Thoughts for the Day, July 28, 2025: Project 2026/2028 Chapter 2: Energy Independence and Environmental Stewardship are not Mutually Exclusive
Whatever happened to the First Amendment and Free Speech?
Per the NY Times, when the Department of Justice recently opened an investigation into George Mason University over accusations that the university’s diversity programs were discriminatory, many members of the faculty were outraged.
Professors quickly published a resolution supporting their president and the university’s efforts around diversity.
Now, Justice Department officials say they will investigate the faculty, too.
In a letter sent on Friday, the Trump administration said it would seek drafts of the faculty resolution, all written communications among the Faculty Senate members who drafted the resolution, and all communications between those faculty members and the office of the university’s president, Gregory Washington.
This is starting to sound very familiar to what we see in authoritarian governments.
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Question of the Day: Is the starvation in Gaza making you wonder what is wrong with humanity?
Per the NY Times, President Trump on Monday acknowledged starvation in Gaza after largely deflecting on the issue, even as world leaders and humanitarian organizations warned that more than 20 months of Israeli bombardment and aid restrictions had left nearly two million Palestinians in a hunger crisis.
After a series of meetings with European leaders, including Mr. Starmer and Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, Mr. Trump began to echo the desperate language of other leaders: There is “real starvation” in Gaza, he said, and the United States would do more to help. “That’s real starvation stuff, I see it, and you can’t fake that,” Mr. Trump said. “We have to get the kids fed.”
On Monday, Mr. Trump also indicated disagreement with Israeli officials who have denied that anyone is starving there. He said that the children in Gaza “look very hungry” and that “we have to get the kids fed.” Mr. Trump said he did not “particularly” agree with a recent assertion by Mr. Netanyahu that there was no starvation in Gaza.
Humanitarian groups around the world say the amount of food needs to increase substantially after months in which the Israeli government imposed a near total blockade of food and medicine into Gaza.
President Trump and other world leaders need to recognize Netanyahu for who he is, a war monger. It is time for the world leaders to stand up to Netanyahu and say enough is enough.
Netanyahu gets my Onion of the Day
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Orchid of the Day: Griffin Gullekson and Lindsey Hunter.
Per the Detroit News, no one was more excited for the Sparta boys’ varsity basketball game against Kent City last December than Griffin Gullekson. It was just a regular-season game — one among more than 20 on Sparta's schedule — but for Gullekson, that didn't matter.
Every second was important to Gullekson because he feared his sophomore season could be over before it even started. Last September, Gullekson was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma.
When Gullekson found out he had cancer, he turned his attention to the basketball court. In early December, he got his wish, but it came with some precautions. To avoid physical contact, Gullekson could not guard an opponent closely, and his offense was limited to shots from behind the 3-point line. Under his No. 13 jersey was a shoulder brace sewn to half of a tennis ball to protect his chemo port.
“He did not like the things we made to protect his port; he thought it would mess up his shot,” Jeff said, laughing. Gullekson's love for the game kept him going. Limited to a few minutes a game, every minute had to count. In one game, Gullekson dribbled into traffic before stopping on a dime in the paint and rising for a jumper like his favorite player, Kyrie Irving. Gullekson scored and smiled as he ran to get back on defense. After the shot went in, everyone on Sparta’s bench celebrated.
While Gullekson only got to play a few more weeks in his sophomore season, he caught the attention of former Detroit Pistons guard Lindsey Hunter.
Hunter’s mom is a breast cancer survivor, and he thought Gullekson's story was amazing. He instantly reached out after connecting through Jeff’s former teammate, Myron Gray. Gullekson's story inspired Hunter, who spent 12 of his 17 NBA seasons with the Pistons.
“It is powerful to see a kid fighting for his life, and his love of basketball has helped him through his trials," Hunter said.
Through his foundation, Hunter decided to give Gullekson an AAU team where he could pick his teammates. Gullekson's team was filled with friends and classmates who were cancer survivors or had lost parents to cancer.
As Hunter’s relationship with Gullekson grew, so did his relationship with the community in Sparta, a village in Kent County with a population of about 4,000 that's located about 15 miles north of Grand Rapids. When the head coaching position at Sparta High School opened up, Hunter was offered the job.
With Hunter already coaching younger kids, coaching full-time would be the perfect fit. Earlier this month, Hunter decided to become head coach of the Sparta boys basketball team.
“I love to develop kids, and I felt wanted, so I could not pass up the opportunity," said Hunter, who has been an assistant coach with the NBA's Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors, an assistant college coach at Buffalo, and a head coach at Mississippi Valley State.
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Project 2026/2028: Chapter 2: Balancing Energy Independence and Environmental Stewardship
For fifty years, the United States has struggled with creating a comprehensive energy policy which is complementary to policies which protect the environment. In my opinion we have treated these as mutually exclusive objectives which are contradictory to each other. We have taken an all or nothing approach. The climate-change supporters believe all fossil fuels must be eliminated. In the other camp, there are those who do not want to abandon their current lifestyles by giving up internal combustion engines, big cars, natural gas energy, coal energy and gasoline energy to reduce our carbon footprint. Further complicating the issue is the desire to reduce our dependence on foreign energy, especially oil. The extremists on both sides will not accept compromise because they both feel the other is wrong. This has led to major stalemate which has prohibited the U.S. from moving forward in addressing this important balancing act.
As I look forward to the elections of 2026 and 2028, I am looking for candidates who recognize that the United States faces a dual imperative: to secure reliable, affordable energy and to safeguard the environment for future generations. These goals are not mutually exclusive. I am looking for candidates who will work to create a balanced strategy to reduce dependence on foreign energy sources while transitioning to a cleaner, more sustainable energy while safeguarding and improving our environment. I am looking for balanced strategy that includes the following.
1. Embrace a “Both-And” Approach
True energy independence doesn’t require choosing between fossil fuels and renewables. A practical policy invests in a diverse energy mix—renewable energy (solar, wind, hydro), next-generation nuclear, and cleaner fossil fuels—while accelerating the transition toward low-carbon solutions. This approach maintains energy security during the transition.
2. Invest in Cleaner Domestic Energy Production
The U.S must continue to invest in the production of cleaner energy, but it must be done based on market needs, the reality of our current situation, and on economic realities. Federal support for U.S.-based solar, wind, hydrogen, battery manufacturing, nuclear energy, biofuels—paired with reducing emissions from existing fossil fuel factories through the use of renovations and technology, —can serve as a transition to energy independence and a cleaner environment.
Nuclear energy should be a viable option for the U.S. It is very clean energy, and we have the knowledge to address the waste issue. We have enough crude oil to not have to rely on other countries. What we don’t have is enough refineries. We must acknowledge that the factories and refineries of today are not the same as those in my father’s generation. We have significantly reduced factory emissions in the last 50 years. We have the technology to make much greater strides. We have the technology and the wherewithal to extract the crude from our own soil with minimal damage to the environment. We just need to make the right investments. Government and private partnerships will go a long way in addressing these issues.
3. Strengthen the Electric Grid and Storage Capacity
Our energy grid has always been a major weakness which makes us vulnerable to attack and natural disasters. Northern Michigan was crippled for three weeks because of an ice storm in March and April of this year. A resilient national grid is key to balancing energy and environmental priorities. Investing in modern grid infrastructure, energy storage, and regional interconnectivity ensures renewable power can be delivered reliably, reducing the need for carbon-intensive backups. In recent years we are seeing more exposure to the failures of our energy grid.
4. Implement Smart, Science-Based Regulation
Environmental protection doesn't have to mean economic paralysis. Regulations should focus on outcomes—such as emissions reductions, environment and habitat preservation, cost efficiency and energy independence—while giving industries flexibility to innovate. Government incentives, government/private partnerships, efficiency standards, individual and business tax incentives should all be considered.
There is nothing wrong with the government creating standards and regulations to ensure energy independence and environmental protection. These should align with the reality of market forces and environmental goals. We cannot expect private auto companies to produce zero carbon emission vehicles when the market is clamoring for ls for gasoline powered vehicles which better fit their lifestyle and needs.
5. Support Transitional Technologies and Carbon Management
It is unreasonable to expect the U.S. to be zero emissions in the next generation. We must acknowledge this reality. However, we can make gradual and consistent progress toward that goal on an annual basis. Technology exists to help the transition. Technologies such as carbon capture, energy-efficient retrofits, and low-emission natural gas are essential bridges. These tools help lower emissions from current systems without jeopardizing energy supply, especially in hard-to-decarbonize sectors like heavy industry and aviation. Just because a technology doesn’t reduce carbon emissions to zero emissions, it should still be considered as an option to reduce emissions.
6. Empower Local and Regional Solutions
States and regions have diverse resources and needs. Federal policy should empower local innovation while setting national benchmarks. Incentives for community-based renewable solutions, grid improvements, energy cooperatives, conservation cooperatives, and local regulations to meet the unique needs of the local and regional area. Local solutions will increase public buy-in.
7. Prioritize Energy Equity and Environmental Justice
Both energy security and environmental protection must benefit all Americans. Policies should ensure that all citizens have readily available access to clean air and water, green spaces, clean energy, and reliable service all at competitive rates. We shouldn’t have areas where the poor and at-risk population have the dirtiest air, the most polluted rivers and streams, the least amount of green space, and unreliable service. We need to address areas such as the area around Schaefer and I-75 in Southwest Detroit, which for multiple generations has the highest incident of childhood asthma in the country. We cannot wash our hands of our responsibility to address this issue. We need business and government to work together to develop solutions. We need politicians who understand that energy independence and environmental quality should apply equally to all citizens, not just those who can afford it.
8. Promote Research, Innovation, and Global Cooperation
Ongoing federal investment in R&D—alongside international collaboration and public/private partnerships—ensures the U.S. remains a global leader in clean energy technologies, helping both national security and planetary health. The federal government must be the leader in promoting clean energy and a healthy environment. The federal government must be the major investor.
A balanced strategy sees energy independence and environmental stewardship as complementary goals. With thoughtful investment, innovation, leadership, and cooperation, America can lead the world in building a clean, secure energy future. With thoughtful federal leadership the United States can achieve energy independence, combat climate change, foster innovation, and build a cleaner, fairer, and more secure future.
I am looking to vote for politicians who understand that having a sound energy policy and a sound environmental policy are not competing goals. I am looking to vote for politicians who understand energy policy and environmental policies should be complementary goals. I am looking to vote for politicians who can create environment and energy policies that work together to build a secure energy future and a healthy environment.
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Quote of the Day: "We've lost decency, we've lost civility, we've lost respect for the rule of law - lost it. We have normalized verbal abuse on the internet. We've normalized bullying; much as the woke generation tried to, you know, change that, it's back… I mean, nobody has great things to say about politicians. They never have. Go back to Mark Twain. But ideally, we're supposed to elect the best of us. Not the worst of us. He's everything that's wrong with not just America but with being a human being." Jeff Daniels.
Orchid of the Day: See above about Griffin Gullekson and Lindsey Hunter
Onion of the Day: Netanyahu, one more time.
Question of the Day: See above about starvation in Gaza
Lyrics of the Day: Oh, I could hide 'neath the wings Of the bluebird as she sings. The six o'clock alarm would never ring
But it rings and I rise Wipe the sleep out of my eyes. My shavin' razor's cold and it stings. Cheer up, Sleepy Jean. Oh, what can it mean
If you think you know the lyrics send me your answer in the comments section of the blog.
Answer to Lyrics of the Day for July 23: Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne
Video of the Day: One of the greatest at bats I have seen since Dave Bergman in 1984. Bo Bichette 13 pitch at bat vs. Tarik Skubal Friday in a 0-0 game at the time.
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The Monkees’ Daydream Believer -1966 my 1st concert at Boston Garden.