IcedRaktajino

US retail coffee prices surged 21% year-over-year in August, the largest annual increase since October 1997, according to Thursday's Consumer Price Index. The monthly 4% jump marks the steepest rise in 14 years. Trump administration tariffs on major coffee exporters -- 50% on Brazil, 20% on Vietnam, and 10% on Colombia -- are driving costs higher as 99% of US coffee consumption relies on imports.

J.M. Smucker plans its third price increase this winter for Folgers and Cafe Bustelo brands after raising prices in May and August. New Orleans chain French Truck Coffee has implemented a 4% tariff surcharge. Starbucks expects peak cost impacts in 2026 due to its advance purchasing practices. KPMG chief economist Diane Swonk predicts prices will exceed historical records as Brazilian tariff effects reach retail shelves.

I dunno what I'm gonna do when my stash runs out. About 6 months ago, coffee was on sale and I bought as much as I could store in the crisper drawers of my downstairs fridge. I've probably got about another 6 month's supply and am probably going to be aghast when I have to buy more 😔

Cross-posted from "3,000-Year-Old Egyptian Coffin Includes Drawing That Looks Just Like Marge Simpson" by @cm0002@lemmy.world in !science@lemmy.world

Duck face came to mind yesterday - randomly realized I hadn't seen duckface in the wild for a long time.

Or, alternatively, what are some old fads you wish would make a comeback?

The spirit of the question is social fads. Please try to keep replies to lighthearted things. I'll delete the post if the comments turn into political commentary.

One downside of TrekLit is, while it may inspire meme ideas, I can't just go to Trek Core to grab a still for it. Until I'm back on my regular re-watch schedule, gonna have to improvise like I'm doing here.

Also, this screenshot is from days ago, and I've since finished the trilogy. If anyone wants to discuss ST: Destiny and the origin of the [spoiler redacted], I will happily start a thread in !startrek@startrek.website

A little TNG + Eurotrip crossover.

It's broadly understood that electric vehicles are more environmentally friendly than their counterparts that burn only gasoline. And yes -- that includes the impact of manufacturing batteries and generating power to charge them. But even then, such generalizations gloss over specifics, like which EVs are especially eco-friendly, not to mention where. The efficiency of an electric car varies greatly depending on ambient temperature, which is less compromising for gas-burning vehicles.

We now have the data and math to answer these questions, courtesy of the University of Michigan. Last week, researchers there released a study along with a calculator that allows users to compare the lifetime difference in greenhouse gas emissions of various vehicle types and powertrains from "cradle to grave," as they say. That includes vehicle production and disposal, as well as use-phase emissions from "driving and upstream fuel production and/or electricity generation," per the university itself.

What's more, these calculations can be skewed by where you live. So, if I punch in my location of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, I can see that my generic, pure-ICE "compact sedan" emits 309 grams of carbon dioxide equivalent (gCO2e) per mile. A compact hybrid would emit 20% less; a plug-in hybrid, 44% less; and an EV with a 200-mile range, a whopping 63% less. And, if I moved to Phoenix, the gains would be even larger by switching to pure electric, to the tune of a 79% reduced carbon impact.

Ordered a set of rechargeable AA batteries and charger. They're well reviewed and a decent brand. Specifically wanted the charger since it has USB input rather than 120v so I could top the batteries off from my laptop / power bank as they'll be used for my wireless KB/mouse. The product description only said "USB input" and didn't specify what flavor. Being 2025, you expect USB-C.

Received them today, and they use micro USB input. Now I have to keep yet another cable in my bag. Day mildly ruined.

See: https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Slap

I just finished "A Stitch in Time" and started looking for some other Trek books.

Ended up buying the Millennium trilogy and the Destiny Trilogy.

Was going to start reading Millennium, but when I read the preview/prologue for Destiny before I bought it, it started out with Sisko and Jadzia discovering the derelict remains of the NX-02 Columbia in the Gamma Quadrant, and I was hooked and had to buy/continue reading that one.

Which ones have you read? Any other recommendations?

Oh, also, I'm gonna slightly plug ebooks [dot] com since they have a huge selection of DRM-free books, and all of the Trek books I was looking at were available without DRM. Saves me the hassle of jailbreaking an Amazon purchase or buying it from Amazon and pirating a DRM-free version I can actually use.