John Cox

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nytimes.com

The Gear You Need to Hit the Trail

This New York Times Travel gear guide from June 2023 sorts walking equipment into four scenarios (city walks, trail runs, day hikes, and multiday inn-to-inn pilgrimages) and names specific products with prices for each, such as Dansko and Arc'teryx shoes for city streets, the HOKA Speedgoat 5 and Suunto 9 Peak Pro for trail running, and Patagonia's 28-liter Altiva pack and Wallaroo's Charlie fedora for long treks. It opens with essentials common to all, a first aid kit, an emergency snack, and electrolyte powder, then emphasizes matching gear to the activity, with attention to weight, packability, and suitcase-friendliness. Worth keeping as a shopping reference organized by trip type rather than a general how-to.

Permalink hikinggearfootweartrails

Gamintraveler

Selling Your Home & Moving into a Backpack – Start Your Journey Backpacking

Practical advice for anyone who sells their house to travel long-term as a backpacker: budget carefully and keep some savings earning interest at home, pack light and store the rest with family or in storage, and expect surprises like medical bills or theft. It also suggests occasional splurges on package deals, regular self-care to manage stress, and topping up funds on the road with remote work such as freelancing, blogging, or teaching English. The advice is fairly generic, and the piece is studded with affiliate links for backpacks, travel insurance, and accommodation, so it's more a starter checklist than a detailed account of anyone's experience.

Permalink travelpackingtipsbudget

Scientific American

Can You Change Your Metabolism?

Experts in metabolism and nutrition argue that there is no durable way to "boost" basal metabolic rate, and that most popular claims about it (supplements, fasting, extra exercise, a slump starting in your 30s) don't hold up. Resting metabolism mostly tracks body size and lean mass, so building muscle helps only slightly. The body also compensates for added exercise by cutting energy spent elsewhere, and the often-cited Biggest Loser finding of a lasting metabolic slowdown hasn't been replicated. Basal rate doesn't begin to decline until around age 60, at about 0.7 percent a year. Protein's higher digestive cost, good sleep, and hydration may add small gains, but none of them is a miracle.

Permalink nutritionhealthfitnessweight loss

Savored Journeys

12 Best Adults-Only All-Inclusive Cancun Resorts

A Savored Journeys roundup of twelve adults-only, all-inclusive resorts in and around Cancun, including Haven Riviera, Secrets The Vine, Le Blanc Spa, Hyatt Zilara, TRS Coral, Live Aqua, and the party-oriented Temptation. Each entry gives a short profile of the setting, rooms, dining, and vibe (romantic, quiet, or wild) and suggests an offsite excursion such as Chichen Itza, Rio Secreto, or a catamaran trip to Isla Mujeres. A brief FAQ covers what "all-inclusive" typically includes and whether specialty restaurants need reservations, so it works as a quick shortlist for choosing by mood rather than a deep comparison.

Permalink travelrecommendationsmexicohotels

The Atlantic

Inside the Meltdown at CNN

Tim Alberta's Atlantic profile of CNN chief Chris Licht, built on months of on-the-record access, traces his first year as a case study in a sound-sounding theory (restore trust by treating Republicans fairly, stop the "outrage porn" and the both-sides-averse hostility of the Zucker era) undone by poor execution and a doubting newsroom. The May 2023 Trump town hall in New Hampshire, which Licht had pinned his hopes on, became a rally-like spectacle that steamrolled Kaitlan Collins, while his other bets, like the Don Lemon morning show, flopped, his aloofness and inconsistency alienated staff, and he seemed to be performing for an audience of one, boss David Zaslav, who dodged an on-record interview. Alberta, sympathetic to Licht's principles, ends with a man isolated, defensive, and likely on borrowed time.

Permalink televisionleadershippoliticsnews

Saveur

I (Basically) Stopped Weeding Thanks to This Game-Changing Gardening Method

A food writer recounts taking over a neglected London allotment, formerly her elderly friend Zara's, which was choked with nettles, bindweed and thistles, and turning it into a productive vegetable garden in under a year using Charles Dowding's No Dig method. She covered the weeds with tarpaulin over winter, then laid cardboard topped with four inches of compost and planted straight into it, which avoids disturbing soil organisms and fungal networks and smothers weed seeds. The piece is a personal, enthusiastic case for the method, with practical tips on potatoes, slugs and leaving roots in the ground, and it ends with her expanded plantings and the dishes she cooks from the harvest.

Permalink sustainabilitygardeningvegetable

The Points Guy

Secrets Impression Moxché

This is a Points Guy review of Secrets Impression Moxché, the adults-only, VIP resort-within-a-resort in Playa del Carmen that's part of World of Hyatt. After a two-night stay, the writer praises the large suites with balcony hot tubs, the three Impression-only pools and beach club, and gourmet dining that beats typical all-inclusive fare. The standout cost-benefit details are the roughly $250-$500 Teodoro tasting dinner (free with five nights), the bid-for-upgrade system, and the points math: even after Hyatt's jump to 42,000 points per night, she values it at about 3 cents per point against a 1.7-cent baseline. The drawbacks are a disguised timeshare pitch at check-in, unhelpful butlers, sargassum on the beach, a sleepy activity schedule, a spread-out layout poor for mobility needs, and airport-road construction delays. It closes with a list of nearby Hyatt, Hilton, and Marriott alternatives.

Permalink travelmexicohotelsluxury

The Conversation

Tiredness of life: the growing phenomenon in western society

Drawing on interviews with elderly people and the work of a European research network, this piece argues that "tiredness of life" is a distinct form of suffering in old age, not simply depression or physical pain. Unlike the distress of terminal illness or divorce, it involves no mourning of a lost future, only a sense that the journey is over yet drags on, often among people who feel marginalised, lonely, or dreading dependence. The author notes the debate over whether it justifies euthanasia in countries where that is legal, and suggests western societies, with medicine geared to survival over quality of life and little reverence for elders, may help produce it, citing Japan as a contrast.

Permalink philosophymental health

Lifehacker

Relive Your Childhood Games With This Free CD-ROM Archive

Lifehacker piece from 2023 pointing out that the Internet Archive hosts a huge, searchable library of old CD-ROM software, with just under 46,000 entries in the main collection and over 71,000 in its broader CD-ROM Software Collection. The author uses childhood titles like JumpStart and Backyard Baseball as search examples, notes that PC discs far outnumber console ones (though some PS2 and Xbox games turn up), and mentions niche collections such as AOL install discs. It also covers running the files on Windows 10 or 11 through compatibility mode (right-click the .exe, then Properties, then Compatibility), and closes by recommending the Internet Arcade, which offers over 2,600 browser-playable arcade games where pressing 5 inserts a coin.

Permalink technologyhistorysoftwareinternet

Savored Sips

Spicy Watermelon Margarita

A spicy watermelon margarita recipe from the Savored Sips blog, adapted from a drink served at The Cove pool area at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California. It blends fresh seedless watermelon puree with Milagro silver tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and muddled jalapeño, served over ice in a Tajin-rimmed glass, and takes about five minutes. It also offers a sweeter no-heat version plus watermelon mojito and daiquiri variations, and suggests tasting before adding any agave or simple syrup.

Permalink summerrecipescocktailsspirits

One Green Planet

15 Plant-Based Spicy Black Bean Recipes

The saved page turned out to be mostly OneGreenPlanet's site navigation, trending lists, and product and petition headlines, with no article body captured. The only clues to the content are the URL slug, "spicy-sofritas-black-bean-bowls," and a byline from Mathew Davis, which together suggest a vegan recipe for spicy sofritas (a Mexican-style braised tofu dish) served in black bean bowls, posted about two years ago. Beyond that, no ingredients, method, or argument survive in the text, so you'd need to reopen the link to recover the actual recipe.

Permalink foodrecipescookingvegetarian

The Points Guy

Northern lights cruises: A guide to chasing the aurora borealis at sea

A practical guide to seeing the northern lights from a cruise, stressing that success depends on clear, dark skies, late-night watching, solar activity and luck. It maps the best regions (northern Alaska, Norway's Alta and Tromso, Iceland, Greenland, Arctic Canada) and timing: the Alaska Inside Passage only before April 21 or after Aug. 21, expedition ships to Iceland and Greenland early in the season, and Norway as the only place with true winter sailings. It also covers cruise-line extras like wake-up sign-up lists, Alaska cruisetours that add inland Fairbanks (claimed 90%+ odds over three nights), Viking's winter aurora-tracking sailings, and Hurtigruten's "Northern Lights Promise" of a free voyage if the lights don't show.

Permalink travelnatureeuropetips

nytimes.com

36 Hours in Houston

A New York Times "36 Hours in Houston" itinerary by a lifelong local, pitched at visitors who might be put off by the city's sprawl and friction. It frames Houston as a place for people who like contradiction and eating, then runs Friday to Sunday through the new Kinder Building at the Museum of Fine Arts, Viet-Cajun crawfish in Chinatown, Freedmen's Town and Black history walking tours, Truth BBQ, Tex-Mex at Ninfa's, and brunch at Chris Williams's Lucille's. Sidebars add lodging, transit tips (it's car-dependent) and shopping and park picks, with prices throughout.

Permalink arttraveltexastourism

tuscanynowandmore.com

What is Digestivo

A travel-company guide to Italy's digestivo tradition, the after-dinner drinks meant to settle the stomach and prolong the meal, set against the better-known aperitivo: digestivi are stronger and sweet or bitter, usually drunk neat, though many double as cocktail ingredients. It traces their roots in monastic and medicinal herbal remedies, then tours regional examples: grappa in Veneto (with the espresso "resentin" ritual), artichoke-based Cynar in Venice, Amalfi-coast limoncello, Tuscan Moscadello and Vin Santo dessert wines, and anise-flavoured Sambuca served with three coffee beans. Useful as a quick regional cheat-sheet of what to order and how it's traditionally served, though it's also pitched at renters of the company's Italian villas.

Permalink culturecocktailstravelspirits

Primally Inspired

Greek Meatballs with Avocado Tzatziki Sauce (Keto, Paleo, Whole30)

A keto, paleo, and Whole30 recipe from Primally Inspired for Greek meatballs made with ground lamb (or beef), red onion, garlic, lemon zest, oregano, coriander, and cumin, baked at 350°F for 25 minutes to yield 25-30 small balls. The main attraction is the accompanying avocado tzatziki, blended from avocado, cucumber, garlic, lemon, dill or mint, and optional sour cream or Greek yogurt (omit for dairy-free). It can double as a salad dressing or a "cream" sauce over zucchini noodles, and the author suggests adding feta to the meatballs or sauce if you eat dairy.

Permalink recipescookingmediterraneandiet

Camille Styles

I Could Eat These Crispy Roasted Sweet Potatoes for Dinner Every Week (and I Do)

This recipe gets crispy sweet potatoes by roasting halves cut-side down at 425°F for about 45 minutes until tender, then searing them cut-side down in a cast iron skillet with melted butter and honey for 3 to 5 minutes. The brown butter caramelizes the surface, and the author says this turns a plain roasted potato into a dinner-worthy dish. It's built as a one-dish meal, topped with Greek yogurt, avocado, everything spice, lime, sriracha, and fresh herbs, with suggestions for swaps like black beans, bacon, or goat cheese and a build-your-own "sweet potato bar" idea for kids.

Permalink recipescookingvegetarianvegetable

31 Daily

Mediterranean Moroccan Bean Soup

A quick, meatless take on Moroccan harira that simmers canned tomatoes, chickpeas, fava (or butter) beans, and dried green lentils with onion, carrot, celery, and warm spices (turmeric, cumin, cinnamon, ginger) in about 20 minutes in one pot. It gives some background on harira, whose name means "silky" and which is traditionally made with lamb and served with lemon, bread, and sweets, and suggests lima, cannellini, or kidney beans if fava aren't on hand. Poached eggs or cooked chicken, beef, or lamb can be added to make it heartier.

Permalink recipescookingmediterraneanvegetarian