https://www.japanesefoodguide.com/masu-sake-in-a-box/ 'So on the point of spilling, just what is the “proper way” way to drink sake served to overflow? “There’s no specific etiquette,” Hioki told me. “This overflow pouring is hardly a refined practice, after all, and you’d never see it in a formal situation. But if I had to offer advice, I’d suggest... Continue Reading →
Misc August 2025
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/14/health/elderly-vaccines-dementia.html By matching almost 104,000 older Americans who received a first dose of the new vaccine (full immunization requires two) with a group that had received the earlier formulation, they found delayed onset of dementia in the Shingrix group. A substantial reduction in dementia diagnoses in the vaccine-eligible group, with a much stronger protective effect... Continue Reading →
Uber passengers beware
And another thing - beware of male drivers listing themselves with female names. Happened to me 3 of the last 4 rides (Uber and Lyft) Uber’s Festering Sexual Assault Problem https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/06/business/uber-sexual-assault.html
“Tr*mp just lit a match…to your retirement portfolio” – NYT
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/24/opinion/stock-market-trump-retirement.html A correction may already be underway. The outsize government role that Mr. Trump is allowing Tesla’s chief executive, Elon Musk, to play might be amusing for both of them, but it has spelled serious financial trouble for Tesla shareholders, including many ordinary people invested in index funds. In the past month alone, Tesla stock... Continue Reading →
Where can I find the best combination of wages, affordability, and robust hiring?
"In one of the toughest markets for entry-level jobs in years, several second-tier cities—including Raleigh, N.C.—rise above the pack for their strong hiring, decent salaries and affordability. Instead of Atlanta or Chicago, consider Birmingham, Ala., or Milwaukee. Or think Baltimore, in lieu of Washington, D.C. Those alternative cities, along with Austin, Texas, rank as the... Continue Reading →
How the OBBBA could affect you
What could the bill mean for your pocketbook? Answer these questions to learn more about the individual impacts of the wide-ranging legislation. (Your answers are not tracked by The Times.) How Will Trump’s Big Bill Affect Your Wallet? https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/business/trump-tax-bill-personal-finances.html?unlocked_article_code=1.WU8.KTV_.QqJ6tUlIqDzu&smid=nytcore-android-share
Key OBBBA Health-Related Provisions
Yet another arena for retirees to become an expert in. This is a good summary https://nashp.org/what-health-care-provisions-of-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-act-mean-for-states/
Impact of ACA Subsidy expiration
https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/issue-brief/inflation-reduction-act-health-insurance-subsidies-what-is-their-impact-and-what-would-happen-if-they-expire/ A few headlines: Annual Premium Payments Would Increase for All Subsidy Eligible Enrollees if Enhanced Subsidies Expire Floridians and Texans Receive $1.9 and $1.3 Billion in Enhanced IRA Subsidies, Respectively, in 2023 The Vast Majority of Marketplace Enrollees Will Experience Significant Increases in Their Monthly Premium Payments if Enhanced Subsidies Expire Among States Using... Continue Reading →
Updated Fire Risk Maps – California
https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/2025/cal-fire-risk-map/ "The new data shows that Cal Fire considers far more of the state to be at risk of fire than when the maps were last published in 2011. This is largely due to improved scientific modeling. The state also expanded the categories to include moderate and high fire hazard severity zones. In 2011 the... Continue Reading →
Zelle Fraud, Facebook, and Insta
From the 5/18 WSJ Technology newsletter: Unfortunately, Meta’s platform has been overtaken by fraudsters to the point that the interbank consortium behind Zelle and payments regulators worldwide say it’s become the prime source of online fraud. Meta alone constituted nearly half of all Zelle fraud between the summer of 2023 and 2024. Meta says it’s... Continue Reading →
Harvard Youth Poll 2025
Young adults are skeptical of the current administration's priorities, skeptical of both parties and the ability of government to help them, and don't buy into the demonization of DEI and immigration. All they know is their ability to succeed is at risk. https://iop.harvard.edu/youth-poll/50th-edition-spring-2025 . .
The Difficulty of Bringing Manufacturing Back
America Underestimates the Difficulty of Bringing Manufacturing Back - Molson Hart https://www.molsonhart.com/blog/america-underestimates-the-difficulty-of-bringing-manufacturing-back Extremely interesting article, here's just a few tidbits - In short, manufacturing in the United States is so expensive and our supply chain (we’ll explain that next) is so bad that making that iPhone in the United States without that 54% tariff, would... Continue Reading →
Misc March 2025
European Commission to recommend emergency preparedness against a growing list of threats to daily life https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/03/26/brussels-ask-eu-citizens-to-put-together-a-72-hour-emergency-kit-to-face-crises The 21st century has turned a corner and is rapidly accelerating... . NIH to cut grants for COVID research https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00954-y I am part of the NIH Long COVID "RECOVER" study. I just sent them an email a few weeks... Continue Reading →
Misc Feb 2025
The shell game that is investing in SpaceX ETFs: https://www.wsj.com/finance/investing/spacex-etf-invest-4cb93783?st=YysD6V . Risk management in an inflated market: https://www.wsj.com/finance/investing/what-you-should-do-about-the-stock-markets-giant-problem-f4ca338e?st=wup55E Their recommendation is TIPS (bought directly, not via ETFs) Be wary of private/alternative investments, especially because you cannot sell at will - only when they allow it - which is generally at times when the returns... Continue Reading →
Where not to live, So Cal edition
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/5065c998b4b0462f9ec3c6c226c610a9/page/Compare-old-and-new-LRA-FHSZ Go to the link, zoom in, and look at the new hazard zones for your place of interest. Then you will understand why virtually all insurance companies have left SoCal.
With batteries, solar can grow more cheaply and quickly than gas
"Solar was the fastest-growing source of electricity in 2024, according to data from the US Energy Information Administration. It accounted for 81 percent of added annual capacity. Solar energy reached historically low costs in 2020, becoming the cheapest source of electricity in most parts of the world. ...While solar supply chains are still concentrated in China, manufacturing capacity for... Continue Reading →
Uber adding FTF (Foreign Transaction Fee)
"The rideshare giant sent an email to users late Thursday announcing its new “Preferred Currency Pricing,” a feature set to launch on Feb. 27 that will automatically convert the local price to U.S. dollars (or your home currency). But this is Uber, so it's not free: The company will add an automatic 1.5% “currency conversion fee”... Continue Reading →
Back Up Everything
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/14/business/personal-data-backup-musk.html?unlocked_article_code=1.x04.kCgC.PqauR-a8U2Dz "But don’t just download your history of paying into Social Security or freeze access to your credit files because of the politics of now. Back up everything important, everywhere you can. Do this at least once a year or so. It’s just good hygiene. Having multiple copies of all of the things that help... Continue Reading →
WearyTravelers.net 