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❖ THE GRIPE ❖
A Personal Affront, Reported Faithfully
I read about the bag fee at the kitchen table this morning, which is where I now read anything that costs money. JetBlue's new checked bag fees apply to tickets bought from November 3. A first bag now costs $50 if you pay more than 24 hours before departure, up from $39, and $60 if you pay later. Peak travel adds $5 to the early price and $10 to the late one. Peak runs from Thanksgiving, November 19 through November 30, and again from December 17 through January 18. The airline says the change is meant to offset rising fuel and operating costs, and that it wants its advertised fares to stay competitive. Tickets bought before the change keep the old rate. I own one suitcase. For now it stays in the closet, which is the only fee I can control.
❖ THE DAMAGE REPORT ❖
Today's News, Ranked By How Much It Ruined My Mood
🔥 MOST ENRAGING
Snack Right Super Foods recalled Brad's Crunchy Kale and Veggie Chips Kale, with best-by dates from December 2026 to February 2027. The company announced it on November 2 and the FDA posted it on November 3. The notice says high levels of thallium can cause serious harm, including nerve damage and hair loss. California public health officials acted after one person had elevated thallium levels, and no illnesses are confirmed. I have no kale chips in the house. I checked the pantry anyway.
😩 MOST EXHAUSTING
Some Target baskets have small Bluetooth beacons that work with overhead lights and the Target app to estimate where a shopper stands in the store. The beacons themselves collect no personal information, the article says, but app location permissions can link a phone to the basket, and it is unclear whether movement data is used for more than finding products and sending offers. Turning off app location does not stop the basket from broadcasting its own position. The article says the basket tracks the basket and not the person, which is a distinction the store will be glad to explain.
😤 UNREASONABLY ANNOYING
Visualping, a price-tracking company, followed more than 2,600 products through last year's holiday season and found that roughly one third of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals had been available for less earlier. On average those deals were 37 percent above their lowest recorded prices. Luggage was the worst category, with 61 percent cheaper before the sale, and microwaves came in at 50 percent. A MacBook Air advertised at $1,439.99 had been $1,337.46 earlier in November. In this study, a sale was often a price that had already been available for less.
🤷 SOMEHOW ALSO HAPPENING
Brent was at $105.84 a barrel on Wednesday morning, down from $110.45 the day before. The article gives no reason for the move and says oil can swing sharply when fears of slowdown or conflict rise. Brent is the benchmark most of the world uses for crude oil. The drop is on paper, and the pump has not been told.
I Almost Threw Out My Keurig. It Wasn't Broken.
Every cup from my Keurig started tasting weak, flat, stale — so I unplugged it and stuck it in a closet. Then I learned the dirty secret of grocery store K-Cups: by the time a pod reaches your kitchen, it's usually spent months going from factory to warehouse to truck to shelf. The flavor oils are long gone. Some brands even over-roast to hide it.
The fix wasn't a new machine. It was fresh pods from Angelino's, a family-owned L.A. roastery that roasts, packs, and ships within 3–5 days — straight to your door, from 39¢ a cup. Over 1,000,000 happy customers. 50+ flavors, no subscription required, and 15% off your first order, applied automatically at checkout.
❖ AND SOME OTHER STUFF ❖
Briefly, And With Limited Enthusiasm
▸ Google says more than 1.3 million Android TV streaming devices were compromised. The malware was built into the devices before purchase, so the article says a factory reset may not remove it. Google says it has banned the maker, Videostrong Technology, and dismantled the network.
▸ Amazon is selling a $25 Thanksgiving meal through November 26. It includes an eight-pound frozen turkey, stuffing, gravy mix and cranberry sauce, and the article says it "may not cover every dish or serving need." Same-day delivery is offered in more than 2,300 U.S. cities and towns.
▸ Homeowners association assessments rose 50.5 percent from 2021 to 2025. Insurance expenses rose 75 percent over that period, the largest driver, according to a 2026 industry report from Vantaca. Condominium assessments rose 96 percent.
✦ THE ONE GOOD THING
Fine. Trevor Bergman, a 59-year-old police officer from Melbourne, has given blood 545 times and visited all 85 blood banks in Australia. He is one of 150 known Australians who carry the anti-D antibody, which is given to pregnant mothers to protect newborns. The idea came to him on holiday in Perth. He was turned away once for having a sniffle, and he came back. I may call the blood bank before I call the airline.
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Weigh the bag before the airline does.
THE GRUMP · (AND LARRY)