It’s leap day! I feel like this day needs to be properly observed.
I think this article by The Atlantic titled “The New American Nihilism” that describes the concept for the “need for chaos” fits my views of part of what is going on and I wonder how much of this thinking is driven by Gen X? The article describes a group of people who simply want chaos, and these seem to be people think all institutions are corrupt and ought to be destroyed. I think one of the reasons it’s hard to deal with these people is that they have valid points but they aren’t interested in any solutions to the problems they raise.
Just took a walk, the thermometer says the temperature is 44 degrees but there are 19 mph winds from the northwest making it feel like 30 degrees, which is a 40 degree drop from yesterday. News report indicate at least two possible tornadoes around southeast Michigan over night.
The thermometer shows that the outside temperature is 73⁰, but I had to convince myself to just wear the hoodie when I went for my walk. I took a pair of gloves just in case, but half way through I took off the hoodie. Average temperature at this time of the year is 37⁰, we have easily blew past the record high for the second time this winter. This is not normal.
I saw a text message from my buddy first thing yesterday morning, telling me that the Cubs had signed Cody Bellinger. It’s a three year for $80m deal that gives Bellinger opt outs after each year, so it is basically another one year contract. In other words, we will likely see this drama play out next off season. Regardless, the Cubs now have the appearance of a complete line up, it is a matter of whether they meet expectations.
Finished reading: If the Church Were Christian by Philip Gulley 📚
Go Cubs Go! First day of MLB spring and the sun is shining.
On paper the Cubs don’t look much better than last season, in fact you could make the case that they are worse. The saving grace is that no other team stands out in the NL Central, so one can claim the Cubs have as good a chance as any to win their division. More and more it looks like the Cubs owners are settled with the one World Series win and now are all about milking a cash cow like owners before.
Today is the the first day of spring. The Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox start spring at 3 PM EST today, and the Cubs have not signed Cody Bellinger. Hoyer has stuck to the plan as I saw it back in November. He did sign a pitcher to fill out the starting rotation, another pitcher for the back end of the bullpen, and a possible starting first baseman. Only way I see Bellinger back in the Cubs uni this season is if he gets anxious and decides to sign a short term, one or two year deal with an opt out to secure work for this season. In other words, Hoyer and Boras are playing a game of chicken.
Dear Google. Please stop being hostile to users by switching Google Assistant with Gemini on Pixel phones. I rely on Google Home routines and because Gemini is not capable of triggering routines while Assistant can, I need to continue using Assistant. You should never replace something in Android with something that removes functionality and not seek the user’s permission to do so. I get that you are excited about Gemini, but if you intend it to replace Assistant then table stakes requirements is that it provides all the functionality of Assistant.
Finished reading: Saving Grace by Kirsten Powers 📚”Grace is what makes human coexistence possible.”
Finished reading: Gold from Iron by Triumph Books 📚As a fellow Yooper, I was cheering for Nick Baumgartner at the 2020 Winter Olympics. While this is Nicks autobiography, it also does a fantastic job of showing readers what it means to be a Yooper.
Retirement practice brought me to Ground Control roasters in downtown Farmington, Michigan.
Public Service Announcement! It’s seven days until the Chicago Cubs spring training 2024 opener. Spring is only seven days away people!
Today I am enjoying my first vacation day, or what I like to call retirement practice, of the year. My company provides the Presidents Day holiday on Monday, so thus I have a four day weekend. Now that the Super Bowl is in February, I wonder why the NFL hasn’t decided to make Super Bowl Sunday be the day before Presidents Day every year, enabling many to have a day off on the Monday after the Super Bowl.
Finished reading: The Amen Effect by Sharon Brous 📚
I installed the Google Gemini app on my Pixel 7a and found that it breaks the ability to initiate Google Home routines/automations via Google Assistant, so uninstalled. Gemini can’t be used as a standalone app, it replaces Assistant.
Day 3,285
February 8, nearly a new record high but still crazy warm for this time of the year. Forecast for tomorrow is more of the same.
It is very strange to see Michigan Tech Winter Carnival snow statues with exposed grass near by. It’s amazing what they were able to build given the unseasonable warm weather.