Thoughts for the Day, September 29, 2025: Evil is alive and well

The Carnage in Grand Blanc: Evil is Alive and Well

My stomach started churning last night as I read about the senseless killings in Grand Blanc at a Morman church. It didn’t get any better when I read updates this morning. Schools are not safe places. Churches are not safe places. College campuses are not safe places. It appears that anywhere you go, you might be going to a place that is targeted by someone who feels offended. People are dying because of the color of their skin, because of their religion, because of their political beliefs, because of their sexual orientation. It is nuts. It is crazy. It is untenable. How bad does it have to get before we change?

Hate, guns and mental illness when combined become lethal. Families are changed forever. Communities are forever scarred.

Phillip Cotter, a Clio resident who is a member of the Grand Blanc church but didn’t attend the morning service Sunday, stood at the area police had cordoned on McCandlish Road said it best. “Evil is alive, it’s active. People are too casual to throw out terms that inflame others, weak minds.” “I know everyone who was there. “I don’t know what God has planned for us, but I trust him,” he said, choking up with emotion as tears welled in his eyes. This is my Quote of the Day

********************************************************************************************************

Crazy stuff: Another Government Shutdown?

Per the NY Times, Tonight, with just about 31 hours to reach a deal to fund the government, congressional leaders from both parties are exactly where they were before the meeting with President Trump: blaming their opponents for being uncompromising.

Democrats had previously expressed some optimism about the possibility of a bipartisan compromise, but just now, Representative Hakeem Jeffries, the minority leader, said, “We are not going to support a partisan Republican spending bill.”

And top Republicans who attended the meeting have now repeatedly accused Democrats of being too unyielding, with Senator John Thune of South Dakota, the majority leader, accusing them of “hostage taking.”

And this from the Wall Street Journal. Top Democratic and Republican congressional leaders met with Trump with little time to reach a deal, less than 36 hours before federal funding lapses and agencies partially close. Democrats said they were eager to start negotiations with the White House and GOP lawmakers. Republicans said they were willing to talk, but not under the threat of an imminent shutdown, leaving the two sides at an impasse.

“We laid out to the president some of the consequences of what’s happening in healthcare, and by his face and by the way he looked, I think he heard about them for the first time,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.), signaling that there were potential avenues for an agreement.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) said Democratic leaders should get on board with the GOP’s seven-week stopgap bill to keep the government funded and use that time for talks and to craft full-year spending bills.

Schumer and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R., S.D.) have signaled any deal would likely focus on extending health-insurance subsidies. Those enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits, first passed in 2021 by Democrats, are set to expire at year’s end. Democrats and some Republicans want an extension, but Republicans are seeking some new income limits on who receives subsidies. They also say discussions should only take place after Congress passes the stopgap bill keeping the government funded through late November.

Raising the stakes, the White House budget director, Russ Vought, instructed agencies to draw up lists of employees to fire if funding lapses, beyond the temporary furloughs and missed paychecks typical of past shutdowns. The government will partially shut down Wednesday at 12:01 a.m. if Congress can’t pass a short-term spending patch.

I may be wrong, but this seems like a crazy way to run a government.

**********************************************************************************************************

105 ½ and Still Going Strong

Once a month I call my neighbor from Ypsilanti, Gordon Cohours. Today was the day. Every month I am amazed by Gordon. His mind is sharp. He speaks clearly and thoughtfully. His hearing is as good as mine, and he stays on top of current events. There is nothing I cannot talk to him about. He never complains and he is always optimistic. He still lives by himself but has someone come in daily to help with some of the household chores. Having him in my life is a great joy. An amazing person.

***************************************************************************************************

Only Six Home Games, No Problem, Host a Zach Bryan Concert and Fill the Stadium with a Bunch of Country/Rockers

For the first time in years, Michigan football had only six home football games scheduled. In most years they have a minimum of seven games and sometimes eight. Each home football game brings in a minimum of $10 million so the U of M Athletic Department was facing a big revenue shortfall this year.

What to do?

How about schedule a country rock concert and fill the stadium with 112,000 young country rockers who are more than willing to spend their money to be part of history. The concert on Saturday headlining Zach Bryan and featuring John Mayer set the record for highest attended concert of all time with its attendance of greater than 112,000 people.

An Orchid of the Day to U of M for making it happen

Tigers and Lions

It doesn’t matter how they got there, but the Tigers made the playoffs and are set to take on the Guardians at the Guardians Progressive Field in the best of three playoff series starting on Tuesday at 1:00 PM on ESPN. Game two will be on Wednesday at the same time. Game three, if necessary, will take place on Thursday at 1:00 PM.

It is disappointing that the Tigers didn’t win the division championship and didn’t get a first-round bye, but I will take it. Making the playoffs two years in a row is not something Tiger fans should take for granted. Of this year’s six American League playoff teams, only the Tigers, Yankees and Guardians played in last year’s playoffs.

The Tigers go into tomorrow’s game with a well-rested Tarik Skubal on the mound, with Jack Flaherty and Casey Mize scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.

Don’t look now, but four games into the season, the Lions are in first place in the NFC North Division. They hold a ½ game lead over the Packers who were tied by the Cowboys yesterday.

The Lions did what they needed to do in their 34-10 victory over the Browns, who came into the game with the best defense in the NFL. The Lions played fundamental football as their offense, defense and special teams each contributed to the victory. Nothing flashy. Just strong complementary football. The only negative was the injury bug, which hit three Lions, two of which are questionable for the next couple of weeks.

************************************************************************************************************

Quote of the Day: See above.

Orchid of the Day: U of M for putting on the Zach Bryan concert on Saturday. 112,000 country-rockers were happy they did.

Onion of the Day: The insanity of this country with our hate killings.

Question of the Day: How bad does it have to get, before our country wakes up?

Lyrics of the Day: If the music is groovy It makes you feel happy like an old-time movie. I’ll tell you about the magic, and it’ll free your soul. But it’s like trying to tell a stranger ‘bout rock and roll.

If you know the answer, send me the answer in the comments section of the blog or email me at thomasdbiggs@gmail.com.

Lyrics of the Day for September 24. Hotel California by the Eagles

Video of the Day: Zach Bryan - River Washed Hair - Michigan Stadium (The Big House) Ann Arbor, MI 9/27/25

Feel free to share my blog with others. To receive the blog in your email, please use the subscribe button or send an email to me at thomasdbiggs@gmail.com and I will start the process for you.