• Ponder Road
  • Posts
  • Oil Money vs. Oil Legacy: The Rockefeller Family Declares War on Exxon

Oil Money vs. Oil Legacy: The Rockefeller Family Declares War on Exxon

Author

Ponder Road
May 26, 2024

Remember the Rockefellers? The oil dynasty that built its fortune on fossil fuels? Well, they're at war with ExxonMobil, and things are getting spicy. 🌶️

Here's the tea:

  • Fifth-generation heir Miranda Kaiser is leading the charge, continuing her late brother's campaign against Exxon for alleged climate change deception.

  • The Rockefeller Family Fund is bankrolling over 30 lawsuits against Exxon and other oil giants, aiming for billions in damages.

  • Exxon is fuming, calling the lawsuits "meritless" and accusing the Rockefellers of using their wealth for personal vendettas.

  • The Rockefellers, however, see it as their moral duty to fight climate change after profiting from fossil fuels for so long.

Why this matters: This isn't just a family feud; it's a clash of titans with major implications for the future of climate litigation and the energy industry as a whole.

Don't miss:

  • The juicy details of how the Rockefeller charities funded investigations that exposed Exxon's internal climate research.

  • The alleged hacking scandal that targeted Rockefeller staffers and environmental groups.

  • Miranda Kaiser's unwavering belief that Exxon can still become a "hero" in the fight against climate change.

Source: WSJ

Forget Amazon deliveries – India takes getting stuff to your doorstep to a whole new level. We're talking about elections, a billion voters, and polling stations within 1.2 miles of every single person. 🤯 

This breakdown explains how India pulls off the world's BIGGEST election:

➡️ It's an all-hands-on-deck situation: Teachers, village officials, even Pizza Hut alumni (true story!) transform into election heroes, trekking to the farthest corners of the country.

➡️ Think scorpions, snakes, and zero toilets are bad? Try doing it with a voting machine in hand: One team's journey to a remote island involved a bumpy desert road, a hovercraft ride, and a whole lot of courage (especially when it came to sleeping arrangements). ⛺️ 

➡️ But here's the kicker: Despite the hurdles, people showed up. One voter even boated in to cast his ballot, proving that democracy waits for no man (or lack of plumbing).

Bottom line: India's dedication to democratic values is truly something to behold. It's a powerful reminder that every vote counts, no matter how remote you are. 🇺🇸 🇮🇳 

Source: WSJ

Chatbots promise a seamless customer experience, but usually deliver a one-way ticket to Frustrationville. 😠 

This article breaks down why we loathe chatbots (spoiler: they're bad at their jobs) and how companies are trying to fix them.

Here's the gist:

  • Chatbots are over-promised and under-deliver: They claim to handle complex tasks but struggle with basic questions. Like, seriously, just point me to the FAQs!

  • They don't speak our language: Think your "lit" slang will fly? Think again. Chatbots are still catching up to our casual lingo and emojis.

  • They pass the buck (and the problem): Instead of answering questions, they redirect you to a black hole of webpages. 😢 

  • They're either too robotic or too human: Finding the sweet spot between helpful and creepy seems impossible.

  • And the worst offense? Getting stuck in chatbot purgatory when all you want is a real human.

But hey, it's not all doom and gloom. Companies are starting to address these pain points by:

  • Teaching chatbots to understand natural language: No more robotic responses! 🤖 

  • Improving handoffs to human agents: Because sometimes, you just need a real person.

  • Providing more accurate information: No more misinformation mishaps.

Bottom line: Chatbots have a long way to go before they win us over, but at least companies are finally listening to our complaints. Maybe one day, we'll actually enjoy using them. 😅 

Source: WSJ

Feeling like the world's gone to hell in a handbasket? You're not alone. Turns out, our brains are hardwired to focus on the negative, even when things are objectively getting better. This newsletter dives deep into the science of bad vibes.

Key Takeaways:

  • Problem-Solving Bias: We're wired to fix things, so we talk more about problems than positives. This skews our perception of reality, making us think things are worse than they are. Think about it: you're more likely to vent about a frustrating commute than gush about a perfect cup of coffee.

  • Information Overload = More Negativity: The more information we consume (thanks, internet!), the more likely we are to encounter negative news. This feeds into our problem-solving bias, further amplifying our pessimism.

  • Social Media Makes it Worse (Surprise!): This one's for Part 2, but spoiler alert: our social feeds act like echo chambers, reinforcing our negative biases and making us feel even worse.

Bottom Line:

Just because the vibes are bad doesn't mean reality matches up. It's easy to get caught in a spiral of negativity, but remember, there's always good happening too – even if it's not trending on Twitter. Stay tuned for Part 2 where we explore how social media turns us all into Debbie Downers.

Source: Kevin Dorst

Talk about a plot twist! Remember Eightball, the AI study tool that snagged a cool $10,000 at Emory University's startup competition? Well, Emory just slapped Benjamin Craver, its co-creator, with a suspension for... you guessed it... Eightball.

Here's the TL;DR:

  • Craver and a friend built Eightball to help students study by turning their class notes into flashcards and practice questions.

  • Emory loved it at first, awarding them the top prize in their competition.

  • Months later, the university did a complete 180, claiming Eightball could be used for cheating and violated their honor code.

  • Craver, now facing a suspension on his permanent record, is suing Emory to clear his name and get back to school.

Why you should care: This story is a wild ride through the ups and downs of student entrepreneurship and highlights the growing pains universities face when it comes to AI. Is this a case of an innovative tool being unfairly punished, or is Emory right to crack down on potential academic misconduct? You decide.

Key highlights:

  • From celebrated to suspended: Craver went from winning a prestigious competition to fighting for his academic future in a matter of months.

  • AI's gray area: The case highlights the lack of clear guidelines on AI use in education, leaving students and universities navigating uncharted territory.

  • David vs. Goliath: This lawsuit pits a student against his own university, raising questions about academic freedom, innovation, and the role of AI in the future of learning.

Want to know what happens next? Stay tuned... This case could have major implications for how universities approach AI and student innovation moving forward.

Source: WSJ