Shifting Tornado Alley

This year has been crazy weather-wise. We went from a drought last year to what feels like a flood of storms this year, and both extremes make life harder. You hear about the ‘shifting tornado alley’ and the data really reflects the move to target the Midwest with Illinois as the bullseye.

Source: 2026 Tornadoes by State

When the wind, hail, and lightning start coming more often, it is a sign that our traditional ways of planning for the seasons are being tested by a changing reality.

This shift has some very real practical consequences for everyone’s wallet. For farmers, it might mean smaller harvests and more uncertainty for the next season. For everyone else, it means those insurance premiums are going to keep climbing as more roofs need to be replaced and cars take damage. It is a tough cycle to be in, and it really shows how much our daily lives depend on the stability of our environment and the fairness of the systems we rely on. It’s not just bad luck and now is the best time to do something about it.

#ClimateChange

Cool Energy Savings

One of the biggest ways we waste money at home is by heating water that doesn’t actually need to be hot. If you switch your laundry to cold water, you stop draining your hot water supply and save on your natural gas or electric bill.

A few years back, I saw on the detergent bottle that it said “cold water wash compatible” and it did not make any sense to waste that energy on my clothes if it wasn’t necessary. I switched to the tap cold setting and everything has washed perfectly well since. It is not usually the default setting on the machine, so it takes a few extra button pushes each load, but it is a small effort for a decent bit of savings. I have been doing it for years and the clothes are just as clean.

Switching to ’tap cold’ is a cool move that keeps your hot water ready for when you actually need it. It is just common sense. Save that extra money for something you can actually enjoy.

Top Midwest Universities

The Midwest is home to many top tier universities.

Illinois

University of Chicago The University of Chicago is a world-renowned private research university in Chicago. It is consistently ranked among the top universities globally, particularly noted for its rigorous academic environment, prestigious graduate programs, and significant contributions to the social sciences, law, and physics. It is home to the University of Chicago Press and several major research institutes.

Northwestern University Northwestern University is a premier private research university located in Evanston. It is globally recognized for its high-impact research, academic excellence, and prestigious programs in journalism, engineering, and the arts. Northwestern maintains a reputation for innovation and produces a significant number of leaders in both the private and public sectors.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) As the flagship public land-grant university of Illinois, UIUC is a powerhouse of research and innovation. It is particularly famous for its engineering programs, which are consistently ranked among the best in the nation. The university serves as a major hub for technological advancement and maintains a massive footprint in undergraduate and graduate research.

Take Your Foot Off the Gas and Learn The Art of the Coast

Have you ever been driving along on the interstate and see the brake lights of the car in front of you briefly come on for seemingly no reason? I know I do. I call it “phantom braking.” Most of the time, the driver would have known traffic was slowing down. They had the opportunity to simply ease off the accelerator, allowing the vehicle’s natural momentum to carry it forward at a reduced speed. Instead, they chose to hit the brakes, creating a ripple effect of sudden stops that can be dangerous for everyone on the road.

Learning to coast is one of the simplest ways to become a smoother, more efficient driver. When you see traffic ahead beginning to bunch up, a slow vehicle ahead, or a stop light, take your foot off the accelerator sooner before reaching for the brake pedal. This allows for a gradual reduction in speed that is much easier for the drivers behind you to react to. It creates a smoother flow of traffic, reducing the “stop-and-go” stress that makes highway driving so exhausting.

Beyond the safety and comfort factor, coasting is just plain practical. For gas-powered vehicles, it saves on fuel by reducing the constant cycle of acceleration and braking. For EVs, it’s also more efficient, as it preserves battery life and maximizes range. It also puts significantly less wear and tear on your brake pads and rotors, saving you money on maintenance down the road. Next time you see a slowdown ahead, try to coast for a while. It might clear up before you even need to reach for the brakes. It’s better for your car, better for your wallet, and a lot smoother for your neighbors.

Ody-Spider or Spider-ssey

In the Summer of 2023, we had Barbenheimer when the theatrical release of the bright pink Barbie overlapped with Christopher Nolan’s dark, historical Oppenheimer. There were two completely different worlds mashed together into one massive cultural moment. I think we’re ready for another one with Marvel’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey.

Both movies are long journeys for the heroes. We can call it ‘Ody-Spider’ or ‘Spider-ssey’, the ultimate crossover between the web swinger we all love and the epic Greek journey of the Odyssey. There’s already a huge overlap with the cast: Tom Holland, Jon Bernthal, and Zendaya are in both movies.

After the last Spider-Man movie exploring the multiverse, a time-traveling Spider-Man back to ancient Greek times seems within reach. He could don armor over the red-and-blue costume and participate in the quest back home. It will be challenging without the tall buildings to swing from but a hero has to do, what a hero has to do.

Have fun!

Shining a light on inconsiderate people

We often hear the old saying that good fences make good neighbors, and that principle applies to more than just property lines. In a shared space like a theater, the rules are the fence. They exist to ensure that everyone can enjoy the experience they paid for without distraction. When someone chooses to ignore those boundaries by constantly using their phone, they are tearing down that fence for everyone else. It is a matter of basic consideration. If you are going to be in a public space, it is your responsibility to respect the common ground and the shared experience of the people sitting next to and behind you.

I was at a play recently and experienced this distraction from the actual performance. About halfway through, the person sitting in front of me started treating their phone like it was the main attraction. They were constantly pulling it out to take pictures or videos and replying to texts. Every time that light shone in my eyes, it felt like a tiny fence was being knocked over. It was frustrating and I did not want to be further interrupted by an usher having to do the rule enforcement.

It just goes to show that being a good neighbor means respecting the shared space we are all in. It is sad how we have reached a point where some people think their notifications are more important than the live art they are paying to see. They are treating the audience like a background for their social media feed. If you cannot respect the fence of the theater rules, maybe you are not the right audience for the show.

Showing consideration to others in shared spaces is part of Midwestern values. Let’s try to be better neighbors. A little consideration goes a long way!

The perfect watering can

I didn’t know that we could improve on the watering can. They all seemed to have the same annoying traits like being made of weak plastic and the handle blocking the fill hole. I came across the Chapin watering can and I changed my mind. It’s made out of recycled plastic with thick, strong walls. They also put the fill hole on the backside, not blocked by the handle! Everything else just works like a proper watering can should.

The watering spikes are better for plants but not every plant or container works with a spike. In that case, I’m glad I have this watering can to do the job without my frustrations.

#CommissionsEarned

Half ply?

I recently stayed at a nice (or at least expensive) hotel. One disappointment in the place was the very thin toilet paper, which is ridiculous to think they’re undermining the hospitality experience on something so cheap. The ’luxury’ experience was a fancy lobby and a cheap bathroom. It really came into focus later on the drive home when a free gas station bathroom had my back(side) with noticeably better toilet paper. It still wasn’t as good as what I have at home but showed how bad (and memorable) the hotel supply was.

After the drive back, I made it home where I control the TP budget and have a bidet. Home, sweet home!

No shade on the staycation

There’s a lot of noise out there telling us how we should spend our time off, but I think the real answer is pretty straightforward: pick whatever works for your family and actually relax. A day trip lets you see new places without spending a fortune on hotels or restaurants. A staycation means you can handle chores around the house while still taking a break from work stress. The point isn’t to consume content or chase experiences—it’s to unwind, be present with whoever you’re with, and maybe knock out some things that need doing anyway. If you come home having saved money and gotten some real rest instead of just scrolling through feeds, that’s the win.

Way worse than the board game...

Monopolies are great because they give you one price and no choice!

When a handful of companies own most of what we buy, it’s not just about prices going up, it’s about choices disappearing entirely. Three different local stores consolidating means one price, one brand, and only one stock of inventory. I can’t compare anymore and I just have to accept whatever they charge. Nationally, it impacts even more people!

Consolidation doesn’t help anyone except the business owners or shareholders. One company making 4 different brands of frozen pizza, fewer and fewer options for movie studios and streaming services, and everything falling under one megacorp umbrella or another puts us at their mercy with fewer competitors. We end up paying more without getting better service or innovation.

It’s like trying to find a needle in a haystack, but the haystack is owned by the same person who made the needle. It’s good for their business but bad for consumers.