Joe Rogan is totally pumped about Elon Musk’s $44 billion Twitter buyout–and he’s not afraid to congratulate the world’s richest man on his latest acquisition.
Rogan praised the Tesla and SpaceX CEO as a “superhero”-style free speech advocate after hearing about Musk’s Twitter takeover during an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience with guest Jessica Kirson.
“Oh shit, oh shit, Elon Musk just bought Twitter,” Rogan exclaimed. “We got a movie star cut type of a superhero. Like a movie and there was a guy who was like a hero in the movie who happens to be a billionaire who does wild shit.”
He added, “Like makes his own rockets and drills under the city with electric cars and then buys Twitter.”
Rogan, who has hosted Musk on his podcast three times, clearly approves of Musk’s purchase of the social media company.
“Here’s why that’s going to be interesting,” Rogan continued. “[Musk] believes that free speech is important—not just important, vital—for a functioning democracy. And I agree with that.”
Rogan also commented on Twitter’s alleged practices of banning and “shadowbanning”, or hiding certain users’ content from others, instead of outright banning users.
“They make it so your content has less impact, it has less engagement. They limit your ability to express yourself. They ban accounts if the account says something they don’t agree with. This ability to shadowban people has to be exposed.”
Before the buyout, Musk became Twitter’s largest single shareholder with a 9.1 percent stake, but then rejected a seat on Twitter’s board of directors before coming back with an offer to purchase the entire company.
Twitter’s board of directors then agreed to sell the platform to Musk for $54.20 per share. The offer represents a 38 percent premium over Twitter’s April 1 market close at $39.31, which was the last trading day before Musk’s 9.1 percent shareholding was made public.
“Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy, and Twitter is the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated,” Musk said in a statement announcing the deal. Musk said he wanted “to make Twitter better than ever.”
In a recent tweet, Musk also clarified what “free speech” means to him.
“By ‘free speech,’ I simply mean that which matches the law. I am against censorship that goes far beyond the law. If people want less free speech, they will ask government to pass laws to that effect. Therefore, going beyond the law is contrary to the will of the people.”
Elon Musk closed a deal Monday to buy Twitter for roughly $44 billion–a clear-cut victory by the world’s richest man to buy the hugely-influential social media network used by world leaders, celebrities and social influencers around the globe.
Twitter agreed to sell itself to Mr. Musk for $54.20 a share, a 38 percent premium over the company’s share price this month before he revealed he was the firm’s single largest shareholder.
It would be the biggest-ever deal to take a company private in more than two decades, according to data compiled by Dealogic, reports the New York Times.
“Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy, and Twitter is the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated,”Musk said in a statement announcing the deal. Musk said he wanted “to make Twitter better than ever.”
The blockbuster agreement caps what had seemed an improbable attempt by the famously mercurial Mr. Musk, 50, to buy the social media company — and immediately raises questions about what he will do with the platform and how his actions will affect online speech globally.
The billionaire, who has more than 83 million followers on Twitter and has romped across the service hurling gibes and memes, has repeatedly said he wants to “transform” the platform by promoting more free speech and giving users more control over what they see on it. By taking the company private, Mr. Musk could work on the service out of sight of the prying eyes of investors, regulators and others.
Musk also tweeted on Monday from his official account: “I hope that even my worst critics remain on Twitter, because that is what free speech means.”
The Times pointed out that Twitter is far from the biggest social media platform — it has more than 217 million daily users, compared with billions of daily users for Facebook and Instagram — but it “has had an outsized role in shaping narratives around the world. Political leaders have used it as a megaphone, while companies, celebrities and others have employed it for image-making and brand building.”
In a statement, Twitter’s chairman Bret Taylor said the Twitter board had “conducted a thoughtful and comprehensive process to assess Elon’s proposal with a deliberate focus on value, certainty, and financing. The proposed transaction will deliver a substantial cash premium, and we believe it is the best path forward for Twitter’s stockholders.”
Weed has come a long way in recent years. Consider this: just a decade ago, there were few places you could buy clean, safe cannabis and accessories from someone who showered that same morning. Edibles? Forget about it. Bongs and pipes? Hope you like tie dye patterns and glow-in-the-dark nonsense. The point is that weed and its adjacent lifestyle have come a long way, and cannabis consumers are definitely reaping the benefits.
Whether you’re a secret stoner who’s started to furnish your home accordingly, an always-on host wanting to up your stoner place settings, or a high-performing professional enjoying the fruits (and buds) of your labor, there’s a lot of great stuff out there today.
Here are some can’t-miss, cannabis-related gifts perfect for any 4/20 celebration.
Cannabis accessories brand Vessel recently dropped a luxe new ashtray with multiple compartments for all your smoking needs. The Vessel Ash’s stackable design features a three-compartment walnut storage tray that slides under a handsome concrete ash tray, and a matching walnut lid to cover when not in use. The hidden “stash-tray” is perfect for storing lighters, pre-rolls, and Vessel’s snazzy Helix one-hitter. $120
Nugg Club offers an incredible value on curated cannabis selections across the flower, concentrate and edible segments of the cannabis world. A variety of awesome products appear in these subscription boxes, making the estimated value of over $200 per box seem legit enough. For $99, it’s a gift you can give yourself or a loved one that will keep the smoking experience fresh and ongoing (and tasty). $99 Per Box
The Blazy Susan is the stoner host’s best asset, whether you’re hosting for one, two or ten people. A modular and customizable lazy susan for smoking, this innovative concept offers everyone in the circle convenient, no-spill access to ash trays, grinders, tools for clearing bowls, and everything else you might need to keep the puffs passing. It comes in several colors and each of the silicon inserts are removable, so if you want to down-convert the setup into a nice centerpiece when the parents visit, you’ll have no trouble. $69.99
The magic of simplicity gives Session Pipes their value: silicon and sturdy glass make for easy cleanup and even easier replacement of any broken parts that may happen. Accidents do happen, too, when smoking out of a pipe, but there’s another benefit to the clean lines and minimalist design of this pipe: Without all the artful curves and design features of its competitors, Session tends to snag fingers, sleeves and whatever else is moving around it less frequently, cutting down on the breakage frequency even further. Easy to clean, easy to repair, and easy to smoke—what else could you ask for? $40
Bento Bong is another excellent attempt to rethink the concept of bong design. Built with a Nalgene-like BPA- and BPS-free plastic, the company calls this pipe nearly unbreakable. More interesting than its sturdiness, though, is the pipe’s customizable DIY structure—you can add length, volume, and tweak the design of the Bento Bong to complement your own smoking preferences and tailor it to your ideal session. Once that’s all done, you can throw everything in the dishwasher, too. $45
The Mighty+ is a dream—an upgraded dream. This handheld vaporizer is the little brother of the uncontested king of vaporizers, the volcano. And while it might not pop off like it’s erupting, it can certainly deliver some earth-shaking hits. Luckily, the beautifully designed temperature control lets you key into your perfect heating zone for the right desired effects. The Mighty+ has added features since it was called the Mighty, including ceramic insulation to the chamber and a more convenient USB-C charging interface. It comes in every color you could imagine, as long as that color is black. $320
Perfect’s infused flower is a between step for the wax folks and the flower folks, with the best of both worlds. It’s a brown sugar-like consistency of weed and wax mixed together to form an easily compressed shot of smoke, and the included one-hitter makes ejecting spent flower easy whether you’re clearing after a solo hit, or passing to the next person. This mixture (which is best consumed with the convenient one-hitting pipe included) delivers Mike Tyson-like punches tailored to specific needs. The lucid sativas standout in particular, and the Sex Pot blend is, well… consume some with a partner and enjoy. $50
Cannabis cocktails are unpredictable, but a recent surge of seltzer-like beverages containing CBD and THC are impressive, and none so much as Wunder. With charmingly approachable flavors in the citrusy, berry realm, these quick-drink cans give you a substantial yet restrained body high and a bit of euphoria, without any hangovers from alcohol. Choose between two strengths: Sessions for a milder experience and Higher Vibes for when you’re ready to melt into a more comfortable mindset. $20 – Pack of Four
Discretion is the mother of weed inventions, and while hideaway cans designed to look like cleaning supplies fly totally under the radar, there are also more stylish options that look great in a carry-on or weekender bag. Enter Littlejohn stash bags, with their smell-proof lining and fine craftsmanship. The STOW Pouch looks as though it might be keeping some extra cables or possibly an e-reader, but in fact can comfortably carry about an ounce of flower or God knows how many cartridges. It bulks a bit if you try to squeeze in a grinder or pipe, though, so consider pre-rolling ahead of time or just using it for quick trips. $65
An essential in any social smoker’s life, the Green Jay Doob Tube has been an everyday carry element for years. The the child- and water-resistance (you have to push down while turning, like a medicine bottle) is a plus, and it’s odorless when carrying even the freshest of herb to your next appointment. It keeps your joints safe from crushing or drying out, and it looks charming while doing so. $17
Kin Slips are the ultimate discrete cannabis consumption method. These sublingual strips operate no differently than Listerine breath strips, but instead of a minty burst of freshness, you’re getting THC delivered straight into your blood stream. Choose from a variety of mood-tailored strains, but consider trying the the up-and-focused sativas, because in most cases you’re trying to be discrete in a place where you’ll also need to do some work or answer some emails. There’s nothing wrong with setting down the phone and enjoying the mellow high while people watching. $25-$29
Kahna makes some delicious gummies, and while their CBD bites are charmingly relaxing, its their higher test stuff from the Nano line that really kicks hard. These flavorful, bouncy chews deliver a great burst of flavor and effect in tandem, and best of all, most of them are formatted to a 5 mg hit, meaning you can taper on and off throughout the day or evening, which isn’t always doable with those higher doses. Try taking one at 5 p.m., another about a half hour before dinner, and one right as you’re readying for bed for a great weeknight experience. Adjust accordingly for the weekend. $20
Platinum has done some lovely things in the live resin and vape arenas, but they also deserve credit for their gummy coins. These delicious candies have great color, flavor, texture, and are an all around pleasant edible experience with no ashy taste and very little weed taste at all. That doesn’t keep them from hitting hard, though, so don’t overdo it with any of their flavors. Grab these before a concert, or just as a way to hit the hay in a relaxed daze. $20
Curtiss Motorcycles certainly wants to make a statement with the debut of the all-electric Curtis 1, billed as the first new bike from the brand “in 115 years” and featuring hypercar-quality construction.
The company, formerly known as Confederate Motorcycles until 2020, was really founded in its current form in 1991. But that century-spanning claim is rooted in ties to Glenn H. Curtiss—the engineer and aviator for which the Alabama-based moto manufacturer was named under the rebrand.
The Curtiss 1, also referred to as “The One,” does indeed draw heavily on the V8-powered bike of Glenn Curtiss’ design that he used to set the land-speed record at 136.36 mph back in 1907.
The steampunk-style aesthetic is created with a combo of pre-WWI starkness with exposed electrical components, particularly the Curtiss Hex Pack—a first of its kind vessel that absorbs and radiates heat from the 80 kWh battery’s individual cells. The black-on-black paint coat with white or black pinstriping harks to Curtiss’ record-breaking bike.
An aircraft-inspired TLP monocoque was constructed within the Golden Ratio devised by the Greeks to quantify beauty. Symmetrical proportions allow for significant ergonomic improvements—a reduction in girth compared to other motorcycles allows for dirt bike-like ground clearance, a lower center of gravity, a razor-thin width, and a 425-pound weight.
A proprietary axial motor is centered along the horizontal and vertical axis of the chassis, with a hefty hardened-steel drive shaft attached—Curtiss Motorcycles claims the system provides “the most balanced operation ever created on two wheels.”
Peak output for now is listed at 110 horsepower and 147.5 pound-feet of the torque, but the brand expects a superbike-slaying 217 horses to be achievable via future cloud-based software updates.
Range is listed at 120 miles in the city and 70 miles on the highway, with a recharge to 80 percent clocking in at two hours on 220V Level 2 Charger.
The opening of perorders for the Curtiss 1 coincides with its debut at the Petersen Automotive Museum’s “Electric Revolutionaries” exhibit.
Described as an “exclusive look at the ground-breaking creations of the visionaries at the forefront of the ever-expanding electric motorcycle industry,” the Curtiss 1 joins a 240.7-mph “KillaJoule” sidecar streamer, an ultra-minimalist “Rontu” weighing just 100 pounds, and the futuristic XP Zero cafe racer based on the heralded Zero SR/F electric motorcycle.
Priced at $83,333, the Curtiss 1 is available to reserve now with a $5,000 down payment.
We are still a few days away from the NBA playoffs officially beginning, because the play-in games we’re watching this week are not “officially” postseason games. The “playoffs” officially begin Saturday, and the play-ins are part of a quasi-postseason that does not yet have a name other than “play-in tournament.”
If David Stern was still around, we would not have this problem. He would have put his top personnel on the case, had his team come up not only with a catchy name, and found a responsible, high-paying corporate sponsor for “play-in week.”
Instead, we have Adam Silver steering the ship these days, making conflict aversion and superficial coverage two of the NBA’s main operating strategies.
It will be nearly two months before we have an NBA Finals again, and in the meantime we are down from 20 teams to 18. Another two have to go home for the summer after Friday night’s final play-in games are contested between Cleveland vs. Atlanta and New Orleans vs. the Los Angeles Clippers.
Should the Clippers win that second game, it will mean there will be four former Finals MVPs who have a possibility of winning that award again: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala and the injured but practicing Kawhi Leonard.
Most of the mainstream media are injecting their opinions into the legalized U.S. sports gambling market with a concentration on handicapping each series, but that’s not how MaximBet rolls. Our crystal ball looks further ahead and focuses on odds and prices that will put you in a new yacht rather than a new pair of sneakers, so let’s focus on the biggest prize.
For now, we have Devin Booker (5-1) and Antetokounmpo (6-1) listed as the favorites for Finals MVP, followed by Chris Paul (8-1), Durant (9-1), Jayson Tatum (12-1), Steph Curry and Joel Embiid (14-1). Every player with longer odds is two things: Very good, and holding very appealing odds.
So in order to handicap this thing before the actual playoffs start, we all need to cancel out our inner Dave Roberts and not overthink this. (Despite what Clayton Kershaw said in defense of his fun-hating, perfect-game/no-hitter-ruining Dodgers manager.)
First, look at the brackets. The Nets and Celtics are going to play each other, so that means Durant or Tatum (or Kyrie Irving, who looks like a very good 20-1 pick) will be sleeping with the fishes after Round 1. The Nets went just 1-3 against the Celtics during the regular season, but some of those games happened when James Harden was on the team, and some happened when Irving was ineligible to play in Brooklyn.
So if you like one of those teams, the time to make the play is now. Tatum scored a season-high 54 back on March 3 when the teams met in Boston. Durant and Irving both played then, so that may be your baseline game.
The winner of the Celtics-Nets 2-7 series will play the winner of the 3-6 series between the Chicago Bulls and the Milwaukee Bucks, in which Giannis Antetokounmpo’s team is a prohibitive (-1100) favorite because they swept the season series 4-0, and because Chicago went 0-19 against the top three teams in both conferences. If that stat holds in the postseason, Antetokounmpo and Middleton (28-1) are going to enter the second round well-rested.
Jaylen Brown (20-1) is one of four MVP pics from New York-based Sharp gambler Andy Roth. He also likes Booker, Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton.
“I’m projecting a Bucks-Suns finals, which means I want to have a star from each team, but I am taking Middleton, too, because of the great value. My second favorite in the East is Boston, and I have Brown instead of Tatum because he brings a much bigger return,” Roth said.
The other side of the East bracket will have the top-seeded Miami Heat facing wither the Atlanta Hawks or the Cleveland Cavaliers. If you doubt Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, we remind you to think back to the not-so-glory days of the bubble and recall that Miami went to the championship round before falling in six games against the Lakers.
Jimmy Butler (18-1) and Bam Adebayo (40-1) have intriguing odds if you believe Miami is title-worthy against teams that do not include a player named LeBron James. Also in their bracket are the 4 and 5 teams, Philadelphia and Toronto.
The Toronto Raptors under coach Nick Nurse have already proven that the highly unlikely can happen in previous seasons, but making it to the finals without Kawhi Leonard will be a challenge. Much is being made of the fact that Sixers guard Matisse Thybulle will be ineligible to play in Canada, but the same does not apply to James Harden (40-1) and Joel Embiid (14-1), both of whom now find themselves with something to prove in the postseason.
Since Embiid proved himself MVP-worthy in the regular season, you’ve gotta believe (sorry, Mets fans) that the big fella from Cameroon is going to go for the doable in the postseason, especially now that he no longer needs to carry Ben Simmons.
For those who believe the Sixers have done all that they can, especially since Harden is bound to be a ball hog in the postseason the same way he was in Houston, your best bet may be Pascal Siakam (125-1) after he had two triple-doubles in the final six games of the regular season, or Fred Van Vleet (125-1). Toronto had a pretty nifty 14-4 finishing kick.
And then we have the West, which LeBron will presumably watching from a sofa at a home owned by someone other than Frank Vogel.
The top-seeded Phoenix Suns rolled through the regular season with a 64-18 record and are worthy favorites, which explains the relatively short odds on Booker and Paul and the more enticing 40-1 odds on DeAndre Ayton.
The Suns will open against the Clippers. Leonard won’t play in that game, and it’s still uncertain whether he’ll return if the Clippers make the playoffs:
For those who are wondering, the only players to win three or more NBA Finals MVP awards since its 1968-1969 season inception are James, Tim Duncan, Shaquille O’Neal, Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson. Kawhi is currently listed at 100-1 by MaximBet, the only legalized U.S. sportsbook to list him with a finals MVP line.
“I don’t really see Kawhi playing, and I don’t see the Clippers getting past the Suns even though they like that matchup based upon their past success against that team,” sad Broderick Turner, an NBA writer for the Los Angeles Times. “I just see the Suns as being on a mission, similar to what we saw from the ’09 Lakers after they lost in six games to the Celtics the previous year.”
Teammate Paul George, who had 34 points in the Clips’ loss to the Timberwolves in the 7-8 game, is listed at 50-1 despite the fact that we still do not know if Los Angeles will even make the official postseason. But keep in mind that the Clips went 1-3 against New Orleans but won the season finale after George returned from a torn elbow ligament.
The winner of the Suns vs. Clippers/Pelicans matchup will get the winner of the Dallas-Utah series, which features two superstars: Luka Doncic (25-1) and Donovan Mitchell (50-1) whose postseason resumes do not yet include NBA accomplishments. Doncic, however, was MVP of the Euroleague Final Four in 2018 before he arrived in the NBA. If Dallas wins Game 1, you will not see that same line.
The other side of the bracket features the No. 2 Memphis Grizzlies against the No. 7 Minnesota Timberwolves, and you can be the one and only person who believes Karl Anthony-Towns is going to bounce all the way back from his Tuesday night meltdown against the Clippers and become the Finals MVP for a franchise whose list of postseason series victories since 2004-2005 is awaiting its first entry. Towns is 150-1. For Memphis, Ja Morant is 16-1, and teammates Dillon Brooks (110-1) and Jaren Jackson Jr. (290-1) are unlikely, but still flyer-worthy wager candidates.
The winner of the Grizzlies-Wolves matchup will move on to face the winner of the 3-6 matchup between Golden State and Denver, which is the marquee first-round series in the West because of the recent history of the Warriors and the opportunity for the Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic to do the same thing that Embiid is trying to do in the East.
Curry, coming back from a left foot sprain, was expected to scrimmage Thursday to determine whether he would be allowed to play in Saturday’s Game 1. He is on the board at 14-1 as the lowest-priced member of the Dubs, followed by Draymond Green (50-1) and Klay Thompson (25-1), both of whom have three title rings.
That has to count for something. Iguodala, whose defense on LeBron James earned him the finals MVP award in 2015, is off the board after playing only six games in March and April combined. Jokic is 28-1 as the only member of the Nuggets with a price.
A couple things to remember:
Non-superstars win this award infrequently. Iguodala in 2015, Tony Parker in 2007, Chauncey Billups in 2004 and Joe Dumars in 1989 are the only “supporting cast” members to win it in the last 40 years. So consider that before you take a flyer on a lesser light.
Shaq in 2000, 2001 and 2002 was the last true center to win the award, and Kobe Bryant in 2009 and 2010 was the last guard to win the award, so history tells us that is most likely to be a forward.
Good luck, and take one piece of advice: Spreading your bets around in April leaves you more likely to have a happy June. So if you like 10 guys as good NBA Finals futures gambles, make all 10 wagers.
Ready for some NBA Playoffs action? Take advantage of MaximBet’s massive welcome offer that puts a 100% bonus up to $1,000 back into your betting account after your first deposit. Sign up here today to maximize your sports betting experience with MaximBet.
