Biden calls out Musk over a published report that the Tesla CEO once worked in the US illegally

• October 28, 2024

NEW YORK (AP) — President Joe Biden slammed Elon Musk for hypocrisy on immigration after a published report that the Tesla CEO once worked illegally in the United States. The South Africa-born Musk denies the allegation.

“That wealthiest man in the world turned out to be an illegal worker here. No, I’m serious. He was supposed to be in school when he came on a student visa. He wasn’t in school. He was violating the law. And he’s talking about all these illegals coming our way?” Biden said while campaigning on Saturday in Pittsburgh at a union hall.

The Washington Post reported that Musk worked illegally in the country while on a student visa. The newspaper, citing company documents, former business associates and court documents, said Musk arrived in Palo Alto, California in 1995 for a graduate program at Stanford University “but never enrolled in courses, working instead on his startup. ”

Musk wrote on X in reply to a video post of Biden’s comments: “I was in fact allowed to work in the US.” Musk added, “The Biden puppet is lying.”

Investors in Musk’s company, Zip2, were concerned about the possibility of their founder being deported, according to the report, and gave him a deadline for obtaining a work visa. The newspaper also cited a 2005 email from Musk to his Tesla co-founders acknowledging that he did not have authorization to be in the U.S. when he started Zip2.

According to the account, that email was submitted as evidence in a now-closed California defamation lawsuit and said that Musk had applied to Stanford so he could stay in the country legally.

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Musk is today the world’s richest man. He has committed more than $70 million to help Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and other GOP candidates win on Nov. 5, and is one of the party’s biggest donors this campaign season. He has been headlining events in the White House race’s final stretch, often echoing Trump’s dark rhetoric against immigration.

Trump has pledged to give Musk a role in his administration if he wins next month.

There was no immediate response to messages left with X and Tesla seeking Musk’s comment.

​ Orange County Register 

Boeing, in need of cash, looks to raise up to $19 billion in stock offering

• October 28, 2024

By Michelle Chapman | The Associated Press

Boeing is looking to raise up to approximately $19 billion in a stock offering as the aerospace giant, which is dealing with a contentious strike, faces liquidity issues and tries to raise cash.

Boeing Co. said Monday that it will offer 90 million in common stock and $5 billion in depositary shares. The company’s stock closed at $155.01 on Friday,

The company said it plans to use the net proceeds for general corporate purposes, which may include repaying debt, additions to working capital, capital expenditures, and funding and investments in its subsidiaries.

Fitch Ratings said Monday that the offering supports debt repayment and increases financial flexibility, alleviating the risk of a downgrade. The agency said that it continues to evaluate Boeing’s ability to resolve its labor negotiations and regain operational momentum. It rates Boeing “BBB-,” the lowest investment-grade rating.

Last week, Boeing factory workers voted to reject the company’s latest contract offer and to continue a six-week strike that has halted production of its bestselling jetliners.

Local union leaders in Seattle said 64% of members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers who cast ballots voted against accepting the proposal.

The labor standoff comes during an already challenging year for Boeing, which became the focus of multiple federal investigations after a door panel blew off a 737 Max plane during an Alaska Airlines flight in January.

The strike has deprived the company of much-needed cash that it gets from delivering new planes to airlines. On Wednesday, the company reported a third-quarter loss of more than $6 billion. Boeing hasn’t had a profitable year since 2018, and Wednesday’s numbers represented the second-worst quarter in the manufacturer’s history.

The company burned nearly $2 billion in cash, in the quarter, weakening its balance sheet, which is loaded down with $58 billion in debt. Chief Financial Officer Brian West said the company will not generate positive cash flow until the second half of next year.

Shares of Boeing declined slightly in midday trading. They have lost 40% of their value in the year to date.

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​ Orange County Register 

Football blitz: OCVarsity’s reporters share their reactions, predictions, favorites to start Week 10

• October 28, 2024

It’s the start of Week 10 of the high school football season, a good time to take a quick look back at Week 9 and start getting ready for this week’s big games.

Who stood out last week? Who will win this week’s big game? Who is on the rise in the rankings?

The OCVarsity Blitz chased down reporters Steve Fryer, Dan Albano and Michael Huntley, who are the three voters in the weekly Orange County Top 25, and asked them to answer a rapid-fire series of questions Monday morning.

Here comes the Week 10 blitz …

Aaryn Washington #21 of Mater Dei celebrates with Nasir Wyatt #31 after he intercepted a pass and ran it back for a touchdown while playing St. John Bosco in the first half on Oct. 25, 2024 in Santa Anna CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer) note: Stadium lights flashed on and off making the photo low quality in the dark.

What’s your reaction to Mater Dei’s rout of St. John Bosco in Week 9?

Steve Fryer: The word I have used to describe Mater Dei and will continue to use is: inevitable. The score was 59-14 and it accurately described the gap between what some had as the Nos. 1 and 2 teams in the nation. That’s no knock on Bosco, which as usual played with spirit even when the score was very one-sided. Maybe there is some team in Florida or Texas that would give Mater Dei a better challenge? Mater Dei looks untouchable.

Dan Albano: Jolted. I was stunned to see the Monarchs leading 45-0 at halftime and invoke a running clock for the entire fourth quarter. I predicted Mater Dei would win big but didn’t see the score turning that lopsided. St. John Bosco is so well-coached, has plenty of athletes and a winning culture. But the experienced Monarchs played an A-level game and the inexperienced Braves struggled from the opening series.

Michael Huntley: I expected Mater Dei to be the better team but, seeing the score was jarring. Mater Dei’s defense is up there amongst the best I’ve ever seen at the high school level. Quarterback Dash Beierly has gotten better each week and is a candidate for Trinity League Offensive Player of the Year. St. John Bosco is still a great team, but very young and when something goes wrong in a game for young teams, things tend to spiral. This may be a rare year that we don’t see a Mater Dei vs. St. John Bosco CIF championship game.

Is there any advice you’d give a team that has to face Mater Dei in the playoffs?

Fryer: Remember that every team is beatable. Upsets will occur, which makes sports such high drama. That’s the philosophy part. The Xs and Os part? Rush the quarterback with all of your might. Mater Dei quarterback Dash Beierly has yet to throw an interception. That is so because he is very good and also because he is getting excellent pass protection and those receivers are supreme at getting open. Try to block punts. Big plays on special teams are not as pursued as much as they should be in high school football. Block a punt, get good field position off of that and get on the attack right away – a long pass after a turnover of any sort often works because the other team still is shook up and not yet focused.

Albano: Don’t judge yourself against the Monarchs, and try to protect your QB. Mater Dei looks untouchable right now, so opponents need to maintain their perspective about their success and keep their quarterback upright.

Huntley: Don’t make plans for the following Saturday morning because it will be time to turn in your pads. In all seriousness, try to drain the play clock down to zero between plays and keep Mater Dei’s offense off the field. You can’t turn the ball over and you have to play good red zone defense to hold Mater Dei to three points on a possession instead of seven.

Was there a winner in Week 9 that surprised or impressed you?

Fryer: Laguna Beach’s 35-32 win over Dana Hills. Laguna Beach lost by 20 points the week before to Aliso Niguel. That’s quite the rebound, coming back the next week to give Dana Hills its first loss.

Laguna Beach quarterback Jackson Kollock passed for three touchdowns and ran for a TD in a 35-32 victory over Dana Hills on Friday, Oct. 25. The Breakers earned a share of first place in the Foxtrot League. (Photo by Martin Henderson)

Albano: Los Alamitos definitely impressed. The Griffins snapped a three-game slide to edge an excellent San Clemente team in a critical spot. Los Alamitos was humbled by Gardena Serra a few weeks ago but got off the mat in Week 9. That’s not easy to do when the schedule has been tough each week.

Huntley: Capistrano Valley really impressed me with its win over El Modena. I knew Capo Valley would keep the game close because quarterback Tommy Acosta does not turn the ball over. Much of the credit should go to Capo Valley’s offensive line for leading the Cougars to 151 yards rushing with two touchdowns and giving Acosta time to let passing plays develop. I also was impressed with Foothill’s comeback win over El Dorado when the Knights were missing their starting quarterback.

Was there a player who stood out in Week 9?

Fryer: Maxwell Mapstone, junior linebacker at Portola. He was credited for 29 tackles in the Bulldogs’ 28-26 win over Buena Park in an Omicron League game. Was he the only Portola player on the field when the Bulldogs were on defense? Because 29 is a lot of tackles.

Albano: Dash Beierly. The Mater Dei QB continues to improve each week and is playing at an elite level. Yes, the senior has his pick of weapons but it’s first season playing a national schedule. It’s clear that Beierly has been working hard to raise his level of play.

Dash Beierly #9 of Mater Dei passes the ball while playing St. John Bosco in the second half on Oct. 25, 2024 in Santa Anna CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)

Huntley: Alex Kiernan of Trabuco Hills. Kiernan had 220 yards receiving with three touchdowns on offense and added three interceptions on defense in the Mustangs’ win over Cypress. Former All-County receiver Ryan Luce has battled injuries all season and Kiernan has taken the reins as the team’s top receiver.

This is the last week of the regular season. What are your favorite matchups this week?

Fryer: The Alpha League has two beauties on Friday. Los Alamitos, coming off of a tight win over San Clemente, plays at Mission Viejo. Edison is at San Clemente. Over in the Delta League, Capistrano Valley and Tustin are tied for first place with their 4-0 league records. Both are 8-1 overall. They play each other Friday at Tustin High. Brea Olinda is 9-0 overall and 4-0 in the Kappa League. Esperanza is 6-3 overall and 3-1 in league, and might have the goods required to beat Brea. I’ve seen Esperanza play. That offense is very good, with Travis Frazier at quarterback and Coen Ali and Edward Khutshivili at receiver. In the Omicron League on Thursday it’s Pacifica at Portola. Both are 4-0 in league.

Albano: Capistrano Valley-Tustin. The winner claims the outright Delta League title.

Huntley: The two games that will decide outright league champions are my favorite matchups this week. Capo Valley and Tustin play for the Delta League title Friday and Pacifica and Portola play for the Omicron League title Thursday. Beckman will play Marina and if Marina wins we could have a three-way tie for the Lambda League title. There is also an outside chance of a five-way tie for a league title in the Foxtrot League. Northwood vs. Dana Hills is the best matchup in that league this week.

Pacifica’s Jakob Davis (6) catches a pass in the second quarter but fumbles the ball with Northwood recovering it during a football game at Irvine High School in Irvine on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Playoff pairings come out Sunday. What’s the best thing about pairings day? And the worst thing?

Fryer: Because the composition of brackets is dictated by Calpreps.com ratings, there will not be as many matchup surprises as there used to be. But it’s still going to be fun to see who plays who in the first round. The worst thing is knowing that a very good team is not going to make the playoffs. A team that is a very good at-large candidate, a team that is deserving of a playoffs opportunity, might not get in. And that would be rough for those seniors, who worked so hard through spring and summer and fall, who have to accept that their final high school football season has come to an end.

Albano: It’s always exciting to see the matchups and how the county represents itself throughout so many divisions. It’s a challenge not knowing in advance how many teams will be in Division 1 but I understand why the section follows this plan. It’s always good to have options.

Huntley: The best thing is seeing teams that haven’t been to the playoffs in a long time posting videos to social media of the players being excited to see the brackets. This new league system in Orange County allows programs that have struggled recently in tough leagues to play teams of a similar caliber and have a chance to reach the playoffs.

The worst thing is when I look at the pairings and see a traditional power program that had an awful season get rewarded with playing in a lower playoff division. In recent years, there has always been a team that went 2-8 and sneaks into the playoffs in a much lower playoff division. That team ends up running the table to the championship game while beating up on much smaller schools. I enjoy the current playoff format, but that trend is something I would like to see change.

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​ Orange County Register 

Pasadena craftsman-style home with early 1900s elevator seeks $4.8 million

• October 28, 2024

A craftsman-style home in Pasadena, with an original, early 20th-century elevator, is on the market for $4.75 million.

Completed in 1912, the 5,007-square-foot residence has four bedrooms and six bathrooms between the main house and the separate guest house. It sits on a half-acre lot with a pool.

A century-old wisteria surrounds the grounds, which feature different types of gardens. There’s an expansive lawn area, a rose garden, a large wood-framed greenhouse and a variety of fruit trees.

Noted craftsman architect Frank M. Tyler designed the house, which now combines period craftsmanship and modern updates.

The 3,843-square-foot main house has a front porch. It opens into a foyer with a staircase and architectural details, including hardwood floors, crown moldings and intricate door surrounds that get repeated throughout the interior.

A fireplace anchors the living room, which connects to a cozy library. The kitchen has been remodeled and boasts subway tile backsplashes, stainless steel appliances and a large built-in banquet.

For formal meals, there’s a dining room.

The primary bedroom with an en suite bathroom upstairs includes a sitting area, a large walk-in closet and a front balcony.

There are two more bedrooms with en suite bathrooms. A den can also double as a bedroom.

The one-bedroom, 1,164-square-foot guest house has a bathroom, living room, dining room and kitchen. Downstairs, there’s a wine cellar and a bathroom.

A two-car garage completes the listing.

Ted Clark and Heather Lillard of Compass share the listing.

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​ Orange County Register 

Autonomous tech is coming to farming. What will it mean for crops and workers who harvest them?

• October 28, 2024

By MELINA WALLING, Associated Press and AYURELLA HORN-MULLER, Grist

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) — Jeremy Ford hates wasting water.

As a mist of rain sprinkled the fields around him in Homestead, Florida, Ford bemoaned how expensive it had been running a fossil fuel-powered irrigation system on his five-acre farm — and how bad it was for the planet.

Earlier this month, Ford installed an automated underground system that uses a solar-powered pump to periodically saturate the roots of his crops, saving “thousands of gallons of water.” Although they may be more costly up front, he sees such climate-friendly investments as a necessary expense — and more affordable than expanding his workforce of two.

It’s “much more efficient,” said Ford. “We’ve tried to figure out ‘How do we do it?’ with the least amount of adding labor.”

A growing number of companies are bringing automation to agriculture. It could ease the sector’s deepening labor shortage, help farmers manage costs, and protect workers from extreme heat. Automation could also improve yields by bringing greater accuracy to planting, harvesting, and farm management, potentially mitigating some of the challenges of growing food in an ever-warmer world.

But many small farmers and producers across the country aren’t convinced. Barriers to adoption go beyond steep price tags to questions about whether the tools can do the jobs nearly as well as the workers they’d replace. Some of those same workers wonder what this trend might mean for them, and whether machines will lead to exploitation.

How autonomous is farm automation? Not completely – yet

On some farms, driverless tractors churn through acres of corn, soybeans, lettuce and more. Such equipment is expensive, and requires mastering new tools, but row crops are fairly easy to automate. Harvesting small, non-uniform and easily damaged fruits like blackberries, or big citruses that take a bit of strength and dexterity to pull off a tree, would be much harder.

That doesn’t deter scientists like Xin Zhang, a biological and agricultural engineer at Mississippi State University. Working with a team at Georgia Institute of Technology, she wants to apply some of the automation techniques surgeons use, and the object recognition power of advanced cameras and computers, to create robotic berry-picking arms that can pluck the fruits without creating a sticky, purple mess.

The scientists have collaborated with farmers for field trials, but Zhang isn’t sure when the machine might be ready for consumers. Although robotic harvesting is not widespread, a smattering of products have hit the market, and can be seen working from Washington’s orchards to Florida’s produce farms.

“I feel like this is the future,” Zhang said.

But where she sees promise, others see problems.

Frank James, executive director of grassroots agriculture group Dakota Rural Action, grew up on a cattle and crop farm in northeastern South Dakota. His family once employed a handful of farmhands, but has had to cut back due, in part, to the lack of available labor. Much of the work is now done by his brother and sister-in-law, while his 80-year-old father occasionally pitches in.

They swear by tractor autosteer, an automated system that communicates with a satellite to help keep the machine on track. But it can’t identify the moisture levels in the fields which can hamstring tools or cause the tractor to get stuck, and requires human oversight to work as it should. The technology also complicates maintenance. For these reasons, he doubts automation will become the “absolute” future of farm work.

“You build a relationship with the land, with the animals, with the place that you’re producing it. And we’re moving away from that,” said James.

Some farmers say automation answers labor woes

Tim Bucher grew up on a farm in Northern California and has worked in agriculture since he was 16. Dealing with weather issues like drought has always been a fact of life for him, but climate change has brought new challenges as temperatures regularly hit triple digits and blankets of smoke ruin entire vineyards.

The toll of climate change compounded by labor challenges inspired him to combine his farming experience with his Silicon Valley engineering and startup background to found AgTonomy in 2021. It works with equipment manufacturers like Doosan Bobcat to make automated tractors and other tools.

Since pilot programs started in 2022, Bucher says the company has been “inundated” with customers, mainly vineyard and orchard growers in California and Washington.

Those who follow the sector say farmers, often skeptical of new technology, will consider automation if it will make their business more profitable and their lives easier. Will Brigham, a dairy and maple farmer in Vermont, sees such tools as solutions to the nation’s agricultural workforce shortage.

“A lot of farmers are struggling with labor,” he said, citing the “high competition” with jobs where “you don’t have to deal with weather.”

Since 2021, Brigham’s family farm has been using Farmblox, an AI-powered farm monitoring and management system that helps them get ahead of issues like leaks in tubing used in maple production. Six months ago, he joined the company as a senior sales engineer to help other farmers embrace technology like it.

Workers worry about losing jobs, or their rights, to automation

Detasseling corn used to be a rite of passage for some young people in the Midwest. Teenagers would wade through seas of corn removing tassels – the bit that looks like a yellow feather duster at the top of each stalk – to prevent unwanted pollination.

Extreme heat, drought and intense rainfall have made this labor-intensive task even harder. And it’s now more often done by migrant farmworkers who sometimes put in 20-hour days to keep up. That’s why Jason Cope, co-founder of farm tech company PowerPollen, thinks it’s essential to mechanize arduous tasks like detasseling. His team created a tool a tractor can use to collect the pollen from male plants without having to remove the tassel. It can then be saved for future crops.

“We can account for climate change by timing pollen perfectly as it’s delivered,” he said. “And it takes a lot of that labor that’s hard to come by out of the equation.”

Erik Nicholson, who previously worked as a farm labor organizer and now runs Semillero de Ideas, a nonprofit focused on farmworkers and technology, said he has heard from farm workers concerned about losing work to automation. Some have also expressed worry about the safety of working alongside autonomous machines but are hesitant to raise issues because they fear losing their jobs. He’d like to see the companies building these machines, and the farm owners using them, put people first.

Luis Jimenez, a New York dairy worker, agrees. He described one farm using technology to monitor cows for sicknesses. Those kinds of tools can sometimes identify infections sooner than a dairy worker or veterinarian.

They also help workers know how the cows are doing, Jimenez said, speaking in Spanish. But they can reduce the number of people needed on farms and put extra pressure on the workers who remain, he said. That pressure is heightened by increasingly automated technology like video cameras used to monitor workers’ productivity.

Automation can be “a tactic, like a strategy, for bosses, so people are afraid and won’t demand their rights,” said Jimenez, who advocates for immigrant farmworkers with the grassroots organization Alianza Agrícola. Robots, after all, “are machines that don’t ask for anything,” he added. “We don’t want to be replaced by machines.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story is a collaboration between The Associated Press and Grist.

Associated Press reporters Amy Taxin in Santa Ana, California, and Dorany Pineda in Los Angeles contributed. Walling reported from Chicago.

Follow Melina Walling on X at @MelinaWalling.

​ Orange County Register 

High school football: Orange County schedule for Week 10, Oct. 31-Nov. 1

• October 28, 2024

This week’s schedule for the Orange County high school football teams.

FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

THURSDAY

Delta League

Cypress at El Modena

Trabuco Hills at Western

Epsilon League

El Dorado at Huntington Beach

Iota League

Santa Ana vs. Canyon at Santa Ana Stadium

Sonora vs. Irvine at La Habra

Omicron League

Portola vs. Pacifica at Bolsa Grande

Tango League

Loara vs. Costa Mesa at Glover Stadium, 6:30 p.m.

Santiago vs. Bolsa Grande at Garden Grove HS

FRIDAY

Alpha League

Edison at San Clemente

Los Alamitos at Mission Viejo

Bravo League

Corona del Mar vs. Yorba Linda at Newport Harbor HS

Newport Harbor vs. Villa Park at El Modena HS

San Juan Hills at Tesoro

Delta League

Capistrano Valley at Tustin

Epsilon League

Foothill at La Habra

Laguna Hills at Crean Lutheran

Foxtrot League

Fountain Valley vs. Aliso Niguel at Huntington Beach HS

Northwood at Dana Hills

Orange at Laguna Beach

Iota League

Troy at El Toro

Ironwood League

Capistrano Valley Christian at Heritage Christian

Kappa League

Esperanza at Brea Olinda

Segerstrom at Garden Grove

Westminster at St. Margaret’s

Lambda League

Beckman vs. Marina at Westminster HS

Fullerton at Valencia

Sunny Hills vs. Kennedy at Western HS

Mesquite League

Whittier Christian vs. Maranatha at Whittier College

Omicron League

Katella vs. University at Glover Stadium

Woodbridge at Buena Park

Sigma League

Calvary Chapel vs. Los Amigos at Segerstrom HS

Rancho Alamitos at Ocean View

Santa Ana Valley at Estancia

Tango League

La Quinta vs. Anaheim at Bolsa Grande HS

Trinity League

JSerra at St. John Bosco

Orange Lutheran vs. Mater Dei at Santa Ana Stadium

Santa Margarita vs. Servite at Trabuco Hills HS

Zeta League

Godinez vs. Century at Valley

Magnolia at Saddleback

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​ Orange County Register 

What is the best adjustable bed base?

• October 28, 2024

How to choose the best adjustable bed base

Sleeping well throughout the night allows you to feel well-rested and healthy for the day to come, and that starts with the proper bed. However, your sleeping position can affect your sleep quality, especially if you don’t have the right mattress. Moreover, muscle aches and congestion can also lead to a poor night’s sleep.

Adjustable bed bases work to alleviate these issues. They help you obtain a comfortable position for sleeping that lessens strain on your joints and muscles and improves your breathing. Our buying guide can help you find the right adjustable bed base to give you a deeper sleep. At the end, you’ll find our recommendations, including our top pick from Lucid, which is simple to set up and adjust to your needs.

What to know before you buy an adjustable bed base

How an adjustable bed base works

Adjustable bed bases operate on a mechanism that inclines and declines based on the user’s needs. They allow for at least a few positions, but more advanced models provide more variations. There’s often an incline for both the head and shoulders and the feet.

Benefits

Adjustable beds are therapeutic, helping to prevent and alleviate several issues:

Breathing: The slightly inclined position helps to keep a clear passageway through your mouth and nose to the lungs, lessening or eliminating snoring. This also helps those suffering from sleep apnea as well as older individuals, whose throat muscles are typically more relaxed when they sleep, which increases the likelihood of snoring.
Blood flow: An adjustable bed can help with blood flow, alleviating high blood pressure and acid reflux. By elevating your legs and head, circulation can improve.
Personalized comfort: While mattresses allow you to find the balance of support and softness you desire, you’re still sleeping on a relatively flat surface. This position simply isn’t comfortable for some individuals, and an adjustable bed allows you to fall asleep in the position of your choice.

Lifting capacity

Most beds feature a generous weight capacity, anywhere from 300 to 800 pounds. In most cases, you don’t need to worry about this allowance, but if the bed is for two people, you may want to double-check the capacity. Excess weight can stress and potentially damage the lifting mechanism.

What to look for in a quality adjustable bed base

Incline

While all adjustable bed bases incline, the degree to which they do can vary. Head inclines generally reach at least 60 degrees, but some brands offer a sharper increase at a 70- or 75-degree angle. Concerning the foot incline, they may range from 30 to 55 degrees.

Retention bars

Adjustable bed bases boast retention bars so the mattress doesn’t slip off the bed when on an incline. How many retention bars and where they are positioned varies. While most feature them at the head and feet, some may also have bars on the side to prevent the mattress from moving laterally, allowing increased security.

Massage

More advanced adjustable bed models include a worthwhile massage feature. These beds may pulsate and vibrate, providing a comfortable and soothing massage. Sometimes, the bed massages the shoulders, head, legs and feet.

Remote control

Adjustable bed bases are controlled by a remote; newer models feature a wireless option for added convenience. They should include memory settings for various positions and timers that cater to your needs as you fall asleep.

How much you can expect to spend on an adjustable bed base

Quality adjustable bed bases typically cost anywhere from $300 to $800. These have a generous weight capacity and typically include massage features and a programmable remote.

Adjustable bed base FAQ

What mattress do I need for my adjustable bed base?

A. Innerspring mattresses are incompatible with adjustable bed bases as they do not fold appropriately. As such, a memory foam mattress is necessary. These vary in softness, support, and breathability, allowing you to find the right mattress. Note that some adjustable bed bases have a limit on how thick the mattress can be.

What size adjustable bed bases are available?

A. Adjustable bed bases are available in various sizes, from twin to California king. Just as if you were purchasing a traditional bed, consider the space available, your size and sleeping habits, and whether you’ll be sharing the bed with another person. Note that prices increase for both the bed and the mattress.

What’s the best adjustable bed base to buy?

Top adjustable bed base

Fashion Bed Group S-Cape 2.0 Adjustable Bed Base

What you need to know: This high-end adjustable bed base blends comfort and style with its impressive features.

What you’ll love: It has a generous weight capacity and a powerful motor. It includes full body massage, a backlit wireless remote, an under-bed light and programmable settings.

What you should consider: It’s heavy and expensive.

Top adjustable bed base for the money

Classic Brands Comfort Upholstered Adjustable Bed Base

What you need to know: This versatile, budget-friendly option has high-end features and convenient perks.

What you’ll love: It allows for steep inclines for both the head and feet. Includes massage options, a wireless remote and a USB port.

What you should consider: The massage feature and motor are relatively weak.

Worth checking out

Lucid L300 Adjustable Bed Base

What you need to know: This comprehensive, adjustable bed caters easily to users of all needs for healthy sleep.

What you’ll love: It features independent head and foot inclines and includes a USB charger port and wireless remote for presets. It’s also easy to assemble.

What you should consider: It’s a little pricey. Some people also had concerns about its durability.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales.

BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

​ Orange County Register 

The best wine totes for safe, easy carrying

• October 28, 2024

What are the best wine totes?

Something as fragile as a bottle of wine should not be carried in any old paper sack. Wine totes provide safe and convenient transport for your wine bottles while also keeping them at the desired temperature.

When purchasing a wine tote, it is important to consider insulation, capacity and material. If you are looking for a temperature-controlled wine tote with a sleek design, the OPUX Insulated Wine Carrier is the top choice.

What to know before you buy a wine tote

Size

Wine totes will hold anywhere from one to six bottles of wine. Midsize wine totes will carry two to four bottles and will secure them with elastic straps or dividers.

Design

Wine tote designs can range from casual to elegant. Typically you cannot see through wine totes, as most are designed to hide the contents. A few wine totes are designed so that you can also store food with them at the correct temperature.

Material

Most wine totes are made of canvas and polyester, while some expensive models are made of leather. Wine totes with sturdier bases are able to stand up on their own, while others will need to lean against another object for support.

Insulation

If you’re simply looking to transport wine safely from the store to your home, then don’t be too concerned about insulation. But if you plan to take your wine on a day trip or to an event, added insulation will ensure that the wine will remain at its proper temperature when you arrive at your destination. Insulation is also a useful feature if you plan to carry food in your wine tote.

What to look for in a quality wine tote

Compartments

Wine totes that are well insulated and also allow for food storage will feature multiple compartments. These are typically made with mesh fabric so you can see what you have packed more clearly. Generally, these compartments will feature button or Velcro closures.

Straps

Wine totes will feature handles, shoulder straps or both. In most cases, shoulder straps are adjustable for length.

How much you can expect to spend on a wine tote

Simple one- or two-bottle wine totes cost $15-$20. For a larger-capacity tote with accessories, expect to spend between $20-$30, while higher-end totes will range from $35-$100.

Wine tote FAQ

Which types of wine do I need to chill?

A. Most wines should be served at least slightly chilled. Recommendations vary about ideal serving temperatures, but generally, champagnes and light wines should be the coldest, at about 45 degrees Fahrenheit; full-bodied whites and rosé are best enjoyed between 45 and 55 degrees, while lighter reds should be only a bit cool. Bold red wine does not need to be chilled and is best served just below room temperature.

What happens if my wine gets too hot?

A. Storing wine above 90 degrees for a prolonged period will cause substantial damage, and the wine will lose its intended taste. After many hours at this temperature, the wine will lose its brightness, turn brown, and its sulfur dioxide levels will fall.

What’s the best wine tote to buy?

Top wine tote for the money

OPUX Insulated Wine Carrier

What you need to know: This wine carrier comes with a corkscrew bottle opener and features padded lining for efficient temperature control.

What you’ll love: This tote features an adjustable and detachable shoulder strap along with padded hand straps. Its interior flap ensures that the wine bottles will fit regardless of size and offers padded divider protection.

What you should consider: This product is not waterproof and has been known to leak.

Worth checking out

Picnic at Ascot Travel 2 Bottle Wine Tote

What you need to know: This wine tote features a top zip closure for added security.

What you’ll love: This product comes with a corkscrew and features an adjustable shoulder strap.

What you should consider: If carrying two bottles of wine, there is no room to pack food or other items.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

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​ Orange County Register