I’ve been wasting time watching audio-related YouTube videos, with turntables being a favorite topic. Back in the 80’s, electronics manufacturers did what they could to modernize turntables, while at the same time promoting their CD players. Along with direct-drive turntables and P-Mount cartridges, there were linear-tracking tonearms.
The music that’s played to demonstrate the turntable is by Jeremy Heiden. Something about the first track reminded me of an early 80’s Steve Miller song, with maybe an added splash of the Police from the same era.
From a message I, and millions more, received from Alphabet/Google/YouTube.
YouTube’s right to monetize: YouTube has the right to monetize all content on the platform and ads may appear on videos from channels not in the YouTube Partner Program.
I had a sneaking suspicion this was coming. Next up will be the end of embedding.
Here’s a question you didn’t ask, but you’ll like the answer. Is the classic transistor radio earphone, used by millions of kids under their bed covers at night, still being made? Yes, and you can get one for less than a buck-fifty.
A 1996 history of computers. Curiously for that year, the Internet isn’t mentioned, despite an onscreen appearance by Arpanet innovator Bob Taylor. At that time the minicomputer industry, that had been a driving economic force here in Massachusetts for 25 years, was on its last legs.
https://youtu.be/OSQld7xVMn0
I became an Amazon customer in August, 1996. My first order was a gift for “Rose is Rose” cartoonist Pat Brady who, to my surprise, wasn’t familiar with Winsor McCay.
Behind the high school version of me in the picture above was a pair of Realistic MC-1000 speakers from Radio Shack. MC-1000’s are now a butt of jokes in audio circles, but only my steady girlfriend had more of my undivided attention than my stereo system did at that time.
Consumer Reports gave the MC-1000 a Best Buy rating. I bought a pair with money earned working at a restaurant (following my night working as a carny). At the time they cost $100. That’s equivalent to $600 today, which will still buy a very good pair of speakers.
Radio Shack 1972 catalog
When I quit the restaurant at the end of high school I was earning $1.85/hour, or about $11.50 today. The summer after graduation I worked for the town’s school system at the incredible rate of $3.00/hour, or $18 when adjusted for inflation. I could easily have been killed by an accident that happened while doing unsupervised and dangerous work for that job, but I escaped unscathed.
Even with the money spent on girlfriends, comic books and related items, and the stereo and records for it, I managed to save $2500 for college. That’s $15,000 in today’s money, which wouldn’t get anyone past their freshman year at even a public 4-year college.
P.S. to mih — We met 50 years ago this month. You were the one who told me I should get a job.
90 seconds in Minneapolis, and it isn’t about the George Floyd murder trial. Background on the video is at this link, and note that you may be sent to YouTube to watch it.
