"The future's not all it's cracked up to be..."

Remember when the future was supposed to be a bright, technological period of enlightenment? Remember being little and going to bed each night dreaming of the things to come, the advancements that would make our lives better, and usher in peace and prosperity to everyone?

Only to find that when the future finally came, we got a few more shiny gadgets, but the same threats of war, death, aggression... We have the internet, iPods, flashy cars, and light-up baubles, but the plasma screen TV shows the same wars with different names, the same argument with different faces. Where is the utopia they promised us? Our Jetsons homes and Star Trek technology? Where the hell is my jet pack?

What happened?