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Old Crank

Old Crank's Journal
Old Crank's Journal
July 4, 2025

Got an Email from Social Security today.

They are bragging that a large number of Social Security recipients will no longer be taxed on their benefits.

What they didn't mention was the billions of dollars this takes out of the trust accounts. Income taxes levied on Social Security go back to Social Security to be used later. This means that the time frame to exhaust the trust fund will come sooner that the last report stated.

Another way to hack away at the system.

Start your campaigns now to raise the amounts to be paid into the system and raise the max salary limit into the system.

July 4, 2025

Well it worked,

my social security payments have been moved from my US bank to my German bank.
What a procedure. Most of the issues involve security. They don't want you to just change bank deposit on-line.
It has to be mailed in and then you get a call from a person at the consulate near you. You need to sign into MyID to show you are you.
Fun stuff, the man I talked to was great and we got it done. The first attempt sounded too much like a scam, Unlisted number with no call back, wanted a pin, and other personal information. So I hung up. Had to call the consulate during the hours that they work on SSocial Security. All is good.

July 3, 2025

Would you rather have cheap energy, or stupid culture wars?

This is from the substack posting Noahpinion. I agree with a good deal of what he says but this article is spot on about the new tax bill.

There are many things to despise about Trump’s deeply unpopular budget bill, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill, or BBB. It would expand the national debt to dangerous levels with irresponsible and unnecessary tax cuts. It would shift the distribution of income upward. But perhaps the most ridiculous, pointless, and downright insane feature of the BBB is its attack on American energy supply.
......
CNN has an interactive tool that allows Americans to see how much their energy bills could go up if Trump’s BBB passes, according to estimates from the think tank Energy Innovation. They write:
....
And of course nuclear and geothermal, which Trump also wants to raise taxes on, are among the most stable energy sources that exist.

It’s also notable how many GOP districts and red states would be hurt by this disastrous policy. Although I don’t believe the purpose of industrial policy should be to create jobs, it’s undeniable that the boom in solar, wind, and batteries has generated a ton of economic activity in Republican-leaning areas.


https://www.noahpinion.blog/p/would-you-rather-have-cheap-energy

July 2, 2025

Two new e-cars on my street.

The first is the Hyundai Ioniq 6. Pretty snazzy. It is a 5 seater. I talked to the owner and he gets better than the EPA distance rating per the EPA. It is priced well for its ilk.
From Car and Driver: https://www.caranddriver.com/hyundai/ioniq-6

The next is a Chinese SUV. Named for the company's owner, first name. WEY 05. This one costs more but not too bad even with the EU tariffs on Chinese cars. Pretty delux set up. By Great Wall Motor. The article says plug in hybrid. I couldn't see an exhaust pipe when I walked around it. This is what Tesla is competing with in Europe even without his other issues. Tesla is falling behind.

https://www.caranddriver.com/hyundai/ioniq-6

The Hyundai




The GWM WEY 05







July 2, 2025

I thought the BeBop was cute

Here comes the new Renault R5 electric only. Plays into the retro theme. Currently outselling Tesla in France and getting notice in the rest of Europe. Renault is also making their own batteries. Plus there is a very important optional accessory that I would just have to have if I were to get one.

A wicker baguette holder. Mais oui!

https://www.businessinsider.com/test-drive-renault-5-ev-french-european-car-of-year-2025-6#:~:text=It's%20the%20accessory%20you%20didn,re%20driving%20a%20French%20voiture.

June 26, 2025

Tesla's market in Europe is declining

From a year ago for the first 5 months of the year.
EV sales are up in Europe and Tesla's market share has dropped below 2%.

"It will be difficult for Tesla to bounce back given the wide variety of EVs now available in Europe. If the EU sticks to its 2035 sales ban on new combustion-engine cars, automakers will be forced to focus entirely on electric vehicles within the next decade. That would make things even tougher for Tesla unless the company manages to get its mojo back in the meantime."

https://www.motor1.com/news/763772/tesla-sales-down-europe-fifth-consecutive-month/

June 23, 2025

Allergens in their natural habitat

Phone pictures while on the dog walk today.





Is that a spider also?


June 22, 2025

I get this newsletter every so often.

This one covers Chinese manufacturing policy and information about their car manufacturing systems.

The thinking is that they might be heading to a meltdown similar to the recent housing collapse they just had.

https://www.noahpinion.blog/p/chinas-industrial-policy-has-an-unprofitability?utm_source=substack&publication_id=35345&post_id=166376732&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&utm_campaign=email-share&triggerShare=true&isFreemail=true&r=rb8mg&triedRedirect=true

June 21, 2025

Flowers and ruins

We drove around Rhodes to see some of the antiquities that weren't covered on our tour. There had been recent rain so the flowers were out in force, some already posted. These are the plants in the ruins pictures.











Profile Information

Name: Ralph
Gender: Male
Current location: München, DE
Member since: Tue Nov 14, 2017, 07:17 AM
Number of posts: 5,852

About Old Crank

Currently living in Germany, enjoying the culture, enjoying the food, enjoying the travel. Not enjoying the winters, or the Deutsches lernen... Now on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/ralphingermany.bsky.social
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