We live a different lifestyle than our parents. Nowhere is this more evident than on the MOJOHD TV series Technology Jones, in the lives of the people chosen to participate in this challenge where they are deprived of all their gadgets and attempt to live their lives without the benefit of technology for a week.

Many do surprisingly well--and that's what different. Take the case of "Biz," a party DJ who relies on the most state of the art digital technology to host a party. But when confronted with the challenge, his positive attitude and can-do spirit carries the day as he hosts a "retro" party. He doesn't let the obstacles get him down. He makes do with what he has available and improvises. And he has fun with it.

On a more recent episode, actor "Joe" begins by describing this cool "new" thing myspace, that he uses to promote his band and showing off the webcam telescope that is integral to the blog he is starting about a squirrel. He doesn't fare as well--in this "extreme" episode he is transported back the technology of 1906--but still, he approaches the challenge with gusto, jamming with his band blowing on a whisky jug and having his feet tatooed 1900s style. Ouch.

Two things stand out from these vignettes into admittedly extreme cases of young people:

• Optimism rocks. Partly, it's youth, partly, it's generational. It is refreshing to see how far a positive attitude can take you. Instead of being frustrated and annoyed by the inconvenience of technology deprivation, the more successful people just go with the flow and make do with what they have.
• Life is a mash-up. The term "mash-up" originated in music: "A mash-up is a song created out of pieces of two or more songs, usually by overlaying the vocal track of one song seamlessly over the music track of another..." My first impression of these people, before the take the technology away, is "who paid for all that gear?" and "so what exactly does this person do for a living?" They've got so much going on in their lives, so many different directions. It's not a 9-5 lifestyle; it is blended.

It would be easy to dismiss the folks on this show because they live in LA, not on Earth. But when I look at my own life and the lives of others, I see this blended approach evolving. It's not multitasking--it is very different to observe a lawyer who works 80 hours a week and say, wow, he is so busy. That's a one-dimensional life. More typical is the idea that I have this job, this hobby, this other project...and it all has to fit in with my family...It's not a lifestyle preference--it is almost a necessity. It's not a ranked priority system either; we devote discreet amounts of intense energy to multiple pursuits and create a whole life out of it all.

The old view was very structured. Get a good job or career with well-defined paths, raise kids in the suburbs, establish yourself in the community, etc. But today, we have more freedom. The job/career may be gone without warning, so you cannot rely on that. But that's not a reason to be cynical; it's freedom to do other things. Re-evaluate your assumptions and develop faith in yourself.

Ultimately, Technology Jones is kind of a silly show. But it gives a unique insight into some of the things that are different about how people live today.