Thanks, Germany, for the ToddlerPod

Read the comments. Not one of these users speculates as to whether his child needs or should have a MAX-JOY. Instead it's all, "Why buy this? My kids are cool with my Nano."

Wha? What are we entrusting kids with now? I can't help but quail when I read notes like, "The unit comes with One carrying strap, one USB cable, one AAA battery, a CD ROM with drivers, a multi-language operating manual and an easy-start short version of instructions. The bundle option also includes a 128 MB MMC card can be included with pre-installed audio plays." This should not be. The time has not yet come. Kids should be automatically poor and underprivileged, so they can simultaneously learn what the world is all about and enjoy the simple pleasures of childhood. Why do they have to get Nano'd up? The whole press release makes me picture the kids from Lunar Park so bad. Without drawing too much of a line: maybe kids 6-12 are too young to get Podded up?

Yes, children may, perchance, listen to MP3s. No, I don't want second graders uploading "Trapped in the Closet, Chapters 1-12" from each other during class. Until they invent a Dynabook like the one Nell has in The Diamond Age, I think kids should be forced to listen to clown-burdened 45s and read yellowed, taped-up library books. Goddammit, give me one reason for these things, and I'll stop being your grandpa.

p.s. wait I just deciphered the fourth comment and I think that barely literate (or extremely harried) person agrees with me.