Bathtub Adventures - R30 Issue #9

Recent events led me to revisit WWII history and the 1930s. Operation Bagration, D-Day, the Battle of Stalingrad - all kicked off by a man who liked doing the Elon Salute. As it is now called. Read more in this week’s edition of the R30 newsletter.

After my extended stay in the 1940s, I travelled back in time to the 1930s and took a look at Stalin’s 5 Year Plan. Progress at any cost, no matter the amount of casualties among the famine-stricken peasant class. Pretty brutal. I’ve heard about the Holodomor before, but never read enough to establish the connection to a larger economic policy. Meanwhile, in Germany, the people went to the polls and voted for the Elon guy. Some of them, at least. The NSDAP became the largest party in the Reichstag, but failed to secure the majority. Alas the wheels were set in motion.

But let’s not revel in the past too much. Let’s look at modern day street art and its take on the re-emergence of old spectres. And in automotive news, the new Tesla gauge cluster goes back to analogue. I, for one, think it’s really cool to have a modern-day Wernher von Braun working alongside us to make Earth great again. Oh, you don’t like it? Good news, a declassified CIA Field Guide on how to sabotage Fascism is currently making the rounds on social media. But who knows, maybe you’re really impressed by Trump and co, just like Bill Gates is.

Want to escape reality and indulge in sexual fantasies instead? Check out manofactivity’s detailed explanation of his gooning rig. But seriously, be warned, this is some depraved shit. AI-enhanced virtual reality bathtub masturbatorium. If you want a little AI, but no sexy times and VR, get some Skyrim mods instead.

What’s up in Design News? A new expo in Bruxelles looks at what housing before architecture and history could have looked like. It’s more like a poetic journey that questions our notion of architecture and mankind’s bond with nature. Or something. Don’t mean to be snarky, it’s an interesting concept. But as interesting as the DSKY Moonwatch? Hmm, maybe. That pseudo-fake spacewear does look cool though. Speaking of a future that never was, and of futures that might well be, Adam Something took a look at Tech Bro Earthscrapers. Dystopian stuff.

Thankfully, the K-Pop industry is not so dystopian. 24-hour workdays, 6 years without getting paid? Bring it on.

And that’s it for this week. Leftover stuff: Lego C8 Chevy Corvette Stingray, a usb/bluetooth DAC that looks like a cassette tape, XB-1’s First Supersonic Flight.

References:
https://www.zeit.de/kultur/2025-01/elon-musk-hitler-salute-inauguration-donald-trump-english
https://x.com/RightWingWatch/status/1884682862282027026?mx=2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20ZpI_JK06c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=759f-CHW-S8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F679phS3xT0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brpQLoTg0BQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESCdFjhgTmk
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holodomor?useskin=vector
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_five-year_plan_(Soviet_Union)?useskin=vector
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/July_1932_German_federal_election?useskin=vector
https://streetartutopia.com/2025/01/27/from-meme-to-controversy-the-elon-musk-doge-mural-in-australia/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqGDKsJOxPc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEJ9HrZq7Ro
https://www.404media.co/declassified-cia-guide-to-sabotaging-fascism-is-suddenly-viral/
https://youtu.be/4LL-ynK_exM?si=HkxLmlnjIxIpr2hP&t=177
https://old.reddit.com/r/StableDiffusion/comments/1i9f0i5/wow/m929vat/
https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/126330
https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/98631
https://www.domusweb.it/en/architecture/gallery/2025/01/24/pre-architecture-exhibition-civa-bruxelles.html
https://www.domusweb.it/en/news/gallery/2025/01/20/wristwatch-dsky-moonwatch-inspired-apollo-program.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZ5wOGseB4M
https://www.koreaboo.com/stories/red-velvets-irene-discloses-shocking-working-hours/
https://www.koreaboo.com/stories/6-years-5-comebacks-2-million-downloads-0-won-earned-reality-kpop-girl-groups/
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a63512819/c8-chevy-corvette-stingray-lego-set-details/
https://darko.audio/2025/01/a-usb-bluetooth-dac-that-looks-like-a-cassette-tape/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qisIViAHwI

Picture of soldiers during the Normandy Landing by No 5 Army Film & Photographic Unit, Waterhouse (Sgt)

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