iMood

Ages ago I heard about a conspiracy theory claiming that the iTunes 'shuffle' feature is not as random as you might suppose. How very true.

There you'll be, listening to Roberta Flack's 'The first time ever I saw your face' in a quietly introspective mood. Perhaps reflecting on tender memories and associations, and feeling pleasantly melancholic. The last soft notes die hauntingly away into silence, only to be followed by 'FLASH! AA-AAAAH! SAVIOUR OF THE UNIVERSE!'.

It works the other way round, too. A joyful session of bopping along to 'Good Thing' by the Fine young Cannibals was brought to an abrupt end by the unwelcome appearance of 'Eleanor Rigby - died in the church and was buried along with her name. Nobody came.'

A malevolent intelligence is at work within my iPod.