MLB

Whether you like the Phillies, hate 'em, or don't care about 'em, if you missed Game 2 of their wildcard playoff game against Atlanta, you missed a game that will go down in the baseball annals as a game for the ages. After Harper did this (which astoundingly was not called an error) to give Atlanta the lead in the 8th, Harper followed Schwarber's home run in the ninth with his own home run to tie Atlanta in the ninth. And then the Phillies (the visiting team) won in the 10th by taking the a 1-run lead with a Bohm home run followed by a walk-off strikeout on an ABS challenge in the bottom of the 10th.  

 [EOP]

Simple Way to Cash In on Higher Yields

The yield curve has yet to invert, i.e., where short term rates are higher than long term, but the gap has been getting increasingly smaller. As a result, as Telos Delos explains, if you don't need the cash, 2Y treasuries pay you almost as much dividend-wise as 5Y or 10Y, so it's a nice place to park cash with a no-premium risk and no interest rate risk (except the opportunity risk). 

[EOP]

Another Guess re Bust of the AI Boom

No one knows what the stock market holds for AI, i.e., will the boom continue or might there be a blow up. Everyone is making their guess, either explicitly or by default. Asa Fitch's take is interesting, suggesting that "memory stocks remain as good a proxy as there is for investors’ belief in the boom’s staying power. Right now, the conviction isn’t especially strong."

[EOP]

The Gap Between Rich and Super Rich Widens

It's not your imagination. As the WSJ reports, the ultrawealthy aren’t just pulling away from average Americans. Buoyed by a stock market boom that has added trillions of dollars to their net worth, now the extremely rich are even pulling away from other rich Americans. The top 0.1% wealthiest Americans have seen their total wealth more than double since the end of 2019, according to new data from the Federal Reserve. The 0.1% now control about $28 trillion, or about 15% of the nation’s total wealth, which amounts to nearly $186 trillion. The average wealth for a household in this group is over $200 million. As of 2022 you had to have at least $45.8 million to be in the top 0.1%, according to the most detailed data available from the Fed. With wealth among the group up by about 50% since then, that threshold is much higher now. Our democracy is under attack by Trump and his MAGA cult for sure, but the new robber barons of our New Gilded Age do not make for healthy democracy either.

[EOP]

Urban Fraiche (North Central Phoenix Restaurant)

The Urban Fraiche website has almost no pictures of its servings, which is a shame, because they are beautifully presented. It's a Moroccan-style Mediterranean restaurant which we haven't tried yet, and while it's a bit pricey they next time I have a craving for goat or lamb and don't care how much the meal cost, we'll be trying it. Per the website, it would be a great place to try for restaurant week, but that ended 2 weeks ago. We've informed them as such.

[EOP]

Lanterns (2026 Series on Hulu and HBO/MAX)

Lanterns follows new recruit John Stewart and Lantern legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, Earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland. Okay, it sounds weird and it might not be for everyone. But, it was recommended by someone who is not a sci-fi guy, who said this: "The first episode is sooooooo good. It's sci fi, but good characters, well acted, and an interesting plot." We agree. Kyle Chandler is always a delight and the woman sheriff (Kelly Macdonald) was the therapist in Department Q. There are many out-loud laugh funny scenes, and the quote that has now gone viral is spot on: "There's nothing better than eating off another man's grill." Finally, Laura Linney appears at some point in the series.

[EOP]

Better Solution Than Wi-Fi Extenders

This engadget article explains why wi-fi extenders might do the job of extending coverage in certain cases, they cannot make a weak signal stronger. So, as the article goes on to explain, in looking to have better and stronger blanket coverage, the more effective way is to improve and broaden the network's signal strength.

[EOP]

GLP-1 for Conditions Other Than Weight Loss

As the WSJ reports, certain GLP-1s are approved or being explored for uses beyond weight loss and diabetes, including sleep apnea, kidney disease, endometriosis, Crohn’s disease, and alcohol and other addictive disorders. Relatedly, as this News Medical Science Reports article explains, research makes a strong case for broader use of GLP1 drugs to protect hearts. As encouraging as it is to see the medical breakthroughs, one can only wonder how many lives will be lost waiting to get the MAHA cultists out of the government and sent off to wherever they came from with Dark Ages dystopian view of the world.

[EOP]

Home vs Lab Testing for Sleep Apnea

As this Acibadem article explains, most adults with classic obstructive sleep apnea symptoms, loud snoring, witnessed breathing pauses, and daytime sleepiness, can start with a physician-ordered at-home sleep apnea test. An in-lab sleep study is the better choice if you have significant heart or lung disease, suspected central sleep apnea, another sleep disorder, or a negative home test despite ongoing symptoms. Both tests require a clinician's order and professional interpretation.

[EOP]

Trump Stops Short for the First Time

Trump signed an Executive Order to replace the term “Artificial Intelligence” (“AI”) with “Super Intelligence” (“SI”). The Order directs all departments and agencies to use the terms “Super Intelligence” and “SI” in all official correspondence, public communications, policy documents, and non-statutory documents within the executive branch and to no longer acknowledge the terms “Artificial Intelligence” or “AI." I'm not surprised Trump felt the need to do a rebranding of something I don't really understand and I know he doesn't. But I am surprised he didn't call for AI to be called ASI (American Super Intelligence) or TSI (Trump Super Intelligence). That said, I just wonder how long it will take his New Gilded Age kiss-ups to him (from Bezos to Musk to Zuckerberg to the Nvidia guy to Ellison and on and on) to adopt the SI nomenclature. I'm sticking with AI both in my work, my writing, and in every other way.

[EOP]

NFL Highlights

Highlights of every NFL game can be seen on YouTube. So, for example, if you missed the end of the Ravens/Cowboys game, you can see the last 1.5 minutes there, which is MUST SEE game-ending from being robbed to amazing revenge.

[EOP]

Verifying Messages From Amazon and Others

If you receive an email, text, or phone call claiming to be from Amazon, you can now check whether it's legitimate. There are three easy ways to verify: (i) Log in on the Amazon shopping app or on Amazon.com and type your question into the Alexa for Shopping chat, for example, "Did Amazon email me?" or "Did Amazon call me?"; (ii) you can also visit the Identify a Scam page to submit any message for verification; and (iii) submit your question or forward a specific email to verify@amazon.com. If Amazon sent the message, you'll know in moments. The important bottom line: Do NOT engage with a merchant message in any way before verifying. While Amazon is more protective than other sites, the basic lesson here applies to any message or phone call: Do NOT engage with the merchant without first verifying by going to the merchant's actual site on your own and not through the email or phone call you received.

[EOP]

Applauding Scottie Scheffler's Sportsmanship

I didn't watch even a minute of The President's Cup, but I heard about this, and it's to be applauded: While Nico Echavarria was in the middle of his backswing on the 14th tee, a spectator shouted out mid-swing, disrupting his shot. Scottie Scheffler's Reaction: Visibly frustrated, Scheffler immediately turned to bark at the crowd that "there's no place for that." The Concession: After Echavarria hit his third shot over the back of the green, Scheffler conceded the long par putt to halve the hole, ensuring his opponent wasn't penalized on the scoreboard for the fan's poor behavior. American fans are jerks. One has to wonder if Tiger would have done as admirable a thing as Scheffler did.

[EOP]

WNBA Playoffs

The WNBA playoffs have begun and, if you're not watching, your missing a real treat. The stunning upset of Minnesota by New York was something to behold, as was the jaw-dropping performance of A'ja Wilson in trouncing (to our sorrow) the Indiana Fever (with a lackluster appearance by Caitlin Clark notwithstanding one stellar assist). Putting aside the refereeing which is at best bizarre, the joy, enthusiasm, athleticism, speed, and effort these kids bring to the court make for great TV (and there's little wasted time as there is with other sports).

[EOP] 

How to Know If the AI Boom Will Pop

AI related stocks have been driving the market in the face of geopolitical risk, rise in interest rates, and other headwinds. Many have predicted this boom will pop and have missed out on substantial gains waiting for it to happen. That is not to say that they have been wrong. It could be they have just been early. This piece by Jonathan Weil takes a insightful look at the matter from an historical perspective and concludes as follows: "Booms need continuous flows of fresh capital to perpetuate themselves. History shows they can start turning into busts the moment the window to raise new capital closes. Tipping points can happen suddenly, or as a slow-motion capitulation. But we’re not there yet. Here is a signal to watch for in the meantime: See if the term 'funding gap' returns to the market’s vernacular. Along with 'burn rate,' funding gap became part of the financial lexicon in 2000, as the dot-com bubble was starting to deflate."

[EOP]

Milestone We Don't Mark Any More

The bots keep hitting this blogsite at the rate of 20K-to-40K per day. So we don't mark milestones any more. If we did, we would note we just went over 4M hits.

[EOP]

Youth (2026 Series on HBO/MAX and Hulu)

The audience split about half way through of EP1 of Youth, half of which walked out and the other half pressed ahead seeing it as a possible series to continue with but not without reservations. Everyone agreed it was quite, unduly so, explicit on the you-know-what-front. They differed on what half saw humor at various points, the other half saw overdone, stylized scripting. The draw of the series is the star, Sharon Horgan, who was fantastic in Catastrophe and might ultimately save this series. It is the story of a 50-year-old divorcee who juggles dating life while taking care of her parents who were annoying beyond belief for some in the audience and her adult son who also didn't ring true to many in the audience. In short, it's a story worth telling, and it's a story made for Sharon Horgan to tell, but some might find the script not up to telling the story as well as it should be told. It's just a half-hour so no big loss trying it on and see if it fits.

[EOP] 

National Sigh of Relief and a Note re MLB TV Coverage

With their win on Sunday and the Diamondbacks loss, the Phillies limped into the post-season with a September collapse that almost matched their 1964 collapse, where neither the batters nor the pitchers seemed to show up to play. How anyone thinks they can take 2 of 3 from Atlanta other than die-hard fans that believe in miracles is beyond me. MLBTV chose to air the Phillies game on Saturday where the Phillies got blown out. How MLBTV or any channel would not then air Sunday's game is a national disgrace to deprive the country of seeing what would be a national sigh of relief.

[EOP]

College Football and a PS re the Ravens

I don't watch college football unless Penn happens to be aired which happened several years ago. College football held some interest when the players were ostensibly students at the school whose uniform they were wearing and were supposed to attend academic classes. I don't begrudge them getting paid, in fact, I applaud their being paid because it was outrageous how they were taken advantage of by big-time schools. But while many changes are underfoot at once, it now can be fairly said that big-time college football is the equivalent of AAA baseball which is subsidized by MLB but which the NFL gets for free. To put it another way, I have no interest in watching AAA baseball or college baseball for that matter, and I put college football in terms of overall skill to be in the same category. The one thing college football has over the NFL is that games cannot end in ties, and while a bit involved, breaking a tie is done in a fair way. Another interesting difference is defensive pass interference where it is a spot of foul penalty in the NFL but a 10 or 15 yard from scrimmage penalty in college football. Finally, I glanced at a couple of games this weekend, and was stunned that it seems there are attendance rules where fans must wear one of the two school colors and sit in section of that color so the stadium are large bands of each color.

PS: If you get a chance, watch the last 2 minutes of the Ravens/Cowboys game. I shall say no more to avoid spoiling it other than to say it's one of the greatest endings of a football game.

[EOP]

Tip re Movie Watching

A non-reader watched The Duke and loved it as was to be expected given how great it is. In talking about it, it became clear they had not watched it through the credits to the actual ending. Here's the tip: Not just for The Duke which is MUST SEE, but for any movie, be sure to watch until the credits stop rolling because otherwise, and more often than you think, you will miss something important, entertaining, and noteworthy.

[EOP]

New TV Series to Binge This Fall

This is Esther Zuckerman's list of 13 new series to watch this Fall. She provides nice summaries of each, and many of them look to be terrific.

[EOP]

Football Remains on Top But Other Sports Are Creeping Up

As the Arizona Republic reports, while football remains Americans' favorite sport by far, its margin is shrinking. In brief, football's favorite status has retreated from its high point, while basketball and other sports have seen their favorite-status rising. I don't see any short-term problem for football, but if it's playing with me it's playing with fire if it doesn't get a handle on its injury problem and its association with gambling.

[EOP]

The Case For Renting

As this WSJ piece explains, renting can make more economic sense than buying a home.

[EOP]

Caution re Bond Funds

Anyone reading this blog knows our affinity for fixed income investing (even as painful as it has been these past 3 weeks). Anyone reading this blog also knows the kind of fixed income investing we abhor, namely, bond funds with no maturity dates such that, while they minimize default risk, they have both income rate and principal risk. This piece by Jason Zweig, whom we greatly respect, goes on to explain why not to trust bond funds that say they are beating the market.

[EOP]

NYT 100 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century

There are picks and omissions that we don't understand, but, overall, this NYT listing of the best TV shows  of the 21st Century is informative.

[EOP]

Remediating a Website That Freezes the Computer

It befell a loyal reader that, while reading on the NYT website, his computer would freeze. This is not generally a sign of any big problem or problem with the computer especially where, as was the case here, it's just one website and the website is known to be reputable (which will assume the fake news put out by the NYT does not ipso facto or per render it disreputable in the circumstance being addressed). Here is the first (and what here was the successful) step to try: Clear the cache and cookies for the site and reload it. Here is the second step to try: Clear the cache and cookies for the site, delete the site, reboot the computer, restart the browser, and reinstall the site.

[EOP]

Lessons re Sonora Quest's (and Perhaps Other Labs') Test Results Reporting

It is typical to have lab work done shortly in advance of a doctor visit. When the lab results are done, the lab will notify the patient and send the results to the doctor's office. As it turns out, the lab typically will not send the results until it has them for ALL the ordered tests. So, if you don't get notice that the lab results are done before the visit (either from the lab or the doctor portal), it might mean that, while some of the test results are in, at least one result is not. If it is important that all the results that are known be sent to the doctor's office, a phone call to Sonora Quest (and likely other labs) will be answered promptly and the partial results sent to the doctor's office while you're on the phone. Finally, when you are given a lab order, be sure you ask two questions: (i) do I have to fast; and (ii) how long will the test results take to be reported (e.g., a Vitamin D test can take 5-10 days to be reported out).

[EOP]

Implication of the Surge in Bond Market Volatility and a PS

 As Telis Demos explains, a key measure of bond volatility surged this week to its highest level since the early days of the Iran war. That should be a worrisome sign for a lot of investors. The ICE BofA U.S. Bond Market Option Volatility Estimate Index, or MOVE index, is designed to track U.S. bond market volatility via prices on a basket of options. It is roughly a counterpart to the VIX index for stocks. On Wednesday, the MOVE index level surged from 78 to 95, its highest close since the beginning of April. On Thursday, it jumped again to 104, according to Intercontinental Exchange data. That is still short of where it regularly was from 2022 to 2025. But the jump is still a worry, because up until now the recent march upward in Treasury yields had come against a backdrop of still-subdued volatility. It suggests the market could be moving to a new, less orderly phase of trading. And even for passive index investors, it could signal another development: Wider spreads. Spreads refer to the yield gap between Treasurys and other bonds, like corporate or mortgage bonds. This gap has been quite tight for the highest-rated corporate bonds in particular, despite the recent jump in yields. But higher volatility is a typical driver of wider spreads. So if bond volatility were to persistently rise, investors in corporate bonds or mortgage bonds could see more losses on those bonds than on Treasurys. Through Wednesday, the spread on ICE BofA’s index of top-rated U.S. corporate bonds hadn’t seen a big widening jump. But high-grade credit strategists at JPMorgan Chase, in a Thursday morning note, warned that there could be a slowdown of investor money flowing into bond ETFs. “A further pickup in rate and/or equity volatility would likely dampen these flows as well, leading to broader outflows for the asset class,” they wrote. If losses on corporate bonds were to start to pick up speed, then we could soon be talking of a 2022-style bond market wipeout all over again.

PS: All the said, the surge in yields doesn't feel good for bondholders. But, as long as defaults are avoided, they will maintain their income stream and return of capital. Again, as we've said several times here, avoid bond funds that have no set maturity date.

[EOP]

Anti-Choking Devices vs. the Heimlich

As the WSJ reports, regulators authorized LifeVac in the U. S., but medical groups say manual procedures are still the best methods to remedy choking.

[EOP]

Two Scrabble Factoids Thanks to the NYT

There are many reasons to do the NYT crossword every day. One of them is you learn stuff. The Sep. 24 puzzle taught me (at 21A) that Scrabble was invented by Alfred Butts while unemployed during the Great Depression and (at 37A) that Scrabble's name before its acquisition by James Brunot in 1948 was Criss-Cross Words. 

[EOP]

Harkins Special Screening Room (Scottsdale)

I don't go to theatres anymore to see movies, with one exception that had been a well kept secret until the Arizona Republic blabbed about it--The Freezer at Harkins Camelview. It’s a hidden speakeasy-style screening room locked away behind a faux freezer door — complete with fake frosted glass and temperature gauge. If you’re walking to the left of the concession stands, just past the women’s restroom and a theater on the left, there’s an unsuspecting door that blends into the wall. Just behind that door is a big, white room and a freezer door that leads into Harkins’ hidden, private screening room. When you open the false freezer door, you’re immediately transported into a luxury screening room. You walk down a narrow aisle with luxe cabinets on either side. There’s a private bathroom on the left before the room opens up to the theater where there are16 leather loungers, four swivel bar stools, four armchairs and, of course, a massive screen. You get unlimited popcorn, unlimited sodas. You can order food, and an en suite attendant will help you with whatever you need for your orders.. There's a special menu that you can order food from. People host meetings, do family get-togethers, bachelor and bachelorette parties, anniversary celebrations, and more. Plus, you’re not just limited to watching a new release. Guests can request throwback films or even bring in their own home movies to show for a special occasion. The pricing starts at around $1,200, though it depends on how many people will be in attendance and how many hours you would like to rent the space for. Other factors that can determine price are if it’s a holiday, what time of day it is, and if it’s an opening weekend for a title you’re requesting. You can fill out a Freezer Request Form at harkins.com to get a quote for renting out The Freezer.

[EOP]

How to Use Google Flights to Find Best Air Fares

The cheapest available fare for any given flight is rarely the first result a booking site shows you. Airlines price dynamically, dates matter as much as destinations and the difference between the fare you find and the fare you could have found is often a matter of knowing which tools to use. Google Flights has several that most travelers ignore, and using them takes about 2 minutes. This cnet article outlines the approach that frequent flyers use to find the lowest available price before they commit to anything. Just remember, it's best to book through the airline you're flying and not through any third-party. Google Flights takes you to the carrier at which you're looking for best prices.

[EOP]

Another Philadelphia Team Innovation

The Eagles devised the devastating "brotherly shove," which the Saints (the head coach is the former Eagles' OC) now seem to use a variation of. Jared Diamon presents an interesting and cogent analysis of the batting order innovation adopted by the Phillies.

[EOP]

Dental Insurance

If you have dental insurance, stop reading. If not, there might not be anything available at a reasonable cost that will cover major dental work. But, we have found a plan that our dentists accept where the yearly premium is less than one (1) cleaning which is covered along with some other stuff. I'm not sure how they make money, but that is a no brainer.

[EOP]

TJ's vs Sprout's

We have been glowing about Sprout's here and critical of TJ's. Having now shopped at the 20th Street TJ's since its re-vamp, we have come to the conclusion that Sprout's is better in some respects but TJ's is better in others. Sprout's has some fresh produce and luncheon meat (turkey) that is better than or even not available at TJ's, some items not carried by TJ's, is less crowded and more polite customers, better check-out (self-checkout), and better parking. TJ's has overall better prices, excellent and inexpensive branded home care products, better and way less expensive poultry, fish, meat, and cheese. Sprout's poor inventory system and TJ's changing of inventory are equally annoying. The bottom line is: One needs to shop both, while leaving Fry's and Safeway for certain items--it's not the corner family-owned grocery store world anymore that we loved growing up that made for one-stop shopping at the end of the street.

[EOP]

Gone (2026 Series on BritBox)

A few days ago, we gave a hedged review of Gone after watching the first 2 EPs. It has not been difficult to continue watching EP after EP, as the plot gets more interesting. Indeed, it's a terrific series. Very chilling, very engrossing, very gripping, and exceedingly well acted. The only negative is repeated drone shots from above copse that are made to look like broccoli crowns. Consider the hedge torn up by the roots and removed.

[EOP]

Stay Away From Establishment and Third-Party Gift Certificates

Gifting is a wonderful thing to do, especially gifting experiences. And the experience you pick can show clearly the thought that went behind the gift (e.g., the recipient's favorite restaurant). Of course, in reality, you are gifting money and where it is to be spent. There are several problems with doing a gift certificate instead of just gifting money and a note as to where you would like to see it spent. Gift certificates can be difficult to cash in (the establishment has the money in hand and no incentive to make cashing it in easy) and can leave money with the establishment if the recipient doesn't spend it all or imposes on the recipient the burden of coming up with additional funds if the certificate doesn't cover the cost of the experience (meal) or thing. In fine, gifting cash along with a thoughtful note has none of the downsides of gift certificates and many upsides.

[EOP]

Crypto Currency and the Upcoming Elections

You don't have to understand crypto currency (and I still have no idea what it really is) to understand the alarm Paul Krugman is raising in terms of the corruptive (and scarily powerful) force it is playing with our political system and democracy.

[EOP]

The Annoying Thing About Soccer

Most sports have some kind of mini-celebration upon scoring (basketball being a clear exception). Different athletes and teams do different things, and while we find most to be annoying, and it far better to act like it's not the first time you made a touchdown, we understand them. Some of the mini-celebrations are even enjoyable to watch. Which brings us to soccer. It seems like, when a goal is scored, the person who kicked or headed the ball into the goal runs for a corner  and slides down on their knees where all the teammates descend upon each other. The only time we found that "post-goal soccer slide" amusing and entertaining was when Bryce Harper did it in an MLB game in London to the great joy of the fans.

[EOP]

Chrome Autofill

If you use Chrome, and haven't looked lately as to what can be stored in Chrome for easy auto-retrieval, go to Settings/Autofill and passwords. It is quite robust enabling you to store everything from driver license numbers, to VIN numbers, to passport numbers, addresses, passwords, and more--both of yours and anyone else's (e.g., your spouse's) that you want. It really can be quite useful, saving time and effort in filling in such info online. If you use Chrome and you see it attempting to fill in forms with info you do not want it to be filling in, that Settings in Chrome will allow you to edit and delete any such auto-fill. You also can set different levels of security for the various items.

[EOP]

Importance of Understanding the Reason Treasury Rates Have Risen

The sharp and steep rise is obvious to everyone. But what's not obvious, as James Mackintosh explains, is why they have done so and why it matters why they have done so. "Did they rise so much because the economy is strong, jobs are plentiful and money is pouring into the artificial intelligence sector? Interest rates need to be higher to keep the resulting inflationary pressures under control, and traders extrapolate out higher rates for longer into higher bond yields. Or did yields rise because America’s credibility is on the line? The Fed hasn’t hit its inflation target in five years, the president is pushing for lower rates, government debt is high and rising inexorably, trade wars and erratic policymaking have deterred some foreign buyers of Treasurys and geopolitical shocks mean investors want compensation for volatile inflation. The difference really matters. If yields rose for the good reason of a strong economy, that should help stocks. If they rose because U.S. credibility is crumbling, that should be a headwind to stocks. Investors seem to be locked in a wrestling match over these extremes, contributing to big swings in bonds last week." 

[EOP]

Gone (2026 Movie on BritBox)

Local Headmaster Michael Polly becomes the prime suspect in his wife Sarah's disappearance when he encounters gutsy Detective Annie Cassidy in a compulsive game of cat and mouse. He (played by David Morrissey) makes Gone compelling to watch and difficult because, while all the other characters are realistic, he is so creepy, which is not to say they don't play with you re his guilt. The acting is first rate, and the casting quite good. After 2 EPS, I'm not sure yet we will continue past the third, but it's only 6EPs so we likely will. One hesitation and warning, it's marked as Season 1, so I hope its story is concluded and not carried over. 

[EOP]

How to Get Even With Trump on the First Amendment

What Trump craves more than anything is attention, and being the center of attention. What the press might better do in retaliation for his pulling the press credentials for access to the WH of CNN, MS NOW, and Politico is  to have the entire WH press corps refuse to show up and refuse to give him airtime. They can still report the information they glean from their WH and other sources, and they can still report what Trump does and says, without showing his face or his mouthing of words. In sum, the first amendment would remain in tact, and the people can remain informed. But Trump's presence would be limited to his MAGA cult which don't understand anything and aren't swayable on anything.

[EOP]

Why Joey Martella's Father Moved Joey to Third Base and Me to Second Base

Here is what I couldn't do but Joey Martella could, which explains why Joey Martella's father switched us. It does not need to be said, but Joey never would have done it against the Phillies.

[EOP]

Note re "New" Channels on Cox/Spectrum

If you were a Cox TV customer, who has now been switched to Spectrum, and you had the TV Guide set to skip channels you didn't want, take note of this: Spectrum has pushed what appear to be over a 100 (useless) channels onto the Guide lineup you've been using. It's not hard to set each of those channels to skip, but it is a bit time-consuming.

[EOP]

Slow Horses (Season 6: 6EPS on Apple)

The first EP of season 6 of Slow Horses dropped on September 16. It looks like the ensuing EPs will drop one at time each week, i.e., EP2 will drop on September 23. We are waiting at least for 4 or 5EPs to drop before watching.

[EOP]

Costco Is Improving Its Online Game

Costco is expanding its fast-delivery network as it works to grow sales in new ways. Earlier this week Uber said it would expand its partnership with Costco to deliver products in 47 U.S. states, up from 17 states. On Thursday Door Dash said it would also start delivering Costco products in the U.S. from all U.S. locations. The moves mark an expansion of Costco’s fast-delivery network, as the membership warehouse retailer ramps up its e-commerce offerings.

[EOP]

Phone Etiquette in Restaurants and a Tip on Safely Connecting to the Internet

This WSJ article about proper etiquette with one's cellphone in a restaurant makes the obvious point: Put the phone away and pay attention to the other(s) at your table. It then makes a series of obvious suggestions, and points out various things restaurants are doing to crack down on phone use, such as requiring that phones go into lock bags such as are used in schools. But what caught our eye was noting that restaurants wanting to stop phone use at the tables are not providing wi-fi access. Here's the thing: It is always safer not to use any wi-fi outside your home (such as in doctor or dentist offices or restaurants), but to rely on a data internet connection instead. Indeed, my phone has a setting, as I'm sure yours does as well, to opt automatically for a data internet connection instead of any wi-fi connection. The last thing you want to do is hook into a wi-fi connection where you have no idea if the wi-fi owner has any clue what they're doing in terms of keeping their network safe.

[EOP]

How to Tell Whether a Plunging Stock Price Will Keep Plunging

As Spencer Jakab explains, and it makes total sense, the reason for a stock's sell-off will usually tell you whether and how fast it might rebound. Downturns due to earnings tend to stick. As hard as it is to pick stocks, deciding whether to sell them, and when, is even tougher. Behavioral biases can tug investors in the direction of either panicking and holding on following a plunge. We dread more losses but mentally anchor a stock’s value to an old price that may have become meaningless.

[EOP]

Tip re Capers and and a PS re Horseradish

Having lox and cream cheese on bagel is hardly worth it without capers, and is rude, thoughtless, and a display of bad manners not to include when entertaining guests. There is no problem finding capers--they are with the olives. The problem is they come in very small bottles. The good news is they will keep unrefrigerated for 3 years or longer, so it's a good idea to have several bottles of them on hand.

PS re Bottled Refrigerated Horseradish: There is no simple or obvious place where any grocery store keeps its bottles of refrigerated horseradish, and they seem to have no hesitancy to move their placement with some frequency. To make things worse, most if not all (except one) store employees have no idea where the horseradish is kept. All we can say is you are not alone if you are frustrated by this circumstance. Fry's will tell you online the aisle the horseradish should be in.

[EOP]

Charcuteries in North Central Phoenix

Dos Chris’ Bakery & Charcuterie Co. at North 16th Street and East Bethany Home Road has closed to "take care of the [two owners'] physical and mental health." The charcuterie trays they made were gorgeous and delicious, but they were extremely expensive especially given the size of the portions. You can do very well in terms of taste, amount, and price having your charcuterie trays done by Sprouts.

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Sundry Travel Tips

1. I never check luggage. But, if you or your traveling companion do, if you can wait, using the restroom at baggage claim will typically find it empty and emptier than the jetway facilities, and will give you something to do while waiting for your luggage.

2. To become a more efficient packer, take a photo at the end of the trip of stuff you packed but never used. Refer to it next time you pack.

3. Don’t pack “what if” items like umbrellas. You can buy them anywhere.

4. Treat yourself to a spa treatment or food tour on the first day while you’re waiting for your room.

5. Want to accompany a friend or family member to their gate or greet them upon arrival? You can now do that at 13 airports across the country if you have TSA PreCheck and register in advance. 

6. I have said this repeatedly, but I can’t say this often enough: Pay attention when you’re booking travel. A reader searching for a one-way flight from Miami to Charleston, S.C., ended up booking through a company called Flight Network instead of directly with the airline. He was charged an extra fee on top of his American Airlines ticket cost. That's reason enough, but the bigger problems arise when a flight booked through a third-party gets canceled. Always book directly with the airline you are flying as well as with hotels you are staying at.

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Someone Not Tutored By Joey Martella's Father

It's a shame this inside-the-park homerun was not ruled an error on the center fielder to deprive the Oriole batter of a home run, but he obviously was not ever tutored by Joey Martella's father, who made us start running from home plate as soon as the ball left the bat and sliding as a precaution to avoid being thrown out at home. 

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Messi Header

Messi is known for his goal scoring kicks, not his headers. But that's selling him short, and the joy on his face tells you all you need to know about this man-child of a soccer player.

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Karl Rove's Political "Bravery"

The headlines on TV and other media is that Karl Rove is going to be voting for a Dem in the upcoming elections. In explaining why in this WSJ piece, Rove said as follows: "Conservatism and the party it dominates have an increasing number of bigoted advocates of a 'heritage America' composed of white descendants of the original European settlers. There are 'just asking questions' Jew-haters, misogynists who worship hypermasculinity, conspiracy nuts seeking clicks for profit, and religious bigots who won’t differentiate between Muslim terrorists and Muslim American patriots. These people are diminishing the Republican Party, not building it. I’ll have no part of it. This November, I’ll vote for only the second Democrat in my life. The first was Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock in 1994, because I thought he would work with Republicans. The second will be [the Dem running to be on the Railroad Commission]. The GOP’s stables need a cleaning. This is a good place to start." Yup, let's give Rove the JFK Profile in Courage Award. Or whatever award is given for not mentioning Trump or Paxton.

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Store Credits and Scheduling for Seasonal (Flu/Covid) Shots

Store Credits: Most stores give $15-$20 or more store credit (when multiple shots are given at the same time) when you get a flu, Covid-19, or other seasonal shot. Fry's (Kroger) seems to give the highest amount directly to your customer card and it is immediately available. While many doctor offices give seasonal shots, I don't believe you get any monetary credit.

Scheduling: While you can get many vaccines on walk-in basis without an appointment, they (e.g., flu, Covid, tetanus, and others) often will require filling out a questionnaire. So, it's easier and time-saving to schedule an appointment online where at the same time you'll fill out the questionnaire online.

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What to Do When Your Airline Seat Gets Downgraded

As this article reports, seat downgrades are increasingly becoming a pain point for passengers in this era of packed flights and fees on practically every seat on the plane. The article goes on to explain what to do if your seat(s) are downgraded in advance or at the airport.

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The Duke (2020 Movie on Hulu and Rentable on Amazon Prime)

We are grateful for the recommendation to us to watch The Duke, because it surely is one of the best things we've seen lately. If you don't subscribe to Hulu, rent it on Amazon. You will not be disappointed. I'm not going to say anything about what it's about other than to say you've never seen a story unfold quite like this, and to put icing on the cake, it's based on a true story. The acting is superlatively pitch-perfect. You don't need to be a lawyer to thoroughly enjoy this, but if you are or were a lawyer, your enjoyment might be even greater than thoroughly.

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What Journalists Don't Understand Which Seasoned Lawyers Do

There are exceptions, but most journalist have no clue when it comes to handling a combative interview where the interviewee is intent on not answering the question. Most journalists seem to think that, if they reword the same question or, worse, even just keep asking it the same way, they will get an answer. Lawyers know and live by this truism: If you can't get a rock to start shedding blood by pounding on it, pounding on it harder is not going to get the rock to shed blood.

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Possible Explanation of Why the Billionaires and Their AI Companies Are Looking for "AI Government Regulation"

I have no clue why the biggest companies and their billionaire founders/shareholders are looking for government regulation of AI or what regulation they want to see. But here is what might be an instructive parable (although it's a true story): In the 1960s, a major customer of a family-owned textile company for seat coverings were the airlines. DuPont (a big company) pressed for government regulation to require that airplane seat coverings not burst into flame on the plane. No such seats' bursting into flame had killed or serious hurt any passenger. The only company (by patent) that made non-flammable seat covering material was DuPont, and it got a regulation through requiring that seats be non-flammable. Just one thing: When heated even without being exposed to flame, DuPont's material would disperse highly toxic gas that would kill passengers and crew quickly before any flames might hurt them. The family-owned company almost went out of business as a result of that "patent protecting regulation." Am I saying that the big AI companies have a nefarious purpose here? I have no idea that's the case. What I am saying is I don't believe any of the lay commentators or politicians have a clue what the problem is much less what the solution is or what regulation would be appropriate or needed. But, where, as here, it's Elon Musk and his ilk pushing the need-for-regulation to protect me and the rest of human-kind, well, I might not be as comforted as others might be.

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Dealing With Fraudulent Fraud Alerts

If you get an email or text alerting you to a possible fraud on an account, and asking you to contact their fraud center by phone, email, or text, and giving you their phone number or email address, don't. Don't respond in any way. Instead, treat the email or text as a scam and either: (i) do nothing if you are sure it's a scam; or (ii) contact the account through what you know is a legitimate phone number or email address of that account to see if there was any legitimacy to the alert.

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Counterintuitive Possibility When (If) the Fed Raises Rates

Everyone paying attention has been stunned by the steady rise in yield of the 10Y treasury (now having reached 5%). The question is what will that yield do in reaction to a rate rise by the Fed at its September meeting. Common wisdom would say that, even though the Fed rate is a short-term rate, it's anti-inflationary push will raise rates across the spectrum. We say, "Hold on sparky." It's a real possibility that the bond market will actually react by having longer rates start to retreat. You might have to be a Paul Krugman to understand or you can read the next sentence. If the steep rise in the 10Y yield is the result of inflation expectations due at least in part to the Fed's having done nothing for a long time, then the Fed's setting out on a course to tackle inflation could receive a warm welcome from the bond market in the form of long-term yields' dropping. Just remember, if that happens, you heard it here first.

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Flashlight Recommendation

Flashlight technology is far more advanced than it may seem, whether you’re picking a light to keep at home or take on camping trips. Olight’s ArkPro Ultra works in both cases, and many more. After my thorough testing, including some harsh durability tests, I was amazed at everything this pocket-sized flashlight can handle. The ArkPro Ultra ($130 from Amazon and the Olight Store (which has more colos) offers basic spotlight and floodlight modes, but it can boost them up to 1,700 lumens, then adds massive extras like a UV light for spotting stains, a laser pointer for presentations/cat toys, a moonlight mode for camping, and more. Add the magnetic charging option and the super-durable aluminum frame, and this is the flashlight to beat. The only challenge is that it takes a a few seconds to learn how to turn it on and off, but a lifetime to master the many modes this model has.

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His & Hers (2026 Series on Netflix)

A journalist investigating a murder in her hometown clashes with a suspicious detective. There are two sides to every story, and someone is lying. That sounded intriguing enough to start watching His & Hers. Unfortunately, it couldn't hold the attention of anyone in the audience, all of whom gave up--finding EP1 boring and none of the characters of any particular interest.

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Lamar Jackson the Escape Artist and a PS About Week 1 in the NFL

If we didn't show this clip of Lamar Jackson's avoiding a sack, we would be forced to endure the unleashing of a thrashing from a Ravens' fan. That said, his view that the Ravens look to be odds-on favorites to reach the Super Bowl are not as crazy as you might think, with most betting lines making them essentially a toss-up with the Bills. And what the Ravens do have going for them is their schedule, which looks to have them 6-0 before they have to play anyone.

PS re Week 1 in the NFL: You can look at the stats for yourself, but as every knowledgeable observer (and NFL player and coach) knows, Week 1 is a "liar." A team can (and often does) lose badly and end up in the Super Bowl, while a team can win smashingly and end up flaming out in January. That said, the number of intriguing and shocking results in Week 1 makes for great confab, especially about the point that coaches  and coach/quarterback combos really do make a difference.

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Kick Save for the Ages

There are kick-saves in tennis, futbol, football, wrestling, and other sports. But our favorite is this kick save in baseball, which would have impressed Joey Martella's father.

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Dark Brown Apricots

If you have added apricots to your diet (as we suggested or sua sponte), you might open the packet and see apricots that have a dark brown, reddish-brown, or caramel color instead of a bright orange look. Not only is there nothing wrong with them, they are sweeter and have a more intense fruit flavor. What you've bought, as will be noted on the package, are unsulphured apricots, which are dried apricots processed without sulfur dioxide or chemical preservatives. Bon appetite!

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Last Seen (2026 Series on Apple)

Last Seen has two problems: First, it's hard to tell after EP2 whether its worth watching; and second only the first two EPs have dropped so far. It's the story of a police dispatcher whose daughter disappeared years ago. He receives a call, believing it's she, and embarks on a relentless quest to find her and reunite his family, disregarding consequences. It's intense, and holds your attention. Whether you want your attention held we will report back on later when more episodes have dropped.

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Why the Rise in the Cost of Diesel Is More Deleterious Than the Rise in the Cost of Gasoline

The rise in the cost of gasoline is painful for everyone who has to drive an ICE vehicle, and especially harder the poorer one is and the more dependent one is on such driving. But the rise in the cost of diesel affects the price of everything (from food to clothing to every other physical product) that is bought that has had to be transported by diesel-fueled vehicles from someplace to some other place to get from its point of origin to the customer. So, while the news might focus on the plight of truck drivers having to pay more for diesel, its the consumer that ends up paying more, and, again, the poorer one is, the greater the pain. You don't have to be a Paul Krugman to understand this, but we've recently learned of some people who don't get it.

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Call My Agent! The Movie (2026 Movie on Netflix)

Call My Agent! The Movie is not a must-see, best-movie-ever, but it's good enough to watch and enjoy with its several laugh-out-loud moments. It needed more of them, but, let's not make the perfect the enemy of the good. It follows a former talent agent turned aspiring director who must reunite with her old team when her lead actor drops out days before filming begins. George Clooney is listed as the star, and that's misleading in terms of time on screen, but totally spot on in terms of the one scene he is in.

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The Lame and Misguided Excuse for Not Arriving Early for a Doctor's Appointment or Plane Departure

Many people like to get to things like plane departures and doctor appointments with as little time to spare as possible. Pointing out to them that not taking account of the downside of missing the event (due to unexpected external events like traffic jams) seems to do little good. Their response to that a fortiori truth is, "I've got nothing to do while waiting for the doctor or the plane." Here, from The New Yorker, is the riposte that should convince them of the folly of their ways.

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iPhone Duo vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8

I know that as for anyone going to a foldable phone, Apple lovers will go with the iPhone Duo and Android adherents will go with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8. This is one competition between Apple and Samsung where Apple does not lose on price. For anyone interested in making an informed decision, and considering throwing off the shackles of their past, or confirming that they are making the right decision, this TechRepublic article has a detailed comparison of the two devices. I will not spoil the ending.

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Windows Recovery Through the Cloud

As this article explains, Microsoft has finally solved one of the biggest pain points of Windows with the rollout of Cloud Rebuild. The new recovery feature can reinstall Windows 11 even when an existing Windows installation is corrupt or refuses to boot. Available as a beta through the newly released Windows 11 Insider Beta Preview Build 26220.9343, the feature is essentially a hassle-free alternative to creating a Windows installation USB drive when a PC needs to be recovered.

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The Low Down on Router Guest Mode

As it turns out, as this MUO article explains, Guest mode on a router is not exactly what you might think it is. I've always assumed that the guest Wi-Fi on my router was simply a feature that allows me to give visitors a password that I can change later. But I can actually use that same network for devices that I don't want to give access to my server or private network. This realization has changed the way I use guest Wi-Fi at home. Now, I keep certain devices online without allowing them the same access as the rest of the network, and it's changed how I manage my network forever.

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The New College "Dorm"

Star football players no longer have to wait until they reach the NFL to buy homes. Thanks to NIL pay, athletes are buying properties in college towns. University of Arizona football player Noah Fifita started his college career living in student housing with five roommates. The star quarterback will end it in a renovated, four-bedroom house with mountain views and a pool about 3 miles from the Tucson campus. The California native bought the house for $950,000 last year.

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Does a Foldable Phone Make Sense?

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, iPhone Duo, and other foldables are getting rave reviews. The only drawback is cost--about $2,000. But, it might be worth that price if you're schlepping a tablet around along with your phone, particularly as an alternative to having a high-priced phone and high-priced tablet.

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Thinnest Portable Phone Battery Chargers

AquaVault charge cards are the thinnest, lightest portable battery chargers. There is a wireless charging model and a wired charging model, each of which costs about $60. If you like the idea of carrying your travel charger in your wallet or shirt pocket (and who doesn't?), these are for you. 

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Owning/Buying Bonds When They Are Selling Off

If you own bonds, the last several months have been excruciating as yields have been on a steady march up, with the 10Y treasury jumping 12 basis points yesterday and sitting on the edge of reaching 5%. As the WSJ reports, this does not mean holding bonds is a bad thing and does mean this might be a good opportunity to be buying bonds, including at the short end.

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Do Portable Power Stations Make Sense?

Assuming you are living in a climate where remaining in your house is an option if the electricity goes out, there are two things you'd want to keep running: the refrigerator and your computer(s). Portable power chargers to keep a refrigerator going for a day or more cost $800-$3,000. I cannot see the sense of them because that likely is more than the cost of the food that would spoil and have to be thrown away. In sharp contrast, portable power chargers to keep computers going cost under $140. They might be worth the expenditure for peace of mind, although if you're running a laptop, its battery should last you a day or more.

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The Import of the Upcoming Fed Raise Decision

You don't have to be a Paul Krugman to know that where, as here, inflation is not the product of demand (wage) growth, but instead is the product of supply restrictions and shock due to tariffs and a war and a rise in energy and other input costs, raising short-term rates is not an antidote. At the same time, raising rates would make a symbolic statement that the Fed is still independent and will not abide Trump's wishes to cut rates. At the same time, if that is the only reason to raise rates, without a clear and credible statement of why the Fed is doing what it's doing, the Fed's credibility will be eroded, not enhanced. In short, you don't have to be a Paul Krugman to see that Warsh's mistake is his apparent view that the best course is to not communicate the Fed's thinking.

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How to Search for a Phone Number on Google

Enter the ten-digit phone number, including the area code, directly into the Google search bar. Use quotation marks: Put quotes around the number (for example, "555-0199") to find exact matches across public web pages, forums, or business directories. Use the Phone app: If you use an Android device, open your Google Phone App Support, tap the unknown number in your call history, and select Lookup to automatically search the web. 

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Great Pitching Stat and a PS re One Not So Great

As Joey Martella's father taught our pitching staff (which I wasn't on but I would listen to him coach them), there is no defense against the walk. That said, here's one pitcher who took that lesson to heart: From 1994 to 2008, Greg Maddux started 496 games and walked 492 batters. Wow!

PS: The Washington National's bullpen has set a record for blown saves (and has many chances to build on that record) and has an ERA of 5.30. Wow!

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Football Season Is Back

Sports commentators often, indeed too often, take themselves too seriously. This piece by Jason Gay doesn't take it self seriously, and is written so well that is a joy to read.

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Two-Generation Retirement Villages

As Clare Ansberry reports, baby boomers, the generation that rebelled against their parents, are moving into the same retirement communities as and to be with their octogenarian-plus moms and dads. It would be nice if the children of baby boomers would be as considerate and move into retirement villages with their boomer parents.

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Definitely, Maybe (2008 Movie on Apple TV)

Brought to our attention by someone who now apparently is binging Ryan Reynolds movies, we recommend Definitely, Maybe. As he put it (using more words than usual for him: "It's an old rom com.  I wasn't expecting much, but it was good.  Good cast, pretty good acting, good plot." While he wouldn't tell me what the plot was, I will tell you: A political consultant tries to explain his impending divorce and past relationships to his 11-year-old daughter.

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How the Gift Tax Really Works

As this WSJ piece explains, many older Americans may have more capacity to give to their children and grandchildren than ever before. And many would rather give the money now, when it can help with a house, child care or other major expenses, than leave it behind after they die. The good news for families considering such gifts: The tax code makes it easier to give money while you’re alive—with “warm hands,” as the saying goes—than many people realize. There is a common misunderstanding that there is a $19,000 limit on annual giving per recipient. That figure is the limit on how much you can give without submitting paperwork to the Internal Revenue Service. As of this year, you can give up to $19,000 to each of your children, each of their spouses, and each of your grandchildren, every year generally without filing any paperwork to the IRS in the form of a gift-tax return. The piece goes on to discuss other aspects of the gift tax.

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Challenging a Prior Authorization Denial

When people get “prior authorization” denials from their health insurers, they have a similar reaction: They give up. There’s no point, they figure. But what they don’t know is that when people appeal the denials—as they are legally allowed to do—they often win. Don't believe me. Believe this article.

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Why Cameras in Dishwashers (and Other Appliances) Make Sense

Cams and sensors have found their way into most major appliances and for good reason. Ovens have cameras that watch food as it cooks and alert you when it’s properly browned, and smart refrigerators will ping you when you’re running low on eggs and suggest recipes based on what’s lingering in the crisper. But I failed to see an obvious use for hidden cameras in dishwashers. When I heard that Miele had snuck one into its new model, unveiled this week at IFA 2026 in Berlin, I was suspicious. After a brand rep walked me through the new Diamond G8 and its novel smart features, I began to see some appeal. The small camera, fixed to the back of the dishwasher door, gets a clear shot of the dishwasher’s interior. It uses that view to take inventory of what’s inside, recognizing dozens of common kitchen items and tailoring the wash cycle and detergent volume accordingly. More about the amazing things the Miel dishwasher does which, especially given how good looking it is, will make it our next dishwasher, can be read about in this article. 

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Is This Thing On? (2025 Movie on Hulu and HBO/MAX)

When we see a  movie starring Laura Dern with Will Arnett and written and directed by Bradley Cooper, who also makes an appearance, we look forward to watching it with high hopes. The hopes of half our our critique board were dashed like heads that get crushed like nuts in the people mover doors at Atlanta/Hartsfield International Airport because the doors do not spring back. The other half of our critique board continued watching and, with about 30 minutes to go, said that it is worth seeing primarily because of its two stars, especially Laura Dern. The story is somewhat jumbled and unbelievable in places, but it is overall engaging. It is based on a true one of a British man who, unhappy with his life at middle-age and facing divorce, starts over as a stand-up comedian seeking new purpose in the New York comedy scene. At the same time, his wife confronts sacrifices made for their family, forcing them to navigate co-parenting and identities.

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What To Do If Your USB Hub Overheats

If you're using your laptop as the control center for myriad devices (including say, an external monitor, printer/scanner/copier, and so on), you likely are using a USB hub. If that hub is overheating, take a look at this BGR article which will explain why that happens and what to do about it.

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Good Idea for EVs But Will Be Available Only for Larger Vehicles

One of the major drawbacks of EVs is range anxiety. A solution to that is the plug-in hybrid, but in effect your paying for both an EV battery and an ICE, and have all the maintenance issues that ICE vehicles have that pure EVs relieve you of. Coming down the pike is a great solution: a fully electric vehicle with the security blanket of a gas-powered generator to charge the battery, if needed—ensuring you won’t end up stranded as long as a gas station is nearby. Hyundai, Ford, and Jeep parent Stellantis are among the first U.S.-market automakers planning to roll out this new kind of EV which is called an extended-range EV. Unfortunately, from what I can tell, these EREVs will be available only in trucks and large SUVs. 

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How College Kickers Went From Afterthoughts to Making $225K

As this WSJ piece or this same WSJ Piece reports, college football kickers have long accepted their place as afterthoughts on their own rosters. They practice alone. They play a minuscule number of snaps. And for years, many weren’t even on scholarships. But in the game’s era of player pay, these football outsiders are now banding together to cash in. The community of kickers is determined not to miss on college football’s new gold rush. In group chats, on social media and at the specialized camps where they hone their skills, kickers are disseminating vital information on how much they get paid. They’re then using that knowledge to leverage some of the biggest raises in the sport.

[Note: The links (one of which is a gift link and the other an email share link)are supposed to but might not open as being behind a paywall. Apologies for any inconvenience. Both links above should direct to the same article]

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Trusting Sleep Data From Wearables

This WSJ article or this same WSJ Article has an informative discussion on wearables that report on your sleeping. In short, health trackers might spit out unreliable numbers, but doctors say they’re still useful for spotting personal trends.

[Note: The links (one of which is a gift link and the other an email share link) are supposed to but might not open as being behind a paywall. Apologies for any inconvenience. Both links above should direct to the same article]

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My Favorite Aircraft: NASA X-43A

The fastest, and my favorite, air-breathing aircraft ever built was 12 feet long, weighed about 3,300 pounds, had no pilot, and was designed to be used once and then left in the ocean. On November 16, 2004, NASA’s X-43A was dropped from a B-52 over the Pacific, boosted to speed by a Pegasus rocket, and lit a scramjet that carried it to Mach 9.64 at 110,000 feet. That is roughly 6,400 miles an hour, about three times the cruising speed of an SR-71 Blackbird. Twenty-two years later, nothing air-breathing has gone faster.

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Mayday (2026 Movie on Apple TV) and a PS re a Certain Reader

We agree with our reader's pithy view that Mayday is "mildly amusing." We don't have anything of substance to add, and will say only that it's not the best or worst way to spend 1h50m. It's billed as a comedic, action, buddy drama, and stars Ryan Reynolds and, more importantly, Kenneth Branagh, whose performance made the movie better than it otherwise would have been. It's the story of an American ace pilot who is on a  reconnaissance mission over Soviet territory that goes awry, forcing him to crash-land and survive in Russian wilderness while evading capture or rescue. Everyone I think will say it's better than Top Gun 2, and many will say it's better than Top Gun, and does not suffer, as Top Gun did, of having a contemporaneous love story having nothing to do with the core plot.

PS: We've discovered that a certain reader will submit a fake review, i.e., one where he has not seen the movie or series, but wants us to believe he saw it before we did. There's no name for the pathology, but our readers can rest assured that, to protect our integrity and our commitment to never lead you astray, our ai-powered fake review filter enables us to spot every attempt he makes on this front.

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Traveling? Think Small Group Tours

As this Arizona Republic article describes them, and the recent experiences of two readers would confirm, with small group tours, you get all the benefits of guided travel tours with the planning and logistics all taken care of, and you can just sit back and enjoy expert tour leader insight and insider access to must-visit sights. But small group tours also allow for experiences only accessible to smaller-sized groups and the ability to better utilize unique forms of local transportation. Tour companies are paying attention and offering travelers more options to explore the globe with like-minded companions – but just fewer of them. Trafalgar, one of the oldest and most trusted brands of the tour world, recently launched its first collection of Small Group Tours, featuring 22 itineraries with an average of 16 guests. Many tours include land and water activities ranging from easy to strenuous.

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The Audacity (2026 TV Series on Netflix)

If your thing is truly unpleasant characters who overact in a cliche-riddled script, then The Audacity is for you. If not, and you don't trust this review, you might join the stampede out of the TV early into S1 EP1. By way of a plot, which is what drew us in, amid the bubble of Silicon Valley, the unorthodox relationship between a wannabe tech titan and his therapist illustrate the Silicon Valley's madness and failings. Watching that plot unfold for a few minutes, we couldn't have cared less about either the madness or the failings ... escaping them impelled us.

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Estate Planning re Money in Tax Deferred Accounts

If you are holding significant sums in tax-deferred accounts, and you are concerned about their tax treatment when inherited by your heirs, this Laura Saunders piece is an important read. The upshot is that tax planning for retirement accounts comes down to guesses. No wonder the last Tax Report hit a nerve with readers. It delved into the problems affluent savers face when their retirement dollars are concentrated in traditional IRA/401(k) accounts. Required withdrawals can shower these savers with unneeded income that raises tax rates, reduces tax breaks and triggers tax increases.

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Don't Get Sucked Into Leveraged ETFs

On their face, leveraged ETFs look like they can greatly enhance returns in your portfolio. As Jason Zweig explains, unless you have more money than you know what to do with, and don't mind losing most or all of it, stay away from them like the plague until Hell freezes with pigs flying over.

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Ubiquiti's UniFi Travel Router and a PS re Amazon

Our recent post on travel routers generated quite a bit of interest. Many inquiries asked if there were better looking, sleeker models than the one displayed on the post. The answer is yes. Although it's not available in black or any color more to our liking, the Ubiquiti UniFi is sleek, thin, and light. 

PS re Amazon: While available on Amazon for $129, this thing is available on the product's website linked above for $79. 280 capsules of Citracal is double the price at Amazon as it is delivered for free from Costco. The point being is to check prices elsewhere before buying from Amazon. 

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Update Chrome Now

If you haven't updated Chrome since Thursday, update it now. Google on Thursday released security updates to patch 12 vulnerabilities, including one that has come under active exploitation in the wild.

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The "Catch" That Didn't End the Game

With two out in the ninth inning, this "catch" would have ended the game. You've got to feel for this guy, but given the playoff wild-card picture in the National League, any loss by the Padres is a welcome sight for the Phillies.

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Trump's Arch and a PS

Excavation work on President Trump’s 250 foot-tall arch in Washington, is expected to start over the next two weeks. The arch would sit between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery at Memorial Circle on Columbia Island. “This will be one of the Great Pieces of American Architecture,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said Thursday on social media. If you don't want it to be built, worry not: The project, one of Trump’s many so-called beautification projects in the nation’s capital, is facing litigation. Opponents have argued Trump needs congressional approval to build it. The triumphal arch would block or disrupt the sightline of other monuments, critics have said. Oh yeah, that's what they said about the ballroom.

PS: The one gratification to look forward to is when Trump is gone, as is done in countries everywhere when a corrupt self-aggrandizing leader is out, is watching the horrendous monuments and all the other such stuff being torn down and all the gilded stuff being stripped away.

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Geopolitical Risk Canary in a Gold Mine?

I thought I was the only one, when it comes to protecting one's assets, has been worried about geopolitical risks. As it turns out, the Dutch central bank shifted the location of 78 metric tons of gold, valued a $11 billion at today’s prices, from vaults beneath the streets of Manhattan to London, saying it would improve the ability to trade the metal in a pinch. The high-security operation took several months to pull off. Some of the gold was sold in the U.S. and repurchased in the U.K. Other bars were flown to Europe, likely in the storage hold of planes. The result: Almost a third of the Dutch gold reserve is in London and a still chunky 19% in New York, flipping their earlier positions. “In view of increasing geo-political unrest, DNB is strengthening its crisis preparedness,” the central bank said in a statement referring to its Dutch acronym. 

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The Toasted Owl (Restaurants in Phoenx and Flagstaff)

Originally one restaurant in Flagstaff, The Toasted Owl now has two restaurants in Flagstaff and two in Phoenix, including one conveniently located at 300 West Camelback Road. It serves delicious breakfast food and lunch food. There's another lunch restaurant in Flagstaff but I can't remember it's name. It's got patio dining and is on a main road.

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Democracy on the Line: Nightmare Scenario

Trump has appealed his ability to stop mail-in ballot voting to the Supreme Court. For procedural reasons there is no way the Court should be hearing the appeal and for substantive reasons the appeal has no basis (indeed, it's frivolous). That said, if anyone believes there aren't 3 votes in the shadow docket in the bag for Trump, they have not been paying attention, and if anyone believes there easily could not be 2 more that would vote in favor of Trump, they have not been paying attention either. Should Trump's appeal prevail, it would shut-down mail-in voting, and that will effectively shut-down voting in a wide swath of states particularly in the West, Southwest, Upper Mid-West, and the Northeast. To stop the vote is to stop democracy. Full stop. The idea that democracy now rests in the hands of 6 Supreme Court justices is nothing short of terrifying.

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The AI Toothbrush: Not a Joke

[Prefatory Note: You might think you know how AI is going to change our lives. This post might lead to your thinking again about the profound changes coming that you did not imagine]

You know about Dyson's high-end, high-priced vacuums for cleaning floors. If you care about your teeth as much as your floors, then Dyson's AI Camerajet toothbrush (priced at about $500) is for you. It’s a camera viewing, gap finding, jet washing, liquid flossing, mouthwash dispensing, technique teaching, live streaming, plaque blasting, precision cleaning toothbrush. As such, it's the only toothbrush with a camera and a jet, to target the gaps and remove plaque between your teeth. I'm waiting for a mini-robot-toothbrush you just drop in your mouth and it zooms around in it like a Roomba zooms around your floors.

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Acer Swift Blade 14

Although not yet available in the U.S. and the pricing has yet to be released (but it could be under $1K), the Acer Swift Blade 14 has risen to the top of my list when looking for a new computer. Although I prefer the black of the LG Gram, the marshmallow blue is distinctive enough, but the real draw is this: Coming in at 1.76 pounds, it's the lightest full-size laptop ever. And it's thin as can be with daunting specs. 

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Get Help for Motion Sickness From Your Phone

As knowing someone who struggles with car sickness, one of my favorite features that launched on the iPhone with iOS 18 was Vehicle Motion Cues. It’s a layer of moving dots that appears across your screen and changes with the motion of a vehicle. Apple says the feature helps reduce the sensory conflict between what you see and what you feel, making it easier to look at your screen while in a car. They’ve definitely noticed the difference when Vehicle Motion Cues is on; they can scroll or read on my iPhone for longer without feeling nauseated. At last, a similar feature is coming to Android. Called Motion Assist, this adds a bubble overlay to your phone’s screen that moves as the vehicle does. As Google put it in a blog post, “It’s designed to help bridge the gap between what your eyes see and the movement of your ride.” You can adjust the shape, color and opacity of the bubbles. You can also set Motion Assist to turn on automatically when you’re in a moving vehicle, and add it to Quick Settings for easy access. Motion Assist is available on phones running Android 17. There appear to be other such apps that run on earlier Android versions.

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Two Tips re Amazon Refunds

Tip 1: When you have the option, take any refund to your Gift account or Amazon courtesy account instead of to your credit card. You will get it much faster, and you will know often immediately but always within a couple of hours (instead) of days whether it actually posted (which is how long it can take for refunds to your credit card.

Tip 2: If your refund was issued to your card, and you don't see it within a few days, don't hesitate to tell Amazon you're tired of waiting, and that you're willing to have the refund issued per the better options suggested in Tip 1. You might then get a double refund (i.e., an addition to your gift card balance and a refund to your credit card), but that's Amazon's mess up and they will tell you to keep both so you need not even alert them

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Easy Ways to Help Avoid Wi-Fi Drops

Wi-Fi drops, especially in the middle of something important, are incredibly frustrating. Simply rebooting your router can fix tons of connection issues. Rebooting resets your router's memory, clears out any temporary glitches, and reloads its firmware and settings. It also releases any unresponsive connections and expired IP addresses that your router's DHCP server might be tracking. You don't have to set a reminder to do this manually, either. Most routers have a scheduled restart setting that automatically restarts the router at a time you specify. I recommend setting your router to reboot late at night when you won't be using the internet. This way, any temporary downtime for your smart home devices won't affect you. For instructions on how to do this for your router, type "auto schedule reboot [router model]" without the quotes into Google. Doing the setting takes about 2 minutes. Some other helpful tips in preventing Wi-Fi drops can be found in this MUO article.

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