The 76-Year-Old at My Planet Fitness

The case for staying put, Siri's real edge, Rick Springfield at Planet Fitness, lifting before it's too late, and peak '80s album-cover testosterone.

The Map

Where are all the “stay put” missives?

So much Internet content celebrates being on the move: photographed restaurant meals and hidden-beach Reels. Or celebrating people moving to a new city.

Travel, in all its forms, is deified.¹

Maybe it’s my season of life, but I don’t care about going anywhere. Back home after 25 years, I realize there’s more here than I could ever discover. And certainly a ton I never appreciated.

This is a wide-open content lane being ignored. Being grateful, learning, discovering, exploring, contributing right where you are.

Meanwhile, here’s the view from Ludington State Park’s Skyline Trail Loop, just 92 miles from where I’m tapping out this stay-put idea.

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The Machine

Last week, Apple unveiled the new Siri AI at its Worldwide Developer Conference. Siri has been a crushing disappointment for years, and the last two were the worst, when announced AI features never shipped.

It seems that will change when iOS 27 rolls out in September.

The advantage Siri will have over ChatGPT and Claude? It’s not bleeding-edge intelligence. Other LLMs seem far ahead, for now.

Siri’s advantage will be twofold: convenience and context.

All those iPhones, Macs, and Apple Watches will have Siri available with a single tap. Zero-friction access.

Secondly, Siri will have (if you allow it) secure access to your messages, photos, emails, location — all the personal data on your phone.

That might make your skin crawl. If not, it can be very useful, as Joanna Stern shows in her Siri AI test drive:

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The Muscle

I don’t understand Planet Fitness hate.

I’ve worked out there for almost a year now, after several years at Crunch locations. Yes, the heavy end of their free weights are lacking. But it has everything most people need.

That includes Rick Springfield.

In town on his tour with Sammy Hagar, Springfield showed up to work out at my local Planet Fitness this week. He was adorned in sunglasses and a T-shirt bearing his name, just in case there were any lingering doubts as to his identity.

Springfield is 76 years old.

"I work out every day,"

[..]

Basically, I watch what I eat, and I try and stay active."

He flies around the stage like Mick Jagger. If this is what Planet Fitness gets you at 76, I’m in.

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The Music

Speaking of Springfield, dodged raindrops to see his show with Sammy Hagar this week. Hagar has a bit of an all-star band going these days: Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony, former John Mellencamp drummer Kenny Aronoff, and guitar legend Joe Satriani.²

Sammy’s vocal range is a bit diminished, but he’s as charismatic and energetic as ever. Someone said to me, “He’s just so cool.” So true. Some aging rockers aren’t so cool. You can feel them grasping for something that’s no longer there. Not Sammy. He’s just himself.

Very fun show.

And what album cover screams 1980s testosterone more than Hagar’s VOA, released in 1984?

I had it on cassette tape. Maybe you did, too.

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The Middle

If you’re in life’s middle, right now is the time to build muscle and aerobic capacity.

Right. Now.

Don’t take it from me. Take it from a 63-year-old orthopedic surgeon:

Highly recommend this whole thread. Lots of wisdom on stress, relationships, and other items that will shape our later years.³

Oh. And I love this reminder, also. Don’t be so hard on yourself:

1. Unless you’re an airline. Then everyone hates you. Sorry.

2. Satriani more than did Eddie Van Halen justice playing on Van Hagar songs.

3. We’re all gonna look like rock stars in our 70s. Just wait.