2025-04-15 14:00:00
I meant to write this blog post on my 30th birthday, but I didn’t have the energy at the time, and there were still a lot of things I hadn’t figured out. Now that I’m turning 31, I want to look back on the last ten years. When I turned 30, I started to realize that some things in life can’t really be explained—you have to live through them to truly get it. So I’m writing this post not to give advice to younger people, but more as a record for myself. Something I can look back on when I turn 40 and see how far I’ve come.
Even though I was an average student, I never really liked going to school. Most of the time, I found it boring. Looking back, I feel like I wasted a lot of time there. In Turkey, the education system tends to reward students who are good at memorizing things—which I wasn’t. So I stayed average until I started studying Computer Science. That’s where things changed for me. What mattered there was understanding the topic, not memorizing it. The homework involved writing code and solving real-world problems. That shift made a big difference, and I ended up graduating second in my class with high honors.
Having a diploma (which I still haven’t picked up from the university) is nice, I guess, but I haven’t really needed it—except when I applied for the Blue Card in Germany. And now that the rules have changed and three years of work experience is enough, I’m not sure the degree itself matters all that much anymore. Don’t get me wrong—the things I learned were interesting, and I had some great teachers. But I’ve barely used any of it in my actual work. My summer internships after my second and third year had a much bigger impact on my career than all eight semesters of classes. That said, getting the Erasmus Scholarship was a big plus. It gave me the chance to do an internship in Hamburg, which later helped me move to Germany.
When I first came to Hamburg for an internship, my plan was simple: get some experience in Europe so it would help me find a better job back in Turkey. But I never got to that point—before I even finished my studies, I got a job offer and moved to Hamburg to work full-time at the same place.
I’ve always had high expectations, but living in Hamburg completely blew me away. The city and the people I’ve met over the past seven years have been amazing. I honestly fell in love with this place. A funny thing—someone I met recently, who had just moved to Hamburg, said I was the only person he’d met who didn’t complain about the weather. That’s how much I enjoy living here.
Hamburg taught me what I really want from a city. What kind of people I want around me, how I want to move through a city, how big it should be, what kind of political values it should have, and what kind of experiences it should offer. Thinking about all that, I realized Hamburg fits me perfectly. I can’t think of a reason to leave. It feels like the kind of place I could live for the rest of my life.
Another surprising thing was how naturally I fit into life here. Before moving, I had a certain idea of how I wanted to live—and when I arrived, I saw people here were already living that way. That made integrating super easy. In fact, many of the Germans I’ve worked with told me I’m “more German than most Germans.” That’s how well I clicked with the culture. Lately, I’ve been working on improving my German so I can enjoy life here even more.
Including my internships, I’ve had the chance to work at five different companies across a mix of cultures—Turkish, German, and Canadian. They also varied in size, and altogether, I’ve spent about nine years working (some of it part-time). These experiences have taught me a lot and really shaped how I think about work.
When I started out, I was very ambitious and enthusiastic. But over time, I realized that my energy didn’t always match the companies I worked for. That mismatch usually led to frustration. It took a while, but I learned that how much money I make isn’t the most important thing. What matters most is who I spend those eight hours a day with. It sounds simple, but it took me years to fully understand that.
At the companies I worked for, I met incredibly talented people. I learned a lot from them and I’m really grateful for that. But I also had to deal with toxic coworkers, incompetent managers or visionless CEOs, and those experiences showed me how much work can affect your mental health. And no amount of money is worth that kind of stress.
I used to wonder why some people stayed at the same company for five or even ten years. But when I turned 30, I finally got it. They stayed because they wanted stability. They liked the people they worked with. They were okay with where they were in life. For them, work was just work—something that paid the bills. And keeping that mindset helped them protect their mental health. You can hear someone say that, but you don’t really understand it until you’ve lived through it yourself.
In the end, I came to see work as just one part of life—not the whole thing. Earning more isn’t the goal anymore. What matters is finding a good balance, being around good people, and using your time and money to actually enjoy your life. At the same time, I can’t imagine myself working full-time, 40 hours a week, for the rest of my life. I’m honestly still surprised that this is seen as “normal.” There’s so much to explore and experience in the world, yet we spend most of our time working.
Of course, when you look at average working hours, Germany is one of the countries with the lowest numbers. So I guess people here already figured that out—which makes me think, once again, that I’m living in the right place.
This one’s a bit connected to work—I’ve come to realize that I spend about a third of my life in front of a computer. And with social media and everything else online, I’ve also noticed that I’ve become kind of addicted to being in the digital world. It’s started to bother me, especially because most of my hobbies, like blogging, also involve a screen.
This is something I really want to change before I turn 40. I want to step away from the screen as much as I can and start doing more things with my hands. I don’t think I want to spend the rest of my life staring at a monitor. Finding offline hobbies, getting into more physical or creative work, and being more present in the real world are all things I want to focus on in the next decade.
When it comes to hobbies, the one thing I’ve done consistently over the years is reading. Even though I’ve been reading a bit less in the past couple of years, I still managed to read over 300 books in the last decade. I honestly can’t think of another activity that brings me as much joy and satisfaction. I want to keep reading for the rest of my life.
Alongside that, I also started blogging again—though I’ve stopped and restarted a few times. Just this year, I made the decision to write more regularly, and I really want to stick with it. I also started a podcast with a friend, and this year we’re celebrating our fourth anniversary. Every two weeks, around 4.000 people listen to it, which still feels a bit surreal.
For most of this time, I wasn’t really into sports, and looking back, I think that was one of my biggest mistakes. In the last few months, I finally started to understand the importance of staying active. Sure, I was cycling around Hamburg all the time, but that never felt like real exercise to me. Last year, I got into bouldering and found that I really enjoy it. I also started hiking, which has been a great way to explore places on the edge of the city and nearby towns.
More recently, I’ve started strength training and running. I really wish I had started both much earlier. They’re not easy, but the feeling you get after a good workout is hard to explain—you just have to experience it. If there’s only one piece of advice to take away from this post, it’s this: do 20–30 minutes of exercise that gets your heart rate above 100 bpm. You won’t regret it.
Besides these hobbies, I’m hoping to add more that involve other people—something social, something shared. I’ve spent a lot of time doing things alone, and I want to balance that out in the next chapter of my life.
One of the biggest milestones for me at 30 was becoming a more tolerant, empathetic, and thoughtful person. Before that, I used to hold onto my opinions pretty tightly. I’d often think, “If you don’t see things the way I do, then you must be wrong.”
But over time, I realized that every single person comes from a different background. We grow up in different cultures, have different childhoods, face different challenges—and all of that shapes how we see the world. Once I truly understood that, I stopped being judgmental.
Instead of ignoring opinions that didn’t match mine, I started listening more. I tried to understand where people were coming from. That shift helped me connect better with people from all kinds of backgrounds. It also made me more open to changing my mind, admitting when I was wrong, and seeing that life isn’t just black and white. There are so many shades in between.
There’s no absolute truth for most things in life—only tradeoffs, perspectives, and stories that make sense when you take the time to step into someone else’s shoes. And I think that’s probably the biggest change I’ve gone through since turning 30.
Turning 30 didn’t suddenly make everything clear, but it definitely marked the start of seeing things differently. I’ve learned a lot in the past decade—about work, people, habits, and most importantly, about myself. I’ve made mistakes, changed my mind, let go of things I once thought were non-negotiable, and discovered new parts of myself along the way.
I don’t know what the next decade will bring, but right now, I feel grateful and genuinely happy with where I am. I feel content. I feel free—like I can do whatever I want with my life. Reaching 30 was a big milestone for me, and now, I’m looking forward to 40.
2025-04-06 14:00:00
I grew up watching cartoons on Fox Kids, like The Kids from Room 402, What’s with Andy?, and Life with Louie. In those shows, the kids my age were riding their bikes to school, which I thought was really cool. I had a small bike, but I mostly rode it in the park near my home for fun, not for getting anywhere. Later, after finishing fourth grade, my parents bought me my first real bike, a Bianchi. It was an awesome bike that lasted for many years until it was stolen. It had gears by the handles, making it easy to shift. Even so, I mostly rode it with my friends during the summer around my neighborhood. Back then, I don’t remember anyone riding their bike to school or work. There weren’t any bike lanes, and it felt too dangerous to ride on the streets.
But the idea of biking from one place to another stuck with me. Even though I couldn’t ride my bike to school, I thought that maybe when I was older and had a job, I could ride my bike to work. It took a while, but after moving to another country, I eventually made that dream a reality.
In July 2018, I moved to Hamburg. I had already done an internship here the year before, so I knew biking around the city was a popular thing. I even rented a bike during that time. So, two weeks after moving, I bought my first bike, a CUBE Touring One. It was a great bike for long trips, commuting to work, and more. I loved the freedom of riding my bike and being able to go wherever I wanted. There were places in Hamburg that cars couldn’t go, but bikes could. Then, COVID hit. After that, my friends and I started riding more for fun. That’s when I began thinking about what I liked and didn’t like about my bike, and I decided it was time to buy a new one. This time, I wanted more freedom, so I chose an e-bike.
After months of research, I decided to buy the Cowboy Classic e-bike in the summer of 2022. There were several reasons why I chose it:
Because of all these features, I decided to go for the Cowboy Classic. It cost me around 3.000€, and I pay about 100€ a year for insurance. But buying the bike wasn’t my only expense, as I made some adjustments along the way. But first, let’s talk about my overall experience.
If you want to buy a Cowboy bike, you can book a test ride to try it out first. I did that, and when I first got on the Cowboy, it felt like there was an animal under me just waiting to take off. Especially in the adaptive mode, where even a small push on the pedal makes the bike move forward. It’s a great feeling, and it also helps you climb hills without getting tired or sweaty. Unlike some other bikes where you need to press a button to activate the motor, this system is much more convenient.
Since I’m from Hamburg, I’ve ridden more than 3.000 km on the streets here. Hamburg’s bike infrastructure isn’t as advanced as some cities in the Netherlands, but it’s still pretty good. My experience is based on riding in this type of environment. One thing I had to change right away was the seatpost. My old CUBE bike had a suspension seatpost, so riding on cobblestone streets didn’t hurt. But with the Cowboy, I immediately felt the discomfort, so I switched out the seatpost. I’ll talk more about that in the accessories section.
Another change I had to make was the saddle. It just wasn’t comfortable for me. This might have something to do with my body, but since I usually ride about 10 km in one trip, I really needed to be comfortable. After changing the saddle and seatpost, riding the Cowboy became much more enjoyable. It’s smooth on the streets, easy to handle at higher speeds, and the brakes are strong enough to stop when you need to.
I’ve ridden the bike in heavy rain, strong winds, and even snow, and I didn’t have any issues. However, after riding more than 20 km, I started to feel some pain in my wrists. To improve this, I swapped the handles, which made it better, but I still wish the bike had a suspension fork to absorb bumps in the road. There’s now a version of the Cowboy with handlebars in a more comfortable position and suspension, which might help with that.
As for the range, it really depends on the season and the mode you use. I usually ride in eco mode, and in spring and summer, I get about 65 km per charge. In adaptive mode, it drops to around 45 km. In the winter, the range decreases by about 10-15 km due to the cold. So far, I haven’t had any problems with the range. When I go on longer trips with friends, I turn off the motor assistance to go slower since they don’t have e-bikes. I only turn the motor back on for the ride home.
One thing that really annoyed me was the bike’s front light. In Germany, there are regulations (StVZO) that require bike lights to be directional, but the light on the Cowboy isn’t. In the dark, especially on poorly lit streets or in parks, it’s not very useful. To fix this, I had to buy a better light, and having to charge it every time I want to ride is a bit of a hassle. This is the biggest issue I’ve had with the bike. While I could solve the comfort issues, the light is something I can’t fix without making significant changes in the bike.
Overall, aside from the points mentioned, my experience with the Cowboy has been fantastic. I no longer rely on public transportation, and the freedom to travel anywhere at my own pace is amazing. I never have to worry about waiting for buses or trains, and I can avoid getting tired or sweaty thanks to the motor assistance.
Riding my bike through Hamburg on sunny days or quiet nights is a real joy. There’s something special about cruising through the city when the streets are empty, and it makes biking the perfect way to get around.
I’ve had a few interactions with the Cowboy support team. The first time, while adjusting the handlebars, I accidentally broke one of the brake levers. When I contacted Cowboy, they offered to replace it for free. We set up an appointment, and someone came to my house to fix it.
The second time, I had a small accident and broke the part that hides the cables on the handlebar. I paid for the part, and they shipped it to me. I was able to replace it myself without needing any tools.
The third time, I had an issue with my back brake, and it was also time for my bike’s maintenance. When the technician arrived, he took apart the brake and said it needed to be replaced, but he didn’t have the parts with him. We set up another appointment, but after that, he disappeared. He stopped replying to my messages, which was a strange experience. Later, I contacted Cowboy, and they arranged for a different technician. When the new technician came, he replaced the brake and checked over the bike, but he didn’t seem to know I had purchased the maintenance package from Cowboy, and he wasn’t aware of what was included in that package, like cleaning the bike. I also realized that even though I had explained the issue beforehand, the technicians would still ask me about it when they arrived. Additionally, I learnt that the technicians are freelancers, not actual Cowboy employees.
After my last experience, I realized there was still an issue with my brake. Instead of reaching out to Cowboy again, I decided to try a bike shop listed on Cowboy’s website. I went there, and they replaced the brake pads, did a brake fluid bleed, and got the brake working properly. The cost was also lower than what Cowboy would have charged. From now on, I’ll probably stick with that bike shop.
I should mention that there might still be a small issue with the brake, but I’m not sure what it is. Occasionally, I hear a sound while riding, like the brake disc is rubbing against the pads. It might be a stone or something stuck in there, or maybe the tire is misaligned. Since it’s not happening all the time, I’ll need to visit the bike shop again at some point.
I never bought the Cowboy Care package because I think it’s overpriced. It costs 240€ per year. After riding 3.000 km, I’ve never had a flat tire, and if I did, I have the tools to fix it. The things that have cost me money are mainly the brake pads, which are 20€ for a pair, and brake bleeding, which cost me 30€, including labor. For that reason, I don’t see the need to pay 240€ per year for the Cowboy Care package.
I’ve already mentioned a few things I bought for my bike, but here’s a complete list:
I appreciate that Cowboy opted for an app instead of relying on a built-in dashboard on the bike. It’s easy to attach my phone to the bike with a Quad Lock mount, though that does mean switching to a specific case. One cool feature is that you can charge your phone while riding, and you can update the bike’s firmware through the app.
However, I’m not a huge fan of the app. I mostly use it for locking and unlocking the bike, occasionally adjusting the riding mode, and turning phone charging on and off. Beyond those functions, I don’t use it much, though I do like the Live Activity widget.
The main reason I don’t use the app more is that it relies on Google Maps for navigation. I stopped using Google Maps years ago, and even for iOS users, Cowboy is tied to Google Maps rather than offering Apple Maps as an alternative. Another reason is that I’m not too interested in tracking my speed or other stats constantly, so there’s no need to keep the app open.
My biggest frustration with the app, though, are the unnecessary notifications, especially while riding. Whoever came up with the idea for these needs to rethink them. First, there’s a notification about “dangerous intersections.” If I’m at an intersection, the last thing I want is to be distracted by my phone. Then, they added calorie burn notifications. Since it’s an e-bike, I’m not using it for fitness, so these notifications just felt pointless. Luckily, they later added an option to turn off these notifications, which I did immediately.
Another issue is with the auto lock/unlock feature. I started using it, but a few times while waiting at red lights, the app would lock the bike. When the light turned green, I couldn’t immediately get going because the initial pedal didn’t work properly. After this happened a few times, I disabled the feature. Maybe they’ve fixed it by now, but I still don’t trust it. If I leave the bike unlocked and the auto lock doesn’t engage, I can’t lock it remotely once I’m out of Bluetooth range. I’d have to go back to lock it manually, and leaving it unlocked could drain the battery unnecessarily.
Finally, this is a nitpick but there’s the issue with the app’s integration with the Apple Activities app. My rides are shown as “Outdoor Cycle,” but they aren’t saved as official cycling workouts. This means I miss out on earning cycling-related achievements. It might be an issue with Apple’s API, but it would be great if Cowboy could fix this. Sometimes, this also leads to odd behavior, like my Apple Watch suggesting I should start an outdoor cycle workout when I’m already riding. It’s not a constant problem, but it’s a distraction.
This turned into quite a long product review, but keep in mind I’ve been using my Cowboy bike for almost 3 years, so there’s a lot to cover! Overall, I’m really happy with my Cowboy bike and would recommend it to anyone looking for a quality e-bike. Even though there are newer models on the market, I still haven’t found an alternative that fits my criteria as well as the Cowboy does. I plan to keep riding it until it eventually wears out or until Cowboy releases a new model that addresses the issues I’ve mentioned here.
One thing I do wish Cowboy would consider is offering more upgrade options for existing customers, like a stronger, more regulation-compliant front light or a suspension fork for a more comfortable ride. For instance, after they released the Cruiser, I wondered if I could upgrade my handlebar to the one that the Cruiser has. A technician told me it was possible and would cost around 300€, but when I asked Cowboy directly, they said it wasn’t an option. It left me wondering if it’s technically not possible or if they just prefer that I sell my current bike and buy a new one to boost their profits. This kind of upgrades would allow me to extend the life of my current bike without having to purchase a whole new one. If they offered these types of upgrades, I’d definitely consider them.
2025-03-30 14:00:00
I can’t imagine going through a day without reading or watching something. I love doing both because they give me new ideas and emotions. This year, I decided to focus more on reading and watching things that would not only help me enjoy my free time but also make me think about different topics.
Every two weeks, I talk about the books I’ve read and the things I’ve watched on my podcast (in Turkish). I’ve noticed that many people take my recommendations seriously, buy the books, or watch the things I mention. They even thank me for the suggestions, which makes me really happy. I put in extra effort to find interesting books, and I try to be very careful before recommending anything. So, when people value my recommendations, it shows that my efforts are worth it.
This year, I also decided to write more on my blog. Writing about my top three books, TV shows, and movies seems like a great idea. Since I read and watch a lot, I thought it would make sense to do this every quarter. So, here’s the first post in this series.
Last year, I read The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity by David Graeber, and it quickly became one of my all-time favorites. It was the second book I read by him, and I realized that I really enjoy his writing style and the topics he covers. This year, I decided to read another of his popular books, Debt: The First 5,000 Years. Just like the first, it didn’t disappoint me.
David Graeber was an anthropologist, and in Debt, he explores when and why we started using money, how long we’ve had a credit system, and whether we’ve ever actually used a barter system—meaning, did we ever exchange goods for goods? The book really opened my eyes, especially about debt. Graeber doesn’t just explain how the credit system developed thousands of years ago, but also how it still drives capitalism today.
Some people might find this book harder to read because Graeber often presents a hypothesis and then takes you back thousands of years to explain how tribes in places like Mexico, India, or Mesopotamia used credit systems. For example, he explains how the Hittites kept records of people’s debts. It was a fascinating book for me, and I recommend it to anyone who wants to understand how our economy works.
I really enjoy reading books about Apple, especially those that focus on the company’s early days. Most of them have stories or anecdotes about Steve Jobs. Keep it Simple is one of these books. It was written by Hartmut Esslinger, a designer who worked with Steve Jobs on many of Apple’s most iconic products. It was tough to find this book since it’s no longer printed, so I had to pay a high price to buy it from a second-hand seller.
I can honestly say the book was worth the price. Even though it doesn’t have a lot of text, it’s filled with pictures of prototypes and sketches Esslinger created. It’s easy to recognize the design style in these early products, as Esslinger played a big role in shaping Apple’s design language. The book also shows how Steve Jobs faced resistance from Apple’s CEO John Sculley and other managers, even though Steve co-founded the company. There are also some cool stories, like how Steve brought original Beatles records to copy for himself (and Esslinger, who was also a fan) so they could listen to them in the highest quality possible.
If you come across this book at a second-hand shop or garage sale, you should definitely grab it!
If you’re familiar with the popular YouTube channel Kurzgesagt, you might have heard about this book. It’s my favorite science channel, where they take complex academic papers and break them down in an easy-to-understand way, paired with amazing visuals.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the founder of the channel, Philipp Dettmer, wrote a book called Immune. I was really interested in learning more about how my body defends itself, so I pre-ordered the book. I also wanted to support the channel since I’ve been a fan for years. During that time, I couldn’t find much time to read, but when I was looking for something different, I decided to pick up this book.
The book is probably one of the best biology books I’ve ever read. It explains what happens step by step when your body fights off a bacterial infection, with amazing visuals that make it easy to understand. The book also covers what happens when you get a virus, how cancer develops, why a strong immune system isn’t always a good thing, and why we have fewer healthy bacteria in our gut today. The chapters are short, usually no more than 5 pages, and written in simple language, so it’s never boring.
I believe everyone should read this book to better understand their body. I highly recommend it.
After a 3-year break, Severance is back with a new season. If you’re not familiar with it, Severance is a TV show about office workers who have a surgery to separate their work life from their personal life. In the first season, the show introduces the world and explains life from two perspectives: the “innie” (the work version of themselves) and the “outie” (their personal life). It raises a lot of questions about the company they work for, their mysterious job, and those adorable baby goats. The season ends with a cliffhanger.
In season 2, you get some answers to your questions, but the world-building continues, and you learn more about the characters and their motivations. The show does this with stunning visuals, thanks to an amazing cinematographer, great locations, strong writing, and top-notch acting from the cast.
For me, Severance quickly became one of my favorite shows for a few reasons. The story is interesting and has a sci-fi element. There are legendary actors like Christopher Walken, and it’s a treat to watch them. From an artistic standpoint, the visuals are amazing—the colors, the products (like Dieter Rams designs), and the locations all stand out. The show also makes you think about things you might not have considered before, and it has a satirical take on corporate jobs that I can relate to from my own experience working in big companies.
Severance is one of the best TV shows on Apple TV+ right now. It’s already become a cult favorite, and you’ll see plenty of memes online. I highly recommend watching it—I’m sure you’ll enjoy it!
After watching Denis Villeneuve’s Dune movie, I quickly became a fan of the Dune universe. I started reading Frank Herbert’s books, and so far, I’ve finished the first two and really enjoyed them. Then, when Dune: Part Two was released, it became one of the best movies I’ve seen in the last decade. I wanted to dive deeper into the Dune world, and that’s when HBO announced the TV show, Dune: Prophecy.
The show focuses on the powerful group of women called the Bene Gesserit, who play a huge role in shaping the Dune universe. The story takes place 10,000 years before Paul Atreides, the protagonist in the Dune movie. So, it’s not based on Frank Herbert’s books, but on those written by his son, Brian Herbert. If you enjoyed the Dune movies mainly for the action and fights, this show might not be for you. Even though I loved the movies, I realized after reading the books that the Dune universe isn’t just about action and battles—it’s more about politics. The show is perfect for those who enjoy seeing the power games, manipulations, and intrigues behind the scenes. There aren’t many fight scenes, but you’ll see a lot of strategic moves and mind games. The sci-fi elements, acting, and locations were all amazing, with the emperor’s palace being my favorite.
From that perspective, I really enjoyed the show and am looking forward to the second season. One downside, though, is that HBO isn’t available in Germany, so I had to watch it on a streaming service called WOW. I have to say, it’s probably the worst streaming service I’ve ever used, and it’s really hard to cancel your subscription. I really wish HBO would enter the German market. Another annoying thing was that the show was only available in 1080p, and you had to pay extra to watch in that quality—unlike Apple TV+, where you get 4K without extra charges.
After watching Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Trilogy, I didn’t find much to get excited about in the DC universe, especially when it came to Batman. The first Joker movie was great, but Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was a letdown, and I didn’t even watch it. Later, Warner Bros. decided to reboot the Batman series with The Batman, directed by Matt Reeves. This version was darker, focused more on crime-solving, and showed more of Batman’s flaws. I really enjoyed the movie. Then, HBO announced The Penguin TV series, which is set in the same universe as The Batman movie. In this show, you see how a man who started as a driver for a gangster’s daughter rises to become one of the biggest criminals in Gotham.
It’s hard to recognize him due to the incredible makeup, but Colin Farrell does an amazing job. His performance is so good that you start to feel sympathy for a criminal. You can see his ambition, how easily he lies to save himself, and the way he walks (which shows why he’s called “The Penguin”). The story is also really engaging, especially his relationship with his mom and how every time it seems like he’s done for, he somehow escapes. I ended up binge-watching some episodes. Even if you’re not into the DC universe, I highly recommend this show—you don’t need to know anything about the DC world to enjoy it.
These days, it’s hard to find great movies. It feels like Hollywood keeps repeating the same stories, mostly rebooting old ones or just making superhero movies (like The Batman). I needed something different, so after a friend’s recommendation, I subscribed to MUBI. It’s a platform where you can watch movies that you won’t typically find in cinemas because they either wouldn’t attract big audiences or were released decades ago. MUBI focuses on films with incredible stories, often seen at film festivals, and you get movies from all around the world, not just the US.
So far, I’ve watched 16 movies in March alone, and I really feel like subscribing to MUBI was the right choice. The movies I’ll mention here are all from MUBI, but I should note that they only have movies available for a limited time. So, by the time you read this post, some of the films might no longer be available, though sometimes they return. This is great because it keeps things fresh and gives you the chance to discover new movies all the time.
I should also mention MUBI’s other subscription option called MUBI GO. For a little extra, you get one cinema ticket each week for a movie they choose that’s currently playing. So far, I’ve watched two movies at different cinemas in Hamburg I’ve never been to. I really like this feature because it gives me more reasons to go out and supports the smaller cinemas in my city. If you live in Germany, the US, the UK, or Ireland, I highly recommend MUBI GO over the regular subscription. For just a €5 difference, you get four cinema tickets.
How interesting could a movie about a public toilet cleaner in Japan be? Well, after watching Perfect Days, you’ll realize it can be quite fascinating. The film shows the life of a toilet cleaner and how he spends his days. I really enjoyed this movie because it highlights how you can find beauty in the world without needing to look far. Life can be simple and fulfilling—whether it’s doing your best at work, reading before bed, enjoying nature, listening to music, or eating a nice meal at your favorite restaurant. If you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed by all the noise in life, this movie might remind you that enjoying life doesn’t have to be complicated.
I didn’t realize Lee Pace was in The Fall until I saw how young he looked. He became one of my favorite actors after his performance in the TV series Halt and Catch Fire. I also enjoyed him in Foundation, but I couldn’t continue watching that show since I had read the books it was based on.
The Fall is an interesting movie to watch. The locations chosen for the film are amazing, and I’m glad they restored it in 4K, since it was originally released in 2008. That’s also why Pace looks so young—he was only 27 at the time. In the movie, Pace plays a stuntman trying to convince a young girl to help him get morphine after his accident by telling her a made-up story. The acting from the child was adorable, and the story was quite entertaining. I think Pace is perfect for playing an asshole character.
When I think about the movies I’ve watched, there aren’t many from East Asia, so Decision to Leave was the perfect film to introduce me to more movies from that region, which I’ve explored more since. The film is about a detective who falls in love with a suspect in a crime. Throughout the movie, you get a glimpse of the streets and nature of Busan, how Koreans prepare and enjoy their food, how stylish they look in their outfits, and how they express their emotions. After watching it, I can understand why people become obsessed with Korean culture. The main reason I liked the movie, though, was the way the director chose to tell the story—it was really interesting. Also, the detective using his smartwatch to take notes was a unique touch.
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When I started writing this post, I didn’t expect it to be this long. Of course, I read and watch way more than what I mentioned here, but I only picked my top three. Let me know what you think of my recommendations, and if there’s a book, movie, or TV show you think I might enjoy. I’ll see you in the next highlight post at the end of June.
2025-03-22 17:00:00
When I first started my career as a junior software developer, my team and I were tasked with optimizing the onboarding flow for a well-known website in Germany. We ran a lot of A/B tests to determine how we could increase the completion rate of the onboarding process and also encourage users to become more active on the platform.
At first, I really liked A/B testing. If you’re unfamiliar with A/B testing, the concept is pretty straightforward: you come up with an idea to improve an existing user experience, then divide your users into two groups (or more). One group (Group A) gets the original experience, and the other group (Group B) gets the new version. You run the test until enough users participate, and then analyze the results. For example, if Group B’s onboarding completion rate is 15% higher than Group A’s, you might decide the new version is better and roll out that version to all users.
When you think about it, it makes sense. You base decisions on data, and since you’re testing on only half of the users, you’re taking less risk. If things go wrong during the test, you can hold rolling out the new experience to everyone. Product managers and team leads can also measure their performance by showing how much they contributed to improving the product. It’s a win-win for everyone. And even if things go south later, you can always say, “But we did an A/B test and didn’t see any decrease,” so you’re off the hook for any negative outcomes.
But as I gained more experience and ran more A/B tests, I began to realize something. Relying too heavily on numbers and tests can cause you to lose sight of the bigger picture—the overall user experience. Instead of solving real user problems, the focus becomes about optimizing metrics and chasing numbers. The quality of the experience takes a backseat, and decisions are driven more by data than by understanding how the product truly serves its users.
If you’re not familiar with the term “Enshittification,” here’s a definition from Wikipedia:
Enshittification, also known as crapification and platform decay, is the term used to describe the pattern in which online products and services decline in quality over time. Initially, vendors create high-quality offerings to attract users, then they degrade those offerings to better serve business customers, and finally degrade their services to users and business customers to maximize profits for shareholders.
Let me give you an example. Spotify began as a music streaming service. Over time, they added podcasts and audiobooks to the platform. Users who originally used Spotify just to listen to music began to notice that the app was becoming harder to navigate. They were constantly exposed to podcast or audiobook recommendations, and finding music became more difficult as the UI got cluttered.
Of course, Spotify does A/B testing, just like many other tech companies. The issue here is that when these changes were made, Spotify likely measured metrics like user engagement—how much time people spent in the app and how many actions they took. Naturally, if you make it harder for users to find their music, they might spend more time searching for it. So, the teams behind the changes could easily claim that the home screen redesign and the introduction of podcasts and audiobooks didn’t negatively impact engagement. In reality, even if it became more difficult to find the music you wanted, you’d still listen to it. These changes were rolled out to all users, but they didn’t measure things like frustration or the overall user experience. Since some users enjoyed the podcasts and audiobooks, the team could show positive results and claim success. And as a result, some of them likely got promoted and moved on to other projects.
I’ve witnessed similar changes with products I’ve worked on. For instance, I worked on a product that helped users track their packages (like shipped, out for delivery, etc.). The app didn’t have live tracking, the feature where you can see your package on a map in real-time. But the growth team decided to tweak the notification copy and include “live tracking” in the message. They ran an A/B test and saw an increase in app openings (big surprise there). They also checked if this led to a drop in the number of users enabling notifications. When they saw no decrease in notifications, they took it as a sign that the change was successful, without considering that people still wanted to know where their package was, even if the live tracking feature didn’t actually exist. They used A/B testing to boost their numbers without considering the long-term consequences. Some team members likely got promoted, users were frustrated by the lack of live tracking, and the overall experience worsened.
When I first realized what the team was working on, I reached out to them and shared my concern. I told them that the changes they were making were wrong and would degrade the overall user experience. They disagreed with me, pointing to their data, while I had no numbers to back up my intuition. Yet, deep down, I knew these changes would create a negative experience with long-term consequences that couldn’t be captured through A/B testing.
Once people discover how to use A/B testing to justify their decisions, they’ll continue doing so. This is where A/B testing can give confidence to people who lack a solid understanding of user experience or design. When you challenge them on the negative impact of a decision, they can simply point to the results of A/B tests and dismiss any concerns, claiming they don’t see any issues.
The same individuals often start to use A/B testing in ways that focus on improving metrics, not addressing real user problems. For example, rather than solving core user pain points, they might suggest something like changing the button color to see if it has an impact on click rates. Even though you know this idea is flawed, the decision-maker can argue that you can’t be sure until it’s tested.
So, your entire team ends up working on experiments and adjustments that may not solve actual user issues but are designed to boost certain metrics. In the end, you may see a slight increase in button clicks, and the change gets rolled out. However, users begin to complain that the app’s interface is becoming harder to use, and they can’t find the features they once relied on. In many cases, since the person responsible for the decision has moved on to a different team or a higher position, they don’t revisit or reverse the changes. Alternatively, if there are new A/B tests on the horizon, they may just keep pushing forward with the changes, never addressing the real problems users are facing.
Thanks to A/B testing, it’s easy for people to showcase their success, making it easier for them to climb the corporate ladder. However, as they rise to decision-making positions, they often continue pushing the same data-driven approach without considering the broader user experience. Over time, this leads to the enshittification of products—where quality takes a backseat to short-term metrics.
In contrast, the most successful companies in tech have historically relied on strong design instincts, intuition, and a deep understanding of user needs rather than just data. As we continue to develop new products, it’s crucial that we strike a balance—using data to inform decisions, but never losing sight of the bigger picture: creating intuitive, user-centered experiences. Only by prioritizing true quality over shallow metrics can we prevent our favorite tools and platforms from falling into the trap of enshittification.
2025-03-16 15:50:00
In 2009, when I was 15, an Apple Premium Reseller opened in my hometown. Before that, I didn’t really know much about Apple. I had heard of it a few times, but nobody in my circle owned an Apple product. The main reason for that was the high price of their products. At that time, Apple was mostly known for Macs, not iPhones, since Apple wasn’t selling iPhones in Turkey yet. That’s when my fascination with Apple began.
When I first visited the store and tried out the MacBook, I was amazed. It was the first time I saw a laptop made of aluminum. There were also features I had never seen before, like the glowing Apple logo when you used it, battery indicator lights visible without opening the laptop by pressing a small button, a blinking light on the front that pulsed like breathing to show the MacBook was in sleep mode, and the green light next to the camera. All of these features were new to me, and I became curious to learn more about Apple and the person behind these innovations.
I started reading everything I could find online about Apple, even though there wasn’t much available in Turkish at the time. Apple wasn’t very popular in Turkey back then, and it was mostly known within industry circles. The brand didn’t really gain widespread attention until the iPhone became a hit. Eventually, I moved on to books, and that’s when I discovered Inside Steve’s Brain by Leander Kahney. My obsession shifted from Apple to Steve Jobs, especially after reading stories like how Apple bought its own CNC machines and created custom solutions to make those tiny holes in the aluminum that displayed the battery level. The level of detail and the millions spent on such small yet beautiful features was something I had never imagined.
As any teenager would, my admiration for Steve quickly turned into an obsession, and he became my idol. I bought my first pair of New Balance 990 sneakers, the exact same stonewashed Levi’s 501 jeans, and a black turtleneck sweater. I didn’t wear this outfit all the time, but whenever I did, I felt like Steve. But I didn’t stop there. I began listening to The Beatles and Bob Dylan, and read Steve Jobs’ favorite books, like Autobiography of a Yogi and The Innovator’s Dilemma. With my teenage mindset, I thought that by mimicking his style, music, and reading choices, I could become like him—the greatest innovator of our time.
As I grew older and started university, improving my English, I continued to learn more about Steve Jobs. I read more about him and watched his interviews with Walt Mossberg. With the rise of the iPhone and his death from cancer, there were more resources available. That was when he transitioned from being my idol to becoming a mentor. I no longer wanted to be like him; I simply wanted to learn how to create great products. After all, there could only be one Steve Jobs. So, I focused more on the things he did and said, rather than on who he was.
I stopped wearing Levi’s because I wasn’t happy with the quality, and I didn’t really like blue jeans anymore. I switched to black jeans. I’ve continued wearing New Balance 990 sneakers because they are the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn, especially with my flat feet. I also realized that, while I liked some of his music, Bob Dylan wasn’t quite to my taste. However, I kept listening to The Beatles because their energy matched mine perfectly.
At the same time, it became harder to understand who Steve Jobs truly was. The media mostly focused on his negative side, especially after he co-founded Apple—things like how he fired people in elevators or abandoned his daughter. They ignored his work with Pixar and NeXT, and how he returned to Apple to save it from bankruptcy. Instead, they focused on his drama-filled moments because that was what attracted views and clicks, while his innovative work seemed like the “boring” part. Luckily, if you really wanted to understand the real Steve Jobs, there were still resources like folklore.org, written by Andy Hertzfeld, someone who worked directly with him on the Macintosh. Unfortunately, most people only knew him through the media’s portrayal of his flaws, which didn’t reflect the transformed person who made Apple the biggest company on the planet. Every time I brought him up in conversation, people would cut me off, dismissing him as an asshole.
Despite everything, my passion for learning how to create great products by studying Steve Jobs never stopped. At the same time, as I closely followed the tech industry and especially the startup world, I began to notice a common pattern: many people seemed to be imitating Steve Jobs. Because I had read and watched so much about him, it became easy for me to identify these individuals and their behaviors. Especially after the hit TV series Silicon Valley aired on HBO, I realized I wasn’t alone in noticing this trend. The show addressed what I now call Steve Jobs Syndrome perfectly.
If you follow the tech industry and the people leading major tech companies, you’ll quickly realize that many of them try to imitate Steve Jobs, hoping to replicate his success. For example, the reason Mark Zuckerberg wore the same simple outfit for so long—until his recent style change—was that he was mimicking Steve Jobs. I often wished he had focused on imitating other aspects of Steve’s approach, rather than just the outfit. But Mark Zuckerberg isn’t alone. In Hatching Twitter by Nick Bilton, you’ll read that Jack Dorsey, when he was at Twitter, changed his outfit to match Steve Jobs’, listened to The Beatles, and even used the same phrases Jobs used in interviews. They were like my teenage self, but they were fully grown adults doing this.
Of course, the outfit wasn’t the only part of Steve Jobs that people in the tech industry were imitating. They were also copying his presentation style, some even traveled to India to replicate Steve’s experience. They would often claim their startups were going to change the world, acting and speaking like visionaries, even if their companies weren’t yet profitable. The media played along, constantly searching for the next Steve Jobs. Was Jack Dorsey the next Steve Jobs? Or Elon Musk? Or Elizabeth Holmes?
Luckily, the media stopped searching after Jack Dorsey failed to make Twitter profitable, Elizabeth Holmes was sentenced to 11 years for fraud, and Elon Musk went through his own controversies. But despite all that, CEOs in the tech industry never stopped suffering from Steve Jobs Syndrome.
If you’ve worked at a big tech company or a startup, there’s a good chance your CEO might be exhibiting signs of Steve Jobs Syndrome, similar to the people I mentioned earlier. If you’re still not sure, here’s a quick checklist to help you identify it. If your CEO:
Then, there’s a high chance your CEO is suffering from Steve Jobs Syndrome.
What’s interesting is that none of these behaviors are directly related to Steve Jobs himself. Yet, the media somehow associated these things with him. Take micromanaging, for example. If you truly understand Steve Jobs, you’d know he was obsessed with every detail of a product. He didn’t micromanage people; he paid attention to details. He didn’t tell people exactly what to do—he shared his opinions on how the product should work. Sometimes he was wrong, but he admitted it. Jobs himself said this in interviews, and people who worked with him have shared similar accounts. But the media often portrayed him as a dictator. Then, tech CEOs see this portrayal and think, “If Steve was like that and created great products, I should do the same.” This mindset can still be seen in the startup ecosystem today, as reflected in essays like Founder Mode by Paul Graham, one of the most prominent figures in the startup world.
Steve Jobs didn’t even want to allow developers to create apps for the iPhone initially. He didn’t follow trends—he simply focused on where the industry was heading, like the rise of graphical user interfaces and touchscreens. If you listened to Steve’s diet recommendations, you’d probably end up malnourished today. Jobs didn’t jump from one interview to the next—most of his interviews were with Walt Mossberg or Kara Swisher. He didn’t use social media, and he even told President Obama’s secretary that Obama should call him directly if he wanted to meet. Politically, Jobs wasn’t focused on tax credits or Apple contracts. His main concern was advocating for policies that would allow international students in the U.S. to stay and work after graduation by getting a green card, rather than being bogged down by visa issues.
Steve Jobs didn’t aim to create a cult around himself, but around Apple and its products. After all, does anyone even know where he’s buried?
These are just a few insights that come from deeply understanding Steve Jobs. Unfortunately, many people prefer to rely on the easy-to-access, media-fed version of him. I’m not writing this post to glorify Steve Jobs, but to raise awareness about tech CEOs who exhibit what I call Steve Jobs Syndrome. While it’s natural to be inspired by someone so influential, it’s crucial to remember that imitating his persona or approach without understanding the deeper principles behind his success can lead to missteps. Steve Jobs wasn’t a blueprint for success; he was a unique individual with a vision and a relentless drive to create great products. Instead of trying to copy his every move, we should focus on the values that made him successful. By doing so, we can learn from his legacy without falling into the trap of “Steve Jobs Syndrome.” There’s much to be learned from his approach to product creation—but that’s a topic for another blog post.
2025-03-02 19:00:00
As someone working towards financial independence, I regularly review my expenses and look for ways to reduce them without sacrificing my quality of life, especially the recurring ones. Sometimes I switch to a cheaper internet provider during Black Friday, or find ways to lower my electricity bill.
But there’s one expense that takes up a large portion of my monthly budget that I can’t control: my rent. I’m sure I’m not the only one in this situation. A common rule is that you shouldn’t spend more than a third of your salary on rent. I believe this applies to most of you reading this. Unfortunately, for some people, rent can take up half of their salary.
I live in an apartment owned by a company that has more than 3.000 flats in Hamburg. Their business model is simple: instead of building new homes, they buy old flats in popular neighborhoods, renovate them, and raise the rent. Even though there are some rent control rules in Hamburg, there’s not much protection when it comes to rent hikes between tenants after a renovation, even if I’m paying 50% more than the average rent in my neighborhood.
Some might ask why I don’t just move. Well, when you’re trying to rent a place and there’s a long line of people applying, it can take anywhere from three months to even a couple of years to find something that works. Others might suggest moving to a different city, but that’s not an easy choice if you enjoy your life where you are and have friends around you. The only remaining option, then, is to buy a property.
When looking at homeownership rates in OECD countries, Germany stands out for having a much lower rate compared to others. In fact, only 41.8% of Germans own their homes, and in some areas, this rate drops even further to just 20.1%.
One reason for this lower homeownership rate could be cultural. Germans generally have a strong aversion to taking on debt. The word for debt in German, “Schuld,” also translates to “guilt,” which suggests that borrowing money might be seen as something undesirable or morally wrong in the culture. This perception may explain why many Germans shy away from taking out mortgages, especially considering the long repayment periods, which can stretch up to 30 years.
Another factor influencing lower homeownership rates, particularly in cities like Hamburg, could be the city’s historical role as a major port. In the past, sailors with disposable income often bought property because they spent so much of their time at sea. Additionally, Hamburg has a large number of wealthy residents who view homeownership as a smart investment. This leaves fewer opportunities for the average person to buy a home.
Of course, these are just theories, but the fact remains that for many Germans, owning a home is not a viable option for reducing long-term expenses. This brings me to consider alternative solutions where the government could play a role in changing the current situation and making homeownership more accessible for a larger portion of the population.
While homeownership rates are relatively low in Germany, there are other countries where homeownership rates are high, and some even offer near-“free” opportunities for citizens to own homes. These examples show how governments can design policies that promote homeownership and economic stability.
Despite its small size—just 700 square kilometers—Singapore has become an economic powerhouse, largely due to its strategic government policies. With a population of 6 million, giving land directly to citizens isn’t feasible, but the government has successfully implemented policies to encourage homeownership.
The Housing Development Board (HDB) plays a central role in this success. It builds affordable homes and offers subsidies, low-interest mortgages, and financial support to cover any deficits. Additionally, Singapore’s mandatory savings system, called the Central Provident Fund (CPF), helps citizens save for home purchases. Policies like land value capture ensure that land prices remain stable, even though land is limited.
Thanks to these policies, 90% of Singaporeans own their homes today, which stands as a powerful testament to the effectiveness of these government strategies in fostering personal wealth, economic growth, and social stability.
In several small towns across Italy, vacant homes are being sold for just €1 as part of an initiative designed to revitalize rural areas that have experienced population decline. This program aims to attract new homeowners, stimulate local economies, and preserve Italy’s rich cultural heritage. However, the catch is that these homes typically require substantial renovations, with costs ranging from €20,000 to €50,000. Buyers must submit renovation plans within one year of purchase and complete the renovations within three years. Additionally, there are legal fees, renovation guarantees, and other specific requirements that buyers must meet.
While Singapore and Italy offer interesting examples of increasing homeownership, their solutions are not universally applicable. Singapore’s success is partially due to its smaller population and efficient use of limited land, which makes its model less adaptable to larger countries with different demographics. Italy’s program, while innovative, may not suit individuals who are unwilling to invest in substantial renovations or prefer urban living over rural relocation. By examining these cases, we gain insight into the various ways to promote home and land ownership—and the unique challenges each solution faces.
The idea of giving land to citizens isn’t new. Throughout history, many have tried to implement this concept, but for various reasons, these efforts often failed. In most cases, those who attempted to give away land for free ended up facing significant challenges, with little success in addressing the underlying inequalities. These historical examples offer valuable lessons on the complexities of land redistribution and the political forces that often prevent it from succeeding.
While reading SPQR by Mary Beard, I came across a story about a politician in ancient Rome that intrigued me. In 133 BCE, Tiberius Gracchus proposed a reform to give land from the state to Roman citizens, particularly the poor and veterans. His goal was to tackle growing economic inequality and the concentration of land in the hands of wealthy elites. Gracchus believed that land redistribution could restore balance and offer opportunities to those who had been left behind by Rome’s increasing wealth disparity.
Unfortunately, his proposal was met with fierce resistance from the ruling class. Tiberius was ultimately killed in a violent altercation, beaten to death with a chair leg in the Senate. His brother, Gaius Gracchus, tried to continue his work but also met a tragic end, despite managing to distribute some land. The failure of the Gracchi brothers’ reforms marked a turning point in Roman history, signaling the beginning of the decline of the Roman Republic, as political power became increasingly consolidated among the elites.
In another book, The Empire of Cotton by Sven Beckert, I was surprised to learn that, after the Civil War and the emancipation of enslaved people, there was no comprehensive reform to grant them true economic freedom. After years of working without ownership, what could formerly enslaved people do with their newfound freedom? Capital, specifically land, was needed to achieve economic independence. Without land, they were left with little means to sustain themselves and build wealth.
Interestingly, I later learned from the Apple TV+ series Manhunt, which focused on Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, that there was actually a plan to provide land to newly freed African Americans. In 1865, land was being distributed to some freed people as part of an initiative called “40 acres and a mule.” However, after Lincoln was assassinated, President Johnson reversed this policy and took back the land. The backlash from plantation owners, who feared losing their labor force, played a crucial role in this decision. They complained that if freed African Americans were given land, they would no longer work on the plantations.
Had Lincoln not been assassinated, it’s possible that the economic landscape for African Americans could have been very different. Unfortunately, after Johnson’s reversal, efforts to distribute land to African Americans have been limited, and those that did occur were largely ineffective. This failure to provide land or economic opportunity to former slaves has had lasting consequences, contributing to the entrenched racial and economic inequalities that persist in the United States.
Another example comes from my home country, Turkey. After World War II, discussions about land redistribution to farmers were actively debated within the Republican People’s Party (CHP), the only political party in power at the time. Many saw land reform as a crucial step to improve the economic conditions of rural farmers and reduce inequality. However, landowners within the CHP, who controlled large estates, strongly opposed the proposed legislation. They feared that the reform would diminish their wealth and power.
In response to the opposition from the landowning class, these influential members were expelled from the CHP and went on to form the Democrat Party (DP), a political force that aimed to block the land reform. The DP gained significant popularity and eventually won elections, forming the government. Despite the passing of the land redistribution law, it was so heavily altered by the new government that it failed to achieve its original goals. Instead of the widespread redistribution of land, the reform was diluted, and many farmers saw little benefit.
As a result, the CHP has never regained the same level of support and has never been able to govern the country on its own since then. The failure of land reform in Turkey not only impacted the rural farmers it was supposed to help but also had lasting political ramifications, shifting the balance of power in the country.
These examples—spanning from ancient Rome to the Reconstruction era in the United States, and even into modern Turkey—highlight the persistent challenges of implementing land redistribution. Despite the good intentions behind these efforts, the concentration of power among landowners, political elites, and other influential groups has often led to their failure. However, these historical attempts offer valuable lessons about the complexities of land distribution and the barriers that must be overcome for such reforms to succeed.
Given these lessons, I believe it is now time to approach the idea of giving land to citizens with a more modern perspective. This is where I propose the concept of Universal Basic Land—a solution for countries with large amounts of unused land to tackle inequality, provide economic freedom, and fulfill a basic human need.
Universal Basic Land (UBL) is an innovative concept that extends the idea of Universal Basic Income (UBI) to land ownership. For those unfamiliar with UBI, it is the concept of providing a set amount of money to every citizen in a country, regardless of their economic status. While UBI focuses on providing individuals with a guaranteed income to support their basic needs, UBL would provide people with access to land, giving them the freedom to determine how to use it. This could include building a home, starting a farm, or running a business. The idea behind UBL is to offer individuals the flexibility to create their ideal living and working spaces, instead of assuming that everyone wants to own a home. This concept acknowledges the diverse needs and desires people have when it comes to land use.
For UBL to work effectively, land distribution must be carefully planned to avoid the creation of isolated, underserved areas. If not managed properly, people could end up owning land in rural locations with few services or opportunities, much like the situation seen in some parts of Italy, where individuals live in remote areas with little access to the amenities and infrastructure of urban centers. To prevent this, UBL land should be spread across regions that are connected and accessible. This way, people can choose land for various purposes, such as housing, commerce, or agriculture, while still benefiting from being part of a well-developed community. For instance, someone might choose a plot for residential use, while another person might opt for land to open a business. This mix of land purposes would foster vibrant communities with necessary services, such as cafes, restaurants, and stores, all while local farming ensures a sustainable food supply.
In addition to well-planned land distribution, UBL also requires a strong transportation infrastructure. The success of UBL hinges on ensuring that new towns or communities are well-connected to one another and to larger cities. People should be able to travel easily between towns, whether for work, education, or leisure, without being dependent on owning a car. Accessible public transportation would make living in a UBL community both practical and sustainable, reducing the financial burden of car ownership and encouraging mobility.
Another key element of UBL is the ability for people to trade their land if their needs or preferences change. For example, someone who initially chose land for farming may later decide that they want to build a home as their family grows. A flexible marketplace for land transactions would allow people to buy, sell, or swap land. However, it’s important that each person can only own one piece of UBL land to prevent individuals or corporations from hoarding land. This ensures that UBL remains a tool for equitable land distribution and helps maintain a more balanced, fair system.
Of course, a potential concern with UBL is the capital required to develop the land. Whether it’s for building a house, establishing a farm, or starting a business, significant investment is often needed. To address this, financial tools such as loans or credit could play a vital role. After acquiring the land, individuals could use it as collateral to secure funding for development. Alternatively, they could choose to lease their land to others, generating income while retaining ownership. While this financial aspect of UBL would require careful consideration, it presents a valuable solution to ensure that landowners can access the resources they need to make the most of their land.
In conclusion, Universal Basic Land could offer a transformative approach to land ownership and use, empowering individuals with more freedom and opportunities. With careful planning and the right financial tools, UBL has the potential to create thriving, interconnected communities where people can shape their futures based on their unique needs and aspirations.
When the topic of income inequality, social unrest, and the rise in productivity is brought up, Universal Basic Income is often suggested as a potential solution. Proponents argue that UBI could alleviate various societal issues by providing people with a financial safety net, allowing them to live more comfortably and focus less on basic survival.
However, one of the most common concerns about UBI is the risk of inflation. If everyone suddenly has access to more money, the prices of goods and services, including rent, could rise, potentially nullifying the benefits of receiving a basic income. I share this concern, but what worries me more is that UBI might not truly address income inequality. A large portion of the money people receive would likely end up going to landlords and financial institutions, as individuals use their UBI to pay rent or mortgages. In essence, this would funnel wealth into the hands of the already wealthy, leaving the core issue of economic disparity unresolved.
In contrast, Universal Basic Land could offer a more impactful solution. If people were given access to land, the dynamics would shift. Instead of paying rent or a mortgage, individuals could use the land to build a house or start a business, gradually increasing their wealth. Over time, the land could appreciate in value, allowing individuals to build equity. Additionally, by investing in the land and developing it, people could generate income from their efforts. The government would still collect taxes on spending, but rather than going directly to landlords or banks, the money would circulate within local communities, supporting broader economic growth and helping to address wealth inequality more effectively.
Another concern often raised with UBI is the potential for people to stop working altogether. While the goal of UBI is to provide financial freedom, there’s a fear that it might discourage people from pursuing work, especially for jobs that are essential but not particularly desirable. Universal Basic Land, on the other hand, would still require people to work, though perhaps on their own terms. While they might not have to work as much as they do now, they would still need to invest effort into developing their land, whether it’s constructing a home, cultivating crops, or starting a small business. Even if they build a home, there would still be ongoing expenses—like food, utilities, and personal interests—that would require some form of income.
For these reasons, I believe Universal Basic Land is a more sustainable and equitable solution than Universal Basic Income. By providing people with land, we empower them to create wealth and stability on their own terms, while reducing the concentration of wealth in the hands of landlords and banks. It encourages personal responsibility and development, all while addressing some of the systemic issues tied to income inequality.
If you’ve ever taken a look at a map of Germany with statistical data, you might have noticed the ongoing divide between East and West Germany. Even after decades of reunification, there are still significant disparities in economic indicators like homeownership rates, unemployment, and overall prosperity. The eastern part of the country tends to fare worse in these areas, with economic challenges more pronounced. This is why I believe that East Germany could be the perfect place to test the concept of Universal Basic Land.
East Germany offers several advantages for this kind of initiative. First, there is a substantial amount of unused land, especially in rural areas where the population density is lower. Much of this land remains underdeveloped, offering an opportunity to revitalize these regions by giving people the tools to create their own futures. By offering free land to people living in East Germany, the government could empower individuals to build homes, start businesses, or develop agricultural projects. These activities would not only help reduce unemployment but could also lead to a thriving local economy.
By testing Universal Basic Land in East Germany, we could see firsthand how giving individuals ownership of land leads to greater prosperity. Over time, this initiative could serve as a model for other regions or countries facing similar challenges, showing that land ownership—not just income—can be a key factor in improving economic well-being and reducing inequality.