CES

For those that don't know, the CES is the Consumer Electronics Show, held in Las Vegas, where all the new little gadgets and gizmos are put on display, things that make James Bond look like someone holding a ghettoblaster (and it's true, some of his stuff from the last movie was there, it's real).

Everyone was singing its praise today, telling about all the leaps forward and everything we can do, from the new Apple iPhone that will be coming out to new OLED displays. But here's something I noticed.

Nothing looks like it will actually make our lives better.

There were some things that will make our lives a little easier. Wait. A little lazier. A coffee maker that hooks up to satellite weather to tell you the forecast. Apple's new iTV which will allow you to play your iTunes downloaded movies on your TV. Speaking of TV, what about the 108 inch flatpanel (yes, 108 inches!). All nice, fun things to have. But how do they actually improve our lives? Very little. In fact, the only thing I saw mentioned that could even be close to helping us better ourselves was an outrageously priced exercise bike with a screen in front of you. It shows a course and as you ride, the pedals get tougher or softer depending on if you go up or down hills. Um, why not just actually go ride a bike?

So really, with all our technology and everything, I see only two uses. They give us access to more information and the entertain us more. The problem with the access to information is people will not be likely to download books or things to enhance their minds, they will just get more useless entertainment for all the other products that are there. Does a bluetooth really need an MP3 player?

So here's my suggestion. Buy whatever you want. Have at it. But don't let it control you or be your focus. All this stuff will do is make you lazier (except the bike). Instead be trying to better yourselves. We played a game on Sunday with the Jr. & Sr. High students. After the game I realized that people simply do not read enough (it was more mind exercise type games). Try reading. Try being a better person, not just one who owns a better TV...

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