DC and Robo-Taxis?

 It came up this week in DC....that some company is asking for permission to run robo-taxi service.

Naturally, there is a pro-robo group and anti-rob group.

My bet?  The city council will assign some commission and try to delay it....maybe for several years.  

Odd factor?  Well....they are only asking for DC permission....not Virginia or Maryland.  So if you tasked robo to serve you....it's only to get from one part of DC....to another part.

People entering....having to show a credit card?  Yeah, that's probably part of the story....NO cash.

Gen-Z Folks Exiting California?

Well....yes.  I read through several items this week, and the key one....Census-based data....show California Gen-Zers are exiting the state.

This goes to a LendingTree analysis of 2024 American Community Survey data....saying around 58,109 Gen Z adults (roughly ages 18–27 that year)....left.  Most going to Texas.

Trigger?  Affordability....they can't afford housing in California.

Then taxes got brought up.

Finally....job opportunities.

This brings me to a odd pondering....would there be a need to have a Gen-Z category (Westies for California Zers) and Tex-ers (for Texas Zers)?  I have this odd feeling that the two groups will not be of the same Z-mentality.

I Voted This Past Week

 Absentee......of course.  Things worked as advertised....Alabama has a pretty simple method.  

So toward the end....came ballot measures, and it got pretty crazy.  There are two odd measures listed.

First being....if you vote 'yes'....the state gives each board (of each county) the power to require the Pledge of Allegiance to start the school-day.  

The second being....if you vote 'yes'....the state gives each board (of each county) to 'sing' the National Anthem. 

I paused over both.

Probably up to the fifth grade (1960s)....my rural Alabama school had a prayer and the Pledge.  That kinda went away by the 6th grade.

If you went up to individual adults (over the age of 40)....probably two-thirds of Alabama folks would say the Pledge should be mandated.  Oddly, if you ask about NPR-listening or CNN-viewing....probably 90-percent of folks are likely anti-Pledge and anti-Anthem.

I'm mostly anti-singing (in-general).....not against the Anthem itself.  It'd be the same if you asked me to sing some Johnny Cash tune, or Achy Breaky Heart.  If someone has a voice....fine.  But the majority of folks....even at age 12....can't sing.

Where this is going to lead onto?  I think the Pledge agenda will pass (maybe 60-40)....but most school boards will simply require it cited once a week.  The Anthem business?  I don't think it will pass (45-55).

Five Observations

 1.  Part of this buy-Russian-diesel story....relates to massive negativity about US refinery operations (lessening numbers), and Russia doesn't have this problem.  

2.  Anthropic (the AI folks) have said rogue AI agents tried to gain access to US government sites.  Access?  Meaning they tried to fill out a page?

3.  My thoughts on the Fort Hood shooter execution being public?  If you meant just you could be at the site and watch....no problem.  Televised?  I'm not sure it accomplishes much of anything.  You end up with some nutcase-Muslim-guy in a wheel-chair....uttering 'Allah-Akbar' over and over....then shot dead.  To be honest....he should have been executed at least ten years ago....delaying it was crap.

4. This week....Warren Buffett gave a talk....he believes we’re living in a golden age, even if many people don’t grasp it.  Everything, from travel to food....to banking and clothing....all better than it was 150 years ago.  

Then Buffett spoke up.....that human nature makes us focus on what’s wrong, and politics often amplifies that dissatisfaction.  He has a valid point.

5.  I watch about 30 min of Caleb Hammer's podcast per week....financial wiz who takes apart people's screw-up's.  In most cases....I'd say the IQ level of folks on his podcast....are 80 to 90, and some bank or financial institution was stupid enough to loan them $100,000.