Burriss: Do something about 'the screen'

By LARRY BURRISS

With the end of one year, and the beginning of another, it's time for New Year's Resolutions, those new things we are going to try to do that are going to make our lives better.

Now, I'm of the opinion that the republic is on the verge of collapse, and civilization as we know it will soon come to an end. And what is this scourge? I'm simply going to call it "the screen"...the computer screen, the telephone screen, the tablet screen, the television screen. And worst of all is the "combo-screen": The all-in-one computer-telephone-tablet-television screen.

So to combat a complete technological takeover there needs to be a kind of national New Year's resolution that everyone do something about the dreaded "screen."

First, if you really need a news fix, I suggest you make a resolution to read a newspaper or listen to the radio. Notice I'm not opposed to technology. So keep the radio on, and you'll get the most important news once or twice an hour. Do you really need updates any more often? No, you really don't.

Second, make a resolution to read a real book. You know the kind with pages. The kind you don't have to worry about back-lighting or depleted batteries. The kind you can leave on, and it never runs out of power.

Third, if you really want to be bold, resolve to go for a walk or play games with the children. Or do some other family things, but do them together. Of course, this also means parents would have to spend a little more time with their children. But I always thought that's what being a parent is about.

Of course, just because you aren't watching the screen, doesn't mean the screen isn't watching you. So you'll have to excuse me while I put on my aluminum foil hat.