deprivation

We need to talk.

Some of you have obviously been a little restless lately. You've been leaving comments that betray your irritability. You've been lobbing misspelled accusations about my sexuality that might affect my ability to be nominated for the Supreme Court.

So I'd like you to consider whether this fractiousness might just be the fault of your new iPad. It seems that the revolution that's only just begun might one of the culprits behind something of a REMolution that appears to be preventing so many from enjoying a good night's sleep.

According to CNN, … Read more

The imagination of Isaac Asimov notwithstanding, there are countless robots roaming the Earth simply to entertain us, whether by land, sea or air. And when we tire of their efforts, others are ready to cook for us and even do the dishes.

But face it, we've all really wanted just one thing ever since we were kids: a pony. That's why this year we're writing to Santa for "Tekno the Robotic Pony," a mechanical friend that moves in every direction by remote control but, more important, responds to being "walked, fed, brushed and played … Read more

We're resigned to the inexplicable ubiquity of LEDs, especially when they have absolutely no practical use. But we must draw the line when it comes to our children: Why, for example, would anyone want to use LEDs in a night light?

Granted, light-emitting diodes use much less power than standard bulbs, but they're also consistently touted by manufacturers for their ultra-bright illumination. And C. Crane's "LED Night Light" is no exception.

The last time we checked, night lights were generally used to cast a soft glow that allows children to sleep when they're still … Read more

This may seem silly if you haven't experienced parental sleep deprivation, but anyone who's cared for a newborn for any length of time will undoubtedly understand its usefulness. The "Itzbeen Timer" tells you how long it's been (get it?) since a baby's last nap, feeding, diaper change or anything else you're sure to forget a minute later.

Could a pencil and paper do the trick too? Sure, but that assumes you can remember your own name after the first week back from the hospital. In addition to alerting you for each appointed task (… Read more

With the iPod clothing business practically all sewn up (sorry), the cottage industry seems to be turning its sights to the Pottery Barn crowd. But while products like the iCushion appear destined for the living room, the Mi speaker pillows--which come in neck or rectangular shapes--can be taken with you on a plane or car ride. Chip Chick points out that the red cushions even match Bono's iPod color scheme, though Hammacher Schlemmer notes diplomatically that they'll work with any MP3 player too.