Legal escapism.

Today's Tids Issue 4,278

Sweet Sixteen:

The Trump affair is destined to become one of the most curious legal mysteries ever.

The markets should have hit bottom by now, right? What ever happened to “2019 looks very good, but watch out for 2020”? Where are we? I certainly don’t know anymore. Does anybody.

The only thing more confusing than the stock market are doctor’s opinions on changing diet recommendations.

And from the comic “Shoe” we get this one: “Whether or not the glass coffin catches on remains to be seen.”

Everybody has little watermarks in life that measure achievement. One of the early big moments that seems to be a culmination is the sixteenth birthday. It seems to promise maturity and independence. I remember that turning point as being great and like many kids today, it was probably really based on my getting my car license. That was maturity alright. And most definitely independence! Varooooom! But, we have had many watermarks since, and what I find most clearly is that through every one of them what sticks out most is that you are still you. And being who you are is the best thing you can have. Of course, as you age, you are you with a few more ingredients, mostly good.

The Question:

Rock concerts have a way of creating mass hysteria, and in most cases it is the guitarist who gets blood boiling. Rolling Stone Mag has named their top 100 guitarists. See if you can name the top ten.

The Headlines:

--Stock Trading Expected To Be Cautious Ahead of Fed’s Final Meeting For Year.

--Will Government Shut Down At Weeks End?

--Malaysia Files Criminal Charges Against Godman Sachs In 1MDB Probe.

--Bill Gates Says Privacy Regs On Big Techs Makes “A Lot Of Sense”.

--Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke To Leave Admin At End of Year; Possible Replacements: Current Deputy David Bernhardt, Former Nev Senator Dean Heller, Former Wisc Gov Scott Walker.

--Over Ten Thousand Verizon Employees Accept Severance Buyout.

--Comey Visits Congress For New Round Of Questioning.

--Miss Universe Is: 24-year-Old Catronia Gray From The Philippines.

--Teen Turn To Vaping As Drug Use Dwindles.

--Google To Spend $ Billion For NYC Campus; Big Tech Company Follows Aggressive Expansions By Apple And Amazon; German Union Calls For Strike At A,azon Warehouses.

Winter tomatoes in supermarkets look like they were drawn by cartoonists and produced by 3D printing.

If you are interested, tonight is the finals for The Voice. Three of the four are country singers. Earlier this year I could see the management continuing an effort to widen the audiences, attempting to move to pop, rhythm and blues, and other genres away from country. But when the voting begins in earnest, the singers with twangs always emerge. And if it isn’t country, its generally middle-of-the-road. So tonight, will it be the favorite, Smooth country Kirk Jay, or his challengers, old fashioned country Chevel Shepherd, growling country Chris Kroeze or middle of the road pop singer Kennedy Holmes. Should be some decent entertainment.

The pencil artist disappeared without a trace.

One of my pet peeves has always been the accepted disregard for what’s ethical in favor of what’s legal.

What ever happened to the old college spirit? Win one for the Gipper? It’s do or die for old Podunk U? I am hearing that in these once glorious bowl games fought for honor and pride, many of the big college stars are sitting it out for fear of being injured before getting the big NFL “guaranteed” contract. The NCAA is more than just a prelude to big money, it is big money, And, it has lost a lot in the transition from campus spirit to TV starlets.

The New England Patriots are looking like the mistake prone teams they used to regularly beat.

I have yet to see the harm from a government shutdown. But, it is still a terrible idea.

Rhode Island would be better off becoming a sanctity state for business. Then they might be able to afford their burgeoning warm and fuzzy social programs.

Every legal eagle and amateur couch lawyer have a theory on how Trump can get out of it, or how he can be put away. And, basically nobody really knows what Mueller and his henchmen have. But, it is fun TV.

As far as I’m concerned, vegetables only taste good when swimming in chicken broth and doused with butter, lots of butter, and cheese and breadcrumbs. Is that better than eating fried chicken with buttered cheddar biscuits and a glass of Metamucil.  

The world is looking messy. North Korea is looking like Eden when you start look around the globe at a Brexit beaten Britain spreading across the EU, France under attack by citizens, Germany ousting Merkel, China underperforming economically, Russia militarizing, Taliban In Afghanistan and Arabian rascals are wanting their cake too. And, that’s just what’s going on in the world headline hotspots. Perhaps the ills of America are less frightful than we are led to believe from capsulized news reporting. I’d rather be here.

Hey, I spoke to soon, NK just said it may end its march to peace if Sanctions aren’t eased.

Nothing looks as messy as the potential legal situation for President DT Trump, according to BBC. In addition to alleged Russian interference and bimbo hush payments, says this news organization, federal and various state authorities now on the search may find deeper legal jeopardy in “Presidential Inauguration Cash”, “Foreign Influence” other than Russia, “Foreign Spending at Hotel Properties” and the “Trump Foundation”. Mueller’s hound dogs have their noses stuck under all of these tents.

The Answer:

Jimmy Hendrix was named #1. #2 was Duane Allman followed by B.B. King, Eric Clapton (Layla), Robert Johnson (Disciples were Clapton, Keith Richards and Jack White.), Stevie Ray Vaughn, Ry Cooder, Jimmy Page (Closing solo, “Stairway to Heaven) and at #10, Keith Richards. The next ten are Kirk Hammett, Kurt Cobain, Jerry Garcia, Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana, Johnny Ramone, Jack White, John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Richard Thompson (Greatest British Folk-Rock Guitarist – Founded Fairport Convention) and at #20 James Burton. Beatles George Harrison at 21 just missed the top 20. If your favorite is missing, check out “Rolling Stone Greatest Guitarists: David Frickes Picks.”

A guy named Giovanni Feroci ran for RI governor this past November on a platform that included getting rid of the RI Income Tax. In a story this morn about the 100 top RI tax scofflaws, Feroci was number 2 on the list, owing the state $1,000,000 in taxes. You gotta love a creative man with courage. Oh yeah, he got barely no votes.

You read a lot about Law colleges turning out many more lawyers than we need. But now with the Mueller investigation and all of its ramifications, we may not have enough – especially for on TV roles as legal analysts. Hey, America is all about entertainment first.