Good morning from my Hunker-Bunker overlooking the Puget Sound from the hillside of West Seattle. It is almost 0730 hrs and still dark outside. I am waiting for another late package from Amazon that was supposed to be here last night by 2200 hrs. At the last minute, the package got ‘delayed’, and now it is supposed to be here between 0400 and 0800. I have engineers waiting for this package, and I deliberately had it sent here because the delivery time was 24 hours earlier than if I had it sent to the Hotel, just five miles away.
Once I get it, I will have to jump in my Unicorn, and drive through rush-hour traffic just to get these security torx bits to them so they can change the batteries in the door locks. Right after that, I have to be at SCCA to get my liver beamed. Fun stuff, I will be sick for the next two or three days. I’m so looking forward to it…
If you watch the Stephen Colbert’s opening monologue, you will know that he has a segment that he calls “Meanwhile”. He will always start out the segment with an opener similar to this one I created with ChatGPT:
“Folks, if you watch the show, you know I spend most of my time right over there in the news foundry, forging the red-hot iron of breaking stories into the sharpest, most topical swords to battle the forces of ignorance. That’s my monologue. But sometimes, folks, just sometimes, on a day like January 6, 2025, the fire of the forge roars a little hotter. Today, Donald Trump’s election certification makes history while Andrew Tate announces his bid to run for Prime Minister of the United Kingdom—a move that left both his supporters and the rest of the planet asking, ‘Wait, what?’ And that wild juxtaposition of chaos, folks, is my segment, Meanwhile.”
Here we go…
The world is now Elon’s playground!
Elon Musk goes global with his playbook for political influence
In the first three days of 2025, Elon Musk commandeered global politics through dozens of rapid-fire, often inflammatory posts to his 210 million followers on X.
The world’s richest person called for the release of a jailed British far-right extremist. He shared a post pressing King Charles III to dissolve Parliament and order a new general election, as he posted memes and a flurry of attacks directed at Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Musk accused Starmer of failing to prosecute “rape gangs” more than a decade ago, a child exploitation scandal that has prompted Britain’s Conservative Party to call for a full national inquiry.
Musk reposted a message from Rupert Lowe, a politician in the Reform UK party who serves in Parliament and who said he spent Friday talking to rape gang victims.
“Victims, past and present, don’t need ‘thoughts and prayers’ from politicians, they need justice,” Lowe said. “We will fight for that in Parliament.”
Musk also briefly turned his attention to the United States’ northern neighbor and praised an interview with Pierre Poilievre, a populist firebrand who leads Canada’s Conservative Party. Musk said that next week he would live-stream a conversation with Alice Weidel, the chancellor candidate for the Alternative for Germany, a far-right political party he has endorsed ahead of that country’s snap elections in February.
Last year, Musk dominated U.S. politics, using his deep war chest and X microphone to boost Donald Trump and other Republicans in the 2024 elections. As the GOP prepares to retake control of the White House and both chambers of Congress, Musk has emerged more powerful than ever. His fortune has exploded, and he has a perch as Trump’s right-hand man, weighing in on his Cabinet choices and joining his conversations with global leaders.
In the new year, Musk is flexing his political muscle on the global stage as well. He appears to be applying a playbook similar to the one he used to disrupt American politics, now boosting conservative politicians in the governments of the United States’ top allies. But his disregard for the veracity of his posts and his elevation of far-right and extremist figures have alarmed liberal leaders around the world.
“Elon Musk is an American citizen and perhaps ought to focus on issues on the other side of the Atlantic,” Health Minister Andrew Gwynne said during a Friday interview with the British radio station LBC.
MY TAKE:
Elon Musk should be a cautionary tale. There should be NO ONE PERSON be so obscenely rich that the ten next richest people in the world still don’t have as much money as he does.
I cannot think of ANY legitimate reason why anyone should have more than maybe ten million bucks at any given time.
The absolute LAST thing a rich person should be doing is influencing entire nations with his money.
But unfortunately, that’s not how the world works at the moment.
Musk continues to meddle in UK Affairs
Brits laughing as Elon Musk skewers Nigel Farage after he calls Tesla boss his ‘hero’
Elon Musk’s gets involved in British politics but this time taking aim at Donald Trump chum and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage which has left X users delighted saying ‘I’ve been saying it forever’
The good folk of X have exploded over Elon Musk’s latest swipe on UK politics – aimed at like minded Nigel Farage.
In the Tesla boss’ latest move in his deranged war on British politics, the US billionaire took aim at Farage, claiming the Brit “doesn’t have what it takes” to lead Reform UK.
The slagging off comes as a huge embarrassment for the politician, who, up until now, has been fairly chummy with the tech tycoon.
In fact, only hours ago on Sunday morning Farage refused to condemn Musk after he carried out a bitter attack on Brit politician Jess Phillips cruelly branding her a ‘rape apologist’. Sycophantic Farage even branded Musk a “hero” and said his support makes his party “look cool”.
But the loyalty did not pay off as Musk then posted on X: “The Reform Party needs a new leader. Farage doesn’t have what it takes.” While the diss may be egg on Farage’s face, many people have taken to Musk’s social media platform to bask in the take down.
“Thank you, brother! I’ve been saying it forever”, exclaimed one X user, while another wrote: “Now you’re talking.” Another person wrote a sarky: “Oh poor Nigel Farage. Elon Musk doesn’t love him any longer!”, embellishing the sentiment with a laughing cat.
“Doctor! My sides hurt from laughing,” another quipped, “Elon Musk says Nigel Farage must go hours after Reform boss calls him a ‘hero’”.
MY TAKE:
Britain should sanction Elon Musk for trying to influence UK political and governmental matters. I see it no different than if Russia or China spent gobs of money to influence US elections….
… oh wait, they do.
Germany sends warning to Elmo
‘Hands off our democracy!’ Germany sends furious warning to Elon Musk after AfD backing
Elon Musk has caused outrage in Germany by publicly backing the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
The Tesla billionaire called the AfD the country’s “last vestige of hope” and invited its leader Alice Weidel to a live chat on X ahead of the general election in February.
His comments have sparked backlash, with critics accusing him of interfering in German politics.
The Green Party’s Robert Habeck sent a furious warning to Musk, telling Der Spiegel: “Hands off our democracy, Mr. Musk!”
Opposition leader Friedrich Merz also called Musk’s remarks “intrusive and pretentious”.
MY TAKE:
Again, Germany should sanction Elon Musk.
Norway Prime Minister weighs in against Musk
Elon Musk’s European political meddling is ‘worrying,’ says Norway’s PM
European backlash grows against billionaire ally of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said Monday he found it “worrying” that a billionaire social media owner like Elon Musk is inserting himself into the politics of other countries.
Musk, a key ally of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, has been on a social media rampage over the holidays, endorsing the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, repeatedly denouncing the U.K.’s Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer and even torpedoing his relationship with British hard-right chief Nigel Farage.
“I find it worrying that a man with enormous access to social media and large financial resources is so directly involved in the internal affairs of other countries. This is not how it should be between democracies and allies,” Støre told public broadcaster NRK.
Støre was responding to a question on whether he is worried about potential interference from Musk in Norwegian elections.
“If we were to see it in Norway, I hope and assume that a united Norwegian political environment would warn and distance itself from it,” Støre added.
Støre’s comments are part of a mainstream political backlash against Musk, in which German political leaders have argued that the Tesla entrepreneur’s AfD endorsement amounted to election interference.
Musk has announced he will hold a live discussion this week with the AfD’s chancellor candidate, Alice Weidel, on X ahead of Germany’s snap election on Feb. 23.
MY TAKE:
Again. SANCTIONS.
Bannon Slams the richest man in the world
Bannon Slams Musk For Algorithm Changes on X: ‘This Is a Social Credit Score’
Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon criticized Elon Musk’s decision to alter X’s algorithm to censor “negativity” on the platform in the wake of a heated online debate over H-1B visas.
On his Saturday broadcast of The War Room, Bannon blasted Musk’s move to influence social discourse on X while simultaneously rolling out a new payment system on the X platform, which he warns will lead to a Chinese-style “social credit system.”
“This is the CCP. This is a social credit score,” Bannon said. “He’s got a glass jaw…he’s got the maturity of an 11-year-old. It’s obvious, he can’t take criticism.”
“One of his weaknesses is that he needs to be loved. He needs the masses to love him. He needs the masses to love him, you can tell when he’s on the stage, he needs that glory.”
Bannon went on to say that Musk receiving widespread criticism for unapologetically advocating for more H-1B visas was what compelled him to crack down on dissent on X.
“So then when his apparatus turns against him, and particularly people that cheered him who said ‘hey, we hate what you’re doing to this country, we know now that you’re lying to us, bald-faced lie, these are not high-skilled people,’ and they turn, all of a sudden, he has to go to what is a Chinese credit score,” he said.
“They have a digital ghetto. And to only have raised up what praises him. That is like the little boy’s mentally of ‘I want to be the superhero, I want to put the cape on and kind of skip around.’”
“It’s an absolute indication of immaturity, of not being able to deal with things as an adult. And that’s what you’re seeing being implemented on Twitter here,” Bannon added.
Musk on Friday announced X’s algorithm would be changed to promote more “informational/entertaining content” and limit replies to his posts to only paying “verified” users.
Algorithm tweak coming soon to promote more informational/entertaining content. We will publish the changes to @XEng.
Our goal is to maximize unregretted user-seconds. Too much negativity is being pushed that technically grows user time, but not unregretted user time.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 4, 2025
MY TAKE:
Like a stopped clock being right twice in a day, Steve Bannon is correct when he says “[Elon’s] got a glass jaw…he’s got the maturity of an 11-year-old. It’s obvious, he can’t take criticism.”
Elon Musk didn’t buy Twitter to ‘make it better’. Elon Musk doesn’t “invent” things, or “improve” things, he buys existing toys and runs them into the ground.
Musk bought Twitter so he can do exactly what he’s doing now: using it as his personal verbal blow torch. HE can control the narrative. He can shut down anyone who disagrees with him or stands in the way.
He has literally bought a US President for pocket change. He will attempt to influence elections in other countries in much the same way. We didn’t elect this fucknozzle, but he will eventually lord over us all.
Exit, Stage Left…
Trudeau to resign as prime minister, much to the relief of Canada
Trudeau to resign as prime minister after Liberal leadership race
PM asked Governor General to prorogue Parliament until March 24
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he plans to step down once the Liberal Party has chosen a successor, bringing his time leading the country to a tumultuous end.
Trudeau, who became Liberal leader in 2013 and prime minister in the fall of 2015, announced his long-awaited decision outside his official residence, Rideau Cottage, on Monday morning.
Trudeau also said he asked Gov. Gen. Mary Simon to prorogue Parliament until March 24, and she granted the request.
The father of three said he told his children that he intended to leave the country’s top job over dinner Sunday night.
“This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it’s become clear to me that if I’m having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election,” he told reporters.
MY TAKE:
The saying about old fish is “fish and visitors stink after three days”, comes to mind here; except swap out the word “days” with “elections”.
Trudeau has been prime minister since 2015. If he’s not tired of being prime minister yet, I’m sure the people of Canada are. People want to see a new face every so often.
Putin’s thin skin
The wild, AI-assisted biopic Putin doesn’t want you to see
Polish director Patryk Vega has created a digital hybrid of the Russian president – and is said to have attracted the attention of his spies
How do you get Vladimir Putin to star in his own biopic? If you’re Polish director Patryk Vega, the answer is (relatively) simple: you hire Polish actor Slawomir Sobala, ask him to spend two years studying “Putin’s body language, his gait, and his way of entering a room”, and then use artificial intelligence to superimpose Putin’s face onto Sobala’s. The result, simply called Putin.
“The audience needed to see the real Putin on screen,” Vega has said. “They see him every day in the media. Even the best actor with great make-up wouldn’t convincingly portray a figure everyone in the world knows so well. Inviting Putin to the studio for 20,000 shots wasn’t an option, and achieving the highest resolution detail is impossible without having a physical human model to photograph in a studio. Without this real-world reference, AI simply cannot replicate the level of precision we’ve accomplished.” Nor, Vega has said, can AI alone yet convincingly replicate intricate movements or convey human emotions.
This hybrid human/artificial approach is the film’s USP. Although the promotional material invites the viewer to “enter the mind of the most dangerous man on earth”, Putin is unlikely to be particularly nuanced. Vega’s movies so far, such as the gangster film Pitbull or the serial killer flick The Plagues of Breslau, have been notable more for their gory violence and vulgar style than for deep insights into political structures or the human condition.
THAT Guy’s Note: Apparently The Telegraph editors were apprehensive about showing even the trailer. Sorry, I have no such apprehension, Putie.
MY TAKE:
I am more inclined to watch something that someone doesn’t want me to watch. When Donald Trump told us that he didn’t want anyone to watch “The Apprentice“, I made it a point to put it at the top of my list. I did watch it, but didn’t really learn anything that I didn’t already know. The acting was good, but the story still sucks. We all know how it ends. But hey, I watched it and don’t see Donald any worse than I already do. So all the money he spent to try and block it from being released here in the US was all for naught. You can stream it on Prime.
Would I have watched it if Trump hadn’t made such a big deal out of it? Probably not. There isn’t a shortage of MUCH more interesting and entertaining programs to watch.
Would I watch this new Putin movie? If I run across it I will make a point of watching it — because I know that Putin doesn’t want anyone to watch it.
For seventy-four years I’ve been wrong?
I’ve always thought that this was a drag race:
Apparently not in the UK…
Drag Race UK star James Lee Williams dies aged 32 as Michelle Visage leads tributes
Dancing On Ice and RuPaul’s Drag Race legend, The Vivienne has died aged just 32, with a spokesperson for the star confirming the devastating news
The Vivienne has died aged 32 it has been announced.
The star born James Lee Williams became a household name thanks to their charm and humour. The devastating news comes just a week after The Vivienne appeared on stage in the theatre production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The Vivienne had also been active on social media in the days leading up to her sad death. Just days before her death, The Vivienne had the likes of Jane McDonald, Bradley Walsh, Joel Dommett, Oti Mabuse and Jonathan Ross in fits of laughter as she shared her Christmas experience.
A spokesperson for the RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star took to social media on Sunday night to confirm the shattering news. In a statement, they said: “It is with immense sadness that we let you know our beloved James Lee Williams – The Vivienne, has passed this weekend.
“James was an incredibly loved, warm- hearted and amazing person. Their family are heartbroken at the loss of their son, brother and uncle. They are so proud of the wonderful things James achieved in their life and career. We will not be releasing any further details. We please ask that James’s family are given the time and privacy they now need to process and grieve.”
MY TAKE:
I wonder how many people here would get hung up on a guy who cross-dresses for a living. He was a model who dressed up as an over-the-top “woman”. Literally one of the oldest types of entertainment in history. Men routinely portrayed women in entertainment in almost every recorded society. These aren’t transgender people — the men are still men and there are no women. FUN FACT: 90% of these guys consider themselves straight.
Drivers with cognitive decline?
Medicare’s blind spot: Why 1.2 million potentially unsafe elderly drivers remain on the roads
BOSTON — Every morning across America, millions of senior citizens grab their car keys and head out to doctors’ appointments, grocery stores, and social gatherings. For most, these routine drives maintain their independence and connection to the world. But beneath this everyday scene lies a troubling reality: nearly one in six older drivers experiences mild cognitive impairment, and our healthcare system lacks a reliable way to determine who among them should no longer be behind the wheel.
With 48 million licensed drivers over 65 in the United States as of 2020, and approximately 17% of seniors experiencing mild cognitive impairment, we’re facing an unprecedented challenge in ensuring road safety while preserving independence. A recent analaysis by researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital suggests the healthcare system must do a better job of monitoring and testing older adults still licensed to drive.
The numbers paint a sobering picture: in 2020 alone, motor vehicle crashes led to 7,480 deaths and nearly 150,000 non-fatal injuries among drivers over 65. As the research notes, “With approximately 17% of people older than 65 years (roughly 8.2 million people) experiencing mild cognitive impairment and at increased risk of motor vehicle crashes, it is critical to have a health care system that appropriately evaluates and addresses driving safety among older adults.”
MY TAKE:
It’s scary how many people who are “in decline” are out there driving. Many of them under fifty, for fuck’s sake. Driving down the road with their phone in one hand and earbuds jammed in their ears, listening to some “fire bars”, and not paying one bit of attention to driving.
And speaking of cognitive decline…
Biden to deliver two major speeches in his final days in office
The remarks include a foreign policy speech followed by a farewell address, people familiar with the plans told NBC News.
President Joe Biden plans to deliver two major speeches before leaving office as part of an effort to outline what he sees as key parts of his legacy from more than 50 years in public service, according to two people familiar with the plans.
The first speech is set to focus on foreign policy and is expected to be delivered sometime after Biden returns on Jan. 12 from a trip to Italy, these people said. They said Biden then plans to close out his final days in the White House with a farewell address to the country.
Neither speech has been fully drafted, the sources familiar with the president’s plans said, but the contours and themes of both have been developed.
In his farewell address, Biden is expected to offer a message to Americans for the future and reflect on his decades in public office, including his four years in the White House, according to the people familiar with the president’s plans.
The traditional address is expected to channel a similar spirit to the parting sentiments offered by some of Biden’s recent predecessors, including former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, who delivered their farewell speeches from the White House, and former President Barack Obama, who opted to speak to the nation from his hometown of Chicago in front of a large audience of supporters.
After losing the 2020 election, President-elect Donald Trump posted a pre-recorded video message online the day before Biden was sworn in to office.
Biden’s foreign policy speech is set to focus on his belief that America is stronger when it invests in its alliances across the world, according to the people familiar with the president’s speeches. Biden is expected to highlight his efforts to broaden and strengthen the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and U.S. relations in the Indo-Pacific, as well as his administration’s military and financial support for Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in 2022.
It’s unclear how much the speech might touch on Biden’s decision to order the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, which has been widely criticized and resulted in the deaths of 13 American service members.
MY TAKE:
BINGO CARD TIME!
If there was ever a great time for the old “bingo card drinking game”, it would have to be for the last two speeches of Joe Biden.
The bingo drinking game thing got its start during the George W. Bush term, because of all of his “bushisms”. It carried over into the Obama term and then went away during the Trump years. We could retire it with these last two speeches…
Watch that y’all don’t blow a gasket…
Biden Awards Medal of Freedom to Hillary Clinton, George Soros and Others
President Biden named 19 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients Saturday, awarding the nation’s highest civilian honor to political luminaries such as former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and the late civil-rights pioneer Fannie Lou Hamer.
Also on the list were actors, athletes and fashion leaders such as editor Anna Wintour and designer Ralph Lauren.
Those chosen for the honor are people “who have made extraordinary contributions to their country and the world,” the White House said in a statement. The honor is usually an opportunity for the White House to herald people and values that the president sees as particularly significant.
MY TAKE:
The only take I would have on this is if someone complained about his choices. They couldn’t possibly be any worse than the group that Trump picked during his first term. So if anyone is complaining about Biden’s picks, then you can miss me with that bullshit.
Andrew Tate, the next British Prime Minister…
Andrew Tate Declares Bid for British Prime Minister in Bold Political Move
In an unexpected turn of events, Andrew Tate, the British media personality known for his controversial opinions and massive online presence, has officially announced his intention to run for Prime Minister in the upcoming UK general election.
The declaration, made via a Twitter post, has sent shockwaves through political and media circles.
The most Googled man in the world, who is British, becoming the PM?
After @Fidias0 became a member of EU parliament from his youtube channel.
At the time of great awakening and distrust in the political class?
Stranger things have happened.
I am 100% serious.
I am in the…
— Andrew Tate (@Cobratate) January 5, 2025
MY TAKE:
I don’t buy into any of this “toxic masculinity” bullshit. A person is either an asshole, or he’s not. Andrew Tate is a classic asshole. Nothing ‘toxically masculine’ about that. Women can be assholes also — everyone has one.
You can be a MAN and be MANLY, and love MASCULINE things if you want — you are allowed. There is no rule, law, or commandment telling you otherwise. Oooze that testosterone out of every pore…
But you just can’t rape anyone. You can’t human traffic anyone. You aren’t allowed to sexually exploit anyone. You can’t “own” women (or men, I don’t judge) and treat them like slaves.
Cosplay is one thing, but this isn’t what Andrew Tate and his even dumber brother have been accused of, and why they are still under criminal charges.
But who knows? Maybe Elon Musk will be bankrolling an Andrew Tate Prime Minister job…
Once in a lifetime, a music prodigy appears in the world, and they are often tortured souls. Yet in spite of all of his mental and physical problems brought on by TEN YEARS of missed diagnosis and medications that only made matters worse, Ren has been able to do some great things.
If you are not hip to Ren, you should be.
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