Angelika Housing in San Francisco is notoriously scarce and absurdly expensive. Since we have been living in this city, nothing has changed in that regard, and there is no improvement in sight. Apartments that fall under the city's rent control are particularly sought after, as they offer tenants special protection. We have been living in such an apartment for over 20 years now.

Michael I have often written here about the mega supermarket Costco and the love-hate relationship we have: On one hand, I like the low prices and the generous quantities in which Costco sells goods. On the other hand, the beehive-like overcrowding with customers, the slow checkout process, and the chaos in the parking lot really get on my nerves. All of the three Costco warehouses in our area are packed with customers from morning till night, all parking spaces are occupied, and you can really only shop there comfortably at completely absurd times.

Michael Who doesn't know those widely visible "Hollywood" letters on that hill down there near Los Angeles? Ah, that reminds me of the old Lindenberg song "Norma Jean" (actually a German adaptation of the American original): "Those Hollywood letters, high above the film city, have already crushed many who were stronger than you, schallalalong ...

Angelika In the last newsletter, I had already begun to outline some weaknesses in the American Constitution and the political system of the USA in general, which can lead to abuses of power in various degrees, depending on who is currently in charge. Trump tests the limits every day to see how far he can go. Next year, the so-called midterm elections will take place. During these elections, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 Senate seats will be up for grabs. Traditionally, the sitting president receives a setback in these elections, meaning that the majorities usually shift, which makes governing more difficult if this shift is to his disadvantage. Trump is aware of this and is trying to take precautions, including through the political strategy of "gerrymandering".

Michael At the end of 2023, we'd heard rumors that the quintessential German driver's drink "Spezi" would make it to the USA. In reality, Spezi is nothing special, just cola with Fanta and a bit of lemon, but all the sweetness of youth is contained in these memories of bulbous 0.4-liter glasses of the brown drink, with a half slice of lemon floating on top.

Michael Anyone who, like us, frequently stays overnight in foreign cities and books rental properties through Airbnb or Vrbo might know that while many of these apartments are in top condition and prime locations, they all suffer from the same issues.

Michael The cowboy days, when a tough guy in dusty clothes, like Clint Eastwood, would enter a saloon and quietly say "Whiskey!", prompting a bottle and a glass to slide across the bar, and the tough guy would pour himself the whiskey, gulp it down, and grimace at the throat-burning taste, are definitely over.

Angelika I find it continually amazing that even after almost 30 years in San Francisco, we still discover new places. During the pandemic, we started taking daily walks around the city and surrounding areas. Although we no longer walk every day, we still do so regularly.