The United Excuses of America.

Today's Tids Issue 3,865

For Standing Up tall:

This morning I heard the Governor of RI blaming her $100 Million budget shortfall on Trump. The inventor of Obamacare – a program destined to fail from the beginning, if you had read it – blamed its deterioration on Trump. It’s not my fault. The devil made me do it. I made a mistake. That guy should have seen me swerving while I was texting. You get the picture, responsibility for actions are becoming a thing of the past. Let’s face it, some lawyers are in the business of making excuses for clients deliberate transgressions. Parents over protect children on a daily basis. The airlines wanted to throw me off the plane when I took off my clothes. “It’s not my fault” could replace “In God We Trust” on coins. Maybe Chinese fortune cookies will distribute excuses instead of words to better yourself.

Understanding insurance has always left me cold,

And, it is even more confusing as I get old.

What did you expect, Longfellow?

I gave up on insurance, tried Rubik’s cube

And learned quite quickly I was a boob.

Colleges and Universities are on their way to becoming police states, as forces grow to regulate drinking, provide protection from mass shooters, watch for fraternity/sorority hazing and now as social justice advocatesto Police students for bias incidents. This is not to mention bashing heads at protest marches and over exuberant sports championships. Whatever happened to studying?

The Question:

Name five Burt Bacharach songs. Bonus: Who was the first woman to fly solo across the Pacific Ocean?

The Headlines:

--Banks Dragging Stocks; Oil Prices Heading Towards Biggest Gains In Months; Shopping Still Active despite Poor Store Performances; JC Penny reports Lower Performances.

--Major Cyber Attack Hits 70 Countries Worldwide; Many Infected With “Wannacry” Ransomware.

--North Korea Parliament Sends US Congress Protest Letter Over New Sanctions.

--WH Lists Eleven As Possible Replacements for Comey.

--Russia Plane Comes To Within 20 Feet Of US Navy Jet.

--Session Order To US Prosecutors: “Seek Longer Prison Terms.”

Nukes are fearful, but the biggest problem going forward is cyber destruction. Hope somebody real good is working real hard on this one.

Compartmentalization is contributing a lot to the corrosion of American harmony. It is a problem at local and national levels. This is where people more than ever only tend to see their own needs. People, become fierce defenders of their own ideas forgetting that others are just as fiercely protective of theirs. They disparage, demean and even try to hurt each other, when all they do is have to see a little but of the other side. Everybody and groups of like everybodys seem to be crawling into their own little boxes forgetting that the community is a whole, made up of many boxes that need open windows instead of closed doors.

No nonsense, logical, refreshing, Department:

I liked the substitute White House spokes person Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Some of the press, commentators and usual Dem suspects belittled her, which indicates she did a terrific job.

I see where the Spain legislature has authorized the removal of Franco’s remans from a place of respect. Does that mean we can move Lyndon Johnson, The Father of Free stuff, the president who started the good ole’ USA’s budgetary death spiral.

I once thought Hula Hooping as pretty neat,

But it always, swiftly, dropped down to my feet.

Four new baby names from a year ago are in free fall according to the new Social Security list of favorites. The names dramatically out of favor are Caitlyn, Caitlin, Katelynn and Kaitlynn. Emma, Olivia, Ava, Sophia and Isabella are tops for girls. For boys its Noah, Liam, William, Mason and James. But last year Caitlyn fell 542 spots on the Social Security list. I wonder why.

Do all of those cheering, screaming women really have that maniacal love for Ellen or Oprah, or is it just the lavish gifts? I remember once going to the Arthur Godfrey radio show and we all got a small package of saltines.

Now, I expect that most of you are by now aware of “Fidget Spinners. These little handheld gizmos won’t provide the exercise of Hula Hoops, but it will fill the wallets of the manufactures like the Hula Hoop of the fifties and other night crazes since. And it will sooth your achin’ nerves. So, that’s good. It was originally intended as a therapeutic tool for kids with ADHD and Autism. But now we have learned that just about everybody has a little fidgety-didgity deep down inside, and people everywhere are out there spinning. I tried one, and found it interesting, for a about 30 seconds. But you know fads. People climb aboard and then wonder why. At least this is not an expensive collective habit.

For some, the Fidget Spinner will certainly intrigue

But I prefer steel balls. like he good Captain Queeg.

Lately I notice that upon leaving a store, my phone asks, “Do you want picture of this place?” Huh? Why would I ever want to clog my phone’s memory with pictures of stores? Why would anybody. Do we have too much technology.

Trump is all over the lot on his attempts to describe the Comey affair. The media reports his verbal meanderings and Misappropriated successes – Like “I invented the phrase “Priming the pump” -- as news. I think it is just plain sad that he has led such a sheltered life. Where’s the sympathy. I mean he only knows golf, pink buildings and how to say “You’re fired” I think the media should give him credit for overcoming his deficiencies to become President of the USA. I mean, that’s something. And even with all of the idiosyncrasies, he is still better for the country than 0-Man. I mean, the new policy alterations are.

I kind of liked Comey.

Yesterday the President gave himself an A, A+ on foreign policy. He has to do that, because nobody else will. See, if every once in a while somebody gave him a little pat on the back, -- good jobs sir; you are very smart; I love your hair – he wouldn’t hve to spend so much time doing it himself...and embarrassing Repubs.

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:

--King Arthur will disappoint those who like the old legend told true. But modern day super exciting adventure fans will like the action. It faithfully traces Arthurs journey, but not in a way many had hoped.

--In Snatched, boyfriend dumped impulsive Schumer persuades mother and cautious Hawn to go on a jungle trip to paradise. It doesn’t work out so well, but they do come together in a riotous way. It should get snatched from the theaters immediately. Critics dislike and audiences want nothing to do with it. Bad.

--In The Wall we see two US soldiers pinned down by an Iraqi a sniper. All that protects them is a crumbling wall. This is deadly dangerous situation that becomes mostly a mind game. Not bad.

--Absolutely Anything is a Monty Python Reunion that is Absolutely Nothing. No laughs.

The Answer:

Burt Bacharach , often teaming with Hal David, was at the top of the charts for a long time in the 1960’s 70’s, Remember these: #10 Onlyb love can Break a Heart which is followed by One Less Bell to Answer, Do You Know the Way to Santa Fe, Alfie, What the World needs now is Love, Close to You, Walk on By, This Guy is in Love with You, I Say a Little Prayer and #1 – Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head. Five of these hits were sung by Dione Warwick with others by The Carpenters, BJ Thomas, Gene Pitney, Fifth Dimension and Jackie DeShannon. See if you can match the song with the singer.  Bonus: Betsy Miller performed the trans-Pacific feat in 1961.

I started with insurance and ended with a fad,

You see, mindless discussion is driving me mad.

Have a great weekend, E-v-e-r-y-b-o-d-y!