CTV-DETOX

We are all slowly becoming accustomed to a relatively TV-free existence.

In the absence of Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, I am now depending solely on the BBC international to lull me to sleep.

Dana reports feeling generally more productive.

The kids have accepted that we are not punishing them. Our DVD collection is helping ease their pain. Chloe really misses Hanna Montana.

On the whole we have more music, more singing, more dancing, and more playing together.

We may still decide to plug back in to cable in the future, but perhaps we can develop some new habits in the mean-time.

The Grim RepairMan

We decided to try an experiment this Summer. We cancelled our cable TV at the end of April.

Summer was upon us. We would be playing outside, swimming, creating art and playing games. It would be good for the kids to have to invent some entertainment instead of defaulting to the television.

After four months of free cable the Comcast dude finally got around to disconnecting our service. So, uh, I guess we're going to try an experiment this Fall.

Sketch Comic

Welcome Mr. Sneakers

Mr. Sneakers is a "Snow" variety of Corn Snake. Masterfully named by the kids, he is 13 inches of solid entertainment. I'm told he can grow to be 4 feet in length, but will remain a harmless pet. Corn Snakes are excellent escape artists, so we are all learning to remain vigilant. I'm not sure how Evie the cat would react to a free range snake, but I have my suspicions.

Touch the Network

Apple rolls out the new iPod. Watch the guided tour.

One feature / partnership jumped out at me. Apple has partnered with Starbucks and will begin piloting a system that includes the ability to preview and purchase the last 10 songs played at the Starbucks you are sitting in. This is just the start of the kind of wireless interaction we will be having with our physical environments.

GPS technology, combined with your camera phone, will allow you to take a picture of the bar code on a product and find the lowest price on the item in a 5 mile radius.

Your future wireless device will always be on (like your cell phone today) so the network will reach out to you. Retailers will send coupons to your cell phone as you pass their store front. News sources and other services will send video, text and audio filtered using your preferences - some preferences that you declare, others that software agents in the network have learned about you. And the network will know if you are home or away, sending the media to your computer, your television, or to your mobile wireless unit.

I'm optimistic, and excited to use and create some of these services. However, in the interest of equal time, I point you to the ACLU who created a really cool simulation to caution us about a possible dark future of ubiquitous connectivity.

Finally, back on the topic of touching your technology, check out this series of very inpiring touch interface experiments.