Bought a new microwave today. It does around four times as many things as the old one. And cost around a quarter the price. (and that is assuming that money hasn't devalued over the last 15 years - which I'm pretty sure it has). Modern technology eh? It makes you wonder where it will end.

I felt quite bad about getting rid of the old one. It has worked perfectly ever since we got it and the only way to go is down in terms of reliability for the replacement. I felt doubly bad because it still works fine. Manufacturers can make these things so reliable these days that they often have a problem getting people to buy new ones. New ones are so cheap to buy that it is not even worth recycling the old one, and so it is down to the tip for me.

I remember a Fredrick Pohl Science Fiction story I read ages ago, where the really "rich" people in the world were not those with everything, but those who were allowed to live in simpler style. The story ended with the invention of "robot consumers" to help the "poor" work their way through all the consumer durables that their low social status had forced upon them. I think it was written with tongue firmly in cheek. Of course in real life we would run out of resources to drive such a scenario, but I found the tale quite engaging and a nice take on human nature.

Oh, and if you think I was a bit harsh on Troy, sorry about that. Remember that these reviews are coming from someone who has just watched "Sweet Home Alabama" with Reese Witherspoon and thoroughly enjoyed it.....