Have I mentioned my unspeakable addiction to a game called Cubis? This is not a game that requires any strategic thinking. It is not a game that needs any planning. It does not even demand that you take on the role of some frighteningly geeky fantasy heroine or wizard. It does not, truth be told, require more than the ability to recognize colors and use the mouse. (If I was not in a good mood, I would compare this to the capabilities of politicians and talk show hosts, but that would just be wrong.) I started to play this as a free game via MSN (before the days of digital cable), and have played it on and off for a year or so. I kept downloading free versions, but eventually got to the point where it did not let me continue to play without paying, so I spent $19.95 (and probably gave away my credit card number) for the ability to use it anytime. It does not like to be open when I put the laptop into stand-by mode and has complained of file corruption (the software equivalent of a migraine) several times, requiring re-installation. Now I can push little brightly hued cubes around a game board to my heart’s content, rather than endure the strain of reading a newspaper, or watching another “I am and I approved this message” message, or sitting through the excruciatingly vacuous commentary on the Olympics.

Our cable service now has a DVR available in our area. This means that for a mere $9.95 additional per month I will be able to record up to 80 hours of trash TV, allowing me to waste even more time without leaving the comfort of my home. They even have a dual tuner version that provides the ability to record one show while watching another, or to record two shows at once. All of Six Feet Under! All of Dead Like Me! All of the final season of The Sopranos when it finally airs in 2017! Now if only the Cartoon Network would air the complete Astro Boy catalog...

I've coveted Tivo for a long time, but worried about how well it would work with our cable service. Have you noticed how the integration of various components, whether it's audio/video equipment or automotive add-ons or bringing family members together at a reunion, is always the most complicated thing? The individual units may work well in a stand-alone mode, but getting them to talk to each other (along the lines of "standards are a wonderful thing because there are so many to choose from") is akin to Hannibal getting those elephants over the mountains. The iPod is a great example. Although it plays wonderfully through ear buds, getting it to work well in a car is nearly impossible. I tried the FM tuner nonsense, but the signal kept fading or was overriden by radio zealots. Now I have the cassette player connection, but that results in all sorts of unsightly wires. BMW has a built-in iPod adapter, but the reviews I've read are not thrilled with the sound quality or the connection itself. Plus, I keep looking at the little screen expecting to see the artist's name and song title. Not too much to ask, right?