SpaceX - a sci-fi conundrum

SpaceX - SPCX.

Pros

- Outer space private enterprise

- The company created completely new reusable rockets

- The founder has aspirations for Mars colony

- Economics for returns = open ended

- $135-$160/share when company launched June 2026

- Tesla was a huge cash hole -- until it wasn't 

- Musk is smart, strategic, long-term thinking, and doesn't play to lose

- StarLink is financially successful 

- Multiple goals, incl AI datacenters in space, gathering space materials for Earth, Mars colony, etc

Cons

- Elon Musk is unfortunately a Right-wing fascist racist, possible NAZI 

- Elon Musk is a high functioning autistic savant, lacking empathy and full-range of considerations for impact

- SpaceX bundled Grok AI (X-AI) which so far is a financial drain / loser

- Space X needs incredible returns to match its financial evaluation (one analyst said $50 bil in profits per year)

While I am opposed to any racial purity ideologies, and find a lot of Musk's activities questionable or in poor taste, it all comes down to --

How could a SCI-FI obsessive really miss an opportunity to invest in the first private enterprise IPO specifically aiming to expand humanity into space?!?!  While Im not rich by any means, I want humans to be a multiplanetary species for many reasons, and no govt has prioritized this because govts are inefficient and small minded.

All of Musk's organizations are interesting for humanity's future:

- Tesla and SunPower

- Boring Inc

- X-AI / Grok

- Twitter/X

- SpaceX

I think Musk should leave 'X' alone and let Marketing experts improve the branding, but I can't deny his moves are all future-focused.

I also read that all of the companies (except Twitter) he's founded could work on Mars.

Movies - Mandolorian & Mortal Kombat II, The Boys finale, more MBA

The Mandolorian and Grogu - fun but forgettable.  Really enjoyed with kids, but talked to folks and got interesting feedback.

- Not a 'Star Wars' style movie.  This seems true, but missed the question - were 'Star Wars' stle movies actually good?  (I forced myself to appreciate all the movies, but wasnt always easy.)

- Like 4x or 8x TV show episodes.  Actually, the shows were better in many ways, with more Mandolorian lore and storyline, more character arcs.  None of that in the movie except Rada the Hutt.  New blue pilot CG guy noticeably got no background.

I liked it as a sci-fi movie, but was missing the heart of the show, was light on message, & didn't expand on the story in any meaningful way.

Mortal Kombat II - saw with 13 yr old son.  We laughed our butts off (me louder than him).  Decent writing, acting, story, jokes -- overall a great surprise.  Plus Karl Urban and extra unnecessary cursing.  A great B-movie for guys, and there were strong female leads so maybe women/girls might like also?  (Dunno bc I havent found any women/girls who have seen it yet.)

Also a great movie adaptation of a video game.

The Boys finale - while I loved the comics, the show lost it's edge.  Still, it was quite a journey - 5 seasons Homelander, Butcher, Hughie.

In the end, I really didnt like Jack Quaid's single dimensional acting, but his finale scene had great payoff.  What stood out most on the show was Starlight's face surgeries & that controversy. It almost parallels the show.  Good (bad) fun, had more social commentary than was expected I think.  Def kept the irreverent tone of the comics.

MBA continues - finished Accounting & Org Mgmt, semester 2 = Corporate Finance & Strategic Marketing.

- Accounting - was challenging, but I liked the knowledge.  I discussed with therapist that I used to hate money bc my parents didn't have any financial skills or knowledge and were primarily fear-based, taught me to be afraid.  I hope to teach my kids financial literacy.

- Org Mgmt - a lot of incredible insights into different ways to do businesses, structure business, handle change and workplace politics.  My fav teacher so far, Prof Rizova, has Bulgarian sense of humor and is also teaching AI, which she says is terrifying.

I tried presenting Marketing ideas for my work.  Boss, "No".  Product Team, "No." So I decided to pivot to Sneaky Pickle 🥒, my VC Startup concept that *requires* good values along w/profit.  Now going deep into the pickle!!!  I confided in folks that it makes me scared, but also super excited. So far, everyone says to continue...

Onwards!!

Good Luck Have Fun Dont Die - movie review

When I saw the preview, wasn't sure I would be seeing.  But I love Sam Rockwell, so I gave it a shot.  Good Luck Have Fun Don't Die may be my fav scifi movie of 2020's.

GLHFDD has some vibes of 'Everything Everywhere All At Once', but this movie feels more relevant because the world is at a critical point.

So for a timestamp, IRL we have Trump attacking Iran unprovoked (in sync with Israel), along with kidnapping the leader of Venezuela.  Those events, along with Greenland threat,  has made the world destabilized and on the edge of world war.  Besides these enormous problems, we can add

- Israel genocide of Palestinians

- Trump's ICE acting like a lawless military inside USA 

- AI sucking up job market (ie destroying labor)

- Trump dodging Epstein files guilt

- rampant corruption and theft in govt

So with these phenomenena in mind, this movie boldly tackles [SPOILERS]

- coming AI singularity

- videogames

- 'BTL' addiction (aka 'better than life')

- children and phones

- the impacts of phone addiction

- cloning

While there is obviously a lot of other relevant material to discuss in current times, the movie addressed the subject matter in a way that challenged the rational mind with intention.

The giant cat monster / sparkle dick was unnecessary, but it made the point of being in an AI game more clear.

So then the question is about the meta plot:

Is Sam's character really time travelling, or is he just replaying a scene in an AI videogame?  Despite the fact that his mother is there and he guards her so as to not negate his birth, the whole movie could be just another VR videogame.

Something to ponder.

So I loved the zombie phones, and Sam, and his willingness to have people die.  While it was painful in the game, it aligned with a videogame -- has anyone cried when a videogame grunt dies???

His bizarre movements in Norms at the beginning also reminded me of a videogame player's spamming moves.

I really enjoyed, now I'm looking forward to my first rewatch.  (& I dont plan on doing 100+, but I could imagine 3-5+ rewatches.)