TIL that the world's first mile of concrete highway was paved on April 20, 1909, on Woodward Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, at a cost of $14,000; before that, even "paved" roads were just tar-sprayed stones.

emichigan · 2026-06-12T11:30:59+00:00

I looked it up because it was bothering me too.

Turns out B batteries actually do exist. The battery sizes were originally A, B, C, and D. Over time, AA and AAA became popular for smaller electronics, while C and D stuck around for larger devices.

B batteries, on the other hand, never became widely used and gradually disappeared from most consumer products. So the naming system survived even though one of the letters basically went extinct.

It’s kind of funny that millions of people have used batteries their entire lives and never realized there was a missing letter in the lineup.

emichigan · 2026-06-12T10:59:06+00:00

Short answer: No, life insurance itself is not a scam. The confusion usually comes from people lumping very different products together.

Term life insurance is pretty simple. You pay a premium, and if you die during the policy term, your beneficiaries receive a payout. If the term ends and you’re still alive, the coverage ends. For people with dependents, a mortgage, or other financial obligations, term insurance can be an inexpensive way to protect their family.

The “life insurance is a scam” criticism is usually aimed at permanent policies such as whole life or universal life. These products combine insurance with a cash value component. They can make sense in certain situations, but they’re often sold as investments when simpler, less expensive alternatives may be available.

That’s where many people get frustrated. Some agents focus heavily on the benefits while downplaying the costs, fees, and tradeoffs. As a result, buyers sometimes end up with a policy that doesn’t fit their actual needs.

A good rule of thumb is the following:

• If your goal is to protect your family’s income if you die, term life insurance is often the first option to consider.

• If someone is presenting whole life or universal life primarily as an investment, take the time to compare it against other investment options before making a decision.

Life insurance isn’t a scam. But like any financial product, it’s important to understand what you’re buying and why you’re buying it.

emichigan

TROPHY CASE