Best Wishes for a Happy, Healthy, Safe, Prosperous, and Politically Bearable 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 four 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!

While things did not turn out as sane people wished they would have on the political front, let's hope  that this country will recover from the malignant forces that have invaded our body politic, and that the incompetence of the administration will prevent it from achieving its anti-democratic, selfish, self-centered, anti-scientific, mean-spirited, nihilistic, narcissistic, misogynistic, homophobic, transphobic, xenophobic, and greed-driven goals. For all of us who would like to return to the America we knew, or the Ukraine you knew, or the Israel you knew, we bring you Gift 4 from a Ukrainian living in Santa Barbara. Finally, in the spirit of unbridled optimism (e.g., that the Eagles will return to the Super Bowl where they belong and the Phillies to the World Series where they belong), with a song that resonates in a myriad of contexts--even as a wedding march, we bring you Gift 5. 

Link to Gift 1

Link to Gift 2

Link to Gift 3

Link to Gift 4

Link to Gift 5

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You're Rated as a Rider and as a Guest

When you take an Uber or a Lyft, you get to rate the driver and vehicle. When you rent a STR, you get to rate the place and the host. But wait, there's more. They get to rate you. You can see your ratings as a rider in your profile on the Uber and Lyft apps, including what kind of tipper you are. In sharp contrast, Waymo does not publicly display a rider rating system where you can be rated as a rider, providing yet a further incentive to follow our recommendation to choose Waymo (note: Waymo does internally track rider behavior and may use that information to manage your access to the service if there are repeated issues like excessive cancellations or disruptive behavior). VRBO and Airbnb do not extend you the courtesy of  letting you see your rating as a guest.  

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2024: The Year of Sports

If, like this blog, you turned from politics to sports, you were not alone. As this NYT article summarizes it, sports viewership and interest saw an ascendency where everything was "richer, brighter, bigger." Caitlin Clark perhaps stood above them all, but there was no shortage of super stardom. My favorite moment, as echoed by the Eagles' bench, was Saquon Barkley's backward hurdle over a defender. Perhaps the overarching thought is that, if we turn to sports and get out of their way, the incompetence of the incoming administration will overwhelm its impetus to undue our democracy, and in two years the country will take a big step back from the brink by returning the House to control by the opposition party. In the meantime, we can argue until the cows come home whether Cam Ward (University of Miami quarterback) should have sat out the second half of his last game. Or we can come to our senses that there is no argument when that last game is, and I'm not kidding, the Pop-Tart Bowl. Yes, the Pop-Tart Bowl.

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Advanced Driver Assistance Systems

As this Forbes article explains, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (or ADAS) is not a gimmick. It makes a huge difference in the driving experience and makes you a better driver, to boot. Within five years, it will be as common as — and as necessary as — cruise control. If I were to suggest one single thing all EV buyers should do in 2025, it’s this: find out if the car you’re eying is offered with an ADAS. Then do a lot of research. Most legacy car dealers are not up front about (or may not even know if) the EV they’re selling has an ADAS. And I would strongly suggest not skimping on an ADAS. If you dismiss it as a gimmick, you’ll eventually regret not having it.

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If You Want an EV, Think About Buying One Sooner Rather Than Later

There is a significant likelihood that EV prices are going to see steep rises in the near future. Batteries and car parts will see major price hikes if tariffs go into effect, and the $7,500 EV tax credit could disappear.

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Natural Catch Tuna

Natural Catch Tuna promotes itself as "high quality Yellowfin Tuna Sliced in Filet style like a Grade A Steak. Marinated in Extra Virgin Olive Oil. High in Protein. Keto & Paleo Friendly. A healthy source of Omega-3s which has various health benefits including benefits for the Heart. Sustainably sourced using pole and line methods respecting the oceans and wildlife. We are proud to be Dolphin Free and Safe." Whether or not it's worth the extra cost we cannot say, but an independent review is pretty positive.

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Why Everyone Loves the Eagles and Their Fans

The Eagles hosted the fearsome Dallas Cowboys and needed a win to clinch their Division title and second seed. The problem was their quarterback (Jalen Hurts) was on IR. Then, their backup quarterback got hurt, and was replaced by their third-string quarterback who had never played a down in the NFL. Even with those seemingly insurmountable obstacles, the Eagles toughed out a win in dramatic fashion. But, here's the key point of the game. The third-string quarterback threw a touchdown pass to AJ Brown who, in an absent-minded moment of ebullience, threw the ball into the stands. Unlike a New York fan or a  "it's mine small-minded selfish fan" in just about any other inferior city, the Philly fan did not hold out or negotiate for the return of the football for the kid's trophy room. 

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Standalone Word (and Other Microsoft Office Products)

One can buy a standalone version of Word for under $80 from Microsoft. Other Microsoft (and others') programs, apps, and stuff are available from the Microsoft Store.

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Improving a Poor Cell Signal

This cnet article  gives several suggested ways to improve a poor cell signal. Most of them involve some form of the number 1 fix for everything which is to reboot, including: restarting the phone; turning airplane mode on and off; removing and replacing the SIM card; removing the case; and updating the software and double-checking the carrier settings. If all fails, a signal booster might help but that is not cheap.

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USB-C Charging Explained

Everyone is talking about USB-C charging, but there seems to be more misunderstanding than there is clarity on the matter. As this PC World article explains, USB Type-C is the most flexible connection for notebooks and smartphones. The most important of its many capabilities is as a charging socket for battery-powered devices. USB-C should finally make everything simple: One socket, one cable, one power supply for all devices – from computers to smartphones and tablets to headphones and other peripherals. So much for the theory, which always sounds simple with USB. The reality is more confusing.

Not every USB-C power supply is suitable for every device. Not all Type-C ports can be used to charge devices quickly or at all. And not every Type-C cable ensures reliable power transmission. This guide will give you an overview of the technical possibilities of Type-C charging and recommends suitable power supply units for all devices. 

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PS re United Airlines

If you have a really lousy flight on an outdated (737 800/900) aircraft with an inattentive crew and you tell United about it, you likely will get a reply like this within 12 hours: "We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience that the claustrophobic seats, absence of USB outlets, broken chargers, small cabin, and general state of the aircraft may have caused you. We value your opinions and recognize how frustrating these circumstances may be, particularly during a five-hour travel. We strive to provide our customers with a comfortable and enjoyable flying experience, and it is disheartening to hear that we fell short of meeting your expectations. We are committed to addressing the issues you have raised to ensure that similar incidents do not occur in the future. I also regret to hear that the cabin crew on your flight was less attentive and caring than what is expected of them. It is unacceptable that they did not come back to check on you or offer additional services during your flight. Please know that your feedback has been shared with our team, and we are taking the necessary steps to improve our services and enhance the quality of our flights. We value your loyalty as a United customer, and we hope to have the opportunity to restore your trust in us in the future. As a gesture of goodwill, we would like to offer you each of you 5000 award miles for future travel with us as a token of our apology for the inconvenience caused. Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention, and once again, please accept our heartfelt apologies for any inconvenience you may have experienced." It doesn't make up for it, but it's something.

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Further Tip re Puffer Jackets

An earlier post raved about puffer jackets (which we had never heard of and acknowledge were brought to our attention by a certain someone), given how light they are and how warm they keep you. Our further suggestion is to get one that can be stuffed in a bag with a tie string as pictured below. That way, if you are traveling with it and don't want to pack it, but also don't want to wear it, you can tie it to your roller bag.

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TSA Pre ✔ at Small Airports

At small airports, such as Santa Fe and Ithaca, there is only one TSA line. Many people think there's no point in having TSA Pre ✔, and they are wrong. If you have TSA Pre ✔, they will hand you a card at the face scan/ID check station confirming your TSA Pre ✔ status, and then you need not take off your shoes or remove your electronics before going through the scanner.

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Better and Easier Way to Unclog a Toilet Than Using a Plunger

As this cnet article explains, if your toilet gets clogged, the best and easiest way to unclog it is with hot water and detergent soap.

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PS re United Airlines

United Airlines gave me a prompt $60 refund, but other than that, my statement about their premier access policy is totally wrong, and in fact, no refund was owing. However, it would seem justified to keep it in view of their still flying 737 800/900 jets that make for a miserable long-haul flying experience.

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Negronis

Negronis are everyone's favorite cocktail. Not so much for how it looks or tastes, but because the name is so cool. Here is how I prepare Negronis for myself and my guests: The basic makeup of a Negroni is one part gin, one part Campari, and one part sweet vermouth — we used one ounce of each to mix ours, plus ice and an orange peel. Campari has a strong taste, so you'll need a bold gin to compete with it. Depending on your ice situation, you might want to create your Negroni in a mixer glass first and then strain it into your glass to dilute it a bit. If you're using small ice that melts faster, it's not necessary. Speaking of ice...I recommend using one big ice cube (the cool square or spherical ones you'll often see at cocktail bars) or three to four draft-sized ice cubes, the kind you'd normally find in freezers. Whichever ice you use, make sure it's not dripping wet. After your Negroni is ready to go, grab an orange peel for garnish. First, you'll want to "express" (aka twist) the peel over the glass, to release oils into the drink. Then, place it in the Negroni standing up so that the outer side, or orange side, of the peel is facing you. This will create the most aromatic drinking experience. But don’t rub it on the glass While you might be tempted to swipe the peel around the rim for added flavor, I advise against it. The residue will cause a slight numbing effect when you sip, which alters your drinking experience. On the other hand, if you want a non-alcoholic Negroni, which looks like a Shirley Temple and kids love it because it's much more sophisticated, it comes in a bottle:

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Benefits of Buying Used Phones and Laptops

As this article explains, refurbished technology can be cheaper and more planet-friendly than buying new. A three-year-old tablet could be roughly half the price of the newest model of the same technology. Buying new technology also comes with climate and environmental benefits. Getting a refurbished smartphone, for instance, could have roughly between 80 to 90 percent less of an impact on the environment than purchasing a new device, according to a 2022 report published by Équiterre, a Canadian environmental nonprofit. Opting for a refurbished smartphone could avoid the extraction of about 180 pounds of resources and roughly 50 pounds of planet-warming emissions, the report found. Using electronics for longer also keeps devices from joining the growing stream of e-waste that winds up in landfills.

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Note re Airline Refunds and Kudos for United Airlines

In general, dealing with airlines when there is an issue can be not only frustrating, but also often futile (e.g., American would not refund the cost of a canceled flight or make any accommodation). That said, it doesn't hurt to try for remedial action. By way of example, United Airlines includes lounge access for first class tickets, even where there is no cost difference between a first class ticket and a refundable economy ticket. Yet, even though lounge access was included, the website will offer you lounge access for $60, which, if you didn't realize was included, you might buy if you had an extended layover. If you later learned that you did not have to pay that $60, upon submitting a complaint re refunds online with United, within 12 hours, you just might get both an apology and a refund. United also will be very appreciative for feedback on the website "glitch" that is charging people extra for something they bought, as expressed in a personalized and prompt email reply. Yeah, we understand that the cynics might think that the "glitch" is not an unintentional mistake (which might prompt a class action lawyer to spring into action), but we're not going there. We prefer to believe our faith in goodwill has been rewarded and restored.

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How to Make Windows 11 Look Like XP

An earlier post explained how to make Windows 10 or 11 look like Windows 7, which we find not only more aesthetically pleasing, but an easier and better way to organize and find programs and apps. In short, it lets you see all the programs and apps in a list upon clicking on the Start button, and organize them, along with having the Taskbar look and function like it always had. This How-to-Geek article shows how to make Windows 11 look like Windows XP, which is quite similar to Windows 7.

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How to Clean Stainless Steel Appliances and Glass Cooktops

Brand-new stainless steel appliances glimmer and gleam, but with use, they get dirty and dull. Simply wiping down your stainless steel fridge that’s littered with fingerprints won’t do. Not just any old rag can restore your stainless steel dishwasher, sink, or oven, either. Instead, cleaning stainless steel requires a little extra TLC and a strategy designed specifically for this material. This Southern Living article explains the easy and safe way to clean stainless steel appliances with the right kind of cloth and cleaning solutions. While you're cleaning in your kitchen, you might as well tackle your glass cooktop. This Wirecutter article explains why doing so might be tricky, and how to do it right.

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Economics of Big Oil

When many think of Exxon Mobil and other titans of the oil and gas industry, they think fuel in vehicle tanks is what drives the industry. As this WSJ article explains, the industry is looking increasingly at lower demand for fuels given the rise of EVs and more efficient ICE vehicles, as a result of which it sees growth in providing the building blocks of common plastics. Ethylene is processed into polyethylene, which winds up in plastic bags, shampoo bottles, and children’s toys. Polypropylene is used for everything from car bumpers to carpets.

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Why Putting Cellphones in Airplane Mode Is Still Required

There is no actual safety reason that cellphones (or other devices) need to be in airplane mode during flights as the FCC mandates. As this Points Guy article explains, airlines do not want the FCC to remove this mandate for fear it will lead to voice and video calls being made that will disrupt the otherwise supposed peaceful environment on a plane. In essence, planes are now like the quiet cars offered by railroad travel. So, for the foreseeable future, technology will give way to serenity now, even if it has dire consequences later.

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How Tariffs Would Hurt the Car Industry and Consumers

As this WSJ article explains, if Canadian and Mexican tariffs are put in place, the rise in the cost of cars, especially lower price cars, would be substantial. Further, those tariffs would harm not only consumers, but also the American car industry as well.

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Professional Tips on Home Cleaning Spots Often Overlooked

This Home Beautiful article gives tips on house cleaning in areas often overlooked by non-professionals when it comes to cleaning, including: appliances, under furniture; window sills and door frames, high touch surfaces, and tops of furniture and fixtures.

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Best Practices re the Windows Registry

This XDA article gives an overview as to what is involved with the Windows Registry, explaining why it is so important, when to back it up, how to back it up, and how not to mess it up.

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PS re UBlock Origin

A post some time ago extolled the virtues of UBlock Origin, a Chrome extension we used to love. It now is clear that Chrome no longer supports UBlock Origin, which is reason enough to remove it. But beyond that, we have found that UBlock Origin also become unreliable in blocking functions (e.g., email filtering) that are quite useful.

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Windows Protected Print Mode

This How-to-Geek article explains what Windows Protected Print Mode is and why, for security purposes, you should consider enabling it.

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Why You Might Want to Use a Streaming Device Even With a New Smart TV

If you have an older TV, using a streaming devices (e.g., Firestick or Roku) is a must. But, even if you just bought a newer smart TV, as this article explains, there are good reasons to also connect a streaming device. Among other benefits, doing so will give you access to more apps, more services, and more HDR formats.

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Money Market Funds Still a Good Bet

If you have cash sitting in a bank account, this WSJ article explains why moving it to money market fund makes sense by putting more dollars in your pocket.

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Airport Lounges and Risk of Taking a 2-Airline Flight

1. Risk of a 2-Airline Flight: Suppose you are flying from A to C but there's no non-stop or direct flight and you have to change planes at B. It might be the case that you can do it more conveniently and perhaps even cheaper by flying Airline X from A to B and Airline Y from B to C. The risk you run is that, if the first flight is late and you miss your connection, Airline Y is not obligated to do anything for you. So, in all events, before taking this risk, be sure you are aware of the downside possibility and leave more time than you otherwise might to make the connection at Point B.

2. Airport Lounges: If you do a 2-airline flight, or for any reason have a long time to wait for your connecting flight, you can make worse decisions, especially during heavy travel times, to consider buying access to an airport lounge. While we cannot speak for all lounges, we can say that the United lounge in Newark is worth the small price of admission. Not only is it peaceful, comfortable, and relaxing, and kept immaculately clean (rivaling Disneyland for it non-stop cleanup), the endless buffet is fabulous. This View From the Wing article gives informative background as to how and why airlines and credit card companies are teaming up and spending lavishly to build more lounges and enhance the lounge experience.

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PS re BSOD

In recent posts, we have covered the basics of troubleshooting the blue screen of death (BSOD) in Windows 10/11. This Secure Data Recovery article goes into further detail on the issue and gives some further possible fixes to try.

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American Water Line & Sewer Line

For all I know, American Water Line & Sewer line, which issues insurance on the water lines coming to your house and the sewer lines leaving your house, might be total legitimate and a smart thing to buy. One concern is that you apparently do not get to choose your own plumber repair service if there is a recognized claim. The other concern is they have strange ways of acting (changing non-auto renewal to auto-renewal, sending inscrutable emails, nd a myriad of other such stuff). They do answer the phone promptly 24/7, so that's a plus if takes you 4-5 phone calls to straighten stuff out or cancel your policy.

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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

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Aloha (2015 Movie on Netflix)

My advice: Say Mahalo but no Mahalo and goodbye to Aloha. The plot is insane, the telling of it is insipid, and the dialogue could not be worse. This is beneath the stellar cast, who clearly had no reason to do this movie other than the money. They, including Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone, Bill Murray, Rachel McAdams, Alec Baldwin, John Krasinski, and others, brought shame upon themselves and their loved ones, and deserve to commit seppuku for doing this.

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Juror #2 (2024 Movie on MAX)

Juror #2 is Clint Eastwood's latest film (you have to hand it to him being 94). While serving as a juror in a high-profile murder trial, a family man finds himself struggling with a serious moral dilemma, one he could use to sway the jury verdict and potentially convict. If I understand the moral dilemma correctly which appears to be revealed about 10  minutes into the movie, I found it so preposterous and so not-a-dilemma that I couldn't care less what happened, and was happy to skip a movie in which J.K. Simmons appeared. That said, I've seen reviews praising the movie.

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Things Not to Plug Into Power Strips

As this bob vila article explains, appliances that consume a lot of energy or cycle on and off become dangerous fire hazards when plugged into a power strip. It lists the appliances that should not be plugged into a power strip, including, microwave ovens, toasters, refrigerators, power tools, coffee makers, washing machines, and other power strips.

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Tea Bag Danger: Release of Plastic Particles

As this earth.com article explains, you might think of tea as a comforting, soothing ritual. But, scientists at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) have made a startling discovery – infusing tea through commercial tea bags might be releasing billions of nanoplastics and microplastics into your cup.Recent research from the Mutagenesis Group in the UAB Department of Genetics and Microbiology highlights how polymer-based tea bags release microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPLs) during brewing. For the first time, the study has shown that these particles can be absorbed by human intestinal cells, potentially entering the bloodstream and spreading throughout the body.

Note: We have no other knowledge, independent or otherwise, on the matter.

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What Science Says About Fluoride in Our Water

This WSJ article gives an overview as to what science says about fluoride in our water.

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Scandinavian Sleep Method: A Marriage Saver

As this Tom's Guide article explains, the Scandinavian Sleep Method refers to when, instead of sharing a duvet, you and your partner each have a separate duvet. These duvets can be made from completely different materials, togs and fill to suit the preference of each individual sleeper. While this gives you a little more separation and freedom, it doesn’t go as far as a sleep divorce, where you sleep in a different bed. So, you still get all the benefits of sleeping next to your partner, but without the constant tug of war when someone inevitably steals the duvet! It’s named the Scandinavian Sleep Method because it’s common practice in countries like Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. However, it’s gaining popularity around the world and more and more people are trying this innovative idea to get better sleep.

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Things Your Android Phone Can Do That You Might Not Be Aware Of (iPhones Cannot Do Many of These Things)

Android phones all run on the same smartphone operating system, which means they offer more customization options than iPhones do. But other features differ, depending on whether you have a device from Samsung, Google, or another phone manufacturer. Figuring out your Android phone’s features can be a little challenging. So we compiled our favorite little-known tips to help you get the most out of your device. Some of these tricks work only on Samsung phones, and others work only on Google devices, but most work across all Android phones—just under different settings.

1. Personalize your phone with custom colors, themed icons, or even emoji backgrounds. One of the best parts about using Android is that you can make your phone a true reflection of your personality. On Samsung devices, tap and hold anywhere on the screen, and then tap Wallpaper and Style > Color Palette. On Pixel devices, you don’t need to open Color Palette; the color groups are below the home-screen preview. The color options change the tint of text and buttons across your device. You can also browse an enormous collection of paid and free themes, some of which include custom app icons, in Google Play or the Samsung Themes menu. Just be sure to protect your privacy by avoiding any that have unusual permission requests.

2. Fix typos without taking your fingers off the keyboard. You can scroll through text easily with your spacebar: Just swipe your thumb left or right across the key to move the cursor through your text and quickly fix any error.

3. Bring back one-handed typing. One extremely valid complaint about modern phones is that they’re too wide and tall to use with one hand. One way to facilitate that is to use the one-handed keyboard: a shrunken-down keyboard that you can position on your screen to type more comfortably. On Pixel devices, tap the four-squares menu in the upper left of your keyboard and select One-handed. On Samsung phones, tap the three dots in the upper right of your keyboard to activate this feature.

4. Use your Android phone to charge a friend’s phone. Wireless charging lets you easily juice up your phone without having to futz with cords, but it can also transfer power between devices. On Samsung phones, open Settings, and then tap Wireless power sharing. Pixel owners (except those with a Pixel Fold or an A-series Pixel) should go to Settings > Battery > Battery Share. To charge a device, put your phone face-down and place any other phone that has wireless-charging capabilities face up on top of your phone. That phone should start charging, using your phone’s battery. You can add a button for this feature to your Quick Settings menu.

5. Quickly access Settings shortcuts with just one swipe. The Quick Settings menu in the notification shade lets you change critical settings—such as toggling your flashlight on and off or muting your phone—with just a tap. Getting there normally takes two swipes, but you have a better way: Use two fingers, preferably together or side by side, and swipe down from the top of your screen, instead of making two individual swipes. Now that you can get to your Quick Settings faster, it’s time to make the menu more functional. On Samsung devices, tap the pencil icon in the upper right, and then tap the Edit button under Top or Full. There are dozens of options, so you have plenty of choices.

6. Easily share Wi-Fi passwords with a QR code. If you’re sick of having to carefully spell out your Wi-Fi password—noting every uppercase and lowercase character—you can save time and frustration on Samsung phones by opening Settings, tapping Connections > Wi-Fi, and then tapping the little QR code icon in the upper right. On Pixel devices, go to Settings and then Network & internet > Internet; tap the Wi-Fi network you want to share, and then tap the Share button. Anyone who scans the QR code, even someone with an iPhone, immediately joins your Wi-Fi network. That’s convenient—just be sure to show it only to people you want on your network.

7. Quickly activate split-screen mode, and take screenshots from the app carousel. On a Samsung device, tap the three-lines button to see a scrollable list of all your open apps. Normally you’d use this just to quickly move between apps, but it can do a lot more. Tap the app’s icon at the top of each preview, and you can open two apps in a split-screen view or see the app in a windowed pop-up view mode.

8. Move between your Chrome tabs faster. Most people have way too many tabs open, even on their phones. To quickly jump from one of your tabs to another, simply swipe left or right on the address bar. Swipe down from the address bar in Chrome to see what tabs you have open; then you can tap any tab to open it, tap and hold to rearrange its spot, or swipe left or right on any tab to close it.

9. Long-press an app icon to see useful shortcuts. Many Android apps offer shortcuts to their core features, so you can jump right to what you need. For example, long-pressing Google Maps will pull up your favorite locations, which you can immediately start navigating toward. With Messages, you can start a new conversation or send a text in one of your most recent chats.

10. Snap photos faster. Double-tap your phone’s power button to launch the camera app, without even unlocking your phone. Pressing the volume-down button snaps a picture, which makes shooting horizontally one-handed much easier. You can also press and hold the volume-down button to start recording video.

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First Man (2018 Movie on Amazon Prime (for $3.99))

First Man stars Ryan Gosling as Neil Armstrong and Claire Foy as his wife, and focuses as much on them and their family life as it does on the mission to the moon. Foy is excellent, and Gosling shows once again what a terrific actor he is (and if you haven't seen him in Barbie, you have missed out and deprived yourself of a real treat (which you can still watch on MAX or Netflix)). Yeah, I'm talking to you. In any event, although what do I know, First Man seems more realistic and, might I say, down to earth, than other astronaut movies. It's not one of the best movies ever, but it's certainly an insightful  presentation that most should find entertaining and engrossing, and even thought-provoking .

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Retraction of Recommendation re Second Freezer

A post yesterday recommended a vertical stand-alone Hamilton Beach freezer. We have received further information from an expert about any such second freezers: "Second freezers are egregious energy hogs. Unless you are regularly stocking it with deer or moose that you have killed, there is no excuse to have one." We pointed out to the expert that the article touting this unit said it was energy efficient. But, as was explained to us, "The idea of having a separate freezer is the problem itself.  A freezer is an energy hog by definition. Saying that it is energy efficient means that compared to other freezers it is less inefficient. Stupid to have one at all, unless you hunt big game and don't eat it at one sitting." Indeed, "People should get rid of old ones if they have them hanging around." We apologize for any inconvenience or confusion caused by our initial post, and urge people not to buy a second freezer and to deep-six any they might have on hand.

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Looking for the Put

The stock market continually looks for the not so invisible golden hand to keep it afloat if not keep it rising. The "Greenspan put" was the moniker given to the policies implemented by Alan Greenspan during his tenure as Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair. The Greenspan-led Fed was extremely proactive in halting excessive stock market declines, acting as a form of insurance against losses, similar to a regular put option. Later, there was the Bernanke put. Right now, we are at the onset of what the market seems to believe is the Trump put, namely, that he will do everything he can to prevent the market from going down and do everything he can to have the market go up. That apparent faith in the Trump put would appear to be the reason that his announced draconian policies (particularly tariffs and deportations) and the effects therefrom are ignored by the market. Alas, it might be recalled the Greenspan put did not end so well.

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Cleaning a Refrigerator

If you think you know how to clean a refrigerator, you might be delusional. This NYT article reviews the safety steps you should take before starting the cleaning, the materials you will need, and how to do it right. Omitted by the article is the advice to not let your refrigerator get anywhere near the point of needing the kind of cleaning the article addresses. Once you get in the habit of keeping it clean, it's not hard to do so.

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145 to 68

145 to 68 is the total score differential in the four CFP games Friday and Saturday. None of the games were close, with margins of 28, 25, 14, and 10. Taking out late 4th quarter scores of the losing teams, the differential(s) would appear far starker. Those who bought adverts appearing from half-time on had to be disappointed.

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Keeping Chrome Updated and a Note on the Bookmarks Bar

Keeping Chrome Updated: It is important and easy to keep Chrome updated. One easy way is to put a Chrome Settings button on your Bookmarks Bar and click on it every few days. If there's a Chrome update, it will automatically update itself, and then ask you to re-launch Chrome.

Note on the Bookmarks bar: The Bookmarks Bar, which is a row under the URL line on to which any website link or group of websites link can be put for immediate access. The Bookmarks Bar is hidden by default in Chrome. To show (and use) it, click on Settings/Bookmarks and listis/Show bookmarks bar. You can easily hide it then by right-clicking the on the Bookmarks Bar and unchecking it. As you can see the Bookmarks Bar here, the folder icons have several websites clustered under them. Once you set up your Bookmarks Bar (which as noted is easy to do and easy to modify), you will wonder how you lived without it given how easy and fast it makes it to access stuff you access all the time.

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Cautionary Note re Investing in Private Markets

As Jason Zweig warns: "Wall Street is gearing up for a sales push that could enrich the middlemen and impoverish you. I’m talking about private or alternative assets—investments outside the public stock and bond markets. In the right hands, these assets work wonders. In the wrong hands, they wreak havoc. This coming year, with Wall Street and Washington likely opening the floodgates in unison, your financial adviser may inundate you with pitches to buy private assets. You should evaluate them with more skepticism than ever."

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CFP's Rube Goldberg Overtime Rules

When it comes to breaking ties, while all other sports tag on an extra period or the equivalent, football does not do that and, as a result, seems to be the one sport that cannot get its overtime (tie-breaking) rules to make sense. While we hate the NFL's overtime rules, we find the CFP's rules to be mind-boggling. Here they are: College football overtime begins with a coin toss, and the team that wins the toss likely wants to defer the choice and begin on defense. The reason? Both teams are guaranteed a possession, so by going on offense second you know what you need to score to either win the game or extend the game to a second overtime. The team that starts on offense begins their possession on their opponent’s 25-yard line, facing 1st and 10. Should they reach the end zone, they have the option to kick the extra point or attempt the two-point conversion. Once the first team’s drive ends, the team that started on defense begins their offensive possession, again on their opponent’s 25-yard line. If the game remains tied after this first overtime period, the game advances to a second overtime. The rules are tweaked slightly in the second overtime. The team that started on defense first will begin the second overtime on offense, and in the second overtime, teams are required to go for the two-point conversion if they score a touchdown. Should the game remain tied after two overtime periods, starting with the third overtime period the rules are tweaked again. Now the offenses simply attempt a two-point conversion, and the teams alternate two-point conversion attempts until a winner is determined. Each team has one timeout per overtime period. A good example of how this extended overtime process works comes from this year’s rivalry game between Georgia and Georgia Tech. That game required eight overtimes to be decided. Both teams scored touchdowns in the first two overtime periods, sending the game to the third overtime and the alternating two-point conversions portion. Neither team scored in the third or fourth OTs. However, both Georgia and Georgia Tech scored in the fifth. Both teams were held scoreless in the sixth and seventh overtime periods, sending the game to an eighth overtime. That is when Georgia Tech failed on their two-point attempt, but Georgia converted theirs for a 44-42 victory.

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Looming War Between the NFL and College Football

The NFL and NCAA traditionally had an understanding that they would not compete for television eyeballs, choreographing their schedules accordingly. Most strikingly, the college football season would end on New Year's day, just as Super Bowl fever would start to heat up. But with the expanded and expanding CFP, and the NFL scheduling Saturday games, it's not surprising that everyone is talking about Trump and Musk intervening to avoid sports-warfare and broker a deal between the two entities. 

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Comments on Sports Going to Streaming Platforms

As is now being reported, Netflix has the exclusive rights to the next two women's FIFA World Cups. We hate the streaming format for football (e.g., TNF often now is exclusively on Amazon Prime) because of the inability to skip commercials and ff through downtimes, and rewind plays of interest. Soccer, however, is different given that, while the ability to rewind stuff is lost, there are no commercial breaks except at half-time or before overtime. Given production costs and the intense battle among streaming sources for eyeballs, and the cable-box-cord-cutting that's been underway, we have no doubt, sadly, where sports broadcasting is increasingly headed. All we can do for now is hug our cable box with its built-in DVR and show it the love we feel for it.

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Great Extra Freezer

For a lot of people, keeping your kitchen freezer organized can feel virtually impossible. The freezer can be a frigid wasteland where food gets lost or hidden behind stacks of other food, only to be discovered during the eventual freezer cleanout, covered in freezer burn. If this sounds like an all-too-familiar tale, take heart; Costco has finally restocked their viral Hamilton Beach Upright Freezer that makes it easier to stay organized so you never have to lose your food to the frozen abyss again. It has 11 cubic feet of freezer storage, allowing you to organize to your heart’s content whether it’s with freezer bags or a simple sorting method, and includes seven removable acrylic drawers that are easy to keep clean. 

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Affordable In-Home Movie Experience

There is no longer any excuse to not to have your home TV provide a true movie or jumbotron experience. For under $1,500, you can have a 98" or 100" TV with excellent reviews, and from Costco. We wish they'd make one with a single foot instead of a double foot, but that's a small compromise to make given the pleasure the screen brings us.

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Late Night With the Devil (2023 Movie on Hulu)

No one, not even he who claims credit for everything, will claim credit for recommending Last Night With the Devil. It's the story of a struggling late night television host competing with Johnny Carson, in the course of which evil is unleashed. In short, it's a Faustian bargain tale wrapped up with an Exorcist overlay. If you liked the Exorcist, you might like this. I have stayed away from this genre for decades, and shall spend at least the next several decades staying away from it again.

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All the President's (Biden's) Men: They All Knew

This WSJ article provides a detailed account of the myriad actions taken to accommodate Biden's cognitive decline. As sad and depressing as this article is, more alarming is the fact that similar prophylactic measures will not be taken with Biden's successor.

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Betting Pool re Musk

Since the election, as loyal readers might suspect, I have turned my attention to sports, and I have not read below the headlines of any story involving Trump or politics or watched any politics on any news shows. That said, I see where Musk is now appearing in as many or perhaps even more headlines than Trump is, and his picture appears along those headlines often where there is no picture of Trump. Whatever strengths and weaknesses Musk might have, it would appear that, when it comes to Trump, he might be oblivious to certain uncrossable lines, and having donated $250M to the Trump campaign is not an impenetrable shield. So, with that, we have created a betting pool to pick the date that Musk will be kicked to the curb. To enter, just pick a date and send me some bitcoin.

PS: As this note was being prepared, we received the following email from a loyal reader: "Congressional Democrats will be making a huge mistake if they do not take advantage of every opportunity to refer to 'President Musk and Vice-President Trump.' It will drive Trump nuts, maybe even to the point that his head will explode." We suspect he has access to our speaking and typing as does the NYT, WSJ, and other thieving disseminators of our ideas.

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Driving Modes

Many cars have driving mode options. They have various names, such as sport, eco, ev, custom. There usually is a button or toggle switch to change which driving mode the car is in. If you don't think the different modes give different driving experiences, you could not be more wrong. City driving can be substantially smoother and quieter depending on the mode you select. Don't trust me. Just try the different modes available on your car.

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What to Watch If You're at a Loss

We appear to be in a lull as to great series or movies to watch, or at least it feels that way. One option in such circumstances is to queue up an old favorite series, such as Veep or Seinfeld, and play an episode or two or a few. You don't need to replay the whole series or even play from the beginning. These two series, and there are others, are great entertainment even when plucking an episode from the middle of a middle season. And, yes, because of you know who, I cannot say this idea was mine in the first instance, even if it had been. By way of example, this guy strongly recommended The Teachers' Lounge yesterday, as if this blog had not strongly recommended it on November 1.

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Why Chrome Requests Removal of Unsupported Extensions

You might get a notice from Chrome than an extension you are running has been turned off and it is recommended that it be removed to prevent supposed security risks. This is a pain when it involves an extension that you love and for which there is no apparent replacement (like TabsPlus). Our research into the actual severity or likelihood of such security risks has not been informative. We have left TabsPlus in place but we did find a new url shortener.

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Cautionary Note re Coffee and Hydration

We have been advised that an article cited in our post yesterday discussing coffee and hydration has some troublesome points and makes some statements that could be injurious to one's health. We suggest checking with your doctor before doing anything in or placing any reliance upon that article.

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Carry-On (2024 Movie on Netflix)

Carry-On is your action thriller revolving around an effort to get a dangerous package through TSA screening, and the efforts made to stop it. The first half, which is the thriller half, is pretty good as far as this genre goes. Some very clever stuff. The second half, however, devolves into mostly action that many in the audience find plebeian, banal, and boring. That said, the film does a decent job in making the salient point that one should not be rude or act obnoxiously toward TSA agents. 

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Smart Glasses That Won Me Over

This was the year smart glasses won me over. These lighter-weight face computers are the next step in how we interact with each other and our surroundings. This isn’t virtual-reality or a detour to the metaverse—you see the real world, just with digital stuff in it. And you look at your phone a lot less. You’d think it was the $3,500 Apple Vision Pro that convinced me of this. But nope. What did it for me was the $299-and-up Ray-Bans, from the maker of Facebook and Instagram. And as you see in this WSJ article, I'm not alone in my conversion to smart glasses. BUT WAIT, THERE's MORE: As this Robb Report article explains, these glasses allow for translation in real time and are able to identify songs. That said, as part-time reader noted, you'll need to carry a second pair of glasses when traveling to a foreign country so anyone you talk to will be able to understand what you are saying.

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Classy Fake Punt

We realize most if not all of our readers watched the Cal/UNLV game. But for the few who might not have or took a break and missed this fake punt, we bring it to you for your viewing pleasure. It's the classiest and cleanest one we've seen in a long time.

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Golf Sayings

Here are the sayings every golfer knows or should know, some of which (highlighted in color) apply in many other contexts or to life in general: drive for show, putt for dough; grip it and rip it; never up, never in; the more you practice, the luckier you get;  golf is a game of inches; play it as it lies; the most important shot is the next one; you can talk to a fade but a hook won't listen; keep it in the short grass; it's not how, it's how many; if you can't play well, play fast; you miss 100% of the putts you leave short; golf is a four-letter word; the hole gets smaller the longer you stand over the ball; and never follow a bad shot with a stupid one. 

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Coffee Is a Hydrator

Although it should not replace the gallons of water one drinks or at least should drink everyday, as this article explains, contrary to what some might think, coffee actually has a hydrating effect.

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Honda Hybrid Prelude Is Coming

Late next year, there were will be a revival of Honda's Hybrid Prelude. Not much is known, except it looks like Honda is going for the Prius-look, but sportier.

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The English Teacher (2024 TV Series on Hulu)

The English Teacher has gotten good reviews. If you can abide insipid dialogue and nothing of particular interest wrapped in a stale story line, you might be able to stay with this series beyond its first 15 minutes. I couldn't. 

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The Turnaround (2024 Documentary on Netflix)

 I was looking for something to test a download to my tablet for an upcoming plane ride, and chose The Turnaround, which I had never heard of, because it was short. I’m not a fan of documentaries, but it was quite something. Here is a synopsis of it: “The Turnaround tells the story of Jon McCann. Known by many, including the tens of thousands of followers on his YouTube channel, as The Philly Captain, McCann is a die-hard Philadelphia sports fan. McCann also struggles with his mental health, and his understanding about mental illness along with the impact of the support he received from his parents and friends led to an event that would shape the Philadelphia sports scene. Trea Turner joined the Philadelphia Phillies as a free agent in December of 2022, signing a tremendous 11-year, $300 million contract. His first season with the team started off very poorly, with Turner struggling at the plate and in the field. While Philly fans were vocal in heaping criticism on Turner, McCann recognized the struggles and instead proposed an alternative to the rabid Phillies fan base: instead of boos, give Turner a standing ovation when coming to the plate. McCann’s suggestion became a viral phenomenon, and inspired a stadium full of fans to give Turner the standing ovation that McCann had called for. Amazingly, the positive support catapulted Turner, completely reversing the trajectory of his season and returning him to the prolific form the Phillies had anticipated when signing him. The Phillies subsequently went on to make the playoffs, with Turner having one of the strongest postseasons on the team. From Executive Producers Barack and Michelle Obama, The Turnaround is co-directed by Philadelphia native Kyle Thrash, who previously appeared at the Philadelphia Film Festival with his documentary Maybe Next Year on the now-legendary 2018 Philadelphia Eagles championship season, and two-time Oscar winner Ben Proudfoot.”

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The Herd and Wisdom of Matt Hasselbeck

The best sports commentary is the Monday morning edition of The Herd with Colin Cowherd on FS1. It's on every weekday but, particularly with football, other than MNF and TNF, nothing much happens after Monday morning. Matt Hasselbeck (former all-pro NFL quarterback who played 18 years) appears each Monday, and his insights and analyses of the teams, personnel, coaching, tactics, strategy, and games are superb and enlightening. He appeared on this week's show remotely from his home, and behind him were an array of trophies and other such stuff. Colin asked him what his favorite trophy was. Hasselbeck answered, "The ones that matter the most to me are the ones my son earned, which kindle my hope that he will surpass anything I did." He nailed it. And it's even better when you watch it actually happen.

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Gifting Books

When gifting books, one should gift them in the format that the recipient prefers (e.g., many people prefer to read in ebook format and prefers not to read in a format that was once a living, breathing, God-loving tree). Some people seem to ignore this obvious courtesy and gift hardbacks no matter what. Here's what to do (at least if it came from Amazon with a gift certificate): Return the hardback book for the credit, then buy the Kindle version so you can read it, and have the difference in cost credited to your account, and laugh all the way to the bank.

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Humble Oysters & Bubbles (Scottsdale Restaurant)

We note the Humble Oysters & Bubbles menu because it's unique and enticing, and the prices are not that bad. We particularly applaud the suggested pairings. Unfortunately, this new restaurant is in Scottsdale.

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Tips for Driving in Ireland

Some people won't do their own driving trip through Ireland because they have trepidations about driving on the wrong side of the road. As Rick Steves explains in this Islands article, cast the chains of those trepidations aside: "If you want to get a little slack on the roads in Ireland, drop by a gas station or auto shop and buy a red 'L' (new driver with licence) sign to put in your car window (but wait till you're outside of Dublin, as Irish 'Learners' aren't allowed to drive on the motorways that cluster around the city)." You can get a green "P" in Britain, which includes Northern Ireland. Having that little sign may make other drivers give you a bit of a wide berth, just as you would if you saw someone with a "student driver" sign in the U.S. Whether you're visiting Dingle, Steves' favorite town in Ireland, or heading out to kiss the Blarney Stone (somewhere Steves says is the worst place to visit in all of Ireland), getting a little grace on the road can really help. 

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Looming Issues in the Big Three Sports

We have nothing to say at the moment, but here are the three issues facing the big three sports, which involve real detriments, as to which there will be much to say: Pitchers' arms not holding up in baseball; concussions in football; and the three-point shot and zone making basketball boring and unathletic.

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The NFL Season Keeps Getting Better

The compelling NFL stories continue to pile up as the weeks keep rolling on. There has been a resurgence of the unstoppable running back (e.g., Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley), the receiver catches have become remarkable, the leaping over defenders is no longer an oddity (although doing it backwards remains a one-off), the quarterback play by established stars (Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen) and rookies is dazzling, comeback players (Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Russell Wilson) are inspiring, and the contest for MVP runs neck and neck (Barkley, Jackson, Allen). Alas, the refs continue to get in the way, the review rules need amending, and injuries that threaten to break a team (e.g., Detroit's defense) are distressing. Most important, the Eagles are in the hunt and look not to repeat their inexplicable collapse of last season.

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Follow-Up Retraction re Black Plastic Cookware

Advised by a recent post to throw out all our black plastic cookware, we did just that, and bought stainless steel replacements. Before you follow our advice or what we did, you might check this NPR reported clarification noting a correction in the study that was done. We have had a heart-to-heart wood-shed experience with our science reporter, and sent them a copy of Problems & Pitfalls in Medical Research.

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Blocking Spam Calls Helps

After a spam call is received, it's possible to block the number and to code it as spam. It takes just a couple of clicks and a few seconds. Because the spammers have so many "numbers" they are dialing from, blocking and marking spam calls one-by-one will not yield immediate results. But, over time, you will see calls not getting through because they have been blocked. You  just need to have more patience than the spammers. Just remember how you handled bullies during your childhood and over-aggressive lawyers during your professional years.

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Caution re Searching for "Best" Products on Google

This WSJ article reviews the red flags and other signs to look for when searching on Google to find the "best" of whatever it is you are interested in. 

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Cleaning a Kitchen Drain

This Southern Living article gives excellent step-by-step advice for y'all as to how to maintain a clean kitchen drain (with baking soda and vinegar, but not together, or an enzyme cleaner) and unclog a clogged one (with an enzyme cleaner and boiling water).

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Downside of Satellite Dishes

While the cost of having a satellite dish for internet and television service, and other features offered by dish providers, might be attractive, one downside is their vulnerability to weather conditions that generally do not affect cable connections, as explained in this cnet article. 

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AZ Central Customer Support

The AZ Central customer support website has been down for at least two (2) days, and they have no estimated time to have it back online. While you can do things like suspend deliveries while you are away by phone or chat with the bot, you will not get a confirmation. But, if you opt on the chat to "talk" to a live agent, you will get extremely efficient and courteous service (as the live agent puts it, "I have your back"), and confirmation that the requested suspension is in place. The next time they raise your monthly subscription cost, you might try the live agent chat option to remedy the situation.

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Sax & Violin Duet

If you've never watched or listened to a delightful street sax & violin duet, here is your chance, brought to you by Karolina Protsenko & Avelina Kushnir.

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Note on Politics vs. Sports

Since the shift from politics to sports, this blog has become much more fun to do. As several recent posts and some posts today note, team sports are special, and call on participants to conduct themselves in ways that are different from non-team sports. That's a big part of what make team sports so fascinating to watch and think about. And here's the thing: As much as the competing political tribes might stick together on any or any number of issues, and politicians might give themselves a team name and play under the supposedly same team banner, politics is not a team sport.

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Philadelphia Eagles and The Commitments

The Commitments is one of the great movies of all time, and one of the great soundtracks of all time. It tells the story of putting together a soul band in Ireland, which as it turns out, makes fabulous music despite (or perhaps because of) the total dysfunction of the band members and their management. It's not a new story, and not a story unfamiliar to anyone who has worked with a team, but it's told so well that it makes for a don't-miss movie. And that's the story of the Philadelphia Eagles. They are a great team (e.g., tied for the best record in the NFL, first in most offensive and defensive categories and second where not first, fewest key players on IL, the leading candidate for MVP) plagued by disfunction (e.g., a head-coach who fights with his coaches and even with the fans on TV, open revolt by some players especially key wide-receivers, management that is a bit nuts (who fires Andy Reid along with 2 other coaches who took them to the Super Bowl?)). Predicting that the Eagles will win the Super Bowl would be an act of hubris. Betting against them would be a sign of insanity. 

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You Be the Coach, You Be Patrick Mahomes

Patrick Mahomes' ankle got hurt this past Sunday. KC has wrapped up the division title. Mahomes could play next week, but  he's not needed to win. Keeping him out of the game makes sense for several obvious reasons. That said, he wants to play. What do you do as the coach? The answer turns on why he wants to play and what letting him play says to the team. The answer also turns on the conditions put on him if he plays. So, with that, here's answer: Mahomes wants to say to the team, "We're all banged up. I'm banged up. We're in this together. You're going to play banged up. I'm going to play banged up." The coach understands, and agrees, so he lets Mahomes play. But, with this condition: "You are going to play like you are 42 yo quarterback. You are going to drop back and pass quickly. You are not going to do those whirly-bird things you do.You're going to be smart." You got to love this sport. You got to love team sport.

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Choosing the Right USB-Drive Format

There are two alternative formats for USB-drives: FAT32 and NTFS. Sometimes there is a problem with FAT32, sometimes with NTFS. Each format has its advantages, disadvantages, and limitations. This PC World article explains which file system is best for which application scenario.

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Further Steps to Fix Windows Stop Code Error

Further to a previous post, this YouTube video has additional steps to take to fix Windows stop code errors. Specifically, it takes you through how to run system file checker (SFC) and related scans, which you can also see in this MS support document. The scans are pretty simple to run.

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Why You Should Host Your Own DNS Server

If you're really tired of DNS server issues (such as plague Cox), you might consider hosting your own DNS server. As explained in this XDA article, doing so: puts you in charge of your privacy; makes your internet experience snappier; lets you choose your own local domains; and blocks ads and trackers at their source. And you lose nothing, as you can always switch to another DNS server. Unfortunately, as this How-to-Geek article notes, setting up your own DNS server can be a bit daunting.

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No Good Deed (2024 Series on Netflix)

No Good Deed. No good!

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Letter to Arizona Republic re STRs Printed

Although they edited it (without notice to or permission from the author) and made it weaker, finally, after at least 5 attempts, the Arizona Republic printed a powerful letter about the problem with and how to remediate the damage done by STRs. In the event the link is a problem, here is that letter:

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Trend Micro House Call

If you think you might have a malware infection, in addition to running whatever malware program(s) you have installed, Trend Micro House Call is an excellent free online malware scanner (i.e., it runs the scan without installing on your computer). At the same site, you will see other Trend Micro utilities, some of which are free and some are not. They are worth a look. Trend Micro has a great reputation.

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Best Xmas Carols

Except for some Melissa Etheridge carols, I'm not a fan of Xmas music. But, Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer is worthy of note because, as the NYT points out, in 1983, it beat out White Christmas and Jingle Bell Rock as No. 1 on the Billboard Christmas Hits Singles chart.

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Stainless Steel Cleaner Recommendation

My favorite, and perhaps the best and easiest stainless steel cleaners (especially for refrigerator doors), which also has many other uses, is Dawn Powerwash.

PS: While Dawn works wonders on granite and other surfaces, one thing it should not be used for is as a dishwasher detergent. It will tend to produce an unwarranted amount of suds that might damage the dishwasher.

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Difference Between HDMI ARC and eARC

ARC is the Audio Return Channel in your TV, which is the port where you plug your sound bar or other sound system into. This How-to-Geek article explains the difference between the older (HDMI) technology and the newer (e) technology, and more importantly, whether and when you should upgrade to the newer technology. The answer is, if you’re mostly streaming from services like Netflix, Disney+, or Hulu, ARC might still be enough for you. Most streaming platforms compress their audio anyway, so you won’t notice a huge difference unless they’re offering Dolby Atmos tracks, and your sound system can take advantage of them. On the other hand, if you’re a Blu-ray collector or someone who loves high-fidelity audio, eARC is absolutely worth it. It’s the only way to experience the full glory of lossless audio formats.

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Windows Drivers to Keep Up to Date

As this XDA article explains, it is important to keep these Windows drivers up to date: chip set drivers; graphics drivers; peripheral drivers; and audio drivers.

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Fly Me to the Moon (2024 Apple Original Movie)

Apple's original stuff is usually outstanding, which is what led to the decision to watch Fly Me to the Moon with Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum. It's silly for sure,given that it is a romantic comedy set against the high-stakes backdrop of NASA's historic Apollo 11 moon landing. While it has some cute scenes, it's definitely skippable, particularly given some of the atrocious casting/acting and borrowing scenes/subplots from other films without coming close to pulling them off. In fine, it has trouble figuring out what kind of movie it wanted to be, as it tried to be several different kinds at once, none of which were compelling and most didn't work. Indeed, many of the scenes are simply preposterous. With all that, it was a nice break after the bludgeoning of Catch-22 and Black Doves.

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Favorite Wireless Charging Pad

If you don't use wireless charging for your phone, stop reading and do some soul searching. If you are addicted to wireless charging as am I (because it is easier and keeps dirt out of your phone), this Xmana is fantastic at any price and a steal at under $10. I bought one a few weeks ago and it's exceeded all my dreams. The only downside is that, given its shape, it's not my choice for a travel wireless charger. For that, I take a flat rectangular or round charger base.

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It's Not Easy Being the Next Warren Buffet

This column by Jason Zweig reviews a new book about the early investments of Warren Buffett. "The late Charlie Munger, a partner in Berkshire Hathaway, liked to say that to be a good investor, you have to fish where the fish are. To be a great investor, though, you have to fish where the fishing boats don’t even go. That’s one of the messages of a new book about the methods and thinking of an investor at the beginning of an extraordinary career. “Buffett’s Early Investments,” by Brett Gardner, looks at 10 of the companies Warren Buffett bet on between 1950 and 1966, when he was in his 20s and 30s. Could anybody do today what Buffett did then? In some ways, it should be even easier: Information is universally available, trading is virtually free and individuals have vital advantages over institutional investors. In many ways, it’s vastly harder: Markets are much more efficient, bargains are all but extinct and everyone wants to fish in the same spots. To emulate Buffett’s early success, you need to think like almost nobody else. You also need plenty of patience and boatloads of courage." Better yet, don't try. Think instead broad market index ETFs with low fees.

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Dealing With Blue Screen Errors

Blue Screen errors (also called bug checks, STOP code errors, kernel errors, or BSOD errors) can occur if a serious problem causes Windows to shut down or restart unexpectedly to protect itself from data loss. You might see a message that says, "Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer" or a similar message.

A hardware device, its driver, or software might have caused this error. To help determine the cause, the blue screen error might display a STOP code, such as PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA. When it's available, the module name of the code that was being executed is also listed after "What failed:"

Steps to Remediate the Problem:

1. Remove any new hardware. If you added new hardware to your PC before the error, shut down your PC, remove the hardware, and try restarting.

2. Start your PC in safe mode.  If you're having trouble restarting, you can start your PC in safe mode. See Start your PC in safe mode in Windows for details. From safe mode, you can try the remaining troubleshooting steps.

3. Check the Device Manager.  Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.  Check to see if any devices are marked with the exclamation point (!). Right-click the device and select Update driver.  If updating the driver doesn’t help, try disabling or uninstalling the device.

4. Check for sufficient free space on the hard drive. The operating system and some applications require sufficient free space to create swap files and perform other functions. Based on the system configuration, the exact requirement varies, but it's a good idea to have 10% to 15% of free space available.

5. Install the latest Windows Updates. To check for updates, select Start  > Settings  > Windows Update , then select Check for updates. 

6. Try the Blue Screen Troubleshooter. In Windows, open Get Help. In the Get Help app, type Troubleshoot blue screen error. Follow the guided walkthrough in the Get Help app. 

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Black Doves (2024 Series on Netflix)

Recommended by you know who, Black Dove, starring your Keira Knightley, is a gripping spy drama set in the London underworld. Although I'm getting a bit tired of the genre, and wish I had opted for a comedy or coming of age movie or anything light following having watched the last episode of Catch-22 (actually, I couldn't take it and bailed half way through), the recommender had good cause to recommend it. You never quite know what's going to happen next, which is a good way to hold the audience's attention.

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There's No Pandering in Team Sports

NFL wide receivers have big egos and complain when they don't get passes thrown to them. When Deebo Samuel did that, and the Forty-Niners pandered to him in their TNF game with the LA Rams, they lost the game. The Eagles face a similar dilemma with AJ Brown this coming Sunday, and we hope they don't fall into the same trap. Pandering to a star pitcher or batter in baseball can be okay because it's not the same kind of team sport that football (or basketball) is. As has been said (which a loyal reader brought to our attention), “Baseball is a game of individuals masquerading as a team sport." In football and basketball, every play takes coordination of the whole team. Winning is the name of the game. Pandering in football is a loser's fools' errand.

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Only Thing to Say About Belichick's New Job

While there's a lot of commentary about whether or not Belichick, the new head coach at the University of North Carolina, will succeed. Most of the arguments are not worth making or listening to (e.g., can he recruit talented kids will want). There is only one thing that his experience has not prepared him for: The transfer portal. As an NFL coach, players did not have any easy path to go to another team. In college now, as happened today, an entire team can enter the transfer portal. 

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LIV Golf and PGA Tour: Deal or No Deal

According to the headline of this WSJ column, The PGA Tour, LIV Have a Deal—but There’s One Holdup: Antitrust Approval by DOJ. Now, here's the thing, other than LIV investing in and taking a minority position in the PGA Tour, given that "details" such as how to integrate the respective groups' players such that they are competing against each other apparently remain undecided, some might have difficulty understanding what the "deal" actually is or, more broadly, whether there really is one. One has to wonder whether the contract memorializing the deal included a sanity clause.

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Anker USB-C Hubs

If you use your laptop in lieu of a desktop as the core of your  computer system, the easiest and best way to attach your various peripherals is through a USB-C hub, and Anker makes the best and most cost-effective (some under $30) USB-C hubs and stands behind their products (they will promptly replace one that fails). I have long used an Anker hub (through which I HDMI connect a monitor, an ethernet cord, and two banks of USB-A ports to connect a printer, Vera home controller hub, two NAS drives, two USB-A drives, two charging cables, and a wireless charging stand) and keep one as a backup in case. They are totally plug-and-play. This Anker website is an easy place to pick what you need, and then you might check Amazon for a better price or faster delivery.

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Stop Using PopUp Off Extension

If you're using PopUp Off extension on Chrome, stop using it. It is now creating much havoc, preventing various functions on Chrome (e.g., opening menu items and photographs and who knows what else) from working properly.

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Basics of Sound Bar Settings

This ZDNet article does a concise, clear job of walking you through the basics for a sound bar, including: equalizer and audio settings; and placement and acoustics.

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Stopping Microsoft Ads on Windows 11

Windows 11 PCs are full of ads. This PCWorld article takes you through the tweaks that can be made to 9 settings turn off the worst ones. I continue to postpone for as long as possible having to get a W11 computer.

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Biggest Heist Ever (2024 Documentary on Netflix)

Biggest Heist Ever documents the true story of a modern day "Bonnie & Clyde" who stole billions of dollars of bitcoin. If you don't understand bitcoin, and don't know anything about why or how they did what they did, you won't know much more even if you make it through to the seemingly endless end. Finally, if you're not a fan of the documentary format, this won't change your mind.

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Widow Clicquot (2023 Movie on Netflix)

The Widow Clicquot is only 1.5h, but I don't know anyone who has lasted more than about 15 interminable minutes. It's the story of widow, with essentially no experience, who takes over her deceased husband's vineyard and takes on Moet against incredible odds during the most difficult time to make and market champagne. As if that weren't enough, the story is interlaced with flashbacks to tell the couples' indomitable love story, which is spoiled by his horrible haircut and way of speaking. Adding to reasons not to watch it are the lack of any aesthetic photographic redemption of what should be gorgeous French countryside scenery and the agonizing pace and stiltiness with which the story is told.

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Two Quotes for the Ages

Richard Lewis: "When you're in love, it's the most glorious two days of your life."

Voltaire: “God is a comedian playing to an audience that is too afraid to laugh.”

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Storing Your Passport on Your Phone

This cnet article will walk you through the steps to get your passport onto your phone, and it lists the ports of entry that will accept it in that format.

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Danger of Leveraged Funds

If you have any trepidation when it comes to investing, as this WSJ article warns, head for the hills before plunking money down into a leveraged fund. There is great appeal in the notion of a simple investment product that can reliably provide double or triple the returns of a popular stock or index. But the results have been, to put it mildly, disappointing, vaporizing billions of dollars. The article explains why daily leveraging, especially the daily leveraging these funds do, does not work over even a short time frame.

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PS re Home Screen Wallpaper

You can drive yourself nuts spending hours figuring out how to get a free solid plain color wallpaper onto your phone or just keep reading. Open Chrome on your phone and go to ColorKit, click on the color you want and it will download to your Gallery App, then double click on the image and select it to apply as your wallpaper. [Notes: (i) ColorKit also has gradients and palettes; (ii) the noted steps work for a Samsung Galaxy S10e--other phones might require slightly different steps to install the download as the wallpaper; and (iii) the differences in various colors are quite subtle, but it's so easy to download them to your Gallery and switch them as the wallpaper, and fun to keep looking for the perfect one (this is one instance where the perfect is the enemy of the good)]

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