VHS

Time's arrow is a metaphor used in the study of physics used to illustrate the fact that, although it is a dimension of space-time like any other, its progression is monotonic. That is to say, we can't go back and forth in time.

But while the past is gone forever, just like Rick and Ilsa in Casablanca, we'll always have the memories. What a tender mercy it is to look back on the good times through the fuzzy lens of recollection. We can always think about how good those halcyon days were: riding bikes down the boardwalk on a hot summer day, and later buying a soft-serve to cool off; the ecstatic joy of running home in a rain storm, arriving at home soaked through, but feeling oh-so alive; the simple joys of going out for breakfast; thoughts of playing with your now-deceased pup in the park, and seeing that loving smile that you'll never see again.

Oh, memories. I like them like I like my scotch: warm, complex, and lovingly crafted, with a touch of bitterness. This brings me to the topic of today's review: the VHS format.

VHS was the predominant format for home video recording and playback from the mid 80s into the late 90s. This means that through my childhood and adolescence, and trailing off into my early adulthood, VHS was how I consumed a lot of my movies. It saw me through my entire Jean-Claude Van Damme phase, and through several phases beyond. These were good times; I must have watched my old Mars Attacks cassette 20 times.

But those days are gone now. Now VHS is an obsolete format. People have since moved on to DVDs, Blue Rays, and watching movies directly on the computer. VHS won't be making a comeback, but it was great while it lasted.