This place is overwhelming. You've heard the stats, but they bear repeating: 2700+ exhibitors, 1.8 million square feet of floor space, 140,000 attendees, one too many Germans. I've been ambling around for the past couple of hours and I've only seen the bulk of one hall (there are three at the Convention Center alone, not counting the various other CES-related displays and events scattered throughout town). I'm not complaining, really, it's all very shiny and flashy. But you have to feel sorry for the exhibitors—how do you stand out in an environment like this? I saw a photo-editing display set up next to a high-tech sewing machine display. CES: daring to take Bedazzled into the 21st century! Too much ... technology ... having ... seizures. People are trying really hard to differentiate themselves. There are lots and lots of scantily clad and heavily made-up ladies—tech tarts!—who leap out at you and want to know "Are you sick of listening to your voicemail?!" (Not if it's from you, hotpants --Ed.). It all smacks of desperation a little.

By far the best thing I've seen so far was a display that involved a performance by a hip hop trio that called itself The Hip Hop Opera. At first I was skeptical (I was, after all, on my way to track down Chuck D, a true godfather, whose appearance here may be evidence that he is no longer fighting the power. I would later learn he is in the South Hall ... of a different hotel.) The Hip Hop Opera is fronted by a guy who goes by Supernatural and who claims to hold the world record for longest free style rap. A quick search on the Internets bears this out.  First he introduces his beat box buddy who does a dazzling display of expectorational pyrotechnics, replete with Grandmaster Flash and Afrika Bambaataa quotes. It would have made Dough E. Fresh proud. It would have brought tears to Rahzel's eyes. Then Supernatural himself grabbed the mic, encouraging the ever-ballooning audience to pull anything they had had out of their pockets. Dude masterfully incorporated everything into his rhymes for a good 20 minutes: Bluetooth, aluminum trinkets, mirror, keys, a crochet needle. Here he is in action (pardon my Blackberry photo-taking non-abilities):