Unmasking Elon Musk

[sugilite]

This makes perfect sense :brick:

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2023/09/30/largest-ev-charging-station-in-the-world-uses-diesel-powered-generators/

[R650R]

This makes perfect sense :brick:

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2023/09/30/largest-ev-charging-station-in-the-world-uses-diesel-powered-generators/

Very interesting. The whole EV sham is unravelling. Another article in UK showed that there’s no way enough charging stations can be built by 2035 deadline. You can’t just get anyone to instal a public super high voltage facility.

Musk with much fanfare just unveiled a dedicated multi pod transport system to one of his Giga factories. He had fancy lights and a DJ music but turns out it was just a diesel powered train linked to local metro network. Thunderfoot just did a new video taking the puss out of that and his other lies and non delivery.

In other news the Dutch have solved the problem of EV fires, well on ferries anyway. Using the massive power of the ships systems they chill a salty brine mix (prob seawater) to minus 18 deg C. The salt stops water from freezing and also functions to discharge the battery of its remaining energy.
Firefighters insert a probe through rear window and the system delivers 250 Litres a minute from 16,000 L reservoir. A demo showed fire out in about ten mins.

[pete376403]

This makes perfect sense :brick:

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2023/09/30/largest-ev-charging-station-in-the-world-uses-diesel-powered-generators/

Further down that page = https://elonmusk.today/ a fairly comprehensive list of promises musk has made

[R650R]

Jay Leno just drove the Tesla truck on his Garage tv show.

They spent a lot of time making features that many euro and American trucks have as standard sound like new innovations.
The cab has suicide doors as the shape meant having hinges at front was too hard.
They let slip the super fast acceleration that Musk raved about will be software controlled and limited at times to conserve battery and tyre life as per individual customer requirements. Translation semis are still gonna be blocking traffic as much as they do now as fleet owners will want to conserve tyres.
Also poor Leno got a blank stare when he asked about customisation options eg chrome bumpers and the like etc.
Seems all dash info and aircon controls etc is via the two tablets either side of steering wheel. I can see a lot of distracted driver crashes in these things.
And get this they e only made about 60-70 trucks so far. That tells you their own fleet and Pepsi are the ONLY customers at this point and they refused to give a price.

[sugilite]

Elons latest plan to save shitter-x? Shitty click bait adverts pretending to be tweets that cannot be blocked or dismissed. What a winner :facepalm:

https://mashable.com/article/twitter-x-new-clickbait-ad-format

[pritch]

This is interesting on several levels. Bellingcat do great work. Some say they are funded by the CIA but then Putin would say that. Musk recently posted his plan for what he wanted Xitter to become. Funnily enough it's what Twitter was before he fucked it up.

As mentioned in this item the EU has fired a warning shot at the massive amount of misinformation currently served up on X.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXdIp1TFJu0

[sugilite]

And that is about $1 too much elon.....

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2023/10/elon-musk-s-x-to-start-charging-some-new-zealand-users-1-annual-subscription-to-post-retweet.html

[pritch]

In other news the Dutch have solved the problem of EV fires, well on ferries anyway. Using the massive power of the ships systems they chill a salty brine mix (prob seawater) to minus 18 deg C. The salt stops water from freezing and also functions to discharge the battery of its remaining energy.
Firefighters insert a probe through rear window and the system delivers 250 Litres a minute from 16,000 L reservoir. A demo showed fire out in about ten mins.

Water freezes at 0 degrees c. That's not cold enough to take the heat out of an EV fire. Brine freezes at a lower temperature and takes more heat out of the fire.

Presumably fire departments will need refrigerated tankers anywhere EVs are used?

[R650R]

Water freezes at 0 degrees c. That's not cold enough to take the heat out of an EV fire. Brine freezes at a lower temperature and takes more heat out of the fire.

Presumably fire departments will need refrigerated tankers anywhere EVs are used?

Well if you want a successful outcome.
There’s a business opportunity there for someone. Liquid bladder or IBC tanks inside a 20ft reefer box with couplings mounted already then on a 8x4 truck chassis should access most city environments.
The smart thing to do though would be to make EVs park outdoors only (save multi level nightmares like luring airport).
These fires seem more common by the day I wonder how long before insurance companies bump premiums not just for the car but for house if you charge at home. Even pro ev people are recommending charge your ev outside as when the battery off gasses at start or during fire the fumes are incredibly toxic. So for someone with an internal garage even if fire dept there quick it’s worse than your normal smoke damage.

[sugilite]

Cyber truck announced in 2019 - 4 years later, it was noticed stainless steel weighs more than they thought effecting the published projected range. This is causing the delays, so they say.
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Cybertruck-launch-delayed-by-battery-range-and-stainless-steel-bodyweight-challenges.759342.0.html

Same CEO's other company can launch a rocket and have it come back and land again for reuse.
Seriously - WTF

[pzkpfw]

Cyber truck announced in 2019 - 4 years later, it was noticed stainless steel weighs more than they thought effecting the published projected range. This is causing the delays, so they say.
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Cybertruck-launch-delayed-by-battery-range-and-stainless-steel-bodyweight-challenges.759342.0.html

Same CEO's other company can launch a rocket and have it come back and land again for reuse.
Seriously - WTF

And SpaceX uses stainless steel.

[R650R]

Cyber truck announced in 2019 - 4 years later, it was noticed stainless steel weighs more than they thought effecting the published projected range. This is causing the delays, so they say.
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Cybertruck-launch-delayed-by-battery-range-and-stainless-steel-bodyweight-challenges.759342.0.html

Same CEO's other company can launch a rocket and have it come back and land again for reuse.
Seriously - WTF

He might own space x but the intellect doesn’t come from him. Jesus even the Labour Party delivers on its promises more often than musk!
Even the Tesla cars are born out of a company he bought out there’s not much that’s his own original design.

But if you look at his modus operandi it’s all about a new hype now and then to pump the share price. Thunderfoot did a good breakdown he’s committed more ponzi scheme fraud than Theranos. Maybe when the courts are done with Trump, Musk will be the next to unravel.

[george formby]

Water freezes at 0 degrees c. That's not cold enough to take the heat out of an EV fire. Brine freezes at a lower temperature and takes more heat out of the fire.

Presumably fire departments will need refrigerated tankers anywhere EVs are used?

I read or heard somewhere that the brine (salt) reacts with the catalysts and discharges the battery el pronto. Once the battery is discharged it's just a normal fire.

[sugilite]

Impressive, musk has made a small fortune on "X" - by starting with a large fortune.

https://www.9news.com.au/world/elon-musk-losing-billions-of-dollars-on-x-twitter/862d1f15-2232-411a-a981-589badf25f68

[sugilite]

Ahhh well, at least musk has the ev market to keep him going...
no, wait!
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/elon-musk-lost-41-billion-201608728.html

[Moise]

Yes, in case anyone hasn't noticed, the 2023 EV Price Crash has made it to NZ. Our son, who sells new cars in London, said that it was started by Tesla's initial price cuts earlier this year.

Sent from my SM-S906E using Tapatalk

[pritch]

John Cadogan, the Australian YouTube commentator on matters automotive, describes EV fans as having a religious fervour. Certainly one of my friends is a true believer and he won't hear a word against EVs. He's on his second. Cadogan describes Musk as their Messiah, he refers to Musk as EJ, short for Electric Jesus.

It seems that governments everywhere are ignoring the prospects of additional load on the grid due to EVs. Increasingly there are other concerns being voiced. There is though potential for entertainment, having no dog in the fight I can view developments with amused detachment.

Cadogan's latest:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drkPXa5SRwk

[neels]

Ahhh well, at least musk has the ev market to keep him going...
no, wait!
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/elon-musk-lost-41-billion-201608728.html

Makes you wonder if it's just the latest tech bubble, with the share price mainly driven by hype and unrealistic projections for the future.

Reality and/or market competition will normally catch up eventually, after all Tesla are just another company that makes cars, and there are already plenty of those who are much better resourced to survive when it all goes tits up.

[Moise]

John Cadogan, the Australian YouTube commentator on matters automotive, describes EV fans as having a religious fervour. Certainly one of my friends is a true believer and he won't hear a word against EVs. He's on his second. Cadogan describes Musk as their Messiah, he refers to Musk as EJ, short for Electric Jesus.

It seems that governments everywhere are ignoring the prospects of additional load on the grid due to EVs. Increasingly there are other concerns being voiced. There is though potential for entertainment, having no dog in the fight I can view developments with amused detachment.

Cadogan's latest:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drkPXa5SRwkIf you'd prefer to read the story rather than listen to a rant.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnbc.com/amp/2023/10/26/hertz-pulls-back-on-ev-plans-citing-tesla-price-cuts-repair-costs.html

It sounds like the problem is not just repair cost, but also the amount of money they are losing on Tesla's that are written off.

Sent from my SM-S906E using Tapatalk

[nerrrd]

Well Starship managed to fly again this year, so as is typical for him, Elon's 4-6 weeks ended up being seven months.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCH0NH1tt5k

A lot more worked this time, so progress is being made.

Meanwhile still standing by for the self-driving revolution...

[R650R]

Well Starship managed to fly again this year, so as is typical for him, Elon's 4-6 weeks ended up being seven months.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCH0NH1tt5k

A lot more worked this time, so progress is being made.

Meanwhile still standing by for the self-driving revolution...

Yep even Thunderfoot gave him credit for all engines actually working this time. But he also broke down the pitfalls of why the mars thing is never going to happen and how musks business model is doomed.
He’s made much fanfare of reusable rockets. The problem is there is no tangible benefit from reusing rocket. ( ok there’s minor conservation of materials but insignificant given the massive pollution that a rocket launch is).
Apparently the launch market is very small. The stuff we are sending into space costs orders of magnitude more to make than the rockets. Making something reusable introduces reliability and complexity issues.
It’s like a uni student having a functional gn250 to go grocery shopping on deciding to instead purchase a ktm or Ducati.
The only vehicle starship is good for is marketing. The romantic allure of space travel is used to create an air of prestige and excitement t around the musk/Tesla brand. After awhile though the continued failed promises will come home to roost and the share price will completely sink

[jim.cox]

The romantic allure of space travel is used to create an air of prestige and excitement t around the musk/Tesla brand.

'Romantic allure' being one thing Mr Musk lacks in spades.

[nerrrd]

...Apparently the launch market is very small. The stuff we are sending into space costs orders of magnitude more to make than the rockets. Making something reusable introduces reliability and complexity issues.
It’s like a uni student having a functional gn250 to go grocery shopping on deciding to instead purchase a ktm or Ducati.
The only vehicle starship is good for is marketing. The romantic allure of space travel is used to create an air of prestige and excitement t around the musk/Tesla brand. After awhile though the continued failed promises will come home to roost and the share price will completely sink

I don't disagree with that, but I do think there's an element of "if you build it, they will come" with Starship. Nobody's had (relatively) easy access to getting very large payloads into space before, if Starship can make that happen then possibilities might present themselves which are hard to predict.

Meanwhile the space race is still on and now it includes India and China, so US politicians are happy to pour billions into SpaceX (probably, for some, just because it's not NASA) which insulates them from commercial concerns.

[pritch]

This week those two champions of free speech: Elon Musk and Donald Trump, are both launching legal actions against media companies for exercising their right to ummm
free speech.


https://edition.cnn.com/2023/11/20/tech/x-sues-media-matters/index.html

https://au.news.yahoo.com/trump-truth-social-sues-20-161220669.html

[1/32 man]

Elon Musk and Donald Trump, are both launching legal actions against media companies

They both have the same piggy eyes....I strongly dislike both men.

[sugilite]

Further more elonthinskin has no qualms turning innocent peoples lifes into a dumpster fires when posting ill researched tweets.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEipFEsYmXk

[R650R]

What surprised to see this video then more surprised to see there’s plenty of cop chase vids involving Tesla’s. You’d think the demographic buying them would be more law abiding but then think bit more about your average self entitled nutty greenie…


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glCD5rwujmU&pp=ygUSUG9saWNlIGNoYXNlIHRlc2xh

[onearmedbandit]

Have you not seen the numerous videos online of Teslas being raced, jumped, thrashed. They are cheap and common enough now to be a vehicle of choice of all sorts.

[pritch]

I received a personal message on X, the app formerly known as Twitter, it was from Elon. He thanked me for my support and pointed out that we're all family. He got the wrong guy, but he may be forgiven for being confused about family.

A book review appeared in my feed, the book was "Elon Musk". My first reaction was that I would be unlikely to be reading that, but some of the details were attention grabbing.
Elon's father is a piece of work, apparently he was having a relationship with Elon's step daughter. Elon was not happy but there was nothing he could do about it. This wasn't some fly by night thing, there were two children from the relationship. What is doing my head in, is what relationship to Elon are those kids? Brother/grandson? Granddaughter/sister?

Reminds me of the old Shel Silverstein song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2akFlmUe3g

[R650R]

Have you not seen the numerous videos online of Teslas being raced, jumped, thrashed. They are cheap and common enough now to be a vehicle of choice of all sorts.

YouTube’s algorithm knows that’s like kryptonite for me and chooses to show me more interesting stuff while still showing all the Tesla bonfires lol.

They are getting more common though. Despite the low uptake % of EVs it’s odd how often you see a Tesla. I guess we notice more easily because it’s something different. What will be really cool is if the cops/govt were to gift one to people living near a tinnie house and utilised Tesla can footage.
Perhaps on release from prison high risk offenders could be “ gifted” a Tesla

[onearmedbandit]

It's just about here and despite all the nay-sayers claims it will never happen the first customers will be receiving their Cyber Trucks as soon as this week.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/L6WDq0V5oBg?si=xHx-B1y2Refx5r42" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[pritch]

Indeed. There is currently a growing crop of 'first tests' of the Cyber truck. The one I watched started by saying that the design of the pickup truck hasn't changed in seventy years. The test talked about the 48V system, the fly by wire steering, the acceleration, the exoskeleton, blah blah blah. Nothing about how it functions as a pickup truck. Zilch.

There's a reason pickup truck design hasn't changed in seventy years. It works.

[husaberg]

It's just about here and despite all the nay-sayers claims it will never happen the first customers will be receiving their Cyber Trucks as soon as this week.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/L6WDq0V5oBg?si=xHx-B1y2Refx5r42" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

the customers who put down money were promised a 40K truck, yet now its 50% more two years past the promised delivery date.
I can see why the share price is going down

[onearmedbandit]

There's no doubt there are holes to be picked, but for all those that said it will never arrive/can't get past legislation/blah blah, well I guess they were wrong.

[husaberg]

There's no doubt there are holes to be picked, but for all those that said it will never arrive/can't get past legislation/blah blah, well I guess they were wrong.

lots of holes van be picked like the the windows or like when telsa said the semi was in production and it wasn't, and still years later still isnt.
Oddly people buy pickups ups for utility use as well as posing, i have seen no evidence in the video of any utility use.

What were the claims that it would never be produced
i had a quick look on KB? cloesest i could find was a joke about how its called cyber as its only exists on the internet.

[onearmedbandit]

And yet they're still selling them. Go figure huh. But you are purposely avoiding my point, despite people saying it will never happen it did. No one can now argue that. And I don't even like the truck myself, nor how Elon behaves at times, but you can't deny that they did what many said they couldn't/wouldn't.

[R650R]

Well yes he has finally made them but I think most comments were probably around the failed original delivery date and price just like his other projects.
Watched a couple of vids of it made by usual fanboy crowd. Sandy Munro does a lot of Tesla vids. He was constantly surrounded by two Tesla minders and anytime someone questioned something out came the line oh this one is actually a prototype not a final production model.

Elon made a big deal about how stiff the chassis is (I guess to protect the battery)but anyone whose done proper off-road knows you want a bit of flex to help with traction, last thing you want is it so stiff itÂ’s lifting wheels too early.
At least stainless steel has a high scrap value and is easy to recycle.
Sandy Munroes one was covered in dirt I think to hide all the finger prints that will look hideous as anyone with kids and a stainless steel fridge door will know.

HeÂ’s also done the KTM thing where you have to pay more to fully unlock the hardware for the beast version. I guess people will buy them and now Ford Ranger owners wonÂ’t look the the biggest twats out there lol. Interaction with other road users is going to be interesting. Those big flat panels are going to hideously blind other people in sunny conditions and looks like poor visibility on rear corners for cyclists and pedestrians. Sandy Munro backed his into fence post at launch party!

Also from an ecological view given most ev owners care about environment stainless is a poor choice. It needs more heavy mining of minerals needed to form stainless and is more energy intensive to produce and machine while offering no real advantage for this application other than vanity.

ItÂ’s a bit like Hondas NR750 built to show off engineering ability but a big clash in long term practicality.Stainless also means he canÂ’t use his giga press, subcontractors make the panels to precise tolerances and I bet at a hefty price. He would have done much better to make a ranger/hilux clone using Tesla car architecture beefed up with bigger battery. If heÂ’s still in business in five years I think weÂ’ll see something more sensible come out maybe as cybr truck currently is niche market model thatÂ’s not going to appeal to all.

[husaberg]

And yet they're still selling them. Go figure huh. But you are purposely avoiding my point, despite people saying it will never happen it did. No one can now argue that. And I don't even like the truck myself, nor how Elon behaves at times, but you can't deny that they did what many said they couldn't/wouldn't.

Who said it would never be sold....who were these people.....maybe you should find them and argue with them?
Ford made over 100,000 edsels thus far telsa cybertruck looks like its production is in the 100's

[onearmedbandit]

Who said it would never be sold....who were these people.....maybe you should find them and argue with them?
Ford made over 100,000 edsels thus far telsa cybertruck looks like its production is in the 100's

lmao all I was saying is despite claims to the contrary by some deliveries are going ahead, this is a thread on Elon and his ventures so it is relevant. You decided to jump in with your typical whataboutism arguments. You could've just ignored my post...

[husaberg]

lmao all I was saying is despite claims to the contrary by some deliveries are going ahead, this is a thread on Elon and his ventures so it is relevant. You decided to jump in with your typical whataboutism arguments. You could've just ignored my post...

Odd as it seems the entire premise of your post are entirely whataboutism,
if you cant see the relation to ford only seeling 100,000 edsels and that being a production disaster ,rated one of the worst on automotive history.
Who is all the naysayers that were saying telsa would never produce a cybertruck.

[pritch]

Mr Cadogan didn't think Cybertruck would ever exist in numbers. I was wondering what he made of this latest news. He didn't keep me waiting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQx3_aCWQsU

I'm actually looking forward to the first time I see one on the road. I'll drink to that. (Any excuse...} :whistle:

[husaberg]

Mr Cadogan didn't think Cybertruck would ever exist in numbers. I was wondering what he made of this latest news. He didn't keep me waiting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQx3_aCWQsU

I'm actually looking forward to the first time I see one on the road. I'll drink to that. (Any excuse...} :whistle:

Hes not a great fan of Electric jesus

[pritch]

Hes not a great fan of Electric jesus

No, but that's balanced by his negative view of the 'vacuous rich twats' who will buy them.

[sugilite]

As previously stated - I reckon the cyber truck is fugly, though I'm still interested to see what one looks like in the metal.
I had large doubts in it's "fit for purpose" chops and was reserving opinion until I had a good look at the bed.
It actually has more space than In thought, in mercan terms, a just over 6 ft bed. Seeing the rest of the truck, it definitely has some seriously cool tech. It is very expensive, way more than what Musk originally said, big surprise there. Having said that, I do not think it is overpriced. Building something that in some aspects could be described as "military grade" is going to cost money to do well. And from what I see, it has been done bloody well.
Long gone are the times where I could tell what make/model car was coming towards me. In these days of "attack of the clones" that the manufacturers have inflicted on us - I tip my hat to Telsla for having the balls to come out with something that is different, in your face divisive styling (Suzuki Katana anyone?), and lets admit it now - a fun drive!
Who among us would say "yeah, nahh" if Musk were to come up to us and say, "Here is the key fob mate, Ive hired out the 20 km's stretch of twisties going out to the coast where the sand dunes await you".

I like this youtubers style in tech reviews, this is his review of the cyber truck......


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxOh12Uhg08

[nerrrd]

You have to acknowledge the chutzpah, Elon recently installed a ‘Gateway to Mars’ sign at the Starship launch site.

https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/spacex-starbase-sign-18526801.php

[jim.cox]

I'm still interested to see what one looks like in the metal. I had large doubts in it's "fit for purpose" chops and was reserving

Me, I rather like the Judge Dread Warhammer4K looks of the Tesla exterior

But the man is SUCH a smeg-head that I could never, ever bring myself to give money

I actually reccon I could go with a Rivian as a daily work-horse (Surveyor), not that I can afford either

[R650R]

Having the balls to do something different was HD doing the Pan America adv bike and making something semi successful on their first attempt.
Cyber truck is just a straight out engineering vanity project. Its lack of proper crumple zones make it a threat to its occupants and gives no regard to other road users. WeÂ’ve just experienced a phase shift in design encompassing last 50 years in making vehicles thinks that gold up to absorb impact energy. Along comes some rich guy with ADHD and crayons and throws all that away.
BTW seen that big glass slab roof, that things gonna suck in summer time.
As for toughness during the latest launch his lackey did two of the most limpwristed softball throws that I’ve ever seen against the “ thermonuclear” glass windows. The kids in my street throw real rocks at each other harder than that.
IÂ’d say yeah nah to a free thrash, if that battery goes into thermal runaway and those electric doors donÂ’t open your getting imolated.
Btw all EVs should only be quoted by their 80% range. With ownership being dominated by left eco-KarenÂ’s your expected to only charge to 80% at public charging stations to make room for someone else. ItÂ’s considered selfish to charge to 100% at public station in busy cities.
As Geoffbuyscars said, what happens when you get home from long journey or just havenÂ’t had time to properly charge all week. Your on 10% battery and your ten year old falls of trampoline breaks arm needs to go to hospital etc. Or elderly relative couple hours drive away takes IÂ’ll suddenly and you need to get there asap.

[pritch]

Building something that in some aspects could be described as "military grade" is going to cost money to do well.

In the real world "military grade" usually just means made by the lowest tenderer.

[pritch]

After indulging in anti semitic comments under the cover of "free speech" for which he copped well deserved flak, Musk has now dived down the pizza gate rabbit hole.

This is the theory beloved of conspiracy theorists that there is a basement under a pizza place where children are abused and trafficked by 'the cabal.' Complete nonsense of course. There is no basement, but a guy armed with an AR15 or similar turned up to see for himself. He didn't see a basement but he may have seen the inside of a jail cell.

Anyhoo Musk has posted "proof" that pizza gate exists. He needs help.

[Laava]

Was it in Woking?

[george formby]

Was it in Woking?

No idea, but I knew a young woman from Ealing, she had a most peculiar feeling..

[onearmedbandit]

Some people are truly so far off track it's scary how deluded they have become.

[sugilite]

In the real world "military grade" usually just means made by the lowest tenderer.

I used that term after watching the videos, I was thinking the grade of stainless and glass being used in this vehicle would qualify for tough and durable over what the majority of manufacturers would use.
I think Tesla will sell heaps. Not so sure that their large truck will do the same at this point.

[Laava]

No idea, but I knew a young woman from Ealing, she had a most peculiar feeling..
It was a sly jab at Ponce Andrew…
wasn't there also a chap from Devizes?

[george formby]

It was a sly jab at Ponce Andrew…
wasn't there also a chap from Devizes?

:laugh: Too sly for me, bet he had extra cheese.

Having said that, he could be the young man from Quashum who took out his balls to washum..

[pete376403]

It was a sly jab at Ponce Andrew…
wasn't there also a chap from Devizes?

who had balls of different sizes?

[Laava]

who had balls of different sizes?
Oh, you know him!

[pete376403]

Oh, you know him!

Got a couple of LPs of "rugby songs", many of these limericks set to music

For anyone wondering, the remainder - "one was smaller than anything at all, the other was big and won prizes"

[george formby]

For anyone wondering, the remainder - "one was smaller than anything at all, the other was big and won prizes"

Phew, glad the thread has stayed on topic.

[pete376403]

Phew, glad the thread has stayed on topic.
I should work for waka kotahi, I can divert anything off track

[Laava]

I should work for waka kotahi, I can divert anything off track
I think the National government is where your skills will be put to best use!

[R650R]

Hehe here’s what “verified” users on Twitter are up to lol


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr2Q6Kq844E&pp=ygUSYXVzc2llIG1hbiByZXZpZXdz

[pritch]

Hehe here’s what “verified” users on Twitter are up to lol


I haven't seen anything of his since he did that thing about soccer players diving. I need to have a look.

When I see a verified mark on Twitter now I just assume the user is MAGA. That's not infalible but it's right most of the time.

[onearmedbandit]

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2023/12/nearly-all-2-million-teslas-recalled-off-united-states-roads-after-safety-probe.html

Oh dear.....

[Laava]

I was watching a movie on Neflix last night called Leave the world behind.
Anyway, in one scene all the Teslas had all been summoned along to a certain stretch of highway where they were all just piling into one another. It did make me laugh again when I saw Frasers post!^^^

[pritch]

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2023/12/nearly-all-2-million-teslas-recalled-off-united-states-roads-after-safety-probe.html

Oh dear.....

The Tesla fans are complaining about the over excited journalism, they claim it's not a recall it's just a software update. Of course if Musk hadn't called the Tesla system 'auto pilot' and used a more modest name like BMW's 'driver assist' he might not have this problem. Perhaps too a number of impressionable twats who thought it was OK to read the paper while their car drove itself might still be alive.

[sugilite]

Someone needs to explain to musk that "best cars" suspension does not implode and best car companies do not blame customers for parts the car company knows are faulty.
This is genuinely really, really shit of tesla.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/20/tesla-blamed-drivers-for-failures-of-parts-it-long-knew-were-defective.html

[R650R]

Someone needs to explain to musk that "best cars" suspension does not implode and best car companies do not blame customers for parts the car company knows are faulty.
This is genuinely really, really shit of tesla.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/20/tesla-blamed-drivers-for-failures-of-parts-it-long-knew-were-defective.html

If the same lack of attention to detail afflicts the semi it could get real expensive, he said a million miles with no breakdown guaranteed.
The man who knows more about manufacturing than “ perhaps anyone in the world” said the the cyber truck has 3mm stainless steel panels, but it doesn’t. They’re now ranging from 1.4 to 1.8mm depending on application. It turns out that the 3mm stuff just can’t be mass stamped and bent without cosmetic issues and embrittlement from work hardening.
Also of concern is being rescued in a crash. Most normal cars body work is either aluminium or 0.6mm mild steel.Apparently your average jaws of life cutters aren’t up to cutting stainless of the greater thickness.Makes sense as you wouldn’t build a tool heavier than needed when it also needs to be easily and swiftly moved into action.
Fanboy channel Munro Live did a tour of the cyber truck production line. There was some pretty cool engineering happening and lots of big expensive robots. But still human labour in between. It didn’t look as slick as modern manufacturers despite being in large new building.
The best part though is it’s not sellable outside USA. There’s no way it’s gullotine style will meet safety guidelines for pedestrians in most western country’s.

[R650R]

US court ruling opens musk to eventual fraud charges…. Damn!!!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoFxTTC-tm0

[Moise]

Someone needs to explain to musk that "best cars" suspension does not implode and best car companies do not blame customers for parts the car company knows are faulty.
This is genuinely really, really shit of tesla.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/20/tesla-blamed-drivers-for-failures-of-parts-it-long-knew-were-defective.htmlThis does not surprise me at all. If they can't get simple things like suspension and driveline right, it makes you wonder what other problems are being covered up.



Sent from my SM-S906E using Tapatalk

[sugilite]

Yep, for sure - yikes.

I was not really wanting to start another thread, so dumping this video here for R650, thought you might like it, esp if you have not seen it before. Looks like the cyber truck was only 90 years behind in the center cab idea ;)
Anyways, these were built in the 30's and in my opinion, look cool as fuck even today!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjxDOeb8Mxs&list=WL&index=2

[R650R]

Yep, for sure - yikes.

I was not really wanting to start another thread, so dumping this video here for R650, thought you might like it, esp if you have not seen it before. Looks like the cyber truck was only 90 years behind in the center cab idea ;)
Anyways, these were built in the 30's and in my opinion, look cool as fuck even today!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjxDOeb8Mxs&list=WL&index=2

No not seen that, looks like something out of those minion movies lol there’s been lots of weird and wonderful ideas over years but trucks are capital tools. That means they must return a profit on investment for the owner in an efficient manner.My algorithm has been showing me these us trucks that were popular for awhile before someone joined the dots or changed regulations to effect b-trains or proper truck and trailer drawbar units.
Back to electric Jesus it seems just like an evangelist he can’t deluver on promises. Apparently cyberteuck production rates are based on a battery production technology he doesn’t have yet, that nobody has actually so his real output will be at 10%. John Cardigan has good breakdown on it.That Theranos fraud type trial is getting closer by day.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G448F7gD7UA&pp=ygULRHJvbSB0cnVjayA%3D

[pritch]

Elon Musk's Hyperloop One is no more. With a history of claims of financial and sexual impropriety the doors on this project have now been closed.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-67801235

[sugilite]

Wow, shitter has become an absolute dumpster fire under Musk. For sure twitter know about this but just want the advertising revenue.

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/x-users-fed-up-with-constant-stream-of-malicious-crypto-ads/

[husaberg]

Wow, shitter has become an absolute dumpster fire under Musk. For sure twitter know about this but just want the advertising revenue.

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/x-users-fed-up-with-constant-stream-of-malicious-crypto-ads/

''almost all coming from verified users.''
Well at least elons getting paid..;)

[Berries]

I was not really wanting to start another thread, so dumping this video here for R650, thought you might like it, esp if you have not seen it before. Looks like the cyber truck was only 90 years behind in the center cab idea ;)
Anyways, these were built in the 30's and in my opinion, look cool as fuck even today!

They did one on Kindig. Here's some photos - https://www.kindigit.com/gallery/39-gm-futurliner/

Was in a shopping mall in LA a couple of weeks ago. Odd place for a Tesla showroom but they had the cyber truck on display. Hideous looking thing.

[sugilite]

They did one on Kindig. Here's some photos - https://www.kindigit.com/gallery/39-gm-futurliner/

Was in a shopping mall in LA a couple of weeks ago. Odd place for a Tesla showroom but they had the cyber truck on display. Hideous looking thing.Think you are mistaken there, clearly it is a refrigerator on 19 inch rims.

Sent from my CPH2499 using Tapatalk

[Laava]

I watched a thing about it the other day, Jay Leno interviewing the designer.(one of?)
Anyway he made the point of saying that they debadged a range of new pickups available in the US and asked people to identify them. Most people struggled and his point was simply that, the cybertruck is unique and thinking outside the square etc. He went on to state that the Cyberturck does everything that all the other pickups do. I struggle with that as the owner/user of a commercial ute myself. The Cybertruck would be a nightmare to use commercially. It has some very cool features, power being one of them, and the technology is mind boggling. Will it be a marketing success? I doubt it personally but people did buy the fiat multistrada, whoops, I mean Mulltipla!

[R650R]

John Cardogan calls it the cyberurinal the only other large mass produced stainless steel item bwaha although I think I posted earlier about the technical issues that will prohibit it from being mass produced in the numbers Elon dreams of.

[Berries]

Think you are mistaken there, clearly it is a refrigerator on 19 inch rims.
It is funny that you say that, I took a close up photo of the boot lid.

[sugilite]

Haha, brilliant!

Sent from my CPH2499 using Tapatalk

[pete376403]

I watched a thing about it the other day, Jay Leno interviewing the designer.(one of?)
Anyway he made the point of saying that they debadged a range of new pickups available in the US and asked people to identify them. Most people struggled and his point was simply that, the cybertruck is unique and thinking outside the square etc. He went on to state that the Cyberturck does everything that all the other pickups do. I struggle with that as the owner/user of a commercial ute myself. The Cybertruck would be a nightmare to use commercially. It has some very cool features, power being one of them, and the technology is mind boggling. Will it be a marketing success? I doubt it personally but people did buy the fiat multistrada, whoops, I mean Mulltipla!

This was online a few weeks ago, surprised it never showed up here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZ0XbEmskD8

[pritch]

The Wall Street Journal has published an article about Elon Musk’s drug use. He has allegedly used: marijuana, mushrooms, ecstasy, cocaine, LSD, and ketamine. The drug use is ongoing particularly the ketamine.

Sadly all of this, and his response to the article, are behind a paywall. Executives of the companies Musk is involved with have expressed concern. His drug use could also effect government contracts.

At least this might explain some of his antics.

[onearmedbandit]

Tesla 'stretching' the truth, no way?

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HRYS5VWXZts?si=aP-dwRWO0XS278dh" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

As Jason rightly points out, the results are still impressive, just not quite what Tesla would have us believe.

[R650R]

Not a Tesla but good info on HAZMAT response to EV fire, also second vehicle was hybrid so treated same and removed due to reignition risk. Some detailed info about halfway through vid from real firefighter.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itGeAq9rBeY&pp=ygUYc291dGggbWV0cm8gZmlyZSByZXNjdWUg

[pete376403]

Hertz rental cars dumping its EVs for gas (petrol) powered cars
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tesla-cars-used-hertz-discount-ev-fleet/

[onearmedbandit]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2DOd4RLNeT4?si=_0GHkIpQS5NbGi_a" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Some funny (yet scary) stuff in this video.

[R650R]

A sign from the Gods, a thousand spears are cast at a parked Tesla.

Someone’s about to have work safe crawl up their arse big time, at very least poor supervision and planning or maybe none at all.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350157580/watch-scaffolding-collapses-auckland-road-hitting-car

[pritch]

A sign from the Gods,

You don't see that every day.

[R650R]

That’s gotta hurt…

Shareholder wins court case that Elons $56 Billion salary/wage in 2018 was unfair to shareholders.
Hopefully next is the pump and dump share price fraud trial Theranos style…


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdluAH_UYZg

[pritch]

That’s gotta hurt…

Shareholder wins court case that Elons $56 Billion salary/wage in 2018 was unfair to shareholders.
Hopefully next is the pump and dump share price fraud trial Theranos style…



Elon, who is only a part time employee of Tesla, is adjudged by the court to be ripping off shareholders? I wonder what people who actually have shares in Tesla, or claim to, think of that. :devil2:

[neels]

Elon starting to get twitchy about competition, now that EVs are becoming just another car option being mass produced, and Tesla have probably exhausted the market for buyers of a car as a show of wealth or fashion accessory.

https://www.automotivedive.com/news/tesla-elon-musk-warns-competition-china-automakers-byd-trade-barriers-sales/705636/#:~:text=During%20Tesla's%20earnings%20call%20on,i n%20the%20electric%20vehicle%20market.

[nerrrd]

A foreshadowing of one of the many potential flaws in the self-driving car economic model?

https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/350178312/san-francisco-crowd-sets-self-driving-car-fire

[R650R]

A foreshadowing of one of the many potential flaws in the self-driving car economic model?

https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/350178312/san-francisco-crowd-sets-self-driving-car-fire

Sounds like a mostly peaceful BLM protest.

But yes you raise an interesting question how will the masses respond to an environment where personal mobility is restricted to wealthy and rest walk.
I suspect the eventual outcome is only EMS and authorised tradesmen will have personal vehicles and the rest of us will be forced to bus/train/walk.
Our current era of freedom will be looked back on like how we saw the Wild West. Where you could ride your horse to any town, get any job you like and drink and smoke as much as you liked in any bar.

[pritch]

Sounds like a mostly peaceful BLM protest.


Or peaceful tourists visiting the Capitol building?

[onearmedbandit]

Could be either in all reality.

[husaberg]

Only difference is one lot were protesting about a guy killed for no reason.
The other group were attempting to aid a guy trying to commit treason.

[nerrrd]

But yes you raise an interesting question how will the masses respond to an environment where personal mobility is restricted to wealthy and rest walk.
I suspect the eventual outcome is only EMS and authorised tradesmen will have personal vehicles and the rest of us will be forced to bus/train/walk.
Our current era of freedom will be looked back on like how we saw the Wild West. Where you could ride your horse to any town, get any job you like and drink and smoke as much as you liked in any bar.

A driverless vehicle though is a pretty sweet target for vandals. Like bus stops are now.

[R650R]

A driverless vehicle though is a pretty sweet target for vandals. Like bus stops are now.

Yes perhaps they will become the new train carriages for graffiti’s artists too. I’m disappointed the purple peril scooters that litter our footpaths are not taking as many swims in creek as I expected. They litter the footpaths everywhere in suburbia and little consideration is given to elderly mobility scooters or mums with prams.
How long before they get “mined” for their lithium

[Moise]

Apple has cancelled its autonomous EV project. If they can't do it, then who can?

Sent from my SM-S906E using Tapatalk

[nerrrd]

Apple has cancelled its autonomous EV project. If they can't do it, then who can?

Sent from my SM-S906E using Tapatalk

Apple is very good at maximising the profitability of its products – this may just mean they can't see a way of making the sort of margins they expect by building a self-driving car.

It is taking the industry in general a long time to get these cars to market, a lot longer than expected. Hard to work out exactly why that is, they don't seem to get the coverage they used to.

[onearmedbandit]

It is taking the industry in general a long time to get these cars to market, a lot longer than expected. Hard to work out exactly why that is, they don't seem to get the coverage they used to.

There's a number of industry people now in the belief that we won't see them for a very long time, if ever.

[nerrrd]

There's a number of industry people now in the belief that we won't see them for a very long time, if ever.

Right, just read about all the troubles Cruise is having after a fatal accident in San Francisco, they had been running driverless taxis there for a while and looks as though there's still been a fair bit of human intervention (remotely) required even to get that far. And that's after spending more than a few billion.

https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/gms-cruise-plans-careful-re-launch-driverless-robotaxis-axios-2023-11-22/

When I think about how much computer power it takes to try to replicate things which humans can learn to do instinctively, admittedly with a sizeable-ish margin of error, it does make me wonder why you would bother when there's a few billion of us here already.

Although it does make for an interesting science project.

[Moise]

It will take a lot of convincing before I'd get in a driverless car, and I'm what the tech industry refers to as an "early adopter".

Apple see the world differently to GM and they would never put a driverless car on the road unless they felt it was safe. Obviously, they feel that is a long way in the future.

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[pete376403]

Apple is very good at maximising the profitability of its products – this may just mean they can't see a way of making the sort of margins they expect by building a self-driving car.

It is taking the industry in general a long time to get these cars to market, a lot longer than expected. Hard to work out exactly why that is, they don't seem to get the coverage they used to.


Why would Apple want to build cars? There are already lots of manufacturers who can do this in a range of great to truly awful. Apple does pretty good computers and software plus very good human interfaces. Surely they would be better partnering with one of the great manufacturers to combine their talents rather than trying to re-invent the wheel

[nerrrd]

Why would Apple want to build cars? There are already lots of manufacturers who can do this in a range of great to truly awful. Apple does pretty good computers and software plus very good human interfaces. Surely they would be better partnering with one of the great manufacturers to combine their talents rather than trying to re-invent the wheel

They've never released any info about the project to the public, but they have thrown a lot of money and expertise at it apparently.

https://www.macrumors.com/2024/02/28/apple-car-10-billion-spent/

As you say they like software and hardware integration, I agree they'd be unlikely to build the rolling stock themselves, but they might have thought coming up with the system that does the driving for you was in their wheelhouse.

[Moise]

In case anyone is interested: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/28/technology/behind-the-apple-car-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.ZE0.jXQf.6n3IxDh 8MaBZ&smid=url-share

Not sure how long this link will work.

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[R650R]

Apple has cancelled its autonomous EV project. If they can't do it, then who can?

Sent from my SM-S906E using Tapatalk

Prob no one. It’s never going to work properly without massive supporting infrastructure, eg sensors/beacons buried in road and wifi on every power pole/fencepost.
EVS and wind farms only got a foothold in our society via massive taxpayer subsidies.
The truth is slowly coming out that they are not as green as claimed (car needs to do 80,000km before its offsets the emissions of its own production line process) and they don’t last as long or perform as well as claimed.
It’s all part of the planned destruction of western society. Soon via sheer population base firstly China, then India followed by Nigeria will become the new economic superpowers of the world. This information is freely available via birth rates data.
By the time we realise EV isn’t a practical solution for our current standard of living the infrastructure supporting petroleum vehicles will be gone. All the existing knowledge base of repair will have retired or died and we will be unable to swiftly travel significant distances at pace (during wartime) when the commies finally invade.

[nerrrd]

…EVS and wind farms only got a foothold in our society via massive taxpayer subsidies…

I think you’ll find the entire electrical grid in NZ was built with massive taxpayer subsidies.

[R650R]

I think you’ll find the entire electrical grid in NZ was built with massive taxpayer subsidies.

There’s a big difference between a pioneer nation creating jobs and assets with proven technology that last generations vs subsidising private companies for unreliable disposable towers of virtue.

[R650R]

Left wing eco-terrorists attack Tesla power supply…

https://joannenova.com.au/2024/03/tesla-gigafactory-attacked-in-germany-not-by-fans-of-petrol-but-left-wing-eco-extremists/

The Vulkangruppe (Volcano Group) activists have claimed responsibility for sabotaging a pylon that supplied power to the Tesla Gigafactory in Germany. The factory that makes half a million EV’s a year had to close Tuesday and send 12,000 workers home. About 2,000 local homes also lost power.

Electricity may not be restored until March 17th and Pierre Goslin at NoTricksZone reports the bill is now estimated to be “over half a billion euro”.

Apparently the radical-conservationists thought setting fire to a pile of tyres at the base of a high voltage tower was a way to free the forest and the workers from a capitalist tyranny.

Tesla sabotage in Germany
Shortly after, an organization known as the Volcano Group (Vulkangruppe) claimed responsibility for the fire online. “We sabotaged Tesla today,” the far-left environmental group stated in an open letter that also accused Tesla CEO Elon Musk of being a “techno-fascist.”

The letter went on to criticize Tesla’s implications in driving predatory capitalism, worker exploitation, environmental degradation and modern surveillance technology, which is why. The stated goal was to “bring Tesla to its knees.”

For some reason media groups have not made much of a fuss about this. If right wing petrol-heads burnt down critical infrastructure instead this would be the lead story on 1,000 channels.

The arson was very much a premediated terrorist act. The Vulkangruppe wrote a 2,500 word essay about how awful Tesla was because it “consumed both natural resources and labour and was neither ecological or sustainable.”

[nerrrd]

Another ‘successful’ Starship test flight, you have to acknowledge that Elon and friends get further along each time. Although I expect the successful landing part is still going to be the hardest nut for them to crack.


https://youtu.be/tUu86-7H3mw?si=iZyK9pVTxizRvMRo

[SaferRides]

It's progress, but not as we know it. They can get the rocket into orbit, now for the tricky part getting it back. Them there will be the really tricky step, which is refuelling in orbit to get to the moon.

"To infinity and beyond!"

Sent from my SM-S906E using Tapatalk

[Laava]

Is Elon really Jeff Tracy? I for one am totally expecting him to say 'Thunderbirds are go!' anytime now.

[nerrrd]

Is Elon really Jeff Tracy? I for one am totally expecting him to say 'Thunderbirds are go!' anytime now.

He probably owns an island somewhere...

And he can be pretty wooden sometimes.

[sugilite]

Bit of a kick in the cunt for "Mr free speech absolutist"
https://mashable.com/article/elon-musk-x-lose-center-for-countering-digital-hate-ccdh-lawsuit

Sent from my CPH2499 using Tapatalk

[Grumph]

Headline today. Tesla to cut 14000 jobs.

[Pursang]

He probably owns an island somewhere...

And he can be pretty wooden sometimes.

Not to mention a ruZZian Puppet!

[husaberg]

Headline today. Tesla to cut 14000 jobs.

Musk sure is a class act, He fires them by an email sent just before 12 midnight saying today is your last day.
Most turned up at work only to find they were fired and there access was denied.
Tesla shares are down a third of their value over the last 12 months, as far as I know they have never achieved a dividend either.

[SaferRides]

Musk sure is a class act, He fires them by an email sent just before 12 midnight saying today is your last day.
Most turned up at work only to find they were fired and there access was denied.
Tesla shares are down a third of their value over the last 12 months, as far as I know they have never achieved a dividend either.He'll be in trouble if he's done that at the factory in Germany. They're pretty hot on worker protection in the EU.

I read somewhere that the far right groups on X still have videos of the stabbing at the church in Sydney online. The Australian government is furious, it will be interesting to see what action is taken.

Sent from my SM-S906E using Tapatalk

[sugilite]

With the industry wide serious downturn in sales in the ev market, this simply beggers belief.....
Tesla asks shareholders to back $56bn pay for Elon Musk rejected by judge https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/apr/17/elon-musk-tesla-pay

Cummon shareholders, he has dropped down to only third richest man in the World. Word is a semi truck seen loaded up with raman noodles was backing up to Musk's kitchen wing. FFS

Sent from my CPH2499 using Tapatalk

[pritch]

A few Cybertrucks (very few) made it to the market. Some owners are unhappy, a YouTube search will yield clips. One I saw yesterday, but can't find now, detailed how a guy had put his truck through the car wash and subsequently it was dead. The reboot system does nothing. I've since seen a comment that if you put a Cybertuck through a car wash the warranty is void. Strange considering it is supposed to be amphibious to an extent. What about heavy rain?

It'll be interesting to see if the shareholders revolt at Musk's massive payout. Meanwhile Musk is trying to drum up a big First Amendment freespech campaign. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees free speech. Many Americans think that gives them the right to say anything. It doesn't but Musk appears to be in that camp. The 1A guarantees the right, particularly of the press, to criticise the government. That's it. Apparently Musk hasn't read it.

[onearmedbandit]

Putting it through a car wash does not void its warranty (it has a 'car wash' mode built into it), they just won't honour any claims from damage done by an automated car wash. Automated washers are not recommended by most manufacturers and it's common for warranties to not cover damage caused by them.

https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/cybertruck/en_us/GUID-65384C1F-86F2-44E8-A8BC-8A12E7E00A40.html

[pritch]

Cybertruck recall. It turns out that they are even more exciting than customers expected.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/19/business/tesla-cybertruck-recall/index.html



And on the basis that a pcture is worth a thousand words:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/WOppJ92RgGU

[onearmedbandit]

Very poor design haha. Some engineer needs to brush up.

[SaferRides]

Cybertruck recall. It turns out that they are even more exciting than customers expected.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/19/business/tesla-cybertruck-recall/index.html



And on the basis that a pcture is worth a thousand words:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/WOppJ92RgGUThe things you can do with soap... Boeing use dishwash liquid on the 737 Max emergency door plug seals to aid assembly, but hadn't documented it. This was picked up during an FAA audit recently.

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[R650R]

Elon might find out other things you can do with soap soon… More recent grandiose announcements made that bumped the share price up by 7%
How long before he gets a Theranos style court appearance.
Or is he a protected CIA asset. Take a minute to think what Starlink is, a global communications network with eventual 100% coverage. No defence budget would get funding for that but via “private enterprise” it’s just about there.
Just imagine the value and power of having the exact location of every personal electronic device. In the world known at any moment.

[pritch]

Just came across this YouTube clip. Tavarish normally owns things like McLarens and Porsche not EVs. He has removed the battery and associated electronics from his flood damaged McLaren P1.

When EV owners talk about their baby they are usually totally biased, you tend to get religious fervour rather than facts. This is a factual account of one purchasers Tesla S.
It's 35 minutes long but it's not hard to watch.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc7tEdEX7ZU

[R650R]

Thunderfoot revises Musk fraud/bankruptcy to three years


https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=F2hVymFzH5x7xab-&v=rPt9hAC24MI&feature=youtu.be

[Ocean1]

Just came across this YouTube clip. Tavarish normally owns things like McLarens and Porsche not EVs. He has removed the battery and associated electronics from his flood damaged McLaren P1.

When EV owners talk about their baby they are usually totally biased, you tend to get religious fervour rather than facts. This is a factual account of one purchasers Tesla S.
It's 35 minutes long but it's not hard to watch.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc7tEdEX7ZU

I rolled out a project I'd put aside until I retired a few months ago. Then did a serious review of the compliance issues involved, and the people required to approve those regulatory constraints, and put it all away again.

Which leaves me with only a few minor useful components worth considering an end use for.

It occurred to me that one of the few projects I could get interested in was to buy a Nissan Leaf with a dead drive line, (for $0:00), remove all of the drive components, fabricate a minimal sub frame and install the blown Chev 400 SB. Preferably with the blower prominently penetrating the bonnet.

Given the recent price collapse I could probably use something later, more sophisticated, but I like the readily identifiable Leaf because of the political statement it would make.

[Grumph]

I've been waiting for the first Prius shell to appear as a speedway saloon.

[pete376403]

I've been waiting for the first Prius shell to appear as a speedway saloon.

Seedway saloon regs say the engine has to come from the body maker, and must be a configuration offered for sale in that body. So no to a V8 Prius on the dirt. Stockcar bodies however, can be anything you like and the only engine limit is (used to be anyway) 240 cu in max (based I believe on the old side valve Ford V8) a single carburettor (multiple venturies ok) and pump petrol. So a Prius bodied stockie is ok, who'se gonna build one?

[pritch]

One man's view of the Cybertruck.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC9a3GR1HJY

[R650R]

Thought this was AI fake news when I first saw it but looks like Kenworth has just royally torpedoed the Tesla Semi.

Yes it’s diesel/hybrid powertrain but with the aerodynamic efficiency improvements this thing is going to run on vapours.

Kenworth has an existing worldwide dealer and service network that is pretty comprehensive and arguably one of best names for reliability (although these days breakdowns are equal across brands for all sorts of reasons) and resale value.

And with there experience in design and actually selling trucks there managed to avoid making it look like the dildo that the Tesla is.

https://www.kenworth.com/innovation/st2/

[Cosmik de Bris]

Thought this was AI fake news when I first saw it but looks like Kenworth has just royally torpedoed the Tesla Semi.

Yes it’s diesel/hybrid powertrain but with the aerodynamic efficiency improvements this thing is going to run on vapours.

Kenworth has an existing worldwide dealer and service network that is pretty comprehensive and arguably one of best names for reliability (although these days breakdowns are equal across brands for all sorts of reasons) and resale value.

And with there experience in design and actually selling trucks there managed to avoid making it look like the dildo that the Tesla is.

https://www.kenworth.com/innovation/st2/

this sounds like a better approach than all ev to me. until the nuclear battery comes along this would cover many applications and climates.

i often joke to a friend that has a tesla, that he should carry a honda generator in the boot, just in case.

cheers

[sugilite]

He just needs to add another 2 X's and the transition will be complete.
https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2024/6/4/elon-musks-x-updates-policies-to-formally-allow-adult-content

Sent from my CPH2499 using Tapatalk

[nerrrd]

For all the faults of its CEO, SpaceX are still making progress with Starship and its Super Heavy Booster – successful launch and controlled landings for both last night.

All caught on camera if you want to watch the whole way through – amazing stuff, especially the shots of the flap melting on re-entry and leaving a rather big hole.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m0TY6i1Kuo

[R650R]

The Man who “knows more about manufacturing than perhaps anyone else on earth” is quietly ditching the gigs casting thing.
It turns out there’s a myriad of reasons other established car makers don’t try to make production cars the same way toys are made….
One of the most obvious is the chassis becomes unrepairable even in minor accidents…

[SaferRides]

Jack a gigacast Tesla in the wrong place and you can write it off.

Sent from my SM-S906E using Tapatalk

[R650R]

https://driving.ca/auto-news/crashes/tesla-cybertruck-wont-fit-too-big-lawsuit-resale-clause

When you buy a Cybertruck you sign a contract to not sell for one year or pay 50k penalty!!!
And you could also be banned from the cult group.

[onearmedbandit]

Interesting. I've seen a few online for sale, there's one currently on Doug's Cars and Bids site and I know they've sold a few on that site, plus another one on BAT along with 8 previous listings.

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/9WjY8DVq/2024-tesla-cybertruck-foundation-series

https://bringatrailer.com/tesla/cybertruck/

[pete376403]

And the shareholders have voted that he be given the $45 billion pay package, against the wishes of the Delaware court.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/jun/13/tesla-shareholders-approve-elon-musk-pay

[pritch]

Musk recently posted an angry message about Apple signing with open AI. Not knowing what he was upset about I just shrugged. Since then I learned something.

Google have access to an AI system and they have a platform: Android.
Microsoft has access to an AI system and they have a platform: Windows.
Apple have announced they are going with open AI and they have a platform: iOS.
Musk had just bought an AI system for US$6 billion and perhaps was hoping to do a deal with Apple? His only potential platform now is X.

[R650R]

Musk recently posted an angry message about Apple signing with open AI. Not knowing what he was upset about I just shrugged. Since then I learned something.

Google have access to an AI system and they have a platform: Android.
Microsoft has access to an AI system and they have a platform: Windows.
Apple have announced they are going with open AI and they have a platform: iOS.
Musk had just bought an AI system for US$6 billion and perhaps was hoping to do a deal with Apple? His only potential platform now is X.

Perhaps HIS owners are unhappy. Had Tesla cars become super successful (nobody kinda wants them anymore) their inbuilt multiangke dashcams couple with Starlink internet and a uniform cell provider/internet browser would be a CIA/NSA/FSB/KGB/Missad wet dream come true…

And now given international events was the destruction of Twitter done on purpose. It was the true home of your traditional lefty anti war types. Now we have two major global conflicts far more destruction and waste of human life than in Iraq yet there have been no truely significant anti war protests(with anti war protests been traditional regardless of whose side anyone is on).

And just look at blowback Biden is suffering from twitter users. I think the Elite are being very careful about social media tools they can go rogue easy.


https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350310953/gen-z-influencers-who-supported-biden-2020-turn-against-him

[SaferRides]

Given that Tesla is regarded as a tech company and not a car manufacturer, what rights does an owner have regarding the software provided in the vehicle? The vehicle is useless without this, so how much control does Tesla have over the vehicle throughout its life? That issue alone would make me very wary of buying one.

There is also the potential issue of Chinese EVs spying on their owners but that is another topic...

Sent from my SM-S906E using Tapatalk

[onearmedbandit]

There is also the potential issue of Chinese EVs spying on their owners but that is another topic...

Sent from my SM-S906E using Tapatalk

Spying on ones customers is not just a "Chinese EV" thing...

https://www.vox.com/technology/2023/4/6/23673339/tesla-camera-privacy

[pritch]

And now given international events was the destruction of Twitter done on purpose. It was the true home of your traditional lefty anti war types.

Not necessarily. It was where you went to see what was happening in the world. Professional journalists likened it to the news room in a major TV studio. Sadly that's no longer the case. And still Elon fiddles...

[pete376403]

Tesla cars not sellingt too well

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/unsold-teslas-pile-up-in-ev-graveyard-as-elon-musk-s-financial-woes-deepen/ar-BB1oaD1x?item=flightsprg-tipsubsc-v1a?utm_source=milei.news#:~:text=It%20seems%20tha t%20excess%20Teslas,re%20visible%20from%20outer%20 space.&text=These%20revealing%20shots%20were%20published, analytics%20to%20monitor%20the%20situation.

[pritch]

Bugger! :shit:

[onearmedbandit]

That looks to be an AI generated image.

[pritch]

That looks to be an AI generated image.

That would be a disappointment but a lesson.

Last night I was listening to a Brit political commentator and he mentioned the video clip showing Biden "wandering off aimlessly " while in Italy and being bright back to the group by the Italian Prime Minister. He was unaware the image had been cropped. Biden walked over to talk to some paratroopers who had just landed by the VIPs. Whether or not the troops are in or out of the picture makes a huge difference.

It's getting difficult to tell what's real and what's not.

[onearmedbandit]

That would be a disappointment but a lesson.

Last night I was listening to a Brit political commentator and he mentioned the video clip showing Biden "wandering off aimlessly " while in Italy and being bright back to the group by the Italian Prime Minister. He was unaware the image had been cropped. Biden walked over to talk to some paratroopers who had just landed by the VIPs. Whether or not the troops are in or out of the picture makes a huge difference.

It's getting difficult to tell what's real and what's not.

100%. Video manipulation is so prevalent now, even with just basic editing but also now with computer generated imagery tools available to almost anyone who cares to learn how to use them. The standout points in that pic were things like the missing side mirrors (including the truck at the rear missing the entire plastic area for the mirror housing and adding extra window area in) along with the front wheel ripped out of the rear truck but no damage around the panel. And just the overall 'feel' of the pic, it has a very generated composition about it.

[nerrrd]

The relentless massaging of message and image by politicians and their 'communications' staff is, in my humble opinion, just as responsible for the loss of trust in politics and institutions as the media, no computer manipulation required.

PR departments should be banned.

[R650R]

Yep a quick scan of shadows and lighting quickly gives away so editing. AI is exposed to so many war images at the moment that often it doesn’t pick up human limbs facing in wrong directions when it creates a fake image.
It’s a pet peeve of mine too that media are now using composite images in news article headline images. There’s a lot of science behind selective colouring within an otherwise black and white image it sends very powerful subconscious messages and should not be used for journalism especially when of a political nature.
In fact it’s the biggest giveaway of bias with fluff news being biggest offender.

Back to topic Thunderfoot has a few new recent musk vids. The latest does a good compilation of musk lies and how much taxpayer dollars he’s taken and still failing to supersede 1960’s technology or success levels.

On another note one of the reasons Saturn 5 was so successful it seems was the scientists/engineers at the time realised designing something with least amount of moving parts was a critical criteria for success. There’s some real clever stuff went into that which obviously musk has never paid attention to.

[nerrrd]

Back to topic Thunderfoot has a few new recent musk vids. The latest does a good compilation of musk lies and how much taxpayer dollars heÂ’s taken and still failing to supersede 1960Â’s technology or success levels.

On another note one of the reasons Saturn 5 was so successful it seems was the scientists/engineers at the time realised designing something with least amount of moving parts was a critical criteria for success. ThereÂ’s some real clever stuff went into that which obviously musk has never paid attention to.

Watched the latest one, he's entertaining and I wouldn't disagree with any of his points about Elon's pathological hucksterism.

On the money side of things, NASA's contemporary equivalent of the Saturn V surely would be the SLS, which costs 4 billion every time it launches (and that's using leftover shuttle engines for the first four launches). So whether it's SpaceX or NASA, it's a ridiculous amount of money. Also I suspect there are lots of people working at both that aren't complete idiots (possibly even some rocket scientists among them), so I wouldn't want to speculate on their reasons (political or otherwise) for supporting SpaceX despite Elon's hype addiction.

The main reason I'm watching Starship and Super Heavy is because the concept seems straight out of Thunderbirds, which was (and still might be) my all-time favourite TV show. FAB!

[R650R]

Awhile ago Elon donated a cyber truck to Chechnyan Warlord working for Putin. It probably seemed like a good idea at the time.
But upon reflection or perhaps a big boot from the state dept he’s remotely disabled the cyber truck.
There’s now one seriously pissed off warlord in Easten Europe.
You have to wonder if the Tesla cam system was capturing any good intelligence data or if the Russians properly aware of it???

Not sure all those big flat reflective glass and steel panels would be something you’d want in a war zone either, bomber pilots dream target


https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=R2B8JB3ku3ybHIIl&v=2ciNx90oKOg&feature=youtu.be

[pritch]

Awhile ago Elon donated a cyber truck to Chechnyan Warlord working for Putin. It probably seemed like a good idea at the time.
But upon reflection or perhaps a big boot from the state dept he’s remotely disabled the cyber truck.
There’s now one seriously pissed off warlord in Easten Europe.
You have to wonder if the Tesla cam system was capturing any good intelligence data or if the Russians properly aware of it???

Not sure all those big flat reflective glass and steel panels would be something you’d want in a war zone either, bomber pilots dream target



Elon is not the most stable individual and his being into multiple drugs can't help. In the US his involvement with drugs and his Putin sympathies are calling his US security clearances into question. Meanwhile he's starting arguments with multiple governments over X content. It's almost as if he's sick of being the world's richest man.

[nerrrd]

Meanwhile at least some of Elon’s technology ambitions are not vaporware, Starship test flight five is set for around 12:30 tonight. If all goes well they’re going to try and land the booster (the really big bit with 33 engines) alongside the launch tower by grabbing it with two metal arms while it hovers, effectively ‘catching’ it out of the air. What could possibly go wrong?


https://www.youtube.com/live/RKINjXRaFtg?si=XUQKpVedfYk5TQp-

[onearmedbandit]

Great success from Elon and his team!

[Berries]

Stayed up to watch but they kept putting back the countdown until it was going to clash with the wife watching the boat race so flagged it and went to bed.

Saw the Mechazilla catch.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iULNSDZ2lQ4?si=AlLL860j-KEv0-gp" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[R650R]

Yes it does appear to be a success.

Elons great sound bite about how long it takes to get approvals vs build time fails to mention some pertinent information.

Because space x is so physically large the literal impact it would have on populated area in an entry disaster is massive. Thunderfoot did a good breakdown of the kinetic energy involved.

[nerrrd]

Yes it does appear to be a success.

Elons great sound bite about how long it takes to get approvals vs build time fails to mention some pertinent information.

Because space x is so physically large the literal impact it would have on populated area in an entry disaster is massive. Thunderfoot did a good breakdown of the kinetic energy involved.

Yes, they have to take all that into account to get the launch licence, at this point I think it's not a problem as the testing is taking place out to sea and they publish no go areas (which are patrolled and monitored, I think some of the delay on Sunday was down to making sure these were empty).

On the way up they have explosives on board so it can be blown up if something goes wrong, on the way down it's almost empty of fuel – also the booster comes in at a big angle in case it needs to abort and land in the ocean instead. I'm not sure about the tank farm, which is full of fuel and very close to the launch site, but hopefully there's some mitigation built in in case of any unexpected impacts (actually the first flight threw a lot of debris around without blowing anything up).

We're still so far away from Starships being allowed anywhere near a populated area, I'd say it's a moot point.

[1/32 man]

Did I read elong has been linked to some sleezebag scandal and that is why he is pouring millions into trumps campaign?

[onearmedbandit]

I don't know, did you?

[Grumph]

He's certainly claimed to be a friend of Sean Combs - "We text all the time" - who is also an investor in X.

And he's known to have moved in the same circles as Ghislaine Maxwell.

Now of course he's promoting Trump.

Not a wise selection of friends I feel.

[R650R]

A different perspective, Thunderfoot nails it again.

Interesting that vertically landing a rocket was already mastered 30 years ago. The USA taxpayer is 4 billion dollars deep into this and they still haven’t done what Saturn 5 did with sliderulers.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75a49S4RTRU

[pritch]

Trump has more than once referred to, "My African American." It is now apparent that Trump's African American is Elon Musk.

[Grumph]

Trump has more than once referred to, "My African American." It is now apparent that Trump's African American is Elon Musk.

And it now appears, an illegal immigrant. Another reason for a Presidential pardon,lol.

[R650R]

Adam does a good rip in this vid.Also covers off on “Elite Projection” how people like musk have ideas that only really work in their clean gated obedient McMansion suburbs of the wealthy.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1lq6Jv-Fmk

[pritch]

Irony of ironies...

Musk has long been ranting about illegal immigrants but it seems Trump's African American was himself an illegal immigrant. He allegedly arrived on a student visa but went straight to work, not to school. Hypocrisy is alive and well in the Trump campaign.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/evidence-grows-that-elon-musk-was-an-illegal-immigrant-before-deciding-he-hated-immigrants/ar-AA1t5a7w

[husaberg]

Irony of ironies...

Musk has long been ranting about illegal immigrants but it seems Trump's African American was himself an illegal immigrant. He allegedly arrived on a student visa but went straight to work, not to school. Hypocrisy is alive and well in the Trump campaign.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/evidence-grows-that-elon-musk-was-an-illegal-immigrant-before-deciding-he-hated-immigrants/ar-AA1t5a7w
that''s okay he paid a lot of tax oh wait.
Just like trump......
https://www.propublica.org/article/the-secret-irs-files-trove-of-never-before-seen-records-reveal-how-the-wealthiest-avoid-income-tax

[SaferRides]

So who is going to buy Teslas in the US now?

Sent from my SM-S906E using Tapatalk

[Pursang]

https://i.imgur.com/UsDnqeA.jpeg

[sugilite]

Looks like Musk will be having to reach down behind the sofa cushions looking for cash to make rent this week.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cyv3pzm4178o

[husaberg]

Looks like Musk will be having to reach down behind the sofa cushions looking for cash to make rent this week.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cyv3pzm4178o
This could be why hes so cozy with Trump now. The same guy that stacked the supreme court....

[pritch]

Musk doesn't seem yet to have got the joke that is his Department of Government Efficiency. The department that is not a department. He went to the Senate suggesting cuts to Defence spending. He got support from precisely one Senator: Bernie Sanders who has long favoured Defence cuts. Musk wants to can the F35. Several countries have ordered them, Saudi Arabia wants them and when Trump is President Saudi Arabia tends to get what it wants. So far the F35 would seem safe.

[R650R]

Musk doesn't seem yet to have got the joke that is his Department of Government Efficiency. The department that is not a department. He went to the Senate suggesting cuts to Defence spending. He got support from precisely one Senator: Bernie Sanders who has long favoured Defence cuts. Musk wants to can the F35. Several countries have ordered them, Saudi Arabia wants them and when Trump is President Saudi Arabia tends to get what it wants. So far the F35 would seem safe.

Perhaps Musk might get taken for a “demonstration” ride in a two seat F35 (does that exist?) You really gotta be careful around the money machine that is the defence industry…

Technology is moving faster than he is thinking though. Jamming technology is getting so advanced it’s kinda ironic that just as AI unmanned aircraft become the next best thing, suddenly a human that can still fly to target with old school knee map and written instructions that can’t be switched off becomes of great value. It’s prob reason why even the old B-52 is getting new engines retrofitted to see them out to 2050.
If you care to read some books from those guys they can precisely navigate old school style to accurate time on target. And I mean real accurate time as you don’t want to fly through the shockwave of lead aircraft’s bomb drop.

Forgot where I saw it but there is now a man portable AI jamming unit that soldiers can take with them in mountains akin to jamming pod on a wild weasel jet that will automatically protect them from incoming threats.

[pritch]

If you care to read some books from those guys they can precisely navigate old school style to accurate time on target. And I mean real accurate time as you don’t want to fly through the shockwave of lead aircraft’s bomb drop.


The altitude they fly at there wouldn't be much chance of that.

[husaberg]

It’s prob reason why even the old B-52 is getting new engines retrofitted to see them out to 2050.


Forgot where I saw it but there is now a man portable AI jamming unit that soldiers can take with them in mountains akin to jamming pod on a wild weasel jet that will automatically protect them from incoming threats.

You seemed to have missed the modern B52s mission is as a missile truck. Since the introduction of moderns sam's its mission as a conventional bomber is only in uncontested airspace. With 8 1950s engines its very inefficient, But 4 new engines saves a lot of maintenance and running costs.

[TheDemonLord]

Musk doesn't seem yet to have got the joke that is his Department of Government Efficiency. The department that is not a department. He went to the Senate suggesting cuts to Defence spending. He got support from precisely one Senator: Bernie Sanders who has long favoured Defence cuts. Musk wants to can the F35. Several countries have ordered them, Saudi Arabia wants them and when Trump is President Saudi Arabia tends to get what it wants. So far the F35 would seem safe.

This is a thoroughly interesting topic TBH - So for myself, I used to have some issues with the F35, but that was more because I thought it was meant to be something it wasnt (in short - I thought it was meant to be a cheaper F22).

Understanding what the F35 does, I actually like it a whole lot more now. It is a seriously terrifying weapons system. I have linked a great video, by Ryan McBeth who basically disagrees entirely with Elon, and there is much that I agree with Ryan in this video. That Range, Projection of Power and absolute impact downrange all heavily favor the F35.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwN2Xatubxg

However... Elon makes an interesting point - an FPV drone can be made for about 300-500 each. An F35 costs around $100,000,000. That means for the resources cost - for every 1 F35, you can get 200,000 Drones. If only 10 percent of those are lethal on target, that is 20,000 casualties.

And that is not factoring in the costs of the Weapons, Fuel, Pilot training etc. for the F35.

One of the first things that any over-enthusiastic Amateur historian learns about Military history, especially WW2 - is that WunderWaffen in many cases hampered German efforts, because they could not be fielded in enough numbers to have a significant impact and took resources away from other more conventional weapons.

As the anecdote goes - it takes 4 Shermans to take out a Tiger, which is why the Americans always showed up with 5.

The US, at the moment, has enough industrial capacity to field enough F35s that they would be effective in any conflict and doubtless would have a significant outcome on any engagement....

The usage of Drones, however by a skilled adversary could be an effect Economic warfare strategy - If we consider Price to be reflective of Man-hours to make something, if a $500 Drone can destroy a multi-million dollar vehicle or a single soldier, eventually - the man hours to replace the losses will (eventually) favor the Drones.

That said... I am sure that eventually we are going to see effective squad-level anti-Drone weaponary - like the Javelin for Tanks and Bunkers or the Stinger for air threats - but even then - a Javelin is ~$300,000, a Stinger is ~$110,000, and the cheapness and effectiveness of Drones is serious bang-for-buck, even if there is a successful Anti-Drone solution, unless the price-point per round is relatively cheap - it will be easy to bleed an enemy financially.

This is all to say - I think Elon is wrong to cancel the F35 - however, he has a point - and once someone figures out a way to remove the human skill element from an FPV drone and have the targetting automated and be able to fly them on-mass - so instead of one drone from one operator hunting for a single individual, it is 1,000 drones covering an area semi-autonomously and engaging any an all targets - then it will reinforce Elons point.

TL;DR - I like the F35 - but Drone warfare is evolving, fascinating and the price point per munition is exceptionally cheap - and Elon has a point (albeit a badly made one)

[pritch]

Musk is exhibiting enthusiasm for his new role. Unfortunately his enthusiasm is matched only by his ignorance. He has tweeted, “Defund the ACLU.” He apparently does not like civil liberties, well not for other people anyway.

It will evidently come as news to Musk but the American Civil Liberties Union does not receive government funding. It is an independent body. No savings to be made there.

[SaferRides]

So Elon's vision of a Tesla future of robotaxis and humanoid robots has wiped nearly 10% off the share value. He thinks that Tesla will be making 2 seat autonomous cars for under US $30k by 2026, although did admit that could be optimistic!

It appears some investors agreed.

Sent from my SM-S906E using Tapatalk

[pritch]

So Elon's vision of a Tesla future of robotaxis and humanoid robots has wiped nearly 10% off the share value. He thinks that Tesla will be making 2 seat autonomous cars for under US $30k by 2026, although did admit that could be optimistic!

It appears some investors agreed.



General Motors seem to agree. They have canned their robot taxi plans.

https://techcrunch.com/2024/12/11/cruise-employees-blindsided-by-gms-plan-to-end-robotaxi-program/

[SaferRides]

Until we have developed true AI, not just machine learning, I doubt that autonomous vehicles that are not geofenced will happen. Also, the cost of a single failure, as GM found with Cruise, can be extremely high.

Sent from my SM-S906E using Tapatalk

[nerrrd]

How many nuclear power stations is that going to take I wonder?

Meta joins the nuclear-powered AI fray (https://www.axios.com/2024/12/03/meta-facebook-nuclear-power-ai-data-centers)

[R650R]

How many nuclear power stations is that going to take I wonder?

Meta joins the nuclear-powered AI fray (https://www.axios.com/2024/12/03/meta-facebook-nuclear-power-ai-data-centers)

Bill gates has already signed a deal with owners of 3 Mile island. Getting restarted for his ai projects net the locals are thrilled.

Seriously though nuclear power has come a long way. It’s time for NZ to get over itself and go nuclear to save jobs and provide cheap power to our aging population. We can’t compete with rest of world if we don’t have reliable affordable power.
Our aging hydro stations will reach their end of life before we’ve decided what to replace them with, god help us if one of the bigger ones suffers any major mechanical failures in meantime.

[SaferRides]

Seriously though nuclear power has come a long way. It’s time for NZ to get over itself and go nuclear to save jobs and provide cheap power to our aging population. We can’t compete with rest of world if we don’t have reliable affordable power.
Our aging hydro stations will reach their end of life before we’ve decided what to replace them with, god help us if one of the bigger ones suffers any major mechanical failures in meantime.The economics alone suggest that nuclear is not a viable option for NZ with current technology. It doesn't even stack up for Australia, which has a far higher power demand than NZ.

Hydro stations don't fail if they are constructed properly and well maintained. One thing you don't need to worry about in NZ, although there have some spectacular disasters in other countries as can be seen on YouTube!






Sent from my SM-S906E using Tapatalk

[pritch]

Bill gates has already signed a deal with owners of 3 Mile island. Getting restarted for his ai projects net the locals are thrilled.

Seriously though nuclear power has come a long way. It’s time for NZ to get over itself and go nuclear to save jobs and provide cheap power to our aging population. We can’t compete with rest of world if we don’t have reliable affordable power.
Our aging hydro stations will reach their end of life before we’ve decided what to replace them with, god help us if one of the bigger ones suffers any major mechanical failures in meantime.

That's OK, but you won't have any insurance in the event of a nuclear accident. Insurance companies won't cover that. There may also be draconian laws introduced to deal with the threat of terrorists. In the US nuclear interests wanted the right to torture people suspected of nuclear terrorism. What are we going to do with the waste? It's rather more complicated than it appears.

[R650R]

That's OK, but you won't have any insurance in the event of a nuclear accident. Insurance companies won't cover that. There may also be draconian laws introduced to deal with the threat of terrorists. In the US nuclear interests wanted the right to torture people suspected of nuclear terrorism. What are we going to do with the waste? It's rather more complicated than it appears.

That may be a good thing, terrorism is using violence to force your ideology on someone else. After what we just saw in Middle East I doubt anyone has sympathy for any form of terrorist. Just like any current laws only a problem for those who choose not to obey.
Experts say our waste would be very small, we could subcontract that out, minor issue. There are newer designs that can completely burn up the fuels energy. We only have waste now as current reactors were designed primarily to produce weapons grade by products (after further processing).
In thousands of years time people will look back and wonder why we took so long to adopt such easy supply of energy. We will be looked on in same way as the anti cellphone tower people.

[R650R]

The economics alone suggest that nuclear is not a viable option for NZ with current technology. It doesn't even stack up for Australia, which has a far higher power demand than NZ.

Hydro stations don't fail if they are constructed properly and well maintained. One thing you don't need to worry about in NZ, although there have some spectacular disasters in other countries as can be seen on YouTube!

Sent from my SM-S906E using Tapatalk

Hopefully our ancestors used right mix and didn’t do it on the cheap to hurry up and get the job done. Time will tell I guess. But the infrastructure is aging and we are only adding somewhat unreliable wind and solar which have quite clearly proven short lifespans for the money spent.

[nerrrd]

…Experts say our waste would be very small, we could subcontract that out, minor issue. There are newer designs that can completely burn up the fuels energy. We only have waste now as current reactors were designed primarily to produce weapons grade by products (after further processing).

I don’t think it’s quite as straightforward as that yet, there are new designs out there but they’re still in the yet-to-be-proven-safe-and-reliable stage.

And google reckons a new standard facility would cost something like 8 billion US dollars to build…we can’t even manage a quarter of that for a couple of ferries.

[R650R]

I don’t think it’s quite as straightforward as that yet, there are new designs out there but they’re still in the yet-to-be-proven-safe-and-reliable stage.

And google reckons a new standard facility would cost something like 8 billion US dollars to build…we can’t even manage a quarter of that for a couple of ferries.

8 billion is only 7 and a half months of welfare payments in this country. We’re already subsidising the wind and solar industries, they’re not feasible business propositions without them.
We’re competing with low wage economies who don’t face the barriers we do.
The longer we wait the more jobs we lose and the poorer future we leave for next generations.

[nerrrd]

8 billion is only 7 and a half months of welfare payments in this country. We’re already subsidising the wind and solar industries, they’re not feasible business propositions without them.
We’re competing with low wage economies who don’t face the barriers we do.
The longer we wait the more jobs we lose and the poorer future we leave for next generations.

8 billion US, so 14 billion in NZ pesos (plus all the extra costs associated with being a tiny country in the middle of nowhere…)

[husaberg]

8 billion is only 7 and a half months of welfare payments in this country. We’re already subsidising the wind and solar industries, they’re not feasible business propositions without them.
We’re competing with low wage economies who don’t face the barriers we do.
The longer we wait the more jobs we lose and the poorer future we leave for next generations.

Us south islanders are all for you aucklanders building yourselves a nuclear power plant in Auckland.
Right on top of a series of volcanoes.

[nerrrd]

Us south islanders are all for you aucklanders building yourselves a nuclear power plant in Auckland.
Right on top of a series of volcanoes.

One of them’s even a supervolcano (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taupō_Volcano).

Small, cheap(er), modular nuclear power generators (https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/what-are-small-modular-reactors-smrs) might be a reasonable option if they ever turn up.

[husaberg]

One of them’s even a supervolcano (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taupō_Volcano).

Small, cheap(er), modular nuclear power generators (https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/what-are-small-modular-reactors-smrs) might be a reasonable option if they ever turn up.
well I have always liked sodium cooled reactors, but not in my own backyard. but if Aukdum needs the power they can have it in their backyard.
looks like they are making a comeback
https://www.terrapower.com/natrium/#:~:text=Natrium%20reactors%20are%20not%20pressuri zed,the%20boiling%20point%20of%20sodium.
but considering what lies under Aukdum one does wonder why thermal does not make more sense then nuclear.
I can see why this wouldn't occurr to to R650r though.

[SaferRides]

8 billion is only 7 and a half months of welfare payments in this country. We’re already subsidising the wind and solar industries, they’re not feasible business propositions without them.
We’re competing with low wage economies who don’t face the barriers we do.
The longer we wait the more jobs we lose and the poorer future we leave for next generations.Wind and solar is not subsidised in NZ, not even for residential installations. Another way we are falling behind Oz.

Sent from my SM-S906E using Tapatalk

[pritch]

Co President Musk is in the news again. It seems nine different countries have expressed security concerns to the US government regarding Musk. SpaceX does not comply with normal government reporting requirements and that has so far resulted in three seperate inquiries. Musk himself does not have the same level of security clearances that other top executives at SpaceX have. There are likely two main reasons for that: his drug use and his unreported contacts with foreign leaders.

It's likely that Tesla, X and SpaceX will be happy their part-time CEO is busyng himself elsewhere.

[pritch]

Meanwhile over on the rapidly failing X... The "free speech absolutist" Elon Musk has shut down a prominent anti-immigrant group. All group members have lost their verified status.

it seems that Trump's tech bro donors want immigrants from India to operate their companies because there are insufficient qualified Americans. That they can pay immigrants less is a bonus.
Musk is currently busy trying to redefine what "America First" means.

[pritch]

When Musk bought Twitter he almost immediately sacked all the moderation and standards staff and boasted bout Twitter being a free speech zone. Of course it immediately became a hate speech zone. Two years later people have had enough and a suitable alternative being available they are leaving X in their millions.

Yesterday our time Musk posted this:
"The reason I'm in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H1B.

Take a big step back and FUCK YOURSELF in the face. I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend."


Today our time Musk posted this:
"Please post a bit more positive, beautiful or informative content on this platform."

It may just be that Musk has finally realised what an absolute cesspool he has created. I wouldn't count on it though.

[husaberg]

When Musk bought Twitter he almost immediately sacked all the moderation and standards staff and boasted bout Twitter being a free speech zone. Of course it immediately became a hate speech zone. Two years later people have had enough and a suitable alternative being available they are leaving X in their millions.

Yesterday our time Musk posted this:
"The reason I'm in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H1B.

Take a big step back and FUCK YOURSELF in the face. I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend."


Today our time Musk posted this:
"Please post a bit more positive, beautiful or informative content on this platform."

It may just be that Musk has finally realised what an absolute cesspool he has created. I wouldn't count on it though.


Tropic Thunder

https://youtu.be/Odd8Zdhuj9o?t=105

[R650R]

Wind and solar is not subsidised in NZ, not even for residential installations. Another way we are falling behind Oz.

Sent from my SM-S906E using Tapatalk

I stand corrected. That is quite impressive then given the difficult locations to transport and install them here in NZ.

[SaferRides]

I stand corrected. That is quite impressive then given the difficult locations to transport and install them here in NZ.Another reason why electricity is so expensive in NZ. I hate to think what the maintenance costs are like for some of the wind farms.

Sent from my SM-S906E using Tapatalk

[pritch]

A photograph for our time? A Cybertruck has exploded in front of a Trump hotel. The photograph shows the truck burning under the Trump sign. Sadly it seems the driver did not survive.

[husaberg]

Not quite as moving as the self-immolation "ie the burning monk" from the Vietnam war.
But it does raise the question, remember when It was made public Fords cost benefit analysis on not having fords burn instead a a recall..
exactly like a pinto. You may also recall Ford like to run the fuel line on the exhaust side on cars like the pinto powered Cortina to save a few mm of pipe.

In sum, the cost of recalling the Pinto would have been $121 million, whereas paying off the victims would only have cost Ford $50 million. The Pinto went into production in 1970 without the safety modifications.In the memo Ford estimated the cost of fuel system modifications to reduce fire risks in rollover events to be $11 per car across 12.5 million cars and light trucks (all manufacturers), for a total of $137 million. The design changes were estimated to save 180 burn deaths and 180 serious injuries per year, a benefit to society of $49.5 million.


You can image Elon having the conservation about safety features it will raise the unit price $11 we can't have that.
355404355405

[onearmedbandit]

A photograph for our time? A Cybertruck has exploded in front of a Trump hotel. The photograph shows the truck burning under the Trump sign. Sadly it seems the driver did not survive.

It's being considered a possibly linked attack to the one in New Orleans. Appears it was filled with fuel canisters and fireworks mortars. Nothing to do with the vehicle itself. And if it was an attack, I doubt there's much reason to feel sorry for the driver if they were involved.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz7qd97eyp0o

[pritch]

We'll have to wait a day or two. The story about the New Orleans incident has changed markedly in the short time since it happened. This story too may be subject to change.

[onearmedbandit]

We'll have to wait a day or two. The story about the New Orleans incident has changed markedly in the short time since it happened. This story too may be subject to change.

True, but there's clear images of what was in the rear tray. I don't think it was to do with an issue with the truck itself. But time will tell.

[onearmedbandit]

https://apnews.com/article/trump-hotel-explosion-tesla-cybertruck-5c5a8fd13a50e2bcde46370ae926d427

Shot himself in the head before the vehicle exploded. I guess you could have sympathy for the mental state he found himself in but definitely nothing to do with safety issues from the vehicle itself. In fact, this article suggests that the structure of the vehicle limited the damage done externally.

[pritch]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R19bBpUw-U

[Katman]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R19bBpUw-U

To be fair, it's somewhat hypocritical of him to condemn Musk for trying to interfere in UK politics when, by all accounts that's precisely what the UK got up to in the lead-up to the US elections.

[husaberg]

https://apnews.com/article/trump-hotel-explosion-tesla-cybertruck-5c5a8fd13a50e2bcde46370ae926d427

...but definitely nothing to do with safety issues from the vehicle itself. In fact, this article suggests that the structure of the vehicle limited the damage done externally.

As side from the optics of Trump/Musk tie in, I Dont' agree, As any vehicle with huge lithium batteries is very hard to put the fire out afterwards ,making it a "good choice" if you want to create a news story.

[onearmedbandit]

As side from the optics of Trump/Musk tie in, I Dont' agree, As any vehicle with huge lithium batteries is very hard to put the fire out afterwards ,making it a "good choice" if you want to create a news story.

Yeah I was referring to the initial speculation regarding safety issues with the CyberTruck specifically due to 'cost cutting' whether only implied here, or as seen elsewhere on the 'net outright stated, not to do with the dangers of lithium battery technology itself. My comment had nothing to do with 'optics' of any tie in between Musk and Trump, not sure why you needed to bring that up considering the lack of relevance with respect to my comment.

[pritch]

Musk is in trouble with the Securities Exchange Commission. Again.

https://www.sec.gov/enforcement-litigation/litigation-releases/lr-26219

[nerrrd]

Another spectacular test flight for Starship, mostly for the wrong reasons.


https://youtu.be/4vbQKcShRXs?si=nU_kfmOMw8FR8Pdy

Combine this with Blue Origin’s failure the day before, very hard to see how the road ahead for the industrialisation of space isn’t still a very, very, very long one.

We seem to be in an age of technology promising a lot, but failing to deliver. Maybe if they can get AI working where it can actually do some good, ie in academic and scientific research, we’ll see some benefits before too long.

It’s all a bit sad.

[onearmedbandit]

Musk in a possible 'rescue' for tiktok in America

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/supreme-court-upholds-tiktok-ban-or-sale-law-set-to-start-sunday/DYM4JEILAJGATO6FAJE3VV3DLY/

[R650R]

We seem to be in an age of technology promising a lot, but failing to deliver. Maybe if they can get AI working where it can actually do some good, ie in academic and scientific research, we’ll see some benefits before too long.

It’s all a bit sad.

It’s moving way faster in background than many can comprehend. AI systems have reportedly consumed the entire internet (could be a bad thing lol) and have now moved to human style learning processes. Top companies are now having their AI robots run through imaginary scenarios eg deliberately doing something wrong way to see what happens and learn adaptation.
I don’t like Tesla’s vision only system for its cars but even that is using all its failures in a feedback loop so it knows more about what to do. Expect regulatory approval for self driving update this year due to being matey with Trump.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRZp8MZ6piA

[nerrrd]

ItÂ’s moving way faster in background than many can comprehend. AI systems have reportedly consumed the entire internet (could be a bad thing lol) and have now moved to human style learning processes. Top companies are now having their AI robots run through imaginary scenarios eg deliberately doing something wrong way to see what happens and learn adaptation.
I donÂ’t like TeslaÂ’s vision only system for its cars but even that is using all its failures in a feedback loop so it knows more about what to do. Expect regulatory approval for self driving update this year due to being matey with Trump.

I’m hoping it’ll revolutionise something a bit more important than logistics, but sure.

If Elon’s self driving ambitions parallel his Starship ones even slightly, I predict there’s still a long and rocky road ahead, regulations notwithstanding. They had to divert a lot of planes around that explosion apparently, which won’t have endeared him to the authorities.

[husaberg]

I’m hoping it’ll revolutionise something a bit more important than logistics, but sure.

If Elon’s self driving ambitions parallel his Starship ones even slightly, I predict there’s still a long and rocky road ahead, regulations notwithstanding. They had to divert a lot of planes around that explosion apparently, which won’t have endeared him to the authorities.

Quite a few people die each year from robots that are in a neat programed controlled space, normally I think as they don't turn off properly for maintenance etc, let alone out in the open interacting from random stuff.
I do recall one where the packing machine confused a person for a stack of produce and seriously injured them or maybe killed them.
Of course some humans are more vegetable like than others.

oh it killed them....
I had a feeling there was one in Aussie in the last year too?
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-67354709
https://www.skynews.com.au/business/tesla-factory-worker-attacked-by-robot-that-dug-its-claws-into-back-and-arm-amid-accusations-of-workplace-safety-lapses-report/news-story/036154213dc113d0dece5ebc4e97ef4b

[onearmedbandit]

How to make yourself look stupid.

[pritch]

Twitter used to be wonderful for exchanges like that. People with confidence matched only by their ignorance unwittingly challenging professionals in the field.

I suspect it isn't so common now. The ignorati are still there but the professionals have mostly moved on.



Following that post I visited twitter. Overall depressing but there were pleasing moments. An aggressive Trump voter, who is a government worker and has been working from home, has just been ordered back to the office. He is wailing that he has to care for his mother. That all government workers would have to return to the office was Trump policy so it shouldn't have come as a surprise. He got what he voted for and now he doesn't like it. He will be but one of many.

[Pursang]

Last Night at the TESLA factory in Germany!

https://www.enimerosi24.gr/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/mask-1.jpg

[pritch]

Musk in a possible 'rescue' for tiktok in America

Maybe not? Apparently the Wall Street banks are trying to on sell their share of the debt he acquired to buy Twitter. They don't do that if they feel it's a rock solid investment.

Tesla has problems. Musk doesn't even mention it much anymore. He certainly isn't spending any time there. His statements are often offensive to Tesla's potential customer base and now they can buy a better quality Chinese vehicle for considerably less.

Maybe Musk needs to rescue Musk?

[Laava]

Maybe Musk needs to rescue Musk?
Surely that is the job of Trump, Putin, Netanyeeha and whatever drone is ruling China?

[onearmedbandit]

and now they can buy a better quality Chinese vehicle for considerably less.

Maybe Musk needs to rescue Musk?

Agree with all you've said except this bit, Tesla is still considered by many to be the class leader in EV manufacturing (this is not my opinion, I have never surveyed the range - this is the opinion of many who have).

[pritch]

Agree with all you've said except this bit, Tesla is still considered by many to be the class leader in EV manufacturing (this is not my opinion, I have never surveyed the range - this is the opinion of many who have).

I was basing that on the consistent poor build quality comments.

[R650R]

Maybe not? Apparently the Wall Street banks are trying to on sell their share of the debt he acquired to buy Twitter. They don't do that if they feel it's a rock solid investment.

Tesla has problems. Musk doesn't even mention it much anymore. He certainly isn't spending any time there. His statements are often offensive to Tesla's potential customer base and now they can buy a better quality Chinese vehicle for considerably less.

Maybe Musk needs to rescue Musk?

You do realise wall st will be selling it to someone else in wall st. This is very common, they prob want to exchange for cash to invest in what is going to be the new boom time of our age. The money pouring into AI related investments coupled with trumps removal of restrictions in many areas means we’re heading into Silicon Valley 2.0. And the big money doesn’t want to miss out.

First we had the PC computer age, it was quite slow adoption. Then smartphones came along and everyone was just envious of people who could afford flasher ones, they’re just a gimmick etc. Now they are almost a vital time saving tool in our daily lives.
Change is coming faster than we realise and wall st needs cash to invest.

Much fuss was made recently about Warren Buffett (long term buy and hold type guy) selling huge stakes he had in Apple and other big names. Fear mongers were like what does he know is a crash coming. The smart people know that he knows big opportunities are coming and he wants cash in hand to buy.

[R650R]

Agree with all you've said except this bit, Tesla is still considered by many to be the class leader in EV manufacturing (this is not my opinion, I have never surveyed the range - this is the opinion of many who have).

As much as we hate Tesla and musk your right. He has an established customer base and vital in trump era it’s made in America. The Chinese stuff is getting good but it’s not discounted enough to sway existing customers from other brands.
For example I looked into getting a Huawei phone but damn it’s just about same price as Apple so k may as well stay with platform and apps I know.

[onearmedbandit]

I was basing that on the consistent poor build quality comments.

Of which there have been a number. But those who test and evaluate these cars still consider Tesla to be the yardstick to which all others are measured. While Tesla have had issues with QC they have been quick to rectify most, if not all, of them.

[SaferRides]

Of which there have been a number. But those who test and evaluate these cars still consider Tesla to be the yardstick to which all others are measured.
As long as you don't mind fugly.



Sent from my SM-S906E using Tapatalk

[pete376403]

For example I looked into getting a Huawei phone but damn it’s just about same price as Apple so k may as well stay with platform and apps I know.

Thats more a case of there are Apple phones and everything else is Android based. They are different enough to make staying with the one you know worthwhile. I would really like and Android phone, but the Bluetooth implementation that Cochlear use (cochlear implant hearing device) only works with Apple. Other than that iPhones are to me a pain in the arse

[sugilite]

Thats more a case of there are Apple phones and everything else is Android based. They are different enough to make staying with the one you know worthwhile. I would really like and Android phone, but the Bluetooth implementation that Cochlear use (cochlear implant hearing device) only works with Apple. Other than that iPhones are to me a pain in the arse

Would this be helpful linked below? Or you have a different model than those supported by Android?
https://www.cochlear.com/us/en/professionals/products-and-candidacy/software-and-connectivity/apps/nucleus-smart-app

[nerrrd]

I don't understand what people do with their $1000 phones that make them worth the money, the $200- $300 android ones I buy do everything I could ever need. Try finding an iPhone for that price.

[onearmedbandit]

I don't understand what people do with their $1000 phones that make them worth the money, the $200- $300 android ones I buy do everything I could ever need. Try finding an iPhone for that price.

For me it's primarily camera quality. Mind you, the last new phone I bought myself was an iPhone 11 Pro with great low light camera functionality. It cost around $1800 but it does everything I have needed since it was new so I've had no interest in updating. I used to every year because Vodafone made it too easy, great trade in value and discount on the new phone, pretty sure they still do now (although now branded One NZ) but no reason for me to do so. When the battery on this one gets past it's use by date that need will change I guess.

[R650R]

I don't understand what people do with their $1000 phones that make them worth the money, the $200- $300 android ones I buy do everything I could ever need. Try finding an iPhone for that price.

Prob ok for just calls and txt. Bought a cheap 200 Samsung to use as satnav on holiday. Everything seemed to need another layer of clicking through menus or signing into google play store for apps etc and not all the stuff I currently use was available on their platform.
Like other poster said the camera quality is right up there and the editing software does some cool stuff very easily. I’d like to buy an SLR camera body again to use some good lenses I still have but I’m getting by with phone as the only thing I can’t do with phone is proper non digital zoom long focal length.
It’s bit like a 1200 bandit could do a public road trip time wgtn to akld same as a hayabusa if only moderate speeding was involved with good riders but the hayabusa would do it easier.

[nerrrd]

Hmmm, maybe I’ll have to try one one day to see what I’m missing. I’m an Apple guy otherwise, The first smartphones I had were iPhones (bought second hand) but got annoyed with the limited storage for carrying my own music with me. Google maps, (limited) streaming, listening to music and the camera (my needs there are utilitarian only) are all I really use mine for. I rarely call or text anyone. I also tragically sometimes still listen to FM radio, which most of the cheaper android phones still enable.

Does Elon use an android or an iPhone, or is there a ‘billionaire’ phone that’s off limits to we plebians? (I use that term deliberately, given his recent proclivity for certain romanesque gestures).

[pete376403]

Would this be helpful linked below? Or you have a different model than those supported by Android?
https://www.cochlear.com/us/en/professionals/products-and-candidacy/software-and-connectivity/apps/nucleus-smart-app
Thanks for that - when I previously looked the only android was a Google Pixel but I see that now there are certain Samsungs that have compatibility.

[pritch]

My current phone is an iPhone SE 3rd generation a couple of years old, it's still the current model but the 4th gen is due shortly. The SE is Apple on a budget, it cost about $800 new. There's loads of memory unused which was the limiting factor on my last phone so I'm hoping I'm OK for a while - battery permitting.

Was looking at the PB Tech site the other day and was mildly startled to see there are phones over $3,000 for the big noters among us.

[HenryDorsetCase]

When we were young paŕt of our mating displays might have been having a fancy car or expensive watch, but lots of young people dont care about either, but they all have phones. ... and the matching watch. According to them my old Samsung with cracked screen and duct tape on it is "embarrassing"

[sugilite]

I don't understand what people do with their $1000 phones that make them worth the money, the $200- $300 android ones I buy do everything I could ever need. Try finding an iPhone for that price.
I generally have phones for 3 years before upgrading. I had to close my eyes when getting my latest though, a foldable. I needed to have 3 apps open on one sceeen do make decisions on purchasing rare minerals. I missed out on heaps of deals when having to flick backwards and forwards between apps to get the details and numbers I needed to make a decision. Other buyers would beat me to it. Now I rarely miss out and the phone has made me a lot more money than it cost me. It also has the best cameras on a foldable available to show my customers photos and videos said minerals. Though the replacement model will likely have macro video abilities, which would be nice! Tech eh.


Thanks for that - when I previously looked the only android was a Google Pixel but I see that now there are certain Samsungs that have compatibility.
You are most welcome. Samsung make solid phones and generally last very well. I nearly went apple a couple of years ago as their camera and video files don't get as mangled via social media compression software. I do loath their walled garden approach though.

I reckon elon is a iPhone guy and uses one of those to restrict peoples accounts when they correctly call him out for cheating. Mr free speech absolutist at work :oi-grr:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yruhK7bx2ho&t=133s

[nerrrd]

I’m looking forward to the day when everyone just has a recyclable terminal like in the Expanse. Not looking forward to the mass unemployment and dead oceans though.

[pritch]

Doncha just love it?

[pritch]

OK we know now, but we can still feel sympathy for people who bought into Musk's early bullshit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuNaXL9HA6s

[pritch]

Musk isn't spending a lot of time at Tesla these days. Probably a good thing really. In Europe's second biggest EV market France sales are down 63%. Sales are down 41% in Germany.

[pritch]

This morning a report that the CEO of Tesla, the Board Chairwoman and Musk’s brother have been selling Tesla stock. The report didn’t say who is buying.

[R650R]

This morning a report that the CEO of Tesla, the Board Chairwoman and Musk’s brother have been selling Tesla stock. The report didn’t say who is buying.

Yep just seen that on my SEC alerts. Musks brother (whoever he is) sold 27 million, must have needed some pocket money. However Tesla is a 1.8 Trillion market cap company so it’s barely a dent.

Also a lot of these big companies don’t pay dividends so to realise a profit other income you need to sell some of your holding on occasions.

The price is taking a dive but that’s not unusual for Tesla stock. 40% is owned by everyday Joe blogs retail investors so this vulnerable to public opinion. Expect Elon to buy the dip then in couple months make another new grandiose vapourware claim to boost price up, happens like clockwork.

Whose buying??? People who are staking longer term positions or just unaware how things really work. Also hedge fund that made price bets and options long time ago can be forced into buying to cover positions.

As much as we hate Elon this is not a good thing for us. Teslas just outside of the magnificent 7 (Apple, nvidia, amazon, google, meta(facebook), blackstone, Merck) but is still near top and part of SP500. Your KiwiSaver and retirement investments will have money in sp500 if not outright Tesla shares also.

He’s getting desperate though he’s brought back free supercharging for life for new Tesla buyers that he previously said was unsustainable and not coming back. That will piss off a lot of current owners.

[sugilite]

Musk is a lot of things, and one of those is he is very, very smart.
He knew tesla will very likely be a casualty of his nazi agenda, and he is willing to let tesla die for it, as the money he will lose from tesla dying (up to 60% reduction in sales in some markets already) pales into insignificance to the money he will make being president of the USA.

[pritch]

Expect Elon to buy the dip then in couple months make another new grandiose vapourware claim to boost price up, happens like clockwork.


He made the latest grandiose claim in the last 24 hrs. Tesla are going to build 10,000 robots this year. That was his response to drops in Tesla sales in world markets ranging from from forty percent to over sixty percent.

It wasn't just his brother who unloaded it was also the CEO and the Board chair. It's not quite rats leaving a sinking ship but it's not a good look either. And it did jerk Musk into another grandiose claim.

[sugilite]

He made the latest grandiose claim in the last 24 hrs. Tesla are going to build 10,000 robots this year. That was his response to drops in Tesla sales in world markets ranging from from forty percent to over sixty percent.

It wasn't just his brother who unloaded it was also the CEO and the Board chair. It's not quite rats leaving a sinking ship but it's not a good look either. And it did jerk Musk into another grandiose claim.

I guess twitter is about to lose 10,000 of it's bots. :shifty:

[Kickaha]

No conflict of interest in his actions at all

https://gizmodo.com/elon-musks-enemy-usaid-was-investigating-starlink-over-its-contracts-in-ukraine-2000559365