[ExI] Gender-Neutral Side Note

Sun Nov 9 15:51:00 UTC 2025

From: John Clark <johnkclark at gmail.com> 
>… Elon Musk's popularity took a dramatic hit when he gave $277 million…

I am surprised there aren’t limits to how much one person can donate to an election.  I thought there were limits.

>…to get a 34 time convicted felon…

What was this felon convicted of, please?

>>… Because of him we have Tesla, Space X

More on that below, in the final paragraphs.

>>… and TwitterX

>…And the world would be a better place if that company did NOT exist…

I disagree enthusiastically, wholeheartedly.  The velocity of information has increased dramatically since Twitter was saved.  One can access all points of view there, unlike the mainstream media, which intentionally present a self-consistent overall viewpoint, which skews the presentation.  TwitterX has everything.  It contains viewpoints from people all over the world, with no filters.  I dreamed of something like this for 30 years or more.  Now we have it.  TwitterX is now the functional replacement for the mainstream press, and does a much better job of it, all free.  The world is a much better place because of TwitterX.

> And StarLink! How could I forget that one?

>…That one is more complicated to judge…

Ja, as is every major innovation.  That innovation is especially important to me because I often go camping out where there is no internet, and I want to have the option of full internet access, along with the safety factor of having access to information and communications.  

I used StarLink a lot in Canada last summer.  But more than that, the local housing situation is dire.  StarLink offers full internet, moderate bandwidth, at a cost of 11 watts, easily supplied by a camper or car battery.  This enables urban campers, which means a larger candidate pool for local startups.  Their lower-end professional class have the option of living in a van for their internship, offering them flexibility, and enabling them to accept jobs which may pay less than 100k.  Their home is where they park it.  Save on rent, utilities, etc.  Having urban campers in my neighborhood (I do) doesn’t bother me a bit, for I understand why they are there.  I would be doing likewise, were I to be in their situation.  That one vehicle is transportation to work, to anywhere, and a home.  A used cargo van makes a marvelous custom stealth camper conversion and doesn’t even cost much:

https://www.carmax.com/cars/dodge/ram/promaster-2500/3d-cargo-van?adcode=SEMMUSEDSA5 <https://www.carmax.com/cars/dodge/ram/promaster-2500/3d-cargo-van?adcode=SEMMUSEDSA5&vzmadcode=SEM1409207827610&utm_source=bing&utm_content=sem_carmax_sales&utm_term=dodge&utm_campaign=1261140775795569&physical_loc=89376&interest_loc=&&msclkid=c7d24b429a4c1344787b22522dbacd8b&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=BNG_TMU_DSA_Make&utm_term=dodge&utm_content=BNG_TMU_DSA_Make&gclid=c7d24b429a4c1344787b22522dbacd8b&gclsrc=3p.ds> &vzmadcode=SEM1409207827610&utm_source=bing&utm_content=sem_carmax_sales&utm_term=dodge&utm_campaign=1261140775795569&physical_loc=89376&interest_loc=&&msclkid=c7d24b429a4c1344787b22522dbacd8b&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=BNG_TMU_DSA_Make&utm_term=dodge&utm_content=BNG_TMU_DSA_Make&gclid=c7d24b429a4c1344787b22522dbacd8b&gclsrc=3p.ds

>…You didn't mention another of Musk's companies but I will, xAI, it's his AI Company in the creators of Grok… 

I have only used Grok once, last week, and I like it.  I will circle around to it once the current emergency passes.

>… Musk is still in the plus column...   John K Clark

Ja, he is in the plus column for me, but full disclosure is necessitated: Musk has increased my personal wealth.  No I didn’t buy into Tesla at 6 (dammit.)  But his building EVs in a factory within walking distance of my house has done wonders for my property value and my neighborhood.  I am also a property owner (by inheritance) within driving distance of SpaceX Cape Canaveral, which is helping drive up the value of that property dramatically.

Regarding his recent foray into politics: time will tell, but I predict we will look back and realize he was telling the truth back in 2025.  We should have followed his advice.

So, even disregarding the marvelous StarLink and the gift of TwitterX, Musk’s ambitions have directly blessed me twice, just by sheer fortunate coincidence.  Consider my positive attitude toward him as colored by my deplorable self-interest and insatiable greed.

spike

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