After spending some time with the CD inventory this afternoon I realized that I had inadvertently applied a filter to my reports. It explained why discs were myteriously missing from the inventory but it didn't do anything to help me to reclaim the several hours I spent this weekend adding and deleting the phantom discs. It's always the obvious, isn't it?

It seems that I've also created a bit of controversy amongst the curious as to what goes into my actual count. Over the last few weeks I've rediscovered downloading entire albums from newsgroups. It's a really an amazing resource. Newsgroups aren't the easiest place for newbies to upload or download MP3s. As a result the quality of the rips is pretty consistantly top-notch. I only download full albums and then burn them to CD after making the appropriate artwork (which is also amazingly easy to find). These discs then go on my shelf. Don't yell at me for piracy. I've spent well over $20k in my lifetime on music (another $70 today, in fact). I've paid my dues. Also, if I like the album I can guarantee you that I will pony up the cash to buy a "real" copy.

The dilemma, of course, is whether or not these burned discs should be listed in my inventory. I think they should. My librarian-type friends seem to agree. After all, how else can I keep track of them? My techie-type friends, however, have all said that they should not be included. It's cheating, so goes their line, because I don't really "own" them.

I think I've found an appropriate compromise. I'm going to include them in the collection but mark them as CD-Rs and as being in a Slimline case (my case of choice for burned CDs). Here's an example of a Pogues album I downloaded.

Any complaints?