Four Observations

 1.  I noted in AM news today....from NY City.....Zohran Mamdani plans to spend around $230 million to purchase and refurbish this run-down old grocery store in Brooklyn...owned by his cousin.

Odds of a ethics violation?  Near 100-percent, and likely to draw fed attention.  

2.  Over the past month, I've heard the term 'oligarchy' uttered at least 200 times.  If you asked  a thousand Americans...most would say it's a Russian thing, but can't readily define it.

An oligarchy typically....is when a small group of people, like a few rich or powerful or top-religious-tier folks, make all the big decisions for a place, and most other people don't get much say.

Yeah....when you slant it like that....it does sound like the House/Senate folks.

3.  Odd Mamdani story....he is under fire for charging people $13 per beer at his ‘victory party’.  Workers arrived and thought the party would feature free drinks.  They were charged $13 per can of Bud Light.

4.  Wendy's (the fast food shop)....will apparently close several hundred operations....business is way down.  This used to be my top place (1980s).  Haven't been to one since 2010. 

IQ Conversation

 I asked Grok/AI....over the average IQ of folks from northern  Africa and the Middle East.  Note....average IQ is rated at 95-to-100. Folks with 75-to-85 are substandard, and not likely to of any use...other than manual tasks, or clerks.  

So the countries?

Egypt, 76.3

Algeria, 76

Morocco, 84.0

Tunisia, 79.2

Libya, 80.9

Turkey, 86.8

Iran, 80

Iraq, 87

Saudi Arabia, 80.8

Yemen, 82.4

Syria, 83

Jordan, 84.4

UAE, 84

Israel, 92.4

Lebanon, 82

Oman, 83.7

Kuwait, 86

So...yeah....there's only a couple that exceeded 85.....which should bother you.   

Stupid Or Confused People Syndrome

 I asked Grok/AI....since the 1990s....what's happened to folks to make them seem either stupid, confused, or illogical.  So Grok gave me:

Information Overload and Digital Media: The rise of the internet and smartphones (especially post-2000s) has flooded people with information. Social media platforms, starting with early sites like MySpace and exploding with Twitter (now X), TikTok, Facebook, and others, prioritize short, attention-grabbing content. This can reduce attention spans and critical thinking, as people skim rather than deeply engage. Studies suggest average attention spans dropped from 12 seconds in 2000 to 8 seconds by 2015, though these metrics are debated.

Echo Chambers and Polarization: Algorithms on platforms like X amplify content that aligns with users’ existing beliefs, creating echo chambers. This can make nuanced discussion rare and reinforce simplistic or extreme views, which might be mistaken for confusion or lack of intelligence. Since the 1990s, political and cultural polarization has grown, with Pew Research showing U.S. partisan divides widening significantly by 2020.

Decline in Education Quality (Perceived or Real): Some argue education systems have prioritized standardized testing over critical thinking since the 1990s (e.g., No Child Left Behind in the U.S., 2001). Others point to reduced funding for public schools or a shift away from teaching media literacy, leaving people less equipped to navigate complex information. However, global literacy rates have risen, so this perception may reflect higher expectations rather than actual decline.

Cultural Shifts and Anti-Intellectualism: The 1990s saw the start of reality TV and celebrity culture, which often glorify sensationalism over substance. This trend, amplified by social media influencers, can create a perception that superficiality trumps expertise. Public distrust in institutions (media, academia, science) has also grown, with Gallup polls showing confidence in higher education dropping from 57% in 1990 to 36% by 2020.

Cognitive Overload and Mental Health: The pace of modern life—24/7 connectivity, economic pressures, and constant notifications—can lead to decision fatigue and mental fog. Anxiety and depression rates have climbed since the 1990s, with WHO data indicating a 25% global increase in mental health disorders by 2020, potentially affecting clear thinking.

Misinformation and Disinformation: The internet democratized information but also enabled the spread of false narratives. From 1990s chain emails to modern deep fakes, misinformation exploits cognitive biases, making it harder for people to discern truth. A 2018 MIT study found false information spreads six times faster than truth online.

I paused over the answer...it fits easily for the US, the UK, and Germany.

There's hardly a day that passes where I don't find 10 examples of misinformation/disinformation, perceived decline in pure facts, and information overload.  It's rampant in the US....rampant in  the UK and seeming to take off here in Germany.

In a lot of cases....we seriously want to believe in something....but five minutes into the orientation...hitting the mute-button...realizing there were some made-up bogus facts included in the story.  

Explaining Mamdani's NY City Grocery Concept

 Draft idea?  A pilot program for five municipally owned grocery stores (one each in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island).

The stores would be 'built' on city-owned land, targeting areas like public housing projects....where residents face limited access to affordable, fresh groceries.   It has NOT been explained why they can't operate out of current buildings, and no one seems to explain the 3-plus year process of getting permits, or building.

Estimated startup cost is $60 million, funded by redirecting $140 million in existing tax breaks for private grocers and raising corporate taxes to match New Jersey's 11.5% rate.  To be honest here....if you have to start from scratch....I think the startup amount is probably triple the $60-M.

From what I can figure....reading through the material....there are two key advantages: First....the city would purchase directly from wholesalers and farmers at bulk rates, bypassing middlemen.  Second, emphasis on essentials (dairy, produce, grains). 

I might add here.....they claim....zero ads or fancy packaging, which means lower costs passed to shoppers.

My gut feeling?  The city will give the guy enough for one single store to be put up. I don't think you will see the store in 2026, or 2027....over construction issues.  Nowhere in the 'chatter'....do they discuss the matter of theft-control or guards....which seems odd.   

In some ways....they seem to want it to function like a military commissary.  The key cheapness plus of a commissary.....the utilities, management cost, and salaries o all employees....is a gov't thing. Commissaries are set to profit by 5-percent.

NASDAQ Story

 I asked Grok/AI how much influence does the NASDAQ  (Wall Street) have on the economy of NY City.  It took a minute....but eventually came back to say three facts:

1. Out of NY City's total GDP....reaching $1.3-trillion....the insurance/investment sector represents around 30-percent of the GDP.

2.  Of the GDP....the brokers and  'dealers' represent  a fair chunk of this  30-percent number (maybe as much as 20-percent).

3.  Finally, one in ten NY City jobs....are attached to NASDAQ. 

What happens  if NASDAQ leaves?  For about a year, I've been observing  rumors  of NASDAQ discussing the idea of leaving.  This was mostly due to Mamdani-chatter.  So I asked Grok  about that idea.

First, Grok talks of a 'ripple-effect'....where just plain NYers talk of leaving....with NASDAQ following that trend, and then 'other' companies following (a lot of insurance companies make NY City their headquarters.

As for picks for the new location?  Grok discussed Miami, Dallas, Nashville, Austin, and New Jersey.  Number one pick?  Dallas.  

I'm of the mind that the insurance companies might not locate with NASDAQ....meaning they might choose Nashville or Miami....while the NASDAQ picks Dallas.

How quick could they move? In 2026?  I doubt it. You'd probably see the first wave in mid-2027. 

How flipped-out would NY City be....if both the NASDAQ and insurance companies leave?  The governor would go nuts in a matter of minutes. 

Average Cost of a Piggly Wiggly (Yearly)

I asked Grok (AI)....what is the average yearly cost factor for a Piggly Wiggly....not saying NY City....just in a average town.

So Grok said: 

"Piggly Wiggly operates as a franchise model with independently owned stores, primarily in the southeastern U.S., making exact costs variable by location, management, and local regulations. An "average-sized" store is typically 25,000–35,000 square feet, based on industry data for the chain. 

For this analysis, Grok used 30,000 square feet as the benchmark, with estimated annual sales of approximately $13 million (derived from U.S. grocery industry averages of $400–$500 per square foot in sales).  Operating costs are influenced by factors like energy prices, wage laws, and theft rates. 

These are annual estimates; actuals can vary 10–20% based on region (e.g., higher in high-cost states like California). Total operating expenses for a store this size typically range from $2.5–$3.5 million annually (excluding cost of goods sold, which is ~70–75% of revenue)."

The problems with this estimate.....for a place like NY City....with high theft and high wages...you probably need to double  the monthly wage/security cost.

So for the city council to finance just one of these 'no-cost' operations for the mayor....figure $7-million minimum (I'm more likely to figure $12-million if you consider daily theft in the range of $20k).

This is probably the only 'gift' that the city council would give the guy....one single year of covered cost, and eliminating it after 12 months....admitting that theft and real cost is a massive problem.

Eight Things

 1. If you are living off  $25k a year,  with $1000 in SNAP benefits per month....in most urbanized zones, you won't make it. Either get ahead....get new skills, or move to the rural regions.

2. The US gov't paid out $105k for a grant....to establish how long a good shopping cart will last. You could have asked some Piggly Wiggly kid, and he would have summed it up in 20 seconds.

3.   Mamdani 'win'.  My predictions, since he won?  First, the governor and the key Dems on the city council will have a meeting with him, and basically say....'shut-up' on the promises....we don't want half-a-million well-to-do residents to leave the state.   Second, this public grocery idea?  The city council will give him enough  to open one single grocery. For the first month of operation, it'll be around $500k in losses, with a minimum of 100 arrested for shop-lifting.  At the 12th month....the city council will shut-down the operation.  Third and final....around 100k city residents who own property in up-state NY and in Florida....will have left the city by late January.  Another 100k will leave by March of 2026. By summer of 2026....roughly 400,000 will have exited the city.

4.  Denialist. For the first 65 years of my life....I never heard anyone utter this word.  Suddenly....it's a daily thing now. 

5.  I think folks had best start thinking about the idea of two new US states....Alberta and Saskatchewan.  Will be a serious topic by the end of 2026.

6.  Don't know if it's intentional, but out of each ten SNAP-interviews on the news....half the time....I'd say the person talking is a hefty 40-percent over their normal weight.  

7.  By 2028, I expect a thousand Republicans to be double-and-triple registered...in  different states, and voting illegaly....to make a point

8.  Over 2026....some Hollywood team will be in NY City....making a movie called 'Escape From NY City-2026'.....with a dozen comedians  playing roles....as they try to leave the city.