Surrender your sons

Surrender your sons

The symptoms are fever, congestion, cough and sore throat… spreads through offices, schools and homes… it does not matter where we are, it will get to us. Colds and flu are caused by viruses; just like HIV, Ebola, Hepatitis and Herpes. Just as Napoleon, viruses are also small; 100 times smaller than the average bacteria and can only exercise influence on the cells since they do not have a cellular structure, nor have the ability to replicate on their own, viruses are just bundles of DNA or RNA, encapsulated in protein... looking for a cell that can dominate. 

Viruses can infect any living organism, that is why they are so dangerous. The means of infection can be by air (to cough and to sneeze), with carriers such as mosquitoes; and corporal fluids (saliva, blood or semen). Once the virus infects the cell, its mission is to totally seize the host through replicas; the cell host produces more viral material rather than genetic; once finished, the cell will die and the virus will jump to other near cells to repeat the process.

The human body has acquired some mechanisms to defend itself against viruses; these mechanisms are stored and activated through genetic memory; unfortunately the viruses also have their own memory and in many cases they evolve faster. Viruses such as HIV deceives the immunological system, and we already know how it ends for most people.

Official history dictates that the evolutionary development of our ancestors mainly occurred by the search of better climates and diet; but it is also worth mentioning the influence that viruses have had on human evolution, it is necessary to review the historical context of the different interactions between pathogens and society, viruses affected the genetic diversity in the immune system and dictated the degree of genetic mixture between populations, contributed to our expansion outside Africa and the infections of past have been shared through our lineage and will live like adopted elements that regulate our biological functions.

The “boom” in population occurred when technology was used to serve mankind; the advances in medicine contributed to reduce the mortality rate and to increase the life expectancy of the cities/countries that benefited from those technological changes; it is true that all the regions in the planet have not been developed evenly, but there has been a real reduction for all the regions in the planet.

 

“Humans live longer, earn more money, want it all and know nothing”, that is how many companies think.
 

Straight razors made in the 1900s were so good, that one just needed a strop and they were good to go, from grandfathers to fathers, to the grandsons and great-grandchildren... 

but it was necessary to sharpen it and that was "a waste of time"… it was necessary to buy shave-soap… 

one needed to be careful, because the edge could be lethal; so, fear came in… and that is when Gillete showed up with its safe blade that eliminated all those inconveniences and fears. Then we got bombarded with disposable pens and tissues, instant coffee , fast food , digital music.

According to “The Kondratieff Theory of the Long Cycles”, (no, it is not a bipolar/lithium thing), we are living in the fifth cycle of economic activity; the era of Knowledge Economy, the age of the computers. Everything has become intangible and has to be available 24/7, everything passes by so fast because of the people's capacity to process and retain information, in most users it is minimal. The technology that we had 7 years ago is an old memory, far distant and long gone!, so is the iOS 6, nothing but a very vague memory for iPhone users. 

In the same way that viruses have shaped human evolution, electronic devices have its own AIDS; and I'm not talking about the one you can get by watching all that porn' I am talking abou the most dangerous of all, Planned Obsolescence. 

 

Each device comes out of factory with an expiration date, the date as such is dictated based on the technological breakthroughs, markets, fashion and trends… or simple digital euthanasia through an operating system with greater demand of resources, as we mentioned in “When we were happy XP”. The rationale behind the strategy is to generate long-term sales volume by reducing the time between repeat purchases (referred to as shortening the replacement cycle).

Here are some examples related to computers:

Ink Cartridges for Printers (if you have one): most of those cartridges come with a clever chip that disables the cartridge when one of the colors reaches “a low point" determined by the manufacturer, even when there is enough ink to finish the task. In addition, the clever chip forbids to refill the cartridges… and let's not forget about the "timer" inside every printer. 

 

Software: some times it is “incompatible” with certain files or programs, and forces the consumer to update. Although the update also happens when the manufacturer decides to stop supporting "old versions". This software update triggers hardware sales; let's not forget about iPhone 6 -iOS8.

Video Games… Xbox to Xbox 360 and Xbox One? Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Nintendo64… let's not forget about the infamous Virtual Boy.

Moving away from technology, but following the same path.Automobiles… parts discontinued to avoid repairs, "new models" just because of the aesthetic changes.
 

Light Bulbs: up to 2010 there were some functioning light bulbs made by Thomas Edison… our modern energy efficient bulbs last for about 8 thousand hours... even though the technology to make them last longer exists, it is just not a very lucrative idea. 

 

Text books: it is very difficult to have significant changes from one edition to another, specially when this changes happen on a yearly basis. But Publishers have updates all the time, moving information from one page to another, changing the colors in diagrams, perhaps adding a CD-ROM? The problem is that not buying this new edition will make it difficult to follow in class… since some teachers "follow the book"… even the ones with horrendous mistakes.

Blitzkrieg Fashion… Ja!. One day in the 90's, every body was flashing their pacifier necklaces, the following day was troll dolls, then the Livestrong bracelets… should I continue?

 

There must be a balance between the technology as a tool and technology as life itself; the technology that we have in this very moment is died when it touched your hands, according to Moore's Law, we will have something twice as powerful in next 18 to 24 months; but intellectual capacity in humans won't duplicate… nevertheless, the addiction will. The day the iPhone 6 came out was living proof that there is an addiction that affects a great number of people, material addiction, even for the things that we do not understand.
 

Planned Obsolescence jumped to humans and acts in the person in the same way a mental disease does; but collectively speaking, it is a virus that affects all mankind, whatever the product, we buy for compulsive or impulsive reasons; we buy just to fill the void, to forget emptiness… emptiness? 

That is a personal quest that each individual most take before the virus fulfills its mission and turns mankind into an Obsolete Species.

@feexitmx
www.feexit.mx

id@feexit.mx
rp@feexit.mx

When we were happy XP

When we were happy XP

Turns out that after seeing all the "technological advances and miracles (that we enjoy and obviously pay a high price for); people just realized that during a period of several years, these advancements have increased and improved their capabilities, functions and therefore their reach... and grasp.

Do you remember when you bought your first computer (if its the case) back in the year 2001? In that year we entered a new era, where we left our beloved Windows 98 and Windows ME. Well, I believe that in that year we started living in a complete technological dependency. We became groupies to Windows XP and then, with the passage of time, Windows Vista... The latter promised a different design and interface, and it was so! but not that many people liked it. We preferred to keep our beloved Windows XP.

Over the years we have consumed many Operating Systems from every single developer. In your computer, in your Tablet, in your mobile... your gaming consoles and even in cars. I have had the opportunity of visiting clients that are not in the technological vogue, but their businesses are working properly with their current computers, even with Pentium 4 processors and Windows XP.

Here's the interesting part. Most of the electronic components have a lifespan of up to 6 years, and even more than that if we are careful. There is something called Planned Obsolescence, and is nothing more than defining the life span of things. That planned life, may not be accurate for the physical components, but it is precise when it comes to Software.

When you buy a computer, in our case we acquired an Ultrabook with a Core i3 processor, 8GB in RAM, SSD of 120GB with Windows 8. The device works just fine, but we know that its life span is of no more than 3 years (because of its characteristics we know its good to go as far as 2017 or 2018... probably more) because the new Windows versions make you have a more powerful processor, better graphics, and a never ending list of requirements.

This also applies to phones. A few days ago iPhone 6 and iOS8 appeared. I don't know about you, but my iPhone 4* began to experience certain problems... coincidence or planned obsolescence? It is worth mentioning that I have not downloaded any updates. Couldit be true that the conspiracies in which app developers and network carries work along with Apple to "slowdown" the old devices whenever there is a new release?.

 

Note. IOS 8 does not work in iPhone 4; and to be honest, we are not amazed. iOS 8 is in fact iPhone 4's deathbed. Although it seems like it was yesterday when they announced the brand new iPhone 4, now Apple announces that the old devices and previous IOSs, won't get any support or updates, matter of fact, as of September 17th, they are discontinued. We saw it last year, iPhone 3GS died when it wasn't able to hold iOS 7, so we are not surprised to see iOS 8 doing the same. 

A few months ago Apple discontinue iPhone 4 in several countries, including India and Brazil. But it has kept sales in developing countries as “a cheap” option of smartphone, while the old versions are disappearing quickly.
 
 

@feexitmx
www.feexit.mx
id@feexit.mx

P.S.

Take a look at “The Lightbulb Conspiracy”by Cosima Dannoritzer.

The Notebook 1/?

Mankind has always dreamed for the stars, mankind is known for its kindness but also for its brutality, we as humans have been blessed with numerous talents... but once again, mankind has its flaws.

I do not mean to preach with this piece, this is merely a reflection of the last month... and the last month has been intense; that is why I intend to just lay my thoughts the same way they are written in my notebook, no editing, no sparkles, no sensitive bullshit... and yes, they are in order.

                                        Charleston, SC

“...I recently visited parts of the north and south of the continent (America) with a short stint in Honduras, the purpose of the trip was to do things differently and see things as they are, not as people (or my eyes) wanted them to be. The easiest thing to say is “This is cool, that's ok... that one is pretty fucked up”; but I really saw that it does not matter where we live, at the end of the day we all want what is beyond our reach”.

“Someone once told me that as a tourist, we will always have the choice to leave the place and go back home; but to really know the place, one needs to embrace every aspect of the new country... yes, even the positive and the negative, just for a few days”. 

                          
Pupusas de Queso in Honduras

“People in “poor countries” aim to live like rich people in the movies; poor people in “rich countries” aim to live like those “filthy-rich celebrities” they see on TV; rich people from all over the globe, cannot get their fill; billionaires just want to buy their way into heaven... oh yeah! Behind every fortune, there's a crime”.

“...Nothing is original, everything has been written down and tropicalized. Far from uniting the world through something in common, globalization has made most the world 'common'... and mediocre”.

5- Zach de La Rocha in 'Darkness of Greed' said: “Ya cram ya culture down my throat, Say I'm inferior when I find that I choke, Ya fill my mind with a false sense of history, And then you wonder why I have no identity?”. Coca Cola, Pepsi, Apple, Nike, Adidas (just to name a few) are brands that are embedded in our minds, and somehow represent a certain degree of status to those who are ashamed of their heritage. I am in no way saying, “go back and endure those Aztec or Inca rituals”, but things would be different if we knew and embraced our roots, short or deep, but nevertheless OURS.

                           Mercado de las Brujas, La Paz

“As a vegetarian and a fan of the Bad Brains, I have embraced several aspects of Rasta culture, specially the Ital diet, that could be related to the Jewish Kosher and the Islamic Halal. The resources given by Jah, must be in a nearly natural state, that is how we are able to receive good nourishment to the body without unneeded and poisonous additives...”. 

“Western culture (even though we were born it) is oppressive and destructive. The concept of “preservatives” is an amazing metaphor; because preservatives are needed to allow transportation to distant grocery stores and pesticides are used for greater harvests... and greater profits. Being 'limited' to fresh foods grown locally makes us humble, allows us to live and enjoy the moment, and ultimately, allows us to be free”.

                                                     Miradores de La Paz, Bolivia

 

“Many Rastas are vegetarian, and some are vegans. For those who eat flesh, fish is the option, but it has to be fish less than 12 inches long. Fish larger than a foot commonly eat other fish and are therefore less suitable than vegetarian fish... the memories of Babylon are still fresh”.

-DM

@CoandCoCG 

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