There has been something of a substantial change in my life, and I think I'm just now appreciating the its full effects. It's not a recent change - I think it happened a couple of months ago. It's something that heavily mitigated the negative repercussions of my most common mistake. It's a firmware update to my iPod.

You'll perhaps recall from an earlier blog post that the reason I can't stand the band !!! (at least, one of the reasons) is that they are the first band to play when I accidentally the play button on my iPod and it's not on a particular song or band. They are kind of annoying, and when they start playing because of a mistake, they become really annoying.

The recent (for some definition of that term) software update to my iPod changed the way that things are alphabetized, so that bands like !!!, µ-ziq, or 65 days of static show up at the end of my list of artists. This leaves the number one spot for AC/DC (specifically, their seminal album Back In Black... although thinking about it, perhaps the adjective is better applied to their Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, containing the songs Big Balls and Love At First Feel. But I digress). Thus does the once negative stimulus from making a mistake on my iPod and being made listen to the first few bars of When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Karazzzeee get turned into the positive stimulus of Hells Bells. A more gentle, rocking scolding for a mistake as opposed to a brusque shaking punishment.

I believe this has led the way for me to be a little more fearless in my actions, which is a good thing. Thank you, Apple, for all you have wrought. I definitely intend to continue purchasing your products.