Michael’s Journal

Responding to the AI Image Debate

Michael Mitchell — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 18:01:47 -0400

I was browsing topics and titles on bubbles.town when I came across a post by Panagiotis Vryonis, AI-generated blog post images are not cool any more. It reminded me of another post I read a few months ago, On AI Images and Feature Images...

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A thoughtful couple contemplates the evolving intersection of creativity and technology, symbolized by a brain merging artistic tools with digital circuitry under a spotlight.</figcaption>

I was browsing topics and titles on bubbles.town when I came across a post by Panagiotis Vryonis, AI-generated blog post images are not cool any more</a>. It reminded me of another post I read a few months ago, On AI Images and Feature Images in General</a> by Kev Quirk. I have been meaning to respond to his piece.

Last year, I wrote a post about using featured images called To Feature Image or Not</a>. That post surprised me by getting a couple of responses. I usually get almost no feedback, so the email replies were unexpected.

The readers who responded basically said the same thing: It is your blog. You can use featured images if you want.

Cheers to 100 Years, Moody Radio

Michael Mitchell — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 06:00:00 -0400

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Celebrating 100 years of Moody Radio, connecting generations through timeless broadcasts and iconic moments captured in history.</figcaption>

This is a year of anniversaries. Moody Bible Institute turns 140 and Moody Radio turns 100. I listen to Moody Radio almost daily. I think Moody Church and Moody Bible Institute are the premier Evangelical Christian sword in today's world. You can find a great timeline with historical pictures here</a>. Happy 140 years, Moody Bible Institute, keep turning out those Christian men and women. Happy 100 years to Moody Radio. Here's to another 100 years, unless the Lord tarries.

Links may be shortened via mtribe.link for cleaner formatting. All links redirect to their original destinations.

My Vision's Big Comeback

Michael Mitchell — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 15:38:17 -0400

I just shared good news about my heart journey, and now I can finally share another medical milestone for 2026: my cataract surgeries are done and my vision is back. For the last couple of years, my sight kept slipping, no matter how many...
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Me with my glasses for the last time full time pre-surgery.</figcaption>
I just shared good news about my heart journey, and now I can finally share another medical milestone for 2026: my cataract surgeries are done and my vision is back.
For the last couple of years, my sight kept slipping, no matter how many times I got new prescriptions from the ophthalmologist or optometrist. A new prescription might clear things up for a few months, then the blurriness would come back. I found myself contorting my face and doing all kinds of facial tricks just to see. It was soul-sapping. Anyone who knows me knows I don't get depressed easily. At 57, I've had low moments before, but nothing like this. The vision loss pushed me into a prolonged low spell. I stopped wanting to read and lost enthusiasm for work, except as a way to pay bills. Even blogging suffered. After my most prolific year in 2025, I barely posted because I literally couldn't see well enough.

Echo Results Looking Good

Michael Mitchell — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 18:25:59 -0400

I wanted to share a long-overdue health update about what has happened this year and why I can finally talk about it. I recently had my second Camzyos cardiology echo and doctor’s visit of the year. I normally go every six months, and...
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A man reflects with quiet satisfaction as he reviews positive echo results, surrounded by reminders of gratitude, strength, and progress in a warm, sunlit room.</figcaption>
I wanted to share a long-overdue health update about what has happened this year and why I can finally talk about it. I recently had my second Camzyos cardiology echo and doctor’s visit of the year. I normally go every six months, and this visit gave me my best numbers yet.
On Camzyos, my obstruction is much better controlled. My echo looked fantastic, so I included a table below comparing my results before and after starting Camzyos.
When I first started Camzyos, I was not getting my refills consistently because of REMS requirements and the timing of my echoes and doctor’s visits. This created gaps in treatment. Once my refills became consistent and those delays stopped, the treatment began working much better.

🍿 Watched Project Hail Mary (2026) on Prime Video

Michael Mitchell — Sun, 05 Jul 2026 01:45:44 -0400

⚠️ **SPOILER WARNING:** FULL SPOILERS **My Rating:** ⭐⭐⭐½ (3.5/5 stars) --- Okay, first thing: overall, it wasn't a bad movie. The pacing drags at the beginning, and several scenes could have been explained more clearly or cut shorter...
⚠️ SPOILER WARNING: FULL SPOILERS
</figure> In "Project Hail Mary" (2026), a lone astronaut awakens to an uncertain mission, fighting for humanity's survival amid the vastness of space and the unknown.</figcaption>
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐½ (3.5/5 stars)

Okay, first thing: overall, it wasn't a bad movie. The pacing drags at the beginning, and several scenes could have been explained more clearly or cut shorter. The second half and the ending are much stronger. The first half felt slow, and the premise is kind of stupid, but the story between the two main characters at the end is the best part.
Ryan Gosling was okay in this movie. The film was definitely too long. It's a so-so movie and not worth buying, but I'm glad it's included with my Prime subscription since it gave me something different to watch.
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🇺🇸 Happy 250th, America 🇺🇸

Michael Mitchell — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 23:59:24 -0400

Happy 250th birthday, United States of America! What a strange moment to mark a birthday, given everything going on in the world. Even so, I believe the U.S. has done enormous good and has served as a beacon for the world since at least...
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Celebrating 250 years of freedom and unity with fireworks lighting up the night sky above the U.S. Capitol, as the American flag proudly waves in honor of the nation’s milestone birthday.</figcaption>
Happy 250th birthday, United States of America!
What a strange moment to mark a birthday, given everything going on in the world. Even so, I believe the U.S. has done enormous good and has served as a beacon for the world since at least World War I, if not sooner.
I remember being about 7 years old in 1976, during the last major milestone, America’s 200th birthday. My aunt, uncle, and cousins lived in Lakeland. I was staying with them, and we went to the train yard in Lakeland to see the Freedom Train. It did not stop in Lakeland until December 1976, but I still remember it.
Now it is the 250th anniversary, and this year just feels different. It should be a big celebration, and I hope it is. For all our problems, this is still one of the best countries in the world, and possibly the best.
We will probably stumble at times. When we do, I hope we correct course and keep moving forward, becoming stronger and truer to the ideals that brought us into being. No kings, no queens, no nobility. Our representative government endures. I believe it can be even stronger over the next 250 years.
So happy birthday, America. Let’s keep driving forward. And to my fellow citizens, enjoy the day and celebrate responsibly.

Related Post from last year and still stands true too: Happy 249th Birthday to the United States of America 🇺🇸</a>

British Humor

Michael Mitchell — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 13:31:47 -0400

This was hilarious https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__bvWU_mzEY
This was hilarious
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USF Turns 70

Michael Mitchell — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

As you get older, anniversaries and milestones hit you differently. I don't know why. I don't regret anything in my life, but I do feel nostalgic sometimes. The other day, driving to work, I learned that the University of South Florida is...
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Celebrating 70 years of USF's rich history and vibrant campus life, where tradition meets innovation under the open skies.</figcaption>
As you get older, anniversaries and milestones hit you differently. I don't know why. I don't regret anything in my life, but I do feel nostalgic sometimes. The other day, driving to work, I learned that the University of South Florida is celebrating 70 years this year. That surprised me, because the first founding class attended in 1960, so the 70th anniversary is actually a few years off.
I attended USF from 1987 to 1990. I didn't graduate; I would have had about two years left. 1991 would have been my graduation year, but I was taking it nice and slow. Most people were taking five years, so 1992 would have been my year if I had stayed on track. What would have been my degree? Hold your chair and keep seated, but it would have been Music Education with a minor in Florida History.
Money ran out, I was loaned out, and I decided to join the workforce. Funny enough, I never moved very far from USF. I now work at a non-profit hospital on the USF campus, so for almost my entire adult life I've been connected to the university in one way or another. Technically I guess I can't call myself an alum, but in every other sense I am one.
Here's to USF, 70 years, and all the good you've brought to the community. Go Bulls! 🤘

Star Trek: Outposts Unknown PC Game

Michael Mitchell — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 18:32:29 +0000

> **Star Trek: Outposts Unknown - Official Announcement Trailer - IGN** > To boldly go… and build in Star Trek: Outposts Unknown. Check out the Star Trek: Outposts Unknown announcement trailer for this upcoming narrative-driven outpost...
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Star Trek: Outposts Unknown - Official Announcement Trailer - IGN</a> To boldly go… and build in Star Trek: Outposts Unknown. Check out the Star Trek: Outposts Unknown announcement trailer for this upcoming narrative-driven outpost builder game set in the Star Trek universe. Build complex research facilities through the mysterious X’Lehari System. Explore strange new worlds, guide your crew through dangerous encounters, and uncover a cosmic force threatening all life in the system. Set alongside the era of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, your journey will take you across hostile environments, abandoned ships, ancient ruins, and a fragile civilization in desperate need of aid. Star Trek: Outposts Unknown will be available on PC. A demo is out now on Steam.
— @video-game-and-movie-trailers-ign on mastodon via Video Game and Movie Trailers </blockquote>
This looks very interesting. I will be following this closely.

🍿 Watched Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Ghost War (2026) on Prime Video

Michael Mitchell — Mon, 25 May 2026 13:33:43 +0000

⚠️ **SPOILER WARNING:** MILD SPOILERS **My Rating:** ⭐⭐⭐½ (3.5/5 stars) I agree with the other reviews. I loved the whole cast. John Krasinski does a fantastic job as the lead, and he works well as a replacement for Harrison Ford in this...
⚠️ SPOILER WARNING: MILD SPOILERS
</figure> Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Ghost War (2026) brings intense espionage and action as Jack Ryan and his team navigate a deadly covert conflict in a high-stakes battle for global security.</figcaption>
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐½ (3.5/5 stars)
I agree with the other reviews. I loved the whole cast. John Krasinski does a fantastic job as the lead, and he works well as a replacement for Harrison Ford in this whole new series. The problem was the format: as a movie it felt rushed and the story couldn’t properly develop. This would have benefited from another season or at least a limited one-season run so the characters and plot had time to breathe. The cast gave you everything, they just needed more room to do it.
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Who's the Real Loser?

Michael Mitchell — Sat, 23 May 2026 18:30:27 +0000

> **Why Gen X is the real loser generation** > Don’t cry for millennials or Gen Z. Save your pity for those in their 50s > > — @daily-reads-TheEconomist on mastodon via Daily Reads I am a Gen Xer, and I do not consider myself part of a...
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Why Gen X is the real loser generation</a> Don’t cry for millennials or Gen Z. Save your pity for those in their 50s
— @daily-reads-TheEconomist on mastodon via Daily Reads </blockquote>
I am a Gen Xer, and I do not consider myself part of a loser generation.
I do think my generation came up during a time when the family was under assault from companies, the economy, and a culture that made it harder and harder for one parent to stay home. I know my mother and father resisted that pressure for as long as they could.

AI Isn't Black and White

Michael Mitchell — Sun, 17 May 2026 19:00:32 +0000

Okay, this will probably sound controversial, but that's not my intent. I'm just sharing my thoughts because AI is everywhere right now, especially on social media and in blog posts. These views range from fairly neutral: - Manton Reece -...
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People of all ages and backgrounds come together outdoors, connecting ideas and technology to illuminate the diverse and collaborative nature of AI innovation.</figcaption>
Okay, this will probably sound controversial, but that's not my intent. I'm just sharing my thoughts because AI is everywhere right now, especially on social media and in blog posts.
These views range from fairly neutral:

Manton Reece</a></li>
Tom Casavant</a></li>
Paul Thurrott</a></li>
Richard Campbell</a></li> </ul>
To fairly positive, with the idea that you need to learn or use AI because...

Jim Mitchell</a></li>
Numeric Citizen</a></li>
Leo Laporte</a></li>
Hey Loura</a></li>
Ricardo Mendes</a></li> </ul>
To more negative views, often focused on whether AI's value proposition can actually justify the money being spent:
- Ed Zitron</a>

Michael Mitchell — Sat, 09 May 2026 14:52:23 +0000

Jim Mitchell adds notes to his site via a webmention. His note post tells all about it here</a> and I am testing to see if it works and if my sending webmentions work. Jim your site looks great you done a great job with Clodd CMS.

Parsley, Pot Roast, and Changing Tastes

Michael Mitchell — Sat, 09 May 2026 13:00:30 +0000

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Why 1980s Meals Were Always Garnished With Parsley - Food Republic</a>
From steak dinners to bowls of soup, 1980s restaurants topped nearly every dish with a sprig of parsley. But why was this garnish so ubiquitous?
— Food Republic (@foodrepublic.bsky.social) on bluesky (source</a>) </blockquote>

I saw this Bluesky post come across my timeline because I follow Food Republic, and it got my attention. When I was a kid and teenager, I did not like parsley. But now, in my 50s, I actually do not mind it. I started using it after following some recipes from Chef Jean-Pierre</a>, who has a YouTube channel</a>. It really did make my pot roast pop and helped brighten the dish after a long cooking time.
It is strange to think that this may be why parsley was used so often in the 1970s, when I was growing up.

Parsley signaled sophistication. During the decade, French cuisine was particularly in vogue among American cooks, and the herb served as a marker of European plating habits. Subsequently, a sprig of it functioned as a quick and accessible way to inflect a dash of color and Old World charm. </blockquote>
I just thought this was interesting, especially since I used to really hate parsley. It made me think about how our tastes can change as we get older, and how something we once disliked can become something we appreciate later in life.

Michael Mitchell — Sun, 03 May 2026 11:30:55 +0000

I came across this hilarious YouTube short from a British TV show. I think the British have some great TV, and this one had me rolling on the floor laughing. Enjoy!
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Momma and Dad

Michael Mitchell — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🍿 Watched Nobody (2021)

Michael Mitchell — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 02:01:57 +0000

⚠️ SPOILER WARNING: MILD SPOILERS
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My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 stars)
Highly, highly unbelievable yet very entertaining. Great cast. If you want to kill about two hours and are after a fun, fast-paced movie, this delivers. It’s not profound, but it does exactly what it sets out to do, entertain.
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