North Coasters seem inordinately fond of TECHIE GADGETS (note the smartphones attached to the side of most residents faces), so heres a geek treat: the 10 COOLEST PRODUCTS from the 2013 International Consumer Electronics Show this month in Las Vegas, courtesy of The Daily Beast (http://tinyurl.com/geektreats).

They include a Lexus self-driving car (perhaps some Astoria drivers should take note of this one) and Vuzix M100 Smart Glasses, which run on the Android platform, and let you make calls and watch movies (hopefully not to be used in conjunction with the self-driving car).

One of the Ears favorites is the HAPIFORK from HAPILABS. This little $99 gadget tells you if you are eating too fast by buzzing at you. How obnoxious is that? The theory is that if you eat slower, youll get full faster, and not eat so much, thereby staying svelte.

The inventor, JACQUES LEPINE, is quoted as saying, Your mind doesnt have to do the work. The Ear suspects your mind already isnt working if you need one.

Elleda Wilson