Tanning beds. Daylight Savings Time. Confederate flags. The Electoral College. Think back ... In this week's "Quick Take" (a story you can write in 15 minutes or less), inspired by John Oliver's Last Week Tonight, we invite you to nominate a person, thing, or trend that has outlived its sell-by date. Is it a holdover from a previous worldview? A relic of days gone by? Share your nominations for extinction forward.
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Past Prompts
Quick Take: How Is This Still a Thing? (4 Stories)
Tanning beds. Daylight Savings Time. Confederate flags. The Electoral College. Think back ... In this week's "Quick Take" (a story you can write in 15 minutes or less), inspired by John Oliver's Last Week Tonight, we invite you to nominate a person, thing, or trend that has outlived its sell-by date. Is it a holdover from a previous worldview? A relic of days gone by? Share your nominations for extinction forward.
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Illness (7 Stories)
By our age, most of us have faced serious illness—ourselves, a family member, a close friend. Think back ... How did you learn the diagnosis? What was the prognosis? Have you undergone surgery? How did you cope, and who gave care and support? How were the doctors, nurses, hospitals, and treatments? How did you manage the cost? How did illness change you? Share your illness stories forward.
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What We Watched (9 Stories)
Our generation—the first to grow up with both movies and TV—progressed from Ozzie & Harriet and Bambi to Roots and The Graduate. Our progeny wouldn't believe what glued us to those tiny black-and-white TV sets or kept us riveted in Saturday matinees. Think back ... which movies and TV shows changed your life? Which stars did you idolize or lust after? What would you go back and watch again? Share those stories forward.
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Drive-Ins (7 Stories)
Drive-in movies. Drive-in restaurants. It seems like we were always at one or the other. Think back ... to the car culture of our childhood or teenage years. What memories do drive-ins conjure up for you? Food servers on roller skates? Popcorn all over the car? Necking (or more) in the back seat? What should our unlucky progeny know about this world they never knew? Share your drive-in stories forward.
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Let’s Put On a Show (5 Stories)
Talent shows. Recitals. Drama club. Think back ... most of us have performed in public at some point. Were you in a children's choir? A high school musical? Did you put on skits for your parents? How did you do? Did you get stagefright? Have your children and grandchildren performed? Share your performing stories forward.
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