January 6 Committee Is Disgracing Itself

To the stated frustration of AG Garland, the January 6 Committee has dug in to their position that they will not release any transcripts they have to DOJ until they publish their report to the public, which they say they hope to do before Xmas.  Putting aside that the January 6 Committee does not get to indict or prosecute anyone, and  that it has yet to propose any legislative fixes to address what happened on January 6, why it has chartered a course that insures the DOJ investigation and any ultimate indictment(s) or prosecutions(s) will take months if not more than a year longer to complete than it otherwise would have, remains a complete mystery to me. The only conclusion I can draw is that, given the chance, politicians never will pass on the opportunity to keep themselves front-and-center no matter how important any competing interest might be.

[EOP]

Google Lens

Google Lens (which at one time was available only on Pixel phones) is an app that likely is built into your camera app (look at settings/more in your camera app) and, if not, it can be downloaded  as a stand-alone app. Not only will it let you easily scan QR codes (just say "Okay Google" and tap the lens), but it will do all kinds of other things from identifying a dog to translating text.

[EOP]

The New Skinny on Body Mass Index (BMI)

As a creature of modesty, I have always shied from bragging about my incredible BMI. As it turns out, perhaps BMI is not a self-congratulatory metric. As this  NYT article explains, while BMI can be a helpful health measure for large groups of people, it won’t tell you much about yourself.

[EOP]

Why Victories Are Our Worst Teachers

In a luncheon at a law firm, the ostensible lead lawyer who had just won a major, complicated case, was asked to give a presentation about the case. When he was done explaining all the things he did to produce the victorious outcome, he was asked, "Did you make any mistakes?" Following a short pause, he responded, "No, we won."

The Arizona Republic ran as its cover story one of the longest articles it has ever written that related the Hobbs' team view as to how everything they did, every decision they made, every tactic they employed, served to produce Hobbs' victory over Lake. Their myopia is best illustrated by the singular fact that they have no idea if the decision not to debate Lake resulted in more votes for Hobbs than she otherwise would have gotten or fewer votes than she otherwise would have gotten or did not change one vote or the turnout by any possible voter.

The point: When we suffer a defeat, we have the ability to look at what we could have done better. When we suffer a victory, we are condemned to wearing blinders.

[EOP]

Elon Musk's Willingness to Protect Disinformation: Oh Well, It's Only the Pandemic

As explained and confirmed, and without announcing it as such, but through a note added to its website, “Effective November 23, 2022, Twitter is no longer enforcing the COVID-19 misleading information policy." As tweeted Dr. Simone Gold, a physician and leading purveyor of COVID-19 misinformation, this is a "win for free speech and medical freedom!" Some medical professionals are concerned, but Musk's view should put them at ease: "When confronted with the possibility that many people could die if they didn’t follow public health recommendations, Musk replied bluntly: 'Everybody dies.'”

[EOP]

Spectacular Early Failures Are Not Prologue to Underachievement

This video of Matt Turner's own goal is generally seen as capturing one of the great goalkeeper failures in history. It is akin to the failure of a 13 yo quarterback reaching out to hand a ball off to a half-back only to watch it be snagged by an onrushing defensive back who went 85 yards for a touchdown. We need not dwell on the later amateur and professional football feats of that kid, but Matt Turner went on to be a premier goalkeeper for Arsenal in the Premier League and a big reason the USA has had the success it has had in this year's World Cup. Relatedly, if you missed USA vs. Iran, you missed a fantastic sporting event in terms of tension and spirit, not to  mention the self-sacrificing goal by Christian Pulisic, who unlike Turner had no shameful early event in his life, but rather had all the pressure of being a prodigious phenom from his early teen years, and lived up to it on the biggest stage in the world.

PS: UNrelatedly, there was a very uncoordinated lad who "played" soccer (he had no clue what he was doing) and the coach put him at fullback, and thinking that getting the ball into the net was the point of the fame and not realizing that goals into the net behind him were not good, he kicked in and own-goal and was proud of it. When angry parents erupted in the stands, his biological parents and step-father stood up and screamed at those fans telling them to STFU, and cease their outrageous effort to deprive the lad of his moment in the  sun.

[EOP]

Another Chance for Republicans to Prove Their Stupidity

An earlier post highlighted the stupidity of a Arizona Republican state legislator who has vowed not to vote on any issues until the election results are thrown out (which they won't be), reducing the Republican majority in the State House to 1-vote. Now, the Pillow Guy, who is a total nut job, has announced that he is running to head the Republican National Committee. We wish him all the best and hope he carries the day.

[EOP] 

A Step Closer to Vindication of My Position on LIV Golf

I alone, from the beginning, bravely (and brilliantly) took the stated position that the PGA Tour would have to reach some accommodation with LIV Golf. I have been the subject of much verbal abuse and denigration as a result. Now, with Tiger Woods joining Rory McIlroy by coming out saying that Greg Norman has to go, the message is clear: The PGA Tour's "changes" are not going bury LIV Golf, LIV Golf is not going away, and a negotiated accommodation is possible as long as Greg Norman is not the person on the other side of the table. So, watch the Saudis buy off Norman and get rid of him, watch the PGA Tour buy off Jay Monahan and get rid of him, and then watch what the two sides come up with, and then please apologize.

[EOP] 

I-Bonds Quirk: The New 6.49% I-Bonds Will Yield More Than the 9.62% I-Bonds

Those who picked up new I bonds yielding 6.89% in the latest auction will find themselves making more money in a few years than those who rushed in to grab the old, higher rate of 9.62%. How is that possible? Take a deep dive into the intricacies of I Bonds below and consider matching with a financial advisor for free to see if I Bonds make sense in your portfolio. The reason is that rates on I bonds are made up of two components: a guaranteed base rate and an adjustable inflation rate that changes with every new semi-annual auction. That eye-popping 9.62% rate was guaranteed only for the first six months that investors hold their bonds. After that, the rate will be heading down while the rate on the November 2022 bonds will be steadily staying up. This article explains it all in more detail.

[EOP]

 

How to Be Smart About RMDs

If you think the RMDs cannot be managed in multiple ways, you are likely leaving money on the table that easily could be in your pocket instead. This WSJ article explains the various factors to take into account and steps that might be taken viz RMDs to keep more of your money instead of giving it to the government.

[EOP]

Taxes After Getting Married

After getting married, it often makes sense to file joint tax returns. But sometimes, it actually doesn't. Various factors should be taken into account in deciding one's filing status in available tax credits, net capital losses, SALT deductions, Social Security, limits on mortgage interest rate deductions, and the state and city you live in. Filing separately might be the far better way to go where the parties have significant income differentials or medical deductions or, and this is not as rare as one might think, one of the parties is a tax cheat and the other party wants no part of going to prison.

[EOP]

Oh How Glorious It Would Be If All the Trump Republicans Were So Stupid

You might think the post-election claptrap of the losing Trump-backed candidates and their supporters would be the height of nonsense. But their amateurs. Newly elected Arizona Republican state representative Liz Harris has "just pledged to withhold voting on any legislation next year unless the state holds another election 'immediately.'" Given the Republicans 2-vote majority in that chamber, we can only wish that there are other Republican elected officials who are as moronically stupid as Harris.

[EOP]

Air Fryer Toasters

I have been pummeled over the holidays as to what air fryer I use. The NDA I signed prohibits me from disclosing that information. But what I can share is this Wirecutter article which explains why air fryer toasters are a necessity for every kitchen and what it's top 3 picks are.

[EOP]

The French Dispatch (2020 Movie on HBO Max)

The French Dispatch is not for everyone, but if you like it, you'll love it because it's s so well done and so amazingly casted and acted, and is classic Wes Anderson (The Grand Budapest Hotel, Moonrise Kingdom, The Royal Tenenbaums, Rushmore). It's very quirky. I'd love to summarize it, but that's above my abilities. It's a series of stories, but then, that's what art is. In all events, you should know within a half hour or so if you like it, but you might change your mind half way through.

[EOP]

Importance of Cleaning the Dishwasher Filter

If there's one thing I don't understand, it's people's apparent disregard of the importance of cleaning their dishwasher filter. As this NYT article explains, doing so takes but a few minutes every few months and not only will keep your dishwasher smelling fresh as a daisy, it also can avert serious damage to your dishwasher that might result in a costly repair bill or worse.

[EOP] 

This Term's Supreme Court Cases: Even More Disastrous Than Last Term's

Whatever one thinks of the Supreme Court's overruling Roe vs. Wade, it left the right to have an abortion up to the states and, as such, at least allowed abortions to proceed (albeit with undue burdens placed on poor people living in states with restrictive abortion laws). But the cases coming up will eliminate without any safety valve the pillars of democracy that have been entrenched not only by the Warren and Burger courts, but by Congress in enacting the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments, and the Voting Rights Act. Here, then, is what's going to happen: After shredding Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, the Court now will shred Section 2; affirmative action or taking race into account in any way to rectify the harms of discrimination and segregation will be declared unconstitutional (the 13th-15th amendments had promised to rectify the evils of slavery which necessarily meant looking to race in formulating corrective actions, and now looking at race will be deemed taboo); state legislatures will no longer be constrained by state constitutions in their redistricting decisions and likely any other decisions; the Clean Air Act will be eviscerated; and the free speech clause will be declared to allow businesses (public accommodations) to discriminate against (deny service to) anyone they don't want to on any arbitrary ground (e.g., same-sex marriage or LGBTQ). And in the main, these decisions will not just be looking at issues of first impressions, they will be overruling and dismantling previous  decisions that recognized that constitutional rights and personal liberties might evolve over time in favor of the view that only rights that existed in the 1700s are deserving of constitutional protection. I know I'll get flack for this, but let's agree to hold our flintlock powder and, instead of arguing or engaging in our second amendment right to duel, just see what happens. 

[EOP]

Two Sales' Tactics to Be Wary Of

 1. Sinister Online Fees: Fees stated online, such as airline and short-term rental (STRs) fees, more often than not fail to inform one of the actual cost of what one is buying. That's not the big problem. The  big problem is it makes comparative shopping more difficult. As to STRs, the daily unit rate is one factor of the total price, so it's important, especially for comparative shopping purposes, to look at the other charges (e.g., cleaning fees; turning on the pool heater fees; taxes; service charges; etc.) which easily can turn a $300 for a 1-night stay into $600 charge. Similarly, as to airlines, the stated price often excludes various charges (e.g., checked baggage fees; seating preference charges; reserving a seat; etc.) which can double the initial stated charge. It's called "drip pricing," and when it comes to it, don't be a drip.

2. The Price Ending in 99 Gambit: While everyone knows that there is no real price/cost difference between something that costs $4.99 and something that costs $5.00, few of us fail to appreciate that when buying something whose price ends in 99, we likely overpaid. Rather than trust me on this, this WSJ article explains the point better than I can.

[EOP]

Holiday in Santa Fe (2021 Movie on Lifetime)

If you've never spent Xmas in Santa Fe, or if you have and wish to do so (viscerally) again, Holiday in Santa Fe is the movie for you ... although there's not one shot of any luminarias. It stars Mario Lopez in what might be his best and most daring performance since Saved by the Bell. I will not reveal the shocking ending, but the story is a totally novel one about a big company's possible buying of a local business run by a family for generations and what happens when the beautiful corporate executive (played by the irrepressible Emeraude Toubia, although we might have preferred Marisa Tomei or even Sandra Bullock) comes to Santa Fe at Xmas to negotiate the deal with the handsome local dude. There's your classic ham throwing contest that Santa Fe is famous for and I won't tell you who wins, and the traditional chili eating contest that Santa Fe is famous for and again I won't tell you who wins. I will do one spoiler alert: If you think the unveiling of the annual glass sculpture by the daughter in honor of her deceased mother will be spectacularly beautiful, I've got a bridge to sell you--it seems to be a joke the director or screenwriter put in to punish  anyone who lasted that long watching the movie.

[EOP]

Dead to Me (Season 3 on Netflix)

Season 3 of Dead to Me is now available on Netflix. There's a recap of the first two seasons that might leave one wondering why hardly any of it is remembered. It's a bit confusing. But the two leads are so wonderful that it holds your attention. And the episodes are a half-hour which is always a big plus.

[EOP]

Steps to Take When Computer Goes a Bit Blooey

You might wake up one morning, often on a holiday, and sense that something's not right with your computer. It could be anything, like a lag or latency in the sound or keystrokes, the inability of PC Settings to bring up certain components, or any number of annoyances. Here's what to try (after creating a restore point in case of a mess up):

1. As the number one go-to fix, just re-boot the computer.

2. Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run a system file checker scan (by typing in sfc /scannow and hit Enter).

3. Uninstall the last system update.

4. Run a troubleshooter from the Update Settings page.

5. Run deep virus scans.

6. Roll the computer back to an earlier point with System Restore.

[EOP]

Should Trump Be the Focus of the January 6 Committee's Report?

This WaPo article sets out the grumblings of 15 current and former staff members of the January 6 Committee, speaking anonymously. While they lack the nerve to let us know who they are (as if anyone cares anyhow), they are upset that Liz Cheney has directed the final report to concentrate on Trump and not spend enough time covering other parts of the story that they worked on including law enforcement's failure to assess the looming threat. Yeah, Trump gets too much press coverage as it is, so why be obsessed, as they claim Cheney is, with Trump's role to try to overturn the 2020 election and stop Congress from doing its constitutional duty in a studied course to sell a big lie to foment an armed insurrection against the country? 

[EOP]

Wordle Hint

Everyone who did Wordle on Thanksgiving realized that the solution word was a holiday-themed word. As such, it presented the best shot ever of getting the solution on the first try. Instead of wasting time banging your head against the wall for not realizing the theme angle, start thinking now about the Xmas day and New Year's day to come, which likely will be theme words.

[EOP] 

Guideline re Spelling Bee

The Daily Spelling now has "hints" you can look at it. It didn't always (indeed, initially they didn't even tell you about the Queen Bee). It is permissible AFTER you get to Genius to look at the top line of the Hints to see how many words are needed to get the Queen Bee. There's nothing to stop you from looking at the further hints, but if you do so to claim you got the Queen Bee, it's cheating. Everyone except one semi-loyal reader knows this, and they covered up their cheating until after suspicions were raised by the frequency with which they got the Queen Bee and they were subjected to a mild cross-examination under which they quickly crumbled. Cheating with the Hints is now named after them ever memorializing their shame and disgrace, but we will keep the name confidential to protect their privacy and protect them from the angry mob that might be stirred to take action against them. BTW, another family member of them has the uncanny ability to immediately see a pangram 99+% of the time, and doing that is now named for and in honor of them.

[EOP]

The Automat (2021 Documentary on HBO and HBO Max)

Before turning to The Automat, the most impressive aspect of this production is Lisa Hurwitz, the producer and creator. Be sure to watch her interview before and after the show about how, never having made a film before, she made this project happen and how she got some amazing people not only to take part in it (RBG, Colin Powell, Howard Schulz), but to headline it and write a song for it (Mel Brooks). She is an amazing example of just doing it, even if much of the interviews themselves seemed a bit schmaltzy and fanciful. Yeah, she just did it!

Most people reading this likely never stepped foot in a Horn & Hardart Automatic, the place where you put nickles in a slot in exchange for beverage or food. It was a landmark and wildly successful and beloved undertaking in New York and Philadelphia for decades. Ultimately, changing demographics and lifestyles sealed its doom. But the key point, missed by the documentary and even by IMDb (which described it as a "[d]ocumentary that centers on the vending machine popularized in the 20th century that offered fresh cooked meals in a commissary-style eatery"), as one of its outside counsel explained to his young son, "these were the dumbest people I've ever met ... they had the idea for the vending machine sitting write in front of them for years, and never thought to make it a stand-alone device." To be fair, he had yet to meet and "appreciate" the dumbness of some friends I would bringing home, nor did ever meet the person(s) at Western Union who turned down the Bell telephone patent for $50K because, as they saw it, no one would want such a thing ringing in their home.

[EOP]

Balmuda: Best Kettles and Toasters

The time to upgrade your toaster and kettle experience is now, and the brand to do it with is Balmuda.

The Toaster: The  Toaster uses steam technology and precise temperature control to enhance the three essential elements of any culinary delight. It features four distinct steam-driven modes and an Oven Mode. What makes BALMUDA The Toaster  unique is the five cc's of water poured in at the beginning of each toast. Heating more rapidly than air, the steam locks in the bread's inner moisture before the surface is given a golden brown finish. This process draws out the delicious aroma and flavor unlike any other. It also reheats pizza better than anything else can. 

                                                        

The Kettle: A built-in thermometer is one reason pour over devotees love this kettle, which offers an incredibly smooth and even pour. It's amazingly comfortable to hold and it's beautiful. 

[EOP]

Limiting the Scope of This Blog

This blog, which was someone else's idea and one which we always have appreciated, was initially focused as a vehicle to bank tech and consumer tips for future reference. We will still being do that (e.g., the latest Wirecutter highlights the fabulous TV deals coming on Black Friday). But over the years, we have often covered matters of science (especially, the pandemic) as it impacts people. While we might do a post now and then on a science issue (including, the so-called pandemic) if circumstances warrant, we are going to try to avoid it. As we see it, any new information we might highlight in a post is likely of no interest to most people, and those for whom it might be of interest very likely know about it already. 

[EOP]

Post-Mueller Revisionism

Andrew Weissman was a senior prosecutor on Mueller's staff who had a great reputation at the time and now seems to make his living doing commentary on CNN.  He just wrote a piece for the NYT explaining, among other things, the supposed difference between the new special counsel's role and what Mueller faced. Here is his opening point: "Most notably, because of Justice Department policy, Mr. Mueller was forbidden to charge a sitting president. Now that Mr. Trump is a former president, Mr. Smith is not subject to that limitation." That is total bunk, as this blog pointed out years ago. First, there was NO impediment to Mueller recommending an indictment and prosecution. Second, there were clear applicable exceptions in the DOJ guidelines (which were guidelines, not laws or regulations) that allowed for indictment and prosecution. It is true that Barr ultimately took the leeway Mueller gave him to pervert the process. But Mueller and his team, all of whom remained silent as to Trump's conduct (particularly for obstruction) being indictable.

PS: If there were no exception in DOJ's guidelines for indicting and prosecuting a sitting president, Trump could go out in Times Square, with a firearm obtained illegally under federal law, and commit a federal hate crime massacre, and walk away.

[EOP]

Easy Wordle Word Answer Often the Most Difficult

Today, on the second guess, I had every letter correct except the first box. Still, because of the number of possible words, it took me until the 5th row to get the word, making a serious dent in my stats. Games that have a little bit of luck, like golf, are fun, because the better you are, the less luck comes into play or the more luck seems to break your way. But in Wordle, no matter how good you are, luck can be the biggest factor.

[EOP]

Best-Buy vs. Expiration Dates

Please do not confuse or conflate "best-by" dates with "expiration dates." "Most packaged foods like cheese provide a best-by date. Although commonly confused with an expiration date, it instead indicates the date until which a food is of the best quality. This means that a food item — with the exception of infant formula — may still be safe to eat once this date passes. It may simply lack the optimal flavor or texture.”

[EOP]

Instant Replay in the NFL

Instant replay is a fantastic device to check the abuses, negligence, and shortcomings of human beings' calling rules infractions and other things in sporting contests. In baseball, except for balls and strikes (which soon won't need instant replay anyhow when human ball/strike umpiring is retired), everything seems reviewable, and it's led to results that are less erroneous. But football has its own arcane protocols as to what is reviewable and what is not. The Eagles lost to the Washington Football Club because of a missed face mask call. The Eagles beat the Colts because of a missed face mask call. There is no good reason on this sweet earth why both those plays could not and should not have been reviewed, along with everything else.

[EOP]

What's a Family?

With Thanksgiving around the corner and families getting together, I've been asked what exactly is a family. And here is what I say: A family is a bunch of people who keep confusing you with someone you were as a kid. 

[EOP]

How to Decide a Close Election

Ed Montini is a top-rate columnist for the Arizona Republic, and a fabulous story teller. We wish he had been earlier on the Superintendent of Education race and the dog-ate-my-homework absence of Sinema in failing to join the forces of good against the nut-job MAGA election-denier assault on the democratic process. That said, here is a wonderful story he read out this morning about how, in a civilized, mature world, a close election, indeed a tied election, might be and should be decided.

[EOP]

Covid Vaccines: Good News and Bad News

The good news about the latest iteration of Covid bi-valent vaccines is that they are more effective than any of their predecessors and they are easy to get because few people want them. The good news about future iterations (including nasal spray versions) is that they will be even more effective against even more variants and likely would be easier to get because probably even fewer people will want them. Actually, no matter how many people want them, and no matter how many people might benefit from them, the bad news, as set out in this NYT article, is that our government (led by the Republicans) has blocked funding for the new vaccines, which means that the next generation of Covid vaccines may well be designed here, but used elsewhere. Isn't it wonderful that the pandemic is over? Isn't it wonderful that we have the best medical system and the most enlightened democracy in the world right here in America?

[EOP]

Stop Mis-Analyzing the 2022 Elections

Everyone knows (or should know) that correlation does not mean causation:

Everyone knows (or should know) that, because A happens before B, that does not mean A caused B. And everyone knows (or should know) that, because A was successful in something (e.g., winning a lawsuit or winning an election), it might be impossible to say whether A won because of what A did or despite what A did or because of what B did or despite what B did. Included in the term "everyone" is pundit and commentator. So, with that, please, stop listening to the theories as to why they or anyone says any candidate won or lost an election this cycle ... they have no clue ... they're just blathering.

[EOP]

 

PS re Special Counsel Appointment

Yesterday's post took righteous and rightful outrage at Garland's appointment of a special counsel. If Garland were looking to have someone else (some supposedly more independent) make the decision whether or not to indict and prosecute Trump, that would be one thing--reasonable people could differ on that score. BUT, that's not what he's done. The special counsel's charge is to make a report and recommendation to Garland for him to make the decision whether or not to indict or prosecute. So, this does not shield Garland in any way or give him any semblance of impartiality and fairness he already didn't have. In short, the legitimacy in the eyes of the public of whatever happens is not going to change one bit because someone other than a DOJ staffer is making the recommendation to Garland. Time is running out. The special counsel appointment might insure that the game clock will have run, and the pity is, for no good reason. And as bad, instead of setting the tone that the document in particular is run of the mill and an ex-president is subject to the law just like everyone else, Garland (just like that judge in Florida did who was excoriated for doing so) has given the case a special aura it and Trump and do not deserve.

[EOP] 

DNS Server Not Responding (and Repeated Tip re Cox and Lost Internet Connections)

If you lose internet connection and the error message you get (through your troubleshooting or otherwise) is "DNS server not responding," The Google will give you more than 10 things to try on your computer to address the issue. This might be the most common error message when you lose internet connection, and 99% of the time, the issue is not with your computer, it's with your ISP's (Cox's) server. That doesn't mean you'll see or get notice of any outage, because it's something Cox does not "see" as a matter of course, and will not "see" unless and until a given number of service calls are scheduled in a particular node. So, do not hesitate to schedule a service call, but set it at least 2 days out because, in all likelihood, you will be canceling it. In the meantime, remember, you can tether your phone to your computer with 1-click to enjoy internet access during the outage.

PS: As a further check whether the problem is with your computer, check your streaming ability on your TV. If that's out, while it does not exclude a problem with the modem or router (which are possible but again unlike sources of the problem), it's further proof the problem is not with your computer.

[EOP]

DOJ Special Prosecutor for Trump Criminal Cases

Whatever the complexities of the January 6 case, it is impossible to understand where there is any difficult issue of proof or law in the Mara Lago document case against Trump. Yet, we are nearly two years since he walked off with a trove of documents, and DOJ has known about it since just about Day One. I hope we are not, but I fear we are in for another protracted and disappointing "Mueller Show" ... as month after month goes by devoted to the preparation of a report with endless commentary of what the "investigation must be turning up." At the very least, it is inexplicable to me, even if one believes that appointment of a special prosecutor made sense, why two were not appointed--one for each case, so that the document case preparation could be over and done quickly, and an indictment brought quickly.

[EOP] 

The Crown (Season 5 on Netflix)

Putting aside any issue as to historical accuracy as to which we have no knowledge or opinion, Season 5 of the Crown is excellent theatre. The acting is outstanding and the scripts are tight and compelling. Each episode focuses with some precision on a particular event and person(s) and has a beginning, middle, and ending. So, while you can't wait for what comes next, it leaves you satisfied that a complete short story has been told.

[EOP]

Grand Traverse Pie Company

Some of us like to do all our own fruit pie baking. But we understand there are others less gifted in that area. They likely buy their pies at a grocery or spend a little more to buy them at a specialty shop or farmer's market. But for anyone willing to spend a tad more for the pie and bit for shipping, the Grand Traverse Pie Company is where to have your pies (and other baked goods) made and shipped to you from. Consistent with the general rule that it's never a good idea to go food shopping while you're hungry, you might apply the same guardrail before looking at the GTPC website. Bon appetite! 

[EOP]

Some Observations on Covid

[These are lay observations. They are not based on any medical or other expertise]

1. Covid is not fun to be infected with.

2. Paxlovid is very helpful in keeping one out of the hospital. It does not in itself treat one's Covid symptoms, which just have to run their course.

3. One can get Covid no matter how careful one might be and even if bi-valent boosted. That said, to avoid getting infected with Covid, it is better to be careful than being not careful. Once someone in the household gets Covid, it is difficult to avoid having others become infected.

4. A few responsible entities (including many, but not all, medical facilities) have continued reasonable mitigation efforts such as screening entrants to their facilities and requiring masks.

5. The vast majority of entities have taken the permission the CDC (and the courts) have given to abandon such mitigation efforts as a license to abandon them. This includes houses of worship which have long abandoned any semblance of care for or concern to protect the health of their parishioners and even some substantial medical facilities whose supposed mission (beyond first doing no harm) is to promote the health of their patients and the community.

6. The latest spike of infections has already begun in Arizona (with a dramatic rise in cases and emergency room visits) and elsewhere. Given that the pandemic has been declared over, and the CDC has become fundamentally a political body, the chance of any resumption of any mitigation efforts by houses of worship is essentially zero and by irresponsible medical facilities slim to zero. 

7. Neither houses of worship nor medical facilities will give any explanation as to why they are dropping their mask mandates beyond saying the CDC and the courts have allowed them to. The truth is everyone knows why they have done so. Their real concern is not their congregants or their patients. Their real concern is their financial well-being and, as they see it, requiring masks costs them money. This is not complicated, nor is it the first occasion nor will it be the last that such institutions elevate their own financial interests above any supposed mission they claim to be carrying out.

Here's the bottom-line: We as a country have made a choice, and that choice is that those now highly vulnerable to a really bad outcome from Covid are few enough that no one, not any church, not any medical facility that so chooses, need concern themselves in any way, and surely need not suffer the terrible, overwhelming burden of putting on a mask or asking others to do so.

[EOP]

How to Read a Finger Oximeter

A finger oximeter is an inexpensive, fast way to check one's oxygen saturation level which is something to monitor when one has or might have Covid. If the number readouts look like jibberish, it doesn't mean there is a battery issue or changing the batteries will do any good (even changing them 3 times). Nor does it mean there's anything wrong with the device. Here's the thing: The device is meant to be read by the person administering the test, not the person taking the test (i.e., not the person whose fingers goes into the device). The person taking the test is actually looking at the readout upside down. So, if you  look at it from the other direction (i.e., from where a person administering the test would be standing), all is likely readable and clear. Fortunately, there is no need to have anyone administer the test ... it's easy to do by oneself.

[EOP]

Stanley Quencher

The Stanley Quencher is by far the best travel mug ever. Things stay hot or cold in it for eons (how it knows the difference between hot and cold is a mystery), holds 40 ounces, is made of recycled stainless steel, and fits in a car cup holder. The advanced FlowState™ lid features a rotating cover with three positions: a straw opening designed to resist splashes while holding the reusable straw in place, a drink opening, and a full-cover top. The ergonomic handle includes comfort-grip inserts for easy carrying.

[EOP]

Streaming Big for Little Cost: Samsung Freestyle Projector

For those who have refused to move to a decent size television, there is now an amazing alternative for watching movies and other streaming services for just a few hundred dollars: The Samsung Freestyle Projector. It is a snap to set up, takes up no space and needs nothing extra (just plug it in), has the streaming apps built-in, provides excellent sound, works inside and outside, and casts an image up to 100" wide. It gets rave reviews:

[EOP]

Bob Woodward's Confessed Criminality

In an appearance on CNN before Trump's announcing his 2024 candidacy, Bob Woodward boasted that his taped interviews of Trump confirmed that, in early 2020, Trump was aware of the real dangers of Covid and what needed to be done, but refused to take the steps he could and should have been taken. As Woodward put it, Trump's tape-recorded statements "proved criminality on Trump's part in remaining silent," which resulted in the needless deaths of 100s of thousands of Americans that need not have died. If that is so, then Woodward's silence for months on the matter constituted aiding and abetting and covering up, if not conspiring in, Trump's criminality. Surely, the founders did not intend that freedom of the press was to include the freedom to shield presidential felonies.

[EOP] 

The Newest Prius

Toyota just announced its newest Prius and Prius Prime (a plug-in hybrid), which not only are cool looking, but give a big power boost and enhanced fuel efficiency. Most important, it's stylish inside and out:

 [EOP]

PS re Importance of Georgia Senate Race Runoff

In addition to the reasons listed in yesterday's post about the importance of the runoff for the senate seat in Georgia, here's another one: With a 50/50 split, while the VP has the deciding vote on any measure brought to the floor, the committees are 50/50 Dems and Reps and there is no such deciding vote; but with a 51/49 split, the Dems will have a majority on each committee.

[EOP]

PS re Covid Protocol Post of Yesterday

Forget everything you read about what the loyal reader said in yesterday's post about Covid and Paxlovid. You might do well to ignore or disbelieve anything any nurse practitioner tells you. Be sure you check with a doctor who has some clue about what they are doing. In the meantime, when assessing whether possible side-effects are worth the risk, here is excellent advice as to how to assess and balance the risk.

[EOP] 

The Stakes in the Georgia Senate Runoff

While the Dems will control the Senate for the next two years no matter who wins the runoff in Georgia, there are three reasons the outcome matters: First, it will be yet another instance of a Trump candidate losing and you can't have too many of those; second, it will make it easier in 2024 and 2026 for the Dems to control the Senate; and third, it will erode the ability of either Sinema and Manchin alone to impose their will.

[EOP] 

Really Weird Headline Announcing Hobbs' Victory and a Further Thought on the Election

Here is the headline from the Arizona Republic announcing that Hobbs beat Lake in the governor's race:

One has to wonder if they would have run the same headline had Kari Lake won, just changing the name.

Further thought on this race: I think it is fair to say that Hobbs' victory is the result of having a complete loon as an opponent whose crazed approach could not overcome a deeply flawed candidate who ran a deeply flawed campaign. If Taylor Robson had won the Republican primary, we just might have had a different 5th female as governor of Arizona.

[EOP]

Three Concession Speeches

Tim Ryan (Ohio Senate Race):  “I had the privilege to concede this race to J.D. Vance. Because the way this country operates is that you lose an election, you concede. You respect the will of the people. We can’t have a system where if you win, it’s a legitimate election, and if you lose, someone stole it. That is not how we can move forward in the United States. … I’m concerned that this country, as we move forward, it may get worse before it gets better. But we need good people who are going to honor the institutions of this country.”

Julie Gunnigle (Maricopa County Attorney Race): The outcome is "a continuation of the legacy of corruption within the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office."

Hillary Clinton (2016 Presidential Race): "Last night, I congratulated Donald Trump and offered to work with him on behalf of our country. I hope that he will be a successful president for all Americans." 

[EOP]

Covid-19 Protocol

[Prefatory Note: This was sent in by a loyal reader, and seemed to make some reasonable points. It is NOT intended as medical advice. Put plainly, always check with your doctor] 

If you feel piqued one morning, and your plans call for you to be out among people (and, of course, people who need people are the luckiest people in  the world), there is no down-side to doing a home rapid Covid test and much upside in doing so. Should you test positive, the last thing you want to do is risk infecting others and the first thing you want to do is contact your doctor. As it turns out, you don't need a confirming PCR test for your doctor to prescribe an anti-viral ... you just need to "meet" with the medical staff and that can be done virtually and remotely. When you do so meet, be sure the person you are talking  to is aware of all your medications--for example, Paxlovid is counter-indicated if you are on certain blood pressure meds, but they can prescribe it to cover the contingency your symptoms become worse under the proviso that you stop taking certain medications before taking Paxlovid.

[EOP]

Best Catch of the Year ... Some Say Maybe Ever

Click on this link.

The English (2022 TV Series on Amazon Prime)

Although they referred to it as English, they apparently mean The English, a semi-loyal reader with spotty credentials highly recommends this. With Emily Blunt and Stephen Rea, this could be a winner. I'll get to it as soon as I'm done with The Crown.

[EOP]

God Forbid (2022 Movie on Hulu)

God Forbid starts with the story of the former pool attendant at the Fontainebleau Hotel, who shares the intimate details of his 7-year relationship with a charming older woman, Becki Falwell, and her husband, the Evangelical Trump stalwart Jerry Falwell Jr. But it takes a searing look at the relationship of the Falwell's endorsement to bring the Evangelical vote to Trump. It covers a lot of ground and sub-issues, but certainly is a daunting look at a world you might rather not look at.

[EOP]

Understanding the 2022 Election

With Biden's approval rating in the basement, and inflation the highest it's been in 40 years, and the stock market having lost 16% this year, while I'm pleased beyond punch with the election results, I do not begin to understand them.

[EOP] 

Fox News on the Coming Red Wave Tsunami

With thanks to a loyal reader for bring this to our attention, this Fox News montage is highly enjoyable Shakespearean hubris at its best.

[GOP]

Big Loser in 2022 Elections Beside Trump

Trump proved in 2022 that, however much good it does in the primary, his endorsement does not insure victory in the general election. But he's not necessarily the big loser. The big loser just might turn out to be Kyrsten Sinema, who proved that her help is not needed for a Democrat to win an election, but her declining to try to help the Democrats is not going to go unnoticed. If she doesn't think Gallegos is not going to pose a serious difficulty for her in her 2024 primary, I've got a bridge to sell her.

[EOP]

Best Newspaper Cover re 2022 Elections

 

[EOP]

Understanding the Crypto Currency World

We have confessed that we do not understand anything about the crypto currency world. Until now, the nub of our confusion was a lack of understanding of what crypto currency is (which we do not believe turns on what the definition of is is). But with the FTX bankruptcy we have become even further lost at sea. Here's why: FTX is an exchange. Specifically, FTX is a cryptocurrency exchange that promotes the liquidity and transacting of coins and tokens, by allowing users to connect their wallets, place trades, exchange digital currencies, enter into derivative contracts, or buy/sell NFTs. Put another way, FTX is an exchange. So, what the heck does it mean that it declared bankruptcy or that it lost $8 billion of people's funds? I ask only because, as I understand it, FTX is an exchange. By way of analogy, the NYSE is an exchange. It allows buyers and sellers to do transactions. It does not hold other people's funds, or so I thought. Given all that, one might wonder if I were to say I converted all my assets into crypto currencies. 

[EDC]

Excellent Pithy Recap of the 2022 Mid-Term Elections

David Brooks on The News Hour:  "And I think that was voters saying, we don't like the Democrats, but we — there was a good summary. They preferred a party that was sort of out of touch to a party that was out of their minds."

[EOP]

How to Test a Democratic Presidential Nominee for 2024

A recent piece by Frank Bruni sets out who he sees as possible Democratic nominees for the 2024 presidential race assuming Biden is not the nominee (as the article notes, James Clyburn refused to answer the question put to him as to whether Biden should seek re-election). Bruni's top 3 candidates are Harris, Buttigieg, and Whitmer. Most everyone will agree that it should not be Harris or Buttigieg (or at a minimum see the serious shortcomings of each), and likely everyone would agree Whitmer could be the best candidate if she can handle the national stage. Here's how to find out if she can do so: Have Harris resign as VP and put in Whitmer. If she cuts the mustard as they say, we have our candidate. If not, we're no worse off than we are today in finding one. 

[EOP] 

Blood Pressure Monitor Recommendations

This Wirecutter article gives its top 3 picks for home blood pressure monitors.

[EOP]

Divorcing in the Face of High Inflation

In almost all circumstances (as long as the parties can get past their anger), divorce is better for the mental and emotional health of all who go through it. At the same time, with inflation running high, the same cannot be said for the financial health of all involved. Here are some ways to minimize the financial negatives:

1. Try to settle as many issues as possible without the involvement of lawyers whose prices have jumped from already ridiculous levels.

2. With mortgage rates having soared, making house sales more difficult, what to do with the house becomes a major problem. One increasingly popular solution is for both parties to remain in the house on an interim basis. 

3. Dividing investment accounts equitably has become increasingly tricky especially in view of  varying tax liabilities depending on the nature of the holding. 

4. If spousal or child support is involved, COLAs can be budget buster.

5. Filing separate income tax returns will result in less money for each party than filing a  joint return, but there are ways as noted below to continue filing joint returns.

Recommendation: Consider a post-nuptial agreement that can accomplish things such as keeping everyone on a family health insurance plan and allow for filing a joint income tax return.

[EOP]

PS: Corrective Note re Republicans Taking the Senate

Further to a previous post, there are two major implications of the outcomes of the pending senate races albeit, as said in that post, the irrelevancy as to legislation over the next two years. First, an immediate impact would be felt if the Republicans control the Senate should there be a  Supreme Court vacancy. Second, looking to 2024, the fewer seats the Democrats need to hold onto or to flip the better in terms of their odds for controlling the senate from there on.

[EOP] 

Big Post-Election Question: The GOP Remora in the Room

If the surprising and heartening results of the 2022 elections really mean that the electorate is not as interested on airing the supposed grievance of the 2020 presidential election having been stolen, that Trump's hold on the party has been broken, that he is no longer seen as a viable presidential candidate for 2024, that his endorsement is no longer essential and might even be viewed as a detriment to being elected, and that McCarthy will lose the speakership because of his kowtowing to Trump in Mara Lago, and should the Senate not flip and McConnel not become majority leader, who will Senator Remora, aka Lindsay Graham, glom onto?

[EOP] 

Lengthening the Life of Your Cellphone Battery: Rules for Smart Charging

1. Do not rely on knock-off chargers because they lack the circuity to switch off when there's too much power.

2. Do not rely on cheap power banks because they likewise lack overcharge protection.

3. Do not download/use so-called battery-performance apps that monitor your battery life, because they constantly use power that will degrade the battery.

4. While there's little you can do about it, lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batters have a limited number of charging cycles before they degrade. Just saying.

5. Do not use your phone while it is charging because doing so can rapidly increase the temperature putting a strain on the battery.

6. Take the case off while charging especially if you notice it heats up during charging.

[EOP]

Tip re Bananas

If you put bananas out, they tend to lose their firmness fairly quickly and might even become ugly and barely edible sooner than you wish. If you put them in the refrigerator, they will last much longer but ultimately become difficult to peel and might even be firmer than you wish when diced as the foundation for your yoghurt and berries breakfast. Here's the trick: When you first bring your weekly banana supply home from the store, put 7 of them in the refrigerator and leave two out. Then, as you continue to use one from the bowl, move one from the refrigerator to the bowl. In this way, they will all remain edible and firm but not suffer refrigeratoritis.

[EOP] 

Tip re Noble Breads

If you order a sandwich, your order won't be ready until about 10:45 am. But, if all you order is the Ziti (or Lasagna), which comes with a Caesar salad and loaf of bread, and put it in at 8 am, it likely will be ready to be  picked up by 8:37 am. So what you might ask. Well, if you want the pasta for a lunch dish, and your typical and preferred lunch time is 11:30 am, that will make all the difference.

[EOP]

The Crown (Season 5 on Netflix)

The newest season of the Crown is now available on Netflix. It's historically inaccurate, and has been widely debunked on that score. It also is entertaining, especially after getting used to an actor from The Wire playing Prince Charles.

[EOP]

Wordle Just Got "Spelling Beed"

Every NYT Spelling Bee aficionado knows that the bozos who choose what words count and don't count in Spelling Bee are not only playing with a half a deck and are many slices short of a loaf, their "dictionary" has an on-again/off-again relationship with every dictionary and apparently with some sources that are not dictionaries. Why rant? They are taking over Wordle. Not figuratively. Really. As the NYT just announced, "[t]he game will have a Times-curated word list and will be programmed and tested like the Spelling Bee and the Crossword,” the announcement reads, “… answers will be drawn from the same basic dictionary of answer words, with some editorial adjustments to ensure that the game stays focused on vocabulary that’s fun, accessible, lively, and varied.” The stated reason: To make Wordle more difficult by having as the solution word "deviate" from the simple words that has been Wordle's trademark. If they do what they do with Spelling Bee in choosing words, the answers no longer will need to be English and might be hyphenated words and might not be words at all.

[EOP]

What Difference Does It Make If the Republicans Take the Senate?

If the Democrats were to maintain control of the House, it would make a big difference which party controls the Senate. But once the Republicans take the Senate, it is not so clear that it matters much whether or not the Republicans also control the Senate as long as the President is a Democrat and has veto power.

[EOP]

Causeway (2022 Movie on Apple TV)

Causeway stars Jennifer Lawrence as you've never seen her and Brian Tyree Henry, both of whom turn in outstanding performances. It's the story of a soldier who suffers traumatic brain injury in Afghanistan and her adjustment to life back home. Some parts go quickly (e.g., her physical recovery) while others drag a bit, but it holds your attention and at 1.5 hours, it's a terrific length for a movie. Ultimately, it's a very sweet movie and not nearly as predictable as one might have feared.

[EOP] 

Recent Windows Update Might Have Added a Bunch of Startup Apps

It appears a recent Windows update has added a bunch of apps (including, Spotify, Cortana, Phone Link, and others) to start when you start Windows. To disable them, right click on the Task Bar, click on Task Manager/Startup and right click and choose Disable to stop any of  them. Even better, if you don't want any of them at all, click on Start/All Programs/Apps and right click on any you want to uninstall and click on Uninstall.

[EOP]

UPS, USPS, FedEx Comparative Shipping Cost

This cnet article compares regular and expedited delivery charges of UPS, USPS, and FedEx. If you think USPS is always the least expensive option, it's time to wake up and smell the coffee.

[EOP]

Great Advertising Even If Not Fair

Whether or not this is a far ad, I have no clue. But whether or not it is a powerful one, I have an opinion:

[EOP]

Possible Additional Benefit of Paxlovid

As this NYT article explains, if one gets infected by Covid, and is eligible by age or health conditions to take Paxlovid, besides getting one through the infection, there is an additional benefit. As a recent study shows, people who took the antiviral drug Paxlovid within a few days after being infected with the coronavirus were less likely to be experiencing long Covid several months later.

[EOP]

Strange Phenomenon on Daily NYT Spelling Bee

There is a electro-mechanical glitch in the Daily NYT Spelling Bee. There are occasions where one puts in a word but gets the message "Not in word list," only to find out the next day that in fact that word is on the list of Yesterday's Answers. Our crack investigative team has figured out a way to bring this annoying anomaly to the Spelling Bee staff even though the chance of those bozos doing anything remains remote. If you put in a word that you know is a word, but it brings up "Not in word list," put it in again but take a screenshot before hitting Enter and save it. Then, when it shows up the next day in the Yesterday's Answer list, send them the screenshots showing that you tried to put it in and the Yesterday's Answer list where it is not on your list. Thanks. They likely will claim you didn't hit Enter but insist to them you did.

[EOP] 

Episode 2 of Season 2 of The White Lotus

I continue to not watch The White Lotus, but am told that Episode 2 does nothing but continue with the ridiculous, contrived "stories" and unpleasant porn and portrayals of mostly horrible people, set in beautiful scenery. 

[EOP] 

The Good Nurse (2022 Movie on Netflix)

The Good Nurse is the story of an infamous caregiver who is implicated in the deaths of hundreds of hospital patients.  It's a  bit slow and quite tense with no real let up. The acting is very good. There are several sub-plots going on. If this is your kind of movie, you will like it. If not, you might turn in early.

[EOP]

Mortgage Rate Rise In Concrete Terms

It's one thing to note that mortgage rates have gone from 3+% to 7+%. But just how daunting that difference is might best be seen looking at what it means for monthly payments.  To quantify what it costs when mortgage rates go from 3+% to 7+%: A $300,000 monthly mortgage payment goes up $700 from $1,300 to $2,000; on a $900K house, the monthly payment goes up $2,100 from $3,900  to $6,000. How fast and deep the change might be from a runaway seller's market to a buyer's market is anyone's guess. But to think the rise in mortgage rates is not a big deal might be a mistake.

[EOP]

Better Solution to DST Debate

There is a so-called national conversation (aka raging debate) going on about whether to leave things as they are, to ditch daylight savings time, or to make daylight savings time permanent. As has become too often the case, what is forgotten is the plight of senior citizens who live in Western states. As far as they are concerned, the best thing would be to have a permanent daylight savings time which would push the clock ahead  2 or more hours instead of just 1 hour, so that they could watch things like the Phillies in the world series or the Eagles on Thursday, Sunday, or Monday night football without having to stay up past 8 pm to do so. That's the least that might be done by way of a thank you for all the great things the boomers have done for this country and the planet.

[EOP]

Where Is Kyrsten Sinema?

You might think (or hope) that Kyrsten Sinema would be campaigning in support of Mark Kelly and Katie Hobbs and other Democrats on the ticket in Arizona. But, even when former President Obama comes to Phoenix to support them, Sinema is no where to be seen. The Democrats have been angry with Sinema for some time. It is clear she thinks she has a path to the presidency. What is not clear is what party's ticket she thinks she will be running on. It will be interesting what she might do if the Republicans take the Senate.

PS: Readers of the Arizona Republic might notice that Laurie Roberts did a column published yesterday which raised the same issue noted in the first two sentences  above (she did address the more intriguing implication noted above in the last three sentences). I concede she is a better writer than I am and knows much more about Arizona politics than I ever will. But I did not realize she had access to the transmitter "they" have in my tooth and connected to my keyboard which is obvious given that I actually prepared this post before her column ran. So, as I once said in a different context, "At long last, have you left no sense of decency?"

[EOP]

Turchetta: A Much Better and More DeliciousThanksgiving Entree

More often than not, the supposed center of the Thanksgiving dinner--the turkey--turns out to be, well, a turkey. If you've never done a turchetta instead, you've not only missed out on a fabulous turkey alternative, you've obviously never had Thanksgiving at my house. Turchetta is a roast turkey breast stuffed and rolled in the style of Tuscan porchetta, which makes a delicious alternative to the same old Thanksgiving bird, and it's both beautiful and delicious both as a main course and as left-overs (both for sandwiches and, even better, as a charcuterie board) and it is not hard to prepare. While what follows per ingredients and directions is for 1 turchetta, I always make 2 or 3 so there are plenty of left-overs even after giving some scraps to guests to take home.

Ingredients: 

1 boneless half turkey breast, skin on (2-3 pounds)

9 cloves garlic, 8 peeled and very thinly sliced, 1 unpeeled and lightly mashed

Leaves from 1 large bunch fresh sage (20-30 small- medium leaves)

4 teaspoons fennel seeds, ground

½ cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano (1 cup if using microplane)

6 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto

5 tablespoons olive oil

1 sprig of rosemary

2 cups red wine

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. On a cutting board, lay breast out, skin-side down. Use a sharp knife to make a vertical cut down the middle, only going about ⅔ of the way down. You do not want to cut in half completely or cut to the skin.

3. Holding blade parallel to surface of meat, butterfly one side by making a horizontal cut from center to edge, about ½ way through the thickness of the meat, as if you are opening up the breast like a book. Do not cut all the way through the meat. Stop when meat is still attached by about ¾ inch at edge. Repeat on the other side.

4. Turkey breast should now be able to lay flat like an open book. Use a meat mallet to pound out so thickness is uniform and you have a nice rectangle shape. Use the flat side of the mallet.

5. Cover meat evenly with garlic slices. Cover garlic evenly with sage leaves. Mix fennel and Parmesan together, and spread evenly on top. Layer prosciutto slices on top of that. Roll up breast from one narrow end to the other, leaving skin exposed. Tie with kitchen twine to form a compact roll.

6. In a roasting pan, heat 5 tablespoons olive oil with mashed garlic clove and rosemary sprig over medium heat. Add rolled turkey and brown on all sides. Pour in wine, bring to a simmer and transfer pan to oven. Roast until internal temperature is about 145 degrees, 25-30 minutes. Transfer turkey to a platter and let rest 15-20 minutes. Set pan with wine over medium heat to reduce to sauce consistency, if it’s not already there, and whisk in butter.

6. Carve turkey in thick slices, crosswise, to reveal pinwheel pattern. Serve with sauce. 

[EOP]

Why Doesn't Dominion Voting Systems Sue Trump?

Ed Montini had an excellent column in the Arizona Republic about Arizona Republican Senate candidate Blake Master's defaming Dominion Voting Systems (DVS), and raising the issue of his being sued as DVS has sued the Pillow Guy, Giuliani, Sidney Powell, and Fox News for condemnation and has survived every motion to dismiss and which defendants' appeals from those denials have lost. The question remains: Why has DVS not sued Trump?

[EOP]

Don't Talk to Me About Chris Paul and LeBron James or the NBA for That Matter

When the report on Phoenix Suns' owner Robert Sarver came out, LeBron James and Chris Paul and, to an extent the NBA ,came out in strong condemnation of his racism and sexism. You might think they have an understanding of the viciousness of prejudice. But, when Brooklyn Nets "star" Kyrie Irving not only comes out as a blatant anti-Semite spewing anti-Semitic crap, LeBron James and Chris Paul remain eerily silent.  Yeah, let's just leave it to retired players turned broadcast commentators (Charles Barkley, Shaq, and Reggie Miller) to level the condemnation that Irving and the Nets so richly deserve.

[EOP]

CDC Update on RSV

RSV has received much attention lately as its infection rate among young children rises. Receiving less attention is that is also is rising among older adults, especially those with compromised conditions. A vaccine is in the works and it is hoped will be available this coming Spring. Here is CDC's discussion of RSV. 

[EOP]

Vera Customer Support Improved

Our favorite home automation system has long been and is Vera. It not only controls and provides automated and remote access to lights and thermostat, it turns on a heating blanket at a chosen time so that the horror of getting into a cold bed is avoided and allows the television to come on and turn off several times during the day (which most controllers cannot do for televisions connected to a cable box) while one is away which is known to be the best deterrent to break-ins. We had been concerned for a while where customer support seemed to have slipped. We are pleased to report that again one is able to get through to a tech quickly, and the techs seem to know what they are doing.

[EOP]

Two Baseball Controversies Resolved

Tipping Pitches: Was McColler Tipping His Pitches? I cannot believe there is even a debate. I know a 13 yo kid who, yeah, he had a higher batting average than Reggie Jackson whom he competed against in little league, and actually a higher batting average than anyone in the league, but still, at 13 he knew what tipped pitches looked like. And McColler was tipping! 

No-Hitters: Was the 4th game of this year's world series a no-hitter much less the second no-hitter in world series history? I cannot believe there is even a debate. Is there any pitcher who will be or could be credited in  the baseball stats as having pitched a no-hitter? Obviously not. Pitchers get Cy Young awards. Teams do not. 

[EOP]

Some Tesla Factoids

1. There is no option to buy a Tesla at the end of a lease. Even some Tesla reps do not realize this.

2. If you want to title the car in the name of your trust, you cannot lease it through Tesla. You must go through a third-party financing institution. That's not a big deal since, when leasing, you don't own the car as such, but it's a factoid.

3. If you see a Tesla in inventory that you might like to get but don't want to pay for either the $6,000 or $15,000 self-driving options, Tesla will take them off (at least on new cars but perhaps on used ones as well) and reduce the purchase price accordingly. In that way, you can get a new Tesla for the same price or less than you might pay for a used Tesla with those options which virtually all the used inventory cars have.

[EOP]

Expanded Amazon Prime Music (Free) Offering: Better Than the Free Version of Spotify

Amazon has expanded its free music benefit for Prime members to bring them100 million songs in shuffle mode, the most ad-free top podcasts available, and features that make it easier to discover new content in the Amazon Music app—all at no additional cost to their membership. In essence, Amazon Music now offers Prime members the full functionality of the free version of Spotify but without the ads that run on the free version of Spotify. All the new features are explained here.

[EOP]

ID Required for Flying Starting May 2023

As this NYT article explains, beginning May 3, 2023, U.S. travelers flying within the United States will need to show Transportation Security Administration agents either a security-enhanced driver’s license that’s Real ID-compliant or another T.S.A.-approved form of identification like a passport. A state driver’s license that does not contain the Real ID seal will no longer be accepted.

[EOP]

Getting an "Accommodation Credit" From Amazon

You might spend 10-15 minutes giving Amazon valuable feedback on what turns out to be a logistics delivery problem they were unaware of (or it could be anything else). While they will apologize no end for the hassle it caused you and thank you no end for taking the time to give the valuable feedback, they won't make any accommodation unless you ask directly. So, you have nothing to lose but your chains, and do not fear to ask. Tier 1 reps have a $10 limit but so-called supervisors can go to $25  and perhaps higher. 

[EOP]

Tip re Ordering Reams of Paper Through Amazon

Amazon has excellent prices on bright-white recycled copy paper and other varieties. Don't be fooled by the seeming limited choices of buying 1, 3, 5, or 10 reams at a time. As long as there is an option for 1, ordering 2 of the 1s will be the same per-ream price and ordering a 3 and a 1 likewise. 

[EOP] 

Why Mortgage Rates Are So High

As mortgage rates have soared above 7%--the highest rate in over two decades, I've been pummeled with questions not as to why they have risen, but why they have risen to such a height, i.e., where the spread between 10y Treasuries and 30y mortgages is about 3 points where it had been about 1.8 points for this century. The answer is simple, albeit multi-faceted: (i) the Fed has stopped buying agency mortgage-backed securities (MBS) issued by government sponsored enterprises such as Freddie and Fannie; (ii) the Fed's overall tightening has reduced banks' appetite for bond buying given that fewer people are refinancing and paying them off early; (iii) investors fear that the noted spread could widen further as the Fed gets more aggressive in fighting inflation; and (iv) as volumes have plunged and volatility has jumped, mortgage originators are often not in a position to offer lower mortgage rates to entice borrowers. At the same time, there is a possible silver lining, namely, that agency MBS may outperform other credit instruments during a recession, which would result in reversing the upward pressure on mortgage rates.

[EOP]

Race and College Admissions

Putting aside that the benefits of racial diversity on college campuses now look to be threatened, when the White majority of the Supreme Court strikes down affirmative action, the real outrage is the turning of a blind eye to, or more accurately the callous disregard of, the history of how high tuitions and legacy admissions, coupled with the pernicious consequences of slavery and racism, perpetuated the favors and skewed benefits afforded to Whites in this country. The idea that Whites need to be protected from affirmative action is, as William Barr so eloquently put it in a different context, but applicable to all big lies, bull-shit.

[EOP] 

Why Philadelphia Sports Fans Are So Deservedly Angry

Whether or not one blames the rain out of Game 3 of the World Series on climate change, everyone (except perhaps the morons who run MLB) knew that it rains on occasion in Philadelphia (and we are told elsewhere, even in Houston where rainouts have happened even at the Astrodome). As a result of Houston's sweep of the Yankees, MLB had the chance to start the World Series days before originally planned. But, no, stupidity and greed ruled the day. Now we (and you all know who we are--as Le Monde put it so well in its headline, "We Are All Philadelphia Sports Fans") have to face Thursday night where the undefeated Eagles are playing the odious Houston Texans on television and the Phillies will be playing the odious Houston Astros on television. Would it ever occur to MLB or NFL to move their Thursday game to Friday? Of course, not--their hallmarks are stupidity and greed. And television manufacturers have long stopped offering PIP-enabled televisions. Okay, fine, I just went to the bank, took out a loan, and bought a second television.

PS: And let me preempt any nonsense about the rain delay helping the Phillies. All it changes is the Phillies starting pitcher for tonight (like Suarez has a better chance against the Astros than Syndergaard) and that Nola can now start 3 games (as if this were a ServePro in that his getting pelted in the first game never even happened).

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How to Buy a Car Without Short-Changing Your Heirs' Inheritances

Typically, when you buy a car and drive it off the lot, or have it delivered by an online car selling service, it begins depreciating immediately and continues doing so throughout the life of the car. But some cars, particularly some EVs, do not seem to do so and indeed might seem to rise in value (at least relatively speaking), in part because their lifespan is longer than most humans' lifespans, and because the cost of new ones keep rising. So, if you feel guilty about spending money on a car because your heirs will in effect be paying for it, think certain EVs, even if you might have to turn a blind eye as to who is making that EV and getting the money you're buying it with.

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