About Forest Hoag’s Blog

I recently heard an interview with a scientist and inventor named Ray Kurzweil, who believes in an idea he calls “the singularity,” named after a concept in physics that has to do with black holes. Basically, “singularity” will occur when artificial intelligence, which is increasing in exponential leaps and bounds every minute, will meet and surpass biological, or human, intelligence. Human and non-human systems of awareness will merge, intelligence will expand outwards into the universe at the speed of light, and the human civilization will irreparably and drastically change. Mr. Kurzweil has a neat way of explaining how this is simply a predictable phenomena, that will happen in the next 50 years or so.

My interest in the motorcycles, cars and bicycles of our crumbling industrial age is pretty antique compared to what Mr. Kurzweil is talking about; all of these clunky old vehicles might be obsolete within my lifetime. Nevertheless, I have spent my working life with these machines and I’m devoted to them. I’ve been a bike messenger, bike mechanic, motorcycle mechanic, a mountain bike tour guide, a bike racer, a motorcycle courier, and a driver. Hopefully, recording some of my misadventures with maintenance and repair in this blog can help a few other folks avoid some expensive pitfalls.

I’ll also be ranting about current events, my dad’s experiences as an ex-patriate Philippine banana farmer, good books, and general fun. It’s a strange and wonderful moment before the singularity hits and turns us into sheer energy, and I hope I’m riding bikes with a few friends when it happens.