Pylimitics

The tech bros, and most especially Elon Musk, have somehow become such centers of attention that they can spout nonsense and have it reported — by media outlets with actual reputations! — as something like “news.” I’m talking specifically about Musk’s “flying” “car” that was “demonstrated” in a stage show in Texas.

It was a show, and the stunt did not feature a “car.” When the chandelier in the Phantom of the Opera broadway musical “smashes into the stage”, it’s not news. But luckily it’s not reported as such. It’s a special effect. That’s what the Texas show was, too.

Maybe it’s the unlimited money; when you have resources like that you can pay people to assemble a really cool special effects display and not even charge admission. I mean, think of how much entertainment Musk could deliver to everybody without even making a dent in his fortune. How about a full-size Transformer that blasts off into the sky, then lands and becomes a Tesla semi? How about a special Boring Company super-hero machine that emerges from the ground, and out comes The Underminer!

Musk is missing a big opportunity here; the Ringling Brothers Circus is no more but the Musk Circus could take its place, and even better, it could be free of charge. Musk already has obviously internalized P.T.Barnum’s declaration: there’s a sucker born every minute. Barnum was also a circus impresario. Just sayin’.