Etch-A-Sketch, the most analog and ephemeral of drawing toys from Ohio Art, could have a new life on your TV. QVC and other online outlets are selling the new Etch-A-Sketch Wired Electronic Drawing Game. You simply plug it into your TV's composite video port (and one of the TV's RC stereo sound ports) and then use the thumb pads to control the drawing cursor (much as you would twist the old Etch-A-Sketch knobs back and forth). The $22 device, which also includes games, sound effects and the ability to animate your art, looks like incredibly good fun. On the other hand (or hands), I think those thumb pads are cheating. Rocking your thumbs this way and that to control the direction of the line drawing cursor, I'm sure, isn't easy, but having to twist the two knobs in the correct direction and synchronization on the original device is, to be honest, an art.

Okay, I know I sound a little crazy here, but I fancy myself something of an Etch-A-Sketch artist. I've been using the unique drawing toy for decades and have finally figured out how to draw faces on the darn thing (an of example is inserted here). Now, everyone who buys the wired version will run around saying that they, too can really "draw" on an Etch-A-Sketch. From my cramped, knob-turning fingers to all of you, I say, hogwash!