Every time I shut down my laptop and then start up iTunes, in order to get the music store feature to work, I have to go into Settings, choose Control Panel, select Administrative Tools, choose Services, scroll down to GEARSecurity and click on the Start this service link, whereupon Windows tells me that it's *attempting* to start this service (apparently having so faith that it can actually do so). And then everything works just fine. The way I found this was by mucking around in the Apple message boards. The only reason I'm writing about it here is in case I forget the magic incantation that will allow me access to the music store.

My library was recently been expanded and everything has been rearranged. The helpful librarians have posted signs all over the place helping us to re-find our favorite sections. In my case, I was told to look for the new releases around the corner past the adult videos. I did a double-take and then wandered over to see what type of selections they might have in the adult section. I was sorely disappointed to find that they actually meant videos for grown-ups. This was shortly after discovering that we have a real adult video and novelty store in plain sight on a major road not too far from where I live. I suppose the large, well-illuminated "XX" in the "Adult eXXpress" sign should have been a clue.

While driving down a street that, coincidentally, runs off at an angle from the main road I mentioned above, I noticed a sign that said "ARE YOUR TURN SIGNALS TURN STILL?" First of all, isn't it tough to have both your turn signals on at once, unless you're using your flashers? And even so, why does anyone care if you still have your turn signal on? Are neighbors on this street bothered by the incessant flashing of turn signals? Are they worried that it's ecologically unsound? And why don't they have these signs on highways where you can follow someone for hundreds of miles with their signal on??

Books: My Ex-Best Friend by Beth Brophy. A trashy mystery that requires almost no brain power.