Broken Promises from the Future
And Fulfilling Adventures from the Past
On Flying Cars
It's one of the future's great disappointments that we don't yet have flying cars. Now I've lamented on the future nostalgia of flying cars before.
In reality, though, the absence of flying cars is probably a good thing. With more than 35,000 vehicle crashes every year in the U.S. alone, that number would be much worse if drivers could travel at speed in 360°.
But that doesn't mean there aren't those who have tried to make the flying car dream a reality. Companies like Pal-V ("a car that flies; a plane that drives"), AeroMobil ("be the experience"), and Moller International ("making new concepts in aviation a reality") have each been selling us the promise of bringing the first consumer-level flying car to market for more than a decade. Even Tesla has been talking about getting into the Flying Car Game.
But the latest and seemingly most attainable such product is the Jetson One, a personal aircraft made of aluminum and carbon fiber. It has eight rotors, each powered by an electric engine, to keep you aloft. It doesn't really resemble the promised nostalgia of the traditional flying car, though. Instead, it looks a lot like a drone you can sit in.
Naturally they felt the need to name it after a 1960s cartoon to really dial in that future nostalgia. Anywyay, you can see one of these so-called flying cars in action over at the Jetson YouTube Channel.
Getting yourself a Jetson One will run you $92,000 including a $22,000 pre-order deposit. And you have to assemble it yourself. All production models for 2022 are sold out (there were only 12 made), but get in early for 2023 — as of this writing there are already 170 claimed.
Live Like James Bond?
If you seek to live the life of a womanizing British spy, the the 007 Riviera Towelling All-In-One is right up your alley. That said, some things should remain in the 60s. Well, many things, actually. And one of those is this piece of unfortunate loungewear from Orelebar Brown.
This goofy "Goldfinger Onesie" is a faithful replica of the blue terrycloth suit (if you can call it that) James Bond wore poolside in Miami Beach while chasing down Auric Goldfinger. It's got a chest pocket and a gold clasp belt. Not sure why this item needs a belt, but ... gold (I guess?). If you have $545 to spend on an item that's named with the word towelling, then go for it. But when it comes to Stuff You Don't Need, I'm filing this one under Dr. No Way.
Instead ...
When it comes to culture inspired by James Bond, I prefer Iggy Pop.
Six-in-One
One of the most essential tools any person can have in their tool box or kitchen junk drawer is a Six-in-One Screwdriver.
With two Phillips heads (#1 and #2), two flat-heads (3/16" or 5mm and 1/4" or 6mm) and two hex drivers (1/4" or 6mm and 5/16" or 8mm), this single tool can handle 87% of all your screw- and bit-driving needs. Never leave home without one. Seriously. Keep one in your car, (at least) one in your home, and one in your workshop.
Mailin' It!
One of the most enjoyable moments of the day occurs when the Informed Delivery email from my local Post Office arrives in my email inbox. Perhaps I need to get out more.
But if you haven't signed up for Informed Delivery, I highly recommend it. Each day, the post office sends you an email with a scan of each piece of mail that you'll be receiving that day. Well, most every piece. They don't scan catalogs and some pieces of direct mail and sometimes the scanned mail doesn't show up until the following day. But it's a very convenient system that informs you what pieces of mail will be delivered to your mailbox.
Anyway, as part of my daily Informed Deliveries, the Post Office occasionally includes a banner of advertising for Mailin' It, the official USPS Podcast. It looks just like this:
Mailin' It offers, as the ad copy says, a "lighthearted look into the history, innovation, and inner workings of the United States Post Office." Not since The Inspectors (streaming on Amazon Prime!), the TV movie starring Louis Gosset Jr. and Jonathan Silverman as a pair of Postal Inspectors looking for the perpetrator of a mail bomb, has the post office engaged in such transparent propaganda.
But if you want to learn the deep history of the Zip Code system (which I admit was vaguely interesting though panderingly presented), there's no better place than the first episode of Mailin' It, available anywhere finer podcasts are downloaded.
A Remembrance of the John Muir Trail
In 2012, I hiked the John Muir Trail, a 210-mile (and even longer depending how you measure) trek through the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Central California. It was challenging, at times frustrating, and consistently fantastic (even when I fell down a steep slope and subsequently got lost turned around for a spell).
I started hiking from Happy Isles in Yosemite National Park the morning of June 10, 2012 so starting today I'll be revisiting my meanderings, one day at a time, on my various social media platforms. Follow along if you're so inclined.
Recent Los Angeles Explorations
As you probably know, I spend a fair amount of time wandering around Los Angeles exploring various places and things this fair city has to offer. Here's a short list of a few recent explorations.
UCLA Meteorite Gallery — Real space rocks!
La Placita — The oldest church in Los Angeles!
Bob's Market — The real-world stand-in for Toretto's Market & Cafe from the Fast & Furious!
The Los Angeles City Hall Observation Deck — 360° views of the city from (almost) its point of origin!
As always, thanks for reading. Be careful out there, do something to make you happy, and I look forward to seeing you next time.