Monday, December 22, 2025

The Night I Battled a Smart Toaster (and Lost)

I recently decided to "upgrade" my life by purchasing a high-end, touch-screen smart toaster. 

It promised "perfectly artisanal results," but I quickly realized I wasn’t smart enough to own it.

Last Tuesday, at 6:00 AM, I was stumbling around the kitchen in a pre-caffeine fog. 

I popped in a bagel and poked at the glowing screen. 

Apparently, I didn't select "Bagel"—I accidentally initiated some sort of high-intensity cleaning cycle or "factory reset" mode.

The toaster didn't start browning. Instead, it:
 
Locked the bagel inside like a high-security vault.

Started emitting a low, rhythmic humming sound, similar to a spaceship powering up.

Displayed a countdown timer that said: "Optimizing... 12:00 minutes remaining."

I stood there, staring at my trapped breakfast. I tried unplugging it. 

When I plugged it back in, the screen flickered to life and smugly resumed the countdown: "Resuming Optimization... 11:58." 

It had a memory. It was committed to the bit.

I ended up sitting on the kitchen floor, eating a handful of dry cereal, watching a $200 appliance "optimize" my bagel into a charcoal puck. 

When the timer finally hit zero, the toaster chimed a cheerful, melodic tune and ejected the bagel with such force that it hit the ceiling.

Technology is great, but sometimes a metal box with a spring and a lever is all the "innovation" a person needs before their first cup of coffee.

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