Things I recommend you buy and use, 2023 edition

This is a great and well thought out list of things the author likes and recommends. One of them is "cats" lol -B

I'd like to spend too much time on this particular article, despite many of the links we've included in this issue being way more impactful / thinky. Join me.

First, cast iron skillet. YES. If you don't have one, somehow, or screwed yours up, they're invincible and can be repaired easily. Are you stubbornly grilling things outside during the cold months? Stop that. Use your cast iron for steaks, burgers, potatoes, veggies, whatever.

Next, Instant Pot. NO. Quit that. Get a Dutch oven and learn how to use it properly and you can have the convenience of a slow cooker with better flavored food. Plus, running your oven at a low heat for the afternoon makes your house warmer and smell incredible.

Next, chef's knife. YES. The real point here is that you need to have at least one incredibly sharp knife. I have a paring knife from Victorinox and have been very happy with it for the price. If you want to look like a total badass in the kitchen, grab a Global Santoku.

I realize I stayed in one lane there, whatever. Have fun! * - C*

Issue 89 • Jan 27th 2023

Fancy Buildings

Open question: are you, dear reader, more of a hotel person or an AirBnB person?

Unclear if this would be a building with a room to let, but this proposed tower design would surely offer up some incredible views. But that's a heckuva commitment to build that thing into a city's skyline.

Calvin once passed by Lake Como on a train, and regrets not stopping by. Although college Calvin was–and perhaps still is–unable to afford a stay at Lake Como. But if you like to dream, here's a dreamy villa.

Enough of this one-building-at-a-time nonsense. If you're an AirBnB person these ten Southeast Asian resorts might convince you to change your ways.

Issue 86 • May 27th 2022

I’m Trying To Understand Hedonic Adjustments

According to the CPI cars cost the same as in 1990. Meanwhile cars cost 150% more than in 1990. So how does that work? I'm including this in the You Fancy category because it has the word hedonic in it which seems like a fancy word. -B

While hedonic adjustment may accurately reflect productivity increases, they don’t accurately reflect America’s cost to live. These adjustments accrue to businesses (which in turn don’t provide adequate raises) and the federal government (which in turn under-compensates Social Security recipients).

Issue 86 • May 27th 2022

Fancy Transport

Many of the links in our overstuffed content queue are related to flying. Let's talk about that.

Brian has a book on his wish list called Where Is My Flying Car. Maybe this is it? Or maybe this is it?

There's an awesome short video series of a passenger trip on one of the big zeppelin's that was doing intercontinental travel in the 1930's. NYC to Rio on an airship. Someone should bring this back. With Helium this time of course.

Here's some more non-Led Zeppelin history if you need it.

We're not sure if the physics of flying anywhere in this AirYacht actually work but super-rich multiverse versions of ourselves would be 100% in on finding out.

If you aren't keen on traveling with strangers, we're happy to share a site with jets for sale. You can snag one for the paltry sum of...oh these are the kind of things where they don't list a price. Either way, surely everyone enjoys looking at pictures of the inside of private jets (Brian definitely does).

If you don't care much about flying things, never fear: we have many much sailing content for you. Take this €2.2 Million yacht video tour, or a world cruise that takes 274 nights. 160 Shore Destinations. $70K / person..... who's in?

And last, but certainly not least, is the train. Calvin enjoys trains. Brian adores trains. Calvin is surprised that this is the only train link Brian added to this issue. A sneak peak at Brian's bucket list: Europe to Asia on the Orient Express.

Issue 86 • May 27th 2022

The Bermuda Triangle of Wealth

Here's a super clever theory that college pricing basically floats to the level at which it wipes out the exact amount of wealth middle class parents have accumulated after roughly 18 years. The invisible hand at work taking everything parents, who just want their kids to succeed, have to give. -B

Issue 86 • May 27th 2022

Mercedes AVTR Test Drive

Just a quick little test drive of a car that will never be available to any of us. But sheesh what a future that would be. -C

The things on the back kind of give me the creeps actually. Too much like scales maybe. -B

Issue 85 • May 14th 2022

Minimalist beach house perched on a cliff in Laguna Beach

I mean cool house and all but the word "minimalist" is doing a lot of work here that I'm not sure is deserved. -B

Issue 85 • May 14th 2022

Lets finally talk about how NFTs are a giant scam.

Finally! -Brian

My take: NFTs are portable nonfinite baseball cards that you don't have to meticulously care for. The fun is in the collection, and the craze is inevitable but not the main point. There's plenty of signaling involved but it's not that conceptually different than art being on permanent loan to a museum. -C

Issue 77 • Nov 2nd 2021

CryptoPunks explained: 10 things about the first NFTs

If you want to convince anyone we are in an inflationary environment just show them that these Non Fungible Tokens are selling for thousands of dollars online. Wait... Calvin aren't you an artist? Can you make jpegs we can sell for cash money online? -Brian

I have been racking my brain trying to figure out what silly drawings I made in college could become digital and self-replicating and profitable, hold plz. -C

Issue 77 • Nov 2nd 2021

TAUR: The Electric Road Scooter

Potholes are a thing of the past thanks to our 12.5” kevlar-reinforced, puncture-resistant Continental® tyres. Impressive for a car, let alone a scooter.

The designers of this scooter have not driven it down Park or Poplar. I double dog dare ya to do that and then revisit this claim. -C

Issue 75 • Sep 3rd 2021