On the edge.

Today's Tids Issue 4,414

Teetering, Tempering:

Happy Summer…E-v-e-r-y-b-o-d-y!  You remember summer. Of course, you do. But the opening day of summer is also the beginning of shorter and shorter days, which means we are on our way to Winter. You remember long days, don’t you? We here haven’t had enough daylight lately to realize now long our days have been. But, we can joke about the March like weather in June, and revert back to those weather cliché’s for solace. In a month or so, though, we’ll stop complaining about cold summer days and mope around in soggy heat wishing for fall, wanting all to hear of our discomfort. Nothing is more revealing about human nature than weather. Odd, isn’t it. Oh well, Happy Summer, for now.

It appears that we were but a hair trigger away from war last night. It is said that Trump rescinded and earlier order to strike back at Iran. I don’t know what’s happening, but something is happening, that’s for sure. Some military people say we stepped back because we weren’t entirely ready. Others say we thought the better of escalation and the distinct possibility of igniting a long drawn out conflict in a tinderbox region. Regardless of the vitriol over the admin, Washington DC is a very intense place most of the time; a serious place with immense global affecting decisions at the top of the list. Beyond the investigations; beyond the editorials; beyond the bullhorns in the streets.  

I always thought drones were sneaky little vermin with the ability to slip into foreign territory for undetected, secret missions. But hey, the drone shot down by Iran has a wing span equal to that of a Boeing 737! Yikes. The things you don’t know when your head is buried in a laptop.

How come when paper jams in my printer, there is no music?

Fog is a beautiful thing when living on the coast. Having days that change is good for the poetry in our souls. Fog is comforting. It speaks of the sea and the battles of sailors blinded upon wide expanses narrowed by mist. It softens the lapping waters. It and comforts a raging heart like the soft arms of a gentle lover. Embrace the changes. Sunlight always returns, but there are many days when I prefer the grey, and the solitude of it.

The Question:

Ok here’s a list of code names used by the Secret Service for First Ladies. Try to match the ladies to the following codes. Lace, Muse Springtime Snowbank, Starlight, Lotus Petal, Tempo, Rainbow, Renaissance, Evergreen, Sunnyside, Rover, Victoria, and Pinafore. This list covers all first ladies form Eleanor Roosevelt to Melaena Trump. They are not in order.

The Headlines:

--President Trump Backs Off Earlier Order To Strike Back At Iran; Putin Warns Against US Use Of Force Against Iran; US Senators Says We Should Not Back Down; Iran Official Shrugs Off Possibility of Escalating attacks.

--Huge Refinery Explosion Racks Philadelphia.

--Stock Market Futures Pull Back Form Earlier Optimism Over Concerns Of Increased Volatility From Quadruple Witching day; Rate Reduction Hopes Still Has Buyers Feeling Positive.

--FAA Prohibits All US Carriers From Flying Near Or Over Ira; Britain And other Countries Joining Ban.

--India Sends Warships To Gulf.

--US Suicide rates Highest Since WWII.

--Koch Brothers Now second Wealthiest Family In USA.

If you’re holding a bee, what’s in your eye? Of course, it’s beauty – everybody knows beauty is in the eye of the bee holder.

19-year-old Zion Williamson won the lottery last night. The Duke basketball player was picked number one in the NBA draft and will automatically get a $19 million two-year contract for starters. But the real money will come when the big equipment companies like Nike, Adidas and Reebok begin bidding for his services. They are talking $100 million at this point in time. It’s kind of mind boggling.

Some analysts are saying that backing down against Iran might stimulate North Korea to become more aggressive. These are the kind of balancing acts, decisions that give Presidents grey hair that even orange dye can’t hold back. A lot of people never understand the immensity of the job of being President of the USA. Regardless of Party, of personal desires.

Released transcripts of Hope Hicks testimony before Congress yesterday revealed that the investigation has become a yawner. She could have brought along a robot to utter “Objection” time and time again. Lower hourly fees, but high energy costs to recharge batteries.

It remains to be seen if the new glass coffin business tales off.

Boeing and Airbus were coughing in General Electric’s dust at the big Paris Air Show. There is still life in that sleeping giant. GE came away with at least $34 Billion in new orders.

AI controlled Volvo/Uber cars may be trying to become safer, but they are driving them at about 25 mph to get there. Traffic jams will probably speed them up. And the only music there is the honking of horns. Can I get out and walk?

A lot of countries over the years have voted for governments who promised to give people a lot for doing nothing. Now many of them from South American to Europe are struggling to find the money to pay for the political largess. It’s easy to get throngs of people excited about something for nothing, and the left knows that. So, while we may laugh at some of the outrageous give-away proposals from leading Dem candidates, remember there’s lots of people out there listening, real hard.

Reading Between the lines Movie Reviews:

--Toy Story 4 Is a winner and some say it may be the best of them all. In this one Woody tries to convince a craft made plaything named Forky that he is not reclaimed trash and should feel proud at being a toy.

--Childs Play is the old sinister doll story. A mom gives son a doll as a play only to find the doll is evil to the core. You have seen this story before, but a lot of people will like being scared by an malicious little toy. Maybe Woody could hop over and help. Hey, it’s summer.

--Swinging Safari is an Australian pic that takes place in the 1970’s, and is all about the so-called sexual revolution. Kids in a small town get excited when the body of a dead 200-ton Blue Whale washes up on the beach, but behind closed doors mums and dads see it as an opportunity to go wild and have a whale of a time. Like the rotting whale, it goes spectacularly wrong.

--Critics basically hate “Anna” but audiences like the actions of this very cool, creative world class government assassin. Lots of excitement and the all-important twists. Good cast with Helen Mirren Lue Evans and Cillian Murphy. I’d probably go.

The Answer:

Lace is Jacqueline Kennedy, Muse is Melania Trump, Springtime is Mamie Eisenhower, Snowbank is Barbara Bush, Starlight is Pat Nixon, Lotus Petal is Rosalynn Carter, Tempo is Laura Bush, Rainbow is Nancy Reagan, Renaissance is Michelle Obama, Evergreen is Hillary Clinton (Green with envy?), Sunnyside is Bess Truman, Rover is Eleanor Roosevelt, Victoria is Lady Bird Johnson, and Pinafore is Betty Ford. I thought I’d get more. Barbara Bush as Snowbank made sense. I’ll have to think about the rest.

God finally perfected the 24-hour cycle on earth, with darkness and light taking turns. He looked upon it and saw that it was good. An angel asked admiringly, “Amazing! What now Lord?” “Hmm,” said The Lord, “I think I’ll call it a day.”

Have a great Weekend…E-v-e-r-y-b-o-d-y!!