Woodworking Magazine Blog

Anyone who works with me in the shop knows that I'm a bit of a bully when it comes to the stereo. I'll get to the office early, plug my iPod into the crap-tacular shop stereo (which hasn't actually played in stereo since Kool & the Gang were on the charts) and hit "shuffle."

But since early October, the iPod I take to work has been on the fritz. The 1/8" jack has been acting up, and the music has been cutting in and out. So Bob Lang has been able to play his 1970s supergroup CDs in the shop, and Glen Huey has been able to sneak in some Dean Martin.

Today I resolved to do something about it. I took the iPod to our Apple Store and asked for help at the Genius Bar. The guy took my iPod to the back room for about 15 minutes. When he returned he handed the iPod back to me.

"All better," he said.

And the problem was?

"There was some tape jammed in there," the genius said. "I pulled it out and now it's working fine."

I narrowed my eyes and considered my Scotch-tape-loving crafty children as likely suspects. So I asked:

"What color was the tape? Clear?"

"No," he replied. "Blue."

Then I knew it was my own dang fault. I use blue tape for everything in the shop, and bits are constantly stuck to my shop apron. Somehow I managed to jam some of my beloved blue stuff in the 1/8" jack.

The good news here is, however, that I am catching up on my Centro-Matic, Built to Spill and Wilco listening. As is the rest of the office.

— Christopher Schwarz