With the advent of computer tech- nology and the Internet, wallets seem now to be better suited to carrying cards instead of cash. You can buy groceries, pay bills, and shop for just about anything with just an Internet connection and a credit card number. And almost any store will take your credit card—often before they’ll accept your check.
Commerce is evolving so quickly that, in a 2007 interview in the Independent, Peter Ayliffe, chief executive of Visa Europe, predicted that by 2012 Britain would be a cashless society. It’s only a matter of time before other countries follow suit.
Will money ever become completely obsolete? Not without a fight.
Modern Money curator Eagleton sums it up like this: “People quite like cash still.” There’s just something
about it that makes you feel good.
It often speaks louder than words. She continues, “Suppose you’re in a bar, and there’s a guy who pulls out a 50 pound note—he’s trying to look impressive. I suppose you could use a gold card, or a platinum card, but ... money tells a lot more about a per- son—they like that feeling of a nice fat wallet.”
Most people would agree. Having a little cash on hand makes you feel more secure, immune to the idiosyn- crasies of wavering technology. Plus, cash isn’t traceable. And some people might not want their purchases to be on record for future posterity.
As long as there are impressions to be made in the open and deeds to be done under the table, money’s not going anywhere. But keep your eye on commerce—this evolution is far from over.
Your bank statement, credit report, and social security number could give lurking thieves just what they need to steal more than your savings—your identity. But if you’re in the business of tracking down identities, not stealing them, these same documents could be just what you need to trace an illusive ancestor’s identity and personality. Start with anything financial you can find and then, you guessed it, work backwards. Not only could you find an address, parent or spouse name, or other contact information on a will, loan, or bank statement, but you can also get a good idea of just how ritzy your auntie was.
Where should you look? Look through old boxes for dated bank statements or tax information. Use people finder services to access more recent bankruptcy files, credit histories, and other financial records. Land transactions and probate proceedings associated with an estate can be found in county clerks offices. And don’t forget to check favorites like Ancestry.com and Roots Web.com for some unsuspected treasures.
Colonists in America take their religious beliefs quite seriously, starting with mandatory church attendance. Working, traveling, or kissing on the Sabbath can earn you a fine or an afternoon in the public stockade. More severe punishments, such as whippings and pierced tongues, are saved for those who blaspheme against God or deny the scriptures.
A Swedish father is fined for spanking his 11-year-old child—corporal punishment was banned in Sweden in 1979.
1611
1788
1996
When Great Britain faces overcrowded jails and rising crime rates, the government decides to send counterfeiters, thieves, and other petty criminals to the Australian colonies. Over the next 80 years, more than 160,000 convicts and undesirables are transported.
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