Best Wishes for a Happy, Healthy, Safe, Prosperous, and Democratic New Year

Every New Year's day for the past several years, we have brought you a gift from Playing for Change of a few minutes to just sit back, listen, and enjoy the good feeling. That gift appears below as Gift 1. Gift 2 is also a Playing for Change release, brought to our attention three years ago by a loyal reader. Gift 3 is just a favorite song of ours, best played at high volume and most enjoyed by dancing along with it, which has been featured on this blog a few times. Enjoy!

Given the improvements on several fronts over the past year (e.g., inflation does seem to have been transitory, several medical breakthroughs including new vaccines and new cures, ALC's first book was published, glimmers of hope on preserving the environment, and the promise of AI), let's hope that things will continue to get better, that this country will recover from the malignant forces that had invaded our body politic not to mention the pandemic, and that Trump will be anywhere (including prison or in exile) when 2025 arrives other than occupying the presidency. In the spirit of unbridled optimism (notwithstanding the Eagles' horrific loss to the Cardinals), with a song that resonates in a myriad of contexts--even as a wedding march, we bring you Gift 4. 

Link to Gift 1

Link to Gift 2

Link to Gift 3

Link to Gift 4

[EOP]

Dreaming Whilst Black (2023 TV Series on Hulu/Showtime and Rentable on Amazon Prime)

It costs a couple of dollars more to add Showtime to one's Hulu subscription, but it might be the best couple of dollars you spend, especially since Hulu does not ban account sharing. There are some gems we have reviewed in the past, and now we just discovered Dreaming Whilst Black, which is littered with laugh-out-loud moments. It's the story of an aspiring film-maker, but it's the dialogue and situations, not the story, that make the series, which has the added benefit of 26m episodes. It's a wonderful interlude while waiting for The Curse and Slow Horses to get more episodes in the can.

[EOP]

Asteroid City (2023 Movie on Amazon Prime)

Asteroid City is a much acclaimed Wes Anderson film with a stellar cast (Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Bryon Cranston, Ed Norton) that makes you wonder what enticed them to be in it given that the dead-pan acting was doomed to anesthetize the audience causing any discerning viewer to turn it off or leave the room in under 15 minutes. Those who profess to liking it say, "You have to go with the flow," but in reality, there is no flow. Instead, there are many mindless scenes, in this story within a story supposedly about following a writer on his world famous fictional play about a grieving father who travels with his tech-obsessed family to small rural Asteroid City to compete in a junior stargazing event, only to have his world view disrupted forever.

[EOP]

Keeping Promotions and Other Junk Out of Your Inbox

One easy, smart way to keep promotions and other junk out of your inbox is by creating an alias email account.  If you use Gmail, it’s very easy to check multiple accounts through its app.

[EOP]

Advantage of Waymo Self-Driving Cars

Waymo self-driving cars are rife in Phoenix, and catching on big. One great advantage they have over other ride-sharing alternatives is the ability to set it to make multiple stops or round-trips.This means you can take a trip to a store, for example, and then to another store, and have a vehicle “probably” waiting for you when you need to continue your trip. Stops can be long, and you are not charged the per-ride fees that would added to the expense if you booked each leg as an independent ride. 

[EOP]

Reasons to Be Wary of Supposed Polling Results

When we turn to the numbers, it’s often because we want to know objectively if something is getting better or worse—the job market, inflation, our health, the national mood and so on.There is no shortage of reporting polling results, which often moves markets. As this WSJ article documents, the numbers themselves— including our abilities to measure these types of questions with surveys, specifically— are getting worse and we aren’t always using the numbers well. Our overarching problem is that so much data is based on surveys to which people no longer respond. One example is the Current Population Survey, from the Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics. The survey underpins the monthly jobs report and is very good, but its response rate has fallen some 20 percentage points this year from 90% a decade ago. Nearly every other major survey has fared worse. The White House Office of Management and Budget once articulated a standard that survey response rates should be above 80%. Today, nearly no surveys remain above that standard. Outside the government, the practice of conducting surveys by cold calling households at random, the way surveys are explained in a Statistics 101 class, is increasingly abandoned, as it must be in a world when people no longer answer phones.Consider opinion polling. In 2000, over 90% of national polls relied on randomly calling people on the phone, according to the Pew Research Center. As recently as 2014, a narrow majority still operated this way. By 2022, fewer than 9%, or just 6 out of 69 organizations, still polled this way, Pew found. 

[EOP]

Alert for Some Asthma Drug Users

As this WSJ article reports, drugmakers including Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi are cutting prices of some insulin products by 70% or more on New Year’s Day. GlaxoSmithKline plans to cut prices for three products including its asthma and emphysema medication Advair Diskus.In June, Glaxo decided on a riskier gambit for its popular asthma inhaler Flovent HFA. It told the FDA it would pull the branded drug from the market in 2024. The company hoped patients would use a new Glaxo-made generic version with a lower list price that isn’t subject to the Medicaid penalties. The maneuver would have effectively cut the price of the medication by a third. It backfired. Major pharmacy-benefit managers are refusing to cover the new generic product, despite a list price 35% below that of brand-name Flovent HFA, a favorite of pediatricians who said it is easier for children to use than other products. The skirmish between Glaxo and PBMs has left children stuck in the middle. One option is to try a different product, but not all insurers cover inhalers appropriate for children, doctors said.

[EOP]

Year-End Tesla 3 Pricing

Most Tesla 3s will lose their $7,500 federal tax credits starting January 1. What, if anything, that will do to their list price remains unknown. But, if you take delivery before year-end, you get the full tax credit, and Tesla has dropped the purchase price to under $35,000 (leasing for $300/month) along with 6 months of free super-charging.

[EOP]

Honed Prediction re Supreme Court's Decision on the 14th Amendment Cases

Last week, this blog predicted that the Supreme Court will issue a 9-0 opinion reversing the politicized Colorado Supreme Court's 4-3 decision on any one or more of the following grounds: definition of "officer," definition of "insurrection," and whether section 3 of the 14th amendment is self-executing. Upon further reflection, I will stick with the 9-0 prediction, but I also have come to realize that it will be on the self-executing issue, and it's obvious why. In the immunity case, the Court faces the prospect of a split decision on partisan lines which could shred any remaining credibility the Court has and tear the country apart. But the Court is in no rush to do so, and will have no reason to do so in the 14th amendment case, and none of the justices will want to have voted to thrown Trump off the ballot in a minority opinion. That said, here's the prediction: deciding that a president is not an "officer" would put the president above the law, so they won't do that; holding that there was no "insurrection" or Trump did not "engage in insurrection" defies common sense and what everyone saw with their own eyes (except the MAGA nut jobs), so they won't do that; but holding that the 14th amendment is not self-executing leaves only pundits and commentators to quibble with each other about arcane constitutional jurisprudence. So, take it to the bank: The Court will decide 9-0 that the 14th amendment is not self-executing. 

PS: As this article explains, and gives the sites through which one does so, "you can legally wager on Supreme Court nominees, Supreme Court rulings, and various other political props at legal online Vegas election betting sites. In fact, in 2018, the Supreme Court ruled to overturn the ban on US sports betting, leading to massive growth in the domestic betting industry. Ironically, though, no state allows local political betting despite the PASPA ruling, so bettors will have to place their election bets online at any of the top Vegas political sportsbooks listed here."

[EOP]

Secret to Finding Costco Walnuts

Costco walnuts are, without doubt and by far, the best deal in walnuts in terms of piece-size, taste, and price. No other offerings come close on any of those fronts. The problem is that: (i) if you order them online, and don't meet the $75 minimum threshold, you have to pay $3/bag in shipping fees, and Costco sometimes packs them goofily and in oversized boxes; and (ii) they are nearly impossible to find in the store. For some reason, Costco does not shelve them where it shelves the other nuts. It shelves them next to their olive oil.

[EOP]

Why the Arizona Republic Does Not Get Pulitzer Prizes for Headlines

The Arizona Cardinals are 3-12 so far this season. They have two (2) games left to play. Here is the headline from this morning's Arizona Republic: “The Arizona Cardinals are well on their way to a third consecutive losing season.” I wonder if  they’ll make it. 

PS: A loyal reader had the following related note: "A sports columnist this morning quoted 'Malcom Gladwell describing David's win over Goliath as 'improbable and miraculous.' How I wish I could find out about those probable miracles, especially in the market. There's big money to be made.

[EOP]

PS re the Typo That Led to Xmas

Some recent posts have noted the theory, well established in ecumenical and secular circles, that, in an apparent attempt to celebrate the return of the "sun" aka the winter solstice, due to a misspelling, Xmas celebrates the return of the "son." For Unto Us a Child Is Born, a Son Is Given. A recent column by Joseph Bottom explains the problem from a different perspective: "[Christmas] has taken over the wrong season. The yuletide is supposed to start with Christmas, not end with it. The 12 days of Christmas run from Dec. 25 through Jan. 5, with that last evening called Twelfth Night— the evening before Epiphany. The celebrations have reached so far up the calendar that Christmas arrives as an exhausting end of the season rather than its penitentially anticipated beginning. The partridge in a pear tree is supposed to arrive Christmas Day, not Dec. 14. The actual Christmas season moves from Christmas to the Feast of St. Stephen on Dec. 26. And then the Feast of the Holy Innocents, the children slaughtered by King Herod. Then the Feast of the Holy Family, then Hogmanay, the Feast of St. Sylvester. The Solemnity of Mary, the Feast of the Holy Name, and all the rest. Those days are exactly that: feasts that end a season of self-deprivation and abstinence. [In short], Christmas would be ... better if we remembered that the celebration naturally extends after Christmas, not before."

[EOP] 

Two Firestick Things: Exiting and Upgrading

Thing 1: Exiting out of many streaming sources (e.g., Netflix and Prime) is cumbersome and takes many clicks. If you're using a Firestick, you can easily skip doing so. To exit, just hit the Home (little house) button on the Firestick and you will exit out and go immediately to the home page.

Thing 2: I have long been wrestling with my sluggish 2nd-Gen Fire TV Stick, released in 2016, which makes it painful to flit from one streaming app to the next. When browsing on a Fire Stick is nightmarish-ly slow, it sort of renders the whole device a bit useless. It's fine when you finally land on a desired film or TV show - but the effort it takes to get there is marathon-level. The new Amazon Fire TV Stick 4k, then second-generation of the 4K stick released in October 2023, looks pretty similar to my seven-year-old gadget. Except it's way faster, and provides streaming in a much higher resolution. Both have Bluetooth headphone support, Alexa voice control, HDMI output, and micro USB for power. But the biggest advantage that the Fire TV Stick 4k over the 2nd-Gen model is that it supports 4k 2160p video and playback up to 60 frames-per-second (fps). This means films and shows are finally compatible with my HDR-supported telly - and can be watched in a much higher resolution than before.

[EOP]

PS re College Football Coaches Pay

Per a loyal reader: "Consider this as another way to make the point: In Arizona, the two highest paid public employees teach young men how to play a game that will leave many of them with brain damage." Unfortunately, this observation applies across what we call centers of higher education across the country.

[EOP]

Trump's Immunity Defense Should Not Hold Up the Trial

The essence of Jack Smith's January 6/election case is that Trump corruptly tried to prevent the electoral college vote from making Biden president. There can hardly be a more serious crime for a president than to use the power of his office corruptly to prevent his successor from becoming president through a valid election. If the jury finds Trump guilty, it had to have found (under the jury instructions) implicitly if not expressly that Trump was not engaging in any kind of official presidential conduct, but rather, was illegally and corruptly trying to hold onto power. In short, we have difficulty understanding why Trump's asserted immunity defense should be litigated by appellate courts before the trial, or any reason to hold up the trial.

[EOP]

Internet Time Wasters

Ever since Al Gore invented the internets, they have become an invaluable, daily tool. But, things have crept in that add to the hours spent on the internets without any particular benefit. Here, per the WSJ, is a recap of time-wasters:

• Accepting and rejecting cookies. Most people don’t even know what cookies are when they answer this question 30 or 40 times a day. It would greatly simplify your day if you could set it and forget it or at least be asked for only certain types of sites, such as medical ones. Blame this one on the European politicians who invented General Data Protection Regulation, which increases the cost of advertising and walls off data for the benefit of big companies while also wasting your time.

• Two-factor authentication. What started as a well-intentioned attempt to increase security has devolved into an endless back-and-forth of plugging in random six-digit numbers. Just check our eyeballs and be done with it already.

• “You’re on mute.” Two years since the pandemic ended, this is still one of the most uttered phrases on the internet. It stops everyone on the call and forces the muted party to repeat what he just said. Make the “mute” sign a huge red button that lights up when you talk while on mute.

• Four-digit years. We’re almost a quarter-century past Y2K and could get by with two digits for another lifetime.

• Accepting 30-page terms and conditions. These documents have been written by the same kinds of law firms that advised those college presidents. Most of them could just say, “It’s free—you’re responsible.” Or maybe just let sites file all these somewhere you can find them if you are dying to read the terms of service and skip the ceremonial approvals.

[EOP]

EV Sales Stalling

As this WSJ article explains, as customers in the U.S. hesitate to make the switch from traditional gas-engine vehicles, some auto companies are delaying plans for electric-vehicle spending. Car executives say they are confident that sales will accelerate as additional lower-priced models come out and the availability of public chargers improves. In the near term, the cooling buyer interest has weighed on U.S. makers that had ramped up vehicle and battery production in anticipation of a larger surge in customer demand. Electric-vehicle sales began to stall in the latter half of this year, a development that car executives attributed to the relatively high prices of electric models. Auto executives and analysts, parotting what this blog has been saying for a while now, say that a lack of affordable models is preventing electric-vehicle sales from taking off in the U.S. This likely won't change at least until 2025, when lower-priced options are expected to become available.

[EOP]

Wild Target (2010 Movie on Amazon Prime)

Wild Target is a total escape movie that is quick, quacky, and quite funny. There's a semi-loyal reader out there now saying, "See, I told you so, now give me credit for recommending it." Okay, just like a stopped clock that tells the correct time twice a day, he was spot on with this recommendation. The characters are a hoot, the acting is terrific, and it's got your Bill Nighy, Emily Blunt, and Rupert Grint. Unlike what escape movies have become with overdone special effects, Wild Target totally entertains because, as unreal as the plot and everything about the movie is, it's just so enjoyable being around the people on the screen (and not just the stars, but the minor players as well), as you enjoy each scene and look forward to the next.

[EOP]

Getting a Tax Credit Equivalent When Leasing an EV

As this Consumer Reports article explains, depending on how the manufacturer decides to treat the matter, when you lease an EV, you might or might not get the benefit of the federal tax credit that comes with buying the same EV. It can be a little tricky but, once you understand the issue, you'll know what to ask when you're talking to the salesperson about the actual cost and benefit of leasing versus buying an EV.

[EOP]

What the Four College Football Playoff Teams Have in Common

The four CFP teams are Texas, Alabama, Michigan, and Washington. They each spent at least $60M (as in million) on coaches and staff, and all but Washington spent at least $80M (as in million). Yeah, universities are models of what this country values.

[EOP]

Restaurants Push Back on Sharing Dishes

We have consistently chastised people who ripoff (and there's no other word for it) restaurants by wrongfully sharing dishes not meant to be shared. The most glaring example is where there is an "unlimited refill" option such as at the salad bar, which one person orders and others at the table "share" from it. Now, after years of pushing small, shareable plates, and rising prices that have prompted some customers to split dishes to save money, restaurants want you to order more. So they’re introducing hard-to share menu items and asking servers to nudge diners to load up on extra small plates. It’s an attempt to keep customers happy— and checks high.

[EOP]

Please Stop the 14th Amendment Challenges

Of all the wasted resources and energy on trying to stop Trump from being president, the challenges under the 14th amendment take the cake. The Michigan Supreme Court refused even to take up the lower court's ruling rejecting the 14th amendment argument. There are a couple of ways Trump will not be on the ballot, and we all hope he's not, but the pin-heads and others playing into Trump's hand should please give up on the 14th amendment. In short, you're making the case that the anti-Trump elites will do anything to persecute Trump and stop him as they prove once again they cannot win a fair election decided by the people. If the Supreme Court does not reverse the Colorado decision (and we expect it to 9-0), and Trump is off some state ballots but not others where 14th amendment challenges were brought, what happened in reaction to the 2020 election will look like a little league tune-up for the big show. Okay, I'm being alarmist. But seriously folks, as Biden would say, oops, I lost my train of thought.

[EOP]  

Ads Coming to Amazon Prime Video on January 29

A change is coming to your Prime Video experience. Starting January 29, Prime Video movies and TV shows will include limited advertisements. No action is required from you, and there is no change to the current price of your Prime membership. There will be a new ad-free option for an additional $2.99 per month. Prime Video customers have the option to pre-register for the monthly ad-free option, but won't be billed until January 29.

[EOP]

PS re Lamar Jackson, the Eagles, and Stopping the Clock

PS re Lamar Jackson: You'd think giving credit to the semi-reader for bringing to our attention a Lamar Jackson pass and our publishing it here would satisfy him. But, no. Apparently, it has goaded him into pummel us with further highlights. In the hopes of stopping him from harassing us, here is the latest Jackson clip he sent in, which we hope will be the last. Further, unmentioned by this whack-a-doodle, as good as Jackson might be in regular season games, his post-season playoff record is less than stellar. We'll see how he does should the Ravens make it to the Super Bowl where the Eagles are waiting for whichever AFC team has the nerve to show up. 

The Eagles: In the meantime, this Jalen Hurts pass in the Eagles' ugly win over the Giants, in what was another abysmal example of officiating from the Planet Blutar, and mindless camera work that focused more on people in the stands than plays on the field, which actually was understandable given the atrocious play on the field.

Stopping the Clock: There were plays at the end of the first half and at the end of the game where the team with the ball, out of time outs, could not figure out how to stop the clock. It's actually not complicated. Just slug a referee (or an opposing player), and the clock will stop immediately for a personal foul. 

[EOP]

Gmail Add-ons

The below screenshot shows the right-hand side of Gmail. On it are the default apps of calendar, notes, tasks, and contacts, making them easy to access without leaving Gmail. Clicking on the + at the bottom will bring up additional apps that can be added with a click and the ability to search for more apps.

[EOP] 

If No Trump Trial Happens Before the Election

Every sane person wants to see Trump tried, convicted, and sent to prison before the election. The odds of a trial even beginning before the election much less ending dwindles by the day. Partly that's the result of the excruciatingly long time it took to get the indictments in the election cases (for which it is impossible to see any excuse in Georgia, while Jack Smith can be excused given how late he was appointed in deference to the January 6 Committee which took a year presenting its "case" to the public while refusing to share what it learned with the DOJ), the unduly broad indictments in the Georgia case, and the bad luck in getting a nut-job pro-Trump judge in the document case. Okay, so much for spilt milk. What's to be done? At the very least, the prosecutors should lay out their cases as they would in closing arguments, both in terms of written and multi-media presentations, so that the electorate will have the benefit of seeing what they would have shown at trial. This would have no impact on Trump's rabid supporters, and Trump would be free to publish his "defense." But it just might make a difference to the swing and third-party voters who will be deciding the election.

[EOP]

Biden's Real Problems Are Not the Polls

The polls look like a disaster for Biden in a matchup against Trump. They are not good for sure, but such deficits a year out have often been overcome. The real problems for Biden are two-fold: (i) The number of young and minority voters who (correctly) see little that has been done for them and are likely to stay home in greater numbers than usual or even vote for someone other than Biden; and (ii) the number of voters of various demographics who will vote for third-parties instead of for Biden. Just as our nascent stated view months ago that Biden should withdraw from the election was pooh-poohed by all, but now is embraced by many, you can take the above analysis to the bank as you watch it be embraced by the pundits and political insiders. 

[EOP]

Most Fun Word Puzzle: Split Decisions

Split Decisions is the most fun word puzzle in the world. It appears from time to time in the Sunday NYT Magazine. It's challenging but doable. The below version appeared in The New Yorker. It is much easier than the typical NYT one, but it's still fun, and a nice introduction to the game.

[EOP]

The Epitome of Good Manners

 

[EOP]

How Companies Build Customer Loyalty

A short-time ago there was a post here noting that Kohler had given wrong information about what bidet toilet seat would fit a particular Kohler toilet, and that, upon being so advised and told of the plumber cost incurred in the matter, Kohler reimbursed the plumber cost. Putting aside any technical legal obligation Kohler arguably might have had to do so, there was absolutely nothing the customer could have done to force Kohler to make that reimbursement and extremely few companies would have done so. What Kohler likely understands, but even if not it will benefit from, is the fact that company loyalty is not based on a company's never making mistakes, it is based on how the company handles the inevitable mistakes when they happen. The proof of this is why the cable companies and airlines are so vehemently despised--they demonstrate daily they could care less about how their mistakes screw their customers.

[EOP]

Webcam Recommendation

This Nexigo webcam sets itself up and is easy to use and does everything one  might want with a webcam.

 [EOP]

Maestro (2023 Movie on Netflix)

I'm sure Maestro, the Leonard Bernstein biopic, will go down as a masterpiece of brilliant directing (e.g., camera angles like, as Trump would say, you've never seen before) and cinematography (e.g., letter-boxing half-way through for no apparent reason) applauded by the literati and cognoscenti. As well as it was acted, some of us would have been just as happy not having seen it. As much as playwrites and screenwriters obsess, dysfunction is not a monopoly of the artistic and not everyone's cup of tea. In short, if you think you'll enjoy a movie dedicated to celebrating the self-absorbed raised to the highest level, this movie is for you.

[EOP]

Get Your Forever Stamps Now

On January 21, Forever stamps will be going up in price. So, the time to stock up is now. Giddy-up.

[EOP]

Kudos for Kohler

If Kohler tells you that a given bidet toilet seat will fit your toilet, and it doesn't, upon politely asking, they will refund you the charge you incurred from your plumber for trying to install it. Now that is a Xmas miracle.

[EOP]

Ravens Highlight

Both this pass and catch are something to behold. If they had happened on Xmas, it would have been called a Football Xmas Miracle. Be sure to watch it in slo-mo and full screen to see what Jackson goes through to pull of the play. Oh yeah, and btw, if I didn't credit a certain semi-loyal reader for bringing this to our attention, no one can imagine the grief that would be imposed on me.

[EOP 

Banner Emergency Room

If you have something that's not life threatening but also is beyond the scope of urgent care (e.g., possibly requiring some sophisticated imaging), Banner Emergency is a wonderful alternative. Parking is easy and everything is bright, spread out, and uncrowded. The intake process is exceedingly quick, the waiting treatment rooms are very comfortable and pleasant, and you might see your doctor faster than you see your PCP even when you have an appointment. The entirety of the staff is efficient, courteous, and professional. And they bring everything to you (e.g., the x-ray machine), and give you an informative write-up and instructions upon discharge.

[EOP]

Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is getting rave reviews, comparable to those for the Prius. The one advantage of the Sonata is that it looks more like a regular car and has the space and comfort of a regular car. Also note that hybrids have a significant advantage over EVs in cold climates, which can reduce their range by up to 36%.

[EOP]

Merry Xmas From Me and Melissa

If you want to truly enjoy Xmas morning, a great Xmas song album playing in the background as you're roasting chestnuts and opening presents is an absolute must, and here it is and be sure to turn up the volume: Best Xmas Music Album.

[EOP]

Re the Immunity Defense: Blame the District Court, Not the Supreme Court

Blame the District Court: There is much bemoaning the Supreme Court's declining to take up Trump's immunity defense to the January 6 case because of the delay it will cause to starting the trial. But that delay can, and should be, avoided by the trial judge. As with any legal or affirmative defense, there is nothing about Trump’s immunity defense that requires her to stop all proceedings until the immunity question is decided. She should vacate her stay/pause order, and get on with the prep and the trial and, if convicted, Trump can raise the immunity defense on appeal.

Supreme Court's Likely Rationale for Declining to Take the Case Now: Trump's immunity defense is the last case the Supreme Court wants to take on because a split decision, which is likely, would end any shred of belief that the Court's conservative majority is anything but a hack political machine. By declining to take up the issue now, there are several scenarios under which the issue will never reach the Court (e.g., Trump could be found not guilty; the case isn't tried before the election--and if Trumps wins, the case will be halted, and if Trump loses, most people will stop caring). 

The Interesting Question on the Horizon: If the trial judge does let the case resume and go to trial, will the court of appeals or the Supreme Court halt the proceedings until the immunity defense is adjudicated? If the court of appeals rejects the defense like the trial court did, there likely will be no stay. The Supreme Court is a whole different kettle of fish.

[EOP]

Tips for Keeping Your Phone Longer

Tip 1 | Check for updates. Your phone stores info about every aspect of your life. Without security updates, it’s all at risk. Apple offers software upgrades for five years and security updates for longer. This year’s Google Pixel 8 will get updates through 2030. Samsung promises security updates for four years minimum.

Tip 2 | Put a case on it. Every expert I spoke with said that getting a case and a screen protector (except for newer phones that have special screen coatings) are the most important steps to maintaining a phone’s life economically. Investing in this combo rarely exceeds $50, while repairing your screen can top $200.

Tip 3 | Clean your charge port. If you’ve ever had trouble getting your phone to charge, even with endless cord fiddling, you might have thought it kaput. But the port itself, whether Lightning or USB-C, might not be broken. Try gently inserting a straightened-out paper clip along its sides to see if it’s full of pocket lint and random dust. (A can of compressed air works too.) Then, use a lint plug, a removable piece of rubber that can sit in your port, to prevent more buildup. Better yet, use wireless charging and put a plug cover in the charging port (as well the other hole next to it)

Tip 4 | Monitor your battery health.  Many problems that appear to be defects in [a] phone are really problems with dying batteries. You can check your battery’s health in the settings menu on both Apple or Android phones. If your phone says your battery’s “Maximum Capacity” is 80% or less under “Battery Health,” it’s probably time to replace it.

Tip 5 | Know your repair options. If you do need to replace a battery or screen, don’t accidentally overpay to fix it. Apple has a tool on its website that will quickly estimate the cost of common repairs for your specific phone. (It says it will cost $69 to repair the battery on my new SE.) You can maybe get things fixed cheaper at local shops, but there might be quirks. After a non-Apple repair person replaces an iPhone battery, for example, your phone might send a warning it’s “unable to verify” whether it has a “genuine Apple battery.”

[EOP]

Note re Getting Through TSA

As this article documents, the staffing levels at Clear are such that the lines there are taking longer to get through than TSA Pre✔. And sometimes, TSA Pre✔ is slower than the regular TSA lines. The point is, even if you've paid for speedier access, look first and then pick your line.

[EOP]

Last Chance to Get Free Travelzoo Membership

Travelzoo is a fabulous source for planning out and getting fantastic deals on trips all over the world. Spend a few minutes on the website , and I promise it will knock you over. Membership has always been free, but starting in 2024, memberships will cost $40/year. While a bargain at $40, free is better. Existing members will get 2024 for free, so the thing to do, and there's no reason not to, is sign up for a free membership before the end of the year.

[EOP]

Unisex Deck Shoe That's Better Than Sneakers

I was a sneaker guy until I discovered the unisex Rock-the-Boat deck shoe. It is also the stocking stuffer I gave to everyone in all my extended families. Here it is:

[EOP]

The Two "United" States of America

The far right and disenchanted and disaffected have Fox News and their social media echo chambers. The coastal elites have their NYT and WaPo and other such high-brow echo chambers. Each camp speaks to themselves, and neither speaks to the other. In exasperation, the curious thing is how the one camp professes not to understand how so many people can be rabidly or quietly in support of Trump. It's really not difficult. With the exception of some small pockets in the middle of the country, the anti-Trump forces are dominated by people on the coasts who are wealthier (often far far wealthier) and more educated (often at the more expensive and elite universities), and who have made it easier for their children to become wealthier and more educated. When a billion dollars was spent in one week by the LA Dodgers to sign two players, and the NY Yankees likewise have no apparent limit on what they can spend, how do you think that looks to the fans in Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Miami?

[EOP]

Driverless Cars vs Humans

As this Verge article reports, robotaxis led to a reduction in injury-related and police-reported crashes when compared to human benchmarks.

[EOP]

The Fed: History of 2% Inflation Rate and Hyper-Inflation Risk of Abandoning a 4% Interest Rate

History of 2%: The Fed has a stated inflation target of 2%. How it came to that originally is no mystery. When it was worried about deflation in 2012, and the inflation rate was about 1%, it set a goal to RAISE the inflation rate to 2%. Why 2% (as opposed to say 2.5% or 3%) is now a goal to GET DOWN to is a complete mystery. 

Dangerous Future: Some people are worried that, should Trump become president, democracy and America's standing in the world and the world order could be endangered. While there is some speculation on those fronts, what there is absolute certainty about is that Trump will force the Fed to abandon its historical-average 4% interest rate level (which we are at about now) and go back to a zero or near zero interest rate level. With that, the state of federal government debt, and the amount of government stimulus in the system, forget about 2% inflation. There is no doubt, as every economist except those in Trump's council of economic advisers will tell you, we will be in hyper-inflation.

[EOP]

Shame on the Coach Class Attempted Self-Seat-Upgraders

Passengers who choose to fly coach are a lowly pack of annoying grumblers. The latest example are passengers who think, just because there might be empty seats or rows when the flight is far from full, they have a right to move from their assigned seat to one of those empty and likely roomier seats. American Airlines, among others, charges different prices for roomier seats, and flight attendants are instructed to prohibit passengers from "upgrading" themselves for free. We side with the airlines and the flight attendants, and say fie on these free-seat-loaders. If you want a roomier seat, pay for it. We're not sure why you chose coach class instead of first class in the first place, other than the fact that first class is hardly worth it except on some long-haul flights.

[EOP]

Beware the Peacock Streaming Experiment: Don't Wish Or You'll Get What You Wish For

Everyone hates their cable company both because of what they charge and the outrageously poor customer service and support they give. But, there are two indispensable features of cable that streaming has yet been able to match: (i) watching a show but skipping the commercials; and (ii) being able to fast forward but also stop exactly where you want to stop. While these features are useful for all shows, they are indispensable for sporting events. NBC realizes that and now is experimenting with Peacock (the NBC streaming outlet) allowing the 4th quarter of an NFL game to be shown without ads in the hopes of prodding consumers to sign up for Peacock. The future, unfortunately, is clear: The cable companies will go to streaming formats, the features that make cable better will be gone, you'll be paying a subscription fee, and you'll be forced to watch commercials. This is not the world we thought we would be living in when we crossed over the bridge to the 21st century.

[EOP]

The 3.5 Year Cruise That Has Replaced the 3 Year Cruise and It's Worth a Look

As the WaPo reports, after Life at Sea Cruises canceled its debut three-year voyage because it couldn’t secure a ship, another company has done just that. Villa Vie Residences, which plans to sail the world in 3.5 years, announced last week it has purchased a 924-passenger ship that is expected to launch in May. Guests can purchase reservations by segments; there are 16 total, spanning 35 to 131 days. Some of the areas the ship will sail through include Northern Europe, the Caribbean, South America, Japan and the Philippine Sea, the South Pacific, Africa and the Mediterranean. As for accommodations, there are three types to rent, with the cheapest being a 140-square-foot interior cabin that includes a virtual window mimicking an outdoor view for $89 per person, per night, which includes food, biweekly laundry service, weekly housekeeping and internet service. Oceanview villas with windows overlooking the water are $119; a balcony villa with a 60-square-foot private outdoor space starts at $199. The ship has 485 cabins.

[EOP]

Here Comes the Sun and an Historical Note

The shortest day of the year is now behind us, so we can all rejoice because here comes the sun.

Historical Note: All societies and cultures take note of the winter solstice and celebrate that the sun has ended its shortening cycle and has returned to bathe each day now with more sunlight than the day before. Many religions also mark the sun's arrival, although some spell "sun" differently--albeit it in magnificent and beautiful oratorio.

[EOP]

PS on Colorado Throwing Trump Off the Ballot and an Historical Note

I am not alone in castigating the academic and other pin-heads for buying the analysis of some so-called conservative scholars in coming up with their gotcha reading of the 14th amendment to throw Trump off the ballot. Nor am I alone in expecting the Supreme Court to issue a 9-0 opinion reversing the politicized Colorado Supreme Court's 4-3 decision on any one or more of the following grounds: definition of "officer," definition of "insurrection," and whether section 3 of the 14th amendment is self-executing. The editorial boards and the liberal columnists of both the Washington Post and the New York Times, whom everyone knows follows this blog like hawks, agree. They also agree that bringing these 14th amendment cases is bad politics given that they energize Trump's base by confirming the view that he is a victim of the elite's paranoia and weaponizing anything they can against him. And they also agree that Biden's chiming in that "it is self-evident" that Trump furthered an "insurrection," however right he might be in substance, confirms he does not know that just because something is right to say does not mean it's right to say it.

Historical Note:The Colorado Supreme Court has a long historical record of issuing notoriously outrageous decisions. In 1977, in the infamous Sweetwater case, the court accepted the outrageous argument based on a lie that the party who had written the best brief, and whose brief margin was so great it could not lose the case, had cheated, which it had not, and also deducted points for not wearing tails which hadn't been the accepted garb for more than a decade.

[EOP]

The Problem With Bidenomics and an Historical Note

I have no idea what the term "Bidenomics" means and certainly cannot explain it. I fear that I am not alone and that no common person, including especially those who favor Biden, knows what it is or can explain it. At the same time, the Republicans have done a creditable job of characterizing Bidenomics in a negative light, e.g., as being responsible for the inflation everyone can see with their own eyes at the grocery store. It is not only good, but almost essential, to have a pithy slogan to run on ("compassionate conservative," "yes, we can," "change we can believe in," "hope," "make America great again"). As far as I can tell, all the Biden campaign has for a slogan as yet is, "He's not too old, really." 

Historical Note: In sharp contrast, when Obama was running for a second term, everyone knew what "Obamacare" was. The Republican attack ran flat because they had no substitute and could be characterized as wanting to take away people's health care.

[EOP]

Buying Store-Brand Groceries Can Slash Your Food Budget Nearly in Half

This cnet article reports a detailed analysis on the savings one might achieve at the grocery store by switching from hoity-toity brand-name stuff to store-brand stuff (often made by the hoity-toity company). It's eye-opening and breath-taking.

[EOP]

Pros and Cons of House Solar Panels

There are some tremendous benefits to homeowners and the environment from solar panels. But there are a few cons one might consider before having solar panels installed. This cnet article presents what appears to be a thorough consideration of both the pros and cons.

[EOP]

EVs Likely to Stay Elitist Vehicles

There are not many EVs for under $40K (the best four are noted here, none of which are American) and the Bolt (not mentioned in the top 4) is being discontinued. The promise of opening up the EV market to benefits of competition comes from the Chinese. The U.S. already imposes a 25% tariff on Chinese imports thanks to Trump, but now, as China's EV makers are booming, the Biden administration is  reportedly looking at hiking tariffs in a move that could keep these manufacturers out of the US market, as it seeks to protect the stuttering US EV industry from a wave of cheap Chinese exports. With the exception of the Bolt, US EVs are dominated by big hunker vehicles from Cadillac, Ford, and Rivian. Now I have a better understanding of Bidenomics. 

[EOP]

What to Do Upon Being Bumped From a Flight

This WSJ article has some good suggestions on two fronts: (i) how to negotiate for the perks that might be obtained when a flight is oversold and the airline is looking for "volunteers" to take a different flight; and (ii) what to do if you are involuntarily bumped.

[EOP]

Easy Weight Loss Diet Change and Weighing Tips

[Prefatory Note: The following suggestion has not been approved by any doctor or medical institution, and you should not try it without checking with your doctor]

A fan of this blog has been overweight for years, and about a month ago, he finally decided to make a dietary change in an effort to lose weight. Here is what he did: Eliminated all carbs, pasta, bread, cheese, alcohol, and other such stuff; limited snacks to vegetables (celery, lettuce, carrots, radishes, broccoli stems); limited breakfast to fruit (with a teaspoon of a yoghurt substitute); limited lunch to a salad with vinegar dressing with a small piece of fish, meat, or chicken; and limited dinner to a medley of brussel sprouts, asparagus, and broccoli florets splashed with olive oil and microwaved for 5 minutes, a large side of sauerkraut, a small piece of fish, meat, or chicken, and apple slices with some blueberries for dessert. This diet produced a steady, even weight loss without ever feeling hungry--which is not to say he wouldn't love some cheese and pasta and such, which he will allow himself in moderation if and when his weight goal is met. 

PS: You'll get the most accurate reading from your scale if you weigh yourself first thing in the morning. Do it after using the bathroom and before eating breakfast or chugging any water. According to experts, the morning is the best time because you've given your body the chance to properly digest everything you ate and drank the previous day, leaving your stomach relatively empty. Keep your scale on a solid, flat surface. Stand barefoot on your scale, keeping your weight distributed evenly between both feet.

PPS: Unlike when he gave up smoking which resulted in a new nightmare routine of having a cigarette (a la the dream of not being able to find the final exam classroom or having enough credits to graduate), the above diet did not result in feast nightmares of gorging on forbidden foods or undue cravings for forbidden food.

[EOP]

The Praeger Curriculum

There's some alarm about the adoption of the so-called Praeger Curriculum in various places. Here's a sampling of that curriculum which, "include[s] comparing climate change denialism to the Polish opposition against the Nazis; a cartoon Booker T. Washington reassuring a pair of time-traveling cartoon children that slavery was “a reality everywhere in the world”; and a pair of videos titled “How to Embrace Your Masculinity” and “How to Embrace Your Femininity” that advise young men to seek financial independence, set career goals, and become critical thinkers, and young women to “make yourself pretty,” “embrace the idea of being a wife and a mother,” and “try smiling.” Some think these represent ultra-right-wing values and ideologies.

[EOP]

Possible Improbable Best Hope for Beating Trump

The only Democrat who wants Biden to stay in the presidential race is Biden. He also might be the only person who thinks he can beat Trump. Given the cap on Trump's appeal, however, there is a scenario that promises a reasonable likelihood that Trump will lose: Manchin and Haley run on a third-party ticket. They might peel off enough Republican voters and attract enough independent voters to perhaps actually win, but undoubtedly they (along with RFK, Jr.) should peel off enough to doom Trump.

[EOP]

Prediction re Colorado Supreme Court's Decision Throwing Trump Off the Ballot

The Colorado Supreme Court's decision holding that the insurrection clause of the 14th amendment requires that Trump be thrown off the ballot can and should be taken up and decided quickly by the Supreme Court. In addition to whatever else it might base a reversal on, it will reverse on the ground, well founded in precedent, that a president is not an "officer" within the meaning of that clause, and it will do so 9-0. Then, time and effort can stop being wasted on gotcha legalisms confirming the view that Trump is a victim of the overzealous elites, and spent instead as it should be in denying Trump the presidency the American way--based on either a fair vote or putting him in prison.

[EOP]

Cool Example of What AI Can Do

Many of you might not understand AI, and I don't have the time or patience at the moment to explain it (other than to say it's much easier to understand than bitcoin). But, if you think AI is some remote thing that will either save or destroy the planet, here is a mundane example of just how cool and down-to-earth AI can be: "Apparel and fast-fashion brands ... are turning to a new weapon in the fight against costly online returns: artificial intelligence. They are using AI to sharpen product descriptions and recommendations, steer certain ads away from shoppers most likely to return those products, and aim advertising toward consumers they believe will hold on to their purchases." As such, AI is addressing a real problem in the retail world: "Returns are a blight to online retailers: They need to make the process smooth enough to encourage sales, but prevent the cost of returns from swamping their balance sheets. Return-processing costs as a percentage of overall sales in 2022 held roughly even from the year before at 16.5%, according to the National Retail Federation. But the probshoppers lem has grown more pressing as inflation crimps both consumers’ wallets and retailers’ bottom lines."

[EOP]

CNN's Coverage of Trump's Is Propaganda, Not News

People watching Fox News are not voting for Biden; people watching MSNBC are not voting for Trump; people watching CNN or broadcast news might be voting for either. When Trump makes one of his weekly outrageous statements, the Fox News coverage solidifies Trump loyalists; the MSNBC coverage outrages the never-Trumpers; but the CNN and broadcast coverage portrays it as "Breaking News," leads with it. CNN then typically follows the lead with a panel discussion that includes a semi-sane looking and sounding Republican who "explains" that what Trump says is hyperbole or such and that what's at stake in the presidential election is ending the "oppressive and intrusive and wrong-headed" Biden policies. Hence, rather than being a supposed neutral disseminator of news, CNN, much as it did in 2016, has become Trump's most potent (and free) weapon.

PS: Relatedly, when Biden answers Trump in kind (e.g., "Trump is a threat to Democracy"), it gives the cable and broadcast networks more impetus to feature Trump, and reinforces the spreading notion that Biden's major plank is not his policies and prescriptions for making American's lives better, but rather, he's just not Trump, which might not work in 2024 as it did in 2020.

[EOP]

TSA Screening Might Get Much Better/Faster for TSA Pre

As this WaPo article explains, passengers with PreCheck will assume several responsibilities typically handled by TSA officers, such as checking their IDs and inspecting their bags for prohibited items. This new approach is being tested now, but if you're not TSA Pre, it might be wise to giddyup and get with the program.

[EOP]

Stock Market Traps to Avoid

As this WSJ article notes, "After a year of hand-wringing through monetary policy guesswork and market fluctuations, many wonder how best to maneuver in the new year. Here’s our advice: Avoiding some of the biggest market traps can be a winning strategy": "Don't Fed-watch; Don't buy the hype; Don't anchor to the here and now; Don't fear volatility; and Don't bet against America."

[EOP]

How to Get a Costco Membership for $20

This cnet article explains how you can get a 1-year Gold Star Costco $60 membership for $20. It's not difficult and there's no trick. If you do it, as one semi-loyal always says and encourages others to live by, please send me 80% of your savings or $32. Thank you.

[EOP]

PS re Bringing Stage Culture to the Rest of Us

Okay, it's not a Broadway play or opera, but it's likely just as good or better, and it confirms how powerful this blog is. Yesterday, we pushed to have live cultural events available to stream at home, and today, you can do just that with Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour. It's available to rent for under $20 on Amazon Prime. And you don't have to fight or be burdened by a massive audience or worry about finding a restroom or parking or slogging through inclement weather to see an outdoor concert.

[EOP]

How to Clean a Remote Control

Remote controls are among the most-touched objects in many households, right up there with doorknobs and toilet handles. I have good news for you if you haven't cleaned your remote control weekly, as we do.  This Wirecutter article will tell you how to clean it safely, easily, and correctly.

[EOP] 

Energy Used By Christmas Lights

Every religion and society has marked the winter solstice, i.e., the time when days stop getting shorter and start getting longer, otherwise known as the return of the sun. Putting aside the possible misunderstanding and misspelling of sun, there is nothing in the Bible about Christmas lights nor mention of the return of the sun. Clearly, though, Christmas lights are (or at least in origin were) symbolic of the return of the sun, i.e., the renewal of light shining upon earth. All that said, given the problems posed by climate change and global warming, one has to wonder what the biblical guardians of the planet would say if they were here and saw the energy used by Christmas lights. As this highly respected source explains, lights strung on American trees, rooftops, and lawns account for 6.63 billion kilowatt hours of electricity consumption every year, which is more than the national electricity consumption of many developing countries (e.g., El Salvador uses 5.35 billion kilowatt hours, Ethiopia consumes 5.30 billion, and Tanzania 4.81 billion). 

[EOP]

It's Past Time to Bring Stage Culture to the Rest of Us

If you can abide sitting in a cramped theatre with restrooms that are hidden or too crowded to use at intermission, and have the money and time to go to New York City to see Broadway and Off-Broadway plays with their A-team casts, read no further. Now that home televisions come in decent (75" and above) sizes with quality sound bars at affordable prices, there is no reason that these productions cannot be brought by streaming or filming to home screens. It's a win/win. The producers and actors and stage crews can make more money, and the world can be uplifted and edified on the cultural front. Same goes for the Metropolitan Opera, which does show productions in movies, but also should be doing so on home screens. Please, it is bad enough that we live in a world where colleges have failed or refused to cross the bridge that would take them to the land where technology could reduce prices, improve their product, and bring their benefits to more people, it is like having salt poured onto our wounds for culture to stay in the dark ages and hold out as well.

[EOP]

New Market for Waymo

Waymo (those self-driving cars) has an arrangement to do food deliveries to homes for Uber Eats and Wayfair and perhaps others. But it seems to have forgotten the market for businesses and we regular people to have Waymo deliver gifts, documents, checks, and other stuff for them rather than doing it themselves or ourselves or using a delivery service. 

[EOP]

Prophylactic Approach to Trump

Congress has passed a measure barring presidents from unilaterally exiting NATO. It should chart a course now to create a series of guardrails should Trump become president, including: 60 senate votes needed for any cabinet or joint chiefs position; and so, and so on.

Medical Advice for Lay Persons

If you're not a doctor, when it comes to diagnoses, prognoses, test results, and prescriptions of medical conditions and diseases, do not Google the matter. If you do so, you are as likely as not to not understand or misunderstand or wrongly conclude whatever you find. Instead, check with your doctor.

[EOP]

Great News re The Gilded Age (Series on HBO and MAX)

It's finally over. The last episode of this poorly written, poorly acted, unreal portrayal, is finally over, with the last episode airing this past Sunday night.

[EOP]

Tips on Napping

This NYT article extols the virtues of daily naps that we have advocated since our siesta days beginning in 1968 in El Salvador, and gives detailed tips on getting the most out of your nap: time it right; lower expectations; get comfortable; keep it short; and rise right. And if napping isn't for you, as the article advises, take a  different pause such as a walk or deep breathing.

[EOP]

Barbie (2023 Movie on Max and Prime (for $5.99))

Barbie is surprisingly not as bad as you might have thought it would be but it is not as good as some people say it is. It is entertaining (no matter what you might have thought it would be) given the sets, computer generations, choreography, performances, music, and characters. It has a message to be sure, and it pounds you over the head with it over and over and over again. Indeed, it slugs-you-in-the-face with the point more than Tennessee Williams does. And on top of that, it tries to slather you with schmaltz at the same time. 

[EOP]

Benefit of Using Google Maps Even When You Know the Way

Some people do not use Google Maps when they know where they are going. That is a mistake. Here is an example to drive the point home:

Real Event: John (name changed for privacy purposes) did his usual Saturday morning phone-in pick-up order from Scott's Generations delicatessen (where the food is not that good but the portions are quite large). It's a 10-minute drive at most. Upon getting about a half-mile away, there was an accident at an intersection that required detouring around that took 10+ minutes. After picking up the order and leaving, the real nightmare began: There was a Fiesta Bowl parade and, while I will skip the details of the horror of navigating home (going North for a mile, East for a mile, U-turn, back West for 3 miles, South for 2 miles, West for 2 miles, South for 6 miles, East for 9 miles, North for 8 miles), it took over 45 minutes.

Tip: If John had been using Google Maps, in all likelihood it would have picked up at least the parade problem and perhaps the accident one as well, and charted the most efficient way to Scott's and home.

[EOP]

The Big Issue the Electorate Agrees On

Many commentators characterize the country as divided, even hopelessly so, between the forces of good and evil. In that context, many see the stakes in the upcoming presidential election as to whether the forces of good or the forces of evil will triumph. Put another way, many see the conflict as one between democracy and authoritarianism. The point being missed is that, in reality, putting aside the middle-of-the-road undecided voters, those on the left and those on the right are in total accord: Each sees the other as a threat to democracy, to what America stands for, and to what America should stand for. However, the election will be determined not by that left and right, but by those in the middle, and for them, the "democracy vs. authoritarian debate" is not the issue that will appeal to or sway them. The issue for them, especially people of color and young people to whom neither Biden nor Trump is speaking in terms that resonate, is, "What difference will the outcome of this election mean for me and people like me?" Worded otherwise, "Why should I vote?"

[EOP]

Bowl Games

After informing me that the Fiesta Bowl was the first bowl game to include the name of the sponsor, a loyal reader alerted me to the joy of looking at the names of bowl games.  Here are just a few and, with one exception, they are all real:

Cricket Celebration Bowl

Avocados From Mexico Cure Bowl

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

Quick Lane Bowl

EDC Blog Bowl

Guaranteed Rate Bowl

Duke's Mayo Bowl

Wasabi Fenway Bowl

Bad Boy Mower's Pinstripe Bowl

[EOP]

One for Three Ain't Bad

Batting .333 is outstanding in MLB. So, batting .333 on the health front should be seen as a positive. As the CDC reports, while Covid-19 and flu infections and hospitalizations continue to increase across the country, it appears RSV has reached its peak.

[EOP]

Work Around for You Tube Ad Blocking Problem

Some Chrome users cannot access YouTube stuff with ads because of their ad blocker. Even disabling the ad blocker or removing it might not solve the problem. Indeed, AdBlock acknowledges that it has a  problem with YouTube that it is working on (good luck with that). In the meantime, here are two ways to work around the problem: Access YouTube through Chrome's Incognito mode or through Microsoft Edge or some other browser.

[EDC]

Rave Reviews as a Red Flag

The WSJ, picking up on posts appearing here, cautions that, when you see a product or service (not to mention an STR) that is heavily weighted with rave reviews, that should be a red flag and not a comfort in opting for that product or service (not to mention an STR). There are too many ways that positive reviews are promoted and negative reviews are prevented for us to explain here. We are not saying to ignore positive reviews on products or services (not to  mention STRs). But the point remains, in general, take reviews for products and services (not to mention on STRs) with a cautious eye. Finally, when you see a product or service (not to mention an STR) flooded with positive reviews, scouring the reviews to find the negative ones is crucial, because finding a gem of a negative review can be very insightful and helpful in making your decision.

[EOP]

First Long Covid, Now Long Flu

As is now being reported, like long Covid, the flu also can lead to long-lasting symptoms. So, as we've always said, be careful out there.

PS: Not to be a doggy downer, but for those who have forgotten about Long Covid, this NYT guest essay describes the author's life over 3 years with Long Covid.

[EOP]

Why the Polls Are a Problem for Biden

Two respected pollsters express their views on why Biden is in trouble against Trump: "The good news for Joe Biden is he’s got 11 months. The bad news for Joe Biden is he’s got to dig himself out of a hole. When you look at the people who say they voted for him in 2020, he’s only holding on to 87% of those voters right now. The voters who voted for a third party are breaking for Donald Trump right now. When you look at the comparisons, Donald Trump wins the comparisons with Joe Biden on the economy, on jobs, on inflation, on the border, on foreign-policy stuff. Biden wins on Social Security and Medicare and abortion and things of that nature. But guess what? The ones Donald Trump is winning on are the ones that are most important to the voters right now. ... Democrats are going to have to get much earlier in their outreach to Black voters, to young voters, to Hispanic voters, Asian voters. These are core parts. But that is where he’s lost ground."

[EOP]

Solution to PGA Tour/LIV Golf Conundrum

Not that there was ever an easy solution, but the PGA Tour has managed to mess up at every turn re its struggles with LIV/Golf. My proposed solution (and I believe it might still be viable although Rahm's departure makes it more difficult) had been for Tiger, Rory, and the other top PGA touring pros to start a new tour. However, this might be a more likely solution: LIV/Golf goes to a PGA-style 4-day with cuts format playing top courses all over the world albeit on a limited schedule, which the World Golf Rankings would have to recognize. Then there would be a natural rivalry between LIV/Golf and the PGA Tour just as there was been the AFL and NFL or ABA and NBA, which will result in LIV/Golf swallowing the PGA Tour or a rivalry where they both survive and prosper with their own Super Bowl against each other making the Ryder Cup look like a silly season event. In that circumstance, both tours would likely have far fewer members and players than the PGA Tour now has.

[EOP]

Bitcoin Mining: A Water Hog

For those of you who understand what bitcoin is and how bitcoin is mined, it will come as no surprise to you, as the WSJ article explains, that new estimates find billions of gallons are needed to support cryptocurrency mining (it uses more water than New York City uses)--fueling concerns about the environmental impact. For those of us who have no clue what bitcoin or bitcoining mining is, we have declined to read past the headline because we know we'll be hopelessly lost anyhow.

[EOP]

Preparing for the Fed to Lower Interest Rates

This WSJ article has some food for thought on what investors might consider now that the Fed has signaled that interest rate cuts are on the horizon.

[EOP]

Justice Delayed Is Democracy Denied

[Prefatory Note: The events of the past few days have left me more saddened and depressed as ever as to the cliff this country looks to be hurdling over]

With Biden refusing to get out of the presidential race, Trump adding to his polling lead, Republicans in total and unanimous capitulation to Trump, the most promising hope for defeating Trump was that he would be convicted of a serious crime. It now looks more likely than not that none of the criminal trials will be finished if even started before the election. As Kennedy said, "defeat is an orphan," and there certainly is plenty of  bad luck (e.g., getting that judge in the documents case) and blame (the excruciating delays in starting and finishing their investigations and getting the indictments in the election cases that could have and should have been gotten at least a year earlier). But the stakes are too high to spend time on hindsight and second-guessing and Monday morning quarterbacking. Let's hope the supposed constitutional guardrails are in place should Trump win the election. Impeachment is not one of them anymore. The Supreme Court is not another. 

PS: After I drafted this post, but before I sent it for publication, an opinion piece by Liz Cheney came out making the same point. I had no idea she was privy to the taps they have on this blog and the transmitter in  my tooth.

PPS: A 4-4 decision by the Supreme Court would affirm the appellate court's denial of Trump's claim of immunity. Justice Thomas's wife admittedly worked with the architects of the fake elector plan to have Trump be president. Of course, he will not recuse himself. Given the "pause" now in place in the election case until the Supreme Court decides the immunity question, when the Court actually announces a decision might be more important than the decision itself. 

[EOP]

The NFL Is Not Banning Hip-Hop

Many readers, loyal and otherwise, have pummeled me with requests to take a stand objecting to the "NFL's banning hip-hop." How these conspiratorial and idiotic things get started is beyond me. But, so there's no misunderstanding, the NFL is not banning hip-hop, it's banning the hip-drop. For those who don't know what a hip-drop is, listen up: It is the technique whereby the tackler grabs the ball carrier, spins around the ball carrier’s body, and falls on the back of the ball carrier’s legs. While we are not fond of what we are seeing on many campuses these days, we urge all the petitioners on this matter to go back to school and learn something, and never again have to say, "That's very different, never mind."

[EOP]

Only 10 EVs Will Get the $7,500 Tax Credit in 2024

As The Street reports, only10 EVs will qualify for the full $7,500 federal tax credit in 2024. You can see the list there, but in the meantime, the only car under $50,000 that will qualify is the Chevy Bolt and our understanding is GM is phasing out the Bolt. So, as Kramer would say, "Giddyup."

[EOP]

Wordle: The Bot Makes Up Words

In Wednesday's Wordle, as you can see in these screenshots, the bot has made up a word (MOULD) when giving its analysis. The matter has been brought to the NYT's attention, but there's no reason to hope they will even understand the problem (the bot's faulty dictionary) much less fix it.

[EOP]

Seeing Opened and Recently Closed Tabs in Chrome

I might be the last to see this, but Chrome has a drop down button in the upper-most left corner as shown below. Clicking on it will reveal your opened tabs and your closed, but recently-opened, tab, which are nice to easily access when accidently closed.

[EOP]

Chartering a Sailboat in the Caribbean

This NYT article has a good article on chartering a sailboat in the Caribbean, which, while not cheap, looks to be far less expensive than one might think. It would be an excellent article if it actually named names which it doesn't do.

[EOP]

Selective Prosecutions

Trump argues, and with some reason, that the NY civil fraud case would not have been brought if his name weren't Trump. Hunter Biden's lawyers argue, and with some reason, that the tax evasion case would not have been brought if his name weren't Biden. The difference, however, in the two circumstances is stark: Trump's fraud had little or nothing to do with his name; Biden would never have made the millions of dollars he made in his foreign "dealings" if his name were not Biden.

[EOP] 

Answer This President Gay

The presidents of Penn and Harvard drew fire for "carefully worded responses," alluding to supposed "context," to a line of questioning from New York Republican Elise Stefanik, who repeatedly asked whether “calling for the genocide of Jews” would violate the schools’ rules. “If the speech turns into conduct it can be harassment, yes,” Magill said. Pressed further, Magill told Stefanik, “It is a context-dependent decision, congresswoman.” Gay gave a similar response, saying that, when “speech crosses into conduct, that violates our policies.” Magill lost her job at Penn. Gay kept her job at Harvard. One can only wonder if, instead of the question being cast as "genocide of Jews," whether Gay's "answers" would have as "nuanced" and she would have kept her job if the question had been, "Does a campus group's calling for the lynching of Blacks violate the school's rules?"

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The Curse (2023 Series on Hulu/Showtime)

The Curse is not for everyone. First, you have to be able to abide scenes that usually are confined to X-rated or XXX-rated films. Second, while billed as a comedy, you have to be able to enjoy a movie that doesn't make you laugh and is not funny. Third, you have to like some truly unlikeable characters. Fourth, if you can identify him, you have to be able to abide the metamorphosis Corbin Bernsen has undergone. If you get over those hurdles, you will be rewarded by getting to watch Emma Stone in ways you've never seen her before (unless you've been with her in her bedroom). Now to the plot: Whitney and Asher Siegel are a newlywed couple struggling to bring their vision for eco-conscious housing to the small community of Española, New Mexico. But their efforts are complicated when an eccentrically flawed reality TV producer, Dougie, sees opportunity in their story. As the series unfolds, the couple find themselves caught in a mysterious web of ethical and moral gray zones - all while trying to keep their relationship afloat.

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Shipping Luggage Instead of Schlepping and Checking It

With many airlines charging $35 or more to check luggage, as this WaPo article explains, it has become economically feasible to have one's luggage shipped instead. This way, one avoids the headache of getting it to the airport, then to baggage check-in, then checking it in, then waiting for it at the baggage carousel, and then (if the airline didn't lose it), getting it to your ride. The article reports on its testing of three shipping services.

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Wasabi Might Help Seniors With Their Memory

Certain foods have been shown to have “brain-boosting” powers, such as berries, oily fish, eggs, and kale. Some spices, including turmeric, cinnamon, saffron, and ginger, have also been found to help improve brain function. As now is being reported about a study (as to which we have sample size concerns), researchers from Tohoku University in Japan have found the spice wasabi — traditionally served as a condiment in Japanese cuisine — may help improve certain areas of cognitive function in older adults. Unfortunately, wasabi is high in calories so careful not to ingest too much of it.

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Opening a Large Jar of Sauerkraut

Sauerkraut is a delicious side dish and a perfect complement to anyone dieting. It is best bought in a jar and not in a can. Many people have trouble opening the jar even with a Gilhoolie jar opener (pictured below). Here's the trick: Bang the side of the lid a few times with a knife handle and the seal on the top will pop and then the lid can be easily unscrewed to remove.

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Response to Those Calling for Israel to Just Stop Waging War, and Perhaps How to End the War

Everyone sympathizes with Israel in terms of the atrocities committed upon its people on October 7, and everyone agrees that war against Hamas is justified in terms of retaliation and to protect Israel going forward. At the same time, there are resounding calls for Israel to stop in the name of avoiding the harm that is being inflicted on innocent Palestinians. There is an easy answer to them. As has been done to end many wars, including the Second World War, Israel should announce as follows: If Hamas surrenders unconditionally (as Germany and Japan did), and the innocent Palestinians agree to assist Israel in having any recalcitrant members of Hamas submit themselves for appropriate post-war sanctions, Israel and its allies (a la the Marshall Plan) will devote as much resources as necessary to rebuild Gaza and help it become a demilitarized democracy.

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Gifting Should Be Anonymous With One Exception

As this clip demonstrates, gifting anonymously is the highest form of gifting. The one exception, which  Rabbi Leo Landman taught me at the Talmud Torah of Flatbush in Brooklyn: “Make sure not to sign your checks, ‘Anonymous.’” 

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Tips on Buying a Computer and Doing So Now

This WaPo article explains that computer sales have been falling for two years following a pandemic-related buying surge. That’s terrible for device manufacturers and retailers including Apple, Dell, Microsoft, and Best Buy. But computer sellers’ pain is your gain. If you are hunting for a new (or new to you) computer for back to school or whatever reason, you are in the driver’s seat. This article has an excellent overview on how to save money and shop smart for your next computer. It then goes on to give some excellent tips on picking the best computer for your needs.

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Cleaning Up Your Passwords

If you don't have a password manager, stop reading now. If you do have a password manager, it is easy and relatively quick to cleanup duplicates and passwords otherwise at risk. Just open your password vault, and choose the list view, and you should see and be able to delete or fix all of them (the manager likely will have a mode that indicates which ones are weak or duplicative or otherwise at risk).

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Cautionary Note re Buying Things That Have Batteries or Lights

This WSJ article has an excellent overview of the risks with things that have batteries or lights, and tips how to avoid the unsafe ones (e.g., why buying items that are "sold by" on Amazon or buying items with long shipping items could be riskier bets).

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Cautionary Note re Tithing With a Mailed Check

If you are tithing to a church, the riskiest way to do so is by mailing a check. Among the risks noted with paper checks in general as posts here have cautioned, many churches might not be open when mail deliveries are made on Mondays through Saturdays, leaving the check to wander around aimlessly or be returned.

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Cautionary Note re the "Everything Rally" the Market Seems to Be In

As this WSJ article explains, investors spent most of 2023 fretting about inflation and interest rates. Now they are snapping up everything from stocks and bonds to crypto and even gold. The simultaneous surge across assets has sparked debate about whether the “everything rally” marks the arrival of a lasting bull market— or just a fleeting sugar high at the end of the Federal Reserve’s tightening cycle. The article might not give the certain answer, but that does not mean its insights are not valuable.

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The Nub of the Conundrum in the Israel/Gaza Situation

To put it simply, what would happen if Hamas actually gave up all the remaining hostages it is holding? What is Israel supposed to do if Hamas doesn't?

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NFL Officiating

Putting aside how it is skewed against the Eagles, the NFL officiating is horrendous beyond words. There is offensive holding on every play and offensive pass interference on most plays, but they are called at random (not to mention unfairly against the Eagles). As to defensive pass interference, there is no standard other than the pass being incomplete and the ref feeling like throwing a flag. As to offensive offsides, don't get me or Mahomes started (yeah, the guy was offside but it's a penalty called almost never--once last year and a handful of times this year, and never (except, in this game) without first warning which wasn't done). Also, many of the offensive penalties are askew ... if they all would impose loss of down as well as yardage, the games would be shortened and the number of  penalties dramatically reduced. 

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Eagles: Reason for Concern But No Reason for Panic (Yet)

The Eagles have two bad losses in a row, one to the Niners and the other to the odious Cowboys. These losses give pause for concern. But, these losses come on the back of victories against the Bills and the Chiefs. So, it's a been a brutal schedule for 4 weeks, and coming out 2 and 2 isn't a tragedy. Looking at the remaining games on their schedule, the Eagles play the Giants twice, the Seahawks, and the Cardinals, while the Cowboys play the Bills, Dolphins, Lions, and the Washington Football Club. So, there's a good chance the Eagles will win their division.

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Possible Deal on Dish TV

It has been reported to me by a non-reader subscriber to Dish TV, that when they went to cancel their $140/month subscription, they were offered a cancelable-any-time, price-guaranteed-for-1-year, service including HBO and more streaming services and all NFL games, for $45/month. It would seem reasonable to conclude that Dish is in big trouble on Wall Street and that their subscriber count has become their paramount concern over revenue and profits. I can't say if you can get that rate by calling and subscribing, or calling and threatening to cancel your current subscription, but I can say there's no harm in trying.

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No Law Firm Needs Such Publicity or Wants to Get the "Potted Plant Award"

The New York Times has reported that Wilmer Hale "prepared" the presidents of Penn and Harvard for their disastrous congressional testimony and sat in the front row behind them. It is impossible to know without having been in on the witness prep whether the prep was incompetent or the presidents were too stupid to understand the prep. But, one conclusion is inescapable: Every competent litigator knows that, when it comes to live testimony, especially pre-trial (deposition) testimony, context is irrelevant, and each question and answer must stand and be defended on its own irrespective of what every questions led up to that particular interchange. Thus, as each answer is given, every competent litigator will immediately envision that singular Q&A being blown up on its own to the jury. So, when a witness gives a "wrong" answer, e.g.., equivocating on whether speech advocating the "genocide of Jews," any competent lawyer would immediately (by passing a note or breaking in to confer with the witness) to immediately correct that "wrong" answer so that no such blow up ever is made. As Brendan Sullivan, an accomplished lawyer said when serving as Oliver North's counsel at a congressional hearing, and was being admonished for objecting, "Well, sir, I'm not a potted plant. I'm here as the lawyer.." Wilmer Hale get this year's "Potted Plant Award." Not surprising, Wilmer Hale had no comment for the NYT story.

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Trump Lawyers Asleep at the Switch When It Comes to the NY AG

The NY AG, who is bringing the civil fraud suit against Trump, is making statements on television and on social media that characterize Trump and his witnesses in all kinds of ways, including as liars. Yeah, the suit is a fraud suit, and the AG can make whatever statements she wants in appropriate legal briefs, motions, and arguments. But where does the lawyer for the plaintiff (the state in this case) get to make extra-judicial slams as to the credibility of witnesses including the defendant? Why Trump's lawyers have not sought a gag order at a minimum or dismissal because of this misconduct is beyond me. I'm sure I'll hear some explanation.

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