Sunday Soup: 55+ Is the 'New Problem,' Why Sleep Is Critical, Buffett-Munger Reading
These are the articles, streaming ideas, and books that caught our attention this week.
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If you’re over 55 like we are, well you’ve just been identified as being part of the “new problem generation.” Pardon our eye roll as you read that. This week’s collection of eye-catching items also includes two articles on why quality sleep is important for your cognition, what could replace red dye No. 3, and a few other fun items.
If you’re a fan of Warren Buffett’s annual shareholder letter, we’d suggest you check out this week’s book recommendation. It was published earlier this week, and we’re already thumbing through our copy.
If you have a recommendation you’d like to share, feel free to share it in the Comments section below!
Now enjoy this latest offering of Sunday Soup.
Articles 📰
Why People Over the Age of 55 Are the New Problem Generation
"In the past, revolutionary and reckless youth worried politicians. These days the oldest strain public services, wreak havoc on national politics and account for a growing share of social problems. Elderly revellers are numerous: the number of people over 65 is growing across the rich world. In Britain they are more than a fifth of the population. And they want to have fun. In a way, those over the age of 55 but under the age of 75 — roughly speaking, the baby-boomers and some of what is referred to as “Generation X”— are the new problem generation."
How Worried to Be About Bird Flu
"Part of the reason I feel concerned is the government’s lackluster response. The movement of the virus into cows was a huge red flag. Cows have never been a known source of this flu, so that was a complete surprise. That should have been a moment when officials said: We really need to contain this before it gets out of control. If some of the first afflicted herds had been kept from moving around, or even culled, it’s possible that the virus might have been contained before dairy workers got sick. The USDA has ramped up its testing of milk…"
What Foods Will Be Impacted by FDA’s Ban on Red Dye No. 3 — And What Could Replace It
"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the use of Red Dye No. 3 in food and ingested drugs on Wednesday, more than three decades after the agency prohibited it from being used in cosmetics because of possible cancer risks… Ronholm says consumer advocates have concerns over other types of dyes, including Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, and Green 3 — all of which California banned from the meals, drinks, and snacks served by public schools in Sept. 2024, over concerns that the six dyes are linked to health and behavioral problems in some children."
Private Label Sales Hit Another High in 2024
"Consumers continued to turn to private label products in 2024 as total category sales rose 3.9% to $271 billion when compared to 2023, according to data from the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) and the market researcher Circana. Private label sales continued to outpace national brand sales, which grew 1% in dollar sales during the period of Jan. 8 to Dec. 29, 2024, the PLMA said."
What Happens When You Turn Your Life Over to an AI Assistant?
"The hosts of Uncanny Valley spent the week following the advice of AI chatbots when it came to shopping, fitness, and parenting. Here’s how it went."
Lack of Sleep Has a New, Unexpected Effect on Mental Health
"There have been quite a few research studies on lack of sleep, like how it can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, contribute to brain aging, and even make you feel drunk at work (not as fun as it sounds.) If you don’t get enough REM sleep, your brain has trouble maintaining all sorts of healthy functioning, including the ordinary task of curbing negative memories. Unfortunately, this can become a vicious cycle…"
Naps Can Help Improve Your Cognition. Here’s How to Take a Better Nap.
"Research shows that napping can not only take the edge off a night of inadequate sleep but also boost our cognitive and learning capabilities. Even a 10-minute nap can have profound effects on our cognition and mood in addition to alleviating afternoon slumps."
"The average American uses an astounding 141 rolls of toilet paper a year. If you’re going through that much tissue, we think it’s worth settling on a brand you actively like (you could also consider cutting back, with the help of a bidet). Over the course of 10 months, we tushy-tested 36 varieties of toilet paper. And we concluded that…"
What We’re Streaming 📺📲
The Unraveling of Boeing | Jedi Mind Tricks
The Reading List 📖📚
"For decades, thousands of people have gathered in Omaha, Nebraska for the Berkshire Hathaway AGM, and quizzed Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger on everything from the psychology of successful investors to the future of Coca-Cola and Apple. But unless you attended, for decades you only had access to what people remembered and reported back from Omaha.
"In 2018, Berkshire released the archives of the annual meetings going back to 1994. Alex Morris―an equities analyst and financial writer at the TSOH Investment Research Service―watched hundreds of hours of video from these annual meetings (as well as the six AGMs held since 2018), covering more than 1,700 questions asked by shareholders over the past 31 years. He then gathered, organized and edited the most interesting material into a comprehensive and accessible form.
"Buffett and Munger Unscripted is the result."
