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Culture

Christmas Holiday Tipping: Who Do I Tip And How Much?

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It’s that time of the year again and giving is caring. There’s the mailman, mail woman and the doorman, door woman,  the pet sitter and personal trainer, not to forget the housekeeper, home healthcare worker and many others.  So just who do you tip this holiday season and how much?

Sharon Schweitzer, an international etiquette expert, author, and the founder of Protocol & Etiquette Worldwide, offers this simple tipping checklist of which service providers you need to tip this holiday season and how much:

Business (check corporate policy):

  • Clients: Business gift baskets of chocolate, edible fruit, nuts, cheese, wine, cookies, petite fours; golf balls & non-logo gifts.
  • CEO/Boss: Group gift to their favorite charity or non-profit foundation
  • Assistant: Bonus or gift based on relationship length
  • Colleagues: gift they will like for sports, hobby, or dining, gift card.
  • Office Gift Exchange: don’t go rogue, follow the spending guidelines.
cheap tip

Education & Schools (follow policy):

  • Professor: greeting card, no gift
  • Teacher: Consider a group gift with parents pooled funds
  • Assistant /Aide: $25 – $50 gift certificate
  • Multiple Teachers: small gift, candle, baked goods, gift certificate.
  • Principle: Holiday card & baked goods
  • School Secretary: café gift card, small gift or gift certificate
  • School Nurse: café gift card, small gift or gift certificate

Home or Building Personnel:

  • Live-in help (cook or butler): between a week-month’s pay, plus a gift
  • Housekeeper: if they come once a week: equivalent of a day’s pay, or $50. If they come daily: equivalent of a week’s pay, and possibly a gift
  • Gardener: equivalent of a week’s service
  • Landscaping crew: equivalent of a week’s service, divided among the crew
  • Pool cleaning crew: equivalent of one session, divided among the crew.
  • Garage attendant: between $15 and $40 or give a small gift
  • Garbage/recycling: if city permits, $10-$30 each for extra holiday effort
  • Doorman: between $50 – $100 each, or gift, depending on extra duties
  • Elevator Operator and Handyman: between $20 – $50 each
  • Newspaper delivery: between $10 – $35, or give a small gift

Healthcare providers:

  • Private health care nurse: week’s pay or a gift of similar value
  • Home health employee: follow policy / generous gift basket of holiday treats
  • Nursing home staff: follow policy / gift basket of holiday treats for all

Personal grooming:

  • Hairstylist, manicure, pedicure, specialist: equivalent of a visit
  • Barber: haircut & shave equivalent or give a gift
  • Massage therapist/personal trainer: session equivalent or give a gift

Pet care:

  • Groomer: equivalent of one session or give a gift
  • Walker: week’s pay equivalent or “1-2 visits” per com
  • Sitter: a week’s pay and a paw print note from your pet

Package & Mail Delivery:

The United States Postal Service provides the public with a tipping and gift receiving policy on their website, FedEx and UPS do not. The information provided for FedEx and UPS is from customer service representatives who preferred not to give their names.

United States/Canada Postal Service:

  • Employees may accept baked goods (homemade/store bought) items to share with the branch office. Customers may give edible arrangements, gift cards for merchandise or services valued up to $20 per interaction. Gifts cannot exceed $50 per calendar year.
  • Gifting cash, VISA, MasterCard, or gift cards that may be used as cash are prohibited per USPS Employee Tipping and Gift Receiving Policy and also prohibited for Canada Post employees.

FedEx:

  • Company policies discourage gift cash or gift cards. The driver will politely decline the holiday gratuity. If the customer is insistent, the driver may ultimately accept the gift.

UPS

  • UPS does not have a limit; tipping is left to customer’s discretion.

Avoid giving holiday tips to people on this list; send holiday e-cards instead:

Accountant/CPA

Attorney

Auditor

Banker

Bookkeeper

Dentist

Doctor

Executive Coach

Members, Board of Directors or Trustees

Seamstress/ Tailor

Veterinarian

Vintage

Annual NASA Christmas Space Memorabilia Auction

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coming soon- NASA CHRISTMAS
SPACE MEMORABILIA AUCTIONIS SATURDAY, DEC. 6TH
PLACE BIDS VIRTUALLY AT NOON EST
Our friends at Bid Again Auctions of Orlando have more than 200 lots of holiday cheer for that space lover on your gift list at the Saturday, Dec. 6th virtual “NASA Christmas 2025 Space Memorabilia Auction,” a charity fundraiser for the American Space Museum in Downtown Titusville, Florida. 

Pre-bids are being taken now on this rich collection of space items.  The final hammer falls beginning at 12 noon EST on Dec. 6. The 217 lots range from a rich collection of authentic moonwalker autographs to NASA photographs to real Space Shuttle Thermal Protection Tile.  There are dozens of lots with space flown hardware, and even insulation “Kapton foil” flown to the Moon and back covering the Apollo Command Modules. 

Auctioneer Chuck Jeffery, and ASM’s collection analyst, had hand-picked some amazing artifacts of the space age that will satisfy any collector at any level.   
These auctions support the non-profit museum with an added charity fee of 20% that is the bidders in-kind donation to the U.S. Space Walk of Fame Foundation.   
This is the 41st American Space Museum Charity Space Memorabilia Auction conducted by Bid Again Auctions. For the Silo, Jarrod Barker.

Questions about auction items? Call Bid Again Auctions at: (407) 947-8954 or email: chuck@americanspacemuseum.org. Click on the text block below to preview all auction lots.
Auctions & Appraisals of Space Memorabilia

Featured image– Original Apollo 11 color film negative highlighting Buzz Aldrin walking on the Moon. Available via the auction.

Vintage

Hallmark Of All Porsche Sportscars For Sale

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  • Extensive restoration within the last decade
  • Restored in its originally delivered livery of Speedster White over Red leatherette
  • Considerable history dating back to the late-1970s, documenting long-term preservation into the late 2010s
  • Original U.S.-specification 1600 Speedster delivered to Hoffman Motors
  • Fitted with a period-correct 1956 1,600-cc engine with twin Solex carburetors paired with its numbers-matching transmission
  • Furnished with a copy of its factory Kardex warranty card, Porsche CoA, owner’s manual, and toolkit

Chassis No. 82181

Engine No. 63249
Transmission No. 8775

USD 485,000$/ CAD 678,130$ (exchange rate at time of posting)

Dispatched to Hoffman Motors in New York City in the spring of 1956, this 1956 Porsche 356 A 1600 Speedster was among those U.S.-market examples delivered via the legendary American-market distributor and tastemaker. It left the factory wearing Weiss (White) paint over Red leatherette, the same striking livery it wears today. Additional options noted on the Kardex include a speedometer in miles and sealed beam headlights.

The earliest history of the car dates to the late 1970s when it was sold via Weldon Scrogham’s G&W Motorwerkes to R.A. Hendricks of Waynesboro, Virginia. Service invoices show that by at least 1983 the car was in the hands of long-term owner Carter Elliott based in nearby Charlottesville. Elliott would take fastidious care of the car while under his ownership, a span that would last over three decades.

Invoices on file reveal more

Invoices remain on file showing parts purchases and work completed by the best suppliers throughout the 1980s and 1990s, including Stoddard, Performance Products, and H.G. Bieker. In 2018 the story of Speedster chassis number 82181 simultaneously began anew and circled back to familiar hands when noted 356 Porsche expert and restorer Cole Scrogham (son of Weldon) was tasked with a thorough refresh. Directed by its then-owner to keep as much of the original car intact as possible, Scrogham is said to have been able to retain the majority of its original, Reutter-built sheet metal with an eye on preservation while the car was refinished to “show quality” in its original shade of Speedster White.

A period-correct 1,600-cc flat-four (serial number 63249) from a 1956 356 A powers the wheels through its numbers-matching transmission. In the nicely detailed engine compartment, you’ll find proper FRAM and Bosch decals, correct finishes and components, as well as a pair of Solex carburetors topped by silver Knecht air cleaners.

Today, this Speedster appears just as Max Hoffman and the Porsche factory intended: in elegant White over Red, with such details as accessory chrome guards protecting the sealed-beam headlights, period-style Michelin XZX 165 tires, and gold-tone badging serving as clear indicators as the quality of its restoration. A matching red vinyl boot (trunk) covers the occasional soft top when it’s folded. Inside, the red vinyl bucket seats made famous by the Speedster wear contrasting ivory edge piping. A correct ivory two-spoke steering wheel with a horn ring frames a body color dashboard covered with a red upholstered top. VDO instruments feature with correct green lettering — including a miles-per-hour speedometer, as specified in the original Kardex. In a smart nod to modernity, the car is equipped with a pair of vintage style lap belts. Otherwise, Speedster chassis number 82181 presents very much as it did when delivered new in 1956 — down to its exquisite color selection.

In addition to extensive documentation dating back more than four decades, this iconic 356 A Speedster is furnished with a toolkit, a spiral-bound driver’s manual, a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity, a copy of its Kardex warranty card, and side curtains with their protective case.

For the Silo, Alexander Weaver/ Hagerty.

Culture

Canada Joins World’s Impending Population Crisis

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Canada’s fertility rate has just hit a record low.
In case you missed it- the world is quietly entering a population crisis. Global fertility rates have plunged to their lowest level in 60 years, raising profound questions about how societies will sustain themselves in the decades ahead.
In Canada, births have fallen to just 1.25 children per woman, the lowest in our history. Behind the numbers are shifting values, economic pressures, and growing uncertainty about the future.
This week, let’s examine the global decline in birth rates and explore what’s driving it—and what it means for the economy, family, and national identity.
An Impending Population Crisis? World Fertility Rate Hits 60-Year Low
For the Silo, By Sylvia Xu / Epoch Times.

Fertility rates have plummeted worldwide over the past six decades, leading experts to warn of dire consequences as the downward trend continues.
Continued low fertility rates will cause “a gradual implosion of the world’s economy as the population ages and dies,” Steven Mosher, president of the Population Research Institute.
Mosher is an expert on population control, demography, and China.”
This will not occur overnight, of course, but once it is well underway, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to reverse course,” he said.
The fertility rate is the average number of children born to a woman in her lifetime; the birth rate is the number of live births per 1,000 people in a population over a given period.
Macroeconomist Jesús Fernández-Villaverde called low fertility rates “the true economic challenge of our time” in a February report for the American Enterprise Institute.
In 1960, the fertility rate was between four and five. By 2023, that number had halved to 2.2, approaching 2.1, the level at which a population replaces itself from one generation to the next.In July, the U.S. Census Bureau projected that the world’s population will reach 8.1 billion this year. Experts say that although the figure has grown from 3 billion in 1960, the number to watch is the pace of population growth.”
The rate of growth peaked decades ago in the 1960s and has been declining since and is projected to continue declining,” the Census Bureau stated.
Fernández-Villaverde warned that although the sagging rate of growth may not have immediate consequences, in less than 50 years, declining fertility will affect the world economy. Countries with low or negative birth rates will contend with a shrinking workforce and the ballooning costs associated with an aging population.
Global Fertility Rates
Only about 4 percent of the world’s population is in countries with high fertility rates—more than five children per woman—and all of those nations are in Africa, according to the Census Bureau. Even in those countries, fertility rates are generally lower than they once were.
The Census Bureau reported that nearly three-quarters of the world’s population is in countries where fertility rates are at or below the replacement level.
The fertility rate in India, the world’s most populous country, has steadily declined over the past six decades. In June, the U.N. Population Fund reported that India’s fertility rate stood at 1.9 children per woman, down from five or six children in 1960. In Canada, fertility rate fell to 1.25, well below the replacement level of approximately 2.1 children per woman needed to maintain a stable population.
In 1990, China’s fertility rate was 2.51, despite its one-child policy. By 2023, it had dropped to less than one birth per woman, according to the U.N.’s population division.In the United States, fertility has undergone a persistent decline. It fell below the replacement level in 1972, and in 2023, it reached 1.62—a historic low.Asian and European countries have the lowest fertility rates in the world, and South Korea (0.72), Singapore (0.97), Ukraine (0.977), and China (0.999) all have rates below one.  (Read More →)
Key Data & FactsSource: Statistics Canada
Culture

11% Of Male Cyber Monday Shoppers Will Pull Items Out Of Hands Of Others

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Black Friday and Cyber Monday are a cultural phenom. One that American and (in the past few years) hard-boiled Canadian consumers look forward to each year. We brave the crowds, set out a savings mission plan and shop like a thrifty gladiator entering the battle arena of value.

WHEN IT COMES TO BLACK FRIDAY/CYBER MONDAY…

While images of people camped out in Walmart parking lots regularly dominates the Black Friday news cycle (as well as trampling and fights), we wanted to find out how people really intend to spend these consumer holidays-and more importantly, how much they intend to spend. We also looked at Holiday Gift searches from the last few years on our sister site-interestingly, there’s apparently a big market for discontinued perfumes.

SOME INTERESTING FACTS FROM THE STUDY

* Men are much more open to violence on Black Friday/ Cyber Monday: One out of 10 guys (11%) would pull something out of the hands of another shopper.

* 86% of Generation Y intends to use Black Friday and Cyber Monday discounts on items for themselves.

* Men are the most generous: 26% of guys plan to spend at least $1,000 usd/ $1,410 cad (exchange at time of article) on holiday gifts.

* Very few people are procrastinating: While 4% claim they’re already finished with their holiday shopping, 41% intends to complete it on Black Friday/Cyber Monday.

* 43% will wait up to an hour on Black Friday; 24 people said they’d willingly camp out for MULTIPLE NIGHTS.

* Bosses and co-workers are at the bottom of everyone’s shopping list: Children, understandably rule (followed by spouses/significant others).

The following info-graphic is based on responses from 6,354 online shoppers who were surveyed last year immediately after checking out. Odds are things haven’t changed much this year.  Here’s more from our friends at Tada (or Pollpay depending on your region), they are awesomely obsessed with reporting on all the things that online shoppers value.  For the Silo, shopzilla.com/Jarrod Barker.

Supplemental-

What were shoppers interested in 13 years ago? Take a look at this data chart from 2012.


Silo Black Friday Cyber Monday

Culture

What Are the 4 Functions of Child Behavior?

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When a child misbehaves—either through screaming, hitting, or freezing up—parents will naturally feel flabbergasted or at a loss. One might ask, “Why is this occurring?” or “Is this simply bad behavior?” The reality is, behavior is communication. Regardless of the action, even behavioral actions, it’s for a reason.

Knowing the four functions of behavior allows support persons and professionals to respond with strategy and empathy. The functions are not simply clinical ideas—men can be observed with these functions around the block and with both kids and grown-ups. With proper support, families are able to more effectively handle these behaviors and bring about positive change with the help of something like Toronto, ON’s SenseBloom Therapy or at-home ABA therapy.

What are the 4 Functions of Behavior?

In Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), all the behavior—particularly troublesome behavior—always comes under four basic functions:

  • Attention
  • Escape or Avoidance
  • Access to Intangibles (Services or Events)
  • Reinforcement

Image- autismspeaks.org

Sensory or Automatic Reinforcement

Both these functions account for the fact that the behavior is occurring. The proper function is the first step toward responding with a view to training for preferable behavior and the diminishment of suffering—for all parties.

1. Attention Seeking Behavior in Daily Life

Kids are naturally attention seekers, and that is all part of the developmental process. But if the attention is sparse or delayed, then the child will utilize negative actions to receive it. Some examples include whining, interrupting, or even violent temper flailing.

Real-life example: A kid begins screaming at dinner. The parents immediately go to try to settle the child down. The child learns that screaming gets an immediate response—albeit a negative one.

What to do: Integrate frequent, positive attention throughout the day. Reward tiny, proper behaviors (“Good job, waiting your turn”) and dismiss meek attention-seeking actions when it is safe to do so. Such services as at-home ABA treatment tend to assist parents in identifying and reacting to these instances with calm consistency.

2. Escape or Avoidance Behavior

When an activity is overwhelming, boring, or challenging, a child will attempt to escape it with tantrums, fleeing, or freezing. The function is particularly prevalent with transitions or new procedures.

Real-world application: The child balks at doing homework. The parent withholds the task until the child is relaxed. The child now equates that action with evading work.

How to assist: Divide tasks into minuscule steps. Apply visual schedules and explicit expectations. Reward effort, not merely completion. When the function is escape, do not reinforce it by retaining expectations and providing support. SenseBloom Therapy applies personalized strategies for children to eventually tolerate and execute challenging tasks.

3. Tangible Commodites Access

Occasionally, behavior is exhibited due to the want of something—such as a toy, a snack, or TV time. When an object is provided for following through with a behavior such as crying or hitting, that behavior tends to follow.

Real-world example: The child yell at the store for a candy bar. To prevent a scene, the parent purchases it. The child learns that yelling results in a reward.

How to assist: Educate children to ask for items politely. Give choices and incorporate “yes” opportunities the remainder of the day. Enforce boundaries firmly and steadily. Speak with a calm, firm voice and support waiting or saying the words. Instruction of these substitutes is an integral component of ABA therapy at home, aiding skill acquisition for the child within the natural environment.

4. Automatic or Sensory Behavior

Certain behaviors are to serve a sensory purpose—they are comforting or assist with emotional regulation. These are not other PEOPLE’s reactions, but rather self-needs. Some examples are hand-flapping, dancing or rocking, or humming.

Real-world example: A child rotates around and around. Even without an audience or reactions, the child repeats it because the feeling is soothing or exciting.

How to assist: Offer sensory-safe, age-appropriate outlets for sensory requirements. Fidget tools, movement time, or sensory routines are potential examples. Family collaboration with occupational specialists and ABA specialists is able to assist relatives to determine what sensory supports are the most effective. Clinics for sense, for example, SenseBloom Therapy, utilize sensory-sensitive areas to facilitate this process.

Why Knowing the Function Matters

Responding to a behavior without an understanding of why it’s occurring can result in band-aids for the moment—but not permanent repairs. Taking punishment for an attention-seeking child, for instance, can inadvertently strengthen the action if it affords interaction.

When the behavior is understood, the caregiver is able to substitution with a healthier, more effective behavior. The consequence is the encouragement of the emotional safety and ultimate success.

Effective Strategies for Caregivers and Parents

Note patterns: Carry around a mini-journal to mark when behaviors occur, what causes them, and the consequence.

Remain constant: Kids do best with clear expectations and definite consequences.

Model communication: Encourage children to verbalize with words, use gestures, or point with visuals.

Use soothing reactions: Refrain from reacting angrily. Remaining regulated enables the child to remain regulated too.

Receive professional help: Consulting with ABA therapists, particularly with in-home ABA therapy, allows for personalized techniques with your child’s requirements. A Humane Response to Behavior Behavior always has a meaning. Kids are not being obstinate—kids are communicating the best that they can. When families understand the four functions of behavior, families can respond with patience, with structure, with an awful lot of loving. With proper direction, all children can be taught to do it differently. Whether through formal sessions at SenseBloom Therapy or child-centered support at home, change is always achievable.

Culture

Black Friday Shopping: Fastest Growing Products, and Credit Card Trends

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From Black Friday electronics deals and top appliance discounts to the best savings on furniture, sporting goods, and smartphones, North America’s biggest shopping event is fueled by one major factor: the use of credit cards for Black Friday purchases.

To understand how spending patterns have evolved, and how credit cards shape the Black Friday season, researchers from our friends at InvestorsObserver analyzed Black Friday shopping trends over the past three decades.

Though the focus was USA based (looking at trends on state-by-state and national sales data for durable goods, credit card transaction volumes, and shifts in consumer spending across key product categories like electronics, appliances, furniture, sporting goods, and jewelry), some parallels can be drawn between Canada and Mexico shopping habits.

The report reveals what was really driving Black Friday sales from 1997 till 2024. It shows which states and product categories had the biggest surge in spending, how much of that growth was fueled by increased credit card use, and which items have fallen out of favor with today’s shoppers.

Essentially, North Americans are using credit to buy smarter, invest in technology and fitness, and adapt their Black Friday shopping to reflect quickly changing priorities and lifestyles.

Key findings

  • Nationwide, US inflation-adjusted spending on durable goods during the Black Friday season increased by over 90% between 1997 and 2024, with states like Florida and Texas more than doubling their totals. Inflation is also a factor in Canada and Mexico.
  • Spending on telephone and related communication equipment surged over 600% in the top states.
  • Average credit card balances at major issuers (Amex, Discover, Capital One) have grown at an average monthly rate of 0.5% (approximately 6% per year) since 2020, with bold spikes during the Black Friday season.
  • Spending on traditional Black Friday luxury items, such as jewelry and new vehicles, dropped in several states.
  • Spending on sporting equipment, guns, and related goods soared, making these some of the fastest-growing Black Friday categories nationwide.

The 10 states where Black Friday spending on durable goods has skyrocketed

Over the past 30 years, Black Friday has exploded into a huge shopping event, totally changing how and where North Americans splurge on big-ticket items.

A few states are crushing it, with locals ramping up real spending on durable goods at huge rates during Black Friday season. The top 10 show not just wild shopper hype, but big shifts in what people actually purchase when those deals drop.

These states have seen their Black Friday durable goods spending, especially in technology, surge ahead of the national average. When Black Friday advertising kicks in, shoppers increasingly target the best deals on electronics, particularly smartphones, tablets, and communication devices.

Retailers have responded to it, making Black Friday the primary opportunity to upgrade devices and connect households at a fraction of the regular price.

  • North Carolina and North Dakota lead with over 600% growth, showing how the appetite for electronics has exploded since the late ‘90s, as more homes gained internet connectivity and mobile devices.
  • The Pacific Northwest and Sun Belt, including Washington, Nevada, and Texas, have also surged, which aligns with fast-growing populations and tech-forward consumer culture.
  • Hawaii and Maine’s high growth rates highlight how even small, geographically unique states have embraced Black Friday to shop for technology that bridges distances – both literal and social.

The overwhelming increase in spending on communication technology during the Black Friday season shows how the event has become less about traditional holiday shopping and more about allowing households to seize the latest digital opportunities. For millions of North Americans, Black Friday is now the time to connect and upgrade their devices.

Where Black Friday spending fell: Top 10 states with the biggest drops in durable goods purchases

While most states saw Black Friday spending on durable goods soar over the past 25 years, not every category or region had gains. In fact, several states experienced notable declines, particularly in traditional big-ticket Black Friday items like jewelry, watches, and new cars.

This change reveals new consumer values, the impact of modern technology, and a growing focus on more practical or tech-driven purchases.

Jewelry and watches in retreat

The sharpest drop comes from jewelry and watches. Vermont, Maine, Connecticut, Iowa, and Michigan all had double-digit declines. This suggests that big-ticket jewelry has lost its luster as a Black Friday buy. Americans may be choosing technology upgrades and home improvements over luxury items that were once holiday staples.

New motor vehicles lose their spot

For decades, Black Friday was also the season of auto deals and year-end vehicle promotions. However, states like Illinois, Connecticut, Michigan, and Ohio had a significant real decline (–10 to –15%) in Black Friday spending on new cars. Today’s shoppers may be holding onto cars longer, buying used, or shifting their big December purchases toward electronics and appliances.

The fall of traditional electronics

West Virginia stands out as one of the few states where spending on video, audio, photographic, and information processing equipment has actually declined since 1997, dropping by 16% when adjusted for inflation. West Virginians are moving away from traditional Black Friday electronics, like older TVs, cameras, and stereo systems, and are investing less in these categories than they did a generation ago.

What’s behind these Black Friday drops?

  • Priorities are changing. North Americans are investing in what makes daily life more comfortable and modern, leaving behind items seen as old-fashioned luxuries.
  • The tech has taken over. Gadgets, home entertainment, and fitness equipment now win out over jewelry and autos for Black Friday deals.
  • Economic reality has shifted. The increasing role of credit cards and shifting family budgets means shoppers are looking for purchases that deliver daily utility rather than show status.

In other words, today’s Black Friday is less about “once-in-a-lifetime” traditional purchases and more about value, technology, and practical upgrades. The states with the biggest declines in jewelry and car sales are signals of this broader cultural and economic change.

America’s top 10 states for Black Friday durable goods spending (2024)

Black Friday remains the biggest shopping event of the year, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the nation’s leading states for durable goods purchases. Some states outpace the rest of the U.S. in total spending on high-value items, like appliances, electronics, home furnishings, and more, during the Black Friday season. Their money and excitement drive shopping trends across the country.

Massive market size

California, Texas, and Florida are not just the largest states by population. They’re also the biggest spenders. Together, they account for nearly a quarter of all U.S. durable goods bought during Black Friday. This shows the influence of large, diverse, and economically dynamic populations.

Urban economies and consumer power

States such as New York, Illinois, and Pennsylvania maintain their spots in the top ten thanks to their large metropolitan areas and strong traditions of holiday shopping, where residents spend big on household upgrades and electronics.

Quick growth in the Sun Belt

North Carolina and Georgia have shot up the rankings in recent years. Their booming real estate, ongoing migration trends, and family-driven consumption translate into strong demand for appliances, furniture, and home technology each Black Friday.

Consistent Midwest and Northeast strength

Ohio and New Jersey round out the list, proving that established economies with significant suburban populations continue to drive major Black Friday spending, particularly for goods that make life more comfortable and connected.

In essence, these top 10 states are the engine rooms of North American Black Friday shopping. Their combined impact shapes national retail sales and spotlights where the most dollars flow when the country’s biggest holiday deals are up for grabs.

Top 10 increases in durable goods spending 2020–2024

The years since 2020 have been some of the most dynamic for Black Friday shopping in North American history. Faced with a global pandemic, shifting work habits, and new priorities at home, North Americans unleashed a wave of spending on major purchases, especially during the Black Friday season when deals were too good to pass up.

Some American states stand out for their extraordinary growth in durable goods spending, which reveals where the economic recovery and post-pandemic demand have hit hardest and fastest.

Pandemic-era investment in the home

From 2020 to 2024, North Americans spent more time at home than ever before, fueling a rush on Black Friday for home electronics, appliances, workout gear, and home office upgrades. For example, this is reflected in the double-digit growth seen in states like North Carolina, Nevada, and Texas.

Southern and Mountain West States are leading

The Sun Belt and fast-growing Western states dominate the top of the list. With population inflows, a hot housing market, and greater focus on quality-of-life purchases, places like Florida, Nevada, and Idaho led the way in increased spending.

Credit card power and Black Friday strategy

More consumers used credit cards to access historic Black Friday discounts, and they didn’t hold back. Their willingness to borrow, upgrade, and outfit homes helped power this unprecedented jump in durable goods purchases.

The return of consumer confidence

After the initial shock of the pandemic, these states came roaring back with strong job markets and economic growth. This confidence spilled over into Black Friday shopping, with many households finally making upgrades or purchases they had delayed.

Not just the big states – smaller markets shine

States like Idaho, Utah, and New Hampshire emerged as “growth champions,” showing that the Black Friday boom was not limited to the biggest economies, but spread across America’s most dynamic regions.

In essence, between 2020 and 2024, Black Friday’s power as an engine for big purchases was on full display in these top 10 states. The post-pandemic years became a transformation period for millions of households, with Americans seizing the moment – and Black Friday deals – to upgrade, renovate, and invest in what matters most.

Methodology and sources

The Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) data is collected from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

The data is provided for every U.S. state.

For each state, we collected data on consumption expenditures in the following categories:

  • Durable goods: New motor vehicles; Furniture and furnishings; Household appliances; Tools and equipment for house and garden; Video, audio, photographic, and information processing equipment and media; Sporting equipment, supplies, guns, and ammunition.
  • Other durable goods: Jewelry and watches; Telephone and related communication equipment.
  • Expenditures are expressed in millions of dollars. The data covers the years 1997 through 2024. Each year’s data is adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items in the U.S. City Average (CPIAUCSL)

We calculated how expenditures have changed over time (1997–2024). All calculations are inflation-adjusted.

We pulled monthly credit loan issuance data (2018–2025) for American Express, Discover, and Capital One straight from Bloomberg.

For the Silo, Živilė Kasparavičiūtė

Culture

Softball Returns To Olympics 2028

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Softball comes home for Olympics in 2028

The sport, which started in the U.S., is now played in 60 countries including Canada, where the women’s team won a bronze medal in Tokyo 2020.

Graphic of gold, silver, and bronze medals listing softball medalists in 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2020 (held in 2021 due to Covid) Olympics.
Olympic rings with photos of people playing softball, lacrosse, flag football, cricket and squash (Photos: Shutterstock.com)
Softball joins baseball as a combined 2028 Olympic sport, with women playing softball and men, baseball. Lacrosse and cricket also return, while flag football and squash debut. (Photos: Shutterstock.com)

Softball’s return to the Olympics, for the games to be held in Los Angeles in 2028, will mark the first time a nation has twice hosted the sport for Olympic competition, a fitting tribute for the country where the game began.

Softball’s origins date to 1887, when reporter George Hancock saw someone in Chicago hitting a boxing glove with a broom handle. In 1895, firefighters in Minneapolis played a similar game using a ball of yarn wrapped in leather.

Originally called “indoor baseball,” the game later moved outside to fields that were too small for a baseball diamond. In 1926, Walter Hakanson, who would later become president of the Amateur Softball Association, proposed unifying the various versions of the game into one sport called softball.

While the rules and size of the ball have varied over the ensuing decades, different versions of softball are still played across the United States and the world.

An Olympic return

At the LA28 Olympics, softball joins baseball as a combined Olympic sport, with women playing softball and men playing baseball.

“It’s great for the sport that we’re back,” USA Softball Executive Director Craig Cress said, noting softball’s U.S. popularity helped get the sport included in the 2028 Olympics.

Softball player crosses plate in front of her teammates (© USA Softball)
The U.S. Women’s National Team celebrates Tiare Jennings’ game-winning home run against Japan in game 4 of the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China. (© USA Softball)

Upward of 9 million people played softball in the United States in 2023, according to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association. And Little League Softball , started in the United States in 1974, has expanded to where 300,000 participants now play on 25,000 teams across 25 countries.

It’s important for us to “show the values of what our sport does, and how important it is,” to the United States and other countries, Cress said. More than 60 countries compete internationally in softball.

LA28 marks softball’s sixth appearance in the Olympics. Softball debuted as a medal sport in Atlanta in 1996, then was played in Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and Tokyo 2020.

How to play

Although similar to baseball, softball is played with a larger ball and on a smaller field. The pitcher throws underhand using a fast windmill motion that can generate pitches in excess of 112 kilometers per hour (70 miles per hour). Pitchers throw from a flat circular area, in contrast to baseball where pitchers stand on a raised mound. A softball game is also shorter than baseball, with only seven innings compared to nine.

The 2028 Olympic softball games will be played in Oklahoma City, 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles) east of Los Angeles. Oklahoma City’s 13,000-seat stadium will allow players to compete on an existing field made for softball, rather than a reworked baseball field or a newly constructed complex.

Six countries will compete in the Olympic softball tournament. As the host nation, the United States is guaranteed entry. Other qualifiers will include the winners of the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s 2027 Women’s Softball World Cup, regional championships and a last-chance qualifier tournament.

The teams competing in the 2028 Olympics will first compete against each other in a preliminary round, with the gold medal game scheduled for the day before the Olympic closing ceremony.

For the Silo, Deborah Charles.

Art

An Artist Life Means Putting Your Guts Out Into The World

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The formula for a life well lived might look something like this: Dive in head first > fail > repeat.

Life is a series of cycles.

There is of course the broad cycle, we are born, we live, we age, we die. But within this scope are countless other cycles for every part and parcel of our time on the planet. The cycle of making mistakes, of continually pouring your guts out to the world and enduring the consequences, is one of the most important there is for artists. From this process you learn the most about who you are, and how you fit in the world. There will be plenty of moments when you are a total mismatch, when you throw yourself into the deep end and struggle to stay afloat. Under no circumstances should these moments be viewed as set-backs or failure.

Salvador Dali once said, “Have no fear of perfection, you’ll never reach it.” Take a minute to consider that.

Really let it sink in. Let your mind internalize this notion and let it unleash a wave of relief through your whole body. What fantastic news this is, no matter what you do, no matter how long you live, you, I, we, not one of us, will ever be perfect. So how can you take this beautiful knowledge and use it to your own advantage? Once you are free from the restraints of perfection, how can this inform the way you continue on your path?

By adopting the formula above and not letting go no matter what.

You probably know stories about how mistakes have changed history for the better over and over again. The accidental discovery of Penicillin because scientists noticed that the mold on some forgotten fruit killed bacteria. Or the invention of silly putty (perhaps not on par with life-saving antibiotics when it comes to historic moments, but a great boon to childhood all the same) quite by accident in a military lab as scientists tried to create an inexpensive substitute for rubber. But have you ever really stopped to consider what these stories mean to an artist? How they can be freeing examples of the importance of making mistakes?

There is likely not a person out there who truly believes that perfection is attainable, but we are told far too often that we ought to strive for it. This leads to untold restraint, dissatisfaction, and who knows how many missed opportunities for glorious screw ups. Do not let this trap take hold of you. Throw your best and worst, craziest and most tame ideas out there for all the world to see. Who cares if you land flat on your face, as long as you’re still able to pick yourself up there’s no harm done.

As an artist you will be the recipient of rejection letters and emails.

Stacks of them. Count on it. In every creative field, there are piles and piles of rejections to be gone through. Walt Disney was once fired for what his editor deemed a lack of imagination. Countless famous artists throughout history were rejected in their lifetimes, some only achieving posthumous success. Van Gogh, Manet, Turner, they all have in common that they faced painful rejection in their lifetimes. They also have in common that they didn’t give up their unique perspective on the world nor did they allow something as insignificant as rejection stand in the way of their forward momentum.

Collect your rejection letters. Create a special binder for them. Own them with pride knowing that you earned each and every one of them by putting a piece of yourself out into the world. Begin to think of rejection as a victory in itself because it means you tried. The moment you receive a rejection letter, consider that at that same moment, had you not tried, there would be nothing at all. Not trying isn’t really a way of avoiding rejection, it is simply a way of hiding from the world. You will never get anywhere at all if you don’t reveal yourself.

Artists are perhaps particularly vulnerable when it comes to the consequences of baring their souls to the world. Art is highly personal and the thought of making a mistake when the stakes are so intimately high can be enough to frighten even the boldest spirit. Rejection can feel like a very personal affront and can make it difficult to want to try again. It comes down to a choice really, to stay safe and make no progress, or let it all hang out and learn from every single mistake.

Just like with everything else in life, you will become accustomed to accepting rejection and mistakes as par for the course. There will come a day when you will leaf through your binder of rejection letters with a wisdom that can only be gained through the repeated process of failing. For the Silo, Brainard Carey.

Culture

More Exciting Activities for Seniors

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If you thought that ageing was boring, you were wrong. Gone are the days of the bingo-playing Senior (although, there’s nothing wrong with a little bingo). Nowadays, you can find Seniors engaging in activities of all sorts.

Well-rounded activities aren’t limited to nursing homes or assisted living centres. Because more and more people are choosing to age at home, you can find Seniors participating in community and neighborhood events. Find the right home health care agency for your loved one so he or she can reap the benefits of a Personal Support Worker (PSW) and an in-home caregiving team!

With home health care, your family member or friend can engage in activities right in the comfort of their own home and community. Professional caregiving teams can help find clubs and activities for Seniors that are accessible and in the neighborhood.

Consider these fun activities that older adults can enjoy.

Walking Clubs

Walking around the community is an excellent way for Seniors to fit exercise into their daily routine. When done with others, it’s also a way to make friends and to keep social. Many communities organize special transportation so that club members can walk in nearby parks or walking paths.

Group Exercise Classes

Group exercise classes such as chair yoga, tai chi, or ballroom dancing are engaging ways to keep Seniors physically active. It’s also another opportunity to meet other people and to make friends who have similar interests.

Regular physical activity will also keep Seniors in shape and is a good preventative measure against falling because it increases stability through muscle strengthening and stretching.

Book Clubs

It’s also important for Seniors to exercise their minds, and to incorporate reading into their routines.

Senior book clubs exist in many community centres and churches, and becoming a member is always a good idea. It encourages people to read so that they can participate in book club discussions with fellow members.

Seniors will maintain sharp mental awareness and make a few friends in the process!

Gardening Clubs

Seniors have more time to devote to hobbies than when they were working full-time or had a family to raise. When people choose to stay at home and have access to a yard or even a balcony, they can cultivate a garden and exercise that green thumb.

Gardening is an excellent way to relax, and the feeling of harvesting flowers, vegetables, and fruits and watching them grow is a truly unique experience.

Participate in Charitable Works

Giving back to the community is a great way to stay engaged and participate in worthwhile and meaningful activities. Donating one’s time to a charitable endeavor gives Seniors a sense of purpose.

Contact local charities, churches and spiritual centers, museums and other cultural institutions, health organizations — the list goes on and on — to see if your loved one can contribute to particular projects and events.

It’s also a great way to meet people and to stay connected to the community.

Although playing bingo is entertaining on occasion, there are so many other fulfilling activities out there for Seniors. Explore what your loved one’s community has to offer! For the Silo, Mila Urosevic.

Art

How Rules Of USA Flag Influenced New Series Of Soft Sculptures

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A few years ago, Keiran and I were visiting antique stores in Connecticut when we came across an American flag that had fallen from its flagpole and was lying on the steps to a manor house, which doubled as an antique store.

We looked at each other in horror. This was one of those All-American towns where flags flew proudly and the anthem played on the radio. The store owner probably played quarterback in high school. What would his reaction be to learn his flag had been desecrated?

Flags aren’t such a big thing in Canada, so I’m not entirely sure of the rules.

But I’m fascinated by the strict set of protocols for displaying and respecting flags, an inanimate object. Can you wear them? What happens if you accidentally fly one upside down? How do you store one? What spell do you have to cast if it accidentally falls on the ground? And most pressing: why?

The artist Carla Edwards is also interested in the state-issued protocols for handling the American flag, and sets out to upend said formal rules by dismantling, dyeing, and reconfiguring standard-issue American flags in her Flag Series. The work becomes unrecognizable from its origin, transformed into patterned tapestries with abstractions that harken to the domestic activity of quilting.

Edwards’s sculptural work, made from rope configured in gravity-dying shapes that come to take on human-like qualities, continues her pursuit of shifting materials through rigorous process. Just like a flag, it seems like ropes and knots come with their own set of rules: how to tie them properly, and the practical roles they play.

I think about all the metaphors we have for ropes and knots: walking a tightrope, enough rope to hang oneself, tied up in knots, tying the knot.

Another inanimate object takes on outsized proportions.

Edwards takes it even further, imbuing pieces with energy and anthropomorphic qualities that make the viewer think for a beat longer about what these objects mean—and, most importantly, why.

Below is a look inside Carla Edwards’s studio in Brooklyn, NY. The artist will have work at Art Basel Miami with Night Gallery.

Carla Edwards (b. Illinois) received her MFA in Sculpture from the Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI. She has exhibited her work nationally and internationally, including at the Studio Museum in Harlem, New York, NY; Louisiana State University Museum of Art, Baton Rouge, LA; Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, AR; Paula Cooper, New York, NY; Nuit Blanche Toronto, Canada; Volta5, Basel, Switzerland; Night Gallery, Los Angeles, CA; and Lyles & King, New York, NY, among other venues. She has exhibited public sculpture at the Socrates Sculpture Park in Queens, NY and at Lighthouse Works, NY. The artist is an alumna of Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture and was a studio fellow in the Whitney Independent Study Program. Her works are included in numerous private collections and the public collections of Crystal Bridges Museum, Bentonville, AR; Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, FL; Vera Institute of Justice, Brooklyn, NY; and JP Morgan Chase. She lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.

For the Silo, Tatum Dooley.
Culture

Canada & World Birth Rate At Historical Low

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 Image and article via our friends at The Epoch Times
The world is quietly entering a population crisis. Global fertility rates have plunged to their lowest level in 60 years, raising profound questions about how societies will sustain themselves in the decades ahead. In Canada, births have fallen to just 1.25 children per woman, the lowest in our history. Behind the numbers are shifting values, economic pressures, and growing uncertainty about the future. Let’s examine the global decline in birth rates and explores what’s driving it—and what it means for the economy, family, and national identity.
Fertility rates have plummeted worldwide over the past six decades, leading experts to warn of dire consequences as the downward trend continues. Continued low fertility rates will cause “a gradual implosion of the world’s economy as the population ages and dies,” Steven Mosher, president of the Population Research Institute, told The Epoch Times in an email. Mosher is an expert on population control, demography, and China.
“This will not occur overnight, of course, but once it is well underway, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to reverse course,” he said. The fertility rate is the average number of children born to a woman in her lifetime; the birth rate is the number of live births per 1,000 people in a population over a given period. Macroeconomist Jesús Fernández-Villaverde called low fertility rates “the true economic challenge of our time” in a February report for the American Enterprise Institute. In 1960, the fertility rate was between four and five. By 2023, that number had halved to 2.2, approaching 2.1, the level at which a population replaces itself from one generation to the next.In July, the U.S. Census Bureau projected that the world’s population will reach 8.1 billion this year. Experts say that although the figure has grown from 3 billion in 1960, the number to watch is the pace of population growth. “The rate of growth peaked decades ago in the 1960s and has been declining since and is projected to continue declining,” the Census Bureau stated. Fernández-Villaverde warned that although the sagging rate of growth may not have immediate consequences, in less than 50 years, declining fertility will affect the world economy. Countries with low or negative birth rates will contend with a shrinking workforce and the ballooning costs associated with an aging population.
Global Fertility Rates
Only about 4 percent of the world’s population is in countries with high fertility rates—more than five children per woman—and all of those nations are in Africa, according to the Census Bureau. Even in those countries, fertility rates are generally lower than they once were. The Census Bureau reported that nearly three-quarters of the world’s population is in countries where fertility rates are at or below the replacement level. The fertility rate in India, the world’s most populous country, has steadily declined over the past six decades. In June, the U.N. Population Fund reported that India’s fertility rate stood at 1.9 children per woman, down from five or six children in 1960.In Canada, fertility rate fell to 1.25, well below the replacement level of approximately 2.1 children per woman needed to maintain a stable population. In 1990, China’s fertility rate was 2.51, despite its one-child policy. By 2023, it had dropped to less than one birth per woman, according to the U.N.’s population division .In the United States, fertility has undergone a persistent decline. It fell below the replacement level in 1972, and in 2023, it reached 1.62—a historic low.Asian and European countries have the lowest fertility rates in the world, and South Korea (0.72), Singapore (0.97), Ukraine (0.977), and China (0.999) all have rates below one.
Key Data & FactsSource: Statistics Canada

For The Silo, Sylvia Xu/ Epoch Times.

Culture

Cybersecurity Expert On Recent Louvre Burglary Reveals Poor Password Choice

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On Sunday, October 19, a burglary took place at the Louvre — one of the best known museums in the world. In broad daylight, minutes after the museum opened, thieves broke into the Apollo Gallery and stole the French Crown Jewels, valued at around 88 million EUR/ $142.5 million CAD. 

While criminals entered the famous museum through a window, the robbery exposed a whole host of security problems at the Louvre, including issues with digital security. For example, French media claim that according to the documents they’ve seen, the server managing the museum’s video surveillance was once protected by a weak password “LOUVRE.”

Media in France cite audit documents which show that the Louvre neglected security issues for years, including holes in physical security, outdated software, shoddy maintenance, and poor password and cybersecurity management.

Karolis Arbačiauskas, Head of Product at the cybersecurity company NordPass, comments:

“Publicly available information increasingly suggests that the museum’s IT security system — which manages access control, alarms, and video surveillance — suffers from numerous vulnerabilities. According to a 2014 audit by the French National Cybersecurity Agency (ANSSI), the museum’s system also relied on insecure passwords. For example, the server managing the museum’s video surveillance was protected by the password ‘LOUVRE.'”

“This is horrible. Such a password breaks all the principles of creating secure passwords. On the other hand, it’s not that shocking. Truth to be told, our own research shows that cybersecurity in the public sector is not the best. Tens of thousands of public sector employee passwords are already on the dark web.” 

“But we need to be careful and refrain from pointing fingers until the investigation is completed. The audit data cited by the media is quite old, and we don’t know if the Louvre took ANSSI recommendations into account. Crucially, poor passwords were not the point of entry for the criminals; they gained access through a window, indicating a broader, comprehensive security failure.”

“Personally, I would like to see a positive side to this horrible story. This theft has become the ultimate penetration test for the Louvre, so I hope it will serve as a stimulus to review and upgrade all of the museum’s security systems and policies, including passwords and outdated software. Otherwise, this robbery may embolden criminals and potentially lead to more crimes in the future”

“Proper password should be at least 20 characters long and consist of a random combination of numbers, upper and lower case letters, and special symbols. Passwords on routers and security systems, including those that manage security cameras, must be extremely strong and perhaps go beyond what is considered a strong password, as these systems can literally and figuratively open almost any door. It is also paramount to never reuse passwords. The rule of thumb is that each account should have a unique password because if one account gets taken over, hackers can use the same credentials for other accounts.”

For the Silo, Gintautas Degutis/ Nordsec.

Culture

Alt Learning On Rise- Alberta School Will Have Agricultural Academy Barn Built On Site

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Rolling Hills School: Where Classrooms Meet the Fields

ROLLING HILLS, Alberta — On a crisp fall morning, the hum of tractors in the distance blends with the chatter of children filing into Rolling Hills School. For many of these students, the day began not with cartoons or cereal, but with feeding calves or checking irrigation lines before the bus arrived. Here, agriculture isn’t just a subject in the curriculum—it’s the backbone of the community, and the school has embraced that identity wholeheartedly to create a unique practical learning environment that is innovating and providing students with real world skills.

A School Where Learning Meets The Land

Rolling Hills is a small K–9 school in a hamlet of just a few hundred people, surrounded by endless prairie fields. “Our kids live and breathe farming,” says one teacher. “It only makes sense that their education reflects that.”

From science lessons on soil composition to math problems based on crop yields, the school finds ways to connect classroom learning to the realities of rural life. Students don’t just read about ecosystems in textbooks—they see them unfold in the fields outside their windows.

The Community as a Classroom

What sets Rolling Hills apart is the way the wider community steps in as co-educators. Parents and neighbors, many of them farmers, regularly bring their expertise into the school. A rancher might arrive with a trailer of calves for a hands-on biology lesson, while a grain farmer explains the mechanics of GPS-guided combines during harvest.

“It’s not unusual for a student to raise their hand in class and say, ‘That’s how we do it on our farm,’” notes the principal. “That lived experience enriches the whole classroom.”

Students attend a live stock auction.

The school also doubles as a gathering place. Harvest suppers, farm safety days, and 4-H showcases bring families together, blurring the line between school events and community traditions.

A New Chapter: The Agricultural Academy Barn

This year, Rolling Hills School received a $10,000 cad grant to support the construction of an Agricultural Academy Barn on school grounds. The barn will serve as a hub for hands-on learning, giving students the chance to work directly with animals, crops, and agricultural technology in a structured environment.

“This is a game-changer for us,” says a staff member involved in the project. “The barn will allow students to experience agriculture in a way that goes beyond the classroom or even their family farms. It’s about creating a shared space where learning, innovation, and tradition come together.”

The barn is expected to host projects ranging from animal care and feed management to experiments in sustainable farming practices. For younger students, it will be a place to nurture curiosity; for older ones, it will provide practical skills that could shape future careers.

Learning by Doing

The barn will complement existing initiatives like the school garden, where students plant, tend, and harvest vegetables. Together, these projects reinforce the idea that education is not just about absorbing information but about applying it in meaningful ways.

Older students already take on complex projects—experimenting with irrigation techniques, studying crop rotations, or shadowing local farmers. With the barn, these opportunities will expand, offering a year-round space for agricultural exploration.

Growing More Than Crops

Agriculture teaches patience, responsibility, and resilience—qualities Rolling Hills School works hard to instill. Students who care for animals through 4-H or classroom projects learn that consistency matters, whether it’s feeding livestock or showing up prepared for class.

Environmental stewardship is another theme. With water scarcity and soil health pressing concerns in southern Alberta, the school emphasizes conservation and sustainable practices. “We want our students to see themselves as caretakers of the land,” says a teacher. “That’s part of their legacy.”

A Model for Rural Education

In an era when many rural schools struggle to maintain enrollment and identity, Rolling Hills stands out as a model of resilience. By leaning into its agricultural roots—and now investing in the Agricultural Academy Barn—the school has created a learning environment that is both relevant and inspiring.

Graduates leave with more than academic knowledge. They carry with them a sense of pride in their heritage, practical skills rooted in real-world experience, and a deep connection to their community.

As one parent put it during a recent harvest supper: “This school doesn’t just teach our kids—it raises them, alongside the land that raises us all.” UFA Foundation/ Copilot.

Art

10 Coolest Porsche Headlights- Don’t You Agree?

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10. Porsche 911 (996, 1998–2004) — The Controversial “Fried Egg” Design

Initially divisive, the 996’s integrated headlamp clusters (combining main, high, and indicator lights under one cover) represented Porsche’s first major step into modern production efficiency. The “Fried Egg headlight” design was so controversial that when introduced, many car purchasers (especially those owning the first generation Porsche Boxster 986) modified the headlights with window tint to “hide the yolk”!

Regardless of how acceptance was split, the design was sensible and borrowed from the 911 GT1 race car, this setup improved aerodynamics and manufacturing simplicity. Over time, enthusiasts have come to appreciate its boldness, and we’re going as far as naming it in our top 10 list of the coolest Porsche headlights ever!

9. Porsche 911 RSR (2017–Present) — The Perfect Fusion of Heritage and Function

The 911 RSR’s headlights combine classic round symmetry with cutting-edge LED tech and aerodynamic sculpting. The signature four-point LEDs maintain Porsche’s unmistakable night-time identity. In endurance racing, where function dominates, the RSR’s lights prove that beauty and performance can coexist perfectly.

8. Porsche 917K (1970) — Racing Eyes Built for Le Mans

The 917K’s headlights weren’t just for show; they were shaped by necessity. With their low, wide fairings and Plexiglas covers, the lights became a critical aerodynamic component at speeds exceeding 220 mph. Their integrated look and teardrop housing gave the car a menacing, purposeful face that influenced Porsche’s endurance racers for decades.

7. Porsche 918 Spyder (2013–2015) — Laser Precision and Modern Drama

A leap into the hybrid era, the 918 Spyder’s four-point LED headlights introduced a motif that defined Porsche design for the next decade. Their sharp-edged housings and distinctive daytime running light pattern made them unmistakable, even in the dark. They also pioneered Porsche’s adaptive light technology, blending form, function, and digital precision.

6. Porsche 993 (1993–1998) — The Last of the Classic Round Lamps

The 993 introduced a new, sloped front end with headlights that followed the hood line, a significant break from tradition. The design, though controversial at launch, ultimately modernized the 911’s appearance and improved aerodynamics. Its flush, oval lenses became icons of the 1990s Porsche aesthetic and marked the final air-cooled era’s visual identity.

5. Porsche 911 (964) — Classic Form Meets Modern Function

The 964 retained the round 911 lights but subtly reshaped them to fit new, smoother bodywork. They were slightly more upright and used improved reflectors and halogen elements for better illumination. This generation is often overlooked, but its headlights mark the bridge between old-school air-cooled charm and modern Porsche precision.

4. Porsche 356 (1948–1965) — The Blueprint for Porsche’s “Eyes”

The 356 established the signature oval headlight shape that became Porsche’s visual identity for decades. Mounted high and slightly reclined, the chrome-rimmed lenses gave the car a friendly yet purposeful look. Though rooted in postwar simplicity, their integrated design flowed seamlessly with the rounded fenders, a foundational cue that carried into every 911 thereafter.

3. Porsche 959 (1986–1988) — Aerodynamic Function in a Supercar Form

The 959’s headlights were a turning point for Porsche’s design language. They maintained the classic round outline but were deeply recessed into the front fenders for aerodynamic efficiency. Flush glass covers gave the car a sleek, cohesive face that previewed Porsche’s shift toward modern integration and minimal drag. Beneath the surface, their lighting performance outclassed most of the era’s supercars.

2. Porsche Mission R Concept (2021) — The Future in Plain Sight

With its slim, vertically stacked LED units framed by a minimalist housing, the Mission R’s headlights reimagined Porsche’s “four-point” look for the electric age. They were both expressive and efficient, incorporating cooling ducts and DRL elements into a single sculptural assembly. The design hints at the next generation of motorsport and production cars from Porsche.

1. Porsche Carrera GT (2003–2007) — Pure Function, Clean Form

The Carrera GT’s headlights embodied Porsche’s design minimalism at its finest. With visible projector lenses under a clear polycarbonate cover, they echoed the look of endurance racers while maintaining a sculptural, lightweight appearance. The compact design allowed for large air channels around them, aiding cooling and aerodynamics, beauty born from engineering.

For The Silo, Verdad Gallardo/Rennlist.com

Vintage

Upcoming ‘Swiss Sourced’ Collector Car Auction

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Click on the full auction catalog below to learn about this unique car.

The Zürich Auction1 November 2025
The Dolder Grand – Zürich, Switzerland
Swiss-Sourced Collector Cars
It is no surprise that our friends at Broad Arrow are proud to present a selection of Swiss-sourced vehicles to be offered at their inaugural Zürich Auction. The vehicles are varied and exceptional and the setting could not be better.

Switzerland’s reputation for precision, care, and high standards extends beyond its watches and craftsmanship. These qualities are frequently reflected in the quality of its vehicles with Swiss-sourced cars often offering distinct advantages including:Exceptional Maintenance Standards: Thanks to strict technical inspections, such as the MFK, Swiss vehicles are typically kept in excellent condition. Low Mileage: Cars in Switzerland generally show less wear, as average annual mileage trends lower than many other markets. Clean, Verifiable History: Rigorous registration and control systems mean provenance is often clear and verifiable. Favorable Tax Conditions for Classic Cars: As with several European countries, vehicles over 30 years old may qualify for reduced VAT rates. Reliable Logistics Support: Broad Arrow has established partners throughout the region available to assist with customs, shipping, and other logistical needs. For more information on any of the offerings in our Zürich Auction, and for a complete list of Swiss-sourced vehicles, I invite you to contact their knowledgable team of specialists, or to reach out to their client service team.

Bidder registration is open with options for in-person, telephone, internet, and absentee bidding available. Contact their client service team for personalized assistance at bid@broadarrowauctions.com. Please mention the Silo when contacting. For the Silo, Jarrod Barker.

Vintage

Old School Soviet Digital Watch Is Back

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The US and USSR going “Band for Band”

Our friends at kommandostore talk about the Cold War on their site so often, it’s become one of their defining aesthetics…..and that’s a good thing- read on!

Grand armies and weapons are arguably less than half of the story.

Many of the cold war ‘battles’ from the 1950s through the 1990s took place in the minds and on the wrists of millions of people. Some might say they certainly still do…

Rogue media campaigns, protests & activism, black ops — they defined the hottest parts of the Cold War. But what if we told you that the watch you were wearing was just as important? The Soviet Union sure thought so…

Having gotten sucked into the almost endless lore rabbithole of watches, the first thing that kommandostore sought to bring back from obscurity was the Elektronika 55B — the soviet union’s most popular digital watch that went the way of… well, the Soviet Union… When it collapsed in ’91.

Above all else, there’s one story about this watch that truly stands on its own, a story that will make you realize that there is much more to this little watch that jovially plays chiptune soviet music…

It involves two of the most powerful men in the world, Leonid Brezhnev and Henry Kissinger convening and comparing their new digital watches.

Ok, they weren’t really wearing the watches in that photo, but such an encounter really did happen between the two gentlemen in the early 70s, one that subtly let the United States know that the Soviets were right on the US’s tail for semiconductor technology.

On a somewhat-routine visit to Moscow, US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger wore a Pulsar P2 Watch — one of the very first digital watches. Known for it’s striking red LED display and appearance on the wrist of none other than James bond.

It also carried a hefty price tag, with the 21k gold edition costing enough to buy you a car in today’s money.

You tell us, is $1800 usd/ $2,526 cad in today’s money worth it for one of the two base models? 

The meeting was with Leonid Brezhnev, General Secretary of the Soviet Union. He remarked that he did indeed like Kissinger’s watch, being a man of taste.

Then he told Kissinger that the USSR had already developed a prototype using the very same technology.

Kissinger was reportedly astonished — and was presented with a functioning Soviet-Made digital wristwatch, the Elektronika B6-02. Featuring CMOS circuits, it was blocky, brutalist, and affordable enough for practically anyone to buy when it officially launched.

The whole Elektronika series carried this statement — the latest fancy tech of the west is cool, but when it’s done the soviet way, for way cheaper, it’s not a luxury to be worn by only the elites.

It didn’t take a horology enthusiast to buy and wear this watch. It’s Kalashnikov-esque ubiquity meant it was worn by everyone from party members to coal miners. 

Sure, in 1969 we brought a luxury-watch masterpiece, the Omega Speedmaster, to the Moon before the Soviets were able to. But as a tool of propaganda, the USSR might have had us beat, and the Elektronika 5 appeared in space several more times…

We found it intriguing and somewhat disheartening that Elektronika, what seemed to be the people’s choice, was snuffed out much in the same time period as the Soviet union.

In a world full of Casios & Timexes, who can’t help but succumb to the charm of the plucky Elektronika, so why not give it the wrist time it deserves…because it is now available once again and this time in a near perfect reproduction right down to the packaging.

 A 1:1 functional replica of the original Elektronika with 4 new Slav-approved “Melody” alarms. Sanctioned to the second-hand market (pun intended), thankfully kommandostore thought that the watch deserved a proper revival after its unceremonious disappearance following the collapse of the USSR. 
 Just like the original, it’s an affordable and reliable piece with just enough fun to get even the most uptight horologists asking you questions.  But unlike the OGs, the sad truth of capitalism is that we’re slaves to supply and demand. They are running out fast, and even though there are plans to quickly continue production, there may be a slight gap. So, if you’re interested, this is kind of a last call. 

Click the following link to place your order while supplies last.

Elektronika 55B Melody Watch

Culture

Amazing Thing Happened After I Used Coupons For One Year

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I was doing a bit of ‘specific purpose’ shopping at a local grocery store to pick up some of their No Name Yogurt. I buy this all the time and use it mixed with fruit, or when making a smoothie with yogurt, milk and berries.

It is worth noting, that some consumers remain staunchly brand-loyal and even brand-dependent.

They believe that no-name products are ‘not as good’ as the brand name products that they favor. In reality many no-name brands are manufactured using the same ingredients and at the same factory as the brand product, the only difference being the price and the look of the label. That being said, I’m not ready to trade in my Heinz ketchup for the no-name brand….but Aylmer is a close second. Can you taste the difference?

As I was about to take several tubs (5) off the shelf, I noticed a pad of tear-off coupons right above the yogurt. They were for $1.00 (Cdn) off each tub of No Name Yogurt that you purchased. Since I had 5 tubs in my tote basket, I peeled off 5 coupons. When I got to the check-out, I put the coupons on each tub and the cashier deducted $5.00 off my bill. The regular cost was $1.97 a tub, which would have made the total cost $9.85. I paid $4.85. I was very, very happy. I got the yogurt that I intended to buy, and I got a bargain. Also the empty tubs can be put in recycling bins, or used as food-savers for leftovers.

The ‘no-name’ brand Loblaws Canada use bright black on yellow packaging.

A friend of mine, Ken, who worked in the food  industry, once told me, “Coupons are an easy way for customers to save money. The store does not loose any money, the coupons go right back to the company.”

A few years back, I decided to see if coupons did save me money. Each week I went through the newspapers, magazines, online site and store coupons I had collected as well as free coupon bins in their stores. These bins are there for customers who don’t want to use their coupons, but throw them in a bin so that other customers strolling by can scoop up whatever they want to use. I used an old duo tang notebook to record my savings, a ruler, line paper, and a pen. I drew lines across the page. I also drew lines vertically down the page for categories.

The first category was NUMBER, and then ITEM PURCHASED, then COUPON PRICE, and lastly PRICE TOTAL. I found an old, very large mayonnaise jar with a lid (the kind they used in restaurants that buy in large quantities). I put a slot in the top of the lid so that it was more convenient to drop coins into the jar rather than unscrewing the cap each time.

I labeled the jar, “Coupon Money.” Every time I went to the store and used a coupon, I put the actual money I saved into the jar. It may have been only 35 cents, or 50 cents. Then I recorded the information in my duo-tang.

I decided to do this project for one year. I started in February. I never told anyone what I was doing. If my wife used a coupon, she also added the money to the jar, and recorded the information. Never did I use the proceeds from the jar during the year, but I was tempted many times. Over the months of the year, I took the change that was accumulating and transferred it into bills, starting with $5.00, then $10.00, then $20.00 bills. The idea was to use coupons on products that I normally purchased, not to get 50 cents off a product I wouldn’t normally buy.

I was very diligent with my project that year. It was kind of a game made especially fun when I would get the jar out and look with envy at all the bills stuffed in there.

As the year anniversary was approaching, my wife started telling people about the “Coupon Project.”

I heard comments like, “How silly.” “Why would you want to waste your time doing that?” “When I get coupons I throw them out.” “You won’t make any savings on them.” But at the end of the year, the jar contained $520.00. As it turned out, we needed a new couch. We purchased a brand new bed-chesterfield, including delivery, for $500.00

A week later, two friends who had thought that my “Coupon Project” was nonsense, remarked on how beautiful and expensive our couch looked. They asked, “How did you afford to buy such a beautiful couch?” I replied proudly, “coupons.” For the Silo, Blair R. Yager. 

Vintage

Three and Half Decades Ago The Nighthawk Stealth Fighter Was Revealed

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35 years ago, a mysterious and strikingly beautiful aircraft touched down on a dusty airfield in the Nevada desert. Can you imagine what kind of advanced aircrafts are being developed now?


The F-117 Nighthawk


Since its public reveal decades ago (consider that development started in the 1970’s on this amazing machine), the Nighthawk served with quiet distinction through the latter half of the Cold War, the first Gulf War, a kerfuffle in Yugoslavia (bet you don’t remember that one) , and the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Despite and official ‘retirement’ in 2008, the F-117 still gets spotted in the skies over Nevada where it is rumored to serve as an ‘aggressor aircraft’, helping to train pilots.


What’s the F-117 about?


With it’s cyberpunk like profile and stunning angles, the F-117 Nighthawk instantly captured the public’s imagination and birthed a lot of UFO /UAP stories, especially in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s when it’s unusual shape confused expectations of what an aircraft could and should look like.
A radical departure from the retro-aerodynamic curves of traditional aircraft design, the F-117’s odd shape serves a singular purpose.


Stealth.


The Nighthawk was conceived by Lockheed’s Skunk Works, a secretive development team responsible for some of the most capable aircraft of the 20th century.
Designed to slip through deep Soviet territory, the Nighthawk incorporated radical new technology to achieve an incredibly small radar and thermal signature. Hard edges, radar-absorbing coatings, a unique twin-tail, and special endinge cowlings reduced the aircraft to the size of a sparrow on Soviet radar.
The Nighthawk was deemed fully operational in the early 1980’s and nearly a decade her pilots and crew flight night sorties in complete secrecy.
Seven years later, the USAF and the Department of Defense decided the Nighthawk would work better as a deterrent if the world knew about it and it’s capabilities.


Plans were made to reveal the aircraft to the world at Nellis AFB on April 21, 1990. Those of us who saw this event live on television will always remember the shock and awe inspiring gasp it created- nothing like it had ever been seen before and it surely looked like something from a science fiction novel or movie.
On a hot spring day, a flight of two F-117s landed in front of thousands of cheering spectators, kicking off one of the most memorable air shows in US history. After opening the show, the F-117s sat quietly on the tarmac surrounded by an entourage of armed airmen and curious onlookers.
Although little was said about the new “stealth fighters”- blimps, fighter jets, and mock dog fights continued the day’s entertainment in style.


Even with talks of ‘spending prioritization’ and ‘doctrinal appropriateness’, the Nighthawk has endured, in it’s own special way, for nearly 40 years. Everything about the F-117 that made it great in the 1980’s still captivates us today. It’s razor-sharp edges, futuristic technology, and it’s family tree of stealthy cousins (foreign and domestic). Here is hoping many more years of this little black triangle up in the sky… via our friends at kommandostore.com

Art

Unique Guitar Fraternity In Russia Was In Isolation For Seventy Years

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Since the collapse of the Berlin wall in 1989, the countries of eastern European have exploded in a painful big-bang that has changed the geography of Europe and Asia drastically. The new Russia was born, now being part of the Community of Independent States (CIS) that replaces the former USSR. The guitar fraternity in Russia has been living for more than 70 years in total isolation, prevented from being in touch with the West. The presence of many types of the instrument that we call “guitar” has been a constant one in 19th Century Russian 11 string Guitar Russian music life in all periods, having very old origins. But only recently has this guitar world started opening to western Europe, and we still know far too little about Russian composers for guitar and Russian guitarists. It was quite difficult for me to get information about some Russian guitarists, due both to the ever-present difficulties in communication (it is still difficult just to send a fax to Moscow during the day time)and to the problems of language comprehension.

The Guitar of the Czars- a new English summary redaction

In the past, references to the Soviet guitar world in Western music literature were always very scarce, and only in recent years has a subtle breath from that guitar world started blowing beyond the Urals. I wish to thank especially the guitarists Mikhail Goldort from Novosibirsk (central Siberia)and Piero Bonaguri, teacher at the Conservatory of Rovigo (Italy) as well as the composer Umberto Bombardelli, who helped me in collecting more information.

At the beginning there was the domra

The guitar was not the only known plucked instrument in Russia; two other instruments at least are worthy of mention: the domra and the balalaika. The domra is nowadays known in two variants with three or four metallic strings and in different sizes. It has a triangular shape, is tuned by fourths,and is played by means of a plectrum.

It is the most ancient plucked instrument, having been imported by the Mongols during the 13th century. Its tremolo is similar to the one of the Neapolitan mandolin and its range is large, due to its having 16 frets up to the junction of the neck. It is now employed both as a solo instrument and in an orchestra,together with the balalaika .

The balalaika has a peculiar triangular shape and three strings, among which two are tuned in unison and the other a fourth up. It appeared first during the 17th century. It was able to oust the domra in popularity, thanks to the preference of the Czars. It is played both by fingers and with the plectrum; from the last years of the Nineteenth Century it has existed in different sizes which cover all the frequency spectrum of the orchestra.
The guitar appeared in Russia during the 18th century, in a society far behind the European one in development. However, at the first half of the 19th century it was already known as a national instrument: the Russian guitar. Its own peculiarities were the tuning by thirds on the notes of the G scale, and having seven strings. It is known by the tender-sounding name of “semistrunaia” (a composite noun made from
“sem’ ” =seven and “struny” = strings).
Its popularity grew among the people of all ranks, both middle and upper class, as described by many Russian poets and writers. There are also many variants of this main type, in number of strings and dimensions. By studying the surviving photos of Russian guitarists of the last century, re-published in the volume Guitar in Russia and USSR (see photo in the full PDF article linked below), we see that the guitar with 7 strings on the neck and 4 strings outside of the neck was very popular. The famous photograph of  Valerian Rusanov, one of the first Russian guitar historians, with his 11-string guitar is significant in this respect. This instrument shared favor with the six string guitar (the so-called “shestistrunaia“, from “shest,” which means “six” ) tuned as in the West, and many other types. Continue reading full article PDF by clicking here.  For the Silo, Marco Bazzotti.
 
 
Vintage

Star Wars The Arcade Game For The 1980s Coleco Vision Was Rad

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Star Wars:The Arcade Game (ColecoVision, 1984) Game Cartridge – Early Concept & Film Screening Logo

Star Wars was an important movie for many reasons beyond the success it achieved as a motion picture. The Star Wars phenom had been born.

Not only did we see the almost immediate impact it would have on motion picture technology, or computer camera controlled stop motion animation, but it wrote the playbook on movie merchandising. Merchandising that included arcade games and home video games. Converting a state of the art Vector graphic arcade game into a home system was a challenge for all systems except for when it came to the ahead-of-its-time Coleco Vision. More on this later….

Had to pay for movie adaptation comic to be created

It’s hard to believe that a movie we have ‘only ever known to enjoy’ the runaway success it has now didn’t have that success so assured early on. That it really came down to one man, first LFL marketer Charles Lippincott – who barely managed to get a toy deal done with Kenner (after MEGO turned him down), and who had to pay (via Fox/Alan Lad Jr.) for the first 5 issues in order for Marvel to agree to draw and write the comic book series, and have the first issue ready before the movie would hit theaters in 1977.

By the time this video game was made by Parker Bros. for the Coleco Vision game console, Star Wars had become a movie merchandising juggernaut, and it was now time to not only refashion the same thrill late 70’s kids experienced through toys, comics and trading cards, but to open up their imagination by reinterpreting iconic ships like the X-Wing and TIE Fighters in pitched battle in a video game format to be played on on their own TV screens at home.

In 1984, Coleco Vision released this Star Wars arcade game.

And to anyone remembering the vibe and nostalgia of growing-up in those early days of video games and the arcade experience, it’s an image that’s been burned into your brain. However, what you might not realize is that this arcade conversion cartridge utilized a very early logo that was used on the first movie poster. It was part of early concepts logos that Ralph McQuarrie had come up with for use in the very early screenings of the movie. The cone-top of this original early Star Wars logo evokes the iconic opening crawl of the film, which was completely unknown to audiences in 1977. Don Perri, the person who came up with the conceptual design, was influenced by the 1939 film Union Pacific’s opening credits.

Label Variant

There are collectors of early arcade games, there are collectors of early Star Wars cartridges and video games, and then there are collectors who just buy any of the early logos used on merchandise. Because of the label, this cart has great cross-collector appeal, and while I haven’t tested it for some time (used to play it with my oldest, who is now off to college), here is a screenshot I took when we played it on our home projector. I have decided to pass this beauty on and so it is for sale and I am happy to tell you more about this totally awesome cartridge.

For the Silo, Bounty Quicker.

Culture

Spooky Missing Persons Stories

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David Paulides is an ex-cop on a mission. After years of investigating missing persons and studying thousands of missing persons reports he has discovered strange coincidences and similarities that he has documented clearly and factually in several of his books including Missing 411.

When pushed for a theory on what is causing these events David is reluctant to offer one and instead maintains that his role is to continue to collect and organize the vast numbers of cases and wait for an answer to come from an external source.

Perhaps even from someone like you or me…..

Missing Persons Cluster Map North American Distribution Pattern Historical records reveal that missing persons have occurred in North America for hundreds of years and what connects these cases is both frightening and confusing. David has discovered geographical connections that include- national park locations, urban locations near bodies of water, boulder fields, mountain elevations and other seemingly ‘safe’ locations.

He has found that there are vast differences in distance between reported disappearance and body discovery (or in rare cases when the missing person is found alive). Often mysterious events occur prior to the disappearance such as indications of strange behaviors or distress. In one case a man had reported repeatedly via cell phone that “people were outside” and in another case a man had fired a weapon as if in self defense.

Many times personal items such as clothing are found but not bodies or not complete bodies.

In some cases clothes are found in organized piles- as if they have been left behind carefully folded. Even more confusing is that this may occur during the Winter or at an elevated location where the idea of removing clothing simply does not make sense.

David Paulides Lecturing University Of TorontoDavid’s research has shown that oddly, many missing persons in these cases are highly intelligent and healthy individuals that include doctors, scientists and marathon runners. In other cases the victims are hunters or seasoned hikers- people who would actually be most likely to prevent outdoor mishaps.

David is quick to rebuff any suggestion of paranormal causes such as ‘alien abductions’ or ‘bigfoot’.

He works hard to ensure that his research is taken very seriously and shows absolute respect for surviving family members and that’s when the eerie reality set in: there does not seem to be any explanation as to what is happening and families are being torn apart with no hope of closure.

Check out David on YouTube or pick up one of his books from Toronto Book Shop conspiracyculture.com to learn much more. For the Silo, Jarrod Barker.

Vintage

Own One Of These Exotic Cars While On A Budget

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Earlier this month our friends at Hagerty reported on the some of the absolute cheapest ways to get into the old-car hobby. These included cars like the 1975–81 Triumph TR7, the 1986–91 Cadillac Seville, and the 1973–77 Olds Vista Cruiser. The “ew gross” reaction these cars elicited in some of the comments wasn’t too surprising; no one, it seems, wants to shop for fun cars at a suburban Goodwill.

But what about the fun cars you might find at, say, the Goodwill in Beverly Hills? 

That’s right, we’re talking about bargain-basement exotics—not exactly a tagline that inspires confidence when shopping for often-temperamental imports, but they are out there. Just know that service history and records are important to consider here. And just because a car is cheap, or keenly priced, if you prefer, doesn’t mean it’s not worth owning, especially if it provides entry into a marque you’ve always coveted. So give some consideration to these five once-distinguished Euro-mobiles, the cheapest models from their makers and all rated in #3 (good) condition. Let us know if you think we have missed any other contenders.

1973–77 Lamborghini Urraco

lamborghini Urraco front three-quarter action
Lamborghini/Massimiliano Serra

Lamborghini announced the Urraco in 1970 as a Marcello Gandini–styled 2+2 coupe with a transverse V-8 mounted amidships. As a sharper-edged follow-up to the swoopy Miura, it foreshadowed the shape of Lambos to come. When it finally arrived for 1973, it made a fine competitor to the Ferrari Dino 308 GT4 and was available in 220-hp 2.5-liter P250 form, while the 265-hp 3.0-liter P300 launched in 1975. When that car arrived in the U.S. a year later, however, power was severely choked by emissions equipment, down to around 180 horses. Not many were built—just 522 of the P250s and 205 P300s—but today a #3 example ranges from $49,000 usd/ $68,350 cad for a P250 to $59,000 usd/ $82,290 cad for the P300. Given the ascendancy of Miura, Countach, Diablo, and Murcielago prices in recent years, that the Urraco is still so cheap is a bit surprising.

1977–82 Porsche 924

1983 Porsche 924 side
Getty Images

From the start, it seemed like Porsche vs. the world when it came to the 924. Whether because it was front-engined, or water-cooled, or simply a discount sports car meant to be a Volkswagen, plenty of people discounted it from the get-go. Until they drove it and realized, hey, this thing’s great. And it was great. Still is. With just enough power (110 hp from ’77 on) from a VW/Audi-sourced 2.0-liter four to complement its finely poised chassis, the 924 remains an excellent, easily approachable driver’s car, with good club support. Rust has killed many of them, and although Porsche built around 150,000 examples, parts are available but spendy, especially interior bits. A good #3 example should set you back about $8500 usd/ $11,856 cad. For comparison, an early 944 in the same shape is around $10,500 usd/ $14,645 cad.

1980–87 Ferrari Mondial 8 / Mondial 3.2 Coupe

Ferrari Mondial 8
Ferrari

When it came time to replace the Bertone-designed Dino 308 GT4, Ferrari tapped Pininfarina, and the resulting Mondial debuted in 1980 as a 2+2 coupe, with a convertible joining the lineup four years later. The GT4’s 2927-cc transversely mounted V-8 carried over, with Bosch fuel injection replacing Weber carbs, and in the Mondial it made 214 hp. They were sharp handlers, with more interior space than their predecessor, but no one ever accused them of being fast. Other Mondial variants arrived throughout the ’80s to address that, however, including the Quattrovalvole (QV) in 1984, the 260-hp 3.2 of 1986, and the radically different t of 1989, but it is the early coupes, along with the 3.2 coupes, that are most affordable. Today, a #3 Mondial 8 or 3.2 coupe costs about $22,000 usd/ $30,686 cad.

1981–87 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit

1982 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit front 3/4
Hagerty Marketplace/William_Cooper

If you’re an enthusiast of affordable opulence and Dijon mustard, then then look no further than the Silver Spirit. Successor to the upright Silver Shadow, the Spirit utilized a 220-hp 6.75-liter V-8 mated to a three-speed automatic. Inside, of course, you got all the trimmings, with Connolly leather seating, Wilton wool carpeting, and burl walnut inlays, as well as A/C and power everything. Giving the Spirit its silky-smooth road manners was a Citroën-sourced self-leveling hydropneumatic suspension. Rolls-Royces from this era have never been cheap to maintain, and deferred maintenance issues claimed many of them, so records are key with any Silver Spirit you might have your sights on. The right one, in #3 condition, won’t cost you much, at around $8400 usd/ $11,716 cad, but it will likely have needs, which could cost a lot.  

1997–99 Aston Martin DB7

Aston Martin DB7 Vantage
Aston Martin

Even 30 years on, the 335-hp Aston DB7 still looks gorgeous from every angle, and upon its arrival, it was instantly an Aston worthy of the famous DB badge. If you can overlook its relative lack of exclusivity, with more than 7000 produced in both coupe and convertible form, what you get is a proper English grand tourer with excellent performance and luxurious interior appointments. Subtle differences set it apart from the contemporary Jaguar XK8 (which costs less, it should be noted), and the higher costs associated with maintenance and repair are likely to set it apart as well. But right around $21,000 usd/ $29,291 cad should get you a good coupe, with the convertibles slightly cheaper. 

For the Silo, Stefan Lombard, Author at Hagerty Media.

Hagerty protects all kinds of collector cars, trucks, and modified vehicles. Let’s talk about your special ride.

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Culture

California Aims To Turn Down Volume On Streaming Ads

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California Wants to Turn Down Volume on Ads Played by Streamers

The bill makes Netflix, Prime, and other streaming services regulate ad volume. It passed unanimously and now goes to the state governor. Is it time for similar legislation here in Canada?

California Wants to Turn Down Volume on Ads Played by Streamers
The logos for Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus and Sling TV on a remote control, in Portland, Ore., on Aug. 13, 2020. Jenny Kane/AP Photo

Netflix and other video streamers might need to chill a bit more when it comes to the volume of commercials played in California.

California lawmakers want to moderate blaring advertisements that play louder than the shows. They passed a bill on Sept. 22 to address the issue.

“Have you noticed the increased volume of ads in the middle of your favorite shows? They’re so jarring!” Santa Ana Democrat Sen. Tom Umberg said about the bill on social media. “If they can target ads to me based on my age and favorite cereal, I have the utmost faith they could fix this problem.”

Senate Bill 576 passed the Legislature unanimously and was sent to the governor’s desk.

If signed, the bill would go into effect July 1, 2026, to close a loophole that exempts streaming services from complying with the national CALM Act, enforced by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The federal rules were adopted in 2011 and went into effect a year later. They require commercials to have the same average volume as the programs they accompany.

The Epoch Times

The way people watch shows and movies, however, has changed. Consumers are using entertainment apps, or video streaming services, much more often now, and these haven’t kept up with the protections, according to Umberg.

“As a result, consumers are increasingly subjected to loud, disruptive commercial advertisements with no regulatory safeguards,” Umberg said in a legislative analysis. “By ensuring that commercial advertisements do not play at a volume higher than the primary video content, this bill enhances the viewing experience and protects individuals with hearing sensitivities—including seniors, children, and those with auditory processing disorders—from sudden and jarring noise spikes.”

Netflix pioneered the switch to streaming services by introducing video streaming in January 2007, followed by Hulu in 2008, Amazon Prime Video in 2011, and Disney+ in late 2019.

The services have quickly become a household staple, Umberg added.

The bill does not give the state any enforcement power and doesn’t include a way for consumers to report violations.

State Sen. Tom Umberg (D-Santa Ana) speaks at a Public Safety Committee hearing in Sacramento on March 28, 2023. (Screenshot via California State Senate)
State Sen. Tom Umberg (D-Santa Ana) speaks at a Public Safety Committee hearing in Sacramento on March 28, 2023. Screenshot via California State Senate

The legislation faced opposition from the Motion Pictures Association, which represents Walt Disney Studios, Netflix, Paramount Pictures, Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Universal Pictures, and Warner Bros. Discovery.

According to the group, the legislation was “unnecessary” as the studios were working voluntarily on the issue of loud advertisements.

Many streaming services have undertaken efforts to adjust the loudness of ads that come from server-side ad insertion. They are also working with the Interactive Advertising Bureau and the Audio Engineering Society to establish the best way to “normalize” the volume level of advertising, according to the association. For the Silo, Jill McLaughlin/ The Epoch Times.

Vintage

Joe Rogan’s RSR Revamped Porsche 911

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A Collector Expands His Fleet

Joe Rogan’s car collection already includes a SharkWerks 997 GT3 RS, a 964 RS America, and a 993 Gunther Werks 911. Now, the comedian and podcast host has taken delivery of a custom-built Porsche 911 RSR tribute from The RSR Project. Nicknamed Silver 2, the car is designed to echo Porsche’s early motorsport roots while offering upgraded performance for modern driving.

The Build Process

The project began with a galvanized 1985 Carrera tub, which was stripped down and reworked with steel flares and fiberglass panels to achieve the classic long-hood RSR profile. The body was finished in a glossy silver paint that recalls bare metal and paired with period touches such as a ducktail spoiler, fiberglass bumpers, and 15-inch Braid Fuchs wheels wrapped in Michelin TB15 vintage tires

Power and Engineering

Founder Richard Schickman led the build, which included a complete mechanical overhaul. Rogan’s car is powered by a 3.5-liter flat-six producing 310 horsepower, equipped with twin-plug heads, GT3 intake plenum, Clewett Engineering throttle bodies, Elgin cams, Lucas injectors, and Bosch ignition components. The motor is controlled by an Emtron SL ECU and paired with a fully rebuilt transmission. Suspension and braking systems were also refreshed to meet both performance and reliability standards.

“Our goal with every build is to honor Porsche’s motorsport heritage while elevating performance to meet modern expectations,” Schickman explained.

Precision Rebuild Standards

Every RSR Project car undergoes a full teardown. Engines are disassembled, magnafluxed, and sonic cleaned, while rotating components are balanced to within a gram. Cylinder heads are resurfaced, valve guides replaced, and transmissions rebuilt with new synchros and seals. The result, according to the company, is a drivetrain that looks factory-new but performs with modern precision and durability.

Interior Details

The interior follows the same philosophy of heritage blended with bespoke craftsmanship. Rogan’s build features black fixed-shell bucket seats trimmed in woven leather with nickel grommets, a nod to 1960s GT40s. The dashboard was replaced with a Porsche Classic unit, paired with RS-style door panels, lightweight Perlon carpeting, and a Momo Prototipo steering wheel. The minimalist approach is reinforced by details like pull straps, a radio block-off plate, and a Wevo short shifter.

Rogan declined extras like a sound system, opting instead for a stripped-down cabin that celebrates Porsche’s racing DNA. The only modern concession is an electric air conditioning system.

Road-Proven Performance

The RSR Project emphasizes that its cars are built for driving, not static display. Rogan’s Porsche underwent more than 700 miles of testing before delivery to ensure reliability and fine-tuned performance. As Schickman noted, “Every RSR we create is built to be driven and enjoyed thoroughly.”

Time and Cost of an RSR Build

Building a Porsche to this level is a significant undertaking. Each project typically requires 12 to 18 months to complete, with prices starting at $375,000 usd/ $516,750 cad (at time of posting). Clients can select additional options such as upgraded engines, modernized braking systems, and electric air conditioning. Earlier in the year, the company also unveiled RSR Project No. 21, a Signal Orange homage to the 1973 Rennsport Rennwagen.

This article via our friends at rennlist.com

Culture

How We Set In Motion Coffee Global Business

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If you are like me- someone who has drunk much more than one coffee in your life, you might be interested in pondering this question: Why do you think the multi-billion-dollar global coffee industry can be a losing business for the growers, whose hands till the land from where coffee starts?

In fact, if you drink 2 cups of coffee a day for one year, you’ll be spending more than the annual income of the coffee farmer in a developing country. To help present to fellow North American coffee drinkers this huge disparity between the farmer and the other key players across the coffee value chain, take a look at the infographic below.

Considering that North America is the biggest coffee consumer in the world, we can make a big dent by supporting the fair trade advocacy that ensures farmers get paid properly. Take a look at the infographic again. It describes how coffee is made from the farm to the mill, to the roasting plant and all the way to the consumer. Here are some of its highlights that show the bigness of this industry:

– 100 M people depend on coffee for livelihood; 25 M of which are farmers

– The U.S. spent 18 B for coffee yearly, equivalent to Bosnia’s GDP

– Coffee is the second most globally traded commodity after petroleum

For the Silo, Alex Hillsberg Web Journalist

 

Here's How You Make Coffee A Billion Dollar Business

Supplemental- How North Americans can help the #fairtrade program

http://financesonline.com/cherry-to-cup-the-economics-of-coffee/

http://financesonline.com/why-fairtrade-should-matter-to-you/

Art

Studio Visit With Canadian American Artist Suzy Lake

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Suzy Lake, A Natural Way to Draw, 1975.

Roughly once a month, I visit an artist’s studio for the ongoing series Studio Visits. I take iPhone photos of the corners and nooks of their studio, offering a more intimate look into a practice that usually takes place behind closed doors. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: it’s such a gift to be invited into an artist’s studio, which often doubles as a kind of sanctuary for them.I don’t often visit photographers’ studios.

This changed a couple of weeks ago when I was invited to visit Suzy Lake at her studio in Toronto. I’m a huge fan of Lake, and I might have said as much a few times in our email correspondence, no doubt coming across as a crazed fan girl. But I’m a fan for good reason! An American-Canadian artist, Lake has been seminal in both countries for the last five decades. Her photographs combine self-portraiture and performance to comment on larger themes: political justice, the role of an artist, feminism, and aging.

She played a foundational role in shaping Conceptualism in Canada. There’s so much to admire in Lake’s career, and the work itself is equally compelling. So here I am, at Lake’s studio, one of the foremost photographers in Canada, and I am taking pictures. As you can imagine, I am very self-conscious. I start clicking away on my iPhone, no doubt diminishing the medium with my lack of artistic ability. (Of course, this series isn’t about the photos themselves, but a desire to document and archive important artist practices.)

For Lake, the act of photographing is important. The images are complex and layered. The photograph doesn’t happen the moment the shutter clicks, but in the process, creation, and performance that spans the duration of the photograph.For example, in her seminal series, Extended Breathing (2008-14) [see image below], Lake stands still for long enough to be picked up by the long exposure—at least 30 minutes. These photographs become touchstones for how we are remembered, the self as a constant, as life moves around us. Lake is asserting agency over the medium, conveying a powerful message through process.

Lake’s first solo exhibition just opened at Bradley Ertaskiran in Montreal, with photographs spanning her entire career. The exhibition, titled “Distilling Resistance,“is on until November 1st and is well worth the trip to see it.

Artist Bio: Suzy Lake is an American-Canadian artist based in Toronto, Canada. Lake’s work explores the politics of body and identity through performance, video and photography. Her later work addresses the ageing body, questioning structures of power politically and poetically. Lake’s work has been presented extensively across Canada and internationally at the Centre Pompidou-Metz, Museum of Modern Art (New York), Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), National Gallery of Canada (Ottawa), Brandhorst Museum (Munich), Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Vancouver Art Gallery, Hayward Gallery (London), Santa Monica Museum of Art, Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, and the Art Gallery of Windsor.

For the Silo, Tatum Dooley.

Featured image- Suzy-Lake_1983_Pre-Resolution_Using-the-Ordinances-at-Hand

Culture

AI Shows 10 Home Reno Bid Red Flags

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Did you know that, every year, home renovation projects are derailed by hidden costs, vague language, and inconsistent contractor bids—pushing 78% of jobs over budget and forcing two-thirds of homeowners into debt? It’s not just homeowners who feel the pain: contractors, property managers, real estate agents, investors, and flippers all struggle to assess and compare bids quickly and accurately.

The problem is that contractor quotes are rarely “apples to apples,” often missing critical details or disguising inflated charges—making it hard to identify true scope, cost, and risk. Now, the free-to-use and industry first BidCompareAI  tool analyzes and compares multiple contractor bids, instantly identifying missing scope items, unrealistic allowances and other red flags before any work begins … often with tens of thousands of dollars on the line. In minutes, the AI generates a clear, line-by-line report that standardizes bids into transparent, actionable insights—helping homeowners avoid costly overruns, while enabling industry pros to quote with confidence, negotiate smarter, close deals faster, and protect ROI. Interest in this innovation raising industry transparency standards?

AI Reveals These Top 10 Home Renovation Bid Red Flags


First-of-its-kind free AI tool turns confusing, inconsistent contractor bids into clear, side-by-side insights—helping homeowners avoid costly overruns and enabling industry pros to quote, negotiate and close with confidence 

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Renovations are one of the most expensive and stressful decisions a homeowner makes. Yet 78% of projects blow their budgets, and 2 in 3 homeowners go into debt just to pay for them. Why? Because contractor bids are often riddled with hidden costs, vague language, and missing work that leave you paying more than you bargained for. Thankfully, new AI technology is now making these red flags impossible to ignore—saving homeowners thousands before a hammer is even swung. BidCompareAI is the first-ever AI tool that lets homeowners upload multiple bids and get a fast, detailed report comparing scope, pricing, and red flags—no construction expertise needed and no signup or payment required.

“Homeowners have been forced to make major financial decisions based on unclear or incomplete bids,” says GreatBuildz Co-CEO Jon Grishpul. “BidCompareAI adds instant transparency and clarity—saving people from costly mistakes before a project even starts. For contractors, property managers, and real estate professionals, it’s a credibility and efficiency tool that streamlines communication, builds trust and helps win more business.”

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Here are the top 10 red flags often hiding in contractor bids, and how the BidCompareAI tool reveals them instantly:

1. Missing Scope Items — “Surprise” Costs Waiting to Blow Your Budget

Your contractor’s quote doesn’t include demolition, cleanup, or critical tasks? That’s a ticking time bomb. Now, homeowners can catch these omissions so you never get hit with surprise charges.

2. Vague Allowances — The Fine Print That Drains Your Wallet

Ambiguous line items like “fixtures” or “materials” can mean anything. The AI tool flags vague terms so you can demand specifics upfront.

3. Unrealistically Low Bids — Too Good to Be True? Usually Are

Low-ball bids often mean corners will be cut or costs will balloon later. This AI exposes these dangerously low estimates before you get stuck with change orders.

4. Pricing Inconsistencies — Comparing Apples to Oranges?

Quotes come in all formats with wildly different terminology. This advanced technology standardizes and compares them side-by-side, so you’re not left guessing.

5. Hidden Fees — The Black Box of Renovation Budgets

Permits, procurement, and labor fees sometimes get lumped in mysteriously. The AI reveals these “hidden” charges clearly in its summary report.

6. Overlapping or Duplicate Charges — Paying Twice Without Knowing It

Some bids unknowingly charge for the same work twice. The AI delivers a line-by-line analysis that spots these costly errors fast.

7. Unclear Project Timelines — When Delays Lead to Extra Costs

Vague or missing timelines can spiral into costly delays. While timelines aren’t priced, spotting missing info helps you demand accountability.

8. Missing Cleanup and Disposal — Don’t Get Stuck with the Mess

Quotes that don’t include cleanup leave you responsible for hauling debris and disposing of waste. This AI highlights these crucial omissions.

9. Discrepancies in Material Quality — Low-Quality Where You Expected Premium

One bid may specify high-end fixtures while another hides “allowances” that could mean anything. The AI tool flags these differences so you know exactly what you’re paying for.

10. Inconsistent Labor Charges — Watch for Inflated or Unexplained Fees

Labor costs vary widely, and some bids overcharge or include unnecessary markups. This user-friendly technology points out these red flags clearly.

“This is about more than just tech,” added Paul Dashevsky, Co-CEO of GreatBuildz. “It’s about empowering homeowners to feel confident and in control of their renovation projects—and helping contractors better serve their clients.”

Renovations don’t have to be a financial nightmare. As consumer-facing AI tools proliferate across industries, the BidCompareAI innovation demonstrates how artificial intelligence can bring real-world value by making complex, high-stakes decisions—like selecting the right contractor—faster, clearer and far less stressful. For the Silo, Marsha Zorn.