I love how this bends my brain and makes me think.
Thank you!

*Promote

BTW, isn't "Joby" the company that just went public in a SPAC in Silicon Valley that was valued at around $6 billion? and is proposing a multi passenger electric taxi helicopter/plane that has actually gotten some flights in?

Yep. I live in Humboldt. Moved up here from the bay area, a completely different culture. They are also totally different from Southern California, which itself is a completely different animal from Central Valley California. There was a time when splitting the state into two, north and south, was considered, but no one wanted the bay area in their half, and Sacramento didn't belong in either half either. If we split, it should be into at least 4 distinct states, north, central, south, and Bay area California, and even then there would be many communities in the wrong states.

I hear you brave young Jaybles, you are hungry for the rock
But to learn the ancient method, sacred doors you must unlock
Escape your father's clutches and this oppressive neighborhood
On a journey you must go to find the land of Hollywood

In The City of Fallen Angels where the ocean meets the sand
You will form a strong alliance and the world's most awesome band
To find your fame and fortune, through the valley you must walk
You will face your inner demons, now go my son and rock

I'm waiting for the outbreak of sinkholes in the central valley, California. They've pumped so much water from the aquifers for farming that the entire valley is now sinking. It can't be long before sinkholes are a major problem there too, but there it will be a man made problem, not a natural one.

I'm curious if the "58" refers to Celcius. That would be 136.4 F, and higher than the highest officially-recorded temperature on Earth at 57.6 C in Death Valley, CA back in 1913.
Kuwait does have one of the top four, though, at 54 C.

The last time I was there there were wildfires filling the entire valley/basin with thick smoke. That was gawdawful.

25 years ago when I went it was still 1/2 that thick and brown with no fires. Ugh.

His story reminds me of my racing years....no team, no budget, only a deep desire to go fast. While I didn't come all the way across the Pacific, I did end up driving farther than that in a few years, easy when races are 4-500 miles away in the desert somewhere, then another 100-300 miles tearing through it before driving home. I was the only lone wolf in VORRA (Valley Off Road Racing Association) for a few years. Good times.
*promote *history

This didn't have the usual level of uncanny valley I get from most Deep Fakes, but I didn't really get Tom Cruise either. First off, Bill Hader looks a lot like TC to begin with, and the facial expressions and some facial features clearly appeared like Hader's and not TC's.

If they're going to fool competent people into believing it's real they'll have to do better.

Don't know about the Russian equivalent, but how bout the California one?
https://videosift.com/video/Plane-Spotting-in-Death-Valley

I wonder if this stems somewhat from their marketing - they are trying to sell you a fashion accessory or perhaps symbol of status, not a gadget or a gizmo. At best it's a tool for trendy creative types, in the same way a wand is a tool for a wizard; Its a magic box not a glorified computer, a single crystal grown deep beneath The Valley of Silicon which the tech-priests then ensorcell using incantations passed down from the late grand master. An Iphone cannot be repaired because it does not break... it dies. Never forget the memories you shared with it, because they are irretrievable otherwise. Admitting it can be put right after a light drowning would perhaps dispel the magic.

That's my take anyway. Oh, and that they'd rather sell you a new thing that repair an old thing.

I suppose the irony is that most people will never see the genuine artistry and engineering excellence that goes into these things.

Your video, Valley of the Boom: Trailer #1 | National Geographic, has made it into the Top 15 New Videos listing. Congratulations on your achievement. For your contribution you have been awarded 1 Power Point.

Anything history of Silicon Valley interests me *promote

HA! Well, I didn't mean literally this guy, but just i've seen some fan art that looks uncanny valley like this.