Thoughts for the Day, February 13, 2025: Happy Birthday to my friend Gordon Cohours who turns 105 on Saturday. He is thinking about reenrolling in Kindergarten for a refresher course 100 years later

Gordon Cohours turns 105 on Saturday February 15.

Today I called my good friend and former neighbor in Ypsilanti, Gordon Cohours, to wish him an early Happy Birthday. He turns 105 on Saturday. He still lives alone, but he has a nurse who comes in daily to help with some of his chores. As usual, the conversation went as smoothly as silk. He has no issues with hearing or speech. His mind is as sharp as a tack. He gave his car to his niece, whose car was ruined in Hurricane Helene, so he is eager to buy a new car once the weather clears and start driving again.

Today he told me he turns five on Saturday. I asked if he looked forward to going to kindergarten since he was now five. He said, “Wouldn’t that be funny to do kindergarten all over again, one hundred years later.”

I am blessed.

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The Detroit Pistons

Last night the Piston won their fourth game in a row, improving their record to 29-26. They have far exceeded anyone’s expectations for the season after going 14-68 last season. The Vegas odds had them winning 25.5 games. There are 27 games remaining and this team seems to be getting better and better. I look forward to them making a strong playoff push once they return from this weekend’s All-Star break.

The Tigers and Lions both made the playoffs last year. The Pistons and Red Wings are in a good position to make the playoffs this year. Based on my research, the four teams have never made the playoffs in the same year. It is a strong possibility it will happen in 2025.

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Ukraine

Per the NY Times: On Wednesday, Mr. Trump’s new defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, told a meeting of allies in Brussels that Ukraine must give up its objective of recapturing all its lost territory in the war with Russia. Within hours, Mr. Trump was on the phone with the Russian president, Vladimir V. Putin, promising negotiations but having already conceded territory Russia occupies and an assurance to the Russian leader that Ukraine would never be in NATO. Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is in Kyiv to begin negotiating American rights to Ukraine’s untapped rare earth metals.

The declarations of unilateral concessions left European leaders, and of course President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, effectively sidelined, bystanders to the negotiations about the fate of Ukraine’s boundaries and, to some degree, Europe’s future.

This leads to my Question of the Day. As a resident of Michigan, how would you like it if the Governor of Ohio and the Governor of Texas decided to change the southern border of Michigan and give everything south of I-69 to Ohio?

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The Bromance

Today, the following was posted by a resident of Florida who for forty years has run a very successful publishing company in Fort Lauderdale. In early 2020, long before the presidential election, he predicted that Trump would not honor the results of the election and would not peacefully transfer power if he lost the election in 2020. He understands politics so I always take him seriously.

Just want to be clear to EVERY one of you...personal friends, FB friends and followers...WE TOLD YOU TRUMP WOULD SELL OUT UKRAINE AND EUROPE AND NATO and would align the U.S. with his dictator buddy Putin. WE TOLD YOU that he was being funded by dark money from Putin and the oligarchs who long ago made the DOCUMENTED efforts to overthrow the U.S. from within because they realized trying to do so by force would lead to mutual destruction. And, whether out of simple ignorance or your own selfish, racist viewpoints, YOU have turned your back on everything the United States of America has fought for since its' founding fathers banded together to "...form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity." YOU have turned America over to the fascists...and I cannot wait to see what you have to say when Trump and those who you've put your vote and trust in turn on YOU.

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Quote of the Day: “Tom I ditto your comments on Trump and Musk! They’re cruel, crass, narcissistic and constantly impugn our intelligence. They are pissing on our shoes while attempting to convince us it’s raining. My emotions vacillate between great anger and sadness. Today I find comfort in the song “Let it Be”. This is from a subscriber of Thoughts for the Day. See my Video of the Day

Orchid of the Day: Gordon Cohours. 105 and going strong.

Onion of the Day: Ukraine and NATO. You are screwed. Didn’t we see this story in Europe in the 1930’s?

Lyrics of the Day: There ain't no room for the hopeless sinner Who would hurt all mankind just to save his own (believe me now)
Have pity on those Whose chances grow thinner For there's no hiding place against the Kingdom's Throne

If you think you know the answer, send me your answer in the comments section of the blog.

Answer to Lyrics of the Day for February 12, 2025: Stairway to Heaven, Led Zepplin

“Question of the Day: As a resident of Michigan, how would you like it if the Governor of Ohio and the Governor of Texas decided to change the southern border of Michigan and give everything south of I-69 to Ohio?

Video of the Day: As recommended by a subscriber. See my Quote of the Day. Norah Jones - Let It Be (Live At The Empire State Building) Enjoy.