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Whenever someone wonders in conversation who won the Battle of Trafalgar or how to get to Safeco Field by bus, I always say the same thing:

"That's the kind of question I ask the magic box."

For me this thing means knowledge. It's the oracle, the multitool, the utility belt, the mystic key.

I suggest we all call it "the box".

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The box is already colloquial English for the TV, as in, "What's on the box tonight?".

We are starting to call that thing a "screen" in my home, because we might hook it up to Nintendo, DVD, computer, cable, what have you.

I agree "box" may be a little overloaded but the context will usually make things clear. There is only one thing you can do with broadcast television: watch.

We also have "the tube" for broadcast television (a little dated because the tubes are disappearing), or "cable".

Maybe this is a regional thing though.

I was under the impression it is colloquial English for female genitalia.

My friend calls it the "Everything Device".

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