Also Going, Going, Almost Gone Already

From the June AARP Bulletin.

These are almost already gone.

Of course, I still have all but one (well, two) of these items (and use them).

ANSWERING MACHINES--  Still using ours.  Great for screening incoming calls.

TUBE TELEVISIONS--  All ours are the old ones.  Waiting for them to start breaking down (the old '83 console still works well other than the volume that goes in and out sometimes).  I've got my eyes set on a 50-inch new one.  But not until the old one breaks.

PHONE BOOKS-- Don't use these a lot. That print is too small for these old eyes.

BANK DEPOSIT SLIPS--  Well, ok, my pension checks are automatically deposited.  Whenever I finish a check book these days, there are lots and lots of deposit slips still left over.

SUBWAY TOKENS--  I haven't seen a subway out here in Spring Grove.  Must be a city thing.

ROLODEXES--  Never had one.  Don't know that many people.  Always getting it confused with Rolex somehow. Don't have one of those either.

PRINTED ENCYCLOPEDIAS--  I still have my set of Funk & Wagnall's, compliments of Jewel grocery store.  Haven't used it in many years.  Love that Wiki, you know.

FILM--  Have a couple cameras using film but don't use them.  I really miss the viewfinder, especially trying to take picturers outside.

INCANDESCENT LIGHT BULBS--  I stocked up and have an ample supply.  Then, they extended them.  Don't like the light given off by the new lights.

I Hate When Things Change.  --Cooter

Going, Going, Gone: Things We'll Be Losing in the Next Half-Century-- Part 3

CURSIVE--  Hawaii, Indiana, Illinois and Ohio have officially dropped handwriting as an educational requirement and many states considering doing the same.  One day, extra instruction might be required for scholars wanting to read original documents.

When I retired in 2006, I already had one student who couldn't write cursive.  I made him write a note on everything he turned in saying he couldn't write cursive so he wouldn't lose points.  It was still a requirement in my school district at the time.

How are folks going to sign their name, perhaps a big old "X?"  It was funny when I read a "Baby Blues" comic strip and the children's teacher had written an e-mail to all parents asking for any contact be made with an e-mail as well.  It turns out that the teacher couldn't read cursive.  Sad, though.


PIGGY BANKS--  By 2020, only 10% of all monetary transactions will be done with cash.  We already have electronic payment systems for parking in Chicago (well, who carries that much cash on them.)  Then, there is the debit card.  I use one, but only because it pays two-and-a-half percent interest.  Try to get that from any bank.

Not Finished Yet.  --Cooter

Going, Going, Gone: Things We'll Be Losing in the Next Half-Century-- Part 2

TOILET PAPER--  Bidets will wash and dry at the touch of a button, eliminating paper waste.  Hey, it's a "Green Thing" and will add a splash to your life.  But...Yuck!!  Anyway.  Green or not, the spray's not for me!!

ANALOG CLOCKS--  The cell phones are synched to satellites and spring forward or back on their own and are always set even if your power goes out.  And, speaking of clocks, goodbye wrist watches.  But, I will always look really funny glancing at my empty left wrist when that happens. 

If you want to see something funny, get a young person under the age of 25 to look at a clock with the numbers and tell time.  However, I must admit to having a wrist watch with digital numbers so am bad myself.

DESKTOP COMPUTERS--  Some tech companies already have desktop-free offices.  However, I am going to miss my desktop with the big old TV monitor when it happens. 

GLOVE BOX ROADMAPS--  Hey, what with GPS and apps with traffic conditions, drive times and directions to the nearest Starbucks (like I can afford to drink my coffee there).  Actually, this is alright as those things were way TOO hard to fold back up.

LANGUAGE BARRIERS--  Portable translation software available.  This will make life easier.

More to Come.  --Cooter

Going, Going, Gone:Things We'll Be Losing in the Next Half-Century-- Part 1

From the June AARP Bulletin "Vanishing" by Betsy Towner.

These are fixtures of everyday life due to go the way of the gramaphone according to futurists. 

SNAIL MAIL--  Done in by electronic correspondence, but what do you expect when they keep raising the price of stamps, even with those wonderful "Forever" stamps.

HOME PHONES-- Land-lines being dropped for cell phones.  Eventually cell phones will go too as people talk on mini-computers the size of cell phones.  Don't you just hate seeing folks who always have that cell phone plastered to their ears and then there are the really silly looking ear phones.

PHYSICAL MEDIA--  That would be CDs, DVDs, Blu-Rays, thumb drives (whatever that is), newspapers and magazines and many others.  Everything will be brought directly from the internet.

GASOLINE PUMPS--  Your car will drive itself to a recharge station to charge the battery or fill up with hydrogen.  Of course, do expect the GRBs to price it out real high.

BUSINESS CARDS--  Electronic cards will be sent

More to Come.  --Cooter