Apr 16 2007
Sounds on the Verge of Extinction
What sounds are dying off?
The boop-boop-boop-eeeee-aaaa…sccccrreeeeeccch…dinga-dunga-dinga-dunga of a modem.
The ticka-tacka-tick-tick-wwwhiiirrr-DING! of a manual typewriter as you type and slide the Carriage Return (yes! the original carriage return! Not your Octal 15!)
The zzzz-pfft! as an incandescent light bulb bites the big bullet in the sky.
The click-clatter-snick-whick-whick-whick…as you insert and then rewind a cassette tape.
The eek! when you slip the needle against the record.
The sshhrrr-tick! sssshhrr-tick-tick-tick! as you dial first 1 then 3 on a rotary phone.
What sounds are fading from our lives?
LOL! Thanks for the trip down memory of antiquated sounds lane! That was great. And for those too young to know if she captured those sounds accurately–she nailed them.
You took it back. I was just talking about stuff I missed and how I first learned how to type. Not to mention changing my first ribbon.
Hey “Mom with Dogs” thanks for stopping by!
I’m glad I came across your blog again via DigitalRich’s Carnival of Storytellers! I love your entry.
Oooch for writing “those too young to know!” My age it a be-showing. Glad you can confirm my accuracy – I had to do a few from memory (like the rotary phone and typewriter).
Urban Thought: Oh, the joys of ribbon-changing, getting the ink on your fingers and wondering if it’s worth it to purchase the “all black” ribbon or the “half-red/half-black” one. I did like using the carriage-return on the manual typewriters – that heavy carriage, that old-fashioned DING! Gratifying, like “Well, that LINE is DONE.”
Someone needs to catalog all these sounds, put them on a big gold disc, and shoot them into outer space!
The last album we sent out to extraterrestrials on the Voyager hasn’t been a big seller so far.
great question! the thing that pops to mind for me is the sound of a vcr rewinding a tape and then coming to that abrubt stop when it’s finished…
Shane: Cataloging the sounds – inneresting idea. Wonder what impression the ETs would have of us then!
EB: that’s a great one.
Hmm, how does that sound….chuh-chuh-chuhchuhchuh-kkkcccc-kuk!
I never had a VCR so I’m doing that from recalling others’!
Good one to add to the Endangered Sounds list!
Where do you get endangered sounds? …lol. My cell phone rings and I say “now what”? before even answering. Morning alarm, awww please shut up. When I type my bangle makes a sound on the table geee.
None of them are dying, they are just getting better…lol.
Cheers