Symphony of beings.

Today's Tids Issue 4,111

For sweet violins:

Could it be that Spring has come? That the birds and the bees and frisky deer can stow away their fleece, for another year. That finally flowers in the ground and buds bursting on limbs can come out to radiantly smile and blush, without fear of being painted with Jack Frost’s brush. That a warm morning will not deteriorate to a winter’s bitter insult. Hey, wait a minute. I like Winter! All spring means to me is that the tourists are soon to be swarming, littering, crowding.

Why does “auto-correct” think it is smarter than us? Rise up! Unite, against AI tyranny, arrogance. Bring back human error. AI error is significantly more embarrassing.

Why is it when I read reviews of new bills introduced in the RI Legislature I come away thinking that every single one of them is in support of benefitting some bloated government agency or other union dominated area of employment. I couldn’t be becoming cynical, could I?

I found the root canal unnerving.

In case you are noticing something suspiciously odd outside, it may be the result of the end of the world. Yes, numerologist David Meade says this is the day; the absolute end day. Catch up on all of the Netflix series you have been neglecting. Buy enough milk and bread to last five months, which is about the amount of time it will take to vanquish human life from the earth. It could be ax bad day.

The Question:

Name the male partners, husbands of these female comedians. Elaine May. Anne Meara, Gracie Allen, Harriet Hilliard, Lucille Ball, Manan Jordan, Alice Faye and Imogene Coca.

The Headlines:

--Wall Street Gurus Eagle Eyes Clearly Focused On Biggest Week Of Earnings Reports; One Third Of The S&P Reports This Week – Alphabet, Facebook, Microsoft, Coca Cola United Technology, Travelers, Verizon, Caterpillar, Boeing And More.

--World Stocks Down As Us Treasury Yields Approach 3%.

--IS Suicide Bomber Attack Kills 57 In Kabul; Saudi Planes Bomb Yemen Wedding Kills 20, Mangles Many More.

--Alibaba Punishing Companies That Refuse To Sign Exclusivity Agreements.

--NFL Fanatics Looking Forward To This Week’s Draft.

--Kate Middleton, Princess William Happy New Parents Of Baby Boy

--Nashville Killer Armed And Still Dangerous; Suspect Had Been Arrested Outside Of White House.

--Out Of Control, Anti-Barbara Bush Fresno State Professor Calls Farmers Stupid.

--President Trump And French Prez Macron Seem To Have Chance To Work Productively Together.

--Westworld returns With More Plot, Less Philosophy.

Wells-Fargo is out $1,000,000,000 after a government fine. But none of the executives who condoned ripping off customers and general all-around cheating and stealing are in jail like other thieves would surely be. So, one billion means that the government treasury got richer, but the people without moral values are still basically in place.

Candace Owens is looking like one of those reasonable voices in America. Her biggest problem going forward could be her adoption by a conservative power base.

From the “Zits” comic this morning I found my mantra: “Last minute panic is my muse.” Creativity springs from desperation.

I’m inspired today to talk of classical music. There are so many choices, so many moods that can be created, from the haunting violins in Paganini’s caprices to the rich full orchestral sounds of a magnificent symphony or melodic tone poem. An orchestra is a wonderful amalgam, a functioning whole made of disparate yet unified parts.

I began to wonder, why the focus is on the first violinist in the first violin section. Why call them first and second, when their contributions are equal in many ways. Why not call the two, “Melody and Texture? What exactly is the difference between a first and second violin. While they look the same and are both played by skillful musicians, often where the technical demands on the “2^nd” are much harsher, even treacherous. The 2^nd supports he highest line melody of the 1^st harmonically and rhythmically. The 2^nd will often move from their undercurrent to blend with the first in a definitive statement of the theme. And what is not often said in the public square that the 1^st is fully respectful of the skills of the 2^nd. Yes, an orchestra is a fine blend of many human talents, each comfortable in their own capability yet reliant upon each other. A perfect society.

Actually, most of the new bills introduced are generally designed to correct other ill-conceived laws.

A dog with an attitude is a cocky spaniel.

How often have you heard somebody say, “He or she must be right because he or she is so smart. Look at their degrees. Of course, right is not always right no matter how eloquently righteousness is argued.

Think of all of the smart people who are not so…like, how about the guy who was smart enough to build a rocket ship and then proceed to launch himself into space…to confirm his theory -- that the earth was flat.

The media thinks it is one of the smartest groups in society. And they may be right up there if they weren’t so selfishly human, narrowminded.

Ketogenic is the hot new diet term. It’s about cooking with less carbs. Basically though, it is the new name for diets that have been in existence for years. These are diets that are focused on keeping people just above ketosis. In other words, just a contemporary tech description of a Low carb diet.

Social networking is simply the latest iteration of tabloid journalism.

Forced Necessity: The misconception that you constantly need to up date gadgets regardless of whether or not you need it.

Back in the day when Americans thought about each other, the media would be focused on the progress made in North Korea, and not on what could go wrong.

The Answer:

I’m sure you got all of these correct. It was Anne Meara and Jerry Stiller, who along with Elaine May and Mike Nichols, were two of the funniest duos ever. Of course, Gracie Allen took George Burns’ straight-lines and made everybody roll on the floor laughing. And Alice Faye and Phil Harris often joined B&A for non-stop yucks. Harriet Hilliard and Lucille Ball were funny mates with band leaders Ozzie Nelson and Desi Arnez. Manan Jordan and her husband Jim Jordan were Molly and Fibber McGee. And, “The Show of Shows” starred Imogene Coca and Sid Caesar. Think back and laugh.

The liquor store advertises: “We De-liver”.

The strings soared, the brass blared the woodwinds cooed. The percussion pounded gently. The heart warmed.