Today's Tids Issue
3,798
For Decluttering:
I
found it yesterday. Silence, that is. Perfect unobtrusive
quiet. I was alone riding up a ski lift on a mountain less crowded. All I heard
was the occasional creaking of the wheels as I passed a tower; a bit of breeze
blowing, rippling against the collar of my jacket. The sunlit hills below and lands
beyond were pure white, unmolested snow. Oh, occasionally I saw the tracks of a
small animals winding their way through leafless shrubs. I imagined their
playfulness, and it made me smile. Mostly among the scattered skiers I watched from above
this day were moms and dads happily teaching kids, only as tall as my aching
knees, the beauty of skiing. As I sat calmly in my uncluttered world I was
thinking about many Tidlets I could imagine in this atmosphere so void of human
anger and outside intrusion. Silence is nourishment for an expansive mind. By
the 19th journey up the mountain, my head had become filled with so
many ideas and reveries that I found myself a regular Walter Mitty, ready to
win the world Giant Slalom, to rush into the base lodge and save a mother and
child from an abusive stepfather; to walk triumphantly upon a stage before
throngs outside of The Capital in Washington DC to deliver a speech for all
times. A speech that would calm and inspire, and break down barriers between
all humans; to help them all see the way to believe in each other. Wow, what a
ride. The music of silence was a resounding crescendo.
Instead
of trying to lug out TV’s and computers, I think today’s
house thieves would more likely be looking for little books where home owners
keep all of the usernames and passwords for their online sites. It’s all about cybercrime.
I
think Trump should hire a funny speech writer.
I
hope you all have recovered nicely from all of that romance
yesterday; that the glow is still warm.
The
Question:
Who are these people? Brian Holland, Marissa
Berenson, Matt Groening, Christopher McDonald and Joseph Ganascoli.
The
Headlines:
--Markets Scratching Out Small Advances; Buffett
Sells $900Mil Of Wal-Mart; Says Retail Is Dead.
--Rumer”, A German Shepherd Wins At Westminster.
--New Trump Poll: Approval/Disapproval of President’s
Job Performance – Approve 48%- Disapprove 47%; Strong Leader? – 52% yes, 45%
No; EO On Temporary 7 Country Ban – Approve 46%, Disapprove 52%; Purpose Of Ban
– US Safer 42%, US Less Safe 33%, No Diff 24%. (Fox News Poll)
--Trump Meeting With Netanyahu Today; Will Not
Attempt “Two Nation” Peace talks.
--Dems In Congress Line Up To Take Shots At Flynn On
The Way Out; See Congressional Investigations As Best New Scheme To Impede
Development Of Working Admin.
--New Investigations: Ethics Department Recommends Investigation
And Possible Disciplinary Action Of Conway’s Plug For Ivanka; Congress Wants To
Probe Open Restaurant Discussion Between Abe And Trump Of NK Missiles.
--Russian Aircraft Buzz US Destroyer In Black Sea;
Russian Intelligence Gathering Ship Seen 30 Miles Off Groton Connecticut, Home
Of US Submarine Fleet..
Why
do I have this feeling that America looks more like a
gossip magazine these days, and not a serious player in a dangerous world.
A
lot of so-called news these days often incorporates
the phrase “Social Media freaking out”. Social media reactions are a far cry
from reliable opinion research. It is mainly reaction from a lot of people who
overreact simply because they have a smart phone at there finger tips, and lots
of other people’s overreactions to spur them on to bigger overreactions.. In
other words, it’s the old mountains out of molehills concept all over again,
except that it is instantaneous making it appear actually important. I freak
out every time I see opinon excess, when we all should be taking a deep breath.
One
of the biggest stupid things Trump did was to take shots
at the Intelligence Agencies. They Have all of the information and know how to
leak. The second stupid thing for a President promising unity is to make
childish school yard slurs of John McCain.
Some
California newspaper supposedly wrote a headline
saying that the Oroville Dam problem was due to Trumps failed infrastructure
program. That couldn’t be true, could it? Unless, unless it was written by the
Hollywood Gazette. They would believe anything.
I
only use proper grammar when I’m talking to people who
know proper grammar. It confuses everybody else.
I
hear people are starting to tune out SNL, which has
become too much of what was a good thing for one or two performances. Believe
it or not, there are huge percentages of Americans of all political persuasions
who just plain don’t like to see any people of all races religions and political
leanings insulted and defiled in the name of humor. It’s called consideration
of others. It about being a civilized society.
I
saw where India just launched 104 satellites. Yikes! How
many satellites are out there? Well, I looked it up. There are 1,419
operational satellites. About 2,840 more satellites are out there but not
working – in other words pure junk. When does the sun stop shining? For your
information, 713 are for Communications, 374 for earth observation, 160 for
tech demonstration/development, 105 for navigation, 67 for space science.
Satellite
–
One “T” and 2 “L’s”, Satellite – One “T” and 2 “L’s”...
I
have never had the time or inclination to become an expert
on oysters.
I’m
always amazed how people with handicaps don’t give into
them but find ways to overcome them.
The
Parking Lot: Chapter 77.
Nancy
decided to leave after about an hour and a half of waiting in the car. It was
getting cold, and Nancy had never been good about sitting still. Especially
these days. Now that’s she for the first time really knew who the enemy was,
she figured it was time to become the hunter for a change.
The drive
back would have been beautiful if they had been in the mood for beauty. But,
Alex was deadly silent, probably wondering what he was in the middle of. In the
past three or four short hours he had grown to admire Nancy, even like her.
But, she was certainly a magnet for danger. This was not his kind of life. He
looked at her. She seemed so calm. How could she be?
Nancy wanted
to call Jared, but was more concerned about phone tracing than ever before. She
looked over at Alex, and found that he was a pretty nice guy, pretty gutsy, and
calm. She liked calm people. Maybe she
didn’t want to call Jared because she didn’t want tot alk to him in front of
Alex. She hook her head rapidly. No time for these thoughts. Life and death
seems more he problem now.
After a
silent ride that bothered Alex more than Nancy, she drove into the driveway of
her friend Beth. “We’re getting out here.’
“Where’s”
here?”
“ You shouldn’t
go home. These guys are dangerous and probably already have watchers at your
house. This is my friend Beth’s house.” She saw the look of amusement on Alex’s
face. “Yes, I do have friends.”
“And, they are alive!” He smiled.
“You’ll Lie
Beth, and she needs a baby sitter. You’ll be perfect.” Now it was Nancy’s turn
to smile.
“What are
you going to do. Want to help.”
“We’re going
to set traps for the bad guys. I’ll call you when I‘m ready for your help. She
touched his shoulder as she got out to lead him up to Beth’s front door. “Don’t
call anybody. At all”. She rubbed his back briskly just as Beth opened the
door.
The
Answer:
Ok, let’s, see who do we have today: Brian Holland
is a voluminous composer who gave us among other things the Motown Sound and hundreds
of the hit recordings of The Supremes, Martha and the Vandellas, Four Tops and
Isley Brothers. Marissa Berenson was a model and actress who won a couple of
Best Supporting Actress awards for her work in 1972’s Cabaret. Her maternal
grandmother was fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli and her Great Grandfather
Schiaparelli thought he had discovered canals on mars. Matt Groening made the
big bucks as creator of The Simpsons. Christopher McDonald is one of those
actors you don’t hear of but see all over the big and small screens, and is
especially known for roles as Darryl Dickenson in Thelma and Louise, Shooter
McGavin in Happy Gilmore…and as Ward Cleever in the 1997 film version of Leave
it to Beaver. He has been all over TV, you know…one of those people you see all
of the time. Joseph Ganascoli is another actor of many roles but for Soprano
Fans, you would know him as Vito Spatafore. Actually he played several roles in
the Sopranos over its long run including Philly Spoons Parisi. He was quite the
cook having worked at Manhattan restaurants and the very well-known New Orleans
restaurant – The Commander’s Palace.
Are
you still dancing in the clouds. How about a little
Motown on the streets:
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