Begin rant...

What the hell, man, they can't even be bothered to check if I have an earlier version installed and pick that same directory by default? Move directly to Programming 101, do not pass GO.

And, last time I checked, the year is 2006. Why does the iTunes installer want me to restart my computer after it finishes? That's so 2003. Did they miss the memo? Or is Apple just trying to keep alive that old myth that Windows needs to be restarted with every slight configuration change.

End rant.

The iPod, while certainly a marvelous piece of technology, instills in me a certain dread every time I use it. Is it the propensity for the click wheel to stop responding for days on end? No. Is it that the battery always seems to be almost dead every time I use it after letting it sit for a few days? No.

What I hate is this: While being amazingly easy to use, the damn thing is just so frickin' frustrating to use!

On a fateful Sunday in February, unpacking my car from a visit to the parents', arms loaded with kids toys, I placed my iPod on the roof for just a minute because I was afraid of dropping it. You can see where this is going. I promptly forgot about it.