The paywall will keep it from the widespread ridicule it richly deserves, but the Detroit News has an unintentionally hilarious tribute to Stockton “Tock” Rush, written by one of the auto writers, a trust-fund mediocrity who was also a Princeton ‘84 classmate. “Excruciating” doesn’t really describe it.
Seriously though. You could cut the irony with a knife. Five bazillionaires are dead now because they didn't care about safety protocols when they went to the bottom of the fucking ocean to gawk at the watery grave of more than a thousand poor schlubs who died 111 years ago because the shipping line they were in the purported care of didn't care about safety protocols. The only one I feel bad for is the 19 year old. I did stupid things when I was 19 too, but none of them fucking killed me.
On a similar tack, I knew there would be blowback the second I heard the Stockton Rush quote about "50 year old white guys." As in not wanting jowly ex-navy types in the promo photos. He wanted the publicity shots to resemble marketing aimed at young folks. Hip, good looking specimens we'd all like to see in our imaginary circle of friends.
There is an awful lot to unpack in all of this. A good start is a YouTube channel called Sub Brief. It's hosted by, wait for it, a jowly ex-navy type. But he's genuinely sympathetic to some of Rush's ideas about attracting the youth to new adventures. Then he does a concise job of explaining what a criminal clusterfuck the entire business model was.
(Bear in mind it's a YouTube channel. If Bruce Springsteen shows up on YouTube and says, "Hi, I'm Bruce Springsteen!", you'll want to look for verification.)
I would just like to state for the record that I fully support any and all efforts to shoot billionaires into the sun. In fact I would consider it a better use of my tax dollars than almost anything else and would urge Congress to fund such efforts as soon as possible.
I was thinking I really couldn't wait until this tragic misadventure blew over then I realized that there will inevitably be a movie or probably an 8 part Netflix series
and it's going to take years, if not decades for it to recede in the collective rear view mirror.
Greg Peters and James Franco have a lunch date already-
I assumed they were all already dead when the "news" first broke. The subsequent "reportage" kept (and will keep) all other thoughts (and prayers) off the table except for PrideFest here in SF.
"I think it was General MacArthur who said: 'You're remembered for the rules you break,'" Rush said, smiling. The CEO acknowledged that he'd "broken some rules" with the Titan's manufacturing but was confident that his design was sound. "I think I've broken them with logic and good engineering behind me. Carbon fiber and titanium? There's a rule you don't do that. Well, I did."
From what I've read, the main reason he used carbon fiber was to save *money* on costlier but proven materials for submersibles. Just a thought, but two and a half miles of water above you is roughly the equivalent of one and a quarter miles of concrete. I'm not made of the same stuff as ol' Stockton, but, innovation aside, I don't think I'd appreciate that my only protection from that much weight was cheaper.
When I think of all the lesser-known people who could have been saved for far less than we just spent attempting to save fools from their folly, I have to question our commitment to the idea everybody matters, particularly among those with the resources to help if they chose.
Instead they chose a watery death. Yay freedom. I do feel bad for the kid, who I read was dragged into this unwillingly by Dad. That's appalling - your dad is supposed to look out for you, not help you find trouble.
The paywall will keep it from the widespread ridicule it richly deserves, but the Detroit News has an unintentionally hilarious tribute to Stockton “Tock” Rush, written by one of the auto writers, a trust-fund mediocrity who was also a Princeton ‘84 classmate. “Excruciating” doesn’t really describe it.
Now I wanna know where Schlemiel is. 😀
Seriously though. You could cut the irony with a knife. Five bazillionaires are dead now because they didn't care about safety protocols when they went to the bottom of the fucking ocean to gawk at the watery grave of more than a thousand poor schlubs who died 111 years ago because the shipping line they were in the purported care of didn't care about safety protocols. The only one I feel bad for is the 19 year old. I did stupid things when I was 19 too, but none of them fucking killed me.
I guess it's still funny if it's true.
Love the names ! There is something
Very Golden Age of British Satire about them.
You ever think about taking up pottery making? You could easily end up as The Twenty First Century's Josiah Wedgewood.
On a similar tack, I knew there would be blowback the second I heard the Stockton Rush quote about "50 year old white guys." As in not wanting jowly ex-navy types in the promo photos. He wanted the publicity shots to resemble marketing aimed at young folks. Hip, good looking specimens we'd all like to see in our imaginary circle of friends.
There is an awful lot to unpack in all of this. A good start is a YouTube channel called Sub Brief. It's hosted by, wait for it, a jowly ex-navy type. But he's genuinely sympathetic to some of Rush's ideas about attracting the youth to new adventures. Then he does a concise job of explaining what a criminal clusterfuck the entire business model was.
(Bear in mind it's a YouTube channel. If Bruce Springsteen shows up on YouTube and says, "Hi, I'm Bruce Springsteen!", you'll want to look for verification.)
I was hoping there was an otherwise unoccupied seat on that billionaires’ sun flight for a certain Supreme Court Justice.
And speaking of “government can’t do shit,” I-95 is already reopening thanks to federal and state efforts - no tech Bros involved.
I would just like to state for the record that I fully support any and all efforts to shoot billionaires into the sun. In fact I would consider it a better use of my tax dollars than almost anything else and would urge Congress to fund such efforts as soon as possible.
I was thinking I really couldn't wait until this tragic misadventure blew over then I realized that there will inevitably be a movie or probably an 8 part Netflix series
and it's going to take years, if not decades for it to recede in the collective rear view mirror.
Greg Peters and James Franco have a lunch date already-
Move fast and break things
"CRENSHAW: Bolt, we ALL know that most of the criminal activity in the United States is traceable to the Biden Crime Family"
Minor but crucial edit.
Carry on.
Sly but perceptive - "these brave private individuals, all of them with at least dual citizenship including the United States."
I assumed they were all already dead when the "news" first broke. The subsequent "reportage" kept (and will keep) all other thoughts (and prayers) off the table except for PrideFest here in SF.
Make America Gay Again!
Remember when Feynman stated "2% chance of failure" about the space shuttle?
The gummint ain't got nuthin on Spaceman Smup.
From an interview with Stockton Rush himself:
"I think it was General MacArthur who said: 'You're remembered for the rules you break,'" Rush said, smiling. The CEO acknowledged that he'd "broken some rules" with the Titan's manufacturing but was confident that his design was sound. "I think I've broken them with logic and good engineering behind me. Carbon fiber and titanium? There's a rule you don't do that. Well, I did."
From what I've read, the main reason he used carbon fiber was to save *money* on costlier but proven materials for submersibles. Just a thought, but two and a half miles of water above you is roughly the equivalent of one and a quarter miles of concrete. I'm not made of the same stuff as ol' Stockton, but, innovation aside, I don't think I'd appreciate that my only protection from that much weight was cheaper.
Meanwhile...
Joe had a big meal with the Injun
And he had all his minions a'cringin'
Drinkin' wine spo-dee-o-dee
With Prime Minister Modi
While the fate of the world is unhingin'
When I think of all the lesser-known people who could have been saved for far less than we just spent attempting to save fools from their folly, I have to question our commitment to the idea everybody matters, particularly among those with the resources to help if they chose.
Instead they chose a watery death. Yay freedom. I do feel bad for the kid, who I read was dragged into this unwillingly by Dad. That's appalling - your dad is supposed to look out for you, not help you find trouble.