Quite a few years ago, I knew someone who had just bought their first DVD player. The rental stores were in full swing at the time, so she went out and rented her first DVD- then called me in a panic because she couldn’t figure out how to rewind it.

I went over and patiently explained to her that there was no need, and she pointed to the label on the box- At that time Box Office Video put a “Be Kind- Rewind!” label on EVERY THING IN THE STORE, and said “Well, what’s THIS for, smartass?”

Sigh.

I happened to have a fucked CD drive. It was an external drive- which at the time meant a “Normal” size CD drive that was in a metal enclosure. When you put in ANY disk, it would turn on, spin up the drive, and then stop and eject it, and it did this if it was plugged into a computer or not. So I got a sheet of Letraset and transferred “GE Disk Rewinder” (She trusted GE appliances) onto the top of the case, put it in a box with the original foam end pieces, and gave it to her.

She’s still using it. All her friends come over to rewind their DVD’s too.

Brought to mind by other computer foolishness related me by my dear old friend and confidant Mlle Jenny, last night.

Update: If it ever breaks I know where she can get a new one.