Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
h a l f b a k e r y
There goes my teleportation concept.

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Limo-limbo

Subsidise home-delivery businesses
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Both of my grandmothers, when I was a pre-schooler, brought more money into their houses than my grandfathers did, just as some housewives do today.

They both owned the computer-equivalents of the time, treadle sewing machines, which they used to do dressmaking for friends, aquaintances and relatives, who paid them well for the elaborate styles of those decades.

Here's the kicker.

Every single item they needed was brought to their gates by horse-drawn vehicles; they could run their household and make dresses without ever leaving their doors, except to travel at least once a year - first-class.

I came out of high school hardly noticing the "Model T for everybody" had destroyed this elegant lifestyle.

I now propose/predict that cities re-invent it as a part-answer to problems posed by the "limo for everybody" syndrome.

Already the delivery of on-line shopping and couriers everywhere seems to point to a future in which - rant rant - cities may subsidise home-deliveries, and gradually legislate private cars into limo-limbo.

rayfo, Oct 08 2001

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       I never want to leave my house again - the change of scenery is just to much for me. In fact, along those lines, I'll take all decorative items out of my house, and whitewash everything else, creating an atmosphere totally devoid of stimuli. In fact, why ever walk, or even stand up again? I'll have all my bland meals delivered to me in my bland, white bed, where I'll do meaningless work on my white plastic computer, and give myself up entirely to corpulence. I'll never have to socialize again! This idea rocks my world! Croissant!
Deity, Oct 08 2001
  

       You do realize that many of the online shopping home delivery things have gone out of business, right?   

       No thanks, anyway. I prefer the freedom to change my mind halfway to the chicken place and decide to get burgers instead.
StarChaser, Oct 08 2001
  

       Is this just a "let's move away from the car-centric consumer economy" rant with a subtext of "let's move away from oil-based economy" rant?
quarterbaker, Oct 08 2001
  

       You're absolutely rant quarterbaker.
rayfo, Oct 09 2001
  

       Aah. The Lost Economies of Atlantis.
sdm, Oct 09 2001
  

       Aah. The tuna for currency, with 100 sardines = 1 tuna. And when your debtors come a-calling, close up your dome-bubble and sink under the waves.
pottedstu, Oct 09 2001
  

       [UnaBubba]: Any student of Economics will tell you that before we move to a Water-Based Economy we need to move through a White Spirit-Based Economy followed by a Detergent-Based Economy.
hippo, Oct 09 2001
  

       <pre-empt> custard-based economy </pre-empt>
beauxeault, Oct 09 2001
  

       UnaBubba, you're not desserting me now, are you?
beauxeault, Oct 09 2001
  
      
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