Following Edge

I am not the target market for the iPod, I'm sure. That's probably a good thing since my Apple stock has really been taking off since the iPod became so popular, which could never have happened if I was the target market.

You see, despite working for and with iPod people, I got my first one from the company as a Christmas present. Then I let it sit in the box for over a month. Kind of sad for such a nice gift, but I've been busy and I've had trouble imaging how to use it. I broke down this weekend and opened it up and started using it a bit.

The main problem relates to the difference between primary and secondary activities. I am usually happiest when I have a "primary" mental activity to work on: Reading, discussing something, programming, scheming, harboring perverted thoughts, etc, etc. Depending on the "primary" activity, a "secondary" activity can also be a positive thing. This is pretty much the only was I end up watching TV. Anne Marie has a show on the TV and I absorb it while I'm working or reading as my primary activity. I also can enjoy music while I'm working on something, but it's not so critical and sometimes distracting.

Pretty much, my life is filled with a good set of primary mental activities and I have just enough secondary mental activities to keep me connected to people, modern music and television. I don't have much need for an iPod to provide content to fill any empty spaces. The one exception is driving. Since we live in the country, but work, show, or dine in the city nearly every day, I spent at least an hour on the road every day. While I consider this to be a good opportunity for quiet "meditation", it is kind of mentally empty at times.

The problem is that music is always, for me, a secondary activity, and, whether wise or not, so is driving. As much as I'd like music or driving to be able to really occupy my attention, neither really does. This may be the perfect place for the iPod to find its place in my life. The problem... finding engaging "primary" content I can listed to on it.

Music doesn't do it. I don't want to be riled up by news or political stuff. I don't care much about arts, culture and entertainment for its own sake. I need some kind of podcasts that have something interesting, thoughtful, or truly entertaining. It's hard since most podcasts are tremendously shallow.

I was thinking for a while last year that I might start a podcast of sorts consisting of voice recordings of my thoughts and rants as I drive to and from the Eugene. On reflection, I think it's better that I'm getting a bit for experience listening to podcasts before I embark on my own.

Of course, I have found some content. I'm finishing up the NerdTV episodes, am eagerly subscribed and waiting for Tvindy's next release of Tvindy Time, and am waiting to see if anything appears to me on Make magazine's podcasts. But, mostly, the things I've tried haven't been that engaging. I have a few leads (mostly from Tvindy's blog), but I'm looking for more. I think this could really have an application for me, but it sure has taken some thought and effort to find the right use for the darned thing.