hillary dixon rust

I love to ride for a number of reasons. One of the main reasons is that I get to think. 
It probably sounds silly but I can't really think most of the time unless I'm doing something. I'm not sure if I even want that to make sense.

My point is that I got out on the road today and something popped into my head. The thought has been banging around in my skull for a long time but today it seemed more urgent and important.

The idea is that maybe this capitalist, consumer driven, disposable society we live in isn't really the best way to live. I mean, we all basically live like James Dean. Fast, loose and out of control. But some people don't even see this as a problem. They don't see it as something that needs solving. They either aren't aware, or don't care about the consequences of living life in this manner. Well, look at ol' jimmy now.

I think of things like disposable razors and it hurts my brain. The thought of developing a product that at its core makes it necessary to make more of the product seems insane. But we as a society have embraced this and now apply it to just about everything we own. We plan on getting a newer version of whatever it is we've bought just as soon as we possibly can. The example I use will not only prove my point but it will make me look awesome at the same time.

EX: I was coming down Melrose on my way home from my bike ride and I saw Blackberry (the phone) on the street next to a Jeep Cherokee that was parked outside of a Pet Clinic (the sign didn't say veterinarian). I stopped, circled back and picked it up. The phone had a scuff on it but the screen was intact and it was obviously still working because it started ringing in my hand. I opened the door to the Pet Clinic and there were 3 ladies sitting inside all holding onto their dogs. I held up the phone and said "This was on the street next to the Jeep parked out front." Immediately a lady dressed up in Juicy sweats and with a bit too much Botox jumped up and said "Oh my gosh thank you! It must have fallen out of my lap.". She looked at it, saw the scuff and then said "Well now I have to get a new phone."

Now, I'm not saying that it's completely horrible to get new things. I got stuck behind a guy today in an old VW Beetle that  had been extremely well maintained but in the end the engine just isn't nearly as efficient as a newer one would be and I'm sure that cute lil' bug has belched out more than it's share of poison by now. Solution? Get a newer car that pollutes less and keep it for another 15-20 years. 

I read a true story one time in Discover Magazine about a company that had developed a way to make scalpels and razor blades (and a ton of other highly useful things) that lasted up to 25 years without ever becoming dull or needing to be replaced. They shop their inventions around and were repeatedly turned down by manufacturers because they had a limited number of sales they could make. Meaning, once they sold one of their products the customer was set for life, thus they lost a customer. It seems to me that I would love to never have to buy another razor but I guess I'm crazy. It also occurs to me that there would almost always be more customers because new people are born everyday. But I guess a razor factory that has to wait for people to grow up and need razors wouldn't get much use... 

So the way I apply this to myself and the documentary is that if I had my way and the series was a success it would essentially make itself obsolete. Which I see as a good thing in a whole bunch of ways. Mostly because I love to start new projects and I already have a few that I want to do after the documentaries are finished. 

Chirp,
hillary