The unthinkable happened this morning. I couldn’t get on my computer.

After a check of emails this morning, I dutifully shut down my computer so I could take it on my morning routine. I would have a breakfast in a local restaurant and then head to Panera Bread – my unofficial office.

As I was shutting down the computer, Windows gave me one of those dreaded messages. It was installing updates. The warning was to not turn off the computer. Sometimes these updates took at least half an eternity.

And I was planning to head out the door with my trusty laptop.

With a few moments hesitation, I closed the cover without powering down the computer. This puts the laptop to sleep in low power mode. It would spring back to life as soon as I opened the cover.

After a quick breakfast (I had to get on the computer asap) my laptop and I went into the local Panera Bread coffee shop.

First Things First

I setup my computer and fired it up. The screen was dark. Oh oh.

While in a state of stress, I went and bought my coffee. Go figure.

Upon returning I breathed a sigh of relief as my computer was alive and continuing the update. Thank You, God.

But it was taking a very long time. Then I wondered …

Did my update require Internet access? (Notice that I said “my update” rather than “the computer’s update”. Geesh!!!)

Would Internet access be blocked because I couldn’t log in to Panera’s network? Would it be necessary to take the computer home to finish the update?

Would I miss my daily morning ritual at the coffee shop?

Fortunately I had scheduled a phone call with my friend Suzan. There was something constructive to do. We laughed about our dependency on computers. She mentioned that she had forgotten to take the charging cord to the library yesterday. She had felt totally stuck. It seems that I’m not the only one.

Although our phone conversation was great, it came to an end. And my computer seemed to be stuck in the eternal update process.

What to do? Well I could write into my paper notebook – one of those ancient objects that remain from earlier civilizations. But yikes …

I had forgotten to bring a pen. My computer was stuck. I couldn’t write. What was I to do?

And I was only on my first cup of coffee.

Then the skies opened and the sun shined through. The update finished. I could actually start using my computer!!!

With a sigh of relief, I logged in and started writing the post that you’re reading now.

There is a lesson to all of this. Maybe, just maybe, I could take a good look at my life.

Some people have asked “Is there life after death?”

Another question is “Is there life after computers?”

Are you hooked on computers? Please write a comment below.

Your friend,

Jim

The recent bailout has come to $23.7 trillion by one estimate. And there is no end in sight. There doesn’t seem to be any accounting of where this money went.

This spending comes to about $76,000 per US citizen. If that money would be given equally (and gradually) to each US citizen we’d be in an economic boom, not an economic recession or depression.

Businesses boom when people have money. This includes businesses big and small, new and old.

There would be a skyrocketing of production and sales of things people want. There would be very little production of things people don’t want. People could choose jobs that make sense – not just scarce jobs grasped out of desperation.

There would be a huge increase in personal creativity and fulfillment.

Families would be more harmonious. People would be realizing their dreams.

Why can’t the government get this right? You tell me.

Your friend,
Jim

We’ve seen the results personally. Many of our friends have valuable services and products. They know people who would like their services and products. Yet nothing happens because it seems that nobody has money.There are ways to get around this.

People sit in a sort of paralysis. They sit idle when they would rather be working doing something they love.

Airplanes fly with empty seats. Radio advertising slots go unused. Consultants have empty time slots in their calendars. Massage therapists don’t give massages. The list goes on.

When these opportunities are gone, they are gone forever. The ten o’clock time slot goes by with nobody benefitting. Stuff doesn’t get made. People don’t get transported. They don’t get massages.

The whole society loses when creativity, productivity, or delivery are shut down due to lack of money.

What Can We Do?

Excellent question. Although we will continue to use money when necessary, we can also do stuff without money. Possibilities include:

• Pay it forward (The “Pay It Forward” movie shows people simply doing something to help another with no expectation of personal return. The recipient of the goodies is expected to help someone else.)
• Barter
• Charity
• Labors of love donated for free. We’ve seen this with Open Source Software development. And it takes place in many ways we don’t see.

A widespread practice of the above will help the world in general. And it might just help each of us. The giver gets a sense of fulfillment, work experience, and good job references. And the giver just might get something in return.

Good Questions to Ask

After briefly explaining my intentions, I’ll be asking people the following questions. You might like to do the same.

• How can we help each other?
• Do you know someone who has something they aren’t using fully? Examples might be a house, office space, productivity tools, or their time.
• Do you know someone who wants something I have or something I can produce?
• Do you know someone who has something I might want?

You can probably come up with many more ideas of your own.

I really would appreciate your ideas and experiences. Please feel free to write a reply below.

May the bliss be with you.

Your friend,
Jim