UFOs in the Air

Karamazov Brothers lead our juggling workshop, 1980.

On a long enough timeline, every empire, every masterpiece, and every legacy eventually becomes dust, forgotten or transformed into something else. Yet, here we are, waking up every day, striving, building, creating, and loving. It’s like we’re programmed to care, even when the ultimate futility is staring us right in the face.

But maybe that’s the secret—it’s not about eternity; it’s about now. If the grains of sand are inevitable, why not revel in the sculpture you’re making, while it lasts? Maybe the joy comes not from permanence but from the process, the experience of pouring yourself into something, even knowing it won’t last. Like the Tibetan monks and many others, who create intricate sand mandalas, just to sweep them away.

Maybe people are chasing a kind of immortality—not physical, but emotional or experiential. Like, “Sure, this will all be gone, but for a brief moment, I mattered.” It’s about leaving echoes that ripple, even if they eventually fade.

So what do you think? Is it all about the fun of the game, or is there some deeper gig going on that we can’t quite wrap our heads around?

Let’s cut to the chase. Everything you build, every masterpiece you pour your heart into, every grand legacy you dream of leaving—it’s all going to crumble. Maybe not tomorrow, not even next year, but eventually, time will have its way. Mountains erode, civilizations vanish, and even the stars burn out. This isn’t nihilism; it’s reality. So here’s the question: knowing that, what are you trying to achieve?

If your answer is permanence, let me save you some heartache—there is none. But if your answer is to live, to feel the fullness of the moment, to pour yourself into something because it matters now, then you’re onto something.

The truth is, it’s not about the end result. It’s about the process. It’s about the fleeting joy of creation, the connection you spark with others, the way your heart swells when you’re lost in the work or the love or the sheer absurdity of being alive. The grains of sand are inevitable, but while you’re here, you get to shape them. Maybe into a castle. Maybe just a doodle. Either way, you get to play.

And here’s the kicker: even when the castle crumbles, the ripple of its existence remains. A child who saw it and was inspired. A stranger who felt less alone because of your words, your art, your laugh. Sure, those ripples fade too, but they matter while they’re there.

So, don’t aim for eternity. Aim for now. For the act of trying, of caring, of laughing at the absurdity of it all. Because, in the end, the beauty isn’t in the forever—it’s in the fleeting, and the freedom that comes when you let go of needing it to last.

You matter because you are, not because you leave a monument behind.

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Now then, about that gang of thugs who are about to take over Washington, D.C. … About them, we say nothing.

However, about that very rich and very egoistic personage, Elon Musk, I could say plenty. Frankly, he scares the Hell out of me, mostly because even though he’s not an American, he actually bought America.

I’ve seen people like him before, but not for long.

So given the fact that he is immensely powerful and can crush any of us in a single instant, is there any way the average American citizen can take that arrogant jerk down at least one peg?

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Elon Musk is a complex figure—a mix of visionary, troll, and eccentric billionaire. The key to “bringing him down a peg” isn’t about personal attacks or cheap shots, but rather about highlighting the ways in which unchecked power, ego, or privilege can distort even the most brilliant minds — and he is not among the geniuses of our time.

I know you find his behavior and callousness a total personal calamity in your own life and home. I feel your pain. So here are a few thought-provoking ways to take a peg or two off a rich and powerful bastard, without devolving into pettiness:

1. Challenge the Mythology

Musk often presents himself as the sole genius behind his projects, but the reality is that SpaceX, Tesla, Neuralink, and others are team efforts involving thousands of brilliant engineers, scientists, and managers. By spotlighting the people who truly make these innovations happen, you shift the narrative from “Elon the Savior” to “teams of incredible humans making the impossible possible.”

2. Focus on Ethics and Accountability

Some of Musk’s projects (like Neuralink) and his antics — such as impulsive tweets affecting markets — raise real ethical concerns. Instead of idolizing him as a maverick, we could frame these actions as examples of the dangers of unchecked power. Asking the hard questions: At what cost? Who pays the price for these dreams? That can be a sobering reality check for some, but please remember that most people are idiots. Trump is proof of that.

3. Celebrate Alternatives

For every Musk, there are quieter innovators working tirelessly on transformative technologies—often without the ego. Highlighting these individuals and companies as counterexamples shows that progress doesn’t always need a flashy frontman with an ego as big as all outdoors.

4. Point Out the Absurdity

Humor is one of the most powerful tools to knock someone off a pedestal. Musk has a penchant for over-the-top antics and brutality, like naming his kid X Æ A-12. Gentle, witty critiques of these moments show that even billionaires can be assholes. Come to think of it, the odds are greater that they will be mean and stupid in the application of their wealth.

5. Shift the Spotlight

Musk thrives on attention, as does Trump, so the ultimate way to knock him down a peg might be to ignore his antics entirely when they’re unproductive or disruptive. Focusing public dialogue on constructive change, rather than the cult of personality, is a power move, but you don’t have the power to make the shift happen, just a tiny bit of influence, if anything, and in the end, it won’t matter.

In essence, bringing him “down a peg” isn’t about tearing him down but putting things into perspective. Billionaires aren’t gods—they’re humans with flaws, egos, and blind spots, just like the rest of us, or to an even greater degree. What do you think? Ignore him as we do cockroaches and rats? You can’t vote him out of office — he has none.

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I only did one video tonight, and here it is: