The sky is always blue.

Today's Tids Issue 4,342

Up is good:

“A pessimist is always alone. An optimist is always 2 people away from a threesome.” I don’t know about you, but I wake each day thinking everything is going to be great. When it is gray, I think of the light from friends and family. When it is bright, warm or cold, it’s a perfect day. But I don’t have to do anything special, because whatever I do will be what should be done. If I want to be lazy, I will be perfectly lazy. If I challenge myself, I will work to make it an accomplishment. It just doesn’t seem to make sense to see gloom, to give up before the day begins. It never really has to be, even when it feels hopeless. When it is blacker than hell, there will be a sliver of light, somewhere. I will feel goodness in sadness.  Will find victory in defeat. It’s a sunny day today. That’s a good start.

I just read the list of scandals associated with Wells-Fargo, and that is a bank to too bad to exist

If I never find a four-leaf clover, I’ll still be the lucky guy, because I lived.

It’s always nice for those caught in a big scandal like yesterday’s’ college scheme if celebrities also involved. It quickly removes the spotlight from the rest as the media will rush to the stars.

The way technology is going, if college was just about learning you could probably do it all on line. Easy. But, it would severely cut down on beer consumption.

The Question:

See if you can name five Neil Sedaka songs.

The Headlines:

--Upbeat Comments Form China Have Stocks Higher; Rubio Says China’s Huawei Should Not be Selling In America.

--Job Cuts: Rite-Aid – 500; VW – 7,000 Worldwide.

--JP Morgan Chase To Open 90 Branches In9 Markets.

--Boeing Struggling To Contain Fallout As More Countries Stop 737 Max 8 Form Flying.

--Pilots Have Been Concerned About 737 Max 8 Flight manual And Automation.

--Odell Beckham Jr. Goes To Cleveland Brown In Big Trade.

Cal’s Gov Newsom Stops Death Penalty Reprieving 737 Inmates On Death Row.

--Pompeo Says Restraints Have Been Lifted For Venezuela; US Airstrikes Wipe Out Afghan Air Base

“If I am happy in spite of my deprivations, if my happiness is so deep that it is a faith, So thoughtful that it becomes a philosophy of life. If, in short, I am a optimist, my testimony to the creed of optimism is worth hearing.” –Helen Keller

The state and local governments are always pushing for affordable housing. Some research has been done which is proving that a big contributor to the high cost of housing is government mandated regulations. Most regulations are to help those who don’t follows the rules of common sense.

Thor Heyerdahl (Remember him) once said, “Progress is man’s ability to complicate simplicity.”

In another CNN low point last night, commentator Don Lemon tried to put the squeeze on Trump. saying the Prez is tied to college admissions cheating scam via his fortuitous upbringing. Outrageous.

If you think politics can be weird, last night in Fall River, a big-ish city just up the road. They had a recall vote for the 27 yo Mayor currently under federal indictment for alleged investor fraud associated with his App company. On the same ballot were the names of five candidates to succeed, including the mayor. The mayor was recalled…and then re-elected to succeed himself!! Now what?

After a week, I think I have successfully reentered sockless living, probably now good until late November. Unless, there is a blizzard in April.

Meanwhile, the Zeppole factories are in full Saint Joseph day mode. Yum.

You probably don’t want to hold onto your college textbook stocks.

One day the British pound soars after a potential agreement with the EU is struck. A day later the Parliament buries Mays’ latest alternative in no uncertain terms. The EU says that’s it. And, England is going to vote on two bad possibilities. I think they will find a way.

Zach Exley is the author of “Rules for Revolutionaries: How Big Organizing Can Change Everything.” The West Harford Conn born 50 year old political operator took an AFL/CIO training program for “Radical union organizers” after graduating from UMass. His first jobs were as an undercover or covert union organizer in some big Midwest factories. He jumped into the internet and founded the first political parody website – GWBush.com. He rose to stardom, and learned how to create mass followings from the publishing of false or exaggerated information. From there he took that talent to Moveon.com where he did more of the same. That launched him into the campaigns, 1^st of Howard Dean and then John Kerry. He then founded “Revolution in Jesusland” an organization designed to blur the lines between the secular left and Evangelical Christianity. He moved on  to become a consultant to the Obama campaign. So why are you reading this. His latest fascination is something he personally shaped, called “Green New Deal”, Oh, you’ve heard of that?  It is said that Exley is the puppet master behind AOC. Nothing just happens.

Zach says he spends a lot of time trying to discover how poor countries become rich. Hmmm. How about discover oil.

Aaaaargggh – I never, ever thought I’d ever use the phrase “friends and family” in the Tids!  Well, guess what, today I did it and the world didn’t evaporate.

JFK said, “Don’t pray for an easy life. Pray for stronger people.”

The Answer:

Neil was what I would call a happy singer! He was a smiley face before there were emogees Among his songs are “Laughter in the Rain”, “I will follow You”, “Breakin’ up is hard to Do”, “You Mean Everything to Me”, “Calendar Girl”, Stairway to Heaven, “We’ll sing in the Sunshine”, “I must be Dreaming” and “Love will keep us Together”!! Oh yeah, Neil’s “Stairway to Heaven” is not the Led Zeppelin song written by Jimmy Page.

Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you.