And don't forget the side benefit of sheer smugness of simply owning an Apple. That's like 90% of the reason for owning one. You can sit there in a coffee shop with the glow of the monitor outlining the smugness apparent on your face as an Apple owner. Everyone will envy you and remember who you are.

And you can judge PC owners when you finally get one too.

dBud: Maybe, but I would use mine in the privacy of my own home. I'd be too worried about dropping it or people constantly staring at the beauty of my new toy, if I were to take it out in public.

If you want us to invest in this purchase, tell us what we would get out of it. What sort of movies? "Dbud makes good" or "Dbud makes it...good" - starring Jake Dakota?

dBud: Yes! I would make a video with Jake, if a beautiful Apple laptop was bestowed upon me.

I just want an iPod so I'm not the last person in without one... Anyone want to buy a broke grad student unpaid teacher a video ipod???

Gay or Straight, I think he is a dork.

Hank Williams III! Not many fans of Shelton around. My husband is a huge fan and followed him around on tour a couple of years back. I saw him twice, and each show was pretty fucking good.

I also grew up with my own personal family singing and pickin' country music. Horrible. But I do enjoy some Dixie Chicks and won't back my John Deere tractor over their CD's.

I was so close to buying the new Dixie Chicks CD yesterday from Best Buy. I had it in my hands, ready to purchase. Then, I saw that there was also a deluxe edition available with a DVD. At that point, the decision became too much for me to deal with, and I put them both down and left the store real fast before anyone caught me hanging out in the country section of the local Best Buy.

I just don't know if I'm ready to buy a "country" artist CD just yet.

re: blaine - it's hunting season around NYC - and that man is hanging in a gigantic bull's eye. unfortunately none of the orange guys read your blog and get the hint.... Now, if Reba was still doing 'Annie get your gun'...

re: taylor hicks - he's trying to out-clooney George?? But the original will always be better...

I don't get the whole Ripa/Rosie/Aiken thing. I must have missed something. What are they arguing about?

If I interviewed you I'd have the camera on your beard the whole time, with close-ups on the 'v' of your t-shirt neckline where some chest fur comes out, and I would ask you questions about poppers and being woofy and stuff.

OK Teej -- I still love ya, but if you don't listen to country music (not including the Dixie Chicks), how do you know if it sucks or not? OK - yes, being forced to listen to the Statler Brothers, Don Williams, or the Oak Ridge Boys would probably make me want to puke too, but today's country is not what it used to be. I'm not saying go out and buy yourself some CDs or even that you have to listen to it, but if you aren't gonna listen, then please, don't talk shit about it. It's like people who don't vote complaining about the outcome of an election. Total bullshit.

And to Bubala -- Teej is right -- the new Dixie Chicks is barely country music -- way more rock/pop and definitely worth the bucks. Plus, buying their album is like saying fuck you to all those ignorant red-necked assholes who gave the Chicks shit for daring to say something against Bush. I say go for it and pick up the CD.

dBud: You mean like Toby Keith? Yeah, I've heard the newer stuff, and it's still revolting. Sorry.

Taylor Hicks??? Oh nooooooooooo - have you been trying to imitate David Blaine? You'd better lie down, you're a sick boy... Taylor Hicks is not cute.

dbud: This, coming from a guy who thinks Jared, the Subway Guy is hot.

I grew up listening to Dad's favorites....Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, Porter Wagoner, Conway Twitty, Johnny Cash...the list goes on. I'd take the Dixie Chicks in a heartbeat!

Taylor Hicks? Cute!

Dixie Chicks will get my favourite CD of the year award. There are a few pass-over songs (i mean not as in Moses et al), but overall it is the most solid release I bought this year.

I think the new deluxe edition is overkill. It's not the artist - it's the frickin labels.

Taylor Hicks does not look good ~

As for Clay Aiken, well no matter how he looks - we'd love to have his bank account.

you can get an apple laptop for $1K, not $3K, so start making those movies (cheaper).