https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/opinion/christ-christmas-humility-kingdom-god.html "A fundamentalist can see every person who’s wrong as a kind of Patient Zero in a potential pandemic of paganism... Every year, like clockwork, a series of debates breaks out in Christian America. When Jesus was born in a manger, did that mean he was homeless? When Jesus fled with his family to Egypt... Continue Reading →
Jim Beam pauses production as tariffs, boycotts, changing habits hit hard
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/jim-beam-distillery-trump-tariffs-b2888451.html "Jim Beam, one of the largest makers of American whiskey globally, is shutting down bourbon production at one of its Kentucky distilleries for a year... Industry group Distilled Spirits Council of the United States said that U.S. spirits exports plummeted 85 percent, falling below $10 million in the second quarter of 2025, which CEO Chris... Continue Reading →
Pizzeria Bianco (Phoenix)
Heavily lauded and now the subject of a Netflix "Chefs Table: Pizza" spot, Pizzeria Bianco in Arizona is one of the top 25 pizza spots in the US. Even my Uber driver knew about it. He did say "you're talking to a huge pizza afficianado", but he prefers Chicago style pizza, that he gets from... Continue Reading →
Misc October 2025
This is why I drive stick! Surprising fuel cost comparison of EVs vs Gas cars: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/upshot/ev-versus-gas-car-comparison-cost.html . COVID and Flu can triple risk of heart attack https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/well/viral-infections-covid-flu-heart-attacks.html "A number of viral infections, including flu, Covid-19 and shingles, are linked to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke, a new study affirmed.The risk of a... Continue Reading →
Misc September 2025
Follow @not_ev_altadena to understand how the Altadena community is building back after the Eaton fire. https://www.instagram.com/not_ev_altadena . Can you spot AI videos? And if not, are you thinking about online content differently? I only got 6 out of 10 right. A.I. Videos Have Never Been Better. Can You Tell What’s Real? https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/06/29/business/ai-video-deepfake-google-veo-3-quiz.html?unlocked_article_code=1.f08.QLDe.LIHdM-3Ydgm4&smid=nytcore-android-share . Money management..a... Continue Reading →
San Diego Restaurants, Greatest Hits
Refresh for latest updates Downtown Lou & Mickeys (sit streetwise next to the bar). Steak, seafood, great bartenders. They're simplifying their menu lately. Sit streetside during Comiccon for ringside seats after 4pm. C Level / Island Prime Meze Greek El Prado, Balboa Park Alberts, San Diego Zoo Cocina 35 chilaquiles Waterfront views Miguel's/Topsail/Brigantine Little Italy... Continue Reading →
The Masu box, explained
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 →
Classical Music in the Wild
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/26/arts/music/hunter-noack-pianist-outdoor-concerts-national-parks.html Tickets for IN A LANDSCAPE: Classical Music in the Wild™ https://aftontickets.com/event/buyticket/om9o6y659g Inspired by the preservationist John Muir, Noack started the project as a way of getting closer to nature, and bringing classical music to rural areas where it is not typically accessible. The idea, Noack said, is to remove the barriers that typically limit... 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 →
Misc July 2025
A million baby boomers will be sitting in judgement: "So when you listen to ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ and you’re hearing the real Judy Garland vocal placed position where it should be based on the picture, and you’re hearing that orchestra enveloping you, it is a version that you’ve never heard before, and you’ll never... 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
The Work of a Master Jeweller
Feast your eyes on these stunning cloisonne pieces: They are made with flat pieces of garnet. Not only that, "There is even more going on beneath the surface of cloisonné objects. Each cell was filled with a paste-like blend of calcite, quartz and beeswax. This was not a glue to fix the garnet in place,... Continue Reading →
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 →
Bath, England (June 2025)
Instead of an all day bus tour from London to Bath and back, we took the train by ourselves and enjoyed exploring on our own. We take tons of pictures (and I'm always looking for reference pix for my art) so we can never spend too long at any location. We arrived around 1030am and... Continue Reading →
Misc June 2025
"If something cannot go on forever, it will stop" - Herb Stein (father of Ben Stein) . Pure evil, and shame on Sheryl Sandberg: In 2017, Wynn-Williams explains, “a confidential document is leaked that reveals Facebook is offering advertisers the opportunity to target 13-to-17-year-olds across its platforms, including Instagram, during moments of psychological vulnerability when... 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 →
WearyTravelers.net 