What inflation looks like to the average consumer. The look on his face says it all.
For nearly 40-years, the beast called inflation, has been hibernating. It has now come out of its hiding and is doing what it does best, which is reek havoc on the economy and consumer confidence. The Federal Reserve today announced it is fighting back with a 0.75% increase in interest rates. The “Reserve” feels a need to slow down the economy, while trying to avoid a recession. The rate increase will make buying a home or expanding a business more expensive, while restraining spending, and slowing the broader economy. Officials expect growth to moderate in the coming months and years and predicted that unemployment will rise about half a percentage point to 4.1 percent by late 2024 as their policy squeezes companies and workers. This combined with the stock market entering bear market territory (a 20% drop) is throwing consumer confidence into a tailspin. It has been a good 12-year run since the last recession.
After being swept at home by a depleted White Sox squad, losing the finale in humiliating fashion 13-0, having to use three position players to cover the final three innings on the mound, it was time to clear the air. The Tiger players closed the clubhouse following the game and had a players only meeting. “No one likes getting their a– handed to them every night,” said catcher Eric Haase. “We think we’re a better team than this but for whatever reason we’re not clicking. We’re looking to kind of get back in that groove.”
There is no other way to say it, “The Tigers suck.” I did not have the same high expectations everyone else had. I expected them to be much better than they are offensively. Hitting a baseball is the most difficult skill in all of sports so there is always an ebb and flow to hitting. Unfortunately, for the Tigers it appears most players are stuck in a three-month slump. They have scored 40 less runs this season than the next lowest team. The top team (Yankees) has scored almost twice as many runs as the Tigers. Eventually water comes to level and players work through their slumps and get close to their career averages in most statistics. Things should start to improve. If it doesn’t happen soon, this season will be lost. In the meantime, the Tigers are proving Kirk Gibson is correct when he said, “This is a hard game. It is hard not to struggle.”
Here we are heading into the summer travel season, which for northern Michigan is a key part of the economy, yet our governor and state legislature cannot come to agreement on how to provide relief in the price at the pump which is up to $5.20 per gallon. Per Bridge Magazine, a majority of lawmakers have backed some type of tax freeze on gas purchases for months, arguing the state’s $6 billion budget surplus is enough to cover any hit to the state budget. But for months, lawmakers and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer have been unable to enact a gas tax holiday, which has been enacted in many other states. I get so disappointed in our state government. The governor and the legislature know something needs to be done, but they cannot agree on a solution if the solution can be used as a selling point for one party over the other. In the meantime, the citizens suffer.
Yesterday, while driving to the gym, Night Moves by Bob Seger, came on from my Spotify playlist. I love the words to the song because it tells such a great story of being long and in lust. As I was listening to the words, it got me thinking about the great story tellers in music such as Bruce Springsteen, Seger, John Mellencamp, and Eminem, just to name a few. See my Question of the Day.
The next week my blog is going to be hit and miss as I travel to Ypsilanti, to attend Alaina’s (10) and Kaylen’s (5) birthday celebrations and I play in a three-day golf event at Eagle Crest Golf Course. Monday looks like the next day for my blog.
Elections Matter. Pray for peace and tolerance. What are you doing to stop the violence? Feel free to share my blog as you see fit. If you haven’t signed up for the blog, you can do so by completing the subscribe information at the bottom of the blog.
Orchid of the Day: Michigan Head Baseball Coach, Erik Bakich who will be taking on the same role a Clemson University, a perennial powerhouse in NCAA baseball.
Onion of the Day: The University of Michigan for allowing baseball coach Erik Bakich to be lured to Clemson. Bakich is one of the top baseball coaches in the country and Michigan can ill afford to lose someone of his caliber.
Quote of the Day: “I’m just angry. They want us to be a police officer, a counselor. Oh, and don’t forget to teach. And when you teach, teach this way — and don’t mention anything that is going on in the world.” ,” Octavio Hernandez, a middle school math teacher in Davenport, Fla., who said he knew of at least 20 students hospitalized for mental health emergencies in the past two years.
Question of the Day: Who is the better storyteller in their songs, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, John Mellencamp or Eminem?
Video of the Day: Night Moves, by Bob Seger
Love Bob Seger.
Tom. I am sure that UM tried to keep Coach Bakich but Clemson was reportedly offering over $1MM for the position. Baseball at Clemson is a money making revenue sport. Not here. The dynamics of college baseball in the south are much different than here. The weather is generally much better leading to better attendance. It has been discussed that paying that much to him would have required paying every non revenue coach much more. From an overall pay scale viewpoint they probably could not do it.
Bill,
I have been remiss in checking comments on my website, for that I apologize. I understand why Bakich went to Clemson (pay, weather, culture, etc.) but U of M Athletics should never lose anyone to pay if they want to keep the person. The funds are there and they can be raised. U of M made has made a choice to not be the leaders and best when it comes to baseball. Baseball is a dying sport in MIchigan and other upper states. The high school/college teams play in brutal conditions for most of their season. Michigan is conceding baseball to the warm weather schools.