Miscellaneous Monday - Unlimited Supply

[Andy Gladstone]

Throughout the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were massive shortages of essential goods and supplies. It was only two years ago that toilet paper, KN-95 masks, hand sanitizer and bottled water shelves and aisles were empty in local stores and online.

Initially this was was due to the uncertainty of how long lockdowns in various locales would extend.

Over time the lockdowns themselves were the cause - factory closures, manufacturing grinding to a halt, and global shipping costs and delays resulted in 2+ years (and counting) of shortages of things like computer chips, paper and in the United States even coinage due to people moving away from handling cash!

This past week I have been involved in a new shortage, Baby Formula. As essential as it gets - the basic nutrition needed for many babies to develop into healthy human beings. I have been helping local charitable organizations in sourcing any and all excess baby formula so that mothers of newborns can ensure their babies have the nourishment they desperately need.

While this is a very serious shortfall, it got me thinking about what we used to assume was an unlimited supply of goods, and how we have fared as a society in coming to the realization that this world has limited resources. 

So I asked myself, and now I ask the Atlassian Community - if there was one thing that you could have an unlimited supply of, WHAT would it be? Bonus for answering WHY.

Have a Magnificent Monday and week ahead!

[Patrícia Fortunato Montenegro]

Hi @Andy Gladstone

Hahahah, excellent question!

If I could have an unlimited supply, for sure would be sparkling water and soap, LOL.

That's the first thought that came into my mind right now. Soap because it can keep cleaned everything and sparkling water because I love water, and this one quenches my thirst. 😁

Have a wonderful Monday and week ahead too! 🤩🙏🏽

[Andy Gladstone]

Soap - so underappreciated! Great pick.

[Nic Brough -Adaptavist-]

I'm trying to avoid the obvious ones (money, beer, pizza, time, kittens, etc) and go for the general "new games and puzzles".  From Bridge through to Gloomhaven, crosswords to wordle, jigsaws to Lego etc.

[Andy Gladstone]

Like a lifetime game of the month club membership. New games shipped to you monthly that you get to keep and play whenever you want. Good idea.

[Elizabeth Barr]

@Nic Brough -Adaptavist- My brain also immediately went to money and time. And then I thought "books and movies" but remembered I have a library card, which is basically unlimited. 

I like the unlimited games and puzzles idea as well, but I'm going with UNLIMITED FANCY TEA + ACCOMPANYING SUPPLIES.

[Andy Gladstone]

@Elizabeth Barr I had to look up FANCY TEA. Now I want to try it!

[Elizabeth Barr]

Basically, any high-quality loose-leaf blend that's $$$$$$$ :D

[Nic Brough -Adaptavist-]

Oooh, good choice there as well.  I happen to live a minute's walk from a tea and coffee importer, and generally pick up a different leaf tea every month.

[Brant Schroeder]

@Andy Gladstone My answer would be Clean Water.  I feel blessed to live in a community where clean water is not an issue.  When I lived out of the united states I did not have this luxury and getting clean water was a challenge at times.  I also had some friends in the united states that had their drinking water polluted and for months they had to get bottled water.  if there is something I would want an unlimited supply of it is clean water.

[Andy Gladstone]

I need to think more like you. I would have chosen bottled water. Why though? Shouldn't I just want fresh water that does not cause negative impact on the environment? I need to break out of my urban city mindset.

[Jack Brickey]

I agree with Brant on water for sure but since that is taken already I would say fossil fuels. I have to wonder what the world would be like if every country had unlimited supplies. 

[Srinatha T]

Beer and biryani. I was craving for these when the shops were shut :) 

[Fun Man Andy]

Flour is now really bad over here in Europe thanks to the war in Ukraine and I've seen many effected by the formula shortage across SoMe platforms.

And this is a great question by the way...! My answer is:

Genuine love from my parents and an actual interest in what I am interested in. Hah hah!

I don't have time for the WHY today. No Bonus point.

I'd say I am a million times better than them at being a parent, but 1,000,000 x 0 is still 0. #Maths

Overall, I am just a whole different class of parent to them, I am a superstar, so I award myself a bonus point anyway #GoldStar ⭐️

Overall, looking at the state of the world, I would love if everyone could have an unlimited supply of LOVE and RESPECT for each other. So much hatred and disrespect. Crazy. 🗺❣️

[Fabio Racobaldo _Herzum_]

There is no single good that is more fundamental than the others. What good is water if you have nothing to eat? What is diesel fuel for if you have nowhere to go? It is necessary that in all parts of the world, without exception, everyone has the necessary goods to lead a dignified life regardless of skin color, race, religion or sexual orientation.

[Srinatha T]

Agree with you @Fabio Racobaldo _Herzum_ .

[Andy Gladstone]

@Fabio Racobaldo _Herzum_ true statement and very much agree that we need to figure out a way to provide access to essentials for all of humanity, regardless of who or where they are on this Earth.

[Jimmy Seddon]

Great question @Andy Gladstone!  Though as I started thinking about it, I was stuck with the same conflicted question that @Fabio Racobaldo _Herzum_ came to.

However,  The question was about getting an unlimited supply of any one thing.  So, in that case I agree with @Brant Schroeder clean water.  Bonus points for the why, any survival guide will tell you that we need access to sources of clean water more than we need food.  SO we'll go with that.

[Darryl Lee]

+1 to the clean water but also bottled water would also be having extra utilization like storage, a raft, etc.

Love this kind of question to help us rethink what could be the unnecessary objects that we are having and wasting too much daily.

[Craig Nodwell]

Coffee hands down 

[Craig Nodwell]

And clean water to make coffee.

[Connor]

Clean water to stay hydrated. 

[Alex Koxaras _Relational_]

Water should be our main priority, because otherwise we can't survive.

Food should be the second one, for obvious reasons.

[Sakina]

covid was reminder for using our resources with responsibility and stop unnecessary wastage

[Peter Van de Voorde]

My fictitious answer would be: Star Trek Replicators as this technology ensures that every need of every person on this planet can be taken care off.

My real world answer: free unlimited energy, as this would give us the ability to provide for everyone.