever was, I liked playing pong and frogger).  Kids at his age were playing with the PS3 and Xboxes etc.  I didn't want to spend a whole on something that I didn't know if my son would get into, he was a behind his time.  So we decided to start him out on a um game box, no, a game cube.  So he got that for xmas, and it came with controls, a memory card, some games, and my husband to help him.  Also since the game cubes weren't the "hot" items anymore the actual games were not too expensive if we wanted to by extra.  Anyhow, I soon realized that playing these games weren't as "mind numbing" as I thought they were.  Those controls are hard!  It takes some good motor skills to play, the memory in your own head that is involved, the problem solving, the multi tasking it takes. etc.  I was amazed on how much my son actually could learn from playing these video games.  I was never believer before.  Now my today isn't really into all that.  He likes to play maybe once a week or so.  He plays mostly now when it is dark or too cold outside.  So all I am saying in you might want to introduce some of the things to your son but moderately.  Like I said I was surprise to find out that in my quest to not make him a video junkie, I enabled him in many other ways. 

I think the most I have spent was around $100 on a game cube for my son.  (look at my last comment).  But my parents on the other hand bought him a new motorcycle last year for xmas.  I can't think of the most expensive thing my parents bought me for xmas.  I find that funny.  I was probably my 410 shot gun.  To the kids it was about getting something you wanted and I don't remember things being a "big ticket" item.  But I sure my parents do or did.  As kids we weren't competing with the Jones.  But again we lived out in the country and cable wasn't really a big thing.  In fact I didn't get cable until I moved out on my own to Bakersfield.  But I do remember when MTV first came out, I had to watch it at a friends house.  I was into "Friday Night Videos".  I still have a VHS tape of videos that I thought were the bomb.  Its all blurry and snowing =)  Ok a question for all you original MTV generation:  What was the first video that they aired on MTV?  No looking it up on the Internet!!!  Hint:  it was a "one hit" band.

Video killed the radio star

ok bigdog, who sung it

The Buggles.... My older kids tell me that i have a head full of useless information. It funny i can't remember what i had for dinner last night but i can remember something like this.

Colitas name the originals MTV's  VJ's

Ok, Bigdog  you are making my head hurt but I think I have it.....sort of.  First comes to mind is Downtown Julie Brown, but I don't think she was an original.  Martha Quin, Nina Black..something, J.J. (i think) Jackson, Alan Hunter, Mark..something.  I cant' remember if there were 5 or 6.  But I think I am missing someone. 

weren't the Buggles from England or something?  And if they were do you know if they made it back there?

Yes, Greg, Club 33 with the 9 year waiting list for admission and a 10K admission fee, plus about 3K a year membership fee. It's a five star restaurant. I always thought it was "urban legend".

I'm on the list of course...NOT! lol....

Club 33 is in the French Quarter somewhere - I heard it is under the Blue Bayou - lol - that was always my favorite place to eat at D-land.

I'll settle for McDonald's

hey bigdog, am I close on the VJ's?

Wasn't Kurt Loder one of the originals? I was living in Idaho when I first saw MTV; it took the town about 2 years before the cable company would carry it. Bunch of religious folks blocked it up until then.

Another trivia MTV question: who hosted the first MTV video awards?

bigdog, I liked Soaring over California, especially the scents they pump in during the ride. But the loop-de-Loop roller coaster is DA BOMB! There's also a very nice restaurant on that side of the park, too. I can't remember the name.

 

Colitas yes you win....blackwood a goodman are the last names of the two . JJ Jackson died a couple of years ago. MTV used to be fun to watch (Headdbangers ball). Now it sucks, they don't even play videos any more.Colitas i have no idea who hosted the awards show.Who?oohchild i like every thing about soaring over California. have you tryed it with out your shoes and socks on, it adds to the sensation of the ride.I really enjoyed California adventure land over Disney land. Yes because I'm older.No Kurt was not an original

Bette Midler and a male known for his comedies, was Chevy Chase?  But what I remember was Madonna's live version of "Like a Virgin".  People thought she was going to hell and that this was the most taboo thing that could have ever been on tv.  Now look at what is on during prime-time on sitcoms.  If she made that performance now it would be PG13.  But at the time, people were up in arms.  But then again I remember her using the word "virgin" was like cuss word.  Also, the dialog between Bette Midler and the mystery man was extreme in sexual nature according with times.