Enron has introduced a new product ‘Enron Egg’ just one month after the notorious and now-defunct company was humorously revived by one of the creators of the satirical “Birds Aren’t Real” conspiracy theory.
The parody organization announced the “historic reveal” of the Enron Egg, described as “the world’s first at-home nuclear reactor,” in a post on X this past Monday.
Enron re-emerged in public discourse in early December with the launch of Enron.com, two decades after the American energy firm was embroiled in a fraud scandal that led to the imprisonment of several top executives. The website was inaugurated on the 23rd anniversary of the company’s bankruptcy filing, accompanied by a press release and a professionally produced promotional video.
At first glance, these materials appeared to indicate a rebranding effort; however, they ultimately turned out to be an elaborate hoax. Connor Gaydos, known for his association with “Birds Aren’t Real,” played a significant role in this endeavor, and the company’s terms and conditions explicitly state that the website is a “protected parody” intended for “entertainment purposes only.”
In a five-minute video, Gaydos, portraying an Enron CEO, asserted that the Enron Egg would transform the power industry, the independence sector, and the freedom domain. He also mentioned that Enron has collaborated with FEMA to supply nuclear eggs to rapid response teams globally.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we have harnessed the power of the atom,” Gaydos proclaimed. “Introducing the Enron Egg, the world’s first micro-nuclear reactor for residential suburban use.” According to Gaydos, this compact device is capable of powering a home for a continuous period of ten years.
In 2020, the individual associated with the “Birds Aren’t Real” movement acquired the Enron trademark.
Documents uncovered by CNN reveal that the Arkansas-based entity responsible for the acquisition is owned by Connor Gaydos, who, alongside Peter McIndoe, developed the satirical “Birds Aren’t Real” conspiracy theory.
This humorous conspiracy aims to critique the dissemination of false information by promoting the absurd notion that the U.S. government exterminated birds and replaced them with drones for surveillance purposes.
According to the documents, Gaydos’ limited liability company, The College Company, purchased the Enron trademark for $275. The terms of the website describe the relaunch of Enron as a form of “performance art.”
The Enron Egg is described on the Enron website as a “compact nuclear reactor that utilizes Uranium-Zirconium Hydride (U-ZrH) fuel rods to produce heat through nuclear fission.” This heat is then transferred through a 3D-printed Inconel heat exchanger, which powers a turbine to generate electricity. A closed-loop cooling system is in place to ensure safe operation without causing environmental harm.
While no price is specified for the Enron Egg, the company claims it is “significantly more affordable than traditional energy systems.” Those interested can preorder the Enron Egg by subscribing to the Enron email newsletter.
Enron was a company located in Houston, Texas, specializing in energy, commodities, and services. In 2001, it experienced a catastrophic bankruptcy that significantly impacted the market, following disclosures that the company had severely inflated its earnings. This financial disaster affected tens of thousands of employees and investors.
Several individuals received prison sentences as a result, including CEO Jeffrey Skilling and CFO Andrew Fastow.
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