You have to stand for something, or get nothing but squishiness.

Today's Tids Issue 3,432

Opening Stuff:

Boehner is gone and he was a compromiser. But, the fact remains that the Right sided congressmen didn’t just materialize from salty Mars water. They were elected by constituents who wanted their beliefs heard through these representatives. After all, that is how the system works. Liberal minded easterners seem disturbed by people who think government spending is out of hand, or that funding Planned Parenthood is a sign of the fading moral character of a nation. The liberal east seems to fear the idea that the USA is a country of individuals determining their own destiny, and not one of declining responsibility and motivation fostered by government handouts. Sometimes obstruction is good for the soul.

I always like it when potato and macaroni salad days end.

In the new NBC/WSJ Poll on Democrat candidates, it shows that Joe Biden is now faring better against Repubs than Hillary, who is now losing to all of them after months of winning by a large margin.

The Question:

The presence of the Pope focused the spotlight on the National Cathedral in Washington DC. In what year did construction of the mammoth Church start, and under which President was it finally dedicated?

The Headlines:

--US Market Up; WS Confused: End Of Bull Or beginning Of bear.

--Obama And Putin Arm Wrestle Over Syria At UN; Putin Wore shirt; No Breakthroughs, Little Agreement.

--Taliban Seize Kondus; This Is the first Afghan City To Fall To The Taliban Since 2001; US And Afghan Launch Counteroffensive; City Still In Fused With Taliban Fighters.

--Trump Announces tax Plan: No Taxes For Families Under $50K; Top Individual Tax 25%; Corporate Tax Reduced To 15%; All Deductions Eliminated Except Mortgage And Charity.

--Trump Backs Russia Syria Fight Against ISIS.

--Weathermen Watching New Tropical Storm Joaquin; Seems Weak And Misguided.

I heard a good common sense suggestion for handling the Syrian refugee problem in the US. For every illegal immigrant who is sent packing, one Syrian can start living off the US  government legally. That means there is probably room here for 11-20 Million wandering, hungry refugees in need of a home. This should take care of the problem pretty nicely, And, if the Syrians take all of those illegal jobs, we can cut down on the cost of free government maintenance, and save strapped business owners from imprisonment. Does your heart feel better?

That was pretty astonishing news about the discovery of “flowing” water on Mars. Yikes, have you checked out your new neighbors lately? In addition to determining the possibility of life, I thought it was interesting that he type of salt in the water was exactly the  kind of salt treatment necessary to keep water liquid in frigid temperatures. The great scientist in the sky has done it again.

Carley Fiorino, Department:

In case you are conflicted by various reports on her stewardship of H-P, former board members are coming forward to laud her “leadership, the accuracy of her vision and the quality of her management.” She was brought on by the board of a truly struggling, barely scraping by HP, and she invigorated it and set out a plan that made it competitive and profitable. She doubled revenues to $80 Billion, stimulated innovation to 15 patents/day (Yikes!), quadrupled the growth rate and brought the company to 11th largest in the country. And, in answer to all of that negativity about jobs lost (A favorite ploy of Dems and loser Repubs), she took over the company just before the DotCom collapse, also known as “The year of the Layoff”. Many other Giants in the then tech world just disappeared.” Carley may be as good as she looks, and that is rare in politicians today.

Have you ever noticed that ballet dancers never smile? I figure it’s because the tales they tell are so dire. Or, their tutus are too tight.

There has to be more to life than Buffalo Wild Wings.

There is evidence coming out that a major reason for the tragic death of now 1,100+ Muslims on a Hajj , was that the police closed the road they were streaming and merging towards to allow a Royal Convoy to pass. Saudi wealth is not a pretty thing, Ask some New Yorkers who have to put up with their sense of overriding privilege too.

I have been tempted to get involved with draft Kings or Fan Duel. I get nervous though when they say it is free.

The Parking Lot: Chapter 16 continues…

  Jared took aim as he saw Jasper’s foot pull back ready to kick Beth in the ribs. He squeezed the trigger, and then ran ten yards to his right down the path without looking at what he accomplished. A gun shot rang out before he got to his next position. He saw Sam standing over Jasper, who was squirming on the ground screaming and cussing. Sam’s eyes, fixed on Jared’s former position, were now more of concern than evil and intimidation. The big oaf fired four more times into the pushes. Jared took aim again and fired, this time taking the time to see the results. Sam’s face reddened immediately as the shot gun blast seemed to tear off part of his face. The big guy dropped into a clump. Jasper was still screaming, but now looked wide eyed at his partner. His head was turning rapidly, and his hand now going in under his jacket for a gun. Jared fired again, and Jasper went limp.

   Jared crash through the bushes, ran and then kicked away Sam’s gun. He reached down inside Jasper’s pocket for the second gun partially out of the holster. If he wasn’t so anxious, he would have thrown up looking at the mess he had created. But he was more concerned with Beth than his stomach. His attention and emotions went to Beth who was shivering. He picked her up and with  the last of his energy carried her the porch of Nancy’s house. He took off his jacket and covered her up. her eyes looked up at him, but he wasn’t sure she was seeing anything.

  He looked back at the two limp bodies. What have I created?, he thought. Is this the beginning of a war? And, why am I in it?

The Answer:

Construction of the The National Cathedral began in 1907 and was dedicated by GHW Bush in 1990. It would have been better if named The Free Market Cathedral.

Today might be the start of a period of rain here. I couldn’t be happier.

Enjoy Tuesday.