Before I could commit to the purchase, I had to call a couple friends and let them know that I was a hypocrite. Despite my previous derision at them for considering purchasing an iPod, I had come to the conclusion that I needed one myself. I have never been the type to carry a Walkman© around, but I needed a place to rip all my CDs so that my new toy could have access to them. Now that I’ve started loading it I am listening to music like I was a teenager again — at work, in the car…between work and the car. I love my iPod and I will probably be able to load every CD I would care to listen to at the final cost of about $1/CD. All in one place, that I can take to my car or on vacation, etc., etc. It’s just awesome.

sidebar: The best accessories I’ve come across are this car charger and FM transmitter from Belkin (which is an awesome company). One plug-in and my car is rolling with iPod tunes (and charging at the same time!)

Now that I am getting closer to some new music (and refamiliarizing myself with old tunes) I have expanded on my theoretical dislike of jazz. As a musician (of sorts) I recognize the talent neccesary to play jazz and I appreciate jazz as an additional element in other musical styles, but the fact is listening to “pure” jazz is like watching someone else play a videogame. It’s boring. The Low End Theory is a seminal rap album and one of my favorites, but Mingus puts me to sleep. I know that jazz influence is one of the things that makes Ben Harper special, but I don’t get Jango Reinhart.

(And I want to apologize to my fellow high school alumnus who has made his life’s work out of jazz, but he should take comfort that I’ve enoyed his contributions to several non-jazz albums . I’m proud of you Brian, but I just don’t get it.)