Sunday in a sip

Welcome to Sunday in a Sip. It's December 29th, 2024, and oh boy, buckle up because this week's news has been a full-blown circus. It's like the universe sent out party invites, and every guest brought their own brand of chaos. It is also the last Sunday in 2024, and every party needs an animal. Grab that coffee mug—preferably one so stained it tells tales of SNL 50 years ago and its questionable telecasts—and cocoon yourself in last year's gift-wrapped blanket you forgot to regift. Because tonight, we dive headfirst into the swirling vortex of the week's events

Did you hear, my sippers? Like clockwork, Uncle Sam leaves a little something under the tree for our military every year. It is called the Defense Bill. This year’s package? Oh, it’s a doozy. President Joe Biden signed into law on Monday the Defense Bill that boosts overall military spending to $895 billion. For our junior enlisted heroes, a 14.5% pay raise. Yes, you heard that right, while the rest get a respectable 4.5% bump. But that’s not all. This legislative gem isn’t just about paychecks. Mr. Biden had to throw his two cents in that he objected to language stripping coverage of transgender medical treatments for children in military families. Oh no, Mr. Bill, it's time to play hardball. Think tougher tactics with China; the bill adds a shiny new fund to arm Taiwan (à la Ukraine) and a splashy investment in cutting-edge military tech like AI. And because we’re feeling generous, there’s even a boost for good old-fashioned ammo production.

Honda and Nissan are teaming up, and it’s like watching two sumo wrestlers join forces to take on the world—except these guys are all about wheels, not belly slaps! They’re cooking up a merger that’ll make them the third-largest automaker on the planet. It’s like Voltron but with car parts. The auto industry’s shifting gears are faster than a Tokyo drift, leaving fossil fuels in the rearview mirror. Electric cars, hybrids—who knows, maybe they’ll throw in a sushi bar in the glove compartment. They aim to have a formal merger agreement by June, complete the deal, and list the holding company on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by August 2026.Buckle up, people—this is going to be one wild ride.

‘Brain rot’ named Oxford Word of the Year 2024. "Brain rot" refers to the gradual decline of a person’s mental or intellectual state, often attributed to overconsumption of trivial or unchallenging material. It's when your head takes an unscheduled vacation and checks into a roach motel. It's like when your mental attic gets cluttered with junk, mostly from scrolling through endless drivel. The online phenomenon represents a deterioration of the mind and a broader cultural shift toward distraction and superficiality. For more … Keep Scrolling, Swiping, and Clicking.

Yes, how could you not remember one of the world's greatest moments in 2024? The debut of breakdancing at the Olympics. It didn't go as planned for Australian competitor Raygun, whose unconventional dance moves were mocked on social media after failing to score any points from the judges.

Women's Breaking Gold Medal: Japan’s own Ami Yuasa, the sensational B-girl Ami, twirled, flipped, and broke her way into the record books by snagging the first-ever gold in women’s breaking. She left Lithuania’s Dominika Banevič—aka B-girl Nicka—eating dust in the final showdown. Legendary

As for the Men's Breaking Gold Medal: Canada’s Philip Kim—Phil Wizard to us cool kids. Well, he spun his magic and bagged the men’s gold, out-breaking France’s Dany Dann in a jaw-dropping finale. Breaking news, literally. What a time to be alive in 2024. I can’t wait for the next Olympics TRUMP DANCE CHALLENGE

Here is one for you: Ground Hog Day is 36 days away. In the spring of 2024 Punxsutawney Phil, that furry little meteorologist who’s been sabotaging our spring wardrobes for years, and his darling rodent bride, Phyllis, gave birth to two adorable fuzzballs. No doubt these little critters are destined to carry on the family tradition of crushing our warm-weather dreams. Can you believe it? A succession in the weather racket.

In the latest plot twist of the American Dream, homelessness in the U.S. has skyrocketed by a staggering 18%, leaving over 770,000 people without a place to call home, and rents have gone so high that landlords are practically charging for the air you breathe. Apparently, the nation’s housing crisis decided to go for an encore performance this year, fueled by soaring rents, devastating natural disasters, and an influx of migrants into major cities.

HUD's January headcount revealed that while some folks are crashing with friends or family, many are left navigating streets instead of Zillow listings. Black Americans and families bore the brunt of this grim trend, with family homelessness alone jumping a jaw-dropping 40% in cities like New York, Chicago, and Denver. Oh, and nearly 150,000 kids were among those left playing an impromptu game of “find a safe place to sleep.” Imagine being six years old, and the only “home” you’ve got is a spot under a bridge.

But it’s not all misery. There’s a rare bright spot, like finding a decent cab in the rain. Homelessness among veterans continued to decline, dropping 8% in 2024. Maybe the vets are finally catching a break, but for everyone else, big cities like New York and Chicago are being swamped with migrants, and Hawaii’s still reeling from that Maui wildfire. Over 5,200 people there were counted in shelters. Nothing says "aloha" like losing everything you own. The real number is 23 out of every 10,000 Americans are homeless. You know what’s funny? You can’t find a place to live, but you can find 23 flavors of Doritos at any gas station. Welcome to the American Dream.

Sunday in a sip is your weekly dose of inspiration, insight, and entertainment, delivered with care. No rush—Join the VIP Sunday in a sip movement. Get 50% OFF my VIP HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL ACCESS. Use Code VIP2025, and here is a special gift. Get our limited New Year 2025 mug for FREE this month when you become a paid subscriber today.

If you can’t subscribe right now, then here is a way to help support: buy this limited edition Happy New Year 2025 mug. Share a cup with a friend, start a collection, and tell others about Sunday in a sip. Our design is called "Baby New Year 2025," Let's Party 2025. It’s a limited edition that is only available for 10 days. Hurry before they are gone. Remember, become a paid subscriber, get this mug FREE, and save 50% off the subscription.

And if this sparked your interest, hit ❤️, restack 🔁, and follow for more.

Thank you for letting me be a part of your day by reading Sunday in a Sip— You make this newsletter sparkle like a New Year’s fireworks show… or is it Ryan Seacrest’s teeth?

If you want to learn more, send me an email. Leave comments, and I will answer. Don't forget you can also read all past newsletters here.