News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Poaching Tesla by hueving on Saturday September 08, 2018 @08:56PM (#17943694)
>But the whiskey was ok with you? Should CEO's have to hide their recreational drug (of which alcohol is a subset) use?

Yes, given the fact that weed isn't federally legal and the fact that it could compromise SpaceX contracts with the air force it shows a shocking lack of judgment. It looks like he's coming unglued.

Until weed is actually legal federally, it's absolutely insane for the face of such a large company to take that risk.

Not a moral judgment, just a legal reality.

Re:Poaching Tesla by randlet on Saturday September 08, 2018 @09:25PM (#17943778)
> it could compromise SpaceX contracts with the air force

If that's true, then you have a good point that I hadn't considered. I can't fathom that could ever become a reality, but my "that will never happen" sense has been way off lately.

Re:Poaching Tesla by alexforster on Saturday September 08, 2018 @09:33PM (#17943807)
The USAF definitely noticed. He technically shouldn't be able to maintain his security clearance after this. It's probably going to amount to nothing, but it's still bad- https://www.theverge.com/2018/9/7/17833208/elon-musk-air-for...
Re:Poaching Tesla by xedeon on Sunday September 09, 2018 @12:30AM (#17944364)
A USAF public affairs officer (Capt Hope Cronin) put out a statement denying those false allegations.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tesla-musk-air-force/repo...

The articles floating around are all speculation designed to pull in click/views, which you can immediately tell since none of them cited a source and even worse, mentioned having a source.

The Verge has recently turned mostly into a clickbaity outlet. I stopped visiting the site after I watched the Tesla Q2 2018 conference and them immediately releasing a video with a sensational headline claiming many things like "Elon almost lost his job", “Tesla is in trouble” which contradict the facts and were not representative of the event at all.

Re:Poaching Tesla by whb07 on Saturday September 08, 2018 @10:06PM (#17943913)
This is fake news. Time to update your sources. If this was an issue for a clearance, then you might as well insta-ban the majority of holders.
Re:Poaching Tesla by kevin_thibedeau on Saturday September 08, 2018 @11:35PM (#17944212)
It is an issue for clearance. You can get by with admitting to past youthful indiscretions during the background investigation but you absolutely can't actively violate federal law and keep a security clearance.
Re:Poaching Tesla by jrockway on Sunday September 09, 2018 @03:16AM (#17944767)
At best, it's uncharted territory. Someone will have to lose their security clearance for using marijuana, then they will sue the government, then the court will decide whether or not state laws can override federal laws here.

The fact that the federal government has not pressed the issue is telling as to which way they think courts will rule.

Re:Poaching Tesla by MBCook on Saturday September 08, 2018 @11:03PM (#17944112)
There can be a big difference between doing something you’re not supposed to and FLONTING that you’re doing it.

Add to that his level of importance (vs some military office worker with a clearance) and I’d say he’s at a much higher risk.

Re:Poaching Tesla by dragonwriter on Sunday September 09, 2018 @02:33AM (#17944655)
> There can be a big difference between doing something you’re not supposed to and FLONTING that you’re doing it.

Flaunting it actually makes it less of a security risk in some ways; for one things no one is going to blackmail him with the threat of exposing it.

Re:Poaching Tesla by MBCook on Sunday September 09, 2018 @08:41AM (#17945635)
Interesting. I actually dictated that to Siri and that’s how she chose to spell it. I see now it’s not a word.

I thought it looked off but I figured she knew better than I did. It’s not exactly word I use all the time.

Re:Poaching Tesla by jfoutz on Saturday September 08, 2018 @11:38PM (#17944225)
Clearance is about being compromised. Do you think Musk would reveal state secrets in exchange for weed? Do you think he would exchange state secrets to avoid the public finding out he smokes weed?

The agent who interviewed me said, "Are you the kind of person who speeds and owns up to it, or are you the kind of person who speeds and lies about it?" One of those is risky but generally acceptable.

I dunno. We're in a weird time. I can point to a few people that, i think, should not have clearances. But compartmentalization is a thing, perhaps those folks don't have a need to know the kinds of things i worry about.

My super casual, outside observer view is, the military might provide some facts and figures about payloads, but they're not saying this telescope can resolve .1mm from geosynchronous orbit. they're saying, it weighs this much and can withstand this much acceleration. There will likely be new revised policies on what's shared with spaceX about their payloads. But does anyone think Musk actions would lead him to be compromised?

Re:Poaching Tesla by dlgeek on Sunday September 09, 2018 @01:10AM (#17944476)
It's also about the ability to follow rules (arbitrary or not). If you can't be trusted to follow the rules about not doing drugs, why should they assume you can be trusted to follow the rules about protecting classified information?

(That represents my understanding of the clearance processes' view of the issue, not my personal beliefs).

Re:Poaching Tesla by jfoutz on Sunday September 09, 2018 @02:37AM (#17944670)
My, very shallow, understanding is, people can’t follow rules. There are a few rare individuals that can, but not the tens of thousands that are required.
Re:Poaching Tesla by snerbles on Saturday September 08, 2018 @11:45PM (#17944239)
Having once held a U.S. security clearance, I can guarantee you that Defense Intelligence Agency investigators are going to have a word or two with Musk. Occasional "experimental" marijuana use prior to the clearance issuance is often waived, but any use after can be a bit of a problem.
Re:Poaching Tesla by xedeon on Sunday September 09, 2018 @12:36AM (#17944392)
True for the most part regarding waivers on service members and civilian federal employees. But false in this case, see above.
Re:Poaching Tesla by snerbles on Monday September 10, 2018 @10:58AM (#17952272)
Not saying the clearance will be revoked, rather a "Please don't do that again" accompanied with a mild finger wag.