The introduction of the space shuttle paved the way for the recycling era. (If you don't agree, check out James Burke - Connections.) For the first time, the world had a space vehicle that could be used more than once. If you've never seen the remains of a Saturn V rocket, you should. It completely puts into perspective the cost and expenditure of early space flight.

Unfortunately, in most electronics, we have gone the other way. Seven years ago, I bought a DVD player. Last week, it died. I took it apart, and cleaned everything. It still can't see DVDs. It is a single disc player that reads DVD and CD protocols. Maybe I could have fixed it, but it would have taken a lot of time and energy. I went on line and found a five-disc changer for the same money I spent on the original DVD player that could also play a score of other media formats, including MP3. Actually, I think it was cheaper. On top of that it is half the height of the original. I recycle everything I can: cardboard, paper, all types of plastic, glass, whatever. Electronics? I try to find another use for them, but sometimes it just doesn't happen. Wouldn't it be great if we could just find a standard form-factor and replace the guts without replacing everything?

Yeah, well, when the cost of petroleum products gets high enough, we'll change our goals and interests. Until then, anybody want a used DVD player that doesn't work? The laser might make a cool project...

In the sticks, but my sticks conduct electrons...