Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Reminder that carbon offsets have always been a hoax and that the ridiculous billionaire on Silicon Valley was based on Mark Cuban. 

- Tucker Carlson Episode 50 with John Daly

- Why it took Tesla so long to deliver the Cybertruck

- FCC nixes Starlink RDOF appeal. Everyone I've spoken with enjoys their Starlink connection (like Musk says it's much better than nothing). Meanwhile everyone who has Comcast is considered served by the FCC.

Tesla Cybertruck

"Let's make the strength on the outside, make it an exoskeleton, and hand everything else from the inside of it." - Elon Musk

According to lore the idea for the Cybertruck began in 2017.

The real idea of the Cybertruck geminated around the time that Musk became enthralled by the possibility of making the SpaceX ships out of stainless steel. That material could also work for the planned Cybertruck. Charles Kuehmann developed a stainless steel alloy that was "cold rolled" instead of using heat treatments which was later patented. It was strong enough to use for both rockets and Cybertrucks.

In July 2019, designer Franz von Holzhausen and Dave Morris built a full-size mock-up and the Cybertruck was born. It was their design not Musk's but he loved it. And I'm on the wait list to get one. 

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and rgought I'd share.

- Marc Andreesse on Why AI Will Save the World. Reminded that it was Tony Stark's AI - not Iron Man -  who figured out time travel. I'm on the fense on AI but I do lean towards the positive. Long read but well worth the time.

- Perhaps my favorite artistic gif (but not for the reasons they think)

- Peter Atia on does carbohydrate load impact between fat storage and oxidation? Good stuff.

- Wired - Leaked Cybertruck report shows many basic flaws. Still a believer in Tesla. Many months between now and 2024 and between unit 1 and 100,001 where my Cybertruck is scheduled to come off the line. Reminder that Tesla does not advertise in Wired.

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- I always thought the boating life would be cool to try for a year or two.

- SpaceX Starlink service now has 500,000 pre-orders. Not mentioned in the article - the FCC has only given Starlink licenses for 1 million devices. Also not mentioned the Brownsville / South Padre island area where SpaceX has moved their operations is served via fiber (AT&T) and cable (Spectrum). Just saying.

- Roger Daltrey: The "Woke" generation is creating a miserable world

- Jordan Peterson - the truth will set you free

-  The 2022 Tesla Cybertruck. I'm on the waitlist for the dual motor version.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

I bet Joe Rogan gets at least a good five minutes of material for his next stand-up special from the ridiculous "controversy" of him "endorsing" Bernie Sanders. Can't wait I'm sure it will be great stuff... Put me in the camp that thinks the coronavirus flu should be know as Xi's Disease going forward. Not the Kung Flu... Something tells me there's no way the movie Silver Streak could get made today. As great as Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor were together this scene just does not get made today... It is truly amazing that Bill Belichick has now been the coach of the New England Patriots for 20-years. What he's accomplished in that time is otherworldly... "We suffer from knowing the numbers." A quote from Sam Zell heard in his recent Tim Ferriss podcast. The quote in context really resonated with me... I'm on the waiting list for one of these bad boys...  Haven't watched a single minute of the Impeachment hearings and I'm a better person for it...

Tesla Cybertruck

I have to admit that when I first saw the new Cybertruck my mind recalled the unveiling of the Segway. That too was a "revolution in transportation" that utilized superior technology.

You don't see many people still riding Segway's these days.

I know that I'm probably wrong and that my initial disappointment probably stems from expecting a pickup truck from Tesla that looked like this.

It would be no surprise whatsoever if within 3-years the Cybertruck is the best selling pickup in the USA. Especially given the sheer numerical superiority of the Cybertruck over the competition. Or as Elon Musk puts it, "Better truck than an F-150, faster than a Porche 911." You can put your order in for a Cybertruck with just a $100 deposit.

There's been some poking fun at the Cybertruck and I certainly did not expect its unveiling to make me think of the Segway but I think the truck will be a roaring success.

And let's not forget that Elon Musk also unveiled an all-electric ATV at the end of the event. An ATV that couples nicely with the new Cybertruck.