Monday morning I got to work early as usual (Hi boss!) and fired up my second PC. I use that second PC mainly to listen to 93.9 Bob FM over the Internet when it’s not in use for the other many many job-related tasks I have to do.
This morning, both audio streams (Windows Media Player and Real Audio) were unavailable. After the proper amount of cursing troubleshooting, I decided to go get an inexpensive AM/FM radio for my office. I mean, 20 years ago I bought an AM/FM/4-track ghetto-Blaster for around 110$, how expensive can a dumb AM/FM radio be?
Well, if you guessed 20$, you’re wrong. If you guessed 30$, you’re still wrong. I sound like a reverse Shamwow advertisement, don’t I?
I made my way to Futureshop. After wandering around for a while, I asked a sales associate to help me.
- I’m looking for an AM/FM radio.
- We have a wide selection of iPod docks over here…
- No, no! I want an AM/FM radio. Really, if you have just an FM redio, that’s fine. I’m not looking for an iPod dock.
- Do you mean like an alarm clock? We have this alarm clock with AM/FM, weather station and atomic clock for 70$.
- Weather station? Do you have something that just plays the radio? No clock, no CD player, no tape deck, no iPod dock? Hopefully that would be less expensive than that atomic thing you just showed me.
- Let me check. Oh, we do have this AM/FM Crank/Solar powered radio with a built-in flashlight.
- Blinks (I actually said “Blinks”). What?
- It’s very useful for your boat or car.
- I’m looking for something that I could plug in my office. And this seems to only have one 2 inches speaker.
- Did you see our Wi-Fi Internet radio?
- I already have a computer, I’m trying to get an appliance that will let me listen to the radio when the Internet is down, for example.
- I don’t think we have that. You should get an iPod. I never listen to the radio.
- ::Sigh::
Now to be fair, he did show me this thing. But 100 bucks, really? Wow. I might be a cheap bastard after all. So I made my way to WalMart.
- I’m looking for an AM/FM radio.
- We have a wide selection of iPod docks over here…
Can you see where this is going?
So it looks like my options are slim. Futureshop does offer an 80$ SONY boombox with an iPod dock (that was not in-store, but it’s available on-line) and that seems to be my best choice at this point. I checked and I don’t think there’s a way for me to drive my car into my office. I take the bus anyways.
I’m almost tempted to splurge for sattelite radio at this point.
What do you use to listen to the radio? What do you recommend I do? Assvice: Bring it on! 
get a cheap clock radio and just don’t set the time. I got a clock radio for 15$
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-ICF-C218-Automatic-Clock-Radio/dp/B000MXWSWI/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1237369331&sr=8-1
11$ on amazon
If youu don’t want a Ipod, you should get a zune
Get a speaker phone, call you LW O Canada office and ask here to leave you on hold. More $ in your back pocket and a bigger x-mas present for THE BROTHER
Have you tried places like Goodwill or secondhand shops? I see AM/FM radios there all the time. And cheap!
kapgar recently blogged Every silver lining’s got…
i never listen to the radio unless i’m in my car. well, i have am/fm on my alarm clock but i usually don’t want to hear that at all omg.
Crys recently blogged Stars in my eyes
I don’t listen to the radio. I use iTunes.
Avitable recently blogged Miss Britt Goes To Prison: A Story
Too Funny! I have to have a radio or some background noise for most of my day. I too have been in your shoes, looking for just a plain old radio. Yeah, I don’t think they makes those anymore – I have found.
If the internet ever goes down at work, I just stomp my feet and start crying and laying on the ground in the fetal position and usually my boss lets me go home because I’m “sick.”
Usually.
Boy is it weird when she doesn’t.
Janelle recently blogged Another Radio Show In The History Books…
@Rachel: I realize now that this might be the way to go. My main argument against a clock radio was “Sound Quality”, but really how much sound quality do I need it’s FM radio!
@THE BROTHER: Oh, I have an iPod, like the rest of the world. I think I just had an idea for your next Christmas present. ::whistles innocently::
@Kapgar: I did not think of that. Thanks!
@Crys: I also hate the sound of the alarm clock. I’d rather sleep!
@Avitable: Hehehehehe. Funny.
@Janelle: If I was sent home every time I’m “sick”, I just wouldn’t bother coming in.
OTOH, I have a kick-ass sound system at home. Is this a win-win?
I downloaded limewire and three thousand songs to my work computer for my entertainment.
But then you introduced me to Bob.
So now, when I have no bob, I heave deep sigh and pull up limewire.
Sheila (Charm School Reject) recently blogged Pssssstttt…..
OMFG! That is BAD ánd it makes peeps like us feel oooollddd!!! (doesn’t it?). I mostly listen to the radio in the car or on my stereo system at home that has am/fm radio on there still…
DutchBitch recently blogged New Parenting Territory
@SheilaCSR: Bob is awesome. Almost as awesome as LeSombre.
@DutchBitch: I do feel old sometimes. I just wanted a radio!
Clock radio, I think, is your best bet. Or what Kapgar said.
Insane that you can’t just find one anymore!!
Sybil Law recently blogged You betta (you better you better you bet)!
Target (are there Targets in Canada) has a decent selection of AM/FM radios with CD players. I’ve bought two or three for the kids to play in their rooms at night.
Coal Miner’s Granddaughter recently blogged How to Punk Your Husband
I have a radio in my car. And an alarm clock that plays CDs/AM/FM (that has been unplugged for more than a year) in my bedroom. I have an iHome with AM/FM. My son has an old POS AM/FM CD player that has to be 10 years old … I’ll bet it it was $30 new.
I’ve not tried to find anything that was just a radio in a long, long time.
(Are you sure they have FM in Canada? You might want to check before you plunk down any big bucks.)
delmer recently blogged Dongle me this, Batman!
A few people here got the right idea – 2nd hand shops, ebay, craigslist, garage sales… $5 max is what you’d pay if you search right.
whall recently blogged Cowboy up!
@Sybil Law: Thanks! I’ve resigned myself to some kind of clock radio.
@CMG: Good idea! I’m not sure we have Targets here…
@Delmer: Yes, we do have FM here.
@Whall: Craiglist? But then I’ll have to meet creepy people… ::shudders::