RIP, VHS

According to the Washington Post, the VCR is now a dead technology:

VHS -- the beloved videotape format that bravely won the war against Betamax and charmed millions of Americans by allowing them to enjoy mindless Hollywood entertainment without leaving their homes -- has died at the age of 29. It passed away peacefully after a long illness caused by chronic technological insignificance and a lack of director's commentary tracks.

Apparently this sounding of the death-knell is occasioned by the fact that the new Star Wars movie is only being released on DVD. (I will refrain from making snarky comments about how the death of Star Wars and the death of videotape as sources of entertainment are thus inextricably linked.)

It's true, though, that's it's been a while since I've rented a videotape, and even longer since I've bought one (or at least, one that wasn't blank). They're still handy for taping Battlestar Galactica, though, at least until I finally get me one o' them new-fangled DVD recorders.