Musk Droppings (2 Viewers)

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    Huntn

    Huntn

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    www.theguardian.com

    SpaceX’s Starship explodes in second failure for Musk’s Mars program

    Back-to-back mishaps indicate big setbacks for program to launch satellites and send humans to the moon and Mars
    www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com

    The failure comes just more than a month after the company’s seventh Starship flight also ended in an explosive failure. The back-to-back mishaps occurred in early mission phases that SpaceX has easily surpassed previously, indicating serious setbacks for a program Musk has sought to speed up this year.
     
    Extreme wealth has always played a role in democracies. Money has always talked, especially in the US.

    Years ago, Lawrence Lessig, the great legal scholar, calculated that most of the campaign funding for members of Congress and aspiring politicians came from one-twentieth of the richest 1% of Americans – about 150,000 people.

    This is about the same number as those who are named “Lester” and explains the title of his book: The USA Is Lesterland.

    But that particular corruption of American politics only involved billionaires like the Koch brothers playing organ-grinders to congressional monkeys.

    The obscene wealth generated by the tech industry has catapulted a new organ-grinder into the heart of the machine. He was able to pay his way in with a spare quarter of a billion dollars that he happened to have lying around.

    And now the wretched citizens of the US find themselves living in Muskland.

    At the time he made the decision to ensure that Trump got elected, Musk was estimated to be worth $244bn.

    That didn’t mean, of course, that he had that amount of hard cash in his possession, just that he owned millions of shares in a number of companies that he had founded which were judged by investors to be valuable liquid assets that could be sold if necessary.

    Hold on to that thought: it may come in useful.……

    www.theguardian.com

    It might be a small consolation, but Elon Musk is getting poorer by the day | John Naughton

    As his goons root through the innards of the US government, Tesla sales are plummeting, the cars are being defaced and owners are ashamed
    www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com
     
    In Denmark, donations to political parties are regulated by the Political Party Financing Act, which is designed to ensure transparency and prevent undue influence on the political system. Here are some of the key points:


    • Public Disclosure of Larger Donations: Donations exceeding 2,000 DKK (approximately $300) must be publicly disclosed, including both the donor's name and the amount donated. This transparency allows both the public and authorities to monitor significant contributions.
    • Limitations on Anonymous Donations: Anonymous donations are only allowed if the amount is below 2,000 DKK (about $300). Larger donations must be attributable to a specific donor to prevent hidden influences.
    • Prohibition of Foreign Donations: Donations from foreign sources are generally prohibited, ensuring that there is no unacceptable foreign influence on Danish politics.
    • Ongoing Reporting: Political parties are required to continuously report and document all received donations along with their financial accounts. This requirement helps authorities track the flow of money and ensure compliance with the law.

    These rules are intended to protect democracy by ensuring that political decisions are made free from hidden financial interests, while also giving voters clear insight into who is financially supporting the political parties.
     
    Dragon said:
    In Denmark, donations to political parties are regulated by the Political Party Financing Act, which is designed to ensure transparency and prevent undue influence on the political system. Here are some of the key points:


    • Public Disclosure of Larger Donations: Donations exceeding 2,000 DKK (approximately $300) must be publicly disclosed, including both the donor's name and the amount donated. This transparency allows both the public and authorities to monitor significant contributions.
    • Limitations on Anonymous Donations: Anonymous donations are only allowed if the amount is below 2,000 DKK (about $300). Larger donations must be attributable to a specific donor to prevent hidden influences.
    • Prohibition of Foreign Donations: Donations from foreign sources are generally prohibited, ensuring that there is no unacceptable foreign influence on Danish politics.
    • Ongoing Reporting: Political parties are required to continuously report and document all received donations along with their financial accounts. This requirement helps authorities track the flow of money and ensure compliance with the law.

    These rules are intended to protect democracy by ensuring that political decisions are made free from hidden financial interests, while also giving voters clear insight into who is financially supporting the political parties.
    Click to expand...
    Wait, wut? Actual election laws are being upheld somewhere? What sorcery is this?

    Sigh. I want off this garbage timeline that I didn't ask to be a part of...
     
    longtime lurker said:

    Elon Musk is giving Trump another $100 million just after the President did an ad for Tesla

    Elon Musk is reportedly giving Trump another $100 million just after the President did an ad for Tesla at the...
    electrek.co electrek.co

    Click to expand...
    1742014455248.jpeg
     
    bird said:
    Hey, c’mon. Roberts’ SCOTUS says money is speech. How dare anyone try to claim wealth is buying politicians?
    Click to expand...
    Buckley v Valeo established the Supreme Court principle that money is speech.
     
    Sendai said:
    Buckley v Valeo established the Supreme Court principle that money is speech.
    Click to expand...
    Mea Culpa, Mea Culpa, Mea Maxima Culpa.

    Citizens United, iirc was Roberts’ bullschlitz.

    Neither decision was based on “interpretation” of the constitution. Both end up being anti-democracy as the legalized bribery and “one dollar, one vote”.
     
    longtime lurker said:
    wegotthiscovered.com

    Elon Musk now wants to eliminate weekends, as the billionaire advocates for minimum 120 hour workweeks

    Well, they do say work will set you free!
    wegotthiscovered.com wegotthiscovered.com
    Click to expand...

    Elon Musk's suggestion of a 120-hour workweek is not only unrealistic but also counterproductive. Numerous research studies have consistently shown that excessive work hours lead to decreased productivity, higher error rates, and significant negative effects on both physical and mental health. There’s a reason why the EU enforces strict labor regulations, including mandatory work-hour limits and monthly reporting requirements—these laws exist to protect workers and ensure sustainable productivity.


    In reality, employees are most efficient and make fewer mistakes when they work a maximum of 40 hours per week. Studies have also demonstrated that correcting errors can take up to five times longer than doing things right the first time. Overworking employees doesn’t just harm their well-being—it also reduces overall efficiency, increases costly mistakes, and ultimately hurts the company's bottom line.
     
    bird said:
    Mea Culpa, Mea Culpa, Mea Maxima Culpa.

    Citizens United, iirc was Roberts’ bullschlitz.

    Neither decision was based on “interpretation” of the constitution. Both end up being anti-democracy as the legalized bribery and “one dollar, one vote”.
    Click to expand...
    It’s common sense that money buys speech in the political arena. Even in post colonial America.
     
    Dragon said:
    Elon Musk's suggestion of a 120-hour workweek is not only unrealistic but also counterproductive. Numerous research studies have consistently shown that excessive work hours lead to decreased productivity, higher error rates, and significant negative effects on both physical and mental health. There’s a reason why the EU enforces strict labor regulations, including mandatory work-hour limits and monthly reporting requirements—these laws exist to protect workers and ensure sustainable productivity.


    In reality, employees are most efficient and make fewer mistakes when they work a maximum of 40 hours per week. Studies have also demonstrated that correcting errors can take up to five times longer than doing things right the first time. Overworking employees doesn’t just harm their well-being—it also reduces overall efficiency, increases costly mistakes, and ultimately hurts the company's bottom line.
    Click to expand...
    Well, he’s speaking specifically to the Doge sge’s. They are limited to 130 days in any 365 day period. So they are rather intensely focused on burning a lot of hours in a limited number of days.
     
    Sendai said:
    Well, he’s speaking specifically to the Doge sge’s. They are limited to 130 days in any 365 day period. So they are rather intensely focused on burning a lot of hours in a limited number of days.
    Click to expand...
    That's not how that works. You can't use future rest to counter present exhaustion.
     
    RobF said:
    That's not how that works. You can't use future rest to counter present exhaustion.
    Click to expand...
    You’ve never worked with kids like them. They’re animals. Indefatigable.
     
    There is absolutely nothing Sendai won’t defend about this Administration, is there?

    Still operating under this crazy assumption that these kids know what they’re doing, when they clearly do not. That they aren’t violating laws and regulations left and right, that they aren’t compromising our personal data every damn day, that they aren’t costing the taxpayer more money than they are saving especially when you consider that most everything they do is illegal or immoral and will have to be walked back eventually.

    Nobody with a lick of sense thinks that DOGE is doing good things by the book. They are doing horrible things against the law and the Constitution.
     

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