Flowers and fuses.

Today's Tids Issue 3,856

For the first fine day of May:

Happy May everybody, the month of Mexicans, Moms and memorials! And for Catholics and Christians, the month to celebrate Mary. Horses will run fast and race cars will run faster. Tourist destinations will brace for what appears now to be another crowded summer. And of course, it is that time of year when people who like annoying music crank up the volume, open the car windows and drive into quiet enclaves. The good news is that we won’t be bombarded any longer with 100 Day analyses, and hopefully not by NK missiles. Despite what mysterious weather patterns may bring, we can be assured that we will be dazzled with the flowers artistic, grand landscapes magnificent; into which we can wander to diffuse anxious minds. Yup, may can be a good one.

Self-doubt can bring you from the brink of brilliance to the depth failure. I think of Brahms, who took 16 years to write is First Symphony. Some accounts say that he was too much in awe of Beethoven, the style of Ludwig’s Fifth; that mental block had him fighting through doubting the beauty of what he was creating -- which not sure, he continually over worked. But, when it was premiered it was pretty well accepted, and received support from many friends in the music arena. Now his four symphonies rank with the best of all symphonies ever written. But even a master like this third of the “B’s”, worried that he couldn’t be good enough. So, that’s why I think of Johannes, when I’m thinking this Tids, or some short story or novel sucks. You never know what you got until you go out there barefaced before he throngs and do it.

By the way, if Froma Harrup can have a weekly national column then there is hope for all of us hacks. The successful are often not the most talented, but those with the least fear.

Speaking of Fear…

Backed into a corner, Department:

While some say we are doing well with China with regards to the NK affair, the China UN rep certainly didn’t back up Tillerson last Friday. We seem to be fencing with a lot of devils. When was the last time the USA faced something like this? As I explore my aging mind for other war on the precipice moments, I don’t believe there are many parallels in history. Kennedy against Russian missiles in Cuba? Maybe. We weren’t hanging out there before WWII like we are now for what could be #3. While Kim probably can’t unleash a nuclear Armageddon, he has the distinct capability of taking out 30,000 American soldiers, destroying Seoul and perhaps reaching deeply into Japan. Lots of nervousness in this big stakes game of chicken. And what about Kim? Is this now boiling down to his ego being disrespected? Is that the real issue? We can only hope that his elders will advise him to talk to the US and China. “They really like you Kim”. You know Kim has now reached 27 years old. I know some pretty thoughtful, mature 27 year old’s in the US.

Isn’t it interesting that the Japanese managed to move an entire naval force across the ocean in 1941 and nobody knew it until the first bombs fell and machinegun’s strafed? But today, we can see everything within a nano second or so. And, it is even scarier.

Today when somebody shouts, “Light up!” – everybody turns on their phones.

This modern day fascination with anything celebrity is creating a lot of very bad entertainment that is raking millions.

The Question:

Aretha Franklyn’s great R-e-s-p-e-c-t was a cover of a song of what well Known singer? Bonus: What famous world conqueror killed 10-40 million innocent people during his reign? Super Bonus: Name 2 films for each of these three movie directors.

The Headlines:

--Congressional Leaders Agree To A One Trillion Dollar Budget…for Four Months; Wall And Anti Sanctuary City Monies Voided.

--Market Futures Indicate Positive Day In Wall Street.

--14 Killed In Weekend Storms. In Midwest and South.

--Trump Slams Constitution; Says System Of Checks And Balances Archaic; Priebus says Admin Looked At Changing Libel Laws That Protect Journalists; White House Reiterates Trump Promise Of Getting Rid Of Loop Holes For Hedge Fund Managers...

--Pope Warns Of “Broad Destruction” If NK Tension Escalates.

--Trump Tells Big Crowd In Harrisburg He’s Happy To Be 100 Miles Away From Washington Correspondents Dinner; WCD Takes On Somber Mood Praising Work Of Journalist – “We Are Not The Enemy Of America”.

--Great Swiss Mountain Climber Ueli Steck Dies In “Mountaineering Accident” Near Everest.

--Grading Trump Economic Contributions: Wall Street A, Main Street B.

--US Soldier Killed In Iraq: Third American To Die In Week.

--Wanton Mayhem: Casual Gunman Shoots 8 Killing One At San Diego Pool Party; Four Dead In KC Home Shooting; Policeman Knocks On Detroit Home Door, Shot In head; Auto Plows Into 8 Walking Near Florida Home..

So momma Orca pulls little baby orca aside and says, “Now, you stay here and watch closely, I’m only going to do this once.” Then she swims over to the other Orca mommas and they proceed to separate a junior gray whale from its Mom and then kill it within 20 minutes. No, these moms are not playing Mahjong, they are doing what Killer whales do! And to think everybody got upset by putting these creatures into captivity when they could be out there snuffing the world’s grey whale population. But then, Orca lovers say they are almost human. Hmmm…maybe they are. Check out killing for fun on FaceBook and YouTube. Crazy.

I’m not so sure about the mental capability of US sports fans either. A headline touting CBS Sports app stories of the moment says, “Watch Isiah Canon trash-talk Isiah Thomas>” Say what? This is something to be devoured, emulated and treasured. Where are we going. No wonder ESPN is in trouble -- they have survive the digital appetite for continuing coverage by reporting on drivel like this

The Repubs convince everybody of how dangerous the world and neighborhoods can be so people will look to them for protection. The Dems convince people how needy, helpless and dependent they are so they can feed them and regulate their lives. That’s about all that politicians do.

From what I’ve been seeing sprinkled across newspaper “Home” sections and in commercials associated with those home rehab shows, ugly furniture is coming back.,, starting with Ellen.

What I believe we are seeing is huge effort to assure a Dem Congress in 2018. Little about what is going on is about protecting people or USA progress, but regaining pawer. Many in the media seem gleeful, unfortunately, about the potential for a failed presidency. The Congressional Dems will limit as best they can success by the Repubs. And, sell the idea that the people need a Dem congress for protection from Trump. The media will agree.

Watching Trump speak extemporaneously is I imagine like it would be if I had ever watched any episode of “Housewives of…(Name your trash)” Get off the size of the crowds already.

I have never been able to hold off sleeping during a Haydn Symphony. He must have known about the insomnia effect of his works. In fact, his “Surprise” Symphony was an attempt to wake up audiences by inserting a sudden Tympani explosion after a soft passage. But, his idea of a musical explosion should never be confused with Tchaikovsky. But I have to say that his Choral Piece “The Creation” is wonderful music to ears. Darwin would probably not agree.

100 people a day die from opioid OD’s. What’s that, about 36,500 Americans leaving this world because the need to get higher? This pattern of needing to seek out new highs must start somewhere. Anybody have any ideas?

If Trump is supposed to be so smart, why is he at war with everybody he needs to help him?

I don’t like Beethoven’s first Symphony because it sounds too much like Mozart.

The Answer:

Aretha’s version of R-e-s-p-e-c-t is the greatest, but Otis Redding did it first. Bonus: Genghis Kahn may have been the most powerful and successful conqueror in history, but he was also among he most ruthless, killing people at will and not just in the course of battels. Super Bonus: Jane Campion is a seriously feminist movie director/mogul now director of the Canes Film Festival. Her fist big film was the Piano (Bored me to tears). Ts new Zealander also gave us An Angel at My Table, Portrait of a Lady and In The Cut. Lars Von Trier has won many Cannes awards for films like Dancer in the Dark, The Idiots, Breaking the Waves and The Element of Crime. Allen Arkush directed one of the true cult hits, at least among many male golfers – Caddyshack. He also did Hollywood Boulevard and Elvis meets Nixon. He directed many excellent TV shows like Fame, St. Elsewhere, Moonlighting, LA Law and Parenthood.

Some feminists seem to exhibit surprise that woman can walk upon any stage with any one. I’m don’t. It must be some kind of martyr thing.

Well here we are again in May, when kids firmly believe that school is actually coming to an end. Yes, there’s something special about May into June and September into October. I can’t put my finger on it, but I can feel it. Enjoy it. Turn of the news.