Talent. Love.

Today's Tids Issue 4,131
For Exploring your hidden talent:

Music is where you find it. It doesn’t need a 60,000 fan packed stadium or a sedate, solemn symphony hall. You might feel your foot tapping to the tones of a lone singer sitting behind a piano in a darkened corner bar. Or from guitar at a memorial service in a simple little white, spired church on a hillside above the sea.

Talent is everywhere. Not always in lights; nor on front pages. It is grandma playing a piano and little children’s eyes aglow. It is man sitting in his favorite room, a violin tucked under his chin. He knows he’ll never be Heifetz, but people who listen though open windows think he could. It's a bagpipe and fife and drum players in colonial military organizations. There are so many who never step upon the grand stage, who haven’t been anointed, but I know they could.

The Brother-in-Law Effect, Department:

The RI State Legislature is often a plodding, indecisive law making body. But all of a sudden in one week without even funding a special investigative task force, they are off to the races on all sorts of new ideas for gambling in the state. How did they get so smart about gambling so fast? Maybe they know someone.

Brook Farm revisited. The new ideological concept rampaging trough the democrat party is “Jobs for All” and at higher pay, regardless of what you contribute. Probably because they were one-upped by DT on the jobs front, the leaders of the old working man’s party are digging back into those eras of promised utopias for a unifying campaign strategy. The problem is that all of the Dem illuminati’s want to be known as the leader of the pack of promises full of free stuff for all. It is a first step in a potential trend which could lead to all jobs being created by The Government if not encountered by intelligent votes.

If either Meghan or Harry were historians, they may not have picked yesterday for their wedding. So, while millions were losing their minds over royal vows for life, others were commemorating the 482^nd anniversary of Ann Boleyn losing her head.

The Question:

Who came first, Aristotle or Plato? Bonus: For what famous “First” was electric car taxi driver Jacob German known? Extra Bonus: What were most watched TV series final episodes?

The Headlines:

--China Trade War In Hiatus; Markets Up Over 350 In Late-Morning; US And China Agree To reduce $370 Billion Trade Deficit..

--Trump Admin Looking For Harshest New Sanctions Unless Iran Eliminates Uranium Enrichment Program And Ceases Support Of Regional Terror Groups.

--Bernie Says Dem Leadership Missing Voter Mood; Voters Want Socialist Free Stuff Says Vermont Warhorse.

--Maduro reelected President Of Venezuela In Sham Election That Was Boycotted By Opposition.

--Gina Haspel Sworn In As First Female CIA Director.

--NE Pats Brady, Gronk Skip First Training Camp Days; Cleveland And Celtics Meet Tonight; Warriors Romp Over Rockets; NHL Nevada Crushes Jets. Lightning Leading Washington.

When you think About it, the looming possibility of a Nobel Prize for Trump, plays right into the negotiating plans of Kim.

I think I need to wait a lot more time

Ere I try to write more words sublime,

And also, attempt to make them rhyme.

In caution, so as not to look the fool

I’m enrolling in the local poetry school.

The perfect Crime Handbook: Step One -- Eat Cheetos before leaving fingerprints.

The big wedding yesterday reminded me that there is nothing better than a good ole’ protestant hymn heartily sung.

If you are looking for hyperbole, just check out some of the writeups on The Wedding. Hollywood stars aren’t American royalty and Meghan Markel is not carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. And I have seen many a “Most Stunning of Brides Ever” walking round here for Newport Weddings.

Overthrows start small, like perhaps people calling for Trump’s dismissal a day or so after his election. That’s how places like Venezuela work. Maduro’s emergence was the result of mob rule after Hugo left the scene. In México, 36 political candidates for office were murdered but those who don’t want courageous people trying to rid the country of drug empires. The press is often overly giddy about people marching in the streets, and people certainly have the right to voice their opinions on mass. But sometimes the crowds aren’t as big as they appear. Sometimes the shouting is not countered by evenly balanced, fair minded interpretations. And over time, little ripples of dissatisfaction develop into all-consuming tidal waves. And when over time a sensible society disappears, you wonder how you could have missed it.

Watching the Volvo fleet, sails colorful and billowing, hulls knifing though the first chop as ocean meets bay, sail beyond the horizon was a sensual thrill and a lesson about fulfilling what your talent demands.

Putting up “Wrong Way” signs to prevent motorists from entering exit ramps probably won’t work too well at eliminating 2:00 AM accidents, as the soused can’t generally see, much less read.

Tonight, is the Finale Of The Voice. Could be a good show.

I’m glad I wasn’t invited to The Wedding, as the post wedding chicken dinner didn’t seem too appealing. Maybe they had to cut back on food costs in order to pay entertainment from Elton John.

It was interesting to see General Electric and Wabco (Westinghouse Air Brake) looking to join in merger. Tom Edison and George Westinghouse were two of the early inventors. Their surviving companies, Westinghouse Electrics were fierce rivals and prime contributors to the industrial might of the USA. But interestingly, George loved his Airbrake so that he that he spent his energy on that key element of railway efficiency and safety, while letting others develop his electric company. And now Edison and Westinghouse are back together again. Something kind of cool about that.

The Answer:

Plato was Aristotle’s Teacher, and both were known as the “Fathers of Philosophy”. Bonus: On May 20 in 1899, Taxi Driver Jacob German was driving his electric cab at 12 mph in an 8-mph zone. A policeman on a bicycle overtook his cab plodding along on NYC’s Lexington Ave and Jacob became the first person ever arrested for speeding. He went to jail. Note: In 1904, the first ever paper speeding ticket was given to Harry Myers for going 12 miles per hour on West Third Street in Dayton Ohio. Extra Bonus: The number 10 most watched series finale of all time, was Home Improvement. At #9 we had Family Ties and then at #8 All In The Family, #7 The Cosby Show (Yes, that Cosby), #6 Magnum PI, #5 Friends, #4 Seinfeld, #3 The Fugitive and #2 Cheers. I’m sure you already guessed that the #1 All Time Most Watched Finale was M*A*S*H.

I listened carefully to the words spoken by the priest Saturday at The Wedding. I heard commitment, responsibility. I heard how integral marriage is to an orderly society. I heard that love often brings sacrifice, and sometimes real hardships, yet from which strength is nurtured. I thought, why aren’t more people rushing in into marriage to give to one person, which begets so many more. Is the prospect of commitment too hard in a society of lowered standards?

“Walk On, walk on, with hope in your heart, and you will never walk alone.” Humming yet?