After five rings, Thomas heard his uncle's quiet voice.
'Hello, this is Mark,' whispered his uncle.
'Hi Uncle Mark, this is your nephew, Thomas. I'm in DelRay, but I've left the bus terminal to visit friends
I just made,' Thomas excitedly announced.
'Oh, I'm so sorry Thomas. I'd thought you were coming next weekend. Where do your friends live? I'll come
get you if you'd like,' Uncle Mark said in half disbelief.
'What are you up to these days?' asked Thomas.
'I forgot you were coming this week because I've been preparing for my speech at the university,' replied Uncle
Mark.
'What was the speech about?' asked Thomas.
Uncle Mark then explained the Age of Abundance, which caused the value of assets and physical labor to be greatly
reduced. How value of intelligence was of utmost importance. As the difference in quality of natural and synthetic approached
zero, the real value of things became the intelligence of its' use. Values of products had been declining greatly in latest
century, approaching costs of production. Below costs, intelligence of use dominated value of products and services.
Current values were misleading as Age of Abundance rapidly approached, and there lied the opportunities. Success has
always gone to those prepared to benefit, so future successes would come from preparing to benefit in Age of Abundance. Successful
businesses would find increasingly intelligent uses of products and services.
If humans were to become businesses, wealth would accrue to those able to find intelligent uses of products and services.
As technology progressed, potential intelligent uses of products and services increase. Key determinant of wealth became knowledge
of creating intelligent uses.
Business is about using raw materials to create valuable products and services. Difference between past and future is
lower cost raw materials and higher value products and services. In ancient past, almost all had little resources and very
few enjoyed many resources. Progression of time increased level of population who've enjoyed resources. In those present times,
most civilized peoples enjoyed abundant resources.
All civilized people should enjoy adequate resources for physical, mental, and spiritual health. Intelligent use of products
and services should enable all civilized people to enjoy such a life. Biotechnology enabled all to have physical health,
and infotechnology enabled all to have mental and spiritual health.
In the realm of finance, the past was about borrowing for current consumption. Interest rates measure value of time in
withholding consumption. So, with high interest rates, value of withholding consumption is high. Low interest rates have low
value of withholding consumption. But, with falling prices, the value of withholding consumption increases.
Though his Uncle Mark was long winded, Thomas didn't dare interrupt him. Sensing his uncle done speaking, Thomas
put the phone down and went back to the living room to find Carol or Richard. The two were on the sofa, Carol reading mail
and Richard reading the newspaper.
'Where are we?' asked Thomas,'I've got my Uncle Mark on the phone and he wants to come get me.'
'Right now?' asked Carol disappointedly, 'I'd hoped you'd stay a bit.'
'Well, I don't plan on leaving right away. I'd still like to see your house and hear about your lives,'
Thomas said apologetically.
'Here,' Richard interrupted,'I'll speak to your uncle and give him the details. Rebecca brought your backpack
upstairs to the guest bedroom. Why don't you go up and chat with Rebecca and we'll call you downstairs when dinner is ready.'
'That's a good idea, Thomas, I'm sure you and Rebecca will get along just fine. And, I need to get dinner
started, said Carol.
So, Thomas went upstairs while Richard told Uncle Mark their address, and Carol began preparing dinner.
