Political Posts

[John Hjorth]

Will poor Starman end up in the Asteroide Belt? - SpaceX overachieving/overshooting "a bit" here?.

[rkbabang]

 

http://digg.com/video/simultaneous-landing-spacex-sonic-boom

[Liberty]

 

http://digg.com/video/simultaneous-landing-spacex-sonic-boom

 

That's a great view. Direct youtube link:

 

https://youtu.be/Z_kfM-BmVzQ?t=13s

[Liberty]

http://tcrn.ch/2C9DcVJ

 

Here’s a video of Elon Musk watching the Falcon Heavy take off

[John Hjorth]

I'm posting here - instead of in the Tesla topic in the Investment Ideas forum, which topic I'm actually reading on a fairly regular basis. I'm posting here, because the angle of this post is human.

 

Tesla & Teslas, rockets, roof tiles as mini solar panels/elements, batteries, hyperloop and I don't know what ... - money, stock prices, SEC cases ... & money again!

 

I think no human being can withstand this kind of pressure and workload for sustained periods, without durable damages to health and mind. It's called burnout, in short. It's a very efficient way to shorten life expectancy.

 

The common denominator of all those surreal events involving Mr. Musk lately is, that they are symptoms of progressing burnout.

 

What would you do, if you were the observer of something like this evolving over time for a dear and close friend to you? - I think you would - at least try to - do something. So, in short - I speculate that Mr. Musk is also friendless now - at least to some extent.

 

So, to me, this whole thing going on right now is indeed sad to observe. [in the end, a judge is called a judge, because it's up to that particular person to do exactly that: judge.]

[Jurgis]

What would you do, if you were the observer of something like this evolving over time for a dear and close friend to you? - I think you would - at least try to - do something. So, in short - I speculate that Mr. Musk is also friendless now - at least to some extent.

 

He's probably not friendless, but he likely does not listen to friends.

 

How this ends, who knows. It could end up well or not.

 

My best wishes and support to Elon and everyone in his companies.

 

 

"The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long, and you have burned so very very brightly, Elon."

[boilermaker75]

What would you do, if you were the observer of something like this evolving over time for a dear and close friend to you? - I think you would - at least try to - do something. So, in short - I speculate that Mr. Musk is also friendless now - at least to some extent.

 

He's probably not friendless, but he likely does not listen to friends.

 

How this ends, who knows. It could end up well or not.

 

My best wishes and support to Elon and everyone in his companies.

 

 

"The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long, and you have burned so very very brightly, Elon."

 

He is close friends, at least he used to be, with Larry Page. I would think Page would be a great source of advice both for personal and business issues.

[rkbabang]

I'm posting here - instead of in the Tesla topic in the Investment Ideas forum, which topic I'm actually reading on a fairly regular basis. I'm posting here, because the angle of this post is human.

 

Tesla & Teslas, rockets, roof tiles as mini solar panels/elements, batteries, hyperloop and I don't know what ... - money, stock prices, SEC cases ... & money again!

 

I think no human being can withstand this kind of pressure and workload for sustained periods, without durable damages to health and mind. It's called burnout, in short. It's a very efficient way to shorten life expectancy.

 

The common denominator of all those surreal events involving Mr. Musk lately is, that they are symptoms of progressing burnout.

 

What would you do, if you were the observer of something like this evolving over time for a dear and close friend to you? - I think you would - at least try to - do something. So, in short - I speculate that Mr. Musk is also friendless now - at least to some extent.

 

So, to me, this whole thing going on right now is indeed sad to observe. [in the end, a judge is called a judge, because it's up to that particular person to do exactly that: judge.]

 

Yes.  Last week I think it was I watched the live feed of him announcing the manned moon mission purchase by the Japanese billionaire and I thought Musk just looked extremely tired and exhausted.  He needs a vacation.  He should take a month off and relax.  Then maybe never go back to Tesla.  Focus on SpaceX and getting us off this rock.

 

[Cigarbutt]

I'm posting here - instead of in the Tesla topic in the Investment Ideas forum, which topic I'm actually reading on a fairly regular basis. I'm posting here, because the angle of this post is human.

 

Tesla & Teslas, rockets, roof tiles as mini solar panels/elements, batteries, hyperloop and I don't know what ... - money, stock prices, SEC cases ... & money again!

 

I think no human being can withstand this kind of pressure and workload for sustained periods, without durable damages to health and mind. It's called burnout, in short. It's a very efficient way to shorten life expectancy.

 

The common denominator of all those surreal events involving Mr. Musk lately is, that they are symptoms of progressing burnout.

 

What would you do, if you were the observer of something like this evolving over time for a dear and close friend to you? - I think you would - at least try to - do something. So, in short - I speculate that Mr. Musk is also friendless now - at least to some extent.

 

So, to me, this whole thing going on right now is indeed sad to observe. [in the end, a judge is called a judge, because it's up to that particular person to do exactly that: judge.]

 

As mentioned above in the thread, Ashley Vance's biography of Elon Musk is a good read and gives a glimpse of what it must be to be him.

The biography is easily available for download but here's an "official" link:

https://www.amazon.com/Elon-Musk-Billionaire-SpaceX-Shaping-ebook/dp/B00SIDCSWY

 

Interesting that "burnout" syndrome is mentioned.

"It's better to burn out than to fade away" is a key line in a classic song written by Neil Young in the late 70's. Neil Young was not referring to the "burnout" syndrome then and later explained what he meant: "it's better to burn out really bright than to sort of decay off into infinity", which may reflect how Mr. Musk feels in general. Also interesting to note that the social definition of the "burnout" syndrome has evolved. Before it became associated with stress and heavy extrinsic demands, in the 70's and 80's, classical burnout cases were manifested by people, typically idealists, who failed to reach unrealistically self-imposed intrinsic high altruistic goals, possibly a better potential depiction of Mr. Musk.

 

“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”  George Bernard Shaw

 

Whatever disease or syndrome considered, Mr Musk's "problem" is that he has been unusually unreasonable.

Mr Thiel has said of him: "To the extent that the world still doubts Elon, I think it’s a reflection on the insanity of the world and not on the supposed insanity of Elon.”

He indeed may need help but this may not be an option for him.

Hope he does well.

[Jurgis]

https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/rockets/a23508636/defense-of-elon-musk/

[rkbabang]

https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/rockets/a23508636/defense-of-elon-musk/

 

 

"Bruce Wayne. Elon Musk. Tony Stark. Three men worth billions of dollars who care more about solving important problems than living comfortably, but only one of them is real"

 

[John Hjorth]

I'm bumping this topic up - for general discussion - based on what's been going on with regard to Mr. Musk since last post in this topic. Personally, I don't know what to think ... - what do you think?

[DTEJD1997]

hey all:

 

After what has transpired in the past few weeks with Mr. Musk...I've really got question his judgment and sanity.

 

They are going to 1mm self driving taxis in the next year or so?

 

They've pretty much got autonomous driving down?

 

TSLA is going to raise capital because now they are doing so well?

 

It is one thing to "puff" and promote...this is another whole level.

[DooDiligence]

I think the stress of what he's done has been too much and he's gone batshit crazy...

[Ahab]

I think Musk has attempted some audacious things in his career and certainly moved forward the timetable for EV adoption. Yet, Tesla is trying to tackle a business with a reputation for terrible economics.

Musk has played himself in his conduct and behavior. He didn't need to go for the "short burn of the century". He didn't need to overpromise on production figures, semi trucks, or the autonomy timetable. His social media showmanship and potential violation of securities, highway safety, and other laws are entirely his own doing. Ostensibly, he could have recently raised capital at $300+ a share. So Tesla's lean budget and coming cash crunch can be attributed in significant part to Musk's poor strategic decision making. The man is bold, but he isn't well and should have been removed as CEO months ago..

[TorontoRaptorsFan]

The board of directors should also be blamed for this debacle....

[Jurgis]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-07-17/elon-musk-s-neuralink-says-it-s-ready-to-begin-brain-surgery

[Liberty]

Here's the video of the Neuralink presentation (I haven't watched it yet):

 

https://youtu.be/r-vbh3t7WVI?t=5562

[changegonnacome]

Given this is a geopolitcal event driving equity values everywhere right now - it deserves its own thread on an investing forum. I'll start it off (stolen from a post i did in a Taiwan thread):

 

The Ukraine invasion at a base level is about a petro-dollar economy, in the age of decarbonization, that is strategically weak already but for sure to be weaker still in decades.......... re-asserting a buffer zone (Ukraine & Belarus) that was laid down after the fall of the USSR, implicitly blessed by the USA and the West as being strategically important for Russian security in the age of the EU/NATO.......I say these things not to condone what Putin is doing, he's a monster and pig........but he is currently acting rationally for someone who's alternative to be being in the office, is being dead......and was watching over the years the EU/NATO/USA moving further & further East into the agreed "NATO/Russia buffer zone" of Ukraine with overtures around them joining NATO etc. etc.

 

Nobody likes to say it - but Ukraine's role in life & in European peace and security (& indeed global peace & security) is/was to straddle the East & West while making the strategically weaker partner feel safe that they had some kind of buffer zone...Ukraine is/was a pawn in the balance of powers equilibrium game (ala Kissinger) that has kept Europe peaceful now for 75+ years. The mistake was to encourage Ukraine to divert itself so completely towards pleasing or 'joining' the West & giving them some false sense that we would ACTUALLY support them in a conflict against Russia.....which in turn hardened their political stance in regard to Ukranian-Russian relations & negotiations in regards to Eastern Ukraine....this aggressive pivot to the West was encouraged by the EU/USA and it shouldn't have been. 

 

The end game for Vladmir IMO is to completely WRECK Ukraine over the next few weeks and months and then leave......such that whatever is left wont be joining ANYTHING anytime soon that might threaten Russian security........and Putin in 20 years time will die in the Kremlin Palace surrounded by friends, families and ass kissers with Russia's borders exactly as they were when he assumed power. It's all a tyrant dictator in a strategically weak and weakening position could wish for.

[Xerxes]

Wrong forum. I recommend going to the “political” forum. 

[Viking]

I think your analysis is 35 years old (perhaps longer). It was accurate when the Soviet Union still existed. And it was true when Czarist Russia still existed. The simple answer is world has changed dramatically the past 35 years and your analysis completely misses this fact. China is a great example. Japan as well. Russia as well.

Your analysis completely misses one really important concept: what do the individual countries in eastern Europe want? How badly do they want it? How much are they prepared to sacrifice to get what they want?

 

Lets forget about Ukraine for a minute. Lets look at the 3 Baltic states: Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Look at the incredible advancements these three countries have made in improving the quality of life for their citizens since breaking free from the Soviet Union in 1990. It is breathtaking. Do you think the people in these countries want to get re-assimilated into Russia because of some outdated view of history?
 

The problem with your analysis is it completely misses all the changes that have happened in all the individual countries in eastern Europe. They ARE NOT the same countries they were 35 years ago. BECAUSE THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE PEOPLE HAVE CHANGED. Its not the FAULT of the US. Or NATO.
 

Your analysis is all about Russia and its ‘historical right’ to take back what it once had. That is BS. Empires fall. Its that Darwin thing. Survival of the fittest. Russia is in decline and has been for 50-60 years. And by invading Ukraine, Putin is simply accelerating the decline. 
 

The individual countries in eastern Europe all want a better life. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are great examples of what is possible. All countries in eastern Europe want what the Baltic countries are achieving: a better life today and for future generations. SELF DETERMINATION. Ukrainia’s pivot to the West was all about a better path to build a better future - self determination. 
 

Now for a country in eastern Europe to build a better life IT HAS TO ESCAPE THE SHACKLES OF RUSSIA. Lots of countries were able to escape and they understood NATO was the only option to remain free. Ukraine unfortunately was late to pivot to the West and was not able to join NATO. Russia, a dying empire, is now trying to re-establish its old borders. And the Ukrainian people are putting up an incredible fight. 
 

History is littered with examples of empires that rise and fall. Dictatorships do not decline quietly. What we are seeing is the end of the Russian empire. And we are seeing individual  countries in eastern Europe exercise their right to self determination. A new chapter is now being written in history book of eastern Europe.

—————

Lets pretend you are married to a complete asshole. A drunk. Beat you every day of your life. Treated your kids like shit (beat them too). And then one day you escaped - you found a place to live where you were no longer beaten… You divorced your husband. You found a job… your quality of life improved… your kids future looked bright. Every day you thanked your lucky stars you had been able to escape your old abusive relationship. 
 

And then one day your old husband showed up. Said he did not ‘recognize’ the divorce. And that you and your kids MUST move back in with him. It is obvious he is drunk. So what do you do? You decide to fight… and to fight to the bitter end. That is what is going on in Ukraine. And it is incredible to watch what they have been able to accomplish so far.

 

We are learning THE PEOPLE OF EASTERN EUROPE ARE DONE WITH LIVING IN THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE. Brave new world.

[Gregmal]

Man that reads like an OP-ED from the Washington Post, written by a gender neutral Czech, who's grandparents and parents both grew up in the US, Viking. While there are certainly people there that want the American way of life, theres others that dont. Meanwhile in America everyone thinks the rest of the world is envious of our way of life, and frankly, that just isnt true. All these "oligarchs"(aka private citizens and individuals being persecuted simply because of their nationality) that are being hunted like witches have the resources to be wherever they want, as do the numerous athletes from old USSR and current Eastern European nations. Many of which still call these places home, and by choice. Trump or Biden doesnt reflect everything about me, an American, nor does Trudeau(hopefully) represent you. But today we have no problem casting blankets on the Ukrainian and Russian people like its a Yankees/Red Sox game. 

[Viking]

@Gregmal i did not say the people in Ukraine are fighting because they want an ‘American’ way of life. I did not write about the US at all. I thought i was writing about Ukraine. And the Ukraine people. And what they want. And willing to die for.
—————

The Ukrainian people are fighting for the ‘Ukrainian way of life’ and the ability to determine what that is. That self determination thing…

—————

So you might find it helpful to forget for a second that you are American. Pretend that you live in Kiev today. With your family. Russian bombs are reducing the city to rubble. Some of your friends/family are probably dying. What are you thinking about? American way of life? Please… When you put your head in the mouth of a lion what do you think it is going to do? Ukrainian’s have been there before and they aren’t stupid. And they are fighting like hell. 

Edited March 4, 2022 by Viking

[Gregmal]

That’s the whole thing, you can pretend to forget what you are but you can’t reasonably put yourself in the shoes of something you know nothing about. As much as you may want to envision living in Ukraine or Russia you can’t. Nor can you envision living in South Africa and a black person, or a white person, and trust me, there’s a huge difference there too. Your “vision” will still be skewed by western bias. Plenty of Eastern Europeans who come to America love it, and still keep ties to their home countries. And it’s not cuz they’re forced to. Interesting side note a friend of mine was looking at Ilya Kovalchuks old NJ mansion which is current up for sale; an absolutely breathtaking place. But that’s besides the point. Kovalchuk has been in the US since a teenager. His family has homes in NJ, and CA, in addition to back in Russia. They in fact, prefer to have their kids go to school in Russia. By choice! Imagine that. There’s different ways of life and cultural values and it all doesn’t fit in a box. War is an unfortunate and ugly part of life. But it’s known to the inhabitants of those areas as a possibility. They can stay or leave or whatever. It sucks, but the people make choices. As others have mentioned, the US and EU have done tons to destabilize Ukraine. They deserve lots of criticism. But hey, now Brandon has his excuse for higher gas prices and fucking up the economy! Great success! Poke the bear enough and eventually the bear creates a gigantic mess. Then euthanize the bear and say it was cuz he was a violent threat. The western way.

[Xerxes]

1 hour ago, Viking said:

 

If Captain Jean Luc Picard was reading this, he would say, “we cannot violate the Prime directive”

 

lots of emotional inertia, like there was with 2011 Arab spring. 10 years later back to what it was. 
 

I see a dark future. I see barb lines, and DMZ cutting through Ukraine. I see de-population. I see garrisons. I see a cesspool of hate & nationalism & blame that will take 40 years to heal. 
 

putin had said: “there is no reason for the world to exist if there is no Russia” At some point Zelensky has in turn to decide if “there is no reason for the world to exist if there is no Ukraine”. Very sad.  

Edited March 4, 2022 by Xerxes