We were absolutely not interested in the camel rides at the pyramids. They were skinny, filthy, pathetic animals, with hindquarters and tails dark-stained with diahhrea and dirt. The horses pulling the carts were in similar if not worse shape. They are all roughly treated by the handlers who take pains to not do this in... Continue Reading →
Japan, November 2024 (part 1)
(Note: in the interest of time, I'm posting this with missing pictures which I will update shortly.) For Mr A, this trip was the nexus of several pent up needs, namely a) COVID REVENGE, b) Yen exchange rate arbitrage (low-ish at 0.64USD per 100Yen), c) a long awaited return to Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea,... Continue Reading →
California Insurance Crisis, continued
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2025-01-08/california-wildfires-expose-a-458-billion-hole-in-home-insurance "The glut of homes in increasingly fire-prone places has created an insurance crisis in California, with many big insurers pulling out of the state to avoid more losses. Nearly 500,000 Californians have turned to the state’s insurer of last resort, the FAIR Plan, which has doubled in size over the past five years. The state is now... Continue Reading →
Tv shows 2024
https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20240612-10-best-tv-shows-of-2024-so-far Been reading more international journalism lately and have been enjoying the BBC, if not only for the fact that the British have cornered the market on what it means to be adult. Reserved, responsible, long suffering. And in that vein I find British TV to be quite intelligent. I've reproduced their list below which... Continue Reading →
Forbes Trip & Travel insurance recommendations
Here is a direct link to the site to compare travel insurance providers. We have used these providers at least 5 times now and the policies have the high limits that Forbes recommends for medical treatment (primary meaning you file with them first) (250k+) and medical evacuation (250k - 500k). Browse any cruise group for... Continue Reading →
Investment citizenship, 2024 version
https://www.cnbc.com/2024/11/01/wealthy-americans-plans-leaving-united-states.html "For now, Malta remains the go-to second passport for the American rich. While expensive, at about $1 million to $1.2 million all-in, Malta’s investment citizenship program offers citizenship and unrestricted travel and residency in Malta and by extension the European Union, according to immigration attorneys. The EU has been challenging the Malta program in... Continue Reading →
These Two Rape Cases Are a Lot Closer to Home Than We Like to Admit (NYT)
These Two Rape Cases Are a Lot Closer to Home Than We Like to Admit https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/22/opinion/sean-combs-dominique-pelicot.html?unlocked_article_code=1.M04.Yex4.dHDtG3Xch1Il"But viewing women as subhuman and inferior is not just tolerated in much of American culture; it’s an integral part of it, as evidenced by double standards in the workplace, the oversexualization of women who are public figures, and the... Continue Reading →
Insurance: Nowhere to spread the risk, part II
The tsunami is rising in CA. Our rates have tripled and the coverage hollowed out; the list of removed line items from our policy was a document 100's of pages long. As Insurers Around the U.S. Bleed Cash From Climate Shocks, Homeowners Lose https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/05/13/climate/insurance-homes-climate-change-weather.html "In 2023, insurers lost money on homeowners coverage in 18 states,... Continue Reading →
Alarming Ocean Temperatures (NYT)
Hurricane Season Could Have More Than Two Dozen Storms, NOAA Says https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/23/weather/noaa-atlantic-hurricane-forecast-prediction.html?smid=nytcore-android-share ‘Alarming’ Ocean Temperatures Suggest This Hurricane Season Will Be a Daunting One https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/04/climate/ocean-temperature-hurricane-forecast.html?smid=nytcore-android-share
We’re Thinking About Obesity All Wrong (NYT)
A Year on Ozempic Taught Me We’re Thinking About Obesity All Wrong https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/07/opinion/ozempic-weight-loss-drugs.html "Drugs like Ozempic work precisely by making us feel full. Carel le Roux, a scientist whose research was important to the development of these drugs, says they boost what he and others once called “satiety hormones.”Once you understand this context, it becomes... Continue Reading →
A Message to the Ag Industry about H5N1: Bovine Veterinarian
https://www.bovinevetonline.com/news/industry/message-ag-industry-about-h5n1 "On April 23, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported it had detected “viral particles of H5N1 avian influenza” in pasteurized milk available for purchase at grocery stores. Russo is quick to point out this doesn’t mean the actual virus is in milk. Rather, it’s the genetic material known as RNA. “I think... Continue Reading →
Giant Batteries Are Transforming the Way the U.S. Uses Electricity: NYT
"Those batteries play a pivotal role in California’s electric grid, partially replacing fossil fuels in the evening. Between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. on April 30, for example, batteries supplied more than one-fifth of California’s electricity and, for a few minutes, pumped out 7,046 megawatts of electricity, akin to the output from seven large nuclear reactors. Across... Continue Reading →
Ocean Heat Has Shattered Records for More Than a Year – NYT
"Dr. Schmidt pointed out that when scientists put together their estimates so far of how much the volcanic eruption, the reduced shipping pollution, El Niño and climate change should warm the planet, the numbers don’t add up. “There could be still something missing,” he said, like other sources of aerosol pollution having improved more than researchers... Continue Reading →
ASF Swine Flu
This conspiracy theory (or movie script) is writing itself. The timing so close to COVID 19 is interesting. From https://www.medicinenet.com/swine_flu/article.htm: (Clickers beware, this site is full of ads and its awkward grammer has AI feels) "However, in August 2018, China first reported a new swine flu outbreak in pigs in Liaoning province. The pig flu... Continue Reading →
Queen of the Universe
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2024/02/01/fox-maga-taylor-swift-conspiracy-trump-2024-election/72414573007/ "A survey by Morning Consult said 53% of American adults are Swift devotees. There are almost as many men as women, almost as many Republicans and independents as Democrats. And they include baby boomers, millennials, Generation X members and young adults from Generation Z. An analysis of Google Trends data for 2023 found that Swift had dominated... Continue Reading →
Check in on the nest
After Sunday and Monday's 4-6" of rain in LA basin, let's check in on that Big Bear Bald Eagle nest. Can you see Jackie as she protects her biggest brood ever (3 eggs!) - As a comparison here's the nest a few weeks ago: The mods assure us these eagles are well able to survive... Continue Reading →
Sweet Rice Thai (Gardena)
We've been to Sweet Rice twice now. Recommended by our LA foodie friends, it is delicious. I judge a Thai place by their Panang curry, and theirs is great. About $18. This is a place to try. Sweet Rice 1630 W Redondo Beach Blvd #4, Gardena, CA 90247 https://maps.app.goo.gl/6tKygFXBEUMD1rvN6
Pizzaria Mozza (Newport Beach)
Nancy Silverton and her bread empire have several pizza outposts in LA that we have meaning to go to for forever. Now that I'm part of the Cedars Sinai Long COVID study I have ample opportunity to check out ALL the SoCal restaurants as I trek back and forth to LA. Only open for lunch... Continue Reading →
Jackie and Shadow lay an egg
Our local Big Bear bald eagle celebrities, Jackie and Shadow, have laid the first egg of the season! Hatching expected in approx 35-39 days. Last year's eggs sadly were not fertilized and thus no chicks rewarded Jackie's epic egg sitting, literally up to her neck in snow in one of the coldest and snowiest winters... Continue Reading →
Insurance industry has nowhere to spread the risk
Next Door confirms that So Cal homeowners insurance is next to impossible to get now. Forget what was true a year ago. "Despite some concessions from regulators, insurers are bracing for a tough future. Allstate’s Wilson said that everywhere in the country is at some risk from increasingly severe weather. “There is no place that’s... Continue Reading →
WearyTravelers.net 