In fact, I was beginning to feel pretty anxious. Where's the bar code on a bagel? So waiting in line for the next available cashier looked a lot less stressful. Remember my favorite expression? "To sell software [or select a new cell phone plan or turn on headlights in a rental car] is to ask people to voluntarily become temporarily incompetent." (Po Bronson, Nudist on the Late Shift)

But I pulled myself together and took the plunge. Yes, it wasn't as hard as I feared, and the next time the opportunity presents itself, I'll feel semi-competent. This experience reinforced in my mind the difficulties that we face as the real estate industry introduces new technologies to promote efficiencies. Nobody likes to feel incompetent.

So how long before we adopt the VeriChip to control access to office buildings? The VeriChip is a sub-dermal microchip that uses radio frequency signals to broadcast your personal identification number (Wired News, Nov 25, 2003). That's a picture of a VeriChip next to the penny above. You'll never lose it because it's implanted under your skin. Hmm. This will be a tough sell.

--Peter Pike