I received the Day One book version of this site. It’s a very cool bounded book print out of what I wrote here during the past year.
I have created the list of the books that I read in 2025. Unfortunately, I did not reach my goal for the number of books that I read but I am expecting to be able to exceed this number this year as I have more time to read. I have also updated my large outline of the books that I have read since 2020.
I accidentally bought the fat free version of the coffee creamer that I use and I am amazed by how much of a difference, for the worse, there is between it and the version that I regularly use.
I am shocked that the Chicago Cubs signed Alex Bregman to what will be the third most lucrative contract in team history. Ownership has not shown a willingness to sign big contracts since the one they gave Dansby Swanson. What I see from BleedCubbieBlue.com is that the math pegs the Cubs right at the luxury tax threshold, which I suspect is ownership’s upper limit. Being that the Cubs are in a large market, they ought to be more willing to pay the luxury tax, if they are willing I would love to see them pursue Cody Bellinger for a one year deal, but that won’t happen. The article reports that the Cubs are spending 36% of their revenue on player salaries, putting them at 26th in the league. Comparable big market teams New York Yankees and Los Angelas Dodgers are spending 50% (11th) and 73% (2nd) respectively.
While earlier this week it felt like spring, today Mother Nature sent a reminder that it is still January.
Military Not Law Enforcement
The killing of Renee Nicole Good by that ICE agent is bad enough, but the words of people in government, particularly J.D. Vance is what I am most troubled by.
Law Enforcement in the United States is vested by the state with the ability to take a life. The social contract between citizens and the state in this matter is that Law Enforcement is held to high standard.
Note to every news pundit and reporter. Let’s stop saying ICE is law enforcement, instead say what ICE is, a military force on U.S. soil. Law enforcement generally does not shoot first and ask questions later, that is how the military operates and which is why we do not want the military on U.S. soil. Let’s not be hung up by org charts and focus instead on how they act and describe it accordingly.
I received my Exist 2025 year in review today. This year I recorded 3,174,492 steps for a distance of 1,440.5 miles. The number of steps is down 1% while the distance walked is up 1%. My highest step day was 14,259 on March 9 when I was in Mesa Arizona attending a Chicago Cubs spring training game.
According to the weather app on my phone we are experiencing 20 mph winds, a bit of which I attempted to capture below. I think this might be the first time I have tried to share a video snippet here.
Just received an email from our condo association that there is a power line down at the entrace to our complex preventing access in and out.
It has been a fantastic weather day for January in Michigan. Plenty of sunshine for all creatures to enjoy!
