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Articles by Ben Stein
Living in Fear Not what I would have chosen.
I have reached full-scale terror. I get fearful when heavy rain falls here in our glorious Los Angeles. I am scared when there is thunder. Above all, I get fearful when I have a low balance in my bank account. I get terrorized when I read about the real estate “correction” here in my beloved Los Angeles. I am trying to access an American Express Line of Credit. I have had, and used frequently, American Express.
Inflation Can Be Stopped Even in the age of AI.
There is a magical mystery myth prevailing in our great United States of America. That myth says that once inflation starts, it cannot be stopped except by gunfire or some other draconian means. This is haunting the nation even as the inflation that started about a year ago gathers momentum and scares us all to death. But it is a myth.
Threatened by Fire Could it happened again in Malibu?
Friday A scary day here in Southern California: A raging brushfire in the general area of Malibu is hurtling towards our home in Trancas, a charming area where my wife and I plan to spend our golden years. Our house overlooks the Pacific and is a glorious place to watch sea birds, immense waves, yachts right out of magazines for rich people, and to feel powerful winds coming all the way from Canada.
Getting Technical: Semi, Quasi, Full
Across nearly all industries that utilize batteries for energy storage, we have been hearing about technology advancements that might unlock huge improvements in the volume and weight of energy stored. In an electric car, that means longer range. For industrial equipment, it means more hours of work before charging. In a boat, that means more time away from shore without running engines or generators.
The Death of a Young Friend How can he be gone?
It’s a perfect, cloudless day here. The temperature is 78. Mild by recent standards. I was awake most of the night with intestinal problems. This is not at all unusual for me. As I have written lately, I used to have excellent meds for cruel pain. Then the Bolsheviks in D.C. and in Sacramento changed the laws. Without any meaningful data that told us that Paregoric was going to kill us, the government put out a big red Verboten sign on Paregoric.
See all essential data on a sleek, high-resolution color display with the intuitive GMI 40 from Garmin
OLATHE, Kan./Sept. 1, 2026/PR Newswire – Garmin (NYSE: GRMN), the world’s largest and most innovative marine electronics manufacturer, today unveiled the GMI 40 multipurpose marine instrument that displays live boating insights in an easy-to-read format. Boasting a modern, streamlined design that complements Garmin GPSMAP chartplotters, the device has an intuitive touchscreen interface with edge-to-edge glass on a 4.3-inch, high-resolution, color LCD display.
When Paradise Overheats Malibu offers an escape. Plus: Goose-steppers from the east.
Super hot. These are the most painful climatic conditions I have encountered since moving to Los Angeles in 1976. Each day this week has been brutally humid and hot. Really, really bad. But because I grew up in Washington, D.C. and Silver Spring, Maryland, I am accustomed to heat and humidity. One of the many small jobs I had on Harvey Road was washing cars, and another was mowing grass. They were brutal in Washington, D.C., and Silver Spring summers. So, I am bearing up in the heat.
Generator-Free Power
Each of the last few years, the Palm Beach International Boat Show has gained momentum and prominence. This year that momentum continued with several new product announcements. The CayCube from Cay Electronics made its Florida debut after an appearance at the Newport show and caught my eye. This self-contained AC and DC power system offers numerous integration options and helps solve numerous problems for boaters, boatyards, and service providers.
My Life in Pain After the Government Took My Drug Restrictions on an old opium-based medicine have deprived chronic pain sufferers of an effective treatment.
It is the end of July 2026. I have been in excruciating pain since about midnight last night. Or, I might say, I have been in acute pain since about late evening of late July 1950. That’s right. Late July of 1950. My pain, always in the abdomen, has been running riot since about the beginning of the Korean War. The pain has been serious to the point that I have to bend over while sitting on the toilet. Somehow, the pressure against my spine cuts off the impulses of pain through my body.
What Counts Most A few thoughts at this point in life. Plus a meeting with my psychoanalyst.
As I contemplate the end of my life, which has to come sooner or later, I try to share with my friends the smartest, most useful thoughts that have come my way in the past 81 years. One of the best is this simple thought: don’t fight over small things with those you love. And in that category would be lovers, close friends, parents, children, and, in particular, those to whom you are married, or those whose children you are raising.
My Exemplary Father A Father’s Day reflection on Herbert Stein, memory, and the quiet shaping of a son’s life.
Sometimes I try to imagine what it would be like to have a father who did not want to be a father. When I do, I try to imagine a father totally unlike my father, Herbert Stein. May I give you a few examples? I recall in 1953 and 1954 sitting on dark green couches in our “recreation room” in front of a roaring fireplace watching hour after hour of Victory at Sea.
A Bueller, Bueller Anniversary Forty years ago today “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” was released — changing Ben Stein’s life forever. Here Ben recalls how it came about.
Roughly 41 years ago, my dear friend, Michael Chinich, a kindred spirit if there ever was one, a man whom I used to visit in “The Black Tower,” the executive offices of Universal, asked me if I would do him a little favor. Michael was casting and producing a youth comedy for a close friend of his, John Hughes, a gigantically successful writer and producer of youth comedies. Michael and John and I had been having intense conversations about political issues in Michael’s office at Universal.
War on Old People On my worst digestive days, Paregoric would bring relief.
For almost all of my life, I have suffered from colitis. This is what you think it is: gut pain accompanied by constipation and diarrhea. This problem hit me in class, on long car trips, and most especially when I was being yelled at by my mother. It hit its worst in the summer of 1966. Anxiety about entering Yale Law School. A struggle by yours truly about girlfriends. I had two choices, both fabulously great women. An acute shortage of money.
Savvy Navvy launches waves feature empowering boaters to plan safer and more comfortable journeys
April 9, 2026 – Savvy Navvy is continuing to bring boaters all they need in one place – wind, weather, tides and now waves, allowing boaters worldwide to easily assess sea conditions before heading out on the water. The waves feature includes a clear, colour-coded overlay showing comfort factors based on official data from Copernicus Marine Service, designed for simpler and safer planning. “Our waves layer combines wave height, period and direction to provide a more complete view of sea state.
Smarter Boat Systems
If you find yourself reading this column with some regularity, this isn’t the first time you’ve read my thoughts and reports on the state of autonomy and assistance products in the marine industry. This month, as we focus on integrated systems, an update on autonomy and assistance feels appropriate.
Thank You, Dear God, for Donald Trump We used to not get along. But once in love with America …
A few days ago, I was jolted by the radio news that Israel, the USA, and Iran were entering a two-week period of a cease-fire to discuss a lasting end to the Israel/USA/Iran war. The effort was led by Red China, Pakistan, and perhaps other nations as well. (RELATED: It May Not Be a Ceasefire. It Might Be a Strategic Pause.) The terms, so far as are known, would have the USA and Israel ceasing to attack Iran.
Boatbuilders Keeping Pace With Automakers
The automotive sector drives expectations in recreational boating. Boat designers, builders and components manufacturers carry the burden of meeting those consumer expectations despite significant departures between the two industries and the products they develop. This year, as I walked around the Miami International Boat Show, I was struck by the numerous ways in which the recreational marine industry is meeting those expectations, despite the inherent challenges.
5 Weirdly Nonstandard Things About the Metric System
BIPM/NIST The modern metric system — known as the International System of Units, or SI — is a model of consistency and logic. But in some cases, the logic seems to break down. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of these quirks and why they (mostly!) make sense at the end of the day (or about 86,400 seconds, as we sometimes like to say at NIST). 1. Why is the kilogram (a thousand grams) a basic unit of measurement instead of just the gram?
Please, Mr. Trump: Don't Send Our Boys To Die
Please, Mr. Trump: Don't Send Our Boys To Die
Raymarine unveils Axiom 2 chartplotter and next-generation LightHouse Charts
Axiom 2 group photo Hudson, NH: Raymarine – global leader in high-performance marine electronics for the recreational boating, marine first-responder and law-enforcement markets – announced today Axiom 2, the next evolution of its award‑winning Axiom chartplotter series. Designed for sailors, anglers, cruisers, and motor‑yacht owners, Axiom 2 combines faster performance with Raymarine’s signature durability and ease of use.
As part of a well-engineered system, lithium batteries can replace generators and make life on a boat seamless with or without shore power. But, they aren’t perfect. The battery industry continues to research improvements and alternative chemistries. Here’s an overview of those new technologies and how they might affect the boatbuilding industry. The lion’s share of battery development focuses on the electric vehicle market, and on improving range as well as the time it takes to charge the car.
Learning From Jesse Jackson
Learning From Jesse Jackson Ben Stein , The American Spectator February 19, 2026 This morning, February 17, I awakened to hear on my radio that Jesse Jackson had died. I have known Mr. Jackson as a colleague and close friend for 40 years. I worked with him since 1984 to help him as the “ghostwriter” of his autobiography. Read Full Article ⟶
We’re All Boat Awards Winners
Each year, I look forward to late summer changing into fall. Not because of a shift in weather or because school starts again for the kids. No, for me the excitement comes from boat show and awards season. This year, I helped judge the National Marine Electronics Association’s awards. I also chaired the National Marine Manufacturers Association’s Innovation Awards at IBEX, and I served on the jury of the DAME Design Awards at Metstrade.
Amazon pays $2.5 Billion to Settle FTC Claim over Prime Subscriptions — InfoLawGroup LLP
Background: On September 25th, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) obtained a hefty $2.5 billion dollar settlement against Amazon and certain individually named Amazon executives. The FTC originally filed its complaint against Amazon in June 2023, arguing that it violated the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (“ROSCA”) and FTC Act by using tactics to manipulate consumers into enrolling in Prime memberships and then knowingly making it difficult for consumers to cancel their subscriptions.
On-Board Cybersecurity: Zero Trust
There is an unavoidable pattern in new technology: First we get the benefits, followed by the side effects and unintended consequences. Those side effects cover the gamut, but if the new technology is connected, one concern is sure to be security. And prudence dictates we get out in front of those concerns. Whenever technology is connected, it’s possible that more than just the intended users will take advantage of its capabilities. I’ve heard some novel takes on exploiting connectivity.
A Steady Climb to Leveling the Ride
Not so long ago, a traditional trim tab was just about the only thing we put on the stern of a boat to improve the ride on and through the water. Generally speaking, boats had two tabs: port and starboard. Manually controlled trim tabs helped a boat get on plane and then level out the ride. Pretty simple, right? Today, the world of stern-mounted devices to help a boat run through the water is complex. In fact, there isn’t even a good term to describe all these devices.
Getting It Together
When new classes of technology are introduced to the marine marketplace, they tend to focus on core functionality. Niceties like integrating with the rest of the boat’s control systems are not a priority. Hence, new technology and systems are frequently introduced with dedicated control systems. One result is that helms and control panels are littered with disparate controls, making real estate at the helm a hot commodity.
Are Tablets the Future of Marine Navigation? Pros, Cons & What’s Next Trawler Lifestyle
App developers have been working to deliver a chartplotter experience on tablets ever since Apple introduced the iPad in January 2010. It’s still debatable whether tablets are suitable as full replacements for installed marine navigation equipment, but some developments in the field make that debate livelier. For starters, today’s navigation apps are impressively robust with complete feature sets.
Prudent Parameters
Boats and recreational vehicles share many similarities, especially when we look at boats with living accommodations. Both must have self-contained electrical systems, water and waste systems, cooking facilities and other comforts of home. However, there are notable differences in how these systems are constructed and delivered to the consumer, including in their electrical installations.
Current Thinking
If you’ve been around boats long enough, you probably know that certain metals provide important protection. For example, the copper in bottom paint is highly effective at preventing growth, while anodes made of zinc, aluminum and magnesium protect other metals below the waterline. During the past several decades, we have gained a greater awareness of the potential harm these metals can cause, starting with copper in bottom paints.
Correction and update on federal funding freeze
By Ben Stein Policy Matters Ohio • CORRECTION: Policy Matters Ohio's Jan. 28 statement headlined “Federal freeze could disrupt Ohio budget process, jeopardize critical programs” incorrectly stated the share of Ohio’s Department of Children and Youth’s budget that comes from the federal government. The nearly $3 billion in federal funding makes up 64% of DCY’s budget.
Federal freeze could disrupt Ohio budget process, jeopardize critical programs; Ohio lawmakers should protect Ohioans and demand clarity from administration | The Highland County Press
By Ben Stein Policy Matters Ohio Yesterday, President Trump issued a memo directing agency heads to freeze federal grants pending a spending review to ensure compliance with the slate of executive orders he signed during his first week in office. According to the memo, the mandated freeze applies to the issuance of new grant and assistance awards, disbursement of funds on open awards, and other agency actions that may be implicated by the executive orders to the extent permissive by law. By Feb.
From Here to Eternity
It’s horrible but true. Two days ago I was 80 years old. That’s OLD and the next step is eternity. I will write more about this in the near future but for now, just a few thoughts: First, I am grateful beyond words to be married to my wifey, Alexandra Denman. We have been together since 1968 as man and wife. We’ve had quarrels but the end result is that we are together. She is a saint of forgiveness, kindness, beauty, intelligence, and love of country.
A Dash of Wisdom
Want to know how old a boat is? Take a look at the helm design and equipment. A dash full of analog gauges, switches and small, monochrome displays telegraphs an older boat. A sleek dash with little more than a few large screens indicates a more recently built boat. Boat helms largely reflect broader trends, especially from the automotive sector. But do these trends reflect the desire of boaters and help us all be better out on the water?
Installing a Seakeeper Ride
The Seakeeper Effect Electronics Editor Ben Stein installs both a Seakeeper gyro and the new Seakeeper Ride on a 22-footer for the ultimate test. Seakeeper made their name with their gyro’s ability to stop a boat from rolling. A short sea trial has made countless believers in their technology. For several years, Seakeeper’s name has been synonymous with gyros and only gyros.
Top-Tier Technologies
Innovation in the past five years or so has been a little bit lumpy. The impacts of a global pandemic, followed by severe supply-chain shortages, slowed the pace of product introductions and advancements. Even so, three major innovations are hitting the marine marketplace with a big splash. Each one is changing the way boaters use their boats, and leaving a lasting imprint on the industry.
Will Artificial Intelligence Take the Joy Out of Boating?
It has been more than five years since Raymarine and Mercury first demonstrated their docking-assistance technology. It’s also been almost two years since Avikus took a group of marine journalists out at the Fort Lauderdale boat show to show off its full autonomy capabilities. I was impressed with both systems’ capabilities, but I was also left with a lot of questions. The answers to some of those questions might finally be coming into focus.
The Lithium Lowdown
As part of a well-engineered system, lithium batteries can replace generators and make life on a boat seamless with or without shore power. But, they aren’t perfect. The battery industry continues to research improvements and alternative chemistries. Here’s an overview of those new technologies and how they might affect the boatbuilding industry. The lion’s share of battery development focuses on the electric vehicle market, and on improving range as well as the time it takes to charge the car.
We Need to Tell Them ‘Clothes Make the Man’
Long ago and far away, when I was a student at Columbia, we boys wore Oxford cloth shirts, silk ties, and we shaved, washed our hair, and showed up in class with our teeth brushed and our breath fresh and clean. The ONLY place I see decent clothes now is on the bodies of the young, hip, and black. We looked like mensches. Now, students look like homeless. They are an embarrassment to the school and to themselves.
Plotting a Course Forward
Accurate, up-to-date charts are the lifeblood of navigation. The best chart plotter in the world isn’t much use without quality cartography, so it’s no surprise that as charting companies are acquired or merge with competitors, other companies sometimes take drastic measures to ensure access to charts for the navigation equipment and software they produce. The marine electronics industry is full of tangled relationships in which competitors are also suppliers and customers.
Clarity of Purpose
It has been more than five years since Raymarine and Mercury first demonstrated their docking-assistance technology. It’s also been almost two years since Avikus took a group of marine journalists out at the Fort Lauderdale boat show to show off its full autonomy capabilities. I was impressed with both systems’ capabilities, but I was also left with a lot of questions. The answers to some of those questions might finally be coming into focus.
Inflation, Houses, and You
It has long been a big part of the American Dream to own your own home, whether a single-family bungalow or a condo or a co-op. That has become even more urgent since inflation became the bugaboo of our lives and drove home prices into the stratosphere in many parts of the USA (especially here in California where I am sitting right now). Economics is ‚ÄĒ or should be ‚ÄĒ about making yourself as happy as possible within your limited means. But why? Why do we all love property?
Squatters in Northern Malibu
Unlike most of the dramas you see on TV these days, this was not written in a “writers’ room” at a studio in Hollywood or Burbank. This was written down somewhere in the United States of America. About two months ago, I got a call from my very small bank in West Hollywood. It’s a tiny bank and I was literally their first customer when they opened in late 1978 or early 1979.
The Doctor Who Was a God in My Life
In July 1976, a few days after I moved to Los Angeles, I was rear-ended while I was stationary on Sunset at the corner of Sunset and Crescent Heights. My best friends on earth, Al and Sally Burton, recommended that I go to a lawyer named Fox and he sent me to a doctor named “Clay” Levine, MD. He was a fine doctor and we were together for about 10 years. Then he retired and I got a new doctor named William Skinner, MD. He was a brilliant, kindly, patient man.
The Lithium Lowdown
As part of a well-engineered system, lithium batteries can replace generators and make life on a boat seamless with or without shore power. But they aren’t perfect. The battery industry continues to research improvements and alternative chemistries. Here’s an overview of those new technologies and how they might affect the boatbuilding industry. The lion’s share of battery development focuses on the electric vehicle market and on improving range, as well as the time it takes to charge the car.
Are We Seeing a Tablet Takeover?
App developers have been working to deliver a chart-plotter experience on tablets ever since Apple introduced the iPad in January 2010. It’s still debatable whether tablets are suitable as full replacements for installed navigation equipment, but some developments in the field make that debate livelier. For starters, today’s navigation apps are impressively robust with complete feature sets.
Standard Upgrade
NMEA OneNet is the National Marine Electronics Association’s most recent standard, one of only three major electronics standards the organization has released in the past 40-plus years. First came NMEA 0183 in 1983, then NMEA 2000 in 2001, and now OneNet. The previous standards stood the test of time. In fact, despite being 41 years old, NMEA 0183 continues to be built into many electronics and remains the preferred standard for many light commercial vessels.
Decarbonization in recreational marine
At the recent Miami International Boat Show, I saw an overarching theme. In years past, just about the only discussion of environmental sustainability came from electrification. This year, the focus shifted — to something that is, at best, unclear. I chair this show’s Innovation Awards, which are presented by the National Marine Manufacturers Association. Year after year, we see new electric propulsion products that come with the implicit and explicit claim of greater sustainability.
The Tech Future is Muddled
Will this be the year of autonomy? Will it be the year of electrification? Maybe the year of hydrogen? Or since it’s so popular everywhere else, the year of AI? Sadly, I’m not sure I can make a bold prediction about the biggest trend to come. But I can tell you about the trends that have emerged recently, and about what I think we might learn about them next. Autonomy Mention autonomous boating, and you just might evoke passionate feelings.
Garmin’s GPSMap 9000 multifunction display
Garmin recently introduced the GPSMap 9000 series of multifunction devices with the industry’s first 4K display. The 9000s represent a logical step forward from GPSMap 8000 products, with faster processors, higher-resolution displays and larger sizes — and provide valuable insights into trends throughout this marine-electronics category. First, let’s talk about product life cycles. Until recently, one of the biggest complaints among boaters has been how quickly products become obsolete.
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