The Genius Blog
Why I refuse to buy an iPad
So you’ve probably heard of the iPad… unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for the last month. And even then, the rock probably had an Apple advertisement painted on it.
Yes, the iPad is here. Three million people have already shelled out $500 to say that they desperately need this electronic device, even though a few months ago the product category of tablet computers didn’t really exist.
Now, don’t get me wrong. Apple is an innovative company and this thing looks incredibly slick. It plays music and games, runs apps, shows movies, and is perfect for browsing the web and checking Facebook. Look, if someone wants to gift me one, I’m not going to complain or anything. And I’m not saying no one should get one. But I personally won’t be spending any money for one. And here’s why:
First, this thing is the definition of “toy.” Tons of fun, but basically doesn’t do anything I already can’t do with a more practical device… my laptop. I need a laptop for work as it has a better processor, larger storage, solid keyboard, and more advanced applications for getting work done. Yes, the iPad would be nicer for chillin’ on the couch, but I can’t see dropping $500 for that kind of difference.
Secondly, for me, the iPad would be an unhealthy addiction machine. The last thing I need is some new ultra-portable device that enables me to spend MORE time on a computer. Seriously… if I had to make a list of all the things the iPad does best and all the things that I really need to be doing less of in my life… it would be the same list!
THINGS I SHOULD BE DOING LESS:
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Reading about sports
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Watching movies & TV
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Checking Facebook
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Playing video games
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Browsing the web
Honestly, what we all need much more than an iPad is a little unplugging! Is it just me or has our society gone a little overboard with “always on” tech devices? I have all these cool communication/entertainment devices, but am I really more connected to people? Am I more happy? Here’s the kind of stuff I really need:
THINGS I SHOULD BE DOING MORE:
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Going to dinner with my wife
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Playing basketball with my kids
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Visiting my parents
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Going to coffee with a good friend
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Playing board games with my family
Ok, you get my point. Maybe it’s a little stretch to call the iPad a symbol of all that is wrong with our materialistic, web-connected, tech-worshiping, entertainment-focused society. But it's close. And besides -- if you disagree, you can always buy me an iPad to change my mind. Preferably the 64GB version, ok?
COMMENTS:
Posted by Jack Lugar on Fri Jun 25, 2010 1:57 PM EST
I'm not getting one because I don't have a pocket big enough. Oh, and I'm assuming you're getting OJ with a good friend.
Posted by Dan Rutledge on Fri Jul 2, 2010 7:43 AM EST
Jack - I always miss those orange juice mornings in Burbank! I've gotten into coffee lately, which is probably not a good switch... but I can now sometimes stay up later than 9pm.
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Announcing Our Contest Winners!!
Hello everyone! Our panel of judges has finished laughing through the entries and has now picked the winners in last month's "Funniest Kids Quote" contest! Thanks to everyone that submitted - we hope that it provided a fun break to the end-of-school scheduling chaos!
FIRST PRIZE: $100 Target Gift Card
At my son's 5th birthday party, he asked "Where are the Popsicles?” I told him… ”In the house, be a good boy and go get them.” 5 minutes later I noticed he gave everyone a tampon while I was grilling burgers. He said, " Daddy, what flavor are these?”
- Tim Blesser
SECOND PRIZE: $50 Target Gift Card
Once I had to take my little brother to my work to pick up my check. My brother was only 3 at the time and so everyone stopped to talk to us. Well when we ran into my boss who started talking to my little brother about everything and my little brother looked up at him and said "it's okay, sometimes hair sticks out of my nose too!" I felt my face turn bright RED!
- Emilee Vuksta
THIRD PRIZE: $25 Target Gift Card
After my son's fish died, we buried it in a box in the backyard. One day, while washing dishes, I see through the window my son digging at the grave site. I called him in and asked what he was doing, he said, "I wanted to see if he left for heaven yet."
- Becky Bibeault Van Volkinburg
Honorable Mention:
I taught a 4yr. old preschool class and was greeting children and talking to parents as they arrived one morning. As I was talking to a parent a child asked me, "Are you going to have a baby?” Being overweight, I understood the question and said no, I wasn't. The child insisted and said, "You are having a baby!" to which I replied, “No, honey, I'm not, now go play.” I continued my conversation with the parent when I felt something on my leg. The child had laid down on the ground and was looking up my skirt! I quickly asked what she was doing when she replied, "I'M LOOKING FOR THE BABY!"
- Stephanie Kiser
When my daughter was 2 years old she frequently misprounced words. We were shopping in the grocery store on a Saturday, when it was nice and crowded. Suddenly she yelled out "MOMMY WE NEED MORE PORN!!!" as we passed cans of corn...... and all heads turned....
- Erin Brooks Haag
My 6 year old proclaimed that he had solved the question of where babies come from. The second I heard those words, my mind started racing with how to answer his in-depth questions he always shoots my way. I interrupted him & started saying “Baby doll, when me & Daddy fell in love, we got married, & decided we loved each other sooooo much that we wanted to make a baby. He started yelling, “EW yuck, Mommy, what are you talking about?! No one ever told you where babies come from, Mommy?!! I can't believe Mawmaw never told you where babies come from, Mom!” So, at the risk of having no clue what he was about to say, I asked him where he thought they came from. He said- (rolling his eyes) “One of my friend's at school told me all about it today… he said he heard his Mommy talking about it with one of her friends... It comes from getting a back rub or a massage. His Mommy said- That dang back rub is what started it all... nine months later baby brother arrived.”
- Lacey Moore-Lewis
I was looking through my 4 year old son's scrapbook and he says, "Mom, is that my Facebook?"
- Tara Sansom-Hayden
My 5 year old daughter, Bailey, came running downstairs with no clothes on....it was her birthday. I told her to go back upstairs and put on clothes....she said " But Mom it is my birthday and I want to wear my birthday suit!"
- Jennifer Absher Lilly
COMMENTS:
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Why I Refuse to Celebrate "Dads & Grads"
Have you seen all the commercials and advertisements lately reminding you to remember your “Dads & Grads”? This marketing catch phrase really irks me. Since when did Father’s Day get lumped in with another holiday? So dads aren’t even important enough to get our own day now and we have to share?
 Seriously, can you imagine this happening with Mother’s Day? If Mother’s day took place during music appreciation month would we tell people to celebrate Moms and Brahms? Or if it was near Veterans Day… Moms and Bombs? Not a chance.
When it comes to holidays, we really appreciate mothers. Mother’s Day is traditionally the day of the year when the most phone calls are made. The commercials for Mother’s Day are sappy, heart-warming flashbacks to a mom cooking a child a meal and bandaging up a knee. We are usually told we should get mom a nice big diamond necklace, or a spa treatment, or something to give them a break from all their hard toil and sacrifice they do for us.
With dads… it’s more like you can pick him up a gift on the way to graduation and save yourself an extra trip. Or if stores do advertise specifically for dads… they focus on the things dads do apart from the family. According to the marketing gurus… dads do only two things: they golf or sit around on their duff with other dads and watch sports on TV. The rare, exceptional dad… can both golf and watch TV.
Ok, so maybe it isn’t quite that bad. But I find that in general, society just doesn't respect fatherhood much or even expect much from fathers. And sadly, it’s often with good reason. Far too many fathers have been absent, unfaithful, irresponsible, and focused primarily on themselves. I have to admit that many more moms have been carrying the load of parenting and being the better spiritual leader in their families.
I think it’s time for us dads to step up… and finally be worthy of those incredibly fashionable “#1 Dad” t-shirts we seem to get.
Maybe then – we’ll even get our own holiday.
COMMENTS:
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