I'm pretty sure the only recording of an actual castrato is one of the last ones, when he was old. So there's a whole kind of voice that we can't hear. AFAIK.

No. They were invented by a guy named Al, who was notoriously lazy.

BAH.

However, my air-conditioner is blocking the window that would normally give us the most ventilation

God, mine too. Makes me nuts. Actually, is it tempting fate too much to take the AC out for the season?

It's supposed to be 88 on Thursday. I think I'll give it another week.

Well, I'm not doing anything about it tonight, so.

Once upon a time records came in four flavors, known by the revolutions per minute required to play them normally -- 16, 33 1/3, 45, 78.

78s were popular from the advent of the Victorola to the rise of the LP, I believe in the 1940s. Old blues, gospel, and jazz 78s are big collector's items.

33 1/3 RPM records were better known as LPs. LPs delivered 20-30 minutes of music per side, compared to the 10-15 minutes or so per side of the 78. Thus, LPs rapidly replaced 78s as the primary means of distributing music. By the 1950s the record companies barely sold 78s. By the 1980s you were hard-pressed to find a record player that had a "78" option.

16 RPM records were meant to deliver even more music on a 12-inch platter than an LP. Problem was that a 16 RPM record was very lo-fi, and the format didn't last all that long. However, it was a lot of fun playing LPs at 16 RPM for the Thurl Ravenscroft-like sound.

And then there were 45s. Two songs, that's all. But dirt cheap. They were the currency of musical youth for years, until the C90 blank tape arrived and the mix arrived.

By the 1970s, tape was starting to replace vinyl. It was more portable (imagine trying to put a turntable in the car) and could hold more music (an LP a side on the C90 tape. Reel-to-reel came first, followed by the 8-track, and finally the cassette. They eroded vinyl sales, but it really wasn't until the CD -- and the ensuing record company push onto the format -- that "killed" vinyl. By the late 80s, new albums were CD and cassette only, not on vinyl. LPs did live on, though, through independent releases and Pearl Jam continuing to print LPs.

And there's a brief lesson in the history of the vinyl record. Hec will be by to correct my mistakes shortly.

imagine trying to put a turntable in the car

There were some cars in the late '50s that had in-dash record players (they only played 45s).

Plus 78s were made of Bakelite or somesuch brittle plastic.

78s were a lot thicker than LPs. They had to be to endure the speed and force needed to play them without breaking up.

A 78 is very heavy compared to a 45. I can't imagine Glen Miller going around Boulder carrying 10-12 78s and a record player without thinking that he was a really strong man.

How I have missed Jon.

eta: I had doubts that TDS could work with this tragic last week. Bless them.

eta: I had doubts that TDS could work with this tragic last week. Bless them.

Yes! A ROUS reference!

Okay, Prison Break Question:

Was Michael's plan completely stupid or what? Don't get me wrong, Wentworth Miller is a very pretty man, even though he's not my type. But this show is crazy making!

Hec will be by to correct my mistakes shortly.

Nah, that's fine. Though the 16 RPMs were mostly used for non-musical purposes. Like...teaching typing, or speeches. The business stuff Ple alluded to.