The Age of Wonder is Behind Us

I have been meaning to put a blog together that is concentrated upon some intellectual topics,  particularly mathematics, physics, psychology, and hindu/buddhist religion, and provides some resources that others will find useful, but is fun.  After all, what can be more fun than the intersection of sanskrit and algebra!
 It is one of my signature phrases in answer to a question like "I wonder who played third base for the 1987 Oakland Athletics?"  by remarking that the Age of Wonder is over.  I mean,  haven't you heard of the internet? and more to the point, "Why don't you ask Siri, and let the rest of us finish our cheese fries."   ( ok ok .... Carney Lansford, and if you think I knew the answer to that, then you should avoid the company of Carney's)
I believe the New York Daily News used to have a phone line where you could ask the operators questions about almanac type facts, and they would try to answer them.  Obviously they are out of business.. and it is just getting started I think.  Some of our beloved institutions are already Walkers...
The following is likely to come to be in the next 30 years.

1)  Universities as we know them will disappear
2)  Stores with a few exceptions will disappear
3)  I will disappear.

The last one is easy.  I am 64.   I want to save the first one for my next entry, where I will discuss some of the amazing resources that are already on the net.  Let us consider the second one.   I subscribe to Amazon Prime, and increasingly find that my best shopping experiences are done at home.  Things I used to shop for, I get online, and I am not alone.  The Shopping Meccas are hurting.   Here is my personal experience.  Everyone I know forgot to go Xmas shopping this year.

Books/Movies etc,  Since the Borders closed around here, retail availability of books in a 25 mile radius in my home (near Atlantic City, NJ) has gone from lousy to pathetic.  Meanwhile, anything I can imagine will be delivered to my home in a few days.

Electronics.  I increasingly don't see the point, unless there is a significant sale.

Health and Beauty Aids    I actually still go to the CVS.  I just don't know why.  I could get it all online from CVS!

Clothing   I like to browse clothes and try them on at the mall.  It is really the only reason I go to Malls.  I don't think that the try it out factor will save the clothing retailers.  It seems well within the ability of current technology to measure your body every couple of years precisely, and then change into clothes online.  Inexpensive accurate and convenient measurement of the customer's body seems to be the only impediment.   The part where the clothes are precisely measured and displayed is already here.

Groceries   You can buy these online as well... Call me old fashioned, (and suspicious), but I still gotta squeeze the Charmin.

And there are other consequences beyond the store's themselves.  but I think my point is made.  I wonder what the unexpected consequences will be.