Breaking things down, releasing energy and heat, destroying but creating, splitting and sampling the larger picture, adrenaline: invigorator/stressor --- these things and more.

For the expert definition, check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catabolic

Radio ....... radio ....... that has been my number one influence. As a kid I used to listen to the radio at night as I went to sleep. On car trip vacations, I tuned to the stations that I could pick up on my radio that I took with me (it was a lot easier than pestering my parents in the front seat every 5 seconds). I would listen to a good station as long as I could before the signal was lost. Then, I would move on ... in search of the next great possibility.

Then, a new kind of radio station emerged: the mix tape. Here, everyone could be a DJ. Good mix tapes were an essential soundtrack and they were both coveted and widely shared. Some of the best were 10th-generation copies with more hiss than signal, but still their contents could be gleaned with the right amount of knob-twirling. I spent hours on my own mix tapes - tuning the sequences and adorning the tapes with whatever was available sonically and graphically.

I was fortunate enough to grow up in an area with some great radio options. KTRU, Rice University's radio station, had 100 watts of power at the time (far less than the average hairdryer) but could still be heard in the right places at certain times. Then, to Boston where radio runs rampant. I made the jump from mix tapes to radio DJing (and a smidge of club DJing) at that point and enjoyed it immensely.

After Boston, the radio dial was not quite as compelling. Austin's radio was 'ok' but was made up for by fantastic live music that was almost inescapable. D.C.'s radio was pretty uninspiring, but again live music was there for the asking.

Onward into Maryland where the radio dial fell close to silent and I entered into musical hibernation for several years. But beneath the chrysalis things were happening. By chance, I found WEES (www.wees.org) and found a new cure for the radio blahs. Low-powered and blissfully unconventional in its own way, there is simply no other relevant soundtrack for walking on the boardwalk of Ocean City and exploring their 50s-funky downtown. Every time I tune in, I am there with the waves coming in, the sun in my eyes, and the seagulls wafting on the horizon.

In little Newark, Delaware there were more surprises to be had. A college radio station WVUD with the traditional non-traditional offerings. But even more surprising, a nearby high school station WMPH 91.7 playing ... dance music? All the time? Wow! If only my high school was that cool...

Lately, it has been XM Radio that tops my list. I have to thank XM Radio (especially Channels 80-81 as well as many others) for making so much music accessible in daily life.