More symptoms of an odd mind today...

I'm returning to the refrain of the odd situations where I overthink things. I listen to NPR's Car Talk podcast every week--just the call of the week, not the entire show! If you know the radio program, you already know why. I keep thinking about the question I want to ask them. Let me share it with you first, OK?

Here's the puzzle: I used to date a woman who drove a manual-transmission car, just as I always have. I noticed that she would put the shifter in the center "neutral" position when she stopped at a traffic light and would then release the clutch pedal. It seemed odd to me, so I asked her why; and she explained that she did that to preserve the transmission for the long term. So now I have to think, because I have always kept the clutch engaged when I stop, leaving the shifter in first gear, ready to go.

I'm so puzzled. It seems to me that this is about one of two principles: either the clutch is worn more by cycles of engaging/disengaging or it's worn more by total time spent engaged. How on earth am I supposed to know this?! I think I'll need to call the Car Talk guys and ask…

CDs listened to today:

• Olivier Messiaen: Et exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum
• Sam Phillips: Martinis & Bikinis
• stellastarr*: (eponymous)
• H. Owen Reed: La Fiesta Mexicana (Eugene Corporon conducting)
• Shakira: Laundry Service
• Gyorgy Ligeti: Requiem
• Heinrich Schutz: Es steh Gott auf
• They Might Be Giants: Flood
• Lightning Bolt: Hypermagic Mountain
• Various Artists: Legally Stoned, disk 2