Daily Dirt: I’m a boomer, and I’m not changing

Many aspects of modern technology might as well be a foreign language to many boomers, including myself. Hopefully, the first of today’s three thoughts will provide some insight in Vol. 111 of the Daily DIrt.

1. The older I get — and I am definitely old — the more I realize how set in their ways baby boomers are, myself included. 

Social media is a prime example. I have grandkids talking about their latest Tik Tok videos. I have children instagramming. And me? I’m pretty proud of myself if I send a text to the right person.

To learn how to do all of this new-fangled stuff is well beyond anything I even want to try and comprehend. I really don’t know what “streaming” means. I’m not exactly sure what the differences are between a millennial, a Gen Z’er or a Gen X’er.

I wake up every day and think to myself:

• I still enjoy using a “landline” phone. No one else in my immediate family, that includes four adult children and two brothers-in-law and their families, even owns a landline phone.
• I miss phone books. Remember when a phone book was so thick and heavy it could also be used as a door stop? Now, a phone book — and the term “book” is used loosely — has about as much depth to it as an old Archie comic book.
• I miss going to shopping malls (remember those?) to enjoy dozens of stores and restaurants all under one roof and making a full day of the adventure. I don’t care for online shopping. If I’m buying a pair of jeans or a hooded sweatshirt, I want to actually see and feel them, not to mention actually trying them on.
• I miss record albums and 45s. Spotify? I have absolutely no clue, nor do I want any. I am a fan of YouTube, though. I appreciate being able to “call up” old clips of Rod Stewart, the Grass Roots, Rolling Stones and Crispian St. Peter (in case you were wondering, he had a 1966 hit entitled “Pied Piper”).
• I miss linoleum flooring, sitcoms like “Green Acres”, patterned sweater vests, ordering meat loaf in a restaurant, shag carpeting, encyclopedias, when MTV actually played music videos and cursive writing.

But those are thoughts for another day.

2. Sorry, but I can’t get into this Atlanta-Houston World Series, which has me thinking ahead to the 2022 MLB season. My top five picks to win next year’s World Series are:

• 1. Los Angeles Dodgers: Just about anything that could have gone wrong this year actually did, and they still won more than 100 games. The Dodgers are willing to spend whatever is needed, and they may need to do just that. The team has a plethora of free agents.
• 2. Chicago White Sox: The only thing holding the Chisox back from being a runaway choice to win the American League title will be manager Tony LaRussa. I’m afraid time may have passed him by. Regardless of LaRussa’s impact, this club will be loaded in 2022.
• 3. Milwaukee Brewers: The Brew Crew has an outstanding pitching staff, one that should be even stronger next year. The difference may be whether or not Christian Yelich discovers how to hit again.
• 4. San Francisco Giants: The Giants, especially manager Gabe Kapler, proved they are a step ahead of most organizations in how to attack a baseball game in this new age of analytics.
• 5. Cleveland Indians/Guardians: The Tribe/G-Men will have their starting rotation back in place, plus what will be a much-improved offense. Don’t sleep on Cleveland, which also gets future Hall of Fame manager Terry Francona back from a series of medical issues.

3. These are the top five cartoon characters of all-time:

• Homer Simpson: For no other reasons(s) than he loves doughnuts and sired Bart Simpson.
• Sterling Archer: If you have to ask, never mind.
• Eric Cartman: If I had been a cartoon character, I would have been Eric Cartman.
• Bugs Bunny: Nothing better than a smart-ass rabbit.
• (tie) Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote: Beep. Beep.

Steve Fact O’ The Day
Steve has never had a tattoo, nor will he ever.