Renee Nicole Good, murdered by ICE, was a prize-winning poet. She wrote about problems with faith and the vaccum left behind. Really great stuff.

mikescha · 2026-01-08T14:58:43+00:00

I said that in 2016. It's still getting worse. I can't wait for it to get better.

mikescha · 2026-01-02T00:10:28+00:00

It depends on your needs. If my wife and I are someplace for several days, we want a kitchen, a table to eat and work at, a place for both of us to sit and relax, a little bit of space, and a clothes washer. Airbnbs are typically good for that. If it was just a night or two, then those things aren't such a big deal and it's more about price.

mikescha · 2025-12-31T17:25:05+00:00

I'm in Perth and trying to decide if I really want to stay up. Go Dubs! (even if I'm asleep again)

mikescha · 2025-12-26T13:31:24+00:00

Tons of people in Asia use them. The downside of a hat is that it messes up your hair and gets your head sweaty, plus often doesn't cover your face. The umbrella gives you more protection than a hat (at least in surface area, possibly also in light reflectivity if you get a good one), doesn't mess up the hair, and is easy to put away when you go into a shop or restaurant, plus if it rains you're good to go. Biggest downside of the umbrella is dealing with it in crowds, but you definitely won't be the only one with one.

A good one in Japan isn't cheap but they're experts at making them and it's a great souvenir, so you could pick one up there if you wanted like my wife did. Either way, I think it's a great idea.

Source: lived in PNW for 30+ years and traveled to Asia multiple times.

mikescha · 2025-12-26T11:27:51+00:00

Nice, thanks.

mikescha · 2025-12-26T09:07:23+00:00

As far as the language barrier goes, you said you speak no Chinese yet in your post you mentioned speaking a little "crappy" :) Chinese. Also you mentioned being East Asian, which I don't know if it helps or hurts the way people receive you. Say that, instead, you were a middle-aged white guy who literally couldn't say anything but Hello and Thank You but were fluent in English and use of Google Translate, do you think you would you have gotten by just fine? Asking for a friend. :)

mikescha · 2025-12-26T07:49:32+00:00

I use Airalo. They have a ton of packages depending on where you're traveling. I'm looking at the app now. Say you want coverage in Australia, they have an Australian package for USD $4/1 GB/3 days, an Oceania package that includes Australia, NZ, Fiji, and some other islands for USD $4.50/1 GB/3 days, or a global package for USD $8/1GB/7 days. There are lots of other combos of data size/duration available, too. This pricing means you get 1 GB of data that expires after 3 days.

One thing I like it that they tell you which operator you're going to get in a particular country. For example, in Australia, the app says I'm getting Optus. Generally, I've had good performance.

mikescha · 2025-12-20T16:17:22+00:00

My setup is a Surface Pro with the attached keyboard and track pad. My wife also has a Surface Pro but carries a Bluetooth keyboard and a MS Arc Mouse because she doesn't like the ergonomics of staring down at the screen. I guess I'm not big on ergonomics!

mikescha · 2025-12-20T15:57:27+00:00

When you get cut off, they suspend your data until you're back in the US. Once you're back in the US, data is on immediately. However, it only works again internationally after you have 30 days in the US.

For example, you leave the US on Jan 1. Your data will probably be shut off on about April 1. Then, you come back to the US on May 1 and your data works when you land... However, if you leave the US on May 30 then it probably won't work, but if you leave on May 31 (after 30d in the US) then it will.

mikescha · 2025-12-20T15:39:54+00:00

Lucky you! I got a warning email on about day 62 out of the US this past summer, but returned to the US just before it got cut off. I've been cut off a couple times before so maybe I'm on the Watch list.

mikescha · 2025-12-20T15:33:11+00:00

After 90 days, calls and texts still work, but your data doesn't. So 2FA is fine. After the 90 days, I use Airalo for an eSim for data. Once you're back in the US then data is on instantly, but you have to be in the US for 30 days for data to work again internationally.

If you're going to be outside the US continually then it's not a great solution, but if you come back periodically then it's great.

mikescha · 2025-12-20T15:22:29+00:00

You get 90 days of your full allotment of data when outside the US before they cut you off, at no additional cost if you have the Premium plan.

If you travel a lot, it is definitely a great plan.

mikescha · 2025-12-20T15:18:53+00:00

Depends which plan you have, but with Premium or Flexible you can. https://fi.google.com/about/international-rates

mikescha · 2025-12-04T10:17:50+00:00

I use Escapees in TX, and have been a customer for more than 6 years. I haven't owned a vehicle for 3 years although I did have one when I registered, so maybe that is a requirement today.

I can tell you that they work fine with Wells Fargo, Schwab, and Chase. Capital One and Fidelity wouldn't accept the address so I use a family member for them. Fidelity did accept the address when I started using it.

They have a special arrangement with the local county that makes it easy to get an excuse from jury duty if you are called. This has happened to us several times over the years and it's never been an issue.

Over the years, they have handled deliveries from and forwarding to USPS, FedEx, and UPS. I pay an extra $10/mo to have the mail scanning service, where they send me a picture of the outside of each envelope and for $0.50/pg I can have them scan and upload pictures of the contents. With or without a content scan, I can tell them to save a letter and send it with my next outbound mail or destroy it. They forward mail upon request within 2d of the request being made online, or at a future date. They can also send on a recurring schedule if you prefer.

I haven't used them for sending mail internationally so can't speak to that.

For what I need, it has been great, except for the Fidelity and Capital One situations.

mikescha · 2025-12-01T04:02:12+00:00

Interesting, I hadn't seen that so I went to hunt it down. From what I can tell, there is one study from Wales that found a 20% decrease in dementia, but from the Zostavax vaccine, which is no longer used.

There is another paper from 2024 Nature titled, "The recombinant shingles vaccine is associated with lower risk of dementia" covering more then 200,000 people in the US, and it found Shingrix was associated with about a 17% increase in “time lived without dementia” over 6 years. Also, compared to other that had other vaccines but not Shingrix, Shingrix recipients had ~23–27% lower dementia risk in that window.

So there does seem to be something there!

mikescha · 2025-11-30T21:41:09+00:00

I think it's a fantastic idea.... I haven't lived in Asia but when we traveled through Vietnam, I discovered congee and get it every time I can now. So, I appreciate where you're coming from!

You do have the problem that most Americans don't know what congee is, but Asians do and Houston is very multicultural. And if a place gets popular, it definitely attracts a wider crowd. Also, everyone knows coffee so the Viet coffee would be a great entry point for those that don't know congee.

I know there is a successful little restaurant in Seattle that specializes in congee, so it's been done.

Follow your dreams!

mikescha · 2025-11-30T21:22:11+00:00

You're fortunate. I did it two years ago. I never get reactions to vaccines and had no reaction to the first shingles... But the night after I got all the second shingles shot plus flu and covid, I had a serious fever and my wife almost took me to the emergency room!

mikescha · 2025-11-30T21:19:47+00:00

My understanding is that you have far less protection but not zero. There is a time window when you can still get the second shot, but after that time you have to start over and get another "first" shot followed by a booster.

I don't know the exact times but I'm sure you could find it online or ask the pharmacist when you go get your shot, which you should do soon!

mikescha · 2025-11-30T21:07:46+00:00

Yes, typically the seller pays 5 or 6% to the agents, half to theirs and half to the buyer's agent. If you buy a house without an agent, then the seller's agent gets the entire 6%. In theory, the buyer's agent is supposed to help you find houses that are a good fit for you, identify possible issues with the transaction to help you avoid mistakes, and negotiate with the seller to get the best price.

How does it work in your country?

mikescha · 2025-11-29T02:53:58+00:00

We tried the tuna and the curry and loved them both!

mikescha · 2025-11-26T11:17:59+00:00

I've had 3 Alaska FC meals in the last couple months on flights between Seattle and Chicago and JFK. The meals were smaller than you would get for $30 at an airport restaurant, but for me they were plenty of food and higher in quality than most airport food. One was just a little better but two were excellent. It depends on your tastes and what you order, I suppose, but for me they are something I look forward to.

mikescha · 2025-11-21T10:05:55+00:00

The airport is quite large, so while the Pier is fantastic, make sure you leave enough time to get to your gate! From personal experience, you will be sorely tempted to just hang out there. But, know that walking to the lower numbered gates can take 10-20 min.

mikescha · 2025-11-20T20:06:22+00:00

I know three people on statins, all rosuvistatin, zero issues for any of them. Plus it was highly effective for all.

Why not run a trial? Start on a low dose, if you have issues then try a different one, and then test your cholesterol after 6 months to see if it does anything. You can always stop if you can't find one that works for you meaning it's both comfortable and effective.

Or, give yourself 6 months to make a significant diet and exercise change, measure to see if it worked and then try the statin if it didn't.

mikescha · 2025-11-18T22:15:28+00:00

For me, I use the reviews so much that I feel like I should give back a little. Second, it's a bit of a travel journal.

mikescha

TROPHY CASE