As we said in our review of Season 1, if you liked the West Wing or Borgen, and if you like Keri Russell, you will love The Diplomat. It is as a gripping and compelling as political drama gets. Even the guy who played Lenny in Laverne & Shirley turns in a stellar performance as the president. Season 2 has now dropped.
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This last play of the Miami/Duke game has a few laterals in it. I understand many loyal readers and others are challenged mathematically, so I'll spare you the need to count: There are 8 of them.
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This cnet article explains what you need to know about routers when deciding whether to get a new one, and what to look for when you are buying a new one.
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Take Away No. 1: If you watched the World Series, you were treated to a fabulous experience. But as amazing, exciting, or shocking as so many moments were, perhaps the best news with its being over is no longer having the Hobson's choice of listening to John Smoltz or watching with the audio muted. The ideal commentator is someone you would love to have sitting on the sofa next to you who has intelligent insights that make you think or colorful backstories that amuse you, as opposed to your worst nightmare of someone who is boring beyond words for anyone who is not a big league pitcher or pitching coach, and likely even they would leave the room as well.
Take Away No. 2: How do you grade Judge's performance in Game 5 in light of: Judge's catch, Judge's error, and Judge's first inning 2-run home run?
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One of the annoyances of Chrome is the ERR_CACHE_MISS (Confirm Form Resubmission) Error. This DreamHost article not only explains what it is, but more importantly, how to fix it.
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As this WSJ article explains, sooner than you think, a swarm of microrobots could clean your teeth for you. It's an automated system where the swarm acts as a toothbrush, flosser and mouthwash, and will cost about the same as an electric toothbrush.
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The only thing scarier than Halloween is running out of candy. In actuality, the treat that kids, and especially their parents and dieticians, would prefer over candy is what we've been giving away for several years now, and we love the screams of delight they are met with: Brillo pads. Among their other utilitarian advantages over candy, the ones you are left with at the end of the evening can be stored for next year without fear of spoilage.
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There is no denying the risks to democracy, the economy, the environment, personal freedoms and privacy right, and stability in the world should Trump win the election. On top of that, imagine RFK, Jr. becoming secretary of HHS, which is not out of the realm of possibility. We really could be looking at a new dark age with the end of childhood vaccinations for smallpox, polio, and other diseases, and the dismantling of the CDC, FDA, and USDA. Call me chicken little. But there is nothing in the history of the rise and fall of governments and countries or the supposed basic goodness of human nature to stand in the way of a speeding train of destruction.
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As if anyone needs a reason to root against the Yankees, or needs a reason to find their fans to be the scum of the earth, just watch this from Game 4 of the World Series. And the idea that the Yankees won the game is further proof that there is no god, otherwise these fans would have been reduced to a pile of salt with sulfur and fire.
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If you suspect that your phone might have been infected with malware (e.g., you opened an attachment from what turned out to be a fake email), two things: First, don't unduly worry--the chances are no harm has been done; and second, put "free online virus scan for mobile phones" into Google without the quote marks and download/install 2-3 reputable scanners (e.g., TrendMicro) and run them.
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Harris gave her so-called "closing argument" in defense of democracy from the same spot Trump gave his January 6 call-to-rms. The crowd was huge. So, what's wrong with this picture? The answer is: Plenty. How many people who would not have voted for Harris were in that crowd? How many voters who will decide this election were in that crowd? How many voters who will decide this election watched it on television? Who was the idiot who scheduled this for the same night as a prime time World Series game?
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The Google Flights website is not only a fabulous place to start to find flights, it's also excellent for finding short-term rentals. You are likely to sources you had no way of knowing about and places you won't see on airbnb or vrbo.
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A semi-loyal reader's immediate reaction to Bezos' decision to have the WaPo stop making presidential endorsements was, as he sees all educated/wealthy Trump supporters, purely a decision of monetary greed. Given his (Bezos', not the reader's) enormous wealth, that didn't make sense to me. Then, Bezos published his explanation for the decision, namely, to avoid a "perception of bias." Excuse me? What is an editorial page other than an expression of bias? So, after now reading Bezos’ explanation for not doing endorsements, and not being able to come up with any other rationale for stopping endorsements, I have come around to the conclusion that profit/greed was the reason. Maybe not profit/greed purely in terms of his personal wealth, but because keeping his businesses going is what he does and he needs government contracts to keep his space program going and to an extent Amazon cloud service and such. In a sense, it's akin to why the Republicans have fallen in lockstep behind Trump no matter how indefensible he is: It enables them to hold onto their seats, i.e., their jobs. Lest anyone think there is going to be any check on Trump should he win, think again.
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As this Tom's Guide article explains, as a general rule, it’s best to put natural products back into the earth, which is why composting is such a popular and recommended practice. When you can combine the benefits of all-natural goods with the ease of daily household refuse, you’re onto a winning formula. And that’s why coffee grounds are such an underrated material for the average gardener because they are rich in nutrients that plants and soil love, and even will repel pests. The article details all the things you can do in your garden with your coffee grounds.
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Until a few months ago, I never got a robo/spam call. Then they started, and soon I was getting 10 or more a day. Most of them were from a few of the same xxx-yyy-_ _ zz exchanges. After being able to take it anymore, I began religiously blocking each one and coding it as spam. For a while, they seemed to abate, and my religious blocking abated. Then, they resumed their ungodly deluge. And so again, I religiously imposed my blocking/spam-designating routine. I'm sure this will jinx it, but I've gotten fewer than 5 robo/spam calls in the past week and none in the past 3 days. Just saying.
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Although it understates the actual total because it doesn't count email post hits and it overstates the actual total because it counts hits by bots, this blog just went past the 600,000 post hits:
To use TSA PreCheck, your KTN must be included in your flight booking. Before you travel, check your reservation details to confirm that your KTN was entered properly. If it doesn't appear in your booking, contact the airline to make the correction. It's also a good idea to check in online, if your flight allows, so you can receive a digital boarding pass before arriving at the airport. If TSA PreCheck doesn't show up on your boarding pass, visit the airline counter to see if your traveler information was entered correctly. If not, the agent may be able to add your KTN and issue a new boarding pass on the spot. In some cases, you may also discover that your airline doesn't participate in PreCheck screenings, which means you and all other passengers on board will be required to use the regular security lane.If the airline has squared away everything on its end and you still don't have PreCheck on your boarding pass, there's likely another explanation. For example, your membership may have expired, or you might've been randomly selected for additional screening. Confirm the validity of your membership online, and if you continue to experience issues at the airport, contact TSA customer service for assistance.
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This NYT piece explains the latest thinking on the bot's favored starting words.
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Last play of the game, Washington Commanders down by 3 points to the Chicago Bears, and then this pass by Jayden Daniels: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jJdp5mUH22Y
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The TV ratings for the World Series are through the roof (although, oddly, Friday night drew 2M more viewers than Saturday night). While both games were great, Friday night's game was one of the best games ever played, which is why I'm a little surprised the audience didn't grow on Saturday night. Although Ohtani's injury could dampen the whole thing, this is must-see TV, even if the interviews are insufferable and, unless you're a big league pitcher, John Smoltz's supposed "commentary," is dulling blather about pitch-choice, with no insights into anything any of the TV audience cares about.
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If you think you've imagined how horrifying a second Trump term would be, this NYT piece sets out in terrifying detail how you likely have understated your fears. Sadly, while this could have been a vote changer if presented in a audio/visual medium that would have reached the voters who will decide this election, the NYT readership is not the audience that matters at this point.
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While popular remote desktop tools like TeamViewer, Splashtop, and GoToMyPC boast fancy features and slick interfaces, their price tags can be a real turn-off for many. The built-in program that comes with Windows is clunky at best. As this XDA article sets outs out, there are three excellent free alternatives: AnyDesk, HelpWire, and RustDesk.
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When buying a PC, especially a low cost one, this PCWorld article sets out the minimum specifications it should have.
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Justice (Napad) is a Polish crime drama. There's violence in the opening and closing. It's based on a true story of a discharged police officer who is given a chance to regain his former life by capturing a bank robbery crew. Teaming up with a young policewoman, the ex-cop must act swiftly before the heist draws unwanted scrutiny from the new authorities. The two leads are excellent, and watching someone really smart and good do his job is always enjoyable (a la Slow Horses but it's not as good as Slow Horses).
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A post yesterday painted a bleak picture of Harris' chances of winning the electoral college given that all the popular vote national polls show a tie with Trump. It is true that, in reality, Harris has to be up 4%-5% in the national popular vote polls to win in the electoral college. A loyal reader pointed out the possibility that, given the margin of error in all the polls, Harris is actually up by the needed 4%-5%. We have now checked out that hypothesis with one of the leading (Harvard trained) statisticians in the country, and are delighted that he confirmed that, indeed, it is reasonably possible that, even though the polls show Harris and Trump tied, given the margin of error of those polls, Harris actually could be up that necessary 4%-5%. Phew!
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Interest rates rise when there is a belief that inflation is going to rise. While interest rates dropped immediately after the Fed slashed rates by 50 basis points, they have of late been on a steady and steep rise. That is because the bond market sees that the economy is going to re-inflate. As we have said here repeatedly, and as this NYT article confirms, that is because the bond market believes Trump will be elected which will lead to tariffs, deficit spending, a possible change at the Fed, and other Trump fallouts that will put the country on an inflation spiral. We can only hope that would be the worst thing that can happen if Trump is elected. Unfortunately, it certainly is not.
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My guts, like Nate Silver's guts as reported in the NYT, says that Trump is going to win. My hope is that our guts are wrong, and the country and world will be saved from that monster and his cult following. But, if Harris wins, the irony will not be lost that it will be due to one of Trump's self-proclaimed proudest victories, namely, three appointments to the Supreme Court that led to the overturning of Roe vs. Wade. Thus, without that, Harris never would have gotten the turnout from and split she did with female voters. Was it worth the price?
Note on the National Polls: If the national polls are correct in showing that the two candidates are essentially tied in the popular vote, I cannot begin to understand how Harris can possibly win. She clearly will win enormously in NY, CA, MA, and a few other highly populated states. That is how Clinton won by 3M votes and Biden by 7M votes. So, if Harris and Trump are tied nationally in the popular vote, how can it be Trump does not win electorally?
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My lefty friends have exerted enormous pressure on me not to buy a Tesla because it would enrich Elon Musk. At the same time, they ignore that it's their green-energy subsidies and mandates that have to led to Tesla's knocking it out of the ballpark in its latest reporting, which added $30 billion to Musk's wealth. While Tesla beat forecasts with a $2.2 billion profit in the third quarter, a 17% increase from a year earlier when you look under the hood, you’ll find subsidies are driving its profits. Auto sales increased by a mere 1% compared to the same quarter last year while “regulatory credits” grew 33%. Such credits accounted for a third of its profit. More auto makers are struggling to meet these EV mandates amid slowing demand and an EV market glut. They are scaling back EV production plans and instead buying credits from Tesla because this is less expensive than making cars at a hefty loss. Tesla says it is booking more regulatory credit sales “as other automobile manufacturers scale back on their battery electric vehicle plans.” Their EV woes are Tesla’s gain. Tesla also benefits from the Inflation Reduction Act’s $7,500 per EV tax credit, which amounts to about $1.25 billion this past quarter, and consumer EV rebates in some states. Tesla says it was owed $315 million in rebates at the end of the last quarter. And don’t forget the IRA’s manufacturing tax credits for solar panels and batteries, which is Tesla’s fastest-growing and most profitable business. These credits can offset more than a third of the cost of producing batteries for EVs and power storage units. California and other states are using Tesla batteries to back up their grids as they strive to meet climate mandates. Tesla says IRA manufacturing credits boosted its energy generation and storage margins and that it expects this business to more than double this year.
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Although it was a scoring play, as blatant and obvious as it was, this game-ending face-mask foul in the Thursday night Minnesota/Rams game was missed by the zebras. Under the rules, it was not reviewable. Obviously, the NFL will go to instant-replay reviews of obvious matters and of any matter meriting review, just as baseball does. As matters stand now, the zebras do not hesitate to huddle after plays and change calls, sometimes in reaction to the fans. With jumbotrons showing everyone in the stadium and watching on TV, there can be no justification to have zebras turning a blind eye and engaging in wilful ignorance (as apparently many educated and seemingly smart Trump supporters are doing).
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Yeah, housing supply is reportedly low (in large part due to short term rentals), and mortgage rates have spiked again. But for a mere $108M, you can have this 13,000 sf, 10-bedroom beachfront place in La Jolla. So, we're not sure what all the griping is about.
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One of the keys to losing or maintaining one's weight is keeping a snack bowl in the refrigerator. In that way, whenever you are hungry or open the refrigerator door tempting you to eat, there is a fresh vegetable to nosh on instead of cheese, pretzels, or other such stuff. Having a variety in the snack bowl avoids the dreaded problem of getting snack-bored. So, in addition to celery and carrot sticks, it is nice to have broccoli stems, radish slices, lettuce leaves, and, our latest find, organic peppers (16 oz from Sprouts for $4.99, which is lower-priced and bigger-quantity than the non-organic).
Operation Mincemeat is a British movie starring Colin Firth, Matthew Macfadyen (whom you'll remember from Succession), and Kelly Macdonald. It tells the true and compelling story of an exotic plot by British Intelligence to trick the Nazis as to where an invasion would take place. It's a bit convoluted and a bit slow, as it blends intrigue and a love story. It's not great, but it's not bad. There's a lot of smoking and too many scenes shot in the dark.
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If the voting were held today for performance as of today, Lamar Jackson would likely be voted MVP, and that would not be crazy. But, let's look forward to when the voting will actually take place, and assume that the Baltimore Ravens come out on top, and Lamar Jackson has a record-smashing season (which he is on track to have) and Derrick Henry has a record-smashing season (which he is on track to have). In that circumstance, one could reasonably argue that Derrick Henry should be MVP because he was the missing element last year that made all the difference this year to the Ravens' performance. Alternatively, while it's been done before but never with teammates, one reasonably could argue that Jackson and Henry should be awarded co-MVPs.
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As this cnet article reports, it's not even close: While both might use convection heating, air fryers use less energy and cost less to operate than wall ovens.
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Although the focus of this WSJ article is on a somewhat different issue, one lesson to take from it is the importance of getting a second opinion on serious medical matters.
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It is a good idea in terms of keeping your cellphone as light and sleek as possible to uninstall apps you don't use. Should you need one of them back, they're easy to reinstall. But just because you used e-visit or a car rental app once, that is no reason to keep it around if there is little likelihood you'll need it in the near-term.
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This Food & Wine article recommends freezer organizer bins that actually make sense. It also recommends them for refrigerators but we don't quite see the need for that. In addition to the ones noted in the article, Amazon has many choices often at lower prices.
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Plugging appliances into extension cords is dangerous, and one of the main causes of fires in New York City. These appliances (among others) should never be plugged into an extension cord: air fryers, refrigerators, air conditioners, toasters and toaster ovens, microwaves, and space heaters. Also, don't plug extension cords into extension cords (called "daisy chaining") which can cause circuit overheating.
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Fujitsu has launched the FMV Zero notebook, which at only 634g (1.4 lbs), looks to claim the title of the world’s lightest 14-inch laptop. It won't be available in the U.S. until November, and it's battery life is just 6 hours, but it's a great breakthrough travel laptop (e.g., the ultra-slim 14" LG gram weighs 2.2 lbs and Dell's 13" XPS is even heavier).
An earlier post recommended the Samsung A15 5G phone, which can be found for $150 on Amazon. Samsung has a higher level A35 5G phone for about $100 more, and as this Phone Arena article explains, if you have the money, it's worth the difference. Neither supports wireless charging but, as the next post explains, there are two types of inexpensive accessories that will enable wireless charging.
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Most phones now have built-in wireless (Q1) charging. Wireless charging is the way to go because then you can put a plug in the charging port to keep out dust and avoid potential problems that dust will inevitably cause. Even if your phone does not have built-in wireless charging, there are cases and adapters you can buy for $10 that will enable wireless charging.
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If you ever wanted a tiny home, either as a guest unit on your property or as a go-to place in the woods or on a beach, they cost a lot less and are much easier to get than you might think. Indeed, they are available from Amazon, with free shipping and fully assembled, for $10,000-$50,000. And they are darn good looking, sturdy, and practical.
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Step 1: Poke air holes in the potato using a fork.
Step 2: Microwave the potato on high for 8 to 10 minutes or until it's fork-tender and cooked through.
Step 3: Slice the potato halfway through and toss with melted butter or olive oil. You can also stuff the potato with whatever you want.
Step 4: Air fry skin side up on high for 2 minutes. Flip and cook another two minutes until desired crispiness is achieved.
This HuffPost article has a glowing review of the Cosori 11-in-1 smart oven, making an impressive case for its status as a kitchen workhorse. It has 11 functions and can air fry, reheat, bake, convection bake, toast, roast, broil, dehydrate, slow cook, ferment, and keep food warm. It heats up to 450 degrees, with six heating elements and a two-speed fan that circulates the heat to cook your food evenly. You can see several different models on Amazon, which are between $150-179, making it somewhat lower in price than its competitors while being as big or bigger.
In an era where it is inexplicable why some teams (e.g., most glaringly, Cleveland and the Jets) have the quarterbacks they have and pay them the money they do (or any money for that matter), and while it is indisputable that Patrick Mahomes is the best quarterback in the league and perhaps the best quarterback of all time, reasonable people cannot differ on one thing this season: Lamar Jackson is the MVQB and perhaps the MVP. We say this not just because of having completed the most impossible pass ever, but for this kind of play the likes of which you'll never see Aaron Rogers and his ilk do.
PS: A certain occasional reader will howl like a wack-a-doodle if, after showing the above run by Derrick Henry, we did not also show this Derrick Henry run, which is quite disarming.
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This ZDNet article explains why you should power off your phone at least once per week, and sets out other safety steps that should be taken to protect the security of your phone.
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A smart TV, just like a computer or cellphone, can start acting sluggish. Similar tweaks one would use on those smaller devices can also help with the TV. This ZDNet article will walk you through them. They aren't difficult.
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Different airlines have different rules when it comes to coach passengers using lavatories in the first class section of the plane. Most domestic airlines do allow it, especially when there is a service cart blocking access to the coach class lavatories. This is one of the reasons we prefer foreign airlines such as Abu Dhabi Airlines, where a coach passenger was arrested for using a first class lavatory. Not kidding.
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Many people hate cleaning up after their meal. As this cnet article highlights with cast iron skillets as an example: "Clean your cast-iron skillet while it's still warm. I know -- that sizzling pork chop is out of the pan and ready to eat and the last thing you want to do is clean. Trust me, acting fast will make the job easier. Add warm water to the skillet a few minutes after removing it from the heat while it's still warm -- but not scorching hot or you might warp the metal. That quick simmer will go a long way in degunking the pan." It's not possible to clean the dishes you eat on before eating on them or to clean the utensils you eat with before eating with them. But, it is a possible, and a slice of heaven, to live in a house where the only clean up after a meal is popping those dishes and utensils into the dishwasher.
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If you have an overhead fan that's controlled by a remote, you might find that, all of a sudden, it starts going on by itself. You're first thought is that you have a ghost, and of course, that's possible. As it turns out, upon calling your fan retailer, you will learn that there is a less ethereal and less interesting but more likely explanation: Someone within 300 feet has installed a similar fan that works on the same frequency. So, to fix the problem, you just need to change the frequency of your fan's remote. Generally speaking, here's how to do it (although it can vary by model): Shut off the power to the fan, turn it back on, and then, within 15 seconds, hold the middle button down on the remote for some period, and it will reprogram to a new frequency. In all events, don't be afraid to raise the issue with your fan company. They will kindly explain you are not the only person to suspect a ghost and will be very reassuring that you don't have a ghost.
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A couple of days ago, we asked the Wordle editors if Wordle now allowed past tense words ending in "ed" to be the answer word. Although it was a straightforward question (based on an instance where the bot recognized a past tense "ed" word), the answer they gave had nothing to do with the questions. However, it did illuminate an apparent change whereby now you no longer have to put in a real word, but instead can just put in any letters you want. Here's what they said: "Our actual answers are curated, however at this time, Wordle will allow you to guess "non words" at times, as these guesses are not curated. These "non words" will not be potential answers but if you’d like to use them to look for potential letters for the final answer you can, but you can be assured to not win the game with these guesses."
PS: I just tried putting a non-word into a Wordle grid and it wouldn't let me. So, beside not answering the question we raised, it appears they might have given a wrong answer to a question we didn't raise.
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This WSJ article has an interesting overview about looking at the probabilities of the outcome of the election through the eyes of bettors and investors.
PS: Relatedly, one thing the market clearly is betting on is that, whoever wins the election, the federal deficit is going to explode and inflation is going to soar. My analysis in that regard is based on the fact that long-term interest rates have soared since the Fed announced its 50-basis cut in interest rates. The market surely has it correct if Trump wins and the Reps take control of both houses of Congress (given that various Trump policies starting with tariffs) because he will get whatever he wants. However, it's not clear that should Harris win the same is true because, even though her announced policy initiatives would be highly inflationary, it's hard to see how she would get them through.
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As this WSJ article explains, a keen understanding of volume, or the level of trading activity, can give investors a clearer idea of a stock’s or market’s strength. And unusual changes in volume help point investors to potential changes in price direction.
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Just as some lawyers will take any case, Netflix will screen and some producers will make any movie. If the first 10 minutes accurately foreshadow what's to come, the e💲tate is just such a movie. Some of the cast (including David Duchovny and Kathleen Turner) shouldn't be allowed in movies any more and the rest never should have been. So, if you want to watch a movie where two sisters attempt to win over their terminally ill, difficult-to-please aunt in hopes of becoming the beneficiaries of her wealthy estate, only to find the rest of their greedy family members have the same idea, have at it. But if that doesn't sound unappealing enough, rest assured, the dialogue and scenes are raunchy. Not funny. Just raunchy.
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Particularly if you're going to start watching a movie late, like after 5:25 pm, the last thing you want is a long movie where either you have to push your bedtime back or watch it in two sittings. As it turns out, Netflix has a category limited to "1.5 hour movies." Is there any wonder why, while Apple TV+ has the best content--albeit limited, Netflix continues to be the king of the streaming services. This search category is further confirmation that they really know what they're doing.
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1. While I'm not a believer in the good old days in most senses, in one way I am: People used to dress respectfully, and not act insanely, when attending sporting events (putting on a coat and tie was part of the ritual we enjoyed before going to a game), and the television stayed focus on the game. Now, much of the coverage is of people in the stands dressed up as just about anything, and the TV cameras show them with relentless frequency. Stopping the TV coverage might or might not stop the stupid outfits and body paintings, but it might, and at the very least would, make watching sporting events on TV far more enjoyable.
2. The on-field interviews of coaches yield no information and make no sense. That the networks pay people to do those interviews says they have too much money, which is belied by their frequent cutting of good commentators and other personnel for supposed cost-saving reasons. The coaches don't want to do those interviews, they don't say anything, and no one is listening anyhow.
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If you're looking for an escape movie, that's what you would hope to get with Kill Me If You Dare. What could make for a better or funnier romcom where, after striking it rich on a winning lottery ticket, a married couple start hatching plans to kill each other for the prize money. We wouldn't have been so disappointed if this had been a Hollywood production from which we don't expect much. But it's a Polish production--making it all the more disappointing. In short, it's a Polish joke that's just not funny.
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If you are not a fan of Chilean psycho-drama, In Her Place is not the movie for you. And even if you are a fan, while it certainly is an original and intriguing film, based on a true story, you have to enjoy the very slow telling of a story. Very slow. I'm a bit stunned I lasted through its 1.5 hour stated length that seemed like 4 hours. I won't give away the ending, which might not be as predictable as you think, but here's the basic plot: When the popular writer MarÃa Carolina Geel murders her lover, the case captivates Mercedes, the shy secretary of the judge in charge of defending the accused. After visiting the writer's apartment, Mercedes begins to question her life, identity, and the role of women in society as she finds in that home an oasis of freedom.
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American Airlines is my airline of choice. Not that I like it. But having lifetime Gold status for having flown a million miles on it, and its route choices out of Phoenix, I have my reasons. I am not happy that this Islands article tells people how to get early boarding. Here's a better suggestion: Fly some other airline.
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Woman of the Hour is extremely creepy and not the kind of movie I typically would like. But, as creepy as it was, it is totally riveting. It's not a spoiler to say it's based on a true story about a psychopathic serial killer. You can take comfort that the violence is done tastefully.
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As it turns out, Windows has a clipboard built into it. You can bring up your clipboard history at any time by pressing Windows + V on your keyboard, and then you can go through all the things you've copied during the current session. The clipboard history lets you pin items so they stay stored even after turning off your PC, and you have the option to paste copied items as plain text, too.
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The 1TB SK Hynix Tube T31is as fast as any high-performance portable SSD yet as tiny and as portable as a USB flash drive. This is the perfect storage accessory for those times when you want to archive or transfer your photos, videos, and documents. And it cost under $70.
I have been astounded by the number of readers and others who have been captivated by the idea that a soundbar connected to the TV by HDMI (Arc) will eliminate the need to use the soundbar's remote because then the up/down volume button on the TV's remote or the cable box's remote will work. I have also been gratified by the number of readers and others who have pleaded with us to figure out how to keep the soundbar connected after the TV is turned off so that it does not have to be reconnected when the TV is turned back on. We are pleased to announce we have the workaround for any soundbar including those that don't have the CEC setting override. Here's what to do: Plug the soundbar into the same Z-wave outlet you use to connect the TV to your Vera controller. Because it remains "on" even when the TV is turned off, the soundbar will not actually disconnect from the TV when it has turned off and hence the soundbar has no need to be turned back on. We apologize that it took us 2 days to find this solution.
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A Sacrifice is a dystopian story of a social psychologist who investigates a local cult connected to a disturbing event, while his daughter becomes embroiled with a mysterious local boy. I tried watching it because of my training as a social psychologist. I stopped watching it because it didn't speak to me. It's just a little too far out there in the realm of the creepy. Trump's cult is enough cult for me. Some people might be engrossed if not captivated. The acting is fine. It's the story that doesn't cut it.
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This PCWorld article has an excellent overview of the return policies at various places from which you might consider buying a laptop. Assuming you can find the laptop you want there, our favorite remains Costco (and for TVs as well).
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As this XDA article explains, Photopea looks to be the best free photo editor, outshining Photoshop and Lightroom.
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Google Flights now has a "Cheapest" flight option in addition to a "Best" flight option.
We have more loyal readers and others flocking to Europe these days. Here is some advice Rick Steves sent us: "Back in the day, I could breeze into any European town with zero plans and just snag whatever cheap room was available. But, obviously, those days are long gone. Thanks to hordes of tourists flocking to Europe with their Pinterest-inspired travel boards, the best deals are usually booked out months in advance. And so if you're keen on staying in a hotel, don't count on winging it — and make it a habit to reconfirm to cover your bases. "Always email or call to reconfirm your room reservation a few days in advance. This gives you time to improvise in the unlikely event that something has gone wrong with your reservation," he explained on his website. For smaller, mom-and-pop places, he even recommends calling on the day of your arrival to confirm your check-in time, regardless of whether you'll be on the dot or not. If you end up running behind on your arrival day, it's helpful to follow up to assure the front-desk staff that you're coming."
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When you are looking to buy a new soundbar or get a new soundbar, here are the pluses and minuses of the various connection options you have or might have:
1. USB/Coax/RCA: The sound quality won't be as good as the below options, and each of these require a wire to connect the soundbar to the television.
2. Optical: While it requires an optical cable, the sound quality will be excellent.
3. Bluetooth: No additional cable is required and the sound quality will be excellent.
4. HDMI (arc): While it requires an HDMI cable, it has the advantage of enabling the sound volume to be controlled by your TV remote or any other remote and eliminates the need to use the soundbar's own remote. Note that you might need to change the CEC settings on your TV so that an external device does not turn off automatically when the TV is turned off. Even then, the soundbar might not connect automatically when the TV is turned back on. But, there's an easy work-around: Leave the TV switched on but turn off just the cable box. Then, when the cable box comes back on and the TV lights up, the soundbar will have remained connected because it's connected to the TV not the cable box.
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The Shazam Band is a new AI-powered collar containing speakers and sensors that lets your pet talk to you--speaking real words that you'll understand. Once your pet is wearing the band, you can have a conversation with it, and the band emits a human voice in response to your questions. There are 25 different personas you can choose between for your pet, and each one is effectively a different voice.You can also use the Shazam Band to track your pet if they wander off, and it will alert you via text message if they get into danger, say from other animals or traffic, or if they got left behind somewhere. You can find them using the Shazam app and the GPS inside the band.
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You might have noticed there's a new button at the left end of your Chrome Bookmark bar called Tab Groups. If you have no use for it, you can get rid of it thusly: Type “about:flags” or “chrome://flags” (without the quotation marks) into the URL bar and press Enter; type “tab groups” into the search bar at the top of the Flags page that appears; look for the “Tab Groups Save UI Update” option; and then click the drop-down box to its right and change the flag to “Disabled.”
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This WSJ article has an informative overview for anyone (and it is estimated there are 5 million of you) who might have to change their Medicare supplemental or drug plans.
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According to Airhart Aeronautics, with the Airhart Sling, all the pilot has to do is push the stick in the direction they wish the plane to fly. An onboard computer system relays those flight commands to the airplane's engine and control surfaces via an electronic fly-by-wire setup, automatically performing the desired maneuvers. The aircraft additionally automates processes such as filing flight plans and performing pre-flight checklists. It will be available in 2026 for just $500,000, will seat 4 people, and is open for pre-orders now with a deposit of just $1,000.
Walmart returns are easily processed online, although you might have to take even an online order to a store to complete the return. If there's an issue, you can call Walmart at 1 (800) 925-6278, and they are very efficient at finding your order from your phone number, even if you call from a different number than the one associated with your account. If you want to talk to a person, just keep making up a variant of the topic that makes no sense to them, and after 4 or 5 times, you'll get connected to a real person in under a minute.
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Ice dilutes the whiskey as it melts, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. For many whiskeys, a bit of dilution can open up the flavors in unexpected and delightful ways. I experienced this firsthand during a summer trip to Kentucky a few years ago. On a sweltering afternoon, I was visiting a distillery known for its high-proof bourbons. The distiller offered me a sample of their flagship spirit, neat, and it nearly knocked me out with its intensity. He must have noticed my reaction because he quietly suggested adding a single cube of ice to my whiskey glass. What happened next was nothing short of revelatory. The whiskey transformed, becoming smoother and more complex, with layers of flavor I hadn’t detected before. It was a eureka moment. Ice wasn’t the enemy; it was a tool to unlock new flavor profiles.
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As this article reports, and as Tesla has plans for or at least the concept of plans for, the future for EV charging is wireless.
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Season 4 turns out to be as good or even better as its previous seasons. Season 5 has been filmed. If history be prologue, it can be expected to be dropped in about 10 months. So, mark your calendars.
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If you vote by mail in Maricopa County, and perhaps elsewhere in Arizona and perhaps elsewhere in the U.S., you will get an email/text confirmation when your ballot is received and an email/text confirmation that your signature has been verified and your ballot has been counted. I cannot tell you whom I voted for, but I can say I've now voted.
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As this ZDNet article explains, regardless of which device category we're talking about here, you're likely to be just fine with the default protection that's included as part of the platform. On a mobile device (iOS or Android), that means the app store that the OS developer manages. On a Mac, the XProtect antimalware technology has been around for over a decade and is effective against mainstream threats. As for Windows? Well, Microsoft Defender Antivirus, which is included with every Windows PC, routinely aced the tests from third-party labs that measure the effectiveness of security software. The leveling-up process started about seven years ago, and the Microsoft solution has regularly scored between 99% and 100% since then, making it every bit as effective as third-party rivals, free or paid.
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As this Popular Science article explains, you actually don’t have to pay a small a VPN licensing fee to protect your online privacy, block ads, or unblock streaming content. More and more people are breaking up with their VPN providers and finding solace in a surprising new partner: a VPN router. Yup, that’s a thing. The big selling point is that you only have to pay for it once, and you can connect to its 150,000 world-wide servers for life. This Deeper Connect Air router is also portable. Get it on sale for $149.97 with free shipping (reg. $219)—that’s its lowest price ever.
Wordle does not have in its dictionary many common words found in Merriam-Webster. Complaining to the Wordle editors has been done, but with little hope of any relief. Further, given that many of us see ourselves as playing "against the bot," and the bot certainly is competitive, it is not fair for the bot to know that a given common word is not a possible solution. Here is what we wrote to the NYT game crew: "As you can see in the attached “wordle” screenshot, your Wordle grid today failed to recognize “comer” as a word, which the “MW” screenshot clearly confirms it is. There is no apparent reason that common words from Merriam-Webster are not included in Wordle’s dictionary. And, while it can be said that not including such a common word in the Wordle dictionary doesn’t change a player’s likelihood of hitting or number of steps needed to hit upon the solution, the problem is this: Many of us think of ourselves as playing against the bot, and the bot certainly seems to be playing against us. Hence, it is unfair that the bot “knows” that a given common word cannot be the solution."
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If you need or want a new laptop today (or before October 20), the Acer Swift Go 16" at Costco is an unbeatable deal. In addition to being gray (so you don't have to spend $10 on a gray skin), the specs are fantastic: 32GB memory; 1TB SSD, 2 Thunderbolt ports, 2 USB-A ports, 2 USB-C ports, an HDMI port, Wi-Fi 7, and an integrated webcam. The third-party reviews rave about it. Buying it from Costco (online) gets you a 90-day return-for-any-or-no-reason option and a 2Y warranty. And here's the amazing thing: It costs just $750 plus $15 shipping and tax.
Before trusting any answer the bot gives you, prudence suggests that you understand, as this WSJ article explains, why AI still has a way to go in getting the answers right.
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My earlier praise of Sprouts misstated one supposed negative and omitted to note additional positives. Thus, Sprouts does indeed have individual fresh bolillo and kaiser rolls. In addition, it has a wonderful assortment of ready-to-eat hot dishes such as roast chicken and mashed potatoes, along with sandwiches on baguettes, and ready-to-cook meals of all kinds.
PS: A note of caution, when they have huge radishes, buy as many as will fit comfortably in your refrigerator and vegetable locker, because they soon might not be available, and no one wants to deal with small radishes.
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This WaPo article reviews the various choices and options one has and one should make when renting a car. The one point we would add is to continue checking the price because you might get a far lower price from the same rental agency or a different one as you get closer to the date you need the car, and check prices through the click-through link on the your airline's website.
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If you loved watching the NLDS games, even if you would have preferred a different outcome, you would not be alone in hating the television coverage. From the commentary to the interviews to the ump cam and more, this NY Post article well sums up just how abysmal that coverage was. A confirming view appears in this awful announcing article brought to our attention by a loyal reader.
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Many of us would give anything to be head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. Not as many of us are qualified, but all of us are more qualified than the current coach and none of us, except those wanting to be fired, would act like him. In terms of coaching ability, he took the Eagles into the ditch at the end of last season and made the worst playing calling decisions costing the Eagles two games already this season. As you can imagine, the fans are upset, some of whom want him fired. So, what does he do: First, during the game he gestures and yells at the fans; and second, after the game, he gives a presser where he explains he likes it when the fans cheer for the team but he does not like it, and finds it unhelpful, when the fans jeer him or the team. Yeah, you can't make this stuff up. You can be paid millions of dollars to do your job, and still not have a clue what your job is, or who matters when it comes to your job.
PS: In a rare instance of nonsense, Tony Kornheiser takes the view that Philadelphia fans like this kind of "dialogue" from their teams' coaches, and so this was a good move by the Eagles' coach. One about thing living on the I-10 corridor but South of Philadelphia and having not grown up in Philadelphia, you should not speak about Philadelphia fans because, too often, you will look like a damn fool when you do.
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As this WSJ article explains, EVs have gone from pricey purchases to some of the biggest bargains on the used-car lot, as resale values for the vehicles have tumbled. Dealer lots are full of unsold EVs, and car companies— largely led by Tesla—have slashed prices on new models in an effort to sell them.
PS: Many people who would like to buy a Tesla have refrained from doing so because of Musk's supporting Trump. Many people who have bought a Tesla have appended this bumper sticker to their car:
Left unanswered by the article is whether or not buying a used Tesla from a current owner or third-party deal puts money into Musk's pocket, which many potential buyers are loathe to do. On the one hand, it can be argued that doing so reduces the price Tesla can sell its used cars for and hence hurts Musk's profits. On the other hand, it can be argued that that argument is akin to the argument that it's okay to buy a fur coat because the animal is already dead. Everyone agrees, however, that, if Trump loses the election, it will be okay to buy a Tesla.
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All six episodes of Season 4 of Slow Horses have now dropped, and it continues to be highly enjoyable and captivating even if it's not clear what's going on in all its respects. Gary Oldman and the head of MI5 are so fabulous it doesn't even matter what is actually happening. I wish it were more than 6 episodes and already can't wait for Season 5 to come out.
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While these might be great, enjoyable, meaningful, entertaining movies, based on giving each a 10 minute tryout, Dreamin' Wild (a true story of love and redemption bringing to the fore long buried family emotions) and Official Competition (through a series of hilarious tests set by the director, two actors must confront not only each other, but also their own legacies) are hereby declared skippable.
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Text of Letter to NYT: "Maureen Dowd (NYT, Oct. 13) correctly urges Vice President Harris to “bring the heat.” The hurdle, however, is not with the message, but with the medium. Thus, Harris’s rallies, press conferences, talk show appearances, town halls, speeches, and interviews have failed to re-energize her campaign or boost her in the polls. That is largely because: (i) They reach too few people; (ii) they are just words—mostly her words with no pictures; and (iii) they cannot by themselves drill home to people what a disaster Trump’s first term was, how his own words reveal the absence of any character, decency, or honesty, and how corrupt he is and dangerous his ambitions are. So, here is the medium: Produce a ½ hour documentary, to be shown on prime-time network and cable television, including on Fox, and on all the social media outlets, that packages together all the Trump insanity and delusions and lies both from his own words and deeds and from those who have served with or otherwise have dealt with him. Sixty million people turned in for the debate, and it boosted Harris. Likely 100 million people would watch this show. The campaign has raised over a billion dollars. Now spend it big time."
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1. I placed an order on a Sunday morning at 8:30 am. It was delivered before 11 am.
2. The shopper stayed in constant contact while shopping and delivering.
3. You can change (or at least add to) the shopper's tip after the delivery.
4. Other than the tip, there is no charge over the cost of the order plus applicable tax.
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With all due credit to a an anonymous sporadic reader for recommending this movie, if you are willing to suspend credulity just a bit, but want to sit back and have a total hoot (his word) and a blast (my word), and thoroughly enjoy yourself as you get immersed in an action comedy drug crime drama, Trouble is for you. It's non-stop fun, even if it takes a bit to understand what's going on, with two totally engrossing leads (Filip Berg and Amy Deasismont turn in masterful performances) and a bunch of other captivating characters as well. Actually, no matter what your favorite genre, or even if you hate this genre, you will thank me and karma will thank the anonymous source for your watching this.
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You might not have an epic home theater, but you can always make the most of your at-home movie watching experience. One of the best ways to amp up your movie nights is with a soundbar. And while they can be expensive, you can also get some for an incredible deal if you shop when the time is right. One such deal is happening right now at Walmart.com. The retailer is offering the $200 Veatool 2.1ch Soundbar With Subwoofer for only $37. This compact sound system is great if you don't have a lot of space, or don't feel like setting up various speakers around your living room. Since it has two subs, it is able to provide double the base of most soundbars which gives you a deep and well rounded listening experience for everything from movies to music. An upgraded DSF chip prevents any static from entering the audio so you don't have to deal with any annoying buzzing, vibrating, or auditory fuzz. It also has both wired and wireless connection and uses ARC, Optical, AUX and USB ports, so there are no concerns about compatibility. With an ARC connection, you can also hook up the TV and soundbar so that they are controlled simultaneously and you don't have to fumble with multiple remotes.
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To be priced at about $250, the Samsung A15 will be my next phone (when my S10e dies). As this cybernews article explains, while lower-end smartphones under $300 usually receive operating system and security patches for just a few years after launch. However, Samsung’s new A15 smartphone is a clear exception, offering operating system and security updates for six years. Another potential selling point of Samsung’s A15 is the battery, which has a much higher capacity than a typical budget-category smartphone. The A15’s battery has a 5000 mAh capacity, more than that of Samsung’s flagships, such as the Galaxy S24 and the sixth generation of Z Fold and Z Flip. Samsung claims that a fully charged phone will last 2.5 days. It supports 25W charging, which allows a smartphone to be fully charged in over an hour. The A15’s 6.7-inch screen puts it into the “Plus” or “XL” devices category. The Super AMOLED FHD + screen is quite good for a budget smartphone, with a 90Hz refresh rate for a better visual experience. The device's main camera features a triple setup with a 50MP main sensor, 5MP ultra-wide, and 2MP macro photography with no image stabilization, while the rear camera has 13MP for selfies. The A15 comes with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage and is IP54 water—and dust-resistant. The smartphone runs on Android 14 and Samsung’s ONE UI modification and comes in silver blue, grey, and turquoise.
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1. Turn off "Hey Google" detection: If your phone is constantly listening for you to say, "Hey Google," chances are your battery is draining away. Your microphone is active, waiting to hear you say those two magic words that trigger the digital assistant, and it takes a fair amount of energy to run that process all day. Disabling the feature is a no-brainer for anyone who doesn't use the Assistant daily. And let's be honest: how many of us use the assistant daily?
How to: Open the Google app on your phone and tap your profile picture in the top-right corner. Then, visit Settings > Google Assistant > Hey Google & Voice Match and flick off "Hey Google". Now your phone will only trigger the Assistant if you hold down the power button or via another method.
2. Reduce your screen's refresh rate: Phone screens have gotten really good over the past few years, thanks partly to the faster refresh rates manufacturers have implemented. Whether it's 90Hz, 120Hz, or even faster, increasing the times a screen refreshes helps make animations, scrolling social media, and everyday interactions feel smoother and more responsive. Unfortunately, a high refresh rate also means increased battery usage -- you might sometimes be better off disabling the feature.
How to: Open the Settings app and navigate to the Display section. Here, you'll find the settings to configure your refresh rate. Most smartphones call the feature something different; Google labels it "Smooth Display" while Samsung calls it "Motion smoothness". Find the setting associated with the refresh rate and revert to the standard rate. Your screen will likely seem a bit choppier as a result, but that's completely normal. It simply means it's operating at 60Hz, the speed every phone used to run at a few years ago.
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Although mentioned before, it looks like Costco has greatly expanded its offering of available items for same day delivery (you also can have it scheduled for the next day or any of the next several days), and the only extra "cost" is the optional tip for the delivery person. So, if you hate going to Costco for walnuts, cashews, pistachios, chuck and round roast, and too many other things to mention, just click on Same Day shopping on the Costco website.
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Free (aka included in the room price) breakfast is a common feature of many hotel brands, especially in the limited service category. You’ll find it at Hampton Inn, Best Western, and Holiday Inn Express among numerous others. Here’s the thing: I don’t think I’ve ever seen a hotel actually check that you’re a guest before giving you access. If you look like you belong there, you can park in the lot, walk in, and eat. That said, please don't. It's theft. The one exception might be the buffet at the Fresh Hotel in Athens because it is so delicious.
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The term “undecided voter” is being misunderstood and misused at this point. No one is undecided as to whom they would vote for. But there are those, and perhaps many, who are undecided if they will vote at all. So, when it is said each campaigns is going after the “undecided voters,” it means they are going after the undecided voters who would vote for them if they vote at all. Hence, as we have said for some time, this is not a persuasion election, it's a turnout election.
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The Food and Drug Administration this week authorized the Healgen Rapid Check Combined COVID-19/Flu A&B Antigen Test for home use without a prescription.
Except perhaps for some cleaning and paper products, and perhaps a few other things, Sprouts clearly beats the pants off of Fry's, Safeway, and Whole Foods in terms of quality and variety of fresh and frozen food, price, ease of shopping, customer support, parking, and more. Here's why:
1. Sprouts is closer and easier to get to than any of the other three, and I'm not just talking about from my house, but from many other people's houses including loyal readers.
2. Their fresh fruit and vegetables are as or even more sumptuous as WF's and cost way less.
3. The variety of frozen foods (including especially mussels that have been shelled, calamari, and fish) eclipses the other three in choice and price.
4. It's brighter and less crowded with not nearly as many shoppers, including especially those who think they are the only ones shopping (e.g., setting their carts so you can't get to an array of items).
5. The parking is a dream in terms of close-in spaces available and ease of entry and egress.
6. While it must be conceded that Fry's self-checkout picture option is a plus, the self-checkout tables at Spouts are the most spacious and the customer help is over the moon by any standard and certainly in comparison.
7. Sprouts charges you 10 cents per bag if you use their bags, appropriately encouraging shoppers to bring their own totes.
8. The employees do not have the attitude, as they do at the other places, that it's their store so customers should not expect them to make way for shopping.
9. When you go up to the fresh fish counter, the staff behind it greets you warmly and promptly, as opposed to the other places where you are made to feel like you are a burden to whatever else they are supposedly doing.
10. The only drawbacks are: (a) lack of individual rolls; (b) 50% off on sales on chuck and round roasts but that's why God invented Costco anyhow; and (c) you don't get discounts on Shell gasoline.
PS: I left TJ's out of this only because no one shops there any more except to get the Harvest pasta sauce and TJ body wash. TJ's doesn't even have self-checkout, so it's not really a grocery store.
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Okay, The Lonely Planet is totally predictable within a few minutes of its beginning. And okay, your Laura Dern can't save it. But if you've never been to Morocco, you will be enchanted by the scenery and the architecture. On the other hand, if like me, you have spent time in Morocco, whether it was your second favorite trip of all time or higher or lower on your score sheet, you'll keep watching at least for a while even if you don't make it to the halfway point. It centers around a posh retreat for writers, and confirms every prejudice you might have about writers. Perhaps the world needs a bit more mindless romantic fantasy these days, but good scenery and decent acting may be necessary, they are not sufficient to pull it off.
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Many people are stunned to see long interest rates starting to climb sharply after the Fed's 50 basis point interest rate cut. As this WSJ article explains, there are two reasons. First, and of mild concern, they are reflecting the expectation that inflation and growth won't be as low as before the pandemic. Not a big deal. Second, and of huge concern, the federal debt is on an unsustainable path and could get perilously worse if Trump wins and the Reps control the legislature. Makes your blood boil thinking about why so many supposed smart rich people back Trump. I guess the rich are never too rich to want tax breaks, no matter the harm they might cause for everyone else.
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If Trump wins, the election will be known as the election that marked the end of sanity and democracy. If Harris wins, the election will be known as the election that saved the country. But the moniker that fits both campaigns is the election that reached new heights in pandering. So, when the results are tabulated, some pundits undoubtedly will argue that pandering won the election, while others undoubtedly will argue that pandering lost the election. Makes you think.
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This Inside EVs article has an informative overview of the various at-home EV chargers and how to get installation for free.
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