So there I was, having finished R9 (they called me at 5:43 this morning to do the shortest route in the PO), staring blindly at the iPod in my hand. It said, “Now Playing” the song “Finally Woken” by Jem. But nothing was playing, and nothing was happening when I pushed the button, any button. I sat and looked at the thing, waiting for it to wake up from its silicon slumber. The display would not change.

I drove off. Periodically, on the way to Java’s Brewin’ in Limerick about 6 miles away, I would glance at the display to see that nothing had changed.

At the coffee house I fired up the notebook, launched iTunes and plugged the sucker in. The thing crashed my iTunes!

After restarting the computer and relaunching iTunes I discovered the 5 Rs. All I had to do was restart reset the thing and now it’s working fine. I had no idea you could turn the thing off or restart it. Now I know, and the world is a much happier place.

So here’s a randomization celebration* (the links are samples from amazon.com and require a windows media player plug in)…

Girl U Want (Devo)

Pour Me Out (PFR)

We Can Work It Out (PFR & Phil Keaggy)

The Way (Fastball)

Epoca (by Gotan Project from The Truth About Charlie soundtrack)

Once Again (Matt Redman)

Driving Sideways (Aimee Mann)

Numb (U2)

Mentira (Manu Chao also from The Truth About Charlie soundtrack… I wish I knew what the lyrics to this song meant).

Off the Ground[Live] (Paul McCartney)

Hanging By A Moment (Lifehouse)

*Most random pod lists go to 10, but mine goes to 11.