WHAT’S PLAYING: Miley Cyrus “Party in theU.S.A.”

A couple of months ago, I bought a new phone. This sucker has a full keyboard, massive screen, camera, video, and all the latest Android technology. Sleek and shiny, it really is a marvel.

And yet, whenever I have to make a call, I find myself reaching for my trusty old tracfone. Why? I don’t know. Probably out of habit. Or maybe it’s my ever-present fear of change.  

Either way, it’s hard to believe that both these phones evolved from the one Bell invented back in 1876.

See what I mean?

I love gadgets. I do. In addition to two cell phones, I have a home weather station that I haven’t set up yet, two iPods (just in case one breaks), a tablet, a couple of DVD players, video game consoles, and various other devices.

When I think about the near miraculous strides humans have made over the past couple of centuries, I’m filled with both awe and humility.

Case in point: here is a link to an article about a robot so lifelike that at first, I thought it was an actor pretending to be a robot. You can find the video here:  http://mashable.com/2011/03/04/lifelike-robot/

(Welcome to Skynet, people.)

My first reaction was, “That is so cool!” Then I realized just how eerily lifelike the android was, even down to simulated breathing. There is a fine line between genius and creepy, and this thing crosses it.

If that isn’t enough real life sci-fi for you, there’s this:  http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/harry-potter-invisibility-cloak-effect-created-real-texas/story?id=14674417

 OK, that is seriously cool. Can a cure for cancer or a recipe for immortality be far behind?

With all these major advances in technology though, I’m left wondering what the future will bring. Already, people spend more time online than they do with friends and family. Then there’s the loss of privacy and common courtesy. Recently, I read a story about a blogger who overheard a couple breaking up in a public restaurant. Instead of ignoring it, he Tweeted the dissolution of their marriage in real-time. Granted, the couple probably should have picked a more private spot to end their relationship, but this guy was out of line.

I’m not a huge fan of social interaction, online or off. In fact, I usually go out of my way to avoid it. Still, when I do manage to crawl out of my shell every now and then, it’s not to update my status on Facebook. There’s more to life than technology and the latest and greatest discovery.

In fact, if you really want to see something cool, just get up early to watch a sunrise. Listen to a child’s laughter, take a walk, or simply ask about your family’s day. You’d be surprised at the everyday miracles this world holds, if you would only stop Tweeting long enough to notice. 

  What could possibly be cooler than that?