Tuesday, July 27, 2004
Much as I love all the latest electronic gadgets I sometimes find some that just make you want to say "WHY?". Pda's, cell phones, computers and the like are to me an essential part of life. Why write something with pen and paper, even if you could find a pen and pad when you needed one, when you can push a few buttons and store all important information in one place. Isn't it easier to look in your cell phone for a phone number or turn on your Palm Pilot for an address than to remember where you put that napkin or scrap of envelope with a really important number written on it?
But then, there are some bounderies that just shouldn't be crossed when it comes to electronics and their place in ordinary life. Not long ago I was watching the evening news and there was a reporter doing a story on the latest in cell phone crazes. Someone had come up with the bright idea of offering an "excuse" group. The concept was to join this group and if you needed a convenient excuse for not showing up for work or standing up a date, you put out a message to the network and someone would make a call to get you off the hook. The "excuse" call would even come complete with appropriate background noises such as traffic or bar sounds or airport paging systems in order to make the excuse even more authentic. Where were these people when I was trying to duplicate my mother's signature on an absence note when I skipped school? Although I do believe my mother's signature was a lot easier for me than having to come up with inventive excuses for people I don't even know.
Then there was a new invention on the Today show one morning. Here there were several attractive young ladies sporting tee shirts with built-in monitors across their chests showing various streaming videos. WHY???? Let's face it, it doesn't take streaming video to make any man take a second look at an attractive woman. And another new thing on the market is a refrigerator with a TV built into the door!! Again I gotta ask...WHY??. Americans have for generations timed their trips to the fridge during commercials, so what good is a TV on the refrigerator door. Besides, is all that cold air good for the TV? Why not come up with a TV for the shower while we're at it....although steam could be a problem. It makes me wonder who would buy this particular refrigerator and would visitors congregate around the fridge to watch the latest movie......hmmmmm. I guess we could just move the fridge into the bedroom and make all our husbands dreams come true.....a TV & fridge full of snacks and cold beer all in one convenient place. I wonder if the fridge TV comes with a remote.
But the topper came this morning during the local news. Some brilliant mind has come up with a raincoat complete with a built-in MP3 player and a built-in cell phone for the low, low price of $795.00. Apparently the headphones come up through the collar of the raincoat and one can listen to music and make calls every where they go. Although the concept is interesting I think it might get just a wee bit warm wearing that raincoat in 90 degree weather and one just might draw the interest of local law enforcement wandering around in a raincoat talking and dancing by oneself. Somehow I don't see a big market for the raincoat but you never know. After all, Columbo did well with his rumpled trenchcoat, so just imagine how he'd come across with this coat as he says "Just one more question".........."WHY??!!".
But then, there are some bounderies that just shouldn't be crossed when it comes to electronics and their place in ordinary life. Not long ago I was watching the evening news and there was a reporter doing a story on the latest in cell phone crazes. Someone had come up with the bright idea of offering an "excuse" group. The concept was to join this group and if you needed a convenient excuse for not showing up for work or standing up a date, you put out a message to the network and someone would make a call to get you off the hook. The "excuse" call would even come complete with appropriate background noises such as traffic or bar sounds or airport paging systems in order to make the excuse even more authentic. Where were these people when I was trying to duplicate my mother's signature on an absence note when I skipped school? Although I do believe my mother's signature was a lot easier for me than having to come up with inventive excuses for people I don't even know.
Then there was a new invention on the Today show one morning. Here there were several attractive young ladies sporting tee shirts with built-in monitors across their chests showing various streaming videos. WHY???? Let's face it, it doesn't take streaming video to make any man take a second look at an attractive woman. And another new thing on the market is a refrigerator with a TV built into the door!! Again I gotta ask...WHY??. Americans have for generations timed their trips to the fridge during commercials, so what good is a TV on the refrigerator door. Besides, is all that cold air good for the TV? Why not come up with a TV for the shower while we're at it....although steam could be a problem. It makes me wonder who would buy this particular refrigerator and would visitors congregate around the fridge to watch the latest movie......hmmmmm. I guess we could just move the fridge into the bedroom and make all our husbands dreams come true.....a TV & fridge full of snacks and cold beer all in one convenient place. I wonder if the fridge TV comes with a remote.
But the topper came this morning during the local news. Some brilliant mind has come up with a raincoat complete with a built-in MP3 player and a built-in cell phone for the low, low price of $795.00. Apparently the headphones come up through the collar of the raincoat and one can listen to music and make calls every where they go. Although the concept is interesting I think it might get just a wee bit warm wearing that raincoat in 90 degree weather and one just might draw the interest of local law enforcement wandering around in a raincoat talking and dancing by oneself. Somehow I don't see a big market for the raincoat but you never know. After all, Columbo did well with his rumpled trenchcoat, so just imagine how he'd come across with this coat as he says "Just one more question".........."WHY??!!".
