Cummings out party.

Today's Tids Issue 4,335

It's out there, now what?

After the sensationalism of the opening remarks, there was not a lot of new information from Cohen that has not been leaked before. Regardless of truth, it is the sensationalism of the opening remarks that gets repeated and repeated and eventually take on a life of their own.

That’s just the way perception works.

Backing up a phone and backing up a toilet are different activities, but bare distinct similarities.

Despite the big Cohen show, the guy that DT has to be worrying about most is the Trump Organization Chief Financial Officer Allen Howard Weisselberg. He knows everything, and he is talking (With immunity) to several investigative groups, including the dreaded Southern District of New York US Attorney.

What do you call a dinosaur wrapped in bacon? Jurassic Pork.

The Question:

Three countries control parts of Kashmir. Who are they?

The Headlines:

--Trump-Kim Talks End Early; Trump Says No To Lifting All Sanctions; Chairman Kim And Associates Surprised By US Knowledge Of Supposed Hidden Nuke Operation.

--“No Deal” Sends Stocks Lower; China Factory Activity Hits New Low, Worst In A Decade.

--Pakistan Says It Will Release India Pilot In Effort To Defuse Tense Situation.

--Justin Trudeau Caught Up In Worsening Political Scandal

--Dems Unveil Sweeping Medicare-For-All Program.

--Amazon Implodes Lease On Gigantic Seattle Skyscraper.

--Methodist Church Votes To Ban Gay Clergy And Same Sex marriage

--North Carolina Politico Indicted On Voter Fraud’ More To Come.

The P/R theory was that Cohen affair was yesterday, and that The President would enjoy a glorious international moment today signing a pact with Kim. But, Kim wouldn’t give on Nukes and Trump wouldn’t give on sanctions. But, they moved a little bit past square one.

I am always looking for the better biscuit. Everybody has their own version of what makes one special. Here are 8 keys to better biscuits from a woman whose mom made the best!: 1. Use soft, low protein flour (Never bread flour). 2. Keep ingredients ice cold including butter. You don’t want butter to melt into dough. Chip in on s it spreads while cooking 3. Don’t overwork dough. 4. Make thick biscuits (Roll to 3/8 inch than fold over twice then roll again to ¾. Makes them flaky. 5. Use wet dough (i.e. Not too much flour, but just enough.) 6. Place biscuits next to each other on pan. They will rise instead of spread. 7. Use hot oven – 425 or above. 8. Don’t over bake – when edges turn brown, remove.

Tonight, there will be an NHL game worth your time – Tampa Bay Lightning versus Boston Bruins. The Lightning have been rolling all year long including their latest 20 game win streak. But, the Bruins have also found their way and have won or tied (Getting points) for 12 straight games. This will be a war,

I like to read of creative achievements. A music professor oat Brown U, Eric Nathan, was fascinated by a series of letters form Emily Dickenson to a man named Thomas Wentworth Higgenson. So he wrote a chamber opera, which will be performed at Providence’s beautiful Unitarian Church. Three movements will explore Emily’s desire to be a writer, Higgenson leading an all-black brigade of soldiers during the Civil War and finally their first meeting.  Writing is often  seeing something, big or small, special and making it come alive.

Any time you start thinking that there are no opportunities in the USA, stop for moment and consider Vanna White.

And yes, the scariest news story yesterday for most serious journalists was the India-Pakistan skirmish.

While everybody stands agog looking at Amazons retail prowess and also Walmart’s aggressive entry to internet selling, somebody forgot to tell Costco! The annual ACSI Survey (American Customer Satisfaction Index) has Amazon retreating to #2 (82%) and Costco (83%) moving up to first place. Just below Costco and Amazon are Esty, Kohl’s, Nordstrom and Nike (81% ). Target, Wayfair, Macy’s, Apple and HP store are next at 80%. At the bottom of the barrel are Sears and …Walmart at 73% and 74%.

Everybody is ecstatic that Nancy and Ann Wilson of Heart are back together again. Love is Grand in music heaven.

One more thing about the Cohen interrogation. He has lost everything as a result of the beginning of the Russia collusion probe, and yesterday he said he and no knowledge of anything with respect to collusion in Russia.

There is this website called “Next-door” which, though national, is supposed to behave like a bunch neighbors talking over the back fence. Now, mainly I have seen some pretty innocuous questions and comments, but this morning I thought I saw the new low in human dependence: “Would somebody tell me how much snow we got last night?” Like, look out the window for starters. Actually, reading further, the person was out of town, but I couldn’t resist my initial instincts.

If the Repubs had began a trial while Obama was overseas negotiating an important intonations agreement, the media would have crucified the Repubs.

The arsonist and his girlfriend who could light up a room, were a perfect match.

The Answer:

Pakistan, India and, yes, China own parts of Kashmir.

So, what’s step two in this march to impeachment. 

The difference between millennials and other generations, aside form technological immersion, is that they don’t accept anything at face value. They are the questioning generation, and while they appreciate opinions from experience, they refer facts to back it up. Hmmm. The future of Tids may be in trouble.

I guess they consider as facts anything in print on the Internet!

The Beginning.

Today's Tids Issue 4,334

Tick-Tock:

Every morning would lead to a better day,

Perhaps of fulfilling work or relaxing play,

Romping with lover near a shimmering Bay!

If indecisive politicians with feet of clay

Or viral negativity, didn’t get in the way.

There are three pretty significant headlines this morning: 1. Nuclear Powers In Conflict; Pakistan Shoots Down Two India Planes. 2. President Trump and President Kim Jong Un Begin Meeting To Reach Decision That Could Reduce Nuclear Threat. 3. Elijah Cummings Gavels To Order House Oversight Committee Interrogation Of Former Trump Lawyer Michael Cohen. Which headline do you think will get the most coverage in the Main Stream Media? I’ve already looked at several varied outlets. It is Michael Cohen. Donald/Kim meet is mentioned and India/Pakistani is hard to find at some. Ratings. Ratings. Ratings.

As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in schools.

One of my resourceful friends sent me this from the mind of John Updike: “Writing is easy. You just stare at the blank page until little drops of blood appear on your forehead”. Hemmingway also had a quote that involved blood and writing, but Updike’s was better.

The Question:

Alec Baldwin’s brothers get a lot of publicity simply by hanging on his coattails. How many bros are there and how many can you name?

The Headlines:

-- Two India Planes Downed In Pakistan And Kashmir; India Says It Has Shot Down Two Pakistan Planes. India Pilots Taken Prisoner; Pakistan Closes Air Space.

-- President Trump And Kim Jong Un Meet To Begin Anti-Nuke Discussions.

—Michael Cohen To Sit Before Public Congressional Questioning.

--Escalating Geopolitical Concerns Has US Stock Markets Opening Lower.

--Newark, Nashville, Chicago and Miami Trying To Lure Amazon After NY Loses

--WH End Runs Dems To Insert Trump Judge On 9^th Circuit Court.

--Two African-American Woman Begin Run Off For Mayor Of Chicago.

--House Hearing On Climate Change Cancelled After Not Enough Democrats Show Up.

--Army Spent $8 Million To Treat 1,500 Transgender Troops Since 2016

--Weight Watchers Shares Tumble; Oprah Loses $48 Million In Minutes; Lowe’s Says US Economy Remains Strong.

At this point in time, it is apparent that the man in government who will get the most air time and ink in the coming year will be Elijah Cummings. He will be investigating every aspect of anything that has a connection to the Whitehouse – from Sarah Sanders diet to the energy efficiency rating of Secretary Perry’s house.

Just in case you are interested, nuke powers India and Pakistan are the second and sixth most populated counties in the world.

God created stock analysts to make weather forecasters look good. He hasn’t found a way to make hackers look good.

The new NBC program “Enemy Within isn’t too bad. A little too much over the top heroism and melodrama takes away from what could be a thinking person’s show. It’s based on the fact that there are a huge number of spies operating in this USA, and there is are moles snuggled in around every corner of society. It’s always good show when you don’t know who to trust. The lead character Erica Shepherd played by Jennifer Carpenter is pretty good, so far. But, TV lately has a way of ruining potential good concepts with over acting and predictability, and bad dialogue. And, human interest side stories that get in the way of main plots.

The NFL just introduced 32 new Official team Logos. As a critic said about the NE Pats logo, “It will take you a while to figure it out, but when you do you’ll hate it”. He was absolutely correct. The Green Bay Logo looks more like a swastika than anything else. The Jet’s effort is overworked and contrived. Some look like the existing logos, but in general, it is a disappointment

If you think that the Dems planning to question Cohen on the morning when Trump sat down with Kim is an accidental coincidence, you have entirely missed the vitriol in the nation. And the fact that it is known around DC that “Clintons Super pal and Cohen Lawyer Lanny Davis choreographed the entire session.”

Today is one of those days when the ice cubes I your drink grow bigger.

Every time I think that the Catholic Church is finally waking up to the horrors of child abuse, something worse happened.

And to think that two days ago I was planning on getting out my summer clothes.

“It took me fifteen years to discover I had no talent for writing, but I couldn’t give it up because by then I was too famous.” --Robert Benchley.

Did you hear about the guy who swallowed popcorn kernels just before he died? The cremation was a spectacular memorial service.

The Answer:

Kind of a dumb question today…and I didn’t even like Alec Baldwin. I’ll be honest with you, I hear so much about these guys I actually thought there were far more than just four – Alec, William, Daniel and Stephen. Stephen’s daughter Hailey is married to Justin Bieber, in case you are interested. Actually, Adam Baldwin gets a lot of publicity, but he is not a brother. Maybe he just changed his name!

Regardless of the importance the 3 headlines, I imagine there will be a lot of talk tonight and tomorrow morning about what Cohen has to say. The Trump defense will say that Cohen is a proven liar, but that will have no effect on the damage that will be the result of Cohen’s Remarks. This will be step one in Impeachment hearings.

BTW: The hearing just began, and after headache producing positioning by both sides, Cohen stared his remarks, calling the President a “racist, con man and cheat”. That will be the headline tomorrow.

It’s one of those days when you start the Tids one way, and the news changes the hedging.