So, we all know about our politicians’ summer reading but the cry
comes up from Crikey subscribers: what’s on their iPods this summer.

Vanity Fair used to list what the great and good were listening
to – until every mallrat, Dubya and HM the Queen jumped on the mp3
player craze – so why shouldn’t Crikey.

We’re asking if any Crikey readers sat within a sandy-towel-shake of any of our elected members, and caught a recognisable riff.

An Emu Plains subscriber swears they caught Don’t You Forget About Me by Simple Minds coming from the earplugs of Jackie Kelly last weekend. We’re not quite sure where the symbolism lies there.

Another thinks they heard a rare American pressing of the Rolling Stones’ Big Hits (High Tide and Green Grass) soaring
over the dunes of Sorrento and Portsea. Either the American pressing –
or some off-key shower-recess vocals as the Treasurer accompanied Time Is On My Side.

John Howard – like Pete Townshend – no doubt would warn iPod users to keep the volume down. Still, we know he’s a Bob Dylan fan.

The PM has said he’s more into Dylan’s tunes than the lyrics. So should
we read anything into the fact that a fellow Kirribilli power walker
swears Blonde On Blonde – either One Of Us Must Know (Sooner Or Later) or Fourth Time Around – was coming from the Prime Ministerial ear buds?

And, on the other side of the country, what’s Kimbo getting down to? Do
we hear Ashton, Gardner and Dyke – and the Resurrection Shuffle:

Think about nothing now
You’re nice and high
You’re advocating love
But you don’t know why…

This, of course, is scarcely an exhaustive list. Further suggestions, please, to christian@crikey.com.au.