• Dishwasher with German name made in China. Insists on 2hr20min wash. Must do fancy manipulation to get 2hr05min wash. Often wash dishes by hand, simpler.
• Toaster with French name made in China. When bread too thick, or for no reason, goes nuts, flashes lights, must be unplugged to reboot. Often eat bread untoasted, simpler.
These appliances are needlessly complicated and delicate. But how many critical machines, from cars and aircraft to power and water systems, depend on overly complex and fragile computers? How many crucial systems are subject to both hacking and glitches?
