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- July 16, 2024
July 16, 2024
 | Get Smart in 5 Minutes Trustworthy, relevant & unbiased news briefs curated for 65+ |
Good Morning, it’s Tuesday July 16- read why Aldi grocery store is quiet.
Check out the daily trivia game at the bottom of the newsletter!
U.S. NEWS
Vacuums sucked water out of the seaside inn run by Nick Gaido’s family in Galveston, nearly a week after Hurricane Beryl hit Texas. Blue tarps covered the torn roof, and Gaido scheduled cleanup shifts for staff affected by power outages. The July Fourth weekend, meant to boost tourism, saw only a few visitors. Gaido stressed that Galveston is open for business.
Galveston, 50 miles southeast of Houston, has faced many natural disasters, including a deadly 1900 hurricane and Hurricane Ike in 2008. Beryl, arriving unusually early, halted the island’s tourism-based economy. Despite widespread power outages, businesses and residents are persevering.
In Jamaica Beach, Way West Grill and Pizzeria owner Jake Vincent lost his inventory due to the outage and doubts the tourism season will recover. Downed cables and construction cones lined the roads, and utility crews worked to restore power. Residents like Greg Alexander and Steve Broom adapted to the situation, with some seeking refuge in hotels.
Anne Beem, visiting from San Antonio, found the aftermath worse than the storm, dealing with mosquitoes and heat until power was restored. She viewed the experience as an adventure despite the challenges.
WORLD NEWS
A giant panda has given birth to a cub at a Dutch zoo, boosting the captive population of these vulnerable mammals. Ouwehands Dierenpark announced the birth on Monday, sharing video of mom Wu Wen and her cub, whose gender is still unknown. The zoo expressed pride in contributing to the conservation of this endangered species. A second cub was born but died shortly after. The surviving cub is the second born at the zoo, following Fan Xing in 2020, who was later sent to China for a breeding program. China's "panda diplomacy" has evolved to loaning pandas to zoos commercially.
MONEY
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell stated that policymakers won't wait for inflation to drop to 2% before cutting interest rates, as waiting too long could push inflation below 2%. Speaking at the Economic Club of Washington D.C., Powell emphasized the need for more evidence that high inflation is under control before reducing rates. The Fed recently held interest rates steady at 5.25% to 5.5%, the highest since 2001, but left the door open for future cuts. Recent data shows inflation cooling, with the May personal consumption expenditures index at 2.6%. Investors now expect rate cuts in September or November, a shift from earlier predictions. Powell also downplayed the likelihood of a "hard landing" scenario.
Higher interest rates tend to create higher rates on consumer and business loans, which then slow the economy by forcing employers to cut back on spending. Higher rates helped push the average rate on 30-year mortgages above 8% for the first time in decades. Borrowing costs for everything from home equity lines of credit, auto loans and credit cards have also spiked.
HEALTH
Three workers culling poultry at a northeast Colorado farm are presumed positive for avian influenza, according to state health officials and the CDC. They likely contracted the virus through direct contact with infected birds at a commercial egg operation. The workers had mild symptoms like conjunctivitis and respiratory issues but were not hospitalized. The CDC is sending a team to assist with the investigation and will conduct confirmatory testing. The risk to the general public remains low, with no unexpected flu activity in Colorado or other affected states. Previously, four people in the US tested positive for bird flu. Colorado's agriculture has been severely impacted, prompting Gov. Jared Polis to declare a disaster emergency. Properly handled and cooked poultry products remain safe to eat. The CDC advises avoiding close contact with sick or dead animals and consuming unpasteurized milk.
ENTERTAINMENT
Actor James B. Sikking, best known for his roles in “Hill Street Blues” and “Doogie Howser, M.D.,” has died at 90 from complications of dementia, according to his publicist. Sikking played Howard Hunter in “Hill Street Blues,” a show produced by Steven Bochco, from 1981 to 1987. He described his character as a lonely man seeking love and friendship. Sikking also worked with Bochco on “Doogie Howser, M.D.,” playing Dr. David Howser from 1989 to 1993.
TRAVEL
There are a few questions you will want to answer before you dig into the details of planning your Universal Orlando vacation:
What is your budget? The amount of cash you have to burn will determine most other factors of your vacation, including where you stay, how many days you visit, where you dine and whether you will visit one or multiple parks per day.
When will you go? The best times to visit Universal Orlando are similar to the best times to visit Disney World. It is busier on weekends and when school is out during spring break, the long summer break and the winter holiday season. You'll see fewer crowds if you visit on a weekday when school is in session.
Where will you stay? Universal Orlando has eight hotels; they range from as little as $100 per night for Value hotels and climb as high as $800 per night for Premier hotels. You can base your choice on theming — you could enjoy the retro beach motel vibes at Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort or the Italian-inspired luxury and convenient location of the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel.
Which parks will you visit on which days? This will help you choose between purchasing one-park-per-day tickets or "Park-to-Park" tickets that grant access to both of Universal's parks in the same day. You can also add access to Universal's Volcano Bay Water Park.
Where will you dine? If you are planning on one of Universal's specialty dining experiences — like a Marvel character dinner, the Wantilan Luau at Loews Royal Pacific Resort or Sapphire Falls' five-course dinner with rum pairings — you need to make reservations early. Reservations for most other table service meals are easy to get within a couple of weeks before your vacation.
FOOD
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When shopping at Aldi, you'll notice the absence of music, unlike other stores that use tunes to entice purchases. This silence is intentional, aimed at saving on music licensing fees to pass savings to customers. Some find the quiet disconcerting, even commenting online about it. However, many employees and customers appreciate the peaceful shopping environment. While music can boost sales in other stores, Aldi prioritizes cost-saving measures like this to benefit shoppers.
NOSTALGIA
FUN STUFF
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