HEADLINE: Six Months of Putin’s War Unravels Russia’s Superpower Image

The U.S. was at war for twenty years and lost (twice!), so what does that say about them?

The U.S. State Department claims that it murdered Ayman al-Zawahiri last week with a James Bond-style bladed missile.

How do we know that's true? How do we know they didn't target some aid worker trying to give water to refugees?

The federal government has a credibility problem that can it never overcome.

McDonald's has ended its 800 store test of McPlant, a meat-like sandwich from BeyondMeat due to poor performance.

I guess it didn't occur to McDonald's that people who make extreme non-meat dietary choices don't shop at McDonald's – for any number of reasons!

Perhaps would-be customers aren't excited about buying a product made from synthesized proteins grown in a vat of mold.

Inflation is (modestly) 8.6%. The Fed will raise interest rates (if we're lucky) to 1%. The traditional equation says that interest rates should be 12% to stall inflation.

The problem is that nobody knows how many banks and lenders with CDO's and derivatives are teetering on failure. A sharp rise in interest rates would collapse the global economy – worse than in 2008. So, banks might pay 1% for loans. What are you paying? 6-8% for secured loans (house, car) and 18% for unsecured credit?

If you think the system is stacked against you, it is.

A Google engineer has claimed that one of Google's AI language models is sentient.

Google has responded that LaMDA is merely a computer algorithm that makes people think it is sentient - which is exactly what a sentient computer program would say!

American Airlines offers a $41 early-boarding fee.

But, you already have a seat assignment. Maybe you can ensure that you get to stow your carry-on forward of your seat (instead of behind you) - but many of AA's planes have upgraded overhead compartments that allow vertical stowage of roll-aboards, which is more than adequate for carry-on luggage on a full flight.

So, really, one is paying American Airlines for the privilege of standing in-line on an unconditioned jetway instead of a somewhat-conditioned terminal.

Caveat emptor.