Chao, the billionaire former CEO of dry bulk shipping giant Foremost Group, tragically died at the age of 50 on Feb. 10 after accidentally backing her car into the pond making a three-point turn.
Tragic way to die. I wouldn’t wish this even on my worst enemies.
We all watch the videos of how to deal with this exact situation but in reality only a few people would be able to react accordingly to save themselves.
The article describes the area of water as a “pond” but the vehicle was fully submerged. Rescuers had trouble with rescue attempts due to the depth. Seems more like a lake to me.
"there is no technical difference between lakes and ponds, according to the National Park Service. While the distinction between lakes and ponds can be a bit blurry, there are some general guidelines. For example, if sunlight can reach the bottom of the entire body of water, it’s generally considered a pond, according to the National Park Service. Conversely, if the body of water is deep enough in some places that sunlight cannot penetrate it, it’s generally considered a lake.
When it comes to size, though, there are no exact guidelines. Ponds are generally smaller than lakes, but there’s no universal standard. That means some things we call a pond might be considered a lake by some. And some lakes may be more pond-like to some people."
No one’s suggesting cruelty (Okay probably some are, but). But you see what had happen was the planet is dying and 1% of the people have 45% of the money. So. Uh. There’s a . . . it’s . . . it’s a math thing. Of course, they could give away a few billion to the Education department or the National Parks service or the EPA or Food Pantries around the - well, world really. A billion is a fantastic amount of money such that we really don’t appreciate it.
Like, if someone were to count to one billion, allowing for 3 seconds per number (they get big, like, say, 295 million,111 thousand,433 dollars) it would take one ninety five years to count to one billion. And Gates is theoretically worth one hundred and forty six times ninety five years of counting. (Fine, that’s 13,870 years)
And yet they’re not doing anything with most of it. It just sits in a computer allowing them to buy governments and raze forests. Yes, yes, sometimes they give out free vaccines to some children which is a good thing. Kudos where due.
So TL;DR we’re angry about it. The system created by the rich continues to make us fear going broke and destroy the planet. There’s lots of people who know how to fix it, but they’ll never be heard. And here we are, taking some schadenfreude from an exploded mini sub or whatever. Yes, it’s true. Which group should be more ashamed.
You are thinking too much about this. No one deserves to be cruelly killed, especially not because of how much money they have. Them having money does not affect you directly. Don’t take it so personally. Don’t put those negative thoughts in your head.
I think it’s pretty clear that a billion dollars is too much money for one person to manage correctly. That’s why reasonable people like Warren Buffett are donating all their money to charity. Above $1 billion, people start buying giant yachts and relatively ugly houses that people will forget about in 20 years. Essentially, that money is wasted.
Buffett routinely talks about money as representing little “claim checks” on the productivity of American business. He clearly believes that he doesn’t deserve the majority of his wealth because it’s mostly an accident of fate, even though he has literally “earned it” by being one of the world’s best investors. If he didn’t have opportunity growing up, he says he would be an insurance actuary.
The real problem is that many billionaires are squandering the productivity of America on frivolous garbage. Small business loans or first time homebuyer loans would be a much better use of that money. Don’t ask for them to die, that just passes the torch to their kids who may waste even more money. Ask for higher corporate taxes.
Tragic way to die. I wouldn’t wish this even on my worst enemies.
We all watch the videos of how to deal with this exact situation but in reality only a few people would be able to react accordingly to save themselves.
The article describes the area of water as a “pond” but the vehicle was fully submerged. Rescuers had trouble with rescue attempts due to the depth. Seems more like a lake to me.
"there is no technical difference between lakes and ponds, according to the National Park Service. While the distinction between lakes and ponds can be a bit blurry, there are some general guidelines. For example, if sunlight can reach the bottom of the entire body of water, it’s generally considered a pond, according to the National Park Service. Conversely, if the body of water is deep enough in some places that sunlight cannot penetrate it, it’s generally considered a lake.
When it comes to size, though, there are no exact guidelines. Ponds are generally smaller than lakes, but there’s no universal standard. That means some things we call a pond might be considered a lake by some. And some lakes may be more pond-like to some people."
https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/news-events/the-buzz/whats-the-difference-lake-vs-pond/
A few years back, a woman drove her car into a small retaining pond off a highway and 2 of the kids in the car drowned. Everyone was amazed that a car could be completely submerged in such a small pond. Those suckers are deep!
https://www.twincities.com/2013/11/28/st-louis-park-drowning-accident-spurs-questions-about-retention-ponds/
But the sun shined on them while they drowned, so…
Actually there is a definition, from my old environmental engineering textbook:
It should frankly happen by design. Humans can’t be expected to let the water in while submerged, that takes will and under stress it’s hard to think.
Say, have pressure sensors outside which would open some small windows, I don’t know.
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I appreciate this. I’m astounded by the callous lack of empathy of some of these other comments.
Being terminally online causes a huge distortion in one’s sense of empathy and justice
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What specific thing(s) do Gates and Buffett deserve being cruelly killed over?
No one’s suggesting cruelty (Okay probably some are, but). But you see what had happen was the planet is dying and 1% of the people have 45% of the money. So. Uh. There’s a . . . it’s . . . it’s a math thing. Of course, they could give away a few billion to the Education department or the National Parks service or the EPA or Food Pantries around the - well, world really. A billion is a fantastic amount of money such that we really don’t appreciate it.
Like, if someone were to count to one billion, allowing for 3 seconds per number (they get big, like, say, 295 million,111 thousand,433 dollars) it would take one ninety five years to count to one billion. And Gates is theoretically worth one hundred and forty six times ninety five years of counting. (Fine, that’s 13,870 years)
And yet they’re not doing anything with most of it. It just sits in a computer allowing them to buy governments and raze forests. Yes, yes, sometimes they give out free vaccines to some children which is a good thing. Kudos where due.
So TL;DR we’re angry about it. The system created by the rich continues to make us fear going broke and destroy the planet. There’s lots of people who know how to fix it, but they’ll never be heard. And here we are, taking some schadenfreude from an exploded mini sub or whatever. Yes, it’s true. Which group should be more ashamed.
You are thinking too much about this. No one deserves to be cruelly killed, especially not because of how much money they have. Them having money does not affect you directly. Don’t take it so personally. Don’t put those negative thoughts in your head.
I think it’s pretty clear that a billion dollars is too much money for one person to manage correctly. That’s why reasonable people like Warren Buffett are donating all their money to charity. Above $1 billion, people start buying giant yachts and relatively ugly houses that people will forget about in 20 years. Essentially, that money is wasted.
Buffett routinely talks about money as representing little “claim checks” on the productivity of American business. He clearly believes that he doesn’t deserve the majority of his wealth because it’s mostly an accident of fate, even though he has literally “earned it” by being one of the world’s best investors. If he didn’t have opportunity growing up, he says he would be an insurance actuary.
The real problem is that many billionaires are squandering the productivity of America on frivolous garbage. Small business loans or first time homebuyer loans would be a much better use of that money. Don’t ask for them to die, that just passes the torch to their kids who may waste even more money. Ask for higher corporate taxes.