Today's Tids Issue 6,044
Falling to 31:
A woman keeps having disturbed dreams, shouting things like "Hobbit!", "Gandalf!", and "Mordor!".She is always Tolkien in her sleep...
In general I tend to be i awe of people. It seems like all of the time I'm meeting somebody who is just brilliant in so many ways. Yeah, with a neighbor or a friend or a relative, young or old I often hear a sensible solution to world problems argued endlessly by anointed experts. We should listen to ourselves.
Hey, the NFL Draft is on TV Tonight. It will be its usual extravaganza with draft experts trying to outdo each other. If you have a couple of hours to watch mostly nothing happening, tune in, I will. I'm easily duped.
The Question:
Who was Ruth Slenczynska?
The Headlines:
--Software Stocks Lead Markets Down Early After IBM Reignites Fears of AI Disruptions Across Sector; Fragile Peace Talk Progress has Inventors Worried Again; New Jobless Claims Creep Up.
--US Intercepts Iran Supertanker in India Ocean.
--Pentagon Fires Secretary of Navy John Phelan; Most likely Reason according to Insiders is Slow Progress of building Out Trump’s Prized Hope for a “Golden Fleet”.
--Tesla Earnings Beat Estimates; Stock Wavers as Investors Show Concern for Slow Growth of Robo Taxi and return on AI Investments.
--Trump Orders Military to “Shoot and Kill” Small Iranian Boats Clogging Strait.
--Trump Admin Reclassifies Cannabis as “Less Dangerous”.
“I'm always chasing rainbows, Watching clouds drifting by. My schemes are just like all my dreams, Ending in the sky,”
I was thinking of that pretty melodic song of yore. I was thinking that perhaps after all of these decades of chasing dreams I should settle down and get practical. But I looked up the lyrics for that song and found it was an anthem of a loser. A glass half empty guy. Yet, I thought, if you don't chase rainbows, if you don't dream you may not ever find anything, You may have missed out on the best things you found. So, I guess I'm not ready to become practical yet.
If you watch the Stock market, the key to billions now-a-days is to sell high one day and but low the next. Have we ever had a clearer pattern for short term guidance. Yes, lately we have had consistently alternating highs and lows tied to predictable peace talk rhetoric.
The new average grocery expenditure for a family of four is $1,450/month. That is the average for a range that goes from $950 to $1,700 depending on location, resources and personal spending guidelines. The biggest single surge occurred during the 2020-21 Pandemic years. I am continually amazed when checking out at the size of costs for a few essential items. But I continue to find good deals on Potato Chips. I work hard on essentials.
I have to apologize. Sometimes I write long Tidlets what I think are are thoughtful and meaningful, yet that probably only I understand. Yesm you are still sane if you don't get what I mean
The 70-80 degree temps of last week were a real fooler now that the cold has returned in earnest. It just reminds me why mid May is the best time to plant up here in New England. I hate the thought of shivering plants.
If a teacher tells you that that your dreams are the future, how come they won’t let you sleep in class?
Fired Secretary of the Navy John Phelan was a Trump supporter and contributor. He made is money mainly as a private equity guy managing the fortunes of Donald Dell. As reported above, Phelan was fired mainly over disagreement between he and Hegseth and #2 Stephen Feinberg over the progress of the Golden Fleet initiative. The “Golden Fleet” is a Trump concept with intention of fast tracking ship building to catch China which is away our in front of the US. The aim is to build 20-25 “Trump Class”: ships which are 30-40,000 Ton Battleships capabelof carrying lasers, rail guns and Hypersonic Nuke Missiles. The first of these ships is due in 2028. Critics are wary of the need for battleships in an era of “stealth precision missiles”.
The Answer:
Ruth Slenczynska was the last living pupil of RRachmaninoff. As a 4-year-old child she was heralded as one of the worlds greatst child prodigies since Mozart. Her first recital was at the age of four and her first appearance a with symphony, The Paris, was at age seven. At the age of 9 she was called in to substitute for Rachmaninoff who had to bow out of a Paris performant due to an arm injury. The great maestro looked at the shaking little girl who appeared at is apartment door, pointed a finger saying “That plays the Piano”. Yet He quickly took time or clam her and make her comfortable. At rehearsal he realized that she was an incredible performer. They became closest of friends from that point on, Ruth performed for 9 decades and is beloved by all, not only those who have heard her play, but all who have ever met her. Her relationship with her fanatical musician father is a different story. She died today.
I have decided to pursue my dreams. Good night.
There are lots of Dream songs-- Dream On by Arrowsmith is always good. Coldplay, Dave Matthews and Taylor Swift have given us musical dreams too. But some feel the best classic dream sons is this one:
