Apple - iPod nano. It's only my second iPod (I swear)

Being in marketing, it never ceases to amaze me just how craftly and detail-oriented Apple's marketing whizzes are when it comes to useful and incredibly stylish technology. They have a knack for marketing unlike any other company I can think of - in any industry (16-year olds may think Abercrombie is a marketing genius, but I disagree. Please don't pounce). I just sold my 512MB iPod shuffle on eBay about two weeks ago since I *really* wanted a display and ability to listen to songs on an "out of order" way (like separating audio books and music to listen to when I want, but still keep them all stored on the device). I then bought a Samsung YP-T7Z 1GB player, which is brimming with features - most of which I thought I would use (but of course, will never use like line-in encoding and voice recording and FM radio, etc.). As soon as the iPod nano was unveiled, (dammit Apple, can't you ever rest on your laurels!), the Samsung, virtually unused, went on eBay and I ordered the 2GB nano in Black from www.apple.com with the free laser engraving they offer. Perhaps the engraving will *force* me to keep this product for years until it dies (hehe, I need my hand forced in this age of eBay).

What a friggin' cool product. As usual, Apple's got it goin' on. Again. I still can't justify buying a Mac Mini (although it's not that expensive) since my year-old Dell (that $299 special: Dimension 2400) cranks along perfectly since I stuck a gig of RAM in there, popped in a second hard drive for backup, and added a DVD-RW drive (which I call my "BitTorrent buddy"). Gets everything I need done, and WindowsXP, while somewhat annoying at times, has all the goods I need in a computer. Someone convince me why I should buy a Mini and I will be all ears. But, have good arguments ready to roll.

Societal study on New Orleans reactions

Wrapped in a nutshell: New Orleans - moral and ethical decay (to a point; don't believe all the media stories about rape and murder in the SuperDome). Transition from culture center to third-world mentality in five days. Lack of immediate response and/or leadership by any and all capable authorities. Those without financial means trapped without anywhere to run to before Katrina arrives.

What were we expecting - Mother Nature to be timid like she always is? As we find out regularly (May 1999 world-record tornados in Oklahoma City, December 2004 tsunami in the PacRim region, 1989 earthquake in San Francisco, on and on) - we are still beggers to Mother Nature's master, regardless os superpower status or not. No human, no amount of money or clout, no social status, nothing, can stand up to the Earth itself.

So, what do we do in this, the most wealthy and industrialized/advanced nation on the planet? As 2005 and onward continues, we are sure to find out.