Microcar’s Dreams

Posted by Raul on April 26, 2011

1958 Messerschmitt KR200

Are microcars making a comeback?

From the 40’s, and during the 50’s and 60’s there was a full line of manufactures creating all sort of very small, cheap cars. The intention was to reach a market of people who didn’t have the money to buy a “normal” car and to pay for the highly priced fuel in Europe.

These so named microcars were part of the scene in cities and roads of the European world, and some of them even made it to the US. But while fuel prices here were low, and roads long, microcars didn’t stand a chance against the big, luxury local vehicles of the time, so those little examples of basic transportation became simply curious toys, if not the target of all kind of jokes.

"Yes officer, it IS a car!"

Now we are faced with increasing fuel prices and crowded cities, so many people look at European models that might have something to offer for the local roads. So far the VW Beatle made a comeback, together with the Mini (under a different manufacturer), the Smart Car, and now it seems the Fiat 500 will be roaming American roads by 2012.

These are not the same as they used to be of course. These are updated models that meet all the requirements for new cars to be legal in this country, so what once was a small, simple, affordable transport vehicle, has become a luxury; highly technological device that reflects modern’s times.

My 1957 BMW Isetta 300

I’ve always been fascinated by small cars, to the point that I own a little Isetta 300, so when I heard of the Fiat 500 comeback, I had to go and see it with my own eyes.

It was a pleasant surprise to see that little car among the other “monsters” at the showroom. Retaining the simple lines inside and out; small but roomy enough, and even with some luxuries included such as electric sunroof and power windows.

I was ecstatic for the availability of the vehicle in a short time, and even the crazy thought of eventually buying one in the future did cross my mind…until I saw a picture of both; the old and the new Fiat 500 standing side by side.

Fiat 500 "New vs Old"

What happened to the little car concept?!

If you take a look at the picture of both cars, you’ll see that there’s nothing small about the new one, well, in all fairness, the original one was classified as a “microcar” so I guess the new one could still be considered a “small” car. But for someone like me, that like the original concept of the microcar (think of a scooter with a body for rainy days), the excitement of a brand new microcar available for purchase in the present, dissolved like the colors of the picture under a heavy rain, and floating down the street drain it disappeared once more.

I guess is still about restoring the little one to make it shine once again in the presence of others; those who remain in the race of incorporating more and more elements, size and weight, as the way of natural growth nowadays.

So no…microcars are not coming back… 

Raul

(Sigh!)

Digitalization

Posted by Raul on March 21, 2011

Before, we dreamed of seeing some place with our own eyes, but now it is possible to see it from our own place using technology, so no need to travel anymore. With the increasing technology that also becomes affordable to the masses, no longer we need to “go get” the information and the entertainment; now they come to us without the need from us to move anywhere.

It is an outstanding advance that allows us to embrace and do more in our lives. We can become very productive and knowledgeable in almost any field we decide to do so. What we cannot reach easily can be brought to us by technology, making possible to use our time in more efficient ways, leading us to have more productive lives.

But what if, instead of using these marvels of science and technology to increase our knowledge and productivity, we use it to reduce our speed and self pressure to grow? (Based on the instinct of always taking the shortest path)

For the children of the change, those who were young when all this technology still didn’t exist, it is easy to adapt to some of the benefits while still keeping the desire to do “some stuff” in the old physical ways, like traveling and “being there”; seeing with our own eyes; feeling the breeze in our skin and having the possibility to “touch” the place (like grabbing a handful of sand) and smelling the flowers, trees and ground on a rainy day.

But what would happen to the children of the future, who are being born immersed in this increasingly technology flooded medium, and start their first steps in walking together with their first steps in login in? For them it’ll be a natural thing to see a new place through a computer screen rather than being there.

At one hand we can understand the point of touring, lets say, Ireland, seeing what is too see in a screen rather than in person. In the shortest amount of time it’ll be possible to see the most places at different times of the year (each one with its individual beauty); listening to the sound of the country side and the cities; listening to the voices of the local with their unique accent; taking a quick look to the traditional cuisine and the newest preferences of the people living there.

We can do all this without the expenses of travel tickets, hotels, tours, etc. We also can avoid the “suffering” of temperature changes, wind, rain, and all the typical experiences associated with traveling. No lost baggage!

And with the new technologies to come, we will also be able to smell the scents, perceive the breeze and experience the place in a more complete way. Right now communication systems use the senses of vision and hearing, but I’m sure pretty soon they will find ways to add the senses of touch, smell and taste to the repertoire available to computer technology.

But if we extend the trend to the future, wouldn’t be possible to have a big number of people who has become adapted to this new society, where the external world that used to surround a person becomes an enclosed, climate controlled room that has all the connections and possibilities of remote interaction with the world?

Think of it like the highly technologic suit in the movie “Iron Man”, only this enclosed environment of protection and interaction with the external world just doesn’t move. Like becoming the yolk of an egg, surrounded by the technological feeding white, and protected from the world with a surrounding shell. A world and a society of separated “units” connected by technology.

I know there’ll be always the people who will prefer the actual physical interaction, leaving the technological resources as an aid, rather than an end. But what about the big majority that isn’t well guided while being raised, and becomes easy prey for the technology providers?

Looking around to young people who can easily find answers to the most strange questions and situations using a computer; who prefer to see a new place in the screen rather than having to “endure” a physical trip to the actual place, I can’t stop to wonder how the future society will be.

What trends do you see in the actual use of technology?

Do you identify more with the “Children of the Change” or the “Children of the Future”?

Raul

Running Downhill

Posted by Raul on March 13, 2011

It is sad to see how more and more houses become empty, with a sign “For Sale”, waiting to be occupied again.

We could compare the economy of a society with walking. When times are complicated and the economy is bad for the majority, it’ll be like walking uphill -lots of efforts to cover very little ground.

But for the past several decades in the US the economy was at continuous growth, becoming a slight but increasing downhill walk for the people.

“Only a slight amount of energy is required to get in motion when walking in a flat, level surface. Once in motion, the amount of energy required is even smaller”

By the simplification and increased efficiency in many areas of work by the companies leading the economy, more and more was imposed the “learn at the job” structure and mentality. It worked well for several decades, but the price tag is a society that doesn’t consider or even hold, the need for a strict and pushing educational system.

“A downhill walk requires us to reduce the amount of energy applied in order to remain in motion. Less energy to acquire the same original intended result”

By consuming, thus generating movement in the market, the economic growth became independent of the production needs. A system that feed itself in its own circular motion, based in buying and discarding to buy more. The temptation of reaching dreams by credit became the flag and promotional tactics of corporations in search for bigger profits.

“Walking in a downhill, taking more and more ground at a faster speed becomes a temptation due to the very small amount of energy required”

Having the possibility of acquiring more and expensive items no longer was a privilege of the wealthy. Every one with a decent credit could “afford” by credit the possession of luxury items that would reinforce his/her image and self esteem.

“At first, gaining speed and covering more ground faster becomes intoxicating and motivating for having more”

By the time momentum has been gained, the elements of luxury became a standard need, rather than the luxury they suppose to be. The need for reaching then the next step became the norm in a cycle repeating itself time and time again.

But the economic system, relying in the continuous movement of a circular process of consuming, like a wheel spinning faster and faster until it reaches speeds that set it out of control, started to fall apart, disintegrating the basis of the economic system.

“Running downhill then becomes scary and the realization for the need of slowing down to a safer speed takes in”

The level of expenses incurred in became too much for the capabilities of the transforming economic system, so people had to adjust to new standards already forgotten, or simply considered “sub-standard”.

The amount of credit taken, based in an economic system that didn’t suppose to change, created a burden on people living at a dreamed social level. But credit incurred in (mortgage, car payments, etc) couldn’t be discarded so easily.

“Running downhill we realize we are going to fast for safety, but it’s too late to regain control, and only the attempt of just not falling while running scared by the situation is the only option”

The once high life by credit became a continuous struggle for survival. Deterioration of the luxury elements by not being able to renew as often as the economic system suggested, became the first signs of the end of the party, the awakening of the dream.

From then on, for many it has become just a continuous fight to remain “alive” financially, not knowing when the personal situation will finally collapse, and throw them into the unknown.

“Running downhill at an uncontrollable speed, waiting for the moment were we know we will fall and get badly hurt, but also know it’ll be the only way to stop this runaway situation. We just don’t want to face the moment, so we keep trying harder to keep up, until we succumb by exhaustion and total lack of control”

Raul

Back to the Net

Posted by Raul on March 5, 2011

Picture: “Salar de Uyuni” – Bolivia (about 12,000 feet altitude)

This picture somehow reflects for me what is to be traveling in the internet: Amazing and scary at the same time! Someday I’ll have to visit this place

I’m back…and happy to say that it wasn’t a hack but just a flood of spam that came even through the ears!  Little by little I’ve been changing things here and there to prevent such flood, like placing sand bags all around Alien Ghost blog; so my apologies for any inconvenience that you might step on within the next several days.

I also changed the personal picture for a newer one; taken on March 04 this year 2011 (I don’t even remember how old the previous one was!). And as you might notice, I added a third one (no, it’s not about apocalyptic times!).

The first one is “Who”; the second one is “Under what name”, and the third one is “About what”. To me, that picture reflects very well the human mind…complex, scary, yet beautiful! We can stop and observe our own mind, and we’ll see how wonderful it is.

For a long time I’ve been fascinated with the human brain and mind for all the capabilities, gifts and chains it provides, making possible to become who we are and what we do, in a personal level and as a race.

So, after the flood and many off-line activities, finally there is some time left to visit again the on-line world, to live in the extension of the mind in a non-physical world, as the dream land we all have become addicted to.

Thank you for your patience and understanding (only one person unsubscribed from Alien Ghost!) 

I’ll start visiting you all again and posting new weird thoughts for you to get confused once again (he-he)

Raul

Of Sheep and Wolves

Posted by Raul on January 27, 2011

So the sheep keeps dreaming of being a wolf, yet spends an entire life being a sheep. But because it doesn’t work, the sheep pretends to be a wolf. Then the sheep talks, walks and smiles like a wolf, but still remains a sheep. The corral is covered with signs saying “You Are a Wolf!” And with contentment, the sheep accepts the lying words as the truth of its world.

So the sheep learns one day it has to step on the other sheep to be above, but has to fight the common thought of holding hands with love. So the sheep rebels and fight the common thought, just to find itself being left alone.

Until one day it discovered the common thought was promoted by the creators of the signs.

<How could it be? Such a contradiction on its own! Who’s behind this?> the sheep asked in a thought, and “Mirrors” was the response word.

So the sheep types and types, while the sheep reads and reads, while the sheep cries and cries, while the sheep dreams and dreams.

 So one day the sheep woke up from its daydreaming and found a wolf by its side, seating on the floor.

Plop!