The Holdovers (2023 Movie on Apple or Prime (as Rentals on Both for Nearly $7))

As it turns out, it might be the case that Paul Giamatti was not the person who was mean in the green room. Or, if he was, he apparently has been forgiven. So, it's now permissible to see movies he is in. The Holdovers has gotten glowing reviews from people of different quarters and tastes, so we looked forward to it with great hope. It's well done as far as pull-at-your-heartstrings movies go, but we are not sure what they saw in the movie to earn the accolades they bestowed upon it. It might be said that it does not compare favorably to other movies focusing on teachers and students or just a special student.

[EOP]

Robin Hood Gold Card: 3% Cash Back on Purchases and 3% on IRA Rollovers and Contributions

A Robin Hood Gold Card pays you 3% back on all your purchases. But wait, there's much more: If you transfer your IRA to Robin Hood, it will pay you 3% of the value of your IRA. Thus, if your IRA has a $1M value, it will pay you $30,000. The card has other benefits as well, including payment of a hefty money market fund interest/dividend rate of cash in the account. Before jumping on board, it is wise to read this Forbes article which explains the details and conditions.

[EOP]

How to Get More From Walking

Three ways to get more from walking: walk faster, walk uphill, and carry weights.

[EOP]

Engineering Our Way Out of a Climate Crisis

This NYT article addresses the issue of whether or not we can engineer our way of our climate crisis. The answer might give rise to more hope if we could build a dam that wouldn't burst or otherwise would do more good than harm, or a bridge that wouldn't collapse. We're good at building Pottery Barns, and coining rules governing behavior in them, but not so good at fooling mother nature.

[EOP]

What Biden Should Do With His Money

The one advantage it appears Biden will have over Trump is money to spend on the campaign. While there are some undecided voters, they are an extremely small, and not likely a determinative, number. Thus, spending money to try to sway minds on issues is a fool's errand. Instead, the best thing Biden can do with his money is use it to find supporters and get them to vote. Turnout can win this election. Changing hearts and minds will not.

PS: To the extent Biden does use (waste) money on advertising, his television/social media advertising should focus like a laser on channels that his supporters don't watch, and avoid generalized appeals like saving democracy or plugging his accomplishments. In short, they should drill home Trump's threats to curtail or eliminate cherished safety net programs such as social security, medicare, and Obamacare, and to make access to abortion unduly burdensome or impossible. Stringing together Trump's disgusting ad hominem attacks on racial groups, national heroes, and others wouldn't hurt if targeted to suburban voters.

PPS: We understand that some who think they know (and in many instances do know) politics better than we do will disagree with the above approach. They might explain how in 2016 Trump beat Clinton with less than half the money than Clinton raised. As it is,Trump is given 24/7 free TV coverage--not only by the internet and broadcast channels that support him, but  also by the mainstream broadcast and cable media--which he keeps rolling on by voicing a new outrageous statement to capture the next news cycle every 3 days.

[EOP]

Two Pet Peeves re Journalese: The Two Infuriating I's

While there are annoying conventions in various commentaries (e.g., the term "hole location" by golf commentators), there are two used by newspapers that infuriate every one: "immediate" and "including." When covering an expose of any kind, the reporter(s) always will seek a comment from the subject and often the subject will not oblige. Included in the reportage then will appear the phrase, "[Subject] had no immediate comment." In reality, Subject had no comment and the word "immediate" is both misleading and unnecessary. In reporting on the NFL airing games on Xmas day, the story noted, "Last year, the NFL played three games on Dec. 25, including Eagles-Giants, Chiefs-Raiders and 49ers-Ravens." If there was, which there were, three such games, including the word "including" is at best irrelevant surplusage.

[EOP]

Utility Dividend Yields of 8+%

This Forbes article gives an informative overview and specific suggestions as  to how to maximize one's steady income with utilities yielding 8+%.

[EOP]

Psychology of Investing

This WSJ piece  not only is a wonderful tribute, but also is a pithy overview of the lessons taught by the late Economics Nobel Laureate Daniel Kahneman economist who turned the investing world on its head by exposing the non-rational motivations that drive individual investment decisions. Makes you think.

[EOP]

Battery Adjustments to Boost Cellphone Performance

This article has some useful tips on recalibrating your battery and other battery settings that will boost the performance of your cellphone, which can be quite useful--especially if your phone is exhibiting sluggish behavior.

[EOP]

Headlight Road Rage

If oncoming headlights seem too bright to you, there is a phenomenon producing simmering rage among drivers across the nation, on dark country roads, busy city streets and state highways: Car headlights have gotten too bright. Instead of cursing the brightness, you might try blue light blocking glasses to dim their annoyance.

[EOP]

Review of Fitness Trackers

 

[EOP[

Takeover: Hitler's Final Rise to Power (2024 Book by Timothy W. Ryback)

If you ever thought that history is only moved by big, sweeping forces, whether of economics or creed or nature itself, think again. In this riveting, intimate account of the final months in Hitler's rise to power, Tim Ryback makes it plain that simple luck, bald ambition, and fallible human hearts can be drivers of earth-changing events. Focusing on the crucial personalities at the pinnacle of politics in the very twilight of Weimar Germany, and drawing on a wealth of primary sources, from diaries to gossip columns to newsreels, he shows that Hitler's capture of the German state did indeed in large part represent a triumph of the Führer's own perverse will. But Ryback also reveals the extent to which the petty scheming, petty jealousies, petty prejudices and sheer exhaustion of the other 'men in the room' opened a path to calamity. Ryback’s choice to make his new book an aggressively specific chronicle of a single year, 1932, seems a wise, even an inspired one. He details, week by week, day by day, and sometimes hour by hour, how a country with a functional, if flawed, democratic machinery handed absolute power over to someone who could never claim a majority in an actual election. Democracy doesn’t die in darkness. It dies in bright mid-afternoon light. In short, a masterfully narrated story of how a democracy committed suicide, with lessons for today. 

[EOP]

Restaurants Are Too Loud for a Reason (Albeit Not a Good One)

If you hate loud restaurants (and what sane person doesn't), it turns out you are not the restaurant goer that restaurants that think they are savvy going after. As this WSJ article explains: "Restaurant owners think they know something about their diners that their diners might not fully know about themselves: They enjoy busy spaces more than they realize. Customers tend to have more fun in louder environments. High-energy dining rooms are more likely to turn diners into repeat clients, they say." All I can say is that it's increasingly difficult living in a country that is increasingly populated with pro-Trump, anti-vaxxing, conspiracy-believing, noise-loving restaurant patrons.

[EOP]

Wirecutter Toothpaste Recommendation

 

[EOP]

Middle-Level Octane Gasoline: A Vestigial Relic

As this Jalopnik article explains, middle-level octane gasoline is actually a relic from the days of leaded gasoline, and it's useless for most of the car driving community.

[EOP]

Correct Way to Wash Towels

Neglecting the proper way of washing can lead to cardboard-like towels that feel like sandpaper when they touch your skin and fail at their primary job of getting you dry. Worse still, it can mean having to replace your towels more often than you’d like, which can prove costly — especially for good-quality options with a decent thread count. This piece from Tom's Guide has excellent tips on how to wash your towels to avoid such problems.

[EOP]

Steve! (Martin): A Documentary in 2 Pieces (on Apple TV)

[Prefatory Note: The following review is based on the first piece]

Even if you weren't a philosophy major like Steve and I were, you most likely will find Steve! (Martin) both highly entertaining and an insightful look at the evolutionary story of an amazingly creative and thoughtful comedic talent. Which is not to say that the looking is devoid of sadness.

[EOP]

Charging EVs at Home

Many baseball fans think they'd be great baseball managers and many EV owners think they know everything there is to know about charging their EVs at home. We can't help on the baseball front, but this WSJ article might be illuminating on the EV front, as it addresses how to set up the charging system, how to charge, and how to save money.

[EOP]

New Reason to Join Costco

If you like a fabulous deal on hot dogs, they (and other items in the so-called Costco food courts) starting in early April will no longer be available to non-members. 

[EOP]

No More Excuses Not to Get a Decent Size TV

Vizio has just announced  a new 86-inch 4K smart TV that costs just $999. As Kramer would say, Giddy Up!

[EOP]

SuperAntiSpyware Browser Extension

Even though there's a small charge, SuperAntiSpyware has been my choice for an antimalware program for years. Now it has a free browser extension (which you can install from that link) that alerts you to scams and phishing sites that try to steal your personal data and keeps your personal information and your online search activity completely private.

[EOP]

Wordle: Ignore the Bot

A semi-loyal reader invented the Step 2 strategy in Wordle (it's got a name but, for anonymity purposes, let's call it the SLR strategy) whereby one does not go for the solution but instead goes to maximize the chance of uncovering the most correct letters. The bot uses this strategy, but, and it's a bit butt, the bot will put an S in the fifth square when the likelihood of an S being correct in that square is very low and there are plenty of other SLR words with S in better places. So, when it comes to looking at the bot's step 2 guesses, take them with caution and a skeptic's eye.

PS: We have tried to confirm this note with the inventor of the SLR strategy, but we were shunned.

[EOP]

Improving Your TV's Audio Output

This Pocket-Lint article has 5 tips to improve your TV's audio. Some are worthless. But a couple might be worth looking at unless you think your audio is concert hall quality.

[EOP]

High Impact Couples Therapy

As this WSJ article reports, the months or years couples often take in therapy to repair their marriages is over. With what's called "high impact" therapy, the repair process, albeit not inexpensive or relaxing, can be done in 16 hours. 

[EOP]

Reported Risk Factors for Dementia

As this WaPo article explains, a recent study has reported that diabetes, air pollution, and alcohol consumption could be the three biggest risk factors for dementia.

[EOP]

New NFL Kickoff

As readers of this blog know, we have long pushed the NFL to get rid of the way it does kickoffs. Although it eschewed our suggested way to do it, adopting the way the XFL does it, starting this season, the NFL kickoff will look quite different. In the new kickoff alignment, the kicker will line up alone on his half of the field and kick from the traditional spot, at the 35-yard line. The other 21 players will line up at the opposite end of the field. The 10 other players on the kicking team will begin at the receiving team’s 40-yard line, separated initially by only five yards from blockers on the receiving team. At least nine of the 11 players on the receiving team will line up either at their 35-yard line or within five yards of that in what’s called the “setup zone.” The receiving team will be allowed as many as two returners.

[EOP]

Palm Royale (2024 TV Mini-Series on Apple)

We have come to expect TV series from Apple to be terrific. Palm Royale clearly does not meet that expectation. It is the story of a preposterous exclusive summer club in 1969 and a woman's efforts to crack into a circle she had no standing to join. The series is an effort to parody everything from that era. It tries too much and does way too little. It is no Flamingo Kid.

[EOP]

Not So Fast With the Plug-in Hybrids

Some people, including a semi-loyal reader, keep hocking us to get a plug-in hybrid. As this electrek article explains, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles create much more emissions than had been previously thought – by an average of 3.5 times as much as lab testing indicates. As this Green Car Reports article explains,the reliability of electric cars and plug-in hybrids is improving, but they still remain more trouble-prone than cars without plugs--on average, EVs had 70% more problems than internal-combustion vehicles, and plug-in hybrids averaged 146% more problems than non-hybrid vehicles. And there are plenty more articles from sources all over the place to the same effect as these articles and detailing other shortcomings. 

[EOP]

Derivative Income ETFs

We have been flooded with requests for a primer on what are called derivative income ETFs. You spoke. We listened. And here it is.

[EOP]

Internet Backup From T-Mobile for $15 per Month

If never being without a home internet connection matters to you, and tethering or mobile-hot-spotting doesn't suffice, you might go with T-Mobile's offer to provide 7 days per month of backup internet service for $15/month (plus taxes and fees). While tethering and mobile-hot-spotting can result in charges or other limitations depending on the amount of data used, it likely should suffice for most home users. Those doing a business, however, where never-down internet connection is a must might find this TM offer quite appealing. The $15 price is an introductory offer that at some point will be replaced by a $30 price tag.

[EOP]

Can You Detect a Likely Roofing Scam?

Situation: A homeowner is sitting out in front of his house doing a crossword puzzle. A truck with a purported roofing company name stops as it was driving by and two men get out. They look up at the roof, do some pointing, and exchange comments to each other. They then approached the homeowner with some pleasantries about the weather, and launched into a spiel about problems they see with the roof, cautionary  warnings to fix them and not cover them over, and then an explanation as to how they (who only do roof repairs and not roofing generally) can arrange to do the repairs through the homeowner's insurance company--avoiding any out-of-pocket costs for the homeowner. When the homeowner politely declined their offer and explained that he has a roofing company that will be coming out in a few days to do the 5-year maintenance (coating) work on the roof, the men repeated their spiel and warnings, gave him their business card, and urged him to call them when his roofers came out. They then looked up at the roof and asked, "Is that a foam roof?" After that, they got back in their truck and left.

Question: The homeowner concluded this was a scam. Can you see what it was in the situation that led him to that conclusion?

[EOP]

Checking Bags on American and United: Perhaps Think Again

The two worst U.S. airlines for losing checked baggage are American and United (which also is the "leader" in lost cargo doors and seat window doors). Just saying. 

[EOP]

Reason to Be Jittery About the U.S. Treasury Market

If you don't have some concern about the U.S. treasury market, it means you haven't been paying attention. Any such ostriches might take heed of this top-of-the-fold, front-page, left-column WSJ article. As a further note in this separate WSJ article, even after the Fed starts cutting interest rates, the new normal for mortgage rates likely will be higher than it has been in the recent past.

[EOP]

PUA:Win32/Softcnapp

PUA:Win32/Softcnapp is a so-called Potentially Unwanted Application that is being picked up by Windows Defender. In actuality, it is a required component of some anti-malware programs such as SuperAntiSpyware (which has long been our favorite even though it cost a little bit) and is not dangerous.

[EOP]

The End of Cookies Is In Sight

Later this year Google, through its Chrome browser, will end the use of third-party cookies, technology that can track people across websites to target them with personalized advertising. I have no clue what all the ramifications are, but I just hope it doesn't mean that any website one goes to daily won't "forget" who you are and make you login each time.

[EOP]

The "Discoverable by Others" Setting in the iPhone

Apple's latest iPhone software update, iOS 17.2, turned on a setting by default that has a frankly alarming name: "Discoverable by Others." Using Bluetooth, iPhones can detect the number of devices in your vicinity that are already in your contacts. While your phone doesn't store information about which specific contacts were around, it can use this context to improve and prioritize what prompts you receive if Journaling Suggestions is enabled. I don't have an iPhone nor a clue what this is about, but I pass this on in the event it is of interest to the declining minority of loyal readers who have iPhones who might want to turn off this feature.

[EOP]

Another Reason to Move to Arizona: Lack of Mold

 

[EOP]

5 Settings to Improve Your TV Picture

The default settings for your TV likely will not produce the best picture. As this Slash Gear article walks you through, here are the 5 settings that you might tweak to enhance your viewing pleasure: cinema mode; motion smoothing; color temperature; backlight; and noise reduction.

[EOP]

The End of the Sim Card As We Know It

Unlike me, most people rarely think about SIM cards, the tiny plastic circuit boards inside cell phones that contain the phone number. And soon no one will be thinking about them—the days of the physical SIM card are numbered. Phone makers and wireless carriers are making the move to embedded SIMs, or eSIMs, which are essentially digital cards that let you activate a new phone number through a carrier either locally or internationally. Newer iPhones sold in the US don’t support physical SIM cards at all. Meanwhile, Google is now prompting Pixel owners to move their phone numbers to eSIMs, and Samsung’s latest flagship phones often default to eSIM when you buy your handset from your carrier. Embedded SIMs promise to make your life easier for international travel and switching phone numbers, among other benefits, but they can also be frustrating to use. This Wirecutter article explains what you need to know about the matter.

[EOP]

The ABCs of Napping

This NYT article gives an excellent overview of what benefits you might get from daytime naps, what daytime naps will not do for you, how best to nap, and when to see a doctor about your napping or lack of napping.

[EOP]

Mixed by Erry (2023 Movie on Netflix)

Recommended by a semi-loyal reader who would go bananas if not given credit, Mixed by Erry is the true story about the pirate mixtape empire built by three brothers from Naples and their "Mixed by Erry"-trademarked cassettes that brought pop music to 1980s Italian youth. They are charming, and the movie is charming. It is peppered with musical, romantic, and comedic moments, which add to the charm. So, if you like charm, and who doesn't, you will like this flick.

[EOP]

Deductibility of "Political" Donations to Trump

Trump has long used political donations to pay his attorneys' fees. But they amount only in the 10s of millions of dollars. Now he faces posting a bond of nearly $500M or having his bank accounts and property seized. With his 60% stake in Truth Social, and Truth Social going public following its merger with Digital World Acquisition, Trump could have a windfall of $3B in stock value if people (aka his supporters) buy the stock and prop up its value. And if Trump is given a lock-down waiver to enable him to sell it without waiting 6 months, he can used the proceeds to post the bond. Now, here's the kicker: While buying Truth Social stock gives a Trump donor/supporter "credit" for helping Trump, if the stock price goes up, the donor/supporter can sell it and notch a capital gain or, if the stock price goes down, the donor/supporter can sell it and notch a deductible capital loss.

[EOP]

Simpler, Fairer, and Better Tax System

Instead of the federal tax collection being based primarily on income, here is how it should be done: (i) Progressive graduated VAT, with rates very low or low on basics such as food, modest on non-basic but generally affordable goods, and high or extremely high on luxuries and high priced versions of non-basic goods; (ii) progressive graduated taxes on wage income over $75K designated for the Social Security lock box and Medicare, with no cap; (iii) progressive graduated tax on estates in excess of $5M; and (iv) special purpose taxes such as on gasoline or electricity for road maintenance.

[EOP]

Samsung Give-Away of 65" UHD TVs

As you can see on this Samsung website and also on Amazon, if you pre-order a 2024 Samsung OLED or QLED television, you will get at no extra cost a 65" Samsung UHD television. The OLEDs and QLEDs are not the cheapest televisions, but their pictures are fabulous.

[EOP]

Mattress Review

[EOP]

Glanceable Directions With Google Maps

Google Maps is finally rolling out glanceable directions.The feature enables Maps users to track their journey via the lock screen, or in the app via the route overview provided before hitting “start.” The toggle to enable glanceable directions is located under Navigation settings, within the main Google Maps Settings menu.

[EOP]

 

Are Interest Rates Too High or Too Low?

As this excellent piece by Justin Lahart explains in the WSJ, the answer is "yes, both."

[EOP]

Apple Antitrust Lawsuit

DOJ and 16 Democratic states sued Apple for illegally maintaining a monopoly. We are dubious that any of the plaintiffs really understand what is involved in this suit, and suspect that the only person who might understand it is a loyal reader (and no, it's not the semi-loyal reader who thinks we are referring to him or that other loyal reader who knows we are not referring to him). Our guess is that this lawsuit will end up on the same trash heap as other tech antitrust actions over the past 50 years have where, no matter the merits initially, as time marches on, the technology changes with the effect of mooting the case. We are struck by the opening paragraph of the complaint, which recites a quote of Steve Jobs from 2010 to the effect that he insisted on Apple's maintaining a closed eco-system. It is meet to note that, had Apple not done so, and it was suggested to Jobs that Apple might license its operating system,  Android might never have gotten off the ground and Apple likely would have even a more dominant position in the cellphone market today than it has.*

    * Here is the text of the first paragraph of the complaint (bold face in the original): "In 2010, a top Apple executive emailed Apple’s then-CEO about an ad for the new Kindle e-reader. The ad began with a woman who was using her iPhone to buy and read books on the Kindle app. She then switches to an Android smartphone and continues to read her books using the same Kindle app. The executive wrote to Jobs: one 'message that can’t be missed is that it is easy to switch from iPhone to Android. Not fun to watch.' Jobs was clear in his response: Apple would “force” developers to use its payment system to lock in both developers and users on its platform. Over many years, Apple has repeatedly responded to competitive threats like this one by making it harder or more expensive for its users and developers to leave than by making it more attractive for them to stay." 

[EOP]

Wardrobe Tip re Dieting

If you are dieting or plan on dieting to lose a significant amount of weight, any new trousers or shorts you buy should have loop slots for belts. Otherwise, you might find that they will tend to fall down especially when you have a wallet, keys, and cellphone in your pockets and are walking in a public venue.

[EOP]

Custom Staircases: Recommendation and Caution

If you don't have a custom staircase, I don't know what to say other than my heart and sympathies go out to you. But, if you're like most people and want one, Artistic Stairs does beautiful stuff and their rep (Tim Lewis 520-404-1440) is first-rate, professional, informative, and congenial. By way of two cautions, floating staircases such as those below: (i) are not inexpensive (except for the evaluation and estimate which are free), but it's money you will never regret spending especially if you have a wall; and (ii) will not conform to code (which the ones below apparently don't) if they lack outside banisters.

[EOP]

PS re The Gentlemen (2024 TV Series on Netflix)

A week ago a post here reviewed The Gentlemen based on EP 1, and said it was not everyone. Upon watching half of EP 2, as far as we are concerned, it is not for anyone. The series does not understand the difference between quirky or exotic characters on the one hand and just plain unbelievably disgusting obnoxious uninteresting characters on the other. Even an undiscerning audience, however, would understand the difference.

[EOP]

Biden's Problem: The Booming Economy

Biden has an age problem that manifests itself in his appearance, memory, and gaffes. But the booming economy he extols is a bigger problem for him. This election likely will be determined by young people and people of color of modest or lesser means. For them, while the stock market is hitting record highs and other macro-economic criteria tell a glowing story, the economy tells a different story: rents are high, houses are unaffordable, car financing is out of reach, and basic grocery prices are painful. Thus, for those who will decide this election, Biden's taking credit for the economy unfortunately actually confirms and reinforces the rap that he is an out-of-touch old man.

[EOP]

Rafah: Not an Easy Problem to Solve

The eyes of the world are on what Israel (Netanyahu) will do in Rafa. The looming humanitarian crisis suffered by innocent Palestinians is heart-wrenching. At the same time, the Hamas leadership and most of the Hamas forces are now in Rafah. So, if Israel proceeds to wage war in Rafah, untold misery is inflicted on countless innocent people. If Israel does not proceed in Rafah, Hamas wins.The only clarity in the matter is those who know which of those two alternatives is the only right one, and that there is no other alternative available.

[EOP]

Stopping New Tabs in Chrome Opening on Their Own

If you find that tabs in Chrome are opening on their own, you know how annoying that can be. This Make Us Of article outlines the various fixes one can try to stop tabs in Chrome from opening on their own.

[EOP]

Budget Phones Are the Way to Go

As this informative article explains, it is nuts to buy the so-called flagship model phones (e.g., Samsubng Galaxy) when budget phones (other Samsung models) will likely do everything you want just about as well and will cost a fraction. A great example is the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G. I spent some time this weekend comparing the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G to its more expensive cousin, the Samsung Galaxy S23+. To my great surprise, I couldn't tell the difference between the two. Both have stunning displays that are plenty bright, have a premium design, and are incredibly fast and snappy. And most people cannot even tell them apart. But everyone likely knows the difference between paying $800+ for something and paying $150 for something not really any different.

[EOP]

Mint Mobile vs. T-Mobile

Mint Mobile is a prepaid carrier owned by T-Mobile with plans designed to target lighter users looking to save money over the bloated postpaid carrier plans. Mint’s plans stick to the basics, with no streaming perks and minimal international support. For a lot of people, this is an appealing offer, and with Mint’s easy-to-understand discounts, it's an affordable alternative to the bloated and expensive plans offered by postpaid carriers.

T-Mobile’s plans, on the other hand, are much more traditional in structure, with its pricier plans offering early phone upgrades, streaming services, and international coverage. T-Mobile’s plans appear much more expensive, but if you bring three or more lines, it gets a lot closer. The carrier also includes taxes and fees in the sticker price on all but its Essentials plans, while Mint Mobile charges extra for taxes as well as a recovery fee.

For further details, see this article.

[EOP]

How to Hold Cash Gets More DIfficult With the Fed Poised to Cut Rates

As this WSJ article explains, it’s getting more complicated to hold cash. Certificates of deposit, money-market funds and various other cashlike investments have offered healthy returns, in many cases over 5%, since the Federal Reserve started lifting interest rates two years ago. But the central bank on Wednesday signaled it expects to cut rates three times before the end of the year. Some cashlike investments are staying strong while others have begun to decline in yield. Now the top rates are shorter-term offers. Three-month CDs pay as much as 5.5% annually. CDs that stretch out two years, however, offer under 5%, down from about 5.5% late last year. Also, CDs now are more often callable which means the yield is not guaranteed through the ostensible maturity date.

[EOP]

Possible Future of TSA

I recently had the pleasure of departing from Terminal 3 of Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. A TSA employee asked if me if I wanted to try the self-service checkpoint the agency is testing and escorted me to the Innovation Checkpoint. There was no line. A TSA agent checked my ID and I was on my own from there. I put my stuff in a special bin, stepped into a glass enclosure for a body scan, and “Have a good flight!” flashed on the screen when I was done. I picked up my stuff and was on my way.

[EOP]

Barrio Cafe (Phoenix Restaurant)

Barrio Cafe at 16th Street and Thomas road is closing. Except for the intolerable noise level even at 3 in the afternoon, food-wise, it was one of the great restaurants ever anywhere. At least we still have Terminal 4 at Phoenix Sky Harbor.

[EOP]

Reasons to Switch to Tankless Water Heaters

Tankless water heaters cost a bit more to buy, but their benefits outweigh the costs, including: energy efficiency (only heat water when you need it); endless hot water (never run out of hot water); space saving design; durability and longevity (they last longer); and environmental benefits (produce fewer greenhouse emissions). So, if you have someone hocking you to get solar panels (even though they don't even have them on their house), you can hock them back about getting a tankless water heater (which you have in your studio).

[EOP]

Badly Done Studies

As a famous researcher/clinician/statistician said in the preface to his book (Problems and Pitfalls in Medical Research), ""When a study is done badly, it is done badly, and no amount of hope or opinion can fix that." As a salient example, see this study which was a "randomized controlled trial" that was done"[t]o determine if using a parachute prevents death or major traumatic injury when jumping from an aircraft."

[EOP]

Another Chinese EV: Xpeng

The Xpeng p7 is yet another really good looking EV being made in China. If U.S. import tariffs were ever to give way to global competition, there could be a seismic shift in EV adoption here because most EVs in the U.S. are too expensive and those that are affordable are clunky looking or worse.

[EOP]

Don't Trust Reviews

Reviews of anything can be terribly misleading. Short-term rental owners will do almost anything to keep negative reviews off their listings. Many Amazon reviews make no sense and sellers can be "coaxed" for concessions to avoid a bad review. But here's a prime example: Readers of the Arizona Republic rate these restaurants as one of the 19 best in Phoenix: Original Hamburger Works, Organ Stop Pizza, and Miracle Mile Deli.

[EOP]

Why Travel Feels Longer on the Way Home

This WaPo piece explains why your sense that going home takes longer than getting to your destination is not hooey. Rather, as psychologists and travel experts confirm, it's a real feeling based on real externalities and human traits. 

[EOP]

Should You Wear Shoes in the House

A loyal reader has submitted this Time article  that argues with great vigor and fervor that it is healthier to wear shoes in the house. This is not inconsistent with an earlier post here that argued with great vigor and fervor that guests should not allow hosts to force them to go shoeless in their house.

[EOP]

Prediction re the SCOTUS Immunity Decision

In a 6-3 or 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court will reject the argument that Trump has absolute immunity, but will find there is a presumption of immunity for conduct committed while president. It then will remand the case for the trial court to: (i) determine the immunity standard (i.e., what must the conduct of the president be to remove any presumption of immunity); and (ii) decide whether or not the conduct Trump engaged in under the indictment rises to the level of rebutting the presumption of immunity. That decision will be appealed, and that appellate decision will be appealed. When all is said and done, it will be Il bacio della morte to any notion that no one is above the law.

[EOP]  

NCAA Women's College Basketball Championship

I am more outraged that anyone about the inexplicable and unforgiveable bracket seeding whereby Iowa and LSU would have to face each other before either could reach the final four. I also don't quite understand how a women's team, especially the betting favorite to win the championship, can be named after a male bird. That said, if you missed watching Caitlan Clark this season, here are some highlights from her season: Enjoy! 

[EOP]

The Life Changing Bidet Boom

As this WaPo piece reports, if you've switched to a bidet you are not alone, and like others who have, you cannot imagine ever going back to a world (aka a nightmare) without a bidet. While many have regretted buying their Pelotons or even their homes, those who installed the bathroom fixture at the height of the Great Toilet Paper Shortage of 2020 are far from remorseful. It changed their lives and they’ve become true believers, evangelizing to family and friends and trying to help the United States catch up with the rest of the world on bidet use. 

PS: The only drawback to bidet acclimation is that, because many hotels and short-term rentals do not offer bidet-furnished water closets, no vacation ever feels as good as might be hoped.

[EOP]

"Bloodbath, Mudbath": Plea to the MSM: Stop Treating Trump As If He Were a Normal Person

The mainstream media (MSM), and the pinhead commentators and columnists who cover him, did the country a grave disservice in 2016 by giving Trump multi-day unbridled coverage each time he said something that was shocking, which he would do every 3 days or so to keep the coverage going. As was proven in the Rodney King trial, at some point the repetition of outrage numbs and then deadens the sense of outrage. When it comes to Trump, that point has long since passed, and his abnormality has become normalized. Please, stop treating him as if he were normal, and start treating him for what he truly is, namely, a narcissistic, pathological, sociopathic, psychopath who cannot differentiate between truth and falsehood or between reality and fantasy. And lest anyone thinks this characterization of Trump is hyperbole, just look at how The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) defines each descriptor.

[EOP]

New Realty Reality Might Not Help First-Time Home Buyers So Much

Buyers might have to pay for their own agent out of pocket if they want one to represent them. As this WSJ article explains, that could be a particular imposition for first-time home buyers without much cash. Starting in July, most home buyers will have to sign agreements saying how much their agents will be paid. If sellers don’t want to cover those costs, buyers might have to foot the bill. It is still unclear what the compensation model will be like going forward.

[EOP]

Easy-Pack Luggage

The secret to effortless packing is shelving. The Easy Pack wheeled luggage has stacked trays that form compartments in the bag’s main cavity. Organize your clothes by day, activity or climate and then collapse the shelves before zipping up. At your destination, remove the two aluminum supports from the interior pockets, pop them into their holders and raise the shelves to create an insta-closet. You can use the vertical suitcase as your wardrobe or hang the shelves on a door or closet rod for touchless storage.

[EOP]

Cautionary Notes re Fruit Stickers: Don't Remove Until Just Before Eating and Treat Like Other Things That Shed Microplastics

If you shop at a standard supermarket, your haul of juicy and delicious fruits will all share a common ornament: The dreaded fruit sticker. Whether you're loading up on apples for baking or just buying some fresh oranges for the week, you'll notice those ubiquitous stickers. These small pieces of plastic are glued to individual pieces of fruit and contain a price lookup code (PLU) that identifies that specific type of fruit during checkout. While handy tools for a complex supply chain, fruit stickers are a pain to deal with at home. It might be tempting to peel off these pesky stickers as you unload the fruits. At best, they're a bit of an eyesore in your fruit bowl and at worst can be accidentally consumed the next time you reach for a crunchy apple. However, it's best to leave the stickers alone until you're ready to actually eat the piece of fruit. As anyone who's tried knows, removing the gluey stickers often removes a bit of fruit skin as well. This blemish might look minor, but given time it will lead to browning and speed up the rotting process.

Aside from avoiding inadvertent consumption, you should always remove fruit stickers because they aren't biodegradable. Stickers — which are typically made up of ink, plastic, and glue — won't break down in a natural environment. If you add a banana or orange peel to a compost pile and don't remove that sticker, you'll end up with a barrel full of soil and the plastic remnants of those stickers. The stickers shed microplastics, which can contaminate your composting bin and leech toxins into your soil. So, remember to throw stickers in the garbage instead of the recycling or compost bin after carefully removing it.

[EOP]

Villa Vie for Cruising Around the World or Segmented Cruising

You can cruise around the world on Villa Vie or pick a segment or multiple segments and pay just for the days each segment takes at a rate as low as $149/person/day (double occupancy) or $238/person per day (single occupancy). Do the math and you'll see  it's quite the bargain, especially for a ship as luxurious as this one appears to be. And for just a bit more, you can get a lovely outside cabin where you will wake up to stunning views through your very own window. These cabins offer a direct connection to the seascape and destinations you'll explore. Alongside the beautiful views, enjoy all the comforts of home with a plush queen-size bed, an en-suite bathroom filled with premium toiletries, and a dedicated workspace. The high-speed internet access, 24/7 cabin service, and thorough housekeeping ensure every need is seamlessly met, making these cabins ideal for those who love to gaze upon new horizons each day. Here are the segment choices:

[EOP]

Manhunt (2024 TV Series on Apple)

Apple produces some terrific series and, based on its first episode, Manhunt is no exception. Three spoiler alerts: It's based on the true story of the assassination of Lincoln and tracking down JWB and his accomplices; Lincoln was assassinated just 5 days after the Civil War ended (like who remembers that?); and its overarching theme is a not so subtle echo of today's struggle to preserve and protect the foundations of democracy. Even if you didn't care for You Hurt My Feelings and The Crown in which Tobias Menzies, the lead in Manhunt, appeared, he's terrific in this.

[EOP]

Waymo

If you live in a modern city like Phoenix, Waymo is available as an alternative to Uber, Lyft, cabs, or other ride-hailing alternatives. Just download the Waymo One App to your phone and in less than a minute, all the needed information will be inputted and you're set to go. Waymo now does drop off at and pickups from the airport. Typically, the base fare on Waymo is comparable to and sometimes less than other ride-hailing services, but it also offers three huge advantages: (i) You don't need to tip (actually, there is no one to tip); (ii) you don't have to talk to or listen to a human driver; and (iii) you can set it for multiple drop-off and pick-up spots. It's also just way cool.

[EOP]

Staying Safe on Airplane Wi-Fi

While I'm not as much a security freak as others when it comes to the internet, because it's so easy, I avoid public wi-fi (e.g., in airports, car dealerships, coffee shops) and opt to use my data connection instead. But, in airplanes, there is no data connection option, so what to do? This WSJ article has some reassuring words about the safety of airplane wi-fi, but also gives some  tips on precautions you might consider taking particularly because VPN might not work on airplane wi-fi.

[EOP]

Supreme Court Poised to End Science in the Guise of the First Amendment

It has long been the rule that the first amendment does not insulate persons from engaging in speech that has no purpose other than to create havoc and harm, such as yelling fire in a crowded theatre when there is no fire. The Supreme Court is poised to end that rule in a case where the question is whether spreading false information about Covid is protected speech. When the moronic majority of the Court does indeed again (as they did when they bestowed corporations with first amendment rights) wrench the first amendment beyond its intended boundary (afterall, the Founding Fathers never heard of Covid), they will have given their imprimatur to the end of science and given license to the supposed inalienable right to spread disease and suffering.

[EOP]

Improving Music Sound Quality on Your Phone

There are settings to look for on your music streaming source or on your earbuds that can significantly improve how music sounds on your phone: (i) If you feel like the bass isn't loud enough, or the highs are too high, you can adjust your equalizer settings; and (ii) auto EQ feature and volume adjustment feature also might be finely tuned to enhance your listening pleasure.

[EOP]

Xiaomi: New EV From China

Unless Trump is elected and he fulfills his promise to keep Chinese cars out of the U.S. market, we expect the EV market to look dramatically different in the next few years. Xiaomi is launching its SU7 in China before the end of the month, and unlike so many other EVs, it's pretty pretty pretty pretty good looking, and it's priced about the same as the Tesla 3. Here is one shot of it ... you can see more views on this digital trends article:

[EOP]

PS re Masters of the Air (2024 TV Series on Apple)

An earlier post recommended Masters of the Air and, having now seen it through all 9 episodes, we continue to recommend it. The story focuses, and is based, on the experiences of actual men who served. Their bravery and heroism and the others similarly situated leave one speechless. The last episode is particularly touching ... just be sure to watch the epilogue as to what each of them did after the war. And it makes one think with profound sadness about where America, which saved the world and for which the world was grateful, is and is heading both domestically and in its role and standing in the world.

[EOP]

How Covid Changed the U.S. Economy

This WaPo piece sets out 11 easy to read charts that graphically show what the economy and factors affecting it looked like before, during, and after the pandemic. It's quite informative.

[EOP]

Irish Wish (2024 Movie on Netflix)

If you thought Irish Wish would be a wonderful comeback film for Lindsay Lohan, think again. Neither its writing nor its acting is movie quality. The longest anyone reportedly has lasted watching it is 12 minutes, and they consider that a terrible waste of 12 minutes that they will never get back. 

[EOP]

Implications of the Real Estate Agent Court Settlement

[Prefatory Note 1: Undoubtedly you've seen the great news that the realtors have capitulated in the lawsuit brought against them and agreed to stop violating the antitrust laws with their forced commission structure. Here are the changes that should be coming about in July once the judge approves the settlement]

[Prefatory Note 2: I was recently told by a supposed realty guru that bargaining with realtors to get them to drop their commission rates is pretty much impossible. I guess they didn't know about this lawsuit that we had brought]

What the settlement means for home buyers:

Buyers typically don’t pay their own agents out of pocket. Under the new system, they might have to. The new rules will require most home buyers to sign agreements detailing how much their agents will be paid. If home sellers won’t cover the cost of the buyer’s agent, these deals likely would require the buyer to pay the agent. Agents representing buyers will have wide latitude over how to charge their clients. Some might bill at hourly rates; others might ask for flat fees. That could save home buyers thousands of dollars if those rates are lower than the 2.5% to 3% of the purchase price that buyers’ agents are usually paid.

What the settlement means for home sellers:

If commissions decline as analysts expect under the new system, sellers would save money. A seller who pays a 6% commission on a $400,000 home would be paying out $24,000. Under the new rules, sellers might only pay their own agents, or they might pay a lower amount to a buyer’s agent. Either way, they could save thousands of dollars. Moreover, most home sellers no longer would need to advertise upfront how much they will pay a home buyer’s agent. Sellers can still pay the buyer’s agent if they want to, but most sellers wouldn’t be allowed to include that offer in the listing.

What are the settlement means for the commission system:

The current system requires most sellers to decide what the buyer’s agent would be paid before listing a home. Critics say this prevented buyers from negotiating with their own agents and kept commission costs higher than they would otherwise be. The standard commission—5% to 6% of the purchase price split between the seller’s agent and the buyer’s agent—is among the world’s highest. NAR has said the current system is better for first-time buyers or buyers with limited cash, because it doesn’t require them to pay their agents out of pocket.

What the settlement means for the residential real-estate sector:

NAR has been facing crippling legal liability from that verdict and a wave of similar lawsuits, which also named real-estate brokerages and other organizations. This settlement resolves months of uncertainty for many real-estate agents, brokerages, and realtor associations. But the new commission system could mean that the business is less lucrative for many agents.

[EOP]

Fixing Blank New Folder in Outlook

Outlook might add a folder in the Navigation pane that has no name and nothing in it but it takes up a blank space and cannot be deleted easily if at all (if, as a Microsoft rep states, it got there because of an update which supposedly will be fixed in a future update. You can try various fixes over several days (including, simple repairs, scan repair, deep repair, changing permissions, and more) with no success, and it still will continue to drive you completely nuts because, even while you can use the Favorites listing instead, whenever Outlook is opened there it is. Here's one other thing to try which does seem to work: Change your profile: File/Account Settings/Manage Profiles/Add and designate it as the one to always open. The problem then is that export contacts and calendar from your first profile and import them into your new profile. Contacting Microsoft support (which is free) will quickly connect to a live rep who relatively quickly will do the importing/exporting for you. After you thought it was all fixed, after disconnecting with the rep, it turns out there are a bunch of adjustments that need to be made, including a redo of one of the import/exports.

[EOP]

Where Will Money Market Fund Cash Go When Fed Starts Raising Rates?

Common wisdom on Wall Street says that the trillions of dollars now sitting in money market funds where they collect 5.5% in interest will flood the stock market once the Fed starts raising short term interest rates (now expected to begin in June with 3 hikes for the year, but no one, including the Fed, really knows). No big shocker, but as this WSJ piece explains, once again, the common wisdom could be wrong.

[EOP]

The Skinny on Sociopaths

Sociopaths are given an unfair bad rap. In truth, sociopaths aren’t “ bad” or “evil” or “crazy.” They simply have a harder time with feelings. They act out to fill a void. When a sociopath understands this about themself, they are able to control it. Thus, it is a tragic misconception that all sociopaths are doomed to hopeless, loveless lives. The truth is many of them have good jobs, close-knit families, and real friends. They represent a truth that’s hard to believe: There’s nothing inherently immoral about having limited access to emotion. If you don't believe me, just ask Patric Gagne, a writer, former therapist, and advocate for people suffering from sociopathic, psychopathic and antisocial personality disorders, and yes, an admitted sociopath.

[EOP]

It's Past Time to Ditch Stainless Steel and Black Appliances and Go With Color

All major appliance makers now offer refrigerators, ovens, microwaves, and more in vibrant colors. The era of stainless steel and black is officially over. This Big Chill website gives you a taste of what living in the world of today should look like.

[EOP]

Proper Way to Hang Toilet Paper

[Prefatory Note: If you don't have a bidet toilet, bidet toilet seat, or bidet accessory, you obviously have little if any regard for proper etiquette and hygiene in your water closet. But for those to do, hanging the toilet paper correctly is also something about which concern should be given]

As this upworthy article explains, setting toilet papers to hang over (instead of under) (see the below picture) not only is the more sanitary way, it also is the only way to remain consistent with and true to the original patent.

[EOP]

Wonderful Neem Trees

This house digest article explains why neem trees are the fast-growing tree you'll want to plant in your yard and outlines all its benefits.

[EOP]

Replacement of Driver-Side Mirror

[Prefatory Note: If you have a car that's not as new as other cars (say a 2008 Camry Hybrid), you might want to take extra care to not have its driver side mirror knocked off. This note explains how to avoid that happening and the consequence of if it does happen]

1. Even if you've driven through the fresh lobster take out window several times, a steel tray at the pick-up window could somehow jump out and snap off your driver-side mirror.

2. Upon immediately taking the car to the Toyota dealer, do not believe if you are told that the replacement can be done the next day for $400. Indeed, the actual price you will be asked to approve will turn out to be over $700 and, then, after you give approval, the estimated time of repair is 3+ weeks (for the replacement mirror to arrive (from where they don't know or why it would take so long they don't know).

3. You might notify the fresh lobster place about what happened so they might remediate the renegade steel tray. They won't do a lot but you will get a $30 coupon if you're willing to risk a return visit to the scene of assault by the steel tray.

4. A visit to a car auto store won't get the problem solved but, if you find the right person, you will get a good primer education as to why the long delay getting a replacement mirror from Toyota and why not to use an after-market mirror.

5. Don't waste $7 on a small non-breakable mirror from Amazon thinking taping it on where the broken mirror was would make the car safe to drive. It won't. It will just make what you see reflected in it weird.

6. If you have a body shop which has done a repair job for you and several other repair jobs for a family member, and it has always been excellent, take the problem to them. As it turns out, while they will confirm that Toyota no longer makes that mirror, they will be able to get a perfectly good previously-owned Toyota-original mirror in 3 days, and install it in 7 minutes, all for $175.

7. At that point, to be safe, you might send an email and text to your dealer service adviser and an email to  the dealer service department canceling your approval for them to do the replacement, along with a confirming phone call to the adviser, and a memo to the file further confirming your cancellation of the dealer work order. 

8. The other really good news is that you no longer have to go to Plan B which was to buy a new 2024 Prius and get rid of the Camry, which wouldn't have worked on a timely basis anyhow because the dealer couldn't get a new Prius within 3 weeks anyhow.

[EOP]

The Gentlemen (2024 TV Series on Netflix)

Based on EP1, The Gentlemen is not for everyone and might not be for anyone. Some who do not hesitate to stop watching a series half way through EP1 and who eschew violence were intrigued by the show and not bothered by the violence, especially given how cleverly it was handled. Some who rarely will stop watching anything and don't mind violence as much did not want to continue watching and were put off by the violence. It's of the Breaking Bad genre and tells a similar story albeit the settings could not be more different. But (spoiler alert) Giancarlo Esposito plays a part in this with the same joie de vie he plays a not-so-different part in Breaking Bad. While he is perhaps integral to the plot, it is meet to note that the older brother could not be a more annoying character.

[EOP]

Safer Browsing on Chrome

Chrome (for both desktop and apps) has a newer, higher level of security called Safe Browsing. This Keyword article will explain it and show you the settings to turn it on for both your computer and your phone and tablet.

[EOP]

Sony vs Samsung TVs

This Pocket-lint article sets out three compelling reasons you might consider Sony over Samsung for your next TV: picture, sound, and user-interface.

[EOP]

New Rules for Climbing Everest

If you're like  me, you are not just dismayed by the new rules for climbing my favorite peak, you are confused. This Outside article goes a long way to straighten out the matter.

[EOP]

New Airline Seating Option: No Middle Seat

Frontier Airlines has launched a brilliant new economy class seating option: Several rows are designated as "No Middle Seat Rows." There is a surcharge to reserve and sit in the aisle or window seat of such rows, but you are guaranteed the middle seat will not be occupied. It's a wonderful hybrid between first class which is not worth it except on relatively long-haul flights and economy seating which is cramped and awful. Let's hope this catches on with other airlines.

[EOP]

The Possible Positive Upside of Trump's Candidacy

Here's some realities of the next several months: core inflation is not likely to go away; elevated borrowing costs to buy cars, houses, and other things are not going down; insurance and higher education costs are not dropping from their constant march to new higher levels; while big screen TVs and luxury goods will become more readily available for many, the ability to pay rent and buy basic groceries and gasoline will continue to be a strain especially for young people and people of color; and the documented problems at the Southern border are not going to be solved.

Here is a likely reality for any incumbent Democrat president, no matter how stellar his record on other things, facing those realities: any otherwise normal and qualified Republican would likely win the presidency by a large, demonstrable margin.

Here is another reality: Trump is not normal, is not qualified, and is not sane, and has higher, much higher, negatives than anyone else who might have contended for the Republican nomination.

Here then is a real possibility and a hope: Trump might be the only Republican nominee whom Biden can beat, and Biden just might beat him. If that happens, particularly with substantial down-ballot losses for MAGA stalwarts, the country just might make a giant step to rid itself of the MAGA racism, authoritarianism, and scourge.

[EOP]

Good Time to Buy a Used Chevy Bolt

A semi-loyal reader is the proud owner and unabashed booster of the Chevy Bolt. If his unbridled ethusiasm leads you to consider buying a Bolt, now might be the perfect time to jump in the pond. As this GM Authority article explains, pricing for used all-electric vehicles has declined sharply in the last several months, with used EVs depreciating 10 times faster than equivalent gasoline-powered vehicles over the past year, and the Chevy Bolt had the biggest year-over-year price drop among a wide variety of EVs studied in a new analysis. According to a report from car search and research company iSeeCars, the average price for a used EV fell 31.8 percent since last year, as compared to a 3.6-percent decline for the average used car price. The report indicates that the average price for a used Chevy Bolt EV is $17,981, a year-over-year price difference of $7,847, placing the Bolt at the top spot in an iSeeCars study of the top 10 cars with the biggest year-over-year price drop (in terms of percentage). The price reduction for used Bolts can also be attributed to a production increase for new vehicles, with 70,000 Bolt EV / EUV units produced during the 2023 calendar year. As a result, additional units are available on the market to catch up with demand. As GM Authority covered previously, production of the Chevy Bolt EV and Chevy Bolt EUV was concluded late last year for the 2023 model year. Looking ahead, GM has confirmed that the next-generation Chevy Bolt EV is under development, expected to arrive for the 2026 model year.

[EOP]

Them Eagles Be One Smart Team

Say what you will about the Eagles' swoon last year, they are the most innovative team in the NFL. They now have proposed replacing the on-side kick (which worked less than 3% of the time last year) with a 4th-and-20 option. It would add excitement to the game, give the trailing team a better long shot chance to catch up, and let kickers do what kickers do.

[EOP]

Caution re Advanced Booking on Uber/Lyft

Reservation fees for Uber and Lyft, once capped at $10, no longer are capped. The surcharge for reserving a ride ahead of time now can double the charge you pay (e.g., from $25 to $50). These ride-sharing services also have found other surcharges to up the cost and increase their profits, including "extra comfort" and "priority pickup" options.

[EOP]

The Descent Into Hell (2024 Book by Andrew Greeley)

The Descent Into Hell is the latest and most timely offering from Andrew Greeley. It tells the story of living through a presidential campaign between two candidates whom no one wants to hear from or watch and, spoiler alert, the truly moronic, satanic one just might win.

[EOP]

Future of Professional Golf: Think Tennis

[Prefatory Note: I'm not the only person who thinks this is what we're looking at]

How many of these 8 players have you heard of: Grayson Murray, Nick Dunlap, Matthieu Pavon, Wyndham Clark, Nick Taylor, Jake Knapp, and Austin Eckhart? Each of them won one of the 10 PGA tour events in 2024.

How many of these 10 players have you heard of: Jon Rahm, Cameron Smith, Brooks Koepka, Bryson de Chambeau, Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson, Bubba Watson, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, and Joaquin Niemann? Each of them won one or more PGA tour events, most won one or more of the majors, and none are permitted to participate in The Players' Championship, the event that used to be considered the  best and most competitive field in golf. 

Conclusion: Brandel Chamblee and the other bloviators on The Golf Channel who (are paid to) argue that The Players is not diminished are whistling past the graveyard.Unless something happens that is not yet on any one's  radar, the only golf tournaments that will have a broadcast national audience will be, if any, the four majors, and that assumes LIV golfers will continue to be able to play in the majors. In short, professional golf will join professional tennis where the only tournaments anyone will tune into are the four majors.

[EOP]

Using Windows Backup to Restore Key Files

This ZDNet article explains how to use the Windows Backup tool to restore a backup from one PC to another.

[EOP]

Plex: Source for Free Movies and TV Shows

With an Amazon Firestick, you can access several apps through which  you can view free TV shows and on-demand movies, albeit with ads. Plex is one of those apps, through which you can enjoy over 600 live TV channels and more than 50,000 "on-demand" movies and TV shows too. The Plex app is available to download directly through the Amazon app store, and costs nothing to install or watch.

[EOP]

Password Protecting Folders in Windows

This techradar article will walk you through how to password protect Windows folders.

[EOP]

Caution re Ultra-Processed Foods

We have long advised avoiding ultra-processed foods. As this WSJ article reports, new research suggests links between ultra-processed foods—such as chips, many cereals and most packaged snacks at the grocery store—and changes in the way we learn, remember and feel. These foods can act like addictive substances, researchers say, and some scientists are proposing a new mental- health condition called “ultra-processed food use disorder.” Diets filled with such foods may raise the risk of mental health and sleep problems.

[EOP]

Shopping Safely on Temu

Temu is the online flea market whose existence many people learned about when they saw its Super Bowl ads. This WaPo article tells you everything you want to know about Temu and, most importantly, how to safely shop on it.

[EOP]

Stopping Page Redirects

When a page redirect happens on your browser, you're taken from one URL to another. In some cases, this is caused by a spam link, and it's best to avoid these redirects to avoid viruses or malware. Luckily, many browsers have built-in features to protect you from page redirects. This wikiHow article will walk you through the easy setting change you should use to avoid the problem.

[EOP]

The Physiology of Grief

As is being learned, grief from loss is not just an emotional thing. It affects the brain. As this WaPo article explains, "During grief, stress hormone levels increase, and brain activation patterns can change. For instance, the 'basal ganglia' — groups of neurons located deep within the lower portions of the brain — can become more activated. These neurons are involved in establishing our habitual action patterns. They also help determine the reward and pleasure we obtain from certain relationships and will play a part in how we respond to separation from loved ones. Since the basal ganglia encode our sense of closeness and feeling drawn to others, overactivity in this area in response to separation can drive us to try to reconnect through searching behaviors such as the urge to 'go out and look' for them. As we may have associated loved ones with feelings of reward, their absence may cause us to crave them. Importantly, there is some overlap between areas that encode our representation of ourselves and areas that encode representations of close others. Our brains don’t entirely distinguish self and others; there can be a blurring between where we end and the other person begins, especially in intimate relationships."

[EOP]

The Other Battery in EVs

In addition to the battery that replaces the motor in an ICE car, EVs have small 12 volt batteries that handle several internal systems such as lights. When they fail, the EV stops until that 12 volt battery is recharged. How widespread this problem is no one knows. If interested, you can read more about this in this WSJ article.

[EOP]

New Spelling Bee Statistics

As you likely noticed, the NYT daily Spelling Bee now shows various of your historical statistics (per the example below). While it shows the total number of pangrams you got, it does not show the total number of pangrams that were possible. We know how important having that information might be to you, so we have contacted the NYT games people and asked them to include that. Here was their prompt response: "Thank you so much for your positive feedback on the new Spelling Bee lifetime stats and for your valuable suggestion to improve it. We're glad to hear that you've found the historical statistics useful and we will definitely take your suggestion into consideration." 

[EOP]

Why I Love the Isle of Skye

A stay on Scotland's majestic Isle of Skye will make you believe in fairy tales. Peppered with inspiring points of interest like the remarkable Fairy Pools and enchanted Fairy Glen, the scenery is priceless. It's free to visit these sites, and parking costs only between $2.50 for two hours to $7.60 per day. You'll want a car to explore the vast landscape, and the cheapest (and easiest) way to do that is to rent it in Inverness. This is the closest main city to the island and offers one-day rentals starting at $75. Hostels, guest houses, and room rentals are the cheapest places to stay on the island. Nightly rates at Taigh Pa in the village of Uig start at around $166, including breakfast. In comparison, a night at the more elegant five-star Edinbane Lodge would cost about $300 with breakfast. Speaking of food, lunch at The Hungry Gull in Staffin — which has five stars on Tripadvisor — will cost as low as $12. You can read more here.

[EOP]

Why Trump's MAGA People Hate the Coastal Cultural Elites

If you watched the Oscar's, you had to be taken by the over-the-top outfitting and looks that no one in the MAGA world dresses or looks like or even wants to. As if they weren't well-off enough as it is, the top category nominees and others will all go home with a swag bag offer worth about $178,410 (that's right, there's no missing period), which includes a sleek new wine fridge, slipper-like dad shoes, black licorice, an offer for a luxurious stay at  at Chalet Zermatt Peak in Switzerland ($50,000), a three-night stay at a private Saint-Barth Paradise villa in St. Barts ($25,000), and a seven-day holistic wellness retreat at the Golden Door resort ($24,000). And, of course, the star-studded crowd proudly displays their anti-Trump flags.

[EOP]

Charges for Emailing Your Doctor: Get Over It

The next time you send your doctor an email, don’t be surprised if they charge you a fee to answer. More healthcare groups are charging fees to answer patients’ electronic messages, often the ones you exchange via their portal. Some patients have been taken aback by the charges. They are surprised at the notifications on portals about the change, and irritated at the idea of a new fee. They need to get over it. The more medicine can move to remote care, the lower the cost, the better the service, and the less time waiting in the doctor's office's reception area or little room. 

[EOP]

Surge Pricing

Many industries, including most recently restaurants, have the technology to spot periods of increased demand and raise prices to maximize their profit during those times (called "surge pricing"), then dropping their prices when demand slackens. A loyal reader has noted total befuddlement at how Amazon prices its stuff (and we are likewise at sea on the  issue), but the rapidity with which it changes prices would lead to the inference that it is following a very sophisticated surge pricing model. All that said, you can curse surge pricing or adapt to it--the early bird special we seniors enjoy not only allows one to make it home for one's 7 pm bedtime, it just might save money.

[EOP]

Lowering Blood Pressure Through Tai Chi

As this WaPo article reports, an analysis, published in JAMA Network Open, tracked 342 18- to 65-year-olds with prehypertension blood pressure that is slightly higher than normal. Although the groups didn’t differ in overall adherence to the program, waist circumference, weight or body mass index, after a year, there were differences in their subsequent blood pressure. Participants in the tai chi group had an average reduction of 7.01 systolic blood pressure points over 12 months, compared with a 4.61-point drop among those who performed aerobic exercise.

[EOP]

Travel Advisers Can Still Be Useful

As this NYT article explains, the insider knowledge offered by a travel adviser can add value to trips that have multi-city itineraries, involve a wide age range of travelers, are very significant (like an anniversary vacation), or are to destinations with which you are unfamiliar.

[EOP]

Tips for Clothes Cleaning During Hotel Stays

Rick Steves is a great source of travel information. He sets out in this Islands article some excellent tips on doing laundry at hotel stays instead of paying to have the hotel do your laundry.

[EOP]

Excalibur Toilet Brush

Every bathroom needs two things: A bidet toilet, bidet toilet seat, or bidet accessory and an Excalibur toilet brush. It which might not be in production any more and costs about $100, but it's in  MOMA's collection.

[EOP]

Why Biden Is Sinking Like a Stone

This NYT opinion piece by Russ Douthat poses the question as to why Biden's poll numbers are sinking like a stone, especially among people of color and others less well off. Here's how he summarized the point: “Again, I’m part of that establishment, and I don’t want to pretend that I have my finger fully on the pulse of, say, blue-collar Hispanics who went for Biden in 2020 but now lean toward Trump. But if you take that kind of constituency as a starting place, you may be able to reason your way to a clearer understanding of Biden’s troubles: by thinking about ways in which high borrowing costs for homes and cars seem especially punishing to voters trying to move up the economic ladder, for instance, or how the hold of cultural progressivism over Democratic politics might be pushing more culturally conservative minorities to the right even if wokeness has peaked in some elite settings. These are theories; maybe there’s a better one. But the first step to saving Biden’s re-election effort is to acknowledge the need for such an explanation — because unpopularity that you can’t fathom can still throw you out of office.” Or, as put more succinctly by Pauline Kael, at the time an opinion writer for the New Yorker, on Nixon's winning the presidency: “I can’t believe Nixon won. I don’t know anyone who voted for him.”

[EOP]

 

Women's Soccer

If you didn't watch the Gold Cup final between the USWNT and Brazil, you were not alone. It was broadcast only on Paramount streaming and some ESPN networks that no one gets. It wasn't broadcast on any regular channel. That Spring training games, car races, rassling, boxing, not to mention the Oscars are aired on channels you can watch, the networks and the United States Soccer [sic] Federation should be ashamed of themselves. In short, it would seem they are bent on shrinking their audience appeal. At the very least, they missed an opportunity to show the country and the world that USWNT's performance and demeanor in the last World Cup were aberrational.

[EOP]

Contacting Amazon by Phone

One is more likely to get a satisfactory solution to any issue with Amazon by contacting Amazon by phone. A loyal reader has let us know the various ways to do so:

U.S. and Canada: 1-888-280-4331.

Kindle Support U.S. Canada: 1-866-321-8851.

You can also click the "Contact Us" button on any Help page (www.amazon.com/help), enter your phone number through the Phone tab, and Amazon will call you.

PS 1: We had thought Amazon had stopped using the click-to-call feature but apparently not or it has been restored. There is also an option to do a chat instead of a call. 

PS 2: One of the reasons Amazon gives as return options is "found a better price elsewhere." This apparently refers to a better price from some other merchant, not a post-sale price reduction by Amazon. 

[EOP]

Three PSes re the Danger of Plastics

PS 1: We were stunned and gratified by the overwhelmingly positive response to yesterday's post on the dangers of plastic. As that post explained, reducing one's use of plastic is beneficial for one's health and the health of the environment. One thing to do is re-use any plastic baggie you have, which, given how easy they are to clean, is easy to do. We know of one family that has not bought a new baggie since before what they call, but no one remembers, the pandemic. 

PS 2: We also are reminded by a loyal reader to try to use farmer's markets as much as possible because they do not package everything in plastics instead of grocery stores which do package everything they can in plastics.

PS 3: The author of the article in yesterday's post is a strong advocate and a role model for using travel mugs instead of plastic water bottles. We trust he (and everyone) is aware, as this Wirecutter article explains, a quick rinse-out, swishing the water around before dumping it out, and then just putting the travel mug back on the shelf, won't cut it. The article instructs on proper cleaning of travel mugs to keep you safe and healthy.

[EOP] 

Amazon Will Give Credit for a Price Reduction

Say an earbud fell out of your ear in Whole Foods and you couldn't find it, so you bought a new set of inexpensive earbuds from Amazon. The next day you see them for sale for $11 less than you paid. If you contact Amazon and politely ask for an account credit of $11, you likely will get it. It's a win/win in that neither you nor Amazon have to deal with a return/re-shipment, and a win for the environment not to have endure the transporting of something that need not be transported.

[EOP]

Perils of Losing a Driver Side Mirror

If a steel tray at a lobster drive-thru jumps out and knocks off your driver side mirror, putting aside the cost to replace it (which eclipses the $30 gift certificate you might get from the lobster place), as Luke 12:35 cautions, gird your loins. The bad news is that, at least for Toyota models that are a bit older (like 2008), replacements are not stocked by anyone. The good news is that, unlike Amana which stops making simple things like freezer door handles to replace ones that snap in two, Toyota makes replacements in batches so you can get one--albeit the wait might be a few weeks or longer. The other bad news is they come unpainted so matching them extends the repair process often by a week. 

PS: You will be stunned to how many apparent replacements are available for peanuts on eBay. It's not an advisable route to go for reasons too long to explain here.

[EOP]