Many people are worried about what the state of democracy will be in this country if Trump is elected president. I wish you Sky-Is-Falling-Chicken-Littles would take a minute and look at what the former president actually says he will do if granted a second term:
Nine Perfect Strangers is about nine stressed city dwellers who visit a boutique health-and-wellness resort that promises healing and transformation. The resort's director is a woman on a mission to reinvigorate their tired minds and bodies. It might be assumed that it is intended to be a very deep, insightful, reflective, and meaningful look at life. But, who knows? It is so badly done and annoying to watch that no discriminating viewer could watch for more than 9x3 or 27 minutes.
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Your biological age is not counted by birthdays. Instead, it is based on how much your cells and organs have aged. As this WSJ article explains, for just a few hundred dollars, you can find out what your biological age is. I'm just relieved to know that I'm still old enough to have a driver's license.
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Paella might be my overall favorite dish. What's nice about it is that you can throw in just about any seafood or meat or vegetable you want. It's impossible to find paella in Phoenix, but luckily, it's not that difficult to make (and if you want to cheat, it's not hard to find good saffron rice to take out from various local restaurants):
Step 1: Put 3 tablespoons olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add about ½ pound of meat, sprinkle with salt and pepper and cook until nicely browned. Add the onion and bell pepper and cook until soft. (If you want a meatless paella, skip right to the onion.)
Step 2: Add 2 cups rice and a pinch of saffron, if using, and cook, stirring, until shiny with olive oil. Add 3½ cups hot stock and stir until just combined, then stir in seafood or lay it on top of the rice. (Skip the seafood if you want vegetarian paella.)
Step 3: Cook over medium-high heat, undisturbed. If the pan is too big for your burner, move it around a little; but otherwise, leave it alone. About halfway through the cooking (about 10 minutes), add any vegetables, taste and season with salt and pepper, and stir gently, just once. When the mixture starts to dry out, begin tasting the rice. If the rice seems quite tough, add another ½ cup or so of liquid. And if you can smell the bottom starting to burn, lower the heat a bit.
Step 4: The rice is done when tender and still a bit moist; if the mixture has stuck to the bottom of the pan, congratulations: you have socarrat, a characteristic of good paella. Serve the paella in the pan, in the middle of the table, and dinner guests — up to six — should fight over it.
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Cellphone batteries have a limited lifespan. Replacing the battery often is the least expensive way to cure your phone's sluggishness or other issues as it gets older. With iPhones, the best thing to do is have the replacement done at an Apple store because then you are assured of getting an Apple battery and the cost of an Apple battery is just $10 more than a third-party battery. With Android phones, unless you send the phone back to the manufacturer where the turnaround time can be 10 days or longer, the repair stores typically will use third-party batteries which likely are okay. You might ask if they have your manufacturer's battery, but whether you get a truthful answer is another story.
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Season 2 of The Gilded Age has begun, and it's okay. It's been a while since Season 1 ended, and you get the feeling that what you are watching in the first episode of Season 2 you saw already in Season 1.
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This NYT opinion piece eloquently and cogently articulates and supports what we said a couple of days ago when we slammed the Atlantic's "advice" to university presidents to advocate for free speech but avoid stating any opinion on the issues involved in the Israeli/Palestinian events: "Condemnation of the Oct. 7 massacre of Israeli civilians by Hamas — and calling it out as an act of terrorism — shouldn’t be avoided out of risk of offending Palestinians and their supporters. Not condemning the terrorist attacks is a failure of a moral core, and by no means should condemnation of terrorism be viewed as incompatible with believing in Palestinian rights and statehood, alongside Israel. Terrorism is, by common understanding, an attack on all humanity. ... We teach our students to deal with policy predicaments that start with tough questions that require understanding opposing ideas. The uncertainty about what the future of Gaza will look like, whether the peace process can be revived and how the security and safety of Israelis and Palestinians will be achieved — these are, to be sure, hard questions with solutions that do not fit on placards. While campus groups and all Americans enjoy freedom of speech, educators at universities must respond to speech that is harmful, hateful, untrue or lacking nuance and historical context. Free speech works only when there is vigorous counterspeech."
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Trump is going to get the Republican nomination. And Biden is going to get the Democratic nomination. Biden could lose, and the country as we know it as a democracy could end. One person who could save the country is Chris Christie. If he would establish a third party (call it the Real Republican Party) and get on the state ballots, he wouldn't become president, but he just might siphon off enough votes from Trump (from those who don't want Trump and cannot abide Biden) to insure Trump loses.
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As this WSJ article explains, pretax contributions made to retirement accounts will no longer count as income in the formula that measures a family’s ability to pay for college, under changes to this year’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or Fafsa. The Education Department made the changes to simplify the form and ensure more aid goes to those who need it most. Some families could save between $5,000 and over $10,000 on the cost of college each year, depending on their income.
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Looking back over the past year, baseball has gotten better. Looking forward, it can get even better.
Looking Back: The rule changes this year, especially the pitch clock, have transformed baseball majestically. The average length of a game now is 24 minutes fewer than it was last season; only 9 games went 3.5 hours or longer this season compared to 390 in 2021; and attendance in ballparks was up nearly 10%.
Looking Forward: There was a lot of grumbling this year (not by me, I accepted the outcome) about the playoffs. The thought is the teams who did best over the season do not get much for it beyond a 1-game home field advantage. There are some intriguing ideas of how to remedy the situation, the best of which is the so-called "ghost win" system. Under that system, the higher seeded team is given a 1-0 lead in the playoff series before the first game (now what would be the second game) is played.
Looking Further Forward: Automating the calling of balls and strikes (creating the so-called "robot umpires") will come (as the "camera eye" has come to tennis and other sports). The sooner the better.
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Some think that the Wordle solution cannot end in the letter "d" ... that is not so ... it can end in "d" but cannot end in "ed."
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The groundswell of protests heard from Arab countries through Western countries through American universities for a cease-fire or other measures to protect the innocent Palestinians who did not participate in the unspeakable horrors committed by Hamas have an understandable humanitarian impetus to them. The situation in Gaza and the Middle-East concededly is difficult and complicated, and a solution is illusive. But, would it be too much, as a first step, for the innocent Palestinians and the Arab nations to stand up and say that they recognize Israel's right to exist as a country, and that they do not support the idea or any one or any group whose goal is the elimination of Israel?
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We recommended The Mick yesterday based on the first two episodes, which were said to be stupid but quite funny. Alas, the stupidity level in the third and fourth episodes increased while the funny level fell precipitously. The humor became semi-raunchy, teenage, offensive, bathroom humor, and the quirkiness of the characters turned into exaggerations of people no one would enjoy spending time with. We have given up on the series and moved on. We do not hold it against or deduct any points from the semi-loyal reader who recommended this series, which we assume was based on no more than the first two episodes.
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Vacationing on your own private island no longer is an experience solely for the rich and famous. Gladden Island (for 2-4 people) and Kanu Private Island (for up to 10 adults and 10 children) off of Belize are unbeatable vacation getaways. They come with a full staff and everything. I mean everything, is included.
College presidents are finding themselves in a bit of a pickle trying to balance the right of people to speak (in support of the Palestinians) and protest (against Israel's waging war in Gaza) versus the pressure from donors and others who don't care for what those protestors stand for and are saying. The Atlantic has the following suggestion for what those presidents should say: "As events in Israel and Gaza dominate the news, I am refraining from any official comment on the substance of matters, despite following them closely, because no matter how strong my views are on any subject as a scholar or a person, it is inappropriate to marshal my power and influence as president of this institution to overshadow the voices of individual faculty or individual students. My job is to help you to discover, improve, and disseminate knowledge––not by pronouncing on what is true, but by conserving an environment where you can seek truth." One has to wonder if that would have been the Atlantic's advice viz Nazi Germany before our entry into the war, when there was great debate as to whether or not to enter the war. It is nice to say “I am keeping my views to myself” because there is a debate going on, but it misses the point as to what the debate is about. No one denies anyone the right to speak on campus and say what they want to say. But the idea that the president of a college cannot or should not say what they believe makes no sense.
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Biden apparently will not drop out of the 2024 race. And no one credible is going to challenge him for the nomination. With age a big factor, the running mate becomes far more important than usual. Biden should replace Harris on the ticket, and do so sooner rather than later. General Milley would be the ideal pick.
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It's still not difficult, and can be done online or at a post office, but the USPS has added some security checks when one wishes to do a change of address. Click here for a further explanation of the steps involved.
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Re Keyword: Keyword is a free game from the Washington Post, which has turned out to be my favorite game and the favorite game of many loyal readers and others. Unlike Wordle, there is no luck involved. It's entirely skill, and in many ways it's the same deductive skill that is called upon too infrequently, but is the most fun, with Wordle, which is figuring out (not guessing at) the correct solution. Unlike Spelling Bee, it takes very little time ... usually under 2 minutes and often under 1 minute. There is a timer but it should be ignored because all that matters is getting the solution with NO mistakes.
Re Wordle: We have now twice suggested to the Wordle team that they change the bot's "WORDS LEFT" analysis to read instead "SOLUTIONS LEFT" because often there actually are more than 1 dictionary word left but the bot doesn't see or recognize it. It's similar to the change we successfully had the Spelling Bee team make when they changed "NOT A WORD" to read "NOT A WORD ON OUR LIST." We are pleased to report we've apparently made some progress with the Wordle team. As you can see, the bot's analysis of one's result as it did today now uses the phrase "words in my dictionary."
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This Tech Friend article explains two relatively low-fuss changes to your email account that will significantly improve your security. If you’ve already done these, double check. I bet you can make a beneficial tweak.
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Trump's ability (as aided by television outlets and social media) to marshall and unleash the darkest forces that exist in the country is unparalleled in American history. The new House Speaker, Michael Johnson, does not have Trump's "charisma" or drawing power. But unlike Trump, who believes nothing (and understands even less) when it comes to policy, Johnson appears to be ideologically as far to the right and as anti-democratic and anti-individual freedoms and rights as one can be, and a spear-head of election denialism without hesitancy to abandon the constitution when it comes to determining the presidency, and as big a nut-job as can be imagined. For example, unlike those who oppose abortion on moral grounds, Johnson roots his opposition not only on morality grounds, but also on supposed economics. As he puts it, the country is deprived of “all those able-bodied workers in the economy” had they not been aborted. On top of that, he has advocated to criminalize gay sex and outlaw same-sex marriage, while calling LGBTQ people a "deviant group." As is now clear, the only thing that matters to be in the leadership of what used to be the Republican party, is adherence to Trump. In short, at least for now, the MAGA forces have won. We no longer live in a country where there are two political parties that differ on policy or ideology or priorities. We live in two different countries.
PS: I know nothing said here is original nor does it provide any insight. It's just a rant. And, as is often noted that this blog does not do politics, it begs indulgence to occasionally do a rant.
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I love fresh warm pita and I hate store-bought pita which never is fresh. Its recipe is easy and takes only 2 hours to make, and you and your guests will love it. There's little point making your own hummus, which is the only way to go with hummus, if not complemented with your own pita:
Step 1: Make sponge: Put 1 cup lukewarm water in a large mixing bowl. Add yeast and sugar. Stir to dissolve. Add the whole-wheat flour and ¼ cup all-purpose flour and whisk together. Put bowl in a warm (not hot) place, uncovered, until mixture is frothy and bubbling, about 15 minutes.
Step 2: Add salt, olive oil and nearly all remaining all-purpose flour (reserve ½ cup). With a wooden spoon or a pair of chopsticks, stir until mixture forms a shaggy mass. Dust with a little reserved flour, then knead in bowl for 1 minute, incorporating any stray bits of dry dough.
Step 3: Turn dough onto work surface. Knead lightly for 2 minutes, until smooth. Cover and let rest 10 minutes, then knead again for 2 minutes. Try not to add too much reserved flour; the dough should be soft and a bit moist. (At this point, dough may refrigerated in a large zippered plastic bag for several hours or overnight. Bring dough back to room temperature, knead into a ball and proceed with recipe.)
Step 4: Clean the mixing bowl and put dough back in it. Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap, then cover with a towel. Put bowl in a warm (not hot) place. Leave until dough has doubled in size, about 1 hour.
Step 5: Heat oven to 475 degrees. On bottom shelf of oven, place a heavy-duty baking sheet, large cast-iron pan or ceramic baking tile. Punch down dough and divide into 8 pieces of equal size. Form each piece into a little ball. Place dough balls on work surface, cover with a damp towel and leave for 10 minutes.
Step 6: Remove 1 ball (keeping others covered) and press into a flat diskc with rolling pin. Roll to a 6-inch circle, then to an 8-inch diameter, about ⅛ inch thick, dusting with flour if necessary. (The dough will shrink a bit while baking.)
Step 7: Carefully lift the dough circle and place quickly on hot baking sheet. After 2 minutes the dough should be nicely puffed. Turn over with tongs or spatula and bake 1 minute more. The pita should be pale, with only a few brown speckles. Transfer warm pita to a napkin-lined basket and cover so bread stays soft. Repeat with the rest of the dough balls.
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If I didn't say The Mick was recommended by a particular semi-loyal reader, the consequences would be unbearable given that it turns out, as recommended, to be both funny and stupid. It's the story of a hard-living aunt who is forced to take care of her wealthy sister's spoiled kids after the mom flees the country to avoid criminal charges. But that doesn't really matter. What matters is that it is quick-paced, and each scene is well done and most make you chuckle and many make you laugh out loud. This review is based on the first two episodes (which as a plus are under 1/2 hour each), and our hope is that it holds up over 2 seasons.
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Apple is raising the prices of several of its services, including Apple TV Plus, Apple Arcade, Apple News Plus, and Apple One. Apple TV Plus is going from $6.99 per month to $9.99 per month, and Apple’s other services are seeing significant hikes, too. Instead of $4.99 per month, Apple Arcade (whatever that is) will now cost $6.99 per month. Meanwhile, Apple News Plus (whatever that is) is increasing from $9.99 per month to $12.99 per month. With all three services getting price increases, that means the Apple One bundle (whatever that is) is going up as well.
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As this WSJ article reports, T-Mobile said it is scrapping a program that would have forced some customers into more expensive wireless plans after the proposed changes triggered heavy blowback. As Chief Executive Mike Sievert said during the company’s third-quarter earnings call: “We had planned it as a test cell, and then we aren’t doing it, because I think we’ve got plenty of feedback, most persuasively from the EDC Tech and Consumer Tips Blog.”
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Unless your dinner guests are tonic snobs, who can tell the difference between Fry's tonic, Canadian Dry, and Schweppe's tonic when mixed with gin or vodka, the dollar you will save on the $13.99 1.75L Seagram's vodka from Total Wine instead of from Fry's will get swallowed by the higher tonic cost delta at Total Wine.
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Some people hate the idea of retirement and look to keep working. Others like to think of retirement as prolonged hanging out and a little traveling time. As this WSJ article outlines, for many, the best option is to sell your house (or rent it or just leave it), get out of your comfort zone, and go somewhere for prolonged time by buying or renting a sailboat (even if you never sailed before) and make it your base or an RV if you're a land-lubber. Round-the-world cruises by ship or plane are two cushy alternatives covered by this blog which don't have the same feel.
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PS 1: I have been flooded with requests to explain how the Phillies could have lost the NLCS. The answer is easy: Baseball is two sports—the long regular season where the best teams come out on top and the best-of-a-few-games post-season where any team can win. Before baseball went the way of the NBA, NFL, and NHL, the World Series pitted the two best teams (i.e., the NL champions and the AL champions based on their records for the season) against each other. Now, with the wild cards and the multiple playoffs, it's a series of crap shoots.
PS 2: I've also been flooded with requests as to how shocking the Phillies loss was in games 6 and 7 given their supposed unbridled home field advantage bestowed on them by their rabid fans. Putting aside the number of such fans who apparently were under the age of 5, and the number of such fans no one would want to spend a minute with, this blog has always been of the view that the media's and the commentators' (including the PTI guys) yapping about the great home field advantage the Phillies had was poppycock. Fielding a team suited to a particular ballpark can make a marginal difference over 162 games, but again, in a best of 3, 5, or 7 series, go away. If any of these guys needs crowd support to raise their level to what it otherwise would be given their competitiveness and what makes them tick to make it in The Bigs and to get to or win a World Series, trade 'em.
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There are two aspects to Keyword, a free game in the Washington Post: One is speed (how quickly the resolution is found) and the other is accuracy (the fewest number of mistakes made, the goal being zero, in getting to the solution). If one emphasizes speed, there is less thinking and more rapid fire action. If one emphasizes accuracy, it takes a while, but there is much more thinking. Most, if not all, smart people ignore the speed route and find going the accuracy route to be more challenging, more cerebral, and more fun.
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We reported before about the shortage of Covid-19 vaccine. As it turns out, RSV vaccination drugs are in short supply. According to the CDC's revised guidelines, the priority now is infants with high risk. So, please do NOT rush out and get an RSV vaccination. As we always say, think about the children.
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As this WaPo article reports, there are many good reasons to get a flu shot this fall, but here’s one that might surprise you: It could protect your brain. Recent research suggests, although scientists aren't sure why, that regular vaccinations against influenza and other infectious diseases such as shingles, pneumococcal pneumonia, and tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough) may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
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Angie's Lobster is the best deal in Phoenix. The lobster is fantastic and the price is unbeatable. The only problem is there is no outlet near North Central Phoenix. Now, to throw salt in our wounds, they have opened Angie's Prime Grill which has chicken and steak in addition to lobster, but again, their location is in parts we've never been to. I have emailed the owner begging him to open a place in North Central Phoenix.
PS: Text of Email Exchange With the Owner:
Email to the Owner: "Angie’s Lobster is my favorite eatery in the world. Angie’s Prime Grill looks to be fantastic. The only problem is I live in North Central Phoenix, so all your outlets are quite far away. I have two doctors with offices near the 51 and the 101, and whenever I have an appointment, I do go to the 19th Avenue Angie’s Lobster. My request is that you please consider opening an outlet in the North Central Phoenix area. Thanks. gene"
Email Response From the Owner: "Hi Gene! Thanks for your support! We will open many locations all across Phoenix. Sincerely, Tony"
Change: Last week, the IRS clarified rules for “transferring” the EV purchase tax credit from buyers to dealers for cars put in service after this year. An example: In 2024, a buyer who qualifies for the $7,500 federal tax credit on a Tesla (TSLA) will get $7,500 off the price instead of a 2024 tax refund. I'm not sure, but I think this represents even a bigger savings because of the reduced sales tax that is imposed.
Possible Change: Tesla said the $7,500 federal tax credits for its Model 3 and Model Y electric vehicles are likely to be reduced after December 31, according to a change on the automaker’s website late Tuesday. Tesla didn’t say why it expects to lose federal tax credits on its vehicles by the end of 2023, but it could be due to the government’s plan to enforce stricter rules on batteries next year.
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Fubo TV appears to be a worthy option for cord cutters. There are several plans and you can try it for free. One of the big bonuses for sports enthusiasts is you can watch up to 4 events (each in its own quadrant) at the same time on your screen. It might have some advantages over Hulu +.
As this WSJ article reports, starting in 2025, Americans traveling to Europe will have to register online to enter the continent and need prior authorization for travel to European Union countries. The new requirements for travel will also mean that U.S. travelers arriving in Europe will no longer get passport stamps. Instead, their faces and fingerprints will be scanned and logged in a new digital registration system beginning next fall.
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As is said in this magnificent poem, "Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright; the band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light, and somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout; but there is no joy in Mudville — the mighty Phillies have struck out."
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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' statement to the Security Council was a follows: "I am deeply concerned about the clear violations of international humanitarian law that we are witnessing in Gaza. Let me be clear: No party to an armed conflict is above international humanitarian law ... the Palestinians had been subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation ...It is important to also recognize the attacks by Hamas did not happen in a vacuum." While he needed more words to make the point, he certainly channelled Trump's pithy: "There are very fine people on both sides."
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When McCarthy is starting to look like a reasonable candidate for Speaker, we know the standard has become a bit low for being the third in line for the presidency. But of the 9 Republicans whose hats were now in the ring as Tuesday began, only 2 voted on January 6 to certify Biden as president and to condemn what some might call the insurrection at the Capitol. One of them has now dropped out, so of the 8 remaining, just one thinks that Trump is more important than the constitution.
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This NYT article summarizes what infectious disease experts believe we all should know about some of the most common adult and pediatric viruses (and one bacterial infection): their symptoms, how they spread, how to treat them and when you (or your child) can re-enter society. It also has a link to a quick, printable version to keep on-hand at home. Download the pdf here.
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Ever since the pandemic has ended, we have been loathe to give advice re Covid-19. We are going to bend that rule just a smidge here. As this USA Today article explains, for a host of reasons (which the article details), "the new COVID vaccine booster [sic, it's not a booster] appears harder to find." So, with that, as opposed to gaming what is the "best time" to get the vaccine in terms of guessing when the infection rate will be at its height, perhaps the "best time" is the soonest you can get an appointment. We've heard some people actually have gotten Covid in the past few weeks.
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Since Biblical times, if not before, the great debate has been whether showering daily really is necessary. This NYT article does an excellent job of fleshing out the pros and cons.
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Lest anyone think I only report good things when it comes to the Phillies, that would be wrong and wrong-headed. As it turns out, it was decided to skip Game 6 of the NLCS. Weather permitting, the title game will be played Tuesday, October 23, 2023 starting at 5 pm EDT.
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Many people picked the Dolphins to beat the Eagles, which was not a crazy pick given the recent games of the two teams, Jalen Hurts' was playing literally in sync with his last name, and the Eagles had opted for their Kelly green uniforms. Even with the refs missing the safety call that would have led to a larger winning spread, the Eagles not only won, it was a crushing win, where Miami scored one offensive touchdown (and their defensive INT touchdown was flukey). The key: The Eagles committed NOT ONE penalty while that Fish team committed 10. The last time an NFL team went unpenalized was in 2012 (Pittsburgh did it in a game against Dallas).
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As a loyal reader has pointed out, the crack meteorologists in Phoenix will often report that the temperatures have reached the mid-100s. By that, they mean about 105 +/- a little. Yeah, it can get hot here in Phoenix, but at least since 1976, it has not reached the mid-100s (which is what it feels like in Washington DC when the temperature and humidity both reach the mid-90s). The problem is not restricted to 100s as it infects the concept of centuries as well. Just this week, the headline from Entertainment Weekly read as follows: “Britney Spears opens up about partying with Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan and 'drug of choice' in the mid-2000s."
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Finding a proper sample is not that difficult where one is posing an easy question that the respondent(s) actually have knowledge about. For example, a poll with a 2-person race that asks: Are you registered to vote and whom would you vote for if the election were today? might be considered fairly reliable in terms of the reported answers. But take this poll done by and published in the WSJ. What chance is there that even 10% of the respondents had any clue what was being asked?
When the internet goes down (like just before Game 5 of the NLCS), if there’s an app to access the channel you want (such as the free TBS app), put that app on your Firestick or Roku, and tether your TV to the internet through your phone's Mobile tethering or Mobile hot-spotting. If that's a problem then put the app or channel on you laptop, connect your laptop to your TV, and connect the laptop to the internet with either Mobile tethering or through Mobile hot-spotting.
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Shame of Chase Field: Real major league ballparks have prime seating behind home plate, with seats that put first-class seats on Emirates Airlines to shame. Not at Chase Field. There's like a dugout thing with a bunch of shabbily-dressed (with no Diamondbacks' shirts or hats) drunk people most of whom don't watch the game, while some of them engage in gesturing and such as if free throws are being shot. It's not even symmetric, rather, it's lop-sided favoring the right-handed side of home plate.
TV Broadcast Problems: First, undue amount of footage is shot of fans screaming and gesturing. There's nothing pleasant or pleasing or informative about those shots. And they are particularly annoying where what's being shown are Diamondback fans trying to imitate Phillies fans. Second, they hire someone to interview each manager during the game, and obviously force the managers to participate in those interviews. The questions take banal to new depths never thought possible, and the answers match the questions. Third, apparently because the commentators have little to say, and because the computer robots make it possible, the commentary and graphics are strewn with "records" and "statistics" no one ever heard of, thought about, or cared about.
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The protests that have sprung up around the world on the Israeli reaction to the unspeakable terrorism unleashed by Hamas focus on protecting the innocent children. No one wants to harm innocent children (except Hamas). No one wanted to harm innocent German and Japanese children in reaction to the spread of Nazism and the attack on Pearl Harbor. Protecting innocent children is not the end of any debate or decision. And if the Arab world or the Western world wanted to protect innocent Palestinian children, then they should take them and their families into their countries. If they're not willing to do that, then at least say what they are willing to allow Israel to do to protect its innocent children and indeed the existence of its country.
Note re Tom Friedman: Tom Friedman is one of the premier experts on the Middle East. Many people are persuaded more by his stated views than by the stated views of others. In that context, it is meet to note that, on at least two matters, he has been demonstrably wrong: First, he supported Bush's invasion of Iraq; and second, he prides himself on saying "no one washes a rental car." Let's put the Iraq war to the side. I have first-hand proof that his prideful "saying" is demonstrably false.
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In the NFL (and likely in college football as well), when there is a penalty on the team receiving and returning a punt or kickoff, that penalty is assessed and then the downs start. So, even if it's a 15 yard penalty, the team starts with first down and 10 yards to go for a first down. In reality, that debases the penalty. Like every other offensive penalty, such penalties should change the line of scrimmage and the yardage to make a first down.
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As we've said often, it is a good idea to put your various IDs (e.g., driver's license) and key documents (e.g., passport) on your phone. We recommend Keep Notes as a simple app to do so, but Google Wallet will also do. Note though that you should still carry your driver's license with you (at least in Arizona) because the license stored on Google Wallet will not suffice if you are stopped by Arizona police. Some day, sooner or later, there will be no hard-copy documents, but that day has yet to come.
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Upon clicking on Start/All Programs/Apps, you will see a slew of apps, some of which are very useful and others not so much. But, here's the thing, if there's a website you have trouble getting to through your computer browser, but there's an app for that website, go the Windows Store (which is one of the listed Apps) and see if there is an App there for the website you want to get to. If there is, upon downloading and installing that website's app, you can use it to access the same functions on the website as you do from your mobile device.
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"Cognitive Dissonance" is an established psychological phenomenon that everyone has to a great or lesser extent. In brief, it says that, once a decision is made, one tends to embrace the positives and debase the negatives of that decision. Here is a real life example: A brilliant kid (my 4th college roommate) had little money but got a fabulous deal on a car because of its color being so awful no one wanted it. When he brought it to the townhouse we were renting, he said he hated the color but couldn't pass on the deal. Six months later it was caught in a flood and the paint peeled, but fortunately his insurance would pay to have it repainted any color he wanted. Guess what he color he chose. Yup, that's cognitive dissonance. This intriguing WSJ opinion piece applies cognitive dissonance theory to explain why an atrocity like Hamas’s Oct. 7 massacre in Israel would not lead opponents of the Jewish state to temper their attacks, but instead, from college campuses to mainstream media outlets, elite left-wing circles have responded to the terror group’s barbarism by intensifying their denunciations of Israel. As the piece explains, that may seem counterintuitive, but it’s typical and predictable.
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If you think size doesn't matter, and in many things it doesn't, there are two circumstances where bigger is way better. First, front-load washing machines. Front-load washing machines come in many different capacities but most people buy ones that are 4.5 cf or less. If you replace a 4.5 cf washer with a 5.0 cf washer, you might think an extra half cf is no big deal, but it's a huge deal. The only drawback for the tremendous amount of extra load that will fit is the additional time it will take you to hang your wash out to dry. Second, and if you guessed it would be something different you'd be wrong, the answer is refrigerator/freezers. Again, they come in many different sizes but most people buy ones that are 25 cf. With modern technology you can now get a 30 cf unit that will fit in the same space as a 25 cf unit. If you replace a 25 cf unit with a 30 cf unit, you might think an extra 5 cf isn't a big deal, but it's a huge deal. The only drawback for the tremendous amount of extra food that will fit is finding and buying enough food to fill up what otherwise would be empty space.
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As this WSJ article explains, Wall Street’s boilerplate mix of stocks and bonds, the venerable 60-40 formula, isn’t cutting it anymore. For generations, financial advisers touted the 60-40 strategy as the single best way for ordinary people to invest. The idea is simple: Owning stocks in good times helps grow your wealth. When stocks have a bad year, bonds typically perform better, cushioning the blow. Not anymore. Some analysts say the crux of the portfolio’s success—bonds’ tendency to rise when stocks fall—generally happens when inflation and interest rates are relatively low.
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As it turns out, much to the dismay of anyone who appreciates professionalism and accomplishment, or anyone who is a Phillies fan, but perhaps not a surprise to anyone who has followed baseball, that one can make it to the major leagues as a pitcher, and come into a National League Championship Series game, and either don't know, don't remember, or don't care about how many outs there are.
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You can wake up one morning, and for no apparent reason, you cannot get to a website that is a website you have visited often and need to visit to do some stuff. Google Chrome changes its security settings and options with some frequency and it is highly possible that a Chrome security change makes reaching that site impossible. One thing to is to change your Chrome security settings. Another is to contact support for the website. They in fact might be aware of the problem and are working on it, so you need not continue spending hours looking for a solution. Another thing to do is try reaching the site with a different browser, such as Edge, which might get you through immediately and with no problem.
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Donald Trump did not turn people into racists. He (along with social and right-wing media) unleashed the racism that had always been there. Similarly, the anti-Semitism that pervades the Arab world and is evident on campuses and elsewhere throughout the Western world was not created by Israel's reaction to the unspeakable slaughter perpetrated by Hamas. It has always been there. The anti-democratic, racist, anti-Semitic, right-wing, Fascist forces are not new. They pick their time and place to rise up. And when they do, no facts, no truths, no appeals to democratic norms or justice, no appeals to higher angels or logic, will do any good. At least, that's what history teaches us.
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At least based on the first two episodes, if you read Lessons in Chemistry, you should like the series because it's fairly true to the book. It's a period piece and a bit stylized but an accurate depiction of the period: Set in the 1950s, Elizabeth Zott's dream of being a chemist is put on hold when she finds herself pregnant, alone, and fired from her lab.
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The second amendment case being taken up the Supreme Court this term will address whether a state can bar someone subject to a domestic violence restraining order from owning a gun. If the so-called "originalists" who say they need to find an "historical precedent" to uphold such a restriction stay true to their so-called "jurisprudence" (which of course is crap), when they look at the law and life at the time the second amendment was ratified, they will see that it was not a crime for a man to rape his wife. The Chief Justice might turn to Justices Thomas and Alito, channeling Laurel and Hardy, to say: "Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into."
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1. Be sure you have enough coolers and such on hand to store food from the refrigerator that's going away and be sure you have ice or ice packs for them.
2. Ask to get a 30-45 minute heads-up when the truck is actually on the way to your house and you are the next top so can move your food at the last minute. Move the frozen food last.
3. The new ice maker will take 24-48 hours to produce its first batch of ice, and that batch will be cloudy and needs to be thrown away. So, you'll need to have ice on hand to last for 2-3 days.
4. Be sure the new refrigerator is finger-print proof and has an alarm if the door is left open.
5. If you ordered a 3-door or 4-door Bespoke Samsung refrigerator, and got it in regular stainless, you can later get colored doors for less than you think in many different colors and you can mix or match (below is just a tiny sample), and Spencer's will arrange for the install at a nominal price.
6. Spencer's is professional and helpful at every turn, and their prices are as good or better than anywhere. Unlike BestBuy, you have an assigned person and back-up people to talk to who try to be and are helpful.
As this WSJ article explains, Tesla's 3rd Quarter reporting showed a miss on various fronts. One of the reasons for the miss is that Tesla has leaned heavily on price cuts and discounts to stimulate demand for its aging models, some of which have only had minor refreshes in recent years. In the U.S., starting prices for some Tesla vehicles have fallen by about a third this year, and the tactic has dented profitability. In the third quarter, the automaker’s once industry-leading operating margin fell to 7.6% in the third quarter, from 17.2% in the year prior, putting it on par with many traditional automakers. So, here's the question: Will Tesla start raising prices to improve its operating margins and, if so, when?
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If, as all the evidence suggests, it was an Hamas rocket, the Arab outrage over the explosion at the Gaza hospital depends on facts not mattering. Trump's rise in power and his grip on the Republican Party depend on facts not mattering. There is a real cost to democracy and world stability once facts don't matter. Unfortunately, we might be on the brink of finding out what that cost is.
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If there's a website that you have difficulty reaching or seeing changes you think should be there or any other problem, the first thing to try by way of a fix is to clear the cache, close the browser, and re-open the browser. It's one of those "reboot" things that work in too many circumstances to name.
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As this WSJ article reports: "The cellphone carrier that made its name accusing the competition of overcharging customers is now telling some subscribers to start paying more. T-Mobile this week informed some subscribers that they will automatically move to more expensive rate plans unless they opt out. Those moving to a new plan will usually pay $5 more a month per line for their new service. The affected older rate plans include T-Mobile ONE, Magenta, Magenta 55 and Simple/Select Choice. Many will be switched to a variety of the carrier’s Go5G brand, which launched earlier this year. Go5G plans start at $75 a month per phone line with taxes and fees included.The company declined to say how many of its 74 million phone lines under so-called postpaid contracts would be automatically changed. The latest changes don’t apply to prepaid phone services like Metro. Customers can call customer service to opt out of the shift." There is at least one T-Mobile Magenta 55 customer we know who is apoplectic about this, but they have yet to get any notice of a supposed change to their plan.
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As the WSJ reports, Netflix plans to raise prices for U.S. subscribers after the Hollywood actors’ strike ends. That follows price increases last year. This past week, Disney+ raised its price to $13.99 monthly, while Hulu rose to $17.99 from $14.99. Discovery+ recently went up to $8.99 from $6.99. Starting next year, Prime Video content, included with the $139 annual Amazon Prime membership, will have commercials. To avoid them, you’ll have to pay Amazon an extra $2.99 monthly. Paramount+, Peacock and Max (formerly HBO Max) increased prices earlier this year. Plus, Spotify and YouTube Music Premium are more expensive now, too. How long do we have to wait for the Fed to get inflation under control?
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Most new non-custom stand-alone refrigerators have substantially more space as well as some other features (e.g., beverage centers, dual ice-makers, and more) that weren't available when you bought your last refrigerator. They get this space because, generally, they are 2" deeper than what you bought. If that 2" matters to you, get a unit without handles which take up about 2" so your effective depth will about the same. The other advantage of handle-less units is they eliminate the fear you otherwise will live with that, in as short as 18 years, the freezer handle will break and a replacement is nowhere to be found.
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Many people wish the Covid pandemic had never happened here in America. Putting aside a few things like a million deaths, and a few disruptions to what some would call normal, everyday life, always the cockeyed optimist, it is meet to point out, as this NYT article does, that American families between 2019 and 2022 saw the largest jump in their wealth on record, according to Federal Reserve, as rising stock indexes, climbing home prices and repeated rounds of government stimulus left people’s finances healthier. The pandemic also played no small role in Trump's failing (for at least the time-being) to secure a second term as president.
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If you don't (or didn't) take out a Medicare Part D (Drug) plan when you began Medicare at age 65, you are "penalized" at the rate of 1% per year (which is about $4-$5/month) of the base rate added to your premium when you start. By way of example, if you are now 77 and just beginning Part D, you will pay the premium for your plan plus about $50/month. Rather than think of it as a penalty, however, think of it as "paying back" money you banked by not paying any Part D premium for 12 years.
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This WSJ article explains how seniors choosing Medicare coverage often fall into hidden, costly traps that can leave them stranded—and unable to get the healthcare they want. It then goes on to discuss ways to avoid the pitfalls.
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As of 8 pm EDT Monday (October 16, 2023) afternoon, Bryce Harper' post-season OPS (On-base Plus Slugging) was third all-time in the history of baseball. The first two belong to guys whose last names are Ruth and Gehrig.
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Many people look at the lead-off hitters for the Phillies (Schwarber, Turner, Harper) and scratch their heads as to how on this green earth the Nationals could have let go of this trio and other outstanding players (e.g., Rendon). This WaPo article argues that the Nationals did the right thing.
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Tip: Sometimes, the letters revealed at step 1 will give further guidance as to what to do on step 2. For example, in this grid, once A is revealed as occupying the first square, and E and I are eliminated leaving O and U as the only vowels left, then one's step 2 should take mind that O and U are not together in the second square. With that understood, as the Wordle master did, you have a good shot of eliminating everything but the solution:
If you like the window seat, but hate squeezing past the aisle and middle seat passengers when you board a plane (note I am told that, in economy class, there are 3 seats together next to the aisle), consider flying United Airlines. As WaPo reports, persons with window seats will now board first. Obviously, window seat passengers will also not have to worry about finding overhead space for their bags. Put us down as dubious as to how long this system will stay in place.
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The Rolling Stones new album, "Hackney Diamonds," which is their first new album in 18 years, is out this week.
There are advantages and no disadvantages choosing rechargeable Bluetooth mice and keyboards, especially for laptop users: (i) They are inexpensive (under $12 for a high quality mouse and under $25 for a high quality keyboard); (ii) no cords to connect; (iii) no toggles to plug in; and (iv) no batteries to worry about. If you travel with your laptop, it's easy to remember to pack the mouse and keyboard and not have to worry about extra batteries or toggles.
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A post yesterday suggested that General Mark Milley (former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) would be an ideal candidate to replace Biden on the Dem ticket and take on Trump in the 2024 presidential election. While Milley's distinguished military service absolutely qualifies him to be president, a loyal reader brought to our attention his educational background which adds more arrows to that quiver: In 1980, Milley graduated from Princeton with a Bachelor of Arts degree in politics after completing a 185-page-long senior thesis titled "A Critical Analysis of Revolutionary Guerrilla Organization in Theory and Practice," he also holds a Master of International Affairs degree from the School of International & Public Affairs (SIPA) at Columbia University and another Master of Arts degree in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College, and he is also an attendee of the MIT Center for International Studies Seminar XXI National Security Studies Program. For those who might not keep up on such matters, Princeton, Columbia, and MIT are thought by some to be excellent schools.
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A loyal fan has brought to our attention that, following in the paths charted by the NYT and WSJ, the Washington Post has its columnists read this blog so that they might have something to say of social, economic, ecological, and epistemological value. As this WaPo piece by Dr. Parlischa explains, just as we have explained, bidets are gentle and hygienic, and a rigorous 2022 study found that the hands of people who use bidets have profoundly fewer microbes than those who wipe. Bidets are not just better for your wallet (think of how much toilet paper your family breezes through each month), but they’re better for the environment too. While one uses one-eighth of a gallon of water per use with a bidet, one's waste from toilet paper plummets. It takes about 1.5 pounds of wood and more than six gallons of water to produce just a single roll of toilet paper. The article goes on to cover several other important "toilet issues," like the importance of closing the lid before flushing.
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Fortunately, the pandemic is over and no one gets Covid any more (if they did, people would wear masks and they don't so that's that). On a positive front, this NYT article reports on a new explanation for long Covid which is important because it points to new ways to diagnose and treat long Covid.
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Anyone who has any sense would not begin watching a movie where Jane Fonda plays the grandmother, Felicity Huffman the daughter, and Lindsay Lohan the troubled granddaughter. Actually, Lindsay Lohan as the granddaughter is a disqualifier by itself. Georgia Rule is the story of a troubled young woman who is sent to live with her grandmother for the summer, while hiding a secret that could potentially tear her family apart. I have no clue what the secret is and never will find out. It turns out I don't care for movies that take place in a small town in a rural state where the veterinarian treats human patients.
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She's Funny That Way is co-written and directed by Peter Bogdanovich and has a wonderful cast that includes Imogen Poots, Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston, Kathryn Hahn, Cybill Shepherd, Debi Mazar, and Tovah Feldshuh. It would seem to be an Americanized version of a French farce, as it tells the story of a new project of a philandering playwright where a love triangle forms between his wife, her ex-lover, and the call-girl-turned-actress, all of whom get cast in the production. For a while viewers can take the coincidences, flourished and stylized acting, and even the annoying appearances of Rhys Ifans, Richard Lewis, and Austin Pendleton, but by the half-way point, any discerning viewer will just give up.
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No matter what anyone says or any poll says, a 3-way senate race in Arizona makes it more likely Kari Lake could be elected. Staunch Dems are going to vote for Gallegos. No one knows how independents and non-MAGA Reps will split between Gallegos and Sinema and how many will vote for Lake. Maybe he's already tried, but if not, Biden should appoint her to a post Sinema might find too irresistible to turn down, and our Dem governor could make an appointment that would keep the senate in the hands of the Dems. If that doesn't work, the best money that could be spent would be by a big Dem donor who might give Sinema a job in the private, policy, or charitable sector that would make her fabulously wealthy and allow her to support whatever causes she wanted to support.
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Everyone agrees with me that Biden should drop out of the presidential race. The only concern raised is who might replace him. Here's one candidate that would be able to not only stand up to Trump, but also be able to put Trump in a box: General Milley. More than any other candidate, he should be able get nearly 100% of the votes of Dems, independents, and moderate Reps. His only challenge will be to generate buzz and turnout, especially among the young and minorities.
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This Wirecutter article has a nice list of very inexpensive products (including a toaster, iron skillet, and coffee maker) that will save you money and do better for you than more expensive products that do the same thing.
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It's nice having replacement filters (e.g., water filters for ice-makers and water-dispensers in refrigerators) on hand for when it's time to replace them. But, it's a mistake to buy them much ahead of when you need them. Amazon will deliver them within a day or two, and if you buy one more than 30 days before you need it, and your refrigerator freezer door handle breaks and you need to replace the refrigerator and decide on a unit for which your on-hand filter isn't compatible, you're out $15. And that's not covered by the fallacy of the sunk cost. It's a lost cost unless you can resell it.
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You'd think a John Hughes movie with Eric Stoltz, Lea Thompson, and Mary Stuart Masterson, if not uplifting and warming, would at least hold your attention. But Some Kind of Wonderful gives so-called coming-of-age romance movies a bad name. It's the story about Keith going out with Amanda, the girl he thinks of as the girl of his dreams, while Amanda's ex-boyfriend plans to get back at Keith. Meanwhile, Keith's best friend, tomboy Watts, realizes she has feelings for Keith. I won't spoil how it ends.
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The country is riveted on the Phillies, and everyone but my neighbors is rooting for them to get to and win the World Series. Even former Washington National fans have adopted them, in part because the Phillies' first three batters (Schwarber, Turner, and Harper) dallied with the Nationals before moving on to a real team. I've been pummeled with the question of how did the Phillies get so successful (repeating their mastery of the odious Braves in the NLDS). Rather than be accused of airing a biased view, here is what the WSJ and USA Today say.
We can all agree on two things regarding what’s happened and is happening in Israel and Gaza: (i) Through its unspeakable acts of terror, not to mention its sole stated purpose of driving Israelis into the sea, Hamas is engaging in war against Israel, and Israel has the right to wage war against and eliminate Hamas; and (ii) there are innocent Palestinians living in Gaza. In that context, while no one can understand or countenance the pro-Hamas protests that have been going on, no one should condemn the expressions of sentiment to protect innocent Palestinians. That said, no one should miss the point that, as supposed pro-Palestinian protests span out in Iran, Iraq, and other Arab countries, and on campuses and in cities throughout Western countries, there is no offer by any of those countries to actually do anything to solve the problem, i.e., to take in innocent Palestinians, and no suggestion by any of the protestors as to what else might be done. It won’t happen, but if the United States were to give the innocent Palestinians land to live on, we just might avoid the doomsday scenario the world looks to be on in the Middle East.
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We recently were asked to consult on an ensuite bedroom/bathroom remodel, but the owners did not want to spend the money on an electrician or have the walls torn up to have new wall sconces installed. Oh, those silly people. Every imaginable style of wall sconce, from inexpensive to the highest of high ends, is available battery powered and easily sticks to any wall.
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Valentine at 4130 N. 7th Avenue is a James Beard semi-finalist for Emerging Chef, whose food features indigenous Sonoran ingredients and whose name commemerates the date Arizona became a state. Its website is a bit odd and it lacks any pictures for what appear to be unique meals. Its prices look reasonable.
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Most short term rentals (STRs) now provide Smart TVs but no cable or satellite connection. Let's say you are a Diamondbacks fan (there's actually one in my neighborhood) and you'll be vacationing at an STR when your so-called team is playing the Phillies in the NLCS which is televised on TBS. TBS has a free app which you can install on your Firestick (or similar device) and then see the games live provided you have a cable subscription to watch TBS. Many other cable channels have similar apps. Some channels (like CNN) have their own free apps which will let you see live programming even if you don't have a cable subscription.
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This Tech Friend article has an excellent overview as to how long one might keep a smartphone and steps one should take to keep it safe.
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When the threshold for free delivery (plus a voluntary tip for the driver) was $35, everyone bought Amazon Fresh groceries online at least once per week. Then, Amazon raised the threshold to $150, and I don't know anyone who continued to or ever bought Amazon Fresh groceries online. Amazon just dropped the threshold to $100, which is a step in the right direction but not enough to warrant the service. We expect we will see the threshold drop to $50, which will make the service useful once again. What's nice about the service is that there are products available online, especially some Happy Belly products, that are priced better than the equivalent products you can find anywhere, and they are not available in the Whole Foods stores.
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The Phillies won their NLD series against the odious Braves, the team with the best record in baseball this year. To make it to the World Series (for the second year in a row), they now will have to beat a team named after a snake.
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I have not figured out the exact parameters, but one can get a refund on some items (e.g., a $6.35 black ceramic 3.87" vase (as pictured below)) bought from Amazon without actually having to return them. It seems that small items of low cost qualify. So, if you think the refund amount isn't big enough to waste your time and add pollution to the air by taking the item to UPS or WF for return, try the return/refund process because the item just might qualify for a "returnless" refund. It might help to choose the refund to go to your account instead of the credit card which actually always is the faster way to get the refund.
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If LIV Golf had preceded the PGA Tour, the Official World Golf Rankings would have awarded its ranking points based on performance on the LIV Golf tour. Then, when the PGA Tour DP World Tour formed to compete with LIV Golf, it is impossible to believe that the OWGR would have stripped LIV Golf of ranking points and awarded them solely based on PGA Tour and DP World Tour events and the majors. But, that's what one must believe to justify the OWGR's decision not to recognize LIV Golf events in awarding ranking points. Given that LIV Golfers are banned from PGA Tour events and PGA Tour golfers are banned from LIV Golf events, the only fair way to award ranking points is to be base them solely on events where all golfers can compete, namely, the US Open, the Open Championship, and the Masters (provided entry in those tournaments is not be based on OWGR rankings). If the OWGR is not sued, some lawyers are missing a great opportunity.
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This NYT article outlines what infectious disease experts want you to know about some of the most common adult and pediatric viruses (and one bacterial infection): their symptoms, how they spread, how to treat them and when you (or your child) can re-enter society. It also includes a quick, printable version to keep on-hand at home.
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Following these simple instructions, you can use Google Maps not only to find you parking spaces before you get there, but also to remember your parking space after you've parked it so you can find your car when you're ready to leave.
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Many people have pummeled me with the query as to the relation of bond yields and stock prices. Rather than repeat myself here, this WSJ article explains the issue as clearly and succinctly as anyone including me can.
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A loyal reader alerted us that the FCC is discussing a proposal to require refunds of some sort that cable, satellite, and internet providers would have to give customers if their service is out for more than 24 hours. The idea was sparked by blackouts this year resulting from disputes between Charter Communications and Disney as well as Nexstar and DirecTV – standoffs that affected millions of customers. Talk about letting the TV and internet providers off cheap. And, as we've explained several times here, any reported outage will typically result in a credit of at least 1/30th of the monthly bill but often 7% or even more, especially where there are outages over multiple days in which event the credits can equal 25%.
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Refrigerator manufacturers are required to keep replacement parts on hand for only 8 years. My French door Amana refrigerator/freezer works fine in every other way, but the freezer door handle cracked and broke in the middle. A replacement handle is not available anywhere. So, instead of spending $100 or so for a replacement handle, I'm going to have to buy a new unit. One lesson I've learned is not to buy an Amana. The other lesson is to stock up in Year 7 on replacement parts for the new unit that might not be available after 8 years.
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The day after the terrorist attack of 9/11 that resulted in the indiscriminate deaths of 3,000 innocent civilians in a country of 300 million, the shock translated to sympathy quickly and Le Monde made that clear in a headline atop the first page of its Sept. 12 edition: "Nous sommes tous américains — We Are All Americans." But when 1,000 innocent civilians are slaughtered in a country of 9 million (the comparative math translates that to over 30,000 deaths), we will not see a headline anywhere saying, "We Are All Israelis."
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The earlier post on this book, entitled Problems and Pitfalls in Medical Research, omitted to note that I know the author and can vouch for him, and, should you want an autographed copy, I can arrange that.
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I don't want to hear anymore that Harper made a mistake being doubled up to end the game on Monday night. If the ball goes over the fence, Harper's decision is fine; if the ball is not caught, Harper's decision is the absolute correct one because he ties the game; and if the ball is caught, it takes a miracle catch and two perfect throws to double him up. Anyone who thinks different is a knucklehead and does not deserve to read this blog.
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There are millions of people who, on February 11, 2024, will turn on for the one game and one half-time show they'll watch all year, which is self-styled, "The Super Bowl." But, absent some substantial unforeseen event, the real Super Bowl will be played 2 weeks before featuring the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers. While the Eagles will be the underdogs (any team facing Christian McCaffrey is the underdog, even a team that's perfected the "tush push" which is a skill play that no other team has learned to do), it pits the two best coaches in the NFL against each other (which I say without due respect to the Grumpy Old Shrimp Boat Captain) and two highly competent but not dominant quarterbacks, so it should be a good game.
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Further to yesterday's post, be sure to check the benefits of the credit card you use to pay for a rental car, because it might include insurance on the rental car. Also, as a loyal reader brought to our attention, a basic, no-fee American Express card will provide full collision and other damage and lost revenue for the rental car for about $25 (not per day, per rental). Needless to say, the $25 charge is a lot less than even a single day's collision damage coverage if buying at the rental car counter, and avoids having one's personal auto insurance premiums increase as the result of an accident.
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A loyal reader just installed a bidet attachment and, as they put it, "the early returns are fabulous!" They sent this photo saying they could not wait to share the blessed event with everyone.
