Happy Birthday To Me -- August, 2024

Locator: 48420ARCHIVES.

First draft.

I turned 73 years old this month.

I couldn't possibly be happier.

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Technology

Technology today absolutely blows me away. The iPhone has completely changed my life. At my fingertips, 24/7, I have:

• a camera
• an alarm clock / timer
• a personal messaging service
• a map
• a wallet with all my credit cards on the iPhone
• my driver's license on the iPhone
  
• access to the web 24/7 
• text, chat, blog
  

One monthly charge pays for all telephone calls, video calls, video-conferencing. No long-distance charges, fees, tolls.

I can invest in the stock market / trade (buy/sell) stocks while sitting at a red light in traffic.

I've even opened a brand new trust account at Schwab while driving. 

I get breaking news when it happens 24/7.

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YouTube

Has come a long time.

I can watch complete movies on YouTube, at no charge.

I watched events from the Paris 2024 Olympics almost in real time. Google owns YouTube. NBC/Peacock owns the rights to the original Olympics footage.

Playlists (music) keep getting better.

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Amazon Prime Movies

Almost every movie I’ve ever wanted to watch is accessible.

Most movies are free.

The few movies that are not free, are less then $5.00 to rent, or less than $20 to own.

Without Amazon Prime, it would cost a family of four upwards of $48 to see a movie.

With Amazon Prime, I can rent the movie for $3.99 for the entire family and watch it at the time of our choosing in the comfort of our own home.

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Schwab

Commission-free trading.

Trades close in 24 hours.

One financial institution:

• full service checking accounts
• cash sweeps into money market funds
• transfer cash seamlessly between accounts
• ETFs
• 529s
• IRAs, traditional and Roth
• pay all bills on line
• almost no need for US postage stamps any more
  

Again, this and more, all in one financial institution .... and all for free (minor exceptions). 

No need for a traditional bank.

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Shut-Ins / Convenience

Food delivery, 24/7.

I can order almost anything I want on Amazon before midnight, and get my order by noon the next day.

More and more pharmaceuticals available on line.

Uber / Lyft.

Book airline tickets on line, 24/7. Paper tickets a thing of the past.

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Streaming

Absolutely amazing.

Live sports: practically available 24/7.

Business news: available 24/7.