Okay, so here’s the thing. We live in an uncannily advanced, technological world. Innovation never ceases. Regardless of whether we truly need or even want something new and improved, we’ll get it.

And that’s fine and all, so long as the various technologies are used efficiently, responsibly, and sustainably, serving some purpose that’s helpful or, in the least, entertaining to some. But we know that’s not always the case.

There’s often a sort of obsession, if you will, with certain technologies. I’m talking about video games, social media outlets, phones, gadgets and the like. And this techno-mania can lead us into situations where we throw caution to the wind.

Three recent cases in point:

1) Undercover investigators went into a drug dealer’s residence in Polk County, Florida. Some, naturally, searched for drugs, money and paraphernalia while some took the opportunity to play multiple rounds of Wii Bowling. Yes, numerous fist pumps and high-fives ensued. And all of this was caught on the dealer’s home security camera. Too far, guys… and wildly unprofessional. I mean couldn’t you have resisted the urge? Like you don’t have one waiting at home, anyway. Full story here.

2) Two girls, aged 10 and 12, somehow found themselves lost in a drain in the suburbs of Adelaide, Australia. Fearing for their lives, they decided to try and get help. So they picked up their phones and UPDATED THEIR FACEBOOK STATUS’ WITH THEIR DILLEMA. Wow… just wow. The clincher of this one is the fact that the girls had working cells and could have easily just dialed emergency, but still somehow felt, even in a matter of life and death, that Facebook was the way to go. Sorry, girls, but it’s not. Can we get back to real life now? Full story here.

3) This story is the one that really does me in. A 17-year old girl - who, I think it’s safe to say, should have known better - died from electrocution this past summer in Romania. Why, you ask? She was Tweeting from her bathtub. Apparently, the electrocution occurred when she reached a wet hand out to plug the computer in. Yikes. As a human, I absolutely feel for her and her family, of course. But as a critic, I can only wonder “What the f**k was she thinking?” Full story here.

Ever find yourself cursing Facebook as you stumble across a friend’s page that’s complete with 28 applications, 13 upcoming events, some stupid thing about Mafia Wars and a laundry-list of responses to a mindless status update? Chances are you do. On the reg.

So for you, and me, and whoever else wishes Facebook would stop excessively adding applications like an Italian adds toppings to a pizza, there’s the newly launched preview for Facebook Lite, accessible now by logging in at www.lite.facebook.com.

The Lite version boasts a simpler, cleaner design, reminscient of Facebook’s early design stages. It’s main premise is that it’s much faster loading and thus a better option for those browsing Facebook from computers with slower internet connections. As of now, Facebook Lite is only available to those in the US and India.

Some people are already viewing the revamping as an effort on Facebook’s part to be a bit more like Twitter, focusing on real-time updates and messaging. Along the same lines, Facebook has also recently announced they will be supporting @mentions in status updates, which they dub ‘tagging’, enabling users to references friends, groups and events directly.

Facebook Lite has a simpler top toolbar, one-click buttons for status updates and media uploads, and eradicates most of the “bells and whistles” you previously felt bogged down by on your profile. The most noticeable change is the drastic decrease in third-party applications. You get the wall, info, friends, photos and media.

And that’s it. Touche.

Fox has just confirmed that Paula Abdul isn’t coming back, and Paula made a bunch of weepy tweets about it. Bonnie Fuller called her a liar about 30 minutes later. Is this the final nail in the coffin or another publicity stunt? With Seacrest getting $45 million and Simon allegedly getting over $100 million (not confirmed), one would think that Fox could hold on to Paula. I suspect the network just doesn’t want her, especially after last season’s four judge panel proved to be a time wasting train wreck.

I can’t say that I care that much. Whenever Paula would talk I’d generally go grab a snack, send a text message, or do pretty much anything other than listen to her. She never has anything constructive to say; she’s like the over-bearing parent, and every contestant might as well be her child who can do no wrong. Kara DioGuardi is a better judge on almost every level (excluding “No Boundaries,” that was just awful).

Not everyone shares my opinion though. There was a giant online movement to save Paula, the most notable being the Twitter movement. Using the hashtag #keeppaula, fans have been tweeting non-stop to show their support. This is so out of control it even peaked at #2 on Twitter’s trending list.

despite the best and most noble efforts of Paula’s fans, they have ultimately failed. As I said, I think it was clear last season that four judges are too much for the competition, and Paula was without a doubt the weakest. Holding on to Paula would have been an expensive proposition, and I suspect that most Paula fans are also die-hard Idol fans, and will watch the show regardless. The marginal boost in viewers the program would receive probably isn’t worth the cost of her contract.

This doesn’t mean the end of Paula Abdul, not by any means. She can go back to dancing with animated cats. Frankly, I like her better that way.

No website can really claim to be a rousing success until they have modified the English language.  I can now say the words “googled” and “friended” without people staring at me like I have a severe disability.  Twitter has fully reached critical mass with the announcement from the Collins English Dictionary that it will be added as both a noun and a verb.

According to The Telegraph, Twitter the noun will be defined as “a website where people can post short messages about their current activities” while the verb’s definition will be “to write short messages on the Twitter website.”  Oddly, the word “Tweet” will be left out.

So it finally happened; that cuddly little bullet-point style social site has grown up.  Twitter is even generating a mild bit of revenue these days.  It’s enough to bring a tear to your eye.

As if Twitter hadn’t already swallowed enough of your productive time, the Japanese forum Koress Project presents the Akiduki Pulse box.

Not only can you post what you ate for dinner and what brand of toothpaste you used afterwards, now your friends and loved ones can monitor your heartbeat too. This seems really useful and really creepy at the same time.  One one hand, you could make sure that a sick relative is doing OK.  On the other, you could monitor some girl you like and send her a text message asking if she’s alright because her pulse fluctuated by two beats per minute.  Yeah…

Like most products whether it’s a car, computer, gun, q-tip, etc., it’s implementation will depend on the character and quality of its owner.