Lord knows I’m not a Zune fan. But, with the news release of what’s being called the Zune 2 yesterday, Microsoft seems to be doing a bit better at catching up with near-ubiquitous iPod.

Some features of the new Zune include new sizes, a touch sensitive pad, and glass screens which promote rather impressive viewing experiences.

The three new Zune models come in flash-based 4gb and 8gb models, and a harddisk based 80gb model which offers more than double the space of the Zune 1 while maintaining a slimmer form factor.

The WiFi actually seems to be a viable means of communication in this new Zune, allowing the user to sync without wires, and it seems, without having to do anything. The new Zune WiFi is said to automatically download podcasts, interact with a Zune Social Network (imaginatively titled The Social) and be able to display television recorded on XP and Vista Media Centers.

And in what seems to be a nice one-up to Apple, the new features on the Zune are being sent via a firmware update to the First Gen Zunes. That means the 1.2 million people who have already purchased the device will not need to do so again.

Video thanks to Seattle PI

Today, President Bush vetoed legislation that would vastly increase government health insurance to children, stating concerns over this proposed plan too closely resembled federal health care.

In other news, President Bush was responsible for trapping subter’s editor in the local mall today. His motorcade path prompted local police to close all exits from the Park City Mall in Lancaster, Pennsylvania where subter Editor-in-Chief P. Bradley Robb was getting a hair cut.

Ironically, the President’s trip to address the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce ended up hurting local business as customers were unable to reach said commerce locations.

President Bush also, apparently, spoke about the dangers of a nuclear Iran.

In the coming months, we’re going to be barrelling down the road to mass consumerism. It’s barely October and already the first Christmas displays are going up at some stores. More and more people are going to be flooding the malls and the shopping cathedrals of our great country. I would just like to suggest to everyone, for the benefit of the world while in these stores, pay the fuck attention to where you’re standing and your fucking surroundings. Do not pause to converse with friends or relatives at key junctions. Do not linger overly long in the one area in the store where I need to be, and can’t because you can’t read your wife’s handwriting on the shopping list. Do not stand too close behind me! Do not cut me off! Would you behave like this in your car? Just because you’re not going fifty miles an hour does not mean a collision with me won’t cause you bodily harm. Get shopper’s insurance people. I will run your ass over. I’m not taking any damn prisoners! No mercy! No remorse!