A short list of the dumbest "smart" gadgets at CES 2019

CES, the annual technological bacchanal in the desert, is set to begin Tuesday, Jan. 8. But if, like me, you're going to the event as a member of the media, you've likely been inundated with pitches from companies, asking for a moment of your time when you're in town, since August. There are over 4,000 companies registered to attend, and countless more that book rooms at nearby casinos and hotels, hoping you'll leave the show floors for a quick visit. There are a few trends that pop up every couple years at CES, and one that has emerged in recently is "the internet of things," where every device must be made "smart" by jamming a computer inside of it and connecting it to the internet. Some of these are super useful--a fire alarm that can alert your phone when you're not home--but many are gimmicky at best.