Unto each other.

Today's Tids Issue 4,366

Side By Side, Walkin' along, doin' nothin':

Before the gizmos that listened in, there were sampler ways for daily sin. Frittering was one. Lazing back on a grassy field and blowing dandelion fuzzies into the air. And laying there watching them dance, as the whimsical wind would wish. You dream of where they might have gone. And follow them on an impulsive whim. Then you would smile as a breeze rippled your hair, knowing there was only you inside your head thinking there.

This weekend here is called “Daffodil days. Great, if you can see em’ through all the tourists!

This just in: White Cheddar Crunchy Cheetos are now out in the marketplace and they’re kickin’ butt!

I have noticed over the years that anytime somebody from an entity stands up and says: “We are doing this for you,” they aren’t. Like yesterday when the Alexa crowd said we only are paying thousands of people around the world to sit and do nothing but listen to what’s being transmitted by devious devices from the privacy of your own home, “So we can make Alexa more intelligent for you”. Do the whiz kids think America has fallen off the cabbage truck? Maybe. Sites are always saying we’re doing this (Collecting and storing every known fact about everything you do) so you can shop easier and not miss all of the cool specials designed specifically for you. Yeah, right, for me. I should be more appreciative of all these really smart people spending their days thinking of only just little ole’ me.  Personally, I like to keep them confused about what I want.

When a new cat arrives home, word is quickly spread by word of mouse.

The Question:

Today is the 158^th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War. Where did it start and whom fired upon whom? Bonus: What was the name of the Doctor who relieved the collective minds of panic-stricken Americans across the land with his invention of the Polio vaccine? Extra Bonus: What was the name of Scott Turow’s big book?

The Headlines:

--Big Banks Kicking Off Earnings Season With Strong Reports; Markets Open Higher; Uber Files IPO Papers; Disney Inaugurates Streaming Effort; JP Morgan Reports Strong Quarter; Wells-Fargo Show Big Profits But Declining Deposits.

--Midwest Digging Out.

--EU Demands That Libya’s Haftar Cease Offensive.

--WH Had Plan To Release Immigrant Detainees Into Sanctuary Cities To Overwhelm System.

--Kim Says Those Sanctioning NK Should Be Punished.

--Senate Arguing Merits of “Space Force”.

--Comey Says He Doesn’t Consider Surveillance, Spying.

--Shots Fired At Funeral For Nipsey Hussle.

When you read about the manipulative devices and breadth of schemes available to DC’s swampers, you quickly realize that skullduggery there has no bounds. And, they liked nothing better than a non-swamper with a big ego to assume the presidency upon whom to practice their ploys.

Remember how Hershey bars started giving you less chocolate in the same sized package? I think auto companies are using a similar strategy to keep customers in house. Four good examples of this are the SUVs of BMW, Jeep, Volvo and Honda. At the top there are the BMW X5, the Volvo X90, the Honda Pilot and the Jeep Grand Cherokee. But, the medium size cars for the four companies really took off – the Honda CRV, BMW X3, Volvo X 60 and Jeep Cherokee redo. These owners became a contented, and growing customer base. As the price of the basic car creeps up (Largely berceuse of Government safety mandates and some inflation) it became tough to keep the lower priced model affordable. BMW first introduced the X1 and just in this year Honda has the HRV, Volvo the upgraded restyled X40 and Jeep has the significantly newly designed Compass. All definitely smaller, but now affordable again for a broader customer base. I would hate to see how small they get in 30 years!

95% of news headlines are corporate publicity, association/lobbyist publicity, campaign publicity, “AOC Accuses” or “Warren Denounces”. That makes finding the five percent of real news very difficult.

Goo Goo Dolls? What are Goo Goo Dolls?

Empty netters cloud the ferocity, tension and effort of a well-played, very completive hockey game. There should be a better way of publishing the score.

I just learned that there is a new TV that allows you to watch it outside in the rain. Why would I ever want to do that?

Some mornings I think I’m going blind until realize that I hadn’t reset the type size on my Tids writing page. That’s after cleaning my glasses thrice.

The Alexa listening post caper reminded me of the time when I was texting and I accidently hit the “Google Assistant” button. Immediately in my text I saw the rapid typing of the Dialogue from the TV show I was watching. Yikes, my life is an open book.

Languishing Lyft post IPO stock prices may not be an environment in which Uber wants to announce their IPO.

The Black Hole picture looks like the entrance to hell. It probably is.

The decrease in time between Elizabeth Warren outrageous proposals is directly proportionate to her loss of credibility and popular support.

Oh no! Not yet another Elizabeth proclamation. Spare me.

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:

--People who like “Hellboy” series will be ok with this one too, even though it may be the weakest of them all. A resurrected ancient sorceress returns to avenge a past betrayal and Hellboy is caught between the supernatural and the human.

--Missing Link is liked and this time focuses on Mr. Link, a hairy giant who is entirely likeable. Tired of merely existing in the great pacific Northwest, a fearless explorer is hired to guide the family to Shangri-la.

--In “Little”, a woman finding the pressures of adulthood becoming too much for her gets a chance to return to the days of her younger life. Like “Big”. Fair.

The Answer:

Fort Sumpter outside of Charleston SC was a Union fort that was fired on by the Conference to begin the bloodiest of wars. This answer helps me with one of those dilemmas I have always had – who was in the Fort, the North or the South. Bonus: I remember being literally scared to death from the fear of getting polio. It was a seriously traumatic time for parents and children until Doctor Jonas Salk gave us the solution. I will never forget people in iron lungs. Extra Bonus: Scott Turow made it big with Presumed Innocent. I loved it. So, naturally I looked for his successor efforts like Burdon of Proof or Pleading Guilty, which were basically awful. So, I learned, look for plots, not authors.

The polio vaccine question reminds me again of how some, of today’s generations take so much for granted. That many in society just operate as though nothing is behind the comforts, and safeties of today. That’s why I am so dismayed about the vaccine issues that crop up from time to time. Regardless of progress generated from past efforts, a society is still reliant upon a populace with a sense of personal responsibility to function seamlessly for all.

Real News: NASA plans to send cattle into orbit. It will be the herd shot ‘round the world.

Enjoy your day. Find a dandy lion.