I'm now on a feverish hunt for Nintendo's Game Cube. Mind you, I saw this console sold everywhere with all kinds of incentives (i.e. one extra controller, free Zelda game, etc.). Of course, I didn't want one then and so I ignored all the ads and incentives. Now, after playing with my nephews, my spouse and I want one. Now, they're selling for $99.00 straight up, no extra controller or Zelda game. I tell my spouse that we're always 'out of the loop'. *However*, there is now some interest in a video game console, where before there was none. So, this is improvement and I won't argue the timing.

I've been wanting an X-Box forever and even have four games for it. To my spouse's credit, I've been told to buy it, but can't bring myself to part with the money. Even now when it's reduced to $179.99 with one controller, no DVD remote option, and no game - I still can't justify spending the money on it. Unconsciously, I must have a guilt association of such a purchase being an extravagance, time waster and of no value. Hmmm, I may need to look at this more closely and qualify why something has *value* and something else doesn't.