The truth is on the cutting room floor.

Today's Tids Issue 3,870

For Seeing:

Regardless of the annoyances blaring around us all in this strangely conflicted country, there is perfect peace everywhere you can be; just a small step out into the chilling morning air, resolves all mental skirmishes in favor of a warm, loving heart. Sunday morning was doubly satisfying, remembering the week earlier, being able to retreat from the strangely obtuse heat of a few days in May. Standing on our little colonial era street as the birds awoke to a soft morning light casting new life into silent city, just makes me grateful for simplicity; contentment with pure, natural uncomplicatedness. Yup, I just stood there and let my mind fill with goodness; loving life.

Most complicated issues would be pretty simple to resolve if the main issue wasn’t really always about winning.

The large voting bloc of young people that reelected Iran’s Rhouani by a surprising landslide make up the majority of the 30% of unemployed there. To appease them, the moderate Prez will be on the lookout for deals with other economically strong countries, one of his apparent mandates. Know any deal makers?

The Boston Celtics looked like an average CYO team against the Mighty Cleveland Cavs, before Sunday’s surprise victory. Methinks LaBron is a man on a mission, even though he looked lost last night. But, when he is on, which he is almost always, he makes it very difficult to retreat from the national angst into sports pleasantries.

Alan Dershowitz, avowed Hillary voter, is being angrily bombarded by his friends on the left for his observations on the Trump predicament with respect to real law, not the constant casual accusations of the Democrats and media. He says he is the only one seeking to protect the revered US concept of due process -- not the ACLU, not duly elected Democrat or Republican officials, not the watchdog media “reveling in 24/7 bombshells”; all opposition blocs who are so intent on getting Trump, he says, that they all are dismissing the very protections they have always stood for. Legal protections are for everybody from the top rung of the White House to the homeless lying on a sidewalk. Yet, he says, even the White House in its zeal to defend, miss many opportunities to focus on legal technicalities. The old star power, Law School professor says we are witnessing a Kangaroo Court, “Star Chamber justice.” I’d say, defended by Peter Pan and Tinkerbell.

The partisan public outcry over Trump alleged misdeeds is overwhelming, but the legal facts are far from it.

Watching Trump on a international tour makes me feel a little like a Nascar fan waiting for a crash.

The United States is not the same this morning. Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Baily Circus, pulled down the curtain on its last act last night. I feel something in my heart. Maybe it is a bit of mychildhood.

The Question:

Jessica Lange is a wonderful actress. Name her five greatest movie roles. Bonus: Name the ten all-time Leading movie Actresses

The Headlines:

--In Big Ford Management Shakeup, CEO Mark Fields Replaced; Board Moving To “Transform” Business.

--US Markets Higher; Defense Industries Lead Way.

--Rhouani Romps; US an Europe May Be In Conflict With Approaches To Teheran Government.

--Europe Countries Agree To Trump Plea To Put More Money Into NATO.

--NK’s Latest Missisle Launch Proves It can reach US Bases, Japan.

--Couple Of Handfuls Of Notre Dame Grads Walk Out On Pence Speech to Boos.

--Trump Received Enthusiastic Royal Welcome In Saudi Arabia; Trump Looked To Mend Relations With Muslim Communities In Speech Urging A United Front Against The Extremists We All Face in Our Own Societies; Tells Israel That Arab Countries Are With You Against Iran..

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It’s never too early to begin thinking about Memorial Day. I added a little Red, White & Blue flavor to the Worldview: Etc, Blog page. Pretty good pic of the old stars and stripes waving in the breeze that I took down at the harbor yesterday. Worldviewetc.blogspot.com.

The peoples of the world are overwhelmingly good. It’s just that the bad ones get all the news spotlights.

The Dershowitz defense of himself defines one of the big problems of the current national angst -- people misunderstanding each other due to preconceived notions, most often based on one’s perception or overinterpretation of another’s political leanings. Misplaced beliefs by observers often blur simple truths. In the Dershowitz case, his pointing out real legal facts for the edification of the argument, has his own people pointing fingers at him for disrupting the premise of their prejudiced mission. A big part of this morning mess of mine is to look beyond the hysterical rhetoric for something that smells like the truth. Jumping on bandwagons gets you nowhere if the tuba guy can’t play.

One of the biggest problems for the editors of our Big City newspaper is finding a new crossword puzzle editor since the passing of a longtime favorite. Early replacements have been deemed funny looking or too easy and more. Yes folks, people are not all wrapped up in what cable news networks want you to be wrapped up in 24/7. Yes, life actually does go on, and crossword puzzles are a part of it.

Word of the Day: Perception –1a. Observation; 1b. A mental image, Concept. Yes, there are two distinct definitions with subtle but meaningful difference. On is just to observe, to see, to become aware of something through the senses. Synonyms: Recognition, consciousness, grasp, appreciation, cognizance, comprehension. The other is to interpret something, to create a mental impression. Synonyms: Impression, idea, conception, notion, judgment, estimation. We all do too much F---ing interpretation.

I like a gritty, sweaty Tom Brady in a grass stained football uniform, far better than of those images of his Giselle inspired outfits and poses, which I’m seeing much too often lately.

The big question: How does The Fed retract itself from stimulus mode without killing Wall Street?

They say legal marijuana is sweeping the country. No kidding. It had to happen, It is not surprising to me a bit. If you want to see what will be sweeping the country in 2050, check out the favorite issues of millennials today. That’s what they will tout and vote for when they first enter into their own era of reasoned elderly. That is of course, if Gen-X’ers don’t live longer and longer, usurping their generational move into premiere wisdom-hood.

One of the reasons for the big push for weeds in the gardens of humanity, other than personal habits, is that our politicians have overspent on everything and the only thing they can think of as a solution is to get all of the voters high. Do you think they will hand out joints at polling places to keep the blurt alive? Is “Joint” still an operative word? (Note: Connecticut politicians have actually said that “Pot is the only thing that can save us”. How sad.)

One interesting phenomena of the current schizophrenic USA is that we may be creeping back into that more desirable concept of Jeffersonian Federalism. And what is really odd, the left facing an all Repub Washington DC, is jumping into states’ rights sensibility.

Economic Slowdown Signs, Department:

I have noticed over the years here, that after a rash of developer proposals for new downtown hotels hit the newspapers and TV news, a massive economic slowdown is generally not far behind. RI is generally always a little late to the dinner table that way. Well, it may be happening as a proposal for a hotel is now looking too costly for the developer and his hand is out for more government aid.

If you want to see where an activist environmentalist will go to win a case against an oil company, check out Chevron vs Donziger, now being reviewed by the Supreme Court. In the original action, now appearing to be contrived and fraudulent, the plaintiff against Chevron (Texaco before the takeover), lawyer activist Steven Donziger, was taped saying, “Facts do not exist, facts are created.” He went on to win $19 Billion for Lago Agrio, Ecuador against Texaco/Chevron (Later reduced to $8.6 Bil). The case was riddled with Donziger conducted fraud including his team’s “Ghostwriting” of the “Independent Global Pollution Expert’s Findings”, and… the decision of the judge!! As part of his evidence, Donziger hired a well-known Documentarian to essentially paint an ugly picture that wasn’t quite as it seemed. In other words what you often see, may never have been there. Especially if it is on TV. (Note, the Supreme Court review is not whether or not pollution occurred, but that they were convicted based on fraudulent information and well placed bribes.)

Fewer and fewer people want be seen as Trump lovers, but that doesn’t mean that the truth can’t be told, and the accusations can’t be put into perspective. On the other hand, the resolve against the left is growing stronger.

Perception: I like Wagnerian music because I think it sounds good. Some would say that by playing it that I’m all for the Holocaust. I think that Mussorgsky’s “The Great Gate of Kiev” is incredibly stimulating. Does that mean I’m out there creating a communist cell?

Just when Amazon is looking like they will be King of the Hill forever, along comes a fresh new idea called Flexe. Flexe is like an amalgamator App that facilitates warehouse continuity and assures overnight shipping for thousands of small retailers and amnufatcurers….in their own packages, not Amazons. It is a logistics company for all, and may be that piece of the puzzle that will  help keep Brick n’ Mortar stores competitive in the new world. This is perhaps one of those next great ideas which is always a little closer than you can imagine, as tech continually begets better tech.

Consumer debt is setting off warning signals, hitting new highs, higher than ever, actually. But, this time, the runaway accumulation is not in housing and credit card debt, but Autos and College. Is that supposed to mean it is better, or worse? You still need good jobs. How long will the job market still look good if the consumer can’t afford to buy, add more debt. That is the question.

By the way, GE CEO Jeffery Immelt speaking at the graduation at Bryant University said something like, “I’m sorry I’m not a rock band, but I know I am one of the few who can actually give you a job!” The crowd cheered madly.

In typical fashion, the left today seems to think that because they and their ideas are so important, so inspired, that the country shouldn’t have to wait four years to vote Trump out of office. You, know the good old American, constitutional way.

Calling Elizabeth Warren “Pocahontas” is stupid. Rejecting her ideas is smart.

The new Twin Peaks premiered on Showtime. I thought it tried too hard to make characters look stupid; too hard to be entirely weird. Occasionally, when they semi-normalized it, the story held your attention. The critics love, love, loved it. I think it will lose the average viewer over time. I remember the original that became a cult epic had me interested in the opening and that interest seriously waned as they moved deeply into weirdness. And you know, I can be as weird as the next person.

The Answer:

I have found Jessica Lange to be one of those stars whose appearance on a screen is always special.  On the “Ranker” List they have Francis as her number one movie. That is followed by Music Box, All That Jazz, Normal, Tootsie, Sweet Dreams, A Streetcar Named Desire, Night and the City, Country and #10, Cousin Bette. I always thought The Postman Always Rings Twice was one of her best, but that was not listed (Huh?). BTW, Jessica still has her real, original face, at 62. I always mix her up with Faye Dunaway. But, when I realize who they are, I always come back to Jessica. Bonus: Number one is Meryl Streep. She is followed by Judi Dench, Diane Keaton, Susan Sarandon, Faye Runaway, Vanessa Redgrave, Jodie Foster, Ellen Burstyn, Julianne Moore and Glen Close. The next ten are Jane Fonda, Julia Roberts, Shirly Maclane, Emma Thompson, Annette Benning, Helen Mirren, Nicole Kidman, Sally Fied, #19 Jessica Lange and Kathy Bates. Two of the acclaimed best, Cate Blanchett and Frances McDormand are only 23 and 25. Ladies, gentlemen, start your arguments!

Extra bonus: I’m stopping this mess ti tomorrow!