Hello Friends! Did you feel that Arctic blast last week? Michigan was downright freezing—I’m hoping Mother Nature got that out of her system. While coping with the cold, I found myself musing (as I do) about something else that sends chills down my spine: my data and who else is obsessed with it.
Yes, I may have an obsession with my health data. Before leaving my bed in the morning, I complete the Wordle and check my stats. Steps? Did I hit 10,000? Sometimes, but it isn’t a given. Sleep score? Of course, I check. Chuck says I’m a champion sleeper, and if there were an Olympic gold medal for it, I’d have one… well, almost. My perfect score of 100 remains a one-time anomaly, but that doesn’t stop me from checking.
But health data isn’t the only thing I’ve obsessed over. There was a time when checking my Ancestry account for DNA updates was part of the daily ritual. I don’t know why I needed confirmation about where my ancestors immigrated from—spoiler alert; it was exactly where I thought. Still, it is oddly addictive. It is like waiting for a lottery ticket to tell me I’m 1% royalty or have Viking blood. I’m not royalty, but possibly Viking? Thanks, Dad, for the dash of Swedish DNA.
Although my DNA obsession has cooled a bit, I’m holding out hope that they’ll invite me to appear on the PBS series Finding Your Roots. I’ll sit across from Professor Henry Louis Gates while he shares dirt on my family that I don’t already know.
Then there’s Harold, our Subaru Outback, who’s apparently a little too smart for his own good and has an obsession with our data, too. The other day, we hopped in, and Harold decided to chime in with directions to the gym—unprompted. We laughed it off, joking that Harold was keeping tabs on us. Curiosity got the better of me, and after a little digging, I learned the truth: Harold is tracking and recording our driving habits.
Who knew Harold was also moonlighting as a data spy? A few days later, he upped the ante, suggesting we head to Urgent Care.
Now, I couldn’t help but wonder—was Harold connecting dots from my health data that I didn’t even know about? We ignored the suggestion, and Harold seems to have dropped it. I am concerned Harold knows too much.
On a whim, I asked ChatGPT: Can AI connect our health data, driving data, purchasing habits, and Ancestry DNA data? I knew the answer before I finished typing.
“Yes, AI can connect diverse data streams—such as health data, driving data, purchasing habits, and DNA information—by leveraging its ability to process and analyze large datasets across various domains.”
The overly friendly AI then explained how it would do this and how these connections could be used. This wasn’t comforting; in fact, it was scary.
Now what? Has the train left the station? I’ve skimmed Apple and Ancestry’s privacy policies, and they’ve promised to keep my data safe. But really, how safe is it? I’m pretty sure Harold shares our driving habits with everyone and is in cahoots with Meijer. He is not to be trusted.
One more non-data techie thing: I want to talk about the three little dots you see when texting—the ones that tell you someone is typing and that you should hold on a second to let them finish.
Do you remember the first time you noticed them? Me neither. However, according to my dive down the internet rabbit hole, those dots first appeared in Apple’s iMessage back in 2011. Was it only 14 years ago? It feels like they’ve been around since the beginning of time.
Now, while I can’t recall the first time I saw them blinking on my screen, I do remember the first time they were used as a narrative device, aka a visual metaphor in a novel I was reading. Catherine Steadman used them brilliantly in her 2019 novel Something in the Water, weaving them into the story to create suspense. And let me tell you, it worked. To this day, every time I see those dots, I think of that book—and worry about who is actually typing.
If you haven’t read it, here’s the setup: Erin and Mark are honeymooning in Bora Bora. It’s paradise—until they stumble upon a bag underwater filled with cash, diamonds, and a gun. Jackpot, right? Not exactly. Keeping the bag sets off a thrilling chain of danger, secrets, and betrayal. Erin must outwit criminals, dodge shocking surprises, and even question if she can trust her husband.
Steadman nailed the art of suspense, effectively using those blinking dots. This is proof that even the simplest devices can create tension.
Okay, for now, I’m done with my technology musings. I’ve warned you before I can be a gadget girl, so there is one more mention of tech in the Cozy Nook section.
Fans with Bands
Chuck mentions in the show notes that this episode is a time capsule. It was recorded on October 26, 2020, while we were knee-deep in the pandemic. What I love about having Fans with Bands on Substack is the community it is building. You can leave comments about the episode and read what others are saying.
Life In Michigan News FLASH
January has been a busy month for us. We were thrilled to participate in the 2025 Great Beer State Conference! Beyond the normal event photos, we moderated a roundtable discussion on taproom events. Chuck moderated, and I took notes.
The session sparked fantastic ideas for organizations—not just breweries—looking to host events that attract crowds, foster a sense of community, and boost sales. Check out our article for all the details!
We zoomed to Boyne City right after the conference for our annual Brew Day with Stiggs. Chuck did a great job capturing the event, plus looking back at previous years.
Close to home was Gregory Stovetops’s show at the Rumpus Room. Gregory didn’t disappoint!
We skipped the Lions game for the Masha Marjieh show at Manchester Underground. Thankfully, Chuck bought her albums and has been playing them on repeat.
A special treat for you! Masha Marjieh’s video for “Medication.”
Substack Info
While LifeInMichigan.com was taking shape between 2012 and 2023, a small but devoted group of followers shared their email addresses with us. (Thank you!) When we launched our Substack in September 2023, we uploaded their email addresses to Substack. I suspect some original subscribers just read our weekly newsletter and are not exploring Substack. That's cool. But if you’d like to explore other substacks, I contacted Substack Help to ask how to create a new account.
Substack isn’t just a bunch of writers; it is brimming with all sorts of creatives. Here are just a few: cross-stitching, travel, and history. Substack has it all!
Upcoming Events
Chuck always shares a comprehensive list of events you should check out. Here is last week’s Sunday Sip.
Ruminating on Our Weirdly Wonderful Evocative Powers of Sound and Smell
Cheers on this wonderful Sunday! On top of a great list of happenings, projects we are working on, and albums that I’m spinning, I’d love to share some thoughts and get your take on our powers of hearing and smelling and the memories they invoke.
I like to shine the spotlight on just one event!
Kalamazoo Craft Beverage Week is February 1 - 8, 2025. It is a weeklong series of events celebrating the craft beverage industry. A lot is happening. The event website is well organized, lists everything, and is easy to navigate. Pop over and rummage around. I’m sure you’ll find something you want to attend.
They held a Kalamazoo Craft Beverage Week Artist Design Contest! How cool is that? The winner was Nichole M.K. Lindhorn. What a fabulous way to lift up local artists.
We will be in Kalamazoo for a few of the festivities. Give us a shout if you’re around. Maybe we can have a craft beverage together. Here is our tentative schedule:
Friday - Feb 7
Beer & Sarkozy Soft Pretzel Pairing at Brewery Outre - 4p
Craft Beverage Week - Wine and Pizza Pairing at Sit and Stay Winery - 6p
Saturday - Feb 8
Bell's Snow Jog - Arrive at 11:30 and catch the start, follow the race, catch the costume contest/awards at 4
Drop by KCBW - Donut & Beer Pairing at Apoptosis at 6p
Finish up at Presidential for their Beer Olympics at 8p
B’s Cozy Nook
Last Sunday, the 179the issue of Total Anarchy slipped quietly into my inbox. It is Ann Handley's newsletter with a focus on “writing, marketing, living your best life.” You can subscribe here. It is one of my favorite newsletters. This week, she shared a tool she likes that helps create visuals from text Napkin. I immediately signed up because I’m addicted to data and a gadget girl. I created this visual for the recap of the Great State Beer Conference article:
Napkin is your new friend if you are a content creator and need help whipping up a visual.
Deep Cuts
I thought I'd try something new and share something from a year ago! It is about discovering Doris and Navigating Life's Quirks, From Joyful Writing Insights to Dental Dilemmas.
That's Wrap! Have a great day.
Thanks for sharing ❤️