Another TBB post featuring the most eclectic links around the web such the new tax mantra with IRS, ClawCon and AllBirds, Artemis II best images, UofM Big House 5k Run, more alternative investments warnings, killed by Google, AI index report and Sam Altman expose, 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.
Blog Mission: To Educate. Entertain. Inspire. In That Order!
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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.
In case you missed it, I did publish my annual post: How I Burned 1,893,248 Miles and Points in 2025.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud” – Maya Angelou
PERSONAL FINANCE
This was to be expected. Just when we dealing with the IRS thought the agency was getting it back together. And then Doge mayhem and staff decimation and here we are: America’s New Tax Mantra: ‘The IRS Isn’t Going to Catch Me’. The battered Internal Revenue Service shed thousands of enforcement employees—and more taxpayers appear eager to cheat.
Check this out: How Poor Am I? Enter your income or wealth and discover where you really stand.
I have been reading the Wall Street Journal for decades and I am still subscribed to it. I love it as much as I can’t stand its Op-ed pages though, I cringe what I see there. And this was super cringe material indeed: “Trump May Turn Your 401(k) Into an Old-Fashioned Pension.” I will let you read this guy rip this crap to pieces: “Invest, OR WE’LL SUE!” Be on guard and watch your wallets!
If Alts could reliably- or even semi-reliably- be expected to improve results for investors, then employers wouldn’t need more legal protection to put them in plans. Good fiduciaries would already have done it. If you stay logical, focus on evidence, and don’t let yourself get drawn down partisan rabbit holes, you’ll see that Alternative Investments generally aren’t worth the bother.
I have been ranting about this for years. Here is me writing about it in the Wall Street Journal back on 2014: Do Alternative Investments Belong in Most Individuals’ Portfolios? Hmmm, maybe I should get a new photo lol.
A reminder, found here.
CRYPTO/TECH/SCAMS
We all know Google has killed lots of its products in the past. But did you know how many? The death count is actually 299 (and counting): Killed by Google. Google has shipped and retired 299 products since 2006. You probably loved at least seven of them, and forgot you ever did. This is in memory of them, and the people who built them.
AI
I never liked Sam Altman, there is something about him. And after reading this expose of him I feel…vindicated? Sam Altman May Control Our Future—Can He Be Trusted? New interviews and closely guarded documents shed light on the persistent doubts about the head of OpenAI. Why are so many rich tech bros such assholes?
Here is the 2026 AI Index Report brought to you by Stanford University. The top takeaways are:
1. AI capability is not plateauing. It is accelerating and reaching more people than ever.
2. The U.S.-China AI model performance gap has effectively closed.
3. The United States hosts the most AI data centers, with the majority of their chips fabricated by one Taiwanese foundry.
4. AI models can win a gold medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad but cannot reliably tell time—an example of what researchers call the jagged frontier of AI.
5. Responsible AI is not keeping pace with AI capability, with safety benchmarks lagging and incidents rising sharply.
6. The United States leads in AI investment, but its ability to attract global talent is declining.
7. AI adoption is spreading at historic speed, and consumers are deriving substantial value from tools they often access for free.
8. Formal education is lagging behind AI, but people are learning AI skills at every stage of life.
9. AI sovereignty is becoming a defining feature of national policy, but capabilities remain uneven, even as open-source development helps to redistribute who participates.
10. AI experts and the public have very different perspectives on the technology’s future, and global trust in institutions to manage AI is fragmented.
I saw in the local media that there was a ‘personal AI festival’ event in the basketball arena of the University of Michigan down the street from my house. I thought it was an event geared to the general public. I was wrong. It was something called ClawCon and it was very interesting, all centered around OpenClaw and AI agents. Tagline: “Join developers, founders, and creators building with OpenClaw“. I was way out of my league surrounded by so many techies. I feel like everything with AI is going way too fast and I am at an age where I am more interested in slowing down instead lol. Looks like an interesting community forming, here is the website for locals: ClawCon Michigan. Leaving my eyes saw this amazing double rainbow outside, do you think it was a sign from God to get my own AI agent? Please laugh…
Meanwhile, remember Allbirds shoes? The company was sold for peanuts and, please sit down, is pivoting to AI chips: Shoe company Allbirds pivots to AI compute in sign of a totally normal and healthy economy. Ooooookay.
IRAN WAR
I really like this guy’s writing at Gold and Geopolitics. Obviously I love geopolitics but was never into gold. Whatever, this is very entertaining reading about:
My Diary. PRIVAT, DO NOT READ, espesially Bibi
It starts out with this:
February 28
Started a war today. Told everyone it will be over by Tuesday. Everyone clapped.
And just never lets up, enjoy!
And then the next day it was followed up by this: Blockading the blockade.
Hopefully there is a deal soon #sayseveryoneexceptBibilol.
ODDZ & ENDZ
This is fun: Humans Map. An interactive graph that reveals the connections between public figures: politicians, journalists, entrepreneurs, intellectuals. Search for a public figure and navigate their network of connections. Click any node to expand its links.
For music lovers: Music-Map. Type the name of an artist to find it on the map. I have tested this and it is very accurate. And so much fun to check out the recommended artists you may not have been aware of.
I may have shared this link with you in the past. I recently came across it again and it is so good to appear here one more time. Let’s go deep, very very deep into The Deep Sea.
If Allbirds can pivot from shoes to AI chips, this blog can pivot from maps of humans and music and deep seas to…nipples: Man with “world’s strongest nipples” uses piercings to pull weight of two grand pianos. I am still shaking my head looking at this guy…
ARTEMIS II
One more week of this section and leave you the best for last:
TRAVEL
If you wanted to get away: 9 of the Most Remote Places on Earth That Are Worth Visiting. I definitely will make it to Antarctica one day.
Before you visit a new country, maybe a quick peak into this to get familiar with its culture and save you from doing something stupid is a good idea? Culture Atlas – Cultures.
If you are into sausages this is the link for you, you’re welcome: Planetwurst – The World Atlas of Sausages.
Beautiful art of, wait for it, Pan American Luggage Labels. Actually, one of these will look great in my renovated house. But there is no way in hell I am paying so much for them lol.
The Highest Point in Every State.
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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…
Hard to escape Marriott Bonvoy due to its mega size. So if you have some Bonvoy points this could be helpful and good luck: 10 Best Marriott Points Redemptions for Budget Stays.
The hits in our hobby keep coming. Ouch: Virgin Atlantic Hikes Fees (Again) on Award Tickets Up to 50%. Absolutely ridiculous. Bloggers/YouTubers pumping plastic with “fly free after you get credit cards using our affiliate links”, lol.
Spare us por favor, yikes! United Just Shut Most Star Alliance Passengers Out of Polaris Lounges.
Is it just me or is JetBlue just desperate? After being first increasing bag fess, now this? JetBlue adds surcharges on United international award tickets.
Have loyalty programs become way too successful? And companies are now getting greedy squeezing the members non stop? As I find myself sometimes still visiting Starbucks and I no longer bother with its loyalty program. And I stopped caring about Speedway’s program as the private equity company that bought it has killed any value in it. And these keep coming: McDonald’s Rewards Program Announces Devaluation. Not that this impacts me but I am sensing the consumers may be finally getting fed up to bother.
I have stayed several times at the Hilton in Athens, it has been around for ever. And it shut down some time ago for a massive restoration to come back as a Conrad. And it is almost here: Hilton Hotel’s new incarnation set for soft launch next week.
TRAVEL REWARDS CREDIT CARDS
For ANY questions on travel rewards credit cards, contact me anytime at travelbloggerbuzz@gmail.com
One of the worst cards ever is no longer, hooray! American Express Plum Card Has Been Discontinued.
A welcome move certainly, we can use more competition among banks: Wells Fargo Adds Wyndham As a 1:2 Transfer Partner. Then again, wanna bet how long it will be before Wells Fargo nerfs this?
NEW OFFERS:
Several excellent new credit card offers finally and have added expiration dates to some current offers, maybe this blog can sell a few to evade the ax? You can always email me to ask anything about these offers.
Capital One’s branding of its credit card portfolio has to be the most confusing in this space. Finally, the bank is getting rid of its Spark Miles and Spark Miles Select cards. I guess…that’s good? But it replaced them with, please sit down, Venture Business and VentureOne Business. Do not forget the bank has the Venture X and Venture X Business cards as well. I mean, WTF!
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.
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 cards booked on the Capital One travel portal.
Amex is going all out on both Business Platinum and Gold cards!
As High As 200,000 Points on the AMEX Business Gold after spending $15k in the first three months
As High As 300,000 Points on the AMEX Business Platinum after spending $20,000 in the first three months
Excellent new Bank of America Alaska Airlines Atmos card offers as well:
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
This great offer now ends May 20, 2026: Chase United Business Cards: 100,000 Point + 2,000 PQP Offers Or 115,000 Points.
200k CHASE IHG Business Premier: After spending $4k in the first three months for the first 140k points. Another $5k of spend (for a total of $9k) for another 60k points in the first six months, annual fee $99. For more info on it, click HERE. ENDING 4/30/2026.
25k CHASE Freedom Unlimited: After spending only $500 in the first three months, $0 annual fee. ENDING 4/30/2026.
175k AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Bevy: After spending $5,000 in the first six months, annual fee $250. ENDING 5/13/2026.
5 Free Nights AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Business: After spending a total of $9,000 in the first six months, annual fee $125.
For more info click on these AMEX Marriott Bonvoy cards click here.
80k CHASE World of Hyatt Business: After spending $10,000 in the first three months, annual fee is $199. For more info, click here. Highest ever offer as well, with higher minimum spend though. ENDING 4/30/2026.
75k CITI AAdvantage Business World Elite MasterCard
CURRENT OFFERS:
125k CHASE Sapphire Reserve/150k CHASE Sapphire Reserve for Business
175k AMEX Platinum & 300k AMEX Business Platinum& 200k AMEX Business Gold
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. For the rest, you know what to do. You can always email me at travelbloggerbuzz@gmail.com with ANY questions.
Please help the small independent blogs like mine continue to exist by supporting them with your CREDIT CARD clicks, thank you!
BONUS OFFERS NOTIFICATIONS
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MY ACTION AND BLOG BUZZING
I burned 10,000 Alaska Airlines miles to fly back from Seattle to Detroit. On a red eye flight. Because, I just could not pass this up. Old deal maximization habits die hard I guess. I still have Google Flight Alerts set to see if something better comes along, cash wise. Also another 45,000 Alaska Airlines miles were burned for a RT flight Honolulu – San Diego for son. And just like that I am already at over 300k miles/points burned year to date. Without even lifting a finger or two…
You all know how I feel about Bilt. Loved the dig at it at Miles Earn and Burn who commented on the recent crappy referral bonus Bilt started:
Bilt introduced a way to earn points through referrals to your enemies which is frankly quite innovative. Richard Kerr was quoted in my imagination as saying:
“We know that after failing to pay mortgages, numerous social media gaffs, and building the most obtuse rewards platform in history that you’d hesitate to refer our program to your friends and family, but we think you won’t have such qualms against your enemies. Now you can earn while you get revenge!”
I got bored and decided to have my wife apply for the (now expired) 75k CAPITAL ONE Venture Rewards card plus $250 travel credit. I did this last year while holding the Venture X card so I decided why not. It was less than six months after she got the Venture X so I already know the approval chances were very low. A denial was instant (been a very long time that for an outright card denial!) but the reason was different. Apparently the Venture product lineup is now in its own family and can’t have more than one? It’s getting really hard to keep up with them bank restrictions you guys. Back to laying low and…waiting. I must admit I like having fewer cards around and not spending as much time maintaining them. I must resist the urge to churn #easiersaidthandone.
I hope Spirit Airlines can somehow survive/emerge from another bankruptcy. And I sure hope it does not liquidate. I can see Delta and United executives are practicing to push the button to raise fares in all routes Spirit flies, the ones still around that is.
We have had some bad storms around here this week. And some tornado remnants landing here and there. Thankfully, our house did not even have a scratch. Our next door neighbor on the other hand lost his big tree in the front yard. Thankfully, it did not fall on the house!
Instagram Post: To celebrate Greek Easter we visited our favorite restaurant Dua Vino in South Lyon, Michigan for my favorite lamb chops. I somehow cut my wife off in that first pic, it looked fine when I posted it, oopsie. Here it is again. Maybe she applies for a job at TBB, Inc. after she retires? I can use some help around here!
Instagram Post: Run the University of Michigan Big House 5k Run again. Always a fun event. And it was not too cold again. 5k is the longest I can ran these days. Oh how do I miss running marathons. It is what it is…
YouTube Short: Running through the University of Michigan’s Big House tunnel and crossing the line in the 2026 Big House 5k Run.
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Check out my page listing my affiliate links HERE including Rakuten and Top Cash Back and Rove Miles and more.
This blog ends when my 2nd credit card vendor kicks me to the curb due to “low sales volume”. Or the latest three month accounting below turns to all red, whichever happens first. Until then, enjoy my blog if you read this far.
Blog Revenue Full Disclosure:
February:
Credit card sales: 1 Buy me a Coffee: 22
March:
Credit card sales: 4 Buy me a Coffee: 7
April to date:
Credit card sales: 2 Buy me a Coffee: 10
HOT CREDIT CARD OFFERS:
150k CHASE Sapphire Reserve Business, 125k CHASE Sapphire Reserve, 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, 200k AMEX Business Gold, 200k CAPITAL ONE Spark Cash Plus, 75k CHASE Sapphire Preferred, 200k AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant, 175k Marriott Bonvoy Bevy (ENDS 5/13/26), 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 321,515 miles/points year to date (after burning 1,893,248 miles/points in 2025 and 2,027,816 in 2024) and have 4,193,372 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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