I'm Going To Live Dangerously Tonight -- I'm Not Going To Change My Clocks Tonight --- March 9, 2024

Locator: 46709ARCHIVES. 

Ritual: twice a year, I go through the ritual -- methodically tracking down all my clocks and watches and microwaves and stoves and what-have-you and change the clocks -- moving the time piece one hour up or down -- but I'm going to live dangerously tonight. Not only am I not going to remind my wife it's that time again, I personally am not going to change the clocks tonight. LOL. 

Oscars: tomorrow night.

The Atlantic: wow, never disappointed. We must subscribe to not less than a dozen magazines. The one that never disappoints me is The Atlantic. 

And this month, what month would that be -- oh, yes, April -- one of their best ever. The cover story on anti-Semitism coming from both the left and the right was incredible. But inside, so many more articles. I'll get to them later, but what really surprised me was an article on the break-through medication for cystic fibrosis. I knew it was a big deal but did not realize how big a story this really is. See this post. This is truly a miracle. I can't wait for the book to come out. 

The Congressional testimony from the presidents of Harvard, U of Pennsylvania and MIT spoke volumes. Their testimony was profoundly shocking. Two have resigned; the third may survive the storm.

Lana Del Rey: what incredibly great music by which to blog. She hasn't yet sung a "Bond song," but she did have the iconic "Great Gatsy" song. That's worth something. Just one of many.

Southern Living: recipe for carrot cake cupcakes, just in time for Easter. 

Brilliant: Sophia taught me this --

Merrill Lynch Customer Service -- Flashback -- August 6, 2014

Locator: 46708EDGE.

Flashback -- from my journal. 

August 6, 2014

Merrill Lynch EDGE Advisory Center
PO Box 1501
Pennington, NJ 08534


Dear Sir/Madam,


I had a most enjoyable visit with one of your financial advisors out here in southern California earlier today. His business card says he is a vice president, financial solutions advisor.

I have had an account with Merrill Lynch for 30+ years; my holdings were moved into Merrill Lynch EDGE when that program was initiated several decades (?) ago. The local bank was promoting EDGE and suggested I stop by for a visit with the financial advisor after I stopped by Bank of America to update a couple of banking accounts.

The appointment was made last week, and yesterday I received an e-mail reminding me of my appointment.

I was there at the appointed time. I was somewhat surprised that the financial advisor did not already have my account opened on his computer.

I was even more surprised when he asked me who I was. Remember, he (or someone) sent me the reminder that I had an appointment.

But, I suppose the biggest surprise came when he said my account was “too big” to be in the EDGE program; he said I must be wrong, that I couldn’t possibly be in the EDGE program. I told him I get a Merrill Lynch EDGE statement every month (at least that’s what it says at the top).  (In fact, that’s where I am taking the address, from one of my monthly statements; I am not including the second line of that address; just the PO Box.)

He asked me how I enrolled in Merrill Lynch EDGE. I said Merrill Lynch called me about my BLUEPRINT plan some decades ago and moved me over to EDGE when BLUEPRINT was discontinued. Be that as it may, he said he could not talk about the EDGE program to me because I was a Texas resident, and not a California resident.

Since I did not have a margin account, the only question I had was how much time I had to pay for on-line transactions (3 business days? 5 business days?). He said his “hands were tied,” and to help me understand he put his hands behind his chair, as if they were tied, suggesting that it was against SEC rules or Federal law or the local police department to answer any further questions regarding the ML EDGE program.


I had to chuckle. I’ve been with Merrill Lynch for 30+ years and I’ve never had a really good interaction with any financial adviser. I’m always asked when I call Merrill Lynch who my financial adviser is, and I always tell them it’s a “1-800” number out of New Jersey or New York when I get called every few months from an office out there. So, this time, I finally decided to meet face-to-face with a Merrill Lynch advisor.

I came prepared, including a four-page summary of my investments, investing philosophy, and investing goals.

I did appreciate that this vice president, Financial Solutions, did offer to give me a “1-800” phone number to call to get that question answered, as noted above.

So, I assume my non-relationship relationship will continue with Merrill Lynch as it has for the past 30+ years. I gave it a shot today. The most interesting thing this adviser said: “So, you prefer face-to-face interactions with your investments?”

If only.

About Those Expensive Fast Food Hamburger Stories -- March 9, 2024

Locator: 46709ARCHIVE.

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Big Bend National Park, Texas

High school senior Olivia, granddaughter, and her dad are hiking the park this week. Tent, sleeping bags, portable stove, the whole enchilada. I can't even imagine. It's still cold this time of the year, though photos today show they are doing well.

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McDonald's

I went to McDonald's today -- I had not been there in months -- maybe a year? I don't know; it's been a long time. 

It was not my destination but that's where I ended up. I was taking a long walk and it was time for a snack.

Wow, I had forgotten how good their Patriot fries and hamburgers were. Excellent.

I overpaid for coffee but wanted a medium. LOL. I could have saved a bit on a small coffee.

Starbucks? $2.65+ depending on the roast. 

Receipt:

I ordered at the kiosk and was asked if I wanted to "round up" seventy three cents -- sure -- that's for the Ronald McDonald house.

And look at that. I completed the survey which entitles me to a free sandwich next time I visit McDonald's. Wow.

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Firestone Auto Service

I thought I might have had a problem with my battery in my Honda Civic this week.

Took it to Firestone -- complete electrical system inspection and multiple checks of the battery and couldn't find any problems. 

I've never had a "bad" experience with Firestone. They easily could have said my alternator was bad or I needed a new battery, and I never would have known. Yeah, I suppose they could be worried by a "60 Minutes" gotcha but ...

Whatever. They said everything was fine, and I was on my way.

Got home in time to see the last two stages of the NASCAR / Xfinity race, and the golf tournament and a special luncheon with the extended family. 

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Amazon

I found a type of spiral notebook that I really, really love for taking notes while traveling and / or reading. I ordered a pack of three of these spiral notebooks some time ago and completely forgot about the order.

Today, I got a note from Amazon that the spiral notebooks had been shipped. Checking Amazon I see they were ordered February 11, 2024, about a month ago. They will arrive tomorrow, Sunday. Hard to believe that spiral notebooks are on backorder. I guess the "kind/brand" I ordered are / were in high demand. But there you have it.

Not Much Today -- Family Commitments -- March 9, 2024

Locator: 46707B.

ENB: acquires The East Ohio Gas Company from 1st Dominion Gas Utility. Link here.

EVs: GM cuts Chevy Blazer EV price as sales restart. Link here.

• price reductions up to $6,520 per vehicle;
• another $7,500 federal credit now that the vehicle is fully qualified for the credit
• still no Apple CarPlay or Android entertainment system; will only use proprietary system;
• forecasts $25 billion annually from an estimate 30 million connected vehicles by end of 2030
• new price for the Blazer EV: $50,195, buried at the end of the article
• the RS model will start at $54,595 for all-wheel drive or $56,170 for rear wheel (sic)
• so, we were talking about $60,000 - $70,000 price tags for an EV before the price cuts

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The Book Page

Having completed a biography of Jackie Kennedy, I was drawn to this book for this week.

The Road Not Taken: Edward Lansdale and the American Tragedy in Vietnam, Max Boot, c. 2018.

I was aware of this book, had read excerpts but I do not recall if I've ever checked it out from the library.

With Biden getting every more involved in Ukraine and Gaza, this seems like a great time to re-look at the "origins" of the Vietnam "war."

 Ah, yes, here we go, my notes from 2018:

From 2018, my notes elsewhere:

From the Grapevine Library.

605 pages of biography
4 pages: acknowledgements
50 pages: notes (mostly just sources of citations; uninteresting)
15 pages: select bibliography
39 pages: index

Coordinator of Information (COI) becomes, as of June, 1942,
Office of Strategic Services (OSS)

Worked initially out of the Military Intelligence Service office at 74 New Montgomery Street in San Francisco; later able to re-join the US Army; later, about 1947, switched to US Air Force, a new service; but always kept ties with OSS.

This is where I will add new notes. 

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Sophia

I feel sorry for Sophia. In less than five years, she's going to suffer through a miserable two years of learning how to speed-read college-level books and learn how to invest.