Update Chrome Now

Chrome 142 is now being rolled out to three billion users to fix a whole swathe of security issues, including seven high-rated vulnerabilities. In total, 20 vulnerabilities are covered and fixed by this important security update for all Chrome users, other than, as always, those on the iOS platform. The security updates will become available to Windows, Mac and Linux users across the coming days. The version numbers should read: 142.0.7444.59/60 on Windows, 142.0.7444.60 on macOS, and 142.0.7444.59 for Linux users. 

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Switch to Verizon Offer

I have been a T-Mobile customer ever since switching from AT&T quite a few years ago when their customer support tanked. T-Mobile's customer support is not as good as it was, but I stayed with it because its coverage is quite good and it has been the least expensive of the big three (it has a plan for those 55 and over for $60 for two lines and unlimited everything). Verizon though has an interesting offer. I don't know the details or if there any gotcha-things with it, but here it is: Bring your bill from AT&T or T-Mobile into a Verizon store or upload it online, and Verizon will give you a better deal (with a 3Y price guarantee).

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Changes Coming in 2026 to Deductibility of Charitable Contributions

This Arizona Republic article provides an informative overview of the changes that are coming in 2026 to the deductibility of charitable contributions. In short, it allows for non-itemizers (which most taxpayers are) to do $2,000 (for married couples) of above-the-line (the line being AGI) deductions that they have not been able to do for several years now.

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Cautionary Note re Older Versions of Windows 11

If you bought your Windows 11 computer 2 or more years ago, it is  unlikely (because it should have updated/upgraded automatically), but possible, that you have a W11 version that Microsoft no longer supports with security updates. Type "winver" (without the quotes) into the Search bar, and if 24H2 or 25H2 comes up, you're fine. But if 23H2, 22H2, or 21H2 comes up, then read this Windows Central article as to why you should be updating your version of Windows 11.

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Alternative Start Menus for Windows 11

I have been inundated with various requests in response to a recent post about the new Windows start menu and the reference to my favorite start menu, which is the free open shell Windows 7 look. This ZDNet article provides further detail on the various fee and free options for start menus that will work with Windows 11.

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Some Tips re Setting Up a Newer Smart TV

Newer smart TVs are really AI-enabled computers with a screen. Like a computer, if there's something you want it to do, there likely is a way to do it. In fact, it probably was covered in this blog. That said, here are some tips for setting it up.

1. If possible, have the delivery team set it up for you. Not just put it on its pedestal or on the wall bracket, but actually set it up so that you don't have to do Step 4. Keep the box for 2-3 weeks in case there's a problem with the TV--the box will make for an easy return/replacement.

2. Like computers (and many other things), the first thing to do if there's a problem is to reboot the TV. How that's done is easy but varies by model. Typically it involves unplugging the TV and then pressing the power button for 30 seconds. The Google will tell you how it's done for your model TV.

3. The last thing to try is a factory reset. Again, the Google will show you how to do that for your model TV.

4. Don't forget to pair your cable box remote to the TV. Again, the Google will show you how to do that for your model TV and your model remote. In that way, when you press the power button on the remote, both the TV and cable box will turn on. There will be a setting to let you determine whether the thing will boot to the cable screen or the smart screen.

5. If your remote has a cursor/pointer, and you find that annoying, you might or might not be able to disable that function entirely. You can temporarily disable it by pressing one of the up/down/left/right buttons, and the cursor/pointer will stay off until you hit the enter button. Alternatively, you can get a remote from Amazon for under $10 that will work with your TV and won't have the cursor/pointer. In a 2 person household where one person hates the cursor/pointer and the other likes it, each can have their own remote.

6. There are countless settings on the TV, which might be divided in two sets--one you'll see on the cable screen and the other on the smart screen. Set aside some time to go through them one by one just to see what's there. It's educational and fun. And the more times you do such a sit-and-scroll settings review, the more you will understand and love your TV.

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Tip re Resolving a Problem With Amazon

Amazon can always solve a problem for you, but sometimes, many of its agents don't know how to and you need to be persistent. By way of example, if an order gets "stuck" in fulfillment, it might never ship and you won't get your money back as matters stand. While the solution is obvious, it might be the case that the problem cannot be fully understood or the solution can't or won't be implemented by any of the three agents and one supervisor you talked to by phone, or the first chat agent. But if you insist on chatting with a supervisor, the problem very well might be promptly understood and total and perfect solution implemented.

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Cautionary Note re Spencer's (in Phoenix)

Spencer's promotes itself as employee-owned. As it turns out, that's a real negative for the customer because, if you have a dispute (like when they try to snake their way out of their supposed 30-day post-sale price-match guarantee), there is no one to deal with in a managerial position above the salesperson you bought the item from. Similarly, there is no avenue to escalate a complaint you might have about the poor service you got. And they really are snakes. When it comes to TVs (and other stuff), unlike Costco which has an extended return-for-any-or-no-reason, Spencer's has no free return period. We'll see how the credit card dispute route goes, which is all one is left with when the snakes worm their way out of their supposed post-sale price-match guarantee. 

PS: Here's what Spencer's did: When you bought the TV, Spencer's matched Costco's price and extended warranty. Costco then dropped the price by $300 as did Spencer's, but, as it turns out, there is a technical issue where, although functionally equivalent, there is a letter difference in the 12 digit model number between the Spencer's and Costco's TV. There is NO difference in any function or functionality. So, while Spencer's used that Costco TV for comparison at POS (point of sale), it would not use it for the post-sale price-match-guarantee. BestBuy also dropped its price by $300 and Spencer's dropped its price by $305, but Best Buy did not include any warranty and Spencer's warranty was 2 years shorter than Costco's 5-year extended warranty, so Spencer's would not allow them under the post-sale price-guarantee-match. 

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Do NOT Use Glass Cleaner on a TV Screen

As this Southern Living article explains in no uncertain terms, modern flat screens have an anti-glare coating that reduces reflections on the glass, making it easier to watch what's on the screen. Glass cleaners like Windex contain harsh solvents that could damage or strip off the anti-glare coating. You may be left with permanent streaks, smudges, or discolored areas on your screen that distort the picture when you try to watch TV. The article goes on to explain what can be used to clean a TV screen, consistent with an earlier post here. We have been told the same guidelines apply to newer cellphones and tablets that have anti-glare coating on their screens.

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Caution and Tip re Recovering Stuff Through Microsoft OneDrive

Fiddlers beware. Don't mess around with OneDrive. Nothing you might do to it to change settings or disable it can be undone, or at least not easily, and things you do might disappear stuff. Here's one tip: If no files show up when you open OneDrive, rather than spending hours trying to figure out what's wrong, in all likelihood, you're logged in through the wrong account. Once you log in through the correct account, it takes just seconds to recover anything you accidentally deleted, and to see everything that's backed up there.

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New Windows 11 Start Menu

Many people don't like the Windows 11 start menu. Windows has come out with a new improved one as explained in this Neowin article, which describes the improvements and walks you through how to enable it. My favorite start menu was the Windows 7 version, and this XDA article will show you how to make Windows 11 (or Windows 10) look like Windows 7. It takes about 30 seconds to make the change and you can undo it easily. I particularly like being able to organize and display in one column my preferred Start Menu programs.

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PDFs in Chrome and PS re Updating Chrome

With the latest Chrome update, you can search, select, or copy text from scanned PDFs in Chrome. All you have to do is open a PDF from Chrome. It will automatically open as an interactive file in Chrome’s PDF viewer.

PS: Chrome does not tell you when an update is available, even security updates. So, you should make it a part of your weekly maintenance routine to check if a Chrome update is available. Open Chrome and click on Settings/About Chrome. Chrome will then take over and do the update in seconds.

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Canceling a Delayed Amazon Shipment and a PS re Amazon Customer Support

Once an Amazon order is being prepared for shipment, canceling it through the website more often than not will fail. But, if you call Amazon (1-800-922-0880), the rep can get through to the shipping department and cancel the order and process the refund.

PS: Calling will generally get you through to a person in under a minute. You can ignore all the prompts to have you do chat or other stuff. Just keep saying, "talk to agent."

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Baby Boomers

We were supposed to leave to our children and grandchildren a better world than we found it. Given Trump and Trumpism, I fear we failed. But, we had a great time watching professional sports get populated by new GOATS: Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Wayne Gretzky, Patrick Mahomes, and, whatever argument there might be about any of them, there is none when it comes to Shohei Ohtani.

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World Series Game 3

I've just been informed that some people did not watch game 3 of the World Series. What they were doing instead I have no clue. Putting aside Don Larsen's perfect game, it might be the greatest World Series game. It certainly had its share of memorables, including: Ohtani's having 9 at-bats, reaching base on every one, hitting 2 home runs and 2 doubles, and being intentionally walked 4 times; Freeman's ending the game with his second World Series walk-off home run (no one else has done that) and devoting his post-game interview to the bullpen's performance (very few have his class); several incredible defensive plays; a young pitcher who spent the last 2 seasons in single A ball with a 7+ ERA, had never pitched more than 3 innings and had pitched a total of 22 innings, and then pitched 4 scoreless innings in the middle of the night; 44 players appeared in the game; Kershaw comes in from the bullpen in relief first time in his HOF career; 37 runners were left on base; and the Blue Jays' manager's announcing that they would not be pitching to Ohtani any more. For those of you who apparently thought they had something better to do than watch 18 innings over a span of 6 hours and 39  minutes, here is a 5-minute recap. 

PS: The question to ask yourself if you were Dave Roberts (the Dodgers' manager) is this: If you believe that Toronto is not going to pitch to Ohtani, do you move Ohtani to batting third and Freeman to batting fourth?  My answer: I defer to Dave Roberts.

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Getting Started With Microsoft Copilot on Windows 11

This Windows Central article explains how to get started with Microsoft Copilot on Windows 11. In essence, it's a beginner's guide to the AI chatbot and its many integrations. As you'll see, Copilot is more than just an app on Windows 11, and in this guide, you'll find everything a beginner needs to get started.

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T-Mobile Retaliated

A couple of months ago, in response to T-Mobile disallowing credit cards to be used for its auto-pay, a post on this blog revealed how to use a credit card even if the merchant's auto-pay system was by checking account only. T-Mobile has now caught on, and if you do the pre-pay-by-credit-card-work-around discovered and revealed by this blog, T-Mobile will terminate your auto-pay discount (of $5). Obviously, the $1-$2 gained in cash-back from the credit card is not worth it compared to the auto-pay discount.

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Cleaning a TV

It's fairly simple to clean a TV. I'm not sure why, but it is recommended that first, make sure your television is off (or even unplugged). Be firm but not rough with newer panel TVs like LEDs and OLEDs --- you don't want to ruin the screen by pressing too hard. Using a soft material like a microfiber cloth — one that's clean and hasn't been used for anything else — will help avoid scratching the front of the TV. With hard-to-remove stains or smudges, you can use a diluted mixture of soap and water, but no alcohol. Apply moisture to the cloth, not the TV, and then wipe firmly. Sony says to use distilled water and 1 drop of detergent (soap) for an entire bowl. After wiping the screen with the damp cloth, use a dry one to remove moisture.

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Cure When Amazon Freeze's the Wrong Default Address

Like all of us, Amazon does something goofy, like reset your default address, and your re-designating the address you want to be the default doesn't cure the problem. Here's what to do: remove the encroaching address; delete the cookies on the Amazon website and reload the page; clear the cache; close the browser and re-open it; and be sure the address you want to be the default is so designated. Confirm that the issue is resolved by going through the steps to place an order to the point where the default address appears, and then, if you want, you can add the pushy address back in the address book.

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Recovering From Trump

Text of Letter to NYT: "Assuming the planet still exists, when the country is done with Trump, remediation on the policy and personnel fronts should proceed apace. But how our democracy can be restored given the Supreme Court's bestowing immunity on the president and endorsing the unitary executive theory is not so clear. The lesson of Trump 2.0 is that the Founding Fathers did not see the problem of, and hence did not build in protection against, a corrupt Supreme Court willing to undo the tripartite system they thought they had created. The post-Watergate congress had the Court at its back. The post-Trump congress will have the Court at the heart of the problem."

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Microplastics

Plastics are everywhere across the world, and have been for decades. But over the past few years, scientists fear that tiny pieces of plastic known as microplastics are polluting the globe and pose health hazards. Some microplastics are specifically used in the manufacture of certain products, others are the result of breakdown of larger bits of plastic and fibers. As such, the growth of microplastics is a phenomenon that is difficult to measure. However, much of the news about microplastics isn’t positive. How much do you know about microplastics? Take the quiz and find out.

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Why the Fed's Cutting Interest Rates Might Not Stimulate Job Growth

The Fed has two mandates: promote full employment and contain inflation. When inflation is an issue, it holds or raises rates. When job growth is anemic or worse, it cuts rates. It just cut rates and is expected to do so again this week and again in December. The Fed's stated rational is to spur job growth. The problem is, as reflected in this WSJ article, the Fed is facing "the corporate gamble of the moment: Can you run a company, increasing sales and juicing profits, without adding people? American employers are increasingly making the calculation that they can keep the size of their teams flat—or shrink through layoffs—without harming their businesses. Part of that thinking is the belief that artificial intelligence will be used to pick up some of the slack and automate more processes."

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Dealing With Cox Communications (at Least in Phoenix)

It would seem that Cox has very few, if any, telephone reps any more given the beyond-belief extended stated wait time without even saying it's a higher than usual volume. You can reach a live chat agent by going to the Cox Residential website and typing in AGENT. You might or might not be pleased how your issue was handled, but inputting your side of the chat by computer is easier than doing so by phone.

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The Case for Foreign Stocks

As the WSJ reports, the U.S. stock market has shattered dozens of records this year. It still trails the rest of the world. Mounting concern about the U.S. economy’s growth prospects and a continuing trade war have led more investors to look beyond America’s shores for stocks at attractive prices. In fact, those international stocks are on pace to outperform their U.S. counterparts by the widest margin in 16 years.

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Travel Case That Holds a Week of Clothes and Fits Under a Seat

If you hate checking luggage (as all experienced travelers do) and don't pay to upgrade your seat, there is a chance there will not be convenient or any overhead bin space for your carry-on and you will be forced to check it. That's where the Krosher 16-Inch Underseat Carry On comes in. As described in this Travel & Leisure article, even with its compact size, you can easily pack enough clothes for a long weekend, while some extra-skilled packers report being able to fit a week’s worth or more in this single bag. Its impressive capacity is partly thanks to its multiple interior and exterior pockets. In the main compartment, you have mesh pockets on the flap as well as suitcase straps to compress everything down, freeing up additional packing space. There are five additional zippered pockets of various sizes on the front and sides of the bag, helping to keep all of your essentials organized. And here's the great news: It cost just $60 on Amazon.

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Why Watching the Eagles Is So Much Fun

With Antonio Brown on IL, everyone was wondering whether DeVonta Smith would fill in on the exciting catch front. He certainly had an excellent game with 6 catches for 84 yards. But Jahan Dotson's catch was the thriller in the Eagles' demolishing the NY Giants. It even eclipsed Saquon Barkley's run on the second play from scrimmage. 

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m-Dash and n-Dash Short-Cuts in Windows 11

It used to be difficult, complex, and cumbersome to insert an m-dash or n-dash. A recent Windows 11 upgrade has made it much easier. To insert an m-dash (—), press the Win and hyphen keys. To insert an n-dash, press the Win, Shift, and hyphen keys.

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Why and How to Disable Hibernation Mode in Windows

As this XDA article explains, when you put a modern Windows system to sleep, it keeps power flowing to your RAM, so everything you were working on stays in system memory. Hibernation accomplishes the same thing, but instead of storing the state of your system in RAM, it stores the entire contents of your RAM to the disk, and powers off your system completely. Once you boot your PC back up, you pick up where you left off. The file that makes this possible is called hiberfil.sys, and it's tucked away on your system drive. Depending on how much you have opened at the time of hibernation, this file can balloon in size to over 32 GB in some cases. For small drives, that's a pretty huge chunk of storage being dedicated to a relatively niche feature, but the problems are deeper than just some extra storage use. 

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Restoring a Dishwasher's Performance

If your dishwasher is not getting your dishes as clean as it used to, as explained in this TCD article, the most likely culprit is a dirty filter. You don't need a  new one. You just need to remove it, clean it in soapy water, and replace it.

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Cruising Alternative for Retirees

Living on land in one's home or in a retirement home is expensive. As this UpWorthy article explains, one can free oneself of all the home ownership costs and hassles and spend a lot less than a retirement home would cost by living on a cruise ship full-time.

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House of Dynamite (2025 Movie on Netflix)

I'm going to say only four things about House of Dynamite beyond how its plot is summarized on IMDb: "When a single, unattributed missile is launched at the United States, a race begins to determine who is responsible and how to respond": (i) it was time to update Dr. Strangelove and Fail Safe; (ii) it's riveting (iii) it's flawed; and (iv) you can't stop thinking about this country's having entrusted its protection and its nuclear codes to a megalomaniacal, narcissistic, ignoramus suffering from dementia who has surrounded himself with and populated key security, intelligence, and military positions with unqualified, incompetent sycophants. 

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New Features on Windows 11 Snipping Tool

The Windows 11 Snipping Tool now has a visual search engine. It will enable you to learn more about the item you capture. You can also extract or translate text and even solve a math equation. This ZDNet article explains how to use it.

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Insightful Look at Bubbles

James Mackintosh's  piece entitled "Why Bubbles Keep Inflating in Plain Sight" doesn't explain when a bubble will pop, but gives insight into why it might take quite some time to do so: "[P]rofessional fund managers find it hard to sit on the sidelines. Once a bubble develops, it can go on for years. Betting against it, or even just avoiding it, means lagging behind other investors and the benchmark, and risking being fired as clients abandon the underperforming fund. This career risk led to one of the biggest ironies of the dot-com bubble when Tony Dye, head of Phillips & Drew Fund Management, part of UBS, was ejected in March 2000 after avoiding tech stocks and thus falling behind rivals’ returns. PDFM went on to be a standout performer that year, as the bubble burst the very month he left. The lesson for fund managers was clear: Your job is more secure if you stick with the crowd, even if you end up losing money when everyone else does. Of course, there is still the question of whether there is an AI bubble. Big tech stocks are extremely expensive but have been for years."

PS: A related phenomenon was seen with the dawn of mainframe computers once IBM ascended to the top position with the 360. The IT person in charge of acquisitions would likely not be fired if the IBM system they bought didn't turn out to be great. But if they chose a Univac or Honeywell system and it didn't turn out to be great, they likely would be gone in a flash. As Steve Young said, the first thing a great head coach teaches to prevent take-aways (fumbles), is that ball security is job security. 

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Toronto Is Where Baseball Actually Began

Many people believe that baseball was invented by future Civil War general Abner Doubleday on a cow pasture in Cooperstown, N.Y. in 1839. That story has since been soundly debunked—Doubleday probably wasn’t even in Cooperstown at the time he supposedly created a whole new sport. By that time, North of the border, in a small, rural village located 90 miles southwest of Toronto, the denizens of Beachville, Ontario, were already running the bases—all five of them—in an early version of North America’s pastime. Don't believe me. The WSJ says it's so. Let's hope Trump imposes sanctions on Canada until they concede that baseball was birthed in the United States.

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Ikea Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Ikea just dropped the Sotenas chair (for $299) which is its version of the Womb chair (which costs $5,000). The Sotenas is available only in yellow (as pictured below) and red. Ikea's Vedbo chair comes in better colors (as pictured below), is better looking, and costs just $50 more.

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Home Depot Online Can Beat Amazon

Say you need an entry door threshold rubber strip replacement. It will cost you $8.99 from Amazon and won't be delivered for 2 weeks and it's not a Prime item. Ace doesn't have it. But Home Depot does for $5.37 delivered in 4 days or, for $2.99, delivered the same day. And they have a delivery tracking system that's better than Amazon's in terms of being able to communicate directly with the driver if you have any special instructions or problems like delivery to the wrong place. The return policy is akin to Amazon's where you print a return label online and take the item to a UPS store. Who knew?

PS: Note that even with the same-day delivery charge, Home Depot's cost is lower than Amazon's.

PPS: If you ordered the wrong size rubber strip at 10 am, which you didn't realize until 2 pm when it arrived and you went to install it, you can order the right size at 2 pm and it will be delivered the same day.

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Using AI to Help Decide on a Short-Term Rental (STR)

There are problems basing a STR choice on the reviews. First, many savvy guests will "bargain" with the owner before posting a bad review, and obtain some concession in exchange for not posting the bad review. The net effect is a review-bias skewed toward favorable ones. Second, many STRs have 50 or more reviews making it arduous to go through them all. Third, compounding that problem, it makes sense to look at the reviews not only on the site you would be renting through, but any other site the STR might be listed on. So, here's where AI comes in: Have the bot of your choice "look at" all the reviews, focusing especially on any noted shortcomings with the STR, the owner, or the host.

PS: As we've often said here, consider VRBO and Airbnb as last resorts for your STR. Always look to see if there is a local real estate or rental site. Not only will you likely save money (avoiding the outrageously expensive service fees charged by VRBO and Airbnb), but  you also will likely get better hosting service should there be a problem or you need help.

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What Would Bring Trump Down

Text of Letter to NYT: "Living as we all do in what is now Trump world, it's as if we are sitting in the backseat of a giant SUV with a drunk driver at the wheel as it careens down the highway well over the speed limit. We know a lot of people are going to get hurt and a lot of property damaged, but the question is: What brings this vehicle to a stop? Barring an external existential intervention, the answer appears to be nothing unless the stock market or the bond market or both blow up (or something even worse like a depression or a war). In sum, Trump's cultists and the sycophants around him will never abandon him (you get eaten when you get off the tiger), and as long as the wealth effect parties on, worries about the fate of democracy or anything else are for another day."

PS: To raise the likelihood of publication, the above letter text modified the first line of an earlier draft, which, clearly more accurate, read as follows: "Living as we all do in what is now Trump world, it's like we are all sitting in the back seat of a giant SUV, as it is careening down a highway well over the speed limit, while being driven by a drunken man with dementia and the self-control of a 2-yo." 

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Tip on Dishwasher Best Practices: Why You Gotta Love Wirecutter

Wirecutter has info you might not find anywhere else. Most recently, this: "Depending on the material your adult toy is made of, it may be safe to wash in the dishwasher. You can deep-clean non-mechanized 100% silicone, stainless steel, and borosilicate glass toys by placing them on the top rack of the dishwasher after surface-cleaning them. Run the dishwasher on the sanitize cycle without soap, which is too harsh to be used with sex toys. And keep in mind that our experts don’t recommend this method if you share the dishwasher with people other than your sexual partner(s)."

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Practicality of AI-Powered Smart Glasses

If you thought smart glasses were an idea without a use, take a look at what Amazon is doing with them to help delivery associates deliver packages more safely and efficiently, which in turn improves customer delivery experiences. The glasses can scan packages, display turn-by-turn walking directions, and capture an image of the delivery hands-free, helping drivers stay focused and avoid reaching for their phones. Powering it all is AI and machine learning. The glasses use AI-powered sensing, computer vision, and a camera to create a "heads-up display" that can showcase navigation details, hazards, and delivery tasks, as stated in the release. The smart glasses also enable them to locate the package in the truck, displaying different alerts when the package is identified. Lastly, to safely deliver the driver to the destination, it navigates them to the delivery address with turn-by-turn walking navigation powered by Amazon's geospatial technology. If there are hazards on the way, the smart glasses will guide the delivery associate accordingly to ensure a safe delivery to their destination. The two cameras in the front of the glasses also capture a photo of the package that was delivered to the doorstep, which is typically done using a smartphone. In the future, the company anticipates that the glasses will be able to detect real-time mistakes, alerting the driver if they mistakenly drop the package at the wrong house or apartment, send notifications when a pet is in the yard, and perform other functions.

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Mob War: Philadelphia vs. The Mafia (3EP Documentary on Netflix)

If the first 15 minutes of Mob War are indicative, only people who enjoy boredom will last beyond that point.

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Cautionary Note re Addressing Amazon Orders

Even if you have yourself set as the default shipping address, if say you sent a stick vacuum as a birthday present to someone at a different address, the next thing you order from Amazon, say a keyboard, will default to that birthday person's address. While they can return it and you'll get your money back, obviously, if it's something they might like anyhow, to avoid being considered a clueless jerk, you have to offer it as a further birthday present, and buy yourself yet another keyboard.

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Downside of Passkeys

At least some, if not most or all, websites that use a passkey require, to set up the passkey and use the passkey, that the computer or phone have some lock screen enabled (e.g., pin, facial recognition). They, and they know who they are, don't tell you that. So, I'm telling you that so you don't go through a very frustrating experience where you had to figure that out because they, and they know who they are, didn't have any clue as to the issue. Bottom-line: If you have your computer and phone set to boot up to the home screen or desktop without having to put in a pin or show a bio-metric, stay away from passkeys (or at least those that require such a so-called "security" feature.

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Understanding the AI Bubble

Bubbles from tulips to the entire stock market to dot.com stocks to houses are marked by two things: The prices paid for the underlying asset go up while the purchases of those assets is increasingly on borrowed money, otherwise known as margin or leverage. The triggering event for the popping of the bubble is a margin call. Preceding the popping of the bubble is the shibboleth that "this is different," and each time there is indeed a different name that makes it seem so (e.g., sub-prime, collateralized mortgages). As this WSJ article explains, "'Circularity' has become a buzzword in artificial-intelligence deals. Some investors have drawn comparisons between the megadeals of today and some excesses of the original dot-com bubble. Today the dollars at stake are exponentially bigger, the deals are more complex, and the money trail is often harder to follow. But some similarities are real." If you are in AI stocks or a market-weighted S&P 500 ETF, you are betting that there is no bubble, or that you will get out before one pops, or that everything will turn out fine in the long run.

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Settings Widget

When they took away my beloved Power Widget Lite, I felt like throwing my phone away. As it turns out, Settings Widget is even better. Unlike the meagre adjustments one could make with Power Widget Lite, the adjustments in Settings Widget are robust, allowing for: as many rows as you want (I like a single row), as many buttons/tasks as you want on each row (I like 8 (Wi-Fi; Bluetooth; Sound; Volume; Brightness; Rotation; Airplane Mode; GPS; and AutoSync), size, transparency, and more. Putting that row on the Home Screen greatly simplifies and speeds up your key function changes. You might be able to put it on other screens as well and perhaps with different arrays. There are no ads so I either paid the couple of bucks for the Pro version or there actually are no ads.

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Free, Responsible, Safe Disposal of Electronics

Techbros provides businesses and individuals with secure, sustainable, and cost-free disposal and recycling of electronics. It's available at least in Arizona, California, and New Mexico, and maybe where you are.

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New Kind of Hybrid That Just Might Be the Future

There are automakers that have flipped the hybrid idea on its head. They will have an Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) powertrain featuring electric drive that’s supported by an internal combustion “range extender.” It’s much simpler than a “conventional” hybrid system as the internal combustion engine isn’t connected to the wheels—it’s merely acting as a generator for the battery.

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The March That's Needed

The "No Kings" march was to be applauded, both in terms of the turnout and the decorum. That said, it stood for what we are against. The march that is needed should focus on what we are for: "Dems, keep standing up to Trump and the Reps--Keep healthcare available."

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Best Deals on Cellphone Plans: Metro by T-Mobile

Metro by T-Mobile is T-Mobile's prepaid option, and it looks to be the best deal for cellphone service. By way of example, a single line with unlimited talk, text, and data cost $40/month (guaranteed for 5 years) including all taxes and fees, and two lines cost $65/month (guaranteed for 5 years). There are plans with additional benefits (e.g., an included Amazon Prime membership and 25GB of hotspot data which is very useful if you have an internet outage). It uses the same network as T-Mobile postpaid uses, which now is considered to have the best coverage. They also have a great price on home internet service (which you can try for free).

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How Much Storage Does a Laptop Need

One of the most common questions I get asked as a tech journalist is, "How much storage do I need in my laptop?" My first response is, “What will you use the laptop for?” Answering this question is a pretty foolproof way to determine how much storage you need on a laptop. If, like most people, you plan on using your laptop for email and other basic home office tasks, web browsing, and streaming your favorite content, then you really don’t need much storage at all. You could save yourself quite a bit of money by choosing a laptop with 256GB instead of paying more for extra space you won’t use. However, that is the lowest amount I'd recommend. You will find cheaper laptops with just 128GB of storage, but I would stay away from those. With every software update, the amount of room Windows and MacOS take up on your laptop grows, and all the apps and things you use on a regular basis continue to get larger and more complex as well.

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Insightful Traffic Study and a Waymo PS

You would think that with all the safety/alert stuff on new vehicles that there would be fewer accidents and fatalities. Not so. Apparently the feeling of safety and the prevalence of SUVs has resulted in people driving faster, more recklessly, and hitting more pedestrians. It also appears there won't be a major breakthrough on these fronts until driverless vehicles becomes the norm. In the meantime, Amsterdam was very concerned with vehicle safety, and retained the leading Dutch expert to make recommendations, and he came up with a doozy: Take away all traffic signs, lights, warnings, and lane and other markings, and see what happens. They tried it in a designated area, and, yup, you guessed it, accidents and collisions went virtually to zero. Why? Yup, you don't need me to tell you. But, the people hated it, so the idea never took root beyond the experiment.

PS: Waymo to date is concentrated in warm climes. In part, that is because a Waymo vehicle's ability to see a stop sign covered in snow is challenging. While Waymo's technology is designed to work in a variety of conditions, including snow, a completely covered stop sign could be difficult to detect. The system relies on a combination of cameras, lidar, and radar, and if the sign is completely obscured, it may not be able to "see" it. Waymo is actively developing and testing its systems to improve performance in winter weather, and newer versions may have a better ability to handle these situations. 

PPS: The stop-sign-covered-with-snow problem is akin to the problem reported in this blog. I was driving North on a 2 lane road that was being repaved and the yellow median line had been covered over. With the "erasure" of the median line, a Waymo traveling West and then turning onto the street and heading South came right at me on my side of the road. It's crash warning system brought it to a halt.

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Helpful Google Map Gestures

This article sets out the gestures you can use on Google Maps which will enhance and improve the Google Map experience--making driving less stressful, safer, and smoother: Swipe Left and Right on the Direction Box; Re-center Map; Two Finger Rotate; Add a Stop; Report An Accident; Turn Voice On/off; Share Trip Progress; Download Offline Maps; and Change Route.

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Restarting an Android Phone Without Touching the Power Button

Swipe down twice from the top of the screen, and you will see a power button image at the top of the screen or in the lower right corner of the screen. Tap on it and up will come the options to shut-down or restart.

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Waymo Solves the Food Delivery Problem

The problem with having food/meals delivered is dealing with the driver-deliverer First, it's a person you have to deal with and everything is better if you don't have to deal with a person. Second, tipping before you get the food/meal makes no sense, but not tipping runs a risk of poor service. Third, determining the appropriate tip amount is problematic. Waymo to the rescue. When you order through Door Dash, there is an option to have the food/meal delivered by Waymo. The app will enable you to pop the trunk of the Waymo when it arrives, and if Waymo is true to form, you will get a precise and accurate heads-up as to the arrival time. 

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Season 3 of The Diplomat (Netflix Series)

Season 3 of The Diplomat has dropped. An acquaintance has seen 4 EPs and says it's the best season ever. He looks to be spot on. We just watched EP1 and it was FANTASTIC. What would have been really cool would have been to cast Matthew Rhys for the part taken by Rufus Sewell, although he is superbly casted.

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Cautionary Note re Colonoscopies

[Prefatory Note: This note is based on a real life incident but not one of any person who puts out or reads or even knows about this blog]

The prep for a colonoscopy is horrible. As it turns out, it is possible to do the prep exactly as instructed and yet, when you show up for the colonoscopy, you might not be clear enough to allow for a proper exam, and are told you will need to do a 2-day prep. If the doctor is cooperative, it might be possible to have the procedure done the next day, i.e., you continue the prep routine and will then have completed a 2-day prep. But, even if the doctor is cooperative, if say it's a Friday, and the facility is not open on Saturday, you are SOL, and will have to reschedule, and do a new full 2-day prep. So, when you schedule a colonoscopy, you might discuss what would be done if you turn out to be a 2-day prepper. 

PS: If they proceeded with the colonoscopy and then discovered you were not clear enough, and stopped the exam, they will have charged anyhow and been reimbursed insurance-wise. But insurance would not cover the "make-up test."

PPS: Yeah, like there's any wonder why people hate the medical profession, doctors, and insurers.

PPPS: If a lawyer said to a client, I can't help you on my day off, or on a weekend, or at night, and you can't have my phone number or email address, and it's none of your concern that I make hundreds of thousands of dollars per year and my spouse and I each have Teslas parked in the reserved shaded spots in the parking lot--leaving the unshaded spots for the clients/patients, how do you think that lawyer's career would go?

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Best Internet Connection for TV: Ethernet

Wi-Fi is wonderful given that there is no need to run any wire to connect a device to the internet. But the more devices that are connected, the greater the likelihood there will be lag or buffering, which is particularly annoying when streaming a movie or live event on the TV. So, if you can, the one device to connect to the modem by ethernet is the TV. If your modem/router is near your TV, all it takes is plugging one end of an ethernet cable into the TV and the other into the modem or router. If you can also plug your computer into your modem or router by ethernet, so much the better.

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Biggest Fears Haunting the Market and Hedging Against Them

This WSJ article sets out these five (5) bear scenarios facing the market, and what, if anything, you might do to protect your portfolio: (i) bond market blow-up--do nothing or buy AAA corporate bonds; (ii) the AI stock market bubble will pop--shift to equal weighted S&P 500 index, value stocks, or defensive stocks (healthcare, utilities, energy companies); (iii) geopolitical risks such as China military aggression--buy defense stocks; (iv) stagflation--buy real assets; and (v) the dollar crumbles--buy gold and emerging markets.

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Efficacy of Home Alarm Security Signs

Studies confirm that burglars -- around 83% surveyed -- are scared off by signs that an alarm system is present, and one of the most straightforward is a sign or window sticker. But avoid cheap, fake signs, which are usually easy to recognize by someone thinking about a break-in. 

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ChatGPT Atlas Browser

Although available only for Macs right now, the ChatGPT Atlas Browser is coming soon to Windows. Click on the link and you'll see how cool (and clean) it is for a browser to be AI-based. While we have long preferred Chrome over Firefox, Edge, and other browsers, this one is going to get a serious lookie loo. Even if one keeps Chrome, Atlas is made to run along aside it.

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Best Laptops per Wirecutter

Here is Wirecutter's latest list of best laptops.

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Tesla FSD vs Waymo

Tesla's and Waymo's driverless technologies are dramatically different. Tesla's is based on cameras. Waymo's is based on radar and lidar sensors. Tesla "sees" what's around it but doesn't know exactly how near or far anything is. Waymo does. In short, it's like dogs and cats or apples and oranges or day and night or Trump and human being.

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Shohei Ohtani's Performance

Everyone knows what Ohtani did last week, and everyone agrees there has never been a performance like that in MLB, and perhaps in all of team sport, and perhaps in all of sport. There's nothing more to say, and only one question to ask: Will there ever be a performance in any sport that beats it?

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Retail Outlet TV Prices

[Note: This post does not apply to Amazon, because we don't consider buying substantial electronics from Amazon given their so-called return policy]

If you are looking for a new TV, you might have three retail outlet options: Costco, Best Buy, and a local outlet (e.g., Spencer's in Phoenix). The one constant as to pricing is that the price on any particular TV can change in a day or even several times within a day. Another constant is that, with the exception of Costco (which might give a member-alert 10 days or so ahead), you don't know when the price is going to change and it can go higher as well as lower. Another constant is that, while warranties and related services/fees (re delivery, setup, and carry-away) might differ, the three outlets almost always have the same price for any particular TV, and when they change they change in unison. Another constant is the TV you bought today might see a price rise or a price drop the next day. Another constant is that the ability to get a price-guarantee-window is not the same at each outlet. Another constant is that it's a good idea to hold onto the box for 2-3 weeks because, if the TV has a problem early on, they will do a swap-aroo if you have box, but arrange for a repair if you don't. Another constant is that, with the exception of your local outlet, it is difficult if not impossible to have one sales person for you to deal with from pre-sale through sale through post-sale.

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Gallery View in Windows File Explorer

The new Gallery tab in Windows File Explorer brings all the photos and videos on your PC into one place, similar to the Photos app on your phone. When you open it, you're greeted with large, edge-to-edge thumbnails that make browsing quick and effortless. This way, you can easily spot the right shot instantly without opening a single file. Everything is automatically sorted by date, so finding that vacation photo from last summer or last week’s project shots takes no time at all. You can even use the File Explorer search bar to pinpoint specific images by name, tag, or metadata. 

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Emergency Restart Windows 11

Emergency Restart is a 'last resort' method that forcefully resets your computer when it's stuck in a loop. To access Emergency Restart, press the CTRL + ALT + DEL keys on your Windows PC, but hold down the CTRL key and click the power button in the bottom-right corner of the screen. This action leads to a message on screen stating that you're attempting an Emergency Restart, adding "Click OK to immediately restart. Any unsaved data will be lost." The statement concludes, "Use this only as a last resort." Click "OK", and your computer will turn off and back on as normal. This is an alternative way to force a reset to holding the power button down until the computer turns off.

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Speeding Bootup

When you power on your computer, Windows assigns resources to all programs and services that launch automatically. These resources may be CPU time, RAM, and disk I/O (input/output from the hard drive or SSD). The more of these automatic tasks there are, the more resources they consume, and the longer it takes for the computer to boot or become ready to use. These startup tasks may include cloud sync services (OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud), messaging apps (Discord, Teams, Zoom), and game/utility preloaders, and others that you don't use or need to boot up  automatically. On Windows, there are two free tools you can use to fix this. With Task Manager: Click the Startup apps tab and sort the list by Startup impact, select a startup app and click Disable. With Sysinternals Autoruns: Install Autoruns, click the Logon tab, and uncheck any names you recognize but don’t need.  

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Note on the "No Kings" Rallies

The "No Kings" rallies are fine, as they dramatize that a continuing huge number of people are not pleased with the state of the union. But, generally speaking, a concrete rallying cry is more powerful than a more ethereal one (e.g., Trump's "Make America Great Again" or Obama's "Yes, We Can" are better than  Harris's "A New Way Forward" or Clinton's "Stronger Together"). In that context, "No More Trump" would seem to be a more concrete and focused rallying cry than "No Kings." Even "Alexa, change the president" would be good.

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Must Have USB-C Air Pump

This small air pump from Cycplus, which fits in any bag while on the go. Not only can it inflate a bicycle tire in two minutes at the touch of a button, but it’s also USB-charged. According to the manufacturer, it’s suitable for mountain bikes, road bikes, motorcycles, and even cars. In addition to being an air pump, this practical gadget can also be used as a flashlight or power bank for on-the-go use — all things that come in very handy on a bike ride. And it costs just $35), which is a bargain if you need quick help with a flat tire.

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Pop Up Blocker for Chrome

Poper Blocker is simple and relatively small, so it doesn't occupy space on your system resources. The moment you install it in Chrome, it starts silently blocking disruptive, distracting full-screen or on-screen pop-ups. Cautionary Note: While highly recommended, you might find that YouTube "thinks" Poper Blocker is an ad-blocker and, unless you uninstall it, you can't get onto YouTube. 

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Hard Acceleration Actually Extends EV Battery Life by 195K Miles

As this AutoBlog article reports, new peer-reviewed research led by Stanford and published in Nature Energy found that EV battery life improves when cells experience the power “pulses” you get in real traffic. Compared with the old lab routine of perfectly steady charge/discharge cycles, dynamic driving extended usable life by up to 38%. Translate that into the road and you’re looking at roughly 195,000 extra miles (about 300,000 km) before a pack hits its end-of-life threshold. That’s the kind of number that changes purchase math and peace of mind.

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Depreciation Rates of EVs vs Hybrids vs ICE Cars

It gave me a headache so I stopped reading it, but this analysis appears to provide an informed view on the topic. One interesting, albeit not surprising, fact is that, when it comes to EVs, higher priced EVs depreciate much faster than lower priced EVs.

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Disabling Auto Play Previews on Netflix

Netflix is the easiest streaming site to browse. But its Auto Play of previews is incredibly annoying. That's why I disabled this feature and have never turned it back on, and it's easy to  do. It can be done only via Netflix's website or the mobile app, but it applies across all of your devices (such as a smart TV). It's also customizable per profile, meaning you can disable it just for yourself without changing the behavior of other profiles on your Netflix account. On your web browser, Go to Netflix's website, select "Manage Profiles"/ Under the "Profile Settings" heading, select the profile you wish to adjust / Under the "Preferences" heading, select "Playback Settings"/ Click "Autoplay previews whilst browsing on all devices." to remove the checkmark / Click "Save".

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How College Football Plays Are Called

This fascinating WSJ article explains how many colleges call football plays: "At some point every Saturday, on college football sidelines around the country, there comes a moment when head coaches must make a game-changing decision. And when they do, they often rely on the teachings of a single, 87-page volume they all keep on their bookshelves. It isn’t a manual authored by Bill Walsh or Nick Saban or any of college football’s greatest minds. Nor is it a classic of military strategy like Sun Tzu’s Art of War. This seminal text is a color-coded guide written by a suburban dad from Atlanta who never played a down of competitive football."

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Possible Hedge Against a Market Correction

 A rekindled trade war, loan losses at regional banks, and a growing unease about the prolonged run-up in artificial intelligence stocks has triggered the most turbulent stretch for the markets since April, with volatility putting investors on edge and, with markets hitting all time highs, the hottest trades in jeopardy. One big gainer: the Cboe Volatility Index, or VIX. Known as Wall Street’s fear gauge, the VIX tracks expectations for stock swings over the next 30 days, based on what investors will pay for options tied to the S&P 500 index. When fear is rising, traders are typically more likely to pay up for options to protect their portfolios, meaning the VIX tends to spike when the market swoons. The VIX rose as high as 28.99 on Friday, doubling its recent level and hitting its most elevated midday level since late April. Investors are also piling into options that would pay out if the VIX surges to 47.5 and 50. We are NOT advising doing that. We are suggesting you might investigate doing so on your own or with your financial advisor.

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Benefits of Newer TVs

If you have an older TV and are streaming through a smart stick (e.g., Fire or Roku), you would really enjoy a newer TV that has all the apps built in and updateable. Further, the switching from broadcast TV to streaming and back is much faster, and the remote control (once you get over the initial learning hump) is much easier to navigate through the various functions and settings.

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Best Intermediate TV and It's on Sale at Costco on October 20

There are decent inexpensive TVs (bargain TVs) and fabulous high-end TVs (premier TVs), but in the desirable intermediate level, there is one TV that shines above all others by every rating service and most pointedly by rtings.com, the overall best rating service. It's the LG C5, available in sizes from 42" to 83". The 83" is a bit pricey, but the 65" and 77" are well-priced. They go on sale on October 20 at Costco at substantially lower prices than they are today. Giddyup. 

PS: They also just went on sale at BestBuy for a bit less than Costco's price, but their delivery and set-up are cumbersome and goofy.

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Final PS re Palms Mediterranean Kitchen (Phoenix Restaurant)

We did several blog posts on this restaurant, the last one entitled How Not to Run a Restaurant. We explained that having good food at good prices with good portions was not enough to keep a restaurant in business when its customer service (both personally and through its website) was deficient. They didn't listen. They are now out of business. We have a 56-second video of how they dealt with one customer.

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Flying Cars: Better Than a Tesla and They Are Here Now

While I will never have the joy of driving with a 15" display in a Tesla 3, as this WSJ article reports, the Pivotal BlackFly is here and is as easy to learn to fly as it is to learn how to drive a car. It's eVTOL (electric vertical take off and landing) and it's amphibian as well. The BlackFly practically flies itself; the pilot only points it in the desired direction. The flight controller’s guidance/ navigation/control (GNC) software maintains stability and attitude by manipulating differences in thrust among the eight rotors, much like a typical camera drone. 

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Keeping Laptop USB Ports Clean

USB-C ports are a bit smaller than their USB-A counterparts. That doesn’t protect them from getting dirty. Over time USB-C ports will collect dust, grime, and debris that can even make it difficult to insert a cable. If you have USB-C ports building up dirt and grime, this guide will show you how to safely clean them. If you use your laptop principally at home, you might put USB drives or plugs into any ports that are open, i.e., that you are not using.

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MLB Payrolls: Buying Into the Post Season?

As the Arizona Republic reports, two of the remaining MLB playoff teams (the Dodgers and the Blue Jays) have two of the five top payrolls. The other two (the Mariners and the Brewers) are ranked 16th and 23rd. Makes you think.

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This Time It's Different: Again

Greg Ip's piece in the WSJ argues that, while the AI boom (aka bubble) "has a lot in common with its predecessors, such as leveraged buyouts in the 1980s, dot-com stocks in the 1990s, and housing in the 2000s: stocks at nosebleed valuations, easy credit for risky borrowers, faddish new financial products, [b]ut something about it feels different. The speculative fever has spread well beyond the usual stocks, bonds and property. Crypto, a brand-new asset class, is now valued at some $4 trillion. Americans bet $150 billion on sports last year, up 24% from 2023, according to the American Gaming Association. Gold, a hedge against bubbles, is looking bubbly itself. Speculation has become woven into today’s political, economic and cultural psyche. And official Washington, instead of leaning against the speculation, is egging it on: the Federal Reserve is lowering interest rates, the Trump administration is loosening regulations across the financial system, and President Trump’s own family is cashing in. ... The current view in Washington is that under Biden, regulators stifled innovation and growth, drove an exciting new industry abroad and deprived ordinary Americans of new ways to build wealth. Today, working-class investors are flocking to all these markets: stocks, betting and crypto. They are beneficiaries of a new age of democratic finance. Or the last invitees to a party that’s going to end."

PS: Meanwhile, as to the economy, as these WSJ articles report, grocery prices keep climbing, even Ikea has to raise prices because of the tariffs, the leap in SOFR (Secured  Overnight Funding Rate) signals a coming liquidity crisis, oil prices are cratering in fear of a global economic slowdown, and a data blackout leaves the Fed flying blind.

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Notice on US Department of Treasury Website

"The radical left has chosen to shut down the United States government in the name of reckless spending and obstructionism. As a result, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s websites will only be sporadically updated until this shutdown concludes."

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Assessing Blame for the Shutdown

I don't begin to understand what this AP result means, but I fear it's not great for the Dems:

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Daily Spelling Bee Flaw

The Answers for the previous day's Spelling Bee often (too often) will show words without a check mark--meaning they purportedly were not on your answer list--that you actually had put in. Today, they had two such words on my list. So, I'm going to start copying my answers, and when it happens again, I'll have the proof and we'll get to the bottom of this.

PS: I know the SB is not singling me out, as others have reported the same problem.

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What the Bot Says About Choosing Between a 77" TV and 65" TV

 77" TV viewing experience

• Immersive: 

  A larger screen, like a 77", provides a more cinematic, "in-the-room" feeling that fills more of your field of view. 
• Ideal for: Cinematic movies and gaming: 

  It excels at making you feel like you are inside the action, which is ideal for single-player games or watching movies. 
• Best viewing distance: 

  Around 10.2 to 10.6 feet, though you may be closer for certain activities. 
• Considerations: 

  Can feel too large for casual TV watching or for those who prefer to see the whole picture at once, especially in smaller rooms. 

65" TV viewing experience

• Balanced and versatile: 

  Offers a comfortable, immersive experience for a wide range of uses, such as casual TV watching, and is less likely to be overwhelming. 
• Ideal for: Mixed use and smaller rooms: 

  A good compromise for mixed-use living rooms where different people will be using it for different purposes, such as multiplayer gaming or watching a variety of shows. 
• Best viewing distance: 

  Around 7.5 to 8.9 feet for 4K content. 
• Considerations: 

  Might feel small if you are sitting further away than the recommended distance or if you are looking for the most cinematic experience possible. 

How to choose

• Consider your viewing distance: 

  Measure the distance from your couch to where the TV will be. If your distance falls into the range for a 77", a 77" may be a better fit for an immersive experience. 
• Think about what you watch: 

  If you primarily watch movies and cinematic games, you will likely get more enjoyment from a larger screen. If you mostly watch news or sports, a smaller screen may be fine. 
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