Photo: Claire Lower

Thanks to a very detailed and helpful explainer recently posted on this page, I’ve started brewing my own kombucha. As a former brewer, I have to say that brewing Booch is a much easier, more relaxed endeavor and the end product doesn’t make me sneeze. (Beer started making me sneeze in my late twenties. I don’t know why!)

I love the sour, the funky, the sweet so it makes sense that I enjoy making and drinking kombucha. It’s just surprising how long it took me to process the tart tea into a cocktail, but I suspect that my severely reduced alcohol tolerance is to blame.

I decided to pair my new favorite non-alcoholic drink with my two favorite buds – gin and campari. The result isn’t exactly a Negroni, but a tart and sweet Negroni-like sipper that’s less dense – and therefore easier to swallow on a hot day – than the traditional cocktail.

You can use any kombucha you want, but I prefer the tasteless one. A lot of the store’s fruity kombucha are watered down with juice, which takes away the tart, funky taste that makes this cocktail so fun. You can swirl it around in a mixing glass and serve it (as shown above), but I actually think I preferred to build it right in a glass full of ice. However you serve it, you will need:

• 1 1/2 ounces gin
• 1 ounce of Campari
• 3 ounces of regular kombucha

Fill a glass with ice and add the first two ingredients. Stir them gently, then pour the kombucha over them and stir again. Alternatively: Pour everything into a mixing glass filled with ice and refrigerate, then strain into a coupe glass.

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Photo: Yuichi Yamazaki / Getty Images (Getty Images)

With the resurgence of COVID-19 in Tokyo, the Olympics are currently breaking at the seams, including an announcement by Japan’s Olympic Minister Tamayo Marukawa on Thursday that the Games are going to be held would go on without fans. However, if it sounds too depressing to see the world’s most prestigious sports competition in deserted locations, note: There are many sporting events happening around the world in July that won’t be as daunting as a lifeless Olympics.

Your summer plans included sitting in an air-conditioned room and watching sports, and you can still make it happen without tuning in to an Olympics that actually nobody wanted.

What other sports are there this summer besides the Olympics?

Even with dire prospects tarnishing the Olympics, there is much to do in the sports universe to get your attention. For starters, there’s rugby, soccer, racing, golf, and good old-fashioned baseball in the summer.

How to watch rugby this summer

If you’re interested in the other, different kind of football (or at least a sport that is similar to what we call football), rugby union is your go-to this summer.

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How to watch football this summer

Football creates a sporting drama that some might argue outperforms that of the Olympics. Fortunately, you still have time to watch two major international tournament finals. For other events, keep in mind that you may have to stick to odd times as they take place all over the world.

• The final of the European Football Championship: The match between England and Italy will take place on Sunday 11th July and will be broadcast live on ESPN. You can also stream through the ESPN app and ESPN Plus.
• The Copa America Final: Brazil and Argentina will battle it out for South American glory on Saturday July 10th and can be watched on FOX, FS1, FS2. You can also stream on FuboTV.
• Florida Cup 2021: Pre-season friendly matches between European clubs on foreign soil. Watch Inter-Milan, Everton and Arsenal battle it out on ESPN2 from July 25-28. You can also stream on FuboTV.

How to watch races this summer

How to watch golf this summer

• The Open Championship (British Open): This major tournament will be broadcast on NBC and the Golf Channel from July 16-20. Live stream available on Peacock and NBC Sports.

Major League Baseball

There’s also the time-tested Major League Baseball spectacle that takes place throughout the summer. Check your local cable lists if you’re watching the video without cutting the cable, or stream it on MLB.com, ESPN, FuboTV, YouTube TV, and others.

Photo: Nelli Syrotynska (Shutterstock)

More and more companies are including perpetual paid time off in their job vacancies as it is an enticement popular with Millennials and Generation Z workers. But whether that’s really that great, you should think again – studies show that employees with unlimited vacation days often take fewer days off. Why should that be so? I will explain.

What is Unlimited Paid Time off?

In contrast to conventional allowances for vacation days (13 days on average in the US) and Sick Days, Unlimited PTO makes no such distinction and has no set limit on the number of days you can withdraw. However, the term “unlimited” is a bit of an exaggeration as most companies have rules or guidelines that prevent misuse of the guideline. This could include notice requirements for fully booked days, blackout periods when dates cannot be booked, or even restrictions based on the number of days you have already worked. Usually applications have to be approved by a manager who, when the going gets tough, has the final say on whether or not they are approved.

Why unlimited paid free time isn’t so great

The biggest problem with unlimited paid free time is that people tend to take less free time compared to traditional vacation arrangements. A study by Namely found that employees with unlimited PTO took an average of 13 vacation days, compared to 15 days for their colleagues with fixed PTO. Why should that be? Without clear guidelines on what is acceptable, most workers take less time not to appear lazy or otherwise seen as a policy abuse.

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Like so much in work culture, actions are louder than words. Unless managers provide clear (and frequent) communication about what is really acceptable, most employees will follow what everyone else is doing based on how they read the existing corporate culture.

For example, if you’re a potential new hired employee who’s nervous about sticking your neck out, you’re even more likely to stick to the line. In the worst case, workaholic employees set the tone, causing workers to compete with one another to prove who needs the least vacation days, which brings the benefits of unlimited PTO for employees who want to adapt while also offering a work-life Want to maintain balance, effectively nullifies.

You cannot be paid out for unlimited PTO on your departure

By outsourcing vacation planning to managers and employees, the employer benefits in two ways:

• It’s cheaper to run: With traditional vacation days, free time is guaranteed, which means that HR departments have to keep track of the vacation calendar and settle accruals and carry-overs. With unlimited PTO, an employer doesn’t have to pay off unused vacation days when you leave the company – a sum that can be worth thousands of dollars.
• Increased productivity: If employees are not compensated for the vacation days not taken, the employer will benefit most from this additional work.

What to look out for with an unlimited PTO

That’s not to say that an unlimited PTO is bad. The flexibility it offers can be more convenient than fixed vacation days. For example, a few years ago I had to take an unexpected day off late in the year for a funeral and was turned down by my employer because I didn’t have vacation days (luckily my manager just turned a blind eye and let me take the day off).

However, despite this flexibility, you want to confirm what type of unlimited power take-off a potential employer is offering. To protect yourself, ask your future manager how many days, on average, people take off. Before accepting a position, ask if they have written information about their policies, including eligibility, how requests are made, and permission restrictions. And remember: unlimited power take-off isn’t a benefit – it’s a guideline.

Photo: Ton Wanniwat (Shutterstock)

There is something very tempting about the large, plastic-domed croissants you see at the grocery store and at Costco, but I rarely give in to their buttery siren singing. It’s just too stressful! But last week I saw a 12-pack on sale for only $ three (3) and couldn’t resist any longer. I bought these croissants and (inevitably) didn’t eat all of them before they were stale.

Stale croissants make excellent bread puddings and interesting croutons, but I don’t bake in July (or never really) and I didn’t feel like having a salad for breakfast (although I do not against it as a concept). I just wanted a croissant and I wanted it to taste good. Fortunately for me, I have a hot air fryer, but reviving the pastries isn’t as easy as throwing them in the little basket. Similar to reviving a stale baguette (or crusty bread), you need to hold it underwater first.

The heat from the air fryer reverses some of the effects of starch retrogradation, releasing water that has become trapped in the starch crystals, and the added moisture makes all of the starches nice and soft. It works for large, crispy baguettes in a 300-degree oven, and it works for a single croissant in your air fryer.

The method is simple. Turn on your sink and briefly pour the croissant through the running water. Heat your air fryer to 350 ° C and heat it for 3-4 minutes, turning it once, until the croissant is warm, soft and has a tender but crispy exterior. The transformation is, in a word, amazing. The tough, chewy edges and crumbly texture become a distant memory.

The only problem with this is that now I have no reason not to buy the huge plastic containers that are filled with croissants. But maybe that’s not a real problem.

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