Unplanned Obsolescence

At the risk of sounding like a Luddite, the world as we know it is rapidly becoming obsolete. In fact, no sooner do we think we're all caught up, we find ourselves out of date again.

First it was 8-tracks, followed by LP's and cassettes. Now even CD's are giving way to downloads. Got a 30 gig iPod when they first came out? Forget it. They're puny next to the new 80 gig models.

Beta lost out to VHS, which then lost out to DVDs. Now those are about to lose out to HD DVD and Blu Ray.

Still love that 36 inch TV you bought five years ago? Well, as of February 17, 2009, it will become almost as worthless as your house. That's when analog TV signals will be cease to be broadcast, replaced by digital technology.

Do you love your kitty? Time to get rid of him or her in favor of one of the new glow-in-the-dark models.

Science and knowledge? That's so yesterday. It's faith and ignorance that are the wave of the future.

Here's one that may surprise you: If you have any incandescent light bulbs, enjoy them while you can. Under a provision of a recently passed energy bill, those kind of bulbs will be phased out over the next decade or so and replaced by fluorescent, halogen, and other energy efficient bulbs.

What will be the next to go? Underwear? Maybe it will turn out that Britney was merely ahead of her time.