one less mystery

Many thanks to my friend S from Santa Cruz, who sent an article that identified my weevils. They are Stegobium paniceum, otherwise known as "biscuit beetles." They eat everything: cereal, grains, sugar, spices, and yes, oatmeal.

This from Wildlife Magazine's Dec. 04 issue:

Stegobium has been a domestic pest since humans started storing food. They were even found in sealed jars in ancient Egyptian tombs dating back 4,500 years ago.

So that makes me feel a little bit better. I haven't had a sighting in awhile, so I think I'm in the clear.

The recurring theme these days is finacial planning. I have one friend who is sold on real estate as the only sure-fire investment. And another who has her retirement $$ parked in a low-interest money market fund, distrustful of the stock market after last year's losses. I sit somewhere in between, with worries that the markets are a rigged game with crappy rules, and a belief the US real estate is overpriced 10-20% (Economist, April 2004 or thereabouts).

Friend #1 predicts the U.S. economy will hit the skids in 2008, which seems about right. It's a concern I share: the U.S. economy relies heavily on consumer spending, and consumers are about tapped out. Case in point: pre-Christmas sales. Perhaps I'm oblivious -- I didn't buy Christmas gifts last year -- but I don't recall deep discounts by retailers before Dec. 25. Seems like a big sign of weakness.

How much is the average citizen in debt? Something to the tune of 7k for every man, woman, and child in the US. And there's China buying our debt. What will that mean in ten years? Twenty? I wonder. And am concerned. And have no idea what's a good move, at this point in my saving/retirement/home ownership plans. Perhaps I'll start an investing group, to see if I can sort it out with folks who are smarter than I am. Anybody want to join?

Happy holidays. Take advantage of all those great sales. I have. For instance, I now own igh-threadcount sheets (400-600, thank you) that make it damned hard to get out of bed in the morning. Can't recommend them enough.