Helmets on.

Today's Tids Issue 3,40

Opening Stuff:

Yesterday I walked in the footsteps of marching men. I felt the presence of Washington, Kosciusko, Patton, Eisenhower, Bradley, MacArthur. And more. All of the great leaders who honed their values on these fields, who traveled across seas, who drove the battles against great foes; against brothers and classmates in the Civil War. Yesterday, I stood on the mountains that framed the Hudson River before the fortress that is West Point. I sensed the power and the resolve; the dedication. Nothing can stop America, but Americans giving in to a lesser America.

People search the world for beauty, and it is often best in their own back yard.

The Question:

The pipe organ at the West Point Chapel is one of the largest in the world, perhaps the largest. How many Pipes do you think it has? Bonus: In one graduating class at The Point one renown graduate was in the bottom fifth of the class while another who achieved similar status in their careers was #1. Who are they? What distinguishes the pair from all but three other West Point Graduates?

The Headlines:

--Dow Futures Up 280 At 8:20 AM; China Market Falls 1.3%; EuroStocks Lower.

--The Stock Market Giveth And Then Taketh Away; Experts Say Not To Worry; Ride Will Be Bumpy.

--Breaking News: Shooter In Monita Va Mall Hits Three Members Of TV Crew During Live Broadcast.

--Kurt Shilling Kicked Off ESPN Little League Broadcast For Pointing Out Relevant facts About Muslims In Tweet.

--Ambassador Caroline Kennedy and Lois Lerner Also used Private Email Accounts In Gov Biz.

--Defense Department Intelligence Operatives Puffing Up Reports About Action Against ISIS To Provide More Optimistic Views To Prez.

--Trump Attacking Everything And Anybody.

Tids Book Exchange:

Here’re this morning’s new entries (Note Ladies: Still nothing from the non-male gender. Think of all of the Book Club friends you could be helping.) Today’s Kudos go for Invisible Wall by Bernstein -; 4 Star recommendation: Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman; Neptunes Inferno: US Navy at Guadalcanal by J.B. Hornfischer. Latest contributor says don’t bother with “Orient” by Bollen.

There’s a great chapel (cathedral is more like it) on the campus of the US Military, but mandatory attendence to it was declared unconstitutional by Congress back in those not so distant times when what was always good became bad. It sounded kind of weird to hear that.

I’m having more and more trouble listening to the sacrosanct ESPN.

I’m starting to get the feeling from the lack of response by Women to the Tids Book exchange that perhaps women are out there doing something while men are sitting around reading. ESPN would probably fire me for that… Oh, wait a minute, I was insulting old white men. That’s ok.

NYC Myopia, Department

In a classic case of “If it ain’t New York City, it’s nothing,” Howard Sterne and several other AGT judges had trouble understanding why an outstanding performance last night by the Blue Grass family singing group “Mountain Faith band” had the audience screaming in the aisles. It was quite hilarious to me as the foursome stumbled around trying to get beyond their limited view of the world. That was maybe the best entertainment of the night.

The Rest Of America’s Got Talent:

The Mountain Faith Band will do just fine anywhere even without the the NYC Imprimatur. I thought the big dance group Chapkis Dance Family. was quite amazing, fun to watch (Howard didn ‘t get that either). I could watch Illusionist Oz again, easily. I liked the singer Daniella Mass, a lot. Loved the song. (Howard S didn’t which makes me feel like I’m right on). Daniella will have stiff completion in singing as Alicia Michilli can flat out sing. Period. I could also vote for the imaginative dancers Freelusion – great effects, heart stimulating emotion. Also raising me up was the Gospel singing group Selcted of God. Benjamin is a lot more than just a sympathetiv figure, he is a blind man dancing like hell, and beautifully. I’m really  not interested in The Professional Regurgitater, even though he seems to be getting through to the judges. I didn’t yuck it up a lot last night with comic Gary Vider, but he he is engaging and I will watch again if he makes it. The motor cycle acrobats were thrilling and well executed, but I would get tired f seeing the same old thing. Daditude was rightfully buzzed off the stage.

ESPN would fire Trump in a heartbeat.

Reading Between the lines Movie Reviews (Midweek verison):

No escape opens today and it looks like a winner, to me. Tye critic I read couldn get beyond some politically correct thing about the dismissal of more information about the Asian country in which it takes place he probably feels for ISIS but that’s what this is about. Muslim types hacking groups of Americans with Machetes and Owen Wilson trying to get his family out safe with the help of Pierce Brisnin. Full of tension and excitement  and good for all except one misguided critic. Kurt Shilling will like it.

I’m suspending publication of the Parking Lot for the next todays.

The Answer:

There are 23,500 pipes in every corner of the mammoth chapel. I’d like to go there someday to hear it. Bonus. Omar Bradley was #1 and Ike Eisenhower barely made it out. In fact Ike made “Yardbird” status which means he had an enormous amount of disciplinary actions against him forcing him to march it off in full equipment mode. Omar and Ike were the only two Five Star generals form WP. The other 3 five stars are George Marshall, Douglas MacArthur, and Henry Arnold. Note, two have rans above Five Star – George Washington and John Pershing.

See you all tomorrow!