DEI in the news

The term "woke" was so 2024.  Now we're on to talking about "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" with the same derision.  

One of the early actions T-rump took was to talk about how DEI programs need to stop, because they are... something.  I don't know what, its just word soup (like woke was before it).

Many companies decided to just go along with it, and just dropped their initiatives.  Which shows that these companies and their leadership never took the programs seriously, it was just done for appearances.  I mean, if you just flow with the politics that quickly, and move on to curry favor with "dear leader," then we have to assume you never expected anything from it anyway.

Then we had the plane crash in DC, which caused T-rump to blame DEI for it! Which is both a not-so-subtle way of saying that he wants white men in charge, and also would suggest he's trying to pull a magicians trick, and shift focus away from something else by getting people lathered up about DEI. 

Oh but it doesn't end there.  Costco said they planned to continue their program, and would wait for shareholders to weigh in on how it should evolve.  Which led to 19 attroneys general (need I mention that they're all from GOP-led states?) to band together  and send a letter to Costco telling them that T-rumps executive order made clear they needed to do away with the program, and they will pursue legal action if Costco doesn't listen.

Bad enough that they're bullying a private company for its own hiring practices that conform with the law.  But worse was this line in said letter: "Costco should not have policies that discriminate in hiring based on race or gender," 

Which I read as "you need to hire more straight, white men."

https://www.businessinsider.com/costco-dei-letter-republican-attorneys-general-2025-1

Starliner astronauts

As you may recall, last year Boeing launched two astronauts to the International Space Station. The spacecraft had an issue and had to be returned without the astronauts.  

The two astronauts were prepared for a week in space, but it went to many weeks, then months, and now is coming around on a year.  While some of the time, they've "twiddled their thumbs," they have made the most of their time and have remained fairly upbeat.

The story goes that at some point in late summer, NASA made a decision to retrieve the astronauts using a SpaceX Dragon capsule that would be launched empty.  This was never intended to be something done with a sense of urgency; the plan was ALWAYS to send that mission up in about March of 2025.  The astronauts were aware of this, and so were we.

But the reporting on this was confusing, and somehow it appeared that the mission kept slipping and maybe they'd get a rescue soon.  Then they were referred to as "stranded" which they really aren't (and worst case, they could sit in a proverbial rumble seat of another returning rocket).

Anyway, Elon Musk gets elected ... I mean T-rump get elected and Musk has oversight into NASA's doings.  T-rump says "we need to get them home!" and Musk responds on his stupid social platform saying "The @POTUS has asked @SpaceX to bring home the 2 astronauts stranded on the @Space_Station as soon as possible. We will do so. Terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long," 

Which is disingenuous and stupid.  See my previous comment about how this was the plan all along.  But gotta pass blame and refer to them as stranded.  

And the media - without a moment of thought - just runs with it.  Sad!

Dear Fortune 500 Boards of Directors

Since the second inauguration of T-rump to the presidency, we have seen all manner of unqualified people being placed in positions of great power.  Doesn't matter if you have skills, experience, or aptitude for the job; anyone can hold any position!!

With that in mind, I am applying for the CEO position at your company,  I have never led a company.  I am probably unqualified for it.  Nevertheless, I urge you to place me in the role because I was bold enough to ask!  

I am declining to post or send a resume, because that simply doesn't matter.

Please reach out to schedule my start date.  

Thank you, and I look forward to leading your company in a direction.

This made me chuckle

Throughout 2024, Apple promised a new version of CarPlay.  But they didn't deliver.  And then on January 24th of 2025, they finally updated their website to say "oops its not coming in 2024."

https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/24/24350909/apple-next-gen-carplay-missed-2024-launch-deadline

The Walmart Effect - The Atlantic

It makes communities it operates in poorer. Because it displaces other businesses, so unemployment goes up. And their wages are lower, so people have lower incomes. 

But they offer low prices! Isn't that enough? Sadly. No. 


https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/12/walmart-prices-poverty-economy/681122/

Disney CEO Bob Iger’s Total Pay Jumps 30% To $41.1 Million

That's just insane. 

How many rank and file workers saw a 30% increase in pay? (hint: none)

And if we make a bold assumption that the average Disney employee makes around $40k per year, that means he's making about 1,000 times their salary. 

Ain't nobody. NOBODY. Who is that much more valuable than anyone else, regardless of what they will tell you.

https://deadline.com/2025/01/disney-ceo-bob-iger-2024-pay-jumps-41-million-1236265804/

Smart glasses

Gotta love the idea of glasses that can track your eye movement and then present information based on where you look. And to be able to do it non invasively with a small device is pretty cool. 

Now if they could adapt that so those of us with myopia could automatically adjust the lens so we didn't need to have a new prescription for changing eyes, I'd be all for it. 😉

https://www.hackster.io/news/looking-to-the-future-of-smart-glasses-941d9a0fcaf8