There is so much bullsh*t going on, I couldn’t wait. I live by my list and calendar, but sometimess struggle with doing the things I want to do, not just the things I need to do. Thoughts below. Baby nation USA is celebrating its 250th anniversary this year. Pay attention to history. We have successfully yaxrd the richest 1% before. If you haven’t retired, you need to plan now. 943 more days; check out the Presidential Term Countdown Clock.
Wild Cooking Woman 6/29/26
If you are not yet old enough to retire or don’t have enough money to retire, this is something to think about. Contributing to a 401(k) every paycheck may not be enough to avoid a retirement shortfall, especially if key planning gaps go unaddressed. Kevin O’Leary says that too many workers ignore consumer debt, underestimate health care costs, and count on Social Security as a backstop that may not hold.
What most bothers Americans about federal taxes is that billionaires don’t pay their fair share. What should be done about that? ” The richest 1% of Americans paid, on average, about 31.5% of their income in federal taxes and about 7.2% in state and local taxes. That is more than eight percentage points less than what they paid at the turn of the century.” writes Eduardo Porter on theguardian.com. Rather than taxing wealth or raising income tax rates sky-high, close the elaborate array of loopholes in the current tax schedule that reduce the 1%’s tax liabilities. (more)
The Great American State Fair kicked off its 16-day run this week on the National Mall in Washington. However, the Trump-backed event marking the United States’ 250th birthday has had a slow start amid sparse crowds, power outages, and controversy over the Confederate flag’s appearance, writes Antonio Pequeño IV in Forbes.com.
More than 11,000 bottles of the blood pressure medication chlorthalidone have been recalled, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (more)
Thinking about traveling? Is Michigan on your list of possible destinations? “If bed bugs had a summer bucket list, Michigan would apparently be at the top of it,” a report from Casino.ca, a Canadian online casino review site, noted. “Hawaii is the state with the lowest bed bug risk.”
The USA is celebrating its 250th birthday under the Constitution. It is such a baby when compared with the oldest countries in the world. Pratik Patil published a list of the oldest countries on Oldest.org – FYI. BTW, you do know that BCE stands for “before common era,” which is the same as BC or before the birth of Jesus, don’t you? So Egypt was founded approximately 6000 years before Jesus was born. The current version of the USA was founded in 1776, or 1776 years after the birth of Jesus.
Country Year Founded
Egypt c.6000 BCE
India c.3300 BCE
China c.2070 BCE
Ethiopia c.980 BCE
Greece c.800 BCE
Iran c.550 BCE
Do you drink coffee? I do (yum). There are 9 supplements you should never take with coffee. They are:
- calcium
- iron
- vitamin D
- read more here
Are Americans one people, or many? Read “The ‘Two Ships’ Theory of American History” by James Traub in theatlantic.com (paywall). Historians often contrast the Mayflower (1620) and early slave ships—like the White Lion (1619)—as two rival founding symbols representing America’s core divide. The former represents the origins of democratic ideals, while the latter marks the introduction of chattel slavery into English-speaking North America. If you are inclined to spend money, and are thinking academically, read “The Mayflower and the Slave Ship: Pilgrim-Puritan Origins in the Antebellum Black Imagination” by Kenyon Gradert, MELUS: Multi-Ethnic Literature of the U.S., Oxford University Press, Volume 44, Number 3, Fall 2019, pp. 63-90 HERE.
According to a recent survey, 86% of older adults identified travel as one of their top three discretionary spending priorities. Here are some ways to make travel more budget-friendly.
Check out the Pew Research Center. America 250 asks: how great have we been? Juneteenth asks: how free are we, really? Watch and subscribe to Jemar Tisby’s Footnotes Substack. Don’t forget to support NPR and PBS. We need them more than ever. New info in Better Health. Why is every other email, none from Amazon itself, touting sales for Amazon Prime Days? 943 more days; check out the Presidential Term Countdown Clock.
Kintsugi 6/26/26
An archaeological dig to uncover artifacts from a fort critical to the Battle of Bunker Hill ended on the 251st anniversary of the fight. Archaeologists found musket balls, teacups, tobacco pipes, and even a wig curler. Watch the excavation process here.
Many hotel reservations allow you to cancel the booking in the event that something comes up. But don’t assume you can back out at any time or get a full refund if you do — the terms of each booking dictate just how much flexibility you have. Here’s what you need to know before canceling a hotel reservation to avoid fines or penalties.
Fast-growing poison ivy vines can grow 20 feet each season along fence lines and in landscaped beds. When removing and disposing of poison ivy, take proper care to protect your skin from contact with the plant. If you live in the western USA, you probably have poison oak. Same method. (more)
MorningStar Farms has recalled two of its frozen meat alternatives. The recall, announced by the brand on June 18 and shared by the FDA on June 22, warns customers that MorningStar Farms Buffalo Chick’n Nuggets and Hot and Spicy Sausage Patties might contain pieces of plastic. (more)
Over the past month, the price of a barrel of oil has fallen more than 26% amid ongoing U.S.-Iran negotiations. A barrel now trades at about $70, according to West Texas Intermediate. But gas prices are lagging behind. But drivers are still paying nearly $4 per gallon for gas. (more)
U.S. Democratic senators are introducing legislation that would require President Donald Trump to rejoin the World Health Organization and immediately begin coordinating with the body on the ongoing Ebola outbreak in DR Congo and Uganda. The US will provide an experimental Ebola drug to DR Congo for a clinical trial in the region. Washington initially said the MBP134 drug cocktail from California’s Mapp Biopharmaceutical would be used only on Americans, but the trial could help secure eventual US regulatory approval. (more)
One remote highway in Nevada links far-flung communities that attracted settlers for generations. Why are some still drawn there today? (more)
What do you know about the Fourteenth Amendment? This is the constitutional amendment that established birthright citizenship.
Fourteenth Amendment
Section 1: All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
Do you have a shower that has glass doors and tiled walls? I do, and I hate to clean it. Here are some easy ways to cut back on that painful but necessary evil.
- Have someone do it for you (my preference).
- Use something like Kaboom bathroom cleaner or Rejuvinate Soap Scum Remover.
- Rinse thoroughly after your shower, squeege the excess water away, then dry.
- Use a paste of baking soda and vinegar on tough stains for 15 minutes, then rinse and dry.
- Spray with hydrogen peroxide, rinse, and dry with a soft cloth.
I have ants in my yard. Lots and lots of ants. They are everywhere, those little hills of strange dirt with holes in the top that look like they are moving when I don’t have my glasses on. I seriously dislike ants. What to do, what to do? A few suggestions. I really like the cinnamon and coffee ideas because I have both. I know Diatomaceous earth also works. As soon as it stops raining, I’ll get busy.
The Pew Research Center just published its ninth political typology, the latest portrait of the groups that make up America’s political landscape. The typology reveals nine distinct groups, each defined by its own mix of values, beliefs, and experiences. Take the quiz and see where you are. (This is an old video, but it is useful for understanding the thinking behind the quiz.) Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank. As a neutral source of data and analysis, Pew Research Center does not take policy positions.
I need a new passport. I don’t want to travel and find myself sent home because I have less than 6 months left before it expires. So…I need a new passport. I saw these tips about taking acceptable photos. I also saw a link for renewing my passport online. Watch out for companies that promise to do it all for you, and fast, too! Here are the criteria:
- Age: You are 25 or older.
- Passport Validity: Your current passport was issued for 10 years.
- Expiration Date: It is either expiring within 1 year or expired less than 5 years ago.
- Possession: The physical passport is in your possession, undamaged, and has never been reported lost or stolen.
- No Changes: You are not changing your name, sex, date of birth, or place of birth.
- Location: You are physically located in a U.S. state or territory.
- Travel Timeline: You are not traveling internationally for at least 6 weeks
BTW, given our current international political and economic relationships, don’t forget to check for visa requirements immediately!
