We won’t listen no matter what you say.

Today's Tids Issue 3,785

For the silent folks:

Trump is ruining the Tids. There’s just too much of him, doing too many things. And by the time you figured out how to critique something, it changes.

I build up my inner resolve by standing in front of grocery store ice cream freezers for 15 minutes or so, then walking away; imagining how delectable would be all of those flavors I had imagined floating towards me on silvery spoons. It’s like lifting weights for the mind.

My guess is that all of these “Spontaneous” mass marches that sprout up miraculously in cities across the Country are part of a new DNC campaign for 2018 and 2020. And I would not be surprised if our Community Organizer Emeritus was behind them. Yesterday he said “I am heartened by public demonstrations…” He is no fool, and he knows disruption.

Have you been following the Barcelona Spain protests? A lot of people there are getting tired of having their lives and businesses overwhelmed by tourists. I can empathize. I have often ranted in this morning mess about selling your soul for the tourist dollar. But like all third world countries, that’s all RI has left. So, while we here live in a most beautiful place, it has jammed streets and highways leading to crowded beaches and restaurants with hefty prices. Take my mountains, marshes and quiet ponds; my oceans alive, whipped by freshening breezes. Let me huddle quietly, alone, in my cozy home; becoming bitter, until I can again go outside, and pick up litter.

Has there ever been a better example of the meaning of the “Silent Majority” than the ruckus surrounding the organized “protests”. The media makes them look all pervasive in America while the people who have to make a buck each day have to look at their world bare of ideologies. They live in it without voices. They have not the time. They don’t have cameras and microphones, and cheerleaders in fancy clothes at anchor desks. They are just the people, who day to day do the regular stuff  that is the bedrock of a country great. The noise gets the spotlight, but it don’t mean a thing to me. When you see the nightly news, remember all of the people who aren’t there.

The Question:

What fish is a main ingredient of Worcestershire sauce? Bonus: Who was the Executive Producer of the movie The Indian Runner based on a story by Bruce Springsteen and directed by Sean Penn?

The Headlines:

--Market Lower Again On Weak Earnings.

--Small Boat From Yemen Blows Up After Ramming Saudi Naval Ship; Sources Say Suicide Bomber May Have Mistaken It for American Ship; Radio Broadcasts heard – “Death To America, Death To Israel, Death To The Jews.

--Trump Says That All Protections For LGBTQ Workers Will Not Change; Says He Is Proud To Be Part Of Their Community

--Senate Committees Put Through Elaine Chao Transportation, Betsy Devos Education, Ryan Zinke Interior and Rick Perry Energy; Senate Dems Boycott Sessions,Mnuchin, Price And Sessions.

--Wal-Mart Takes Aim At Amazon.

Every year it seems more and more Americans awaken early in the morning and traipse out into bitter cold or stifling heat to watch their dog poop! Making America great again would be letting dogs run wild.

Ten stocks that American retirees should own are Apple, AT&T, Colgate Palmolive, Ford, General Motors, International Paper, Merck, Pfizer, Verizon and Waste Management. (From Kiplinger)

The questionable execution of the immigration moratorium seems remarkably similar to the DNC’s effort to elect Hillary.

The Red Sox are worried about signing Fernando Abad. This is the part of baseball that bothers me – paying  millions for mediocrity. I have never seen a RS player with a more disinterested attitude, and his pitching is just like his name – bad.

Sean Spicer could be elected on the first ballot to the National Fireman’s Hall Of Fame after 2017, if you get my drift.

You may see the odds for the Patriots falling as the week goes on. It isn’t because the New England Team is looking worse in the eyes of bookies, but because they need more money on the Pats. Not only is there currently pretty heavy betting favoring the Falcons, but apparently at the beginning of the NFL season when Las Vegas puts out odds on super bowl favorites, Atlanta drew lots of dough for its 100-1 odds. So, the books need to raise cash to offset that possible outcome. Things are never as they seem.

I saw a package of “New York” brand “Texas Toast”. I’d rather have “Texas” brand Texas Toast.

Manufacturers over the years have often used “New York” as part of their product’s name. They probably figure that the association with the big city pizzazz is good for sales. I see it and wonder how I’m going o be taken.

Trump is being portrayed as a little weird by journalists and has mystified Washington regulars with his activity. But the fact is that they have never had a business person in charge before. Everybody in DC is used to the same old politics, the same old ponderous, poll driven process. It has become apparent that all of the promises that he made during the campaign were real, and he thinks the people, voted for what he promised as well as him. (Well, maybe he really feels they voted for adorable him, and the promises came with him). Like any new CEOs moving in, he is setting out to change the direction of the ship, as the “Board of Directors” have demanded. 

Of course many a CEO has been known to misapply the basic principles of Management 101 similarly to excruciatingly varied situations.

Over half of the 2016 refugees settled in just ten states. The two largest were Cal and Texas each with a bout 7,900. The rest of the ten are NY (6K), Mich (4.2K), Ohio (4.2K), Ariz (4.1K), NC (3.3), Washington (3.2), Penn (.2 and Illinois (#.1 K). In case you are interested, Obama had a limit of 85K refugees in 2016 and projected 110K in 2017. Trumps order reduces that to 55K in 2017. Going to be tough on convenience store growth.

People leading these protests generally spout similar talking points. Just the fact that they have talking points probably means something much bigger than spontaneous angst is afoot. I doubt if there will ever be any attempt to talk to the party of the opposed side. It’s really not about that. And I doubt if any actually read the Executive order, as the content isn’t as important as the excuse to be outraged Eve if they had dread and seen these words they would close their eyes.  Because these words get in the way of hating Bush and anger at Hillary losing.: “In addition, the United States should not admit those who engage in acts of bigotry or hatred (Including honor killings, other forms of violence against Women, or the persecution of any who practice a religion other than their own) or those who would oppress Americans of any race, gender or sexual orientation.” When people want to hate, they close their ears.

I heard one person describe Trump as like a shaken coke bottle that when opened sprays out everything, everywhere. Maybe, that’s why the Libs are so angry about him. He’s like the despicable soda pop!

The Parking Lot: Chapter 74.

   As usual these days, Nancy took extra precautions as she neared the Sakonnet point meeting. She pulled off the main road about three quarters of a mile from the point. The dirt road led to a dead end at a rocky beach. She parked her car behind a small bayberry bush, and moved quickly to the waterfront. She easily ran the half mile over rocks, pebbles and sand, leaping over waves weaving in through the sculpted granite seaside. The beach ended at the point where the bay and ocean met. Normally she would just stand there and breathe in the beauty. Today, it was all business. To her right was the dead-end road that would lead pack to that gray shingled shed.

   She looked around with sharp eyes as she took a deep breath, bent down to stretch out her muscles and generally relaxed to get ready for who knows what.

    Since it was in the late fall, she figured she could move through backyards of the several capes which lined the small street.

   Within a minute, she was at a little hidden vantage point that gave her a view of just about everything. There were a couple of fishermen Pickups out on the pier and no cars in the lot of the big new private club, which had pushed he fishermen off the point. To her rights she saw a glint off metal, a car just up the road from the shed. She waited.

    It wasn’t long until a figure moved towards the road from behind the shed. He was pacing and fidgeting. She recognized her old friend. He looked the same, and was as nervous as ever. But, was he as friendly as ever. She had to take this chance

   She waited two more minutes to be sure he was alone.

   When he turned his back to her to look back up the road where she would have come from, she accelerated into the street. Her smooth, quiet running style had her near him before he knew it.

    “Alex!” He jumped and dropped his cell phone Yup, he was still nervous, she thought

    He turned but before he could say anything, she nodded, let’s get off this road. She was smiling inside. Maybe she did find that friend.

   “You really don’t talk much, do you?” he had a great smile, she thought. She felt better.

The Answer:

The great Lea and Perrins sauce has as the main ingredient anchovies. It is quite the secret formula, but it is

known that other ingredients are layered brine, tamarinds in molasses, garlic in vinegar, chilies, cloves, shallots ad sugar. Bonus: The Sean Penn movie was Executive Produced by Steve Bannon. He went on to produce 18 films, many for and with people who detest trump today.

Well, here’s the deal. No matter what happens at 1600 over the night, I’m not paying attention.

Sleep well. Don’t let the clutter keep you staring at te ceiling. It’s not worth it.

Take a diversion to fun stuff.

Today's Tids Issue 3,784

For some fun...sort of:

Do you ever wonder about what the groundhog may be doing today, just a couple of days before being rudely awakened and then being tugged out into the cold? Maybe he is primping to look his best. Or perhaps sitting with a bottle of scotch ruing the annual exposure to the world. Been there, done that. Do you think these furry little woodchucks have an inner time clock that says the time is near? And do you think a sleepy, blurry eyed groundhog can actually see a shadow anyhow? And one more thing. Is the animal a male or a female? I figure a male, the female saying, “Honey bun, what is that ruckus out there? Why don’t stick your head out and find out what’s going on.” 

With all of the sniping and general hatred in the hearts of often reasonable people, I only have one thing weighing on my mind – how to get through the week until the Pats-Falcons game. There are some things that are just more important on the scale of what makes one thrive. Waiting for a great game is an upper. Political rhetoric is a downer. Ugly politics will be there forever after the game.

The Trump plan to unify Americadoesn’t seem to be working out too well, does it.

When you think about it, why would Mexico even consider paying for a wall. Americans aren’t trying to sneak in there. They fly in and spend big money. So, a Cancun hotel “Wall Tax” would be out of the realm of economic sense too. How about US dealers of Mexican drugs collecting a Wall Tax – “You get high, the wall gets higher.” “Psst, Buddy, I got Wall Tax free dope.”
 

Just when I think that I have “The Wall” problem solved, up steps an ineptly executed plan for a moratorium on immigration from countries with inferior vetting procedures. It was nutty. Like most things now, instant organized mobs coupled with anecdotal journalism have diverted attention from the reality of the situation even as poorly handled as it was. In 2011, according to ABC news and congressional hearings, Obama authorized a similar effort against Iraqis which resulted in immigration hold-ups and re-vetting of 56,000. There are many examples of caution in previous admins, like Saint Jimmy Carter with Iran.. Trying to vet the unvettable is just a part of running a sensible immigration policy. But, you have to be smart about the way you do it.

John Hurt died yesterday. He was in the scariest movie I ever saw, “Midnight Express”
.

The Question:

Elvis’s first real national TV appearance was on a show hosted by what Big band leaders? Bonus:Are you ready? Who are these people!: Rick Warren, Harley Jane Kozak, Mo Rocca, Susan Howard, Joseph Hazelwood? Extra Bonus for Older People: Who were the original three members of the Kingston Trio? Super Bonus: Name the four principal members of the Gourd family.

The Headlines:

--Worries Over Trump Send Stocks Lower; Dow Down 175 Mid-Morning; Trump To Sign EO Slashing Regulations..

--Shooter Kills At Least 6 in Quebec City Mosque; Shooter Of Moroccan Decent Shouted “Allahu Akbar” During The Mass Murder.

--Trump Reorganizes NSA; Washingtonians Scratching Heads As Bannon Assumes Larger role.

--Trump To Announce Supreme Court Choice Tomorrow; Marchers Preparing Signs.

--Trump White House Reverses Course On Green Card Holders; ACLU Wins Legal Challenge To Immigration Moratorium.

--The World Is Nuts: Teen Zaps Cop With Stun Gun To Fulfill Bucket List.

--Anti-Trump Stars Predictable At SAG Awards; Top Ensemble Cast Award Goes To Hidden Figures; Stranger Things, Fences, Moonlight, La La Also Do Well; John Lithgow Wins Top TV Acting Award For Role Of Churchill In Netflix “The Crown.

--Miss France Crowed Miss Universe.

--Giant Koch Brothers Network May Become Biggest Anti-Trump Force.

When did it become fashionable to aid and abet criminals? Let me get this straight, an illegal alien who murders, steals or rapes is less culpable than an average American citizen who does the same. Is that about it in this new world of lower standards? A letter writer to the newspaper summed it up well in a message to his anything goes pastor: “I appreciate my Pastor telling me that ‘God advocates aiding and abetting persons who are in the pursuit of criminal activities.” “This disrespect for our nations laws is just one of the reasons why after 75 years of faithful service I terminated my church membership.”

Huge Ecommerce company Alibaba is blowing it out of the water, doing it right, making all the right business moves, but a Wall Street darling it is not. Became it is a company within a Trump threatened China, with some cloudy past nefarious dealings, investors are still cautious about going all in.

I’m writing this right now with Rimsky Korsakov’s Scheherazadeplaying. I have always found that piece to be soothing and uplifting. Of course, it is about wonderful tales of Alibaba, of love and adventure in the Middle East – In Baghdad, Arabia and countries now more known terror and instability. Yet Like America, the ugly are a mere fraction of all the people. Like in America the vast percentage of the population go to work, raise families and find solace in loved ones arms. Only there, they live in real fear.

How about Roger Federer and Serena Williams winning a big one when most experts would say they were on their way out!

While wading through AP boilerplate anti-Trump article after anti-Trump article, it was a joy to come across the review of Saturday night’s The-Voice Runner up Billy Gilman’s sold out concert at the 2000 person Vet in Providence. Billy is a local RI hero, has been for many years. Shouts of “Hope Valley is here” (His home town) brought warm chuckles from the crowd, It was that kind of night where everybody knew why they were there – to enjoy unencumbered entertainment from a young man they truly liked. And enjoy each other enjoying it. The promise was fulfilled over again. Even hardened reviewer Andy Smith had to say, “My hair stood up on the back of my neck during Billy’s incredible rendering of “I Surrender”. Maybe it was the juxtaposition of the story amidst same-ole’, same-ole’ Trump stuff that made the scene seem especially thrilling, In the shadow of the state Capitol building, the talent of a young man is all that really counted.

Giddy conservatives lose credibility as quickly as giddy liberals. Maybe faster.

It is becoming obvious that rushing to make good on campaign promises is a bad idea. Think it through or die. Thank you, New Hampshire.

Personally, I think the Honda logois getting tired. That’s just my graphic inner self shouting out.

And, did you see the size of those Nike “Swoosh” logos adorning the golf attire of Patrick Rogers. Rogers must be getting a lot of dough to look that bad. Nike got out of clubs and balls saying we’ll make it in golf wear. I don’t think so! That must be my graphic inner self speaking.

There’s a lot of talk among the anti-Trumpers about what’s written on the bottom of the Statue of Liberty, “Give me your tired…’ et. al. Yet it is this same group from the left who also seems to have forgotten the principle of the age-old concept of the “Melting Pot”. We welcome people to our shores to become “Americans”. Not to recreate miniature sub countries within the states. Not to differentiate with hyphens. The hyperbole in the noise against some of these executive orders is as absurd as the as some of the orders.

I was really happy for Keegan Bradley.

Have you noticed that CBS Newsalways leads off these questionable immigration tirades with a photo of the Statue of Liberty

I like Guy Fieri. Once I begin watching his shows like Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, or Guy’s Grocery Games, I am hooked for the night. Who knows, maybe I am truly a rich, high calories food addict. If trendy eaters are “Foodies”. What do you call somebody who prefers good food, “Food-hearty”? BTW, some call Guy, “The man who ruined the Food network.” I call him the man who brought back food.

Yesterday morning I put on a CD with a little Bela Bartok. I don’t know if I liked it or not. I’ll have to work that.

I am seeing example after example that the ultimate new put-down from the liberal handbook is definitely, “You’re a misogynist!.” You are a Racist is fading fast.

By the way. I think a large percentage of the people in my town would love to turn us into a Sanctuary City. Would that mean that we couldn’t ban known litterbugs from entering?

One of the reasons it takes longer to write this morning mess than it should is that my mind is always far ahead of my fingers, resulting in having to spend hours correcting typos. Yes, I do correct typos.

“Donna Nobis Pacem” by Ralph Vaughn Williams is a terrific choral piece.

The Parking Lot:

(Hope you all got a little flavor for the story and characters during our hiatus from the story last week. We will resume the story today back in modern “Sakonnet” where our hero Nancy has decided to meet a mysterious phone caller. Obviously after so many missteps, and in the aftermath of the murder of the state AG, she is extra leery. But, she knows she needs a friend beyond Jared and Beth.)

What follows is the last chapter before the Tids took a hiatus from the ongoing novel. Two weeks ago I brought you back to the story through a visit to our heroes of the early 1700’s. Tomorrow, we will pick up the story from this episode below:

Nancy felt the warm body of Jared next to her and was conflicted about leaving the bed on his brisk cool Fall morning. The incessant ringing of her cell phone however finally pushed her to slide out, and run to the phone, grabbing a small coverlet on the way which she threw around her bare shoulders and body. “Hello!” But she only heard silence.

   Every phone call was more meaningful these days, especially one so early in the morning. Now she felt that familiar discomforting rumble in her stomach. She clicked on “Recent” and found the word “Alex”.

   “Alex?”

   She eased got up and walked slowly, cover dragging behind her, into the bathroom trying to remember why someone named Alex was in her contact list.

   “Alex, Alex, Alex,” she uttered as she walked back across the small room.

   “What did you say?” She looked over to see a horrible looking Jared peaking up from the warm blankets.

    “Go back to sleep, you need your rest.” Then she smiled at that morning mess and felt good all over remembering last night. “Alex !” she though aloud.

   “Alex?”

   “He’s my old lover andhe wants me now.” She laughed and ran over and jumped on Jared.

    She ruffled his hair and stood, now remembering the name as a guy she went to college with and met again several years ago in some legal land deal with the state. He was a nice guy, she remembered. But, why would he be calling me this morning this early.

   Lawyer. Land. Friend of McGuire. She shuddered.

   “I’m going out to get a couple of coffees,” she said casually as she quickly dressed.

   “Mmmffmmmshe mmmmfff.”

   “Ok, I’ll get one with sugar.” Now she really smiled to herself! I’m beginning to understand him.” Her mood changed rapidly back to concern. Why is he calling me? Coincidence? Friend or foe? That’s why she was going out for coffee, to get the cell phone away from their safe place.

Nancy drove about two miles out of the city to a rural area. She always felt more relaxed out here, especially now as she tucked her car into a small grassy area by a stone wall. A gray shingled mid 19th century farm house stood comfortably nearby as it has for a century and a half, always looking out to the ocean in the distance.

   She pulled out her phone and redialed Alex’s number.

   He answered within a nano-second, “Hello,” “Nancy?”

   “Yes,” she answered carefully, sounding vague to Alex

   Picking up on her mood, “Hey, Nancy I can understand your reluctance, but this is important. Let’s put it this way, I am really worried about the death of My friend Dave McGuire.”

   Nancy just nodded into the phone.

   “I was his friend, and I know what was going on. A lot of people do. And you’d be surprised at who all of these people are. They are more afraid than I.”

    Nancy had gotten out of her car, and was walking back and forth, listening intently, thinking; occasionally glancing down the coast past Sachuest point. “Where are you?”

    Finally, Alex thought, words. Lawyers were great at talking into thin air, but occasionally an answer was comforting. “I don’t tell people where I am these days.”

   Nancy felt the same. Maybe they were fighting the same unknowns. But, she was thinking that Alex knew more about who they might be than she. “Maybe we should meet.”

    “Ok.”

    “There’s an old fishing shed behind that new club they built at Sakonnet Point. It’s grey, with a lot of nets beside it.’

    “Grey! how unique.”

    Nancy laughed and relaxed for the first time.

The Answer:

Elvis first performed on National TV on a program hosted by the Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey.  Bonus: Who are these people -- Rick Warren is the conservative Founder of the Saddleback Church and one of the best known Evangelistic preachers in the world; Harley Jane Kozak is a good American actress now decent novelist whose first big staring role in movies were Parenthood and Arachnophobia – from riug rats to spiders; Mo Rocca has been a “journalist” on The Daily Show and CBS Sunday Morning, Host of “My Grandmother’s Ravioli” on the Cooking Channel and a humorist who said, “When it comes to war, we focus more on the mainstream coverage of the event, rather than the event itself. People dying is never funny. Protest puppets are always funny.”; Susan Howard had many roles in good TV shows and often was nominated for awards. She won the “Soapy” award starring in Dallas as Donna Culver Krebbs. Now she is known more as a conservative activist especially for gun rights; In case you forgot, Joseph Hazelwood was Captain of the Exxon Valdez. Extra Bonus for Old People: The Kingston trio was huge in my college days. The 3 originals were Dave Guard, Bob Shane and Nick Reynolds.  Super Bonus: The big four Gourds are Pumpkins, Melons, Squash and Cucumbers, which by te way is a fruit, not a vegetable.

My head hurts, so I won’t be able to get into the reasoning behind putting Steve Bannon and Steve Miller on the NSA while making the Joint Chiefs and National Intelligence Agency Heads only occasional members.

Meanwhile the Patriots are being cheered as they board the plane for Houston. That's a giant massing of people I can deal with.