kid-friendly and high-tech?

It's been a long time since we've purchased a new TV or home stereo. We don't really watch TV anymore anyways, so it's not that pressing of an issue for us. But the media would have us believe that we are freaks for not having our own personal wall-sized flat panel TV and 9.1 surround sound system. Whatever. As a parent, I say make it safe for my kids first. Make it so that my kid can't walk up and stick a slice of Velveeta into the DVD player. Make it so that they can't break the buttons on that $3000 television.

What parent in their right mind would be looking at $6000 projection televisions when their toddler could walk up and rip off the volume knob? You would think that the TV manufacturers would have learned how to make these items practically indestructible by now, especially when you consider the price. But I guess it is more profitable to make them fragile.

Another big joke is the push for everyone to move to HDTV and other extraneous items like BlueRay technology. We've gotten so wrapped up into making things better that we never considered whether the average consumer would even notice. Can the average consumer tell the difference in audio quality between a CD and a DVD? Not likely. How about the difference between a regular DVD and Blueray? Nope. Is the negligibly noticed quality boost offered by HDTV worth the upgrade cost? Not in my book.

The next big "economy boost" being fostered by the FCC is the switch to digital TV. Yes, anyone still using an analog TV in 2008 or 2009 will be required to buy a new TV or get a converter if you still want television. Rather than play this game, which the government itself is now sponsoring, I've got a better idea. When the big "switch" happens, turn off the TV. Give it up. You'll be amazed at how much your life changes for the better. You'll quit longing for so many material possessions, and so will your kids. After a few years of no television, if you happen to see some at someone else's house, you'll find it grotesque and alien. It's great. We only rent DVDs these days, and even our interest in those is waning. Our kids are also very creative and not obsessed with the latest toys, games and gimmicks that television bombards them with 24/7. I don't regret it one bit.