I sold an iPod shuffle

There I was in the Apple store, picking up some desperate last minute tax prep software (I know, I know). I was queuing to pay, and the woman in front of me picked up the fluorescent green impulse-purchase package by the register. "It's really cute," she said. "And not very expensive." Then she put it back down. "Maybe I'll buy it later."

"Oh, go on," I piped up. "Buy it, you'll love it!" I showed her my shuffle peeking out from my handbag.

"Yeah, why not!" She plopped it on the counter. The cashier rang it up and into the white Apple bag it went.

And thus did I do my part to grow Apple's profits (a fabulous $.37 per diluted share, up 70% this quarter over year-ago quarter). Enlightened self-interest I call it, while trying not to despair about the excessive materialism of it all.

Hey, I still have taxes to deal with.