Is there anything worse than a bent 2x4?

Today's Tids Issue 3,601

Opening Stuff:

You expect products to meet standards, especially core products that interact with other building blocks. You expect people to do what is commonly expected, like stay in a lane on a road, or look both ways before crossing. In other words society works because there are norms. Oh, creativity is nice, and thinking outside the box certainly can lead to improvements for humanity. But it is all of the little things we get used to that allow us to perform innately without thinking to too much about little things we do normally. So, a day ago a guy makes U-Turn in the middle of a southbound Interstate and goes north in the high speed lane. He drives into a car coming south in the high speed lane. They are both killed. So I’m wondering what the innocent person was thinking as he saw the lights heading towards him. Was it, “That car can’t be heading towards me because it is not supposed to be there?” Was it that split second of considering normalcy that kept him driving forward for just a few seconds too long? There is no way of knowing. I wonder what I would do. It was a sad event. An innocent man, a fine person I read; a young man about to celebrate his first year on a small town police force; a son going home after work to his parents. Gone, because what is almost always normal in society wasn’t.

Did you feel it yesterday? Everybody was humming “O what a beautiful morning.”

That GE investment in Saudi Arabia is a very interesting move for many reasons. First, the Saudis are seeing problems with their oil dominance and the changing world going forward. And GE sees the desirability of being part of a new future for the Saudis. The super wealthy oil country sees a need to prepare a future for their children, and using investment and expertise from outside coupled with their own resources to build a manufacturing economy which will help the country ease through an inevitable paradigm change. Magic happens when you use your brains.

The sports experts are looking at the scoring feats of Curry, Westbrook and Kevin. But the real story of this OC-GS Western play off series is the dogged defense of Westbrook on Curry. The great shooter Curry will get his points, but he don’t like frustration, and Westbrook is making him think a lot, disrupting the well oiled GS machine.

I had a call from a contractor’s office which actually said, “He’s running early!” Yikes. Must be a new app.

The Question:

What does the following list of names mean to you: Izzy Bizu, Blossoms, Alessia Cara, Loyle Carner, Frances, Jack Garratt, J Hus, Dua Lipa, Mabel, Billie Marten, Mura Masa, NAO and Rat Boy?  Bad Bonus: Which two American cities were named at the dedication of the Bridge that linked Manhattan to Long Island NY

The Headlines:

--Stock Markets In Rarefied Atmosphere; April Home Sales Rise More Than Expected; Best Buy, Big Lots, DSW, AutoZone Disappoint; US Consumer Debt Increasing..

--Head Of TSA Removed From Position: Congress Expected to Open Hearings n On Impeachment Of IRS Chief.

--Senator Graham Softly Coming Around To Trump.

--Clinton Pal And Benefactor, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, Under Federal Investigation For Campaign Contributions Finagling.

--Forensic Expert Denies That Evidence Examination Points To Onboard Explosion As Cause Of Egypt Airline Tragedy.

--NFL Credibility Questioned After Info About Coercing Concussion Study Operatives Rises.

--Mountain Climbing Woman Who Wanted To Prove That Vegans Can Do Anything Dies On Everest From Altitude Problems; Death Toll So Far Is Four; Conditions Particularly Harsh This Season; Panic Occurred As Too many Tried To Scramble Off Peak.

--Monsanto Mulling Huge Bid From Bayer; Largest Seed Producer Would Get $20/Share Bonus.

There’s something for everyone, Department:

I hear that vegetarians are racing to Pittsburgh as a part of the city’s ongoing efforts to stop the rampage of Knotweed. This voracious and irritating Japanese import takes over waterways and even macadam. But, veggie eaters seem to like the robust, yet tender leaves. But, can they eat it faster than it grows. Could be like a hot dog eating contest for vegans. Knot for me.

Yesterday the stoic Valerie Jarrett who is entirely committed to socialist big government control that would include mandated high minimum wages and extended time personal event vacations, said that the Repubs by holding up the hearings on their SC Nominee is doing a disservice to the American people. Does that make me and advocates like me, non-American people?

Dancing with the Satrs and The Voice had their big Finales last night. First let’s get to dancin’. My personal experts say that Mark Ballas and Paifge VanZant put on a winning performance. And the judges seem to have agreed that it was Mark who worked the hardest and stepped up the most. But, I sense an underlying sentiment for Nyle, who some viewers think is being screwed by the overzealous producers. And then there is Ginger and Val who received big kudos for their redemption dance. The judges thought that the G/V duo underplayed the night beautifully. The back room is betting is that Nyle and Paige can’t beat Ginger. We’ll see.

The Voice had a good night, safe at times but progressive too as all singers had to perform their own songs. Adam Wakefield’s was tender and beautifully sung, and zoomed to #1 in ITunes sales. Hannah, surprised everybody with her co-authored with Pharell tune “I call the shots” which hit the contemporary audiences. Music reviewers loved it. I also thought Alisan’s homemade ditty was very good, and it was in her Folk wheelhouse. Laith‘s was nice but unremarkable…for him. The funnest overall performance of the evening was Adam Levine and Laith in their Beatles Abbey Road duet. The twosome was great with dueling guitars and strong singeing. Hannah, perhaps the most likeable of the final four, was striking in red and white (What, no blue) and quite good, and may surprise. Adam Wakefield was solid but not exceptional, but certainly will be strong with the country folk. Is that enough? Laithe entertained like he always does, but I put him fourth in the voting. Then there is Alisan who seems to have been deemed the winner from the beginning. I dislike the constant talk rom Carson and X that it’s time for a woman judge to win. Competition means just that, the winner wins regardless of gender, race or whatever. Then you realize that Alisan, who can sing, gets the premiere closeout position and is given a song which just about everybody in the world enjoys, my favorite “Somewhere (There’s a place for us)”,. It’s called bring down the house before voting commences. Some columnists have said that the fix has been in for Alisan and XTina from the beginning. BTW, I didn’t think Alscan did such a great job on the song. She tends to get screechy when moving away from folk. The voting will be close among the top 3, Adam, Alisan and Hannah. We’ll see.

ITunes The Voice Sales charts: Adam Wakefield #1 (Lonesome Broken and Blue); Hannah Houston #3 (Every breath you take); Alisan #4 (Somewhere); Alisan #5 (Down the Road); Laith #6 (Morning Light); Hannah #7 (I Call the Shots); Adam #9 (When I call Your Name –Previous week). From 10 to 100, Adam had 3, Laith had 4, Alisan had 3 and Hannah had 2.

Well this about ends it for Dancin’ and the Voice for the year. Time to gear up for AGT.

I figure that chefs use the ole “Presentation” trick to minimize the disgruntlement over small portions.

I would definitely get rid of the Federal Education department.

The Feds are trying to get us to notice a potential Zica problem, but we have a real problem we’ve been fighting for years – deer ticks. We know that is here, and we have experienced what it can do. National hysterias does not pertain to all, unless that all is a government agency.

I’d hate living in a county where B. H. Obama was DA. He has knack of rushing to judgment without evidence, primarily when he sees an incidence that seems to conform with his objectives. You would hope a DA like that would never seek higher office.

Bernie has spent about $139 Million trying to win a race where he is essentially mathematically eliminated. Hillary says that she will continue the Obama presidency with more expensive give-away programs of the kind that has doubled the national debt. And yesterday she said Trump will bankrupt America. I’m cackling.

The Parking Lot: Chapter 61.

   Fred still wasn’t sure what happened yesterday. He only knew that Nancy and Jared looked scared, and that was enough for him.

   After the controlled panic escape, Nancy advised Fred to lay low. There is a chance that the goon who entered the café had followed Fred. Fred had confirmed to Nancy that he thought the big guy was one of the cousins of the Howlands who lived closer to Westport. He thought his name was Cliff. Nancy had figured he had some Howland blood, and that if he lived out east of downtown, he would have been form the families that were more aligned with Big Howland.

   Fred had to get some papers from his law office, so he figured he could break Nancy’s laws and slip in during the night. He had parked his car on High Street and was walking down towards his harbor office through back yards of homes on the hill. About a hundred yards from his office he stopped and stood quietly in the black side of a thick tree trunk. The moon was only a sliver so the night was black. He looked around and saw nothing that seemed human. He ran as quickly and softly as his aging legs would take him, pulled out a small flash light, and inserted the key in the door. He opened it just wide enough to slip through, then closed it without a sound.

    He flicked on the flashlight and saw a large shadow which should have been his chair. “Well done, Fred. Wanna drink?”

   “Shit,” Fred though. What a jerk

The Answer:

I just want to keep you all up-to date, hip, with the youthful scene. This is a list of names that represents what is considered by BBC as the top Musical Artists for 2016. Bad Bonus: This is really awful. Really. The Brooklyn Bridge of course, much to the disgruntlement of proud Brooklyn residents, made it easy for Manhattanites to come to their magnificent city of western Long Island. At the ceremony was Pres Chester A. Arthur and Grover “Cleveland”. I told you it was bad.

Sometimes coming up with a good question is really hard. I think I flunked today.

Still humming?