Robots, Drones, and Flying Cars

Carl dreamed of the future his whole life. There was nothing wrong with being a teenager in the 60s, but predictions about robots and flying cars made him yearn for more. Every time a fantasy space movie was released, he stood first in line to buy a ticket.

            As Carl aged, he lost some of his passion for what the future might bring. He still loved to watch Star Trek and Star Wars, but he knew he would never be around to experience similar adventures. His dreams were really fantasies, something he could enjoy but would never actually realize. 

            Achievements and inventions such as the Internet, smartphones, self-driving cars, and of course, the moon landing fueled his fantasies. He was getting older with his sixty-fifth birthday just around the corner. He knew the likelihood of jetting around the world in his flying car was highly improbable. 

            Drones were available to the everyday man. Carl owned one and it was fun, but it fell short of his vision. Robots existed as well, but they could do so much more than deliver pizzas and packages. Carl knew the future would show their true potential,

            The predictions and expectations for the future were exaggerated, maybe unintentionally, but the outcome was the same. Born too early, he did not yet live in a Jetson world.

            Would there ever be a way to become a part of the future? Carl doubted his vision to be part of the future would be fulfilled. Cryogenics! The word crept into his head and turned an idea into an obsession. That could be the answer he needed. He had no doubt it was possible to freeze his brain and come back to a new body one hundred years from today.The technology was available now. Carl was sure all his dreams would be reality by then. He did extensive research about cryogenics and recognized the possibilities. Sure, there would be risks but with advancements in technology, he felt any issues that developed could easily be rectified by the year 2120. 

He had two brothers and a sister but no wife or children. He believed his desire for a new life wouldn’t be a burden on anyone. This new path to his future was his destiny, one he dreamed about since he was a child. Carl was well fixed financially and with 100 years of interest compounded on his account, he knew there would be no worries. He did research on cryogenics for months, listing all the pros and cons and finally convinced himself this was what he wanted to do. A Russian firm has developed a procedure to freeze people before they die. Scientists believe that by freezing a brain before death they can avoid extensive brain damage. He didn’t want to wait until he was on his deathbed before he started this procedure, so he would fly to Switzerland where euthanasia was legal and have the procedure. 

Carl had one last visit with his family for a celebratory dinner and to say their last goodbyes. There would be no turning back once he entered the lab.

* * * 

Now in the year 2120, Carl’s new life was about to begin. Life was drastically different than he once knew. No one could have predicted the financial disaster devastating the country. So many things changed. Carl didn’t know it yet, but he would need to go back to school to learn about this new world. His brain was outdated, and he would have to get a job to live. The golden parachute he expected to have was almost worthless.

Just as imagined, drones and flying machines filled the skies, almost blocking the sun. Droids did the housework leaving people with more free time. Pet robots replaced the cuddly unpredictable puppies and kittens from the past. It was nearly impossible to tell them apart from the real ones, except the robot pets never ate and never pooped.

            Carl saw things he always imagined and some he never believed possible. Everything was miniaturized and also expensive. You could carry a complete dinner in your pocket that could be rehydrated in seconds. The taste was good but the presentation was lacking. 

People worked from home with little contact from their co-workers. Physical stores were non-existent since everything was bought on-line and delivered to your door.

Virtual reality (VR) was a boom to the entertainment industry. People still took vacations but never left their homes. VR took them on trips around the world. It replaced true reality in every way. There was something wrong about going on a hike without leaving your family room.   

Murders and mass shootings were down because no one went anywhere in mass.

Cyber attacks were up which contributed to the increase in suicides. Technology helped with some things but created new problems. He should have known there was no guarantee that progress would make his life better.

The only things left unchanged were the politicians. They were still crooked. People didn’t talk or connect with others, especially strangers. It was as if their lips were fused together. The new world had robots, drones and flying cars, but instead of bringing people closer, it kept them apart.

When Carl walked into the new world, his dreams were realized, but surprises surfaced as well. After his brain was put into his new body he exited the chamber and realized he was no longer Carl. His chest was bigger and his body more curvy. Carl had become Carla. 

He should’ve read the fine print.

* * * 

            Crash! The lamp fell onto his head and startled him. His body lurched forward from deep sleep to an instant awareness when his nephew’s drone buzzed around his head and crashed into his lap.

            “Hey Uncle Carl! Do you want to watch Lost in Space with me?” Setting the remote control on the table. “It’s the old one from the ‘60s.” 

The first thing Carl did was reach down and feel his chest. It was flat. He smiled because he realized it was still 2019.

            Carl shook the cobwebs out of his head and said, “Yes, Ben, I’d love to.”

            With that Ben grabbed his uncle by the hand to lead him to the basement where they had the gigantic TV. “It’s kinda lame but it makes you fantasize about the future.”

            He looked at his nephew. “Movies inspire your dreams but don’t let them keep you from living today.” 

Our Gut Reaction

Have you noticed the first reaction of many people is negative? I read a post on Nextdoor just this morning. They were wondering about the sirens they heard on Highway 94. They asked if they were related to the shooting on Main Street in St. Charles. This lead to a series of response about a shooting that can’t be verified and how sad and dangerous it is to do normal things like going to a bar or restaurant.

     I’ve heard many sirens in my life and most were related to a traffic accident or incident. Why would someone assume hearing a siren equates to a shooting? It’s possible, but unlikely. Maybe it’s the times we live in that attributes to us expecting the worst. 

     The world is filled with glass half empty and glass half full people. There always was and always will be, but right now there seems to be a growing trend for our gut reaction to be negative. And many times there’s no facts to support the negative response.

     Let me say one thing, it doesn’t help to look at every situation in a negative light. Just my opinion, but I think it damages your attitude. At the same time looking at life through rose-colored glasses isn’t without fault. Having the facts about a situation would be helpful before you throw out a random warning. “Just Saying . . .”

 

Word Count Pressure

I am a writer who developed an interest in writing late in life. I’ve written many short stories and a few very long short stories, but never a novel.

     Putting together an entertaining story for the reader is my main goal. Having read many novels and books shorter in length, there is one thing I discovered. The length is unimportant to me, the story has the center of my attention. I know publishers will argue that both are important, but they seem to put a great emphasis on word count. 

     A goal of many writers is to write a novel. Maybe it checks off a box that validates your writing chops, but should stringing together 70,000 words be the goal. What happens if you’ve written a great story but it’s less than novel length, should you add more words? You could end up making a great story a good story. For me that’s not the goal. I am satisfied with writing the best story I can in as many words as it takes, no matter the word count.

     I know there are many types of readers with a vast array of interest, which gives credence to the many genres. There is something out there for everyone and I believe in every case the story should be the star not the number of words. 

     So, I will continue to write stories to the best of my abilities, but there may never be a novel. There is a good chance I can create a book of short stories and I’m just fine with that.

What would you do?

This post is written to make you think about how you react to others who have a different viewpoint.

The election for the President of the United States is getting close. Are you excited to cast your vote? Not so much. Yeah! Me either.

Let’s pretend for a minute. A Democrat and Republican walked into different bars. Each was approached by a stranger that needed a ride to the polls on Election Day and ask if they would be so kind as to give them a ride. Each of the strangers mentioned that wanted to vote for the opposing party. So both the Democrat and the Republican know they would each be taking a person to vote for a candidate that they didn’t support. Would they give the strangers a ride?
     What if the scenario was slightly different? Let’s say the people in the bar weren’t strangers, but friends with a different political belief. Would that make a difference? Does your answer reflect your character? I don’t have an answer. It’s for you to decide.
     Now let’s take it one more step. Suppose it was Trump and Biden that we’re in the bar when someone asks for a ride to the polls. Each knew the rider would be voting for the other candidate. Would either get a ride? And what would they say to the strangers?
     I can think of a few responses Trump and Biden might have.  “No, I won’t take you because you are going to vote for the wrong candidate.” I can picture Trump making that statement. They could be more positive and say, “Yes I’ll take you.” but then never stop by to pick them up. That’s a response I imagine from a seasoned politician, like Biden telling you what you want to hear and doing the opposite.
     In both cases, I suspect neither voter will get a ride from Trump or Biden. So these are our choices a candidate who does whatever he wants but openly states his intentions and another that tells you what you want to hear but does whatever he wants. See the similarities. It makes you wonder if what they want is good for the country and its people or only good for them. Choose wisely. “Just Saying . . . .”
   
     

Opinions

It’s easy to get an opinion even when you don’t want one. If you’re unsure where to find these opinions look on any social media site. There’s nothing wrong with an opinion, but the way it’s said is questionable.
     Some post I’ve read are not opinions about a topic, but more a slam to someone’s character. The statement will get your attention, but not convert anyone to your side. When I was a young boy my mom told me, “If you can’t say anything good about someone, don’t say anything at all”. That’s a nice lesson to teach a child, but it’s a difficult, almost impossible standard to live by. The truth is, it wasn’t meant to be an absolute rule as much as a guide for how I should treat others.
     In today’s world it appears no one was ever taught this lesson, which is a shame, because the world does not benefit from hateful speech. I’ve learned by experience that no one has all the answers, so it’s important to listen to other opinions, but it appears that’s antiquated thinking.
     The posts on social media show that many people believe they have all the answers and they are not interested in your opinion unless it supports theirs. Politicians are an example of this bad behavior as well as all the special interest groups and it’s not because of their beliefs but how they deliver the message.
     There is one lesson we have all retained from our childhood that explains the way the world works today. That lesson is, The squeaky wheel gets the grease.  “Just Saying . . . “

The Pandemic and the Real Story

The satellite phone rings. Jeff grabbed it quickly, he’s been waiting for this call. “Well, is it complete?”He nods as the response is given, then a big grin appeared on his face. Jeff hit the buzzer to call his assistant. Doris entered and asked, “Yes sir, what can I do for you?”
     “Set up a meeting with, The Partners.”
     That’s all she needed to hear. It was a group of the ten most influential business people in the world. Eight men and two women. They made the decisions that guided the world, in their favor. There were no world leaders from the free world in this group. World leaders followed the orders of The Partners without question.
     “Will you be meeting on the island?” Doris inquired.
      Jeff stirred his coffee. “Yes, the meeting will start promptly at 4:00 pm tomorrow. That’s eighteen hours. More than enough time for everyone shut down their current activities. This is their number 1 priority.”
     “Is there any message I need to pass on to them?” Doris adjusted her skirt.
     “Tell them, we have the chip.”

* * *

      At 4:00 pm on a remote island in the Pacific, the meeting starts. Everyone is in attendance.
     Jeff hits the gavel on the exotic wooden block. “The meeting is now officially open. Any questions?”
     “So, it’s true the chip is ready but has it been tested?”  Amal was always the first to raise a question.
     “Yes, I have confirmation. It works as we predicted. We are ready to initiate mass installation.”
     Edwardo leans on the conference table. “What about the vaccine? Do we have enough?”
     “We had the vaccine developed before we released the virus and we’ve been producing product for the last six months. We have enough.” Jeff looked around, “and before you ask the production of chips will be completed in one week. So we’ll be ready to distribute the vaccine with the chip on the first of December.”
     Carmen let out a puff of air. “Once the world is chipped we will have total control.”
     “It’s a great day. One we’ve been working toward for years.” Jeff put both hands on the table. “Any other questions?”
     “What about our vaccine shots?” Carmen asked. “The ones without the chips.”
     “They’re available today. You can be the first to get one if you like.”
     Carmen shifted in her seat. “But how do we know there won’t be a chip in them.”
     “We wouldn’t do that to you. Don’t you trust me?” Jeff smiled.

Laugh with Strangers

There are things we all miss during these quarantine times. I’m sure it’s different for each of us, but equally difficult. Family and friends are most important to me, which I’m sure many would agree. So if you can still visit with them without concern that’s a great thing. It’s likely that many of people miss dining out, gathering at a bar to watch a game or going to some large social event. I believe these will return in time, but I guess we have to be patient, which can be difficult. More difficult than one might have expected.
     Laughter lightens the mood, so for me it’s important to find something to laugh about every day. It can be difficult for some people especially for those that live alone, but thankfully I have my family to give me a chuckle.
     The laughter I miss is a laugh with a stranger. I’m social and I talk with strangers all the time. Many times those short conversations give me an unexpected laugh. I miss those laughs and that connection. I hope this pandemic doesn’t cause people to distance themselves from strangers forever because they’ll be giving up those unexpected laughs. “Just Saying . . .”