"In politics, too, the product itself matters more than the marketing of it. Bloomberg’s incurable anti-charisma makes him the equivalent of a no-nonsense sedan, an agreeable contrast with the gaudy chrome-and-tailfins of Trump, a human land-yacht. Bloomberg’s demeanor is that of someone who knows how to smile but resists the inclination. There are, however, credible reports of a dry — arid, actually — Bloomberg witticism. Asked about a possible fall campaign between two billionaires, he replied: Who would be the second one?"
Ecstatic Update:
I traded "the beast" (RAV 4) in for a beautiful 2017 Prius Four. Why a 2017? Was it my ridiculous frugality coming to the fore? No, dear reader(s): it is the LAST year that any Prius has a CD slot. I am not so much aging, as becoming irrelevant in the consumer economy.After running some numbers and local availability on the RAV and the Little Guy trailer, I had an estimate of the "damage" my not-quit-year-long towing experiment would inflict. I went into this fully willing to pay the damages. Apparently they might add up to one annual non-taxable gift according to 2020 IRS rules. Hence, this adventure will be viewed (by me) as a gift to my inner child. She almost never got to be the silly, carefree decision maker since, well, shortly after my birth.
So, on Tuesday I started looking for a replacement car (actually, I only looked to see what used Prii were out there). Kendall had two 2017's, BOTH WHITE. So I zipped over there to check them out. When I was escorted to the first one, I spontaneously leaned in hugging her exclaiming: "oh honey" as one would a briefly misplaced child. I am sure my saleswoman thought me certifiable (just like the Prius!). But I had wisely asked the male salesman who approached me upon arrival that I wished to work with a woman. As a sex we are much more accepting of spontaneous goofiness. I test drove both, and bought one Wednesday. That might sound rash to those who know my fiscal sobriety. Perhaps, but so what says my in-charge child.
This model has all the safety features of my RAV of which I become very appreciative. It is white (you're, welcome Mom) with a light colored interior (strangely very rare in the wild). And it includes a little pad on which I can charge my (likely never to own if I continue to have a choice in the matter) smart phone. I am back to getting 45+ mpg and thus my inner angst and social embarrassment about driving the beast is history.