Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Old school

Don't you worry. We may buy electronic toys once in a while, but we're decidedly old-fashioned when it comes to kids and learning.

Here's the evidence: are we the last family in the US with cassette tapes instead of Ipods?

Speaking of technology, I did try recording my experiment in Blog Talk Radio here. I start with a plan, then quickly devolve into a ramble about wedding gifts.

Seriously--skip this one unless you have some heavy duty bathtub scrubbing to do.

Otherwise, tune in next week for a more engaging discussion with Jenn of Frugal Upstate.

31 comments:

Meredith said...

Oh! And if anyone has experience downloading shows from Blog Talk Radio, could you tell us how to download the segment to an MP3 player?

The site says that you are supposed to be able to do that, but I can't for the life of me figure it out!

Anonymous said...

Please let us know before the next show, also can we listen to a repeat broadcast from that site?

Jenny's Vegcafe said...

OOh, I'm gonna listen while I fold laundry. As for the cassette tapes- we still have them. And I still buy VHS at the goodwill.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, we use cassettes, too. No iPod in this house yet.

Amy said...

You have a gift, Meredith! Don't sell yourself short. I really enjoyed listening to this. Thank you for sharing in another format with us!

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Meredith,

I enjoyed the first show and look forward to more to come.

Anonymous said...

Great show! I enjoyed listening to it.

Jeana said...

Nope! We have boxes of them.

Anonymous said...

No one in this world is more old fashioned than me. Flash cards for gosh sakes. Does that scream 50's baby or what???
I have more than 300 VHS tapes and more than 100 cassets. I bet if I looked I would find my 8 track. I know I have every LP (records) I ever brought as a teenager...
Can I please ask you a couple of questions? 1) when a post says it has been removed by author, does that mean you or did the poster remove it? I ask because there has been a time or two when I would have liked to remove one of my posts because of a miss spelled word or something..2) can you tell me who wrote the book you are giving away called 'The Gift of Cooking With Joy' I have looked for a used copy on Amazon.com and can not find it. Thanks so much. Your blog is always wonderful. You really do have a talent. Thank you for sharing it. Roxie

Melissa~ said...

Oh no, you are not the only one. I have an ipod, but we have a house full of cassettes...and vhs tapes...

I tried to figure out the mp3 thing for you, but I didn't get very far. :(

I did figure out that the direct link to your mp3 is this:

Meet Meredith

Readers should be able to click on that and then save it to a file where they can download it to their mp3 player.

Basically I just put .mp3 at the end of the address where your show is and that worked.

I haven't, however, been able to figure out how to get it into my itunes...*LOL*...darn it.

Hopefully that link will help though. :)

M~
Pink Paper Peppermints

Anonymous said...

Oh my word, Meredith, the contrast between what I imagined you to sound like and reality is dramatically shocking! You sound just like my cousins, SILs and their friends; that soft, gracious Southern lilt.

Your written voice is formal, instructive and no-nonsense. Very East Coast.

I can hardly hear it (volume problems with my hardware?) and can't stay AT the computer. When I have time will listen attentively.

Definitely hope you continue on this path.

deb meyers

Anonymous said...

Oh, Meredith, I LOVED being able to hear your voice...so much fun! I thought you did great.

Michelle in Georgia

Marsha said...

I'll have to try and listen after I get home from my committee meeting tonight and the kids are asleep.

Oh, and I just today put the last of our cassette tapes in the donation box. The player in the car finally stopped playing anything at all so there was no point in keeping them around anymore. It's a little sad, this transition to technology that was new, oh, 20 years ago but we'll press on. Thank goodness that CDs are cheap now - there are advantages to being late adopters!

n. said...

I loved listening to you *ramble. I do that day in and day out. As for ipods? We do a have a few, purchased for $29 refurbished from the Apple website.

Becky said...

The only place that I have a tape player is in the car so we can occasionally listen to books on "tape" that I get at the library.

I have had a hard time finding one at Goodwill even for using at home!

I haven't tried the radio link yet, but I will later!

Layla said...

I think it's funny that the above poster mentioned your accent. I didn't notice an accent at all! ;)

You do have a very, very pleasant voice. I enjoyed listening to this so much.

As a bride-to-be planning my wedding for this summer, I know that I would appreciate a letter like the one you described just as much as, if not more than, anything from our registry. I really admire your gift for knowing how to make people feel special. Thank you for sharing your tips and for being such an inspiration!

Martha A. said...

We don't like CD's very much, so we have lots of cassettes! you can still buy cassette players thankfully! We grew up on records.....

Charity Grace said...

We love our old cassettes! My kids have Story Hour with Uncle Dan and Aunt Sue...Bible stories and historical dramas. Those are their favorites.

TJ said...

I don't have an ipod, and still don't understand mp3's or any of it. And I'm supposed to be the computer literate one that builds my work website.

Oh well when my kids are older I'll be brought up to speed, and fast I'm sure.

Anonymous said...

Dear Meredith! You were wonderful, I don't know if I would have been as brave. I know of someone who just moved into her first home and I have been stumped as to what to get her, she has so much stuff already. The idea of a pitcher is wonderful!! I will be keeping my eye out for a nice one for her. Thank you for the tip!! I can't wait for the next show!

Jennifer

Cindy from Upstate NY said...

Meredith,
What a lovely start to your blogradio. I sat and listened while nursing a little one.

I had never thought of sending a note to a bride or mother of the Bride after the wedding. What a thoughtful thing to do. So do you typically take a gift to the wedding and then send a smaller gift with the note afterwards also?

I suppose you don't have a picture of the candles you were talking about at the wedding? I always have a hard time picturing things in my mind.

Well thanks for taking the time to share,
cindy

Green Tea & Kimchee said...

Your accent is adorable, it made me homesick! I loved the "professional development" thought. Thank you!

Paula said...

WONDERFULLY DONE!! I agree that you can get a great mp3 player for less than $30. Especially if you do some shopping around. My husband has an iPod I foolishly paid full price for. Since then, I have been able to get myself a refurbished model normal $120 for $25 (free shipping). They are great to use while I am cleaning or walking on the treadmill or out walking the dog.

Also, I have to second the pitcher as a GREAT wedding gift. I actually got one as a game gift during my bridal shower. I used it for 11 years (until it broke just two days ago). :( Now I am contemplating a vow renal just to get a new one! LOL!!!

And snaps to the lady who posted the link to the mp3!! :) I was able to click on it and OPEN WITH iTUNES and it is now saved and playing in my iTunes. You can email me (go through comment on my blog) and I can help you). :)

MommyLydia said...

I have cassettes :( No cassette player to play them in though! I keep wanting to get something to convert them.

Cyndi Lewis said...

No ipods in this house. Well, our cell phones might be able to have downloads but I just use mine as a phone. I don't even really know how to take photos with it. I am not known for embracing technological change. I always joke with my husband that if the advancement of society were up to me, we all still be living in the dark ages. My mind just doesn't think in that manner.

Renee said...

You did a very good job on your first pod cast! Looking forward to many other's to come in the near future. I don't have a laptop, which I do like the idea of being able to take anywhere. VHS tapes we have galore as we can find many great titles even ones I had when I was younger like a Zoobalee Zoo tape that I found at the Salvation Army. I would rather not get into the ipods, and game systems but my dh is one for spending on things like this.
Renee
www.under-the-weeping-willow.blogspot.com

Anne Marie@Married to the Empire said...

I have an iPod, but it's only because my Daddy bought it for me. I'd asked for his old one, but he decided to surprise me and buy me a new one instead. Of course, now I'm wondering how I ever lived without it...

I still listen to cassettes and records. I check out audio books from the library, and I prefer cassette tapes to CDs, as they're easier to stop and start, and they don't get scratched up the way CDs do. It gets harder and harder to find stereo systems and boom boxes with cassette capability, though.

Anne Marie@Married to the Empire said...

I forgot to mention that I listened to your podcast yesterday, and you did a great job! You were interesting to listen to the entire time, and your advice was good.

tchrmom said...

Meredith,
Your blog is usually my first stop online! Yes, we still do cassettes and some VHS (like Bob the Builder from Dollar General). Some people I know don't have a way to play any of these oldie but goodie formats...Vision Forum and other companies put cassettes on clearance so we get great stories and music half price just b/c we can play them! Our library is phasing out the audiobook cassettes, but I do prefer them to CDs that can be more easily destroyed. It is becoming harder to find portable cassette players, though. I won't give up cassettes until I just have to!
By the way, we did purchase a Sony MP3, half the price of an iPod, last Christmas and have fully enjoyed it also.

Crystal Paine said...

Meredith, you sounded exactly like I thought you would -- so warm, calm, generous, kind, giving -- I loved listening and getting to know you a little more. And your ideas were great! I would have never thought of sending a note to the bride's mother after a wedding. My mom would have loved something like that!

Looking forward to next week!