Financially Illiterate.

Today's Tids Issue 4,378

Positivity:

Too many people think that money comes from the government. And too many politicians gladly play that tune

Spring “Clean-Up” day gets lots of huzzahs in the press and on Nightly news programs. But, frankly, it makes me sad. It reminds me of the slovenly, uncaring, irresponsible among us who just throw their trash along highways and upon pristine beaches. In fields of waving flowers. Disgraceful, and it makes me mad every time I see some gleeful volunteer cleaning up somebody else’s mess.

Poor Maine.  I love Maine. But, the good ole’ Mainers have succumbed to the ban Columbus, hail Indigenous people’s hoax. Like Columbus was some kind of tyrant. He was just a sailor who helped to open up opportunities. Caesar marched into London England 43 to 54 AD and disrupted the lives of the local Celtic tribes there, notably, the Trinovantes. (There were 27 tribes in Scotland, Wales and England, most of which were at odds with each other.) Where’s the outcry for Indigenous Londoners day? What if socialists were to take over America and purposely smother the people who firmly believe in the founding principles. Would there be a hullabaloo for Indigenous Believers in the Constitution day. IBC forever.

The Irish should be rich because their capitol is always Dublin.

If you don’t think things are achangin’, consider that Burger King is rolling out nationally the new “Impossible” Whopper. Yes, that is a whopper made of veggies. This veganwich has been tested in 57 BK’s around Saint Louis and must have passed the test. It is made of Soy, Coconut oil and Heme.

With all due respect to the green community, it is Cyber-attacks that could destroy civilizations fastest. That is probably the #1 man-made problem that threatens the world today.  (Note: This Tid comes with guidance from Warren Buffet.)

Bluebirds are subjects of happy, upbeat songs. But, there aren’t many around here in the Northeast. At least, that’s what my eyes tell me. They are certainly among the prettiest of birds, and they really do sing a beautiful song. The good news is that they are far from extinct. Maybe I’ll spend this summer trying to find a bluebird living here. Zippity Do-Dah!

The Question:

Who was John Luther Jones?

The Headlines:

--Markets Open Lower; Corporate results Mixed; Google Profits Up But Revenue Misses Target; GM Misses as Global Sales Soften; Still Waiting For Economic Data.

--Venezuela’s Guaido Urges Military To Rise Up And Overthrow Maduro.

--Trump, Schumer, Pelosi Meeting; Infrastructure On Tap.  

--New CNN/SRSS Poll Has Dems Surging In Support Of Biden; Biden 39%, Bernie 15%, Warren 8% and Buttigieg 7%; “Morning Consult Survey” hs It Joe 36%, Bern 22%.

--Bernie says Disney Should Give Avenger’s Profits To Employees Instead Of Geiger; Meanwhile, Gieger Counting Money.

--FBI Foils Ambitious Terrorist Plot By New Islamist Combatant.

--Trump, Trump Organization And Family Suing Banks From Releasing Financial Information.

The US economy is rolling, and its success has been the bane to Democrat candidates trying to take down the President. But, perhaps it is not that much a sure thing for the incumbency as new research is showing that the masses have latched on to the rhetoric that the top people getting the most from the red hot economy. And many of those changing attitudes are among Trump supporters of 2016, including the huge Independent sector. 60% of potential voters are now thinking that perhaps they haven’t been benefitting from the strong economy.  While Dem voters overwhelmingly feel this, the real news is in the attitude changeover of Independents. Repubs need indies.

The Voice had a big night last north where 24, count em’, singing aspirants did their best to capture votes and stay alive to make the final 13. I thought it was more noise than melody, and I didn’t find myself jumping out of my char. But maybe I’m getting too old for modern songs, which are basically more about lights, beat in and fever than soothing to the ears. There were some good moments but, not as many as you might expect. I liked Andrew Sevener; Cella Babini, Gyth Rigdon, Kim Cherry, Lisa Ramey and Dexter Roberts. I’m sure there were a couple of other moments, but nothing is embossed on my brain. Maybe the song choices are biggest factor for me. Maelyn Jarmon is a favorite but I was looking for more last night. Still, talented though, she’s talented. The other super talent wo dropped a bit last night was Jej Vinson. I like Selki, but she is just not coming through well any more. Rebecca Howell really disappointed me especially after being so strong the previous week. Maybe Kelly will save her, if she doesn’t have to save Jej first. Most likely to go are Selki, Abby (I thought she was decent last night), Betsy Ade, Jacob Maxwell Kim Cherry. Of course, and then there is the Country factor.

Note: I-Tunes sales for The Voice singers are just warming up. Only one made the top 100 – Gyth at 23. There were only four in the next 100 -- Maylyn, Jacob Maxwell, Kim Cherry and Dexter Roberts.

BTW, it appears more people are not taking summer vacations. The main reason given by 60% of them – can’t afford it. The cost of housing and food in popular decatenations has risen uncontrollably. It not only makes vacationing more costly, but also very expensive for people who just happen to live in these smothering locations.

Personally, I think the best time to take vacations is in off season, especially if you pick locations where the weather is not a factor. Better deals and fewer crowds.

5G is on the verge of becoming widespread in communities across America. Technocrats clamor for it, but for the average user it will just be a financial hit for a new phone that has 5G capability.

I get the sense that many countries around the word are having a problem with deciding wwho in Libya to support -- The UN backed Tripoli Government or the Popular ex General Khalifa Haftar. In case you may have forgotten since the death of Kadaifi, ancient tribes still have a major influence on the unity of the country, and a distant obscure central government isn’t going to have much influence them. And, of course, regardless of leadership or politics, it’s always all about a lot of Oil. That is until the Green revolution takes hold.

Legislatures all over are banning the use of plastic bags by retailers. Do they really think that they will make uncaring people more responsible?  After all, plastic bags aren’t the problem, people are.

The jobs that could vanish by 2016 are Locomotive firers, respiratory therapy technicians, parking enforcement workers, word processors and typists, watch repairers, electronic equipment installers and repairers, foundry mold and coremakers…you get the picture. Postmasters are at #14, legal secretaries at #25. Among them are several classes of metal machine production operators.

My daily pet peeve is Spell-Check not knowing that words starting with “p-e-o-p” are most likely going to be “People”.

A town around here has cut in half their Library budget. Of course, towns are under a lot of pressure to stabilize budgets without adding to the tax burden of people. So maybe traditional services like libraries are an option as the cost of public employees go up. With all of the new sources for information, are libraries in more danger of becoming extinct faster than AOC’s earth? Interesting question. Almost a sacrilegious thought tomany.

Just so you know, our RI Governor Gina Raimondo who is also the Chairwoman of the National Democrat Governors Association got caught in a whopper yesterday. She accused a Mayor of besmirching a major RI company thinking of moving to Massachusetts (So, what’s new?) Of course, the Mayor of the City, Pawtucket which is home to Hasbro is a big supporter of that company and is doing everything he can to keep it there. He never said discouraging or as Gina said, Adversarial word”, about the company. Is the Gov, seeing the handwriting on the wall, looking for a fall instead shining the spotlight 0n Union owned RI, the historic reason for this wonderful state not being acceptable to companies doing real business.

Children failing their coloring exams always need a shoulder to crayon.

The Answer:

If I had said “Casey” Jones then you would have known that John Luther was the Illinois Central Railroad Engineer who on April 30 1900 saved many lives, one hand on the brake to slow, one hand on the whistle to warn as his train headed towards a stalled freight train.

The US is number one in the word in negativity. I wonder how we would improve if Social media just disappeared one day. If news media didn’t get more viewers from adversity than accomplishment. If politicians just stopped scaring people.

Just look up and see the sun.

Even when clouds loom high.

Work out difficulties, don’t give in.

Adore your friends, a human prize.

Look beyond petty divergences.

Say a prayer when dark appears.

Credibility requires courage.

Today's Tids Issue 4,377

Bluebirds:

Do you feel it like I do? The rebirth of romance in the air. Is it in the imagination? Or do blue birds sing a beautiful song to daises and daffodils newly born. Is it my mind that creates the glow, or is it forests filling out with colorful buds anew? Am I walking on air, or am I just feeling all of the love that’s there? Well you don’t need a scientific analysis about how you feel. It’s good. And it’s warm. And if you look into my eyes, you’ll see the love in my heart beaming through. There is something about Spring. Why birds in trees sing, and why bees are too busy to sting. It just comes at you like cool ocean waves tumbling on a shore. Wade into it.

Or maybe, I have hay fever and my eyes are a little bleary. Nah. I’ll take romance.

Narrow-mindedness is compressive.

Three rousing orchestral crescendos that always get my heart beating a little faster, my blood flowing a little more energetically, are Brahms “Academic Festival Overture”, Britton’s “Young People’s Guide to the Orchestra” and Liszt’s “Les Preludes”.

Now That old Joe has shown his money gathering power, you can expect more intraparty sniping as the 20 or so Dem candidates get serious about positioning themselves for the longer haul.

Happy Birthday Bernie Madoff! Thanks for being a constant reminder of that if it looks too good to be true it probably isn’t. And, that nice guys can finish you off fast.

The Question:

The first five US presidents were Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison and Monroe. Who were 6-10?  Bonus: What are two other names for a heron? Extra Bonus: Who was Clara Petacci?

The Headlines:

--Markets Could Be Sluggish As Investors Await News Of Key Economics Reports: Fed Policy Statement, April Jobs Report, Bank Of England Monetary Policy Decision And China Purchasing Manager’s Index.

--Construction Crane Falls Off Seattle Building Under Construction Squashing Cars; 4 Killed.

--Kamala Harris Calls For End Of “Right To Work” Laws.

--Avengers: Endgame Takes In First Weekend Dough Of $1.2 Billion, And All-Time Movie Record.

--Trump Had Supporters Cheering In Wisconsin, While Press Corp Gathered To Laugh At Him In DC.

--Boeing Says It Will Cost $1 Billion To Fix 737Max program; More Whistle Blowers Emerging.

--Fox’s Judge Napolitano Makes Case For Trump Obstructing Justice.

A good and sound Tidster reminded me the other day that Ivanka Trump was in the African countries of Ethiopia and Ivory Coast promoting the advancement of a global women’s program. He noticed that nary a word of about her efforts could be found in the general press. He noted that if Michelle had done the same, she would be on the cover of Time and regaled across all of the network interview programs. Like or hate the person Trump, he has not been treated well at all by the media at large, even when producing positive results for Americans. By the way, the Global Women’s initiative is designed to boost the lives of 50 million women in developing countries.

Scientific research has proven two things about smart phones. One, their use by employees will reduce business productivity by a third. Second, a person with a phone in their hand (Note not using it or looking down at it.) implies to another that you are not interested in them.

On Saturday here they imploded two giant super expensive-to-build cooling towers, the last most visible remnants of a once critical coal fueled energy plant. It will now become a construction site for off shore windmill production. But here’s the catch – the two towers were less than a decade old. I call that waste. But you can expect more of that as the winds of acceptable energy solutions change dramatically. And the cost of electricity goes up.

But, the landscape above the blue waters of Mount Hope Bay does look a lot better.

Grave Mistake: Burying Mom in the wrong plot.

Remember Cinerama? There is one show I saw using that advanced technology of the day that I still can see clearly, and hear beautifully in my mind. It was of Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A over filmed scenes of Scandinavia and rigorous tall ship sailing. I can still see it, but I forgot the name.

(Note: The premiere of Cinerama in New York City in 1952 was front page news, and drew prominent people Like Thomas Dewey, Violinist Fritz Chrysler, Met Opera impresario Rudolph Bing, NBC’s David Sarnoff, CBS’s William Paley, the brilliant Richard Rogers and Louis B’ Mayer.)

While in Congress, Dem candidates Booker, Gillibrand, Harris, Klobuchar, Sanders, Warren, O’Rourke and Biden sponsored 1,565 bills and 40 became law, a hit rate of 2.5%. 20 of those were of Biden during his 36 years and 14 by Klobuchar during her 12 years. Beto had one passed, the naming of a post office. Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren had no laws passed; Booker two, Bernie two and Gillibrand one.  Just a few facts, maam.

Brewhaha: When customers in a café make jokes about their coffee. Unless of course they are in a beer hall.

Netflix is facing a future that could be questionable. It’s not just that many solid companies like Disney are getting into the streaming act, it’s that many of the Hollywood entrants used to produce content for Netflix. That’s called a bind.

A friend of mine says he never thought he would say it, and still can’t believe it is coming out of his lips, but from what he has seen and heard lately, Nancy Pelosi is the only politician making sense. Yikes!

Credibility in this new world can be fleeting. And taking firm, unwavering extreme positions on issues, glomming onto spurious rumors for support, will lead to nothing but skepticism. You’ve got to analyze instead of channelize.

Some people don’t cross picket lines in support of strikers. Others don’t cross picket lines for fear of being mugged.

I think Robert E. Lee was a helluva General. And, I’m a Yankee to the core. (Not a Ya, Ya, Ya,… of course).

Joe Biden in a campaign strategy meeting: “I hope I don’t rub voters the wrong way!”

The Answer:

John Quincy Adams was number 6 followed by Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, William Henry Harrison and John Tyler. Bonus: A heron is also known as an egret or Bittern.  Extra Bonus: Clara Petacci was Mussolini’s Mistress. The two were captured trying to flee Italy after the war and were executed.

I’m actually beginning to feel the beauty of Spring. But, I still know enough about the vagaries of April and May to keep my Winter clothes near at hand.

Love your week, E-v-e-r-y-b-o-d-y!!