Friday 14 March 2025
Somewhat less than artful perhaps but the misquoting of one of St. Paul's
most famous statements but is worse.
It is said by the more discerning that with all its faults capitalism is still only bad compared to everything else. Everything else has to
be imposed by at least some measure of force and once another system is accepted - or imposed - it always become worse.
Just while I'm trying to understand what happened yesterday something new happens. Whether intentional or instinctive President Trump is as
someone else said 'flooding the zone' and the already inept Democrats find themselves trying to plug dozens of leaks and not even managing
to plug one. That tactic is attributed to Steve Bannon and while he doesn't have an official role in the administration I wouldn't be
surprised if there is some communication going on.
The fact that the Democrats seem to be below average intelligence across the board makes it harder - the administration starts out a step or
two ahead and by the time they react there's something new. President Trump is a moving target. Someone observed that Elon Musk is analogous
to Benjamin Franklin. A while back - when the only thing that mattered was that he made Teslas and was saving the world from climate change -
some compared him to Tony Stark but since Marvel is now part of the evil empire of the entertainment industry we can't have that. It does work
for an unbiased observer like me but I missed most of the time when comics were relevant. A friend has a huge collection of comics from the
late 1960s up to the 1980s and while DC was his favorite he has a lot of Marvel stuff. I asked him about it:
A lot of the comics writers were pretty liberal but I don't know if they would be comfortable with the condition of the world - or maybe they
would. Art - especially comics - is making the unreal 'real'. The unreal as they wish it to be and would make it. They're dreamers and don't
to much critical thinking and are mostly uninformed or least underinformed. So no matter how much Elon Musk is a real life Tony Stark they
can't accept it now that he has - as they see it - gone over to the dark side.
Alex@MyndCryme
I asked Google AI about both - if I have time I'll check in with Grok.
Hmm, Benjamin Franklin helped write the Declaration of Independence. President Trump like to troll the servants of the enemy - maybe he could
suggest that Elon will oversee a rewrite of the Constitution. Talk about heads exploding... The main difference between Tony Stark and Elon
Musk is that Elon actually exists and does things like that. My SF mentor observed:
On old SF books and mags there are sometimes illustrations of rockets landing vertically. Elon Musk made it a reality. ~ Tarl
OK, here's the Grok version.
The comparisons of technology are interesting. In Franklin's day the printing press was high-tech, even the useful steam engine in the form of railroad locomotives
was some years away. The sociopolitical climate was different as well considering the impact of technology. Franklin lived in the twilight of the Age of Enlightenment
and the French Revolution lay ahead. World Wars I and II would define the 20th century and Elon would live in a time where the past two centuries began to be distilled
into.... whatever lies ahead. I won't try to guess but somehow I suspect that the events of the past few years indicate some sort of major... what will it be? A
coalescence of elements - good and bad - of the past two centuries into something entirely new and unexpected? If it is the American Renaissance as some of us call it
or the Golden Age President Trump describes it looks good. I hope it will be.
I don't remember what I planned to write about. Things are happening so fast it's hard to choose a subject for my occasional comments. Suffice it that things look good
and the trend is flowing in a positive direction.
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And what, incidentally, do you think integrity is? The ability not to
pick a watch out of your neighbor's pocket? No, it's not as easy as
that. If that were all, I'd say ninety-five percent of humanity were
honest, upright men. Only, as you can see, they aren't. Integrity is
the ability to stand by an idea.
Ayn Rand, The Fountainhead
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If you have always believed that everyone should play
by the same rules and be judged by the same standards,
that would have gotten you labeled a radical 50 years
ago, a liberal 25 years ago and a racist today.
Thomas Sowell
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AlOverview
The comparison of Elon Musk to Benjamin Franklin highlights their shared
traits as innovators and visionaries, with Musk, like Franklin, focusing on
building institutions to address fundamental problems and pushing the
boundaries of what's possible. 2
Here's a breakdown of the analogy:
Shared Traits:
+ Innovation and Vision: Both Musk and Franklin are known for their innovative
spirit and ability to envision the future. @
+ Problem-Solving: They both approach challenges with a focus on creating
solutions that address fundamental problems, whether it's space exploration,
sustainable energy, or societal issues. ¢
+ Building Institutions: They are not just focused on individual inventions, but on
building institutions and companies that can have a lasting impact on
society. @
+ Entrepreneurial Drive: Both Musk and Franklin were driven entrepreneurs who
took risks and pursued their vision, even when faced with skepticism. @
+ Self-Improvement: CNBC reports, Franklin was keen on self-improvement, and
Musk also emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and
improvement. @
Specific Examples:
+ Franklin: Invented bifocals, created the lightning rod, and played a key role in the
Declaration of Independence and the founding of the United States. #
+ Musk: Founded PayPal, SpaceX, Tesla, and Neuralink, all aimed at revolutionizing
industries and pushing the boundaries of technology. ¢
Similarities in Approach:
+ Franklin: Focused on building a printing business, establishing institutions, and
promoting public good. @
+ Musk: Emphasizes the importance of sustainable energy, space exploration, and
making humanity multi-planetary. @
Vivek Ramaswamy's Comparison:
Vivek Ramaswamy praised Elon Musk as the "Benjamin Franklin of our time". @
Musk's Admiration for Frankli
Musk has expressed admiration for Franklin, and has even stated that he has learned
from Franklin's biography. @
Generative Al is experimental.
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AlOverview
Elon Musk, the visionary behind Tesla and SpaceX, has often been compared
to Tony Stark, the fictional billionaire inventor and CEO of Stark Industries in
the Marvel Cinematic Universe, due to their shared traits of technological
prowess, ambition, and eccentric personalities. 2
Here's a more detailed look:
Shared Traits:
+ Technological Prowess: Both Musk and Stark are known for their disruptive and
innovative approaches to technology, pushing the boundaries of what's possible.
+ Ambition and Vision: Both are driven by a desire to make a significant impact on
the world, whether through space exploration, electric vehicles, or other
ambitious projects.
+ Eccentricity: Musk, like Stark, is known for his unconventional style and
sometimes controversial statements, which contribute to his public persona.
+ Cameo in Iron Man 2: Musk made a brief cameo in "Iron Man 2" where he met
Tony Stark, played by Robert Downey Jr, at the Monaco Grand Prix.
* Screenwriter's Inspiration: "Iron Man" screenwriter Mark Fergus has stated that
Musk partly inspired the screen version of Tony Stark, citing their shared traits of
technological prowess, arrogance, and a short fuse.
« Robert Downey Jr's comments: Robert Downey Jr has stated that he wishes
Musk would control his behavior.
Examples of their work:
+ Musk: Musk's companies, Tesla and SpaceX, are at the forefront of electric
vehicles, space travel, and other cutting-edge technologies.
+ Stark: Stark Industries, in the Marvel Universe, is known for its advanced
technology, including the Iron Man suit and other innovative inventions.
Musk's robots:
Musk recently unveiled Tesla's humanoid robots, designed to assist with daily tasks,
which parallels Tony Stark's Jarvis and his fleet of robots.
Export ~ )( Qsave )( ty) Qi)
Generative Al is experimental. (
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