The Idea Blog

So much is written about how the iPod (and the iTunes store) is changing the face of music and the music industry. But I use mine to listen to more than music, some of which I’ve ripped from our cd collection, some more from purchases at the iTunes Store.

This article in the LA Times reminded me that the iPod has other uses. I don’t listen to many lectures - except from Betty - but I keep up with the news largely through podcasts downloaded to my iPod Shuffle as I walk the neighborhood for about an hour every day. Typically I’ll listen to last night’s News Hour with Jim Lehrer, NPR’s Story of the Day, as well as weekly podcasts of the New York Times Popcast (music reviews) and Ira Glass’s This American Life. It’s my own (reasonably) balanced snapshot of news, commentary and features, a veritable audio newspaper.

Finally, after the podcast content, I’ll usually choose one song - one big, blastin’ 8-minute rip to close out the day’s journey. Yesterday it was the Pat Metheny Group’s “First Circle.”

And just for fun, here’s another Pat Metheny Group song.