Zhengnengliang!

Today's Tids Issue 3,587

Opening Stuff:

Snoopy tells us that it is half way through National Be Kind to Animal’s Week and nobody has asked him to lunch. Send him a bone. Being nice is good.

Positive energy -- Is there anything better than that! That’s what the Chinese word Zhengnengliang translates to. I found it in an article about what bad governments do when things look bad – create a positive energy theme, paint things rosy and smother the truth. Yes, this still communist, often tyrannical government in Beijing is telling economists and financial analysts to stop with the gloom and doom. Positive, we only want positive says Xi.  Theses are tactics normally reserved by China to trample on rights of political agitators and others judged traitors. In addition, new rules will declare that China will no longer be nice to foreigners – unless they are letting China manufacture their products. The new dictum “urges” the China people to only by China products. If the economy isn’t working, manufacture one.

But, I still like the word Zhengnengliang! Besides, I’ve learned how to spell it. Learning to pronounce it is another story.

It wouldn’t be surprising to learn that Hillary has Super Electoral College Delegates too. I would be upset If I were Bernie, who seems to be capturing the enthusiasm of more and more Dems and big government indies. Trump ranted about a rigged system, but Bernie is truly fighting one. There may not be an open convention in Philadelphia, but there is a good chance there will be lots of pressure on Bernie to lead a third party effort. It will be interesting.

The Question:

What are the 12 most popular Compact Cars in US?

The Headlines:

--Ted Ends Campaign; His Supporters Shocked; Trump Says “…Ted Cruz Was One Tough Competitor.”

--US Market Rebounds After Soft Opening; Private Sector Job Gains Slow In April; US Trade Gap Shrinks, But Only Because Of Global Decline In Exports And Imports.

--Giant Canadian Wild Fire Bears Down On Fort McMurray, A City Of 80,000; Citizens Fleeing; 80% Of One Suburb Gone.

--Beijing China Court Says China Firm Can Use Apple Trademark IPhone”.

--Iran Commander Threatens To Close Strait Of Hormuz To US.

--Ash Carter Says Fight Against ISIS Not Even Close To Being near An End.

--22  Syrian Airstrikes Pound Rebels Outside Country’s Capitol.

--RI Celebrates 250^th Anniversary Of Declaring Independence Fom England – Two Months Before Colonies Declaration Of Independence.

Of course the Tids is always about “Positive Energy,” but, our crack editorial Staff also knows that the truth always delivers the most positive attitude.

Around here in RI, when a state legislator sponsors a bill to decriminalize some activity, we figure there’s a good bet he is in it.

At this point in time we are looking at a Chicago White Sox—Chicago Cubs World Series. Yikes! My friend Steve a long time Cubs sufferer is probably trying not to smile too much fro fear of making a disappointment deeper. But, that’s hard. Guys like Steve are the kind of people I think about often  -- emotionally involved fans who’s heart has been broken much too often. As a RedSox fan who endured some of that pain for along time, I know. Maybe we need a another Week – National Long Time Suffering Baseball Fan Support Week. Let’s hear it for Steve!!

I used to be a pretty good grilled pizza maker. Here’s one of my favorites, if I can remember the ingredients. First rolling out the dough is the tough, time consuming part. Use lots of flour and patience to make it thin. When finished scatter cornmeal onto your paddle an lay the dough there. Caramelize some onions, and then proceed to the grill. First in a pan with a minimum of spray on oil I sear quickly small bay scallops, but not fully cooked through. Buy at the market smallish shrimp; better if watery. Ok, slide the dough off the paddle in to the hot grill. After one minute, remove to paddle and flip, so cooked side is up. Coat with alfredo sauce. Sprinkle liberally with parmesan cheese and small pieces of prosciutto. Then add the shrimp and scallops, and doolde around the onions, Top with fontina cheese. Then drizzle, lightly, pink sauce for color and a little extra tang. Put mess back on grill and cook about 4 mins, checking bottom fro burning. The heat will suck the water out of the shrimp and they will be tender and succulent, as will all. Yum.

Mindless Societies Gone to Hell, Department:

This Puerto Rican situations scarier than a Hillary rpesdiency, especially when you think of the ramifications which could be ominous for all, Think of the signal it is sending. It is a simple drastic problem, which any US state or world nation could experience. The catastrophe is simply based on uncontrolled overspending, irrational giving, unfunded pensions and poor management. PR is in the midst of what is really an insolvable problem, and the debt is about $79 Billion. The US Debt is over $19 Trillions. Let’s hope that Zhengnengliang does not depend upon China collecting on US loans.

A computer expert says that we shouldn’t be confused by all of the browsers that seem to be available for different operating systems. It’s easy. For Windows, don’t even think of using Explorer but go to the new Microsoft Browser “Edge”, or even Google’s Chrome. For Various Apple Products use Safari. For Android Products use Chrome. Stop trying to be clever, she says, these work.

NY City dwellers seem to have achieved a reputation for being smarter than the average USA citizen. But then  I read that these elite sheep will spend up to 4 hours standing in line waiting for the next fad, this time a multicolored bagel. Say what! It seems that NYC bakeries are the biggest narcotic that induces this population to be stupid. Trump may think his fellow citizens are the smartest in the land, but nobody with half a brain waits hours for a piece of bread. Nothing is that good. The odd thing though is that tourists will travel to the Apple to try this “wonder” bread. Maybe that’s the answer to political achievement – transform yourself into a multi colored bagel.

It seems to me that the legal system works better in the Winter when there is free parking and more scofflaws show up for court.

John Daly qualifies for the PGA Champions Tournament (Senior Golfers over 50) this week. The tournament will never be the same! John says he is thrilled to be playing again in tournaments, and is even happier that he actually lived long enough to reach 50!

Golfers at 50 years old are seniors?

The Parking Lot: Chapter 59.

   For 45 years, the village of Sakonnet prospered under the guidance, first tf Richard Hicks and Tom Howland and then Jeremiahs and Tom, with Tom’s son Henry emerging. There were clashes and arguments like there are in any society of independent people, but the nucleus of the land agreement stood strongly.

   But, as life goes on, sad days come. This day at the Hicks compound Jeremiah, now in his late sixties, was sitting in a darkened room feeling the pain in his heart, as he watched the near lifeless body of Mulatta, Elizabeth. His beautiful wife had never been more beautiful than she was now in her last hours. She had been part of the strength that held the communities of Sakonnet together. Her dignity remained in these hours leading to final darkness

   The sounds of their grandchildren outside the room, lit only by a single candle, reminded Jeremiah again of all the good times, te special loving moments of their life together. The Hicks would go on, and the spirit of Mulatta would be part of that. Everybody knew that.

   While Jeremiah sat, women of the various Hicks families entered with cool clothes or hot broths trying to comfort Elizabeth. Some would com over to console him, touching his cheek or rubbing his back. He thanked them quietly, but always felt another tear poised to slide down his check. At times he would sob noticeably remembering so many days of their lives together. He thought of what a tomorrow would be without her.

   He stared at the face of Elizabeth; he saw the slow rise and fall of her chest. She looked so perfect, but he knew that it was over. Her eyelids fluttered slightly. He thought he saw her lips move. He reached and held her hand, leaned in to feel her warm breath on his cheek.

The Answer:

It is probably not surprising to learn that Toyota Corolla is #1 and that the trusty Honda Civic is Number 2. The rest in order are Hyundai Elantra, Chevy (Not Ted) Cruze, Nissan Sentra, Ford Focus, Volkswagen Jetta, Mazda 3, Subaru Imprezza, Dodge Dart, Kia Forte and Mitsubishi Lancer. To me, the cars with the most distinctive designs are the Corolla (Yes, Toyota did a redesign), Elantra, Jetta and perhaps Focus. But of course taste is always in the mouth of the savorer.

Happy Zhengnengliang, e-v-e-r-y-b-o-d-y!