Monday was Memorial Day. Having lost three friends and subordinate soldiers over the years to combat casualties, it’s a tough day sometimes. I know that they loved what they were doing and I try to honor them instead of being sad that they are gone. It’s really what they would want.

Then on Tuesday, I had to let another old friend go, this one is electric, but still we’ve been together a long time! My high speed, formerly top of the line DVD player had to be put out to pasture. Its been through multiple remotes, countless lube jobs on the moving parts, but finally the years had taken their toll. It was breaking down, refusing to play some discs at all, and sputtering out and stalling on the slightest smudges or dust on the disc.

I like to keep my discs in pristine conditions and so does my wife. My daughter, well, about to put my discs off limits to her as I find them lying just anywhere. Not to mention the discs we receive through Netflix that are scratched, damaged, dirty, and always full of oily finger prints. Probably the newest vector of diseases in America too!

So, good bye old friend, have fun in the pasture. You were ahead of your time in the features you had as a standard, and still put any player under $100 today to shame. Here’s to you!