Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, and 2 others grew up in very racist, Apartheid-ish South Africa.  These 4 founded PayPal.  They are sometimes referred to as the PayPal Mafia.  In the 1930s and continuing, South Africa (and Southwest Africa) had a LARGE pro-Hitler population.  Elon's grandfather was the head of a pro-Nazi party in Canada in the 1930s, and went to prison once Canada declared war on Germany.  He (the grandfather) was very much considered a Nazi sympathizer by the Canadian gov't.  The grandfather (Joshua) moved his family, including Elon's mother, to South Africa around 1950.  

As for Elon's situation with his father and at school was, at least at times, brutal.  E.g., his father berated him for not being tough enough when Elon ended up in the hospital having been, basically, jumped at school.  Elon has a great grasp of math and the workings of computers and has for a long time.

Most of this information comes from the book Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson and Democracynow.org., specifically articles by Chris McGreal.

Also, the Trump organization has broken ground for a very expensive, snazzy (5-star) resort near Hanoi.  Building permitting seems to have been expedited.  Environmental studies were dispensed with and there was virtually no public comment period as is required.  This seems to have helped negotiations regarding tariffs between the U. S. and Vietnam.  Landowners are expected to get very little money for their long-help properties (including at least one cemetery).  The Trump organization is also seriously considering a fancy hotel near Ho Chi Minh City.

Two documentaries explain the Bombing of Pan Am 103, which exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland in December 1988 (in retaliation for the U. S. accidentally shooting down an Iranian passenger plane earlier that year.)  It was an accident!

Memphis, TN is allowing the building of an art museum right on the Mississippi River downtown, when there's supposed to be a public prominade along the river forever.

The music dept. at the Univ. of Memphis has lots of free performances this month (April 2025 and into May).

I recommend you watch the documetaries "Bad River," and "Atomic Bamboozle."

1)  Status of reproductive rights in Tennessee (pathetic); 2)  Federal Trade Commission's report "Behind the Screens," about personal information collection by on-line companies, e.g. Facebook, X, Amazon, TikTok, etc. (not good), and 3) information about Line 5, a 71-year-old oil pipeline that runs on the bottom of the Great Lakes, including in the straits of Mackinac, with potential to contaminate one of the largest bodies of fresh water on earth.

Public transit in Memphis is a mess.  Grass roots groups and the city are trying to fix it.  Other cities may be having these problems, re:  not enough money, city too large, not enough riders, etc.  Please try to help us fix this situation.  Also, I went to the park and got a surprise.

1. Why don't people introduce themselves?

2.  Ozempic and Magic Pill

3.  OJ and Nicole, issues toward the end of her life 

4.  Why do people in Memphis love to park in handicapped spots?

5.  Thanks to the Memphis Public Library and Ms. Ena Esco

Season 1, Episode 1 discusses:

1.  Documentary:   San Onofre Syndrome - radioactive nuclear waste (all nuclear waste is radioactive)

2.  Viewing International Space Station from earth--anyone can do it--no telescope needed

3.  Sir Ernest Shackelton, antarctic explorer, one of the most grueling survival ordeals of all time.

4.  30th Anniversary of Nicole Brown Simpson's death--some ideas of what actually led up to it.  

5.  Thanks fo Memphis Public Library for help with this podcast.