Who are these mysterious people with all the broken iPods? I have at least one model of every generation of iPod since the first one, and every one of them still works. In fact, every one of my models' batteries still carry charges, even though most went through 2-3 solid years of everyday use on the subway and in the car. I mean, I'm willing to concede that I might just be lucky. But I'm starting to wonder if these people with broken iPods have the same problems with other devices and technologies, but for some reason single out Apple because the manufacturer won't replace them for free.

Now just wait for further complaints when the little babies only get an Apple Store credit. "Waaaaah, I can only spend my free money at the Apple Store?!" Kudos to Steve, this'll work like gangbusters.

On one hand- when the two best choices, this time around, for Democrats are an African-American and a woman, it's fair to consider the argument. But in a time when alignments are shifting in ways so subtle that an election wonk like Karl Rove can get fired for misreading tea leaves, I personally think Democrats need to be out there fighting for every single vote. Burning bridges is the way of the political neophyte. And I don't think white males are ultimately a constituency you can just blow off and hope to remain viable as a candidate or a party. It's a cute argument, but its also an exceedingly stupid one.

But what is really striking is that this is the company's MO. Total control over what they make as if you are not buying their products but renting them. I can not deal with that.

No, Apple wants to control the user experience, so it can ensure their products work a certain way. That is why people love their products. If they had to support every mod or hack some dimwit with a new soldering set downloaded off the Internet, Apple could not possibly make sure the user experience was exactly the way they designed it.

If you're brave enough to try a hack, you need know what you're doing or just suck it up when things go awry. Crying ain't gonna get you another $100 at the Apple Store, this time.

I have occasionally been disappointed by aspects of Anderson's films. So I get it: they never quite pay off quite like you want them to. But SZ seems to be judging WA on the film she wanted him to make rather than the one she actually saw. If the original author was JK Rowling or Stephen King and this were an adaptation, I could see her point -- we often make films in our heads when reading a good book. Yet Anderson (and his co-writers, in this case) is the auteur. He may be stuck in a world of his own creation, but it is still his world.

I, unfortunately, am an Astros fan by birth. And nothing makes me happier than knowing that a selfish player like Carlos Beltran may have wasted his one chance at MLWS glory by stalemating himself into a trade (the year before the 'stros needed his clutch hitting in the Series). Not only that, but now he has a permanent place on the roster of one of the most spectacular September collapses in baseball history. Suck it, loser!

Hit Clinton hard on Iraq. I know she sees not apologizing for her vote as some kind of a badge of honor, but her endless equivocation makes Clinton sound far less principled than she claims to be on this issue.

Clinton must hate the idea of going around advocating anything less than an imperial executive (after all, who interviews for a job by asking one's future boss to take all their power away) but someone, someday is going to have to take a stand on Iraq. Because people like me, who told their friends not to support Howard Dean because he was "unelectable" won't get fooled again. I'd personally rather stay home and watch the republicans get elected again than hold my nose and vote for a candidate who says "even if I knew then what I know now, I'd still authorize the use of force."

Listen closely: that's the logic of someone who would always choose power over truth.

...is starting to become an industry. I may be an 30-something deadhead who'd rather pull out a thirty year-old Muddy Waters show I've heard a hundred times than read a single word of 'Pitchfork,' but I certainly know modern talent when I hear it. Give me a troubled, drug-addicted, white, British soul singer with Winehouse's talent anyday. Compared to most of the crap being churned out in America right now, everything about her is a breath of fresh air.

The problem with always telling the audience what they want to hear ...

... is that they eventually realize there's no point in tuning in because they already know what you're going to say.

funny, you might say the same thing about this article and Salon.com. Perhaps Salon.com could try a little harder with their political coverage than throwing red meat to rabid wolves. I can't say I disagree with anything in the piece -- I can't say I learned anything from the story, either.

Some people are so firmly wedded to Mediocrity that they won't ever acknowledge the grit and determination it takes to aim, not just for the Super Bowl, but for something Bigger even than that: The Perfect Season.

Right! Thanks to the Patriots for showing us the way, from their unapologetic stance on illegally taping other teams practicing (they're in favor) to Belichick's magnanimous congratulations last night, leaving the field before the clock ran out and forcing an awkward finish during what should have been the Giants moment of glory. Belichick and the Patriots represent everything bad about professional sports. Jeez, they can't even be "perfect" at losing.