David Horsey’s op ed that accompanied his ‘toon in The Seattle Times:
I may be naive, but I think Steve Jobs, one of the two greatest founding fathers of the tech industry, would not be groveling at President Donald Trump’s feet and funding his campaigns the way many of today’s major tech bros are doing. Jobs, the man who built Apple and changed society with the iPhone, was a notoriously tough and temperamental boss, but he had a social conscience and an uncompromising spirit.
Microsoft’s Bill Gates, Jobs’ rival and the other half of the founding pair, has devoted the recent decades of his life to doing good works around the world and, though he has met with Trump, he has remained independent of the president. This is very much unlike Elon Musk, who has morphed into Trump’s No. 1 hatchet man. Musk was part of the lineup of tech moguls sitting beside the Trump family at the inauguration on Jan. 20 and that image said it all: The members of this second generation of hugely successful Silicon Valley entrepreneurs are desperate to sell what little soul they have in order to appease Trump and keep themselves free from federal government oversight and regulation.
Having seriously undermined democracy by pummeling traditional media and giving a massive megaphone to extremists and conspiracy theorists via social media, the libertarian tech titans are moving on to empower artificial intelligence with the potential to devastate the workforce, and rejigger human identity and purpose. Add to that the avaricious bros promoting cryptocurrency with its ability to wreak economic havoc and there is all the justification needed for the establishment of regulations to protect the public interest.
But the tech bros will not have it. They see themselves as high IQ visionaries with an inherent right to alter reality for all of humanity without governmental interference — and to make billions of dollars for themselves in the process.
Journalist Kara Swisher, the highly informed observer and caustic critic of the tech industry, describes the attitude quite well in “Burn Book,” her chronicle of the nerdy, entitled personalities who have thrived in this brave new tech world. She begins her book noting the hypocrisy of all the tech leaders who derided Trump as a buffoon yet flocked to Trump Tower to commiserate with him — not this year, but in 2015 even before he moved to the White House the first time.
“This kind of casual hypocrisy became increasingly common over the decades that I covered Silicon Valley’s elite,” Swisher writes. “Over that time, I watched founders transform from young, idealistic strivers in a scrappy upstart industry into leaders of some of America’s largest and most influential businesses. And while there were exceptions, the richer and more powerful they grew, the more compromised they became. …”
Are these the people we want inventing our future with no one keeping watch?
Attribution: Musk and Empathy by Pat Bagley, The Salt Lake Tribune, UT
trail friend BiD last thread also cited Musk on empathy
“The fundamental weakness of Western civilization is empathy, the empathy exploit.[…]There they’re exploiting a bug in Western civilization, which is the empathy response.”
Musk pointed to seniors who are recipients of Social Security in the same interview. He portrays the program as a fraudulent “Ponzi Scheme” even though Social Security has saved millions of Americans from deprivation and despair in their twilight years.
He also took a shot at immigrants and accused them of exploiting the “bug” in his uncaring authoritarian system.
[…]
*He let it slip in the Rogan interview; empathy is something to be exploited. He’s gaslighting.
Jordan Klepper covers the backlash against Elon Musk, including town hall rage against his unconfirmed DOGE position and sweeping Tesla vandalization. Plus, some advice for the returning NASA astronauts on how to acclimate to Trump and Elon’s new world.
You know what? Until Alaskans tell me, Lisa, it’s just not working anymore, I am going to give you every last breath that I have, and I’m going to try to solve every little problem, and I’m not going to compromise my own integrity by hiding from my words when I feel they need to be spoken. I’m going to take the criticism that comes, and it may be that Elon Musk has decided he’s going to take the next billion dollars that he makes off of Starlink and put it directly against Lisa Murkowski.
And you know what? That may happen. But I’m not giving up one minute, one opportunity to try to stand up for Alaskans, but I’ve got to figure out how to do that, and I need Alaskans’ help to tell me what they’re feeling so that I can help deal with that.
It is, you know, I don’t mean to be critical of you. You and I, we can spar at these things, and I actually like the engagements. It kind of reminds me back in the days of Bob Tkach.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But seriously, you know, think about it, Mark.
I get criticized for what I say, and then everybody else is like, well, how come nobody else is saying anything?
Well, figure it out, because they’re looking at how many things are being thrown at me, and it’s like, maybe I just better duck and cover. That’s why you’ve got everybody just, like, zip-lipped, not saying a word, because they’re afraid they’re going to be taken down, they’re going to be primaried, they’re going to be given names in the media. You know what? We cannot be cowed into not speaking up.
Kara Swisher, quoted in that Horsey piece, is such a keen observer of techbros (so few women among them?). I always pay attention when I see her on the TeeVee
Walter Charles Langer (February 5, 1899 – July 4, 1981) studied psychoanalysis at Harvard University, where he worked as a professor upon completion of his education. He was later employed by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), where in 1943 he prepared a psychoanalysis profile of Hitler. In this analysis, Langer accurately predicted that Hitler would commit suicide as the “most plausible outcome”, and the possibility of a military coup against Hitler well before the assassination attempt of 1944.
Following Langer’s analysis and Hitler’s subsequent death, Langer turned the report into a book about Adolf Hitler, The Mind of Adolf Hitler: A Secret Wartime Report. This book was Langer’s best-known; however, he also wrote the books Psychology and Human Living, A Psychological analysis of Adolf Hitler: His Life and Legend, and Dissecting the Hitler Mind.
craig, yep, she’s someone to listen to about the tech world. for those who aren’t familiar with her here’s Kara Swisher – Wikipedia
Kara Anne Swisher (/ˈkɛərə/KAIR-ə; born December 11, 1962) is an American journalist. She has covered the business of the internet since 1994. As of 2023, Swisher was a contributing editor at New York Magazine, the host of the podcast On with Kara Swisher, and the co-host of the podcast Pivot.[3]
Articles about the Holocaust, September 11, cancer awareness, sexual assault and suicide prevention are among the tens of thousands either removed or flagged for removal from Pentagon websites as the department has scrambled to comply with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s order to scrub “diversity” content from all its platforms.
A database obtained by CNN shows that more than 24,000 articles could be purged, with many gone already. The scrub goes well beyond just the removal of images from the Pentagon’s visual database, known as DVIDS, and includes articles from across more than 1,000 websites hosted by the department.
” I said yesterday in a rally that we could symbolically take back the Statue of Liberty if your government despised everything it symbolizes in your eyes, ours, and those of the world.
It was a wake up call.
No one, of course, will come and steal the Statue of Liberty.
The statue is yours. But what it embodies belongs to everyone.
And if the free world no longer interests your government, then we will take up the torch, here in Europe.” – French MEP Raphaël Glucksmann
Here’s the thing about being “primaried” by MuskRat. If Republicans continue to let DIGE destroy democracy, and social safety nets are harmed or gone or even privatized, voters will primary them, anyway. Choose US Constitution & your constituents over Kremlin & Krasnov. We can all see Russia in our House & Senate.
i got my dahlias split last night and the rest of my seeds planted so i’m on schedule to have the trumpists steal all my crops before they execute me 🇺🇸
you know they want to
anonhomeofthefreeyay
13 days ago
i’m being dramatic, they might just send me to a foreign for-profit mega-prison after disappearing me
Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil is a 1963 book by the philosopher and political thinker Hannah Arendt. Arendt, a Jew who fled Germany during Adolf Hitler’s rise to power, reported on the trial of Adolf Eichmann, one of the major organizers of the Holocaust, for The New Yorker. A revised and enlarged edition was published in 1964.
^^********^^^*^^^^^^^
i remember watching that guy on television.
Bullet proof glass cage.
Just following orders.
Last edited 13 days ago by Sturgeone
anonpourunraison
13 days ago
liberals: “youtube is so convenient for sharing music”
conservatives: “youtube is so convenient for spreading propaganda”
If that truck didn’t have the Tesla T on the hood no one would buy it – well, most truck drivers wouldn’t. It’s ugly as hell, has been overhyped and is limited as a truck. Reminds me of an uglier, albeit electric, version of the older Honda Ridgeline. Limited as trucks go.
anonbabaloobop
13 days ago
they’re not buying them to haul they’re buying them to run ppl over
“Trump signs order gutting Department of Education”
“Trump signed the order during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House while flanked on each side by schoolchildren seated at desks”
*Very Orwellian, but he’s probably never read Orwell.
Trump is expected to continue the reforms — pledging to erase more staff from the department.
“I expect it will [be shut down entirely],” Trump said on “Full Measure” with Sharyl Attkisson earlier this month. “You’ll have a few people left just to make sure [the states are] teaching English — you know, you say reading, writing and arithmetic.”
“However, congressional approval is required to abolish a federal agency, and McMahon has acknowledged she would need Congress to carry out the president’s vision to close the department she’s been tapped to lead. It would take 60 “yes” votes in the Senate to overcome the filibuster and dismantle the department that Congress created.”
*He’s stupid and he knows it, which is why he hates education.
The funniest TeSSla video was the one showing that the exoskeleton is just glued on. Did just ripped off the panels and trim with his bare hands. Piece of overpriced junk, on top of being fugly. Selling the to police departments and military…pffft!
“Fair Housing Groups Sue HUD, DOGE for Canceling Funding. The organizations are feeling the impact of losing grants in February.” “The cancellation of the grants jeopardizes over $30 million in critical, congressionally authorized funding for fair housing groups to fight housing discrimination and enforce fair housing laws throughout the country, according to the plaintiffs.”
“The elimination of funding also looks to halt several housing discrimination investigations.”
“Separately, HUD secretary Scott Turner also announced that HUD will terminate the Biden-era Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule, saying the move will cut red tape and return decision-making power back to local and state governments. Fair housing advocates say this is another step in dismantling the fair housing framework in the country.”
David Horsey’s op ed that accompanied his ‘toon in The Seattle Times:
Attribution: Musk and Empathy by Pat Bagley, The Salt Lake Tribune, UT
trail friend BiD last thread also cited Musk on empathy
more on Ellen from the daily show last night
Jordan Klepper covers the backlash against Elon Musk, including town hall rage against his unconfirmed DOGE position and sweeping Tesla vandalization. Plus, some advice for the returning NASA astronauts on how to acclimate to Trump and Elon’s new world.
speaking of those returning astronauts and the not-so-brave new world they found themselves in nine months later
Attribution: Astronauts: from Stranded to Shocked by Jeff Koterba, patreon.com/jeffreykoterba
kudos to the Senator from Alaska! this needs to get more coverage.
Sen. Murkowski: “We Cannot Be Cowed Into Speaking Up” Against Musk Under Threat Of A Primary, “I’m Going To Have To Stiffen My Spine” | Video | RealClearPolitics
Fox even covered it plus other recent instances where she’s been outspoken against Dodo and Ellen.
Murkowski says Musk could spend a billion dollars against her re-election | Fox News
Kara Swisher, quoted in that Horsey piece, is such a keen observer of techbros (so few women among them?). I always pay attention when I see her on the TeeVee
Wiki
Author of the last century
Walter Charles Langer (February 5, 1899 – July 4, 1981) studied psychoanalysis at Harvard University, where he worked as a professor upon completion of his education. He was later employed by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), where in 1943 he prepared a psychoanalysis profile of Hitler. In this analysis, Langer accurately predicted that Hitler would commit suicide as the “most plausible outcome”, and the possibility of a military coup against Hitler well before the assassination attempt of 1944.
Following Langer’s analysis and Hitler’s subsequent death, Langer turned the report into a book about Adolf Hitler, The Mind of Adolf Hitler: A Secret Wartime Report. This book was Langer’s best-known; however, he also wrote the books Psychology and Human Living, A Psychological analysis of Adolf Hitler: His Life and Legend, and Dissecting the Hitler Mind.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mind_of_Adolf_Hitler
craig, yep, she’s someone to listen to about the tech world. for those who aren’t familiar with her here’s Kara Swisher – Wikipedia
BTW spring has sprung as of 5:00 am ET
Articles about the Holocaust, September 11, cancer awareness, sexual assault and suicide prevention are among the tens of thousands either removed or flagged for removal from Pentagon websites as the department has scrambled to comply with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s order to scrub “diversity” content from all its platforms.
A database obtained by CNN shows that more than 24,000 articles could be purged, with many gone already. The scrub goes well beyond just the removal of images from the Pentagon’s visual database, known as DVIDS, and includes articles from across more than 1,000 websites hosted by the department.
” I said yesterday in a rally that we could symbolically take back the Statue of Liberty if your government despised everything it symbolizes in your eyes, ours, and those of the world.
It was a wake up call.
No one, of course, will come and steal the Statue of Liberty.
The statue is yours. But what it embodies belongs to everyone.
And if the free world no longer interests your government, then we will take up the torch, here in Europe.” – French MEP Raphaël Glucksmann
Even in Wyoming they’re booing Trump Republicans..
Here’s the thing about being “primaried” by MuskRat. If Republicans continue to let DIGE destroy democracy, and social safety nets are harmed or gone or even privatized, voters will primary them, anyway. Choose US Constitution & your constituents over Kremlin & Krasnov. We can all see Russia in our House & Senate.
New CNN poll: Trump is the second most unpopular president ever at the two-month mark — second only to himself in 2017.
Spring sprung at 5:01 a.m. Daffodils are blooming, rain and cooler temperatures are forecast. Spring in East Bumfuck.
He’d spin at as breaking his faentestic record from his first term.
today’s meme…
meme #2…
Tesla recalls almost outpace judges recalling Elon’s firings of federal workers. https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/20/tesla-recalls-over-46000-cybertrucks-as-trim-detaching-from-vehicle.html
He’s not quasi—he’s cway-zee
i got my dahlias split last night and the rest of my seeds planted so i’m on schedule to have the trumpists steal all my crops before they execute me 🇺🇸
you know they want to
i’m being dramatic, they might just send me to a foreign for-profit mega-prison after disappearing me
These guys were so good at their craft it’s scary At least, it used to be.
Take a silly little ditty like that and turn it into such a pleasant thing.
never realized until bluetooth earbuds how amazing the guitar work in this is
them fills 🤯
i shared the Bagley/Hannah Arendt cartoon widely
Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil is a 1963 book by the philosopher and political thinker Hannah Arendt. Arendt, a Jew who fled Germany during Adolf Hitler’s rise to power, reported on the trial of Adolf Eichmann, one of the major organizers of the Holocaust, for The New Yorker. A revised and enlarged edition was published in 1964.
^^********^^^*^^^^^^^
i remember watching that guy on television.
Bullet proof glass cage.
Just following orders.
liberals: “youtube is so convenient for sharing music”
conservatives: “youtube is so convenient for spreading propaganda”
Spreading the Good News
Can’t believe we have to pay attention to this because we elected a dumb ass who appointed an even dumber dumb ass.. “Who Needs Measles Shot”:
WSJ free article..
https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/measles-cases-vaccine-booster-what-to-know-167a104b?st=YvmZtu&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
HUNTING EICHMANN
A good book about hunting down Adolf Eichmann in Argentina, kidnapping him and getting him out of the country.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunting_Eichmann
DOGE taking phones from employees at the Institute of Museum and Library Service.
Craig – Call local TV to get over there if they aren’t already.
If that truck didn’t have the Tesla T on the hood no one would buy it – well, most truck drivers wouldn’t. It’s ugly as hell, has been overhyped and is limited as a truck. Reminds me of an uglier, albeit electric, version of the older Honda Ridgeline. Limited as trucks go.
they’re not buying them to haul they’re buying them to run ppl over
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/19/trump-musk-french-scientist-detained
French scientist denied US entry after phone messages critical of Trump found
France’s research minister said the scientist was traveling to Houston for a conference when his phone was searched
do you have to be some sort of visionary to see the forest for the trees here or are people going to wale the fuck up
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-expected-sign-order-gutting-department-education-sources/story?id=119967268
“Trump signs order gutting Department of Education”
“Trump signed the order during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House while flanked on each side by schoolchildren seated at desks”
*Very Orwellian, but he’s probably never read Orwell.
Trump is expected to continue the reforms — pledging to erase more staff from the department.
“I expect it will [be shut down entirely],” Trump said on “Full Measure” with Sharyl Attkisson earlier this month. “You’ll have a few people left just to make sure [the states are] teaching English — you know, you say reading, writing and arithmetic.”
“However, congressional approval is required to abolish a federal agency, and McMahon has acknowledged she would need Congress to carry out the president’s vision to close the department she’s been tapped to lead. It would take 60 “yes” votes in the Senate to overcome the filibuster and dismantle the department that Congress created.”
*He’s stupid and he knows it, which is why he hates education.
The funniest TeSSla video was the one showing that the exoskeleton is just glued on. Did just ripped off the panels and trim with his bare hands. Piece of overpriced junk, on top of being fugly. Selling the to police departments and military…pffft!
Anon, they’d probably work fine for that purpose – assuming the bumpers don’t fall off upon impact.
Just posted my latest cooking video..
https://www.housingfinance.com/news/fair-housing-groups-sue-hud-doge-for-canceling-funding_o
“Fair Housing Groups Sue HUD, DOGE for Canceling Funding. The organizations are feeling the impact of losing grants in February.”
“The cancellation of the grants jeopardizes over $30 million in critical, congressionally authorized funding for fair housing groups to fight housing discrimination and enforce fair housing laws throughout the country, according to the plaintiffs.”
“The elimination of funding also looks to halt several housing discrimination investigations.”
“Separately, HUD secretary Scott Turner also announced that HUD will terminate the Biden-era Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule, saying the move will cut red tape and return decision-making power back to local and state governments. Fair housing advocates say this is another step in dismantling the fair housing framework in the country.”
Why in hell is Elon Musk getting a Pentagon briefing about our war plans against China? He doesn’t have security clearance.
NEW THREAD