An Odd Thing To Miss

[vakkotaur]

Ever try something or experience something and find you didn't much care for it? But then years later get this strange craving, or the feeling that something is missing when you notice the absence of whatever it was?

So help me, I'm actually missing the EBS tests a bit. I know the EAS (Emergency Alert System) does the same job, and better, but it's not the same - which is the point, of course. It's only a matter of time before someone asks what the deal is with Screeaeaeaeaeaeaeaea... "This is a test. This is only a test. Had this been..." screaeaeaeaea... And EBS will fade from memory as CONELRAD has.

Comments

[irpooh.livejournal.com]

As a kid on the tail end of the "duck and cover era" that darn Screeaeaeaeaeaeaeaea... "This is a test. This is only a test. Had this been..." screaeaeaeaea... always scared the ever lovin' snot out of me, probably because of what we were taught it meant. I like the newer gentler version - but still have flashbacks and the urge to duck and cover.

[vakkotaur.livejournal.com]

I never had the "duck and cover" experience. I quite understand the preference for the less obtrusive tests.

I had an answer to EBS broadcasts in the 80s...

[haystack.livejournal.com]

"The Russians are coming! The Russians are coming!"

Funny the things folks get nostalgic about. I'd never even heard of CONELRAD until you mentioned it. Bit before my day, perhaps?

Re: I had an answer to EBS broadcasts in the 80s...

[vakkotaur.livejournal.com]

Before mine, too. I only encountered it from an old electronics magazine or two and once when Johnny Carson asked Tommy Newsome where he'd been, Tommy deadpanned back "I was having my house CONELRADed" and really caught Carson off guard.

I had at times pondered a gag (which it's probably best I never actually did as it could've caused a panic) with the EBS tone:

Screaeaeaeaeaeaeae...
This is NOT a test! Repeat. This is NOT a test. For further informa-[*static*]

[kinkyturtle.livejournal.com]

E-mair-gen-cee! Ev-ree-boh-dee to get from street!