Waterproof remote for the spa lifestyle

It's a truly sad commentary on society when something like waterproof remotes become a trend. Thank goodness the Soviet Union isn't still around, or its propagandists would be having a field day with images of bourgeois Westerners lounging around by the pool, too lazy to leave the chaise lounge to change channels on the splashproof TV.

Yet Remote Technologies has taken the concept to new heights with its RTI U2 model, which not only sports a LCD screen with drag-and-drop icons but also can "trigger advanced commands such as SPA TIME, where the lights dim and your satellite radio turns on and tunes to the Barry White channel," as Cedia News says. For the $500 price, though, it should have voice commands and serve drinks too.

But even if you don't have a pool, it's the ultimate accessory for the American dream of spending your life in the bathroom.