Life Ahead

I don’t seem to have suffered any irreparable damage from running and losing in the recent elections. In fact, it seems like my visibility took a jump up to another level -- quite unexpectedly just because of the electric scooters I used to go from door to door, and person to person. It’s the hit of Waikiki. Usually it’s kind of tough to stand out with everybody in their own way competing for attention -- and then to be just passing through and drawing a lot of attention, smiles and approval -- from an international audience, no less.

It’s one of those things that just makes a lot of sense -- for those from 8 to 80. I’ve never seen such universal approval and acceptance of any product. The ultimate is zooming down the Ala Wai as the cars are all gridlocked. Makes one feel like the undisputed genius of the world.

For those interested, I got them at Unit 99, at the Ranch 99 shopping mall in Mapunapuna, next to the Olelo station. The only caveat is that the seats and clamps need immediate replacement -- because they are of inferior material and destruct virtually immediately. Suitable replacements are found at McCully Bicycle shop; the proper size seat and steering post clamps are 28.6 MM.

Surprisingly, one gets a fair amount of exercise just riding it -- especially to balance while riding slowly. I feel like that is my mission right now -- to promote this smart, personal transportation technology to a worldwide audience of curious onlookers. It bolsters my argument for really alternative personalized transportation devices -- over the highly impersonal, extremely expensive mass transit options.

I think the appropriate technology for Waikiki and beyond, is the electric scooter and bicycles -- as well as all those funky little go carts. Why are we transporting a mobile home everywhere we go? What is the minimum required to achieve that task? Even the people on the Segways recognize that I have an even better idea. As smart as the Segway is, do you really want to stand all day?

It reminds me of the same ergonomic design challenge for computers. Yes, it can be more compact -- but is that the optimal design for its prolonged use? Having had to look at this season’s hot new offerings, I would think the must-have item at this year’s price points, are the LCD TVs, at the lowest end. It seems that the cathode ray tube (CRT), ought to be outlawed as the major culprit in eye strain.

Five years ago, a 15” LCD (liquid crystal display) cost $1,000; now it’s $100. Usually it makes sense to buy things going down in price -- and migrate out of things going up in price. That’s the intelligent response to a rising cost of living -- buying things that go down, and eliminating the need for things that go up, out of control -- even collectively, as a government purchase.

The indelible lesson of the tech boom is that value goes to infinity, as cost goes to zero; that’s how one recognizes he is on the right track.