“Germans,” my friend Ken said in 2002, “don’t do whimsy. “

I hope it does not seem like showing off but I could be not be more thrilled with this little Austrian hotel. We live in the Alps, so finding a view that’s impressive to US is saying something.

This week, we are the luckiest people alive.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg534ryp660o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

"How come Americans write the month first?"

"That's how you say it, month first"

"What's the date today?"

"It's the fourth of July"

“In Philadelphia, the birthplace of America…” -The Wall Street Journal

Hang on a tick.

Where? Ah yes, because Plymouth Rock, and Boston, are just out a little west of Rittenhouse Square, I forgot.

Wait, that sounds wrong …

Nature is crazy.

“Teachers Asked to ‘Turn Off Lights’ in County Packed With Data Centers.”

Priorities…

Teachers asked to "turn off li...

Interested too. https://infosec.exchange/@afx/116861731024286802

Also from @angry_staffer, this time on 🦋:

It’s the world’s dumbest cult.

Quote posting @textfiles - I think - also on 🦋 11 hrs ago:

I'll summarize this: Mamdani asked NYers to keep air conditioning at 78 degrees. A wave of criticism hit online. An MSNBC broadcast pointed out the US Department of #Energy recommends that 78 degree figure.

Immediately after, the US Department of Energy deleted 6,000 web pages related to energy saving.
____
Me:
Including, no doubt, that 78° recommendation.

Fifty years ago today, July 4, 1976, my family took an Amtrak from our New York City home to Philadelphia for the Bicentennial. I have become one of those people who talks about shit that happened fifty years ago.

When I lived here in the 90s I was stunned to learn that Germans took more sick days than any other Eurozone country.

Germany bans workers from calling in sick https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/07/02/germany-bans-workers-from-calling-in-sick/

What a totally fucking bizarre thing to say - "Good news! You owe me money!"

Very good article on what “the pursuit of happiness” means in America today. I was deeply moved by the story of Tom and Terry Sullivan, who lost their first born son at age 27 in the 2012 horrific mass shooting at a cinema in Aurora, CO. I fear I could not go on under similar circumstances.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/07/02/us/america-pursuit-happiness.html?unlocked_article_code=1.u1A.8kaS._BQbuOFwt34v&smid=nytcore-ios-share

No one knew that making a policy to always go with the lowest bidder on US infrastructure projects could lead to failures.

Connecticut just overhauled its data privacy law. From July 1, businesses must say if they use your data to train AI, you can ask for a list of who bought your data, and selling the data of anyone under 18 is banned. Where a few states go, more follow.

#privacy #CTDPA #dataprivacy #indigoprivacy

"By the way, on July 4th, it's going to be approximately 107 degrees [F] out, and I'm gonna go and I'm gonna make a really long speech just to show that I can do anything," he said.” -BBC News

I am not Ok that just about half of Americans think this kind of roust is OK.

https://apnews.com/article/reflecting-pool-arrest-felony-trump-renovations-vandalism-d946ccf6bfc5207d4c5380b9001b7c26

We have not had a vacation since 2020. So we just booked a mai-tai-by-the-pool resort stay in Austria as a quick getaway. I intend to put on five pounds making them lose money on me every single meal at the buffet. , ride my bike for two hours a day, get massages while my wife gets mani-pedis, sit on our south facing balcony and generate complaints from neighbors about the incessant smoking of massive Cuban Partagas D6 and Romeo & Juliette wide Churchill cigars. Swimming. More of each of those things. And if I ride less than two hours a day I will gain 15 pounds, not merely five. I didn’t ask if they have WiFi because I could not possibly care less. I cannot wait.