Further Economic Consideration re Teslas

Putting aside the warped new and used car market of late--where driving off a car dealer lot or taking delivery of an online car purchase might result in your owning a car that you can sell for more than you bought it, from the analysis and data collection we have done, and looking at scads of anecdotal stories, it seems that Teslas last for eons and hold their original values for an enormous length of time. So, particularly if you are a senior, buying a new Tesla at whatever the price and without any federal tax incentive might make good economic sense not only because you might not have to ever buy a car again, or have any service done other than infrequent tire stuff, but also because upon resale (whether by you or by your estate) it will not have depreciated much if at all.

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Super Pumped (2022 TV Series on Hulu/Showtime)

Super Pumped is a new TV series about the struggle to get Uber off the ground. The cast is terrific and their acting is first-rate--with Joseph Gordon-Levitt like you've never seen him, along with Kyle Chandler and Uma Thurman who are perfectly cast, and Richard Schiff in his best role since West Wing. The only "problems" are that: (i) it is so frenetic and fraught with tension that it makes one nervous to watch, which also gives one a clue as to whether or not one was fit to be part of, much less head up, such a new venture; and (ii) each 1 hour episode is released weekly--and only 1 episode is out so far.

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Some Cautionary Notes re Short-Term Rentals

Short-term rentals (e.g., through Airbnb, VRBO, Vacasa or the like) provide great opportunities to get desirable places at prices that can save a lot of money compared to hotels and such. But, unless you have stayed in the place before, they are not without risk: (i) the place might not be as advertised, e.g., the pool and spa heater might not work; or (ii) the place might even be uninhabitable the day you arrive for some days during your stay or longer, e.g., the electricity is out. The "remedies" should such calamity befall you are not great: (i) the process to get a quick refund depends solely on the owner and resident manager; (ii) the process to get a refund through the listing website (e.g., Airbnb or VRBO) is difficult and they are clearly biased in favor of not losing the listing so good luck on a fair trial; and (iii) the chance of successfully disputing the charge with the credit card company is slim to none because that payment went to the website and not to the property owner/manager and apparently no one cares to protect us from that absurd shield which the credit card companies invoke. One thing prophylactically that can be done is to be sure to read ALL the reviews before renting. The first few or even the first quite a few might seem fine, but here's an example where, if you read them all, you'll see only an idiot would have rented this wonderful place on the Florida coast when there were comparable places for no more money without any bad reviews.

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Biden's Fantastic Opportunity

One can quibble about various things when it comes to Biden's (and Western Europe's) handling of the events in Ukraine. But no one can dispute that we are watching an amazing test of democracy and our country's (for which Biden deserves enormous credit) and the free world's and the Ukraine's (for which Zelensky and the Ukrainian people deserve enormous credit) commitment to democracy in the face of militarized authoritarianism. We can all be thankful that Trump is not president, but we all can shudder that the authoritarian forces unleased in our country by Trump and by the right-wing media could still prevail. If he focuses and limits his state of the union address solely on the issue of saving democracy and the rule of law--in the Ukraine and in the United States, Biden has the opportunity to give a state of the union address that could rise to the level of the Gettysburg Address or Lincoln's Second Inaugural. If he bows to the history of state of the union addresses, we can continue to shudder.

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Global Stock Markets and Wars: What, Me Worry?

[Prefatory Note: This is NOT advice as to what to do or not do viz the stock market. It reflects the historical view of one NYT writer and a comment of caution given the uniqueness of the present circumstance]

As this NYT piece sets out, "global markets usually weaken as wars approach, strengthen long before wars end and treat human calamity with breathtaking indifference." "History tells us that the worse things get, the more valuable cash and Treasuries seem. And it also says that Cold Warriors who stuck with the stock market ended up with big fat portfolios. That’s likely to be the case in the future, too. But it’s impossible to be certain of it." All that said, as the author cautions: "The possibility of a confrontation between NATO forces and Russia, with its nuclear arsenal, raises the risks of the Ukraine crisis beyond rational calculation."

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Best Kitchen Shears

 

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History of the Effectiveness of Economic Sanctions

Economic sanctions have had a spotty history in their effectiveness in changing a country's actions or regimes or policies. Maybe the best example of economic sanctions that worked was to end the apartheid regime in South Africa, but it took them 30 years to do so. Some instances where, to date at least, the regimes do not seem to have been budged by economic sanctions include: South Korea (since 1950), Iran (since 1979), Cuba (since 1958), Syria (since 1986), and Venezuela (since 2019). 

PS: So there is no mistake, this post should not be read or understood to mean that we oppose in any way the imposition of economic sanctions in any instance, including on Russia given what's happening in Ukraine.

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Best Everyday Tumblers: Duralex Picardie

Tumblers are probably the most-used glasses in your cupboard, whether you’re drinking juice or a smoothie in the morning or just a cold glass of water on a hot day. The Duralex Picardie tumblers which are available on Amazon are my absolute favorite and not just because they are made in France. hey feel more refined than most other drinking glasses. This makes them suitable for entertaining but not so fancy that you feel silly drinking juice from them in your pajamas (how the juice got into your pajamas I don't even want to know). Its contoured shape is pleasant to hold. The relatively thin lip makes this glass feel more elegant than many other drinking glasses, which tend to be utilitarian and clunky. The Picardie glasses also nest neatly together. I also like that the Picardie comes in a range of sizes, from 3 to 17 ounces. But we think the 12⅝-ounce glasses are an excellent all-purpose size (guzzlers may prefer the 16-ounce size). I own several sizes of the Picardie. Yet I’m particularly fond of using the versatile 4½-ounce glass for juice in the morning or a pre-dinner vodka martini in the evening. The Picardie also comes in several color options, with limited sizes in marine or a set of six 8-ounce glasses in a mix of colors from the MoMA Design Store. Made of tempered glass, the Picardie is more resistant to extreme temperature changes, so it can be used for a variety of cold and hot beverages—and it’s dishwasher-safe. It’s also far more durable than regular soda-lime glass. There’s no doubt the Duralex Picardie’s timeless design is part of the reason it has remained a staple on family tables and at French bistros for decades. In fine, the Duralex Picardie tumbler is so versatile that if I could own only one glass, this would be it.

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Brioche Hamburger Buns

A hamburger, whether a real or plant hamburger, is not worth eating unless it's on a brioche hamburger bun. Whole Foods sells 3 kinds of brioche hamburger buns. One is a pack of 6 frozen ones which we've never tried. As to the other two, the le brioche used to be the better but something has happened and they are not so good any more. The one that now appears to be the best is Nature's Own Crafted, which also is available at Fry's (and likely elsewhere), but interestingly, Whole Foods charges no more than Fry's, and they are far less expensive than the le brioche.

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Religious Belief and the Constitution

The Supreme Court has agreed to take up a case involving the asserted right of a business to refuse to design wedding websites for same-sex couples based on the business owner's religious beliefs. People with big brains might be able to understand the weeds in which lawyers, legal scholars, and judges wrastle with one another slicing and dicing things that might never have been meant to be sliced and diced. That said, while we have little doubt what this Court will do with this case, we with smaller minds have difficulty understanding how a fundamental constitutional right disqualifies one from shopping where they want to shop. If the business owner's religious belief were offended by interracial marriages, it's hard to see how that case should be decided any different. 

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Why TV Reporters Like Their Job, Especially Foreign Assignments

Yesterday had a post mentioning the TV coverage of Ukraine and wondered why the reporters seem to enjoy being in such foreign places. The answer is they just like pronouncing the names of certain places they never had heard of before. In the case of Ukraine, they are enamored with being able to say--"the Donbas" along with many of the cities that end in "iv." Seinfeld spotted this human characteristic years ago.

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CDC Guidelines: If You Feel Whipsawed, You Are Not Alone

Many of us would like to follow the science when it comes to the pandemic everyone used to talk about. The CDC does not make that easy. These NYT Live Updates present two different CDC developments: First, the CDC released new guidance that will allow localities to ease masking and social distancing so that, as the Director Dr. Walensky explained, “We want to give people a break from things like masking when our levels are low"; and second, "[m]ore than half of people who took a rapid antigen test five to nine days after first testing positive for the coronavirus or after developing Covid-19 symptoms tested positive on the antigen test, according to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention," which "raises more concerns about the agency’s revised isolation guidelines" of ending isolation after 5 days. Thank goodness for F. Scott Fitzgerald: "The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function."

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Ukraine

[Prefatory Note: We understand loyal readers and many others turn to this blog to get clear, crisp, and totally accurate and incredibly insightful explanations of just about everything no matter how complicated or arcane the subject matter (including even politics although we don't do politics here), along with predictions that invariably turn out to be spot on. When it comes to the events in and future of Ukraine, that string has played out--we are at a total loss. Here, then, are just a few of the things related to what's happening in Ukraine that we do not understand, and it is meet to note that there is nothing related to Ukraine that we actually do understand]

1. We have no clue what Putin's end-game is, i.e., what he considers and how he obtains and retains a lasting "victory" for himself or for Russia.

2. We have no clue what the end-game is for the sanctions, i.e., what triggers their being lessened or removed or increased.

3. Assuming the current sanctions are not sufficient to do what they are supposed to do, we have no clue what further sanctions should be put into place or when.

4. We have no clue as to what prompted one of the largest reversals to the upside in the U.S. stock market on the day Russia invaded the Ukraine. [Note: A loyal reader astutely wondered whether the stock market would have soared higher if Putin had also invaded Poland]

5. We have no clue if any of the commentators on television or in the print media have any idea what they are talking about, nor do we have any way to assess their verisimilitude.

6. We have no clue what the chances are of this thing spinning out of control, and what the real risks and consequences are if things do spin out of control.

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What I Don't Understand About the Stakes in Ukraine

Intro: Not just because my maternal great grandparents came to America from Lviv, but because of the inhumanity of what looks like is about to happen as a result of what a crazed leader is capable of doing,  I'm appalled by what Putin is doing and am sickened for what looks like he will do to Ukraine. That said, I truly do not understand what is at stake for the United States, Western Europe, and the world order. Here is my problem:

How to Determine Values: It is relatively easy to determine values, namely, by looking at the penalties for transgressions. For example, if double parking carried the death penalty, while murder carried a $10 fine, it would be clear that, for that jurisdiction, impeding the flow of traffic would be seen as more valuable than human life. In international relations, imposing sanctions on an adversary/enemy says one thing, but facing off with troops says another.

The Ukraine Problem: There is much hyperbole about the implications and ramifications of Putin's invading Ukraine--for Ukraine, for the stability of the other former Soviet republics, for Western Europe, and for the world order. Here's what we know about the stakes in Ukraine: What Putin is about to do is so horrible that severe sanctions are going to be imposed by the U.S. and its allies. But, what Putin is about to do is not so horrible to warrant putting forces into Ukraine to defend it.

The Solutions?: So, what should do we do and why? Put another way, why are the stakes not high enough to defend Ukraine with troops? And, if they are not that high, how does one calibrate the sanctions to be imposed? As the subject line above indicates, I don't have a clue. I just wish the Administration might be a little clearer on the matter in correlating its hyperbole with its conduct.

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Unnecessary Apps (QR Barcode Scanners and Battery Managers)

Apps take up space and resources in any smart device and otherwise slow it down, and every app creates an opportunity for hacking and malware. Hence, the fewer apps one has the better. In that context, two external apps are not necessary: First, there is no reason to download a separate app to scan and read barcodes because most phones (and likely all now) have the scan barcode function built into their cameras; and second, there is no reason to download a separate app to manage your battery usage because most phones (and likely all now) have all the "management" one needs built in. Beyond those two apps, it is a best practice and advisable as part of one's routine maintenance to go down the list of Apps installed on any smart device and uninstall any that are no longer needed. Doing all this not  only will help to speed up the device, it also will make it more insulated from hacking and such externalities.

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Tax Refund Status (Federal and Arizona)

Here are the websites to check one's Federal Income Tax Refund Status and Arizona Income Tax Refund Status. These sites will also tell you if your income tax return has been received. My guess is that some if not most or all other states have their own such status websites and can be found with The Google.

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Check Your Carriers for Latest Deals (T-Mobile Now Gives You Paramount+ 1-Year for Free as Well as Apple TV+)

It behooves you, and certainly cannot hurt, to continue checking back with your cable and cellphone carriers to see whether you might lower your bill or get some added benefit at no cost. T-Mobile did this a while ago throwing in Netflix for free (basic plan) with no limit, then later throwing in Apple TV+ for a year for free, and just recently Paramount+ for a year for free. But you have to the checking and initiating to take advantage of these free offers. Why the carriers don't send email or text notices of these benefits remains a complete mystery.

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Spam Texts and What to Do About Them

This WaPo article explains that spam texts are the new spam phone calls (likely because people have stopped falling for phone scams), but there are ways to cut them down. In addition to this article's suggestions, it is meet to note that the other defense is the Google Voice/burner phone approach explained in this earlier post.

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Unclogging a Toilet Without a Plunger

If you've lost your plunger and need to unclog a toilet, this cnet article will show you how to do it using dish detergent and hot water.

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Biden on the Ukraine Invasion

As President Biden said today in condemning Putin and imposing sanctions: "Who in the Lord's name does Putin think gives him the right to declare new so-called countries on territory that belongs to his neighbors?" I think we can all agree with that sentiment, and we all rightfully should be condemning Putin. But perhaps we might be a bit humble in that we also might agree that the right to declare a new country has been asserted in other circumstances and celebrated with pride for centuries thereafter without wondering who in the Lord's name thinks there was a right to do so.

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Why One's Body Feels Tight Upon Waking and Relief for It

This NYT article explains that, if you regularly wake up with stiff muscles, creaky joints or the general feeling that your body simply isn’t as limber as it was when you went to bed, the first thing to know is that you are not alone. Waking up with a tight body is “almost a universal human experience,” said Maryclaire Capetta, a physical therapist and assistant professor in the department of kinesiology at the University of Connecticut. And, she added, it’s quite common for it to happen every day. But while feeling stiff in the morning is normal and typically dissipates quickly, it’s also uncomfortable while it lasts. The good news, experts say, is that there are a few tricks you can use — when you feel stiff, and even before the feeling arises — to help you get relief, faster. My personal favorite is to go out and shoot a few hoops and do a few dunks.

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Preparing Your House for an EV and the ABCs of Home Charging

Getting a new car is always exciting, but getting an EV is over the moon. As this WSJ article explains, here's what you need to know about home charging and how you should plan ahead to determine your daily recharging routines. And one thing all EV owners often forget but should keep in mind: An EV needs a charge to keep running.

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Good News (Why Kids' Fare Better With Covid-19) and Not So Good News (Lack of Covid Pills) on the Virus Front

Good News: As welcome good news, this WSJ article explains the science behind children’s seeming imperviousness to Covid-19’s worst effects, which has been one of the biggest mysteries—and reliefs—of the pandemic. Now the reasons are coming into focus, scientists say: Children mobilize a first line of defense known as the innate immune system more effectively than adults.

Not So Good News: As this WSJ article explains, the rollout of new Covid-19 pills has exposed a potentially costly hole in how the government and healthcare companies are managing the pandemic drug response. Pharmacies that dispense the pills are pushing back and some are threatening to halt supplies if they don’t get more funds to cover the gap. The government paid billions of dollars for the pills, Paxlovid from Pfizer Inc. and molnupiravir from Merck & Co. and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics LP. Yet it left the details of how much pharmacists should be paid for filling prescriptions to health insurers and prescription-processing middlemen known as pharmacy-benefit managers. The commercial firms are paying pharmacies as low as a penny to about $10 for filling each prescription, according to pharmacists and pharmacy-transaction records. Many pharmacists say the fees don’t cover their costs of filling the prescriptions, and some say they won’t stock the pills at current low reimbursement rates. More pharmacies could drop out as supplies of the pill increase if fees aren’t raised, hurting access to pills that promise to keep people at high risk of developing severe Covid-19 out of the hospital, industry consultants and a Biden

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Caution re Ride Sharing Prices

If you haven't taken a ride sharing service (Lyft, our preferred service, or Uber) of late, as a loyal reader informed us (and we take their word on faith given their historic reliability), be prepared for a shock if the price you pay for a ride say to the airport is more, indeed much  more, than you were used to paying before the pandemic everyone is talking about. 

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Scaling Back on Covid Reporting

As NPR reported last year, as the pandemic calmed in the U.S., a growing number of states started scaling back how often they updated their dashboards tracking what's happening with the virus. The moves are sparking alarm among many public health experts, and with good cause given the subsequent spike with the Omicron variant. Now, with the Omicron variant data looking better, as this Arizona Republic article explains, February 26 will be the last day that Arizona will report daily cases, hospitalizations (and presumably ICU bed availability), and deaths from Covid-19. Like other states rationalized the issue last year, Arizona's supposed rationale is the declining metrics for Covid. Whether daily reporting will resume should those metrics reverse remains unknown (but let me say, don't count on it). Why weekly reporting and not monthly or yearly reporting remains unexplained. Maybe we'll go to a color-code system a la post-9/11. Or let's just do what Florida has done and stop reporting real data entirely.

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No Heart Benefits From Vegetables

As this article explains, eating vegetables may not help protect you against heart disease, according to a new study that's triggered strong reactions from critics. The analysis of the diets of nearly 400,000 British adults found that raw vegetables could benefit the heart, but not cooked vegetables. However, the researchers said any heart-related benefit from vegetables vanished altogether when they accounted for lifestyle factors such as physical activity, smoking, drinking, fruit consumption, red and processed meat consumption, and use of vitamin and mineral supplements.

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Olympics Viewership: Not Much to See Hear

As this article lays out, these Olympics were a disaster for the network across broadcast and cable TV and Peacock streaming: a buzz-free, hermetically-sealed event in an authoritarian country a half-day’s time zone away, where the enduring images will be the emotional meltdown of Russian teen-agers after a drug-tainted figure skating competition and a bereft Mikaela Shiffrin, sitting on a ski slope wondering what went wrong. Many American athletes underperformed, and arguably the most successful — freestyle skier Eileen Gu — competed for China. Viewers stayed away in alarming numbers, and NBC has to wonder whether it was extraordinarily bad luck or if the brand of a once-unifying event for tens of millions of people is permanently tainted. Putting all that aside, too many of the events are stupid made-up non-sports that no one participates in or understands.

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Those Whacky Sellers of Phoenix Residences: PS

 A blog post of not long ago told the story of a condo that sold for $575K a few years ago, $720K one year ago, and then went on the market two months later for $1.3M. It did not sell immediately, and the seller quickly lowered the price by $10K. Since then, the seller had lowered the price 13 times, several times by as little as $5K and once by just $100. Two days ago, the price lowered from $1.099,900M to $1.099,899 .... yup ... no typo ... a $1 price reduction. Obviously, this is the reaction the seller is looking for from buyers.

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Can Dems Dodge Doomsday?

While this piece by Maureen Dowd echoes what we've been saying here for months, we concede she says it better and more powerfully, and we are grateful to have her collaborative cooperation with us in trying to get through to the coastal elites and the government they elected. We especially appreciate the slant she has taken explaining that Biden and the Biden White House don't get it. As Ms. Dowd graciously put it: “Gary Hart told me the smartest thing I ever heard in politics: ‘Washington is always the last to get the news.’”

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CDC Data Handling (or, Better Put, Its Mishandling of Critical Data)

I have been besieged with untold scorn and even belittlement and derision for my criticisms of the CDC, its director Dr. Walensky, the White House Chief Science Officer Dr. Kessler, and of the Biden White House's reneging on its pledge to follow the science. While my critics might cower behind their last refuge claim of its being fake news, this New York Times article pulls no punches in vindicating my position as it lays out how the CDC has withheld critical data on boosters, hospitalizations and, until recently, even wastewater analyses.

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Why Everyone Should Have a Burner Phone or at Least a Google Voice Number

The below article is from the NYT. It echoes the virtues of having a burner phone and in the process recommends getting a Google Voice number which we have promoted for years. The author's suggestion is to use the GV as a burner phone number, i.e., as a number to give to  people you don't knowing your actual cellphone number. An additional and alternative way of using a GV number is to give it only to those people from whom you want to receive phone calls and texts. In that way, you will not be littered with spam and you will know that you are getting a communication from someone whom you have "authorized" to contact you, which is how I use it. GV also makes it easy to send texts from your computer to any texting number. 

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The Vast of Night (2019 Movie on Amazon Prime)

The Vast of Night is a strange movie shot in a strange way. It stars Sierra McCormick (whom you likely will not even recognize) and Jake Horowitz in roles different than they've ever played. At heart, it's a drama mystery that focuses on one night in New Mexico, in the late 1950s, when a switchboard operator and radio DJ discover a strange audio frequency which supposedly could change the future forever although that's never explained. It has overtones of The Twilight Zone and all the Area 51 and other stories of aliens arriving on earth. At times it's difficult to understand what's going on, but you should have no problem lasting the 1h31m it takes to get to the end although the end might be considered no more understanding than any of the rest of it. If you're not a sci-fi buff, definitely skip it. If you are, proceed at your own risk.

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PS re the Bundt Cake Recipe

So there is no confusion on the matter, please note that the recipe set out in yesterday's post on chocolate Bundt cake was graciously submitted by a loyal reader. It should be clear to all that the source of the recipe does not lessen, and in reality reinforces, just how incredibly delicious their Bundt cake is.

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Square vs. Round Pizza

If you still get your pizza from a restaurant, you might not have a choice as to whether the pizza will be square or round. If you make your pizza from scratch at home, which we strongly recommend, you will have the choice. In all events, whenever possible, unless you are assuredly going to finish the pizza entirely upon first sitting and have none left over for the next day, always opt for square. Beside being aesthetically more pleasing, square makes it easier to slice the pizza in more even portions where the home-made pizza has different ingredients on each half and for every pizza makes for easier wrapping and storage of the extra slices.

            Round Pizza                                                Square Pizza

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Kewpie Mayo

Kewpie mayo is not only smoother and richer than your average mayo, it’s also packed with much, much more eggy umami flavor. If it sounds contradictory that Kewpie has both the tangy-sweetness and the savory undertone that are absent in Hellmann’s and the like, you’ll just have to taste it to understand. I can’t get enough of it in poke bowls, atop okonomiyaki, and anywhere else a dollop of mayo is welcome. While American mayonnaise uses whole eggs, Kewpie mayo incorporates yolks and yolks alone for a yellow color, an almost custardy texture, and distinctly rich and fatty mouthfeel. The egg yolks—precisely four in every 500-gram squeeze bottle—are an important source of amino acids that give Kewpie its signature savory taste and, to state the obvious, egg-forward taste. To balance out all that fatty goodness, Kewpie has the perfect amount of acid. While American brands use sharp and pungent distilled white vinegar, Kewpie relies on a blend of vinegar—rice vinegar, red wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, and distilled vinegar, for example—for added complexity, tang, and natural sweetness. On top of all that, Kewpie is made with MSG, giving it that same lip-smacking savoriness of so many other irresistible foods. Beyond oil, yolks, vinegar, salt, and MSG (or yeast extract), there’s not much else to Kewpie—there’s no added sugar, and the combination of vinegar and salt keeps it fresh-tasting without chemical preservatives. (Plus, the squeeze bottle helps to keep out oxygen, furthering its shelf-life.) It’s worth noting that a made-in-the-USA formulation of Kewpie, introduced in 2017, is flavored with yeast extract rather than MSG and does include sugar. For the truest Kewpie experience, seek out bottles imported from Japan. High-quality ingredients alone aren’t enough to guarantee stellar mayonnaise. Kewpie mayo’s signature silky-smooth mouthfeel is also a result of the company’s proprietary emulsification machinery that blends their product into glossy and luscious perfection. The bottom-line is this: There’s room in your fridge—and your heart—for more than one mayo. I strongly suggest you seek out this cult-favorite condiment. Your next egg salad deserves it, and, more importantly, YOU deserve it. You can get it through Amazon or from Whole Foods.

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This Is How They Tell Me the World Ends: The Cyberweapons Arms Race by Nicole Perlroth

The notion of cyber-attacks and counter-cyber-attacks pervades the crisis in the Ukraine. A loyal reader has brought to our attention and recommended the recent book by Nicole Perlroth, This Is How They Tell Me the World Ends: The Cyberweapons Arms Race, which in its first few couple of chapters addresses precisely the horror of just what could happen if war is not averted.

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Recommended Charger for Laptops, Tablets, and Phones, Including Apple Devices

Apple used to require or at least pressure owners to use only Apple chargers for its various products, which cost substantially more than non-Apple chargers. Apple has dropped any such requirement and there no longer is any reason to feel any pressure in that regard. As this Wirecutter article explains, the best choice for almost any (Apple or non-Apple) modern tablet or laptop is Nekteck’s 60W USB-C GaN Charger. This adapter is just as powerful and reliable as a replacement from your laptop’s manufacturer, and it’s smaller than almost any other we’ve seen. It’s safety-tested and certified, and it comes with its own USB-C charging cable, making it a particularly great value at its very low price (of about $25 or less). And it will work with just about any smartphone. 

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Best Chocolate Bundt Cake Ever: And Easy to Make

If you like chocolate Bundt cake but have never made it, here is fantastic news: The best Bundt cake ever, filled with flavor and moist, which will taste as good defrosted as it does fresh, is simple and quick to make. A loyal reader might claim credit for the recipe, but that's another story for another day. Here is the recipe:

1 box Duncan Hines Devil food cake mix

1 (5.9 oz) pkg instant chocolate pudding

1/2 cup oil

4 eggs

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup warm water

1-1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Mix all together, adding chocolate chips near the end. Pour into a greased Bundt pan (if you don't have a Bundt pan, feel free to use a tube cake pan). Bake at 350F for 1 hour. After removing from the oven, slice the cake into 8 pieces, slice up and serve one of the pieces immediately to whomever is around, and then wrap each of the remaining 7 pieces separately, freeze, and take them out shortly before ready to eat (they defrost very quickly and will last several days in the refrigerator). 

PS: Very few people seem to know that Bundt means "a gathering of people." Its etymology is quite fascinating, but shall be left for another day.

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Why No One Should Listen to What Top Golfers Say

While you can trust the wisdom of kids who grew up as accomplished amateur high school, college, and club golfers, no one should listen to anything any top professional golfer says. Jack Nicklaus and Anna Sorenstam are ardent Trump supporters and small-minded, self-appointed guardians of rules and procedures that are mean and meaningless. Tiger Woods is incapable of uttering anything related to what he really thinks. And Phil Mickelson has the intelligence and social awareness of a gutter snipe. As this NYT article quotes his apparent willingness to leave the PGA Tour (which is based in the U.S.) and join the Saudi Arabian Tour (being promoted by Greg Norman known most for the most stunning collapse in The Masters, being Sergio Garcia's father in law, and being dumped by Chrissie Evert):  “We know they killed Khashoggi and have a horrible record on human rights,” Mickelson was quoted as saying by [his] biographer. “They execute people over there for being gay. Knowing all of this, why would I even consider it? Because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates.”

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Cue At-Home Molecular Covid-19 Testing

The reviews seem to confirm that the Cue Home Testing for Covid-19 is equivalent to PCR testing and Cue says its test results allow for certified documentation accepted for travel, work, or school. It doesn't look inexpensive and the website is not easy to understand what  the actual options are in terms of buying product and buying memberships. That said, I trust you to figure it out more than I trust myself to explain it.

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Cleaning a Smart Phone

This Wirecutter article sets out what it calls "a simple guide to getting your phone sparkling clean." Not sure "simple" is quite accurate, but some excellent tips are provided, especially when it comes to cleaning the ports. It is meet to note that the article omits the one suggestion we have strongly urged, especially if your phone charges wirelessly and you use a Bluetooth devise to listen to its audio on: Use port plugs, which cost nothing.

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Caution re Attending Events Claiming to Require Attendees to Be Vaccinated

Many organizations are conducting events of various kinds (including large indoor fund-raising events) and touting that being "vaccinated" or having a recent negative test is a requirement for entry. Caution: Their use of the phrase "being vaccinated" or the phrase "being fully vaccinated" might not mean what you assume it does. Thus, by "being vaccinated," they might mean having gotten just one shot, and by "being fully vaccinated," they might mean two shots but no booster. So, if it matters to you "how vaccinated" others at the event will be, it is advisable to ask the organization before you go.

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First Class Air Travel vs. First Class Air Travel

While first class air travel is better than those classes on the other side of the curtain, first class in a 727, 737, or A320 and other such smaller jets is no big deal and hardly worth the price differential. But first class on a 787 is a whole different ball game--you get your own pod, which makes the flight a dream and the boarding process way better (those in those other classes do not walk through the first class section to get to wherever they are sitting (I'm told there are seats in those nether-classes)). To quote a 787-devotee: "I'm all for ending the inequality that persists in this country, but I'm not giving up first-class in a pod-equipped aircraft." So, whenever you're flying, see if there is a 787 on the route you're taking (American has them for many if not most transcontinental flights and even flights to or from Phoenix/Albuquerque and several East Coast cities).

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Higher End Vacation Rentals: AvantStay

AvantStay boasts its focus on "our elevated homes and hospitality promise the ultimate group travel experience." Some of their homes are quite high end but others are affordable and can be found as well on VRBO and Airbnb. Their places are limited to 30 locations, but all of them are desirable beach front, wine country, or skiing places, or large estates suitable for large family gatherings. The site is easy to use and tends to exclude places that will show up on VRBO or Airbnb that just clutter your search.

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The Tinder Swindler (2022 Documentary on Netflix)

I'm not a fan of documentaries, but The Tinder Swindler is most definitely worth watching. Although it's under 2 hours, it would have been better if cut to 1 hour which it could have been because it drags a bit. Still, the story is so compelling that it's impossible to not watch it to the end, which I will not spoil but will say it might not be quite what you expect to see. In fine, it is the story of a the cons pulled off by a pretend-billionaire, telling once again how cons are based not as much on the gullibility of the victims as the victims wanting what's being supposedly offered to be true. It's a Bernie Madoff story. It's a Donald Trump story. It's a timeless story.

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Why Religion Is an Anathema to the Agnostic and the Atheist

Every religion has its rituals, at birth, at adulthood, and at death. As just learned, as if the Phoenix Diocese were not disgraced enough in child sexual abuse offenses and covering them up, baptisms performed by a priest in Arizona are not valid because of a single word, the Bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix said. Specifically, it was reported that Fr. Andres used the formula, ‘WE baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.," instead of using the phrase "I baptize." As some priest explained, "The issue with using ‘We’ is that it is not the community that baptizes a person, rather, it is Christ, and Him alone, who presides at all of the sacraments, and so it is Christ Jesus who baptizes.” Oh yeah, now I get it. In any event, it’s not clear how many baptisms are affected, but the diocese stated it presumes all that Arango performed before June 17, 2021, which date back to 1995, are invalid. Because baptism is the first sacrament, those whose baptisms are not valid might need to repeat other sacraments, as well. That includes the first communion and confirmation. In the Catholic religion, one cannot have received other sacraments without having been properly baptized first. The Diocese of Phoenix website says it’s possible that some marriages might be affected, as well. The Diocese did not comment on what God in Heaven might do regarding those wrongfully admitted therein.

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Advantages of Shampoo in Bar Form Instead of Liquid

For anyone who declines to check their bags when flying (as all smart travelers do), one of the difficulties that is faced when it comes to TSA's liquid restrictions is shampoo. The shampoo bar is an excellent answer. It also costs less and does not come in a plastic container which the oceans and climate will thank you for. If you're unfamiliar with shampoo bars, this article will give you an excellent overview.

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PS re the Judge's Dismissal in the Palin/NYT Libel Case

As now being reported, and as we predicted, the jury did in fact learn, while they were deliberating, of the judge's dismissal of the case through push news notifications on their phones. “The jurors repeatedly assured the court’s law clerk that these notifications had not affected them in any way or played any role whatever in their deliberations,” Judge Rakoff wrote. As a strange twist, Judge Rakoff said on Wednesday that although neither party objected to his issuing of a ruling while allowing the jury to continue deliberations, he was bringing the issue of the jurors being notified to both parties’ attention in “an excess of caution.” “If any party feels there is any relief they seek based on the above, counsel should promptly initiate a joint phone conference with the court to discuss whether any further proceedings are appropriate,” Judge Rakoff wrote. This judge is one weird dude.

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The IOC: Even Worse Than the NFL and FIFA

The greed, stupidity, and corruption of the owners and committees that run big-time sports is analogous to Trump: Just when you think they can't sink any lower, they do ... always a shock, albeit never a surprise. It's bad enough that the IOC is letting a Russian who failed a drug test for a performance enhancing drug compete in individual and team figuring skating events, but the decision to not hold medal ceremonies if she medals is mind-boggling. If she comes in third, that means the winners of gold and silver, who did not cheat, and then beat someone who (wittingly or unwittingly) did violate the rules will not get to be on the podium and will not get their medals and will not hear their national anthem played. 

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Judges Can Be Dopey Heads Just Like Humans

In the Sara Palin/NYT libel case, the judge dismissed the case a few years ago, and Palin appealed to the Second Circuit, which reversed the dismissal and ordered a trial. At the trial, before the jury went out, the judge dismissed the punitive damage claim for lack of evidence, and while the jury was out, dismissed the rest of the case for lack of evidence. He could have done so before submitting the case to the jury or he could have done after the jury returned a verdict for Palin. He said he would let the jury deliberate so that, in the event it finds for Palin, then that finding will be there should the Second Circuit reverse his dismissal. The problem is given that the jury came back with a verdict in favor of the NYT, that determination is now tainted given the extremely high likelihood in view of the TV and newspaper reportage that the jury became aware of the judge's dismissal. Undoubtedly, the judge did not like Palin's case and did not like being reversed, but the exercise of a little judicial temperament and common sense might have been in order.

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Tip re Amazon Fresh When They Deliver Extra Items

While Amazon Fresh has still not failed to deliver all ordered items, in my last order, they included two items (a second portion of salmon and a package of organic chicken thighs) I did not order. Given that I did not want to go to the store to return them, and would likely consume them (after cooking them), I called Amazon to find out how I might reimburse Amazon. No need to have spent the 10 minutes speaking to two reps it took toward that end. As a confirming email they sent setting out Amazon policy: "You're welcome to keep, donate, or dispose of them, whichever option is most convenient for you."

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Polestar 2

The Polestar 2 is a 100% EV that comes in a 1-motor and 2-motor model. The 1-motor model has greater range but the 2-motor model is zippier. It qualifies for the federal tax incentive so that the 1-motor model is available for under $40,000, and likely can be delivered fairly quickly. It's not as good looking as the Tesla 3 but it might be more comfortable. The Car & Driver Review points out its positives and negatives.

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Tax Advantages of I-Bonds and QCDs

This blog has promoted I-bonds and QCDs and continues to do so. This WSJ article confirms the wisdom of the blog's promotion and dives a little deeper than we have into the various tax benefits of each.

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Getting Help From Customer Service

When dealing with a customer service rep who is not being as helpful as you think they should be, it never hurts to ask to talk to, and if necessary insist on talking to, a supervisor (even when, as almost always happens, the rep says the supervisor will tell you the same thing). Then, if you get any actual help from the supervisor, it never hurts to ask the supervisor to "take ownership" of the matter and to ask for a way by phone or even better by email to contact the supervisor directly if need be.

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Caution re Dental and Other Such Appointments

If it matters to you, caution would suggest that, before you have a teeth cleaning, you ask whether or not the hygienist has been vaccinated and boosted. It is not insulting or inappropriate to ask. Some might be shocked to learn that there are dental hygienists who have not been vaccinated. The same caution would seem to apply to other services where one is indoors for an extended time at close quarters with others.

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Picking the Right Color for One's Front Door

Of all the interior/exterior design questions I get, perhaps the most frequent one is how to pick the color of one's front door. It's not easy, and I welcome the inquiries and the willingness to consult an expert. As explained here in some detail, what I always say is this: The color you choose for your primary portal is no throwaway decision. One needs to take into account, among other things, the home's location, architecture, interior design, and landscaping. It sets the tone for the entire experience of the home; just like the first impressions of a person do. 

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Super Bowl LVI

Game: Not bad.

Refereeing: At least one bad call that could have changed the result.

Ads: Most boring; demographics of the target audience a complete mystery; many cost a fortune to make; many of those and many more completely incomprehensible. 

Half-Time Show:  No comment. FFed through it.

Comparison to Games & Circuses of an Empire That Fell: Unavoidable.

Commentary: Al Michaels and Chris Collingsworth ... they are always first rate.

Shame on the NFL: Okay, it's understandable packing in, and having the cameras keep showing, tens of thousands of unmasked fans piled in together. But, is there any excuse for not one PSA encouraging vaccinations and boosters?

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The Afterparty (2022 Series on Apple TV+)

The Afterparty is an 8-episode (1/2 hour each) comedy murder mystery series involving a crime at a high school reunion afterparty where everyone is a suspect and each episode gives the version of the events as told by a different suspect. Okay, this might not be the most original murder mystery comedy, but it's original enough. And, based on the first episode, it's good enough.

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Different Perspective on Plant-Based Food (Feb 14 & 21 New Yorker Cartoon)

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How to Clean a Showerhead

This Wirecutter article goes into excruciating detail for cleaning shower heads. While hardly anyone is going to do most of what is set out there, giving a shower head a good soak (like overnight) is easy and will do wonders. Now, here's what I learned about the good soak: Do not use things like CLR or other anti-rust stuff. Simply use a solution of 1/2 water/1/2 distilled white vinegar in a cup or bowl large enough to submerge the shower head and set the showerhead in there nozzle end up. If you don't want to remove your shower head, mix that solution into a baggie and then wrap it around the showerhead thusly:

PS: If you followed the advice given in an earlier blog post, you would be using a very powerful small showerhead  that will fit easily in a small cup for soaking. And if you have it in a guest shower, your guests not only will enjoy the best shower ever, they will shower you with compliments.

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Kosher Shellfish and a Note on Vegan Leather

A loyal reader has pointed out, courteously and without insulting my ignorance on the matter, that indeed there is Kosher "shellfish." New Wave Foods provides shrimp that is out-of-this-world delicious, and healthier for you and the environment than ocean shrimp. You can order New Wave Shrimp® the same way you order ocean shrimp when you’re out to eat. Enjoy this delicious plant-based alternative in your favorite hot shrimp dish: sautéed, grilled, breaded, baked or fried. It tastes just like traditional shrimp. So go ahead, bite into something really fantastic. It’s plant-based, sustainable, vegetarian, and kosher.

PS: Speaking of plant-based stuff, as explained in Vegan Leather, luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and Hermès are replacing traditional leather with animal-friendly alternatives, and what these new "hides" are made of might surprise you.

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Five Florida Islands With Standout Beaches and a Note on Travel Insurance

If you're looking for a fantastic beach, here are five standout beaches on Florida islands: Sanibel (a shell collector's dream), Siesta Key (for finicky families), Fisher Island (for privacy seekers), Gasparilla (for the old fashioned), and Amelia Island (for the sporty sojourns). 

PS: Speaking of vacation travel, if you're wondering about travel insurance, this article discusses who should buy it and how to choose the best policy.

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I Want You Back (2022 Movie on Amazon Prime)

I Want You Back is characterized as a romcom with a twist and has gotten some good reviews. The twist is that it is the story of newly dumped thirty-somethings who team up to sabotage their exes' new relationships and win them back for good. After watching about 30 minutes, do not be surprised if you don't give a hoot about any of the characters or what happens to them, you're totally bored, and just turn it off. If you continue watching, my guess is that everything will turn out as you predicted but, if not, fine too. 

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Those Whacky Sellers of Phoenix Homes

This Phoenix Condo is in a wonderful location and a wonderful complex. Two years ago it sold for $575K and one year ago it sold for $720K. It went on the market two months later for $1.3M. It did not sell immediately, and the seller quickly lowered the price by $10K. Since then, the seller has lowered the price 13 times, several times by as little as $5K and once by just $100. Here is the mind-boggling history of the price reductions as of today:

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Good News for Observants of Kosher & Halal Restrictions: Impossible Sausage

As this Impossible FAQ explains, Impossible Foods makes products for everyone, including those with religious dietary restrictions. Indeed, the 14 oz retail packages of Impossible™ Sausage Made From Plants are Halal and Kosher certified. So, I welcome my dietary-restricted friends to a whole new beautiful world they have been eschewing for 5,783 years. And look forward to the day of Impossible Shellfish.

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Shoes: Don't Let Hosts Make You Remove Them in Their Homes

The only thing that separates humans from all other forms of life is that humans put on shoes. Yes, humans put shoes on horses and even on some pets, but no other form of life puts shoes on themselves other than humans. In seeming defiance of the shoe-imperative, some people insist their guests remove their shoes before entering their home. Whether such insistence is rooted in neurosis or loopiness or an odd form of OCD or a belief that it promotes a cleaner and healthier home, this WSJ article puts to rest any notion that making guests take off their shoes will lead to a cleaner or healthier home. In all events, if you do insist that guests remove their shoes, please follow my example to give them brand new booties (and not booties that someone else wore earlier).

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Tax Dollars for EV Charging Stations

[Prefatory Note: I know this post could be the subject of much derision and ridicule, and be thought of as wrong, wrong-headed, misguided, and short-sighted. But it should be clear: Read carefully, this post is not expressing my view. Rather, it is expressing the kind of resentment felt by many who see the coastal elites as getting undue favoritism from a government out of touch with ordinary people, which ultimately might lead to explain their attraction to cult figures and demagogues]

I want an EV. I wish everyone had an EV and gasoline powered vehicles were no more. I'm not sold on the economics, but I am sold on the climate impact. Except for the Leaf and the Bolt, however, the purchase price of EVs is double what an albeit uncool car of similar-size and comfort costs. For example, you could buy two new Camrys or Accords for the cost of one new Tesla 3 and, even in today's whacko market, you could get the Camrys and Hondas now and not have to wait a few months or pay an extra thousand dollars or two for any color other than white. Not surprising, most of the EV purchases today are not by thrifty middle-class consumers looking to lower their yearly fuel and maintenance costs--rather, they are for the most part by quite wealthy people. In that context, it is galling to many that federal tax dollars by way of incentives and now another $5 billion of federal tax revenues for charging stations are being spent to benefit the wealthy when so many less fortunate people are hurting.

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Olympics: TV Disaster

As we predicted but no one at NBC listened, and the Washington Post now reports, "the TV ratings for the Winter Olympics in Beijing aren’t just bad — they’re historically terrible." While that's awful news for NBC and for the future of  U.S. TV broadcasting of Olympics especially when the venue is on the other side of the world, as the article explains, what might actually be going on is a seismic shift of how the Olympics are being viewed. Did anyone say streaming?

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Complexity of Covid-19 Metrics

The most educational articles are often those that leave you knowing less than you knew before reading them. Not because your knowledge of something has lessened or disappeared. Rather, because what you thought you understood turns out to have been an incomplete or wrong understanding of the subject matter. In that context, this NYT article gives a studied overview of why the Covid-19 metrics for determining when and where masking should be required or when schools should be open are not as simple as one might think listening to politicians or even to supposedly knowledgeable commentators.

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Finding an Alternative Internet Provider

If you hate your current internet provider (if you don't, there's something wrong with you), there just might be available alternatives. This cnet webpage gives a listing of all internet providers that might be available for your location (such as Google Fiber), with convenient filtering and links to confirm availability.

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Comparing Nursing Homes

Medicare has a tool for comparing nursing homes in any area. It will let you: (i) Check out their overall star ratings which is based on a nursing home's performance on 3 sources: health inspections, staffing, and quality of resident care; (ii) view detailed staffing data, including the staffing hours of different types of staff and staff turnover rates; (iii)  see COVID-19 vaccination rates for residents and staff; and (iv)  give you nursing home contact information and directions.

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School Vaccination Mandates

The Arizona Republic did not hesitate to accept this letter for publication (although I have no clue where it came up with the subject line and they did not ask for permission to make the changes they made), unlike the NYT which stole the idea and fed it for use by a guest columnist. Have you no decency, sir?

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The Allure of Spectator Sports

While he failed to credit this blog as his source, Jim McKay popularized the phrase, which summed up well why people watch sports, "The thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat." That raises the question as to which is more compelling to watch: the thrill or the agony? If ever there was any doubt, and there likely has been little since Bill Buckner's error, ask audiences whose performance they remember: Suni Lee or Simone Biles; Lindsay Jacobellis or Mikaela Shiffrin; Paul Lawrie or Jean van de Velde; Jackie Gleason or Paul Newman; Reggie Jackson or Gene Cohen?

PS: Thanks  to PTI for inspiring this post.

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Maryland Unabashedly Steals My Idea of Incentivizing Covid Vaccinations

Several months ago, this blog had a post advocating the incentivizing of Covid vaccinations by awarding huge sums of money on a lottery basis. Today, we learn, Maryland unabashedly adopted the idea without even hinting where it got the idea from. This is just the latest example of why Marylanders are held in such low regard and disrepute.

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Finding Suites and Connecting Rooms: Suiteness

When traveling with someone else and staying at a hotel for more than a night, there's nothing worse than being stuck in one room compared to being in a suite with a living/kitchen area separate from the sleeping quarters. That's where suiteness comes to the rescue. It will make finding a suite or adjacent rooms almost anywhere you want to go since they are pre-filtered. And you will get the best possible rate with the guarantee that if you find a better price through another source, suiteness will refund the difference. You do need to sign up to get the discounted rates, but signing up is free.

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Mandatory Vaccinations for School Attendance

Even a state like Arizona has vaccination requirements for children attending schools, involving over 20 vaccinations which include vaccinations against: hepatitis, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, pertussis, and chicken pox. If the Republicans and anti-vaxxers had any consistency and aversion to hypocricy, they would stampede to eliminate these impingements on one's freedom to choose and on impingements on parents' knowing what's best for their kids. No, they will take their stand to be sure coronavirus vaccines are never included on the list. 

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Super Bowl

I am hounded unmercifully for my pick for the Super Bowl, mostly by people who are betting on the game. Because I'm not a fan of the betting stuff, I refuse to make a prediction as to winning, point spread, or anything else. But I will say this, and I'm not alone in this analysis: The game will be won or lost by the offensive line of the Cincinnati Bengals. Another way to look at is the game will be won or lost by the defensive line of the Los Angeles Rams. And if you think this is weaseling, I assure you it is not given how many commentators are focusing on the quarterbacks as the determinative factor. The two possible wild-card influences that cannot be factored in ahead of time or predicted is stupid coaching and incompetent refereeing, either of which has a strong chance of being outcome determinative. 

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Some Factoids re Some Recent Presidents: How Times Have Changed

1.  When Richard Nixon ran against Congresswoman Helen Gahagan Douglas for the U.S. Senate in 1950, his House colleague John Kennedy slipped him a $1,000 campaign contribution from the family patriarch, Joseph Kennedy, who liked Nixon’s anticommunist fervor. Nine years later, when the two men emerged as likely presidential nominees for their respective parties, Kennedy asked Nixon to keep the matter secret so he could avoid a political firestorm from fellow Democrats. The Californian agreed; later, when columnist Drew Pearson got wind of the story, Nixon press secretary Herb Klein denied the report. Nixon acquiesced in the public lie to honor his private commitment to the man emerging as his most threatening political rival. What politician today would have acted with such honor?

2. Nixon never attacked Kennedy personally and in fact treated his opponent more respectfully than many Democrats had done in seeking to deny him the nomination. Nixon studiously avoided the controversial matter of Kennedy’s Catholicism. And after the balloting he declined to challenge the razor-thin outcomes in Illinois and Texas, though many Republicans urged him to do so based on evidence of electoral fraud. There was no doubt that shenanigans occurred in these places, and whether they were sufficient to alter the result remains an open question, but the election was arguably stolen. What would Nixon think of the Big Lie we live with today?

3. Kennedy engaged in reckless sexual adventurism throughout the campaign, including with a woman with links to the Chicago mafia, and he lied to the American people about his lingering back problems and the Addison’s disease that posed a serious health threat. Was Kennedy a role model for Trump?

4. Upon being disgraced, his party withdrew its support for him, and Nixon resigned. Trump and the Republicans were not the first instance of changing that paradigm. What about a president before him who committed perjury and then was disbarred but who, based on a poll that said it would work, lied to the American people as his party rallied to keep him in office?

PS: Some of this is borrowed from Robert W. Merry's new book, "Campaign of the Century’ Review: Revisiting Kennedy vs. Nixon."

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Lidar on iPhone Pros and iPad Pros

As this cnet article explains, Lidar sensors add depth scanning for better photos and AR, but in future we could see mixed-reality headsets and more. The technology is built into the iPhone 12 Pro, the iPhone 13 Pro, and the iPad Pro.

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Inflation Where It Really Hurts

Anyone who has looked to buy a car lately, especially a used one, knows how painful it is not to have done so a year or two ago. But, the great untold story is how painful it is if you are now looking to buy a Chanel small Classic Flap bag. Two years ago, it made a perfect Valentine's Day gift or a perfect spoil yourself gift for just $5,200. Today, one has to shell out $8,200 for a new one or $7,035 for a used one. The good news, if  you have a Chase Freedom Visa card, is you will get back $123 instead of just $78.

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How to Get Another Year of Amazon Prime at Its Current Rate and Avoid the Rate Increase That's Coming Soon

When will the price of Amazon Prime change? The price increase of Amazon Prime from $119/year to $139/year will take effect Feb. 18 for new Amazon Prime accounts. For existing accounts, the increased price will kick in on the first renewal payment after March 25.

How to save money before the price of Amazon Prime changes? 

1. If You Are Not a Prime Member, Sign Up Now: If you were considering an Amazon Prime subscription, now's the time to do it. Prices will change for new accounts on Feb. 18. If you pay for a yearly subscription before then, you'll lock in the $119 yearly rate until 2023.

2. If You're a Monthly Subscriber: Current Amazon Prime members should take a look at their Amazon accounts to see if they are monthly or yearly subscribers. If you're a monthly subscriber and switch to a yearly subscription, you'll also lock in the $119 rate until next year.

3. Buy a "Gift of Prime": Savvy bargain shoppers have noted that Amazon's "Gift of Prime" service can be an effective method of extending the current price rate. If you buy a gift subscription of Amazon Prime before the price change and activate it when your existing subscription expires, you'll get another year at the $119 rate. If you sign up for a yearly account before Feb. 18 and buy another yearly gift subscription at $119, you won't be paying the new $139 yearly rate until 2024 (though you will be paying $238 upfront).

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Mikaela Shiffrin's Fall Saves the Olympics for NBC

Other than maybe Shaun White who is at the end of his career anyhow and no one cares about snow boarding anyhow, Mikaela Shiffrin likely is the only Olympian on the U.S. team that anyone in this country who is or might watch any of the Olympics could name or has heard of. Given her career and prowess in the sport, her crashing out of the Giant Slalom competition was shocking, but that she handled it with the grace that she did surprised no one. She just turned a world of humdrum TV viewing into what for many will be must-see TV in at least a few events.

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Ski Jumping Is Like Golf--Excuse Me

This WSJ article by Ben Cohen (no relation) argues that ski jumping is like golf. If you enjoy reading articles that make no sense, you will love this one. Here is a summary example of its idiocy (reminiscent of Bill Murray's observations in Caddy Shack: “Obviously ski jumping is nothing like golf to most people ...  [b]ut when you’re an elite ski jumper, it’s very much like golf. The only difference is that you’re the ball.” 

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Uberization of Cremation

When Al Gore invented the internets, he likely had no idea how it (they) would transform the way we buy goods (e.g., online shopping) and services (e.g., ride sharing). Any who has bought a mattress recently knows how convenient and easy it is to get a Casper or one of its competitors. As this NYT article explains, finally, after waiting for what seems to be a lifetime, the cremation business is now open on a direct-to-consumer basis. Is this a great country or what?

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Mile High Club

If you're love-making has been limited to terrestrial and sub-terrestrial locales, and you have considered commercial airplane lavatories a little too cramped, there now actually is a Mile High Club that will let you, as Peggy Noonan would say, slip the surly bonds of earth in total privacy and comfort. For $995, Love Cloud will fly you and a partner in a private airplane for 45 minutes so that you can have sex. For $100 more, it can be booked for a romantic one-course meal; for $1,595, you’ll get three courses. With any package, an extra $300 will get you a bottle of bubbly and ride to the tarmac in a limousine. Talk about a Valentine's Day gift to remember. Is this a great country or what?

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Easy Way (3-Clicks) to Fix Your TV's Picture

Problem: Your TV picture is unduly dark for many shows, even to the point where it's hard to see what's going on. Sometimes, it's the fault of the cinematographer. But sometimes, it's the fault of the TV's picture settings. You can spend an inordinate time going down each of the picture components (brightness, sharpness, contrast, color, etc.) fiddling and fiddling to no avail. And you find yourself giving up on shows such  as Goliath which you are being nagged and nagged to watch.

Easy Fix to Try: Go to Settings/Picture/Picture Mode and there will be several options with names that don't really mean anything, such as Drama, Movies, Sports, Dynamic, Natural, Standard. Whatever you're on, just click on one of the others, and you just might see that what was a darkened screen now is as bright and crystal clear as can be. So, you'll have to find another excuse not to watch Goliath.

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The Upside of Anxiety (Except When It Comes to Climate Change)

While I am blessed (or perhaps cursed) with living an anxiety-free life, many people who come to me for help seem plagued, distressed, and somewhat paralyzed by feelings of anxiety. What I've tried to tell them is that there is a difference between good and bad anxiety and getting rid of anxiety as opposed to lessening it is not the most functional way to frame the issue. As one might guess, no one listens to me on the topic. But I'm not alone in this view: This well-done article makes the same points, albeit taking more words to do so. At the same time, this other article explains that a wide range of people suffer anxiety and grief over climate, and I leave that topic to others.

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2022 Beijing Winter Olympics

I'm sure they are fantastic athletes, and persons of great drive and perseverance, and likely they grab the attention of people who live in climates that many people avoid like the plague, and most of the events seem to involve incredible skill. That said, most of the events seem to be things very few have ever done and many have never heard of, and only the cognoscenti of the sport can understand the commentary. Still, while the events might be boring to watch (e.g., ski jumpers no longer go hurdling over the tree tops), the photography is spectacular.

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Murderville (2022 TV Series on Netflix)

Based on the first episode, Murderville on Netflix is a total hoot. There's no way to describe it. It's improv with guest stars who are not murder detectives. The episodes are a half-hour ... always a big plus. You'll know within 15 minutes whether or not this is for you.

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The Woman in the House Across the Street From the Girl in the Window (8-part Series on Netflix)

Putting aside its overall stupidity, the problem with The Woman in the House Across the Street From the Girl in the Window is that it cannot figure out why it was made: It's not really a crime drama, although there are crimes some of which are hilarious; it's not really a spoof on the movies you'd see on Lifetime, although many of the scenes are laugh-out-loud take-offs on such scenes (although not enough of them); and it's not really gripping, although there is some difficulty turning away from it. Each episode is just a half-hour and goes along quite quickly. Most viewers likely get fed up and give up before watching all 8 episodes, but if you make it until the last one, well, I'm not going to spoil it for you, it's not what many would guess unless they thought about it.

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Removing a Show From Netflix

To remove a show from the Continue Watching Netflix list on your TV:

1. Find the show or movie you want to remove and click on it. 

2. Tap Remove from Continue Watching.

3. If you change your mind and want to undo your remove, click the back arrow.

To remove a show from the Continue Watching Netflix list on your computer:

1. Find the show you want to remove and place your cursor over the tile without opening it. 

2. Locate X on the list that appears under the tile's preview. It's next to the thumbs-down icon.

3. Tap Remove From Row. 

4. Netflix will prompt you to provide feedback, and then remove the title.

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Used Teslas May Cost More Than New Ones

As if the world has not turned upside down in many ways, this WSJ article provides a fascinating look at the market for used Teslas, where a used model might cost more than the same new model.

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Chutzpah

As a Talmudic scholar, I am called on for much advice and wisdom, or just for general information. Recently, I was asked what the word "chutzpah" meant. Here's what I told them:

Chutzpah is a Yiddish word basically meaning gall, brazen nerve, effrontery, sheer guts plus arrogance; it's Yiddish and, as Leo Rosten writes, "No other word and no other language can do it justice."  This example explains the word well:

A little old lady sold pretzels on a street corner for 25 cents each. Every day a young man would leave his office building at lunch time and as he passed the pretzel stand, he would leave her a quarter, but never take a pretzel. This went on for more than 3 years. The two of them never spoke. One day, as the young man passed the old lady's stand and left his quarter as usual, the pretzel lady spoke to him. Without blinking an eye she said: "They're 35 cents now."

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Water Leak Sensor

Water Leak Sensor technology has greatly improved and the cost has come way down. For under $100, indeed for about $50, you can monitor 3-5 or more areas on a real-time basis. Just put "water leak sensors" into The Amazon (without quotes) and you'll see a slew of options. One that has gotten a good review is the Govee available on Amazon which will send you an email or text alert wherever you might be in the world, which costs $55 with 3 sensors and you can add 2 more sensors for $22. Don't leave home without one.

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Further Tip re Amazon Fresh

For the first time, the delivery from Amazon Fresh did not include every ordered item. Rather, some substitutions were made. The bad news is that, unlike a Whole Foods order, there is no choice as to substitutions or chance to decline them. The good news is that, if you don't like the substitutions, just do a request for refund noting that the substitution was not satisfactory and an immediate refund will be issued without any need to return the substitute(s). Perhaps a coincidence, but the day this happened and this post was prepared, the WSJ's front page led with an article entitled The Bizarre World of Online Grocery Substitutions.

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Panera Bread

I decided to try Panera Bread with "free delivery." If you choose "Order Online," there appears to be a $4 delivery charge. If you go to the location website you're ordering from, at least for now, there appears to be "free" delivery although a $1 "convenience" charge will be added to cover the "ordering technology." Ordering what you want and customizing each order is very easy, and you can do so days in advance or any time up to 2 hours before you want delivery. At the end, you are invited but not required to leave a tip. Again, some confusion because it says the tip is not for the driver (the delivery is done by DoorDash) but then says both the driver and the cafe staff appreciate a tip. As to how an actual order came out and the food tasted, I have just one data point--a sandwich. It was delivered timely and contactless, but it was a warm sandwich wrapped in paper and not in aluminum foil, so it had to be re-wrapped to be kept warm in the oven until mealtime. I'm curious how they wrap their soups. Chips were included at no extra cost, or they snuck them onto the order when I wasn't looking, or I ordered them by mistake. Most important, the sandwich was quite tasty and the bread was delicious.

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Vacation Suggestions for Phoenicians

[Prefatory Note: An earlier post raved about the JSX Airlines, the only short-coming being the relatively few cities it serves. This post gives some examples of vacations one can do from Phoenix on JSX]

If you live in Phoenix and are looking to doing a vacation in San Francisco, Carmel, or other such place accessible from Oakland or doing a vacation in Santa Monica or other such Southern California place accessible from Burbank, and hate flying commercial as much as I do, take a look at JSX Airlines. The prices are better than Southwest, you avoid the terminals entirely, they will valet park your car when you arrive to leave and do a rental car for your right at the plane when you arrive, and it’s like flying business class in a small jet (cabins have 30 seats).

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Biden's Cancer Moonshot (Mulligan): Houston, We Have a Problem

[Prefatory Note: We don't do politics here. But we don't hesitate to poke]

Biden again announced (repeating his announcement when he was VP) of a "cancer moonshot" to "cut the cancer death rate by 50% over the next 25 years." Not sure what that means or how that is measured, but who's not for that? Hell, I'm for cutting the death rate irrespective of cause by 50% over the next 25 years. Doing so over the next year would be even better. Call me cynical, and I confess I am, but this kind of blustering announcement looks like just another attempt to change the topic from all the things he is and is not doing that are reducing his approval rating, including not focusing like a laser on the pandemic and the economy as he flits each day from one new issue (or sometimes two) to another new issue (or sometimes two). Hell, Mr. President, just focus like a laser on anything just to show you can focus like a laser.

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How to Become a Billionaire

The only disadvantage to what's called "cutting the cord," i.e., getting rid of the cable box, is how slow it is to switch between streaming sources. For many if not most or close to all cable box users, this is a big deal. The problem is compounded because each streaming source takes some time, often quite some time, to get to its home screen, and then it takes more time  to get to what you actually want to watch. I have checked with the board of directors, and anyone who can devise a patentable way to make switching between streaming sources as fast and easy as switching between cable channels will immediately be inducted into our billionaires club.

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Two New Chrome Features: Easy Share Link and Opening a Mistakenly-Closed Tab

Re-Opening Mistakenly-Closed Tab: If you mistakenly close a tab, with the latest Chrome update it now is easy to re-open in one click. Put the cursor in an empty space next to the tabs, right click, and select "Reopen closed tab" (without the quotes), and schzam, it will re-open.

Fixing Easy Share Link: The latest Chrome update added an option in the URL bar (a little box with an arrow at the right end next to the star) that lets one share a tab in various ways. One way is supposed to be by email although there are extensions to do that. But, if the email option does not appear when you click on the Easy Share button, this article gives four easy ways to fix it. Note that the first three might not work but the fourth might (I didn't try it ... I stopped caring given that I have a Share Link via Email extension that also gives one the option to email through Outlook or Gmail or any other email client).

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