But before I get into Sanae Takaichi, the first female prime minister of Japan, the latest news of the day. Did you know that the meaning of trumpery is worthless nonsense?  Term has long been in this dictionary: Trumpery   - as defined by Merriam-Webster:  "The meaning of   TRUMPERY   is worthless nonsense ."  Showy but worthless finery; bric-a-brac.   Nonsense; rubbish.   Deception; trickery; fraud. While the world turns with not much peace, and the U.S. still in government shutdown, Wall Street is breaking all time high records. According to preliminary data, the S&P 500 gained 82.92 points, or 1.23%, to end at 6,874.61 points, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 431.22 points, or 1.86%, to 23,636.09. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 333.87 points, or 0.71%, to 47,540.99 . However, last time I checked, gold prices today tumbled by 3% to just below $4000/ounce, a sign that there just might be a solution to sanity with China tariffs, while...

Goodbye San Diego.  Things went well enough returning to Honolulu from San Diego.  Some disappointments included having to wait more than an hour for the Hawaiian Airlines desk to open at the airport, then we found out that the company is supposedly putting together an executive club not yet ready.  Also, even though Hawaiian has merged with Alaska Airlines, as business class passengers, we could NOT use the Alaska lounge.  Finally, the flight left late.  So I missed taking a perfect sunset photo.  Here is one when we were in flight. By, the way, should you wear a mask throughout a flight?  First, you can't if you wish to eat and drink.  But no matter, this info to the left says that there is just about no chance of getting infected by COVID or the flu or anything else respiratory if you keep a mask on for the whole plane ride.  Who does that?  What is the rate if you don't wear a mask?  People were coughing behind us.  Maybe 5...

We've been in California for 10 days, are now back in San Diego, and will leave later this afternoon on a flight home to Honolulu.  This has been a truly great trip, for I finally got to Paso Robles and drank their Petite Sirah.  Plus we saw a lot of San Diego. Our drive from Paso Robles to first Encinitas, where Linda lives, and, finally, the Marriott Marquis in San Diego.  Goodbye Allegretto Hotel and Paso Robles. After a few miles, a look at how far we had left. San Diego is 346 miles from Paso Robles.  We stopped by at a Subway to fill gas.  My lunch. Linda and her parrot, followed by habitat for three guinea pigs. We had a sushi and beer dinner.  Linda's two sons on the right, with her mother in the middle. Sushi. Back at the Marriott Marquis.  Room 1900 is a suite. Night view. A standard free breakfast in the M Club. Day view, with the Coronado Bridge in the left background. We then spent the evening feasting on pizza, hamburger, french fries and...