As technology progresses, we are constantly finding ways to make thing more convenient. Like a machine, we churn out a better version of just about everything every couple of years. Better cars, better appliances, razors with more blades, etc.

Sometimes, technology progresses in this way regardless of rational thought. It is as if a computer really is inventing all of this stuff using simple logic like "if 2 blades is good, 3 blades is better, and 4 blades is even better, than 1,000 blades must be ever more awesome!" As a side note, following logarithmic expansion of technologies, it is predicted we will have razors with an infinite number of blades by 2015.

One such inane byproduct of of this technological expansion is the multi-disc DVD changer. Putting the thought of such a device into your head for about half a second reveals the sheer absurdity inherent in it's design. I can imagine the logic that created this monstrosity; "if one DVD is good, and two DVDs is better, than surely consumers will want control of 6 DVDs at once!" I wouldn't be surprised then, if by 2015 we have DVD players with infinite DVD slots (okay, that might actually be pretty cool).

The problems with multi-disc DVD changers are manyfold. First is the slowness of using such a system. Most people only want to watch one DVD at a time. To put the DVD in the player you have to push either one of six or more eject buttons or push a sequence of buttons to eject a certain disc. This is followed by some awkward waiting while the DVD changer makes all sorts of odd noises, finally spewing forth it's tray ready to accept your DVD.

On some players, you then have two slots exposed, and you're not sure which is which. You need to get up and turn on the light so you can read the faint numbers scrawled on the plastic on the tray. You then close the tray, having to remember where you put the disc, and wait for the machine to load it up and finally start playing it.

Let's not even consider what happens if you don't know which disc you want. You have to go through each one, with a long pause as each one loads, until you get to the menu and can tell what it is you're watching. Convenience at it's best. If it takes 1 second to load a VHS tape, 10 seconds to load a DVD, and 1 minute to load a multi-DVD changer, then it stand to reason that it will take infinite minutes to load video players in the future. I, for one, welcome our new video playing overlords.

The next problem with multi-disc changer (remember: besides the complete inconvenience of using them), is that they are completely and utterly unnecessary. If you really want to watch several DVDs in a row, and are too lazy to GET UP ONCE EVERY THREE HOURS to change the movie, than you have much, much bigger problems than lack of convenience in switching between DVDs.

I cannot honestly imagine a scenario in which a person knows the next six DVDs they are going to watch, and also will not move from their couch within the 18 hours it takes to complete them. The person would have to be dead to enjoy such a situation. "Hey what are you doing today?" someone might ask, "Oh, I'm going to load up six DVDs in my multi-disc changer, than fail to move from the same spot for the next 18 hours while I watch every Star Wars and Lord of the Rings movie in succession, but not until after I slit my wrists and do pushups in saltwater."

Don't even get me started on in-car CD changers. "Oh, you wanna listen to this CD? Hold on let me PULL OVER AND OPEN MY FSCKING TRUNK!"

For the average person to properly utilize a multi-disc changer, you have to be an incredible planner. Since the average american watches something on the magnitude of a couple of movies every week, you will need to intricately know what moods you will be in for the next several weeks to make your DVD mulit-player worthwhile. Oh man, I'm so glad that last week I thought I might want to watch The Princess Bride today, I was so right on! What would I ever have done had The Princess Bride not already been in there? I might have had to get off my duff and fumble around with that odd device under my TV!"