#hyperloop one

[mikeshouts]

Goodbye Hyperloop One: Hyperloop One Is Shuttering Its Operations For Good

It was a good run 😞

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[arielmcorg]

#Hyperloop One cierra el 31 de diciembre

Lo que en alguna vez fue el sueño de construir un enlace de carga de alta velocidad entre Europa y China, uno que pudiera llevar carga de un extremo al otro en un solo día, se cierra. De esta manera va ser uno de los proyectos de Elon Musk que no va tener buen final. Hyperloop One se está cerrando, confirmó un miembro del personal a Engadget después de que Bloomberg publicara un informe sobre su…

[listen-to-the-inner-walrus]

If I could be arsed to learn how to edit videos and had some kind of mic, I would 110% make a two part video essay series on the politics of Jurassic World because MY GOD, there's so much to dissect.

The first part would be about how the park is the epitome of neoliberal futurism for techbros, including the way the park so easily falls apart though I doubt that aspect is purposeful. Everything is aesthetic first and function second, and we can't possibly use any of the reliable infrastructure we've already come up with because a train is not gonna get us to Mars, but a monorail might.

And the second would be about the buckwild terrible gender politics going on. The movie is deeply unsympathetic to Claire seemingly because she's a woman who prioritised her career as it's both centre to her character arc and also an inciting event of one of the plots. Not to mention the whole Zara thing or the Owen and Claire thing or the stupid "him, I meant him, line. The movie is rife with misogyny, but it feels like that specific misogyny was isekaied over from backlash to second wave feminism.

I could talk about it all for so long because in a way, it feels like a perfect time capsule for 2015. Back when people took Claire running in heels to be this feminist statement to be made fun of and not just a deeply misogynistic movie trying to sell you feminism. And back when Elon Musk managed to get away with his "I'm the real life Iron Man" shit, and people believed he was smart and all his plans would come to fruition. 2015 was a great time to be a tech bro in Silicon Valley with people just throwing money at all your fake promises.

Yeah. See. This is what I mean when I say I could talk about it forever.

[airandangels]

Colossal waste of time and money, produced and accomplished nothing, other than diverting interest and investment from other forms of mass transit so the creep could sell more expensive electric cars (probably his real angle all along).

The hyperloop idea is likely the reason why Musk’s name was mentioned in an early episode of Star Trek Discovery as an example of a historical pioneer of technology. That aged like milk.

[kafrinfwute]

lmfao at using brightline as an example of this succeeding. it connects tremendously wealthy cities and everyone else gets shit in their mouth

What we need to do is convince all the disney adults in america that high speed rail would be a preferable way of getting to disneyworld compared to driving or flying. We could maybe harness their fondness for the monorail or something, but this is a group of people that has time, income, and passion that we could leverage. If we could direct 5% of the enthusiasm they have for limited edition popcorn buckets into calling their representatives and demanding high-speed interstate rail, we could get it by 2030

[wilwheaton]

The brands are right. No one gives a f—k about X anymore, and no one will be outraged when you — yes, you, Elon Musk — have finally killed it. The days of serial tweeters like me lamenting the days of Twitter Classic are over. We’ve gone elsewhere and use X only sparingly, and only as a necessary evil. Without us, and without any advertising support, X will soon make no money of any sort, and you’ll be left only with the occasional $8 a month from @FreedomBob69. Oh wait, but here’s more reality for you, Elon! The Cybertruck is already not only a laughingstock, it’s also barely existent on the eve of its launch and, by your own admission, won’t turn a profit until a year and a half from now at the earliest. The Boring Company, established to make the Hyperloop a reality, has only built a glorified parking ramp in Vegas after burning through nearly $800 million in VC funding. Tesla’s revenues are sinking as the big automakers roll out their own EVs that are more appealing than your four-wheeled bachelor pads. Your company SpaceX will fail in its doomed mission to make humans a multiplanetary species, and its rockets won’t stop blowing up. And your biography sucked. So it’s over for you, Elon Musk. You are a public failure of a man. You’ll still be rich, but you no longer matter. That’s all you really wanted out of this, wasn’t it? You bought Twitter because you thought that owning it would make you the most special person in the whole wide world, only to reveal yourself as an unremarkable s—thead with no good ideas. You drove everyone away, including the companies that could have propped up your reputation for another five minutes. Whether you’ll ever understand this is of no concern to me, or to anyone else. You’ve shared your bucket, and it has nothing but holes in it. So, for Bob Iger, and for the rest of humanity, let me say: Go f—k yourself, Elon. Go. F—k. Yourself. Is that clear?

The end of Elon Musk

[dorothylarouge]

It really feels like the one-two punch of Elon Musk’s daughter coming out and COVID restrictions triggering his insane oppositional defiant disorder nonsense really just fried his brain completely. Like he had moments of foreshadowing before that (“pedo guy”), but he was, in a relative sense, fairly normal if a bourgeois dickhead before 2020. The things I remember hating him for were stuff like anti-labor activity and his hyperloop nonsense, not being a white supremacist

[reyaint]

futuristic dr | virelia + neovista

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date: may 14 2025. i'm figuring out how to format this from my script so it's probably gonna look like a mess i'm sorry haha. i may edit this to add more info if i feel like it.

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✧˖*°࿐the state

დ࿐ ‎˗ˋ virelia ☆ 𓂃 › official title. The Sovereign Technocratic Republic of Virelia ☆ 𓂃 › motto. “precision. progress. perfection.”

virelia represents a paradigm shift in governance — not built on ideological revolution but on technological supremacy. it emerged in the late 21st century after a coalition of corporate leaders, scientists, and futurists proposed a self-regulating state built around data-driven governance and environmental sustainability.

virelia is a beacon of technological advancement, a sprawling self-sustaining state located on the western coast of North America. founded in the late 21st century, it has quickly risen to prominence as a futuristic utopia where human ambition and technology intertwine seamlessly.

this city-state operates with cutting-edge infrastructure, clean energy solutions, and unprecedented levels of automation, making it a model of the future. however, its advancement comes with hidden costs, such as surveillance, control, and the loss of personal freedoms for some citizens.

დ࿐ ‎˗ˋ location. built on reclaimed land along the coast, the state is positioned near mountains, leveraging its natural terrain for sustainability. this combination of oceanfront and mountainous landscape allows for the development of a beautiful yet highly structured environment. ☆ 𓂃 › climate. Virelia enjoys mild weather and pristine air quality thanks to its advanced environmental control systems. artificial rainfall helps balance the region's climate, ensuring that both agriculture and ecosystems thrive in a sustainable way.

დ࿐ ‎˗ˋ security. Virelia's government promises safety and order, with AI-driven law enforcement and near-complete surveillance throughout the city. While this has reduced crime, it has also led to a society where privacy is almost nonexistent. there are whispers of corruption and a power struggle between mega-corporations and the state apparatus, but these are rarely seen by the public eye.

დ࿐ ‎˗ˋ infrastructure. the state boasts hyperloop systems for rapid transportation, vertical farming to maintain food supplies, solar-powered highways, and drone-based delivery networks that make logistics seamless and efficient. the city is powered by renewable energy sources, making it one of the most environmentally friendly cities on Earth.

*ೃ༄government

Virelia operates as a technocratic-republic hybrid, where leadership is shared between elected officials and influential corporate leaders, scientists, and engineers. while democracy is maintained on paper, the wealth and power held by corporations, especially megacorporations like Orbis, have a significant influence over the decision-making process.

𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ☆ the core assembly. a ruling body made of 50% elected officials and 50% appointed technocrats from approved corporate, scientific, and engineering councils.

𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ☆ citizen score index (CSI). citizens are ranked via a complex index measuring productivity, compliance, social behavior, and cybernetic compatibility.

𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ☆ the data purity initiative. Virelia heavily regulates access to public data and surveillance feeds. those who attempt to mask or alter their data trail risk demotion in social status or even imprisonment.

დ࿐ ‎˗ˋ a controlled utopia. on the surface, Virelia is a utopia, offering its citizens a high standard of living, access to the latest technology, and the promise of a pollution-free environment. however, this idealized world comes at a cost—strict regulations on cybernetics, data privacy, and social freedoms. citizens are encouraged to embrace technology, but those who resist are often marginalized or silenced.

✧˖*°࿐the city

neovista is a megacity — a glittering neon spire among the clouds and an undercity of grit and rebellion. It’s a contradiction: a technological utopia resting on a foundation of exploitation and resistance.

დ࿐ ‎˗ˋ common mods. ocular overlays, subdermal HUDs, neural ports, smart limbs.

*ೃ༄black market and underground tech

located beneath the official grid of Neovista, in the Vein or the Undervault.

დ࿐ ‎˗ˋ traders deal in: ☆ 𓂃 › memory-modding tech ☆ 𓂃 › neural firewalls ☆ 𓂃 › blackbox implants ☆ 𓂃 › emotion regulators ☆ 𓂃 › discontinued weapon augmentations

hackclans (like SpiralZero or Echo Drift) operate in these markets, building custom tools to counter HALO’s surveillance net.

while Orbis Corporation and other megacorporations offer cutting-edge cybernetics, there is a thriving black market for illegal modifications and illicit technology. from hacked neural implants to stolen AI software, the underground tech scene is a dangerous place but provides an outlet for those who cannot afford or do not want to abide by the official channels.

𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ☆ pirates and hackers: groups like The Shattermen exploit these underground markets, seeking to disrupt corporate control by stealing and redistributing technology. they often employ cybernetic pirates who operate outside the law, dealing in anything from illegal AI software to underground body augmentations.

*ೃ༄energy & environmental tech

𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ☆ skyharbor towers: pull moisture and solar energy, creating perpetual artificial rainfall and maintaining air quality.

𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ☆ cryoroot systems: bioengineered roots that store solar power and regulate temperature in city zones.

𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ☆ ecozones: each district has its own energy quota; exceeding it triggers rolling blackouts in poorer sectors.

virelia is powered by renewable energy sources like solar and wind, and artificial rainfall systems maintain a stable climate. advanced energy storage technology allows the city to operate efficiently even in low-light conditions.

the city uses vertical farming and aquaponics to maintain food production in a way that integrates seamlessly into urban spaces, providing sustenance for its citizens without relying on traditional agricultural methods.

*ೃ༄transportation & infrastructure

𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ☆ hyperloop arteries: Connect districts with high-speed magnetized transit tubes.

𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ☆ skyrails: glass-bottomed tramways suspended between megastructures.

𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ☆ drone skynet: hundreds of drones transport packages, law enforcement supplies, and emergency aid across the city.

𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ☆ vertical cities: skyscrapers built as self-contained ecosystems—residential, commercial, medical, and agricultural facilities stacked together.

neovista's transportation system is revolutionary, with hyperloop networks connecting different districts, allowing for ultra-fast travel. drone-based delivery systems handle everything from groceries to medical supplies, and personal autonomous vehicles are common on the roads.

the city has designed solar-powered highways and green rooftops that house both parks and renewable energy infrastructure.

*ೃ༄law enforcement & governance

𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ☆ enforcement is done by VEC and HALO drones. there are no beat cops — instead, predictive policing algorithms determine where violence might happen and deploy units in advance.

𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ☆ citizen compliance officers (CCOs) are citizens elevated by the CSI system, acting as civilian enforcers with surveillance privileges.

most investigations are conducted digitally—by scanning memory logs, personal feeds, and neural output rather than physical clues.

*ೃ༄cybernetics & body augmentations

cybernetic normalization is pervasive in Neovista. while minor enhancements like augmented vision, neural interfaces, and biomechanical limbs are common, full-body conversions are rare and often subject to strict regulations.

body augmentations are not just a physical enhancement but have become part of the culture. the wealthy often choose to augment themselves for beauty or efficiency, while those in the slums might use augmentations to survive or gain an edge in the fight for resources.

*ೃ༄technology in neovista & virelia

neovista represents the pinnacle of technology, where AI and humans coexist, yet there is a deep tension between innovation and freedom. virelia’s citizens enjoy unparalleled access to technology but must constantly navigate the surveillance state and corporate control.

virelia’s technology fosters a sense of constant progress, but this has made the city and its citizens vulnerable to the very forces they sought to escape—power, control, and the erosion of personal freedoms.

*ೃ༄visuals.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣷⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀���⣾⣿⣿⠀⠀⢸⣧⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⣼⣿⣿⣿⣧⡀⢸⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠰⠶⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡶⠄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠙⢿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠋⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⢿⣿⡿⠀⢰⣿⣿⣷⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⠇⠀⣾⣿⢹⣿⡆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⠀⠈⣿⢀⣼⣿⠃⠀⢻⣿⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣸⣀⣠⣿⣿⡿⠁⠀⠀⠀⠻⣿⣶⣤⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠠⣴⣶⣾⣿⣿⣿⣛⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢙⣻⣿⣿⣷⣶⣦⡤ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠉⣿⡟⠿⣿⣷⣦⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⣶⣿⡿⠟⠋⠉⠉⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢰⣿⣧⠀⠀⠙⣿⣷⡄⠀⣰⣿⡟⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣼⣿⣿⡄⠀⠀⠘⣿⣷⢰⣿⡟⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣠⣿⣿⣿⣧⠀⠀⠀⢹⣿⣿⡿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣠⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣤⡀⠘⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠤⣶⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡧⠄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠉⠙⠻⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠛⠉⢹⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⢻⣿⣿⣿⡿⠃⠀⠀⠀⢸⡏⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢹⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

✦ ˚ — THE MAIN DISTRCITS

☆. MIRROR DISTRICT —

☆. U DISTRICT —

☆. DREAM DISTRICT —

☆. 127 DISTRICT —

[princeelectra]

*Scrambles over with a microphone*

Opinions on the new maglev trains

Oh!

Depends on what you're talking about. If it's about NORMAL maglevs: I'm a biiig fan of them. I LOVE innovations and I'm pretty happy to say that they're the future now.

On one hand, their existence reminds me of how old and outdated I already am, making me a part of the past now. But on the other hand, I'm a true futuristic enthusiast, and I see them as the future of the electrics.

BUT IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HYPERLOOP...

It's one of those "oooo we'll revolutionize the world" but it's just... Trying to reinvent something unnecessarily. It will fail, just like nuclear powered steamies. Too dangerous for no reason, bizarre amounts of money for something experimental, that if failed, can harm humans A LOT. And you really think that being manufactured by the same shitheads doing those self destructive defective cars will be anything safe?

[ralfmaximus]

Hyperloop One, the futuristic transportation company building tube-encased lines to zip passengers and freight from city to city at airplane-like speeds, is shutting down, according to people familiar with the situation.

Once a high-profile startup, Hyperloop One raised more than $450 million since its founding in 2014, according to PitchBook. It built a small test track near Las Vegas to develop its transportation technology, and for a time took the name Virgin Hyperloop One after Richard Branson’s Virgin invested. Virgin removed its branding after the startup decided last year to focus on cargo rather than people.

Buried halfway through: it's another failed Elon Musk venture.

Not mentioned at all: the only reason Musk proposed Hyperloop was to thwart California's high-speed rail initiative and sell more cars. You see, his alternative technology of shooting supersonic capsules through evacuated vacuum tubes would be so much better than stinky old trains.

The only problem?

None of the technology exists. All the prototypes sucked. Even after ten years and a half billion dollars.

One "prototype" is literally a one-lane concrete tunnel allowing a single Tesla automobile to travel at astonishing speeds up to 107 MPH. Technically you can drive faster than that on most american highways.

Also that's 50-100 MPH slower than the high speed rail California wanted to implement a decade ago.

And now the whole venture is quietly going away.

Unpaywalled version here.

[next-pres]

Alright, let’s set the stage for a Celebrity Death Match featuring Elon Musk vs. Donald Trump, with Joe Biden as the referee. This is a fictional, over-the-top scenario in the spirit of the classic MTV show, so expect some wild, exaggerated fun. Here we go!

Announcer: "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the most electrifying, tweet-storming, meme-exploding Celebrity Death Match of the century! In one corner, the tech titan, the meme-lord of Mars, the one and only Elon Musk! In the other corner, the golden-haired dealmaker, the 45th and maybe 47th President, Donald Trump! And keeping this chaos in check—sort of—is our referee, Joe Biden! Let’s get ready to ruuuuumble!"

The Arena: A futuristic coliseum packed with roaring fans, Tesla Cybertrucks parked in the background, and a giant MAGA hat floating above the ring. The ring itself is a hybrid of a SpaceX launchpad and a gilded Trump Tower elevator, with Twitter (sorry, X) logos plastered everywhere.

Round 1: The Entrances

Elon Musk rockets into the arena on a mini Starship, landing with a puff of smoke and a Neuralink-controlled robot dog at his side. He’s wearing a Boring Company flamethrower strapped to his back and a Dogecoin-emblazoned cape. He grabs the mic: "I’m here to colonize this ring and make Trump’s hairpiece obsolete!"

Donald Trump struts in to "Sweet Caroline," tossing miniature MAGA hats to the crowd. He’s decked out in a red, white, and blue wrestling singlet with “TRUMP 2024” bedazzled on the back. He points at Elon: "This guy? Sad! Low-energy tech nerd. I’ve got the best moves, folks, nobody wrestles better than me!"

Referee Joe Biden shuffles to the center, wearing a striped ref shirt and aviators. He squints at the crowd, mumbles, "C’mon, man, let’s… uh… keep it clean, alright?" and accidentally drops his whistle. The crowd roars as he fumbles to pick it up.

Round 2: The Fight Begins

The bell rings, and Biden yells, "Let’s go, folks! No malarkey in the ring!" (He immediately forgets where he is and starts waving to the crowd.)

Elon opens with a high-tech assault, launching a swarm of tiny Tesla drones that buzz around Trump, blasting memes from X. Trump swats at them, yelling, "Fake news drones! Terrible!" Elon follows up by firing a Boring Company flamethrower, but Trump dodges with surprising agility, claiming, "I have the best dodges, nobody dodges better."

Trump counters with his signature move: The Tweet Storm. He pulls out a giant smartphone prop and hurls a barrage of oversized, animated tweets at Elon—each one a 280-character zinger like “Sleepy Elon, bad at wrestling!” One tweet smacks Elon in the face, knocking him back. The crowd chants, "Covfefe! Covfefe!"

Biden tries to intervene but gets distracted, muttering, "Back in Scranton, we didn’t have drones… we had… uh… coal?" He accidentally trips over a stray MAGA hat, giving both fighters a free shot.

Round 3: Signature Moves and Chaos

Elon activates his Megatron Musk Mode, summoning a life-sized Optimus Prime Tesla Bot from the sidelines. The bot charges Trump, but Trump counters with The Art of the Deal Slam, flipping the bot into the crowd with a leveraged buyout-style suplex. "I’m the best at slamming, folks, nobody slams like me!"

Trump goes for his finisher: The Wall Builder. He starts stacking gold-painted cinderblocks around Elon to trap him, shouting, "Mexico’s paying for this wall!" But Elon hacks the blocks with Neuralink, turning them into a dancing TikTok wall that collapses on Trump.

Biden, now eating ice cream from the sidelines, finally notices the chaos. He yells, "C’mon, Jack, break it up!" and tosses his ice cream cone into the ring, which somehow knocks both fighters down. The crowd loses it.

Round 4: The Finale

With both fighters dazed, Elon unveils his secret weapon: a Hyperloop Dropkick. He zips across the ring at 700 mph, landing a spinning kick on Trump. But Trump, ever the showman, absorbs the hit and retaliates with The Bankruptcy Bounce, a move where he declares bankruptcy mid-match, resets the fight, and body-slams Elon with a stack of golden Trump Steaks.

Biden, now half-asleep, raises both their hands and declares, "Winner! Uh… America!" The crowd boos, demanding a real winner. Suddenly, a giant hologram of a Dogecoin crashes into the ring, causing a draw as both fighters are buried in digital coins.

Announcer: "What a match! No winner, just chaos, memes, and… ice cream? Only in Celebrity Death Match! Tune in next time when Mark Zuckerberg fights Jeff Bezos, refereed by… Corn Pop? Goodnight, folks!"

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Alix Breeden at Daily Kos:

Elon Musk has been carving out his own “utopia” in Texas for years.  From Brownsville to Bastrop, the world’s richest and most unserious man has laid his claim on the Lone Star State—and now, he is petitioning the local government for the right to make it official. On Dec. 12, Musk’s team sent a letter to local legislators requesting a vote to turn Starbase—a SpaceX worksite within Brownsville where the aerospace company launches rockets—into its own city. 

“To continue growing the workforce necessary to rapidly develop and manufacture Starship, we need the ability to grow Starbase as a community. That is why we are requesting that Cameron County call an election to enable the incorporation of Starbase as the newest city in the Rio Grande Valley,” Kathryn Lueders, the general manager of Starbase, wrote in a letter to the county. But Brownsville, a town speckled with pro-Musk murals and plagued with gaping income disparity, has already been labeled by some as Musk’s first “company town,” or a city where a single company owns or controls just about everything.  About 350 miles north of Starbase lies the Musk-named Snailbrook—a township also filled with Musk’s meddling that mimics the controversial company towns littered throughout American history.

One of Musk’s Bastrop corporations is Boring Co., which is a tunneling company known for ghosting on its promises and wreaking ecological havoc.

X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, relocated to Bastrop after Musk threw a fit over California’s bureaucratic red tape, joining his Starlink, Neuralink, and SpaceX facilities there. 

Surrounding this collection of workers is Hyperloop Plaza, which boasts businesses exclusively for Musk’s workforce. A cafe and medical office joined the plaza earlier this month.  More recently, Musk has made headway on his long-awaited Montessori school, Ad Astra. Last month, per Bloomberg, the tech mogul received an initial permit to launch the preschool with as many as 21 pupils.  The school is a piece of Musk’s long-term plan to also incorporate a university, according to Business Insider. Musk notably conversed with hip hop artist Kanye West (whose own school drew controversy for questionable treatment of children) about his town and school plans, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Co-”President” Elon Musk has a creepy quest to build company towns across Texas, including the proposed incorporation of Starbase, Texas.

[edutainer2022]

Part 2 of HELIOCENTRIC decided to be written, while I was waiting out a bombing. Things take place some time after Hyperspeed. Scott is rather popular with all creatures large and nerds. Parallel to Earth and Sky chatting, a rather unamused Brains has a heart-to-heart with an amused John.

Thanks, as ever, go to @janetm74 for bearing with me.

HELIOCENTRIC 2: CENTRIFUGAL CLUTCH

John leaned against a console, arms crossed, while Brains clanked a tablet on his lab table, too forcefully for it not to be deliberate. John gave their old friend room to seethe, before arching a brow.

"You think this is bad? Try being his brother in high school!"

Another piece of equipment gave a cluck it normally wasn't supposed to and John tilted his head.

"He was a Prom King, captain of every team he'd ever been on AND a valedictorian."

"Is that supposed to m-make m-me feel better?"

John didn't remember Brains ever sounding quite so bitter.

"Well, it certainly didn't add to our enjoyment of unforgettable school experience that shaped the remarkable future of next generation."

John tried to emulate the way Mr. Sanders, the Headmaster, sounded through a plastic smile in their prep school ad reels. It did little to unclasp Brains' death grip on a data disk. John was beginning to worry it was going to break. The ginger spaceman himself was, however, quite fond of the reminisce.

"We were the token uncool Nerd Entourage to the One True King - the Arts and Music Chonk and the Ginger Noodle Cybergeek."

John smiled at the inward image of the comical sight they might have made, hurrying across school grounds in the wake Mr. Longlegs and Dimples, practically greeted with rose petals and laurels on his way. Fellowship of the Ring had NOTHING on the Tracy motley crew. John tilted his head to catch Brains' gaze, which the scientist promptly averted.

"Yet he chose US."

"He chose YOU!"

John was not prepared for Brains almost shouting in his face.

"You're his b-brothers! Of c-course he'd choose you! Always!"

For the first time it occurred to John he might have misinterpreted the reasons for Brains' distress.

That stirred other memories, too. Not quite so sunny. Scott, disheveled and grey with fury, lip split in a fight, tossing a burly boy off of John by the hallway lockers. The senior from the football team being a brother of John's pal from the Robotics Club.

"You know, I had friends in the gifted program whose siblings pretended they weren't acquainted. Scott actually ENJOYED hanging out with us. He still does!"

A fact that, to that day, still managed to elicit the spaceman's genuine awe, on occasion.

"And he values your friendship. He chose you too."

He could see Brains still hesitate to be assured. John could maybe extrapolate the scientist's argument to Scott having "inherited" Brains from Jeff Tracy, rather than choosing to befriend him. John also couldn't pretend he didn't share the anguish, at least somewhat, since the Hyperloop incident introduced them to a force of nature that was Tycho Reeves. It was hard not to worry, on some level, Scott Tracy was gonna choose himself a different favorite genius.

John knew his brother well, he knew his brother better than that - Scott's loyalty, once offered, was never revoked. But insecurity was one of John's oldest acquaintances.

Brains finally put the data disc down, intact, and looked up at him. John offered a small smile. They were both too smart to be immune to doubt, but the whole world pretty much hinged on faith in Scott Tracy for the past almost eight years. They were among the exclusive and very scares circle of his favorite people. They were good.

[sweetfirebird]

I feel a little bad for Tesla owners, tbh, the ones who've had the cars for years I mean. I mean, I have hated that man for years and heard all about him allegedly charging people for two cars when they bought one to artificially bump up his sales numbers, and having horrible working conditions, and basically fucking over an entire town in Texas, and doing his fakey "grand idea" thing like the Hyperloop whenever he wants to distract people from something to get his way, so I do think those people should have done more research. But none of that matters now anyway. If he buys this election, people are going to be mad.

So maybe sell your Tesla while you still can. Trade it in for a better electric car that doesn't blow up or trap you inside or which can be more easily repaired (and insured).

You know who is buying Teslers right now? Outright Nazis and wannabe stockbroker types who think crypto is awesome. You don't want to be in that group.

The funny part is, he is (allegedly) trying to buy this election because Wisconsin passed a law that he felt hurt Tesla... but Tesla is hurting anyway, buddy, and I honestly do not believe it is recoverable. Even if he persuades Republicans to buy a bunch of cybertrucks for the government (stopping waste and fraud and corruption like he says he is lolololol), even if he moves more of his digital assets around like a true broke bitch, even if he gets Hasbeen Kardashian to pose sexily on his cars.... he has tied the brand to his name, and people HATE him. The brand itself is over. It has lost whatever cool it had, and other EVs are doing better (and actually were doing better by the end of last year anyway) and are more innovative.

And I know this because Forbes, which is a conservative financial media company, keeps publishing shit about he has competition and nothing to offer, and saying they are looking to BYD and other EV makers. Which is the Forbes way of saying do not invest in Tesla.

(Sidenote: I think youtube is the current target for bots supporting Musk. there are suddenly comments everywhere on like, MSNBC videos and we all know Fox News people do not watch MSNBC. Some people have to pay for friends and babies and supporters, I guess. Sad)

[trans-corvo]

Youtube Video Essayists part 2

I made one of these lists years ago, so if you're wondering why big names like hbomberguy and Kat Blaque aren't here, that's why.

Science and Tech

Miniminuteman - Archaeologist and science educator whose content focuses on archaeological mysteries and debunking pseduoarcheaology. Videos average about 20 minutes to an hour and a half.

Adam Something - Most of his videos focus on urbanism and transport (it's more interesting than it sounds, I promise), but he also occasionally covers politics and culture. His bread and butter is tearing apart impractical billionaire passion projects (hyperloop, the cybertruck, Munger Hall). Big fan of trains. Average video playtime is 10 to 20 minutes.

Petal Palmer - A pre-med student and cancer patient who covers true stories of medical oddities and malpractice. Some of my favourites are on the Tylenol murders, the woman who froze alive (and survived unscathed), and fraudulent cancer awareness orgs. Videos run from 10 minutes to an hour and a half.

Politics and Culture

Caelan Conrad - Their channel mainly covers gay and trans rights, with a focus on debunking right-wing narratives and commentators. Videos average 30 minutes to an hour and a half.

Fundie Fridays - Started as a channel where Jen did her makeup and talked about various figures and sects of Christian fundamentalism, has since grown to include her husband and to cover politics. Very respectful in her tone, and very funny. I'd recommend their videos on the Miracle Mineral Solution (bleach), Eugene Scott, Duck Dynasty, and Gwen Shamblin Lara. Their early videos are only around 10 to 20 minutes, but these days they run as long as an hour and a half.

Khadija Mbowe - Honestly, her channel could fit under any of these categories. Her content varies wildly, but is always engaging and thought provoking. I'd recommend her videos on meritocracy in health and weightloss, Poor Things and engaging with 'problematic' material, and Barbie and white feminism. Videos average 20 to 40 minutes

F.D Signifier - Very well researched and presented commentary on politics, media, and black manhood. I'd recommend his videos on Eminem and white rappers, what makes men desirable, white men and edge lord movies, and how black athletes are exploited. Videos average 40 minutes to an hour and a half.

Foreign Man in a Foreign Land - Commentary on race and Caribbean culture. I'd recommend his videos on racism in gaming, tourism as the new slavery, and Elizabeth II and english colonialism. Videos average 20 minutes to an hour.

Arts and Entertainment

Broey Deschanel - Channel focuses on film and film criticism. I'd highly recommend her videos on the problems with method acting, feeling cynical about Barbie, and the 'death' of cinema. Videos average about 20 to 50 minutes and have a high production value.

Jane Mulcahy - Film and tv analysis, with a focus on media aimed towards female audiences. Lighthearted but thoughtful. I'd recommend her videos on the Red White and Royal Blue movie, Lifetime 'Daddy' movies, and the 'psycho biddy' genre. Videos average 20 minutes to an hour.

Verily Bitchie - Examining movies and tv through a queer and feminist lense, along with occasional videos on culture on politics. I'd recommend her feminist critique of Doctor Who, a look at bisexual representation on TV, and her video on trial by tiktok. Videos average 10 minutes to an hour and a half.

Coldcrashpictures - Pretty standard long-form film analysis. I'd recommend his videos on the current state of Hollywood, Freaks (1932) and old school horror, the 2020 dumpster fire watchlist, and cinematic masculinity. Videos average 20 minutes to an hour.

Internet Culture

WURLD - Commentary on internet trends and culture. More lighthearted and off the cuff in her presentation. Best videos include Is Booktok Ruining Reading?, the obsession with reusable cups, and hustle culture is a nightmare. Videos run from 15 to 45 minutes.

Gabi Bell - A lot of variation in her content, ranging from internet culture, to (bad) movies, to (bad) tv. I'd recommend her videos on tiktok drama and fake verification. Videos average 10 to 50 minutes.

Tiffany Ferg - Content focused on internet analysis. I'd recommend her videos on concert culture, learned helplessness and tech illiteracy, and 'body trends' and plastic surgery. Videos average from 20 to 40 minutes.

Salem Tovar - Nuanced commentary on internet culture. I'd recommend her videos on gen Z's aesthetic obsession, millennial parenting problems, and filming strangers in public. Videos average from 30 minutes to an hour and a half.

Ro Ramdin - Probably the funniest person on this list, I can't recommend her enough. Videos are thoughtful well edited. I'd recommend her videos on Hogwarts Legacy and financially supporting JK Rowling, the NFT island, the metaverse, and XQC. Videos average 20 to 40 minutes.

Also, misc. video essays: 2010s Pop Feminism: A Painful Look Back, We Need to Talk about TikTok's Obsession with Face Reading and its Dark History, Transphobia: The Far Right and Liberalism, You're Wrong about Modern Art, Who is Killing Cinema? - A Murder Mystery, Transition Regret & the Fascism of Endings, I Debunked Every "Body Language Expert" on Youtube, These Stupid Trucks are Literally Killing Us, How Conservatives Created (and Cancelled) Gender.

[zponds]

Jurassic World Dominion — My Edition — Maisie Lockwood

When it comes to Maisie Lockwood, I wasn’t all too bothered by what was done with her character, but I’m on the same boat as RazorRex as Maisie’s character had missed opportunities. Her backstory from Fallen Kingdom will remain the same, but is expanded on in my edition of Dominion.

With the whole “cloned by grandpa” resolution, Maisie is dealing with the thoughts of being an exact clone of her mother.

She wonders whether or not she made the right choice to free the dinosaurs from the toxic gas that flooded the laboratory under the Lockwood Estate.

She constantly has trauma-driven nightmares from her experiences with the Indoraptor.

After she and Beta are taken by Rainn and the poachers, Maisie does what she can to make Beta less scared by doing her best to confront the baby raptor in whatever way Maisie can.

At the Biosyn lab, Henry Wu asks Maisie if she ever recalls being sick at one point, with Maisie answering that she never got sick at all.

It’s then revealed by Henry Wu that Charlotte Lockwood didn’t die from a car accident, but died from cancer. Charlotte was working on a cure for said cancer by studying dinosaur DNA. But before Charlotte could use the cure on herself, she died. Benjamin Lockwood, devastated by Charlotte’s passing, used her research to make his recently cloned granddaughter immune to any illness.

With that revelation, Wu goes on to explain that he wants to use Maisie’s DNA to work on a cure for the DX disease. Maisie reluctantly agrees, but on the condition that Wu will set her, Beta and Blue free. Wu complies and makes it look like Maisie broke free on her own.

In the hyperloop, Maisie tells Alan and Ellie that Maisie is the one that freed the dinosaurs back in 2018.

After retrieving Beta, Maisie volunteers to carry the sleeping baby raptor. During that, the sleeping Beta rubs her head against Maisie’s shoulder and neck, slightly hinting that Beta starts feeling as comfortable around Maisie as Beta feels comfortable around her mother, Blue.