iMixed

A couple weeks ago, after Saturday afternoon coffee with John, I was driving home and happened to pass by a car stereo installation place. On a hunch, I stopped in. I was curious if they'd be able to hard-wire my iPod into my car. The answer was a resounding "Yes!"
It cost me nearly $300, but it was totally worth it. My iPod stows nicely in the middle console, and I can use the buttons on my radio to skip or rewind.
The only drawback is this: my iPod has made me a lazy listener. Let me explain. There's something cool and necessary about albums. Every record has it's good and bad tracks (except for Radiohead's "OK Computer" and Sleater-Kinney's "Dig Me Out"), but listening to an album in its entirety is something that should never become ancient or forgotten.
Of course, legally downloading single songs does have its place (i.e. Toni Basil's "Mickey" or the theme from "Shaft" by Isaac Hayes). But if there's an artist in which I have a particular appreciation, I find it's best to purchase the whole album. It takes more effort, but it's more rewarding in the end.
So, yeah, I'm pretty much addicted to my iPod. I just need to regain the discipline to listen to records all the way through, beginning to end. It will be tough lowering my use of the "shuffle" option, but I'm confident I can do it.