why I came here
When the whole world is mediated thru digital instant technologies no place is particularly special. Everywhere is the same. Except...perhaps...the place where the technology comes from?
So I came to San Francisco to see what all the fuss is about. And I'm far from the only one doing this. We are the San Francisco '25ers.
most futuristic thing I've seen
Two guys with rfid chips embedded in their hand.
I saw one guy use it like a badge to swipe in at an office. The other guy had two (one on each hand), one of which connected us on LinkedIn, and the other one Rickrolled me.
Rickrolling in 2025
In 2025 Rickrolling really means tricking someone into watching three seconds of an ad on youtube while they read the video title and think, clinically: "Oh, I see. I have been Rickrolled."
I don't want to get an rfid embedded in my body, but I have bought a roll of 50 rfid stickers which I'm excited to play with. There's something very satisfying about physically tapping something and getting haptic & sound feedback. Much more satisfying than a QR code.
least futuristic things I've seen
Mouse in my hotel room. Really felt in that moment transported back to Jack Kerouac's San Francisco.
My thoughts on the mouse
I am very proud of myself for not freaking out about the mouse. Mice have always freaked me out. And I was very surprised seeing this mouse. But I did not freak out.
I thought a very 'tech bro' thought as I was not freaking out: "By not freaking out, I'm literally I'm reprogramming my mind."
Then I had a very theatre kid thought: "What am I feeling right now? Oh yes let's pay attention to the feelings this event has brought up."
Place I'm staying: Two perspectives
small talk in San Francisco
People will ask "What are you building?" as casually as you might ask about the weather.
"Nothing" is a totally acceptable answer, though. Often the person who asked isn't even building anything either.
fast city
In Portland, ME, on an average run I would pass people slightly more often than I would get passed.
Here, I don't think I have yet passed a single runner. And people of all ages just scream by me along the waterfront.
Fast walkers, too. Though this might have more to do with the areas I'm walking around, which don't necessarily feel unsafe but aren't places you want to linger.
big city feel
I don't know what I expected but San Francisco really feels to me on par with the New Yorks and the Londons. Not as big, obviously. But that same big city...I dunno what. It's here.
Billboards
Like so much else in San Francisco, the billboards are not speaking to everyone in the room but instead blatantly and sycophantically preening for the attention of the Smartest, Cleverest, most Cracked among us.