Lotus-eater

I wouldn't use a CFP that charges an assets under management (AUM) fee, typically about 1% of your portfolio, which is far too expensive (a 1% AUM fee equals $10,000/year on a $1 million portfolio). I would pick someone who charges a flat fee to create a plan or charges an hourly rate. Avoid non-fiduciaries, who will tend to recommend insurance products like annuities (for which they receive a commission) as well as a CFP who recommends a complicated mix of funds with high expense ratios. PlanVision seems like a good option if your finances are not especially complicated and you don't need a lot of hand holding. The Bogleheads forum is also a useful resource. TonyDown makes good points about having estate documents and agents to manage your finances and healthcare if you lose the capacity to do so.

Quashing the NY murder case also means that the defense only has to seek sentencing leniency from a federal judge rather than facing a separate, mandatory life sentence for a state murder conviction, and he will end up in federal prison where conditions are generally better than state prison.

He pled guilty in the federal case in order to try to claim double jeopardy in the state case in NY where he faces murder charges. Normally, our federal system allows someone to be prosecuted at the federal and state levels because they are separate laws, but NY has a law that “says that there cannot be a second or subsequent prosecution in New York State Court arising from the same transaction or occurrence as a previous case." Legal experts "said Mr. Bragg’s office might be able to rescue the state case — or portions of it — using an exception to New York’s law and using a rule called the Blockburger test. The office would need to show that their prosecution is meant to address a very different kind of harm from the federal case." NY will likely contend that the federal law focuses on stalking whereas their case focuses on murder and weapons charges. There was no plea bargain in the federal case, so he is still eligible for a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

60s hippies haven't aged well either.

Notice which child did not receive a riding mower from dad.

I can bench press more than Mamdani's pathetic 115 lbs despite being old enough to be his father (and I don't have nearly enough money to be his sugar daddy with all of his extravagant spending wishes).

Americans are losing their appetite for fast food https://www.economist.com/business/2026/08/06/americans-are-losing-their-appetite-for-fast-food McDonald’s and other chains are turning to gimmicks to lure customers back Aug 6th 2026| Is it more difficult to run the world’s most valuable fast-food chain or to eat a burger on camera? Chris Kempczinski, the boss of McDonald’s, seems to struggle with both. A video earlier this year of him tentatively nibbling at a new burger, called the “Big Arch”, drew widespread mockery. On August 4th he unveiled that sales in America, McDonald’s biggest market, were up by a soggy 0.8% in the second quarter, year on year. The company’s share price has fallen by 12% this year. In fairness to Mr Kempczinski, his is not the only chain struggling. In the first seven months of 2026 traffic to quick-service restaurants was down by 1.3% from the year before, notes Placer.ai, a data provider. Big price increases in recent years have caused consumers to turn to other options. High petrol prices and a recall of parasite-infected lettuce used by chains such as Taco Bell have not helped lately, nor have shifting diets. To boost sales, chains have turned to value deals and viral gimmicks. Neither are working. For years Americans have complained about the rising cost of groceries. Their ire might be better directed at fast-food restaurants, which have increased prices by a cumulative 15-20 percentage points more than grocery stores over the past decade, points out Gregory Francfort of Guggenheim Securities, an investment bank. Low-income Americans—the core customer for most chains—have adapted by eating more at home. Convenience stores and supermarkets have also expanded their ready-meal ranges, chomping at the market. More trouble may be on the way as slimming drugs become cheaper. One answer has been to offer limited-time discounts. In mid-2024 McDonald’s announced a $5 meal deal; this year a $3 deal followed. Yet it has struggled to get the franchisees that run nearly all its locations in America to sign on, with the chain admitting on its latest earnings call that fewer than 65% have done so. Another strategy has been to try to whip up interest online. In February Burger King gave out the mobile number of the head of its North American business, inviting people to call or text him with their opinions. (A common gripe: the Whopper’s poor structural integrity.) Taco Bell has begun incorporating items designed by fans into its menu, such as a “California” wrap that swaps ground beef for steak and guacamole. Chains such as Burger King have also been dangling collectables, and not just in kid’s meals. Such stunts may boost business for a time, but they rarely lead to durable growth, says Mr Francfort. Eventually fast-food chains may have to make bigger changes. For some, that will involve shaking up menus. McDonald’s for example, is looking to offer more meals based on chicken, which is much cheaper than beef and has experienced a surge in demand as health-conscious consumers seek lighter fare. The Golden Arches is also moving beyond its long-time partnership with Coca-Cola and testing other beverage options, such as Red Bull. Underperforming chains may be put up for sale. Yum! Brands, owner of KFC and Taco Bell, recently rid itself of Pizza Hut, which has been in a funk as Americans have gone off the cuisine. There are plenty of options for fast-food bosses to chew on.

The current FDA evaluates drugs no differently than previously. Lipfendra has been undergoing trials since 2020 with the Phase 3 trial ending in July 2025. While novel as a pill, it uses the same biological target as injectables like Repatha, Praluent, and Leqvio, so it's very likely to be approved by other countries within a year.

Words of wisdom from a Warner Bros. spokesman:

Large-scale NHANES data analysis reveals that more than 1 in 3 U.S. adults over 50 (approximately 33% to 40%) fail to meet the modern recommendation of 1.0 to 1.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. Geriatric researchers advocate for this higher tier to prevent age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia) and mobility declines.

Prior to establishing residency, you can buy private insurance or pay the old-fashioned way, namely, fee-for-service, which is common at private medical clinics and usually affordable by US standards.. However, returning to the U.S. for specialized care not offered locally will be a major hassle if you are not well enough to travel without assistance.