“Mr. Swiss, what was the name of that guy in that film that we saw yesterday on the TV?

“Can’t remember, google it.”

That is what partnerships are made of today, when you cannot even rely on your partner for life to give you an answer, because his memory has also failed him. Just google it, switch on your computer and insert a few words that should lead you to an answer. Not only does google find the answer, but he can even read your thoughts according to what you mean. That is a partner. I always found it strange in the old cowboy movies when the Lone Ranger and Tonto never had an artgument, and they did not have a computer.

“Are we on the right trail?”

and Tonto would throw a feather in the wind and watched the direction it took, or he would wet a finger and hold it to the wind (he was an native Indian – a secret solution). He did not have a google, he only had a feather or a finger. So Tonto and the Lone Ranger would be stuck in the saddle for days, until they either died of thirst, got scalped by Indians or discovered the right trail Or perhaps Tonto forget which finger he used and it had now dried up. Yes things were not so easy without google to guide you. Some partnerships lasted until death.

“Holmes, do you have the solution as to who poisoned Sir Algernon.”

“My dear Watson, it is all a question of logic.”

And so Sherlock, the great master detective, sunk into more oblivion by smoking his meerschaum pipe filled with whatever he filled it with, and in a lucid moment, when he was not on a trip, he played the violin. Watson would wait until Holmes found the solution, but in the meanwhile Sir Algernon was buried, or perhaps cremated, leaving no further evidence. If only he had had  google to help, or even a computer. Life went on, and today we no longer waste time solving these problems, thanks to Google and computers, and iPads.

Who needs human partners, when you have a computer. Although I must admit life is boring with a Google. It does not argue, just gives answers, there is no longer the ananswered questions or the suspense of using a brain.  And you can be sure if google does not know the answer, the answer is not worth knowing.

Tomorrow we will be taking a journey to the other side of Switzerland by train. We have to change trains in Zürich and have only 8 minutes, Google told us, but this is a problem. Google does not know that I cannot walk from Platform 16 to Platform 44 which are on two levels, because I need help in walking with my stick. I cannot descend stairs as quickly as other people and here google cannot help. We called the station in Zürich, the help desk and we heard the person tapping on his keyboard until he gave us an answer. There is another connection, just 5 platforms further from where we arrive just 15 minutes later, a short walk (I know Zürich station) and we can catch an alternative EEC train (a fast train) to Shaffhausen. We would have a quarter of an hour and would not have to descend into the underground of the station with only 8 minutes to spare.

We thanked the man on the telephone, our problem was solved. Even the station people in Zürich would not have been able to get me to platform 44 with help. You see, the man at the station on the phone must have googled it. Your everpresent partner: Google – never forget. You do not have a computer? Then ask your neighbour, or Mr. Swiss, they will definitely have a google.

Who needs Partners?