In the spirit and memory of Eugene Polley, the inventor of the TV remote control who passed away today, I dedicate this blog.

Did you ever have a tv remote, ceiling fan, or other battery operated appliance type device that started to behave quirky and unreliably, no matter how much you shook it, pointed it, prayed to it or cursed the Gods? Am I the only one who for some reason prefers to frustrate myself for days, weeks, and even months, even tho deep down I really know I just need to go downstairs to the kitchen and get a new battery? What is with us, we ego driven, maniacal yet totally lazy humans that we would rather scream at a ceiling fan for ruining our day and quite possibly our dysregulated body temperature all night then accept that our main source of energy has run its course and is in need of replacement?

Ok, can you see I am using a metaphor here? I am talking about double AAs and triple AAAs and the funny square ones that never plug in easily or correctly, but Im also talking about our health… physical, emotional and psychological. It takes a long time for alot of people, including myself to admit they have gotten worn down from lifes many stress and strains, and might need more then a good vacation (altho never ever say no to a good vacation). Some of us need therapy. Some need a blood test or physical exam, including the kind that involves a doctor, a rubber glove, and a sarcastic comment like, “Now that wasn’t too bad, was it?” We might even need to see a shrink or accept the fact that certain medications are necessary. Worse yet, we might have to exercise and lose weight. The point is we have to, I have to, get better at admitting when I need help and my “internal remote control” is on the blink. In my TV room at home is one of my many self created “Ironic Art” exhibits. It’s really just a large bowl with all the many remote controls I have had over the years that span the many generations of new technology and new fangled ways to avoid getting off my lazy ass. I used to even have one that had a super long wire connected to it and was like a skinny jump rope…which I suppose defeats the purpose of  both being lazy or getting exercise. Anyway, the art exhibit is pretty self-explanatory. Even when we feel like we have control, we really dont. We must accept the duality of both the absence of complete control as well as being more responsible and self-correcting. Life is just like that, but as guys, we often just like to pretend anyway. Thank you Mr. Polley. May you rest in peace and merrily keep on clicking the “clicker”…..for all eternity.

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Eugene-Polley-inventor-of-TV-remote-dies-at-96-3576803.php