The Luxury Burger Story

 I watched a business report this week...where a poll was done and the public said....FAST-FOOD is now a luxury (so says 80-percent of Americans polled).

It's reached a stage where stopping off for a $15 bag (for 3) at McDonalds....is now near $35 (figure with taxes). So that once or twice a week 'thrill'....has dissolved.

I remember this as a kid in rural Alabama...where stopping at Wendys, Krystal, or Burger King was a big-deal and the family unit of four paid around $7.  Today?  You'd have to spend near $40 to $45.

So if this is a luxury....I'm wondering what else has gotten  tied into the luxury 'bundle'.  Cable TV, theater tickets, magazines, Nike tennis shoes, premium whiskey?

Did this evolve out of the Covid era?  I'm of the mind that 50-percent of the 'push-pull' came in this era....the rest created out of the Biden-direction in 2023/2024....which you can tie some 'pain' into the fed and their lack of understanding.

Yeah, in some ways....it's the 1930s.  You have hobo-residents, druggies, and nutcases residing in some public camping-ground (on the street by your house, or your local school).

Banks tittering like they were in 1930 and 1931?  Well....yeah, you could make a case that they are lacking some path to profitability and unable to get traction.

Trump in FDR's shoes?  Well....pretty much everything that FDR would say to do or NOT-to-do.....Trump is doing the opposite.  FDR was prolonging the depression by every single action he committed the nation to.  So there has to be a better outcome than what existed in 1940.  

Nine Things

 1.  I watched some interview....American wife, with a Mexican husband....marriage of dozen-odd years....the husband has NO Green Card.  ICE came to collect the guy.

Reporter tries to tip-toe around this, but after watching 2 minutes of this...figuring up the guy had been in the US for sixteen-odd years...he MUST have had some Green-Card phobia (irrational fear of ever getting a Green Card).  Then I realized....his wife has to have the same Green-Card phobia as well.

I wish her well, but she'd best start practicing Spanish.

2.  I watched a collection of podcasts/videos this week....covering Portland, Vegas, SF, and LA.

I'd put both Portland and SF on a 'to-be-Detroit-status' by the end of 2026....fairly dead and unable to come back.  Blame?  Drug-use, homeless, bad-boy attitudes, loser-politicians, reckless police management, worthless judges, and no plan on recovery.  Both relied upon tourism and successful stores/hotels to survive.  Both failed.

In the case of Vegas....the economy has reached a level where no wants to spend money.  There's also the FEE-woes....where you rent a $99 room, and discover between fees and taxes....the total for the room adds up to around $179.  This puts the typical 3-night visitor into a tough position....with $1k on  food and room....then finding another thousand for gambling or shows.  This won't work.  I'm of the mind....at least twenty fairly well-known hotels will not be around by the end of 2026.

As for LA.....how would a bank lend you money to rebuild after the fire....if they know insurance companies won't connect with you?  I don't think Mayor Bass understands this side of the rebuild story.  In support of insurance companies.....where exactly is the fix-it plan or the fire services?

Oh, and wondering about NY City?  Once the socialist new mayor 'arrives'.....I will put NYC on the 'doomed-list' as well.

3.  I don't understand this American Eagle jeans BS.  Some young attractive blonde puts on a pair of jeans, and people freak out?

4.  Over the next year....you will hear the term....Operation Mockingbird a good bit.

 Operation Mockingbird was, and still is....a large-scale program of the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) that began in the early years of the Cold War (1950s) and manipulated domestic American news media organizations for propaganda purposes.

Hint: it has never ended.

5.  Not that it matters....but in about twelve months....Canada will be a chaotic state of existence....with at least 3 to 5 provinces....leaving, and the remaining 'pieces' are unable to figure a budget plan to keep the rest surviving.  In this moment....around half the population....which leaned awful left....will be asking for a miracle.

6.  I watched a Joe Biden speech that he gave this week.....he seemed witty/sharp and not 'off'.  It makes me wonder and ask how much drugs was he hooked-up to for four years.

7.  Maybe it's old age, but I'm pretty much agreeable to loitering laws now....unless you are sitting on a bench in some town/city....if just standing or protesting....you need to be constantly moving, or face a $50 fine for loitering.

8.  My agenda for high schools, if I ran the system?  From 8:15 to 10:15....PT every single day, and no waivers to get out of it.  

9.  I watched this Colbert show program, with the interview of Kamala Harris.  Giggling through the piece....yeah, this seemed like she was high on something, or had a glass or two of wine prior.