Blessed to Bless! by Steve Klusmeyer

      A Stitch in Time
      by Steve Klusmeyer - 2/17/2004

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      As Advertised

      I'm not sure of the origin of "A stitch in time saves nine." But the basic premise is if you do something now, it will save you time later. That's also the idea behind many so-called time saving inventions. New ideas, especially in technology, usually result in one of two reactions. Either the idea is scoffed at and resisted or it is promoted as the answer to all the world's problems. Following are just a few examples of such thinking:

      • "Good enough for our transatlantic friends, but unworthy of the attention of practical or scientific men." (Electric Light) -British Parliament, 1878

      • "That's an amazing invention, but who would ever want to use one of them?" (Telephones) -Rutherford Hayes, 1876

      • "No longer tied down by housework" - "she spring cleans with electricity" - "available at the flip of a switch." -Caption from a 1928 ad featuring a fashionably dressed woman leaving to play golf in the middle of the day.

      • "People will soon get tired of staring at a plywood box every night." (Television) -Darryl F. Zanuck, 1946

      • "There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in their home." -Ken Olson, 1977

      • "640K ought to be enough for anybody." (Computer Memory) -Bill Gates, 1981

      • "The popular mind often pictures gigantic flying machines speeding across the Atlantic and carrying innumerable passengers . . . it seems safe to say that such ideas are wholly visionary." -William Henry Pickering, 1908

      • "Nuclear powered vacuum cleaners will probably be a reality within 10 years." -Alex Lewyt, 1955

      • "The abdomen, the chest, and the brain will be forever shut from the intrusion of the wise and humane surgeon". -Sir John Erichsen, 1837

      Back in the Day

      The promise of the 20th Century was that new labor saving devices would free us from the shackles of the workplace. There would be more time to relax or just goof off. The arts, sports, and hobbies could be pursued. More time could be spent with friends and family. Many claim that just the opposite happened. When asked, most people say they do not have enough time. They are busier than ever.

      Modern inventions and new technology have helped me to be a better manager of my time. For example:

      • Back in the day, I only had time to watch three major networks and PBS. Now I can surf through almost 100 channels thanks to my local cable company. (Quantity does not equal quality!)

      • Back in the day, I was way to busy to write letters or even send a postcard. Now I can spend 2 or 3 hours reading and answering my e-mail. (At least I have new friends all over the world.)

      • Back in the day, it took forever to fix a midnight snack in a conventional oven. Now I stand in front of the microwave for two minutes waiting for the ding. (Too little time to do anything else.)

      • Back in the day, I had to depend on my mind to remember appointments, phone numbers, and even doing simple math. Now I just pull out my personal handheld. (Mind Aerobics?)

      Ok, so the advantages and promises fall a little short. We don't really have more time. We just replace one thing with another. And that has to be programmed, adjusted, installed, or cleaned regularly.

      Are you tired of looking for the next best thing? Some needs just aren't satisfied by the newest technology. Needs such as a purpose for living, love and security, contentment and peace. These needs can only be met from within. Learn more

      Lots of inventions have changed the way we live. Learn more

      Also check out timelines of famous inventions



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