Writing

NPR

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December U.S. inflation up 3.4% : NPR

Inflation ticked up a little in December on the back of higher costs for housing and car insurance.

The overall cost of living in December was up 3.4% from a year ago, a slightly larger increase than the 3.1% rate in November, according to data from the Labor Department on Thursday.

The cost of motor vehicle insurance rose 1.5% in December from the previous month, marking a 20.3% increase compared to the previous year.

The cost of housing accounted for more than half the monthly increase in consumer prices. Food and energy prices were also up in December. The so-called "core" inflation rate, which excludes food and energy prices, was 3.9% last month.

Fed Officials Hint That Rate Increases Are Over, and Investors Celebrate – The New York Times

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Fed Officials Hint That Rate Increases Are Over, and Investors Celebrate – The New York Times

Federal Reserve officials appear to be dialing back the chances of future interest rate increases, after months in which they have carefully kept the possibility of further policy changes alive for fear that inflation would prove stubborn.

Several Fed officials — including two who often push for higher interest rates — hinted on Tuesday that the central bank is making progress on inflation and may be done or close to done raising borrowing costs. Economic growth is cooling, reducing the urgency for additional moves.

Christopher Waller, a Fed governor and one of the central bank’s more inflation-focused members, gave a speech on Tuesday titled “Something Appears to Be Giving,” an update on a previous speech that he had titled “Something’s Got to Give.”

“I am encouraged by what we have learned in the past few weeks — something appears to be giving, and it’s the pace of the economy,” Mr. Waller said. “I am increasingly confident that policy is currently well positioned to slow the economy and get inflation back to 2 percent.”

It’s Black Friday and the orgy of consumerism 🛍️

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It’s Black Friday and the orgy of consumerism 🛍️

While I don’t own a colored television and are immune to much of the advertising these days, it seems like many of the frenzied sales of years past have been dialed back with the pandemic and the problematic nature of crowded shopping mauls. But to a certain extent its moved online.

I really don’t understand why people would want robot vaccums or internet connected toasters. But a quick search of the internet says they’re hot gifts this year. I don’t know, I tend to think they’re toxic e-waste meant to be used for a while and tossed. Kind of silly if you ask me.

I don’t plan to stand on line to get vaccinated from the China virus nor do I plan to stand in line for overpriced Chinese junk with some fancy label on it. I hate lines and I hate crowds, and social distancing is helping to keep myself safe. I’m heading up to the Adirondacks where I doubt I’ll see many except for an occasional hunter passing by in a pickup.

A Vulgur Essay on Consumerism

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I was told the other day, I should buy more shit. 💩

I’m like no, I’m tired of things breaking all the time and needing maintenance. I’m happy with the shit I already have. I don’t need anymore. I’d rather use the money, save and invest it, so I have a more secure retirement, and eventually can afford land that will be my own little kingdom in the wilderness.

Shot

The Internet Advertisers Think I Have AIDS 🤕

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Since getting interested in nutrition and healthy living, I like to explore a wide variety of perspectives on healthcare and diets. I am interested in various medical conditions, and how I can avoid them to remain healthy. I also often review various not-for-profits for work by viewing their websites.

And now the Internet has decided I must have HIV/AIDS.

Like every other website I go to is now has advertising regarding the symptoms of HIV/AIDS, what to eat if you are immunocompromised, what medications are out there for treatment. It’s just gross and creepy at the same time that the internet has decided I have a live-threatening disease, and I must be followed around the Internet with information about HIV/AIDS everywhere I go.