Thoughts for the Day, April 1, 2024: Four years and counting.

Four years and counting

Four years ago today, I wrote my first entry in my Thoughts for the Day blog.  It started out of boredom during the first month of covid-19.  I never imagined I would still be writing four years later.

It has been challenging, time consuming, but most of all it has been engaging.  Knowing I am going to be writing a blog nearly every day keeps me attuned to what is going on in the world.

I try to write about things that are important to me and then add my perspective.  Although I copy and paste from articles I read, I try to enhance the articles with my thoughts on the subject.

I have tried to make improvements in the blog.  Most of the improvements I have made have come from readers who send me their comments and suggestions. I enjoy comments from readers, and I encourage people to comment and provide feedback. I also encourage readers to sign up for the blog, that way it comes directly to their email the moment I complete it. I am not sure how reliable, X, Facebook, and LinkedIn are when it comes to making the blog available on a daily basis.

I have also come to realize that I have no obligation to write my blog on a daily basis. This was very freeing.  When I know in advance that I will not be writing, I will try to mention it ahead of time, but sometimes that is not possible as my daily plans change.

In the past, I was concerned about how many subscribers I had and how many people were reading the blog on a daily basis. Now I rarely look at the statistical information that I am provided.  It is not the reason I write.

I have no idea how long this endeavor will continue. In the meantime, I will continue sharing my Thoughts for the Day. 

Remembering our Police Officers and First Responders

We can never forget that our police officers and first responders put their lives on the line every day.  When they leave the house to go to their job their loved ones never know if they will be coming home at the end of the shift. 

Per the NY Times,  Police Officer Jonathan Diller was fatally shot in the line of duty earlier in the week. On Saturday friends, family and colleagues gathered to remember him at a funeral at a Catholic church on Long Island.

The funeral at St. Rose of Lima Church in Massapequa, like the two-day wake that preceded it, drew large crowds of law enforcement officers mourning a life cut short. Officer Diller’s hearse arrived, the area in front of the church on Merrick Road was flooded with thousands of police officers from New York City and throughout the region. Children held signs in support of the police. An honor guard stood by as a lone bagpiper played at the church’s entrance and police helicopters buzzed overhead.

Israel and Hamas conflict

From The Guardian.  Tens of thousands of people across Israel joined the families of hostages this weekend to protest against the government and call for the removal of Benjamin Netanyahu, as the Israeli prime minister grappled with one of the most serious threats yet to his coalition.

The protesters in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, Be’er Sheva, Caesarea and other cities on Saturday – and at a further demonstration outside the Knesset in Jerusalem on Sunday – demanded the release of those still held captive in Gaza after close to six months, and labelled Netanyahu an “obstacle to the deal”, vowing to persist until he leaves power.

“It’s been 176 days that I haven’t turned a blind eye to the thoughts and fear of what Liri and the other abductees are going through,” said Shira Albag, the mother of one hostage, Liri Albag. “The people of Israel won’t forget or forgive anyone who prevents a deal that would bring them [the hostages] back to us. After 176 days, 4,224 hours, the excuses have run out.”

This protest is very encouraging. This war will only stop when the people of Israel say enough is enough. In my opinion, Israel has gone beyond its right to defend itself. Israel is now the aggressor. The U.S. money flow should be conditional on a pullback of Israeli forces from Gaza.

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Yesterday I shared an article with a close friend about Michigan Congressman Tim Walberg’s comments about how Israel needs to end the war quickly by doing a “Hiroshima and Nagasaki” on Gaza.  The response I received back from my friend was perfect.

We all muse at one time or another about using nuclear weapons to ‘end things quickly…’, but Walberg is way past ‘musing’ about it and, even from his attempts to provide ‘context’, seems to be advocating for use of nuclear weapons in both Gaza and on behalf of Ukraine in Russia. Of course, he doesn’t seem to realize that Russia (and maybe Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran and others) has many more nuclear weapons at its’ disposal that it would undoubtedly use and set off the most horrific destruction beyond even what could be imagined.

Mass Shootings in America

Per the Guardian. Seven children between the ages of 12 and 17 were wounded outside a shopping mall in Indianapolis, in the latest mass shooting in the US. Police believe more than one gun was used in the shooting, but no arrests have been made. Police did not immediately have any suspects.

“Once again, we have a situation in which young people are resolving conflict with firearms, and it has to stop,” said Tanya Terry, the deputy chief of the Indianapolis metropolitan police department. “Conflict should not lead to somebody pulling out a gun and trying to resolve it. The consequences are eternal.”

The access to guns in the hands of the wrong people in this country is killing us from within. We have terror brought on by the access to guns from people who should not have them. This must change.

The NCAA Basketball Tournament

The Connecticut men’s basketball team has been so dominant in its quest to repeat as national champions this NCAA tournament, they have led every game by at least 30 points in this year’s tournament.  It is an amazing feat. It is even more amazing when you consider they only led Illinois by five at halftime.

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Detroit News sports columnist Bob Wojnowski shared this interesting statistic about Purdue’s 7’4” Zack Edy, who scored 44 points in Purdue’s back and forth victory over Tennessee.  The stat speaks volumes about how hard it is to defend Edy and how hard it is to officiate a game when Edy is doing his thing.

Barnes (Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes) said he wasn’t complaining, which is what every coach says after getting Edey-ed alive. In four Tournament victories, Edey has shot 65 free throws and been called for eight fouls. He committed one foul on Sunday and drew 16.

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On Saturday, I watched Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkey’s women’s team put on a clinic against Colorado in their sweet sixteen matchup. Clark scored 29 and dished out 15 assists, in a Pistol Pete Maravich like performance.

In the game, Colorado’s point guard Jaylon Sherrod caught my eye because she was wearing a protective mask on her face while playing with reckless regard for her body. 

When the announcer mentioned she had graduated in three years, I decided to do some research on Jaylon.  It is hard enough for the average student to graduate in three years, but to do it as a top-level Division 1 student athlete is special.  Here is what I found.

• Graduated with bachelor’s degree in three years 
• Graduated with master’s degree in 2023 
• Working on second master’s program 

• Pac-12 Freshman of the Week (Dec. 30) 
• 2019-20 Pac-12 All-Freshman 
• 2019-20 CU Most Improved 

• 2019-20 Crystal Ford Adams Scholar-Athlete 
• 2020-21 Pac-12 All-Defensive Team 
• 2020-21 Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll 
• 2022 Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll 
• 2023 Pac-12 All-Conference 
• 2023 Pac-12 All-Defensive Team 

• 2023 CSC Academic All-District 
• 2023 Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll 

Jaylon Sherrod is the poster person for “student athlete”. She gets my Special Orchid of the Day.

How about those Tigers?

The Tigers had a great start to the season as they swept the White Sox in Chicago, winning all three games by one run. The bullpen was superb, only giving up one run, the hitting was timely, and the starting pitching for two games was exactly what was needed. 

What really impressed me was how Tiger manager A.J. Hinch manipulated his line-up and bullpen to the Tiger’s advantage all series.  The manipulation of the line-up in the top of the 9^th inning yesterday was masterful.  It culminated in Andy Ibanez’s pinch hit single to drive in the winning run.  During the inning, Hinch used a pinch runner and two pitch hitters and all three contributed to the winning run being scored. 

A.J. Hinch, who has a master’s degree in psychology from Standford, has a computer-like mind when it comes to understanding strategy and how to put Tiger players in the best position to succeed.  Yesterday’s game was a perfect example.

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Quote of the Day “This is a guy who has violated 11 of the Ten Commandments.” David Axelrod in response to the former president marketing his own bible.

Orchid of the Day: The City of Detroit who was a great host for the NCAA regional at Little Ceasars Arena.  The Purdue and Tennessee fans were loud and boisterous yesterday as they filled the arena. They were treated to an excellent game that went back and forth the entire time.   Up next is Opening Day on Friday and then the NFL Draft later this month.

Onion of the Day: The NCAA and everyone responsible for the basketball court in the women’s regional at Portland, Oregon. The three-point lines on one end of the court was closer than the other end.  Even though it was clearly visible to the naked eye, it wasn’t caught until multiple games had been played in the regional.

Question of the Day: Can Connecticut be defeated in this year’s men’s NCAA tournament?

Video of the Day: U of M hockey player Frank Nazar’s insane between the legs pass while going nearly full speed in last night’s win over MSU in the NCAA regional final.   This is a thing of beauty showing unbelievable skill.