No really, this is where most of my money goes

I'm a Mac user. That statement alone will usually get me flayed, drawn and quartered, then repeatedly bashed on the head with a frying pan by most PC loyalists. I fail to see the animosity sometimes. We have the same basic computer hardware. Macs just do things a little differently .... and better. (Okay, you may now get your torches, sharp and pointy things, and stabby stabby knives ready).

This is not going to be an argument about why I think my Mac Book Pro is the best thing since Reese's Peanut Butter cups (because nothing actually is), this is about my abusive, sadomasochistic relationship with Apple. Oh yes, Apple has me bound and gagged and whips me on a daily basis. Dangling shiny, shiny iPhones in front of my face that are just beyond my reach and price range.

The last time I was at the Apple Store, I spent close to 300 dollars, the time before that about 3000 (most of it being my Dad's money), and several hundred dollars prior to that. Software, two iPods, laptop cases, an eMac (which I didn't actually pay for). All in all, I and my father, have given a lot of our money to Apple.

It makes my credit card and my bank account sad when I buy these expensive toys. I could just as easily sell out to Microsoft, but I don't! I continue to return to Apple like a love sick puppy who's been beaten too many times and keeps coming back for more! Or a whore who enjoys really violent, s&m sex. Okay, that was a little graphic.

As sometimes happens, your pretty little Mac becomes possessed by the devil. If you didn't pay for Apple Care (the extended 3 year warranty) or your Apple Care has run out, you can expect to pay out the butt for the repairs. Apple is really good at creating great products that are often fatally flawed. One would think after having 4 Apple computers die on me, that I would run screaming for the hills, vowing to stay as far away as possible from the Apple store. That I had learned my lesson.

And yet, that love sick puppy analogy comes back into view. Apple owns my soul, and as long as they make beautiful pieces of machinery that perform like they were made by God (SOMETIMES), I will be their bitch once more. Whip me again Steve (Jobs that is).

And now, the Apple store is hiring really cute nerdy boys that tend to nerd flirt their way into making me buy something. Damn you Apple! Don't you know that cute nerdy boys are my favorite? That I wish one of them was my boyfriend to get me a really kick ass discount? And you know, a shiny new Mouse on for my birthday? Is that too much to ask?

Somewhat Useless Japanese Gadgets

I love Japan, and all Asian countries for that matter. If not for it's kooky, innovative art and fashion, than the mindfuck that is Japanese anime. I frequent the oh so cute and trendy tech blog, Geek Sugar, home to random blips of technology, geek chic laptop bags and devices and some of the strangest Japanese gadgets I have ever seen. From the country that brought us Nintendo, here are the contenders for weirdest Japanese gadgets (The following were all found on geeksugar).

This is an actual woven rug, but in tiny, mousepad form. They are available for $19 each from Museum, Persian, Native American, Gregorian, Designer, and Woolrich collections from joshinweb.jpg. Don't get me wrong, I love me a Persian/Oriental rug. I think they add texture to an otherwise drab room. I never thought however, to put one under my mouse. Sure, it would probably be better looking than my black gel filled pillow mouse pad from Staples, but I would wonder how an optical mouse would fare on it.

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While weird, this is actually kind of useful. Everybody knows that UV rays are slowly killing us all. Limiting one's time is essential these days. Wouldn't it be cool if your cell phone could tell you how strong the UV index is? The neat little charms start out as white and change colour as they absorb sunlight. (If you can read Japanese, you can buy them here). The price starts at $6, but goes up by how many beads and bling you decide to add (there is an option to add real Swarovski crystals). It may be a neat thing for people who, unlike me turn violently red without obsessively reapplying sunscreen, worship the sun.

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This was actually found on gizmodo.com. If I were maybe 10-15 years younger, I would want these for my doll house. Considering I had one of these chairs in normal size (I think it was pink with daisies on it), my tea parties with Barbie, Donatello, a rubber Ducky, and Snoopy would have been much cuter. However, I think the purpose of this mini chair is to act as a stand for one's ipod, cell phone, or as pictured, a pile of paper clips (cause you know, they need a place to sit?). I don't even know where one could buy this thing, or why one would want to. If your ipod says, "I'm tired of laying on your desk, give me a chair," first of all, wonder what you are smoking to make you think your ipod is talking to you, and then maybe consider hunting down this mini chair.

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Remember that scene in Return of the Jedi where R2D2 is serving drinks? Well I think whoever came up with this little dude totally was trying to recreate that scene. According to Geeksugar,

"The robotic refrigerator Asahi - named after the beer of course - not only pours the beer for you, but he keeps it cool in his inbuilt refrigerator as well."

I know a lot of boys who would love to have something like this in their apartments. It requires far too much energy to put down the Wii controller and get a beer! Why not make your little robot do it for you? I would probably replace the beer with really good Sangria, but that's just me. Apparently this is only available in Japan. Can you see this running around at a super bowl party? Hey give it another purpose and put the dip bowl on its head!