http://www.greatsouthbay.com/WiredTelegraphy4.JPG

Telegraphy

Before the mass use of fax machines and email starting in the late 1980s and mid 1990s respectively, the best way to get a message sent, and in some cases the only way, was through "the wire". Though the telegraphic technology of the 80s/early 90s was much more advanced than the original systems in the mid-19th century, it still operated on the same principles.

https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRxixRwkbqnKDMv87hWX82TOFKXbn4wwiWIKGLl9ORsZL4gzIsx

The Phonograph

From the beginning of recording in the 1880s to about 1985, when the cassette overtook vinyl, the phonograph was the primary way to record and play back sound. The technology remained fundamentally unchanged aside from automation and better amplification during that hundred year period.

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Sears Roebuck Corporation

From the early 20th century to 1990, Sears was the largest retailer in the US. Somewhere around the middle of 1990, it was surpassed in revenue by Wal-Mart, a chain that was already very popular in the South and lower Midwest during the late 70s and throughout the 80s.



https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSx_iTfrJtQsP-LjzNdwBE54vKYl08s29aZAiV6UqKOjXqRpxbk

"Selling coal to Newcastle"

First recorded in 1538, "selling coal to Newcastle" is an idiom noting foolish futility. It refers to the fact that for centuries, Newcastle, UK used to export massive amounts of coal. The closure of mines starting in the mid 80s made it so that it was actually profitable for the United States to sell Newcastle coal by 1990, crushing the validity of the 500 year old idiom. By 2004 coal literally was being sold to Newcastle.


http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HhEEfrGrlWc/UF0NsGvLVSI/AAAAAAAAAso/zujzU9O0f10/s1600/ariel-the-little-mermaid-14629313-1280-1024.jpg

Traditional animation

The Little Mermaid was the last Disney animated film that was done primarily in a traditional fashion. By 1990, Disney was using the CAPS system with digital ink to create The Rescuers Down Under. Today, they don't even make 2D animation anymore whatsoever.

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The Age of European Empires (1492-1991)

The collapse of the Soviet Union represented the end of the last Europe-based empire. Since 1991, the power of the world has shifted from the Atlantic to the Asia-Pacific region due to American hegemony and the rise of China.

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Resistance against consumerism

The fall of Communism also saw the near-universal embrace of capitalism and consumerism globally. While environmentalism has stood in opposition to consumerism and capitalism, overall it has been set back by corporate interest.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/TJ_harvesteri.jpg/250px-TJ_harvesteri.jpg

The logging industry in the Pacific Northwest

Over-extraction and a local desire to preserve the Northwestern forests caused the timber industry in the Pacific Northwest to decline dramatically in the 80s, essentially being a shell of its former self by 1990.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/94/Atlantic_cod_capture_1950_2005.png

North Atlantic cod industry


The early 90s saw the sudden collapse of the cod fishery, causing a centuries-long industry to die out overnight.

The Phonograph

From the beginning of recording in the 1880s to about 1985, when the cassette overtook vinyl, the phonograph was the primary way to record and play back sound. The technology remained fundamentally unchanged aside from automation and better amplification during that hundred year period.


I would rather think that the gramophone fits better here, because phonographs played records that had the form of a cylinder.

The grooves of the cylinder (hill-and-dale recording) were also different than the ones of flat records (lateral recording).

Gramophones more or less followed exactly the same physical pricipals as the late record players of the 80s. They were only were mechanical, the records were thicker and the revolution per minute was faster.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-25Be018nswA/UH7naoiMl9I/AAAAAAAABrA/Io45KtE2kDk/s1600/DSC04550.JPG

Actually, not only are vinyl records not dead but they've made quite a bit of a comeback in the last several years. Sales have more than quadrupled since 2007.

http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/permalink/2012/121004vinyl

Actually, not only are vinyl records not dead but they've made quite a bit of a comeback in the last several years. Sales have more than quadrupled since 2007.

http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/permalink/2012/121004vinyl


I guess I meant as a dominant medium. Though, they might become the dominant physical medium again if CDs continue to suffer in sales.

Actually, not only are vinyl records not dead but they've made quite a bit of a comeback in the last several years. Sales have more than quadrupled since 2007.

http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/permalink/2012/121004vinyl


I guess people like listening to vinyl more than CDs.

I have to disagree on the European empires.  Western Europe and North America still control most of the world's resources and money even if they don't govern the countries.

I guess I meant as a dominant medium. Though, they might become the dominant physical medium again if CDs continue to suffer in sales.


Records are not dead, but they are far away from becoming a dominant physical medium. I just suppose that people that are used to iPods and MP3 will find vinyl just too bulky and complicated.

I just suppose that people that are used to iPods and MP3 will find vinyl just too bulky and complicated.

Those are the kids of today that listen to iPods and MP3, us old schoolers like vinyls because we grew up with that.

Those are the kids of today that listen to iPods and MP3, us old schoolers like vinyls because we grew up with that.


I grew up with cassettes and I still hate them.

I grew up with cassettes and I still hate them.


Why do you hate cassettes?  ???

Getting married before having kids.

Why do you hate cassettes?  ???


Quality, winding forward/backward and as we Germans call(ed) it literally: "tape-salad":

http://www.foto-hahn-dresden.de/Bilder/bandsalat.jpg

Quality, winding forward/backward and as we Germans call(ed) it literally: "tape-salad":

http://cache2.asset-cache.net/xc/104229298-tape-salad-thinkstock.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=B53F616F4B95E553B6CB7748142ED3827670255120103DECDD42460B6A8A8555AF02A446DE301F85


or sometimes the tape would get stuck in the machine. ::)

Quality, winding forward/backward and as we Germans call(ed) it literally: "tape-salad":

http://www.foto-hahn-dresden.de/Bilder/bandsalat.jpg


Then you understand the link between a cassette and a pencil.  ;)

http://www.aprilroad.com/pages/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cassette_and_pencil.png

Then you understand the link between a cassette and a pencil.  ;)


You got it. I still grew up with cassettes and I actually had to do this sometimes. I (or my father) also had a repair set for cassettes. That was 'fun'  ::)  8)

You got it. I still grew up with cassettes and I actually had to do this sometimes. I (or my father) also had a repair set for cassettes. That was 'fun'  ::)  8)


But it was annoying at times.  ::)