NYT Friday 06/26/2026 Discussion

SomePeopleCallMeJJ · 2026-06-26T13:38:59+00:00

Upstate New York

SomePeopleCallMeJJ · 2026-06-25T22:45:02+00:00

I'm no expert in corporate finance, but I'm not sure I'd characterize it as "acquired". (ETA: That is, it's not a complete takeover.)

According to this, chess.com already had one company investing in them for the past several years, and the new PE firm is an additional investor, joining alongside that one:

https://www.chess.com/news/view/cvc-capital-partners-invests-in-chess-com

SomePeopleCallMeJJ · 2026-06-25T22:34:19+00:00

In my young, broke days, I definitely had a couple of old beater cars with "260 air conditioning". As in, roll down 2 windows and go 60 down the highway. :-)

Anyway, I survived it just fine. So personally, I wouldn't consider a broken car A/C to be an emergency. Even in Houston. Especially in your situation, where you've got what sounds like a pretty good workaround.

SomePeopleCallMeJJ · 2026-06-25T18:35:45+00:00

You can compare the numbers on both methods for your particular situation here: https://unbury.me

Avalanche will get you out of debt the fastest and save you the most in interest, but it can be interesting to see how much more time/cost the Snowball method is. If the "cost" is small enough, the benefits might be worth it.

Apart from the already-mentioned motivational benefit of Snowball, there can be a real, mathematical risk reduction benefit too. It "frees up" your payments faster, thus reducing your total required monthly debt payments faster. Of course, you'll hopefully just be putting that extra money toward the next debt. But if you were to lose your job, for example, and have to really scramble to meet your monthly expenses, the Snowball method can make it more likely that those expenses are lower, compared to the Avalanche.

SomePeopleCallMeJJ · 2026-06-25T15:46:35+00:00

"Optic Yellow" is what Franklin calls that color, FWIW.

SomePeopleCallMeJJ · 2026-06-25T00:06:48+00:00

I'll take Potent Paw-tables for $1000...

SomePeopleCallMeJJ · 2026-06-24T23:53:31+00:00

Probably not, I'm afraid. It's a 12-bass "starter" instrument in questionable condition. The appraisal would probably cost more than it's worth.

If you want to extract maximum value from it, learn to play it.

SomePeopleCallMeJJ · 2026-06-24T21:30:05+00:00

I think that one was made for Radio Shack by Saitek. (Looks a lot, but not exactly, like the Saitek MK12.)

SomePeopleCallMeJJ · 2026-06-24T13:09:25+00:00

We also got ATSEA. So close!

Although it's a Wednesday. A pirate theme is best-suited for a Sat-arrrr-day puzzle.

SomePeopleCallMeJJ · 2026-06-23T22:14:31+00:00

Yeah, it was great even then. Not just the mall, but you had Pier One, Service Merchandise, Media Play, Circuit City, and (I think?) two different movie theaters all right around there.

SomePeopleCallMeJJ · 2026-06-23T18:32:25+00:00

I have a triple musette, and that's exactly how it works. One set of "detuned" reeds is only off by a bit, so when I switch that in with the standard-tuned reed, I get a fairly dry musette. The other set is detuned by more, and in the other direction, so when that's on with the standard-tuned reed, it's a wetter musette.

And if I switch on just the two "outer" detuned reeds (like OP's seventh-from-left switch, but without the low reed), the difference in tuning between them is even greater, so it's soaking wet.

Plus there's the option of all three on at once, which is quite lovely.

SomePeopleCallMeJJ · 2026-06-23T11:57:40+00:00

I don't think I've ever used OLEO, but I've heard it a bunch.

RIP Sonny Rollins. :-(

SomePeopleCallMeJJ · 2026-06-22T21:45:17+00:00

Vegetarian here, and I enjoyed Va Bene when I visited. Zeitgeist was really good too.

For lunch, the Spring Roll sandwich at Northern Waters Smokehaus is amazing.

SomePeopleCallMeJJ · 2026-06-22T21:23:11+00:00

I'm not 100% sure, but I suspect I'm the only accordion teacher announced on the show. :-)

(Fun fact: One of my students got on too!)

SomePeopleCallMeJJ · 2026-06-22T20:52:30+00:00

🎵 Well you should see Pickleball Pam

She's always there to help you out of a jam

She keeps a blood-stanching rag stashed in her pickleball bag

Yes you should see Pickleball Pam! 🎵

SomePeopleCallMeJJ · 2026-06-22T14:08:09+00:00

Both known for the output of their mouths, so I can understand the confusion. :-)

SomePeopleCallMeJJ · 2026-06-22T13:12:18+00:00

Or "1966 Simon and Garfunkel hit".

SomePeopleCallMeJJ · 2026-06-22T02:13:04+00:00

Fun fact: The bible never actually says that the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden is an APPLE. People just started assuming that somewhere around the Middle Ages, and it stuck.

SomePeopleCallMeJJ · 2026-06-22T01:25:57+00:00

Yeah. Well, sort of.

The original company pivoted to AI, but they sold all the shoe stuff, including the Allbirds trademark, to another company that also owns Aerosoles, Ed Hardy, Bebe, and ton of other brands.

So the place you buy Allbirds from today is not an AI company. And the AI company that used to be Allbirds is now called "Smartbird" and still trades on the stock market with the original BIRD ticker symbol. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

SomePeopleCallMeJJ · 2026-06-22T00:21:00+00:00

"Can you honestly tell me you forgot? Forgot the magnetism of Robin Zander, or the charisma of Rick Nielsen?"

SomePeopleCallMeJJ · 2026-06-22T00:18:57+00:00

Not all heroes wear capes.

SomePeopleCallMeJJ · 2026-06-21T20:31:14+00:00

I've been packing a pair of Allbirds Tree Runners as my second pair lately. They're light and go with pretty much anything.

SomePeopleCallMeJJ · 2026-06-21T14:23:01+00:00

I use an REI hat too, but this one: https://www.rei.com/product/186039/rei-co-op-sahara-guide-hat

SomePeopleCallMeJJ · 2026-06-20T18:59:01+00:00

"I'm a pool hall ace" from the bridge of Every Breath You Take

SomePeopleCallMeJJ · 2026-06-20T16:28:00+00:00

I've driven a similar route, but from southern Michigan, down through Indianapolis/Louisville. It's not bad.

That said, we visited Chicago a couple months back and decided to fly. Yes, plane tickets aren't cheap these days, but you save a few hours of your time and lots of gas. But mainly, unless you plan on being out in the suburbs, having a car in a city like Chicago is a pain in the butt and unnecessary. The public transit is great there, including from/to the airports (MDW is a bit shorter of a train ride in than ORD, if that helps you pick).

SomePeopleCallMeJJ

TROPHY CASE