The embattlement.

Today's Tids Issue 4,336

Resolve:

Silliness is a great way to release tension. So why don’t we enjoy politicians more?

For some reason, I always enjoy Tchaikovsky’s underperformed Manfred Symphony. In many respects, it really is a hodge-podge. But I never tire of putting it on the old Victrola.

Remember how Maria sang about her favorite things. Mine would have to include rainbows, and sea sides and shoveling snow. Ahhh, the exhilaration!

“I thought Mary Poppins Returns was a thrift store at Disneyland’”. Thanks to comic strip writer Mike Peters.

We may need a few laughs to get through 2019 to 2020. A new survey of the USA folks is telling us that there could be a recession by 2020. There is no truth to the rumor that it was a Bernie Sanders/The Onion research effort. Seriously, several Wall Streeters are coming out saying watch for a recession. Of course, they may be short sellers or worse. But we know one thing for sure, the Dems would like nothing better for 2020, oh yeah, except for one thing.

The Question:

Congrats to Roger Federer who yesterday became only the second player ever to win 100 tournaments. Who is the other tennis great? Bonus: Speaking of the 100-achievement benchmark, who is the only NBA player to score 100 points in league game? Extra Bonus: What state was once a republic?

The Headlines:

--At least 23 Dead In Alabama Tornado.

--Stocks Should Power Through The Day As US And China Near Deal.

--Lily to Introduce Half Price Version Of Insulin.

--Rand Paul Opposes Trump Emergency Edict; Could Be Vote That  Passes House Law to Obfuscate.

--Trump Says Cohen Hearing may Contributed To “Walk” At Summit; New Low.

--Dem Judiciary Committee Head Nadler Subpoena’s Everybody Who Ever Knew Trump.

--Gabrielle Union and Julianne Howe To replce Heidi Klum And Mel B on AGT; Terry Crews Will Be New ost; Mandel And Cowell Eemain.

A doctor with two specialties – Hepatology and Podiatry -- treated liver and bunions.  Thanks to Brookins and McNelly.

New York could elect the next president for Coloradans, or any state that essentially cedes its electoral college rights to a large population state. In other words, why vote for president in Colorado et.al.

Surprise: A new poll just out, according to NBC, has Trump’s favorability ratings up 3 points.

RI’s Gov, who BTW also heads Dem governors nationally, thinks it’s a good idea to impose fees and sales taxes on institutions she doesn’t like. Her latest are to solve a huge deficit problem where the legislature here (God bless their rascally souls) is telling her to stop with the spending and hiring of expensive hacks, and start slashing. And then there is the “Fee”, used to uphold a no new taxes plea. The DMV technology was upgraded and the Gov is saying they didn’t have enough money to do it, so I’m implementing a $2.50 annual fee for life. Now I may sound like I appear to be smoking legal pot, but my idea of running a government is that there would be a budget to cover the cost of upgrading technology. Do you think she may have spent it all on something else – like something that would get her votes and national recognition? I’d say I’m sorry to you for my diversion to RI, but she may be a reflection of all those Dem governors she now heads. If you have a Dem governor, beware. What goes on in Rhode Island, doesn’t stay in Rhode Island.

Tomorrow I’m going to start a new intermittent column called Teen Views of the World View. I just won’t let Diane Feinstein read it.

Actually, a lot of Repubs and sensible people are hailing Feinstein for telling the truth to children who have been misguided by some ideological teachers.

Talk about spending, how about those athlete salaries. Brice Harper just got $330 Million for a13 year contract. Now his main objective was not about putting food on the table, it was soley to revive the highest contract in history. Which he did. But, since it is over 13 years, he is down around 6^th or 7^th in annual salary. Bryce Harper has been a baseball darling since he was drafted. But for 2 out of the last 3 years, his batting average was under 250.

I maybe a bit of a hypocrite. I often say that I don’t like the current trendy multi gable homes that are sprouting up just about everywhere…because they all look the sem. But then, I do love old colonial homes, which…all look the same. It must be the architectural singular detail and the footprints of ancestor who tread upon those wide board floors.

Some of the extreme analysts are talking about a potential civil war. I just think we only have to stop the civility wars.

At the end of last year, Congress passed a law called “First Step Act”. The idea was to give sentence relief to those in prison for crack cocaine violations. Now, the first person let go here in RI was guy who was the leader of the notorious, often violent, gang The Latin Kings. I’m just hoping there is a step two, before he is allowed back on the streets.

The Answer:

Jimmy Connors is the all-time Tournament champion with 108 won. Bonus: Wilt Chamberlain scored 100, and nobody has come close again. Someday before his retirement Labron will probably try it, or maybe James Harden. Extra Bonus: Texas was a republic, a sovereign state from 1836 to 1846.

The cat who was once sacred by a dog was petrified.

New York congressman Gerald Nadler has wanted to impeach Donald Trump since within seconds after he became President. And now he is in charge. Beat the drum slowly.