Rethinking the iPod Lust

I like my iPod, I really do. It's the 4th gen iPod with photo capability, with 20 Gigs of storage, and it's just perfect for me. And bonus! It was free. My mom had found it months before at the hotel and nobody had claimed it, so she did. I know, somebody had to lost their iPod for me to find it, so I do feel a tad guilty that I'm not its rightful owner. But I sure am a grateful owner.

Anyhow, the only thing I wished that I could change about it was some video capability. I'm sure all this iPod needed was a video codec or something in order to play video, since it could technically run some video in Linux, but still I wouldn't shell out the extra money for the current video iPod. The screen is just too meager.

That said, the rumors that a wider, probably touch screen iPod has got me salivating... until I looked it up on Wikipedia. The last price points were initially 299 and 399, steep considering what I really just want is a bit of video to kill time at work, or in between doctor's appointments. I really don't need that much more space, nor am I particularly unhappy with my current iPod. In fact, I cringe to think that my speaker dock might have to be rejiggered to fit a newer design, along with the power adapter.

Then this morning, a unrelated gadget that I've been aware of popped into my head. In September, the PSP will have a newer design - though not a complete overhaul. Just slimmer, lighter, and faster, with an assortment of colors. But more than that, the price point of 169.99 plus the cost of a memory card might be the ultimate answer to my portable media problem. The PSP plays mp4s, and some other files, and most of the podcasts I watch are already mp4s. Some movs, but that's easily fixable. That way, I have no redundacy in my gadgetry, plus I have a portable gaming device. And since Alex has hijacked my DS for his pottytime, it'll give me something to do while I ignore people. And despite of what I've read about PSP games, the tweaky one analog control, and numerous camera issues with a lot of games, it's still got a nice big screen with crisp colors. Can't really fight that too much.

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I had a dream last night that I was either homeless or unemployed. I was trying to work at Safeway or something, and then I was sleeping in the pews at a church. The pastor would tell me that I couldn't sleep there, I'd apologize and get up. Anyway, that's plenty weird in itself, imagine how I felt when I came to work and it felt familiar. It's my third week and there was a sense of comfort showing up for work. I dunno, a lot still in transition, though I have to say that a three day weekend is pretty sweet. Now if only the kids acknowledge that, it would be supper. Yes, I meant to say supper.

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I keep thinking about what I have to do with my life, and I think the thing that I really still want to get accomplished isn't more school, different jobs, or selling of souls to anyone. It's about making movies, as it's always been about. I could try to jet off to CA and start off as some lowly production assistant or grip and try to work my way out, but I think I'd just like the freedom to be able to make movies without worrying too much about what I say and how I say it. Woody Allen has a great job, a movie every year, low budget with artistic clout that anyone will work for scale for you, and no pressure from the studios to perform exceptionally at the box office. I would love that job. Of course, I would need writing talent too, but that would just be asking for too much.

Well, back to work.