I never commented about Un-Tech the Halls, but I just heard the Oddcast review and thought I should say something. If you want to hear about complaing about the technophobia in this episode, just check out that
Oddcast ep on it. For a summary, A. Technology really isn't the correct word for what they were talking about, as technology would include the car they were driving, clothes they were wearing, etc. B. The problem in general with phones/video games/etc. is the users, not the things themselves. People today like to think that books are so much healthier and less distracting than phones, but that is just not true. I can just as much ignore my parents calling me to dinner with a book, as with a phone. Phones are not antisocial, phones are a major source of social interaction today. Etc.
Also, just the story was bad. I live in a place where we get snow every winter, the AIO writers do too, I believe. But someone please tell me of a time they've been able to sled down a hill without the use of a sled. Maybe I just never do it right, or the Parkers slid down a cliff, but I don't know of a single time I have been able to slide down a hill without a sled. Also, don't get me started on a rope made of belts and socks. Except for the tying to the car, why do they even need a rope? I know the Parker kids are much younger than my little sister and I, but we carried our Christmas tree this year from the field up to the Tree Farm barn... a pretty long hike. Christmas trees honestly aren't that heavy, but I guess it depends on the tree as well. They could've easily carried the tree without the use of a rope, but since they were apparently at the bottom of a cliff, it makes a little more sense.
All in all, I did not like this episode. It wasn't funny, the plot was... no, and the technophobia was really bad, even if Chris's wrap up didn't very briefly mentioned that phones/internet can be used in a good way.
I forget about the January episode, so I'll review it after I listen to the second part.