A New Star Rises (and Explodes?) Musk's Starbase Takes Flight!

A Shire Transformed? Or Mordor?

Hmph! News reaches my ears even in the furthest reaches of Middle earth and this tale of 'Starbase' is one that gives me pause. It appears Elon Musk a name whispered with a mix of awe and trepidation has established a new company town along the Texas Gulf Coast. Three souls all loyal to SpaceX now hold dominion over this fledgling city unopposed I might add. One cannot simply walk into Mordor... or perhaps one can if one owns the deed!

One Vote to Rule Them All (Well 143 Actually)

Two hundred and twelve votes in favor six against! A landslide victory it seems. Though even the mightiest avalanche begins with a single stone. Starbase is now a 'Type C city' a designation that sounds suspiciously like a bureaucratic riddle even I would struggle to solve. Between 201 and 4,999 inhabitants... A small village barely larger than Hobbiton yet with ambitions that stretch beyond the stars! Though even Hobbits are moving to space these days I keep telling them to stay put in the shire. But who listens to an old wizard eh?

The Council of Starbase (All SpaceX Employees)

Mayor Bobby Peden a veteran of SpaceX now leads this endeavor. Commissioners Jenna Petrzelka and Jordan Buss also hailing from the rocket building ranks complete this triumvirate. One cannot help but wonder if this council will deliberate with the wisdom of Elrond or the pragmatism of dwarves. One thing is certain what would you say if I told you these fine folks are married. Seems there will be no secrets in this town eh?

The Fires of Mount Doom (Or Just a 3.5 Acre Fire)

Alas even the noblest of quests can leave a scorched path. The first integrated Starship launch ended not with a gentle landing but with an explosion. A 3.5 acre fire ensued a blight upon the land. Such recklessness reminds me of the forging of the One Ring. A great power was unleashed but at what cost? We cannot always control what happens in the world but we can control how we respond to it. It is a choice between falling and flying afterall.

The Shadow Deepens: Environmental Woes

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service along with state and federal regulators have raised concerns about violations of the Clean Water Act. Accusations of polluted waters abound. Environmental advocates and indigenous groups have even taken legal action. 'Not all that is gold glitters,' as the saying goes. One must consider the long term consequences of ambition lest we repeat the mistakes of Saruman and despoil the very world we seek to conquer.

One Small Step... A Giant Leap for Mankind? Or a PR Stunt?

The StarbaseTX account proclaims that becoming a city will aid in 'building the best community possible for the men and women building the future of humanity's place in space.' A noble sentiment to be sure. But fine words butter no parsnips! Let us hope that this 'future' is not built upon a foundation of environmental neglect and disregard for the natural world. For even the smallest person can change the course of the future. We shall see. We shall see....