Pod People    Today, such compilations are an anachronism. Most
stereos don't even have tape decks anymore. Countless couples
will probably trade mix CDs this Valentine's Day, but the point-
and-click process of CD burning is rather sterile; it's possible
to make someone a mix CD without having to listen to a single
song. As an inveterate trader of cassettes, I've been in steady
mourning for the mix tapes of my youth for some time now.
However, I recently acquired both an iPod and a boyfriend—who'd
just gotten an iPod of his own. We were debating whose library
had more songs when he had a brilliant idea, one that could
replace the mix tape for the 21st century: the iPod swap.  If
anything synthesizes the personal nature of a homemade recording
with the ease and techie charm of digital music, it's the iPod.
While other MP3 players (like those made by Nomad and Rio)
reflect the individual tastes of the owner, no other gadget has
been so successful at developing a certain kind of image: Call
it L-train sex appeal