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Simplify Roles To Amplify Goals

Here's my idea to help turn Gradey into his own version of Slim Shady, with him coming back strong in a different gear after starting off wrong in a difficult year.

  • I like how Darko Rajakovic seems to talk quite a bit about and appears to work very diligently to always develop all facets of all player's games constantly, and I'm sure that strategy and focus has payed huge dividends in many players reaching their long-term potential.
  • I wonder if a bit more balance towards simplification of a player's role might be good at certain times or years. Mainly, I wonder if having Gradey Dick simplify his game to focus on shooting for the next 1.5 seasons might make sense now, with less dribbling, scoring, passing.

Say Bye Buy Bee To Be

What does it cost and what must be lost?

To buy gifts just for show?
To buy flowers from a store?
To buy clothes they just stow?
To buy jewels for ever more?

What does it cost and what must be lost?

To be walking in a park?
To be talking on a bench?
To be swimming in a lake?
To be kissing on a couch?

January 7th, 2026

Hard Truths Movie Takeaway

Have A Positive Attitude

The lives of two sisters and mothers with very different attitudes shows the incredible power of humans and the mind to drastically influence and affect their life and the lives of those around them, negatively for the worse or positively for the better.

A Negative Attitude

  • One sister lives in an idyllic and spacious two story home with fences and a nice backyard
  • She has one healthy son and a kind hard-working husband who provides everything for her
  • She has no job and does not have to work because her husband makes all of the money
  • She is very negative, pessimistic, depressed, hateful, fearful, hurtful, frowny, and angry
  • She is afraid of almost everything including all living beings, and even nature and plants
  • This sister thinks negatively despite an easy life, appreciates nothing, and hates life

The Negative Result

  • One sister constantly criticizes and complains to salespeople, doctors, and anyone she sees
  • She constantly yells at her husband and doesn't appreciate him or give him any affection
  • She constantly berates her overweight son, doesn't love him or accept him or his passions
  • She is resentful towards her deceased mother and feels her childhood was very difficult
  • She doesn't thank her son at all or want to touch the flowers he got her for Mother's Day
  • This sister thinks negatively, acts poorly towards others, so she feels depressed and upset

A Positive Attitude

  • One sister lives in a small, run-down, upper floor apartment which she adorns with plants
  • She has two healthy daughters and she no longer has a husband or anyone who helps her
  • She works hard as a hairdresser and makes all the money to support her and her daughters
  • She is very positive, optimistic, content, grateful, hopeful, helpful, smiley, and happy
  • She is peaceful with everything and everyone, including upset customers, and loves nature
  • This sister thinks positively despite a hard life, appreciates what she has, and enjoys life

The Positive Result

  • One sister listens to her friends, her customers, and enjoys providing a service to everyone
  • She loves her daughters, who enjoy being around her and are talkative and playful with her
  • She supports her daughters, who exercise and help her any way they can around the house
  • She is respectful towards her deceased mother and feels that her childhood was enjoyable
  • She appreciates the small things like a glass of wine with her plants after a tough work day
  • This sister thinks positively, acts kindly towards others, so she feels content and happy

Hard Truths - Rotten Tomatoes

December 4th, 2025

NBA Standings Predictions 2025-26

Here are my predictions for the 2025-2026 NBA standings, ranked by western and eastern conferences. I think the western conference in particular may be as hard to predict as ever this year.

Western Conference

  • 1 - Oklahoma City Thunder
  • 2 - Denver Nuggets
  • 3 - Los Angeles Clippers
  • 4 - Memphis Grizzlies
  • 5 - Dallas Mavericks
  • 6 - Minnesota Timberwolves
  • ----
  • 7 - Houston Rockets
  • 8 - Phoenix Suns
  • 9 - San Antonio Spurs
  • 10 - Golden State Warriors
  • ----
  • 11 - New Orleans Pelicans
  • 12 - Los Angeles Lakers
  • 13 - Sacramento Kings
  • 14 - Portland Trail Blazers
  • 15 - Utah Jazz

Eastern Conference

  • 1 - Cleveland Cavaliers
  • 2 - New York Knicks
  • 3 - Milwaukee Bucks
  • 4 - Toronto Raptors
  • 5 - Philadelphia 76ers
  • 6 - Boston Celtics
  • ----
  • 7 - Indiana Pacers
  • 8 - Miami Heat
  • 9 - Orlando Magic
  • 10 - Charlotte Hornets
  • ----
  • 11 - Atlanta Hawks
  • 12 - Detroit Pistons
  • 13 - Chicago Bulls
  • 14 - Washington Wizards
  • 15 - Brooklyn Nets

Leave MacOS Toolbars At Top

I appreciate the gusto if this is purely experimental, but I think the design, function, and placement of this separate bottom toolbar in the Music app may be the single worst UI change in macOS 26.

Suggested Changes

  • Move and merge the full toolbar back to the top
  • Stay in same place when queue or lyrics selected
  • Make volume popup from toolbar and have mute
  • Collapse volume popup when clicked second time
  • Don't blur song title and info when mouse over
  • Move star icon to the toolbar and always show
  • Make all icons including playback the same size
  • Move shuffle to right of playback, left of repeat

Raptors Season Strategy Path 2025

Here's the lineup and depth chart that I think the Raptors should go with for the start of the 2025-26 season, given the current roster.

Lineup

  • PG - Quickley - Walter - Shead
  • SG - Dick - Agbaji - Battle - Temple
  • SF - Ingram - Barrett - Roddy/Lawson
  • PF - Barnes - Murray - Mogbo
  • C - Poeltl - Chomche - Mamukelashvili
  • 2W - Chomche, Martin, Hepburn

Notes

  • Dick in starting lineup for catch-and-shoot 3PTs
  • Barrett on the bench for ball handling and scoring
  • Walter on the bench for more shooting over Shead
  • Chomche on the bench for defense and development
  • Barnes plays some small ball 5 for shooting, often to finish
  • Murray/Barnes do ball handling for bench that guards lack

New Crew Value - 2025 Rebuild vs. 2013 Rebuild

  • PG - Quickley 26 > Lowry 27 / Walter 20 > Vazquez 28
  • SG - Dick 21 > Ross 22 / Agbaji 25 > Salmons 34
  • SF - Ingram 27 = DeRozan 24 / Barrett 25 >> Patterson 24
  • PF - Barnes 24 >> Johnson 26 / Murray 20 >> Hansbrough 28
  • C - Poeltl 29 < Valanciunas 21 / Chomche 19 >> Hayes 30
  • Much more youth and potential to grow better into future
  • Top young draft picks already in place over decent veterans
  • Team is young so will need/play veterans more if playoffs