Time magazine names Elon Musk as its “Person of the Year” for 2021
In a perfect demonstration that a broken clock gets to be right, by accident, ever so often, Time magazine yesterday named Elon Musk its 2021 “Person of the Year.”
Time’s choices for the past several decades have been consistently cringeworthy, most often because its choices have either repeatedly hawked politicians and activists who deserve no credit at all because they had not actually done anything, such as Greta Thunberg and just-elected George Bush Jr (2000), Barack Obama (2008), Joe Biden/Kamala Harris (2020), or because the picks have been meaningless, such as the choice of “You” in 2006 and “The Protester” in 2011.
Not surprisingly, Time picked Musk apparently for all the wrong reasons, focusing on the modern leftist and Marxist agenda that despises success and now dominates the culture of most mainstream media outlets :
“In 2021, Musk emerged not just as the world’s richest person but also as perhaps the richest example of a massive shift in our society,” [Time’s chief executive Edward] Felsenthal wrote in the announcement. “From Amazon’s Jeff Bezos to Facebook turned Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, the year brought home the extent to which, at a time of rising protest over ever deepening inequality, our lives and many of the basic structures around them are now shaped by the pursuits, products and priorities of the world’s wealthiest people.” [emphasis mine]
Thus, Felsenthal reveals that Time picked Musk not because he has achieved magnificent things that are fundamentally changing the world, but because he represents “the world’s wealthiest people” who illustrate society’s “deepening inequality.” Nor am I exaggerating. Read Felsenthal’s entire statement, which reeks with leftist and Marxist envy of the wealthy.
Musk deserves this kind of recognition, but not because he is wealthy, but because of how he became so, by actually creating businesses that fulfill needs and thus have customers pounding at the door to buy the product (Paypal, SpaceX, Starlink, Tesla). And along the way his creations have brought jobs and wealth to tens of thousands of people, and acted to rejuvenate whole industries.
We need more people like Musk. The more the merrier. Only by eagerly embracing their original and creative ideas can we hope to recover the civilization we once had.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
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In a perfect demonstration that a broken clock gets to be right, by accident, ever so often, Time magazine yesterday named Elon Musk its 2021 “Person of the Year.”
Time’s choices for the past several decades have been consistently cringeworthy, most often because its choices have either repeatedly hawked politicians and activists who deserve no credit at all because they had not actually done anything, such as Greta Thunberg and just-elected George Bush Jr (2000), Barack Obama (2008), Joe Biden/Kamala Harris (2020), or because the picks have been meaningless, such as the choice of “You” in 2006 and “The Protester” in 2011.
Not surprisingly, Time picked Musk apparently for all the wrong reasons, focusing on the modern leftist and Marxist agenda that despises success and now dominates the culture of most mainstream media outlets :
“In 2021, Musk emerged not just as the world’s richest person but also as perhaps the richest example of a massive shift in our society,” [Time’s chief executive Edward] Felsenthal wrote in the announcement. “From Amazon’s Jeff Bezos to Facebook turned Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, the year brought home the extent to which, at a time of rising protest over ever deepening inequality, our lives and many of the basic structures around them are now shaped by the pursuits, products and priorities of the world’s wealthiest people.” [emphasis mine]
Thus, Felsenthal reveals that Time picked Musk not because he has achieved magnificent things that are fundamentally changing the world, but because he represents “the world’s wealthiest people” who illustrate society’s “deepening inequality.” Nor am I exaggerating. Read Felsenthal’s entire statement, which reeks with leftist and Marxist envy of the wealthy.
Musk deserves this kind of recognition, but not because he is wealthy, but because of how he became so, by actually creating businesses that fulfill needs and thus have customers pounding at the door to buy the product (Paypal, SpaceX, Starlink, Tesla). And along the way his creations have brought jobs and wealth to tens of thousands of people, and acted to rejuvenate whole industries.
We need more people like Musk. The more the merrier. Only by eagerly embracing their original and creative ideas can we hope to recover the civilization we once had.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
Socialist types can ever get too far from class warfare.
I am sure they consider all the distractions of the last 2 years, Covid, the “non-violent” protests across the country, the Trump admin, Rittenhouse trials, and the absolute failure of the current admin, they now want to circle back to their true foundations.
“The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles'” according to old Karl, and we clearly have to be reminded of that from time to time, or in this case, by TIME. They must remind of us, of course, because the only way to peddle a lie is to repeat it as much as possible, until people start believing it.
Monty Python Communist Quiz Sketch:
3:17
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ9myHhpS9s
Quote from Musk in article:
‘And the next really big thing is to build a self-sustaining city on Mars and bring the animals and creatures of Earth there. Sort of like a futuristic Noah’s ark. We’ll bring more than two, though—it’s a little weird if there’s only two.’
Remember that time also designated Hitler and Stalin as “Men of the Year”
https://twitter.com/CoryBMorgan/status/1204849483374182401/photo/1
The left is so blinded by their hatred and jealousy that they don’t even see how choosing to attack Musk undermines what they claim to believe.
Of all the top wealthy Musk is the least driven by a quest for wealth. He has been driven by vision – visions such as breaking the banking cartel (Paypal) and reducing carbon output (Tesla and Solar City) that should be near and dear to leftie hearts.
Musk risked everything to pursue his visions a decade ago he almost went bankrupt.
Musk’s wealth is not based on monies he’s extorted from others by leveraging his power (like the residents D.C.), his wealth resides in his shares in the companies he founded, he’s so rich because others believe in his vision and Musk’s ability to execute. Should the Public’s faith in Musk’s ability to keep those companies growing fade, so will Musk’s wealth.
Ah but Time’s lefties would probably rather praise the fine union workers in NYC’s sanitation dept who are living the Marxist ideal “each according to his need”.
https://nypost.com/2021/12/12/94-nyc-sanitation-workers-net-100k-in-overtime/
BTW I don’t see any Black faces in the article – will the press investigate DiBlasio’s Sanitation Dept to see if Black workers are getting an equal share? (don’t hold your breath)
Elon Musk ? Akira The Don
“If You Don’t Make Stuff, There Is no Stuff”
June 2020
https://youtu.be/nA4Ya-yKJ0A
3:23
Pink Floyd –
“Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun / Mars Direct”
https://youtu.be/a9ntxCcjVjE
9:47
Does anyone even read TIME magazine?
Dear Shadow:
Was it but bought out for a Dollar at one point by one oft the Progressive Oligarchs ???
two things I do not understand about the Elon phenomena. Why are there not more like him? That is people who have made a lot of money who are willing to think big, invest all they have to accomplish even more. 2nd thing – Why is Elon not delegating more? Encourage, even demand that people in his organization take the lead on projects, be the person the public interacts with?
Col Beausabre noted: ”
Date
Time
Address
Description
Hours
Comments
Wednesday
12/15
0900
4929 SE Hawthorne Blvd
Portland 97215
Load 2 u-boxes from 2nd flr apt.
Meet BTC 0730
Wednesday
12/15
1300
8156 NE Sydney St
Hilsboro 97006
Load 26′ truck from townhouse.
Col Beausabre noted: “Remember that time also designated Hitler and Stalin as “Men of the Year”
Time magazine once explained that they chose their ‘Influencer of the Year’ not based on morality or merit, but on the entity that had most influenced the news that year. In that light, some choices make more sense, if not particularly palatable.
Have you ever seen those late ’60’s/early 70’s Chamber of Commerce films? If you’ve seen ‘The Full Monty’, you have an idea.
“Computers. Wonders of the Modern Age. Allowing mistakes, faster than previously possible!”
Apologies. There’s a comment in there, somewhere.
I think behindtheblack.com may have a larger readership.
Hunter Biden is the poster boy of ill gotten gains. Woke billionaires too.
Steve …. Why are there not more like him?
Because many find it easier in this risk-averse culture to take small steps within the box of conformity, than to assume the social/financial/physical risk of asking “why not?” and taking giant leaps outside that box.
Why is Elon not delegating more?
Because, like Steve Jobs, Musk places a high premium on transforming his vision, in detail, into practical reality – and sees delegation as risking the loss of focus upon that vision, which is the “blueprint” for what his enterprises produce.
Those like Jobs and Musk keep their eyes on the ball … as others keep their eyes on the social and financial scoreboards.
I think Musk delegates a lot more than you think. He hires good people, but expects them to perform. When they do not he replaces them, but he does not micromanage the new people, only makes sure they understand the goals so that they can meet them.
There is no way SpaceX could function if Musk did not do this.
Scott Manley noted Musk being named “POTY” at the end of his latest space news update. Also the huge photo error in the Inspiration 4 article.
https://youtu.be/SyCa6IVd7KI?t=607
11:37 (starts @ 10:07)
Sorry for John Kraus, a very talented young photographer, but it could help his growing career.
Bob, as usual you do make a good point. Of course Musk has to delegate to get work of the magnitude SpaceX is doing, done. Perhaps I should have said it this way … and sees WHOLESALE delegation as risking the loss of focus upon that vision …
Wholesale, as in a manner reminiscent of an absent landlord who blindly trusts others to keep the properties profitable, only reviewing the profit/loss numbers at the end of each month, or even year.
I’ve worked for a couple of family-owned manufacturing firms (i.e. privately-held; Wall Street wasn’t a problem with them) where the ownership engaged in wholesale delegation to this level – and it did not end well for them; significant damage to the firm was done before company presidents were forced into retirement and their underlings fired because no one was keeping their eye on the ball.
Ownership and the “hired help” were both watching the scoreboard, with the latter even doing some significant cheating (employee theft in various forms) to run up their personal score … that is, when they were not gaslighting senior designers with awful reviews to get them to leave and make room for younger talent, who were seen as being more adept with bits and bytes than the seniors who were making successful products with volts and amps. I found out about the latter, when a colleague from one of those firms joined me at the company I went to after I was gaslighted and we compared notes about how we were treated.
Musk, fortunately, keeps a much closer eye on his enterprises than that – and he has kept more control over his enterprises than Jobs had at Apple, from what I see. One reason I never bet against Musk, when it comes to making technology match his vision. The shakeups within his enterprises also run their course and return the enterprise to its proper heading relatively quickly, because of his staying engaged.
Anyone know the story behind the selection of the phrase “X AE A-Xii”? I thought Moon Unit Zappa was odd or the singer formally known as Prince’s name.
J Fincannon–
Here you go–>
“Elon Musk Explains Baby Name Choice”
Joe Rogan Podcast 1470 (May 2020)
https://youtu.be/MU5dkX5-lVM
3:38
Elon Musk / Akira The Don
“Alien” ?? (June, 2019)
https://youtu.be/wEU1RsgDZYw
3:39
“I don’t think you’d necessarily want to be me. I don’t think people would like it very much. It’s very hard to turn it off. It might sound great when it’s turned on. But what if it doesn’t turn off? All the time. Doesn’t stop. All the time. Doesn’t stop. All the time. It’s like a never-ending explosion, yeah. I’m an alien.”
“When I was 5 or 6, or something, I thought I was insane, because it was clear that other people did not, their minds were not, exploding with ideas, all the time. You know, it was just strange. It was like, “hmm,” and strange. I hoped they wouldn’t find out, they might like’ put me away or something.”
“I like to get things done. I like to be useful. That is one of the hardest things to do, to be useful. Doing something useful, for other people, that is what I like doing, yeah.”
>Wayne:
>Here you go–> Musk on Joe Rogan.
Thanks. Except that it is little better than “XRTWSIED QPP”. Explanation is hardly coherent.
Good grief! And Musk is our savior? Reminds me of Zaphod Beeblebrox. Not in a good way.
>Wayne: youtube of Musk on name
Thanks. Except that it is little better than “XRTWSIED QPP”. Explanation is hardly coherent.
Good grief! And Musk is our savior? Reminds me of Zaphod Beeblebrox. Not in a good way.
Why Elon Musk is different.
While break fast/learn fast is straightforward, combining design-on-the-fly with production, even as payloads are delivered, in the rocket business, is stand-in-awe amazing (for the reusable 1st Stage stage). Now he’s building a completely reusable 18-wheeler. With an 18 meter monster on the drawing board … SpaceX taking up perhaps a quarter of his working day.
Any historical comparisons? Elon seems to have survived his Howard Hughes phase.
Hitler Stalin W Bush, Obo, Greta ….Musk
Hmmm. Time is relative?
J Fincannon–
ref Musk’s various appearances on Rogan– the long form is great, but it’s obvious when Rogan is talking to someone extremely smart, he sometimes drops the ball. (I’d have pressed a little deeper on the Name thing.)
total random question:
What sort of press did Thomas Edison get?
Re: Musk’s child’s name. If he had said the name was from Xhosa’s click language which is part of South Africa, then I would be impressed.
About a Noah’s ark on Mars, sounds a little difficult, even for Musk. Need to address the life cycle of each animal for Mars gravity, radiation/mutation effects on animals and their biota especially en route to Mars, Mars microbes (if any). Good luck on getting a whale there.
ref:
The Noah’s Ark on Mars, thing’.
IMHO–once they handle the deadly exposure to radiation en route, and the jello-ification of muscle tissue in zero-G, I’m all-in on anything that involves Cat’s On Mars.
very worried about Elon. Now he is being drawn into politics. CNN is looking to take him down. The success and independence of Tesla is a direct threat to the power of the democrat party. Must be very stressful and distracting.
Elon Musk: RICHEST MAN ON EARTH!!
Fun stuff by Thunderf00t!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91lxr3UD8ys
Elon Musk DESTROYS The Woke Mob: EPIC New Interview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T98kOpM9CJw