Love and ideals.

Today's Tids Issue 3,786

For Shoveling in the Cold:

 

Happy February, Everybody! The month of great presidents….and love. As a kid, I always looked forward to celebrating Washington and Lincoln’s birthday because they were such ideals to which a little guy could aspire. Their stories whether true or imagined were good for the soul; made you want to be better. But maybe even better than consorting with heroes, was getting the Valentine’s Day card you thought about the night before, not one as the result of school board demands. You know that card, the one you hurriedly opened to find a signature, and then looked around to see if anybody was smiling with you. Some youthful Lotharios in the class were in race for quantity, but just one that was special could have you waling on the ceiling. So, we start tomorrow with a woodchuck and end with tree days missing, but never forgotten by this kid at heart are Heroes and love. That’s what I remember about February. And, I never get tired of it.

 

 

Alert! Alert! The USA is running low on bacon. Stock up before the prices soar. Yes, there are a lot of things more important than Washington DC.

 

 

Hey did I say, great Presidents and love. What a great entry into today’s muddled civic environment. The Red States, of which the coastal media knows little, are probably quite happy with their elected Prez. It is highly unlikely the majority of the press, one dimensional Dems and certainly liberals will ever see anything good even if he surprises everybody and all aspects of America thrive. And love, the most beautiful human trait of all, has turned into unrelenting hate; hate it seems without knowledge. A lot of it all is about getting credit or finding blame. Posturing for political advantages, instead of moving forward. No longer is it appreciating the good work of others even if at times you don’t agree. There are always good points to consider from all sides, merging ideas that are good for all and not just one side. The wise bodies of government have been clouded by anger. There is no February in the USA and it is sad.

There are few things that make me feel as invigorated as shoveling snow in 20 something degrees.

 

The Question:

In what year did the US Supreme Court first convene?

 

The Headlines:

--Apple Goes Nuts With Great Earnings, Surprising IPhone Sales; Up Over $6.00 In Early Trading; Short Sellers take A Big Hit.

--Trump Names Well Qualified Highly Regarded Neil Gorsuch To Supreme Court.

--Predictably, Dems Scorch Trump SCOTUS Choice.

--Sources Say It Was Apparent That Yemen Fighters Knew Ahead Of Time That US Seal Raid Was Coming.

--First Trump Admin Trip Has Mattis Off To Asia.

--VW Will Pay $1.5 Billion To Settle US Claims.

 

I see where the big university endowments were down in this past year when the S&P was decently up. The word is that it was because they were heavy into hedge funds and investments in overseas stocks. It would be sad if their ineptitude was because of their dislike for Trump and his go America campaign. Emotions have never been good for investing.

 

A lot of restaurants trying to outdo each other in the new classy hamburger biz, are turning to brioche rolls. I have found in many instances that the brioche roll often does not match the culinary implications of the French name. In some cases, they crumble and detract from the burger.

 

I think over time a growing percentage of USA people will become tired of protestors, and if they continue, it will only serve to unite Americans for America.

 

Obama and Marchers? Some reports are emerging saying that the 0-man will challenge Trump more often. This less that genuine ex-Prez was challenging Trump with a series of well positioned land mines before he was inaugurated, and I see no reason for him to change. He thinks he should still be president. The only possible good new about 0-Man returning to the stage is that the fights between He and Warren and Bernie for Czar of the Progressive party will provide lots of fodder for the Tids.

 

I hear there is a new government program that would enable in school paddling of unruly kids, “Leave no child’s behind.”

 

I know completely that the way I think is often 180 degrees away from others. Take vegetarians for instance, this food collective that is pretty much foreign to me. One of their new ideas is making Pizza crusts out of riced cauliflower! Yikes! Now I could sit for years at my Tids typewriter and that thought would never be within a light year of my mind. See, I appreciate the creativity of their idea. I’m just not interested. But, it is always good to learn.

 

Maybe the main reason Trump won is that despite his personality a lot of people voted for his slate of Supreme Court candidates and against the prospects of Hillary’s. Pure and simple.

 

Johnny Depp seems a little odd to me. You may have heard that he is suing his financial management company for fraud for $25 Mill because he is running out of money and is selling off properties to pay bills. The Management company TMG has countersued saying he spends like drunken sailor, about $2mill a month which he cannot afford. He has spent $75 Mill on 14 residences including a chain of Bahama islands, $30K a month on Wine, $300K per month on a personal staff of 40 (Not including the $150K on Security guards) and $3 Million to blast the ashes of Hunter S. Thompson out of a custom-made cannon in Aspen. Ooh, this snow seems funny. And that’s just a sampling of his spending because he has it. And these are the stars who promote socialism in the country.

 

Everybody knows that the eight countries covered by the Trump EO were picked by the Obama admin. But don’t expect the media to clear it up, and don’t expect the protestors to listen of they do.

 

In case you don’t remember, Socialist candidate Jill Stein started the voter fraud concept. Trump must have liked it and jumped aboard. But the Dems, never willing to let the other side beat them in irrelevancy, have decided that voter fraud against Hilarity is a good idea too. Save us from the mentally deficient.

 

Within hours of the weekend immigrant situation, I received a lengthy email from the president of my college indicating a degree of horror over the situation. At the same time I saw similar pleas from other college presidents on TV and in cell phone news alerts. Hole Paul Revere, Batman.  As my letter said, the presidents of colleges got together upon the first indication of the EO and mounted a campaign, which was obvious better organized than the government action. The real reason isn’t necessarily about humanity, but possibly losing good paying undergraduates. See endowment problems above.

 

The Parking Lot: Chapter 74 continues…

   Alex and Nancy quickly moved down into a boat launch ramp where they wouldn’t be seen. A couple of colorful dories lay upside down on the pebbly shore, but there was nothing there or on the entire point of land, except those fishermen pickups.

   “So, you are the Nancy I remember.”

   “And you are the Alex,” She countered. Then they both laughed at how inane they must have sounded to each other. Nancy sat on an old discarded piling, and Alex pulled up and sat on a salt covered milk crate.

    Nancy’s eyes narrowed. “Were those pickups here when you arrived. What do you think happened to McGuire? I mean why was he shot? What do you know…” Alex raised his hands as if to say slow down, we’ll get there.

   “Tell me about what you know, Nancy, then maybe I can fill in details”. Now she retracted.

   “You asked me to come to you. I don’t even know if you are with me or against me. Why would I tell you anything? You have to prove yourself to me.”

    Now it was Alex’s turn to stare, wondering how much he should say. But, he knew that she was right. He gave her the promise of something to come. She hadn’t moved.

   “First those pickups were here when I arrived about twenty minutes before you.” Nancy seemed to relax. “I actually roamed around and saw three guys working on nets.” He smiled, but he wasn’t sure about what Nancy did.

   “About three or four years ago,” Alex now serious leaning into her, “a group of some of the most well connected, influential and wealthiest Rhode islanders were lured to form a group for the sole purpose of gaining control of most of the farm land in Sakonett. The idea, as It was presented to us, was that with the probably arrival of the casino, the land values would increase significantly. They could sell to developers and run off with wads of money. My friend McQuire was one of the leaders fo the movement, and he asked me to help with real estate law.”

    Nancy moved forward, and her eyes softened a little.

    “The two people who seemed to be heading everything were Claudia Howland and her son who I have never liked, our illustrious Lieutenant Governor.” She frowned. Then smiled in agreement with Alex. So, it has been the Howlands, she thought.

    “Claudia said that she was well on her way to  making a deal with the heir to all of the Hicks holdings, and other farmers.”

    “Interesting”. Nancy finally said something.

    “Here’s what’s really interesting,” Alex continued. “Claudia pulled me aside after the last meeting and asked me to arrange a meeting  with you. So, I’m thinking that if she is dealing with you, why doesn’t she call you herself.” He paused, “I have to say that almost all of the potential investors in the group were shaken with the murder of Gerry McGuire, and the majority wanted out. .

   Nancy stiffened. Did she hear a noise or was she just too tense , too apprehensive. Did Claudia or he son or one of those thugs follow the naive Alex?

  

The Answer:

The Supreme Court of the USA first convened in 1790. I have to believe that over those 227 years there have been screams of angst over the choice of new justices. But, somehow the pendulum keeps swinging and the court goes on. And America is still America. It’s just that sometimes there is a hiatus from your America.

 

I’m taking a hiatus from February politics. It is becoming too predictable, and much too uncooperative. So, I won’t be reporting much of the real American tragedy -- supposedly intelligent people not speaking to each other.