Man vs. Heat

Those of us who live in the northern latitudes make numerous adjustments as summer turns to fall turns to winter. Outside it's time to drain garden hoses and put away the umbrella on the deck. Inside it's a rotation in your closet and dresser, as short sleeves and shorts are put away, and long sleeves and sweaters get pulled to the front. And because you woke up with a cold nose and couldn't put on your robe fast enough, you went to the thermostat, and put up the heat.

That meant that this morning was different as the beast came to life. Maybe it was sound of your radiators or vents creaking and stretching, as hot water or air started coursing through them. Or maybe it was the smell, one as distinctive as coffee, as the accumulated dust in the system gets a good roasting for the first time in half a year. Or maybe it was the feeling that the temperature imbalance from under the covers to outside your bed wasn't so drastic. Regardless, it's as much a sign of the seasons as the deer starting to eat your azaleas. 

If you are like many, you have developed a routine that is designed for both comfort and economy, the better to supply warmth when you need it and save money when you don't. You turn it up in the morning when you start moving around, cozying the place up for breakfast, showers and getting dressed. If the house is going to be empty for the day with work or school, perhaps you drop it down a few degrees rather than heat an empty space. Either way, it likely gets pushed up at dusk as the outside and inside cool down, and all in the household return for the evening. And come bedtime you knock it back down for the night when you'll be snug as a bug under the covers. Rinse and repeat tomorrow.

Because it is rinse and repeat, it's a task that can be easily automated. And so if you are like many you might have installed a setback thermostat that makes this all happen. Once set, all those ups and downs in temperature are programmed in, and your system takes on a life of its own. You might tweak it up a few degrees if you were out and come back chilled, or knock it back if you put too much pepper in the chili and are sweating it out. But by and large you just let it do its thing.

Or perhaps you're taken the next step and upgraded to a smart thermostat. Wi-Fi connected, Alexa or Google Home or Apple enabled, these do all the things that a traditional setback thermostat does, plus a few additional benefits. Since they are wired into the world you can see their status from anywhere, and control the system via an app on your phone. Out later at night than you thought? No problem: a few taps and the heat stays on in the bedroom later than your normal nighty-night time.

Like everything else that is connected and smart these days (including certain people), sometimes these things seem just a little too intelligent. Consider our old thermostat. When we were cold we turned it up. When we were too warm we turned it down. Even the setback version did the same thing, just hands off. But our new smart controller is like a 6 year-old who is just dying to strut its stuff. And so even though I told ours to turn on at 6AM when we want to warm the house, I awoke to warm air blowing on us at 530A. I checked to make sure I had programmed it correctly. Yes, I know how to set a clock. So either it was operating in a different time zone or something else was happening.

It took some digging to find out that it is indeed showing off. Turns out that there is a built-in feature called Smart Recovery that starts the system sooner than needed, with the idea that it will be at the temperature we want when we ask for it. Over several days it will start at different times to see just how long it takes to heat our space, then settle on a start time that achieves its objective. That also means that I have to stop anticipating, and put in not the time I want the heat to start, but when I want it to be warm. In short, I have to give in and let my robot overlord take care of me

As with so many things these days, the intelligence and capabilities of these systems is amazing. You can use Siri or Gemini to check the weather, ask Alexa the best nearby place to pick apples, or query Microsoft's Copilot as to the best side dishes to go with chicken cacciatore. But in this case, if I want my Ecobee to better control my heat, and maybe save me a few bucks, I have to stand down and let it do what it does best. Put another way, I have to be dumber so it can be smarter. And maybe warmer.

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Marc Wollin of Bedford is getting used to his new heat pumps. His column appears weekly via email and online on Blogspot and Substack as well as Facebook, LinkedIn and X.

Carded

When it's time to head out into the world, everyone has a set of stuff that goes under the heading of "everyday carry." While the term is usually associated with tactical gear from multi-tools to pocket knives, EDC simply means that detritus you shlep with you, the stuff that you need on a daily basis as you make the rounds. In my case it's all kept in a small basket in my closet. Into my back pocket goes my wallet, with a few payment cards and essential ID's, though much of that (like almost everything else these days) can be handled by my smartphone. Into my right pocket goes a few keys and the fob for my car, as well as a little box with some medication and a small cloth to clean my glasses. And into my left pocket goes a money clip with a few bills in it.

While all the other stuff gets used on a regular basis, the money clip and its contents are turning into a totem of world gone by. While I haven't marked the bills, I could swear that I've been carrying some of the same ones for months. It's not that I haven't bought anything: quite the contrary. On a typical day I get gas and groceries, or take the train and get some lunch, or pick up a replacement lightbulb and have a doctor's appointment. But at each of those stops the transaction is done with a card. Even buying a box of mints for $1.19 is done with a swipe, though I can't fathom how anyone in the financial ecosystem makes money on a transaction that small.

They do it because most businesses are looking for ways to streamline operations and cut costs and loss, and cash does none of that. Doing business with bills and coins creates numerous inefficiencies for commerce, from the time it takes on both sides of a transaction to proffer them for a purchase, to the need for employees to reconcile the till, to taking the day's haul to the bank and depositing it. Yes, there is a cost to processing a card transaction, one which nets Visa and Mastercard and Amex millions of dollars a year. But someone way smarter than me has done the math, and has determined that even with the vig those companies charge it's still cheaper to process a transaction electronically as opposed to physically settling the score. 

In fact, some places have gone so cashless that cash isn't permitted at all. That's the case at vacation spots such as Six Flags and Kings Dominion, at national parks like Death Valley and Crater Lake, and at ballparks from Buffalo to Charlotte. Go to a game at Commerica Park in Detroit, and if all you have is cash and you want a beer, you have to first stop at a Cash2Card kiosk. You feed your bills into it, and it issues a temporary Visa card for you to use. Call it an Anti-ATM. 

Even those cards are starting to get supplanted. Whether your religion is Apple or Android, you have an electronic wallet on your phone, wherein you just wave it for payment. It all magically routes itself around and through, settling up your account without you having to do anything. Pretty soon we'll just implant a chip into our hands that connects to the phone in our pocket or bag, and high five our way through the checkout line.

In spite of all that there are a number of states that are considering legislation to, well, keep cash legal. Florida, Oklahoma and Vermont are just three that have bills under consideration that require merchants to accept bills. They argue that cashless rules discriminate against those who don't use banks, including young people, certain religious communities and those with low incomes. The evidence they cite is the most basic and obvious: it says right on every single dollar bill "This note is legal tender for all debts, public and private." Whatever your politics, that is as originalist as it gets.

On my usual rounds just two places insist that you tender bills, that the cost of a card transaction eats too deeply into their profits. One is the barbershop, the other the buck-a-slice pizza place. So if you see me checking if I indeed have what I need in my left pocket, it's a good bet I'm either hungry or shaggy. 

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Marc Wollin of Bedford has had the same twenty-dollar bill in his pocket for 6 months. His column appears weekly via email and online on Blogspot and Substack as well as Facebook, LinkedIn and X.

No Cops, No Cash

More than 20 years ago I had a project which took me to Norway. As is often the case, I didn't get out much beyond the hotel at which we were staying and working. My sole chance at sightseeing was my morning run which took me down to the harbor in Oslo and back. I don't remember much, but I do recall I came home with a few impressions. One, the country was beautiful. Two, the people were beautiful. Three, the outerwear that people were wearing was beautiful. And four, the breakfast buffets were immense. And beautiful.

So when the opportunity came to spend some true holiday time there we took it.  I'm not sure I can say that Norway is having a moment, but the more people we mentioned it to, the more we heard about others going as well. Some went as part of a Scandinavian tour, others started with the "Norway in a Nutshell" itinerary and kept going. As usual for us, when we tour we opt to base ourselves in one place and do limited traveling, the better to relax as opposed to be on the move every night. For sure we miss some sights and experiences. But the time we spent there confirmed why Norway is a great place to visit. What follows are random impressions from time spent in the Land of the Midnight Sun.

For starters, I didn't misremember: the country is beautiful. The fjords are breathtaking, with soaring sides and water cascading down the cliffs. The small houses and villages you see as you travel up them by boat define picturesque. Our trip on the water from Bergen was a rainy one, but that just made it all the more dramatic, as the waterfalls were roaring down the steep slopes. And when the sun broke through, the scenery was breathtaking.

The capital city of Oslo is about the same physical size as Chicago but has a quarter of the population. As such every day feels sleepy; you rarely experience crowds or traffic jams. Add to that the fact that electric vehicles dominate, the trams are also electrified, and electric scooters are everywhere, and the city is incredibly quiet. 

As one of the countries with the lowest crime rates in the world, security feels almost non-existent. The Royal Palace grounds are open to all, with the only visible presence being the Royal Guard. In our time walking around the city at all hours, we heard just two sirens and never saw a cop on the street.

While Oslo is no longer listed as one of the most expensive cities in the world (that's a tie between Zurich and Singapore) restaurants of all types are notably high priced. That's because as a social democracy (some call it cuddly capitalism) the standard is a "fair wage" for workers. Add in almost free health care, education and child-care and it's reflected in the bill. But if you discount the fact that tipping is appreciated but not expected, and the quality of the ingredients is very fresh, it's not overwhelming. Beyond that, public transportation and tickets to events and museums are on a par with similar ones in other cities.

Speaking at least of Oslo, it's a city that takes its aesthetic seriously. There're beautiful old buildings and striking modern ones. Even a pedestrian bridge across a railroad yard catches your attention. And then there's Frogner Park with its over 200 Gustav Vigeland sculptures (the world's largest sculpture park made by a single artist). Add to that a plethora of statues from the historical (including many women) to contemporary to whimsical, its many museums, and you have a visually vibrant and accessible urban space. 

Multi-lingual is the norm. As explained to me by a local, "We're a small country. If you only speak Norwegian there is nobody to talk to." English is taught at a very young age, and it's not uncommon for people to speak three, four or more languages. And while it looks like you should be able to sound out Norwegian, the language is difficult to fake your way through. Our Airbnb host's name was Tore. I asked if it was pronounced "Tor" or Tor-E". He just laughed and said it was actually neither, and was almost unpronounceable for English-speakers. The closest I got was "too-Ra," but without the subtle accent he used.

While not completely unique, this might be the first time we have gone to a foreign location and gotten no local currency. I keep a stash of Euros accumulated from traveling to that area, but Norway is not part of the EU and uses the krone. But every place we went, whether shopping, getting coffee or any attraction took only cards and discouraged cash. Not sure if that has anything to do with the lower crime rate, but it's one less thing to steal.

The weather is extremely variable, running from hot to cold, wet to dry, and often changes quickly as storms blow in from the North and Norwegian seas. It doesn't seem to surprise the locals, who are prepared for anything. As the saying goes "Det finnes ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlig klær!" which translates to "there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing."

To be sure, the country has its challenges as does anyplace. We sat with two Norwegian women while waiting for a concert, and they complained about the trains and other annoyances. But at least to the casual visitor, the sum of the people, the food, the scenery and more all add up to a great experience. Take my word for it, or as the locals say "Å ta det for god fisk" (literally, take it as good fish).

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Marc Wollin of Bedford loves to travel to new places. You can see some highlights from his Norway trip here. His column appears weekly via email and online at Blogspot and Substack, as well as via Facebook, LinkedIn and X.

Walk This Way

My wife and I are dedicated walkers. During the week we each go out solo in our neighborhood as schedules permit, listening to podcasts or music or catching up on phone calls. On weekends we generally head out together and venture a bit further afield. The routes we take meander around nearby neighborhoods, and vary in tone and type. We might circle a lake, golf course or town, or follow a dirt road out and back. A couple of miles and an hour or two in length, these aren't hard hikes but rather intentional strolls. The goal isn't anything other than a chance to get some exercise and fresh air, and a chance to catch up on the week gone by and plan the one to come.

On my feet I sport the usual suspects, either sneakers, hiking boots and trekking shoes. The sneakers are lightweight, well suited to walking and running, but waterproof they are not. The boots are waterproof and sturdy, but I wouldn't call them lightweight. They are good in wintertime, or if our route is more dirt than pavement. The third option are the shoes, which are solid and rugged. They offer more support than sneakers, less bulk than the boots, and are better for fall or early spring. 

That said, none of them looks like anything other than what they are. Not that anyone cares, but none of them could pass for evening wear. No problem when at home, where I can change after our stroll if we have plans for the night. But when we travel we try and take as little as possible, limiting ourselves to one carry-on suitcase and hand luggage. And assuming our destination doesn't require something special, such as flip-flops or dancing shoes, all we take is the footwear on our feet.

All of which brings me to my quest for a new pair of walking shoes. Whenever you buy something new you have a wish list of requirements. Some are non-negotiables, things that define why you are buying it in the first place. Others are "nice to haves," bonus features that tip the scale between one item and another, but whose absence isn't a deal breaker. And still others don't even rate a listing, things that, as long as they are a feature and not a bug, might be of interest. It's the same whether you are buying a car or a vacuum, a suitcase or a hair dryer, an exercise bike or a coffee maker. And travel shoes are no different.

My wish list for my sole (no pun intended) pair goes like this. First, comfortable, of course, and well fitting. Also high on the list is sturdy and supportive, for when we tour we walk miles in cities and towns. It would be nice if they were fairly waterproof, as we go out in all kinds of weather. And while not a deal breaker, it would be a bonus if they looked a little bit nicer, as much at home at the symphony as at a coffee shop. 

Considering that we can staff an orbiting space station, put a computer in my pocket, and create 1.7 million different coffee drinks, you wouldn't think my list is that heavy a lift. But the options I tried brought to mind a saying we use at work: you can have it good, fast or cheap, pick two. This was no different. I tried and sent back multiple styles and manufacturers, each of which each checked a few boxes but didn't complete the package. 

Then I found a brand called Vessi. They had a model that was a little less sneakery in appearance, and were also waterproof and lightweight. I ordered a pair and took them for a test stroll: a litle snug owing to their design, but with thinner socks they seemed pretty comfy. They were a little warm in the summer, but since my main goal was travel, I was willing to roll with that. And in a happy discovery, they stayed tied, no double knot necessary. A small thing, but surprisingly desirable. I'm not shilling for them nor hoping for an endorsement deal, but like the pizza box says, I've tried the rest, and at least for now, these are the best.

I will keep my eyes open for something even better, because you never know what progress will produce. But until that unicorn comes along, as Paolo Nutini sang: "Hey, I put some new shoes on/And suddenly everything is right/Hey, I put some new shoes on/And everybody's smiling, it's so inviting/Short on money but long on time/Slowly strolling in the sweet sunshine/I'm running late and I don't need an excuse/'Cause I'm wearing my brand new shoes."

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Marc Wollin of Bedford doesn't track his steps: they are what they are. His column appears weekly via email and online http://www.glancingaskance.blogspot.com/ and https://marcwollin.substack.com/, as well as via Facebook, LinkedIn and X.