Rhymes with ump.

Today's Tids Issue 3,802

For Poetry:

I’m a somewhat depressed this morning. Winter seems to be leaving us a little too early. Oh, sure, the indoor plants are happy. I see them standing a little taller, turning towards the warmer sun. I like to have happy plants in the morning. And then there is that eternal hope that I may see the first crocus soon. But, it’s February. We still have the March winds off the ocean that always keep our waterside town cool, sometimes very cold well into May. Will it happen this year? Will we be surprised again with a snowstorm coming off a day in the high 60’s? It’s odd for sure, and I hate it. Where have you cone father winter, I miss you.

If the President opens up his Tax returns and pours out everything he knows in a massive release of information, would that be a Trump Dump.

I was walking through the supermarket yesterday and noticed in the fish department, “Organic” salmon, right next to “Wild Salmon.” I’m thinking, how can wild salmon not be organic. So, I investigated going through several websites and found that this is one of the great underworld controversies of our day for all of those who become overwrought about inconsequential minutia. Yikes, what have stumbled upon, I thought. The issue is that you do not know where those wild fish have swum. So, it is better, if you are an organic advocate, to raise them under controlled conditions (Like in the big West Scotland farms) even if they are swimming in water full of feces. But then we have another side who says that organic Salmon are like couch potatoes with too much fat and no firmness to the meat. Wild salmon are juicy and Yummy so argue the naysayers. The consensus is that this discussion will not end until the FDA figures out to regulate the oceans and create standards. Crazy. Aren’t you glad I asked?

One of the cooler things I see these days is the Space X rockets returning and landing gently on their butt. How do they do that?

When things go bang in the night in the White House, it’s the Trump Thump.

The Question:

Five of Bill Clinton’s 18 Cabinet Secretaries were with him for his two terms name them. Bonus: A small survey asks: “Who do you think finds breakups more painful – Men, Women, Both the same, Don’t Know.

The Headlines:

--Dow, Nasdaq, S&P On Fire Again; Analysts Mystified By Reliance On Earnings Growth.

--At African-American History Museum, Trump Pledges To Unite Divided Country.

--McCain Likes Trump Pick For NSA; McMaster A Brilliant Strategic Mind.

--Burger King To Buy Popeye’s For $1.8 billion.

--Casualties Continue To Mount In The Ukraine.

--Plane Crash Into Australian Mall Kills Five, Including 4 Americans.

--DHS On Hiring Binge To Meet Potential Requirements Of New WH Immigration Order

I saw the five Live Action Short Films Oscar nominees yesterday and I can unequivocally say that the music in all of them was excellent! It often made up for a contrived or predictable plot. The best to me in short films are always the creative, whimsical imaginations in small stories, and there were two that met that standard, “The Woman and the TGV” has you smiling broadly at the end while pondering your own status in life; the other called “Timecode” is entirely whimsical and almost hard to describe adequately with words, but will make you happy and curious. Another called “Sing” about a children’s school chorus and kids being smarter than self-indulgent adults was pleasant and brought you to a good over evil ending. The other two were social commentaries, “Enemies Within”, about how hard it is to be a Muslim, and the other, Silent Nights,  a convoluted tale of a loud mouthed African immigrant homeless person who captivates the heart of a lonely social worker with an alcoholic mom; the homeless person with a large family and loving wife in Africa is caught red handed stealing money from the soup kitchen to send home, but is forgiven by the young woman, who later when excited about telling him she’s pregnant and will marry him so he can stay legally forever, learns of his family at home, and that is almost the last straw. But the music is uplifting, so you think you enjoyed it. My choice Timecode. But it will probably go to Enemies Within which was very well acted. Or maybe for Woman and TGV for the lead actor.

Still angry Hillary supporters who are severely anti the President could be called Trump Grumps.

Aah, This week is that week when the PGA returns to Florida, meaning that the Masters Tournament is on the horizon. The odds makers have put out there favorites to best negotiate the startling array of colorful, blooming azaleas. Spieth is number 1 at 13-2. Next is the new World Golf #1 Dustin Johnson at 8-1 (Displacing Day after 47 weeks at #I). The next three are all closely bunched behind – Rory McElroy, Hidecki Matsuyama and Jason Day whose game always seems to blossom in the early Spring. Others to consider are Justin Thomas, Henrik Stenson, And maybe another European like Alec Noren.

I always thought Claude Julian was a pretty darn good hockey coach for the Bruins. But it’s looking like all his scheme needed was to be taken over and altered by Bruce Cassidy. We’ll see.

A rise in the President favorability ratings could be called a Trump Bump.

Greece is on the brink again, but this country tried of cutting back in order get handouts doesn’t have many places to turn for vibrancy. Like Rhode Island it abdicated an innovated productive economy for one that sells its soul for tourism. The other major source national wealth is shipping, where Greek owned vessels is the largest in the world. There is serious, growing competition from Asia iin the mega shipping industry. The Greeks have invested heavily in “economic powers” like Bulgaria, Romania, Albania and Serbia. The Greek Economic Miracle (8% GDP) that went from 1950 to 1980 is long gone. They are good at accumulating debt by giving away too many benefits to to a population producing less and less.

Tourism is great for looking good on video screens around the world, but it will not bring them to the economic fortress they once were. Too many late broek  along he way.

The difference between Trump and the other presidents harassed by a biased media is that Trump is speaking out against it. Yes, Emperor Obama hated the media too, and he and Holder even went so far as to spy on the media who were distasteful to them, including labeling reporter James Rosen a “Criminal Co-conspirator” I n order to justify gaining access to his emails et. al. (Rosen was found totally innocent. WP’s Dana Milbank: “The Rosen affair is as flagrant assault on civil liberties as anything…” The AP: “(Obama actions) Massive and unprecedented intrusion.” There was also a “Leak” investigation into the workings of the AP, and in particular including, “Possibility of Journalists being prosecuted under the Espionage Act for reporting classified material.” Sound familiar?

The referee of the White House family softball game is the Trump Ump.

Did you read about the care package sent by a mom to her son in college? It was the garbage bag he forgot to take out before he went back to school after winter break! I Love it.

Just for the record, Bill Clinton changed Assistant to the Prez from McCarty to Panetta after one year and it was necessary to get a confused admin under control, so say historians. There were two more who came in to quell little disturbances – Erskine Bowles and John Podesta. And, Bill had no love for the media.

When The President plays bridge, it’s called Trump squared!

The Parking Lot: Chapter 79.

    “Somehow I feel as if I am doing the same thing now that many a Hicks women and men has done many times before. You know, the old deja vu all over again thing.” She smiled and turned slightly towards Jared, while keeping a steady hand on the steering wheel.      “Going after Howlands making threats against Hicks is a family activity”. She paused as if moving away from where they were to a quiet place where she could think alone. “Maybe I can end it all, Jared. Maybe I can do something with this land that will make it work for everybody”.

    “I hear ya, my love. But, I don’t think that Claudia and child are looking for the same kumbaya ending!” She reached over and grabbed his hand, now rubbing a soft finger gently over it while she drove and thought.

   “Alex is going to find our legal direction but, you and I could be in a lot of trouble before he finds a peaceful road to a conclusion. Unless we move first. Who knows,” she turned her head a bit, we may end it all before  the legal minds can react, or even understand is happening. But it feels good to have him on our side.” Then she thought, what would Jared think about that, or am I just over sensitive about Alex.

   I have never met your new best friend, but if you like him, I do too.

    Good old Jared, she thought. She couldn’t rid herself of he thoughts of her family’s past. Maybe this is culmination of all that has gone before.

    The twosome were driving up to an area of Rhode island called Touisset, a small former summer enclave now grown into a special, beautiful neighborhood -- but earlier had been a summer home for Metacomet – King Phillip, the well-known and feared chief of the Wampanoag’s, of which Nancy was one. It was also the home of Claudia, on the large bay just across from Sakonnett.

    Nancy had told Jared that she thought it best to try to meet with Claudia, if they could get into her house without being seen. She feared that “Lug” as she was now calling her marauding giant, would be around there somewhere. She loved the challenge.

President Trump sounds’ much better when he is silent.

Oh yeah, and the president’s hair could be called the trump Clump.

The Answer:

The five were AG Janet Reno, Sec. Ed – Richard Riley, Sec. HHS – Donna Shalala, Sec. Interior – Bruce Babbitt and Sec. EPA – Carol Browner. Note: Janet reno was trid choice as Zoe Baird and Kimba Wood were found to employ illegal aliens and avoid taxes for them. So, admins are always in flux. It’s just the way it is. Bonus: Women feel it more 26% over men’s 16%. But 52% say both the same. 6% say don’t know.

The result of too many lavish state dinners with foreign dignitaries is Trump Plump.

The latest “Best Broadway Show Ever” is supposed to be Dear Evan Hansen and is about a teens sense of Worthlessness, and adolescent suicide. It’s a musical! Say what!