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Unity is a powerful thing, particularly in business. Partnerships, alliances and acquisitions can create significantly more value, deliver new opportunities and bring much stronger offerings to the market for all stakeholders. When each partner brings a specific set of skills and expertise to the table which complements the other, it makes for a dynamic union.
In line with Big Red Group’s ethos to support local, the new additions are Australian owned and operated entities, making them a logical fit to join its powerhouse of experience brands which include Adrenaline, Lime&Tonic, and RedBalloon.
All brands under TicketMates Australia will move into Big Red Group’s portfolio of brands, with the exception of auto-club business Club Connect – a dedicated member benefits platform serving Australia’s large-scale auto-clubs such as RACQ, RACV and NRMA.
While Club Connect will continue to procure its existing products directly, Big Red Group has negotiated a long-term wholesale agreement enabling Big Red Group experience suppliers to be progressively introduced to the portal, giving them exclusive access to auto-club’s 11 million members.
Queensland based Experience Oz is an industry leader in serving domestic holiday makers, while its B2B platform Local Agent, is Australia’s leading one-stop-shop for concierge activity bookings. Local Agent currently serves 700+ hotels including Mantra and Oaks Hotels, providing access to 3000+ experiences Australia wide.
These new acquisitions provide Big Red Group with a very complete marketplace, while giving its suppliers unparalleled access to both direct and indirect audiences with B2C, B2B, and exclusive partnership offerings.
When David Anderson and I co-founded Big Red Group more than 4 years ago, we had a vision to build a multi-brand marketplace, with each brand speaking to a distinct audience, and where people would recognise the value in buying experiences over material goods.
David Anderson summarises this very succinctly, seeing this amalgamation as a win-win for all parties. “We areabsolutely delighted to welcome Experience Oz and Local Agent into our portfolio of experience brands. This is a natural evolution that has been in the workings for over a year and we are tremendously excited about the mutual benefits ahead through driving efficiencies and expanding product offerings.”
As has been the underlying mantra throughout the pandemic, we are stronger together. Whether that be in the community or in business, it’s very much applicable to the times we are in.
I look forward to bringing you more news of this in the near future as opportunities are realised.
This is The Marshall Project’s Closing Argument newsletter, a weekly deep dive into a key criminal justice issue. Want this delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to future newsletters.
In the years Faith Kearns spent living unsheltered on Phoenix’s streets, she had all kinds of belongings taken during sweeps of the public areas where she was staying. Kearns said police or city workers took, and often destroyed, her property — her birth certificate, the Visa card she used to access her disability income, medications and the tent where she lived.
She’s a plaintiff in an ongoing federal lawsuit challenging how Phoenix treats unhoused people living and sleeping on public property, alleging these seizures violate their Constitutionally-protected property rights. “This property is what they rely on for survival,” the suit reads. “It is all they have.”
Kearns’ litigation isn’t unique in using property rights arguments to seek better treatment of unhoused people by local governments. Even after the Supreme Court ruled in June that cities can enforce bans on camping in public places, courts are still being asked to evaluate how cities handle the property of unsheltered people when clearing them from where they are sleeping, resting for a bit, or even simply waiting for public transit.
The Supreme Court ruling, in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, overturned a lower court’s decision that said criminal penalties for sleeping outside, when no other adequate shelter was available, violated the Eighth Amendment’s protection against cruel and unusual punishment. Cities that had limited enforcement of camping bans and postponed enacting new ones are now released from their previous constraints. That has prompted a nationwide wave of local camping prohibitions and aggressive clearing of encampments.
The Supreme Court’s decision left a difficult path ahead for lawsuits alleging that bans are cruel and unusual punishment. However, ongoing lawsuits also based on property right claims have resulted in orders for cities to take greater care with the belongings of unhoused people. Attorneys in these cases also say the Supreme Court decision did not impact claims about excessive fines and fees. In addition, suits filed in state courts cite additional protections under some state constitutions.
The Phoenix lawsuit, based in part on constitutional protections against government seizure of people’s property, asserts the city destroyed the belongings of unhoused people, like Kearns, without giving them adequate warning or any recourse. In December 2022, a judge temporarily prohibited the city from seizing property without prior notice, required the city to hold seized property for 30 days before destroying it and to provide a process for people to retrieve their things.
In response to this order, and another in 2023, the city updated its policies. City officials have touted a set of reforms in the police department, which cite 40 interviews (though only three with unhoused people themselves) which found limited cases of officials improperly handling belongings and no instances of such police misconduct after 2020.
Those findings, however, are in stark contrast with the results of a U.S. Department of Justice investigation, released in June, which found Phoenix police continued to destroy unhoused people’s property without notice or the chance for them to reclaim it — in violation of their constitutional rights.
Other lawsuits on behalf of unhoused people are also citing property rights. A lawsuit in Albuquerque, New Mexico, temporarily halted the destruction of property collected from homelessness enforcement. In San Francisco, an ongoing federal lawsuit led to a requirement that the city store belongings and notify their owners.
“It was very traumatic because it’s very cold outside and a lot of things they’re taking are warm clothes, warm jackets, blankets, things that you need just to survive,” Toro Castaño, one of the San Francisco plaintiffs, told KQED.
These electoral battles highlight a nationwide ideological clash, where the left-leaning argument for expanding access to permanent housing battles the conservative desire to treat mental health and substance abuse as the root causes of homelessness.
But some of the governments that have stepped up enforcement or considered expanding camping bans are led by Democrats. In July, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, issued an executive order directing state agencies to clear encampments and threatened to withhold funds from counties that failed to expand their own efforts. In 2022, Newsom found bipartisan support for a bill that allows courts to compel people to enter mental health treatment.
Kearns, in Phoenix, will be moving into a new apartment next month, back in the same neighborhood where she once lived on the streets.
With housing, Kearns has been able to hold onto things like a new copy of her birth certificate, a rock collection and letters from family. But she still recalls the sting of losing her belongings. “We all lost treasures, thanks to the city,” she said.
I remember being a broke college student during my senior year at The College of William & Mary. A group of us gathered at the Spanish House, the language immersion dorm where we lived, to brainstorm easy ways to make money. None of us had job offers yet, and we were anxious to prove to ourselves—and to our parents—that we hadn’t wasted four years.
One classmate joked, “What if we started a nonprofit called ‘Save The Children’? Who wouldn’t want to save children? We could raise a ton of money from private donors and the government. And then pay ourselves a million dollars each as directors!”
We all chuckled at the first glimpse of grift we’d concocted. Francisco would be the CEO, Pravster would be the CMO, and I would be the CFO. All our financial problems would be solved! With no money, our minds naturally drifted toward dubious ways of getting some.
Little did I realize then that government grift, or more precisely, graft, was pervasive all around the country.
Goals Of This Post
To explore government grift and understand why it persists
To highlight the advantages of working for the government, given the bias toward private sector jobs
To discuss the allure of power, money, and status, and why it can be dangerous if we don’t let go of them
To show how people naturally tend to take care of those most similar to themselves
To question whether the government borrowing more money, raising taxes, and expanding the budget is the best path forward
To examine how incentives drive human behavior
What Is Government Grift (or Graft)?
Government grift refers to the unethical or corrupt misuse of public funds or resources by government officials or those connected to the government. It can take many forms, including embezzlement, bribery, nepotism, or diverting public resources for personal gain.
Essentially, government grift involves exploiting one’s position in government for financial or material benefit, often at the expense of taxpayers or public interest. Grift not only erodes trust in public institutions, but it also leads to inefficiency, waste, and increased inequality.
The combination of large local budgets and concentrated power creates an irresistible temptation for financial gain.
As a personal finance writer, I understand why financial misconduct occurs—especially among politicians who didn’t grow up with wealth. Once in power, the temptation to leverage that influence for personal gain can be overwhelming. When surrounded by wealthy donors living extravagant lifestyles, it’s easy to start feeling entitled to the same. With power also comes the desire to also take care of those closest to you.
Bi-coastal grift: I invite you to share examples of grift within your local government in the comment section below so we can get a clearer picture of how widespread it is. My friends on the East Coast have NYC Mayor Eric Adams as a prime example of grift after his indictment on five federal public corruption charges.
First Experience with Government Grift in San Francisco, California
In 2005, I embarked on my first major home remodel by converting an upstairs closet into a full bathroom. The home I had just purchased only had one full bath and one quarter bath. Adding another full bath to better utilize the space was a no brainer. To make the remodel official, I chose to do everything to code with the proper city permits.
Hector, the general contractor recommended by my real estate agent, informed me that I needed to come up with $3,200 to pay a permit expediter. According to him, this was the only way to get my bathroom permit approved within the next six months. Not knowing any better, I paid the $3,200.
Sure enough, the permit was approved, and the job was completed in about three months. The very next year, however, I read in the San Francisco Chronicle that the permit expediter I paid had been sent to jail for accepting bribes! Holy crap—was my $3,200 actually a bribe?
It turns out that paying permit expediters was legal in San Francisco. However, this particular expediter had been pocketing extra money off the books. Private citizens had to pay extra to local government officials just to get their home updates done. And in turn, these instances drive up the cost of housing for everyone.
Once I realized this type of grift was occurring, ironically, I became more bullish on the San Francisco real estate market. I figured, the more corruption there is at the Department of Building inspection, the more expensive and difficult it is to build houses and expand. Therefore, home prices should continue to go up! And went up they inevitably did.
Government Grift Under Mayor London Breed
Over the years, I’ve come to realize the significant power that local politicians—especially mayors—hold.
In 2022, roughly 19.23 million people were employed by state and local governments in the U.S., compared to just 2.87 million working for the federal government. Clearly, there’s a large number of government employees in America, the vast majority of whom are honest and hardworking.
San Francisco alone has about 34,000 government employees. But as people rise through the ranks, they gain more power—and with power often comes temptation.
London Breed became the mayor of San Francisco in July 2018 after the sudden passing of Mayor Ed Lee. In 2023, she was the highest-paid mayor in all of California, earning a total compensation of $468,672. With no family to support, such a high salary offers a life of luxury.
Like Eric Adams, London Breed grew up poor in the Western Addition of San Francisco. Breed wrote of her childhood, “Five of us living on $900 per month. ‘Recycling’ meant drinking out of old mayonnaise jars. Violence was never far away.” Her younger sister died of a drug overdose in 2006. Her brother, Napoleon Brown, is in prison serving a 44-year sentence for a 2000 conviction on charges of manslaughter and armed robbery.
Although Breed managed to victoriously break out of poverty, under Breed’s leadership, government grift has been rampant. Here are just five notable examples:
1) Mohammed Nuru Scandal (Breed’s ex-boyfriend)
Mohammed Nuru, former Director of Public Works, was arrested by the FBI in 2020 for accepting bribes. Breed and Nuru were ex-lovers, and anyone who’s been in a relationship knows that pillow talk can reveal plenty of dirty secrets.
Later that same year, the FBI arrested Harlan Kelly, former Public Utilities Commission General Manager, for similar bribery accusations. These charges also implicated his wife, Naomi Kelly, former City Administrator.
2) Department of Building Inspection Corruption
In 2023, the FBI began charging multiple people at the Department of Building Inspection with bribery and corruption. The case is still ongoing, with more indictments on the horizon.
Will I ever see my $3,200 again for paying a permit expediter? Probably not. But if the city wants to mail me a refund for having to go through that corrupt process, feel free to send me a check.
3) Non-Profit Fraud For The Homeless
In May 2024, Patricia Doyle, a non-profit director for the homeless, and friend of Breed’s, was accused of receiving $105,000 from the city for work that was never completed. Doyle’s organization was supposed to paint the Oasis Hotel, among other things, with the $105,000 received. Instead, that money was pocketed and used for other things.
“Providence [Foundation] ignored the clear anti-nepotism provision in the grant agreement” by hiring members of at least seven different families, including two of the executive director’s children and a child of the vice president of the board of directors, SF City Attorney Chiu said in the statement.
Source:
4) Human Rights Commission Cronyism
In August 2024, The Standardreported that Sheryl Davis, head of the Human Rights Commission, had approved $1.5 million in contracts with a nonprofit, Collective Impact, run by a man she lived with. The two shared a home address and a car, but claim not to be close. Despite rules requiring her to disclose such a relationship, she allegedly failed to do so.
Heads of organizations with contract-awarding power may be tempted to favor friends, family, and lovers. London Breed said she knew about the relationship and budgeted $300 million for the Dream Keeper Initiative to help her community starting in 2020. It is one thing to use your own money to help your friends. It’s another to use taxpayer money.
5) Living Large With Taxpayer Dollars
Another nonprofit, Both Sides of the Conversation, submitted invoices for Dream Keeper Initiative funds (Breed’s initiative with a $300 million budget) spent on expensive meals, liquor, and travel. The organization essentially received $900,000 from the city to host a podcast discussing race and run educational workshops with Dream Keeper Initiative partners.
As someone who runs a self-funded podcast (on Apple and Spotify) that takes hours to produce a single episode, I was intrigued! I’d happily accept just $800,000—a $100,000 discount from the Breed’s Dream Keeper Initiative—just to primarily talk about race for 5.7% of the city’s population. Unfortunately, given I’m Hawaiian/Asian, I’m probably ineligible.
But the real perk isn’t just the $800,000 I could get—it’s the boondoggles on the government’s dime with all my listeners! As Milton Friedman once said, it’s much easier to spend other people’s money on yourself and other people. Check out some great examples below of expenses submitted by the non-profit organization to the city as reported by Gabe Gerschler from The Standard.
The invoices submitted by Both Sides of the Conversation include:
$3,443 for first-class flights: a round-trip ticket from Chicago to San Francisco, a one-way ticket from Chicago to San Francisco, and a flight from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.
$218 for a Blacklane “luxury chauffeur service” ride in Washington, D.C.
$281 at San Francisco’s Old Clam House for crab cakes, pan-roasted salmon, and wine. Only one person is noted on the receipt.
$1,420 at Kaliwa, a Southeast Asian restaurant in Washington, D.C. Tequila, bourbon, and wine account for $108 of the bill.
$532 at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse in Walnut Creek for three guests ordering $50 plates of seabass, lobster macaroni and cheese, crab cakes, and barbecued shrimp. The bill includes $74 for cognac. The invoice is labeled as an “event consultant dinner” but the physical receipt says “Boyd Birthday.”
$307 at Chicago-based steakhouse STK.
$88 for one person at Afro-Caribbean restaurant Salamander in Washington. The bill includes tequila.
$256 for tickets to “Soul Train” in San Francisco.
Drinking Hennessey funded by taxpayers, baby!
A Fun Way To Use Government Funds For My Podcast
If I manage to secure $800,000 in government funds from London Breed to run my podcast, we could host a listener event at The Wynn in Vegas! Picture this: recording an episode poolside, where the first 100 attendees who shares how their race impacted their upbringing gets a free drink ticket.
I’ll then select the top five stories and treat the winners to dry-aged steaks at the iconic Golden Steer restaurant. Of course, in the interest of being responsible with taxpayer money, I’ll kindly ask that my guests stick to one drink, one starter, one entrée, and one dessert shared between two people. After all, we need to maintain our washboard abs.
With such great success, I’d request another $800,000 from the Dream Keeper Initiative to take these events nationwide. Our first stop? Honolulu, Hawaii, where we can host team-building events by swimming with dolphins at Sea Life Park followed by dinner at La Mer. What a fun and meaningful way to raise awareness and foster a sense of community!
The Mayor of a City is More Invincible than the CEO of a Public Company
If you were the CEO of a public company, and this level of grift occurred under your watch, you’d be out the door without a severance package. Leaders must take responsibility for their organization’s problems, whether or not they were directly involved. This is commonsense as politicians work for the people.
For example, Travis Kalanick, the founder and CEO of Uber, along with several C-level executives, were either fired or left voluntarily after an ex-employee exposed a toxic work culture that had been long ignored. While Kalanick and the executives didn’t directly harass the employee, it happened on their watch.
However, if you’re the mayor of San Francisco, it seems there’s no need to take accountability for issues under your leadership. Instead, you deflect blame and run for re-election! Despite being part of the problem for six years, you somehow convince voters that you can fix it.
And guess what? It’s working. London Breed is leading in many polls.
A Healthy Government Salary—Plus Bribes on the Side
What makes government grift infuriating is that the individuals involved aren’t struggling financially. We’re not talking about desperate illegal immigrants participating in staged car collision scams to make enough money to take care of their families. Although a double violation, such acts may be born out of necessity. In San Francisco, government employees are well paid.
The mayor earns about $469,000 in total compensation annually. But Breed isn’t the highest-paid city employee. That honor goes to Alison Romano, the Chief Executive and Investment Officer of the retirement services department. From July 2023 to June 2024, Romano made $842,000 in total compensation for managing the city’s pension funds. Fair enough, given she oversees a lot of money and she’s not accused of grift.
Meanwhile, Police Sergeant Frank Harrell earned $765,000 last year, making him the third-highest paid government worker in San Francisco. His secret? A whopping $450,000 in overtime pay! It’s safe to say Sgt. Harrell would scoff at anyone working just 40 hours a week and wondering why they can’t get ahead.
Check out the chart below from the SF Chronicle, which shows how many San Francisco government employees make well over $300,000 a year. Add on another working spouse and the total household income is fantastic.
Source:
Government Pay Can Be Superior To Private Sector Pay
Working for the city government can be a sweet deal. You earn a solid salary, pile on overtime pay, take on a second job, get comped with free stuff, and still retire with a lifetime pension. If you’re corrupt, you may have the opportunity to pocket some bribes on the side.
Meanwhile, private sector workers face no such luxuries—no pensions and no job security, paired with the constant threat of being fired without cause. It’s no wonder why a government job seems so appealing.
If you’re good at gaslighting the public into thinking you’re doing a great job, you can keep grifting for years. This is why everybody needs to improve their communication skills. You can talk your way into or out of almost anything.
In contrast, grifting is harder for CEOs to hide. With shareholders and stock prices reflecting performance, any big drop is an obvious red flag that something is wrong. The accountability is built in.
If we want to have less grift, we need to have more frequent elections. It’s too easy for politicians to spend other people’s money on their own interests.
A Lack Of Money Or The Desire for More
If you and your friends grew up poor and eventually find yourselves in positions of power, the temptation to grift can be high. Similarly, if you were well-off growing up, insatiable greed can lead to even greater acts of corruption.
Government grift stems from a complex web of power, human behavior, and systemic failures. When officials have unchecked access to resources, corruption tends to follow.
We must hold our politicians accountable, and they should hold themselves to the highest standard. If grift occurs repeatedly under their leadership, whether they participated in it or not, they ought to step down. But pride and the allure of power often make this unlikely.
In the end, as long as there’s opportunity and voter apathy, government grift will persist. Voters often get the government they deserve. And when fighting against it becomes too challenging, it’s easy to see why some might consider joining in.
Reader Questions
Why do you think government grift persists? Why doesn’t the public do more to hold political leaders to the same level of accountability as CEOs of publicly traded companies? How much does ideology and a large percentage of the population not paying taxes have to do with the pervasiveness of government grift? Have you befriended and donated to your local politician to consider grifting opportunities?
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The statement is provided to you by Financial Samurai (“Promoter”) who has entered into a written referral agreement with Empower Advisory Group, LLC (“EAG”). Click here to learn more.This is the free Financial Samurai newsletter for September 22, 2024.
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Meet the best 7-layer dip I’ve ever had. I’ve sampled my fair share of them, and wow, this recipe is the winner! Every layer is delicious on its own and builds on the last. The end result is creamy and cheese, of course, but it’s also perfectly balanced. Fresh avocado, jalapeño, cilantro, green onion and salsa offer fresh and bright flavors that cut through the cheddar cheese, sour cream and refried beans.
Store-bought ingredients yield great results, so you don’t have to turn on the stove to make this one. Each layer contains a fun little surprise, like a splash of salsa in the refried beans to loosen the texture and a burst of freshness from jalapeño in the sour cream. All seven layers come together quickly, too, so you can enjoy your appetizer after about twenty minutes of assembly.
Bring this 7-layer dip to your next watch party. Football season is in full swing (go Chiefs!), and I’ll make this recipe again this weekend. I’ve enjoyed the leftovers for lunch, so you don’t need a big occasion to make this recipe. I hope you love it as much as I do.
How to Make 7-Layer Dip
Here are the seven layers that comprise this dip recipe. Once they all come together, you’ll see why this is the best seven-layer dip recipe!
1) Refried beans
Mix refried beans (canned or homemade) with a splash of salsa to loosen up the texture and some cumin to boost the flavor. Adding salsa ensures that your tortilla chips can easily scoop the bean layer. (Broken chips in dip are the worst!) If you’re choosing store-bought refried beans, I like Amy’s brand.
2) Guacamole
We’re making simplified guacamole rather than going all out with my best guacamole recipe. Mash two avocados with lime juice, half of a chopped fresh jalapeño, and salt. Easy enough.
3) Sour cream
To take your sour cream’s flavor up a notch, stir in the rest of the chopped jalapeño and season it to taste with salt. Yum. I borrowed this idea from Ali Slagle of The New York Times, and it takes the flavor up a notch.
4) Salsa
Whether you’re using my quick and easy red salsa recipe or store-bought, drain off some excess liquid in a mesh colander over the sink. This step takes just a few seconds and ensures that the salsa layer doesn’t water down your dip.
5) Cheddar cheese
Freshly-grated cheese only, please! Pre-grated cheese is coated with powder to prevent clumping, which dulls the flavor and texture.
6) Pickled jalapeños or black olives
I love the spicy pop that pickled jalapeños add to this recipe. Black olives are standard on seven-layer dip, but why? Pickled jalapeños are more complementary. If you’re sensitive to spice, choose black olives for a similar briny flavor.
7) Green onions & cilantro
Thinly sliced green onions and fresh cilantro finish this layered dip with welcome fresh flavor. They bring this dish to life! If you dislike cilantro, you can skip it, but I love it.
Watch How to Make 7-Layer Dip
Serving Suggestions
Serve this seven-layer dip with tortilla chips on game days and bring it to casual gatherings—your friends will be thrilled! If you make my homemade red salsa for this recipe, which is ready in under 10 minutes, you’ll have some extra to serve alongside the layered dip.
Given this recipe’s Tex-Mex flavors, this dip will be a beautiful accompaniment to other Tex-Mex and Mexican dishes. Here are a few main dishes to serve with it:
For cocktails, try my Skinny Margarita, Ranch Water Cocktail or Paloma Cocktail. For a non-alcoholic option, make Refreshing Hibiscus Mocktails. Cheers!
More Delicious Dips to Make
Here’s a small sampling of the dip recipes available on Cookie and Kate. For a larger spread, choose one of these!
Please let me know how your layered dip turns out in the comments. I love hearing from you and hope you enjoy this one as much as I did.
Print
7-Layer Dip
Author: Cookie and Kate
Prep Time:20 minutes
Total Time:20 minutes
Yield:12 servings 1x
Category:Dip
Method:By hand
Cuisine:Tex-Mex
Diet:Vegetarian
5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star
5 from 1 review
Make the ultimate 7-layer dip! This notoriously creamy, cheesy dip tastes fresh and irresistible when you follow these simple steps. Store-bought ingredients yield great results. The recipe yields about 12 servings (about 6 to 7 cups of dip total).
Scale
Ingredients
1 can refried beans (15 to 16 ounces) or 2 cupshomemade refried beans*
1 ¼ cups mild red salsa, divided
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 medium ripe avocados
2 tablespoons lime juice (from about 1 lime)
1 medium jalapeño, seeds and ribs removed and finely chopped (about 2 tablespoons)
Fine salt, to taste
1 cup sour cream
6 ounces freshly grated Cheddar cheese (about 1 ½ cups)
⅓ cup drained pickled jalapeño peppers, roughly chopped, or 1 small can (2.25 ounces dry weight) drained sliced black olives
⅓ cup thinly sliced green onions (about 2 to 3)
⅓ cup fresh cilantro leaves
Tortilla chips, for serving
Instructions
In a bowl, stir together the refried beans, ¼ cup salsa, and cumin. Spread the mixture across the base of an 8-inch square baking dish.
In another bowl, use a large fork to mash the avocado. Add the lime juice, half of the chopped jalapeño, and ¼ teaspoon salt, then stir until combined. Spread the mixture evenly on top of the beans.
In another bowl, stir together the sour cream and the remaining jalapeño. Season it with a pinch or two of salt, to taste. Spread the sour cream over the beans.
Pour the remaining salsa into a mesh colander over the sink to release the excess moisture. Spread the salsa over the mixture.
Sprinkle the cheese all over, followed by the drained jalapeños, green onions, and cilantro. Serve with tortilla chips.
Notes
*Homemade refried beans: After making the homemade version, you’ll have about ½ cup extra refried beans. Use it all for an extra-beany dip! You can also save it as a protein booster for an upcoming meal or enjoy it on the side with chips.
Make it dairy free/vegan: Substitute vegan sour cream and omit the cheddar cheese.
▸ Nutrition Information
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. See our full nutrition disclosure here.
Enlit Europe 2024 takes place October 22-24 at the “Fiera Milano di Rho” Convention Center in Milan. It brings together over 15,000 global electric, gas, and water utility professionals. We are proud to be a part of this important event and invite you to join us at Booth 7.A40, within the Italian Pavilion. Learn how utilities worldwide are working with Cisco and their partners as we continue to innovate to help build the grid of the future.
For the past 30 years, Cisco has helped modernize the networks for utilities and today more than 19,000 of them in 163 countries use Cisco utility specific solutions. Our customers span the globe, from large government agencies who manage the energy supply for their entire country, to smaller private companies providing renewable energies.
Leading utility companies like these are now moving to digital business models that eliminate information silos and connect machines, assets, and people across the business. Cisco can help them by providing a secure, scalable foundation that enables energy companies to easily connect, monitor, and control devices throughout their operations to accelerate the pace of that transformation.
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I’ve written extensively about how much I’m not fond of the current Hollywood ecosystem. The glut of blockbusters has given way to a glut of ‘event’ films. Lost among all this are the small, intimate films. The kind the studios have begun to swear off publicly.
Filmmakers like Josh Cox. His latest film, Far From Water, is a five-minute short exploring tenderness, desire, and anxiety between two young men. Like all great short films, it shows a deft ability to juggle much in its brief runtime.
Cox adores putting his characters against parallel backdrops. Whether it’s a woman-loving woman couple reveling in the moment in the bustling city or a young Queer person pining for someone in the countryside. The setting emboldens the themes of his stories. However, he prefers setting his characters in nature, allowing their emotional interiors to clash or mesh with the environment.
Far From Water is no different. Two young men, played by Lucas Nealon and Jarid Dominguez—we never know their names—frolic on the beach. The sky is a romantic yet melancholy grey. Like Dino at the Beach or Summer Day in Brooklyn, Cox is looking at a fleeting moment. These moments, while tiny, are no less powerful, sometimes more so.
As usual, Cox is pulling a John Carpenter and doing everything. He’s a one-man studio; he crafts a breathless look in a few moments. The young men wrestle, laugh, kiss, and make love. Afterward, they urinate and go their separate ways, one of them asking if it meant anything.
The clouds around them grow darker as the encounter grows, not to symbolize impending doom but impending lust. Yet, in the end, like Dino at the Beach, the two men are left wondering if what happened meant more than just the act, the fear of the other’s answers written on their faces.
Jarid Dominguez and Lucas Nealon get dressed after their sexual encounter on the beach.
Cox opens the short with two crabs walking along the beach, being washed away by the tide. Treasured moments washed away in time. Yet, here, unlike so many of Cox’s films, there’s a timelessness, a kind of dreamscape. Put into relation with other work; it feels the most drawn from personal experience- or, possibly, just a feeling he had once.
His short films often feel like Roger Vadim-inspired postcards. His camera and editing frame the moments like flashes one gets when reminded of something. Yet, underneath it all is a longing and a quiet sense of loss, not in terms of grief, but instead a loss of direction—the aimlessness of youth and desire for not just touch but connection.
Far From Water is at once like Cox’s other films while tapping into something a little more ambiguous. The ending feels pregnant with possibilities. It is as if perhaps the short might grow into a feature. If so, I can’t wait.
Images courtesy of Americana Pictures
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Jeremiah lives in Los Angeles and divides his time between living in a movie theatre and writing mysteries. There might also be some ghostbusting being performed in his spare time.
Booking an Airbnb is one of the best ways to take advantage of your holiday, no matter where you’re going. That’s why we’ve put together this Airbnb packing list to ensure that you have all you need, no matter what stay you book.
We personally LOVE Airbnb and use it all the time when we are traveling. Hands down, the best perk of staying in an Airbnb is getting access to not just a room, but an entire home as well.
With Airbnb, you’ll obviously have a bathroom at your disposal, and generally a kitchen, too. This means packing a few extras so you don’t miss out on what your Airbnb has to offer.
Since it’s not just another standard hotel stay, there are a few items that you may consider bringing along for a stress-free stay. This packing list covers them all!
Make sure you check out the reviews of your Airbnb hosts before you book a stay, especially if you are traveling internationally or far away from home. Reading them can help you decide what to pack if previous guests note that some things were not available.
Some vacation rentals even allow you to bring pets – why not check this before your next Airbnb stay?Check if there is a local grocery store where you can stock up the kitchen for your Airbnb stay – you will feel right at home!
The Ultimate Airbnb Packing List
No matter what kind of Airbnb you book, this Airbnb packing list has all you need for a comfortable stay. Nowadays, Airbnb is becoming more popular than ever, and going on a little Airbnb staycation or getaway is becoming more common.
Essentials For Your Next Stay
These travel essentials should be at the top of your packing list, no matter what kind of stay you’re going on.
If safety is a concern when it comes to staying at an Airbnb, these items should dispel your worries. As mentioned, we’ve stayed in Airbnbs all over the world and have always felt safe.
A photo of our Airbnb apartment in Nicaragua – it was a great vacation rental!
Safety first! It’s unlikely you’ll know where the host keeps bandaids, or if they have any in the first place. To air on the side of caution, pack yourself a travel first aid kit in case any minor ailments arise. Other things like disinfectant wipes can also be handy for first aid.
In the event of a power outage (or a midnight trip to the bathroom), it’s a good idea to pack a flashlight for your Airbnb stay. Though it’s unlikely, it’s better to be prepared with a little extra light.
If you’re nervous about leaving your belongings in an Airbnb (though all hosts are vetted by the platform for security) you can buy a padlock to keep them safe when you step out. This is especially handy as Airbnb offers both private and shared rooms, in addition to entire homes.
Either use the padlock to secure your bags in a closet or lock your bags themselves! This way no prying hands can make their way into your valuables and you can get a good night’s sleep with ease.
If you’ve never stayed in an Airbnb and are skeptical when it comes to safety, bring a doorstop wedge to give yourself some peace of mind. Just jam it under the door before you go to sleep and no one will be able to get in – key or not!
Most Airbnbs won’t provide a phone charger, so be sure to pack your own! If you’re traveling abroad, carry an international adapter to keep your electronics fully juiced up.
A portable charger is also a good idea as you can use them while you’re out sightseeing.
I cannot tell you how many times I’ve stayed at an Airbnb and there’s been surprise construction outside the window, or a rowdy bar just below the apartment. Pack earplugs so that you can fall asleep through anything… They’re worth throwing in your bag even if you don’t use them!
The last Airbnb essential for a comfortable stay is house shoes. Pack your favorite pair of cozy footwear that you can pad around the house in.
Editor’s Recommendation: Whenever you’re booking an Airbnb, make sure you check out Airbnb Experiences for tours and activities led by locals. It’s a great way to get to know the area!
What to Pack for an Airbnb Kitchen
One of the biggest perks of staying at an Airbnb is having access to a full kitchen most of the time. This means you can cook meals when you feel like it, brew coffee in the morning, and pack yourself snacks for nearby adventures.
You’ll find that some Airbnb kitchens come totally stocked with everything you need for your stay, while others may be slightly sparse. However, generally, Airbnb kitchens have pots, pans, cutlery, plates, bowls, and whatever else you’d require for basic cooking.
While this may be enough for most people, if you plan on doing tons of cooking at your Airbnb or are a long-term guest, there are a few kitchen packing list items that are worth bringing along.
One of our top packing tips is to read the listing in detail before deciding what to bring. There are many Airbnb kitchen essentials, but they might have everything you need!
Morning Drinks
The top-notch Airbnbs will provide coffee and tea for guests, but this is never a guarantee. It’s worth throwing a bag of beans or a few tea sachets in your luggage for your stay. Plus, if you’re picky about your morning routine, you’ll definitely find comfort in sipping your favorite beverage during your stay.
Again, most Airbnbs will have some way to make coffee, be it a machine or just a basic kettle, but if you like your coffee gourmet and strong like I do, pack a portable coffee maker or a french press to start your days right.
While we’re riding the coffee train, I always recommend bringing along a travel mug. If you’re in a rush to explore when you wake up, you can dump it in the cup and take it on your adventures.
Basic Groceries
One must-have for Airbnb kitchens are basic groceries. Your host will provide the infrastructure, but food is unlikely. Depending on your stay, there may be plenty of stores around to grab what you need. However, if you’re off on a remote trip, bring some food with you.
Even if you don’t plan on cooking a ton at your Airbnb, it’s always a good idea to bring a bag of pasta and some breakfast food just in case.
Condiments and Seasoning
The last thing you’ll need is your favorite condiments or seasonings! Sometimes there’s salt and pepper, but that’s not always the case, so packing a little container of each will go a long way. The same goes for olive oil and any other seasonings you can’t cook without.
Airbnb properties can feel like a home away from home
Airbnb Bathroom Must-Haves
Depending on your Airbnb, you’ll either have access to a shared bathroom or your own private one. Either way, there are a few items you need to bring to make your Airbnb bathroom feel more like home.
Your Favorite Toiletries
The number one bathroom must have is your toiletries. Though some Airbnb hosts stock their bathrooms with products, many leave you to your own devices. Consider bringing a travel-size:
Shampoo
Conditioner
Soap
Face wash
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Hand soap
Since I have particular bathroom products I like, I fill up a set of reusable travel bottles if I’m staying at an Airbnb so I don’t have to leave them behind. If you’re not picky, you can simply bring along a pre-made set of travel toiletries
Sometimes Airbnbs will have a hairdryer for you to use, but I won’t count on it if it’s not included in the listing. If you use heat products daily, you may want to consider packing a travel-size version for your stay.
The last thing you’ll want to bring to stay nice and clean at your Airbnb is laundry detergent. Many listings have in-unit laundry machines or one in the complex. If you don’t feel like lugging along a giant bottle of liquid detergent, opt for pods, which are great for travel.
The Fun Stuff
To round out your Airbnb packing list, here are some fun items you may want to tuck into your bag before taking off.
From music to games to TV accessories, these items will turn an Airbnb into the ultimate staycation pad.
Most Airbnbs have the luxury of a TV and some properties even include bonuses like Netflix, Hulu, and more. That being said, if it’s not included in the listing, there probably isn’t a Smart TV.
But you can pack a TV stick to tune into your favorite shows even when you’re far from home. Simply plug this tiny piece of tech into the TV and you’ll have your top streaming preferences at your fingertips.
Top Tip: This makes for an awesometravel gift for any frequent jetsetters in your life! For more awesome gift ideas, check out our gear page.
Workout Gear
If you’re one of those people who exercise on vacation, first of all, I admire your grind! And second of all, don’t forget your gear.
Planning on working from an Airbnb? Most include WiFi, but if you’re worried, you may want to consider packing a travel router to avoid spotty Zoom calls.
Airbnb rentals can be ideal if you want a cozy getaway. You can also use Airbnb Experience for unique activities overseas!
Additional Airbnb Tips for Guests
Besides the items on this Airbnb packing list, here are a few additional Airbnb tips to make your stay smooth and stress-free:
Double Check The Listing
Since every Airbnb is different, it’s super important to double-check your listing to see what’s included and what’s not. This way there won’t be any surprises at check-in, and you’ll be able to pack properly for your stay.
It’s also worth reading the house rules to know what’s acceptable during your stay and what the host expects of their guests.
Print Out Important Info
I’ll never forget the time it took me three hours to check into my Airbnb in Thailand because I hadn’t copied down any of the information and didn’t have cell service to check the app.
From then on, I’ve always printed out or copied the most important information so I can get to my Airbnb even without my phone.
Important information includes:
Airbnb address
Check-in instructions (are you meeting the host, or did they leave you a key?)
Host’s contact information
Parking instructions
Having all of this on hand will make sure that you’ll be able to check in without any worries.
Remember, This Isn’t a Hotel!
While Airbnb provides unique stays around the world, they aren’t hotels! As such, you should treat the space with the same respect you’d treat a family or friend’s pad that they’ve let you crash at.
Keeping the place tidy and making sure it’s clean before checkout goes a long way in terms of respect for your host and your Airbnb rating! Do the dishes, pick up your trash, and leave the space the way you found it. Remember, Airbnb hosts can leave you reviews, too.
Leave a Review
Help the guests after you by leaving an honest review at the end of your stay. Was the place fully stocked with everything you needed? Is there something you wish you brought along? These tidbits are super valuable for not only those staying after you, but for your host as well.
FAQ on What to Pack for Airbnbs
What do I need to bring to an Airbnb?
Although most Airbnbs have all the basic amenities, make sure you don’t forget to pack a few essentials. While we share a full list above, here are a few must-brings that you shouldn’t forget: 1. Your own toiletries 2. Basic kitchen condiments (and your coffee of choice) 3. Laundry pods 4. International adaptor 5. Medical kit and personal medications
What should I do before staying in an Airbnb?
Before any Airbnb stay, the most important thing is chatting with your host about your check-in procedure. Coordinating with them on your desired check-in time is crucial for a smooth check-in. Reading the hosts’ rules and guidebook will also give you all the information you need like WIFI passwords and more.
Do you bring sheets to Airbnb?
Most (if not all) Airbnbs will provide you with basic things like fresh sheets, clean towels, and more. If you’re accustomed to sleeping with a certain number of pillows, messaging your host ahead of time and asking how many they have available is advisable.
Does Airbnb provide a toothbrush?
While most Airbnbs will provide you with basic toiletries like soap and shampoo, they will not provide you with a toothbrush so it’s best to pack your own for your trip.
Do I need towels in an Airbnb?
All Airbnbs are required to provide 1 towel per guest but if you want to pack your own face/hand towel, feel free to do so.
Packing for an Airbnb is way more simple than packing for other vacations. Simply take whatever you need daily at home, plus a few extras and you should be just fine.
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Our Airbnb Recommendations
Looking for an Airbnb for your next trip? Here are our top recommendations for places to stay!
A visual exploration of time, space, and self by Rotterdam-based photographer Pauline Köhlen. Fluctuating between documentary and fiction, Köhlen’s work grapples with the interplay between the self and the spaces in which it emerges and evolves. In contemplating the human experience, she is drawn to the intangible processes that are hidden from the naked eye, attempting to capture and describe them through her artistic expression. Köhlen often incorporates her own body through a performative approach that utilizes her physicality and the value of transparency and vulnerability.
“As I stood within these extensive landscapes, under the boundless sky, my perspective was almost the only thing that reminded me of myself. My thoughts wandered, they scattered over the endless landscape, they went as far away from me as they could. How grand, the lived experience, to feel and be able to construct our own narratives. Each and every one of us composing our own perpetual growing blueprint of how we bind ourselves to the world.”
Meta has officially introduced Orion, the company’s first pair of true augmented reality (AR) glasses, previously known under the codename Project Nazare. Meta describes Orion as the most advanced AR glasses ever made, designed to seamlessly blend the physical and digital worlds. The glasses are the culmination of years of breakthrough advancements across multiple fields of modern computing.
Starting today, Meta employees and select external audiences will have access to Orion to help refine the product. This move is part of Meta’s broader effort to continue building towards a consumer AR glasses product line.
Why Augmented Reality Glasses?
Meta sees AR glasses as a critical step in human-oriented computing, offering several key advantages:
Unconstrained Digital Experiences: Orion features large holographic displays that allow users to interact with both 2D and 3D content, placing it anywhere within the physical world.
Contextual AI Integration: Orion includes AI capabilities that understand the surrounding environment, offering proactive assistance and visualizations.
Lightweight Design: The glasses are suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, allowing users to stay connected while maintaining eye contact and facial expressions.
The goal of Orion is to create a product that combines the convenience of wearables with the capabilities of a large display, AI-driven assistance, and a comfortable, everyday form factor.
A New Era in Smart Glasses
Orion builds upon the foundation laid by Ray-Ban Meta glasses, which offered hands-free access to digital life. While Ray-Ban Meta showcased the potential of AI-enhanced display-less glasses, Orion aims to bring the vision of true AR glasses to life, combining the advantages of holographic displays with personalized AI assistance.
A Groundbreaking AR Display in a Stylish Form
Orion is a breakthrough in miniaturization, packing advanced components into a sleek, contemporary design. Meta has focused on creating the largest field of view available in AR glasses to date, enabling users to multitask, enjoy big-screen entertainment, and interact with life-size holograms. Despite the advanced technology, Orion still looks and feels like a regular pair of glasses, with transparent lenses that allow users to remain present with those around them.
Augmented Reality Experiences with Orion
Orion’s capabilities are powered by Meta AI, which can understand and interact with the physical world. Users can perform tasks like asking for recipe recommendations while looking at their refrigerator or adjusting a digital calendar during a video call. The hands-free experience extends to messaging on WhatsApp and Messenger, eliminating the need to pull out a phone.
Meta’s teams are continuously working on expanding the immersive experiences available through Orion, and the company is eager to see how the technology evolves.
A Purposeful Product Prototype
While Orion won’t be immediately available to consumers, it is far from a research prototype. Meta describes it as one of the most polished product prototypes the company has ever created, representing a near-consumer-ready product. By focusing on internal development and feedback, Meta aims to refine the product even further before bringing it to market.
Looking Ahead
Meta is focused on refining Orion’s AR display, optimizing the form factor, and scaling the technology to make it more affordable. Over the next few years, Meta plans to release new devices that build upon Orion’s foundation, continuing to push the boundaries of AR technology.
