Did you know that in Barnes and Noble's music department you can now listen to any song on their listening stations? I mean, any song, digitally, on demand. This is long overdue* and a valuable service. I still don't like shopping at B&N** though, so maybe I'll listen there and buy elsewhere.***

*Long overdue by the big chains. At DCCD, it's only fair to note, you've always been able to listen to any CD before you buy it, the low-tech way: Ask the store employee to open it for you, then carry it back to one of the CD players with headphones. Remember, just being seen at DCCD (18th Street in Adams Morgan) can increase your hipness quotient exponentially.

**I don't have a good reason, I just don't like it. I'd rather shop at Border's.

***But I'd really rather support local, independent shops like DCCD or Olsson's. Though sometimes, I admit, only Amazon will do the trick.