Play Meter

f ROM THE EDITOR The times, they are a-changing 8 ob Dylan said it quite a few years ago, but I'm pretty sure he meant it for all times . Yes, the times they are achanging, just as they have been since time began and as they will long into the future . But getting ready for the technologically advanced '90s has not been easy for those of us left back in the '60s! I haven't grown as fond of computers as they seem to have grown fond of affecting my life. When I wrote a check for $200 and the bank processed it for $400, the woman in charge was much more willing to assume I was wrong than the computer. She was ready to accept that I had screwed up, but the computer? I may be a little overwhelmed with all the new technology, but I know that I am not alone. Gearing up for changes in the '90s now involves changing our way of enjoying music . We can't buy 45s anymore in our favorite record stores, and less and less space is being allotted to albums . I can honestly say that I found myself in complete sympathy with Lou Larson ' s (Atlas in Pittsburgh) wife. It seems that she bought an album of one of her favorite groups . She happily went home, fully expecting to enjoy the music blissfully, oblivious to the fact that simply no one I 0 PLAY METER/ April 1991 buys albums anymore, especially when your husband is in the business! When Lou saw that she had bought an album , he said, "Honey, get with the '90s. No one buys albums anymore! CDs are in now.'' Lou explained that since he is in the business of operating jukeboxes, he knows that CDs are the future of music. How could his wife buy an album! I never did find out if she shrugged him off and enjoyed the album anyway or if she reluctantly faced the reality of the times they are a-changing! After listening to Lou tell me of his wife being obviously unaware of what is going on around her, I was a little afraid to tell him that I still look for 8-track tapes! So what's wrong with 8-tracks-beside the fact that you can't buy them anymore. I remember distinctly the first time I became attuned to the fact that 8-tracks were history; I uneagerly switched to cassettes. No , it wasn't easy, but I've been happy . CDs? You mean I am going to have to change again? It sure looks that way. This new reality hit home last Christmas. I was buying my daughter a new stereo. After looking at all the sound stores, I knew that I would be buying one with a CD player. I figured that my daughter didn ' t really need that feature, but since most came with a CD player, it couldn 't hurt. When she opened it up Christmas morning, before I could explain that she didn't have to use the CD player if she didn 't want to , she was telling me that I was finally with it. "I bet they didn't have any 8-track players,'' she chuckled. I looked to my beloved husband for support, but he was struggling to contain his laughter. Any change is hard if you aren't willing to bend. Writing articles on a typewriter seems so antiquated now and often I've wondered how I did it. But when computers were first introduced in the office, I swore I would not abandon my typewriter-my familiar typewriter. I'll admit that it took a while before I was totally weaned from the old. Our wonderful industry has been called ever-changing. What an apt description; it's why our industry works. We will always be amazed at new technology, thrilled with new ideas, and , hopefully , willing to bend with changes . We wouldn 't want it any other way. 0 Valerie Cognevich Editor