“SURGE PRICING,” “DYNAMIC PRICING,” ETC.

(And whether they all perhaps are just different terms for, well, “GOUGING”)

I don’t know about you, but I think this one might be well worth a shout down. Just imagine being a businessperson and suddenly being able to decide at what time(s) of day (or night) that you would choose to charge for a price for your product or service?

First, I completely understand the “wish” for this to occur, but what makes no sense whatsoever is how it all fits into a lawful and fair process for those who PAY YOU for your product or service.

Let’s take ***a closer look*** … @ some PRICE SURGES!!

Case Study: The Donut

Peering in from the customer side of things, I would think that a customer who buys a donut at 5 a.m. (before the morning rush) would expect that, with surge pricing, he or she should obtain the BEST price for the donut purchased. This, not only because said donut is certainly “fresher” at 5 a.m., but also because LESS people are competing to purchase the donut at the time. A different argument could say that the customer should pay MORE because it was just made and will taste best at this hour.

So, where does that leave us? Should the donut be MORE expensive at 5 a.m.? Or, should it be MORE expensive around 7 a.m. when the traffic numbers are much higher? At any rate, trying to even give intelligent answers to these questions seems like a recipe for disaster and it looks like the only places these matters will end up in are the courts!

RELEVANT LINKS

UBER 🚗

https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/03/business/dynamic-surge-pricing-nightcap/index.html

Wendy’s 🍔

https://apnews.com/article/wendys-surge-pricing-tanner-burger-dynamic-9417bc235bbcd13d82966d04a6ba42bd

Jet Blue’s Latest: ✈️

https://viewfromthewing.com/desperate-jetblue-ups-ante-with-new-record-high-dynamic-pricing-for-checked-bags/

PROFILE

Anthony Newcombe is a 4-time entrepreneur, published author & narrator, and full-stack web developer. He can be reached directly via our CONTACT PAGE.

How about an AI CEO?

A Closer Look …

with Anthony Newcombe

This month: Here’s an idea: let’s build an A.I. replacement for CEOs!!

You’ve heard it, I’ve heard, we’ve all heard it recently. “Artificial intelligence is going to replace me, and no one is going to be able to do anything about it!” Whether it’s Hollywood writers & actors, as well as other creators of duplicative content or services, it seems everyone is at risk of being replaced (substituted?) by AI.

WHY THIS MAKES SENSE

Call it alarmist, paranoid, or anything else you wish. The fact is that it’s coming – and FAST! I recall when I was very young going to the movies and seeing Westworld with Richard Benjamin and a very intimidating Yul Brenner. I might be too proud to say I was shaking in my boots, but let’s just settle on the fact that I NEVER forgot that movie. If only I’d known that it was simply a precursor …

Fast forward to today. It seems the only working people who are the most frightened by this concept are those whose decisions are being made on their behalf. Combine that with a general lack of trust for those in charge and BOOM – we are left with the anger, disbelief, and anxiety that is here.

CONTENT CREATOR P.O.V. VS. CEO P.O.V.

I think about things like this all the time. As a content creator, I understand fully the importance of “having a say over my creation(s).” Conversely, as a CEO, I understand the need to stay ahead of the business/technology curve and to keep costs in check, etc. However, in this situation, I’m going to side with the creators. I’m going to do this for the purposes of this blog entry simply BECAUSE-I-CAN!

THE WRAP UP

Finally, I’m going to propose that we embark on inventing a brand-new CEO in A.I. It won’t be overpaid, it won’t chastise and intimidate its workforce, and it won’t force others to (Return to Office or “RTO”) drive to the office every day should they prefer to work from home (WFH).

Pretty cool, huh? You’re welcome.

What do YOU think?

Hope your very hot summer is not so horrible.

Stay hydrated.

-A.N.

PROFILE

Anthony Newcombe is a 4-time entrepreneur, published author & narrator, and full-stack web developer. He can be reached for appearances via our CONTACT PAGE.

HE DID WHAT?! THE SUPREME COURT

⚖️What’s going on in our Supreme Court? ⚖️

A Closer Look …

with Anthony Newcombe

⚖️This month’s topic: Allegations of bribery in our Supreme Court ⚖️

I guess it really does not matter which side of the aisle you put yourself. The bottom line is there cannot be rampant bribery allowed at the highest levels of the judiciary! Period.

Even if we were talking about a Supreme Court Justice whom you agreed with, the fact that we are even in the midst of something so destructive to our country should be enough to make your skin crawl.

Let me digress. Imagine if we simply sat back and allowed criminals to rob us of our belongings, kidnap our children, or beat us to a pulp when we are standing in a line at a convenience store.

Imagine if we allowed a random shooter to wind his way through the city and mow down everyone and everything in his sight. How about thinking about enabling a rogue police officer to roam about the city having his way with anyone he encounters?

The answer is (or at least hopefully is) we would never stand for any of these. So, if we really want to show the country that we care for it, we’d better hitch up our straps, think seriously and DO SOMETHING before NOTHING IS PUNISHED.

We cannot keep looking the other way. We need the concept of law & order to come from the very top. If not, we cannot expect our citizens to behave. No “self-policing,” “honor system,” or the like. We spend enough taxpayer money on so many things that aren’t nearly this consequential to our future. We can do better in this area too, correct? What is there to hide?

We need independent oversight with teeth. If we do not get it straight, we cannot expect those committing the crimes to do it for us. Exactly like we expect it done in our communities.

What do YOU think?

-A.N.

PROFILE

Anthony Newcombe is a 4-time entrepreneur, published author, narrator, and full-stack web developer.

Make up your minds people!

A Closer Look …

with Anthony Newcombe

I don’t know about you, but I’m a bit befuddled by the “wishy-washiness” (for lack of a better term) of our current approach to running our country. Let’s just get right to it.

First, we need to figure out what our actual priorities are. I just received a weather report yesterday that over two feet of rain (yes, that is correct) was expected for the south Florida region in less than 8 hours. Normally, hearing that rain is headed to south Florida is nothing unusual. However, when the Ft. Lauderdale Airport becomes frickin’ Lake Okeechobee in less than an hour (requiring extensive closure), it registers. It really registers.

So, if political and corporate leaders wish to tout Florida as “the place to be,” shouldn’t they also pay the same attention to how people plan to navigate these apocalyptic conditions? In other words, it seems a fool’s errand to pack a state with people, homes, businesses, etc. while simultaneously ignoring the fact that the state can’t handle the worsening weather conditions, right?!

By the way, not to pick on Florida, but we can see this happening pretty much everywhere. Heavy snowfall one week, and dry fire conditions the next (see New Jersey or California). Tornadoes roaring through the mid west, south and also touching down in California.

I guess my point is: at what point do we figure out that we are in over our collective skulls? Do we need to see one of our states literally “fall off the map” in order to do more? Does some location need to sink?

What do you think?

A.N.

Profile

Anthony Newcombe is a 4-time entrepreneur, published author & narrator, and a full-stack web developer. He enjoys most outdoor activities and hopes to be able to survive the probable apocalypse at some point …

SUPER SUNDAY!

A Closer Look …

with Anthony Newcombe

This month: All the hub-bub concerning the Super Bowl halftime show

Everyone seems to be all in some type of tiff about the show. This year it’s Rihanna. Last year, it was concerning “honoring crime and criminals” with the Dr. Dre/ Snoop/ tribute to Compton. Some years back, it was Beyonce and all the stuff about militancy.

Let me tell you something. Look, Prince is no longer with us, Bruno Mars can’t do it every year, and we live in an era where no one is even considered if deemed a “has been.” I’ll go out on a limb and say, “just ENTERTAIN ME!” As long as the set is entertaining and everyone gets home safely, do we really give a sh*t?! Answer: we should not. Or, should we?

What do you think?

See you guys in the spring!

-A.N.

Profile

Anthony Newcombe is a 4-time entrepreneur, published author & narrator, and full-stack developer. In addition to this monthly blog, follow his 3 Questions with Anthony Newcombe on ANJET for luxury travel related topics and his book recommendations.

The “New” Lazy

A Closer Look

with Anthony Newcombe

This month’s topic: The “New Lazy”

la·zy

/ˈlāzē/

adjective

adjective: lazy; comparative adjective: lazier; superlative adjective: laziest

unwilling to work or use energy.

“He was too lazy to cook”

Or, how about, “We were too lazy to drive to the drive thru”

Our household just received the latest “new thing.” It is, in fact, a digi-coupon from DoorDash informing us (don’t quote me) something like “… save 15% on our orders from Del Taco in the next 15 days!”

Del Taco? Do you mean the drive-thru Del Taco?” Seriously?! So, let me get this straight. We can’t even rally enough to throw on some clothes and drive ourselves to the drive thru?! In just a few short years of Covid-19, we’ve now become so lazy that we can’t even bring ourselves to do what the formerly lazy people did before the shutdown.

It says a lot about how easily we can be persuaded “after the fact.” We’ve normalized something as simple as getting into our cars and driving a few blocks down the street. We’re even now willing to include a “delivery charge” just to be able to keep ourselves firmly planted in place. What’s next, having someone to bring the delivery into our homes and arrange our plastic cutlery for us prior to engorging?

Hold on a sec. My security cameras just informed me that “Dasher” is here with my lunch.

Gotta go!

See you in the new year – have a safe holiday and don’t eat too … well, you know you will! <);^)

A.N.

PROFILE

Anthony Newcombe is a 4-time entrepreneur, published author & narrator, and full-stack web developer. His insta handles are @50AINT30 and @anjet123

#ImmediateGratification #WhatHaveWeBecome #LowEnergy

CAST YOUR BALLOT!!🗳️

A Closer Look …

with Anthony Newcombe

This month’s topic: Why are there so few prerequisites in running for congress?

BACKGROUND

Like some of you (okay, many) the past few weeks, we’ve been perusing and marking our bingo cards – I mean, election cards- in the hopes of putting in charge the group that is destined to either botch our next several years or rescue them from the “evil ones” (you feel free to pick your sides – my job is hard enough here folks!).

Then, we patiently endure seemingly endless hours/ days/ weeks in tallying everything up. Then, we huddle up around our televisions (or computers) and moan, groan, cheer, and sigh as the results slowly and methodically drift across our screens. We’ve even been conditioned to wait for “run-off results” later in the year. How does that help to increase “voter turnout?” Koo-koo, right?

My question is: why are we putting ourselves through all of this when it seems all the “elected” must do is find enough people to mark their ballots in their direction? I mean, I don’t know about you, but I personally think it’s irresponsible to run for office to create the laws of the land when you can’t even prove that you know anything about anything.

Are members of congress lawmakers – or very expensive seat fillers with rubber stamps?

I mean, some of these “candidates” couldn’t get elected dog catcher because most American voters love their dogs (cats too) way too much to put them through hell dealing with an incompetent “d-catcher” for the next 2-6 years. There must be a better way.

REQUIREMENTS FOR RUNNING FOR CONGRESS

So, basically, there are age and residence restrictions. Should the candidate be required to know anything about the law? Why not? Why would a lawmaker not be required to know anything about the law before occupying a spot that pays nearly $200,000 per year of tax-payer dollars?

SOLUTIONS/ PROPOSALS

Pages: 1 2

A Closer Look

with Anthony Newcombe

♘STATUES♘

Q: Do we need them for … EVERYTHING?!

First, there are the political and war heroes. Washington and Lincoln are pretty cool, Pat Tillman is amazing. We can argue the pros and cons of these choices all day long. Then, we have a smattering of the pure sports heroes: Bill Russell, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Franco Harris, and many others.*

However, when you think about it, some of these “erections,” (for lack of a better word) seem nothing more than some sort of wishful tribute to, well, his or their e—-

There a more than a few. Rocky Balboa, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the dudes from Breaking Bad and others. Actually, Arnold’s is in Austria, but you get my drift …

♘Why?♘

Why are these even built? I mean, as far as Rocky goes, there was guy named Joe Frazier who came from Philly who just had his statue approved over 30 years after Rocky’s. He actually gave his physical life to the sport of boxing. Why did they mount a statue of a fictional character who, as amazing as the character was, was just a movie character and nothing more.?!

As far as the Breaking Bad characters go, why would it be a good thing to aspire to be a meth dealer? How does that help the citizens of Albuquerque, New Mexico – let alone its visiting tourists? No offense, but is that the best they can come up with in the state? I don’t think so. What does it say to our kids? Just seems a bit thoughtless to me.

In my opinion, it diminishes the achievements of actual heroes. Remember, little kids visit these cities and come away thinking they saw something of historical value. Spoiler alert: they did not. Therefore, I believe we should be a bit more thoughtful about whom we memorialize for life. It gives the world a very shallow and disingenuous impression of us.

Okay, so the Statue of Liberty isn’t really a woman who lived and achieved anything in the U.S. You got me there. However, it is understood that she is a gift from France. And while she too is purely a “figurehead,” she does in fact symbolize freedom and the American dream for those who come to this country in search of real heroes.

What do you think? Agree? Disagree? Let’s argue it out!

See you in the fall … Yes, I said it: the FALL!

-A.N.

* See our memorabilia page while you’re on site >>> BAN Sports♘

Profile

Anthony Newcombe is a 4-time entrepreneur, author, narrator, and full-stack developer. He enjoys reading what other authors write and swimming when it gets over 110 degrees.

A Closer Look

Let’s take a closer look …

with Anthony Newcombe

#CancelStudentDebt – some alternatives?

The Issues:

Who gets relief?
What happens to those who “responsibly” paid off their debt?
Who’s on first? ⁉️

Mark Cuban weighed in on this matter a few months ago. If the super-rich say we should do something, then, shouldn’t we just fall in line? America seems to follow the lead of the rich and famous every single time. What changed this time around? Did I miss something?

Background

Anyone who follows me online knows one thing: I’ve made myself abundantly clear on my position regarding this subject matter. It’s littered on my social media profiles, I post about it all the time, and I honestly believe it’s as much a hindrance to our young graduates’ futures as inflation, climate change, gun control, abortion rights, and/or any of the other “hot-button topics” we spend so much time and effort arguing about these days. Let’s face it: a pile of debt does absolutely nothing positive for someone starting out in the current business or real-world environment.

Solutions

However, let’s not be selfish or naive. We know there’s another side. Let’s go there. Right now. One counterargument is: “Why overlook those who paid their balances?!” Let’s not do that.

What if the government followed through and struck $10,000 of student debt for those who are carrying a balance at this time; while also providing a $10,000 federal tax credit to those who can prove they already paid their balances in full? Of course, included could be an “opt-out” provision for those who don’t require either, correct?

Like everything else, it’s never going to be a cheap or simple solution. Just like with all the other ongoing crises: Ukraine, Covid-19, homelessness, etc. However, what it does provide is a reasonable alternative that is fair and all-inclusive. And how do we pay for it? It seems as though somewhere in that $30 trillion dollar pile of debt we’ve accumulated, there must be something that can be shifted around to do this. Congress just needs to work much harder and more diligently to find a way to make this happen.

It’s sort of like that old auto mechanic commercial, “you can either pay me now, or pay me later.”

Any thoughts?

See you in August (try to stay cool till then guys!)

-A.N.

Profile

Anthony Newcombe is a 4-time entrepreneur, author, narrator, and full-stack developer. He blogs about nearly every topic possible and enjoys tinkering in the yard on weekends.

A Closer Look … 😡😡

with Anthony Newcombe

Date: Wednesday March 9, 2022

This month’s topic: Why does it feel like anything now means everything?!

THIS FIGHTING TAKES PLACE … EVERYWHERE!

It just seems like any subject we discuss nowadays is like the end of the world. Airports/ airplane aisles, vaccines, masks, reading choices, luxury taxes, hirings and firings, gasoline/ grocery/ ticket lines – you name it – we will fight each other seemingly to the death if we don’t agree with something for it. You don’t like what someone says on a plane? Kick their a**! Don’t like the mask they’re wearing? Kick their a**! Don’t want to pay luxury taxes to small market teams? Refuse to field any players or teams…STRIKE! Not to mention all the unnecessary bombing and warmongering going on in the world.

ALMOST ANYBODY FIGHTS … EVEN THE ONES WHO CLEARLY CANNOT

Where did all these a**kickers come from? I’ve never seen so many people (most of whom honestly can’t fight) balling up their fists and letting it rip! Women just the same! It’s just odd to me. I always thought I was the one with had a somewhat of a short fuse, but it appears the saying, “If you live long enough, you’ll see it all” really applies more now than ever.

WHAT’S THE SOLUTION?

Perhaps it’s a confluence of so many negative events dovetailing – and combusting – in real time. Or maybe it’s something else. Am I missing something, or are you do you seeing the same thing? If you asked me, I would like to see this kind of energy going towards rebuilding roads and bridges, relieving student debt, cleaning up the environment, and getting a grip on our dependence on foreign energy. All I know is we need to collectively try another path. Because this one isn’t solving anything. Otherwise, I don’t see us having a whole lot left to argue and fight over in the end!

Any ideas?

See you in the spring! ☀️🍃 ☀️🍃☀️🍃

-A.N.