Teslas in Orbit.

Today's Tids Issue 4,055

For Scenic Galactic Travel:

The Space X launch is considered a pretty ambitious engineering feat. And, Elon says it is the beginning of a new space race. It could be. I expect all auto manufacturers to jump on board requesting their cars be placed in orbit along with Musk’s. It is the ultimate stellar billboard war.

I wonder what Lady Bird J would have to say about that.

Just incase you have wondered what Olympic athletes do when they are not in events -- South Korea has reported it has given away 37 condoms for each athlete.

That gives new meaning to “Me Too”.

America Has Lost Its Collective Mind, Department:

A newly proposed California law would put waiters in jail for up to 6 months with a $1K fine if they provide straws to customers before being asked.

Are you ready? One week until Valentine’s Day.

The Question:

The “Bonfire of the Vanities” is the title of a good book and a bad movie. But it was also another big event in History. What was it?

The Headlines:

--Markets Calmer; Dow In Positive territory At Mid-Morning; Analysts Say The “Dip” Is There For The Buying..

--House Votes For Bill That Would Pay US Bills Until Mid-March; Senate Expected To Follow; President Says He Doesn’t Mind Shutdowns.

--Death Toll After Taiwan Quake Could Approach 100.

--Musk Thrills Much Of Nation With Super Launch.

--Steve Wynn Resigns form His Company Under Barrage Of Sex Accusations; Stock Immediately Goes Up Double Digits..

--Merkel Conservatives And Social Democrats Party Reach Deal To Form Government.

--Latest Revealed Texts between FBI “Love Birds” Show That Obama Wanted To Be Up On All That Was Transpiring About Hillary.

--Midterms: GOP Woes Deepen As Red District In Missouri Goes Dem; Tillerson Says US Is Unprepared To Stop Russian Meddling In Midterms; GOP Continues To Draw In More Funding For Midterms Than Dems.

SNL in Moscow, Department:

In their zeal to afflict damage on opponents they hate, people will be vulnerable to all types of scams and frauds. This is what happened to Adam Shiff, Top Dem on Intelligence Committee. He received a phone call from two Russian radio hosts posing as a Ukrainian politician who said he had compromising pictures of President Trump. Yikes, thought the eager Shiff. In the conversation recorded last April and reported by The Atlantic, Shiff is heard asking, “What is the nature of the material?” and “Obviously we would welcome the chance to get copies of those recordings.” Shiff has said he reported the conversations as probably bogus. The Russians have said they like spoofing Americans with information they call completely absurd –“People (in Russia) would never be so trusting, especially if they were a member of parliamentary a civil servant. The Russian spoofers said, “they would like to target Hollywood stars, but they are much harder to reach than American senators.”

“Yes, we Can”. Inspirational slogan for a fish packing company.

Freedom of Choice, Department;

The two headlines atop one of the food pages this morning were: 1. “Quinoa, kale, raisin Salad” 2. “Red Velvet Whoopie Pies.” You take yours, I’ll take mine. That’s what makes American great.

I have gone from 78’s,45’s, 33’s to Tapes and 8Track’s to CD’s. I think I’ll just skip this digital download iteration and wait for the next, hopefully cheaper way to have music. 

Justin Timberlake is being criticized after the Super Bowl show as being too white to do a duet with Prince. What ever happened to singing to be happy versus much of today’s singing to fuel anger.

One of my biggest complaints about all of this tech implementation is that it seems they are doing it because they can, and not because it is needed.

While I’m on a compliant rampage, how silly is the term “Midcentury Modern.” I never had the feeling that I was growing up in an architectural era.

You may have read that Pats “O” Coordinator Josh McDaniels turned down the head caching job for Bob Irsay’s Colts team. They say Bob Kraft negotiated a nice new contract for the Assistant coach, and you have to wonder if the fact that it was Irsay and the Colts who brought the woes of Deflategate upon the Tom Brady spurred Kraft to squishing the deal.

The Answer:

The Phrase “Bonfire of the Vanities” refers to burning of objects condemned by authorities as occasions of sin. In Florence Italy in on February 7, 1497, supporters of the Dominican Friar Girlamo Savonaroia collectively and publicly burned thousands of objects like cosmetics, art and books. I would call that Savonaroia Paranoia. You have to wonder if it is a Bonfire of the Vanities event when Looters burn down a Porn store or beauty Parlor. Maybe they are just trying to to good. You never know.

So, Joe space alien is maneuvering his spacecraft closer and closer to earth when he is confronted by Chevy’s, Fords, Toyotas and BMW‘s in gridlock. “Get me outta here,” he shouts to his crew. They Immediately change course for colonization on Mars, only to find Tesla city and more jammed roads. Give me a shady glade near a rippling stream.