I am finding, nervously, that our hunger for technology may become our Achilles heel. I say this as one who jumped on the techno-bandwagon years before Windows. That was when programming was done in Basic and Assembly Language. I obviously still like working with technology. My 32 Track Digital recording set-up Has opened incredible resources!

Yet, I was reminded during the reporting of Egypt's political demonstrations that the ability to control technology access results in the amazing ability to thwart expression, progress, and daily activity. This is not a new concept. Films such as Failsafe and 2001 made similar observations, but when Egypt pulled the plug on the Internet and cell phones, the resulting effect was a modern day example of what we may yet face. 

In todays Western and Asian society, we've become dependent on the gizmos and what-cha-ma-call-its. I have my wife's cell phone number programmed into my voice activated phone, but I can't recall what that number actually is. If my computer crashes, I feel as vulnerable as when we lose electricity. Now, with all the emphasis on texting (WHY??) and phone internet access, the dependency on technology advances further. And it's not just personal usage...look at all the commerce conducted via internet and networking systems.

In my view, we are as subject to terrorism by tech--sabotage as we are by bombings.

But, of course, that's just me!

Some of the worst examples of blatant commercialism follow:

Gene Simmons Family Jewels is so patently scripted that, in my opinion, it's not real reality :-) It's more nearly an amoral version of Ozzie and Harriot.

Dancing With the Stars is surely stretching the traditional in at least two ways. First, it might more properly be titled "Dancing With People Who Are Promoting Themselves" or "Dancing With a Family Member of Soneone Who Wants To Be A Star"...even "Dancing With Someone Who Used To Be Known, Sort Of"  Secondly, call me an old guy, but I still enjoy hearing Latin rhythms when a rhumba, tango, cha cha,bossa, etc, is the dance style.

And now Skating?!?!? Give me a break!

The Real Housewives of... How many self-serving bimbos' lives really need to be exploited for profit? And why aren't they including small-town wives if they really want to do this? My guess is that small-town housewives aren't idiotic enough, with perhaps the exception of a particular Alaskan I have in mind.

Flipping Out exposes the reality of an egomaniac with OCD. (Note: the term "egomaniac" is used in a non-clinical sense and does not reflect the opinion of anyone who counts :-) )  This reality I can live without!

Wouldn't you think that people who act out would be embarrassed to be viewed on TV?  Ooops...I forgot about the money being made!

Top Chef: The Thrill of Victory; The Agony of Defeat!  (Gag me with a...nevermind.) By the way, what happens if a judge absolutely hates a main ingredient in a challente? How about a spinoff: "Loser Chef"?

What's with all the Dwarf/Little People shows? It's turning into a genre all its own...dogs, farmers, doctors with the common element of size. Of course it is employing a lot of nice people.

Somewhere along the line I've become increasingly intolerant of things that, in my opinion, are just plain stupid.

Here are some examples:

Newscasters, journalists, and authors who use "snuck" instead of "sneaked".  I deduce they snuck out of English courses in school.

Two famous composers collaborating to write a song using only two chords. How does this work...does each get to pick his favorite chord?

Companies who make charitable contributions from the donations of customers. I wonder who takes the tax credit?

Reducing the Social Security benefits of disabled and retired citizens, but giving tax and Social Security contribution breaks to the affluent.

Citing low company performance as the reason for small or no employee raises, but giving executives of the same company bonuses and "golden parachutes".

Luxury car ads suggesting that in a time of excessive spending, one should pruchase their product to be frugal.

People who brag about winning a bug casino jackpot without admitting the amount lost.

Offers to double the purchased item...just pay separate shipping and handling which is nearly as much as the cost of the item and arrives in tje same box.

People who disparage the foreign accent of a multi-lingual person, but who, themselves, only speak English.