Things I learned lately 26 Aug

• Calgary just concluded its longest hot streak (27C or higher for 14 days in a row) in over 120 years.
• California just banned sales of new gas powered vehicles by 2035.
• In the early 20th century, Americans were hesitant to eat ground beef after Upton Sinclair's 1906 novel The Jungle had publicized the poor sanitation practices of the meat packing industry. The founders of White Castle set out to change public perception. To invoke a feeling of cleanliness, their new restaurants had stainless steel interiors, and employees outfitted with spotless uniforms. In 1921, the first White Castle restaurants in Wichita were a success, and the company branched out into other Midwestern markets, starting in 1922 with El Dorado, Kansas.
• Never tell a car salesperson how much you’re willing to pay per month on your car loan. They’ll get you in that window of comfort by stretching the loan term and they will avoid disclosing the sell price. Any loan beyond 48 months is going to put you into negative equity (you owe more than the car’s value).
• Be wary of repetition, as repeated statements are often perceived as more truthful than new information, no matter how false the claim may be. Social media manipulators and politicians know this all too well.
• People form opinions based on emotions, such as fear, contempt and anger, rather than relying on facts. New facts often do not change people’s minds.