Ten Things That Will Disappear In Our Lifetime (Surprising!)
Jan 17, 2015 08:04:55 #
Received this in my email this morning. Quite thought provoking.
Ten Things That Will Disappear In Our Lifetime (Surprising!)
This is USA oriented, but Canada & the rest will not be far behind. Whether these changes are good or bad depends in part on how we adapt to them; but, ready or not, here they come.
1. The Post Office
Get ready to imagine a world without the post office. They are in such deep financial trouble that there is probably no way to sustain it long term. Email, Fed Ex, and UPS have just about wiped out the minimum revenue needed to keep the post office alive. Most of your mail every day is junk mail and bills.
2. The Check
Britain is already laying the groundwork to do away with check by 2018. It costs the financial system billions of dollars a year to process checks. Plastic cards and online transactions will lead to the eventual demise of the check.This plays right into the death of the post office. If you never paid your bills by mail and never received them by mail, the post office would absolutely go out of business. With online banking available, why would you spend 49 cents for a stamp if you don't have to? The online service is quicker and guaranteed.
3. The Newspaper
The younger generation simply doesn't read the newspaper. They certainly don't subscribe to a daily delivered print edition.
That may go the way of the milkman and the laundry man. As for reading the paper online, get ready to pay for it. The rise in mobile Internet devices and e-readers has caused all the newspaper and magazine publishers to form an alliance. They have met with Apple, Amazon, and the major cell phone companies to develop a model for paid subscription services.
4. The Book
You say you will never give up the physical book that you hold in your hand and turn the literal pages. I said the same thing about downloading music from iTunes. I wanted my hard copy CD.
But I quickly changed my mind when I discovered that I could get albums for half the price without ever leaving home to get the latest music. The same thing will happen with books. You can browse a bookstore online and even read a preview chapter before you buy. And the price is less than half that of a real book. And think of the convenience! Once you start flicking your fingers on the screen instead of the book, you find that you are lost in the story, can't wait to see what happens next, and you forget that you're holding a gadget instead of a book.
5. The Land Line Telephone
Unless you have a large family and make a lot of local calls, you don't need it anymore. Most people keep it simply because they've always had it. But you are paying double charges for that extra service. All the cell phone companies will let you call customers using the same cell provider for no charge against your minutes.
6. Music
This is one of the saddest parts of the change story. The music industry is dying a slow death. Not just because of illegal downloading. It's the lack of innovative new music being given a chance to get to the people who would like to hear it. Greed and corruption is the problem. The record labels and the radio conglomerates are simply self-destructing. Over 40% of the music purchased today is "catalogue items," meaning traditional music that the public is familiar with. Older established artists. This is also true on the live concert circuit. To explore this fascinating and disturbing topic further, check out the book, "Appetite for Self-Destruction" by Steve Knopper, and the video documentary, "Before the Music Dies."
7. Television Revenues
The networks are down dramatically. Not just because of the economy. People are watching TV and movies streamed from their computers. And they're playing games and doing lots of other things that take up the time that used to be spent watching TV. Prime time shows have degenerated down to lower than the lowest common denominator. Cable rates are skyrocketing and commercials run about every 4 minutes and 30 seconds. I say good riddance to most of it. It's time for the cable companies to be put out of our misery. Let the people choose what they want to watch online and through Netflix.
8. The "Things" That You Own
Many of the very possessions that we used to own are still in our lives, but we may not actually own them in the future. They may simply reside in "the cloud." Today your computer has a hard drive and you store your pictures, music, movies, and documents. Your software is on a CD or DVD, and you can always re-install it if need be. But all of that is changing. Apple, Microsoft, and Google are all finishing up their latest "cloud services."
That means that when you turn on a computer, the Internet will be built into the operating system. So, Windows, Google, and the Mac OS will be tied straight into the Internet. If you click an icon, it will open something in the Internet cloud. If you save something, it will be saved to the cloud. You may pay a monthly subscription fee to the cloud provider, however. In this virtual world, you can access your music or your books, or your whatever from any laptop or handheld device. That's the good news. But, will you actually own any of this "stuff" or will it all be able to disappear at any moment in a big "Poof?". Will most of the things in our lives be disposable and whimsical? It makes you want to run to the closet and pull out that photo album, grab a book from the shelf, or open up a CD case and pull out the insert.
9. Joined Handwriting (Cursive Writing)
Already gone in some schools who no longer teach "joined and writing" because nearly everything is done now on computers or keyboards of some type (pun not intended).
10. Privacy
If there ever was a concept that we can look back on nostalgically, it would be privacy. That's gone. It's been gone for a long time anyway. There are cameras on the street, in most of the buildings, and even built into your computer and cell phone. But you can be sure that 24/7, "They" know who you are and where you are, right down to the GPS coordinates, and the Google Street View. If you buy something, your habit is put into a zillion profiles, and your ads will change to reflect those habits. "They" will try to get you to buy something else. Again and again and again.
All we are deigned to have is that which can't be changed.......are our "Memories"!!
Ten Things That Will Disappear In Our Lifetime (Surprising!)
This is USA oriented, but Canada & the rest will not be far behind. Whether these changes are good or bad depends in part on how we adapt to them; but, ready or not, here they come.
1. The Post Office
Get ready to imagine a world without the post office. They are in such deep financial trouble that there is probably no way to sustain it long term. Email, Fed Ex, and UPS have just about wiped out the minimum revenue needed to keep the post office alive. Most of your mail every day is junk mail and bills.
2. The Check
Britain is already laying the groundwork to do away with check by 2018. It costs the financial system billions of dollars a year to process checks. Plastic cards and online transactions will lead to the eventual demise of the check.This plays right into the death of the post office. If you never paid your bills by mail and never received them by mail, the post office would absolutely go out of business. With online banking available, why would you spend 49 cents for a stamp if you don't have to? The online service is quicker and guaranteed.
3. The Newspaper
The younger generation simply doesn't read the newspaper. They certainly don't subscribe to a daily delivered print edition.
That may go the way of the milkman and the laundry man. As for reading the paper online, get ready to pay for it. The rise in mobile Internet devices and e-readers has caused all the newspaper and magazine publishers to form an alliance. They have met with Apple, Amazon, and the major cell phone companies to develop a model for paid subscription services.
4. The Book
You say you will never give up the physical book that you hold in your hand and turn the literal pages. I said the same thing about downloading music from iTunes. I wanted my hard copy CD.
But I quickly changed my mind when I discovered that I could get albums for half the price without ever leaving home to get the latest music. The same thing will happen with books. You can browse a bookstore online and even read a preview chapter before you buy. And the price is less than half that of a real book. And think of the convenience! Once you start flicking your fingers on the screen instead of the book, you find that you are lost in the story, can't wait to see what happens next, and you forget that you're holding a gadget instead of a book.
5. The Land Line Telephone
Unless you have a large family and make a lot of local calls, you don't need it anymore. Most people keep it simply because they've always had it. But you are paying double charges for that extra service. All the cell phone companies will let you call customers using the same cell provider for no charge against your minutes.
6. Music
This is one of the saddest parts of the change story. The music industry is dying a slow death. Not just because of illegal downloading. It's the lack of innovative new music being given a chance to get to the people who would like to hear it. Greed and corruption is the problem. The record labels and the radio conglomerates are simply self-destructing. Over 40% of the music purchased today is "catalogue items," meaning traditional music that the public is familiar with. Older established artists. This is also true on the live concert circuit. To explore this fascinating and disturbing topic further, check out the book, "Appetite for Self-Destruction" by Steve Knopper, and the video documentary, "Before the Music Dies."
7. Television Revenues
The networks are down dramatically. Not just because of the economy. People are watching TV and movies streamed from their computers. And they're playing games and doing lots of other things that take up the time that used to be spent watching TV. Prime time shows have degenerated down to lower than the lowest common denominator. Cable rates are skyrocketing and commercials run about every 4 minutes and 30 seconds. I say good riddance to most of it. It's time for the cable companies to be put out of our misery. Let the people choose what they want to watch online and through Netflix.
8. The "Things" That You Own
Many of the very possessions that we used to own are still in our lives, but we may not actually own them in the future. They may simply reside in "the cloud." Today your computer has a hard drive and you store your pictures, music, movies, and documents. Your software is on a CD or DVD, and you can always re-install it if need be. But all of that is changing. Apple, Microsoft, and Google are all finishing up their latest "cloud services."
That means that when you turn on a computer, the Internet will be built into the operating system. So, Windows, Google, and the Mac OS will be tied straight into the Internet. If you click an icon, it will open something in the Internet cloud. If you save something, it will be saved to the cloud. You may pay a monthly subscription fee to the cloud provider, however. In this virtual world, you can access your music or your books, or your whatever from any laptop or handheld device. That's the good news. But, will you actually own any of this "stuff" or will it all be able to disappear at any moment in a big "Poof?". Will most of the things in our lives be disposable and whimsical? It makes you want to run to the closet and pull out that photo album, grab a book from the shelf, or open up a CD case and pull out the insert.
9. Joined Handwriting (Cursive Writing)
Already gone in some schools who no longer teach "joined and writing" because nearly everything is done now on computers or keyboards of some type (pun not intended).
10. Privacy
If there ever was a concept that we can look back on nostalgically, it would be privacy. That's gone. It's been gone for a long time anyway. There are cameras on the street, in most of the buildings, and even built into your computer and cell phone. But you can be sure that 24/7, "They" know who you are and where you are, right down to the GPS coordinates, and the Google Street View. If you buy something, your habit is put into a zillion profiles, and your ads will change to reflect those habits. "They" will try to get you to buy something else. Again and again and again.
All we are deigned to have is that which can't be changed.......are our "Memories"!!
Jan 17, 2015 08:09:29 #
Jakebrake wrote:
Received this in my email this morning. Quite thought provoking.
I don't believe any of it. Of course at my age, postage might not increase in my lifetime. :D
The so-called "financial problems" of the PO are artificially generated by Congress, just like Social Security.
Jan 17, 2015 08:33:02 #
I agree with you Jerry and at 70 years I fit somewhere in things that will disappear.
jerryc41 wrote:
I don't believe any of it. Of course at my age, postage might not increase in my lifetime. :D
The so-called "financial problems" of the PO are artificially generated by Congress, just like Social Security.
The so-called "financial problems" of the PO are artificially generated by Congress, just like Social Security.
Jan 17, 2015 08:41:31 #
dickhrm
Loc: Spingfield, IL
The disappearing check is no doubt realistic, yet I wonder how small transactions between individuals will take place, such as members of clubs paying their dues. Many folks do not like to carry much cash on them, however club treasurers may not have the means to accept electronic payments.
And re cash, what about the penny, or even the nickel? These coins do not have anywhere near the purchasing power when they were first issued. Think of the time wasted at the check out counter, as the cashier fumbles to get the right amount of coins to make change. Certainly it would be more efficient if costs were rounded off to the nearest five cents, or even the nearest ten cents.
[quote=Jakebrake]Received this in my email this morning. Quite thought provoking.
Ten Things That Will Disappear In Our Lifetime (Surprising!)
And re cash, what about the penny, or even the nickel? These coins do not have anywhere near the purchasing power when they were first issued. Think of the time wasted at the check out counter, as the cashier fumbles to get the right amount of coins to make change. Certainly it would be more efficient if costs were rounded off to the nearest five cents, or even the nearest ten cents.
[quote=Jakebrake]Received this in my email this morning. Quite thought provoking.
Ten Things That Will Disappear In Our Lifetime (Surprising!)
Jan 17, 2015 08:49:18 #
dickhrm wrote:
Think of the time wasted at the check out counter, as the cashier fumbles to get the right amount of coins to make change.
Good point, but one can also look at the time wasted at the check out counter as someone fumbles through their wallet/purse trying to decide which card the cashier will swipe, then waiting for the little machine to print/approve the transaction. I think it's a 'push' on this issue.:wink:
Jan 17, 2015 08:54:44 #
Jakebrake wrote:
Good point, but one can also look at the time wasted at the check out counter as someone fumbles through their wallet/purse trying to decide which card the cashier will swipe, then waiting for the little machine to print/approve the transaction. I think it's a 'push' on this issue.:wink:
Eliminating the check will not eliminate stupidity. I see the same thing with cash and credit cards. The order is rung up, and the customer starts looking through her purse for cash or a credit card. Then she has to find the exact change - that 92 cents in coin. Or, she'll run the CC through the wrong way, or run her driver's license through the CC machine. I wonder where these people are when they're not in front of me at a register. How do they even manage to get to the store and back?
Jan 17, 2015 09:01:03 #
dickhrm
Loc: Spingfield, IL
Very true. It does aggravate me when folks get to the cashier and only then think to hunt for their debit/credit card :(
:( :(
Jakebrake wrote:
Good point, but one can also look at the time wasted at the check out counter as someone fumbles through their wallet/purse trying to decide which card the cashier will swipe, then waiting for the little machine to print/approve the transaction. I think it's a 'push' on this issue.:wink:
:( :(
Jan 17, 2015 09:09:39 #
paulrph1
Loc: Washington, Utah
I can see some of these things happening but shudder at the thoughts of this happening to the others. Books, I simply enjoy a hard copy better than an in clouds issue. Beside it will not disappear by a missed keystroke. I have old books that I simply will not get rid of because they cannot be replaced. We worry about our history being changed or disappearing well is this a good way for this to happen. With a hard copy this cannot happen. Life is more than convenience. Life is deeper than convenience. Too much of life is already lost because of non-records. We should learn from our past.
Jan 17, 2015 09:25:15 #
dickhrm
Loc: Spingfield, IL
I fully agree, but if book sales continue declining, publishers simply are going to stop publishing. Then, all we'll have left are those existing ones. That is ok with me as there are many existing books in my public library that I'd like toread, but haven't had time to do so yet. But that raises another possible disappearance - public libraries. How long will they last, or in their current format?? I see far fewer folks browsing books in our local library than I did ten or twenty years ago.
paulrph1 wrote:
I can see some of these things happening but shudd... (show quote)
Jan 17, 2015 09:31:15 #
dickhrm wrote:
Very true. It does aggravate me when folks get to the cashier and only then think to hunt for their debit/credit card :(
:( :(
:( :(
On many occasions, I have apologized to the person behind me on line. I tell him that this delay - with the stupid customer at the register - is my fault. No matter what line I pick, there always seems to be a problem. I've more or less learned to stay calm and wait, while all the other people at all the other registers are heading for their cars.
Jan 17, 2015 09:34:17 #
dickhrm
Loc: Spingfield, IL
Murphy's Law!
jerryc41 wrote:
On many occasions, I have apologized to the person behind me on line. I tell him that this delay - with the stupid customer at the register - is my fault. No matter what line I pick, there always seems to be a problem. I've more or less learned to stay calm and wait, while all the other people at all the other registers are heading for their cars.
Jan 17, 2015 09:39:04 #
paulrph1 wrote:
I can see some of these things happening but shudd... (show quote)
I too was a die hard book reader until I got a Kindle Paper White e-reader. This is the handiest gizmo ever invented. I can sit at my computer and check out a book without ever having to leave my home. The size is wonderful at 4 1/2 X 6 1/2 X 1/2 and about 8 oz in weight which certainly helps when you don't have to carry around a tome like Pillars of the Earth at 3 lbs and 1000 pages. Don't get me wrong though as I do still have bookcases filled with hard copy books that I could never part with, and I still use my public library when books I want are not yet available in the e-reader format. The Kindle just gives me another option in my pursuit of literature.
Jan 17, 2015 09:45:10 #
[quote=dickhrm]The disappearing check is no doubt realistic, yet I wonder how small transactions between individuals will take place, such as members of clubs paying their dues. Many folks do not like to carry much cash on them, however club treasurers may not have the means to accept electronic payments.
And re cash, what about the penny, or even the nickel? These coins do not have anywhere near the purchasing power when they were first issued. Think of the time wasted at the check out counter, as the cashier fumbles to get the right amount of coins to make change. Certainly it would be more efficient if costs were rounded off to the nearest five cents, or even the nearest ten cents.
Apple Pay or the like will take the place of a check. They are working on "personal" transactions as we speak.
And re cash, what about the penny, or even the nickel? These coins do not have anywhere near the purchasing power when they were first issued. Think of the time wasted at the check out counter, as the cashier fumbles to get the right amount of coins to make change. Certainly it would be more efficient if costs were rounded off to the nearest five cents, or even the nearest ten cents.
Jakebrake wrote:
Received this in my email this morning. Quite thought provoking.
Ten Things That Will Disappear In Our Lifetime (Surprising!)
Ten Things That Will Disappear In Our Lifetime (Surprising!)
Apple Pay or the like will take the place of a check. They are working on "personal" transactions as we speak.
Jan 17, 2015 09:50:49 #
dickhrm
Loc: Spingfield, IL
I too have a Kindle and find it a Godsend, not only for the reasons you cited, but with my declining eyesight, reading print on paper is becoming increasingly difficult. I need lots of light, and sometimes a magnifying glass. With its lighted screen and abilitly to enlarge the print, the Kindle very nicely solves that problem.
Jakebrake wrote:
I too was a die hard book reader until I got a Kin... (show quote)
Jan 17, 2015 09:56:09 #
AmyJ wrote:
Apple Pay or the like will take the place of a check. They are working on "personal" transactions as we speak.
I have been using the Paypal app on my Samsung S5 for about 4 months, and am finding more vendors accepting this form of payment.
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