Are you ready for Potato salad?

Today's Tids Issue 4,420

Mayo and...

Boooooom! It’s July, everybody. Yes, July, the most summer centric month of the year. It begins with a sincere reverence for the ingenuity of American principles, and courage; it ends with the first days of fresh corn on the cob – at least up here. In between we’ll hear complaints about heat and crowded beaches and highways. My golf scores will go to hell, and I will get tired of potato salad. And at the end of it all, NFL teams will begin practicing in anticipation of fall hurrahs. Yet, despite the sunburns and crowds, summer is a time for utter relaxation if you find the right place, and attitude. The days move slower, and so does our bodies. So, this is the week that begins the rush to recreational havens. And despite my curmudgeon’s view of summer harassment, lots of people will be smiling, oohing and aahing at bombs bursting in air and flags waving proudly; swimming in cool waters; romping in forests and upon mountains. Or like me, looking for nothing to do, except appreciating the beauty and strength of America.

One of the great things that any society has going for it is the fact that pendulums swing. Yes, individuals have proven over time that they are capable of seeing the faults of dangerous and disrupting life trends, and have the innate moral tenacity to move back to sanity, without a spate of new laws. As my old family motto says, “All in good time”.

Remember when there were “Town Characters” Those quirky odd dressed oldsters who would regale kids and adults with tales of yore, and express a grand sense of wisdom. Now, people call Social services to “help them”.

Politicians tap into the vacuums in people’s minds.

Now that newspapers have gotten so expensive, we just curl up and read CVS receipts.

I hear people say, why do I have to make my bed if I’m just going to sleep in it again at night. The answer: Discipline. Remember discipline?

The Question:

Who is Jason Schayot? Bonus: What, according to the American Consumer Satisfaction Index, are considered America’s favorite hotel chains?

The Headlines:

--Markets Take Off Like 4^th Rocket; Trump Lifts Huawei Ban, Optimism For China Solution High; Gold Sinks; Asia Factory Down In Newest Report.

--Iran Says It Breached Nuke Pact Limits On Enriched Uranium.

--Trump Is First US President To Step Upon NK Soil; Trump’s New Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham Is Roughed Up By NK Guards At Border Crossing; President Brags.

--Buttegieg Campaign Raises $24.8 Mil In Q2!

--Buffett Donates $3.6 Billion In BH Shares To Five Charitable Foundations – Gates, ST Buffett, Sherwood, HG Buffett and NoVo.

--California Ammo Rush begins As Lawmakers Seek More Restrictions On Guns.

If everything just appeared. If everything was easy. Then we wouldn’t need striving. Let’s hope we never forget striving.

You probably heard about Eric Trump being spat upon in a restaurant in Chicago named The Aviary. Well, it turns out there is local Restaurant here in Swansea Mass called the Aviary. It’s a nice place, but now is under assault by the Internet Illiterate who shout before they know. There is no relationship between the two similarly named restaurants, and despite the efforts of the local owners to disclaim any relationship, the anguished, asinine attack mobs keep on sending in disparaging, dangerous sounding messages. God help twitter nation.

Just in: Food prep and delivery company Blue Apron to be traded on the NY Smock Exchange.

So, is the good that can come from Social media gathering people to help others outweighed by the bitter divides that it regularly generates among neighbors?

Penn Colonial Life Insurance touts its $9.95 per month premium no matter the age or health situation. What they don’t say is what $9.95 buys you as you age or become medically deficient. Your benefits decline somewhat dramatically, but, yes, it’s still $9.95/month.

Apparently among the young there is a new movement towards sobriety. They say the younger generation still wants to get together to have fun and communicate, but would rather wake up the next morning without headaches or guilt. So, the liquor industry is coming up with NA gins, vodkas, tequilas, bourbons and brandies. The bartenders are picking it up on it and will still be able to push expensive fancy drinks that will draw exuberant throngs to inhabit hot bars imbibing “Mocktails”. And this at a time when local governments are pushing “recreational” pot that’s stronger than ever. Ah, the paradoxes of life.

“Bernie Panders”. I like it.

I hate being part of a demographic because I think I am an individual.

These People Vote, Department:

Did you hear about the WalMart shopper who when entering the store went directly to the bakery and bought a big cake. She ate half of it while shopping, and at the cash register said she would only pay for half a cake! Yikes! I’m not kidding. Btw, she was banned form the store for life, just before she went to register as a democrat voter…with a small “d”.

Musings from the Oval office: “What if I rename ICE to Planned Citizenship and we call deportations, ‘Aborted naturalizations”. Hmm…”

For the fourth year in a row, the ASCI (American Consumer Satisfaction Index) has rated Chick-fil-A as America’s favorite restaurant. Its rating score was significantly higher than #2 – “All other stores” and those that followed, Panera, Arby’s, Chipotle, Papa Johns and Pizza Hut. Next in line were Starbucks edging out Dunkin in the coffee arena. Subway dropped a point while KFC went up, as did sister company Taco Bell (but was down the list of faves). The burger chains followed KFC led by Wendy’s and then BK, Sonic, Jack-in-the-Box and finally Mc Donald’s. Yes, mighty Mac is down a bit, but they still have the very best sausage-egg-cheese on a biscuit!

With Wimbledon coming up, you may want to watch for this Canadian phenom who is flying high – FAA, Felix Auger-Aliassime. Old pros and sport experts expect him to be the first of those who replace te current wonderful older guard.

Yes, I think it is probably a good idea that younger generations thinking there is more to life and their future than getting wasted every night. There is an advantage to having unimpaired grey matter. Believe me.

The Answer:

The name Jason Schayot might not readily spring up in your mind, but he is none other than the world’s all time Watermelon Seed Spitting champion, who in 1995 launched a single seed to the remarkable distance of 75 feet 2 inches! Holy Human Pea Shooter, Batman!  Bonus: According to ACSI, there is a tie at the top of best hotel chains – Marriot (Marriott, Courtyard, Fairfield) and Hilton (Embassy, Garden and Hampton. Three other chains above the industry index average were Hyatt, Continental and Best Western. Blow the average we had in order, Choice, La Quinta, Wyndham and G6 Hospitality (Motel 6). Among the economy brand hotels, the leaders were Days Inn, Econolodge, Soper 8 and Motel 6. If you are booking a hotel, the best internet services are considered TripAdvisor followed by two Expedia companies – Orbitz (Formerly #1) and Travelocity. In last place we find Price Line. Happy traveling, if you call summer traffic jams traveling.

Potato salad is ono of those traditions that every summer finds its way to back yard cookouts and get-together between neighbors and/or families. And while just about everybody seems to have their own idea of what makes a better potato salad, nobody walks out when it doesn’t taste like theirs. They give other people’s favorites a chance. They don’t stand around and grimace or utter insults.  Interesting. Civility. Remember civility. Maybe we could apply the potato salad principle to a more harmonious existance.