Third Notice to Loyal, Occasional, Disloyal, and All Other Readers of and Subscribers to This Blog

When Friday's blog email failed to show up on time, we alerted our blog email service. We promptly received the following response: "We’ve identified the issue and are currently testing the fix. In the meantime, we’ve manually triggered today’s newspaper to be sent to all your followers. The issue should be fully resolved starting tomorrow. Thank you for your understanding." If you got Saturday's blog email and got it on time, it would seem the issues that have plagued us the week are now in the rearview mirror. If not, we will continue pursuing our efforts at remediation. We appreciate the patience all of you readers have shown and the support you have given us during this trying time.

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Task (2025 Series on HBO/MAX) and a Note on Related Commentary

Perhaps the best way to describe Task, based on the first episode, is that it's a different take on how crime dramas are done. It stars Mark Ruffalo and he's excellent, as is the rest of the cast, each of whom brings a special touch to the character they play. The script/dialogue is excellent. New episodes drop every Sunday night until the last episode airs.

Note: For a truly insightful take on Task from a different perspective, go to the Tell Me About Your Father Podcast (which you can read a summary of as well as listen to). It's a bi-weekly gig put out by a brilliant writer and commentator that takes a critical look at father figures and the paternal mystique. 

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PS re Hostage (2025 Series on Netflix)

We mildly panned Hostage in an earlier post. Be advised, as the series progresses, each episode is worse than the preceding one, to the point where only those who have a compulsion to finish a series will finish it, and those who bailed are the better for bailing.

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Ohtani Tag Out

If Joey Martella's father were coaching during the Ohtani era, here is why he would have instructed us: Do not get tagged out by Ohtani!

[EOP]

Musk's Wealth No Longer Tesla Driven

Elon Musk now holds less than half of his total wealth in Tesla stock. His stakes in SpaceX, xAI, and Neuralink are now worth more than his Tesla shares. That should put to rest any objection to my getting a Tesla, especially now with the lease deal being offered for a 2025 Model 3 at $299/month. Please, you know who you are out there--I'm begging you.

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iPhone 17 Air

Apple has taken it in the neck in the stock market for several reasons, including its failure to innovate generally and specifically on the AI front, and its the diminished affection and loyalty shown by its customers. The announcement of the iPhone 17 series landed with a thud, except for the iPhone Air. It's features (e.g., the phone and battery life) are not as good as on other models, but it's thinness makes it really elegant and stylish. It would be a crime to put it in a case.

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An Apple a Day

As this article reports, an apple a day just might produce several health benefits, including: protecting against cell damage; lower risk of heart disease; help with weight management; improve digestion; promote bone health; keep  you hydrated; and support skin health. And if you do eat an apple every day until you reach the age of 100, you will have reached the age of 100.

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Cultivate (New Tarbell Restaurant in Phoenix at 3200 E Camelback)

Cultivate is Mark Tarbell's newest restaurant. It's open for breakfast and lunch on weekdays and closes at 6 pm. The menu looks plebian but his stuff is always tasty, and the prices are not as high as one might expect from a Tarbell establishment. 

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Second Notice to Loyal, Occasional, Disloyal, and All Other Readers of and Subscribers to This Blog

This past Wednesday, the daily blog email was not delivered by our email service. We were told there was a glitch. On Thursday, the daily blog email was delivered about 5 hours later than usual. The posts in this email include posts that would have been in the Wednesday email. They might be duplications for which we apologize sincerely for imposing any undue burden and, in all events, we apologize just as sincerely for the large number of posts included in this "catch-up email." Your patience during this difficult time is appreciated.

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Cautionary Note re Covid Vaccines

[Prefatory Note: The following is based on information provided by Banner Health and a local pharmacy. We have no way to further confirm whether or not these two sources are correct on the matter. So, please do your own follow-up confirmation in lieu of relying blindly on this cautionary post]

As matters stand for the moment in Arizona, the new Covid vaccine is generally not available for anyone without a prescription. It is reported that it might be at some CVS Minute Clinics, but they will not assure you its covered by insurance, even Medicare Part B. If you have an appointment for a Covid vaccine, and do not have a prescription for the new version of the vaccine, it would be wise to check whether they would be giving you the existing version or the new version, and whether your insurance covers it. Things should be cleared up and the new version available without prescription (at least for those 65 and older and certain others), and with no ambiguity as to insurance, in the next 7-15 days. Other states differ (e.g., there apparently is no problem in New Mexico getting the newer version without a prescription and its being covered by insurance).

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