We bring you another TBB Buzz post with 2021 Amex offers, a great financial to-do list, the Capitol riot blowback continues, a recipe search engine, we travel to more places, learn more about the amazing octopus, we listen to an amazing message by Arnold the Terminator Governator, a must read article about the current state of (crazy) investing, we learn how scams work with unemployment insurance, not much to add about Covid today as the numbers continue defying gravity, a great article about the new geopolitics of China, learn more facts and holy crap, it has only been 11 days in 2021 and it already feels like 11 months!
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BLOG HOUSEKEEPING:
This goes out to subscribers via email the day it is posted at 8 am. After that I may add something new in the body of the post and I indicate it like this: Update.
If you are not into the frequent flyer miles/points game please feel free to skip the MILES & POINTS and most of the BLOG BUZZ section.
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TOP PICKS
Top picks are not excerpted at all. I recommend you find time to read every word!
WOW!
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s message to fellow Americans
This is here for a reason, a voice of reason in a completely upside down investing landscape…
What We Already Know About Investing in 2021
Scammer in Nigeria shows over Zoom how he does it…Yikes!
How scammers siphoned $36B in fraudulent unemployment payments from US
MILES & POINTS
HOT CREDIT CARD OFFERS: 75k Chase Ink Cash, 75k Chase Ink Unlimited, 70k Chase United Explorer, 100k Chase Ink Business Preferred, 60k Chase Sapphire Preferred, 80k for all three personal Southwest cards, 60k Citi Premier, 65k AA CitiBusiness Platinum Select, 50k AA Citi Platinum Select, 20k Chase Freedom Flex & Chase Freedom Unlimited, 75k Amex Platinum, 60k AMEX Gold, 50k Chase World of Hyatt, 150k AMEX Hilton Aspire, 130k AMEX Hilton Business & Hilton Surpass, $300 AMEX Blue Cash Preferred, $300 AMEX Blue Cash Everyday, 140k IHG Rewards Club Premier, 100k IHG Rewards Club Traveler, 100k AMEX Marriott Business, 125k AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant. Please use my Affiliate links.
If you do not see a credit card with my affiliate links, perhaps I could refer you? Contact me please, thank you!
My REFERRAL links for the 100k Chase Ink Business Preferred, 75k Chase Ink Cash and 75k Chase Ink Business Unlimited.
These offers all expire on January 13: 125k Amex Bonvoy Brilliant (and Platinum status), 100k Amex Bonvoy Business (and Platinum status and $150), 70k Chase United Explorer, 140k Chase IHG Rewards Club Premier, 100k Chase IHG Rewards Club Traveler.
Newbies: Look at some of the credit card offers above…A bank will give you as a signup bonus thousands of miles/points for (sometimes) a no annual fee card or a card that waives the annual fee in the first year. You apply, you get approved, you get a card in the mail, you set up your account online, you do the minimum spend required and BOOM, you get thousands of miles/points in your account. After a year you get to decide if you want to keep the card. If it an annual fee card, you should call the credit card company and say you are thinking about canceling the card and ask if there are any retention bonuses. I have had several Citi American Airlines credit cards in my household and every year I always get statement credits equaling and sometimes surpassing the annual fee! In the meantime, you use the card and earn points for purchases with it. Sometimes, you earn more than 1 mile/point per dollar. At the end of the month you ALWAYS pay the credit card bill IN FULL. No, your credit score will not get killed; on the contrary, after several months it will likely go higher. You can then use the miles & points you earned to sometimes travel for free. It is not rocket science, it is just attention to detail, discipline, organization and good money skills. At this point, I would like to thank the US banks for awarding my family with tens of millions of airline miles and hotel points over my hacking career and I wish we would get back to the old days when the signup bonuses may have been smaller but the awards would get you A LOT further than these days.
Without much travel going on and banks buying gazillions of miles and points from the airlines and hotels to keep them afloat, it is not a coincidence that we are seeing really excellent travel rewards credit card offers with juicy signup bonuses. Which remains the “heart” of this hobby. Enjoy it while the going is good I guess. Here is American Express: Guide To All Of Their 2021 Spending Offers & Benefit Enhancements.
I can gift a reader Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President’s Circle elite status until January 31, 2022. All I ask is that you post a comment or email me and tell me one thing you like and one thing you would like to see my blog improve. I will pick the one that moves me, so to speak. I will then contact the winner with the information I need. If you post a comment in this post, please leave behind your email address (not seen by anyone else) so I can contact you. I will not do anything else with your email address, I don’t do spam shit.
TRAVEL
Looks like the airlines all have had it with them emotional animals: JetBlue Joins American, Alaska in Changing Rules for Emotional Support Animals.
There are some wonderful places in this list! 52 Places to Love in 2021. Among them, Isfahan in Iran which I visited in 2016 and sometime this decade I will finish the trip report lol!
Meanwhile, there was a huge snowstorm in Madrid!
For some reason, it was a slow weekend as far as travel goes without much material worthy to make the cut to make it into my blog, so please allow me to bring you the picture of famous Chapel Rock at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in the Michigan Upper Peninsula from our road trip this summer…
COVID-19
Meanwhile, another one! Another new coronavirus variant found in Japan.
Meanwhile, Facebook friend posted he has Covid. I never liked his pictures from his recent trips smh. This is not the time to get out there people, have some respect for the exhausted medical professionals in jammed pack hospitals WTF!
Email from my doctor’s office. “We don’t have any vaccines, stop calling us please!”.
We keep breaking new records, it is beyond depressing…
PERSONAL FINANCE
This is a really good to-do list to get your financial house in order: Your 2021 Financial To-Do List.
And here is another list of 15 easy financial wins. And we are all about REAL winning around here! 😉 Easy Wins. If you are not doing #2 at least, you should leave now!
Stop listening to people online bragging how they got rich with Tesla stock and Bitcoin. Actually, just stop bragging about anything! Ok, maybe it is okay to brag a little about your kids or grandkids but I would stop there. And DIVERSIFY! Because…
CURRENT EVENTS/POLITICS
I am still angry about what happened on January 6, a day that will live in infamy!
You know, when you lose Pinterest, you realize you must be tired of so much #winning LOL: All the platforms that have banned or restricted Trump so far. And the blowback continues in vengeance and I love it! No fly lists, fired from jobs, companies abandoning the Trump campaign, its entities and the politicians who objected to the continued lies of a stolen election and more, keep them coming! And lock them all up, this can NOT be forgotten! And all the assholes rampaging our Capitol and causing so much destruction and death and damage internationally for a very long time…at least it is time to pay now mfers…you weren’t so bright, you didn’t think this through hey? Just like you were so angry at the BLM protesters for rioting, why would you be treated so differently huh?
Warning: This is a disturbing video. These people must pay. More importantly, the sycophant enablers! Inside the US Capitol as Trump supporters storm building.
This is a running list of all of Trump’s atrocities, 1,046 and counting. Warning: It is yuge! Lest We Forget the Horrors: A Catalog of Trump’s Worst Cruelties, Collusions, Corruptions, and Crimes.
I found this here and it just sums up perfectly what I always wondered about these people:
ODDZ & ENDZ
As you probably know by now, I love these links with educational nuggets like this: ‘Today I Learned’: 50 Interesting Things People Didn’t Learn At School.
While we were all distracted with the virus misery and Trump shenaningans, there have been some huge developments over in China. Of course we won’t know what will actually happen. It was never about just soybeans you know. China’s Radical New Vision Of Globalization.
I am starting to think that the octopus came from outer space! Octopus And Squid Evolution Is Officially Stranger Than We Could Have Ever Imagined. I have given up eating octopus out of respect. But over the weekend I had some squid. Fried. And it was delicious!
Actually, this is an excellent Recipe Search Engine.
BLOG BUZZ
We are now entering BLOG BUZZ, a section for advanced hobbyists and veterans of this fast imploding hobby and also a section where I go on and on about some stuff that happens in my life because it helps me feel better about myself.
Grant lays out the rationale behind the fact He Paid $3,820 in Credit Card Annual Fees in 2020 – Was it Worth it?
Looks like Virgin Atlantic did not like all the negative press and will get to do this after the pandemic: Kinda Good News! Virgin Atlantic Rolls Back Some Points Devaluations.
Hilton Diamonds were supposed to gift Gold status, I never got the email. I have Diamond status from the Amex Hilton Aspire card. Anyone else, what to do?
My running recovery had a relapse from Level 3 to Level 2 of ramping it up progress sheet I am following. So frustrating, seeing the doc for follow up visit in ten days, leaning towards to tell her to give me that cortizone shot, if I could get 3 good years out of it like last time I am in!
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Okay George… what do we need to do to get you to finish up that trip report? (Besides clicking your link, of course)
Good morning George, thanks for linking to my CC AF post. How much did you pay in annual fees in CCs in 2020? Have a great day 🙂
Good morning!
Sorry about your running relapse but maybe your body is telling you something.
@ Nick: Every time I think I will get to Part II (after landing in Tehran) something more important comes up. Thinking of going to the Hyatt Place to actually spend a night there and start it 🙂
@ Grant: I think I am scared to look actually 🙂 but I don’t think they are as high as yours…With the Buzz posts now twice a week and more 2020 Lists posts ready to go (I think I have two or three more) it may be a while before I ever get to that…and with the 2020 tax season right around the corner, likely not going to happen.
@DML: I think you have a point but I am too stubborn to admit it that having a shot to make it into the Senior Olympics may be over for me, sad!
I got the same email from my Doctor’s office. No vaccine available via them yet anyhow but when it is, it will be the Moderna one. Don’t care if I have to walk uphill through the snow BOTH ways, soon as I can I am getting my shots!
Sorry about the running relapse. My lady friend is having great troubles with getting ready for an April race, and this after several setbacks over the last year. Getting older is not for the weak or weak of heart!
As far as the trip report, you’ve already told a lot about it over the years and even beforehand. Let it go. Look forward, not back.
Have a great week, Tax season looms, so enjoy now while you can! Me, no worries, I’ve got a guy that does mine and maybe it is overspending, but ever since my last guy saved my ass and over $20k from the IRS and THEIR mistake, and a couple years before that saved me on a $30k bill from the state of CA, well, I see the value of having a guy who KNOWS their stuff!
Been changing my whole system of earning points and changing cards and letting go of some. Nowhere near the AF amount that Grant paid as I let some cards go, but it is working better and I am making it easier for my style of life and travel once it ever comes back and I feel safe about doing it!
Take care of the knees and hips and what-not!
Just saw a journalist got the Russian vaccine, not sure how, he said he was going to take his chances. Another guy on FB said he went to a location where they had vaccines near the end of their appt times and told him, come in, there are always a few cancellations. Interesting…but what happens at the 2nd dose??
Yeah, it has been very frustrating dealing with this bulging disk shit. Leaning towards getting another shot, it worked last time and was good for 3 awesome running years #developing
At this point of my life, no time for MS stuff, just want to keep things under control and simple most of all. Simple for us hobbyists is still hellishly complex for normal people LOL.
Israel offered a similar opportunity, at then end of the day, folks could just show up and get any left over vaccine (each vial has extra material).
If the public sector asked, thousands would volunteer and help out. I’ve drawn blood many times. Vaccination is comparatively easy and we can do it 24/7. The vials are there. You just an epi pen (or nurse/MD in the room) in case someone has an anaphylactic shock. Again, I blame this on the Fed government, the states and the medical universities . All of us would love to help out and end the pandemic ASAP.
Sad!
Good morning George, thanks for the financial links, always helpful.
Would have been great to be in Madrid for the snowstorm.
Apparently we live in the richest country on earth. I think it’s time we really invested in education instead of pretending, as the insurrectionists are the same group telling us that Covid is a hoax.
Eeeeesssshhhh, when will this end? Perhaps time in a library in Guantanamo might help.
Good luck with the healing process!
A congresswoman tested positive today. She was hunkered down in hiding from the patriots in a room with Republican colleagues who refused to fucking wear a mask…I mean, wtf can you say, so many assholes elected by morons.
And the dude below voted for Trump, he is embarrassed now trying to change his tune…kind of late.
George it is true! Getting rich is the best revenge!!!
Thank you…..
Tim Cook
Elon
Lisa Su
Jensen Huang
and Jeff Bezos (even though I cannot stand you for dumping your wife for that plastic surgery freak, status climber), thanks for all the AMZN dough you made me and the 1 day delivery.
and most of all…. Jerome Powell
I know Richard Branson (my condolences, Dick) is in morning, does anyone know how much he is asking for that Island.
Keep plugging those credit cards……FYI, I have never voted for anyone period, F Trump and all the rest of the politicians….just the $$$$/stock market…. that is all that counts. My life is not going to change no matter who is in office. Life is too short to get worked up about everything you read on the internet George. Smoke a doobie, I say.
Peace and Love
Your Pal Ramsey
ps Shout out to my pal Sam, he gets it.
You get rich by NOT wasting your money on caffe latte. For Elon Musk, that’s about 30B cups.
TBB readers: Do I let the comment above stand?
The Ramsey comments I mean.
I guess nobody gives a phuck about Hertz around here. Maybe it is time to buy the stock LOL.
Question: I am Hilton Diamond with the Amex Aspire card. I never got the notice to gift status to anyone I want. How was that sent, via email? From Amex or Hilton? Or is there a link online to do this? Anyone?
I got the email 12/14 with the title ‘You have gold status to give’ from Hilton.
It includes this link: https://www.hiltonhonors.com/en_US/gift-status-hilton-gold/
Along with a claim code
Thanks! Logged into my HH account, tried the Chat feature, agent told me to send email to
priorityletter@hilton.com
with my HH # and name/Hh# of person to gift Gold status to.
Looks like in 5-10 business days son will become Gold…not that it makes any difference with the way the vaccines are going…
“Full Data From Late-Stage Trials Show China’s Sinovac Covid-19 Vaccine to Be 50.4% Effective“
How will China get herd immunity with that?
By continuing to do what they are doing…A breakout happens and BOOM…they immediately attack it WITH the cooperation of the people, wanted or not 🙂
Meanwhile…will we break 250,000 cases today…how long can our medical staff do this with over 100k patients for almost 50 days in a row…
It is madness!
Meanwhile, client is a retired nurse, she is getting her shot next week. Neighbor is a firefighter….he told her 50% of his colleagues refused the vaccine…Folks, get used to this life, I am reconsidering my Hyatt Globalist plans and hoping for an extension at this rate…
Is this how you HODL Bitcoin?
“Stefan Thomas has two guesses left to figure out a password that is worth about $220 million. He is one of the many people who are locked out of their Bitcoin fortunes, with an estimated $140 billion in lost or otherwise stranded digital wallets.”
https://t.co/thdHaixBq8
I think that Bitcoin inventor Yamamoto dude has the master password LOL.
Article says he has 2 remaining attempts before the data gets encrypted permanently. He should live-stream his remaining attempts. I’d pay at least 1 dollar to watch.
Hi, since you are actually asking, I really enjoy your site, especially the links that teach us stuff. If there’s something I dislike, it’s the whining, using the phu… word, ranting about tpg or your president. Although tpg is lately basically useless, sometimes they have a good article, especially about aviation. Regarding president trump, I am apolitical and really don’t care, since I don’t live in the states.
I read once one of your earlier posts, several years old, and I think you were humbler then. Don’t take it bad, but maybe you can be a bit more humble. Anyway I enjoy your work and appreciate it!
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Do you want that Hertz status? Not sure if you were throwing your hat into the ring, please let me know.
The whining has stopped cold, only buried in the comments, not in the body of the blog. I will try to control the F words but that will be more difficult. The ranting was way more in previous years, not sure how long you are around here but still get people telling me they miss it 🙂 When you say you are apolitical…you do vote or you just don’t care. I am going to miss Trump around here, he provided so much material…sorry, this is mostly a US thing, I just try to add good stuff in the CURRENT EVENTS/POLITICS section, you can always skip it. Regarding TPG, if there were so many staff writing there every day, I guess one article or two per month could stand out.
I have always been the same amount of humble imho. Of course I am biased.
Hi, sorry for taking so long to answer. Regarding the hertz status, I really don’t know how useful it would be for me, since I really don’t rent cars so much. Give it to someone who could benefit from it.
It’s great that you stopped the whining, and I appreciate it that you will try to end the f word or the ph word… it’s important for me and I guess also for some other readers,
Anyway, thanks for your posts.