The “Possessed” iPod of Author Sloane Crosby

7:58 am, December 24th, 2008, Nicole Martinelli

Sloane Crosby, author of essays “I Was Told There’d be Cake” and maker of creepy dioramas, has a bewitched iPod.

When asked by the New York Times to name her iPod playlist (Marvin Gaye, Bon Iver, New Order) Sloane rants about her MP3 player, which apparently has a few issues:

The worst example of this technological tyranny has to be my iPod. Our relationship has gone from one of pleasurable convenience to a series of baroque rituals and infuriating modifications, of tricks and mysteries, of songs that my iPod considers playing (as evidenced by the flashing image of album art) but, thinking better of it, decides to supplant with Carla Bruni’s “Quelqu’un m’a dit” juuuust one more time instead.

My iPod may be possessed. It may be infuriating. It may be trying to tell me something.”

These things happen, I have a temperamental iPod, too. But it started acting up after falling under the subway tracks. A three-person rescue team fished it out, but alas, it has never been the same since. Maybe she isn’t telling us the whole story?

Posted by Nicole Martinelli in News | Comment on this article

About the author

Nicole Martinelli was born in San Francisco and has lived in Milan and Florence, Italy. Cultish tendencies and love for DIY increased while living on the Old Continent, where tech came late and cost more in Big Mac index terms. She's written for Wired.com, The New York Times and Newsweek, and since 1999 on her site, Zoomata. If you're so inclined, friend her on Facebook or connect on Linked in.

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3 comments

What is the point of this one?

Adam, on December 24th, 2008 at 8:52 am

First, I like this post. Especially Ms. Crosby’s wonderful prose. Dealing with a balky iPod, just the lack of profanity would have set her apart.

We don’t know if she has a nano/mini or a classic-style iPod. If the latter, i can bet the problem is the endemic dying disk. No doubt she’ll soon be haunted by random lockups, balky starts, and the dreaded “Click Of Death.” As these become more frequent it’s time to buy a replacement drive. But on ebay, not from Apple.

If it’s a nano then I can’t argue the supernatural. But find a spectre with a better taste in music.

imajoebob, on December 24th, 2008 at 12:13 pm

[...] The %26ldquo;Possessed%26rdquo; ipod of Author Sloane Crosby | Cult of Mac The worst example of this technological tyranny has to be my ipod. Our relationship has gone from one of pleasurable convenience to a series of baroque rituals and infuriating modifications, of tricks and mysteries, . [...]

Hot Picks of the Day: ipod | The Style Log of Roddy Jones, on December 24th, 2008 at 9:18 pm