I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence
And so the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same
And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They're quite aware of what they're goin' through

Saturday, May 9, 2015

Linkee-poo is going to California with an aching in my heart

That diet article I thought I had linked to earlier. Now with an actual link. (Grokked from Kameron Hurley)

"Keurig CEO Brian Kelley blamed a 23% drop in sales on his decision to use DRM to stop people from buying their coffee-pods from his competition." Strange how that happens.

How a whale can swallow more water than it's body volume (pre-swallow). Folding nerves. (Grokked from Matt Staggs)

"Woman Spitfire pilot aged 92 takes to the skies to mark VE Day." They have always fought. While not assigned to a combat unit, Mrs Lofthouse (the article doesn't mention her rank, but makes sure to mention her two marriages and children) flew planes between factories and from staging areas to the front. My guess is, just like "non-combatant" units today, she saw some action (which probably wasn't never officially recognized) when she flew to those forward air stations. (Grokked from Ken McConnell)

"The numbers are impressive. In the first few days of reservations since the battery announcement on April 30, Tesla took orders worth roughly $800 million in potential revenue, according to figures compiled by Bloomberg Business." You know, the same business news outlet that wondered aloud just who the hell would buy one of them, and that they weren't all they were cracked up to be. I can only assume that BB editors are either ignorant, were unable to increase their position in Tesla (at $250+ per share) fast enough, or just didn't know what the fuck they were talking about. Now looking at you, Forbes. Oh, but wait, "Before anyone gets too excited, it's important to note the biggest caveat: reservations don’t necessarily convert to sales. That’s especially true for the home storage batteries sold under the name Powerwall." I guess they still haven't been able to increase their position. (Grokked from Matt Staggs)

In other news, Tesla is "burning through it's cash" building and expanding (like building that all new battery factory in Nevada, the one that will make the Powerwall and others). "Jonas says Tesla is leaving itself very little margin for error with the release of its Model X SUV. The company could have less than $1 billion in cash on its balance sheet by mid-year, he says, on the eve of what is shaping up to be an incredibly important new vehicle launch." Read that again, they're worried because Tesla may only be left with $1 BILLION in cash (not short term investments, not "liquid" assets, that's the bank, cash in the bank). I just don't have words. How fucked up is our American business environment when having only $1B in cash is a horrible thing? OMG, Tesla is DOING SOMETHING! That can't be right, can it? Jesus H Cthulhu, American Entrepreneurialism is dead. Dead. Dead. Dead. "There’s something missing in the logic of criticizing most companies for hoarding their cash, and then turning around to criticize Tesla for investing its cash. Especially when, in the long run, Tesla’s investments are geared toward bettering society." Well, OMFG, we can't have that. Then everyone will expect companies to actually fucking do their jobs, take risks, make things better. (Grokked from Robert J Bennett)

"Most people think a miscarriage is rare, and many believe that if a woman loses a pregnancy that she brought it upon herself. Neither of those things is true, but the enduring beliefs cause great pain to women and their partners." Strange thing, lawmakers also have that same perception and have been working hard to treat women who have a miscarriage as criminals. "In fact, between 15 percent and 20 percent of clinically recognized pregnancies end in miscarriage, defined as a pregnancy loss earlier than 20 weeks of gestation." Well, we're legalizing pot, so I guess we gotta fill those for profit jails with someone. (Grokked from Mary Robinette Kowal)

Our nation's richest Congressman tells our nation's poor they are the envy of the world's poor. Because that always goes over well when a rich person tells a poor person they've got it good. Here's the thing, Congressman Issa, we're the richest country, we supposedly have this American Exceptionalism, why do we still have so many poor people?

Tweet of my heart: @FrankUlvestad If it hadn't been for double standards, some people would have no standards at all.

Double dip: ‏@lilithsaintcrow And for Mother's Day I want healthy school lunches, citizenship for those trapped in the shadow economy, and a little less fucking misogyny.

2 comments:

Dr. Phil (Physics) said...

You can't buy a new Tesla in Michigan -- there's a law forbidding car company owned dealerships. So I don't see them here. Was surprised to find the Tesla S is the number one sedan in Norway.

Dr. Phil

Steve Buchheit said...

There's a lot of states that are forbidding Tesla sales, because they sell direct instead of through dealerships. Because "free markets" and all.