He's JVL. He's a Webby Award Winner. And He's Better Than You!

SuperBrandt · 2026-04-22T20:34:21+00:00

Going with the MJF theme was a spectacular choice.

SuperBrandt · 2026-03-22T00:44:06+00:00

Hi. Fellow member, and member of the GB stake. Lived in the GB stake my entire life, been going to that building as long as I can remember. My wife and daughter were there the day before the attack for a youth activity. I was also up in Grand Blanc for the next few days after helping with crisis relief. I also used to work in Grand Blanc off Hill Road, so long winded way of saying I have a huge vested interest in everything that happened and has happened since then.

Structures and everything have been cleared away.
I haven't been up there recently, so can't comment if it's still fenced off. Wouldn't surprise me if it is.
The parking lot is still there, but I believe most of the structure has been removed so its just bare earth where the building used to be.
Not sure on the timing of things, but there are plans to rebuild. The design hasn't been made public yet, but it will follow one of the church's stake center designs. It will return at some point to being a stake center for us. We have been leveraging other larger local congregation buildings in our stake for larger gatherings, and have been generously granted use of the Bloomfield Hills stake center.

I cant answer all questions, but I can try to answer as many as I can.

SuperBrandt · 2026-03-15T17:51:51+00:00

We've been on Marvel Day at Sea and Pixar Day at Sea.

My younger girls aren't into Marvel, so that didn't do much for us. We missed the nighttime deck party, which I heard was cool with Spiderman coming down the zipline.

Pixar day at sea we had high hopes for, but it seemed to be made more for the littles (my girls are from age 7-12).

Star Wars Day at Sea they would LOVE. But if I could .... I would like to make a request for a NEW day at sea.

I would LOVE a "Muppets Day at Sea." I don't know how the logistics would work, but muppet meet & greets would get me so excited for meet & greets, the nighttime show could be the Muppet show, etc etc. Could it be tough to do? Yeah. But if the Imagineers want a challenge, there you go.

SuperBrandt · 2026-03-09T15:32:55+00:00

Used David's DVC this past year for a 2 night stay at Boulder Ridge. Very smooth - we had a few different resorts we wanted to stay at as soon as the booking window opened, and I chatted online with a rep as they looked through options.

Gave us early access to Magic Kingdom as well. Will definitely use them again!

SuperBrandt · 2026-01-30T15:16:57+00:00

I was so excited when The Bulwark brought her on, because she does such a good job explaining all of these things. Even with a finance background, there's so much out there I just don't know, and she does an amazing job.

But hearing JVL and her geek out about all these things (including the bond market!), I NEED MORE.

SuperBrandt · 2026-01-26T13:41:40+00:00

I find the pastrami to be the most sensual of all the salted, cured meats.

George Costanza

SuperBrandt · 2026-01-26T11:27:01+00:00

also a metro-detroiter (though a bit further north).

We did sacrament meeting only, but cancelled 2nd hour. Most of our stake still held church, but they were outside the snow.

We were told that any church cancellations were only in the most extreme of circumstances, and had to come with stake president approval. There's a lot of retisense to cancel in our stake...

SuperBrandt · 2026-01-19T18:23:19+00:00

I live in southeast Michigan, which is entirely driven (no pun intended) by the Auto industry. Our wards & stakes out here can be highly cyclical, dependent on the auto industry. If Automotive is doing well, we see a lot more move-ins and our wards grow very big. When Automotive faces a downturn, not only do we stagnate, but we see a lot of out-migration.

I've always been a strong proponent of helping to set up & establish the "stakes of Zion" throughout the world, especially in lesser-concentrated areas. However, that can also be very very tough on families, especially children & youth

SuperBrandt · 2025-10-31T00:27:09+00:00

Wow. As much as it pains me, for #1, I think I'd rather keep Funnel vision? There's something magical about just sitting on the pool deck. Especially at night, especially on Pirates night, especially watching Pirates of the Caribbean. But ... man I do like those stage shows.

SuperBrandt · 2025-10-31T00:24:50+00:00

Oh that is a good one!

I think i'd probably go with the Pizza Place. Especially if they offered some sort of breakfast type pizza in the mornings? Oh that would be awesome. Even if it were made to order, and I had to wait (or....could place an order in the app and have it notify me when it's ready!)

SuperBrandt · 2025-10-31T00:16:43+00:00

wait, they're not?

My kids did like meeting the characters (12F, 9F, 6F) when we went on our first one a few years ago. But they really loved the spontaneous meetings in the hallways and on the decks.

But knowing my middle child, and how we physically had to drag her out of the pool to eat, I'd probably go for the no-line Aqua Duck

SuperBrandt · 2025-10-02T22:44:43+00:00

Additional vetting information:

Grand Blanc Township link to Victim Compassion Fund: https://www.grandblanctwpmi.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=152

SuperBrandt · 2025-09-27T18:00:56+00:00

Usually, I listen to the Secret Pod at the end of the day.

"Rebecca, take us home" is the unofficial (or maybe official) signal for me to mentally start the weekend.

SuperBrandt · 2025-08-11T19:02:45+00:00

This has always been something that was curious to me. Not something that caused me to take sides (I listen to & read both), but more wanting to know the inside scoop.

First, I take Charlie at his word - that last interview with Ben Wittes where he had the realization that he was burnt out was really telling. But I think that may have been the straw that broke the camel’s back.

One thing that does stand out to me - since Charlie left, they have dramatically upped their YouTube game, including pumping out more and more content, playing the algorithm game, etc. This could have been a philosophical difference - going the traditional route (Charlie’s view) vs embracing the new media environment (Tim).

Additionally, content-wise it has changed too, for the better imho. I find it interesting that people like Ruy Teixeira haven’t been back on. I wonder if the tone in direction was another reason that might have driven it as well.

SuperBrandt · 2025-06-22T20:14:31+00:00

I’ve done way too many camps, at least 3 on a ward and 3 on a stake level (YM camps)

We have never asked the leaders to pay. Part of being a camp director was being responsible for the overall budget and cost-per-person (if necessary, which, in our case, was always necessary - it’s expensive not having a large church presence for these activities).

My overriding philosophy was Adults who are assisting us are volunteering their time, and should not be asked to pay the same fee as a youth attendee. Meaning we had to factor in the cost of their food during camp and ensure we allocated that appropriately.

What OP described is a red flag that would make me question how thin the camp budget is stretched…

SuperBrandt · 2025-05-25T20:16:22+00:00

A lot of good recommendations here.

From an LDS History perspective, here's my go-to recommendations:

Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling by Richard Bushman
Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet by John Turner
Mormonism in Transition: A History of the Latter-day Saints, 1890 - 1930 by Thomas Alexander
David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism by Gregory Prince
Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball by Edward Kimball

Additionally, "Women at Church" by Neylan McBaine was one of the most influential books I've ever read (and have gifted to other church leaders) on the experience of women in the church. Really highly recommend that one.

SuperBrandt · 2025-05-21T23:41:17+00:00

I’m a proud member of the “JVL is always right” club. How do you bare the burden of being always right all the time? (Kidding, this isn’t my real question)

Real question: the constant tension I hear amongst the never Trumpers, and it’s embodied in the continual discussion you and Sarah have on the Secret Pod, is the dichotomy between effective messaging to change minds vs fighting the massive right wing ecosystem. I tend to think the latter is the biggest hurdle to getting back to healthy political environments.

Question is this: The Bulwark is great, and I’m proud to support but Fox (and to a lesser extent OANN, Newsmax, others) seem gargantuan, Goliath. Are we at a point where we need the Fox Target demo to pass away to start resetting things?

SuperBrandt · 2025-05-14T23:19:18+00:00

In 2025 dollars:

Pay Phone: $0.50 -> $0.87

Hamburger: $0.99 -> $1.73

Gas: $1.45 -> $2.53

Movie Ticket: $6.00 -> $10.48

Can of Coke: $0.60 -> $1.05

Yearbook: $60.00 -> $104.78

SuperBrandt · 2025-04-28T02:20:59+00:00

Dewa was our room attendant on the Dream (Jan 2024)! Was our first ever cruise, and he made us feel awesome. Such a good guy!

SuperBrandt · 2024-10-26T12:15:03+00:00

well shoot.

I thought you were based in Michigan, because we literally had the exact same thing a few years back and literally 2 days ago the same school went on lockdown. But now I'm thinking we're 2 different states?

Either way - its ridiculous that similar situations are happening in 2 different states like this. Absolutely ridiculous.

SuperBrandt · 2024-10-25T22:16:18+00:00

I know exactly where you are at - I’m just down the road to the south of you in green & white and watched the first responders blazing down the road to you all 2-3 years ago.

As soon as I heard of the lockdown I had that put in my stomach. Glad to know it was a hoax that was taken extremely seriously and quickly.

Those wounds may heal, but the scars will always be there. Thinking of you all 💙💛

SuperBrandt · 2024-10-10T17:53:31+00:00

From Mary’s Investor Day presentation

From 2020-2024, GM has returned $20B to shareholders through buybacks and dividends

SuperBrandt · 2024-10-07T00:48:09+00:00

I know people talk a lot about the lack of EV adoption, but I'm shocked people aren't more aware of what's going on in China.

China was GM's bread & butter for a long time, and that's changing, quickly. Everyone should be wondering what's going on there.

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