Monday Musings - February 9, 2026

1. Happy second Monday of February. We should celebrate. There are 46 Mondays remaining in the year. 

Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III

2. The Super Bowl was quite an event last evening. It was a hard game to watch, being a defensive struggle for most of the affair. I was happy to see Seattle claim the crown as the Super Bowl Champion. I didn't do too bad with my prediction of the final score, although the game was not as close as I thought it might be. I predicted 24-21 Seattle and the final score was 29-13 Seattle.

3. I am hugely excited that temperatures here in South Florida are recovering after the freeze. Chris and I saw the remains of a lizard that didn't make it because of the cold yesterday. I believe there are going to be a lot less lizards around the yard for the remainder of the year. 

4. I did some research this morning to determine how the alternate Super Bowl Halftime Show did against the actual Super Bowl Halftime show. That performance [The alternate halftime show] attracted only an estimated 5 million viewers against Bad Bunny’s 135 million, which has otherwise served to mark the Latin musician’s performance as the most watched NFL halftime show in history. (Daily Beast) Seems as if the votes are in.

5. Oblivious to decency and the ability to recognize when there might a be a problem. the President called Olympian Hunter Hess, "a real loser." President Trump wrote this in response to a response Hess gave to a reporter. Hess said, in part, “There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of and think a lot of people aren’t,” Hess said. “If it aligns with my moral values, I feel like I’m representing it. But just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean that I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.” (NY Times) I wonder if the President's ears were burning? 

6. Note: I will no longer be quoting the Washington Post in my blog as a protest against the changes at the formerly venerable newspaper. I have also canceled my subscription. 

7. Today in History. On February 9, 1971, pitcher Leroy “Satchel” Paige becomes the first Negro League veteran to be nominated for the Baseball Hall of Fame. In August of that year, Paige, a pitching legend known for his fastball, showmanship and the longevity of his playing career, which spanned five decades, was inducted. Joe DiMaggio once called Paige “the best and fastest pitcher I’ve ever faced.”

Paige was born in Mobile, Alabama, most likely on July 7, 1906, although the exact date remains a mystery. He earned his nickname, Satchel, as a boy when he earned money carrying passengers’ bags at train stations. Baseball was segregated when Paige started playing baseball professionally in the 1920s, so he spent most of his career pitching for Negro League teams around the United States. During the winter season, he pitched for teams in the Caribbean and Central and South America. As a barnstorming player who traveled thousands of miles each season and played for whichever team met his asking price, he pitched an estimated 2,500 games, had 300 shut-outs and 55 no-hitters. In one month in 1935, he reportedly pitched 29 consecutive games.

As AI enters the operating room, reports arise of botched surgeries and misidentified body parts - Reuters

SpaceX prioritizes lunar 'self-growing city' over Mars project, Musk says - Reuters

Trump repeatedly claims victory over high prices; the numbers don't back him up - Reuters

Russian drone attacks on Ukraine kill four, including mother and child - Reuters

Nancy Guthrie's children say her return is 'only way we will have peace'  - CNN

Trump calls Olympic skier ‘real loser’ after he expresses ‘mixed emotions’ representing the US  - CNN

Kid Rock’s ‘Halftime’ show is what happens when Christianity, celebrity and MAGA collide - MSNow

MAGA is screaming foul over Bad Bunny’s halftime show. Here’s why the NFL doesn’t seem to care. - MSNow

Trump Calls Olympian a ‘Real Loser’ Over Comments on Representing U.S. - New York Times

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL