It's not hard to imagine that the water cooler effect will gradually fade in importance as workforces become more and more distributed and as technologies allow workers to collaborate more effectively across huge distances.

Bitcoin supporters say that estimates of its carbon footprint are overstated. And if the computers that mine and help transact bitcoins are attached to an electric grid that uses wind and solar power, they add, mining and using it will become cleaner over time.

This vision is the great power of the free Quixotic soul.

You want a piece of me? OK, let's get it on!.