Civilizational Breakdown

We stopped at Taco Bell to pick up dinner. Tonight's greeting was different:

Welcome to Taco Bell. Our computers aren't working. Can you pay cash?

There was some confusion in the drive-through, as some customers who intended to pay with credit or debit cards couldn't exit the line.

All orders were hand-written on scraps of paper, then added up manually with taxes applied at a partially working register. Young man, that's how we did it back in the day. Our order was ready in five minutes. The kitchen had minimal computerization, thank goodness.

On the way home I noticed that the city's electronic billboard (the Foster City Marquee) had been taken down. It will be replaced in 2016. City residents will have to post notices old school: putting up flyers in the supermarkets and running ads in the local newspapers.

It will be difficult to cope, but people are resilient.