I was born in 1984, so chances are not even my parents can remember much of the early 70s (although my hippy aunt says that anyone who can wasn't there, whatever that means). But with your other list there's a few I don't know about.

They are too young to remember the space shuttle blowing up.

I have vague memories but nothing concrete. I have a clear understanding in my head though that it involved packing materials in some way.

Their lifetime has always included AIDS.

For sure. They drilled that one into my head in primary sex ed classes, even before I had any idea what they were talking about (From the video I got the vague idea that guys and girls in oversized jumpers were attacked by the grim reaper if they sat down on the grass together. Fortunately I didn't wear oversized jumpers so felt perfectly safe).

Bottle caps have always been screw off and plastic.
Were they ever any other way? If so, what?

The CD was introduced the year they were born.
I think I bought a tape once when I was a kid, but my first stereo at the age of 10 had a cd player.

They have always had an answering machine.
Yeah. And I religiously ignore every message to this very day.

They have always had cable.
Nope. Cable didn't hit Australia in any big way til the late 90s, and even now it's fairly rare.

They cannot fathom not having a remote control.
We did have one of those antiques with a knob you had to turn, but it blew up when I was in year 2 in primary school, so more or less yes to this one.

Popcorn has always been cooked in the microwave.
For sure. How are you supposed to keep the popping contained if it's not?

They do not care who shot J. R. and have no idea who J. R. even is.
Damn right. Who the hell is JR?

They don't have a clue how to use a typewriter.
It really can't be that hard if my ancestors could do it. I'm quietly confident.

This is very old already. From 2000, I think.

The second part is certainly older than the Columbia catastrophe.

Cactoblasta:

Bottle caps have always been screw off and plastic.

Were they ever any other way? If so, what?

Metal, you had to use a bottle opener to pry the lid off one.

They don't have a clue how to use a typewriter.

It really can't be that hard if my ancestors could do it. I'm quietly confident.

Good luck finding one in working order. Probably went the way of your old TV, with the knob. (Heh, he said "knob".)

Leauki/Andrew:

This is very old already. From 2000, I think. The second part is certainly older than the Columbia catastrophe.

Probably is. I can't claim to have written it. Found it and posted, hoping it would strike up a conversation on how the world has changed in our lifetimes. And it has.

"Old at being young; young at being old" -- Stephen Page

They don't have a clue how to use a typewriter.

I was born in 1977 and the only typewriter I know how to use is the 1938 model that my father used to use until the early 90s.

(He was one of the first people in Germany to use computers. He even knew the inventor of the digital computer in person. But he didn't use one at home for quite a long time.)

Was that in between episodes of that Midnight Taxi show? You know, that soft-core porn show that came on around 2 am... not that I would know, of course... Hey, come on! I was 12, guys! Of course I wanted to see porn!

Actually, just before! As they did have strippers.

And where were your parents young man?

I have vague memories but nothing concrete. I have a clear understanding in my head though that it involved packing materials in some way.

No, the O rings. The cold made them contract, and then the hot gasses leaked. I was at work when it happened. The Shuttle had become so routine, we rarely watched it any more. But we did have a TV in a conference room, and as luck would have it, it was across the hall from my cube. So I saw it.

Shuttles have not been routine since then.

Were they ever any other way? If so, what?

Yes, that is what a bottle opener was for. Metal and they did not screw!

For sure. How are you supposed to keep the popping contained if it's not?

You put the popcorn in a pot, some oil and then when you hear the first kernel pop, you start shaking the pot so as not to burn the popcorn!

damn I am old!

Were they ever any other way? If so, what? Yes, that is what a bottle opener was for. Metal and they did not screw! For sure. How are you supposed to keep the popping contained if it's not? You put the popcorn in a pot, some oil and then when you hear the first kernel pop, you start shaking the pot so as not to burn the popcorn! damn I am old!

Me too because I still do it that way sometimes.

Yikes...is all I can say...I need a nap now

They have always had an answering machine.

Yeah. And I religiously ignore every message to this very day.

Have you ever noticed something: back in the day, we used to get annoyed when the person we were calling had an answering machine.

Now we get annoyed when they don't.