Transcript
Todd: Number one sign it's going to be a long show is one of us says, yeah, it should be a short show this week. All right. Lisa, hold dinner. We're going to be a while. Okay.
Todd: You don't talk about a no-hitter in the middle of a no-hitter. Hey, I think he's got a no-hitter.
Talkin2Todd: Damn it!
Todd: Jeez.
Talkin2Todd: The hell are you thinking?
Todd: You learn nothing from baseball. Okay. Levels, levels.
Talkin2Todd: Lovels, Lovels?
Todd: Hey, how was Rochester?
Talkin2Todd: Rochester!
Todd: was Was that an incredibly poor take on the police song?
Talkin2Todd: No, no, that was Jack Benny. Do you not recognize Jack Benny? It's a Jack Benny show reference.
Todd: old How old do you think I am? How old are you? You are making a reference you're making references that were old before you were even born.
Talkin2Todd: Oh, Don. Oh, Mary.
Talkin2Todd: More Jack. You want to do more Jack Benny?
Todd: Sure. You know what? Sure. Sure.
Talkin2Todd: I'm thinking and your money or your life.
Todd: Sure.
Talkin2Todd: I'm thinking, I'm thinking. that's hey Come on, man. Your money or your life. that's it did These are the jokes that bring them running to the pod.
Todd: Sure. Sure it does. Keep telling yourself that. Buckle up toddlers, whoever's left at this point.
Talkin2Todd: Hi, toddlers. Welcome to Talking to Todd, a weekly podcast with Dwayne Johnson and Todd Prins, where failure is always an option. Thanks for joining us. Hey, Todd.
Todd: Hey, how's it going?
Talkin2Todd: Pretty good. Pretty good. How are you?
Todd: Not too bad. Not too bad. The state of Utah is on fire. there's There is fire everywhere.
Talkin2Todd: Oh.
Todd: The valley that isn't on fire is filled with smoke. Not that fire. Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: The state, the state, the state is on fire.
Todd: Yeah, yeah. luckily Luckily, we're going to build a massive data center, which is going to solve all of our fire problems here. Nope, that's not it.
Talkin2Todd: Oops, no.
Todd: Anyway, so so yeah, there's only two parts of the state. Either it's on fire or it's covered in smoke right now, which is cool. But other than that, we're good. They were good. Yeah, how about you?
Talkin2Todd: Well, you know, the the thing about that is it makes for really, really gorgeous sunsets here.
Todd: Yeah, it it does here unless it doesn't, which means there's too much smoke for the sunlight to get through.
Talkin2Todd: Yes. Yeah.
Todd: we've had We've had both here recently. So, yes, I was actually having to explain to one of my coworkers who moved here last year. He's like, is is this normal? And I'm like, this?
Todd: No, no. Normally it's much worse.
Talkin2Todd: yeah
Todd: Wait, what?
Talkin2Todd: Wait, wait, hold on
Todd: Yeah. So anyway, that's what's going on here in the Salt Lake Valley.
Talkin2Todd: We are we are gearing up towards a heat wave here in Iowa, so I'm hoping they get it out of the way early. But the the upper 90s are coming.
Talkin2Todd: So.
Todd: Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: Great.
Todd: That sounds fun. at least you're At least you're not in Europe right now.
Talkin2Todd: Yes.
Todd: Yeah. And do you remember the in 2019 when we were in London and it was hot and that is nothing compared to what they're dealing with now?
Talkin2Todd: Yeah.
Todd: So cool.
Talkin2Todd: No, yeah, yeah.
Todd: This is great. So far we've referred to Jack Benny and now we're doing weather in places we don't live. Yep. This is, i don't understand how, I don't understand how we don't win more awards.
Talkin2Todd: i well I keep getting emails that we can nominate ourselves for podcast awards. And I'm like, how much do you want to do that? Yeah, no. You want me to pay how much to nominate my? No.
Talkin2Todd: No, no, thank you. Thank you for considering us.
Todd: It's a self-published piece prize that we earned. Anyway, okay, where do what do we have for feedback, follow-up, and updates? Okay.
Talkin2Todd: We have from Danny. Danny has multiple friends who are attending World Cup events.
Todd: yeah i thought that way i thought you put a I thought you put a period on that and you were just informing us that Danny has multiple friends as if we would assume that he didn't and you just learned that.
Todd: Sorry. yeah There was a long pause.
Talkin2Todd: That's the breaking. but
Todd: yeah hey Danny has multiple friends.
Talkin2Todd: Breaking news.
Todd: Okay. Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: Sorry. Sorry. Toddler 401k has multiple friends who are attending World Cup action in multiple in different stadiums. So he has been gathering for us.
Talkin2Todd: the pricing at different World Cup stadiums. Here's Boston, here's Seattle, here's, what but was this? Oh, here's LA, great. Oh, here's Kansas City, fantastic.
Talkin2Todd: The prices, even though everything has been negotiated by FIFA, right? and and FIFA is managing everything to the point where you can or can't advertise one thing or another, can't bring, you know, any anything. Anyway, you would think that the prices ought to be identical, whether you're in Seattle or Kansas City or l LA or Boston. Todd, the answer to that?
Todd: Well, apparently they're not.
Talkin2Todd: They are not.
Todd: No. So, I mean, I'm looking at one. So here's from Kansas City. Once again, i love this. American beer.
Talkin2Todd: Yes.
Todd: What? it's just It's just American beer. I don't know what that tells people from out of the country other than it probably sucks. In Kansas City, American beer, 16 ounces, is $18.39. Okay. or import beer, 16 ounces, is $22.15. That's lot of money. But then we jump to Boston, and
Todd: that's that's a lot of money but then we jump to boston And a draft American beer at 20 ounces is $18.
Todd: So you're getting a British pint.
Talkin2Todd: More beer, same price.
Todd: Even, yes, slightly less, although maybe because that was $18.39 or whatever.
Talkin2Todd: Right.
Todd: wait wait Wait, what are you doing? And then here's the other one. The last one he sent, he said, is Seattle contact let him down. And this one...
Todd: is the American beer, oh, the craft or imported beer at 20 ounces is $19. Random pricing, beer's cheaper here, more expensive there.
Todd: i don't know, man. I don't, and all and all of it is just way too damn high.
Talkin2Todd: i oh
Todd: Like the beer's too damn high. And I don't drink beer.
Talkin2Todd: bill
Todd: And this is nuts. This is, nope, nuts are $7. Sorry.
Talkin2Todd: In some places there are lots of snack options.
Todd: sorry
Talkin2Todd: on the On this one sign, food and snacks, just nuts. The only thing you can get is nuts and they're $7. Like,
Talkin2Todd: okay.
Todd: Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: I also want to take issue with the with the description of sparkling soft drinks, are there non-sparkling soft drinks?
Talkin2Todd: Because there's water listed right down below. So why would you need, don't nevermind.
Todd: Yeah, im good does that cover non-brown sodas? I don't. Yeah, sparkling soft drinks, $8.
Talkin2Todd: right? I, because,
Todd: There's not a lot of rhyme or reason to these.
Talkin2Todd: There is zero.
Todd: Let's see.
Talkin2Todd: Well, I think they put it into Google Translate and then back into English from whatever it started out being. And that would explain why we have what we have.
Todd: In Boston, a burger or cheeseburger is $10.50. So you might as well get the cheeseburger because you're getting the cheese for free. And then at this location, a half-pound hamburger is $14.50 and a cheeseburger is $14.50.
Talkin2Todd: Ish.
Todd: So it's another $4. I don't know. Wow. Also, wherever this is, this is crispy, crunchy chicken sandwich, but it's crispy and crunchy spelled with K's and crispy looks like Krispy Kreme, which when I first read this, I was like, did you take a Krispy Kreme donut and like bread a chicken sandwich?
Todd: Because, you know, that ought to. Oh, no, it's just.
Talkin2Todd: I could get on board with that.
Todd: Yeah. Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: Yeah.
Todd: Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: Yeah, I'm in on. Yeah, sign me up for one of them.
Todd: yeah
Talkin2Todd: Apparently in Kansas City, it was $30 for three chicken nuggets.
Todd: Seems about right.
Talkin2Todd: $10 a nug.
Todd: Anyway, there we go. Okay. So we think thanks thanks, Danny, and to all of your apparent friends who you absolutely definitely have.
Talkin2Todd: Thanks, Danny. We... these were These were verified connections to a toddler. So we felt obligated to report.
Talkin2Todd: Random stuff grabbed off the internet and sent to us.
Todd: Also...
Talkin2Todd: We do not feel obligated to report. Just want to clarify that for any toddlers complaining right now about our coverage. Because I know who they are.
Todd: They're literally texting you as we so as were record it, which is weird because they can't even hear this conversation. OK, who else gave us some feedback this week?
Talkin2Todd: Let's see. Yvonne sent me another Yombo pitch, golden pitch.
Todd: Yeah.
Todd: Yep.
Talkin2Todd: Blue Jays versus Cubs, June 20th, bottom of the fourth. 92nd pitch at 92 miles an hour by Jays pitcher Patrick Corbin. And I'm like, oh, I was watching that game and I got distracted and I totally missed it. She's like, good thing I have your back.
Talkin2Todd: Yvonne's got me.
Todd: Uh, we, we had, uh, we had Sunday brunch with Donna and Yvonne, uh, Sunday, uh, for father's day. Uh, and, uh, so we were talking about all of this and I said, Hey, you guys are watching a lot of Cubs games.
Todd: And she's like, yes, yes, we are. So, so she's locked in. She's not just watching, she's paying attention.
Talkin2Todd: She's yes.
Todd: that's good. Yeah. So excellent.
Talkin2Todd: I've got it going on in the background while I'm doom scrolling. So, you know,
Todd: Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: let's see, what else did I have? Oh, so you remember, do you remember our roving Tulsa correspondent?
Todd: Yes.
Talkin2Todd: Ava, Ava Prince, you're.
Todd: Yes. Yeah. Here's the thing. I'll just read real quick.
Talkin2Todd: Yeah.
Todd: It was Ava, and I look in the rundown, and it says Anna, Roving Tulsa correspondent. I think, that's not right. But yet, hmm, am I either the one that's wrong?
Todd: So I just let you take care of that. That's that's why I just said yes.
Talkin2Todd: But I i did act, so the rundown was wrong, but the commentary here live on the pod was correct.
Todd: Yes.
Todd: Nailed it. Nailed it.
Talkin2Todd: So thanks for pointing that out.
Todd: i'll I'll inform Eli you said hello.
Talkin2Todd: Wonderful. So a couple of months ago, back on episode 324,
Talkin2Todd: I had some commentary about visiting Tulsa.
Todd: Yeah, after you guys stayed in an Airbnb kind of house down there.
Talkin2Todd: Airbnb, yes, for my nephew's graduation. So i had some I had some commentary.
Todd: Yep.
Talkin2Todd: And so we got from Ava, Hey, Todd and Dwayne, it's your roving Tulsa correspondent again with a several episodes late reply to your episode 324 remarks about living in Tulsa. Sorry for the holdup.
Talkin2Todd: I've been busy moving out of college and back home to Wisconsin for the summer.
Talkin2Todd: Excellent. Great to hear from Ava. Fantastic. She says, I've lived in Tulsa for two semesters of college. I originally had my doubts about a sizable city like Tulsa basically being my college town, but I personally enjoy it a lot more than I thought I would.
Talkin2Todd: Her favorite place in Tulsa is the Gathering Space, which is a public park. Lots of great places for studying and playing and passing the time. Sounds cool. I didn't have time to visit. Uh, lots of green space, uh, the Philbrook estate, which is an old mansion turned into an art museum.
Talkin2Todd: Sounds cool. route 66 runs through Tulsa. So lots of businesses have, uh, lovingly leaned into that.
Talkin2Todd: The Mother Road Food Market we could have visited also didn't, but she also recommends that if anybody is in Tulsa.
Talkin2Todd: There's a performing arts center on campus that holds both University of Tulsa events and more community wide ones. She has been involved in two university theatrical productions,
Talkin2Todd: Oedipus Rex and the 25th annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, one of my top five-ish. So, of course, final paragraph, of course, there are issues that come with living in Oklahoma that I won't get into here, lest they bleed into other podcast territory.
Talkin2Todd: But as Oklahoma goes, Tulsa is really not a bad place to be. The constant outsider's references just get a little old after a while. I'm not kidding or exaggerating about this, by the way.
Talkin2Todd: Tulsa has really leaned into making that book its identity. Anyway, hope this was helpful helpful and or informative and or entertaining. Sincerely, your roving Tulsa correspondent, admittedly not currently in Tulsa.
Talkin2Todd: So thank you, Ava. Fantastic to get feedback about Tulsa and know what's going on with your life. We we we appreciate you.
Todd: two Two things. Number one, Ava, i think I think when you get back into town after the summer break, you you should reach out and see if the Chamber of Commerce is looking for looking for some help to promote Tulsa.
Talkin2Todd: Yes.
Todd: Clearly, she makes it sound like a very nice place. So that's great. Number two, Duane, I think what this says is you should have we should have talked about you going to Tulsa weeks before you went instead of weeks after you went so that you could have gotten this kind of good information ahead of time.
Talkin2Todd: I'm headed to New York City in a couple of weeks. If we have any roving New York City correspondents, please send your guidance my way.
Talkin2Todd: Like that?
Todd: was trying to come up with something.
Talkin2Todd: Is that what you were looking for?
Todd: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. There you go. Yes. I was trying to come up with something witty, and all my thought was the only one I have is if there's a blizzard coming, get the hell out of town as fast as you can. But I don't think that's going to be as big of a problem for you as it was for us.
Talkin2Todd: That's...
Talkin2Todd: If that's a problem on July 10th, I've got bigger problems.
Todd: So does New York.
Talkin2Todd: So does New York. Let's see. How about some follow-up?
Todd: Sure.
Talkin2Todd: let's i'm going to I'm going to text you a picture.
Todd: Ooh, always fun.
Talkin2Todd: So for Father's Day,
Talkin2Todd: Amy got me a new Lego set to assemble.
Todd: Hey, it's the car from Harry Potter.
Talkin2Todd: That is also our logo from the podcast.
Todd: It is.
Talkin2Todd: Did you know this was available?
Todd: You know, i last time we were in a Lego store, I did see this. And I'm like, hey, look at that. And then didn't buy one. Might have been in an airport. Don't buy Legos in an airport.
Talkin2Todd: No.
Todd: Or it was London, and we were not transporting those back. Anyway, yes, I've seen this. Look at that. So you got the car. You got Ron. You got Harry.
Todd: You got Hedwig. and then you And you got the you got the rat.
Talkin2Todd: Yes. You have Ron's a rat. Yep. and the And the car. So that was that was one of the things Amy got me for Father's Day because she saw it and she knew that we just had to have it because it's content.
Talkin2Todd: So so more lego more Lego content for the pod.
Todd: There you go. Just write it off.
Talkin2Todd: Also, did you see I texted you this? Did you click into... the Heinz ad last week, I think, was it last week that we covered what Levi's did to their logo and how they leaned into covering the Levi's stadium logo.
Talkin2Todd: Uh, it, uh, so that the low, so that the outline of the logo, you could still make out.
Todd: with a
Todd: Yes.
Talkin2Todd: what was going on.
Todd: Yeah. Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: Did you see what Heintz did with their advertising because their ketchup bottles and sweet relish bottles had black tape over their logos?
Todd: you You sent this to me. I wasn't clear on what they did.
Talkin2Todd: So when you click through, because Heinz isn't an official FIFA sponsor, if branding its branding had to be covered. So they put black gaffer tape over all of the logos on all of the bottles.
Talkin2Todd: So then the advertising that Heinz put out is is is a square ad that says it still has to be and where it would normally say Heinz as the Heinz logo, they have a black piece of tape over the logo in the advertising. And then they have their ketchup bottle with the black gaffer tape over the logos.
Talkin2Todd: Unofficial stadium ketchup is here.
Todd: Yes. Okay. Sorry. I needed to click through the additional pictures. i see. Yes.
Talkin2Todd: Through the, yes. Even with the logo covered, people still knew it was Heinz and they leaned into it. And then Levi's tweeted them, dang, you too?
Todd: By the way, fun fact, Gillette figured out, saw what Levi's was doing. Did you see what Gillette did to the to the Boston Stadium?
Todd: The cover of Gillette is looks like it's covered in shaving foam.
Talkin2Todd: Oh, they covered.
Talkin2Todd: Oh, that's fantastic. On the outside of the stadium, I see that. That's that's awesome. Hey, you know, you got to have fun with it.
Todd: Yes.
Talkin2Todd: At least at at least we got to choose how we cover it is what they tweeted. oh my God. at Levi's, they got us to.
Talkin2Todd: Oh, that's nice. Yep, nice work, solid work there.
Todd: You know, fe FIFA actually is is is a pretty good way to amplify your brand by by demanding that you don't amplify your brand.
Talkin2Todd: Should we do, let's do a couple of construction updates.
Talkin2Todd: Uh, here's my construction update.
Todd: Yes.
Talkin2Todd: This week, my wife walked into my office and said, okay, so now that the bathroom's done, what's next? I'm like, uh, we had two projects on our list this year and we knocked them both out. Can we take a break?
Talkin2Todd: Cause that last one nearly killed me. yeah yeah, yeah. We can take a break. Can we still talk about them? Sure. We can talk about them all you want.
Todd: You've worked in corporate corporate America long enough. Dwayne, can I introduce you to the phrase stretch goal?
Talkin2Todd: Oh, yeah.
Todd: up
Talkin2Todd: Yeah, I hit my goal. Now I'm looking to achieve beyond.
Todd: Yeah. let's talk Let's talk about the stretch goal. Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: yeah this is right now I'm just at meets expectations.
Todd: That's exactly what I was going to say is you don't want it You don't want to just be at meets expectations, do you?
Todd: i mean I mean, that's fine if you want to be if you want to be meets expectations.
Talkin2Todd: it.
Talkin2Todd: I got a...
Todd: Hopefully there's no layoffs coming. I mean, you know if you just want to be a performer, fine.
Talkin2Todd: I got a rock.
Todd: construction yeah Construction update from here.
Talkin2Todd: help Yeah. How about
Todd: Number one, Uh, many of the outlets in the house have this fun thing of when you try to plug in, as you push into the plug, the plug just goes into the wall.
Todd: So you can, it's, it's sort of like you can never plug it in because it just keeps going into the wall. A lot of them did that. So, uh, they don't do that any anymore. Fixed.
Todd: Cool. Uh, Also, when I was swapping out light switches and moving from toggle switches to Decora switches, got to one in the kitchen that controls the light above the sink and the garbage disposal. And I took everything out. And then when I went to put it back together again, i was a little confounded because the backsplash is just a solid piece of granite that's about an inch thick.
Todd: And then the box behind it is sort of sunk into the wall. And a little bit stripped. There was no amount of screws that I could get that would go back together. So the switches have been wired, sticking out of the wall, let's be honest, for maybe two and a half months. Lisa's been concerned because it's right next to the sink that there would be some electrocution. Anyway, professional, fix that, please.
Todd: Fixed. Also, I may have talked about the day that we found out that the that the jetted tub was hooked to the rest of our bathroom outlets.
Talkin2Todd: Aha.
Todd: Didn't fix that because that would be expensive, but I also found out that day that the downs the the powder room outlets were also connected to the one outlet we have in the garage, which when charging the car, running the freeer freezer, and then putting the hairdryer on, popped that circuit. So we now have a brand new circuit with three new outlets in the garage so that the garage has one actual outlets, two on a different circuit. And then we also had a two
Todd: Funny enough, we actually had a 220 line run and we have a car charger mounted now for being able to charge one of our one of our cars.
Todd: Yeah.
Todd: Yeah. So that was all started and finished today. Although I guess technically they're going to dry, they have to finish the drywall patching tomorrow because they cut into the drywall in the garage so that I was fine if they just ran conduit and they're like, no, no, we'll put it in there. So anyway, so the car is now charging with a, with a level two charger. So I don't have to go over to the Tesla charger to top it up. So electrical project started and done tick.
Todd: Moving on to the next one, I guess. Actually, we're not moving on yet, but we have asked for the quote for the next phase.
Talkin2Todd: Wow.
Todd: So so it goes.
Talkin2Todd: You are an overachiever.
Todd: Here's thing. I'm not doing any of this, right? Like, I'm not doing, like, like Juan is taking care of all of it. Like, Juan and his guys are just taking care of all of it. And Lisa's actually doing most of the work with him. I mostly show up and go, how about put something there?
Todd: Cool. Great. Call it good.
Talkin2Todd: we have We have a phrase around our
Todd: But you know what? From a supervisory from a supervisory standpoint, yes, I'm i'm crushing it.
Talkin2Todd: we have a We have a phrase around our house. I didn't make it, but I made it happen.
Todd: Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: Uh-huh,
Todd: There you go. Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: yeah.
Todd: Usually said by the people who didn't make it. Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: Almost 100% of the time.
Todd: Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: Let's see. Oh, we're going to take a quick dip into Todd's Tech Corner, brought to us by... the Taylor Center for Technology Policy. What you got, Todd?
Todd: Yeah, this is breaking news as of today. Hey, Duane, did you need to buy a new Mac or an iPad or an Apple TV or anything?
Talkin2Todd: Well, I wasn't planning on it.
Todd: Oh, that's good, because today Apple raised prices on all of them. in some cases by quite a bit. iPhones did not go up in price.
Todd: AirPods, no. Displays, no. But all Macs, the Apple TV, all iPads, the Vision Pro, the average increase across the board, and you have to understand because this is some high-end Macs, the average increase, if you take it across all of it, $247.
Todd: two hundred and forty seven dollars
Talkin2Todd: Oof.
Todd: Some things went up, a number of the price increases went up between 25 to 50%. Actually, the Apple TV went from 129 to 199.
Talkin2Todd: Really?
Todd: Yeah, if you if you want to know what all these AI data centers that are buying up all the chips are doing, yeah, this is what happens. So everything went up today and as we record Wednesday. So if you wanted to buy something, hope you got it because otherwise everything just got a lot more expensive.
Todd: Awesome. Except for the phones, which makes me wonder when they release the new phones in September, how much they will be.
Talkin2Todd: Uh-huh.
Talkin2Todd: You know, i was
Todd: Welcome to Apple. Hey, how much is it? If you have to ask, you can't afford it. An iPhone? Yes. Okay.
Talkin2Todd: i was... I've been kind of holding out. I've been kind of holding out for a new Apple TV until they come out with a new model because it's in desperate need of an upgrade.
Todd: Yes.
Todd: Correct.
Talkin2Todd: I mean, nothing has changed in years. I'm like, why would I buy another new one now when it's identical to the one that I have sitting on my in my basement already?
Todd: Correct.
Talkin2Todd: And i kind of I would kind of like to have one more for the bedroom rather than what we've got in there now, which is almost nothing.
Todd: Yes.
Talkin2Todd: Yeah.
Todd: Here's the thing. I think we've we've been wanting to get it we've been wanting to buy a new one. Actually, what we really want is we need a new remote, but the remotes are $60. And we're like, hold off on buying the remote until you buy it because the new Apple TV is as cheap as $130 until today. So you could buy the remote or you could buy a whole thing.
Todd: What we ended up doing, when the new one gets released, I think there's going to be a lot more Apple intelligence and Siri will be better and you're going to get to do all sorts of stuff.
Talkin2Todd: Right, right. right
Todd: But what I did is, wow, those really went up and we were thinking about buying one. Huh. Check. do do do do do Hey, Target still has the old ones for the same price. Maybe we should.
Todd: Apple will sell it to you for $199. You can buy one from Target right now for $129. Why don't we just get that?
Todd: And then we don't have to worry because when the new one comes out, I think it's going to be $199. So anyway, we may have grabbed one quickly.
Talkin2Todd: in Do you know what I did to solve that remote problem?
Todd: You took it back to Best Buy and then you you went around the store until you found another one with a remote. Oh, wait. No, that's a TV. Sorry.
Talkin2Todd: No, i I bought a knockoff remote on Amazon for $19 and it works great.
Todd: Yeah. Yeah. That's the other way to take care of it.
Talkin2Todd: Yep. Yeah. I'm like, nah, you know, I don't really need to spend, especially my Apple TV that's downstairs is one version older. So it had the really bad remote that.
Todd: Yes. Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: Yeah. Yeah.
Todd: yeah
Talkin2Todd: So that was the remote I needed to replace. And I'm not investing $60 in that super old Apple TV. So anyway, let's see.
Talkin2Todd: What else do we know? Well, I guess we'll do this.
Talkin2Todd: That's right. That sound means it's time for Dwayne Guess a Number. It's America's favorite game. Todd, what you bring for us this week?
Todd: Okay, a couple weeks ago, the Wall Street Journal had an article that said Americans are keeping their cars longer than ever and remaking the auto industry and pointing out because of rising car prices that people are just keeping their cars longer and longer as new price new car prices and even used car prices rise.
Talkin2Todd: Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: Yeah.
Todd: According to this article, Duane, the average vehicle on the U.S.
Talkin2Todd: Yes.
Todd: roads is about how many years old?
Talkin2Todd: thirteen
Todd: You read that article.
Talkin2Todd: Todd, you get a bell for getting correct that I read the article. That bell was for you. That bell was not for me.
Todd: OK. All right.
Talkin2Todd: you have more numbers? you have no more numbers for me from the article?
Todd: Well, not from that article, but Duane, I was going to, I have another number that I was going to surprise you with in my idiots. So, so I'm going to go into idiots right now, if you don't mind, but I'm going I'm going to turn this, going to keep it in the Duane Guess a Number phase.
Talkin2Todd: Oh, OK.
Talkin2Todd: Sure, why not?
Todd: Okay.
Talkin2Todd: OK. OK.
Todd: Okay. This is by the way, right in your professional area, which means you may have seen this article. Prior to the World Cup, FIFA reserved hotel rooms in all of the host cities for FIFA officials, FIFA sponsors, e cetera etc., etc.
Todd: So for Kansas City, FIFA reserved up to 5,000 hotel rooms per night that they would need to be in town for.
Talkin2Todd: Right.
Todd: okay And if you think, I don't know, there's six or seven matches. We're talking tens of thousands of hotel rooms that they reserved.
Talkin2Todd: Teams support staff team allocations for wrote for
Todd: It's not the teams? No, no. The teams have to do their teams have to do all their own. this is This is literally for the FIFA and their entourage and FIFA sponsors that they can give.
Todd: Yes.
Talkin2Todd: Really?
Todd: 5,000 hotel rooms.
Talkin2Todd: Okay.
Todd: Okay.
Talkin2Todd: Per night.
Todd: Per night. Okay.
Talkin2Todd: Damn. Okay.
Todd: Yeah. Two weeks prior to the event starting, they canceled some of those reservations.
Talkin2Todd: Oh hell no.
Todd: Dwayne, Dwayne, first number, what percent of their overall hotel room nights did FIFA cancel two weeks before the event?
Talkin2Todd: I'm going to be really mean. I'm going to guess 70. They canceled 70% them.
Todd: You're low.
Talkin2Todd: no get out
Todd: You're close, but you're low. They canceled 75% of their allocation
Todd: two weeks before the event. Now, Duane, you've blocked blocks of hotel rooms. Duane,
Talkin2Todd: Yep.
Todd: dwayne Guess how much FIFA had to pay in cancellation fees to all of these hotels for canceling 75% of tens of thousands of rooms on two weeks' notice?
Talkin2Todd: Can I use my calculator?
Todd: Please do. It's better than your fingers and your toes.
Todd: And if you want if you want if it helps your math, assume, I'm to make this up, assume that they had booked a total of 60,000 hotel rooms nights. That would be like 12 nights. i Let's just base it off of that so that you you we can we can judge your guess here.
Talkin2Todd: OK, so let's say they canceled 45,000 rooms.
Todd: Yep.
Talkin2Todd: And let's say they got a deal on these rooms, but they're not getting they're not staying at the Super 8.
Todd: Oh, no, no, no. They're staying at the Crowne Plaza. They're staying it at at the nicest.
Talkin2Todd: The JW Marriott, they're staying at the.
Todd: Yeah, they're staying at the nicest hotels. Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: Let's say they got $400 a night
Todd: Okay.
Todd: As their room rate.
Talkin2Todd: as their room rate.
Todd: Yep.
Talkin2Todd: That's Jesus Christ for one night's cancellation. That's $18 million. dollars
Todd: They probably didn't pay that, let's be honest.
Talkin2Todd: They probably negotiated down and didn't pay $18 million, dollars but they canceled the block. They didn't cancel a night.
Todd: Well, yeah, they canceled 75% the rooms that they had. so they used twenty five percent of the rooms out of the block, right? so So they still did use some of the rooms, but they didn't cancel the whole block. They just said, hey, we, at this hotel, I need 100 rooms. And then two weeks beforehand, they said, you know what? I only need 25.
Todd: Here's 75 rooms back. So they didn't really, yeah. that you I don't think you understand.
Talkin2Todd: across all Across all platforms though, they're they're paying $10 to $12 million dollars in penalties two weeks out.
Todd: Yeah.
Todd: Okay. So you're saying 10 to 12 million.
Talkin2Todd: that is That's the number that they ought to be paying based on a two week out, unless they've got
Todd: Okay.
Talkin2Todd: a negotiator that negotiated a zero payout, a no, no fault. You know, we can cancel at any point two weeks prior, you know, yeah and if so, that's fantastic, to fantastic negotiation on their part.
Talkin2Todd: That would be, that would be amazing. like I could never get that, but given their weight and the hotel's expectation that they can sell those rooms regardless. Now, the thing is, if the hotel sells out anyway, they pay no cancellation fee.
Talkin2Todd: So you don't know until after the date actually passes and then you go back and do an audit. And if the hotel would have sold out anyway, then FIFA pays no cancellation fee.
Todd: right, I'm to throw
Talkin2Todd: Generally, that's how those contracts work. Uh-huh.
Todd: Here's the thing, I'll just throw this out, though, just so you can think about this. Most of these matches are people flying in from out of the country who have made their plans months and months in advance.
Talkin2Todd: Yes.
Todd: There's not a lot of walk-up, hey, I just flew into Kansas City, do you have a room available for people from outside the country?
Talkin2Todd: Right.
Todd: Okay, so...
Talkin2Todd: I'm still sticking with they ought to have paid 10 to 12 million.
Todd: Okay.
Talkin2Todd: Yeah.
Todd: The actual amount that they paid, you actually hit the nail on the head, $0.
Talkin2Todd: Yeah.
Todd: one last number.
Talkin2Todd: Because of course they did. That's fantastic negotiation. That is, that can you send me this article? Because I need to share it with my coworkers.
Todd: now one last number
Talkin2Todd: Yeah.
Todd: five 5,000 hotel rooms equals what percent of the total Kansas City metro hotel rooms?
Talkin2Todd: Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: That's a great question. Kansas City overall metro, 5,000 rooms is,
Talkin2Todd: I don't 5%, 10%.
Todd: It is 14% of the available rooms.
Talkin2Todd: okay. Yeah.
Todd: so there you go so
Talkin2Todd: I was a little low there, not too far off.
Todd: Not too bad. So anyway, for my idiot, FIFA, for completely and totally screwing over all of the hotels in Kansas City, cities and hotels are not making money on the World Cup.
Todd: FIFA's making money. These hotels are not. So anyway, there you go. i guess, you know, what do they say, though? It's good to be the king. I want all of your hotel rooms.
Todd: I no longer want any of your hotel rooms. Should you pay us? I don't think so. You are lucky that we even considered you to begin with.
Todd: You almost got to host FIFA. You should put that on a banner, but don't use FIFA. You have to black that out.
Talkin2Todd: But don't, yes, no, yeah.
Todd: We will sue you. We will take money from you if you use the logo or the word world or cup. Even cup, if you say cup, we will sue you. OK, how about you? What did you bring for idiots?
Talkin2Todd: This came to us from the watchful eyes of Tyler, negative 18.
Talkin2Todd: Dateline, Laurel County, Kentucky, 2020.
Todd: Hello.
Talkin2Todd: Joke for one person. Two people were arrested in Kentucky after a detective found a bag labeled definitely not a bag full of drugs that contained, Todd, surere
Todd: Spag full of drugs.
Talkin2Todd: bag full of drugs.
Talkin2Todd: Laurel County Sheriff's Office said a detective found a suspicious suspicious vehicle parked in an employee area of a local business. When the detective spoke with a man and the woman inside the car, he noticed a plastic bag that contained suspected narcotics.
Talkin2Todd: He then found a second bag labeled, definitely not a bag full of drugs, inside the vehicle. Inside, more suspected narcotics. Fantastic. Officials said that the they gave the detective false identification card belonging to someone else.
Talkin2Todd: Both of the people in the vehicle had outstanding warrants, as it turned out. Both were arrested. And then in my conversation back and forth with toddler negative 18, whose daughter is a police officer.
Talkin2Todd: The county sheriff posted about a suspect and the deputy searched to the guy and found drugs in his pants pockets.
Talkin2Todd: The excuse that he gave, these aren't my pants.
Todd: There you go. Wasn't me.
Talkin2Todd: He's wearing the pants and an Emma, Emma's the daughter, says that this is a common excuse.
Todd: Not mine.
Talkin2Todd: These are not my pants.
Todd: That's not my vein.
Talkin2Todd: this is This is not my locker.
Talkin2Todd: Jeffrey!
Todd: You know what?
Talkin2Todd: i
Todd: you just once Once you go down that route, though, you've got ride it all the way. like That's a ride-or-die excuse.
Talkin2Todd: Yeah, you really do.
Todd: It's not my pants.
Talkin2Todd: yep
Todd: It has your name sewn in them. That's not my name.
Talkin2Todd: Definitely not a bag full of drugs.
Talkin2Todd: Sure, go with that.
Todd: Here's the thing, though.
Talkin2Todd: Oh, my God.
Todd: Okay, so so if you're going to label it, let me just ask you this.
Talkin2Todd: Yeah.
Todd: If you're going to label it and you have two choices, where you store your drugs. Do you put it in a bag that says, definitely not a bag of drugs, or do you put one in that says, definitely a bag of drugs?
Todd: Like which, wait a minute.
Talkin2Todd: Well, you don't want to confuse your bag of drugs with your other bag of drugs. So...
Todd: That's saying is like, like you're like, aha, because this gets into a whole princess bride kind of thing, right? Like, wait, I know that my drugs are in the one that's labeled not drugs.
Talkin2Todd: Yes.
Todd: So in my drug bag that it's, it's definitely not that. But if I know that, you know, that I know that this is how I do this, do I then move, which, which ones do I put it in? But what they decided was I'll just put them in all the bags.
Talkin2Todd: That's the bag that you keep your Iocane powder in, Todd.
Todd: Got it. Good to know.
Talkin2Todd: You're welcome. Yeah. Yeah. You watch anything good?
Todd: We started watching Clarkson's Farm. I think we're through the three or four of the of the episodes. So I will tell you, and i this could have been what I learned, but we we started watching.
Todd: When we watched last season, think Amazon had already started their, if you don't pay us, you're going to get ads in the middle of it, but they didn't have much ad inventory.
Todd: We started watching this one and they have sold a lot of ads, like like a lot of ads.
Talkin2Todd: Sold.
Todd: We made it to the second ad break that isn't even halfway through the episode. And Lisa says, oh, hell no. How much does it cost to get rid of the ads? And I said, it's $4.99 for the month.
Todd: And she says, we're going to pay the $4.99.
Talkin2Todd: sold
Todd: Put it on your calendar to turn that off. I will say this. It took us, I like to think of myself as a technology person. So do people who pay me. It took us
Todd: it took us nearly 20 minutes to figure out the inscrutable Amazon, amazon which has one-click buy for almost, you can one-click buy damn near anything to get to your house.
Todd: It took us nearly 20 minutes to figure out how to pay them, mostly because the account Our main account is under Lisa. I was signed in as me. So when I went to buy it, it was my credit card, which is fine.
Todd: Don't care about that. But the question is, if I buy it, will it then show up on her account? Because she's the, OK, wait, well, why don't we go into your account? Nope, still my credit card. OK, what if I sign out and sign back in as you? Nope, still my credit card.
Todd: OK, that's weird. OK, go on the web. OK, no, I can't find it on the web. Oh, it says here, you just go into account, you go to video, and then you, and nope, that doesn't work. So then what we did is, fine, screw it.
Todd: Buy it on my account. We'll sort it out later.
Talkin2Todd: it.
Todd: That was at the undisclosed location. Then the nu the pre the next night we drove up to here, loging open up open up Amazon Video ads.
Todd: What the hell? How do i refresh this? OK, now I'm going to force quit the app. Nope, that didn't work. OK, now I'm going to sign out and sign back in again. Doesn't know anything at all about the ad, about that we've already paid for this. So then Lisa, we go in. It's now Lisa's credit card. gee Okay. So we're in a family. Anyway, enjoying the show.
Todd: It's there's some, there's some, there's some good moments and, and, and, and there's also, there's some sad moments and we haven't even gotten to the end of this series yet, but even in the middle of the series there's, there's some sad moments, but yeah.
Todd: Anyway, how about you guys?
Talkin2Todd: Well, and we got, we finished it.
Todd: What, I mean, I know you're watching it, so. Okay.
Talkin2Todd: So no spoilers, but we got to like episode six and Amy and I looked at each other at the end of episode six, which ended on a high note. And we're like, at what at what point is the other shoe going to drop here? Because this has been a relatively calm season and things are going really, really well.
Talkin2Todd: So...
Todd: except Except for the pigs.
Todd: No spoilers, but it's not great. Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: But well, in the and the guinea fowl eventually also, but regardless,
Todd: Hey, hey, hey, haven't gotten there yet.
Talkin2Todd: Yeah, sorry. Regardless, it was it was a fun season.
Todd: are you Are you guys, are we closing the door so they don't escape? No, we moved them all out of there. There's one on the lamp.
Talkin2Todd: Yes.
Todd: Love that. Just.
Talkin2Todd: Damn it
Todd: Thanks, Charlie.
Talkin2Todd: it. Yep. So what did what did you learn this week?
Todd: So I had a doctor's visit, and you'll check up. I'm wearing i'm wearing a a very nice, I went to the doctor's wearing in a very nice blue polo with stripes on it. You you may recognize it.
Todd: And it has our logo on the on the sleeve. And
Talkin2Todd: Oh, you weren't in public.
Todd: Oh, yes. i've I've worn in public multiple times. It's a nice shirt.
Talkin2Todd: Oh, yeah.
Todd: like this like It's a nice shirt. So I go in, and and the MA takes the weight and everything. And then we go in, and we sit down. And then she's asking me, confirm your name, confirm your date of birth. And then, take your temperature.
Todd: Cool. And then it's time to get your blood pressure taken, at which point she has to put the cuff on my arm. And the arm she is the closest to the to the thing is is the one that says, talking to Todd.
Todd: you know what she asked?
Talkin2Todd: huh.
Talkin2Todd: You have a podcast.
Todd: That's exactly what she asked. Here's the thing.
Todd: Had that been you, they may have wondered if it was a podcast or not. Like, oh, I don't know what that thing is. 30 seconds earlier, I had confirmed that my name is Todd.
Todd: And now on my shirt, there is an embroidered logo that says, talking to Todd.
Todd: Well, yes.
Talkin2Todd: With a little microphone. With a little microphone.
Todd: Yeah. With a microphone. Well, yes. Yes, I do. I walk around with a shirt with my name on it for my podcast.
Todd: Oh, that's really cool. My brother wants to get into podcasting. But he doesn't. He but he he hasn't he hasn't really get started. Here's thing. Just start. Really? Yeah, it'll be bad.
Talkin2Todd: That's...
Todd: It'll be, it'll be bad for like the first year. Really? Yeah. You just got to get through it. Just tell them, don't worry about it.
Talkin2Todd: Yep.
Todd: Just start.
Talkin2Todd: it might be It might be bad longer than that.
Todd: Oh, yeah, but it will definitely be bad for the first year. Oh, so do you guys have a big audience? We have a podcast.
Todd: So anyway, yeah, yeah.
Talkin2Todd: Define big. we have we have thousands We have literally thousands of downloads.
Todd: Yes. Yeah. So anyway, literally, uh, Oh, you have a do you have a podcast? It's on my shirt. So anyway, that's what I learned was I don't mind wearing the shirt out in public, but maybe not if people are going to actually stare at the shirt. So anyway, that was fun.
Todd: How about you? What'd you learn this week?
Talkin2Todd: So I was up in Rochester with my father who was at Mayo Clinic having some work done. So I went up to kind of comfort, hang out, be with mom and dad while they were up there. And as is typical, when I get together with my folks, they have tech issues that they need me to solve.
Todd: Sure.
Talkin2Todd: Dad's Kindle
Talkin2Todd: has stopped allowing him to download new books. Yeah.
Todd: Oh, he's he's got an he's got a pre-2012 Kindle then.
Talkin2Todd: Yes, he does.
Todd: I diagnosed it. There you go.
Talkin2Todd: Yep. That was the diagnosis I came to as well. He's like, well, what do we do? I'm like, dad, you've had that. You've had the Kindle for over 13 years.
Talkin2Todd: Yeah. It's probably time to buy a new one. Well, okay. Yeah, we can do that. Fantastic. So, and I'm like, you know what? This is the perfect time to do this because right now we're in the middle of Amazon prime days and all of this stuff is super on sale. This is absolutely the best time to solve this problem. Okay, cool.
Talkin2Todd: So,
Talkin2Todd: What do you do? you He's like, I read. What do you so what do you do on your on your Kindle? Do it because there's the the new paper white version is really nice and easier on your eyes.
Talkin2Todd: And. You know, so we've got the paper white version or you've got the fire tablet or the color white version or or whatever. Right. But it's a Kindle.
Talkin2Todd: Right. So, OK, now all I do is read books. All I do on my Kindle is read books. Okay, cool. Well,
Todd: is good because that's what they're designed for.
Talkin2Todd: Exactly, right? Fantastic. So, okay, so, pip, pip, pip, and I'm like, click, click, click, click. Okay, here's this. Yep, that'll that'll work. Let's get the paperwhite version. Let's get the upgraded, because, you know, at this point, why not? A little extra memory, and you'll be good to go.
Talkin2Todd: You want to cover? it Yeah, let's get a cover. Sure, bang, off we go. Click, there's the cover. Got a green cover rather than the black cover. Here's a little more upscale now. got the Got the wireless docking thing? Sure, why not? It's designed for it, for an extra. I mean, between the cover and the dock, you're spending on that, what you're saving on the Kindle because it's Prime Day. So all in, you know, great. You're out the door for $200. Fantastic.
Talkin2Todd: Great. Cool. Great. Click. Buy. It'll be at your house tomorrow. Fantastic. Great.
Talkin2Todd: And then dad picks up his Kindle and opens the cover and I see a solitaire game on his Kindle.
Talkin2Todd: And I said,
Talkin2Todd: so you play solitaire on your Kindle? Yeah. I thought you said you only read books on your Kindle. Oh no, I play solitaire on that too.
Talkin2Todd: At which point I quickly Google, can you play solitaire on a paperwhite? And the answer to that is no, you cannot. Do you know why?
Todd: Because they stopped downloading games to Kindles in 2012.
Talkin2Todd: Pretty much, yes. And also what he had was a fire tablet before they really started. the the The naming of these things has really changed over the last 13 years, shocker.
Talkin2Todd: What he really had was a fire tablet and not really a Kindle.
Talkin2Todd: At which point I went back in immediately and canceled before it had even fulfilled and ordered him a new eight inch fire tablet.
Talkin2Todd: synced everything back up and saved him $50 in the process.
Talkin2Todd: What i learned is it's very important to ask very specific questions of your clients when you are trying to help them purchase equipment.
Todd: No, what you really learned is even if you ask very specific questions of your clients, they will not give you the right answer. Never believe the user. Sorry, unless there's any of any of the users of mine. Always believe you.
Todd: I never do. I never do.
Talkin2Todd: The music is happy boy by Kevin MacLeod. You can subscribe to our award-winning podcast with visiting podcaster, Todd Prince, wherever you get your pod.
Todd: Hey, I've got a podcast.
Talkin2Todd: Search talking and then ever two, there's no G and there's no space. Stop by and see us at the Tube City home office. Please don't do that. Stop by, check out our Naperville drains. If you're in the greater Chicago area, thanks to our listeners, our sponsors and our contributors. We appreciate you. And as always, you can send us your feedback on this episode or any episode to feedback at talking to Todd.com.
Talkin2Todd: Todd.
Todd: do you Do you remember in Star Trek The Next Generation, which was supposed to be this advanced thing, that Picard would be in his office and somebody would bring him a report and hand him like a Kindle, right?
Todd: And then he would look at it. But then like on his desk was a pile of like six or seven of these things.
Talkin2Todd: Yeah.
Todd: Like like every report was on its own Kindle. At which point people are like... Why couldn't you have just sent the report electronically to his one device? Why did he need eight devices?
Todd: Why do I bring all this up? Because what you could have done is said, hey, congratulations, dad. Now you got a book Kindle and a solitaire Kindle. And you just keep just travel with those. And then, oh, you know what? I listen to audiobooks. Cool. You got an audiobooks Kindle, too. Like he could just stack these Kindles up on the side of his on the side of his bed stand. And then he just grabs whichever Kindle that he needs. And to be honest,
Todd: I will say this. You think that's, you think that's like, that's kind of stupid. On the other hand, when people get just in general to a certain age, which button do I click on? There's no button. Just turn it on.
Todd: It'll do the one thing that you want. I'm just like Picard.
Talkin2Todd: that's better It's better than one Kindle per book.
Todd: Yeah.
Todd: that would be That would be worse. That would be significantly, yeah, that would be, oh my God, you just, why did you put that in the air?
Todd: Amazon's like, you know, I figured this out.
Talkin2Todd: That's a great idea.
Todd: Yeah, that's a perfect idea.
Talkin2Todd: It is an e-book and there's no paper, but you've got to buy it every time.
Todd: They ship them to you. Like, hey, can I download it? Yes, it'll be for here from FedEx in two days.
Talkin2Todd: No.
Todd: That's what we call a download.
Talkin2Todd: We'll send it to you on a little chip. You can put it. No. No. oh my God. Well, we're going have something we need to clean up next week. Until then, we're here.
Talkin2Todd: We're talking to Todd.
Todd: That went away quick. stop so wait I was just enjoying the music and suddenly it went away. Wow. Okay. Cool. Hey, can I listen to pod? Can I listen to podcasts on, on my Kindle? Yeah, yeah, you can. do you want me to show you how to download ours?
Todd: No, no, no, no. I'm good. I'm just wondering, can I want, can I listen to other podcasts?
Todd: Yeah. Yeah. I've got this really great solitaire podcast. I listen to it every day. I'll, show I'll show you how to download it.
