Another TBB post featuring the most eclectic links around the web such as the shocking market turnaround, more Warren Buffett lessons, rampant AI cheating, Greek islands, more estate planning warnings, what it takes to buy a home in the US, two amazing stories about a bank robber and a serial scammer, random live cams and fun useless sites, superb Vietnam war photography, best Amtrak train routes, odd shaped countries, Uber lost & found stats, 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. Enjoy the weekend!
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BLOG HOUSEKEEPING
I am keeping the Warren Buffett section one more week.
PERSONAL FINANCE
There is really no way to be good in market timing, predicting what will happen in the short term. Maybe you get lucky once or twice, here and there. But to do it consistently is and will remain a fantasy. And yet, the vast majority of financial content that exists deals with stuff that happens in the short term. Which is a giant waste of time. And just like the WSJ interviewed readers who sold at the height of tariff panic, we now have the opposite article: These Investors Cashed In by Holding Firm When Markets Slumped. And look out for the next merry go round smh. Stick with your long term investment plan and process, stay diversified, rebalance at set intervals, keep the costs low and don’t do stupid tax moves. Rinse and repeat. Easy conceptually but so hard to pull off because, you know, greed and fear. Anything can happen in the short term. Markets always fluctuate and surprise us.
Make sure your beneficiary forms are correctly filled out, it is so important. And so overlooked by many: What Your Estate Plan May Be Missing. Although a will is crucial to making sure your assets go where you want them when you die, you are likely to need something else, too: designated beneficiaries. Actually, you should have a will too and the article explains why. If I could get one reader to do this I will be very happy that I have done my part to make this world a better place. Do not put it off any longer, I can mention many instances over my long career of the hardships imposed on heirs left alone by loved ones who did not do the right things in advance. Maybe one day I will do a separate post with examples to get my point across.
Some expected and not that shocking figures that stood out to me that I would like to share with you from this post at Tker, a Substack newsletter I subscribe to:
Just 4.21% of all U.S. equity funds in the top half of performance during the first year were able to remain in the top during the four subsequent years. Only 2.42% of U.S. large-cap funds remained in the top half. No funds — literally 0.0% — remained in the top quartile of performance over the past five years.
Of 738 U.S. large-cap equity funds tracked by SPDJI, 50.68% beat the S&P 500 in 2022. Just 5.08% beat the S&P in the two years ending 2023. And only 2.14% beat the index in the three years ending in 2024.
Interesting graph: The Income Needed to Buy a Home in Every U.S. State. One of these days my kids will stop moving in states all in red, as in red hot expensive that is.
WARREN BUFFETT
If every billionaire was as humble: Warren Buffett Caps a Career Built on Humility.
In a way, humility was Buffett’s brand. Though he worked briefly in New York early in his career, Buffett ultimately returned to build Berkshire in Omaha, Nebraska, where he was born and has lived in the home he bought in 1958 for $31,500. He always insisted on treating Berkshire’s shareholders as co-owners in the company, an ethos that was always on display at his sprawling annual shareholder meeting in Omaha, dubbed the Woodstock of Capitalism, in which Buffett would sit for hours taking questions from the audience.
Ok, one more: Lessons from Warren Buffett.
To put his performance in context, Berkshire could drop 99% today, and you would still have outperformed the market if you started with Buffett in 1964. $100 invested with Buffett starting in 1964 would have now grown to over $5.5 million compared to $39K in the S&P 500.
“My wealth has come from a combination of living in America, some lucky genes, and compound interest… In an economy that rewards someone who saves lives of others on a battlefield with a medal, rewards a great teacher with thank-you notes from parents, but rewards those who can detect the mispricing of securities with sums reaching into the billions.”
“Our favorite holding period is forever”
Wait, one more, the final one I swear: There will only be one Warren Buffett.
Buffett’s shareholders adore him. Most public companies would be lucky to attract 100 shareholders to their meetings. Warren attracted 40,000. For over six decades, he never compromised on character or principles. Through his annual letters, he taught millions – not just about investing, but about life. Many of the world’s greatest investors today – legends in their own right – consider him a mentor. He also pledged to give away nearly all of his wealth – setting an example not just in business, but in generosity.
SCAMS/CRYPTO/AI/TECH
What a story of a life long bank robber with his own nickname: Inside the rise and fall of the Vaulter Bandit, the 21st century’s most notorious bank robber. To fellow tourists he met around the world, Jeffery Shuman was a semi-retired developer with a bright smile, an even tan and a fat wallet. In truth, he was a legendary bank robber on the run from the Toronto police and the US Marshals. What a waste of a life. Will likely get back in it after he gets out of prison, some people I swear are born with a gene to harm others.
Another scammer, this one is still escaping prison, yikes: All That Glitters. His alleged victims say he bribed New York Police Department officials, stole millions in diamonds, and persuaded Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Kim Kardashian to shill for a scam cryptocurrency. So why is Jona Rechnitz still free? Serial scammer wow. If you feel rage while reading this it is normal. Are people like this born this way? Is there a fraud gene or something? Maybe AI can find that gene? Ok, the last sentence was kind of a joke.
Speaking of AI, this is very disturbing: Rampant AI Cheating is Ruining Education Alarmingly Fast. ChatGPT has unraveled the entire academic project.
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ODDZ & ENDZ
Live Cams at Explore.org, enjoy. Narrow down what you watch based on the menu options at the top.
Some ships are sooooooo deep: SHIPWRECKS Depth Comparison.
You have come to expect so many educational links around here. But how about one for just pure entertainment? Here you go: 106 Totally Useless Websites. Love it. Which one is your favorite? Mine is Random Goat, you are welcome.
Wow, some of these photos I have never seen before: How Photography From the Vietnam War Changed America. The images changed how the world saw Vietnam, but especially how Americans saw their country, soldiers and the war itself, which ended 50 years ago this month.
TRAVEL
This is great: The 17 Oddest Shaped Countries In The World & How They Came To Be.
Interesting picks: Not Every Amtrak Route Is Scenic—But These 8 Train Rides Are Truly Worth It.
Very interesting list as well: The 2025 Uber Lost & Found. Many fun categories, here are a few:
The Most *Unique* Lost Items [WTF you guys]
- Mannequin head with human hair
- Viking drinking horn
- Ghostbusters ghost trap
- Chainsaw
- Breast milk
- Fine china
- My turtle
- Urinal
- Club promoter sign reading “Annie’s married” – it belongs to the club
- Sticky boob bra
The top food item left behind was a 5 gallon bucket of beans, come on!
I better stop…
Amazing shots: 50 Unseen Sides Of Well-Known Places That May Leave You Asking ‘What Else Is Hidden?’
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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
Here we go…
So much for Hilton closing the gap with Hyatt, this just blows and Loyalty Lobby again broke the news: Hilton Massive High End Points Devaluation – Top Hotels Now Up To 200,000 Points Per Night. And then all the other blogs followed again. Anyway, here are more examples of the steep increase in high end properties: Another overnight Hilton price hike…all the way to 200K points per night. Can’t even get one night at a nice Hilton with a credit card Signup Bonus, how pathetic is that? If/when Hyatt pulls off stuff like this why are we to bother with hotel plastic anymore huh?
There were cries of pain among miles & points enthusiasts when these news hit: Emirates Restricts First Class Awards Only To Skywards Elite Members From May 12, 2025.
Move fast: American Airlines Award Sale: Domestic/Mexico/Caribbean Flight from 5,000 Miles, Europe from 15,000. I would too if I didn’t have this blog to bring to you…
Chosen by travelers, the World’s Best Priority Pass lounges.
It appears that airlines are now all embracing First Class, oh my, how the tables turn: United Unveils a New Business Class Seat More Elevated and Spacious Than Polaris—What to Know.
What I just said: First Class Makes a Comeback at American and United But Under a Different Name.
This is not surprising: Southwest Airlines files for permit to fly more international routes. It will take a while. Do you see them and JetBlue getting together at some point to accelerate the international expansion? If the United and JetBlue discussions somehow collapse that is?
Oh, when you thought that Japan Airlines awards could not get more nerfed, we get this: Bilt Rewards Adds Japan Airlines As 1:1 Transfer Partner.
TRAVEL REWARDS CREDIT CARDS
Some people just don’t take the plunge. So many excuses. My credit score will be damaged, can not meet the minimum spend, do not like annual fees, it seems wrong, etc. Oh, and not having a business too. Well, here is How to Get a Business Credit Card. Please come back here to apply and help this blog, thank you. Continuing on the same spirit, here are ways to meet that Credit Card Minimum Spend: 10 Great Tips On How To Get It Done.
I applied and was approved for the 75k CAPITAL ONE Venture Rewards card that came with a $250 travel statement credit, see details in the My Action and Blog Buzzing section below.
I wrote this years ago, it is still a good guide: So You Want To Travel For Free Like Me? Are You Sure? And don’t forget about my TBB MILES AND POINTS RESOURCES page.
Many good credit card offers have ended recently. Hopefully this is in anticipation of bigly offers for the spring and summer, bring them on! It’s like us miles/points addicts needing our next fix lol.
Please help the small independent blogs like mine continue to exist by supporting them with your CREDIT CARD clicks, thank you!
The 75K CAPITAL ONE Venture X card has a minimum spend of $4k in the first three months. If you like simplicity and looking for one (premium) card, I highly recommend this card (and yes, I have it myself!). It has an annual fee of $395 but it comes with an easy $300 statement credit for travel booked on its own travel portal, essentially turning it into a $95 annual fee card. But wait, there is more! On each card anniversary you earn 10,000 points essentially making it FREE! Every dollar of spend earns 2 points and flights booked on the travel portal earn 5 points per dollar. You get access to Capital One and Plaza Premium airport lounges and a Priority Pass Select lounge membership and, this is important, you can add FOUR authorized users FOR FREE who can also have their own Priority Pass Select airline lounge membership and, this is BIG, they can bring in unlimited guests with their FREE Priority Pass card! You can transfer your Capital One points to up to 18 Transfer Partners. No foreign transaction fees. Free Hertz President’s Circle rental car top elite status. Cell phone protection and PRIMARY rental car coverage. Awesome seats at baseball stadiums for just 5k points each. And lots more. If you prefer, this is my personal referral link.
Click on my TOP CREDIT CARD OFFERS to see a DETAILED explanation of the features of these cards.
Here are my three TOP CREDIT CARD OFFERS:
The 75k Capital One Venture X card. It is amazing what you get for FREE with this card!
The 75k Chase Ink Business Unlimited card.
The 75k CHASE Ink Business Cash card.
Learn more about these offers HERE.
BONUS OFFERS NOTIFICATIONS
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MY ACTION AND BLOG BUZZING
Things changed and we have a lot to cover, here we go:
On the very last day the 75k CAPITAL ONE Venture Rewards with a $250 travel statement credit was available I decided to apply for it. Because I was bored in a way. About a $1,000 haul for an annual fee of $95? I am good with that. And of course I applied with my own links to keep this blog venture going. When you apply for a Capital One credit card I suggest you start praying while awaiting the decision. Because you just never know what this bank will decide. And there is no reconsideration shenanigans that we usually can do with other banks. I have and keep my awesome Capital One Venture X card which amazingly its annual fee is only $395 (but comes with an easy $300 annual statement credit AND 10,000 points every year; in essence, the bank pays me $5 to have the card…and all the food/drinks I consume at Capital One and Priority Pass lounges are free baby). So, I was very concerned the bank may not approve me. Boom, instant online approval with a healthy $30k credit line. Awaiting for the card to arrive to get going on the $4k minimum spend to add to my Capital One points stash. The CAPITAL ONE Venture Rewards card is now back to a healthy 75k Signup Bonus without the extra $250 travel statement credit by the way.
I am starting to take action to again requalify as World of Hyatt Globalist elite. I am currently at 12 elite nights credits with another 2 coming this weekend (see below) and 2 more from Visa spend when the statement closes in early June. Along with another Free Night Cert. I have 9 nights booked already for the rest of 2025 taking me to 25. There is a long way to 60 elite night credits you guys. I am kind of giving up on double elite night credit promotions coming to help the cause this year.
I snagged 3 nights at the magnificent metropolis of Flint, Michigan and its lovely Hyatt Place again. At just 3,500 World of Hyatt points per night in mid December. These will help the Globalist elite run most likely. I can easy cancel if not needed.
I had an expiring World of Hyatt Cat 1-7 Free Night Cert coming due. And I again tried to get it extended but no luck. So I decided to spend this weekend in Cleveland, Ohio. At the downtown Cleveland Hyatt Regency at the Arcade. Please hold the beatings for burning a Cat 7 cert at a Cat 3 old property ok? This is what happens when desperation kicks in and that “requalify for Globalist” burning desire now rules the way I think. I think it is a disease lol. Why Cleveland? Well, it is an easy drive and I always wanted to go to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame so here is my chance. The second night cost me 15,000 World of Hyatt points. I already signed up to do a food tour booked via Viator on the Capital One portal. After I booked it I received two emails from the hotel. There is a private event on the first night warning me of noise and the other one was about road closures because the Cleveland marathon is held the next morning. I am retired from running and I just can’t get away from marathons.
I booked 2 nights at the awesome Conrad in Koh Samui, Thailand later this year. I burned one Hilton Free Night Cert and the second night cost me 95,000 Hilton Honors points. Added to my present 3 nights stay at the Koh Samui Hyatt Regency. So five nights in Koh Samui will really give us a good feel about this island. I am continuing to check out more places in Thailand, this will be our third year in a row visiting the land of smiles. No airfare booked yet. I haven’t had time to sit down to pull the trigger. And we need to coordinate with another short visit to Malaysia again as well #developing. Why this Conrad? Because sometimes when you see a picture it stays with you and you promise to yourself I am going to visit this place:
I am up for a challenge. I am seriously thinking to attend my nephew’s wedding in Greece this September. It is in the island of Kefalonia/Cefalonia, which is south of Corfu. The airport code is EFL. Only Aegean regularly flies there from Athens. The rest of the flights are all seasonal charter flights from within Europe. Not the easiest place to travel to. Add my kid’s departure cities of Honolulu and Seattle and their vacation/work constraints and this is going to be a real challenge. I only saw two Mr. & Mrs Smith properties on the island and they appear to be booked. So it looks like it will be an Airbnb property we stay at if we can make it. If anyone has any feedback on this island please let me know.
I think I am shifting my niece’s trip to the US for 2026. Which is World Cup time, maybe we can cheer Greece at a game…if the team makes it that is.
My daughter is becoming an expert burning her Chase points, let’s see what happens after she burns through all of them her dad gave her. She is flying to New York from Seattle and then from New York to Traverse City, Michigan. Both for 20,600 Chase points, not too shabby.
Finally started some serious burning, up to about 360k year to date. Assuming we keep present reservations intact that is. With more Thailand and Greece award bookings ahead.
This YouTuber makes the best videos giving a weekly summary of what is going down in this quirky space. With my blog on Fridays and his videos coming on Thursday evenings we have you covered and save you so much time, you are welcome. And thanks in advance for your support 🙂
I think I am okay coming to terms with my retirement from running. I absolutely hate it but I am just not going to push my body and keep pounding on my feet, they need a very long break. I have also decided to lay off my ears going to concerts. These two things I was in love with but my body is saying it had enough. Time to fall in love with something else. What will be my next obsession? I have no idea. Maybe one day I become serious in taking my blog seriously, see what I did there?
What is the best video editor to use? That is VERY user friendly. One day I should learn how to edit videos to take over YouTube after I captured the blog space. Lol.
One of my favorite movies of all time is 28 Days Later. If you don’t get terrified watching this movie, are you human? Four years later, the sequel 28 Weeks Later came out which was also great. And in about a month, what we have all been waiting for: 28 Years Later. With one of the most terrifying trailers ever imho.
HOT CREDIT CARD OFFERS:
75k CHASE Ink Business Cash, 75k CAPITAL ONE Venture X, 75k CHASE Ink Business Unlimited, 150k AMEX Business Platinum AND $500 statement credit, 200k CAPITAL ONE Spark Cash Plus, 350k CAPITAL ONE Venture X Business, $1,000 Cash Back CHASE Ink Business Premier, 90k CHASE Ink Business Preferred, 75k CAPITAL ONE Venture Rewards, 80k CHASE Southwest Performance Business, 15k AMEX Blue Business Plus and many more!
Learn How To Apply HERE to support the blog. Or email me if you have any questions about any cards, I’m happy to help, thank you!
As of today, I have burned 366,156 miles/points year to date (2,027,816 in 2024) and have 4,491,659 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.
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Feel free to contact me anytime at travelbloggerbuzz@gmail.com, all feedback is very appreciated.
George
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The HOF is a lot of fun, though they could have made it so much better by making it more museum and less an amusement park. The gift shop could use some help too. Still, well worth the time and entrance fee, which is more than the Louvre.
Maybe the best TBB post ever today, Buzz.
Also, it’s now 12 years since Ingy sold out. At the top.
Good morning!
I went to the H of F many years ago. What I remember most is Jimi Hendrix’s camera! Interesting choice for his era.
The last month or so might be exhibit one on the futility of market timing! We do live
in interesting times.
Thanks for all the links!
Bon soir, mon ami! Well, last night in both Paris, and Europe in general. Back home tomorrow, all the way to the west coast. Non-stop Paris to Seattle. I laugh too when the schedule for the flight is leaving at 4pm and arriving at 5:30 pm. It sure won’t feel like 5:30 when I get there though, I bet!
Man, you have packed this post with good stuff! I do like the mention of holding on to investments through trial and tribulation! As you know, I use a broker and yeah, pay for whatever, but they (It’s a husband and wife team) calm me when I get nervous and counsel me to stay put and be patient and do the things they should and you know what? Haven’t traded a thing this year and despite the crazy so far, I am OK. It can be hard to do though, you are right.
Thanks for doing all this work and yes, stay at an Airbnb. I have been using several on my trip and while each had a drawback or two, all of them had really good points as well. Just have to spend the time researching a place and especially, REALLY look at the provided photos. Both for what is shown and what is NOT shown. Make a checklist and if there are very few pics, pass it by.
Etihad is adding direct flights from Abu Dhabi to Charlotte! It’s the first time we’ve ever had direct flights to the middle east so this is pretty exciting for us.
I was in Da Nang last year for the 49th anniversary of Vietnamese Reunification Day. It’s a huge holiday. The streets and beaches are packed. I celebrated the occasion by drinking Budweiser on draft at one of the beach bars. Felt appropriate. Also repeated the feat on 4th of July.
I was in HCMC for the 40th and it was something else, all the stuff they were doing and modernizing. Energetic place and a lot of fun and good eats besides!
I am sure you know this, but for anyone else…. DO NOT DRINK STREET BEER! I got some kind of parasite just from that.
However, the folks at Pasteur Street Brewing (They now have more than one location) make some excellent beer!
Hello from Cleveland, I “ll be back.
Back to base and things should turn around here…soon.
Kefalonia is an amazing island and even more so in Sept as the huge influx of tourists and the really hot weather have dissipated. I have family there, so tend to go every year. You’re right that Aegean goes nonstop from Athens, but you could also fly Sky Express which is another local carrier that you may be aware of. With Chase UR points it’s quite cheap. An even better option would be flying nonstop from LHR on British Airways. It’s seasonal, but they run flights all through Sept I believe on Tues, Sat, Sun. I had flown them once from EFL and used 20k AA miles for business class. You can often find good value w/ them if you book in advance. Austrian used to go from Vienna and may still do so, and Condor from Frankfurt. http://www.flightconnections.com which you may be aware of can nail down all the nonstops to EFL. In Sept it’s still in season so most are still running. Aside from these mainline carriers the rest tend to be Ryanair, Easyjet, etc., which I avoid.
As for hotels you are correct they are limited from a chain perspective. Depends on where on the island your wedding is, but there are tons of properties. If Argostoli (the capital) is near where the wedding is I would suggest staying around there. Lots of hotels that are newer and nice already built / being built. If elsewhere, you’ll find lots of good properties and likely cheaper come Sept. A car is a must, so def would suggest renting one from the airport unless you have others to take you around. Overall, not a very busy island like neighboring Corfu, Zakynthos, or any of the other main ones in the Aegean. Often has the top beaches in the world in the list, Myrtos being one that’s usually well known. You won’t regret going if you can make it.
@ Sam: You were so right about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, this place could have been so much more. Must admit it was a bit underwhelming, maybe my expectations were too high? Glad I went but not returning again; glad it’s off my must see list. Not sure about best post ever but I’ll take it, I need a reason to keep this baby going. Looking back, maybe Ingy was right to sell at that time?
@ DML: Market timing futility indeed.
@ NickPFD: Etihad in Charlotte? Shocking…sometimes I wonder if this was an announcement that was made just to have the Prez gloat as they all now intend to do because it works…and then nothing happens? But anyway, enjoy. If you do ride them and do the shower thing, I reserve a trip report to be posted here by you, thanks 🙂
@ bob: Would love to be in those places one future Fourth of July too.
@ Carl: I am good with your beer advice since I don’t drink these days 🙂
@ Paul: Thank you so much about the Kefalonia island comments, love them. I need to get going, so many loose ends and so many destinations to take into account (including Seattle and Honolulu). This is now in the forefront of my annual burning fest to take place as daughter has given the green light as far as her availability is concerned.
Going back to normal around here and getting material for Friday post lined up…
Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment.
I ran in the Cleveland Marathon this weekend. I believe your hotel/the Arcade are in the new Superman Trailer/movie. So you also got to experience Metropolis without going to southern Illinois.
Wow, TBB readers everywhere. Hope you hit your goals in the Marathon, I so wish I was running in it. Did not know that about the hotel, cool. It sure is very picturesque. And they do have a lot of wedding banquets on weekends, can get loud.