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5 Shows You Watched Growing Up Without Cable

A time even before Netflix...

Mattie Thielke

Feb 11, 2019

Grand Canyon University

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5 Shows You Watched Growing Up Without Cable

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzDovXyiTNE

Not all of us were blessed with cable growing up, making PBS the cartoon supplier extraordinaire. We didn't have the joy of Nickelodeon or Disney or even Cartoon Network for that matter. It would wistfully cross our paths at chance sleepovers or occasionally at a family restaurant. We craved the laughter of SpongeBob like a moth to a lamp. However, we had to make do with what we had. We lived for the moments when it was kids time on the public access network.. it fed our cable-deprived souls.

"Dragon Tales"

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"I wish, I wish, with all my heart, to fly with dragons in a land apart." C'mon didn't we all wish that we could hold on to that magical stone with Max and Emmy and go hang with dragons? Even when PBS was your only source of imagination, the idea of magic dragons was pretty darn good.

"Thomas and Friends"

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"Down the hills and round the bends, Thomas and his friends" Whether you were cheeky like Thomas or really knew you stuff like Emily, talking trains are relatable to anyone. It didn't matter if you even liked trains, when they're sassy and sarcastic anyone can enjoy them. Thomas' everlasting positivity made us believe that if a tank engine can make it through anything so can we.

"Barney and Friends"

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"I love you, you love me. We're a happy family" Big purple dinosaurs bring joy to everyone, even if they're not scientifically accurate. Who wouldn't want to sing and dance with a man in a glorified mascot costume? Barney taught us the value of sharing and friendship, not like any of us really like to share.

"Arthur"

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Regardless of this show bringing us one of the best memes of the century, it also made is learn that an aardvark in cartoon form can ambiguously look like just about any animal. Also, that an aardvark and a bunny can be best friends if they truly believe. Oh yeah, and we can all agree that D.W. was the worst.

"Clifford the Big Red Dog"

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Dog...awesome. Red dog...pretty cool. BIG red dog.. how could it get better? The bond between Clifford and Emily Elizabeth introduced us to the idea of man's (or girl's) best friend. We all secretly wished that our dog was big enough to slide down their tail. Clifford showed young kiddos that you don't always get what you expect in life but no matter the size or the color everyone deserves some lovin'

Before the age of Netflix, or online streaming, or even On Demand features for that matter; the deprivation we felt not growing up with cable ate us alive. PBS was our knight in shining armor, dashing in with life lessons and cute animals. They were the first to teach us about friendship, sharing, caring, and loving. Thank you, PBS for supplying me with my cartoon crack when my parents wouldn't give me cable. Thank you for allowing me to feel included (at times) in the cartoon conversations with kids at school. Kids these days will never know the pain of cable deprivation but those who remember the sting so clearly can agree that PBS was a life-saver.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

Lifestyle

Cool Off with These 8 Beers!

North Carolina State University

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Summer is hot and humid, and it's almost like summer was made specifically to drink the refreshing, cold, crisp wonderful, delicious, nutritious nectar of the gods. Which is none other than beer; wonderful cold beer. With summer playing peek-a-boo around the corner while we finish up this semester, it's time to discuss the only important part of summer. And if you haven't already guessed, it's beer. There are few things I take more seriously than my beer, in order are: sports... and beer. Here are my favorite summer brews:

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Recommended for you

5 Shows You Watched Growing Up Without Cable

A time even before Netflix...

"Dragon Tales"

"Thomas and Friends"

"Barney and Friends"

"Arthur"

"Clifford the Big Red Dog"

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Appreciation for some of life's most discredited pleasures.

1. Sun showers

2. Smiles

3. Tight hugs

4. Discovering new foods you like.

5. Laying in bed after a long day.

6. And being completely relaxed

7. "This reminded me of you"

8. Breakfast foods

9. Over-sized clothes

10. Contagious laughs

11. Car rides with that one person

12. Random (I miss you/ I love you) texts

13. The city at night

14. Surprises

15. Blanket cocoons

16. Good hair days

17. Really good coffee

18. Days where you're in a good mood naturally and for no particular reason

19. Conquering a fear

20. When they give you a lot of guac at Chipotle

21. Being so comfortable with someone that you can literally talk about anything

22. Home-cooked meals

23. Tattoo stories

24. Leaves changing color in fall

25. Butterflies in your stomach

26. Peanut butter & jelly sandwiches

27. When you can't stop laughing

Cool Off with These 8 Beers!

Coors Light Summer Brew:

Leinenkugel Summer Shandy

Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat

Want to know more about beer?

Sam Adams Summer Ale

Hell or High Watermelon

Blue Moon Summer Honey

LandShark Lager

Corona

75 degrees and sunny, plus, no humidity. I mean do I really need to say more?

Perfect Weather

You'll get an effortless tan

You can exercise with a view

You don't have to worry about bug bites

In n Out all day, every day

We have outdoor concerts

We live where people vacation

Because let's be honest, we all use lyrics.

1. “Don’t get too close, it’s dark inside. It's where my demons hide.”

2. “Tonight, we are young.”

3. “Cuz I may be bad, but I’m perfectly good at it.”

4. “Tell me how they got that pretty little face on that pretty little frame.”

5. “I can’t wait to fall in love with you, you can’t wait to fall in love with me.”

6. “Sweatpants, hair tied, chillin with no makeup on.”

7. “Why you so obsessed with me?”

8. “We ain’t ever getting older.”

9. “I didn’t know that I was starving until I tasted you.”

10. “Didn’t they tell you I’m a savage?"

11. “I’m gonna make you miss me.”

12. "Cheers to the freakin weekend.”

13. “Love’s a game. Wanna play?”

14. “You don’t know about me, but I bet you want to.”

15. “Let’s set each other’s lonely nights, Be each other’s paradise.”

16. “Trippin’ on skies, sippin’ waterfalls."

17. “Wish we could turn back time, to the good old days.”

18. “But you will remember me for centuries.”

19. “Something about you makes me feel like a dangerous woman."

20. “Don’t act like it’s a bad thing to fall in love with me.”

21. “Darling, I’m a nightmare dressed like a daydream.”

22. “Find me where the wild things are.”

23. “I’m high on lovin’ you.”

24. “If you’re gonna be somebody’s heartbreak, somebody’s mistake, if you’re gonna be somebody’s first time, somebody’s last time, be mine.”

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1. "Talk about a dream
Try to make it real
You wake up in the night
With a fear so real
Spend your life waiting
For a moment that just don't come
Well don't waste your time waiting." (Badlands)