Out with Bullhorns.

Today's Tids Issue 4,415

Hey, we're just people:

I know lots of people from opposite ends of the political spectrum who are good friends and thoroughly enjoy each other doing things together. Humanity is much more than politics.

Delightful Discovery, Department:

I had a nice long walk on the beach last Friday. Nobody was there, like quiet days of yore. Only me and a seagull, and stones and shells of intriguing shapes and colors. Just me and the sea. It was raining. I’ve decided to only go to the beach when it is raining.  And, there is no charge for parking.

Compare that with listening to clutters of politicians stepping on each other’s liens, changing so-called deep-seated principles to gain a few extra votes, making promises they can’t keep, creating illusions of systems that can’t work…and you know where I’m going when things get stormy.

CBS New the other night did a little piece about the last graduate from the old school on Cuttyhunk island in Mass, almost visible from that walk on the beach above. It reminded me about what I have loved about Old New England since that very young age when I first became aware of what is truly beautiful. The simplicity, the quiet havens, the people going about their work. It’s one reason why I was rooting for a small island school, just off this island upon where I live, that was on the chopping block earlier this year. It survived. For now. But encroachment is the new normal, and it is not pretty at all.

The Question:

Who are these people: Diana Trask, Joss Whedon, Malissa Rauch, Joel Edgerton ad Selma Blair?

The Headlines:

--Trade Optimism Rises; Stocks Should Open Healthier; Wall Street Has Eye On G20..

--Trump Complains That His Aids Are Trying To Push Him Into War.

--Cash Challenged Connecticut Passes New “Mansion” Tax.

--Biden Says He Will Reverse Trump Tax Cuts First Thing After Winning; Sanders Intros Radical Plan To Erase Student Debt.

--Dems Make Their Case In South Carolina.

--Hawaii Morns Nine Killed In Fiery Skydiver Plane Crash; Pickup Truck Crashes Into Line Of touring Motorcyclists In New Hampshire, Killing 7, Injuring 3.

--Pen Pals: The Release Of Private Text Messages Reveals That Fox Commentator Hannity and Paul Manafort traded Hundreds Of Texts About the Mueller Investigation; Hannity: Everything In The Texts Has been heard On My Radio And TV Programs.

--Bitcoin Hitting New Highs.

Hillary Price suggests aspirin sprinkles for ice cream headache relief.

Do you know what I’m getting tired of? I am getting real tired of celebrities in TV talk show chats hawking books they have “written”.

Frankly I glaze over watching almost all celeb interviews.

Do you know what I always hated as a kid? It was the burning of the roof of my mouth with hot pizza. I still do.

It’s hotter in baseball parks now that all the fans have left.

Up in Massachusetts, some Pols are proposing “Guaranteed Income” for all. You have to wonder if that is designed to support the brand new shiny giant Wynn Casino that just opened this week. Yikes!

Changing Attitudes:

Americans, and probably all humans the world over, have always readily accepted new trends and reacted favorably to promoted hysteria. But there are signs that many of the recent national mindlessly accepted issues of the past are getting second looks. For instance, people are learning that Google is not a papal imprimatur, as it appears millions (Yes, millions) of businesses on their apps are fakes. Con jobs. And yes, some are questioning papal imprimaturs. The states are cracking down on bogus emotional support animal syndrome. Washington state and Colorado are proving after the time since Marijuana approval that it is not an innocent pastime but preying on kids seeking higher highs. “MeToo” accusations are not being accepted at face value as they had during the early rush. Society is not being cowed by mass support without investigation. In fact, counter suits are the new norm. It’s old pendulum concept of action and ultra-overreactions returning to common sense.

I talk here about local places I love and what they were and what I hope will be preserved in the future. I know that many of you have the exact same experiences in midwestern fields, western mountains or southwestern desserts, anywhere in this USA. I just hope you are inspired to spend time in places that are uniquely special and comforting. The first thing we have to do is get rid of Google Maps.

Is summer over yet?

It is often said that the naïve go forward without fear; that sometimes, those who think are blinded by knowledge.

I have always enjoyed the third movement of Tchai’s 4^th – you know that good ole’ Scherzo, pizzicato ostinato movement.

Scientists keep on trying to make robots look like humans. But, I observe many a human who appear to spend time trying tom make themselves look like robots.

A very good and likable local news guy named Jim Taricani died this morning, 23 years after a heart transplant. He was an intrepid investigative reporter going after the New England Mafia based in Providence and many crooked politicians. He was sentenced by a judge for not revealing sources. He was respected by all. I met him once after knocking a door of a home for sale near Salve Regina U – his. He was about as humble and pleasant a person as you’d want to meet. Sometimes you feel for people you don’t really know, because you know they gave back. they did their thing well. Note: Jim’s transplanted heart was still healthy when he died.

Taricani said that he had several offers to move to other cities. But, noted, that where else could he find such a steady stream of such a bread variety of cases to investigate! I guess he didn’t receive offers form Chicago or New Jersey.

One of the great musical mood transitions is going from Tchai to Chopin. From war to love.

I’ll tell you some things I will never forget. It’s all of these historic symbols and statues taken down or discarded in this era of cleansing history with a non-discriminating brush.

There are people who when seeing a beautiful butterfly only think of a creepy caterpillar. That’s why I don’t like them landing on my shoulder.

I thought people gave up using “air quotes” years ago. I guess some habits are hard to break.

It must be presidential campaign time. New Yorker Mag has revealed another person -- Hillary-supporter, Elle-mag-columnist, woman’s rights advocate E. Jean Carroll, who alleges she was raped by Trump around 1995. It’s odd though. She says in her tale that “Trump was among a number of men who forced themselves on her”, including Les Moonves. Actually, it’s tough to write about incidents like this because I will always first accept the pain of the accuser, and then look for the evidence and reaction from the accused, of course always innocent until proven guilty. In this case, based on history, it is certainly possible that DT was aggressive. But that must be juxtaposed against the timing of the release of information. But, I have to tell you in this get Trump, disparage conservatives era, I am skeptical of all sensationalism. And the real victims in these cases of possible false or inflated accusations are the women who have been seriously violated in the past. Your basic conundrum.

If it’s tourist season, does that mean we can shoot them?

There is an 1836 federal Law that provides for the return of revenue surplus to the states. Remember states…to which the Fed is beholden, and from which the Federal government derives all of its power. Today. the Feds can’t even spell s-u-r-p-l-u-s.

The 30^th horse died or was euthanized due to track injury in California racing since the December 26 beginning of the current season. I don’t know about you, but somebody should be doing more than it appears anybody is doing about it. But then, we’re talking about California.

The Answer:

We haven’t had our popular “Who are these people Q” in quite a while. Being celebrity challenged, I wonder almost all of time, are these people these. And sometimes I find they are more familiar than I remember. Today’s random selection, of which I have no knowledge until look them up right now, could be illuminating or Duds! If you remember “Don McNiell’s Breakfast Club” or “Sing Along with Mitch (Miller)” you have seen or heard Australian singer Diana Trask. As a newbie entertainer, she opened for Sinatra and Sammy D Jr. She was a regular singer on The Jack Benny Show. Her first hit was “Lover is another name for Fool”. She had a lot of hit country singles like “Say When” and “When I get My Hands On You.” Joss Whedon is a producer, director, screenwriter best known for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. He wrote the scripts for films The Avengers and Justice League. Malissa Rauch was Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz  on the Big Bang Theory. Joel Edgerton is an Australian actor best known for the “Secret Life of Us” and many other films like Black Mass, Red Sparrow and The Great Gatsby. He won the America Best Director Award for “The Gift”. Selma Blair has been in many films like Cruel Intentions, Legally Blond and Hell Boy; and TV shows like Anger Management and American Crime Story. She earned a Grammy nomination for her reading of the audio book, The Diary of Anne Frank. So now I’m smarter. You probably knew all this.  

America has never been about getting stuff for free.

I live inside my music and in my dreams.