Those who cannot see can understand.

Today's Tids Issue 3,940

For a Lazy Labor Day:

Well, today’s Labor Day. So, here’s to all the moms that went through it for the beauty of new life, and to all of the members of hardworking families that found a way to grow to new heights, to raise good Americans, to give back so others could find a way to expand forward from their own talents. Here’s to sweat and innovative minds.

Something to think about:

How would you describe the color “Yellow” to a person who is blind?

You have to love new French President Macron who has successfully pushed through new rules which would make it easier for businesses to hire and fire employees. For instance, the new regulations would permit smaller business to bypass broad-based union restrictions by setting up worker committees who can vote on wages or regulations more pertinent their company’s situation. The rules also cap so-called unfair dismissal legal damages. Happy labor day independence for France.

If the health foodies take over the world, I could die of starvation.

Or I could look up into the sky and see Kim’s nuclear loaded missile breaking through the clouds. Yikes. The NK leader just doesn’t let up, and he won’t. A smattering of experts who now concur that NK’s progress has been far faster than originally predicted, seem to agree that he will continue to upgrade capability until he and his country at least matches the most formidable of nuke nations. Then he will go to the negotiating tables and consider himself an equal. No sanctions acceptable, will be his stance. I think that’s about where we are.

The world has never been so threatened, not even when the nuke powers US and USSR were duking it out, and schoolchildren were ducking… and covering.

The Question:

Who are these people? Yes, your favorite puzzlement is back. I have discovered that many names in the public eye are names I have never seen before, yet I am always surprised to find that I have seen these people act. Maybe I should pay attention to credits. Who are Steve Shirripa, Holt McCallany, Costas Mandylor, Ashley Jones, Jennifer Salt and Kenneth Krimmins.

The Headlines:

--NK’s Defiant Kim Expected To Launch New Ballistic Missile Following Explosion Of What Appeared To be H-Bomb.

--Trump Threatens Pre-Emptive Strike; Mnuchin Asks for Sanctions Against Any Country Trading With NK; China Irate At US.

--Massive Multiple Fires Raging In West; Cal Gov Declares Emergency; Fire In LA Largest In History.

--Cat 4 Irma Has Sights Set On Caribbean Islands; Could Hit US On Saturday, New England In A Week.

--Aid Estimates Soar For Harvey Devastation.

--Trump Mulling Daca; Early Signs Suggest He Will End Obama Program With 6 Month Delay.

--Kate And Prince William Expecting Third Child; Morning Sickness Forcing Kate To Cancel Planned Engagements.

--Colorado research Says That Death From Auto Accidents Has Dramatically Increased Since the Legalization of Marijuana

--75% Of Military Recruit Applicants Are Rejected Due To Obesity Or Drug Use.

While the devastation in Texas appears insurmountable at times, there is always that American spirit, which somehow always finds a way.. And resourcefulness. Right now I hear, they money to get the most necessary and basic supplies, like water for Beaumont. They need people too, but  now all at once. Most knowledgeable observers are saying wait a couple of weeks before running down there and muddying the already crowded waters. They will need people for a long time, way after the current emotional impact wears off.

One of the, longest running injustices in H-Wood revolves around the Super hit movie Snow White and the Academy Award snubbing of any dwarfs, none who have yet to even make the short list! (Thanks to “Shoe”)

This just in: There appears to be an international movement afoot inspired by cacophony here urging the return of USA lands to Indians. In Europe, for instance, the heirs of Attila the Hun want Hungary, Germany and France. Liberal supporters of the old-world movement, however, say that they are having trouble finding leaders of the Hun Ancestral Cooperative to stage sit-ins as they believe they are in the America voting for Trump. Stay tuned. First, it’s the Huns and then come along the Magyars, Franks and Saxons. Everybody wants something.

You may remember my telling you that among my favorite lunches is two White Castle hamburgers accompanied by several generous handfuls of Cape Cod original potato chips. Now, prepare to be delighted in the morning as the very tasty White Castle Breakfast sausage, egg and cheese sliders grace your table. The world of nutrition just keeps on giving. I’m smiling.

BTW, White Castle had sliders before anybody knew what a slider was.

I have written many Tidlets about the difficulty of pointing out the truths in this new era of unmovable political positions. The result of column writing is never “Aha! That’s certainly an interesting aspect of the discussion”. It is generally “I hate you”, from either side of the aisle depending on which truth they believe in. A very good local columnist wrote of this enigma Sunday morning, and he was right on the money. Or, should I have said “Left on the money.”

Panko bread crumbs are overrated.

Rollie Massimo produced one of my all-time favorite college basketball seasons. His Villanova upset of Mighty Georgetown put the Big East on the map. I was a big fan of “V” at the time and had followed the players on that out of nowhere NCAA championship team since their freshman year. (The Big East that year also had 3 of 4 Final Four teams, the third being Saint Johns). Rollie was a bit of a character, but he always got the job done. He left for the gold, and had a bit of a scattered career after that premier season, but Villanova welcomed him back with open arms recently. He is a hero there and he will be missed in many places.

DT seems to missing a segment of TR’s basic international diplomacy creed – “Speak softly”.

I have always believed in the speak softly idea followed by a swift sucker punch.

Is it me or is the world going gaga aqua. I think it is a pretty annoying color, at least on my palette for visual satisfaction, but I am seeing it more and more in TV commercials and in-home decor photos. Somebody or some group must be trying to subliminally change our outlook on something.

Overpaid Athlete Entitlement, Department:

Was there ever more ridiculous whining than that of Ya, Ya, Ya …(WYKWIM) pitcher CC Sabathia who complained that the Red Sox were unfair bunting while he had a bad knee. As RS Bunter Nunez said. “Get off the mound. Go on the DL and recover.” And as Hall of famer Jim Rice added, “Stop eating the donuts and lose some weight.” In sports, when the opponent has a weakness, you exploit it. Period.

If they start tearing down statues of Columbus as it seems NYC Mayor De Blasio has proposed for famed Columbus Circle, he may face the wrath of Italian nation. As one spokesperson for the Italian community said, “that NYC statue was the result of money raised by the poor working class Italian immigrant families who held Christopher Columbus as a national hero”. But then De Blasio would probably go to bat for CC Sabathia.

(Statemen from Angelo Vivolo, President of Columbus Citizens Foundation: “Our Italian-American ancestors, facing bigotry and discrimination, identified Columbus as an Italian celebrated greatly across America for establishing a lasting bridge between the old and new world.”)

The US is suing Estee Lauder for bias against men. It has something to do with men only getting 2 weeks to “Bond with new Child”. You can bond with a two-week-old child? How about doing it the normal way – getting up at 1AM to change diapers.

One of the local beach food stands serves Homemade Hummus & Tabbouleh, Watermelon Gazpacho and Peach Ice tea and Strawberry lemonade. What ever happened to fried bay scallops and clam cakes? And you don’t think things ain’t what they used to be. As a side note, I personally believe that the pervasive odors and intrusive flavor transfer of strawberry and peach are toxic to my taste buds, a little like second hand smoke might be to a breathing mechanism.

The Answer:

Ok, here we go: Steve Shirripa is a Chris Christie look-alike who is best known for playing Bobby Baccalien on the Sopranos. Holt McCallany, son of famed Blues/Cabaret singer Julie Wilson and tony winning Irish Father, is currently costarring in the Netflix series Mindhunter. You have seen him in many TV shows and movies like Criminal Minds and The Fight Club. Costas Mandylor, an Australian is best known for his work as Mark Hoffman in The “Saw” Series. Ashley Jones is your basic “Soapy Queen” appearing as Megan Dennison in The Young and Restless and Dr. Bridget Forrester The Bold an Beautiful. Jennifer Salt, another scion of H-Wood parents was first noted as the snobbish daughter of Chster and Jessica Tate on “Soap”.  She appeared in many films but recently has turned to writing where she has received awards for episodes of Nip/Tuck. She also was the screen writer for Julia Robert’s’ Eat Pray Love. Kenneth Krimmins has been a great character actor who you have enjoyed in dozens upon dozens of films and mainly TV programs from Newhart to Desperate Housewives to Coach to WKRP in Cincinnati and as Dr. Klein on The New Adventures of Superman.

One of the inherent problems with the popular “Do You Know These People” “Q” is that I have never heard of any of them so it’s pure pot luck when the answers are interesting.

Expressions I hate:

“What do you mean you don’t like strawberry. Everybody likes strawberry”.

Yellow is like flavors that ignite your taste buds. It is the glow you feel in your mind when you accomplish something grand. It pulsates like your heart does when a voice you hear touches your being in a special way.