Importance of Harris's VP Pick (and My Last Comment on the Matter)

Harris seems to have substantial momentum, likely not as a result of anything she has done, but because of the huge collective sigh of relief of escaping ontologically certain defeat if Biden had not withdrawn. With her announcement that she will have a VP picked to campaign with in swing states next week, she has a chance to keep or enhance that momentum or stall or kill it. If she picks one of the younger white guys, any immediate buzz will fade quickly; if she picks one of the older white guys, it will mark the peak of her momentum which will then begin its "regression to the mean." But, if she picks Whitmer, the chatter it creates will be deafening and the momentum that she has enjoyed to date will soar like a  rocket to the moon. Harris will have shown herself to be independent, bold, and smart. Cable news and social media, and most importantly young and women voters, won't be able to get over it. Live the Dream!

PS: I could go through the specific reasons none of the white guys could help the ticket, but let me give just one example. Pennsylvania is a battleground state and must-win for the Dems. Obviously, that's what puts its governor on the VP short-list. The reality as to whether or not Harris wins Pennsylvania turns on one thing: How heavy will the turnout for her be in Philadelphia, and that's the one demographic Harris  had better not need help from him and essentially would get no help from him. Put another way, in two words, he's a wasted pick.

[EOP]

Yogi Berra Wit

Two days ago, a sporadic reader sent me this Yogi Berra/Whitey Ford clip. When it didn't appear in yesterday's blog email, he went nuts for no explicable reason. He misses more blog posts than he reads so why he cares that something he's already seen be posted is a complete mystery. We are seeking psychological help for him. In the meantime, in the hope that it will help him find some solace and sense of vindication or whatever it is that he might crave, please click on the above link knowing that you will be bringing a little sunshine into the life of a lost soul. If you have difficulty understanding anything Whitey Ford says, please, do not let that concern you: It's not you, it's him.

[EOP]

Best Way to Reheat Pizza

I've tried all the ways one might to reheat pizza (including conventional oven, air fryer, microwave), and there's no doubt: The best is a toaster oven. While its functionality is myriad, reheating pizza is its forte. The super close, direct heating coils are warming the pizza from the top and bottom both evenly and simultaneously. The top heating coil almost acts as a broiler, caramelizing the cheese. Plus, the open window allows you to see when the cheese starts sizzling, taking the guesswork out of when the pizza is ready. Plus, laying the slices directly on the rack in the toaster oven means one less dish to wash at the end of the meal.

[EOP]

Uses for Coffee Grounds

Given their many uses, I hope you don't just throw away coffee grounds. As this healthline article spells out in more detail, here are some things you can do with them: fertilize plants; composting; repel insects and plants; neutralize odors; cleaning scrub; exfoliate your skin; reduce the appearance of cellulite; natural dye; tenderize meat; stimulate hair growth; repair scratched furniture; and treat under-eye-circles.

[EOP] 

10 Useful Run Commands

As this How-to-Geek article sets out, Run commands are a faster and more direct way to access various Windows settings, tools, and features. Instead of clicking through multiple menus, you can enter a command and access the setting or tool you need instantly. You can open the Run dialog box by pressing Windows+R on the keyboard or you can do as I do and pin it to the Taskbar. Run commands are quick and efficient, and (as the article notes) give you access to features you didn't even know existed. 

[EOP]

Slogan for Harris Campaign

The Harris campaign needs an uplifting theme that captures its spirit, sets an aspirational tone, appeals to the young without alienating seniors, strikes a positive note in sharp contrast to the darkness of the Trump/Vance ticket, and fits on a bumper sticker and yard sign. Here it is: Live the Dream!

PS: Now we just need a campaign song. Here is one albeit too slow and untimely: Elvis ... If I Can Dream.  As an historic note, you  can start with a song like this and end up with a great campaign song.

[EOP]

Windows Backup

Windows has many apps that come installed on your W10 or W11 computer. Just click on Start/Programs/Apps to see them. One of the most useful is Windows Backup, which will backup and keep current in cloud storage documents, photos, apps, settings, and credentials. The noted link highlights some other quite useful Windows apps.

[EOP]

Myth of So-Called "Paxlovid Rebound"

[Prefatory Note: This is not medical advice or a statement of any view I might hold. It is the reporting of facts found by others]

There is a view floating around that one can get a Covid rebound from Paxlovid. As explained in this Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health article, a CDC review of COVID rebound studies found “no consistent association between treatment and rebound.” Paxlovid does not directly cause symptoms to return; in fact, only about 1 in 5 people who take Paxlovid experience rebound, and many of those are asymptomatic. Therefore, the risk of rebound should not preclude someone who's at high risk or severe disease from taking Paxlovid, and it definitely shouldn’t preclude doctors from prescribing it. “Taking Paxlovid clearly reduces the likelihood of an individual developing severe COVID, irrespective of COVID rebound.” 

[EOP]

House Thermostat Readout Is Not the Same As House Temperature

Just as the same number for a golf club might have a different loft depending on the manufacturer, that a thermostat in one house reads out the same number as the thermostat in a different house does not mean the two houses have the same temperatures (as explained more fully in this article). So, if your spouse complains that you are keeping your thermostat too high compared to the thermostat in someone else's house, just explain that, while the thermostat read outs might be different, your house is actually being kept colder in the summer than that other troublemaker's house.

[EOP]

PS re Teaching the Bible in Public School

After reading our post on what teaching the bible in public school might entail, a loyal reader sent in one of their favorite bible stories. Here it is: "David sees Bathsheba taking a bath on the top of her roof & decides she is for him because she is so beautiful & naked. Even though she is married, he has his servants go get her and they (David and Bathsheba, not the servants)  have sex. Although she was having her period, she got pregnant and so informs David. David then makes arrangements for her husband, Uriah, to be put at the front of the fighting in an ongoing war so that he will be killed. After Uriah is killed, David marries Bathsheba, and then their son dies, as punishment from God. After David repents, Bathsheba gives birth to Solomon and 8 sons in total." Here's the point: Not only does the bible present a perfect lesson for any level of K-12, it puts to rest any notion of banning books on sexual content, violence, or family values grounds.

[EOP]

Those Wacky MAGAs

With Rep Debbie Lesko's house seat now open, and still a safe Republican seat, there is no shortage of Rep candidates in the primary. Two of them, Blake Masters who lost the senate race against Mark Kelley and Abe Hamiden who lost the attorney general race against Kris Mayes, are loyal MAGAs, who Trump supported in those races. What does Trump do now? You know how he hates to lose, so he does what few politicians might have the nerve to do: He endorses both of them. If that splits the MAGA vote, a non-MAGA Rep could actually win.

[EOP]

Protection From Ransomware in Windows

As this PC World article explains, Windows includes built-in ransomware protection and it's easy to turn on with just a couple of clicks.

[EOP]

Finding a Lost Network Security Key (Router/Wi-Fi Password)

This NordVPN article has a complete, but easy to read and follow, overview of how to find, recover, and, if need be, recreate or reset your network security key or password if you don't remember it or can't find it.

[EOP]

PS re Same-Day Costco Orders and Delivery

The ability to buy stuff online at Costco and have it delivered for free (with a $35 minimum order), plus a voluntary tip, within a 2-hour window is a God-send in many ways, especially for those of us who hate Costco parking lots and the in-store crowd and shopping experience. If an item is not available, the shopper will text you and you will have the choice to go with a replacement or cancel the item. If the shopper makes a mistake and includes a replacement you don't want, be sure to meet them at your door, and they will phone their customer support to get you a refund. An extra tip is a nice thing then to do. One caveat: Don't schedule the delivery around your nap time ... the shopping will be done shortly before delivery so you don't want to turn off your phone while the shopping is being done in case you are contacted to make a replacement approval or disapproval decision. Finally, while you can include a tip when you place the order, you can add a further tip post-delivery.

[EOP]

Misguided Bestowing of Medals and Punishments at the Olympics: A Tradition Like None Other

The women's Canadian soccer team is being punished severely (effectively being kicked out) because of the improper use of a drone to spy on a competitor's training session. We can all agree that cheating should be punished. The problem in this instance is that, while the coach and coaching staff did and knew of the cheating, and have since been fired and sent home, it is not clear the players had any knowledge of the transgression. Reasonable people can disagree as to whether it is fair or unfair to meet out the punishment on the players who might have been completely innocent. This issue is a microcosm of a bigger issue, namely, who should get the medals in certain events? For example, during the 2008 Olympics, the Financial Times printed this astute and insightful letter: "Sir, In equestrian events that draw the most spectators and interest (thoroughbred, quarter-horse and harness racing, and Arabian horse shows), while jockeys and trainers may achieve significant attention and notoriety it is the horse that (rightly) is designated the winner or champion and whose name is inscribed in the record books and in history. So why, when it comes to the Olympic horse events (dressage and jumping), is it the rider who gets all the glory, while the horse is scarcely recognized?" Put another way, everyone knows that Secretariat is the greatest race horse of all time, aka, the GOAT of thoroughbreds. Many people do not remember who the jockey was in his record-setting Triple Crown performance.

[EOP]

Monitor Arms

This Wirecutter article has 3 monitor arm recommendations, each of which costs between $110 and $220 from Amazon. The one I have from Amazon (shown below) costs $32 and is great!

[EOP]

The Olympics

[Prefatory Note: As all readers know, this blog is devoted to tech and consumer issues. That is why we don't do politics or sports except in the rare circumstance where there is some connection to tech or consumer matters. We find much of the Olympics inexplicable as to even what the sport is much less why it is included, or when any event is on, and so we watch almost none of it. That MLB is airing the upcoming Yankees/Phillies series will take our full attention for the immediate future. Women's futbol, however, is the one event we enjoy and encourage everyone to watch, and the post below focuses on that event in general and the US/Germany match in particular]

Women's futbol is thrilling and engaging (some would say mesmerizing) not just because of the athleticism and majesty of the sport, and the enthusiasm and joy with which it is played, but also because you never know what's going to happen. By way of example, you never know whether someone might take off their shirt. Also, who could predict that a team would effectively be bumped out of group play because they used a drone to spy on an opposing team. Further, as if there's not enough weirdness in the world, the coach of the Argentinian team is not allowed to stay where the team is staying or ride on the team bus because of the pending investigation for his sexual misconduct. At the same time, you would have thought that, once the unnerving and insanity-inducing vuvuzelas stopped showing up at games, and the games were brought to you commercial free, they'd be a joy to watch. No such luck. For some inexplicable reason, the producer/director thinks it's appropriate to spend inordinate time showing fans in the crowd, who know they are on camera and immediately start yelling, waving, and gyrating. They are dressed up in ridiculous costumes that have nothing to do with anything but displaying bad taste and some resemblance to the colors of the flag of the country they are supporting. Of course, the Americans so captured by camera feel compelled to shout, "USA, USA, USA." I watched the first half in actual time, but had such a headache from the fan shots that, with the US up 3-1, I watched the second half in 6x speed, stopping and rewinding a bit upon seeing that the US has scored a 4th goal.

[EOP]

If Harris Wins ...

If Harris wins, there is one cabinet appointment that would be most fitting: Liz Cheney as Attorney General. 

[EOP]

PS re Replacing Vance as Trump's Running Mate

Trump will wait to see who is the Dem VP pick before deciding who will replace Vance. A post yesterday predicted Stefanik as the replacement. I omitted the other possibility, to-wit: Tim Scott.

[EOP]

Free Advice to Harris

Harris is doing quite well, and the last thing she (or anyone) needs would be advice from me. But here it is anyhow: Sit down asap for a serious prime-time presser with Stephanopoulos (or someone as competent) that goes over her past statements and goof-ups that now are showing up in Trump and will show up in any debate, so she can have a good, articulate, pithy narrative (that was then, I've grown, and here's who I am and what I believe now) so that she immunizes herself from being defined and swift-boated by the Trump machine. It also would let her set out her vision for her administration, drawing a sharp contrast between her looking to the future and how she can do good for all Americans and Trump who is mired in the past and how he can avenge the supposed wrongs that have been done him.

[EOP]

If Not Whitmer ...

If Harris flubs choosing Whitmer (who by far would be the best pick) as her running mate, and wants to go with some white guy who would balance (whatever that means) the ticket, would be capable of taking over as president, and would be a sharp contrast to Trump and Vance, then she should consider picking a general (like Milley) or admiral (like McRaven). Not only would they shine on the stature and gravitas scale, they would be able to speak about valor, making the point that having one's ear pricked by a piece of shrapnel is not the stuff of heroes and would not qualify Trump as a purple heart recipient.

[EOP]

Teaching the Bible in Public Schools

Many ACLU-types have expressed a knee-jerk negative reaction to Oklahoma's requiring that the Bible be taught in public schools. We are never surprised by pin-heads not caring to actually look at the facts underlying any supposed issue, in this instance the guidelines that are to be followed. Thus, if Oklahoma schools would honestly teach what the guidelines say is be taught, their students will get a real education. In upper elementary school, guidelines include "Discuss the elements of a story, such as plot, characters, and setting." Questions such as: In the story of Lot's wife or of the flood, who is the "good guy" and who is the "bad guy?" are natural considerations of character. In middle school, students should "Compare biblical stories with myths and legends from other cultures," which would lead to learning that many stories from the Bible are taken from earlier pagan stories so they cannot be believed or taken literally. In High School, students should "Study primary historical documents and speeches that reference the Bible," such as an 1835 article from the Charleston Mercury explaining how the Bible justifies slavery or Pope Urban's 1095 speech launching the first Crusade. They should also read "essays that require critical thinking and analysis of the Bible's role in literature, history and culture." Likely that would include books like The Good Book, in which the Reverend Peter Gomes, Plummer Professor of Christian Morals at Harvard, explains how the Bible does not condemn homosexuality. 

[EOP]

Two Best Metal Detectors

With summer almost here, it's time to head for the beach. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't go to the beach without my metal detector. Not only does detecting metal produce hours of fun, the things I find and then sell are what pay for the vacation. This link gives Wirecutter's top two recommendations.

[EOP]

The Movie Scene Tesla Does Not Want You to See

[Prefatory Note: The below movie scene link scene appeared in an earlier post doing a review of Leave the World Behind, which also sets the context (where a cyber attack took out the country's internet infrastructure and everything connected to it). If you didn't click on the link there, here is another chance]

If you're a Tesla fan, stop reading now--the noted scene (and its depiction of FSD) can be quite disturbing. If you have a problem with Teslas or Musk, you might find this movie scene to be entertaining.

[EOP]

Why The Common Wisdom re Not Putting Whitmer on the Ticket Is Wrong

The common wisdom says, when it comes to picking a VP, "balance the ticket." The idea behind this approach is the "addition vs deduction doctrine," namely, that elections are not won by taking votes from your opponent (i.e., Trump's supporters are not defecting), they are won by adding votes (increasing the turnout) for your side. The doctrine is a correct one, but adding a middle-of-the-road white guy to the ticket will add not one vote. In stark contrast, positing this election as a "boys vs girls contest," particularly given who the boys are in this race, is not only the best way to frame the election, it's the most assured way of adding votes--particularly women and young votes.

[EOP]

Zelle vs Venmo

Zelle and Venmo are both safe P2P money transfer platforms. There are two differences between them. First, Venmo has its own account, as opposed to drawing exclusively from one's checking account, but why one would want that additional account is a complete mystery. It doesn't earn interest and is just another account to keep track of or requires an extra step to move money from it to your bank account, and thus renders the Venmo process slower than the Zelle process. Second, Zelle transactions are private. Venmo transactions are public by default, and users must change their privacy settings to make them private. 

[EOP]

Another VP Prediction

Vance is going to be dumped (aka withdrawing for family reasons) as Trump's VP. As it stands, he might be the person most responsible for pushing women, both those with and without children, to vote for Harris. As bad as his original "childless cat lady" statement was, his "retraction/clarification" is even worse (in effect adopting the Dem position on the child tax credit which the Reps have vigorously opposed, and displaying a profound ignorance of the income tax code (asserting that people with children get no benefit)). Stefanik will be the replacement. It will happen in the middle of the Dem convention.

[EOP]

Why a Mini-Primary Would Have Helped Harris

A mini-primary would have given Harris a forum and opportunity to redefine herself in contrast to the positions she took when running for president in 2020. Some of those positions, as this WaPo article reports, includes the following: “There’s no question I’m in favor of banning fracking"; “Yes, I would [ban off-shore drilling]. Yes"; “There’s no question that we’ve got to critically reexamine ICE and its role, and the way that it is being administered, and the work it is doing. And we need to probably think about starting from scratch"; “‘Defund the Police’ — the issue behind it is that we need to reimagine how we are creating safety. … This whole movement is about rightly saying, we need to take a look at these budgets and figure out whether it reflects the right priorities"; “If [members of Congress] fail to act, as president of the United States I am prepared to get rid of the filibuster to pass a Green New Deal"; “I support a mandatory buyback program that will get weapons of war off our streets, with civil penalties imposed for noncompliance"; and “I am in favor of saying that we are not going to treat people who are undocumented and cross the border as criminals.” You might like those positions. I might like those positions. But if Trump is able to define her by those positions, much as Dukakis and Kerry were defined (swift-boated) by their Rep opponents, you can kiss the election good-bye.

[EOP]

Pitfalls of Interval Funds

If you're thinking of investing in any interval funds, which are becoming increasingly popular, as this WSJ article warns, caveat emptor on two fronts: (i) there is no daily liquidity; and (ii) they may harvest fees well above what you'd expect from a mutual fund or ETF.

[EOP]

Nuances re Index Funds

Index funds are the simplest and most popular ways to buy stocks. But, as this WSJ article explains, they might be shielding surprises from the unwary.

[EOP]

TMI re Common Pool Practice

As the title of this WSJ article unfortunately explains: "The Dirty Secret of Swimming: Everyone Pees in the Pool." Here's a secret for those quoted in the article: I don't.

[EOP]

Leave the World Behind (2023 Movie on Netflix)

Fantasy horror flicks are not my thing, which explains why it's been such a long time since I've seen one and cannot remember what it was. After seeing Leave the World Behind, I'm reminded painfully why I have shunned this genre. In addition to the film's other shortcomings, like dialogue and acting, it's actually slow and  numbing, and you'd be just as happy if the main characters were offed in the first few minutes and the movie ended. Because no one likely will watch, there is one fascinating scene worth noting. To set the stage, the movie centers around a cyber attack that knocks out all internet, phone, etc. service in the country. The central characters try to make it to somewhere other than where they are, and head for highway. As it turns out, the road is clogged with an ever growing line of  white Teslas equipped with FSD. It's impossible to describe, but you can see it for yourself in this very short clip from the movie.

[EOP]

Why Trump Will Not Debate

1. He will see the chance of his "winning" the debate, i.e., swaying any swayable voters to vote for him or driving the turnout in his favor, as very low.

2. He will see the chance of his "losing" the debate, i.e., turning off voters, as a substantial risk.

3. He will see the chance of Harris "winning" the debate (as defined above) as high and her "losing" the debate (as defined above) as low. 

4. Those advising him not to debate will point to his non-debate decision in the primary as not hurting him and Katie Hobbs's same decision not hurting her (although no one knows whether her margin of victory would have been higher or lower had she not ducked the debate).

5. He will see it in his benefit to promote a reason not to debate (e.g., the rules are not fair) consistent with his victim-hood and theme that the system is rigged against him.

PS: If Trump doesn't debate, Vance won't be debating either. That would be a bigger deal (negative) if Whitmer is the VP nominee. 

[EOP]

Why Whitmer Is the Compelling Choice for VP

Echoing what we have said here, and as Paul Begala who knows the issue better than most says, this Politico article confirms that presidential nominees love to consider home state advantage when choosing their running mates, but a vice president's state turns out to make no difference in an election. So, please stop saying that any of the white men being considered, including those from Arizona and Pennsylvania, should be favored over Whitmer as Harris's VP pick. They ain't delivering those two states any more than the North Carolina and Kentucky guys are delivering any state. Whitmer, in sharp contrast, can cement and boost the turnout in the young, minorities, and women that Harris and the down-ballot Dems need to win. While relative few voters will tune in to an all-male VP debate and it will be quickly forgotten, the audience for a Whitmer-Vance debate would draw a record audience by 10s of millions, and could make the biggest (VP) electoral difference in history.

[EOP]

Corrective Action If Having Ordered From a Fraudulent Website

Even the most sophisticated among us can mess up online. For example, it's been known that such a person omitted to pass up on an offer to good to be true as he knows he should have done. He had a mental lapse and couldn't resist ordering an LG gram super slim 15.6" laptop, the laptop he covets the most, on sale for $120 which was $1,100 less than the lowest price it is available anywhere else. He just figured maybe it was mispriced on the website and thought to jump on it before the mistake was found. He soon realized that, while it looked at first glance to be a known website, in fact, it was a phony/scam/fraudulent website disguised as that known website. Immediate corrective actions to be taken: (i) submit a claim for a refund on the credit card; (ii) alert the real website of the fraudulent website; and (iii) alert creditbureau.com of the fraudulent website. Long term corrective action to take: Reprogram this person's cognitive structure.

[EOP]

Pairing Multiple Fire Stick Remotes

You can pair up to seven Fire TV remotes to a Fire Stick at the same time, including third-party remotes. You can pair additional remotes through the Fire TV settings menu. If you're having trouble pairing a remote, you can try restarting your Fire TV device. 

[EOP]

Good News for Safeway Shoppers (Albeit Temporary)

While Fry's (Kroger) remains the store of choice for many (including those in North Central Phoenix), the Safeways at 32nd Street & Camelback and 7th Street & Glendale are very nice to have around, especially on weekends when Fry's gets unduly crowded and doesn't have covered street-level parking. The planned merger of Kroger and Albertson's threatened to shutter those two stores. That merger has temporarily been held off until the pending antitrust suits are resolved. Let's hope those suits do better than a certain DOJ lawyer did in trying to stop two Iowa hospitals from merging.

[EOP]

Stop With the National Polls

The media is determined to report two things: (i) Harris's bump in the polls; and (ii) the tightness of the race. I have no doubt that both phenomena are true. But that the media is doing so based on national polls, i.e., the popular vote of all eligible voters, is dishonest or incompetent or both. The national polls are irrelevant. Harris's popular vote will top Trump's by millions, as did Hillary Clinton's in 2016 and Biden's in 2020, and as Biden likely would have done in 2024. The only vote totals and polls predicting them that matter are those in a few counties in the few swing states that will determine the election. I realize everyone reading this post knows that, but not everyone reading this post knows that I know that.

[EOP]

Find Me Falling (2024 Movie on Netflix)

If you don't love the Greek language, scenery, architecture, and food, skip this movie. If you do love all things Greek, but do not love totally sappy, unrealistic, moronic stories, plots, writing, and screenplays, skip this movie. Spoiler alert: Stop reading now because what follows gives it all away: This is a story of a failed rock star who escapes to a dreamy Mediterranean island, only to discover that his new cliffside home has an unfortunate notoriety that attracts unwanted visitors (people who commit suicide by jumping off the cliff outside his house) and an old flame (with whom he had a thing a couple of decades before and she got pregnant but never told him and raised their daughter while putting herself through medical school) which all becomes revealed, and they leave together happily ever after on the island except for the daughter who he sets up with his agent in New York and she has a fabulous singing career. You might think Harry Connick, Jr., Agni Scott, and Ali Fumiko Whitney could save this movie, but alas, they cannot.

[EOP]

Tracking Your Ballot in Maricopa County (Arizona)

This website will enable you to track the status of your ballot and get alerts as to any change in status. It takes under a minute to fill in the needed information. Because many of you asked, I'm pleased to report that my ballot for the upcoming Arizona primaries has been received and my signature has been verified.

[EOP]

How and Why (or Why Not) to Turn Off Cookies

As noted in an earlier post, Google has reversed course and decided not to eliminate cookies. This WSJ article explains what cookies are, what they do, and whether and how to turn them off.

[EOP]

Moderate Drinking Does Not Prolong One's Life

A report from the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs concludes that moderate drinking won't lengthen your life, challenging earlier findings that a glass of wine a day is healthy. A votre sante!

[EOP]

How to Air Fry Sweet Potatoes and Russets

 As if things don't get easier and better with an air fryer, try this with your taters: Slice in half; place face down in the crisping pan after coating it with olive oil; drizzle olive oil over the taters; air fry for 30 minutes at 425; remove, turn over, and add your favorite stuff (butter, sour cream, chives); and serve and take a bow.

[EOP]

Changes Coming to Southwest Airlines

The two most distinctive features of Southwest Airlines are about to change (their generally lower prices changed some time ago), eliminating the big differences they had with the big three carriers: (i) No more open seating; and (ii) the cabins are being refitted to enable customers to get seats with additional legroom (at an additional cost). Also being promised are in-seat USB charging ports.

[EOP]

Factoid re How Sitting VPs Have Done in Presidential Elections

Many of us remember Martin Van Buren, then the sitting VP, winning the presidential election in 1836. Many of us have forgotten that no sitting VP won again until GWB did in 1988 and none have done so since. Also, Peggy Noonan was not the speechwriter for any of the post-Van Buren VP candidates except for GWB. Makes you think.

[EOP]

Presumed Innocent (2024 TV Series on Apple TV+)

All the episodes of Presumed Innocent have now been, as we say in show biz, dropped. If you have started it, you might as well finish it. If you have not, you won't have missed anything great. The story is compelling, but with extended periods of deadtime, they managed to stretch to 8 episodes what could have been done in half or fewer. Further, many scenes are shot in the dark, which has been a mark of film noir of recent years, matching the annoyance of restaurants being too loud. And there are some other flaws but the spoiler alert doctrine forbids me from detailing them.

[EOP]

Router Placement

Contrary to popular belief, size of a router doesn't matter. However, placement does.This Yanko article reviews the basics of optimizing router coverage by considering placement (centralization; elevation; avoidance of obstacles; optimizing antenna positioning; and limiting interference).

[EOP]

Why Whitmer Should Be the VP

Why Whitmer Should Be the VP: Harris and the party are on a sugar high right now, but it will not last. With exceptions like Johnson being able to deliver Texas for Kennedy, VP candidates typically made no difference to the outcome of the election and are simply forgotten. See Muskie, Mondale, Stockdale, Kemp, Quayle, Gore, Kaine. None of the mentioned VP candidates can deliver their states. None of the men will add any zest or boost the turnout of the young, minorities, and women that Harris needs in the swing states to win. But put Whitmer on the ticket, and there will be the strongest, clearest demarcation between the two slates, and reproductive freedom and Trump's misogyny will become the dominant issues (eclipsing, for example, immigration as a battleground issue). Trump will flail in frustration. He has difficulty with any one woman. Facing two women is beyond him. Vance will be relegated to a box somewhere. Yeah, an all-women ticket won't peel off any MAGA voters. But it will drive the Dem turnout, as Trump would say, like you've never seen. 

The Reality: I understand Whitmer won't be picked. Not because it would be a mistake. But as the Dem leadership has proven over the past months, weeks, and days, they are perfectly willing to drive into a ditch as they remain fixated on the rear-view mirror and cling to tried-and-true conventions even when shown to be failures. In short, they are so afraid of not snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, that they will not do the one thing that could turn a close race into a rout, bringing along with it a Dem senate and a Dem house.

Why Picking Whitmer Is Not Risky: To underscore the irrelevance of VP picks, even the worst pick will not actually cause the ticket to lose. By way of example, Sarah Palin was surely one of the worst picks ever. But McCain did not lose because of her. It took the financial meltdown of 2008, and McCain's failure to come to terms with it, that clinched the election for Obama.

Final Note to the Pinheads Adverse to a 2-Woman Ticket: Those who abide the knee-jerk, non-thinking reaction that you can't have two women on the ticket are condemned to repeat the mistake of keeping Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese off the Olympic team. The recent ASG pitting the WNBA all-star team, which included no one selected to the Olympic team, but did include the two rookies--Clark and Reese, not only saw them pull off a rout, the TV audience was triple the up-to-then record audience. Here's the point: Two women can out draw any one else who takes the court. 

[EOP]

Do You Have What It Takes to Manage a Presidential Campaign?

Assume your Trump’s campaign manager. You know Trump is going to get sliced up in the debate with Harris, particularly in the view of the 40 million young people, minorities, and women who will be watching, perhaps even to the point where any chance of his winning the election is lost. You also know Trump is likely to say stuff and act in a way that is going to turn off that same demographic, furthering the chance of his losing the election. At the same time, Trump can’t just say he’s not going to participate in the debate. Is there any way you can think of to get Trump out of the debate?

[EOP]

Changing Mobile Phone Plans

Many people are quite cost conscious when it comes to buying a new phone. But the cost of a new phone is relatively small compared to the charges paid to the cell phone provider over the life of the phone. As this WaPo newsletter explains clearly and powerfully, the hassle of mobile plan sleuthing and changing could pay off--big time. A survey of Consumer Reports members found that the majority of them who changed phone service in the prior year saved money — some more than $40 a month — and generally got better service.

[EOP]

Boosting Your Kid's Credit Score

As this WSJ article explains, while your under 18 yo child cannot have a credit card on their own, they can be added as authorized users on your credit card. In doing so, they can be building a strong credit history even before they start working. There are some possible pitfalls, but they can be easily avoided.

[EOP]

Google Drive vs. Microsoft OneDrive

This Zapier article has an informative overview of the differences between Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive for cloud storage. It's conclusion: Google Drive is better for independent users who store a normal amount of stuff. OneDrive makes more sense for businesses and teams that depend on the Microsoft Office suite or do a lot of syncing. 

[EOP]

Simple Tweaks to Speed Up a Sluggish Computer

This XDA article details some simple, safe things to try to speed up a sluggish computer.

[EOP]

Keeping Pool Water Refreshing in the Summer

The water in home pools in Arizona does not get unduly warm because we know what we're doing out here, including how to properly situate the pool and how to keep the humidity down. But homeowners elsewhere, especially living under the Dome of Heat on the East Coast, seem clueless. As a result, their pools often become like hot baths by mid-July. This WSJ article sets out some ways, including pool chillers, to keep your pool water refreshingly cool even when ambient temperatures are soaring (not to mention those East Coast tornados). 

[EOP]

Caitlin Clark's Transformative Seismic Effect

Caitlin Clark didn't just grow interest and viewership in the WNBA, she transformed it. Yeah, the number of people tuning in has grown exponentially. But even more profound, every demographic has seen a double-digit increase. In short, as this WSJ article reports, while some sports are struggling to hold on to young viewers, their numbers are skyrocketing in the WNBA. On ESPN networks, girls aged 2-17 are up 181%, and viewers aged 18-34 are outpacing the league’s total growth by 54 percentage points.

[EOP]

PGA Player of the Year

There are only three things certain about who will be the PGA player of the year. First, their last name will begin with an "S." Second, if either of them wins the FedEx Cup, that will cinch it for him to be POY. Third, no one cares. Both are fabulous players. Neither is a needle mover or transformative.

[EOP]

Google Is Not Discontinuing Cookies

Google had announced that cookies would be phased out from Chrome by the end of the year. Oops. Google just announced it has given up on that plan.

[EOP]

Review of WordPerfect 2021 Home & Student

Nobody uses Word any more. Everyone uses WordPerfect. And for good reason: WordPerfect 2021 Home & Student costs just $49 (to buy ... there's no annual fee ... and it may be installed on 3 home computers), with it comes responsive tech support by phone, email, and chat, it's clean and highly customizable, and, unlike Word, has reveal codes. As far as I can tell, there's little need to pay the extra $100 for the so-called Standard version.

[EOP]

Harris's Best VP Choice: Whitmer

Now that Harris will be the Dem candidate, to keep the wind at her back, and to put her ticket in the starkest contrast with Trump/Vance, her best pick for VP would be Gov. Whitmer. At first blush, one might say that there is no need for a second woman on the ticket. Upon sober reflection, however, one should say there is no need for some bland white guy on the ticket. This election is going to be won or lost by the turnout in a few counties in a few states. A Harris/Whitmer ticket would be better than any other combination to drive up the Dem turnout there (and elsewhere) by energizing the young, minorities, and especially women of all ages and suburban women. And there should be no better television than having both debates be between two angry misogynistic white guys and two woman who know how to hit 'em where it hurts.

[EOP]

Costco Same Day Delivery

Costco 2-day delivery has a $75 minimum for free shipping. But Costco Same-Day delivery has just a $35 minimum for free delivery, and there is a great inventory of stuff available. An order of thick-sliced center-cut bacon along with some walnuts and olive oil will get you there. The delivery window is just 2 hours and can be scheduled for the same day or a day in the future. Tip for the driver is optional, and the suggested tip is essentially peanuts. I wish I had known about this option sooner. It easily would have avoided most of my trips to Costco which always are painful--albeit a little less so with self-checkout.

[EOP]

Best Page Refresher

If you're as dependent on an auto-page-refresher as I am, and your favored page refresher extension has gotten corrupted and cannot be fixed, and you try several available extensions, you know how clunky many of them can be. Page Refresher appears to be the cleanest, simplest, easiest, and fastest one  to use, and it displays the time (as many of the others don't) and has easy default settings (as many of  the others don't).

[EOP]

EVs and the So-Called American Car Industry

The Biden administration has imposed tariffs on Chinese EVs to keep them out of the U.S., assertedly to protect the so-called American car industry and American jobs. When one thinks of the American car industry, one thinks of GM, Ford, and what used to be Chrysler (whose name now no one knows). But, in reality, there are more Toyotas, Hondas, and other "foreign" cars manufactured and assembled in America and sold with as much or more American content and run by American workers and managers than GM and Ford combined. Just think about the boom to the American economy and the benefits to the environment and the American job market and consumer if Chinese EVs, which have a great reputation and cost substantially less than anything available now in the U.S., were similarly manufactured here in America. Rather than follow Trump down the tariff rabbit hole, perhaps it is time to make that a sharp line of demarcation.

[EOP]

Two Views of Harris's Candidacy

The Anti-Cramdown View: Kamala Harris might be the best Dem candidate at this point, i.e., the one most likely to beat Trump and help on the down-ballots. But, she might not be. Removing her as a candidate might spell real trouble. But, it might not. Everyone likely has an opinion on what are not trivial questions. At this point, no one really knows and no one can guarantee anything. But the idea that the Dem leadership is going to do a cramdown instead having some kind of open mini-primary, which at the very least will make Harris a better candidate than she would be without going through such a process, ignores that, when it comes to democracies, cramdowns are not appreciated.

The Lightning in a Bottle View: The pent up demand for a change at the top of the Dem ticket exploded in euphoria with Biden's announcement (albeit far later than it should have been) of withdrawal. With the most obvious and most well known replacement in full view, there was an immediate groundswell of support from all over, marked most dramatically by the single biggest day money haul ($81M) ever seen. Political leaders being as they are which is knowing how the winds are blowing without need for a weather vane, wisely got out of the way as to the speeding train coming at them, and fell over themselves to endorse Harris. This even included most, albeit not all, those who might have posed a challenge if there were any mini-primary or other process to vet the possible candidates. The most important thing in any race is momentum, and only the naysayers and gloom mongers and Debbie downers now would want to be responsible for thwarting the momentum that has been bestowed on and is being harnessed by Harris.

[EOP]

Benefits of Backing Up Data Locally

We've said this before, but as this WSJ article explains, the issue comes into sharper relief with the recent, world-wide, internet crash: Saving your data in the cloud is fine,but in addition to storing globally, think locally.

[EOP]

Focus on the Voters Who Need Help, Not Those Who Are Doing Just Fine

There's been an impressive economic recovery (and on other fronts) since Trump was ousted from having anything to do with the post-Covid era and Biden took over. Biden is entitled to take enormous credit. But, when it comes to the election, whether the Dem candidate is Harris or someone else, they should focus and appeal not to those who are doing fine, but to those who are hurting. As this WSJ article explains, while the American economy has held up well against higher inflation and interest rates, many individual borrowers haven’t. The costs to borrow for a home, a car, or on a credit card are at the highest levels in decades. Inflation has eased significantly since the pandemic, but years of faster-than-usual price increases have added up. Many households have spent down the glut of cash they saved in the pandemic. The top 10% of households by income, or those earning $245,000 or more a year, hold more than three-quarters of excess savings. In sharp contrast, auto loan and credit card defaults are rising steeply.

[EOP]

Improving Your Home Wi-Fi

This Wirecutter article reviews some simple, free things you can do to improve your home's internet (wi-fi) connection, including: updating your router's firmware and making sure that its smart connect feature is turned on. It also has some tips should the free tips not make for enough improvement.

[EOP]

Biden's Decision to Step Down

Biden deserves much laudation for his public service accomplishments, especially for defeating Trump in 2020 and helping to right and steer the course of the country in recovering from the economic and social ravages of the pandemic that Trump exacerbated. The decision Biden faced on the eve of the 2024 election was to do the right thing and step down and give the country a chance to avoid disaster or the wrong thing and likely condemn the country to a catastrophic fate. Let's thank him for doing the right thing (even if he should have done it long ago), but let's not elevate him as having made the kind of choice McCain made in Vietnam to stay with his fellow prisoners even though there was nothing wrong with his going home sooner. In short, let's hope that, when it comes to public officials' doing the right thing versus not doing the wrong thing, that our standards are such that we expect they will do the right thing and they will do so as a matter of course.

[EOP]

Color Options in WordPerfect 2021

Earlier versions of WordPerfect had a dark gray background border. The 2021 version default is an eggshell color. Some inordinate time was spent trying to change the background border color, but to no avail. I was told by Corel Tech that this background border color is Windows determined and unalterable under W10 and W11. I know how frustrating this is for so many of you so we kept trying, and shzam!!! We found the fix: Tools/Settings/Environment/Theme and select WordPerfect Office Legacy Theme from the pull-down menu. We have alerted WP tech support that they were wrong about the color not being alterable. We got a somewhat odd response (likely from a bot) but no thank you.

[EOP]

Evidence re Vaccine Protection Against Long Covid

While I have avoided telling anyone what they should do on the Covid vaccination front, I've been ridiculed for keeping up with Covid vaccinations, even to the point of being called a big baby. Well, don't listen to me, but you might take heed of what the NYT says: "A new study adds to evidence that the shots can reduce the chances of developing long Covid, one of the most dreaded consequences of Covid."

[EOP]

How to Have Programs Open to Last Size/Position

Sometimes a program will not open in the same size and place where it last was, which can be very annoying. There are various ways to fix the problem, not all of which work on any particular progam. Holding down Ctrl/Alt/Z before closing it often works. Holding Ctrl/X ofen works. Holding down one or other Shift keys when closing often works. Likewise, the Ctrl key. If they all fail, here's another way. After you have the size and location where you want them, clicking on the middle button (the square) in the upper right hand corner of the program (as highlighted by the red arrows). Once it holds the program in the right place, do it several more times, and this should cause the program to "remember" the size and position it's supposed to return to.

[EOP]

Revision to My approach to Psychotherapy

As my many patients know, my approach to therapy, which comes down to three words, is very effective and very efficient. Those three words are: Get over it! A semi-loyal reader has submitted a more efficient approach, involving fewer words, which is said to be just as effective.

[EOP]

Revenge of the Supposed "Rejects"

A team made up of WNBA players not picked to be on the U.S. Olympic women's basketball team (including Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese) played a game against that Olympic team. Not only did the rejects win, they won decisively, and took the MVP honors. Not surprisingly, the Olympic team coach is taking a bit of flak. I have been overwhelmed with the texts and emails pouring in conceding that I was right that not putting CC and AR on the team was a colossal mistake marketing-wise, and would not have degraded the team quality-wise. Frankly, apologies are not needed. Much prefered would be heeding more closely to insights and conclusions set out here, instead of fighting them.

[EOP]

Qantas: My Preferred First-Class Cabin

If I'm flying anywhere that Qantas is flying, I choose to fly Qantas. That is because their first-class cabin beats the competition by miles. There's no better way to spend your money (or your kids' inheritance). Here's what their first-class cabin looks like:

[EOP]

How to Use File History in Windows to Backup Your Data Automatically

This XDA article shows you how fast and easy it is to set up and turn on File History in Windows to automatically backup your data to an external drive.

[EOP]

Don't Sell the Voters Short

The odds are that Harris will be Biden's replacement. No one argues she is the strongest or the most qualified  candidate. Instead, those who argue for her to be the replacement or decline to argue for someone else or holding a mini-primary to assess voter sentiment as to the various possibilities insist that certain blocks of voters representing her core constituency will boycott the election if she is not chosen. I say balderdash! Once the campaign starts for real, which won't happen until Labor Day, and once voters actually start paying attention which isn't until sometime in October, three things will have happened: (i) the level of anger/resentment of those favoring Harris will have abated (time does that); (ii) the perceived need to avoid a Trump presidency and Rep majorities in the senate and house will have intensified (time and messaging do that); and (iii) the big guns (Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Bill Clinton, and Oprah Winfrey--among others) will be out blazing away, and will have little trouble bringing back into the fold the grousers (don't sell them short).

[EOP]

Fixing Word Perfect

I know that many of you have been using Word Perfect X5 since you bought it in 2012, and how frustrated you have been and how many untold hours you have spent trying to fix the "not responding" status that it keeps defaulting to upon being opened. I bring good news: Stop trying to find the fix ... you can buy the latest Word Perfect Home & Student version for $49. It installs easily and seamlessly with your existing Word Perfect documents and resetting the tool bar settings can be done in a few minutes by reference to your X5 settings.

[EOP]

Correction re WNBA ASG: The Game Is Saturday (Not Friday) July 20

The below post re the WNBA ASG should be corrected to read and understood as reading Saturday, July 20 instead of reading Friday, July 20. Apologies for any confusion or consternation or upsetment. The fault was not in our stars, but in ourselves. An offer of seppuku was made but rejected.

[EOP]

WNBA ASG (Friday, July 20 at 8:30 pm EDT on ABC)

I haven't watched any ASG in any sport since I was in swaddling clothes and was plopped down in front of a black-and-white television because no one wanted to play with me. But, there is no way I'm missing the July 20 (Friday) WNBA ASG airing on ABC at 8:30 pm EDT. Here's the thing: It's going to be more than a real game. On the one team are the two bitter rivals vying to be ROTY--Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. On the other team is, well no one cares, but it is the US Olympic Team that shunned Clark and Reese. Maybe it will be a bust (compare, BJK vs BR). But it's precisely the kind of event you don't want to wake up the next morning, read the paper, and slap your head for missing.

[EOP]

Do This Before Abandoning Your Old Phone

If you've had your cellphone for a while, and it seems sluggish and slow, and nothing you've tried (e.g., removing apps and photos and clearing cache and such) makes it noticeably better, consider doing a factory reset. This will take your phone back to the state it was in the day you took it out of the box for the first time. You will lose all your data and stuff (which you can backup and store to reinstall), but you should factory reset anyhow before abandoning it (e.g., trading it in or giving it away) anyhow.

[EOP]

Don't Shun the Chatbot

Entities of all kinds (from retailers to charities) increasingly are trying to push you to use chat instead of email or calling to raise or resolve an issue. At first, you will be talking to a chatbot which more often than not will be unable to help you. But then, typically you will be transferred to a live agent. The time to get through to a live agent can vary, but often it is only a short wait. And chat agents are getting better and better at handling matters, and there is the added benefit of having a transcript record. By way of example, the AARP Foundation floods us with postal mailings. There is no email link on their website. But, if you use chat, within 30 seconds of your stating the issue, you'll get a live chat agent who in under a minute will confirm your request to be removed from their postal mailings.

[EOP]

IRS Rules for Heirs of Inherited IRAs

You might not care about how the IRS treats non-spousal beneficiaries who inherit your unspent IRA, but they will. As this WSJ article explains, it used to be that most heirs could stretch out inherited retirement account withdrawals over their lifetimes, meaning decades of smaller payouts and more growth potential. In 2019, a new retirement law said many people who inherited individual retirement accounts or 401(k)s had to take the money out within 10 years. Here's the kicker for them: If they take out only the required distributions each year, it could result in a balloon distribution in the final year and potentially a big tax bill. Makes you think.

[EOP]

Why Harris Should Not Be Biden's Replacement

Biden's campaign theme is "finish the job." No one knows what that means. If Harris replaces him, her campaign theme will be "finish the job." No one will know what that means. Worse, rather than setting a clear separation from what is now the past (just like Humphrey didn't do in 1968), her candidacy will let Trump continue his theme of running against, and assailing, the perceived shortcomings of the Biden administration. 

[EOP]

The Democrats Can Win Big in November

Contrary to what the media and particularly the pundits on cable media and whomever on social media would have us believe, the November elections don't really begin until Labor Day. It's now clear that Biden will relinquish his place at the top of the Dem ticket. As a result, the Dems can win big if they don't make the mistake they made in 1968. Specifically, if they have a candidate, unattached and unburdened from the current administration, who can clearly articulate what was accomplished in the past four years as well as acknowledge what went wrong, and set out a clear, simple message for the future that speaks to the young, the minorities, the woman and suburban woman, and those not committed to Trump, victory shall be theirs. Putting aside all the other reasons, the entire force of Trump's anti-Biden message will be deflated, and we'll see his flailing increase everyday until the day Trump announces the election was stolen. Gov. Whitmer and Sen. Booker could pull it off. 

[EOP]

Benefits of Google Wallet

As  more fully explained in this ZDNet article, Google Wallet is a free app you'll find on most Android phones. It securely stores credit and debit cards, letting you make payments at stores, restaurants, and more -- entirely with your phone. It also stores tickets, passes, and so much more, even hotel keys. As the article points out, there are 6 reasons I installed Google Wallet, and you should install a digital wallet too.

[EOP]

Benefits of a Travel Router

Travel routers are small and inexpensive ($35-$100). They enable you to have enhanced security on the go because they by-pass hotel and other public wi-fi nodes. Also, if you lose internet connection on the road, and are traveling with others who also need internet connection, the travel router will give you a network for others in your party to hook into from your tethered internet connection. 

[EOP]

Sports vs Politics

The love of sports is the love of greatness. Anyone who has played any sport at any level (and that's just about all of us), no matter how proficiently, knows that when they are watching the top pros, those who have reached the pinnacle, in any sport, they are watching something special, something way beyond anything they could dream of doing. In sharp contrast, while there are politicians who have reached a similar pinnacle status (e.g., Abraham Lincoln, FDR), albeit sometimes not recognized as such at the time, that a politician reaches the pinnacle of their field more often than not is just a person whom everyone can say, I could do what they're doing as well as or better. The explanation is clear: Reaching the pinnacle in sports is a matter of skill, and not a matter of what others think; reaching the pinnacle in politics is a matter of getting elected, and is totally a matter of what others think.

[EOP]

Tiger Woods Needs to Stop Listening to Michelle Obama

Tiger Woods has changed coaches and caddies many times over his career. His most recent coach is Michelle Obama. While we continue to believe she would be the strongest Dem presidential candidate, and the most likely to beat Trump, she should not have given the advice she did to Tiger, and he shouldn't have listened to it. I would assume you know by this point what that advice was. In the event not, here's what she said: "When they go low, you go high."

[EOP]

How Much Alcohol Is Bad for You?

This WSJ article  has a sobering overview about how the amount of alcohol one consumes changes the resulting health risks.

[EOP]

Bad Advice on Resolving Couples' Travel Conflicts

This WSJ article explores the challenges of traveling with one's partner or family and friends, and gives what it would argue is common sense. It starts with the biggest source of tension for some couples--the plane ticket. You like to get to the airport early, they like to come in hot. You insist on checking a bag, they preach carry-on only. And then there’s the vacation to-do list: You need down time, they have FOMO if they don’t see everything. What’s a conflicted couple to do? Obviously, there is a right way at each of these steps, but the article misses it. It says that, instead of complaining about, or showing contempt for, your partner’s travel habits, learn to love each other’s quirks, tastes and temperaments. After all, you could both be right. Oh please! Getting that advance ticket for a hot museum may be the only way to see it, and you may be surprised how nicely that afternoon nap hits you.Oh please! Short of separate vacations, the best way to address travel differences, a therapist and travelers who have (mostly) figured it out say, is communication and compromise. Oh please!  

[EOP]

Democrats vs. Republicans

There is an enormous ideological divide between Republicans and Democrats. Republicans are willing to capitulate to an autocrat and undo the foundations of our democracy. Dems continue to struggle to preserve democratic institutions, fundamental human rights, and a better world. But, when it comes to character, the two parties are not so different. The Republicans have capitulated to an aspiring demagogue whom they know is unfit to be president. The Democrats (at least until just now) have capitulated to a declining octogenarian living in the past whom they know is unfit to be president (and many, and certainly Biden's inner circle, have known for years). The most confounding difference between the two cases is this: The Republicans’ surrender was at the tip of the spear Trump held in his ability to primary virtually anyone; the Democrats’ surrender was a self-inflicted, albeit mortal, wound that did them no good at any level.

[EOP]

PS re The Bear

Our only regret about The Bear is that there are just 4 seasons. Two positives we omitted to note in our original glowing review: (i) The music is wonderful and adds to the scenes; and (ii) the guest actors are a treat, including Oliver Platt who turns in his best performance since Lake Placid, Bob Odenkirk in a role demonstrating his versatility, and Jamie Lee Curtis in a earth-shaking performance even while half the TV audience didn't recognize it was she. 

Spoiler Alert: I'm told S3 reverses the upward trajectory of excellence shown from S1-S2. Let's hope that's what they call a false flag. Alternatively, let's hope that this comment on S3 is as inaccurate and off-base as so many of this semi-loyal reader's reviews and recommendations are.

PS: “The Bear” notched a record-breaking 23 Emmy nominations for a comedy. Why it's classified as a comedy is beyond me.

[EOP]

The Adjustment Bureau (2011 Movie on Netflix)

The Adjustment Bureau is a science fiction movie that tries to do what all great science fiction stories do: Tell us something about ourselves or what can or might be or why it is things are as they seem or as not as they seem or how it is we fail to understand the universal forces that bring us together or tear us apart. Unfortunately, while ostensibly a science fiction story, this movie does none of that, and cannot be saved by Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, and John Slattery or the other main character. There's nothing to see here. This is a must-skip movie.

[EOP]

Give Voters a Positive Reason to Vote for Dems

The Dems' lock on anti-Trump voters is secure, and anyone who is not anti-Trump now likely cannot be persuaded to become anti-Trump. No matter who is at the top of the ticket, the Dems need to give voters, especially those in the swing states, a positive reason to vote for whomever is the Dem nominee and the down-ticket Dems. Biden's "message," namely "to finish the job," or, as he more often puts it, "to finish the jobs, folks," is pitiful. No one even knows what that means. His smattering of announced "things" like capping rent increases, changing the Supreme Court, and canceling student debt are hardly components of any unifying theme. There's no hope, given his obvious debilities and limitations and lack of charisma and inability to inspire with speech, then Biden can formulate much less carry through on a winning message. It is time now for the Dems not only to pick a replacement, but to propound an overarching theme and 3-5 ways to implement it. I have my thoughts on that front. But, even better, I'd get Barack Obama to write the bumper sticker/yard sign and Bill Clinton and James Carville to distill 3-5 policy initiatives into terse motivational messages aimed at the young, minorities, women including suburban women, and the disenfranchised.

[EOP]

Windows 10 to Windows 11 and Windows 11 to Windows 10

Many people prefer Windows 10 to Windows 11. It is easy to upgrade most and certainly all newer Windows 10 computers to Windows 11. It also is possible to downgrade from Windows 11 to Windows 10. However, such a downgrade has risks in terms of having to backup all your data and files before doing so and perhaps voiding the support you have had with Windows 11. So, you still can buy a new computer with Windows 10 confident of being able to upgrade (and usually a Windows 10 version will save $50 or more versus the Windows 11 version). But, you should not buy a Windows 11 computer thinking you will and even though you can downgrade it to Windows 10.

[EOP]

Megan Leavey (2017 Movie on Netflix)

Of the same genre, but with a different take, as GI Jane, Black Hawk Down, American Sniper, Private Benjamin, The Wall, Zero Dark Thirty, A Few Good Men, and An Officer and a Gentleman, Megan Leavey is entertaining enough. It's based on a true story of a young Marine corporal, who was a lost soul before joining the marines, and whose unique discipline and bond with her military combat dog saved many lives during their deployment in Iraq, and put her on a productive and meaningful path. The supporting cast is quite impressive, which included Bradley Whitford and Edie Falco in roles you would not expect them in. Speaking of the casting, spoiler alert, be sure to look up who played female instructor # 3.

[EOP]

Stopping Spam Calls on Android Phones

This article walks you through some simple and easy steps and settings to eliminate or at least reduce the number of spam calls you might get on an Android phone.

[EOP]

Anker 3-Port Charger Recommendation

If, like me, you'd rather pack (and charge) smarter, this Anker three-port charger is just what you need. It has two USB-C ports (one for your laptop and the other for your phone) and one USB-A port for charging any other device you may have, like AirPods or even a smartwatch. I've tried a couple of other three-port chargers in the past, and the charging time on those often lagged when I added more devices. With this one, they all charged pretty quickly, and that's because this adapter has a fast-charging feature that gives all three connected devices a boost. The Anker is compatible with all major devices including the MacBook Pro and Air, Windows laptops, Android smartphones, iPhones, AirPods and other earbuds, and plenty more. You can get it on Amazon now on sale for about $30.

[EOP]

PS re Futbol (Soccer)

As further evidence that soccer is the world's classiest sport, note the following:

1.  After England lost to Spain in the Euros, Gareth Southgate has stepped down from his position as England's manager and admitted that “it's time for a new chapter.” Yeah, like GMs in the NFL who lose in the Super Bowl or in MLB who lose in the World Series or who lose in the NBA Championship ever gracefully resign. As if!

2. Colombia’s soccer federation president and his son were among 27 people arrested during the crowd control issues that broke out at the Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia. Yeah, like we ever see NFL and MLB owners and their families anywhere but in their private skyboxes. As if!

[EOP]

Warning to Pet Owners re Colorado River (aka Sonoran Desert) Toads

As this Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum note explains, Sonoran Desert toads have extremely potent, defensive toxins that are released from several glands (primarily the paratoids) in the skin. Animals that harass this species generally are intoxicated through the mouth, nose, or eyes. Dog owners should be cautious: the toxins are strong enough to kill full grown dogs that pick up or mouth the toads. More dogs are killed by these toads than by rattle snakes. Symptoms of intoxication are excessive salivation, irregular heartbeat and gait, and pawing at the mouth. If a dog displays any of these symptoms, use a garden hose to rinse its mouth from back to front and consult a veterinarian.

[EOP]

The Bear (2022 TV Series on Hulu)

It is the fate of some TV series that the first episode or two are meh or worse, so any viewer might just give up. As loyal readers know, we are not just any viewer here. While undoubtedly someone out there will take credit for our having done so in this instance, we do not hesitate to turn on a dime in firm adherence to our strong belief in allowing for second chances.  The Bear is just such a series--worthy of a second chance. If you didn't like it at first, go back and start watching it again. As it progresses, it gets better and better and better. Each of the characters (even one you might find totally unbearable at first) will grow on you, and draw you in. You don't have to be a foodie or have any chef talents to enjoy the culinary scenes that float independent from the story lines. And while it does focus on a restaurant, the story it tells translates well to any team effort that depends on devoted effort, attention to detail, and the vagaries of external events. More fundamentally, it explores the intricacies of human feelings and personal and family relationships with acting and writing of the highest calibre. And, spoiler alert, there's nothing unduly predictable about it. This is MUST-SEE television at its finest, and belongs in the pantheon of all-time great series.

[EOP]

Why Futbol (Soccer) Is the Most Beloved Sport in the World

The Spain win over England in the Euro Cup and the Argentina win over Columbia in the Copa America were fantastic to watch, as any of the tens of millions of us who watched them can attest. But, if you want the most dramatic proof that soccer's hold on the world exceeds that of any other sport, just look at the reaction of the GOATiest of GOATS of all sports after being injured and taken out of the game, and ask yourself: Have you ever seen anything like that from an MLB, NFL, or NBA player?

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How to Find and Delete All Your Google Activity

This Life Hacker article will walk you through the simple steps to take to find and, if you want to delete, all your Google activity data.

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How Corrupt Judges Speak to Each Other and Make Up Law on the Fly

The decision to dismiss the document case against Trump surprised no one who has been watching how a corrupt federal judge can thwart justice. Lest anyone think she wasn't invited to do this by a higher level corrupt judge, just look at Justice Thomas's concurrence in the immunity case. As this WaPo article explained, "he also wrote a concurring opinion that delved into the separate question of whether Attorney General Merrick Garland violated the Constitution when he appointed Smith in November 2022 to oversee the two federal prosecutions of Trump. Thomas argued both that the special counsel’s office needs to be established by Congress and that Smith needed to be confirmed by the Senate. He said he tacked on his concurring opinion to the immunity ruling to “highlight another way in which this prosecution may violate our constitutional structure.” “If there is no law establishing the office that the Special Counsel occupies, then he cannot proceed with this prosecution,” Thomas wrote. “A private citizen cannot criminally prosecute anyone, let alone a former President.” Thomas was weighing in on what is generally considered a far-fetched legal theory pushed by Trump’s attorneys in lower courts and by some conservative legal groups. They argue that Smith was illegally appointed and funded and say the criminal cases against Trump should be dismissed."

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Best Time for Biden to Step Aside

Given the events and intense media coverage of the past few days, and the ongoing RNC convention, there could not be a better time than right now (or, at the latest, just before Trump speaks at the convention) for Biden to announce the end of his presidential campaign.

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Optimal Bacon

Bacon will cook up just fine in a microwave, which is a much neater way (no splatter) and just as tasty a way as cooking it in a pan. Just lay the bacon on two sheets of paper towels and lay one paper towel sheet on top, and cook 1m15s per slice or longer if needed. BUT, here's the thing: Not just any bacon will do. And not just any thick cut bacon will do. Even thick cut bacon will tend to shrivel up, which makes it unappealing aesthetically and taste-wise. Here's the key: Be sure the bacon is BOTH thick-cut and center-cut. Yeah, it cost a bit more, but, when it comes to bacon, just remember, like the stock market, pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered.

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Considerations re Choosing a New Router

This XDA article gives an excellent, simple, straight-forward overview as to the factors to consider in choosing a new router.

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A Drop of Political Lemonade

The common political wisdom says that the assassination attempt on Trump reduced Biden's chances of winning from virtually impossible to impossible. Why that is so might be open to debate, but it very well could be correct. That said, we have long argued (as reflected in the two letters noted below written months ago) that Trump's "threat to democracy," albeit an accurate view, was not a winning campaign strategy. With the unfortunate near-miss on Saturday, it is not an available campaign strategy that might be used by Biden or his replacement. Consistent with our long-standing view, that can only help the Democratic nominee. It also is possible, indeed likely, that Trump will squander the hand he has been dealt, but it must be said, nothing he says or does seems to erode his support.

Short Version of Letter to NYT: "It undoubtedly is true that, in fundamental ways, democracy is at stake in this November's election. That does not make "democracy at stake" a winning theme. It doesn't speak to the undecided voters, to young voters, to the disenfranchised and those struggling to make ends meet, or promise any of the voters who will be deciding the winner a better life. It's not a bumper sticker or yard sign grabber. It's a concept, not a campaign slogan."

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

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Presumed Innocent (Season 2 (NOT A TYPO) on Apple TV+)

Yup, it's been announced that Presumed Innocent has been renewed for a second season. That is not to say Season 1 will not end with a decision. I have no clue what it says. But Jake Gyllenhaal is a producer of Season 2, which I guess he could do from prison if need be. Season 1 has some flaws, especially the amount of down-time of long camera shots, mostly in the dark, where nothing happens. But still, it's quite gripping and definitely worth watching, even if, as has been said, it deviates from Scott Turow's book.

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Cleaning and Removing Stains From Granite Countertops

If we had to replace our kitchen countertops again (or someone would give us the money to do so, in which event we would do so immediately), we would not choose granite, and especially not honed black granite. But, we're stuck, with no relief in sight. Anyone stuck in the same miserable place should benefit from this Better Home & Gardens article, which will tell you how to clean granite and how to remove stains from granite. 

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Who Is the Bigger Liar?

Virtually everything that comes out of Trump's mouth is a lie. At the same time, there is no credible denial of the fact that Biden has been cognitively impaired for much, if not all, of his presidential tenure, and his condition deteriorated as time goes on. Biden, and his wife, and his inner circle, assuredly are aware of that, and have affirmatively concealed and lied about his worsening condition. The big difference between the Trump lies and the Biden lies is that everyone knows Trump lies at every turn and everyone knows the threat he poses to the integrity of the country. In sharp contrast, many of us did not know about the Biden lies, and the threat he poses to security of the country. Put another way, there is no cover-up when it comes to Trump's lies. As it turns out, Biden's lies have been covered up for years (and many continue to try to do so).

PS: An edited and streamlined version of this post was submitted by letter to the NYT.

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Smart Tag Recommendation: The Moto Tag

As this Android Police article explains, the Moto Tag looks to be the best choice for an Android smart tag. Just a button may not be enough to truly stand out, but the Moto Tag goes beyond. The result is a tracker that works with Android, but is the same size and shape as the AirTag, a move that makes it compatible with the plethora of AirTag accessories. Couple this with it coming in two colors, and Motorola has a winner. Most trackers are various shades of gray, black, or white. The Moto Tag comes in Jade Green and Starlight Blue, and it just looks different. It’s the type of tag that'll make you want to know more when walking through an airport, especially when paired with expressive color accessories.

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Problem With the LPGA

While we have noted this before, the problem faced by the LPGA cannot be stressed enough. To say it needs a Caitlin Clark or, even better, a Caitlin Clark/Angel Reese rivalry, would be the understatement of the millennium. Here are the top 21 finishers of the last major of the year. If you recognize two of them, you are watching too much, or reading too much about, LPGA golf.

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See You on Venus (2023 Movie on Netflix)

If you would like to see the movie with the most contrived plot ever coupled with the most banally soupy twists and turns ever, and you don't mind insufferable acting, and total predictability, See You on Venus is for you.No reason to keep you in suspense. It's the story of an 18 year-old orphaned girl wants to travel to Europe to track down her biological mother, so when she meets a kind-hearted young man reeling from the guilt of a fatal accident (which crippled his best friend and, as we find out later, killed her best friend), she convinces him to accompany her on the journey. Mia (Virginia Gardner) and Kyle (Alex Aiono) are two misfit American teens who travel to Spain in search of Mia's birth mother. As the pair road trip through the picturesque cities of Andalusia and fall in love, they discover that the most important question isn't who gave you life but what you decide to do with it. Free advice: If someone in your house cues it up, head for the hills.

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How to Minimize the Likelihood of Your Carry-on Being Gate Checked

With most flights being full (and, as if that weren't enough, as announced at the gate, not just full but completely full), more often than not the overhead bins will not have enough space for all the carry-ons passengers want to take. Although you might not find any of these to be surprising, this Town & Country article has some tips to increase the likelihood that your carry-on will not be flagged to be gate-checked.

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Take a Quickie Cognitive Test

You might find it interesting to see the results of your own cognitive test, which you can take through this WaPo article. Okay, this isn’t a real cognitive test, but it should give you an understanding of how simple screenings work.

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It's NOT Biden's Decision

The decision on the table as to who will be the Dem presidential nominee is NOT Biden's decision. The decision on the table is whether or not the Dems are going to willingly hand over the country and the democracy to Trump or go down in a flaming loss with someone who everyone knows has been knocked out of the ring, and his family and inner circle have covering up for and lying about (to him and to us) for years. That many Dems and virtually the entire Dem leadership are going to surrender the country on the rationale that the choice is Biden's alone, and they have no choice, is as big and as dangerous a lie as any lie that Trump might tell. It is time for all the Dems to rise up and take their shot and shout from their rooftops, "we're mad as Hell and we're not going to take this any more."

PS: The idea expressed here went in a tamed down version letter to the NYT.

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Treat Yourself to Decent Sneakers

It's time to shake off the Nike rut, and put yourself into sneakers that make you look better and impress others with your style and flair. Here are some of my favorites, all of which are worth every penny:

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Pluses and Minuses of Exit Row Seating

Exit rows tend to be desired seats and many airlines charge a premium for them. That is because they have more legroom than most seats and there is no worry about the passenger in the row ahead reclining their seat. One drawback is that, even when the plane is not full so that there is a chance you will have no one sitting next to you in a non-exit-row seat, the exit row usually always is filled. Some exit rows have just 2 seats even in a 6-across-seat cabin configuration. In the Airbus Neo (our favorite plane for domestic flights), the exit rows are very close to the mid-cabin restroom.

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