mini sad ipod of death?

when i turn on my ipod it show the dark apple as usual, then all of the sudden there is a white screen and a picture of a little sad ipod, with a warning or attention sign and read "www.apple.com/support/ipod"
so of course i went to the address, but the support directions changed nothing. And they tell me my ipod is not under warranty so my only option is to travel twenty miles to have someone at an apple store to look at. As i do not have transportation, this is difficult.

If any one has any idea of something else i can do, or has any idea how this happened or why, that would be amazing