Today's Tids Issue 3,395
Opening Stuff:
When
viewing the world from the sea, you look at a land
with no terror or looting or feelings of hatred of any kind; just incredible
vistas that translate into people doing their daily chores in harmony with others.
And then, and then, you sail into port on gentle breezes and are faced with -- “The
Debates. What a mess. Before I get to prime Time, I have to say that Carley
Fiorina lived up to prior Tids enthusiasm and stomped on the rest and probably
out performed the prime timers too. After an awkward opening by too many Fox
voices and poor attempts at easy banter, the big debate became a logistical mess
with too little time for too many people on the stage. Most of the critics will
say it was the Trump show, but he looked sour, ugly at times and his words
matched, Unfortunately his bombast drown out good efforts by a few. Of the
winners I though Kasich did well, as did Marco Rubio and at times Huckabee. If
they had let Ben Carson speak more we may have seen the best of the Bunch. Jeb
was flat, and Ted Cruz lost his zip. Personally, I like Christie and Rand Paul,
but Paul may be too narrow for a general election and Christie may be too
gruff. I thought Walker expressed his positions very well, and regardless of
whether or not you support gutsy Governor’s abortion opinions, they may be too
much for a general electorate, And after all, this is what the debates were all
about – finding a Repub who can win it all.
When
you think about it, the aura created from the gleeful
whoops and cheers from the Cleveland audience at the Repub debate is a little
like viewing the world from the sea. You don’t see the dissent, which is out
their lurking in the real world; which must be won over by one of the candidates.
Which one of the ten, eleven with Carley can go beyond satisfying the hunger of
the crowd in the arena? That is the question, and the only question.
One
of the first short stories I ever wrote was called
A Beautiful Shade of Grey. It was about summer things that formed indelible childhood
memories, grey weathered shingled homes and cottages settled upon sandy and
rocky shores, with the smell of salt water in the air. But, mostly it was this
old grey fisherman’s dory which I as a 8 or 9 year old kid rowed around the bay
and inlets for hours; discovering. I was sure, something not seen by man or kids.
I loved that boat and even the grey stormy skies over darkening waters. But now
Shades of Grey has an entirely different meaning. Isn’t it sad how hard it is to
talk about your favorite things these days? Hell, I can’t even say my nickname without
my grandson smirking.
When
tides rush in, fools go against them.
The
most beautiful places are those that are hardest to reach.
The greatest accomplishments are those harder to achieve. The most endearing
love is one earned every day.
The
Question:
Triple
Header: 1. What
is the name of the Bridge at Niagara Falls betweenthe USA and Canada? 2. What was the name of Kurt Cobain’s
band? 3. What were Bing Crosby’s
best known songs? ( For younger readers I’ll ask, “Who was Bing Crosby?”)
The
Headlines:
--Repubs Battle It Out On Boob Tube Last Night;
Trump Did Not Falter; National media Surprised At the Quality Overall Of The Debates;
Most Agree That Overall Fiorina Made Most Progress.
--Stocks Headed To 7th Straight Day Of
Losses; many see Apple As Bargain; Uber Sustaining Mounting Losses.
--215,000 Jobs Added In July fewer Than expected;
Unemployment Drops To 5.3%; Key Small Biz Hiring Seems To Be Tailing Off; Big Companies
Have Announced Cuts.
--California Raging Fires Slowing; Hot Season Just
Beginning.
--Top Dem Foreign Affairs Committeeman, Eliot
Engle, To Vote Against Iran Deal.
--NYC Legionnaires Disease Grows To 10 Dead, 100
Diagnosed.
--Jon Stewart Leaves After funny Show with Lots of
Celebs.
--France Says Seeral Nations Interested In Buying
Ships Built Originally for Russia.
A
guy I sailed with learned much about what he knew
of the sea around us and it’s fickle ways while sailing with an older friend,
one of the unsung heroes of WWII. This guy, who was named a Captain in the US
Navy at an early age, started his naval operations at the age of 18 when he would
sail a wooden ship around Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts waters in
search of the many German U-Boats, constant visitors to these shores. You see,
German subs could not detect a wooden, sailing vessel. You just never realize
the people called upon to save thew world from aggression.
Instead
of talking about myth of what a president can do for an
economy, candidates should convincing people about how they can inspire a
nation, and unify factions. That’s what a good President can do best. The economy
is supposed to be a private endeavor, and that works better in a country with a
healthy character.
Descriptions
of place while sailing the East Coast probably will mean
little to readers from the Midwest and beyond. But last Tuesday we came across
a light tower marking Cleveland Ledge, about which old tales will tell of shipwrecks.
Now, wait a minute, I’m not talking about the Cleveland Brawns. See. You just
can’t talk about anything anymore.
By
the way, Governor Christie shaking hands with President
Obama after the devastating Sandy is exactly what a governor concerned for his people
and appreciating Federal assistance should do. This is one area where politics
has really gone astray, making what’s right look wrong.
In
New England, it is socially unacceptable to brag.
One
of the new ongoing trials of long distance sailing is
managing the power of your smart phones. It’s especially critical when the boat’s
GPS system fails.
We
sailed into a cove that must have been painted by a mid
19th century artist,
I
would not be surprised at all if John Kerry made
another run for the Dem nomination as the dishonesty meter for Hillary rises. I
think the party bosses there are looking around, and regardless of whether you
or I think the Iran deal was good or not, he looked good to a lot of Dem
voters. And, that means a lot.
We
living in the Cheetos world could shortly be the next great social
outcast in the new world of so-called “healthy” eaters. If the hate deepens, we
may have to go to the Supreme Court.
I
always thought “Cuttyhunk” was a great name for a New
England Island. As you motor and sail around the coves and inlets you see many
other descriptive names, like “Sows and Pigs reef”, which may have attracted
birds of prey giving us the water in which it lies a name of Buzzards bay. Ot=r
maybe they were the first ingredients of Sandwich, Mass, which is nearby. Almost
opposite the reef is Gay Head, which after Obama leaves from vacation there
could become transgender point. But all
is well as we sail home to Snug Harbor up the channel between Jerusalem and Gallilee.
All is not lost, at least until the ACLU changes those names.
.
In
case you are interested, pundit Dick Morris has as the winners
of the debate Last night – Trump, Huckabee, Cruz and Christie, with Kasich
getting an OK, and Rubio a nod for VP.
The
Parking Lot: Chapter 8 continues…
I turned back to the waitress who seemed to
pull back as she saw me approach. “I’m here to help. I talked to Nancy.” With
that, she seemed to relax a bit even as her eyes continued to look fearful.
Nancy must be a magical name I thought to myself. But, she let me through her
barrier and within seconds I was kneeling before her chair. Her head was now
down again staring at her clenched hands
“I know
something is going on with Nancy, and judging by your distress, it is not the
bad Red Sox season. Her eyes looked up and
she smiled a little at that. “What happened to you? Was it those two
men?” She nodded yes. What did they want?” I reached up and gently touch her
hands. Grasping them softly. Her head slowly lifted and her eyes caught mine. I
was hoping mine were calm, saying you’re safe instead of showing some of the sheer
panic I felt. “Tell me,” I repeated in my most soothing voice.
“They
walked in, two out of place overweight guys, spotted as outsiders immediately
by everyone in the room. One went to the counter,” she nodded her head to the
right, “and said in a voice that everybody could hear, does anybody in here
know Nancy Joachim?’ The second man’s dangerous looking eyes were eyeing the
room and must have caught my surprised reaction, especially after your asking
about her a week ago. I tried to move ny head down but he began moving near me.”
“The
second man left the counter and joined the first, smothering me. It was intimidating
but got worse. I could smell the sweat on their bodies, and they could probably
smell my fear.” I tried to smile and look relaxed, but I’m sure I didn’t to the
two ginats. They knew how to scare people. It was their eyes. The cold eyes.
“ ‘Where
does Joaquim live,’ asked the first guy in a voice that chilled my back.”
“I lied
and told them that she is just a customer who I talk to.”
“The
second one then asked, “do you have children?’ I tried to hide my wedding ring,
but it was obviously too late. Now I couldn’t talk. The first guy, still smiling
like a good ole’ guy reached up and squeezed my upper arm until the pain brought
tears. ‘You sure,’ he said now threateningly under his breath.”
I tightened
my garsp on her hands, hopefully reassuring.
Reading
Between the Lines Movie Reviews:
--Want to sit on the edge of your seat? Want to
enjoy a scary movie that challenges your imagination, The Gift is for you. This
is a good one. Wife Robyn’s life is perfect and normal, until she has a chance
encounter with a strange man Gordo who turns out to be a former classmate of her
husband Simon. Uninvited gifts come her way and get eerier as they begin to
describe a troubling, scary secret from her husband’s past. She wonders what
else she doesn’t know about him, and that is only part of the problem. Stars
Jason Bateman, Rebecca hall and Joel Edgerton.
--The fantastic Four is just another Super hero movie doesn’t add much
to the repetitious series we have been seeing all summer. If you like the
genre, then you’ll probably go. If you want to get hooked on the genre, this is
not the one to see.
--Shaun the sheep is a nice fumy Animated tail
about the tie Shaun decided to take the day off to have fun only to find a little
more action than expected. A good one for kids.
--The new Woody Allen movie, The Irrational Man
starring Emma Stone and Joaquin Phoenix, was partly shot yards from this keyboard
and will be opening at the Jane Picken’s theater footsteps away. It’s a little
murder mystery that centers around a burned out professor at a small college
who becomes involved with a precocious student as well as a another female
professor. Not great, but I’ll go to see this film shot entirely in RI and on
tis island to enjoy the local scenery.
The
Answer:
1.
The Peace Bridge connects the US and Canada at Niagara Falls. 2. Oops, I guessed Metallica. Everybody
but me knew that Kurt Cobain’s band was Nirvana. 3. Bing Crosby was an immense celebrity, hailed as an actor (3rd
most popular movie actor of all time in tickets sold), winning an Oscar, and mainly
for selling millions of records. He was considered the star who did most for GI’s
in WWII and in a 1948 poll he beat out Jackie Robinson and Pope Pius as “Most Admired
Person” in the world. Crosby had 41 Number 1 hit songs, more than the Beatles
and Elvis combined. “White Christmas” was number one. Others in order are
Wiffenpoof Song, I Surrender Dear, Blue Skies, Pistol Packin’ Mama, Irish
Lullaby, Accentuate the Positive, Don’t Fence Me In, You are My Sunshine,
Swinging on a Star, Deep in the Heart of Texas and Where the Blue of the Night
Meets the Gold of the Day.
So,
its Carley Fiorina with Marco Rubio Fro Prez and Veep. And
how about Donald Trump for Secretary of State. That would work.
Did
you happen to notice how upbeat the Crosby song list
appeared to be. Made for a happier world, even if it was one you might see from
a boat sailing before crisp winds on rolling seas.
Hope
you all sail through the weekend on calm seas,
E-v-e-y-b-o-d-y!
See
you on time, early Monday morn.
No comments:
Post a Comment