Latest news with #A.
TimesLIVE
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
Nik Rabinowitz's best holiday ever? His entire life before kids
Hi, I'm Nik. I'm a hunter-gatherer, Xhosa-light, forest-farm boy, raised on the mean, green streets of Constantia, Cape Town. I went to a Waldorf school, where I learnt to sew felt elephants and crochet my own underwear. My new show Geriatric Millennial is very funny. How do I know that? I checked with multiple audiences that didn't include my mother. Describing yourself as 'a traveller' in 2025 is like putting 'photographer' in your LinkedIn bio after you bought an iPhone, although I've been to six continents, so maybe I can. Come to think of it, I'm one continent away from the full box set. Hopefully my friend Riaan Manser invites me to Antarctica because I'm not willingly paying 200k to freeze my arse off. Three words that describe my travel personality: adventurey, outdoorsy, off-the-beaten-tracky. I grew up on a farm in Cape Town and for the holidays we'd often camp on the farm Boontjieskloof (subsequently gentrified to Bushmanskloof) in the Agter-Pakuis Cederberg mountains. I remember campfires, condensed milk, moerkoffie, pothole swimming, rock-art hunting, sleeping under 500-million-year-old rock overhangs, watching sparks float up towards stars ... and the time my dad dropped the matza balls. My first trip abroad was to Sea Point. From Constantia. To see my Great Aunt Sarah. My mom packed me a little suitcase full of matchbox cars, my parents loaded the car full of supplies and padkos and off we went. My first overseas trip was to the UK on a school cricket tour. I remember my teammate 'Festicles' buying a magazine full of images unlike anything we'd seen in Scope. Our coach Christoffel arrived looking like he'd wrestled a brewery and lost. And we drank Bristol Exhibition cider like it was apple juice — until Dovvi vomited all over our host family's house. 'Cultural exchange' sometimes just means learning how to apologise in a foreign language while your parents work out whether travel insurance covers diplomatic embarrassment caused by fermented fruit products. My most remote destination was Cordillera Blanca in Peru. I learnt that sharing a tent with Jon-Jon-Keegan at 5,000m while one of you has violent vomiting and diarrhoea is a real test — especially with only Spanish-speaking donkeys for moral support. My most difficult was Kilimanjaro at -10°C, with acute pulmonary oedema. And there's nothing cute about it. I'm not an adventurous eater on holiday. Though I did eat flambéed pigeon shin in Peru, followed by Arequipan guinea pig. It was either that or Alpaca testicles. Best place for a night out? Upington. There's a club called Plan B; 60% of the town enjoys being tied up. They don't have a Plan A. Also Amsterdam — bikes, dykes and Hollandse Nieuwe Haring [young herring, a traditional Dutch delicacy]. One thing I always do on holiday is try to disappear in the morning to 'explore' — that is have a midlife crisis. Then attempt the 'Great Holiday Seduction' on my wife, usually met with the enthusiasm of someone who's been applying sunscreen to toddlers all day. When travelling, I am a sucker for malaria. Got it in Malawi. Didn't die, so that was a good outcome. Also, I once dug my boss a long drop in Mozambique. That's the day you become a man. Best holiday ever? A mokoro safari in the Okavango. Also backpacking through Mozambique before it was cleared of landmines. I once survived a cyclone and clubbed a fish like Tom Hanks in Cast Away, except with more guilt. Most relaxing destination? Churchhaven, on Langebaan Lagoon in the West Coast National Park. You rent a house for the price of a small European nation, but it reminds you what 'free' feels like. Tourist attractions that surprised me? Bredasdorp: window view of a brick wall. Malindi, Kenya: too Italian — rather just go to Italy. Must-see before you die? West Point, Liberia. Because you probably will. Kandahar, Afghanistan — terrifying but beautiful mountains. Favourite museum? Cradle of Humankind. Nothing makes you feel more evolved than seeing your ancient grandmother in a glass box while someone explains evolution like it's Survivor. Favourite hotel? The Drake, Toronto. Cool vibe. Theatre. And every room has a book titled God is Very Disappointed in You. Inspirational. What I think when I see South Africans abroad? 'I hope they talk smack about me in Afrikaans.' Bucket-list destinations? North Korea; Lithuania (grandfather's expropriated house, ideally with EFF support); the NG Kerk in Comodoro Rivadavia, Patagonia; the Great Wall of China — for my 50th, with my favourite chinas. Places I'd return to? Lamu Island, Kenya; Hydra Island, Greece; Delta Camp, Okavango; Joshua Tree, California; the Transkei's Wild Coast — it's mystical and has a wall with a hole in it. Never again? Holocaust memorial in Riga, Latvia. Cathartic, but not for the faint-hearted. Also, Europe. So many languages. €8 sandwiches. You won't like it. Trust me. Best holiday ever? My entire life before I had kids. Worst hotel? Formula 3 in Nairobi. They gave us flip-flops for the bathroom.
Canada News.Net
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Canada News.Net
MLB roundup: Brewers beat Dodgers again, win 9th straight
(Photo credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images) Isaac Collins and Joey Ortiz hit home runs, William Contreras added a two-run double, and the visiting Milwaukee Brewers extended their winning streak to a season-best nine games while remaining perfect against the Los Angeles Dodgers with an 8-7 victory on Saturday. The Brewers won even as All-Star right-hander Freddy Peralta (12-4) tied a season high by allowing four runs in five innings. Trevor Megill pitched the ninth inning for his 23rd save as Milwaukee improved to 5-0 against Los Angeles with the finale of the season series Sunday. Neither team has swept the other in a season series since the Brewers moved to the National League in 1998. Shohei Ohtani hit one of three home runs for the Dodgers, who have lost nine of their last 11 games. With a struggling Mookie Betts getting the night off for Los Angeles, Will Smith had two hits out of the No. 2 spot of the lineup. Yankees 12, Braves 9 Trent Grisham hit his third career grand slam in the ninth inning to propel visiting New York to a come-from-behind win over Atlanta. Grisham hit a slider from Raisel Iglesias into the right field seats to give the Yankees their first lead of the game and help end their three-game losing streak. It was Grisham's 17th homer, tying his career high. Luke Weaver pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings and earned the win. Anthony Volpe sparked the New York offense with a pair of home runs, his 11th and 12th, and a sacrifice fly. The Braves had built a 5-0 lead thanks in part to a 438-foot solo homer by Michael Harris II, his first since June 13, and a three-run homer by Ozzie Albies. Albies added a two-run single in the fifth to give Atlanta a 7-2 lead before New York's rally. Cubs 6, Red Sox 0 Shota Imanaga threw seven scoreless innings, and Michael Busch and Kyle Tucker slugged back-to-back home runs in the first as Chicago blanked visiting Boston. Imanaga (7-3) allowed just five hits while striking out five and walking one, helping the Cubs take the weekend series and win their fourth straight game. Matt Shaw, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Ian Happ each added solo homers for Chicago, which now holds the majors' best record (59-39). Boston starter Brayan Bello (6-4) allowed three runs on six hits in the loss, striking out four and walking one. The Red Sox have lost two straight after posting a 10-game winning streak to end the first half. Reds 5, Mets 2 Jake Fraley matched a season high with three hits, including a go-ahead RBI single, as Cincinnati rallied from an early two-run deficit to win in New York. Fraley had two doubles and Spencer Steer added two hits for the Reds, who won for the sixth time in seven games to improve to a season-high five games over .500. Brett Baty homered and singled for New York, while Luis Torrens added two hits. Mark Vientos also singled and drove in a run. Marlins 3, Royals 1 Shortstop Otto Lopez drove in all three runs as host Miami defeated Kansas City. Lopez's two-run double in the eighth inning snapped a 1-1 score. Xavier Edwards added a triple, a double and two runs scored as the Marlins improved to 21-10 over their past 31 games. Miami's Cal Quantrill pitched a season-high six innings, allowing two hits (both singles), no walks and no runs while striking out three. Ronny Henriquez (6-1) earned the win, and Anthony Bender pitched a scoreless ninth, earning his third save. Reliever Lucas Erceg (4-3) took the loss for the Royals after Michael Wacha pitched six innings, allowing three hits, one walk and one run with one strikeout. Salvador Perez led the Royals at the plate with a homer. Blue Jays 6, Giants 3 Eric Lauer pitched six strong innings, Tyler Heineman had a homer and three RBIs and host Toronto defeated San Francisco. Lauer (5-2) allowed two runs, two hits and no walks with seven strikeouts. Addison Barger was 4-for-4 for the Blue Jays, who have won the first of two games of the three-game series. Will Wagner had a two-run double for the second game in a row for Toronto, which had a 14-4 advantage in hits on Saturday. Willy Adames hit two solo home runs for the Giants. Starter Logan Webb (9-7) completed six innings, allowing four runs, 11 hits and one walk with one strikeout. Phillies 9, Angels 5 Kyle Schwarber belted a go-ahead grand slam in the sixth inning to vault Philadelphia to a home win over Los Angeles. Bryce Harper also homered for the Phillies after hitting two bombs in Friday's 6-5 defeat in the series opener. Nick Castellanos, Trea Turner and Johan Rojas drove in the other runs for Philadelphia. Phillies starter Taijuan Walker allowed three runs and nine hits over four innings before handing the ball over to the bullpen. Taylor Ward, Jo Adell and Yoan Moncada hit home runs for the Angels. Yusei Kikuchi allowed two runs and five hits over five innings before the Los Angeles bullpen scuffled to the finish line. Rays 4, Orioles 3 Tampa Bay came from behind with a three-run eighth inning -- sparked by excellent baserunning -- to beat visiting Baltimore. After tying the game with a single, Chandler Simpson stole his 27th base and went to third on a wild pitch as Jose Caballero walked. Caballero promptly stole his league-leading 32nd base -- and the Rays' third steal of the inning -- to put runners at second and third with one out, and both runners would come in to score. Seranthony Dominguez (2-3) took the loss after giving up three runs (two earned) in 1/3 of an inning in the eighth. Edwin Uceta (6-2) picked up the win with two innings of scoreless relief. Pete Fairbanks earned his 16th save despite giving up a run in the ninth. White Sox 10, Pirates 4 Mike Tauchman's go-ahead, bases-clearing double highlighted a six-run sixth inning that propelled Chicago to a comeback win over host Pittsburgh. Tauchman and Lenyn Sosa each had three RBIs to lead the White Sox to their second win in a row following the All-Star break and their third win in the past five games. After Chicago starter Adrian Houser gave up four runs (three earned) in 4 1/3 innings, the White Sox bullpen held the Pirates scoreless the rest of the way. The Pirates, who lost their second in a row and have lost 10 of their last 11 games, led 3-0 and rookie starter Mike Burrows took a no-hitter into the fifth inning. After Burrows left the game following the fifth, Caleb Ferguson (2-2) gave up four runs on four hits and recorded only one out. Rangers 4, Tigers 1 Rowdy Tellez hit a three-run home run to back a strong start by Kumar Rocker as Texas defeated struggling Detroit in the second of three-game series in Arlington, Texas. Tellez's homer was a boon for Rocker (4-4), who allowed one hit, walked three and struck out six over 6 1/3 innings of work. Tellez, who was signed to a minor league contract on July 5 by the Rangers a week after being released by Seattle, wasn't on the team until Friday, when he went 0-for-3. The Tigers did not get a runner past second base until a Riley Greene home run to open the ninth inning. Detroit starter Keider Montero (4-2) went 4 1/3 innings, giving up four runs on four hits with three walks and five strikeouts. Diamondbacks 10, Cardinals 1 Eugenio Suarez hit two home runs and drove in three and Corbin Carroll had three hits, including two triples, as host Arizona topped St. Louis to win its third straight game. Geraldo Perdomo had three singles and four RBIs and Ryne Nelson gave up one run in six innings for the D-backs, who have outscored the Cardinals 17-4 in the first two games of the series. Nelson (6-2) gave up four hits, with Alec Burleson's homer in the sixth the only damage. Nelson is 4-0 with a 2.29 ERA in his last seven starts. Suarez has 33 homers and leads the NL with 81 RBIs. Carroll leads the majors with 12 triples. Masyn Winn had three hits for the Cardinals, who have lost 10 of 14. Sonny Gray (9-4) gave up 11 hits and a career-high nine runs (eight earned) before leaving in the fourth. Athletics 8, Guardians 2 Shea Langeliers and Jacob Wilson both hit two-run home runs and Luis Severino earned his first win in more than a month as the Athletics scored the final eight runs of the game to win in Cleveland. Severino (3-11) went five innings, allowing two runs on three hits in snapping a five-start losing streak. The right-hander struck out three and walked two in an 86-pitch outing. Jack Perkins and Justin Sterner combined for four hitless innings to wrap up the three-hitter. Rookie first baseman Kurtz went 3-for-5 and drove in two runs, and speedy center fielder Denzel Clarke fell a homer shy of hitting for the cycle for the Athletics. The Guardians lost for just the second time in nine games. Rockies 10, Twins 6 Ryan McMahon, Ezequiel Tovar and Hunter Goodman homered as host Colorado rallied to beat Minnesota in Denver to clinch the Rockies' first home series win of the season. Tovar was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBIs, and Goodman also drove in three runs. Kody Clemens was 2-for-4 (double, triple) with three RBIs in the loss, the Twins' third straight. Rockies starter Antonio Senzatela (4-13) earned the win after allowing three runs and six hits in seven innings with a walk and three strikeouts. Minnesota starter Zebby Matthews (1-2) gave up five runs and eight hits in four-plus innings with a walk and six strikeouts in taking the loss. Nationals 4, Padres 2 Mitchell Parker tossed six solid innings and Nathaniel Lowe homered to help host Washington double up San Diego and snap a five-game losing streak. Drew Millas added a two-run single for Washington, which won for just the second time in its past 11 contests. Parker (6-10) allowed two runs on five hits over six innings. He struck out four and walked one while winning for the first time since beating the Padres in San Diego on June 23. Luis Arraez and Jose Iglesias each had two hits for San Diego, which lost for just the second time in the past six games. Padres starter Yu Darvish (0-2) gave up three runs on five hits over five innings. He struck out one and walked one. Mariners 7, Astros 6 (11 inn.) Rookie Cole Young singled home the winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning as Seattle defeated visiting Houston for the Mariners' fifth straight win. With Dominic Canzone the runner at second to start the inning, Miles Mastrobuoni put down a sacrifice bunt to move Canzone to third. Young lined a single down the right field line off Houston's Hector Neris (3-2) to win it. Both teams scored in the 10th. Houston pinch hitter Taylor Trammell's sacrifice fly brought home the go-ahead run in the top of the inning. The Mariners tied it in the bottom half as Cal Raleigh scored from third on a fluke groundout off the knob of Dylan Moore's bat.
Refinery29
16-07-2025
- Business
- Refinery29
A Week In Phoenix, AZ On A $44,500 Salary
Welcome to Money Diaries where we are tackling the ever-present taboo that is money. We're asking real people how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we're tracking every last dollar. Today: a middle-school teacher who makes $44,500 per year and who spends some of her money this week on an irresistible leather jacket. If you'd like to submit your own Money Diary, you can do so via our online form. We pay $150 for each published diary. Apologies but we're not able to reply to every email. Occupation: Middle-school teacher Industry: Education Age: 24 Location: Phoenix, AZ Salary: $44,500 Joint Income & Financial Setup: I live with my partner, A., but he's in grad school at the moment and only some of his internships are paid, so his income varies (for a lot of the internships during the school year, he gets credit instead of being paid. He's working two jobs this summer, so he has income now, but he often doesn't). We do have a joint account for our bills, groceries, and shared entertainment costs, but I wouldn't consider our finances shared. We're mostly dependent on my income and savings right now: I contribute more to the joint account because my income is more stable, and he does a larger percentage of the household labor because his hours are more flexible. Assets: Checking account: $10,798.71 (I know this is a lot for a checking account, but I want to have flexibility in case of emergencies while A. is in school); HYSA: $22,585.84; emergency fund HYSA: $11,997.54; 401(k): $4,721.61. I'm not sure how much my car is worth now, but it was about $21,000 when I bought it a couple years ago. Debt: $8,705.66 left on my car loan. Paycheck Amount (2x/month): $1,295.39 Pronouns: She/her Monthly Expenses Housing Costs: $1,320 for rent on a one-bedroom apartment and $279.80 in total for utilities. I cover a higher percentage than A. does, though we'll change that when he's working full time. We pay for this and other shared bills like groceries through a shared joint account that we add to every month. Loan Payments: $125 twice a month on my car loan. Health Insurance: $7.99 for medical, vision, and dental. 401(k): $136.92, with my employer matching up to 4% of eligible contributions. Savings Contribution: $260 goes to my emergency fund HYSA, and anything over $10,000 in my checking account goes to my regular HYSA. Spotify: $13.02 Substack Subscription to Erin in the Morning: $5 Monthly Donations: $25 Car Insurance & Phone Bill: I pay my car insurance every six months and my phone bill annually to save from paying more over time. Averaged out, my car insurance is $234.25 a month, which A. and I pay jointly, and my phone bill is $15 a month. Was there an expectation for you to attend higher education? Did you participate in any form of higher education? If yes, how did you pay for it? My parents definitely expected me to attend college. I did well in school, and it was expected of me. I earned a fair amount of merit scholarships and worked through college at the university library for minimum wage. I also got a master's degree for a steal through a program that allowed me to do it at the same time as my undergraduate work, and my parents paid for both degrees. Because of this, I don't have any school loans, and I'm incredibly grateful for that, because I know that's a huge burden on many of my peers and I don't think I could choose to pursue the career I have if I had loans to worry about. Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money? Did your parent(s)/guardian(s) educate you about finances? The biggest conversation we had about finances was about student loan debt. My parents were adamant that I should not take on any student loan debt, because theirs hung over them for a long time. Other than that, we didn't talk about money much, and I did a lot of educating myself in college and after graduation with online courses and financial books. What was your first job and why did you get it? My first job was at the university library in college. I volunteered instead of working during my high school years to build my academic résumé, and my parents always said that if I focused on school, I'd make more money through scholarships than if I worked at a minimum wage job. I called my university library before I even arrived (in the summer before school started) and interviewed over the phone, which impressed them, I think. I got the job partly because it felt like the right time, now that I was in college and would need money for my next steps, and partly because I knew I'd have the time for it. I didn't really consider what I'd do with the money until after I had it, and mostly I saved it, though I did go on trips with my friends for spring breaks and things like that, and I occasionally ate out when the dining commons was really getting me down. Did you worry about money growing up? Growing up, I was always really hesitant to ask for money and always found myself buying whatever was cheapest when I went out with friends in high school. I'm not sure why. My family was well-off financially, though my dad did freelance work instead bringing in a traditional salary, so it was inconsistent. My mom was always very frugal, though, and I suppose her habits shaped mine in this area. Do you worry about money now? I don't really worry about not having enough in the day to day, because I know I've saved more than I need for the short term, but I worry that I'm not educated enough about finances. I know there's still a lot left for me to learn, despite the efforts I've gone to to educate myself up to this point. At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself and do you have a financial safety net? I lived at home for a year or so after I graduated college and moved out when I was 22. I'd already been paying for my car and everything related to that, but I didn't pay for rent or groceries (I tried to buy my own food briefly, but my siblings ate it). That period allowed me to save a lot, and I don't think I'd be in the financial position I am today without it. When I was 22, I moved into my first apartment with A. He gets money from his parents on a regular basis to support him through school, and my parents are generous and supportive as well, so we definitely have a strong safety net. I hope to put myself in the position where I can also be a safety net for my siblings, should they need it. Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income? If yes, please explain. My parents paid for my education entirely (apart from the scholarships I earned), including room and board and flights to come home. They gave me $2,000 when I started undergrad, and when I graduated, they agreed to cover a portion of the down payment on my first car as a graduation present, but I don't remember exactly how much that ended up being. Day One: Wednesday 6:15 a.m. — I wake up to my alarm. While I get ready, my partner, A., packs my lunchbox. I leave for work between 6:45 a.m. and 6:50 a.m. every day, as it's a 20-minute commute on a good day, but it usually ends up being slightly longer. 7:14 a.m. — I arrive at work. I'm required to be at school by 7:35 a.m., but the parking lot's a nightmare, so it's better to arrive early. I use the time before work starts to eat breakfast at my desk; today it's smoked salmon on wheat crackers with a dill honey mustard sauce. 7:35 a.m. — I start work. One thing I love about teaching is that there's always something going on: Yesterday, it was the stench of squids marinating in formaldehyde, today there's smooth jazz coming from the music room. There's only a month left of school here (we finish earlier in Arizona than a lot of schools in other parts of the country), so it's a busy season for grading. 12:15 p.m. — I eat a quick lunch with colleagues. It's a leftover half of a Subway sandwich from last night, plus some strawberries. We don't usually order out unless it's a social occasion, but A. and I were both sick this past weekend (occupational hazard), so we didn't get around to meal planning and shopping until last night. 3:15 p.m. — I normally stay at work until 5 p.m. grading and prepping for the next day, but today is the read-through for the play I'm in. I have a small role in a community theatre show; I haven't done theater since high school and I'm enjoying the chance to make some friends. 5:15 p.m. — The read-through took longer than expected, and I'm antsy. I call A. on the way home, and we chat about our days. 5:45 p.m. — I arrive home and help A. finish making dinner. I've been craving a good home-cooked meal, and pork tenderloin was on sale, so we had pork tenderloin with mashed potatoes, stuffing, and gravy. While we eat, we watch a documentary about European food markets on Tubi. 7:30 p.m. — I shower and get ready for bed. We spend the next hour or so relaxing, me finishing The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar and A. playing a video game on his Switch. 8:45 p.m. — During the weekdays, I go to sleep on the early side. My partner is a night owl and offered to get gas tonight after I'm asleep, since I did the grocery shop last night. The money for gas comes out of the joint account. $36.88 Daily Total: $36.88 Day Two: Thursday 5:45 a.m. — I wake up early on my own today. I get ready and answer a parent email on my laptop before heading out at 6:45 a.m. 7:16 a.m. — I have breakfast at my desk — smoked salmon crackers again. A pack of salmon is good for five breakfasts for me, and I appreciate cold breakfasts when it starts to get hot out. 7:35 a.m. — I stay at work until 5:51 p.m. grading projects. Other colleagues are grading at the big table in the faculty office, so it feels social. 6:18 p.m. — I get home and realize I'd forgotten to make my lesson plan for next week. Luckily, the one from last year only needs a few tweaks, so I update that, then start on dinner: a pork and brown rice bowl with guacamole and pico de gallo, with refried beans on the side. I make a spice rub for the tenderloin and start the rice, and A. makes the guacamole and pico and starts the beans. I was tempted to get take-out tonight after such a late night, but I'm glad I didn't, both for the sake of my budget and because it turned out delicious. I take a moment to update the budget while A. finishes cooking. 7:15 p.m. — Dinner's ready. We eat while watching The Amazing Race (free through the CBS website). We finish watching the show, and I get ready for bed. I don't relax for very long afterward because I'm pretty worn out, and by 9:20 p.m., I'm heading to bed. Daily Total: $0 Day Three: Friday 6:15 a.m. — I wake up tired. I probably pushed myself too hard yesterday, but I'd missed out on a lot of grading while I was sick. 7:15 a.m. — I have my usual smoked salmon breakfast. 7:35 a.m. — Around mid-morning, I have a parmesan crisp and a turkey stick during my prep period. I cover an extra duty today and forget things multiple times. It's a rough one. The highlight of my day is running one of my after-school clubs. I've been learning ASL through an online video course alongside my students, and we know enough to have regular conversations at the end of every class now instead of structured dialogues. 5:23 p.m. — I head out. A friend from college who I haven't spoken to in years reaches out over text, and we chat intermittently over the course of the evening. I try to pick up deodorant on my way home, but they're out of the brand I use. 5:50 p.m. — Dinner was going to be cauliflower curry, but I'm too exhausted to cook. I heat up some frozen butternut squash ravioli from Trader Joe's with some butter and garlic salt instead. We keep some extra meals in the freezer to avoid take-out on days like this. When A. gets home, we watch Top Chef on a shared streaming service. This episode is more emotionally taxing than I expected, and it isn't ideal for the day I've been having. 7:52 p.m. — I get ready for bed and play a game with A. on my tablet for a few minutes, but I'm in bed by 8:30 p.m. Daily Total: $0 Day Four: Saturday 8:16 a.m. — I wake up later than normal for a Saturday and work on my computer for my freelance writing until 9 a.m. At 9 a.m., I call my friend and fellow writer, N. We set writing goals for the week, though mine are minimal since work is so busy. A. makes breakfast after waking up (breakfast hash with potato, sweet potato, broccoli, and red onion, topped with a poached egg), and I work on my part of the chores while I'm chatting and finish them after I get off the call. 10:30 a.m. — I leave for Buffalo Exchange, a thrift store chain. I have a list of clothes I was looking for, especially a summer top that would work with two pairs of shorts I'd bought that I currently can't wear. I meet up with my friend S. and have a super successful shop! I end up buying a floral cotton blouse that fits perfectly with both pairs of shorts, a green blouse with puffed sleeves, and the most gorgeous leather jacket. The leather jacket is not on my list, but it's real leather, and it fits beautifully, and it's so buttery soft I can't resist. S. says it's a long-term investment, and it's a steal at $30. $61.90 12:30 p.m. — We walk to Taco Guild, which is a taco place inside an old church. It's absolutely stunning, full of stained glass and high beams with a lot of repurposed details from the old church, and S. loves it. We split Guild fries, which were french fries topped with guacamole, chipotle aioli, and cotija. S. has the Jackson taco, with pork belly and consommé, and I have a yuzu salmon taco. I pay using a gift card, so it's free. 1:30 p.m. — I head home and model all the outfits for A., who approves. I call my mom and talk to her for a bit about the plans for tomorrow and my shopping trip. A. and I work through the grocery planning for the week. 3:30 p.m. — It's the middle-school play weekend! There are two, a matinee and an evening show, with different students in each, so I planned on going to both. We have dinner at a local gastropub in between shows — I have a burrata beet salad, and A. has the burger special with fries, and we pay using the joint account. We stop by the park and walk around before heading back for the evening show. $48.82 9 p.m. — We get home at a reasonable hour, but I get carried away reading I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings until 11 p.m. I expect I'll have some regrets about staying up so late, but the book was certainly worth it. Daily Total: $110.72 Day Five: Sunday 7:30 a.m. — I wake up and lounge in bed for an hour. It has been hectic recently, it's nice to not feel rushed. 8:30 a.m. — I heat up the leftover breakfast hash from yesterday and add a poached egg. We go over the joint account budget and add our contributions for the month. They're much higher than usual because we paid for six months of car insurance last weekend. I put in $2,136. Our math covers our monthly expenses plus a buffer of $1,000 to make sure we never dip below the minimum amount we're required to keep in the account to avoid monthly fees. 10 a.m. — We head to church, and I talk to the pastor a bit after to ask some questions. After, we do our usual weekly grocery shop at Fry's. We buy chicken stock, bok choy, meat stick sausage snacks, bananas, ice cream (a new flavor — salted brown butter cookie!), tomato sauce, grape juice, sour cream, potatoes, pasta, snap peas, an orange, mangos, ramen, ginger, a parsnip, parmesan, gruyère, crackers, mozzarella, gnocchi, basil, thyme, rosemary, English muffins, and lo mein noodles. Altogether, we use four physical coupons, not including the ones on the app. $80.79 12:30 p.m. — We stop by the gas station on our way out. Filling up the tank is cheaper than usual because we'd refilled mid-week last week after the illness set our schedules back. $16.03 12:30 p.m. — We drive to my parents' house. I chat with my grandparents, who are also visiting, and play some Ticket to Ride and Mario Kart with my siblings. We eat both lunch (frozen steamed dumplings) and dinner (grilled chicken, mashed sweet potato, peas, and gravy) there. I complete some grading too, about mid-afternoon, and take a walk. We leave around 8:30 p.m., and I head straight to bed once we get home. Daily Total: $96.82 Day Six: Monday 6:15 a.m. — I'm woken up a bit before my alarm by the garbage truck going by the window. It's cool and rainy out, a rarity for this time of year in Phoenix, and we'd left the window open overnight. I get ready for the day while A. packs lunch, and I head out around 6:45 a.m. 7:15 a.m. — It's Teacher Appreciation Week! We have a very generous parent organization, and there are bagels and muffins in the faculty office this morning when I arrive, plus a fancy little coffee bar. I have a garlic bagel with chive cream cheese but abstain from the coffee; I don't do well with caffeine. 7:35 a.m. — Throughout my work day, I continue to make headway on grading the piles of projects on my desk and send in a list of some of my supplies to be approved for next year. I have my meat stick snack while I make some documents for the week. 12:15 p.m. — I eat lunch, which is a charcuterie assortment consisting of brie, snap peas, and crackers. 5:45 p.m. — At the end of the day, I run my club and grade until 5:45 p.m. A. makes a quick dinner of gnocchi in pasta sauce with mozzarella and basil. We judge the Met Gala outfits while we eat. I don't know much about fashion, but I think the theme is really cool. I love what Zendaya, Sabrina Carpenter, Janelle Monae, and Doechii are wearing, but I'm really impressed with most of them. 8:30 p.m. — After dinner, we scroll on our phones for a while. I try to avoid it in the evenings, but it's hard when I'm so tired I can't muster the energy for a book or a board game. I rally enough to start a book (We Could Be Rats by Emily Austin) and read until 8:30 p.m. when I shower and head to bed. Daily Total: $0 Day Seven: Tuesday 6:15 a.m. — I wake up and get ready; I leave at 6:45 a.m. 7:12 a.m. — My breakfast today is cocoa almond oatmeal, and I read more of my book while I eat. 7:35 a.m. — I start my day, reluctantly tearing myself from my book. I spend much of today bargaining with myself about how many tasks I can do before reading more, which proves rather productive on the grading side of things, and I finish my book before heading to my afternoon classes. Throughout the morning, I snack on parm crisps, a meat stick, and dried mango slices. 12:15 p.m. — Lunch today is catering from a burger chain provided by the parent organization. They're a little cold by the time I get there, but the toppings are good. 5:25 p.m. — I stay until just before 5 p.m. to grade. Today's the first day in a while that I feel relatively on top of things again, which is nice. I get home and have a dinner of garlic-herb pork tenderloin with parsnip purée and sautéed mushrooms while we watch the European food market show. 8:30 p.m. — After dinner, I scroll on my phone for a bit and then muster the energy for a walk, which improves my mood considerably. When we get back, I shower and chat with A. for a bit about logistics for the rest of the week. I text my siblings about a Mother's Day present (a gift card to a restaurant she's been wanting to try) and call the restaurant to make sure I can pick up a gift card on my way home from work tomorrow. I play a game on my tablet for a bit and go to bed a little after 8:30 p.m. Daily Total: $0 The Breakdown Conclusion 'This week was a bit more expensive than usual. I'm pretty attached to my routine, which typically keeps costs down, but it's nice to see that I can have fun and go out while still staying reasonable in terms of costs. I track my spending regularly in a budget spreadsheet, so that portion of the exercise wasn't new to me, but it was really interesting to have more data on why I made the choices I made. I'd be especially interested in continuing to track when I order take-out in the evenings to see if there's a particular day that usually happens. Thinking about my habits and financial history also helped me reflect on how much I've benefitted from the generosity of those around me in so many different ways, and I really hope I can pay that forward.'
The Sun
10-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Dutch court jails ‘chip spy' Russian for three years
THE HAGUE: A Dutch court Thursday sentenced a Russian former employee of tech giant ASML to three years behind bars for passing sensitive microchip technology to Moscow in breach of Western sanctions. In a high-security courtroom in Rotterdam, the judge convicted the 43 year old, identified as German A., for breaking the sanctions law and embezzling trade secrets. 'Giving advice to and sharing technology with Russia is extremely serious,' the court said in its judgement. 'It can contribute to strengthening the military and strategic capabilities of that country, with consequences for Ukraine and indirect consequences for international security and stability,' added the court. The public prosecution service had called for a four-year sentence against the Russian, saying he had 'consciously contributed' to Moscow's war effort against Ukraine. 'By sharing classified information with Russia, the suspect contributed to maintaining or developing the Russian war machine, potentially endangering human lives,' prosecutors said. 'He also grossly violated the trust his employers placed in him by stealing trade secrets from them and sharing them with third parties,' added the prosecution. The court decided on a lower sentence than demanded by the prosecutors as it could not prove he had received money for the information. A., who also worked for semiconductor manufacturer NXP, admitted to having technical documents in his home but claimed they were for his own personal use. ASML makes cutting-edge machines that manufacture semiconductors, powering everything from smartphones to cars. 'The fact that the files contain outdated information is irrelevant, as this information can be of great value to a country with a (much) lower level of knowledge,' said the court.
New York Post
07-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
IDF steps up Samaria anti-terror raids by 90%
Israeli security forces have increased their counter-terrorism raids throughout Samaria by more than 90%, the commander of the Israel Defense Forces' Samaria Brigade, Col. A., said over the weekend. During a meeting with civilian security guards of Jewish communities in the area, Col. A. also revealed that the security forces' activities have led to a decrease of 75% in stone-throwing attacks, Arutz 7 reported. The brigade commander stressed the military's commitment to working in close cooperation with local security. Advertisement 3 Israeli forces during counter-terrorism activity in Judea and Samaria, in an IDF image published on April 21, 2025. IDF On Thursday, the IDF announced it had arrested some 400 wanted Arab terrorists as part of its operations across Judea and Samaria last month. During the June 13–24 'Operation Rising Lion' targeting Iran, Israeli security forces intensified counter-terror efforts across Judea and Samaria, conducting more than 2,500 raids, according to the IDF. Advertisement In addition, the IDF, Israel Border Police, and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) dismantled six Palestinian terrorist cells that had been planning attacks against Israeli civilians and security forces. Israel's Ynet outlet, citing security sources on June 23, reported that Iran views terrorist groups in Judea and Samaria as its 'last proxy' and was working to fuel further violence in the aftermath of the war. 3 An IDF soldier pictured in Samaria. IDF 3 An Israeli soldier enforces a no-go order during an attempt to cross into the Tulkarm refugee camp in the West Bank. Nasser Ishtayeh/SOPA Images/Shutterstock Advertisement Over the weekend, Israel's security forces arrested three suspected members of a terrorist cell in northern Samaria who, according to officials, were planning an imminent attack. Two of the suspects were arrested in eastern Barta'a, an Arab village in Samaria near the border between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, based on Shin Bet intelligence. The third suspect was detained later.
