Expressly Forbidden

I was at the Apple Store over the weekend, shopping vicariously. (My own gadgetry budget has been zeroed out until the cat's medical bills are paid off.) I saw some nice stuff for sale, lots of computers walking out the door, and I ogled a few baubles myself. But there was one gap on the shelves, like a missing tooth in an otherwise pristine smile, and we were told that there were no Airport Expresses to be had. Airport Express is a little white brick that serves as a wireless router, and you can also stream music and connect it to a printer if you want. Anyway, they were all out. Funny.

Not it seems there's a rumor, started by a Swiss Apple Store, of all things, that Apple will unveil a new, faster 802.11n Airport Express. None of this means anything really, my only thought is this: Is there any other business that we spread rumors about, that we anticipate new products from so breathlessly? It's like it's not a corporation we're talking about so much as a kind of magical Santa's workshop, forever engaged in hush-hush efforts to amaze us anew. I just think it's interesting that so many of us feel that way.

Now the cat is sitting on my desk, looking out the window. A bird is singing cheerfully in the early-morning darkness. And I'm just sitting here, gathering my forces for the day, for the moment at peace and untroubled by rumors from Switzerland or anywhere else. The Zen stillness is not likely to persist, alas, but it's nice while the moment lasts.