I somewhat share in your sadness. Although I'm sure this is a generational thing, I don't think pining for that cute girl or guy that you've got a crush on will ever be the same if the mix tape is relegated to a podcast.

I suppose the mix CD is a manageable half-way point. But, there's something special (or pathetic maybe...) about having to *play* each song while you transfer it from cassette or vinyl to cassette. Pining ain't easy, nor should it be!

There are some good links here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassette_culture

There was always something gratifying about being able to "fix" tapes yourself as well. All you needed was a little time and a #2 pencil.

Thanks for the link. Awesome!

I'm sad for the hours I wasted perfecting the exact moment to hit the pause button, so as to have a seamless break between songs. Damn that stop button crackle!

I can't imagine ever getting rid of my mix tapes. And a CD doesn't feel the same, although I suppose it is close.

It was a whole other way of math to count down to make sure there was minimal empty space. All this talk of mixtapes makes me want to go make one now...

Perhaps it would be entertaining, a la Salon of Shame, to have a venue to share past mix tapes? I know I have some good ones - thanks to OK-95 in the early 90's. And by good I mean really, really awesomely bad.

Or perhaps even a mix-tape off?

a chain of stores called Currys? With a name like Shane Curry, I wonder if I could pick up some serious corporate backing with a musical venture across seas... hmmm...

Does anyone remember those utterly amazing children's video-cameras that actually recorded onto audio cassette tapes? The visuals are unbelievably haunting, and the machines themselves are now ultra-expensive, but I feel as if the US will soon follow suit with a slow phasing out of cassette (if they haven't already, I honestly can't remember the last time I actually needed to buy one), and I should stock up on blank tapes in case I run across one of those cameras... what were they called? Anyone know?

I don't know what you're referring to, Shane, but it sounds pretty rad.