Dystopia in Utopia

Technology, the advancements we have made as a society to set ourselves apart from our genetic ancestors, may ultimately be our downfall.  I'd argue that technology is neutral, but sometimes I have to take the realistic approach.  There have always been people seeking to control others, dictators, kings, and the like.  Democracy was supposed to end that, but the wolves have found sheep's clothing.  Since September 11, 2001 there has been a trade of freedom for security.  It makes since, we were scared and were looking for protection.  The Patriot Act was born out of this fear, and I wish we had the foresight to see the storm it would bring.

How do you monitor a village?  A few guards can do that.  How do you monitor a town?  A few police stations can do that.  How do you monitor 7.139 billion people?  Well, you're going to need a few more people.  And cameras.  And phone taps.  And email monitoring.  And cameras.  And databases designed to gather information on individuals, linking data to create profiles of real people in order to determine what they are thinking before they act or before they can even have the thought.  We call that PRISM.  We call that creative marketing.  We call that the 21st century.

Let this work of fiction explain how it works…

Of course we could always just use this technology for security only.  Never judge those who behave differently than we would like but do not cause harm to others.  I guess the real question is, how much trust do you have in your fellow man?

Me, the Early Adopter and Uber

I'm an earlier adopter, bordering on innovator, or at least that's what I like to believe I am.  It's probably because my dad was a bit of a nerd, always obsessing over the latest and greatest thing to come out of Sony or Apple.  I think we still have a working launch iPod with the wheel that physically scrolled.  So it is by no stretch of the imagination that I might turn out like he did.  I love technology and all the cool things we do with it.  As soon as I found out that I can have a taxi come pick me up with the push of a button I jumped on the app store and downloaded it.... Then found out they do not operate in Fort Worth, TX.  Luckily I did end up in San Francisco and got to try it out.  It was extremely satisfying.  I like feeling ahead of the curve, and I work hard researching products and services to find out what is new and what will actually survive the test of time.  I obsessed of the Tesla Roadster in high school, I even invested a little in it (wish I had invested more).  I think the best way to describe my feelings comes in this xkcd comic.

It's the 21st century, and I want to feel like I am living in it.

Speaking of Uber, I'm actually applying for a job there.  Part of my test for getting hired is getting people to sign up.  You get $20 in credit for you first ride.  How does getting a free ride in a black Lincoln Town Car to Santana Row sound?  Sign up here or use code WINTER2693 if you're interested.