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Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Opinion: Elon Musk's Failing Grade as DOGE Dropout Heads Back to the Future
Elon Musk would like to see himself as Marty McFly as he heads out of the White House and back to the future. Or as misunderstood genius Will Hunting, without any of the goodwill he believes he deserves. But right now, the richest man in the world is about as popular as Leatherface from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. After unparalleled success in the private sector, Musk thought he could school the federal government on how to run the country. His methods had been astonishingly successful in his businesses, from electric cars to space rockets to tunnels and social media. Strip them down, jettison the waste, cut through bureaucracy, promote experimentation, and keep his own hands on the wheel. But after 130 days as Donald Trump's Slasher-in-Chief, Musk is leaving Washington, D.C. with a failing grade. He will get none of the accolades he believed were coming his way after taking control of the Department of Government Efficiency in the heady aftermath of paying his way into Donald Trump's inner circle. He put $250 million into the Trump campaign and then lost billions more when the markets rebelled against the president and his prodigal son. 'It's sort of, how much pain is, you know, are the cabinet and is Congress willing to take?' Musk told reporters when asked about DOGE. 'Because it can be done, but it requires dealing with a lot of complaints.' In the end, people decided to hate Musk more than Trump. 'There's been some blowback for the time that I've been spending in government,' he was forced to admit. It wasn't too different inside the White House, where he was regarded as a loose cannon because of his relentless posts on his X social media platform. Eventually, even Trump had enough. Musk's request to see the Pentagon's war plans for China was the final straw, and he was phased out of the picture. Musk returns to Texas, where he has bought a new home and has based some of his businesses, with his chainsaw blunted and his reputation as a winner forever tainted. His first term paper was a bust. And it cost him much more than money. Here's his report card. District of Columbia Period ending: May 29, 2025 MATH: D(OGE). Poor execution. Failed to meet targets. Set initial goal of $2 trillion in cuts in the federal government. Lowered target to $1 trillion. Final estimate of $150 billion in waste, savings, and cuts. Sums don't add up. ACCOUNTING: E. Net worth down from $464 billion to $386.5 billion in 5 months. Where did all that money go? DRIVER'S ED: D. Could try harder. Tesla stock price has plunged 45% while absent in Washington. More focus required. SPACE: A+. Dreamer. (+ $5.9 billion DoD SpaceX contract to send intelligence satellites into space) SEX ED: A for effort. 14 children and counting. 'If you don't make new humans, there's no humanity,' he said. 'I do have a lot of kids, and I encourage others to have lots of kids.' LANGUAGE: C- for gobbledygook. He called his latest son X Æ A-Xii. GAMING: DISQ. Cheating/Lied about abilities. His 'Path of Exile' account was active while Musk was attending Trump's inauguration. SOCIAL MEDIA: X. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: A(I). COMMENTS: A loner. Elon joined the class of 2025 as the teacher's pet but fell out with his classmates. Struggled for popularity. His only friend was his son, 4. Overzealous and somewhat lacking in empathy. Dropping out (not for the first time; he quit Stanford after just 2 days in 1995). Probably best he's moving on. OVERALL GRADES: EFFORT: A+ PROGRESS: F
Mint
7 days ago
- General
- Mint
What baby names reveal about American and British society
A SQUALLING infant is put into your arms. As you admire this small person, you begin to wonder what the future has in store. Will she be shy or outgoing? Studious or lazy? Will she have an artistic streak or a rebellious one? As you ponder these questions, the doctor asks another, more urgent, one: what will you call the baby? Choosing a name is one of the first enduring decisions parents must make on behalf of their child. Their selection tends to reflect their values and hopes for their offspring. Those with an interest in science may opt for Albert or Marie; more literary types may be tempted by Agatha or Ernest. If you desire a child who is sturdy and traditional, you might plump for John; if you want a youngster to stand out from the crowd, you might go with Apple or maybe even X Æ A-Xii. Every parent knows living namesakes matter as much as past ones. In America Donald is a less popular choice than it was in 2010, given to just 414 children in 2023. As Taylor Swift has climbed the music charts, her first name has slid down the rankings, perhaps because parents fear their children will feel eclipsed by the star. Taken individually, each name selection is shaped by a constellation of factors, including family history and the baby's demeanour. (Judging from online forums, new parents worry deeply about whether or not their babies suit their moniker.) But, taken together, names can reveal broad social trends. Unlike surnames, first names are subject to the fashions and linguistic shifts of the time; they are manifestations of popular culture. For that reason, names are worthy of study. The Economist analysed the first names of almost 400m people born in America and Britain in the past 143 years. We looked at which were popular and their connotations; we considered how diverse the names were and the rate at which trends have come and gone. The results are striking. Our study revealed that the countries on both sides of the Atlantic are becoming more interested in money and power (see chart), as culture becomes more fragmented and dynamic. Historically, studying what a name evokes has been hard to quantify, but artificial intelligence offers a method of doing so. 'What word follows…" is the problem large language models (LLMs) were made to solve. These models, trained on enormous corpora of text, can reveal clusters of associations. So we enlisted an LLM to provide the top five connotations of all popular names. Our prompts—more than 30,000 of them—produced 7,439 unique descriptors, including 'purity", 'warrior" and 'socially awkward". (Ironically the most popular description was 'unique", tied to 12,124 different names.) Using those connotations—and a list of synonyms—we could look at what traits parents seem to prize. The results include etymological and historical meanings, but they also reflect what people think of names in the current moment. Sophia, for example, is still linked to wisdom, as David is to king. Taylor traditionally means 'cutter of cloth". But the llm shows that now, thanks to the world's biggest pop star, people associate that name with versatility, professionalism and creativity. When it comes to traits, our study found that parents increasingly care about appearances. (Surprisingly, brains are becoming less fashionable for children. Names associated with cleverness—such as Raynard—are down six percentage points from 2000.) Names associated with beauty became more popular in recent decades. Almost 30% of names in England and Wales bear that connotation; over 30% of names in America do, too, up 3.2 percentage points from 2000. Parents especially care about highlighting this trait for their daughters. Every girls' name in the top ten—including the top three (Olivia, Emma and Charlotte in America and Olivia, Amelia and Isla in Britain)—connotes 'elegance" or some variation thereof. Of the top 100 boys' names in America, only one, Beau, carries associations of handsomeness. If beauty is desired in girls, brawn has muscled into male names: 70% of boys in America and 55% of boys in Britain have a name that evokes powerfulness. (The most popular boys' names in America, Liam and Noah, are associated with strength.) Another category that has gained prominence since 2000 is wealth, as parents buy into brands that evoke prosperity, such as Aston and Audi, disregarding King Solomon's advice: 'A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches." Even though almost a third of Americans and nearly 40% of Britons profess no religious affiliation, names from scripture have endured. In some cases, this is probably because people do not realise the origin of the name in question. Even so, names with religious links remain popular: roughly 15% of those in America have them. For boys, Elijah, Jacob and James are among the chosen ones; for girls, Abigail, Hannah and Sarah are revered. In Britain, such names are seeing an upswing. In 2023 Muhammad was the most popular name for boys in England and Wales, given to more than 4,600 infants, or 1.7% of boys. Unsurprisingly, in both countries name trends have been shaped by immigration. In America the pool of names shrank after the Immigration Act of 1924, which capped the number of people allowed entry; it expanded once limits were loosened in 1965. At that point, there were 10,841 names in America. By 2023, the last year in our data set, there were 28,945 unique ones given to five or more people, compared with 22,680 in 1990, despite fewer children being born. Yet historical names data probably tell only a partial story. In the past, migrants coming to America and Britain often felt pressure to adapt or discard names that sounded too foreign; as both countries have become more ethnically diverse and tolerant, the range of names has grown wider. Today many parents proudly select a name that preserves their cultural identity, seeing it as a statement of belonging rather than an obstacle to integration. In America names linked to Spanish, such as José and Diego, have surged in popularity, as have names linked to Arabic in Britain—Eesa and Sami, for example. Other factors have contributed to the greater range of names enjoyed by children today. In 1948 nearly a third of American children received one of the 20 most popular names; today parents may prefer to pick something more individualistic than conventional. The vogue for 'dictionary names"—ie, words from the dictionary such as Crimson or Summer—has deepened the pool, as has the use of surnames as first names (Archer, for instance). What did you just call me? Yet the internet has probably also contributed to a splintering of popularity. As we studied which names were chosen from year to year, we found that the speed at which trendy names come and go is much faster today than it was even half a century ago. The jumps and dives in popular names are more evenly spread, too. This may be because the internet furnishes parents with more information and sources of inspiration than ever before. Jennifer Moss, the founder and boss of a website, says near-real-time popularity data are driving faster churn in names, as parents see a name racing up the charts and avoid it, rather than risk having a child share a classroom with five Olivias or eight Noahs. Parents also use internet genealogy services to uncover names that are so old as to be nearly out of use. Discovering an obscure Scottish great-grandmother, for instance, can inspire parents to revive her name or surname for a child's first name. In America no name has come close to matching the Linda boom of 1947, set off by Jack Lawrence's song of that name and Linda Darnell, a popular actress. The name was given to nearly 100,000 girls—or 5.6%, up from 3.4% the preceding year. The Linda spike is remarkable for another reason: in percentage terms, no names are nearly as popular now as Linda was then. Popular culture still plays a role in provoking fads. The early 1990s saw a craze for Kevin after the release of 'Home Alone", a hit Christmas film. In the 2000s scores of parents named their daughters Emma, following the choice of Ross and Rachel in 'Friends". In the 2010s 'Game of Thrones" led to a surge in the number of girls being named Khaleesi, after the show's warrior queen. (Few have turned to the character in recent years: Khaleesi went on a genocidal rampage in the show's penultimate episode in 2019.) But these waves are weaker today than at any time in the past century. Parents short on inspiration can trawl through millions of films, songs and tv shows in search of an unusual gem. Or they can consult a list of names that are 'going extinct", such as Barbie (the blockbuster film failed to change its association with being a bimbo) and Homer (which may now be more tied in the public's imagination to the lazy character of 'The Simpsons" than the poet who wrote the 'Odyssey"). Royal names, such as Catherine and Albert, are also becoming less popular. However, parents may find that it is not their selection that will matter as much as the name conferred by future friends and detractors. 'A good name will wear out; a bad one may be turned," wrote Johann Georg Zimmermann, a Swiss philosopher. But 'a nickname lasts for ever".
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Grimes Cancels Pride Performance to 'Deal With Family Issues'
Originally appeared on E! Online Grimes is pressing pause. The singer—real name Claire Elise Boucher—apologized to fans over pulling out of her upcoming performance in Washington, D.C. celebrating World Pride 'in order to deal with family issues.' Noting in the May 26 social media message that she is 'so so sorry and regretful,' Grimes continued, 'I want to say that I am aware the situation has been a great inconvenience to the fans for some time, and I am truly determined to make sure this is no longer the case very soon.' The 'Genesis' singer also expressed her confidence that the June 6 and 7 festival—which also features Troye Sivan, Kim Petras, Sofi Tukker and a set from RuPaul—is 'still going to be amazing.' 'I hope this is early enough and gives people enough time if they wish to change their plans,' she added. 'And I *will* make this up to you guys very soon.' Grimes signed her note with, 'So much love always.' More from E! Online When Todd Chrisley and Julie Chrisley Will Be Officially Pardoned by Donald Trump Todd Chrisley and Julie Chrisley to Be Pardoned By Donald Trump Shaboozey Speaks Out After Seemingly Rolling His Eyes at Megan Moroney Comment at AMAs This is not the first time the 37-year-old—who shares kids X Æ A-Xii, 5, Exa Dark Sideræl, 3, and Techno Mechanicus, 2, with ex Elon Musk—has alluded to challenges within her personal life, especially when it comes to navigating her coparenting relationship. Back in February, Grimes took to social media to share a plea with Elon—who shares 14 children with four women, including Grimes—concerning the health of one of their shared children. 'Plz respond about our child's medical crisis,' the artist, who did not reveal which of her children was in crisis, wrote Feb. 20 on X, per screenshots shared by TMZ at the time. 'I am sorry to do this publicly but it is no longer acceptable to ignore this situation. This requires immediate attention.' She continued, 'If you don't want to talk to me can you please designate or hire someone who can so that we can move forward on solving this. This is urgent, Elon.' The Visions artist also responded to a user who questioned why she'd brought the personal problem to the public platform. "I'm not giving any details but he won't respond to texts call or emails and has skipped every meeting and our child will suffer life long impairment if he doesn't respond asap," Grimes replied. "So I need him to f--king respond and if I have to apply public pressure then I guess that's where we're at." For more on Elon's family tree, keep reading. Maye Musk (Mom)Errol Musk (Dad)Kimbal Musk & Tosca Musk (Siblings)Justine Wilson (Ex-Wife)Griffin, Kai, Damian & Saxon Musk (Sons)Vivian Jenna Wilson (Daughter)Talulah Riley (Ex-Wife)Amber Heard (Ex-Girlfriend)Grimes (Ex-Girlfriend)X Æ A-Xii Musk (Son)Exa Dark Sideræl & Techno Mechanicus Musk (Kids)Strider & Azure (Kids)Arcadia (Kid)Ashley St. Clair (Alleged Mother of His Child)Seldon Lycurgus (Son) For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
Daily Mirror
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
20 vintage names making major comeback including Linda and Charles
These 20 vintage baby names are slated to make a huge resurgence in the coming years - from those with deep associations with the Royal Family to Hollywood icons What goes around comes around - and old-fashioned baby names seem to be no exception. Now, as trends tend to repeat themselves, we're expecting to see classic 1950s baby names making a comeback. While celebrities like Elon Musk and Kim Kardashian have given their kids some unusual names (think X Æ A-Xii or Psalm), some have opted for the traditional route. Take Gossip Girl star Blake Lively and husband Ryan Reynolds who have named their three children James, Betty, and Inez - monikers that have been around before their parents were even born. Similarly, footballer Frank Lampard and wife Christine decided to name their daughter Patricia back in 2018, in memory of the star's late mother. Here's a look at 20 baby names from the 1950s that could be making a resurgence. James James is a name that has remained so timelessly popular that it doesn't even feel outdated. In the 1950s, it was closely linked to youth culture, largely thanks to the iconic James Dean, the heartthrob of Rebel Without a Cause. Mary Linda had a standout moment in the early 1950s, reigning as the No. 1 name from 1947 to 1952. However, Mary ultimately claimed the title for the decade. With influential figures like Mary Blair — the talented artist behind Disney classics such as Lady and the Tramp , Alice in Wonderland , and Cinderella — it's easy to see why families continue to honour the legendary Marys of the past. Michael Western and cowboy-inspired baby names are having a resurgence, largely thanks to Yellowstone . But can this trend be traced all the way back to 1959's Bonanza and its star, Michael Landon? It turns out, Michael doesn't need a trend to stay in the spotlight — it's a name that has remained popular in its own right for decades. Linda The name Linda — made famous by actress Linda Cristal, who appeared in Westerns throughout the '50s — had a strong run, holding the top spot from 1947 to 1952. However, it was eventually overtaken by Mary, which returned to reclaim the crown. Robert The name Robert, meaning "bright fame," truly lived up to its meaning in the 1950s, especially with actors like Robert Mitchum, Robert Taylor, and Robert Conrad rising to prominence. Patricia In an episode of The Twilight Zone , actress Patricia Barry portrays a woman who is deceived into falling for a man who uses a love potion on her — only for him to later find her affections overwhelming. This makes Patricia a perfect choice for parents seeking a name with a classic, mid-century vibe, yet still wanting something distinctive. John The name John may have had its peak long before the '50s. It was the number one boy's name a few decades earlier than that, and kept the top spot between 1900 and 1923. Still, the name has hung in there, landing somewhere in the top-five names in the US every year from 1924 to 1972, where it continues to rank in the top 30 baby names today. Susan In the 1950s, Susan was on the rise, reaching its peak in 1960. It's likely that many of those '50s families were inspired by actress Susan Hayward, who earned three Academy Award nominations for Best Actress during the decade and finally won the prestigious statue in 1958. David It was David that briefly took the number one spot from Michael in 1960, interrupting Michael's impressive 44-year streak as the most popular boy name in America. While David has become less dominant in recent decades — now more often appearing in the top 30 than the top five — it remains a solid choice for families looking to shake things up a bit. Deborah/Debra This is a two-for-one, as variations of Deborah made the list twice in the 1950s. Deborah — inspired by The King and I and An Affair to Remember star Deborah Kerr — ranked as the fifth most popular name, while Debra — as in The Ten Commandments star Debra Paget — followed closely at seventh. William William was a solid choice for literary-minded parents in the 1950s, as they saw bylines from figures like William S. Burroughs, William Goldman, and William F. Buckley Jr. in books and magazines. The name feels both timeless and modern, as it continues to rank in the top 10 of baby names today. It's also perfect for parents who appreciate versatility, offering a range of nickname options like Will, Willy, Bill, or Billy. Barbara There's already evidence that Barbara, inspired by All About Eve actress Barbara Bates, is making a comeback. In America, the Social Security Administration (SSA) reports that it was one of the fastest-growing baby names last year, jumping 87 spots in rank from the previous year. Could this be the start of a meteoric rise? Only time will tell. Richard In the '50s, the name Richard was associated with several major musical figures, from Broadway composer Richard Rodgers to rock and roll legend Little Richard. While the name had already peaked — ranking in the top five during the '30s and '40s — it remains a versatile choice today. Variants like Richard, Ricky, and Ricardo still make appearances on top baby name lists in both the US and UK. Thomas Whether it's Thomas, Tom, or Tommy — like Lassie star Tommy Rettig — the name has proven to be a steadfast classic. The lowest it ever ranked in the US was 63rd, in 2011 and 2012, and it has been steadily rising since then. Could it make a return to the top 10? Karen Any name has the potential for a comeback, but Karen has a bit of an uphill climb. However, there are plenty of influential Karen role models from the '50s and beyond, like Babette's Feast writer Karen Blixen, as well as musicians Karen Carpenter and Karen O. With such strong associations, it might just be time for a well-deserved reclamation of the name. Mark Mark, like Cry Vengeance actor/director Mark Stevens, is a name that consistently shows up on the SSA list but rarely cracks the top five — and the '50s were no exception. Today, it remains a great choice for those seeking a short, four-letter boy's name that fits well with current naming trends. Nancy Dating back centuries, Nancy is a classic girl's name with traditional undertones. With it's Middle English roots, it acts as a fun spin on names like Agnes and Anne. Anne's Hebrew and Greek roots translate it to "grace" or "favoured" and can be perfectly suited to your bundle of joy. as in Nancy Berg. It's also the name of the actress and host of Count Sheep With Nancy Berg, which in 1955 aired every night at 1 am and lasted only 5 minutes. Charles While still a popular choice, the name Charles — like Gentlemen Prefer Blondes star Charles Coburn — has been on a downward trend since its peak in 1929, reaching its lowest point in 2009. However, with the coronation of King Charles III, this royal connection could give the name a significant boost and bring it back into the spotlight. Donna In the 1950s, the name Donna was everywhere. It topped the radio waves with Richie Valens's 1958 hit 'Donna' and graced the small screen with The Donna Reed Show. For anyone looking to reclaim the name and restore it to its former glory, the opportunity is wide open. Cynthia The name Cynthia, inspired by actress and Jack Lemmon's wife Cynthia Stone, is linked to the goddess Artemis and the moon. While celestial names are still popular today, you're much more likely to come across a Luna than a Cynthia in modern times.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ashley St. Clair reveals son's name as paternity test appears to confirm Musk is father
Ashley St. Clair has finally shared the name of the son she shares with Elon Musk. The author made new allegations about her relationship with Musk, months after claiming he was the father of her child, during a bombshell interview with The Wall Street Journal, published Tuesday. In the article, the name of St. Clair's child was revealed: Romulus St. Clair. The piece also noted that Musk did a paternity test, with a report from Labcorp revealing that the 'Probability of Paternity' was 99.9999 percent. However, Musk has still not publicly identified St. Clair's son as his child. The Independent has contacted representatives for Musk for comment. St. Clair, 26, went public in February with her claims that she and Musk share a child. Now, she has claimed to the Journal that the billionaire offered her a one-time payment of $15 million, plus $100,000 a month until her child turns 21, in exchange for her silence. 'I don't want my son to feel like he's a secret,' St. Clair reportedly told Musk's fixer Jared Birchall, who runs Musk's family office. After the publication of the Journal's report, St. Clair claimed the amount Musk paid in child support had dropped to $20,000. She also claimed that Musk, who is reportedly the father of 14, has used his wealth to silence some of the other women who have had his children. Musk has four children — Strider, Azure, Arcadia, and Seldon Lycurgus — with Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis, as well as three — X Æ A-Xii, Exa Dark Sideræl, and Tau Techno Mechanicus — with music artist Grimes. And he has six children with Justine Wilson, his ex-wife of eight years. St. Clair alleged that she gained an insight into Musk's 'paranoid' way of thinking when they dated in 2023 after meeting in the spring of that year. Their romance began on Musk's social media platform X after he began to interact with her posts, according to the Journal's report. She was invited by Musk to visit X's headquarters in San Francisco. From there, he took her on a separate trip to Rhode Island on his private plane, where the SpaceX CEO was visiting one of his sons at college, and then later on a getaway to St. Barts for the New Year. During their time together, Musk frequently talked to St. Clair about having children, she claimed. 'The first time they had sex, Musk joked that they should 'pick a name' for their future child,' the outlet reported On the trip to St. Barts, she told Musk that she was ovulating. 'What are we waiting for?' he reportedly replied, and their son was conceived, according to St. Clair. During St. Clair's pregnancy, she claimed Musk suggested they 'bring in other women to have even more of their children faster' in his mission to save civilization. 'To reach legion-level before the apocalypse,' Musk told St. Clair in a text message seen by the Journal. 'We will need to use surrogates,' he added. In February, just one week after publicly disclosing she gave birth to Musk's child, St. Clair asked a New York court to compel Musk to submit a paternity test so he may be declared the father of the child, who was then only referred to by the initials 'RSC.' She also filed a petition seeking sole custody of the child, whom she says Musk has only seen three times since he was born and has 'no involvement' in his care or upbringing. In March, St. Clair claimed that Musk attempted to attack her financially and silence her with a gag order. 'Elon Musk has financially retaliated against his child and reduced his financial support substantially and unilaterally,' her attorney Karen Rosenthal told People at the time. She later claimed to MailOnline that she was selling her $100,000 Tesla, a black Model S, to make up for Musk's cutting 60 percent of his child support. Musk later fired back, claiming he'd actually given her $2.5 million in child support payments.' I don't know if the child is mine or not, but am not against finding out. No court order is needed,' he wrote on X.
