Another TBB post featuring the most eclectic links around the web such as how to compound career bets, the real AI, Apocalypse early warning system, the best Lake Michigan beaches, century of stock market winners, there is no Trump IRA out there, independent writing in the age of AI, Iran’s new grand strategy, stealing lots of cheese, the greatest bird names of all time, we travel to Nepal and the deepest caves, all the USA World Cup goals and WC ticket gouging, the best photography links and of course always all of the most important developments in the crazy world of frequent flyer miles and points at the lower half of the post. And much more. Enjoy the weekend.
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This blog started way back in 2012 focusing on my crazy hobby addiction of traveling with frequent flyer miles, hotel and bank points. It has since evolved to curated posts featuring the best web content along with my commentary.
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BLOG HOUSEKEEPING
This is truly a one man labor of love operation, enjoy it while it lasts.
If you were receiving new blog posts in your email and suddenly the emails stopped arriving, perhaps Google is doing its thing again relegating them to the Junk/Spam folder. Can you look in that folder for dates on each Friday and if you find one of my emails in there, please mark it as “Not spam”, thank you.
It is very likely the blog will have a new refreshed look next week. And there may be an interruption in emails coming so if you do not get one next Friday at 8 am please surf over here. Or just bookmark my site and come back here to comment about each World Cup game, it is going to be wild!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Fatigue, discomfort, discouragement are merely symptoms of effort.” – Morgan Freeman
MUST READ GEMS
My kids and some of their friends read my blog. So, I want to single out this career advice article to them. And to anyone under 30, you are welcome:
The Career Bets That Compound (And the Ones That Don’t)
PERSONAL FINANCE
There is some excellent personal finance advice here: f.a.q speed round, long weekend edition. Straight in your face answers to these questions:
1. “Surely there’s some trick to paying less taxes?”
2. “I’m nervous about the market. Should I sell everything and wait it out?”
3. “My parents are getting older. It sucks. What should I do?”
4. “What’s the best way to give money to my kids?”
5. Do I have enough money to retire?
…The real question here is less “Can I retire?” and more “What would my life actually look like if I did?” Which is partly a financial question and partly an identity question…A surprising number of people spend decades preparing financially for retirement and almost no time preparing psychologically for it.
Very interesting research findings presented in this article: A Century of Stock Market Winners–And Why Most Stocks Failed to Deliver. The compound buy-and-hold return to the entire U.S. stock market over more than 100 years was 1,504,057%. Yet the median individual stock lost money.
Key Findings:
1. The Market Won Big, Most Stocks Didn’t, but a Few Won Spectacularly.
2. Wealth Creation was Shockingly Concentrated: $91 Trillion—Created by Just 3.7% of Companies
3. Wealth Concentration Is Getting Worse, Not Better
4. Time and Compounding: The Great Equalizers
And here are Five Takeaways That Should Change How You Think About Markets:
1. Diversification isn’t just prudent—it’s mathematically necessary.
2. The average return is not your likely return.
3. Time in the market is paramount—but only if you own the right assets.
4. Wealth concentration is increasing—and this matters for active investors.
5. Treasury bills are a tougher benchmark than most investors realize.
There is great confusion out there around Trump accounts and Trump IRAs. Once and for all: New “Trump IRA Is Fake News”.
CRYPTO/TECH/SCAMS
The May 2026 Ponzi Scheme Blog Roundup. It’s the typical collection of fraudsters doing frauds. But was there anything in there that stood out this time? Yes:
They used investor funds for personal expenditures including casino trips, whiskey club memberships, massages, and cryotherapy treatments rather than legitimate investments. [I understand casinos and massages. But whiskey club memberships and cryotherapy? GTFOH!]
Frost marketed the company heavily through conservative and Christian media outlets, branding it as part of a so-called “patriot economy” that would support small businesses and ministries while delivering annual investor returns of 8% to 16%. [Be a patriot, make 8% to 16% every year, Jesus!]
…he raised approximately $12.3 million from about 150 investors in a fraudulent scheme based on supposed proprietary AI-based trading bots that would engage in high-frequency arbitrage in trading crypto assets. [I have warned here numerous times to run away when you see the word ‘proprietary’. You add to that AI and trading and arbitrage and crypto? You know, I don’t feel sorry for anyone falling for this then, come on!]
Rip.so. The Digital Graveyard. Cool site.
AI
Maybe all is not lost for writers? Especially independent writers like me here? The independent writer’s advantage in the age of AI. Sure hope so…Oh, I like the last idea below, charisma and weirdness baby oh yeah.
The value of summary will go down, and the value of secrets will go up
The value of static content will go down, and the value of live interaction will go up
The value of bureaucracies will go down, and the value of founders will go up
The value of polish is going to go down and the value of personal charisma and style and weirdness is going to go up
Booing graduation ceremony speakers when they mention AI is becoming a thing? Harvard Graduation Speaker Unloads on AI in Profanity-Loaded Tirade,Prompting Cheers From Students: “I’m Here to Tell You the Mission of Your Generation Is to Destroy AI”.
From Seth’s Blog, short and sweet: The Real AI.
To quote the great Steve Wozniak, “Actual Intelligence.” The kind we’re born with and can develop if we choose. It’s worth more now than ever before. Alas, it’s rarely taught in school.
The difficult work of making choices
The act of curation [Talking to me?]
Seeking justice
Offering dignity
Knowing when to stop
Investing in deep empathy, not a shallow substitute
Making something that matters
Caring
IRAN WAR
The non sense is still going on…of course, did you expect anything different?
Must read if you are interested in Iran. The generation running things now in that country is not the Khomeini zealots anymore: Iran’s New Grand Strategy.
Rather than breaking Iran, the crucible of war has transformed it in unanticipated ways. To survive and establish new strategic advantages, the Islamic Republic had to adapt and innovate, changing how it waged war, ran the state, and managed society. And it had to do so with unprecedented speed. Tehran is now confident in what it has achieved and determined to consolidate those gains at home and abroad. The war has given rise to a new Iran, one that will reshape the Middle East and influence the course of geopolitics for years to come.
ODDZ & ENDZ
Stealing cheese is apparently big business, wow. The Grate Cheese Robbery. One of the most surprising articles I have read recently, I had no idea that cheese is the most stolen food in the world.
Fun Site! Apocalypse Early Warning System. Well, not until it hits 4/5 or 5/5 that is. Amazing what you find online these days:
In the event of an imminent nuclear apocalypse, we suspect that many people who have access to private jets will immediately take to the skies and escape city centers. This site tracks this indicator in realtime. The current emergency level is reported on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being an indicator of a likely imminent apocalypse.
Time to laugh reading some of these bird names: The 100 Greatest Bird Names of All Time. My favorites, what are yours?
Screaming Cowbird
Oleaginous Hemispingus
Chaco Chachalaca
Diabolical Nightjar
Horned Screamer
Browse thousands of free TV channels from around the world: TV Explorer.
Doors of Chicago. Amazing doors for your beautiful eyes.
TRAVEL
I am doing my best to boost domestic tourism in Michigan: 12 Best Lake Michigan Beaches for White Sand, Dunes, and Unforgettable Views Across 4 States.
Travel guides for…architecture fans, interesting: Avontuura.
Interesting new outfit, not that many properties on board yet:
With the tagline: The First Global Network of Homes Designed for Training and Recovery. Unlike traditional booking platforms, Time Chamber Homes lets you book a private room in a carefully selected home that always includes a gym, a sauna, a cold plunge, and the
opportunity to connect with other athletes and entrepreneurs.
Video from Nepal, including being at a funeral and…you won’t believe what happened next.
Did you know the deepest caves are in Georgia/Abkhazia? I sure didn’t! Things you learn reading this blog: The World’s Deepest Caves.
2026 WORLD CUP
I have managed to download and enter all the games in my Google calendar. I need to change my sleeping pattern to be able to stay up late to watch them all. Always so exciting as we are counting down the days before the greatest show on earth begins!
Here we have the 2026 World Cup Squad lists for all 48 teams. Two players for Congo played for my Greek hometown soccer team this year so I am rooting for them. I also see several players from the Greek soccer league as well.
Go Team USA! UNFORGETTABLE USA goals at the FIFA World Cup. When we look back at that Donovan goal we were talking about USA winning it all one day. Which is likely not going to happen in our lifetime or ever most likely. Actually, I hope this year’s team does not implode and somehow can make it past the first round.
To get an idea how tough it was to score WC tickets this time, read this and weep: Ten Months of Searching and $970 a Pop: One Dad’s World Cup Ticket Nightmare.
Mexico has goalie Ochoa. World Cup would not be held without this guy, he is always there! Sometimes he would go without a club team but World Cup time comes and zing, he is on the national team. Every time, amazing, what a legend: Mexican goalkeeper Ochoa set for historic sixth World Cup. I always liked the Mexican team, love the underdogs when they get to the second round and fall fighting lol. I do not like them against Team USA of course.
Please be kind to all the players in the WC teams who get injured just before it begins.
This blog started with a focus on miles and points and travel. It has evolved since then. Everything below deals with the hobby of collecting frequent flyer miles and points and maximizing your travel experiences. If you are not interested, you can stop here, thank you.
MILES & POINTS
So, here we go again…
The Athens Hilton is gone and we now have in its place Conrad Athens, the Ilisium. Which just opened and here is one of the first reviews, it looks great. I had some great stays in the old Hilton and looking to return here one day to recapture the old magic.
My hometown of Ann Arbor, Michigan is still undergoing a hotel explosion. To come soon: new Hampton Inn and Homewood Suites.
Register HERE for the latest Wyndham Rewards promotion.
Have you been noticing how the negative news in this hobby vastly outnumbers the positive news? And yet, so many online content creators are so cheerful trying to sell you yet another travel rewards card so they can get paid? Anyway, the hits never stop:
AA has stealth devalued TATL flights on metal by about ~6500 (65000 to 71500)
The more accounts you open with banks the higher the probability to have problems like this: Bask Bank Data Breach – Name & Social Security Number Included. Can’t believe there are still people out there opening new bank accounts for a $100 bonus or so. Not worth the hassle, I don’t get out of bed for a bank bonus that is less than $1,000 these days lol.
TRAVEL REWARDS CREDIT CARDS
For ANY questions on travel rewards credit cards, contact me anytime at travelbloggerbuzz@gmail.com
If I get this question one more time I am going to #$@^!: Is it bad for your credit score to open so many credit cards?
This is a positive: Chase Ink Referral Bonuses Increased to 40K, 200K Annual Limit. But do not forget that Chase gives away these points ONLY if the applicant is a NEW business customer. Which eliminates many of us. So, you can be first if you use my own referral link to help support the blog, thank you.
BEST CHASE BUSINESS CARD REFERRAL LINK THAT EXISTS RIGHT NOW ONLINE BY FAR
LATEST OFFERS:
Probably the best credit card offer right now but it expires June 14, huuuuuurry:
150k CHASE Sapphire Reserve: $795 Annual Fee. 150,000 points after spending $6,000 in the first three months
A whole bunch of new offers for Delta Skymiles, all expiring on 7/15/26.
90k AMEX Delta Skymiles Gold: Minimum spend is $5,000 over six months
100k AMEX Delta Skymiles Platinum: Minimum spend is $6,000 over six months
125k AMEX Delta Skymiles Reserve: Minimum spend is $9,000 over six months
90k AMEX Delta Skymiles Gold Business: Minimum spend is $6,000 over six months
100k AMEX Delta Skymiles Platinum Business: Minimum spend is $8,000 over six months
125k AMEX Delta Skymiles Reserve Business: Minimum spend is $15,000 over six months
There are three certainties in life: Death, taxes and always revolving new Chase Southwest credit card offers, the latest: Chase Southwest Personal Cards: 80,000-90,000 Points Signup Bonus.
- Southwest Priority ($229 fee): Earn 90,000 pointsafter you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Southwest Premier ($149 fee): Earn 85,000 points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Southwest Plus ($99 fee): Earn 80,000 pointsafter you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
150k AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Business PLUS $125 Statement Credit: $125 Annual fee, minimum spend $8,000 in the first six months. For more info on the card’s benefits click HERE. (ENDING JULY 15, 2026)
125k CHASE Marriott Bonvoy Boundless + 1 Free Night: Minimum spend is $3,000 over three months.
185k CHASE IHG One Rewards Premier:$99 annual fee. 150,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first three months. And another 35,000 points after spending a total of $6,000 in the first six months.
125k CHASE IHG One Rewards Traveler: No annual fee. 90,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 in the first three months. And another 35,000 points after spending a total of $4,000 in the first six months.
150k CAPITAL ONE Venture Business: $95 annual fee. 75,000 miles when they spend $7,500 in the first 3 months, plus an additional 75,000 miles when they spend $30,000 in the first 6 months. Two separate $50 credits: travel credit and advertising/software credit. 2x on every purchase and 5x on hotels and rental cars booked on the Capital One travel portal. $120 Global Entry/TSAPreCheck credit. Shockingly, this card will NOT report to personal credit bureaus. ENDING JUNE 8, 2026
50k CAPITAL ONE VentureOne Business: No annual fee. $4,500 minimum spend in first three months. 1.5x on every purchase and 5x on hotels and rental cars booked on the Capital One travel portal.
As High As 200,000 Points on the AMEX Business Gold after spending $15k in the first three months
100,000 BANK OF AMERICA Atmos Summit after spending $6,500 in the first three months. And a 50% flight discount voucher
80,000 BANK OF AMERICA Atmos Ascent after spending $4,000 in the first four months. And a 50% flight discount voucher
85,000 BANK OF AMERICA Atmos Business after spending $5,500 in the first three months
75k CITI AAdvantage Business World Elite MasterCard
175k AMEX Platinum & 300k AMEX Business Platinum
75k CITI Strata Elite card
Due to credit card vendor restrictions, the only affiliate links I can place in the body of my posts are for Capital One cards. You can always email me at travelbloggerbuzz@gmail.com with ANY questions.
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MY ACTION AND BLOG BUZZING
I have not had time to do any more award searching for next trip to SE Asia. And my award alerts set in Points Yeah, well, pretty much crickets. Let me rephrase that. I did some award searching on the AirCanada Aeroplan site to beat the June 1 devaluation. And what I found was absolutely horrible. We are talking over 300k miles for one way Business Class fares lol. I mean, are the airlines trying to mimic Delta or what? So when a few hits returned business class fares for 87.5k miles I initially got excited. Only to be greeted with “2% Business Class” WTF! Which only shows up when you click on that fare smh. These were the short flights to either Chicago or Toronto from Detroit, the long legs to Asia in Economy. After ovenighting in some airports on the way to Asia. My Google Flights alerts sometimes return a hit for $4k fares in Business Class and I am getting psychologically prepared to actually do this and, I gotta tell you, it is a little weird lol.
I liked the movie Pressure. I am noticing movie theaters are getting more crowded.
The house renovations are nearing the end. And I am exhausted. I can’t believe how people build houses from scratch, so many decisions wow! And when it gets to furniture…forgetdabout it.
I am meeting a client couple in Cleveland on Sunday morning, they are in town for the Brazil vs Egypt international friendly World Cup warm up game. And guess what, no Hyatt rooms available, WTF! No, I am not going to burn 11,500 World of Hyatt points for a premium suite at that Hyatt Regency at the Arcades property I stayed in last year. Of course I would jump all over it if it was just 11,500 points. But it was a Points & Cash rate. And the cash rate was $500+. Can you imagine the prices during the actual World Cup games? I could book a Hyatt Place for 10,000 points in Canton…just a “short” one hour away, nope. I think I am just going to drive then.
Been using wife’s new Schwab Amex Platinum card already. Schwab credit, check. Lululemon credit, check, One Resy Credit, check. Uber Eats (pickup), check. Enrolled in Priority Pass already and got her the Gold elite status for Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy. YouTube premium entertainment credit to be done shortly. And looking for an FHR hotel in Singapore, any suggestions?
The blog will soon have a new look/logo. What I am not sure is which is going to happen first, the new look or the killing of my credit card links for low sales volume again smh. Whatever it is, it is time for a refresh here, it has been ages and I do care about your beautiful eyes. Going to look something close to this by the way, without the fiverr.com reference of course lol.
I transferred my Chase Ultimate Rewards points from my Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card to World of Hyatt before making the call to cancel the card later today. I was able to use up only about $450 of the card credits, how sad. Just the easy $300 travel credit, the two $50 Gift Card redemption and some Door Dashes…and that’s it. I could not get the stupid The Edit hotel credits to work, not even close. Good riddance, Chase continues its descent. They don’t give a phuck anymore, they are #1 and they know it. Heck, in less than a week with the Schwab Amex Platinum card we are already at the same level of credits than what it took to get there on the Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card a whole year!
Here is us taking $100 off a Resy restaurant in downtown Ann Arbor. We haven’t been here since Covid. Good to see this place still makes killer fish tacos. Black Pearl, thank me later.
I haven’t had the time to make any new posts on Instagram and YouTube last week. At this rate how am I ever going to take this “venture” to the next level? Ok, don’t answer that. Been focusing on the real job to clear up space for the World Cup #priorities.
To the younger readers and pretty much everyone, protect your hearing! It is so precious. I am paying for all the head banging in concerts in my youth. Come to think of it, the two activities I loved, loud music and marathon running, I over did both it appears and I took myself out of them. Sad but it is what it is I guess. Maybe I keep this blogging thing a bit longer?
I am on a holding pattern right now whether I go for 60 nights to requalify for World of Hyatt Globalist status…
Award searching just continues to be dismal, wife has been asking to book her tickets to Malaysia as prices keep going higher, and on it goes…
I just can’t believe the New York Knicks are here and likely going to win the NBA championship, unreal!
Check out my page listing my affiliate links HERE including Rakuten and Top Cash Back and Rove Miles and more.
HOT CREDIT CARD OFFERS:
150k CHASE Sapphire Reserve Business, 150k CHASE Sapphire Reserve (ENDS 6/14/26), 75k CITI Strata Elite, 75k CAPITAL ONE Venture Rewards, 100k CHASE Ink Business Preferred, 175k AMEX Platinum, 75k CAPITAL ONE Venture X, 300k AMEX Business Platinum, 80k – 90k CHASE Personal Southwest Cards, 200k AMEX Business Gold, 200k CAPITAL ONE Spark Cash Plus, 75k CHASE Sapphire Preferred, 100k BofA Alaska Atmos Summit, 80k BofA Alaska Atmos Ascent, 85k BofA Alaska Atmos Business, 30k CHASE United Gateway, 100k AMEX Gold, 15k AMEX Blue Business Plus and many more!
As of today, I have burned 444,015 miles/points year to date (after burning 1,893,248 miles/points in 2025 and 2,027,816 in 2024) and have 4,157,782 miles/points in the bank.
Remember, you are NOT allowed to ever carry a credit card balance!
Let me leave you with this:
Some of the links are behind a paywall. You can try to read them using Archive.is.
Thank you for reading my blog. If you enjoy it please forward it to a family member or friend. Or Buy Me a Coffee, thank you!
Feel free to contact me anytime at travelbloggerbuzz@gmail.com, all feedback is very appreciated.
George
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First! Thanks for the posting and I am looking forward to the new look, though I am always happy with the current one. Starting to think to plan some travel once I get my heart procedure out of the way. Getting tougher to do though as I age. I told ya that before though I think.
Glad the kitchen thing is about done! I’ve done remodeling and such and it is always a pain!
Thanks for all the work you do putting this together. I truly appreciate it!
Carl wins again!
Thanks for the ponzi update link. I had to read that immediately. There was one that was “in business” for 20 years. Wow! That is discipline.
I read that Foreign Affairs article on Iran a few days ago. Interesting moment for them and I’m curious to see where they end up 10 years from now as it could go in a lot of different directions.
I guess I’m one of the few that thinks oil will hit $150 / barrel this year? People seem too relaxed right now. I think I said this before but right now it feels like about a month before COVID hit.