I had to hear from quite a few people that they- pay their bills online, how easy it is, and how they have had no problems- just to take a look at option. I have been resisting this "new" option with all of my being.

But I finally took plunge, and momentarily, I kind of look forward to paying my bills. I still don't like parting with money one bit, of course. But it is so easy, and new. I know, it will wear off.

This monumental leap of faith got me thinking about businesses and people who are still resisting way world has changed, now that everyone else has jumped on world wide web band wagon.

Getting Down to Business ------------------------------------ A few days after setting up my account to pay my bills online, I received a newsletter in mail from my local Credit Union and it had a short article about fact that many merchants don't even use your check when you pay bill. They use data from check, but can do without transporting of paper checks from one place to another. It is expensive and inefficient and soon will be history. I am sure we will being seeing more about this with coming hike in cost of postage. I think this is a strong indicator that everyone who resists changes in technology will soon be left in dust. This effects everyone.

What about businesses? It is so aggravating when businesses you deal with are still resisting using email. Some resist implementing computers as well. As time goes on, do they really imagine they will stay in business? Have you noticed that simplest products or businesses have their own website? Isn't that first thing you look for with anything you purchase, or want to purchase?

Get With It -------------- If you aren't convinced that majority of people are using internet, go to your public library and watch to see how many people are coming just to get on internet. Those computers never get a break!

If only that was as easy as it sounds! Some of us are entrepreneurial Isaac Newtons -- we get hit on head by an apple in form of a need we discover -- and we have a vision of a way to solve problem (and earn an income while we're at it).

My favorite example of this is woman who invented "Stroll'r Hold'r" - you know, that little cupholder you snap onto handle of your baby's stroller. You don't know you need one of them until you actually try to carry a drink while pushing your baby around mall... and when you see this very simple product, you say to yourself "Why didn't *I* think of that?"

Most of us need a little help -- I know that I do. And as my universe has shrunk into a little circle consisting of my home, my daughter's school and activities and local supermarket, I find I must do whatever I can to broaden my horizons.

But as is often case for us parental units, big limiting factor is time. I used to have plenty for reading newspapers, magazines, and books. (OK - I was single and had no social life so I had nothing BUT time!) This is no longer case. Today I pick up slack through my choice of radio stations.

Public Radio has been my savior. From moment my alarm goes off with "Morning Edition" theme, to evening rush hour traffic (which I am often caught in after one of Megan's karate lessons), I am tuned in to my local NPR station and learning ... which is where I find inspiration for many of articles I write for my website and newsletter.

But thing that makes radio such an ideal medium (the fact that you can do other things while you are listening), is also its drawback (because you are focused on other things while you are listening). There are times when I miss important facts, as my mind is just tuning in at end. This is why I was delighted to discover that most of my favorite public radio news and information programs are also available on web. Here's a rundown of best ones for business:

Marketplace: David Brancaccio's business broadcasts are fascinating, and might I say it: Entertaining! This daily half-hour program does a wonderful job of explaining what is happening in financial markets, deconstructing complex stories such as Enron and Worldcom, and making sense of mysterious theories of leading economists.

If that's all they did, it would be enough to help you make home business decisions by knowing where economy is trending. But Brancaccio and crew also give you what I think of as "human interest business" pieces -- they regularly cover economic news from perpective of Work and Family, Arts, Health, and Technology.

If your local public radio station does not carry Marketplace, you can hear it broadcast in full at their website. There you will also find archives of past features plus current headlines from Economist and Globalist.

http://www.marketplace.org

NPR Morning Edition and All Things Considered