I wouldn't say that.  I still like Wendy's.  I ate there yesterday, in fact.  It costs more than it used to but it's not outrageous.  And the food is still good.

Perhaps its regional then.   Here its dismal ( and many have closed up )

Mon Jul 13 2026 10:50:31 EDT from IGnatius T Foobar Subject: Re: Are they stupid or just deceptive?

I wouldn't say that.  I still like Wendy's.  I ate there yesterday, in fact.  It costs more than it used to but it's not outrageous.  And the food is still good.

If this does not exemplify the general state of the economy, and the horrific effects of the current data-center boom on silicon components, i dont know what else will. Its just a phone, not a car..

"Apple Upgrade Program Will Let You Lease an iPhone Without Sticker Shock"

Stop thinking rationally..   lol 

Tho, to be fair, those are going up too, due to the silicon being eaten by the data centers. 

Wed Jul 29 2026 11:01:09 EDT from IGnatius T Foobar

Or you could just not buy a high priced phone. I just got a new one yesterday, it was a mid range model and I paid $300

And, prices go up even more. Forgetting solar panels, this will effect the silicon in most everything today since everything has to be 'smart', according to the corporates, 'just because it can'

"new 15% tariff on key material for solar panels and microchips"

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/07/trump-orders-tariff-solar-panels-microchips-manufacturing-ingredient

Didn't read the entire thing since it pissed me off, but apparently around here power company bought laws a decade ago to force you to sell back solar power to them for like $0.035/kWh  so they can sell it back to your neighbors for 0.15/kWh.

Guess what, i refuse.  ( and one reasons my panels are not out in the open on my house roof.  its my stuff, its none of their business )

That's easy to get around, just don't bother.  You can configure your system to not export surplus power to the grid.  Besides, the current hotness is to store the surplus in an on-site battery so you can consume it later.

In some areas, they look for solar panels and fine you if you are not giving back or in some cases have them at all....  Not here, yet, but it does happen.

And ya, mine is either battery or direct. If i ever run on local power the breaker is cut off. Nothing will feedback. ( both due to spite and safety since often times the power is out, and i don't want to shock any of the crews by accident )  Perhaps when i move back out into the sticks, ill switch over to all solar/battery and use 'main lines' as the backup, instead of the reverse. If i get lucky, will have a stream and can toss a couple of Tesla turbine based generators in it too...

Fri Aug 07 2026 09:46:52 EDT from IGnatius T Foobar

That's easy to get around, just don't bother.  You can configure your system to not export surplus power to the grid.  Besides, the current hotness is to store the surplus in an on-site battery so you can consume it later.