You can do it here

In case it wasn’t apparent, last weekend I became a master. To be a little more precise, last Saturday I received my Master’s Degree in Human-Computer Interaction in a commencement ceremony at Indiana University Bloomington’s Assembly Hall. Congrats to me and all my commrades. If I may speak for all of us, it has been a great experience, life-changing in fact. Hopefully soon I’ll write up a summary of my experiences here. But first things first:

I need to buy myself a present!

I received a number of great gifts, many of which included cash. Now, if I were a good money-saver I’d probably plug this money into a 401k plan or other long-term investment opportunity, but alas, I am not said money-saver. I’ll get around to doing more of this saving in the next few years, as I make somewhat more money than I’ll be able to easily spend…hopefully.

So what should I get myself? A lot of ideas have crossed my mind. Part of me wants a portable video game system. It looks like no matter what job I end up with, I’ll be travelling a lot next year. A PSP or some sort of GameBoy would probably be nice while sitting in airports. But I keep reminding myself that I don’t really like video games all that much. I buy a game and play it for a week, then inevitably get bored. It’s just how it works with me. Instead I think I’ll just buy more books with the money I’d spend on video games. I like reading more anyway.

A new digital music player would be nice. My trusty shuffle seems to have conked out. This is quite ennervating…especially since I’ve only had the thing for a little over a year. Apple is balking at the idea of fixing it, which upsets me…and I refuse to pay the $110 fee that it costs to fix it when i could just buy a new one for $99. I shouldn’t have to pay anything at all, though…it’s a software issue, not hardware. They just need to flash on a new version of the OS. I’ll take it to an apple store next time I’m in a big city…until then I’ll use my big iPod…which seems ever-so-giant at the moment. I don’t know how that’s possible, but my 60 gig iPod Photo just feels huge when I try to pack it. I like to try to minimize weight as I travel, so the iPod just feels a little unruly. Still, at this point I’m depending on Apple to fix my Shuffle so I don’t have to spend money on a new one. So I’ll wait on the music stuff before I ponder buying new…

This all leads me to begin thinking about my digital photography. I really like taking pictures…and have become quite attached to my old Canon S200. I know how it works…I’ve figured out all the modes and buttons, but for some reason I feel like I need something new. When I think about the long-run of my photography hobby, I know that 2 megapixel images just aren’t enough. I want to be able to blow up pictures and make them big…just in case. I also know that newer cameras have cool new features that might improve my photography.

Part of me really wants a Digital SLR camera. The prices have dropped significantly, and it feels like this is the next logical step. There’s one big BUT though when it comes to SLR photography, in my mind. It’s an attitude change. With my tiny little point-and-shoot, I can put my camera away when I’m not using it, back in my bag, and become just another person in a crowd. With a big huge bulky SLR camera, you’re always a photographer, because the camera is giant. I just don’t know if I’m ready for that.

Still, I think I’m going on a number of trips this summer, and it would be nice to take good pictures and really learn something about photography. So I ask you, the internet. What do you think? Is Digital SLR photography worth it? Why do/don’t you do it? Why am I fit or not fit to do it? Oh, and if you’re in the know, what cameras should I check out?

I’ll look forward to your responses as I figure out what I should gift myself…

A fantastic gift for yours truly this holiday season: a Flickr Pro account. Click the link to sponsor me and I’ll love you forever.
You can see what I’ve done so far with my free account here.

Fantastic gift idea for yours truly: Ideo Method Cards

Just FYI. Holiday season coming up and all…

Check it…

iPod Shuffle Armband - $29

Some new Running Shoes. I prefer New Balance. Size 10.5 2E. 700 series or higher, please (Yes, quality is important
Springtime running clothes. I generally wear a Medium for shirts, and I’m a 32 waist.

Car bike rack (on Hyundai website) - $109 (I’ll need to transport my bike to SD somehow…or perhaps I could just buy a new one, again, when I get there. I wonder if it would be feasible to just tie it to the roof rack?)

So, my birthday’s coming up. April 5, just in case you didn’t realize. I’ll be adding new Hint, Hints periodically. Do with them what you will.

Starting here with Timbuk2 Messenger bags:

Gift cards work - you pick the price

Quilted Laptop Sleeve - $30

Laptop Grip Sleeve - $50

And of course, a messenger bag works too.

This is why.

This is how.

I’m just trying to be helpful…I swear I’m not just being greedy!

Death Cab For Cutie - Audio CD, I’ll take any (used or new): here are a few:

• Transatlanticism
• The Photo Album
• We Have the Facts and We’re Voting Yes
• There are a bunch of others…

Copeland - Audio CD, I’ll take any (used or new): here are a few:

• Beneath Medecine Tree
• Know Nothing Stays the Same -> This one’s a bargain!

Keane - Audio CD, Hopes & Fears

Weakerthans - Audio CD, Reconstruction Site

Plus a Book:
The Art of Innovation : Lessons in Creativity from IDEO, America’s Leading Design Firm by Tom Kelley, Jonathan Littman, Tom Peters

I really should make a website just for all the things I want…What can I say? I’m a consumer… Here’s some new additions:

Garden State DVD

Sirius Satellite Radio - Erm…though I probably don’t really need it…

Netflix Subscription - So I can get my burn on…

Surely there’s more to come…