Moms are always there.

Today's Tids Issue 3,589

Opening Stuff:

Mom. She helped you up when you were down; she made the best of meals in town. She shouted your praises to the world, even when your antics had her unfurled. You stood at attention when she was mad, but when she ached you felt so sad. You knew you could walk in, always stand tall, Cause your mom would never let you fall. It’s said they manufactured the Mom’s day, but I wouldn’t have any other way.

I will never tire of reading the exploits of daring sailors. I put myself into their harrowing tales of raging winds and merciless seas, and wonder: How would I prevail? Would I be calm; react positively through fear? Single handed ocean sailing is a true test of human courage and resolve, where often the snuffing of a life is a second away. Yes, today Joe Harris and his 40 foot monohull Gryphon Solo2 sailed in to safe harbor to loving arms. He was alone, around the oceans of the world for 152 days, some of which he thought would be his last.

Speaking of scary human situations, that road out of Fort McMurry Alberta looks just like I would imagine hell to look.

The local courts must be starting late, because I see a lot of Lawyers scurrying around looking for free parking now that they have reinstalled meters in the lot for the summer season.

I think it will be quite a while before I get into a driverless car.

I notice that I use the word “Smile” too often when I write. But, frankly, I like smiles, and what it reflects in hearts.

The Question:

They say Trump is a pretty good golfer. Which Presidents are on the list of Top Ten Best Golfers. Bonus: The 160K jobs added in march was below forecasts. What four of the 13 industry segments added the most jobs by far? What 3 segments lost jobs? Oops: I forgot to give you the answer to yesterday’s “Easy Bucks Bonus”. The first American space traveler was Alan Sheppard.

The Headlines:

--Market Opens Higher but Falls back At 11:00.

--Fed To Hold Back On June Rate Increase After New Jobs Creation Falters; Requests For Benefits Increases.

--Speaker Ryan Isn’t Sure About Supporting Trump; Bush’s, Romney, McCain Decline And Will Not Attend Repub Convention; GOP Chairman Priebus Backs Trump..

--Koch Brothers Remain Turned Off By Trumps Personal Attacks And Mudslinging.

--New Report Says Paterno Knew Of Sandusky Child Abuse In 1976.

--Trump Backs Brexit.

--Combination Of Rebels And Jihadists Seize Village Outside Of Aleppo

Nyquest looks like the latest Kentucky Derby darling. He is at 3-1 odds and will start in the 13 post position, and many are saying he has a shot at the Triple Crown. Next at 8-1 is Exaggerator, who could get some emotional dough because of the Jockey/Trainer story. At 10-1 we have Mohaymen, Gun Runner and Creator. Two at 12-1 are Mor spirit and Brody’s Cause. Destin and Danzing Candy are almost viable at 15-1.  20-1 seems popular giving us Mo Tom, My Man Sam, Whitmore, Suddenbreakingnews, Shagf and Oscar Nominated. Lani, Majesto and Tom’s Ready are 30-1 and bringing up the rear in the odds houses at 50-1 is Trojan Nation. Some of these names look like the work of the committee that gave RI its snappy slogan. Or is that sappy?

I also like smiley faces in emails.

Just when you think you’ve heard everything about USA teens, you hear a news conference saying that a new big fad is eating plant seeds. “Hey, man I’m high on squash.” “I‘m in wonderland on Broccoli.” “That’s nothing, wait until you’ve gone into petunia land.” Yikes! Mother’s don’t let your kids grow up to be gardeners.

All of my favorite series have or are coming to an end. The Americans ended for the year last night. I watched the 2016 finale of House of Cards Tuesday. Night Manager is getting more tense by the minute and it only has two episodes to go Billions is over for the year. If you sense a quivering Tids today, it’s me frantically looking for the next great series. While looking for that, I’ll get on to the wind down of ten last season for Person of Interest, which began last night.

That Starbucks Ice case is indicative of how low we have gone. Most people I know would have said, “A little less ice Please”. Why do we need lawyers in the middle of common disputes. Everything isn’t perfect, but consumers should be able to work things out without all of the adversarial bitterness. Let’s be honest, some consumers are as evil as the way media perceives business people. Most companies want happy customers, even workers, and in fact listen to them. Most doctors don’t like to see their patients dying. Nor do car makers and drug developers. It seems to me if we stand back and reflect a bit, we’d see that many disputes can be worked out harmoniously between reasonable adults, if each side tells the truth. But, it seems that today’s environment will continue to bring us too much ice, and not a lot of warmth.

Things I Won’t Be Looking At*, Department:

There’s new story you may have noticed that says Caitlyn Jenner will soon be doing a full Kardashian, with a cover for Sports Illustrated wearing nothing but Burce’s Decathlon Gold Medal. (That’s called butt nekid) Let’s hope that it isn’t the Olympics cover. The Olympics deserve better than that. Where has sports reporting gone? *Not even out of curiosity.

PC, Department:

Yes, Obama is changing the USA, just as he said. He won’t say Islamic Extremist, and now his DoJ is issuing new proposal to ban the words “Felon” and “Convict”…because it makes felons and convicts “Feel bad”. In other words, “do your dastardly deeds and we won’t extend the repercussions”. Personally, I don’t like labeling people for life about anything, but I also believe that it is an added deterrent knowing that anti-societal acts bring a loss greater than the time in prison. Of course the real issue isn’t how you are labeled, but the environment in which you are raised. Many of the people in prisons grew up in an environment where criminal activity was considered normal. How do you remove the inbred criminal instinct from a person? That is the question, the real problem seeking a solution.

Oh yeah – the PC equivalents being proposed to replace Young Criminals, Felons, Offenders and Convicts are, are you ready, “Justice Involved Youth,” “Person Who Committed a Crime” and Individual Who was Incarcerated.” Hello? Are you still with me? Did you jump off a bridge yet? Maybe Islamic Extremists could be renamed “Temperamental Muslims”.

The more that the establishment Repubs hate Trump the better chance he has of spreading a broader net. But, my guess is that he will try to work old line Repubs into his camp. And they will come.

One of the cool things going on around here is the excursion to the bottom of Newport Harbor to verify that Captain James Cook’s ship Endeavor is residing in those depths as believed. The Australians are quite happy about the prospects for tis effort, as that is the ship that opened their country to the world. The Ship, renamed Lord Sandwich, is at the bottom of this harbor with 12 other British ships scuttled during the Revolutionary War  to prevent the French Navy from controlling the important harbor. It sounds to me like we have rare museum beneath the surface. Americans probably remember Cook best as the man who opened up the vacation Paradise Hawaii – not quite paradise for Cook, who was killed by Hawaiians, after which, hopefully, he went to real paradise. Cook was one brave, determined son-of-a-bitch. He could be my new hero.

A caddy on a local sports talk show said that he ounce was in  a foursome with Trump at the pro-am before one of the Fed-Ex Cup play-down tournaments. He said Trump can really play, was entirely courteous and honest as hell – and a real good tipper!. The caddy figured he is about a “4”, and he plays like a “4”. If he makes it, he might be the best presidential golfer ever.

The Parking Lot. Chapter 59 continues…

   Jermiah’s heart felt warm as he watched his Elizabeth’s eyes move towards his. He saw, felt that love that had carried them through so much. He then felt her weakened hand move over his, and chills went through him. That touch. She tried to squeeze, pulling his hand towards her chests. Her lips moved, “come near.”

  He put his ear next to her lips and felt their gentle brush. “Jeremiah,” came the soft whisper. I love you. I love you.” He felt the tears. “I killed Big Howland.” Jeremiah’s head moved back for a second.

   His mind raced to that day, that tenuous time. He squeezed her hand. “Somebody had to, and I’m glad it was you”. He thought he saw a small smile change the line of her pale lips.

   “I had to. Jeremiah. This must never be known.”

   Jeremiah knew that. What his wife said she did that night was the key to the success of everything his father had accomplished. The community had taken it as God looking down, and now he knew that God had given them Mulatta. He rose and lay his body gently across hers in a way that would not inhibit her breathing, but hers would only feel his warmth. His love for her which was so deep inside him. He pushed up on his arms to look again at her face. So calm now, like she had given him her last breath with those words. Her eyelids closed. He screamed.

  

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:

--Captain America had $200 Mil in Box Office sales before it opened. It has all of the characteristics a of a very good comic book themed movie and audiences will love it. Tis action packed moive may set a new standard for the genre that would have real plots for inquisitive minds. Te real battle in tis one occurs after a politically incorrect incident: Will the Rogrer’s Avengers remain free to defend humanity without Government interference, or as Tony Stark recommends -- have more Government oversight and accountability. That’s the battle, and probably why critics love it.

--Another critical favoe is not so much with audiences. This rock and Roll movie is a soap opera where a rock legend and partner’s getaway interlude is interrupted by a former lover, and lots of musical nostalgia. Big time cast includes Tilda Swenson and Ralph Fiennes.

--The Family Fang is another in the recent long line of Dysfunctional family movies, but this one may have a more entertaining twist…and it is kind of weird. Kids who are scarred after being raised oddly by unorthodox parents become performance artists known for elaborate public hoaxes. The kids go missing and the parents wonder, is it another great hoax or is here real danger this time?  Cast includes Jason Bateman, Nicole Kidman, Christopher Walken and Maryann Plunkett.

--Tuck away Dheepan in your “To See” list. This Cannes Film Festival prize winner takes a studied look at refugee immigration. After a civil war in Sri Lanka, three strangers unite to help each other flee the new regime. The family that is not a family makes it to Paris only to find they must fight new battles on the angry streets of the great city. Audiences and critics like it.

--Just in time for The Kentucky Derby, we have Darkhorse, a rags to riches film about a working man’s club who takes on thhe wealthy world of horse racing and breeds there own competitor. Sounds like one that will put a smile on your face and warmth in your heart.

Have a great Mother’s day weekend, E-v-e-ry-b-o-d-y!

The Answer:

 Number 10 best Presidential golfer was Ronald Reagan. Then Came Richard Nixon, GW Bush, FDR (Before Polio), Ford, Obama, Kennedy, Clinton, GHW Bush and Dwight Eisenhower. Another top ten list has it #1 Kennedy followed by Ford, Ike, FDR, Clinton, Two Bush’s, “O”, Ronnie, Dick Nixon and Woodrow Wilson. They say that Clinton’s game was tough to quantify because of his penchant for Gimmes and Mulligans. Bonus: The four segments that added by far the most jobs were “Professional and Business Services”, “Health and Education”, “Leisure and Hospitality” and “Financial Services.” The biggest job drop was in Government, where debt continues to increase. The other two in negative territory are Mining/Logging and Retail Trade.