Despite the occasional thematic redundancy that pops up here in my ramblings, I truly treasure originality.  I abhor the regurgitated state of entertainment.  Every other movie seems to be a “reboot” of a classic film.  Television shows are rarely original, and when the really different show is a hit, next season there are a half dozen copies on the other networks.  It isn’t restricted to Hollywood either.  The first iPhone was truly unique, then every subsequent version, a slightly twisted version of that ground breaker with other cell phone makers jumping on board via their own operating system.

Heck, even the ground breaking iPod was a digital rip off of the Sony Walkman.  I remember when the Walkman first came out.  There was a heavily padded version that was all the rage on the slopes of Mt. Warner in Steamboat Springs, CO where I skied.  I was a poor retail sales and radio guy who had to choose between lift tickets and new toys like the Walkman, lift tickets won.  One day as I climbed on the chairlift, the gal that sat next to me was wearing her Walkman.  About a third of the way up the lift her eyes went shut, her head went back, and in a heartbeat she was belting out whatever song she was listening to.  Poorly.  After the song was over her eyes opened, her head turned to me and she asked all doe eyed “Was I signing out loud?”  That was the moment I decided that I was glad I chose lift tickets over toys.

Now there Sony says it’s got a “New Walkman” on the way.  It’s – GASP – an mp3 player!  It will run on the – SHOCK – Android operating system!  It will be thin!  Everything these days is thin.  Of course, any toy that is brags about it’s thinness needs the ubiquitous case to protect it, thus making it thick and bulky.  Go figure.

Hey I have a really unique idea!  A radio that we can carry with us at all times!  That way you can keep track of breaking local news and weather emergencies.  You can learn about new products from local stores.  You can also learn when the stuff you want is on sale at those local stores  It can be made with an earplug socket so no one else is overwhelmed by the noise coming out of your radio . . . . . . . . . . . . .