Wednesday Morning Rant

25%

Late last week, Elon Musk's SpaceX dominated headlines with its IPO. The company went public and raised $75 billion at $135 per share, valuing the company at $1.77 trillion. Not to be outdone, SpaceX has continue to run up, closing at $192.50 yesterday, with a market cap of an eye-watering $2.642 trillion, becoming the fourth most valuable company in the world. Elon Musk, at least on paper, is now a trillionaire.

What I find most interesting about this is not the preposterous valuation or the caterwauling the usual suspects, but the stated basis for that valuation. In the company's SEC filing is one of the biggest pieces of, let's call it "optimism" ever put into a prospectus. That valuation on SpaceX has little to do with space as such, and rather a lot to do with computers and networking. That is not a surprise, given that SpaceX as a space development company is not profitable. Developing rockets is extremely expensive and getting Starship over the line is capital-intensive. There is also tremendous opportunity there, as ultra-heavy launch capacity comes online.

But neither SpaceX as a space development company nor SpaceX as a networking company are the basis of its IPO valuation. Starlink is profitable, but it isn't driving the share price. Per its own S-1, SpaceX sees both as minority components in the total enterprise value. From page 11:

We believe we have identified the largest actionable total addressable market ("TAM") in human history. We estimate that our quantifiable TAM is $28.5 trillion, consisting of $370 billion in Space from space-enabled solutions; $1.6 trillion in Connectivity across $870 billion in Starlink Broadband and $740 billion in Starlink Mobile as well as additional opportunities in enterprise and government; $26.5 trillion in AI across $2.4 trillion in AI infrastructure, $760 billion in consumer subscriptions, $600 billion in digital advertising, and $22.7 trillion in enterprise applications. For illustrative purposes of sizing our addressable market opportunity, we exclude China and Russia from our global estimates.

So per the company, the market for the space part of SpaceX is about a third of a trillion dollars, the market for the Starlink part of SpaceX is about a trillion and a half, and market for the nascent AI part of SpaceX is approximately the size of the entire combined economy of the European Union.

It's outlandish. Per the company's S-1, they put their total addressable market across all three business areas at very nearly a quarter of gross global product - and they don't even include Red China in the figure! Of course, that entire addressable market - even if real - wouldn't belong entirely to SpaceX, but the figure itself is absurd on its face. That market size estimate for AI - $26.5 trillion - is larger than the annual production of every country except one. If you're wondering what a mania looks like, this is it. A reasonable reaction to that estimated market size would be laughter. The actual reaction was, "shut up and take my money."

Unlike many AI firms, SpaceX is a real company with real products. It has a profitable division (that division has some headwinds, but also additional potential in mobility) and a capital-intensive development arm that will continue to open new capabilities and markets. I could see betting - even betting a lot - on SpaceX. But that is not what this IPO was about. This IPO was about xAI and Musk has managed to capitalize on the mania in a very big way. I have no idea if he nailed the top of this thing or not (that old saw about irrationality and solvency remains as true as ever), but he may have come close.

When the air comes out of the AI bubble - whether because eventually people start blinking as in the Dot-Com Bubble, or because the liability and market compression because of weaponization potential, or something else altogether - Musk is unlikely to still be a trillionaire. But he will still hold the dominant position in space development, orbital communications and will have used the mania to raise a stupendous amount of new capital.

Every bubble has winners and losers. The odds are good that Musk walks away from this one as a winner.

Posted by: Joe Mannix at 11:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Sponge!

Posted by: rickb223 at June 17, 2026 11:00 AM (u3HiE)

2 Munkle!

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at June 17, 2026 11:00 AM (amcLV)

3 Corgis called

Posted by: rickb223 at June 17, 2026 11:01 AM (u3HiE)

4 Microsoft and Apple had an IPO at one time. I think they met expectations.

Posted by: polynikes at June 17, 2026 11:02 AM (GseMx)

5 A bit of correction today, which is a welcome sight.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at June 17, 2026 11:02 AM (dK+Kv)

6 rickb, I'm still laughing about the Markles and the Paparazzi post...

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at June 17, 2026 11:03 AM (U/s6V)

7 SpaceX is $191.60/share
Tesla is $399.65/share

Posted by: rickb223 at June 17, 2026 11:04 AM (u3HiE)

8 Pssst. I've got great deals on tulip bulbs. Buy now or regret later!

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at June 17, 2026 11:05 AM (amcLV)

9 rickb, I'm still laughing about the Markles and the Paparazzi post...
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes

😁😁😁

Posted by: rickb223 at June 17, 2026 11:05 AM (u3HiE)

10 We estimate that our quantifiable TAM is $28.5 trillion, consisting of $370 billion in Space from space-enabled solutions; $1.6 trillion in Connectivity across $870 billion in Starlink Broadband and $740 billion in Starlink Mobile as well as additional opportunities in enterprise and government; $26.5 trillion in AI across $2.4 trillion in AI infrastructure, $760 billion in consumer subscriptions, $600 billion in digital advertising, and $22.7 trillion in enterprise applications.

It's outlandish. Per the company's S-1, they put their total addressable market across all three business areas at very nearly a quarter of gross global product - and they don't even include Red China in the figure! ... the figure itself is absurd on its face. That market size estimate for AI - $26.5 trillion - is larger than the annual production of every country except one. If you're wondering what a mania looks like, this is it. A reasonable reaction to that estimated market size would be laughter. The actual reaction was, "shut up and take my money!

I'm kind of surprised they didn't mention XTulipBulb.

Posted by: Archimedes at June 17, 2026 11:05 AM (Riz8t)

11 SpaceX is $191.60/share
Tesla is $399.65/share
Posted by: rickb223 at June 17, 2026 11:04 AM (u3HiE

I think most people think Musk had Tesla before he created Space X .

Posted by: polynikes at June 17, 2026 11:06 AM (GseMx)

12 blinking as in the Dot-Com Bubble

Hired at a .com startup. They catered our meals. But had no clients! So I ate well and cashed the checks.

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at June 17, 2026 11:07 AM (Kt19C)

13 Musk has the uncanny ability to visualize something and avoid all the bullshit the government throws in the way to realize his vision.

Well, he avoids a lot of it at any rate.

I think some of that is the services and goods he supplies are also needed by the Feds. Especially, SpaceX.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at June 17, 2026 11:07 AM (jehhT)

14 Nahhhhhh. It'll be fine.

OOF: OpenAI’s financials have leaked, showing $21 billion in losses against $13 billion in revenue. “Is there a path to profitability? Maybe. OpenAI’s two biggest expenses are R&D and marketing. Budget cuts there, coupled with an ability to raise prices or win new sources of revenue, could see the company move into the black over time. Cutting R&D would be the most difficult part of that, given that AI companies can only hold onto their customers by generating the best-performing models.”

Switching is easy and cheap for customers, retaining them is difficult — and expensive.

https://archive.is/WC94K#selection-359.0-359.93

Posted by: Archimedes at June 17, 2026 11:07 AM (Riz8t)

15 Irrational exuberance.

Posted by: RS at June 17, 2026 11:07 AM (GYx3d)

16 15 Irrational exuberance.

The hype cycle will be with us always.

Posted by: Archimedes at June 17, 2026 11:08 AM (Riz8t)

17 "$1.6 trillion in Connectivity across $870 billion in Starlink Broadband and $740 billion in Starlink Mobile as well as additional opportunities in enterprise and government; $26.5 trillion in AI across $2.4 trillion in AI infrastructure, $760 billion in consumer subscriptions"

And consumers will keep buying every new expensive service, because consumers are all super rich from buying the high flying stocks. It's a virtuous circle, a perpetual motion machine.

Posted by: illiniwek at June 17, 2026 11:08 AM (vbXSk)

18
Tesla is $399.65/share

Posted by: rickb223 at June 17, 2026 11:04 AM (u3HiE)

_________

Wasn't Tesla forecast last year to go bust?

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at June 17, 2026 11:09 AM (O0L8i)

19 "That market size estimate for AI - $26.5 trillion - is larger than the annual production of every country except one."

That's 2030 US dollars....
Wait until you see the price of bread....

Posted by: Stateless - He ain't heavy, he's my dog at June 17, 2026 11:10 AM (Sco7b)

20 If I had bought SPCX last week (I didn't), I'd sell it now.

Posted by: Archimedes at June 17, 2026 11:10 AM (Riz8t)

21 Commenting present

Posted by: Skip at June 17, 2026 11:11 AM (sgkY8)

22 Today is Wednesday, June 17th, and California is still counting votes.

Posted by: JackStraw at June 17, 2026 11:11 AM (viF8m)

23 Irrational exuberance.

Posted by: RS at June 17, 2026 11:07 AM (GYx3d)

Somebody remembers their bubbles.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at June 17, 2026 11:12 AM (dK+Kv)

24 Thx Joe.
Watching Chief Liz and Bernie et al howling about this is the most satisfying thing. Those political ideologue lifers have produced nothing their existences but they know more than the market and actual producers

Posted by: Smell the Glove at June 17, 2026 11:12 AM (ufO5q)

25 Today is Wednesday, June 17th, and California is still counting votes.
Posted by: JackStraw

HAH! "Counting" Good one.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at June 17, 2026 11:12 AM (diia5)

26 I keep asking lefties why they are so upset at Musk being rich but not Somali Learing Centers stealing from them.

I've yet to get an answer better then "That's Racist" or REEEEE

Posted by: 18-1 at June 17, 2026 11:13 AM (sKqQm)

27
Today is Wednesday, June 17th, and California is still counting votes.

Posted by: JackStraw at June 17, 2026 11:11 AM (viF8m)

____________

And will for the next two weeks.

Do they get counted at a more or less constant rate or do they just peter out?

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at June 17, 2026 11:13 AM (O0L8i)

28 I'm a big SpaceX fan and would love to buy a few shares but I'm going to have to see a few quarterly results first. The TAM projection is crazy high.

Posted by: WisRich at June 17, 2026 11:14 AM (G0vdT)

29 Do they get counted at a more or less constant rate or do they just peter out?

Speaking of having your peter out, how's Graham Platner?

Posted by: Archimedes at June 17, 2026 11:14 AM (Riz8t)

30
"That market size estimate for AI - $26.5 trillion - is larger than the annual production of every country except one."

___________

So there's hope for my Matchbox car collection?

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at June 17, 2026 11:15 AM (O0L8i)

31 I'm a big SpaceX fan and would love to buy a few shares but I'm going to have to see a few quarterly results first. The TAM projection is crazy high.

Posted by: WisRich at June 17, 2026 11:14 AM (G0vdT)

Cerebras (AI) took a 50% dump from its IPO afterglow. I can wait.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at June 17, 2026 11:15 AM (dK+Kv)

32
Speaking of having your peter out, how's Graham Platner?

Posted by: Archimedes at June 17, 2026 11:14 AM (Riz8t)

__________

Ol' Thimbledick?

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at June 17, 2026 11:16 AM (O0L8i)

33 I think most companies see a decline in stock price after the IPO rush

Posted by: 18-1 at June 17, 2026 11:16 AM (sKqQm)

34 Speaking of having your peter out, how's Graham Platner?

He's blitzing the towns in Maine and having a Heil of a time avoiding questions about his favorite Austrian painter

Posted by: 18-1 at June 17, 2026 11:17 AM (sKqQm)

35 "Somebody remembers their bubbles.
Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at June 17, 2026 11:12 AM"

Quite so. I've always been very cautious, and I'm old enough to remember a few bubbles. Never regretted refusing to jump on the bandwagon for the latest shiny thing.

Posted by: RS at June 17, 2026 11:18 AM (GYx3d)

36 I think most companies see a decline in stock price after the IPO rush
Posted by: 18-1 at June 17, 2026 11:16 AM (sKqQm)

Institutional investors get in early, take a quick profit, wait for the metoos to sell into a loss and then, if the numbers look good, buy in again for the long haul.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at June 17, 2026 11:18 AM (ExV1e)

37 Musk has been saying since before he bought Twitter that he wanted to turn X into an "everything" app like the Chinese app WeChat. That could be a very valuable item given he already is building a worldwide communications network.

Posted by: JackStraw at June 17, 2026 11:18 AM (viF8m)

38 Thanks for the details Joe. Because when I first saw the valuation I said it’s absurd because it’s an aerospace company but being valued as a tech company à la alphabet or meta…. But that AI part makes it more understandable. I’m still not buying at that price though… way overvalued IMHO

Posted by: LinusVanPelt at June 17, 2026 11:19 AM (cq1gA)

39 Cerebras (AI) took a 50% dump from its IPO afterglow. I can wait.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at June 17, 2026 11:15 AM

Same here get it below $100 and I might splurge and buy some.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at June 17, 2026 11:19 AM (0N4FZ)

40 "If I had bought SPCX last week (I didn't), I'd sell it now." Posted by: Archimedes

I felt that way about AMZN around 1999, and I did sell it, then it went "to the moon". The "passive bid" (the money average Joes put into "the market" every paycheck) keeps stocks floating higher, with little regard for valuations.

But still, buying every dip has always worked, so why fight the trend? Well, I have been bearish since around 2000, but most have gotten much richer than I have, by just doing the Buy and Hold pattern.

Posted by: illiniwek at June 17, 2026 11:20 AM (vbXSk)

41 "13 Musk has the uncanny ability to visualize something and avoid all the bullshit the government throws in the way to realize his vision.

Well, he avoids a lot of it at any rate.

I think some of that is the services and goods he supplies are also needed by the Feds. Especially, SpaceX.
Posted by: Martini Farmer at June 17, 2026 11:07 AM (jehhT)"

Musk had a fuckhuge heap of cash from his first successes and the willpower to take that and build real things, instead of just coasting along and squeezing money out through MBA faggotry. He stands out because contemporary Western business culture is pathetic.

He was never particularly concerned with the opinions of our dysfunctional ruling class and their priesthood until they started turning his kids into freaks. Quite the own-goal, there. A lot of the Western rich react differently - they want social acceptance. South Africa showed Musk where navigating by feels will get you.

Posted by: heya at June 17, 2026 11:20 AM (LPSL6)

42
Eh, people are expecting SPCX to perform like Tesla.

Tesla was always grossly overvalued. Still is.

However, it kept rising insanely in value, even before it was selling many/any cars.

Once Elon lost his halo due to buying Twitter and supporting Trump, Tesla stock fell.

I wish I could of gotten some SPCX on the release, but sadly, no.

SPCX is roughly $190 today. If you bought on the IPO date and sold at $190. That's a 40% profit.

I expect a lot of people will sell, this week.

And then we'll see where it settles.

I'll buy some then probably, but not go hog wild about it.

Posted by: naturalfake at June 17, 2026 11:21 AM (iJfKG)

43
And he's an African American.

Posted by: Oh by the way at June 17, 2026 11:21 AM (7PhS+)

44 Elon Musk: "Alexa, put Amazon into my cart".

😂😂😂

Posted by: rickb223 at June 17, 2026 11:21 AM (u3HiE)

45 So there's hope for my Matchbox car collection?
=====

A lot of us bypassed Matchbox and went straight to Beanie Babies. Psst, Pokemon cards are even bigger. /s

Posted by: mustbequantum at June 17, 2026 11:21 AM (Ofeq1)

46 Sitting right here, boss.

Posted by: Tulip bulbs at June 17, 2026 11:22 AM (7PhS+)

47 California still counting votes.

Why are they part of a 1st world country?

Posted by: Case at June 17, 2026 11:23 AM (IY9No)

48 I felt that way about AMZN around 1999, and I did sell it, then it went "to the moon". The "passive bid" (the money average Joes put into "the market" every paycheck) keeps stocks floating higher, with little regard for valuations.

AMZ has been doing pretty well over the last few years along with a few of the other big tech stocks

Posted by: 18-1 at June 17, 2026 11:23 AM (sKqQm)

49 SpaceX just leased out basically all of its GPU capacity to Google to the tune of $950 BILLION DOLLARS A FREAKING MONTH.

Posted by: ballistic at June 17, 2026 11:23 AM (oqH4h)

50 And he's an African American.

Not only that, he made people that were minorities into millionaires. The gall of that man!

Posted by: NR Pax at June 17, 2026 11:23 AM (svLOV)

51 I was a part of the .com madness. Worked d my butt of for seven years. Went through three companies in that time. Got a boatload of pre-ipo stock.

No one remembers Corvis and Dr. Huber who pioneered they way they send multiple data channels over the same fiber by using different wavelengths of light.

We built out the capacity that was needed for the internet back in the 90s.

Corvis went public at the height of the madness. Gross proceeds were approximately $1.138 billion — described contemporaneously as the largest IPO by a company that had never made a sale.

It was a seriously crazy time.

Posted by: pawn at June 17, 2026 11:23 AM (+rSJz)

52 SPCX is roughly $190 today. If you bought on the IPO date and sold at $190. That's a 40% profit.

I expect a lot of people will sell, this week.

And then we'll see where it settles.

I'll buy some then probably, but not go hog wild about it.

Posted by: naturalfake at June 17, 2026 11:21 AM (iJfKG)

It opened on the market at $150ish. That's 20% or 33%, if you managed to hop out at $225. Still, I've flipped TSLA on the dips and plan to with SPCX.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at June 17, 2026 11:24 AM (dK+Kv)

53
I feel lucky to be alive while Trump and Musk are active.

They remind me of the Great 80's Triple Threat of Reagan, Thatcher, and PopeJohn Paul II.

Now, if Trump and Musk could only get a third giant to join them.

Posted by: naturalfake at June 17, 2026 11:24 AM (iJfKG)

54 49 SpaceX just leased out basically all of its GPU capacity to Google to the tune of $950 BILLION DOLLARS A FREAKING MONTH.

Posted by: ballistic at June 17, 2026 11:23 AM (oqH4h)
-----------

That can't be right. A trillion a month?

Posted by: WisRich at June 17, 2026 11:25 AM (G0vdT)

55 No one remembers Corvis and Dr. Huber who pioneered they way they send multiple data channels over the same fiber by using different wavelengths of light.

I did some of the testing on this back in the day.

Wow, I'm old.

Posted by: 18-1 at June 17, 2026 11:25 AM (sKqQm)

56 The Fed is meeting today. The market is reacting. Can't wait for the minutes!

Posted by: runner at June 17, 2026 11:25 AM (GD0B3)

57 I've yet to get an answer better then "That's Racist" or REEEEE

Posted by: 18-1 at June 17, 2026 11:13 AM (sKqQm)

Would be great if one of them was honest enough to answer "tribalism" but I don't see it happening.

Posted by: ... at June 17, 2026 11:25 AM (l/J0j)

58 40 "If I had bought SPCX last week (I didn't), I'd sell it now." Posted by: Archimedes

I felt that way about AMZN around 1999, and I did sell it, then it went "to the moon". The "passive bid" (the money average Joes put into "the market" every paycheck) keeps stocks floating higher, with little regard for valuations.

But still, buying every dip has always worked, so why fight the trend? Well, I have been bearish since around 2000, but most have gotten much richer than I have, by just doing the Buy and Hold pattern.

Posted by: illiniwek at June 17, 2026 11:20 AM (vbXSk)

Keep in mind it took Amazon's stock price a decade to recover from 1999.

Posted by: Red Turban Someguy at June 17, 2026 11:26 AM (okun6)

59 A thing is worth what people think a thing is worth an not a penny more.

So let's hope people continue thinking SpaceX is worth a quadrillion dollars.

* Looks at SpaceX holdings increasing like a Vegas Slot Machine that's finally going to hit.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at June 17, 2026 11:26 AM (XV/Pl)

60 Do not bet against Musk.

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at June 17, 2026 11:26 AM (xvV+O)

61 Sitting right here, boss.
Posted by: Tulip bulbs

At least I'm good for something when the bottom falls out.

Posted by: Pot at June 17, 2026 11:26 AM (DZ9Lv)

62
I'm told Musk is hoarding all that money.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at June 17, 2026 11:26 AM (O0L8i)

63 That can't be right. A trillion a month?
Posted by: WisRich at June 17, 2026 11:25 AM (G0vdT)
----

Yeah I screwed that up. $950 million, nearly a billion. My brain was saying "nearly a billion" and my fingers typed something else.

Posted by: ballistic at June 17, 2026 11:27 AM (oqH4h)

64 I seriously considered getting in on the IPO, but ultimately don't really trust the institutions underpinning retail investing.

We have more $ in bullets, pm's, and serious weapons than most people have in their 401k's so we aren't necessarily hurting.

I still kick myself a bit for not throwing a few thousand into BTC years ago, but it's doubtful we'd have successfully navigated self-custody of the keys that whole time anyways. A number of vulnerabilities have been discovered regarding the oldest wallets, and it's to the point where you basically have to transfer your entire balance to a new wallet after certain types of transactions. You rarely hear about how many of the original big holders actually managed to keep their stash. And, of course - not your keys, not your coins. The exchanges are questionable.

Posted by: heya at June 17, 2026 11:27 AM (LPSL6)

65 I feel lucky to be alive while Trump and Musk are active.
They remind me of the Great 80's Triple Threat of Reagan, Thatcher, and PopeJohn Paul II.
Now, if Trump and Musk could only get a third giant to join them.
=====

Agree. Perhaps this time from South America -- Millei?

Posted by: mustbequantum at June 17, 2026 11:28 AM (Ofeq1)

66 Listen, the biggest financial move I made was buying a crapton of Msft when it was valued at 28 dollars in 2012.

That move alone has allowed me the ability to retire pretty much whenever I want to and live a very comfortable life.

Regardless of what anyone says, the US stock market has been the greatest wealth generator ever created.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at June 17, 2026 11:29 AM (XV/Pl)

67 >That can't be right. A trillion a month?
---
It's a write off, Jerry.
They just write it off.

Posted by: Kramer at June 17, 2026 11:29 AM (k8aoH)

68 Now, if Trump and Musk could only get a third giant to join them.
=====

Agree. Perhaps this time from South America -- Millei?

Or the Japanese PM but she seems more like a Helmut Kohl - supportive but not critical

Posted by: 18-1 at June 17, 2026 11:29 AM (sKqQm)

69 18-1,

Who's gear were you testing?

Were you with a telecom?

Posted by: pawn at June 17, 2026 11:29 AM (+rSJz)

70 I might buy a share or two now and then because Elon bringin’ da heat.

Posted by: Eromero at June 17, 2026 11:30 AM (LHPAg)

71 I feel lucky to be alive while Trump and Musk are active.
They remind me of the Great 80's Triple Threat of Reagan, Thatcher, and PopeJohn Paul II.
Now, if Trump and Musk could only get a third giant to join them.
=====

Agree. Perhaps this time from South America -- Millei?

I thought of him or Bukele, but neither play on a big enough stage. Perhaps one of the new Euro politicians who will bring the entire EU/woke project crashing down?

Posted by: Archimedes at June 17, 2026 11:30 AM (Riz8t)

72 Regardless of what anyone says, the US stock market has been the greatest wealth generator ever created.

It is an interesting change. In my lifetime owning stock was an unusual thing (though not rare exactly either) and now a majority do either directly or through a 401k

Posted by: 18-1 at June 17, 2026 11:31 AM (sKqQm)

73 Speaking of Matchbox... slot cars are becoming a thing again. An expensive thing. I'm seeing a resurgence in A/FX tracks and cars. Mostly older men. Clubs. The track setups are at VFW's or country rec centers and take up a lot of room.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at June 17, 2026 11:31 AM (jehhT)

74 We must tax AI and Data Centers and Musk and use the money for education centers in our urban areas so colored children in our large cities can learn to read and write instead of playing baseketball and stabbing white children.

Posted by: Senator Bernie Sanders at June 17, 2026 11:32 AM (ZR74N)

75 Who's gear were you testing?

I was testing 4 wave mixing at a research lab

Posted by: 18-1 at June 17, 2026 11:32 AM (sKqQm)

76 Posted by: illiniwek

In rural areas, often better options are not present for internet service at a high speed. So you get clusters in market towns with decent high priced internet either fiber or cable. Outside of that, you get either wireless data or satellite. Elon focused on Starlink and satellite and put his in low earth orbit with a lot of them and it slowly branching into sat phone territory as augmentation to cell networks.

He went toward a high priced niches (sat phones and high speed internet) where he could easily outprice the existing smaller providers (Hughes and the remainder company after Iridium went belly up early) and is now extending his coverage as he built up services and capabilities. His cheap launch and cheap satellites are effectively not reproducible by competitors and wireless mobile competitors often have irritating issues on streaming and processes requiring continuing dataflows without hiccups. So he is eating into those markets as well.

Move that scenario to the third world, and Starlink suddenly becomes the easiest way to avoid censors, get reliable internet and comms, etc.

I think that part of his strategy is sound.

Posted by: whig at June 17, 2026 11:32 AM (E4rtv)

77 Our corgi Lily just waltzed past my ankle, and said that the MOA is a piece of shit, and that no amount of the Mr Nice Guy Trump praising the terrorist IRGC thugs he's talking to, will make them surrender. Unless Trump goes into Tehran like Stalin went into Berlin in 1945, these guys will remain unfazed.

Posted by: M. Gaga at June 17, 2026 11:32 AM (zeLd4)

78 "26 I keep asking lefties why they are so upset at Musk being rich but not Somali Learing Centers stealing from them.

I've yet to get an answer better then "That's Racist" or REEEEE
Posted by: 18-1 at June 17, 2026 11:13 AM (sKqQm)"

That's because they don't want money, they want power. And destroying our civilization is part of that quest for power.

The somali thefts further that goal. The specific use of that money is having those barbarians steal it in the first place. Musk doing Musk things and not forking over his money for them to spend on destroying us does not.

Posted by: heya at June 17, 2026 11:34 AM (LPSL6)

79 I might buy a share or two now and then because Elon bringin’ da heat.
=====

I am too poor to buy any of this stuff (trust me, a new pack of Pokemon cards for grandkids' Christmas stockings is now beyond me), but I remember stock certificates and clipping coupons.

Can we buy a share of one of these and get the beautifully engraved certificates?

Posted by: mustbequantum at June 17, 2026 11:35 AM (Ofeq1)

80 "Move that scenario to the third world, and Starlink suddenly becomes the easiest way to avoid censors, get reliable internet and comms, etc.

I think that part of his strategy is sound.
Posted by: whig at June 17, 2026 11:32 AM (E4rtv)"

The third world also gave the example of skipping old copper infrastructure entirely and going straight to cellular.

Posted by: heya at June 17, 2026 11:35 AM (LPSL6)

81 Trump just called obama a stupid son of a bitch at the G7 meeting.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at June 17, 2026 11:35 AM (0N4FZ)

82 The scientists have been right about climate change all along, says former Vice President Al Gore on the 20th anniversary of the release of "An Inconvenient Truth," the Oscar-winning documentary about Gore's campaign to educate people about climate change.
------

Number of times the phrase "climate change" appears in the movie "An Inconvenient Truth: The Threat of Global Warming" - 0

Posted by: ... at June 17, 2026 11:35 AM (l/J0j)

83 The Left’s lust for power - even if it is an Empire of Dirt ( Hat tip to Nine Inch Nails).

Posted by: tubal at June 17, 2026 11:35 AM (Gqar8)

84 @72

>>now a majority do either directly or through a 401k

If you started in a 401k and put 10-15pct pre-tax for 30 years, you should have several million dollars in it by now.

If you added even a modicum of investing in blue chips and good drips, you should have several million by now.

Even if you did a set it and forget investment strategy, you should have at a minimum, a million dollars in some vehicle.

the stock market was 2k when I started investing in the 80's, it's over 51k now.

Quite the rocket ship.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at June 17, 2026 11:35 AM (XV/Pl)

85 ultra-heavy lunch.

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at June 17, 2026 11:36 AM (Kt19C)

86 72 Regardless of what anyone says, the US stock market has been the greatest wealth generator ever created.

It is an interesting change. In my lifetime owning stock was an unusual thing (though not rare exactly either) and now a majority do either directly or through a 401k
Posted by: 18-1
=======
Substantial division in population though, about half save something, and the other half spends every nickel it gets. Some of it is because welfare types look at it as their 'job' and figure they can rely on it, Some of it is people aging out and burning through pensions and savings, and some are too rich to get government assistance but don't make enough income yet to set aside much (some because they spend every nickel and some because their monthly burn for living expenses is about the same as their income).

Posted by: whig at June 17, 2026 11:36 AM (E4rtv)

87 "Regardless of what anyone says, the US stock market has been the greatest wealth generator ever created.
Posted by: Thomas Bender at June 17, 2026 11:29 AM (XV/Pl)"

Has been, sure. But past performance doesn't guarantee future results. Most people post-2000 have ranged from being up a bit, to breaking even, to losing their shirts. Entire swathes of demographics got turbo-fucked assuming index funds were safe, based soley on their age and intended retirement date.

Posted by: heya at June 17, 2026 11:37 AM (LPSL6)

88 I see Scientific American has a story that American scientists are "fleeing" the country to Europe and Canuckistan.

In the article I couldn't find what type of scientists they might be because I work in a field that employees scientists in the US and it is full of foreign scientists that have come to the US.

My suspicion is the people leaving are gender studies/global warming/GoF types.

Posted by: 18-1 at June 17, 2026 11:37 AM (sKqQm)

89 The third world also gave the example of skipping old copper infrastructure entirely and going straight to cellular.
Posted by: heya
======
Yep but they also viewed cell services as a cash cow and political so service quality varies quite a bit between countries depending on how much control or how much the company is being bled by government. Starlink bypasses that.

Posted by: whig at June 17, 2026 11:37 AM (E4rtv)

90 77 Our corgi Lily just waltzed past my ankle, and said that the MOA is a piece of shit, and that no amount of the Mr Nice Guy Trump praising the terrorist IRGC thugs he's talking to, will make them surrender. Unless Trump goes into Tehran like Stalin went into Berlin in 1945, these guys will remain unfazed.
Posted by: M. Gaga at June 17, 2026 11:32 AM (zeLd4)
------

Am I the only one here who is tired of seeing this particular dead horse continuing to be beaten?

The mullahs lie. No shit, Sherlock.

We are not going to storm Tehran, regardless of anyone's neocon warhawk dick-beating fantasies.

We had to stop them from building a working nuke. Then we had to do something so everyone can save some face and we can move on.

Can we stop this fucking nonsense?

Posted by: ballistic at June 17, 2026 11:38 AM (oqH4h)

91 Climbing a huge pile of cash is one way to get to Mars.

Posted by: DaveA at June 17, 2026 11:38 AM (FhXTo)

92 88 I see Scientific American has a story that American scientists are "fleeing" the country to Europe and Canuckistan.

In the article I couldn't find what type of scientists they might be because I work in a field that employees scientists in the US and it is full of foreign scientists that have come to the US.

My suspicion is the people leaving are gender studies/global warming/GoF types.
Posted by: 18-1
======
The masses of legal visa holders is my guess--dot Indians and Chinese probably. H1B's, etc.

Posted by: whig at June 17, 2026 11:38 AM (E4rtv)

93
Something seems off on AOS today, like the Greys and the Nordics are posting shit the Reptilians don't understand just to screw with 'em.

Posted by: Auspex at June 17, 2026 11:39 AM (Y8DZL)

94 This IPO is more akin to a contest to see who gets into the VIP lounge. The percentage of the company that was offered and the money raised was actually not that large. 80 Billion is a lot of money, but in the grand corporate scheme it is not so big. Spacex will have to go back to the well for more cash as the burn rate is real.

All that said betting against Musk has been a losing proposition. I am sitting on my hands on this one but wish them well.

Posted by: Pete Bog's agentic AI alter ego at June 17, 2026 11:39 AM (evNCU)

95 Has been, sure. But past performance doesn't guarantee future results. Most people post-2000 have ranged from being up a bit, to breaking even, to losing their shirts. Entire swathes of demographics got turbo-fucked assuming index funds were safe, based soley on their age and intended retirement date.

Net return of the SP500 over the last 10 years is over 12%.

You are right that is no guarantee, but I think investing in mid/large fund companies, and especially index funds, is a good strategy.

And remember you lose 3% or so of your wealth to inflation even with Trump having ended Bidenflation, so putting it in a savings account will get you nowhere...

But I would suggest the stock market is best for long term investment, day trading seems an insane risk to me.

Posted by: 18-1 at June 17, 2026 11:41 AM (sKqQm)

96
Starlink suddenly becomes the easiest way to avoid censors

Until it's not.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at June 17, 2026 11:41 AM (Cqx++)

97 ultra-heavy lunch.

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats

What are your thoughts on white pride, big boy?

Posted by: Obese Communist Toad at June 17, 2026 11:41 AM (BI5O2)

98 @94

>>Spacex will have to go back to the well for more cash as the burn rate is real.

What they are going to do with all of that capital is start buying stuff, like Cursor, and probably a crap ton of other IT/Tech stuff.

SpaceX is going to start gobbling things up and eating out the substance like the Tiki Bar in Goodfellas.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at June 17, 2026 11:42 AM (XV/Pl)

99 I see Scientific American has a story that American scientists are "fleeing" the country to Europe and Canuckistan.

In the article I couldn't find what type of scientists they might be because I work in a field that employees scientists in the US and it is full of foreign scientists that have come to the US.

My suspicion is the people leaving are gender studies/global warming/GoF types.
Posted by: 18-1

The masses of legal visa holders is my guess--dot Indians and Chinese probably. H1B's, etc.
Posted by: whig

Medical gain of function researchers.

Posted by: rickb223 at June 17, 2026 11:42 AM (u3HiE)

100 What they are going to do with all of that capital is start buying stuff, like Cursor, and probably a crap ton of other IT/Tech stuff.

SpaceX is going to start gobbling things up and eating out the substance like the Tiki Bar in Goodfellas.

That sounds like Amazon's early strategy.

Posted by: 18-1 at June 17, 2026 11:42 AM (sKqQm)

101 What about Musk’s drilling company? Is that public? How’s it doing?

Posted by: Bulg at June 17, 2026 11:44 AM (77rzZ)

102 Our corgi Lily just waltzed past my ankle, and said that the MOA is a piece of shit, and that no amount of the Mr Nice Guy Trump praising the terrorist IRGC thugs he's talking to, will make them surrender. Unless Trump goes into Tehran like Stalin went into Berlin in 1945, these guys will remain unfazed.
Posted by: M. Gaga at June 17, 2026 11:32 AM (zeLd4)

Not sure that I'd take political advice from a corgi, but...

I think people fundamentally misunderstand what Trump is doing.

He is an Economic Warrior. Under him Economics is War by another name.

Trump's establishing something that has never been truly done seriously and that is establish a Pax Americana.

Trump likes peace and basically economics is a kinder, though relentlessly grinding down of opposition and rivals.

He used war to give Iran a shot at peaceful prosperity in a well-ordered peaceful, economically robust Pax Americana.

Will it work? eeeehhhhh, I expect the Irans will minimally comply then break the peace. My guess is by attempting to assassinate Trump.

Will see. But, it's thrilling to see the world-changing on its axis. Trump is a Titan. Can he actually succeed? Who knows?

Posted by: naturalfake at June 17, 2026 11:44 AM (iJfKG)

103 I wish SpaceX would buy LucasFilm ..and put me in charge...

Posted by: runner at June 17, 2026 11:44 AM (GD0B3)

104 well said ballistic

Posted by: Black Orchid (j+aD2) at June 17, 2026 11:44 AM (j+aD2)

105 "Move that scenario to the third world, and Starlink suddenly becomes the easiest way to avoid censors, get reliable internet and comms, etc.
I think that part of his strategy is sound." Posted by: whig

Probably, but third world doesn't have the money like first world. I'm rural but got fiber a few years ago, from a new local company. They even brought it to me underground 1/2 mile off the blacktop. It's like $100/mo, including phone service.

Trump seem intent on "inflating our way out of the debt crisis. So I suppose stocks also have that going for them, though we'll see if the new fed chair will lower rates ... there is talk he will not. idk (is that today?)

Posted by: illiniwek at June 17, 2026 11:44 AM (vbXSk)

106 > gross global product

*Today's* gross global product. Or maybe the emphasis should be on *global*.

There's an awful lot of metal, sunshine, and real estate that isn't on the globe. Musk thinks he can get it. Can he? Remains to be seen. But it's definitely there.

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at June 17, 2026 11:45 AM (IG3/x)

107 I asked google (yeah I know) what field of scientists was most leaving the US and the answer was biomedical researchers and the reason was the government wasn't funding them any more.

So...yep sounds like GoF and gender studies types.

Posted by: 18-1 at June 17, 2026 11:45 AM (sKqQm)

108 "96
Starlink suddenly becomes the easiest way to avoid censors

Until it's not.
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at June 17, 2026 11:41 AM (Cqx++)"

This is actually a big long term concern. I'm sure Musk is worried about it as well - simply having companies nationalized out from under him.

You know they've already drawn up plans for it.

Posted by: heya at June 17, 2026 11:46 AM (LPSL6)

109 Can we stop this fucking nonsense?
Posted by: ballistic
=======
I doubt it. People see WWII as the typical war. It isn't. Most wars actually end by negotiations, not unconditional surrender. The same swan song, like in Korea with MacArthur getting fired, is that we should have went in and defeated the Chicoms. Or Patton's argument post WWII that we should arm the Germans and go after the Soviets.

When one has no skin in the game, it becomes very easy to become the most belligerent in the room like Dick Cheney and his daughter Lynn or John McCain as senator. For those of us that care about the troops and their families, not so much.

Simply put, you have to kill somewhere above 30 percent or so of all military age males to achieve something like unconditional surrender. But, in a place where most of these militaries are located in mosques, cities, etc., you are going to end up killing a helluva lot of civilians as well. And accept a lot of your own fine young troops are going to die, be maimed, etc. as well to root out the remainder of the regime on the ground.

As in Israel in Lebanon and Gaza. And Chicoms and Russians make sure it costs us.

Posted by: whig at June 17, 2026 11:47 AM (E4rtv)

110 @100

>>That sounds like Amazon's early strategy.

Yep, but more like corporate strategy 101.

I've been watching and dabbling in the markets for going on 50 years, none of this is really new.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at June 17, 2026 11:47 AM (XV/Pl)

111 Trump's establishing something that has never been truly done seriously and that is establish a Pax Americana.

The US blundered into this in the 40s/50s as Europe, Japan, and Russia all had their industry destroyed by WWII.

We see something of a similar opportunity here where socialism is destroying Europe's economy and all Trump has to do really is keep us from following the same path (not that we aren't already significantly socialist)

Posted by: 18-1 at June 17, 2026 11:47 AM (sKqQm)

112 > 101 What about Musk’s drilling company? Is that public? How’s it doing?
Posted by: Bulg at June 17, 2026 11:44 AM (77rzZ)

I don't know if it's making any money, but he's got at least three major projects going with that. Las Vegas (already in partial operation), Nashville, and Dubai, with several other experimental and research projects.

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at June 17, 2026 11:48 AM (IG3/x)

113 Probably, but third world doesn't have the money like first world. I'm rural but got fiber a few years ago, from a new local company. They even brought it to me underground 1/2 mile off the blacktop. It's like $100/mo, including phone service.

Trump seem intent on "inflating our way out of the debt crisis. So I suppose stocks also have that going for them, though we'll see if the new fed chair will lower rates ... there is talk he will not. idk (is that today?)
Posted by: illiniwek

Fiber costs a lot more in marginal costs to each install than Starlink. Depends on country whether local cell costs more or less to maintain.

Posted by: whig at June 17, 2026 11:49 AM (E4rtv)

114 Starlink, AI, Data Centers, all are part of the information grid that every one of us is tethered to, completely. We live in the Information Age and it’s not going away, and will grow, until it does not and morphs into something else. That something else might be wonderful - or fearsome.

Posted by: tubal at June 17, 2026 11:49 AM (Gqar8)

115 I said this before but I wouldn't know what to do with a trillion dollars.

I'm sure I will think of something. Maybe a new chess set.

Posted by: dantesed at June 17, 2026 11:49 AM (Oy/m2)

116 I'm waiting for the Hawaiian judges to tell us how all this Musk business is illegal.

Posted by: Case at June 17, 2026 11:49 AM (IY9No)

117 There's an awful lot of metal, sunshine, and real estate that isn't on the globe. Musk thinks he can get it. Can he? Remains to be seen. But it's definitely there.

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at June 17, 2026 11:45 AM

Whoever gets to the asteroid belt first and starts large scale mining operations is going to clean up. Musk intends to the be the first to start a colony on Mars to support that vision.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at June 17, 2026 11:50 AM (0N4FZ)

118 What about Musk’s drilling company? Is that public? How’s it doing?
Posted by: Bulg

Don't think so. Can't find anything on the NYSE about The Boring Company. Nope. It's private.
HQ is in Bastrop, Tx.

Posted by: rickb223 at June 17, 2026 11:50 AM (u3HiE)

119 What about Musk’s drilling company? How’s it doing?

BO-ring.

Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at June 17, 2026 11:50 AM (zdLoL)

120 But, in a place where most of these militaries are located in mosques, cities, etc., you are going to end up killing a helluva lot of civilians as well. And accept a lot of your own fine young troops are going to die, be maimed, etc. as well to root out the remainder of the regime on the ground.

I do have a quibble with this...the US could easily force implement a complete defeat on Iran with a truly minimal loss of American lives - level bomb every major city and industrial region.

This would be called a warcrime of course. And the reason why it would work is whether the survivors wanted to continue the conflict or not they'd have no choice - no industry and the need to focus on basic food production or starve to death.

But even under Trump we play these stupid games that mass scale bombing is off the table.

Posted by: 18-1 at June 17, 2026 11:51 AM (sKqQm)

121 @115

>>I said this before but I wouldn't know what to do with a trillion dollars.

The standard answer is, two chicks at one time.

But the real answer is, vintage automobiles and castles.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at June 17, 2026 11:51 AM (XV/Pl)

122 One of these days someone somewhere will call Musk THE Anti-Christ. If they have not done so already.

Posted by: tubal at June 17, 2026 11:52 AM (Gqar8)

123 The case for asteroid mining is fairly compelling - you can build solar powered lasers to separate the stuff you want from the stuff you don't.

But that start up costs would be incredible.

Perhaps this is Musk's next big step?

Posted by: 18-1 at June 17, 2026 11:52 AM (sKqQm)

124 Trump seem intent on "inflating our way out of the debt crisis. So I suppose stocks also have that going for them, though we'll see if the new fed chair will lower rates ... there is talk he will not. idk (is that today?)
Posted by: illiniwek

Eh, if Trump can just stabilize the debt to GDP ratio, it becomes a non issue so he is trying the extreme growth scenario where our private economy grows much faster than our government deficit (see the German economic miracle post WWII as an example). And yes, inflating away is one of the strategies on national debt but the pain is a helluva lot less if you reduce domestic consumption and handouts like to illegals. That reduces pressures on rent, housing, and food as well as getting US natives back into employment markets again and off the dole.

The key to low inflation is more productivity gains than austerity programs.

Posted by: whig at June 17, 2026 11:53 AM (E4rtv)

125 >>I said this before but I wouldn't know what to do with a trillion dollars.

The standard answer is, two chicks at one time.

I believe the math was one millions gets you 2 chicks at the same time.

So one trillions gets you 2 million chicks at the same time?

Posted by: 18-1 at June 17, 2026 11:53 AM (sKqQm)

126 > The standard answer is, two chicks at one time.

But the real answer is, vintage automobiles and castles.
Posted by: Thomas Bender at June 17, 2026 11:51 AM (XV/Pl)

If you had a trillion dollars, I'm pretty sure you could squeeze all of those into the budget.

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at June 17, 2026 11:53 AM (IG3/x)

127 Starlink suddenly becomes the easiest way to avoid censors

Until it's not.
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at June 17, 2026 11:41 AM (Cqx++)"

This is actually a big long term concern. I'm sure Musk is worried about it as well - simply having companies nationalized out from under him.

You know they've already drawn up plans for it.
Posted by: heya

Whatever they want to censor, they will have to censor it before it gets to StarLink.

Posted by: rickb223 at June 17, 2026 11:53 AM (u3HiE)

128 Most asteroids are ice, iron, or nickel comprised aren’t they? No expert here, certainly, but the value seems minimal at best.

Posted by: tubal at June 17, 2026 11:54 AM (Gqar8)

129
This is pretty crazy: The 5-2 Democrat PA Supreme Court finds Larry Krasner is so quick to falsely concede error in murder cases (to try to free convicted murderers) that it has tasked the Pennsylvania Attorney General with checking to make sure he's not lying. I've *never* seen this

Posted by: SMOD at June 17, 2026 11:55 AM (RHGPo)

130 It can be lunch time

Posted by: Skip at June 17, 2026 11:55 AM (sgkY8)

131 I remember Krasner let one murderer go just because he was black. That was his FORMAL reason.

Posted by: 18-1 at June 17, 2026 11:56 AM (sKqQm)

132 What about Musk’s drilling company? How’s it doing?

BO-ring.

Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at June 17, 2026 11:50 AM (zdLoL)
-

Read that in Jo Anne Worley's voice.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at June 17, 2026 11:56 AM (ebJJx)

133 I do have a quibble with this...the US could easily force implement a complete defeat on Iran with a truly minimal loss of American lives - level bomb every major city and industrial region.

This would be called a warcrime of course. And the reason why it would work is whether the survivors wanted to continue the conflict or not they'd have no choice - no industry and the need to focus on basic food production or starve to death.

But even under Trump we play these stupid games that mass scale bombing is off the table.
Posted by: 18-1

We did that with Germany and Japan. We had to drop nukes on Japan to end it without troops on the ground and we had to invade Germany with high casualties to end that regime. Neither are politically sustainable today for speculative fix the world forever type wars. Those are no longer acceptable politically in a democracy.

And I think for the same reason that China is in a pickle, most families are much smaller than in WWI and WWII era. Lose one son out of six, doable, wipe out your kids in a war, not so much.

War, like politics, is always the art of the possible at the time.

Posted by: whig at June 17, 2026 11:56 AM (E4rtv)

134 The 10 asteroids closest to earth are estimated to have $1.5T in wealth.

Posted by: 18-1 at June 17, 2026 11:57 AM (sKqQm)

135 We have a death grip on the IRGC in the form of their economy. Iran is in a severe water crisis and their food producers are not getting any crops in. What is the point of blowing things up when the IRGC is being starved

A mighty military is essential to us but the most successful wars are being won on the financial fronts.

Posted by: Ben Had at June 17, 2026 11:57 AM (5P5DO)

136 I believe the math was one millions gets you 2 chicks at the same time.

So one trillions gets you 2 million chicks at the same time?
Posted by: 18-1 at June 17, 2026 11:53 AM (sKqQm)

I think it's a step function based on the number of commas. One million gets you two chicks at the same time, man. One billion gets you 3. One trillion gets you 4.

Posted by: far cry at June 17, 2026 11:58 AM (pBJ6M)

137 122-They may, but as you know, he doesn't seem to have any characteristics of the biblical anti - Christ:

https://tinyurl.com/23d886at

I'm sure Biblically uneducated Dems might , but they'd call anyone that who has much more money than they do and who believes in free speech.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 17, 2026 11:58 AM (ZeH0U)

138 How many trillion will it cost to mine them?

Posted by: Boss Moss at June 17, 2026 11:58 AM (dI4od)

139 We have a death grip on the IRGC in the form of their economy. Iran is in a severe water crisis and their food producers are not getting any crops in. What is the point of blowing things up when the IRGC is being starved

A mighty military is essential to us but the most successful wars are being won on the financial fronts.
Posted by: Ben Had at June 17, 2026 11:57 AM (5P5DO)

Trump was saying at the G7 that he can't stop people from investing in Iran...so that 300B rumor tracks.

Posted by: runner at June 17, 2026 11:59 AM (GD0B3)

140 138 How many trillion will it cost to mine them?
Posted by: Boss Moss at June 17, 2026 11:58 AM (dI4od)

Better to just recycle, or just not use metals, amirite. J/K, sarc.

Posted by: tubal at June 17, 2026 12:00 PM (Gqar8)

141 Most asteroids are ice, iron, or nickel comprised aren’t they? No expert here, certainly, but the value seems minimal at best.

Posted by: tubal at June 17, 2026 11:54 AM

The iron is pure in asteroids, there is no need for any smelting to get a usable product, Nickle is valuable for making alloys, Water is a bonus because it means you don't have to carry much with you, less mass equals less fuel. You can also crack the water to make Oxygen.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at June 17, 2026 12:00 PM (0N4FZ)

142 Before I forget --

The Highland Clearances as the landlords disappeared all those inconvenient peasants.

Brits have been doing the same for a while.

Posted by: mustbequantum at June 17, 2026 12:00 PM (Ofeq1)

143 How many trillion will it cost to mine them?

That's the rub. That startup costs of building the mining equipment and receiving facilities in orbit and on the ground would be very high.

Posted by: 18-1 at June 17, 2026 12:00 PM (sKqQm)

144 The Blade considers the Iran war to be over, and the result was very good. The best evah? No. But very good. About as good as could be hoped for.

Whoever wants to keep fucking that chicken, and “what iffing” and “what abouting” about whatever their personal peev or hobbyhorse is, knock yourself out.

:-)

Posted by: Elric The Blade at June 17, 2026 12:01 PM (ppMko)

145 37-Year-Old Texas Dem Talarico Shares a Checking Account With His Bankroller Mom

Posted by: SMOD at June 17, 2026 12:02 PM (RHGPo)

146 141 Most asteroids are ice, iron, or nickel comprised aren’t they? No expert here, certainly, but the value seems minimal at best.

Posted by: tubal at June 17, 2026 11:54 AM

The iron is pure in asteroids, there is no need for any smelting to get a usable product, Nickle is valuable for making alloys, Water is a bonus because it means you don't have to carry much with you, less mass equals less fuel. You can also crack the water to make Oxygen.
Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at June 17, 2026 12:00 PM (0N4FZ)

Okay. Thanks. Like I mentioned, no expert here. Just trying to see all the angles.

Posted by: tubal at June 17, 2026 12:02 PM (Gqar8)

147 The case for asteroid mining is fairly compelling - you can build solar powered lasers to separate the stuff you want from the stuff you don't.

But that start up costs would be incredible.

Perhaps this is Musk's next big step?
Posted by: 18-1 at June 17, 2026 11:52 AM (sKqQm)
---
In the science fiction novel I'm currently reading (written by an astrophysicist and an engineer), they posit it's actually *cheaper* to mine the Kuiper Belt Objects for water and ice than it is to haul it up from Earth. Humans set up robots to do all the grunt work, but then the robots get ideas of their own and...well, it doesn't lead to a happy ending for humanity...

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at June 17, 2026 12:02 PM (gnNyN)

148 Agree. Perhaps this time from South America -- Millei?
Posted by: mustbequantum at June 17, 2026 11:28 AM (Ofeq1)

We were in Argentina a few months ago. I recall one tour guide we had that was a true socialist who really resented working. Guy hated Milei. And that guy wasn't alone.

I guess it is what you grew up with, but it seems like a minor miracle that he won.

Posted by: Ann at June 17, 2026 12:03 PM (SHHm+)

149 Posted by: Skip at June 17, 2026 11:55 AM (sgkY8

It certainly could be. We were both up very early this morning, Skip, along with some other early birds on the tech thread

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 17, 2026 12:03 PM (ZeH0U)

150 > 128 Most asteroids are ice, iron, or nickel comprised aren’t they? No expert here, certainly, but the value seems minimal at best.
Posted by: tubal at June 17, 2026 11:54 AM (Gqar

Ice = water for drinking and reaction mass. Handy to have, especially if it's already in space.

Nickel-iron asteroids are essentially pure metal. At current prices (which of course you wouldn't get), the metal in 16 Psyche is worth $10,000 quadrillion, more than 100,000 times the global economy.

Even a small 1.6 km asteroid (of which there are many) would have $20 trillion worth of metal in it.

Again, that's at current prices. Of course the price would go down drastically if you started dumping metals on the market in that volume.

Still, it's clear that there are metric fucktons of money out there, if you can figure out a way to get it economically.

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at June 17, 2026 12:03 PM (IG3/x)

151 147

In the science fiction novel I'm currently reading (written by an astrophysicist and an engineer), they posit it's actually *cheaper* to mine the Kuiper Belt Objects for water and ice than it is to haul it up from Earth. Humans set up robots to do all the grunt work, but then the robots get ideas of their own and...well, it doesn't lead to a happy ending for humanity...
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at June 17, 2026 12:02 PM (gnNyN)

Uppity Robots.

Posted by: tubal at June 17, 2026 12:04 PM (Gqar8)

152 146 141 Most asteroids are ice, iron, or nickel comprised aren’t they?
=====
Just trying to see all the angles.

it's funny, because asteroids are too small to pull themselves into a sphere, and are therefore full of angles.

Posted by: anachronda at June 17, 2026 12:04 PM (qdr3M)

153
I see Scientific American has a story that American scientists are "fleeing" the country to Europe and Canuckistan.

__________

Sure, lots of tenured professors are uprooting their research groups and heading off to places with no funding or jobs.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at June 17, 2026 12:04 PM (O0L8i)

154 Scientific American is neither.

Posted by: Change my mind at June 17, 2026 12:04 PM (7PhS+)

155 runner, none of that money is coming from us and we have $ 100 billion dollars plus of their money frozen. They have no steel or petrochemical plants left as well as no military.

Ghalibaf said this morning it is time for Iran to focus on an economy not a nuke or missile program .

Posted by: Ben Had at June 17, 2026 12:05 PM (5P5DO)

156 Gollyboff!

Posted by: Butrous By Golly at June 17, 2026 12:06 PM (7PhS+)

157 Still, it's clear that there are metric fucktons of money out there, if you can figure out a way to get it economically.

The other interesting part of this is having powerful space lasers and facilities in orbit to drop material to earth also make GREAT space based weapons.

I always laugh a lot at SF alien invasions. Why send in your space marines when you can just drop asteroids on the planet until they surrender?

Posted by: 18-1 at June 17, 2026 12:06 PM (sKqQm)

158 Most asteroids are ice, iron, or nickel comprised aren’t they? No expert here, certainly, but the value seems minimal at best.
Posted by: tubal at June 17, 2026 11:54 AM (Gqar

Well, if meteorites are any indication, a lot of them are just rock, with little native metal content. Some contain carbon, too.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at June 17, 2026 12:06 PM (1z8ji)

159 Anyway, I really want stock certificates in beautifully engraved form, so if they go bankrupt, I have something artistic to treasure.

Posted by: mustbequantum at June 17, 2026 12:06 PM (Ofeq1)

160 Uppity Robots.
Posted by: tubal at June 17, 2026 12:04 PM (Gqar

---
Yeah, pretty much.

I'm only about halfway through the book so far, but it's not looking good for humanity over the long term.

Robots have encased the sun with a Dyson sphere made out of the remains of the planet Mercury. This caused a global ice age on the rest of the planets, hampering Mars' terraforming efforts. Now the remnants of Man are lurking within the safety of Saturn's moons and atmosphere, in which they are able to mine Helium-3 for fuel.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at June 17, 2026 12:06 PM (gnNyN)

161 93
Something seems off on AOS today, like the Greys and the Nordics are posting shit the Reptilians don't understand just to screw with 'em.
Posted by: Auspex
======
A few are new nics trying to pick a scab, others are people that want maximum war to fix things now and for the foreseeable future, others are more cautious. And almost everyone here has been burned by GWB's GWOT and those wars before that. A diversity of opinion is fine, but the key to good faith is for a person to lay out exactly what plan they propose instead of the current negotiations and what are the costs in doing what they want instead.

Posted by: whig at June 17, 2026 12:07 PM (E4rtv)

162 147 In the science fiction novel I'm currently reading (written by an astrophysicist and an engineer), they posit it's actually *cheaper* to mine the Kuiper Belt Objects for water and ice than it is to haul it up from Earth.

yeah, modern knowledge is playing havoc with the ancient conspiracy theories. why would the anunaki come to earth and create humans to mine gold for them, when they could just sit in the kuiper or asteroid belt and pick it out of asteroids?

'bout the only thing they'd need to come to earth for is cow rectums, which you won't find in the asteroid belt (useful as valves in your propellant plumbing). which leaves cattle mutilation as the only alien conspiracy theory standing.

Posted by: anachronda at June 17, 2026 12:07 PM (qdr3M)

163 147 So the robots had asteroid rage?

Posted by: Bulg at June 17, 2026 12:07 PM (77rzZ)

164 250,000 girls raped, and the report is out.

Are there any men in the UK? I'm seeing very little unrest.

Posted by: bonhomme at June 17, 2026 12:07 PM (mkw2N)

165 This is actually a big long term concern. I'm sure Musk is worried about it as well - simply having companies nationalized out from under him.

It’s unlikely that the ground equipment that can be nationalized is sufficient to control the satellites. There had better be, just for privacy and business security reasons, serious encryption on control of the satellites and the data in them.

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at June 17, 2026 12:07 PM (kYmoU)

166 160 Uppity Robots.
Posted by: tubal at June 17, 2026 12:04 PM (Gqar
---
Yeah, pretty much.

I'm only about halfway through the book so far, but it's not looking good for humanity over the long term.

Robots have encased the sun with a Dyson sphere made out of the remains of the planet Mercury. This caused a global ice age on the rest of the planets, hampering Mars' terraforming efforts. Now the remnants of Man are lurking within the safety of Saturn's moons and atmosphere, in which they are able to mine Helium-3 for fuel.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at June 17, 2026 12:06 PM (gnNyN)

Sort of like St Louis then.

Posted by: tubal at June 17, 2026 12:07 PM (Gqar8)

167 For example I see the estimate that there is 100 billion to one trillion tons of gold in the asteroid belt which is way more gold then we've mined on earth in all our history

Posted by: 18-1 at June 17, 2026 12:08 PM (sKqQm)

168 Well, if meteorites are any indication, a lot of them are just rock, with little native metal content. Some contain carbon, too.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at June 17, 2026 12:06 PM (1z8ji)

White House said, "Put the thing in the Blue Room"
The Vatican said, "No, it belongs in Rome"
Jody said, "It's mine
But you can have it for 17 million"
Whoa, it came out of the sky
Landed just a little south of Moline...

Posted by: CCR at June 17, 2026 12:08 PM (ZR74N)

169 I always laugh a lot at SF alien invasions. Why send in your space marines when you can just drop asteroids on the planet until they surrender?
Posted by: 18-1 at June 17, 2026 12:06 PM (sKqQm)
----
This was a rather major plot point in Babylon 5 when the Centauri did exactly this to their Narn rivals.

When it was pointed out that mass drivers were forbidden to be used as weapons, the Centauri shrugged their shoulders and said, "So? What do you plan to do about it?"

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at June 17, 2026 12:08 PM (gnNyN)

170 none of that money is coming from us and we have $ 100 billion dollars plus of their money frozen. They have no steel or petrochemical plants left as well as no military.

Ghalibaf said this morning it is time for Iran to focus on an economy not a nuke or missile program .
Posted by: Ben Had at June 17, 2026 12:05 PM (5P5DO)

👀

seriously ? ok, remember when Hamas said the same thing ? No ? 12/01/2019 :

"Hamas’s leadership in the Gaza Strip, under Yahya Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh, is currently aiming for an arrangement that will ensure calm with Israel, in order to generate economic progress that will improve the situation in the Palestinian territory, Jerusalem believes."

Posted by: runner at June 17, 2026 12:09 PM (GD0B3)

171 Some asteroids are poorly joined aggregate.

Nickel-iron ones are the mineable ones, if you get the energy cost under control.

Maybe a solar powered laser?

Posted by: Anna Puma at June 17, 2026 12:09 PM (xGnmX)

172 161 93
Something seems off on AOS today, like the Greys and the Nordics are posting shit the Reptilians don't understand just to screw with 'em.
Posted by: Auspex
======
A few are new nics trying to pick a scab, others are people that want maximum war to fix things now and for the foreseeable future, others are more cautious. And almost everyone here has been burned by GWB's GWOT and those wars before that. A diversity of opinion is fine, but the key to good faith is for a person to lay out exactly what plan they propose instead of the current negotiations and what are the costs in doing what they want instead.
Posted by: whig at June 17, 2026 12:07 PM (E4rtv)

Maximum War Lust. Nah, never something to desire, in my opinion. History can point that out.

Posted by: tubal at June 17, 2026 12:09 PM (Gqar8)

173 Uppity Robots.
Posted by: tubal at June 17, 2026 12:04 PM (Gqar

Don’t shoot me but I really liked that Will Smith movie I Robot from years ago… good fun

Posted by: LinusVanPelt at June 17, 2026 12:10 PM (yz/88)

174 Robots have encased the sun with a Dyson sphere

That would suck.

Posted by: far cry at June 17, 2026 12:10 PM (pBJ6M)

175
Anyway, I really want stock certificates in beautifully engraved form, so if they go bankrupt, I have something artistic to treasure.

Posted by: mustbequantum at June 17, 2026 12:06 PM (Ofeq1)

_____________

Like this one?

https://tinyurl.com/4854xuav

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at June 17, 2026 12:10 PM (O0L8i)

176 HEre is more!

"According to military assessments, Sinwar, the head of Hamas’s political bureau in the Strip, is leading the conciliatory line of thinking and is interested in attaining significant economic achievements, by way of an arrangement with Israel.

Military leaders are of the opinion that Hamas’s decision to refrain from holding protests along the Israel-Gaza border over the past three weeks, in a departure from its previous policy, is a sign of the calming messages it is seeking to send to Israel. The IDF views this as a positive development."

Are you people fucking kidding me ?!! Who the fuck believe the shit coming out of terrorist mouthes ??!!

Posted by: runner at June 17, 2026 12:10 PM (GD0B3)

177 Maybe a solar powered laser?

Yep - solar is highly efficient in space (though less so the farther you go from the sun)

Posted by: 18-1 at June 17, 2026 12:11 PM (sKqQm)

178 runner ,I would say the point of difference is that there are 90 million people in Iran.

Posted by: Ben Had at June 17, 2026 12:11 PM (5P5DO)

179 What about Musk’s drilling company? How’s it doing?

BO-ring.

Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at June 17, 2026 11:50 AM (zdLoL)
-

Read that in Jo Anne Worley's voice.
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey

*snort

Posted by: rickb223 at June 17, 2026 12:11 PM (u3HiE)

180 Ghalibaf is Sinwar's teacher !

Posted by: runner at June 17, 2026 12:11 PM (GD0B3)

181 173 Uppity Robots.
Posted by: tubal at June 17, 2026 12:04 PM (Gqar

Don’t shoot me but I really liked that Will Smith movie I Robot from years ago… good fun
Posted by: LinusVanPelt at June 17, 2026 12:10 PM (yz/8

A decent popcorn movie, and that’s not a criticism.

Posted by: tubal at June 17, 2026 12:11 PM (Gqar8)

182 Uppity robots?

Not very Krikket

Posted by: Anna Puma at June 17, 2026 12:11 PM (xGnmX)

183 yeah, modern knowledge is playing havoc with the ancient conspiracy theories. why would the anunaki come to earth and create humans to mine gold for them, when they could just sit in the kuiper or asteroid belt and pick it out of asteroids?

'bout the only thing they'd need to come to earth for is cow rectums, which you won't find in the asteroid belt (useful as valves in your propellant plumbing). which leaves cattle mutilation as the only alien conspiracy theory standing.
Posted by: anachronda at June 17, 2026 12:07 PM (qdr3M)
----
The sheer amount of material in the Kuiper Belt is staggering. Yes, it's spread out over an enormous volume, but if you aren't concerned with time because you can operate for centuries or millennia at a continuous pace, you can harvest enough material to last for millions, if not billions of years.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at June 17, 2026 12:11 PM (gnNyN)

184 > they posit it's actually *cheaper* to mine the Kuiper Belt Objects for water and ice

As Heinlein once put it, once you've reached earth orbital velocity, you're halfway to *anywhere*, and that's not far wrong.

Launching something from Earth into Earth orbit requires a velocity change of about 11 km/s.

Bringing something from the Kuiper Belt to Earth orbit requires a velocity change of 15–16 km/s.

There's a bonus there, too. Any rocket engine launching from Earth requires an acceleration of > 1 g just to get off the ground. Something already in orbit (Kuiper Belt or wherever) can be moved with *any* acceleration, no matter how small. Depends on how much patience you have.

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at June 17, 2026 12:12 PM (IG3/x)

185 Sinwar is also dead !

Posted by: Ben Had at June 17, 2026 12:12 PM (5P5DO)

186 Posted by: anachronda at June 17, 2026 12:07 PM (qdr3M

I like the Oblivion movie theory for water.

They still don't know for sure where earth's water came from.

Posted by: polynikes at June 17, 2026 12:12 PM (GseMx)

187 So the robots had asteroid rage?
Posted by: Bulg

Assteroid rage from hemorrhoid rage?

Posted by: rickb223 at June 17, 2026 12:12 PM (u3HiE)

188 > 37-Year-Old Texas Dem Talarico Shares a Checking Account With His Bankroller Mom

My parents and my in-laws have given my wife and I a few smallish but generous sums of money. We didn't need them. We didn't ask for them. I was grateful, but it still felt weird to me. I know there was no subtext. They weren't trying to indicate I was failing my family financially. They were simply being generous. But it felt weird.

I can't imagine actually being financially dependent on my parents or in laws. I'd be mortified.

Posted by: bonhomme at June 17, 2026 12:12 PM (mkw2N)

189 Anyway, I really want stock certificates in beautifully engraved form, so if they go bankrupt, I have something artistic to treasure.
Posted by: mustbequantum at June 17, 2026 12:06 PM (Ofeq1)
_____________

Like this one?
https://tinyurl.com/4854xuav
=====

Exactly! Testaments to the engravers' art.

Posted by: mustbequantum at June 17, 2026 12:13 PM (Ofeq1)

190 to lay out exactly what plan they propose instead of the current negotiations and what are the costs in doing what they want instead.
Posted by: whig at June 17, 2026
—-

Waiting for them to screw the pooch. Again.

Posted by: braenyard at June 17, 2026 12:13 PM (fNI17)

191 Robots have encased the sun with a Dyson sphere

That would suck.
Posted by: far cry at June 17, 2026 12:10 PM (pBJ6M)
----
Humans tried to destroy the robot's prototype solar collector, but the robots used the dynamic properties to turn the collector into a massive solar-powered death ray instead and obliterated the human warship in an instant.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at June 17, 2026 12:14 PM (gnNyN)

192 186 Posted by: anachronda at June 17, 2026 12:07 PM (qdr3M

I like the Oblivion movie theory for water.

They still don't know for sure where earth's water came from.
Posted by: polynikes at June 17, 2026 12:12 PM (GseMx)

A REALLY big Faucet, of course. Or a REALLY big Garden Hose.

Posted by: tubal at June 17, 2026 12:14 PM (Gqar8)

193 They are playing the US negotiating team, and laughing their asses off. OK? that said, and as I said yesterday, there has been significant dilution of Iran's military. But that is today's story.

Posted by: runner at June 17, 2026 12:14 PM (GD0B3)

194 > Well, if meteorites are any indication, a lot of them are just rock, with little native metal content. Some contain carbon, too.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at June 17, 2026 12:06 PM (1z8ji)

Sure, but the beauty there is that you can tell that from the density, which you can get from the object's orbital dynamics. No need to go out and drill holes. You can spot the ones that are nearly pure metal from here.

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at June 17, 2026 12:14 PM (IG3/x)

195 Talerico is another nepo baby like Hasan Piker and Graham Platner?

Posted by: Anna Puma at June 17, 2026 12:15 PM (xGnmX)

196 Sinwar is also dead !
Posted by: Ben Had at June 17, 2026 12:12 PM (5P5DO)

The cost of that mistake was untenable.

Posted by: runner at June 17, 2026 12:15 PM (GD0B3)

197 There's a bonus there, too. Any rocket engine launching from Earth requires an acceleration of > 1 g just to get off the ground. Something already in orbit (Kuiper Belt or wherever) can be moved with *any* acceleration, no matter how small. Depends on how much patience you have.
Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at June 17, 2026 12:12 PM (IG3/x)
----
That's exactly how it's portrayed in the book. It takes months or years for the water to be sent anywhere in the inner solar system, but once you have production started up, you just have to keep a continuous flow going and you are set for a long, long time.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at June 17, 2026 12:16 PM (gnNyN)

198 Posted by: bonhomme at June 17, 2026 12:12 PM (mkw2

I have a buddy that his MIL doles out money every six months to her children and grandchildren. It's to eliminate the headaches that comes with probate.

Posted by: polynikes at June 17, 2026 12:16 PM (GseMx)

199 Vahidi hasn't been seen or heard from for 10 days now.

Posted by: Ben Had at June 17, 2026 12:16 PM (5P5DO)

200 Robots have encased the sun with a Dyson sphere

That would suck.
Posted by: far cry at June 17, 2026 12:10 PM

I'm right here, you know.

Posted by: Mega Maid at June 17, 2026 12:17 PM (bFu5X)

201
Pretty windy outside. The disturbance turned into Tropical Storm Arthur and while it's up the coast now we're still getting some backwash.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at June 17, 2026 12:18 PM (O0L8i)

202 Posted by: bonhomme at June 17, 2026 12:12 PM (mkw2
=====

I have something similar with one of my kidlets. The joint account is to cover emergencies to make sure bills are paid.

Posted by: mustbequantum at June 17, 2026 12:18 PM (Ofeq1)

203 FIRST!!!!!

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at June 17, 2026 12:19 PM (/BPde)

204 NOODlum.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at June 17, 2026 12:19 PM (/BPde)

205 > It's to eliminate the headaches that comes with probate.

That makes sense. It sounds like good estate planning.

Posted by: bonhomme at June 17, 2026 12:19 PM (mkw2N)

206 Ben Had , it does not matter which regime figure has been seen or not. It is all the same figure. The regime is still in charge (Slightly altered with IRGC having more of a voice). Limping, but in charge. They knew really fast they could not get the US militarily. So they are now playing possum.

Posted by: runner at June 17, 2026 12:19 PM (GD0B3)

207 Maximum War Lust. Nah, never something to desire, in my opinion. History can point that out.
Posted by: tubal

As a Jacksonian, I can see trying to finish a problem once and for all. But, as you point out, history explains that it is usually a bad idea to be a maximalist.

Posted by: whig at June 17, 2026 12:19 PM (E4rtv)

208 Runner

It sounds like you have enough material to write post. Why not do that and submit it to Ace?

Posted by: Anna Puma at June 17, 2026 12:19 PM (xGnmX)

209 @194
...if meteorites are any indication, a lot of them are just rock

So how much is a ton of rock worth?

Posted by: Case at June 17, 2026 12:20 PM (IY9No)

210 It sounds like you have enough material to write post. Why not do that and submit it to Ace?
Posted by: Anna Puma at June 17, 2026 12:19 PM (xGnmX)

Right after Musk buys LucasFilm and puts me in charge!

Posted by: runner at June 17, 2026 12:22 PM (GD0B3)

211 They milled two .45 1911s out of a meteorite. They sold or valued over a million.

Posted by: polynikes at June 17, 2026 12:23 PM (GseMx)

212 Listen, the biggest financial move I made was buying a crapton of Msft when it was valued at 28 dollars in 2012.

That move alone has allowed me the ability to retire pretty much whenever I want to and live a very comfortable life.

Regardless of what anyone says, the US stock market has been the greatest wealth generator ever created.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at June 17, 2026 11:29 AM (XV/Pl)
==
Bought in low 60's in 2016 - wish I had bought more. It sits very high in the current portfolio. A nice late charger has been JP Morgan Chase. Wish I had bought more of that too!

Posted by: Black JEM at June 17, 2026 12:23 PM (GZYu7)

213 Simply put, you have to kill somewhere above 30 percent or so of all military age males to achieve something like unconditional surrender. But, in a place where most of these militaries are located in mosques, cities, etc., you are going to end up killing a helluva lot of civilians as well. And accept a lot of your own fine young troops are going to die, be maimed, etc. as well to root out the remainder of the regime on the ground.

As in Israel in Lebanon and Gaza. And Chicoms and Russians make sure it costs us.
Posted by: whig at June 17, 2026 11:47 AM (E4rtv)

Then, I don't understand how The Ukraine is still standing. It seems two generations of men are gone. And now they are working on the women.

Posted by: Ann at June 17, 2026 12:24 PM (SHHm+)

214 Good thread. Agree. I hope he goes on and on successfully.

And, my, my! how Elon and The Donald have Liz on the warpath again today; one for alleged healthcare interference and the other to get the Wealth Tax bill passed.

McGill Media
5h
Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized President Donald Trump for policies she says reduced health-care coverage for millions while benefiting wealthy Americans through tax cuts. Warren also pointed to billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk as an example of growing wealth concentration, arguing that current economic conditions strengthen the case for a federal wealth tax on the nation’s richest individuals.

The Tech Billionaires' List featuring the standard ten or so heavy hitters appears to be her, their entire Wealth Tax program. After that, dead air.

Posted by: L - No nic, another fine day at June 17, 2026 12:25 PM (NFX2v)

215 I like the Oblivion movie theory for water.

They still don't know for sure where earth's water came from.
Posted by: polynikes at June 17, 2026 12:12 PM (GseMx)

Perhaps they could read Genesis.
Pretty much spells it out.

Posted by: OneEyedJack at June 17, 2026 12:25 PM (zafwz)

216 Ukraine currently has thousands of foreign fighters operating within its ranks, with estimates ranging from 8,000 to over 20,000 volunteers and contractors.

While Russia classifies these individuals as mercenaries, Ukraine officially integrates them as regular military personnel into the International Legion for the Defence of Ukraine.

Posted by: L - No nic, another fine day at June 17, 2026 12:27 PM (NFX2v)

217 Perhaps they could read Genesis. Pretty much spells it out.

I read a lot of astronomy and physics pop science books and watch a lot of videos/courses. Ever since LeMaître it seems as if a driving force behind a small but significant subset of physicists is constructing theories that do not look like Genesis.

As far as I know, LeMaître never publicly connected the big bang with Genesis. But he was a priest, and there was no denying the resemblance (Eddington found the resemblance “repugnant” but undeniable).

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at June 17, 2026 12:39 PM (kYmoU)

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