More emotions per dollar

As if these nations haven't been through enough already. When they came out in the late 1990s, I remember that the Furbies developed quite a following in the Hong Kong Chinese community. Guys started buying them instead of Sanrio toys for their girlfriends to prove their undying love. Grown women carried them around and smugly thrust them in the faces of their single friends. It was like the Hong Kong version of a promise ring. How I look back on those times with disgust-tinged nostalgia.

Now Hasbro has allowed us to relive those good old days with the new improved Furby (seen on bottom).



As you can see it is bigger, sleeker and more aurally endowed. After a while it starts to look like the plush pouty blue-eyed lovechild of Elijah Wood and Jessica Alba. Furby 2.0 is also blessed with an entire gamut of emotions which is more than I can say for its actor parents. However the full extent of its power is startingly revealed in the FAQs section.

Q: What can the new FURBY toy do?
A:The new FURBY creature can dance, play a game, tell jokes, sing a favorite song, and talk to other FURBY creatures. Additional features include the following:
Flexible Beak
Moving Eyes
Patented Eyelid Technology
Moving Eyebrows
Moving Plumage
Moving and Curving Ears
Voice Recognition (the FURBY creature will “listen” to you and respond based on his “mood”)
Two Touch Sensors (one each in the belly and on the back)
Speaks FURBISH and “learns” English

Will there even be a need to have children anymore? You can keep your Japanese female androids, at US$39.99 Furbies provide the best value in human companionship. Available for pre-order now at hasbrotoyshop.com.