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May 10, 2007 5:30 AM PDT

'TV Timer' makes kids go cold turkey

by Mike Yamamoto
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(Credit: Gizoo)

There's no substitute for direct parental involvement, as we've said many times, but this gadget is worth noting for those moms and dads who simply can't control their kids' TV-viewing habits.

Plug the telly directly into the "TV Timer," and this digital disciplinarian will turn off the tube unwaveringly at the appointed hour. It cannot be bribed and won't succumb to tears or tantrums.

Going where the "Weemote" left off, the timer allows parents to program three viewing slots each day. But be forewarned: It will work just as effectively on spouses.

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What exactly stops?
by Akyan May 10, 2007 5:59 AM PDT
What exactly stops an enterprising child from removing the device and plugging the TV directly into the power socket?
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What exactly stops?
by Akyan May 10, 2007 5:59 AM PDT
What exactly stops an enterprising child from removing the device and plugging the TV directly into the power socket?
Reply to this comment
Can be locked
by redtetrahedron May 10, 2007 6:47 AM PDT
Read the linked article and you'll find that the plug can be locked into the timer...
Reply to this comment
Can be locked
by redtetrahedron May 10, 2007 6:47 AM PDT
Read the linked article and you'll find that the plug can be locked into the timer...
Reply to this comment
And you lose all your set up
by qprize May 10, 2007 11:19 PM PDT
By cutting the power your set will have to rescan every station, and maybe reset
itself to the wrong antenna. That'll keep the brats from watching too much TV.

And my old man's fraternity paddle was a much better device for controlling our
TV watching. And it worked on multiple devices, too!
Reply to this comment
And you lose all your set up
by qprize May 10, 2007 11:19 PM PDT
By cutting the power your set will have to rescan every station, and maybe reset
itself to the wrong antenna. That'll keep the brats from watching too much TV.

And my old man's fraternity paddle was a much better device for controlling our
TV watching. And it worked on multiple devices, too!
Reply to this comment
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