It has been a tough few days, but I’m back at my desk. Lots to talk about. Paid that doubled January health insurance premium. Ouch. We need to pay attention to international news. Are we reliving manifest destiny in a newer form? Everything seems violent this week. You know things are bad when the government is killing white women in their cars. Looking for good news. Support NPR and PBS. 1,104 more days.
Wild Cooking Woman 1/11/26
The Tea
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private agency established by Congress in 1967 that received federal funding and supported PBS, NPR, and hundreds of public television and radio stations nationwide, voted on January 5 to dissolve. Apparently, there was concern that if the dormant corporation was left intact, it could be reopened and used for purposes not in keeping with the original mandate.
Amazon has decided to end its long-running delivery relationship with the United States Postal Service. (more)
Psychology says people who clean as they cook instead of leaving everything for the end display these 8 distinctive traits:
- they have stronger executive function
- they experience less stress
RIP, Elle Simone Scott. Scott, a chef and cookbook author best known for her work on “America’s Test Kitchen,” was 49.
RIP: Dr. Janell Green Smith, CNM, a South Carolina midwife who was passionate about her work, family, photography, and travels, has died from complications related to childbirth.
Women’s basketball: The Unrivaled season started with a bang.
Almost 3,000 pounds of ground beef from Forward Farms have been recalled in six states: California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Pennsylvania, and Washington.
On Saturday, January 3, the United States military conducted air strikes in Venezuela and captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. They have now been indicted in the Southern District of New York on various drug-related charges.
According to the U-Haul Index, Texas and Florida lead the list of in-migration states, while California ranks last with the largest number of folks out-migrating. The U-Haul® Growth Index analyzes one-way customer transactions during 2025. (more)
The US Department of Agriculture has released the 2026–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which emphasize the importance of protein, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. The new inverted food pyramid structure places red meat and dairy products, such as cheese, near the top, while encouraging less consumption of highly processed foods, carbohydrates, and sugars. People who live to be at least 100 years old are looked to for their healthy lifestyles. They mostly eat a plant-based diet and don’t eat much dairy, red meat, or sugar. What does that look like? Beans, leafy greens, nuts and seeds, sweet potatoes, whole grains, olive oil, and more. (more)
Want to improve your brain? Try something new. Eat well. Watch your alcohol consumption. Exercise your brain and body. (more)
Protesters in Tehran, Iran, continue to take to the streets over rising costs and economic conditions in the country. Internet access has been cut off. Activists say that at least 116 people have been killed as of Friday, 1/10. (more)
On Wednesday, January 7, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer shot and killed Renee Good in her vehicle during an operation in a Minneapolis, Minnesota, neighborhood.
On January 8th, the House voted 230–196 to pass a bill that would extend enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies for three more years after the subsidies expired at the start of the year. Led by Democrats, 17 Republicans joined in the effort, which has little chance of passing the Senate.
This is the third time the USA has expressed an interest in acquiring Greenland. The US previously tried to buy Greenland after the Civil War and after WWII. In 1916, the United States formally recognized Danish interests in Greenland in exchange for the Danish West Indies, which became the U.S. Virgin Islands. (more) Its location between the U.S., Russia, and Europe makes Greenland strategic for defense purposes as well as economics. Greenland has reserves of oil, natural gas, and mineral resources, including rare earth elements. A poll conducted a year ago showed that 85% of Greenlanders did not want to be part of the United States. (more)
When the National Portrait Gallery, part of the Smithsonian, replaced a portrait of President Trump, it removed a biography of his first term that included information about his impeachment history. Last year, another Smithsonian museum, the National Museum of American History, changed the language describing Mr. Trump’s two impeachments in an exhibition about the American presidency. (more)
Mississippi is now a top 10 state for fourth graders learning how to read, and one of the best places in the country for a poor child to get an education. (more)
| Loan Term | Monthly Payment | Total Interest | Total Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 months | $2,011 | $3,255 | $48,255 |
| 36 months | $1,388 | $4,968 | $49,968 |
| 84 months | $677 | $11,868 | $56,868 |
Here are typical depreciation rates for new cars:
| Year | Estimated Value | % of Original Price |
|---|---|---|
| New | $45,000 | 100% |
| 1 | $31,500 | 70% |
| 2 | $26,775 | 59% |
| 3 | $22,760 | 51% |
| 4 | $20,000 | 44% |
| 5 | $17,600 | 39% |
| 6 | $15,500 | 34% |
| 7 | $13,500 | 30% |
So, at the end of 7 years, you would have paid almost $57,000 for a $45,000 car, whose value would be $13,500.
Do you have someone in your life who lives alone and far away? Are you going on vacation because you need a break from caregiving? Here are some free ways to help check on them while you’re away:
- https://buddyhelp.org/ Offers free emotional support through volunteer listeners and also provides access to professional online therapy.
- https://www.snugsafe.com/ A free app that sends daily check-in reminders. If you don’t respond, your emergency contacts are notified.
- https://checkinbee.com/ Sends daily text messages asking for a simple reply. If no response, designated contacts are notified.
