T.G.I.F. Friday: Volume 159

Welcome to “Thank God I’m FI” Friday, Volume #159

Here are some things I really like and that you might too!

Financial Independence/Work Life/Retirement Articles & Content

When Helping Mom and Dad Hurts Your Wallet (Kiplinger) “New research shows how assisting an aging parent with expenses can strain your own finances”

Why 65 Is the New 45: How Modern Retirement Is Changing Lives (Investopedia) “If 65’s the new 45, what’s your plan for your golden years?”  Dave’s Comment: I disagree with the main premise of this article (that life expectancy will increase to 85 by 2060), but I sincerely HOPE I’m proven wrong. While life expectancy in the US is projected to finally recover to pre-covid levels in 2025, more Americans than ever are dealing with more chronic diseases than ever primarily due to poor diets and sedentary lifestyles (see article at the bottom of this post).  My hope is that artificial intelligence will start solving big diseases like heart disease and cancer, but people first need to get out of their own way and do their part to take care of themselves better.  Either way the article is worthwhile as a reminder of the retirement basics if this new life expectancy is reached because if it is people will have a lot more time (time hopefully not in a wheelchair dealing with chronic disease) and they’ll have to fill it and finance it.”

Video

Regular readers know I’m an unabashed Beatles super-fan and never tire of them.  The trailer for the new Beatles Anthology was just released this week.  It is a re-release of a 1995 documentary but with full audio enhancements and also with a whole new episode. Beatle fans rejoice! 

What I’m Grateful For

CamelCamelCamel. No, not the animals but the website.  I reviewed CamelCamelCamel way back in 2018 and still use it heavily today.  You can read the post as to what it does but in short it’s an Amazon money-saving machine.  Just yesterday Amazon started running early “Black Friday” sales and I woke up to see alerts from CamelCamelCamel that 3 of my regular supplements were heavily discounted as well as my contact lens solution and the whey protein that I use most.  I saved over $65 on things I buy and use regularly. 

Lyrically Speaking

A man once said that the pinnacle of success
Is when you’ve finally lost interest
In money, compliments, and publicity
A noble enough idea, I suppose
How on earth he does this, heaven only knows
I know I need a lot more of all three of those
Before I ever have the nerve to turn up my nose
At any money, compliments, and publicity

From “Money, Compliments, Publicity (Song Number Ten)” by Todd Snider

Time for the bi-weekly music obituary.  We sadly lost one of the songwriting troubadours of Americana music this week, and way too early.  Todd Snider died at the age of 59.  Most have likely never heard of Snider but true music fans and especially fans of John Prine-like songwriting surely have.  Snider appeared on the scene in the 1990’s and quickly established himself as a bright talent to carry on the tradition of the likes of Prine, Jerry Jeff Walker, and even Woody Guthrie.  To pull lyrics from one of his songs, Snider was the poet for tree-hugging, pot-smoking, bare-footing, folk-singing hippies.  He released 20 records including one this year and toured pretty much non stop for over 30 years.  He was also a member of the supergroup Hard Working Americans and played on both of their albums.  Snider was a true ramblin’ man of music.  Artists like Jack Johnson, Jason Isbell, and Billy Strings have been paying tribute to him this week.  Rhett Miller of the Old 97’s even wrote a song for him the day after he passed.  You know someone is special when they’re loved and respected by so many other artists.

I highlighted Snider’s classic “Easy Money” in T.G.I.F. Friday #86.  His catalog is littered with songs about life in America, which of course has to confront money and the struggle for it.  He loathed modern country music and it’s banal and empty lyrics about pickup trucks and barefoot girls drinking beer.  Snider’s lyrical pen was witty and often sardonic, but always spoke the truth as he saw it.  And that kind of authenticity is what made him so beloved.  R.I.P. Mr. Snider, you will not be forgotten. 

As for the lyrics above, well they’re classic Snider.  I highlighted the opening verse but the entire song is a gem with great line after great line.  I have money so I don’t need compliments and I certainly don’t need publicity.  

Miscellaneous

Ultra-processed foods are danger to global public health, experts warn – “Ultra-processed foods are now increasingly common worldwide and linked to a decline in diet quality and a number of diseases, from obesity to cancer.” Dave’s comment: I’ve been highlighting studies like this for years and these 3 new papers are from the Lancet, one of the world’s most prestigious journals. To get in the Lancet your science and methodology has to be tight, so these are to be taken more seriously. The 3 papers can be found here.  As I always say, make 99% of your diet foods that have ONE ingredient (salmon, egg, broccoli, black bean etc etc.) Having a protein bar once in a while or even a few corn chips at a party isn’t going to kill you.  But if – like most Americans and increasingly others around the world – your diet is comprised mostly of processed foods you are headed down a pathway of disease and poor health. The science on this keeps piling up and cannot be ignored.”

Google CEO: If an AI bubble pops, no one is getting out clean – “Sundar Pichai says no company is immune if AI bubble bursts, echoing dotcom fears.”

Wolves Seen Using Tools to Get Fish – “Researchers who studied the clips are still wondering how well the wolves really understand the mechanics involved in their trick.“