Dance Craze: the DC Whirl.

Today's Tids Issue 4,399

Are you Dizzy yet?

Do you get the feeling that you are watching the National Top and Dreidel Championships? My head is spinning faster than the two sides can put out truth reorganization experts in post Mueller Speak America.

You have a right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted and used against you.

The real Kim showed up today and it was not pretty. As you probably know, we learned of his execution of five Government officials for screwing up the last meeting with President DT. Particularly onerous was the firing squad death of his chief negotiator Kim Hyok Chol, one of the country’s most experienced and competent diplomats and special envoy to the US. His crime: “(For being) won over by the American imperialists to betray the supreme leader.” I think we have a problem. “With friends like Kim…” How do you spin that?

North Korea has a diplomacy department? In NK, diplomacy is spelled p-r-e-v-a-r-i-c-a- t-i-o-n.

It’s pretty obvious that Jeopardy James did not go to a Trophies for All school as he is not sharing his hard-earned winnings with the losing contestants. Is he un-American?  Thanks to a particularly insightful reader for the idea.

Godzilla or Elton John? Which will be the box-office winner – music or mayhem? I’m betting on Mayhem.

Aaaaaarrrgh! Another day, another tariff, this time on Mexico to stop illegal immigration, Now I’m am all for stopping mass, or even mini, unlawful sneaking in, but my pocketbook is more conflicted than Mueller.

He who laughs last didn’t get it.

The Question:

--When did London’s Big Ben first ring its chimes – 1559. 1659, 1759 or 1859?

The Headlines:

--Stock Investors Shudder After Trump Slaps Tariff On Mexico Until It Stops Illegal Immigration; Mexico Tariff Would Cripple US Auto Manufacturing say Observers; Dow Could Open Down 250.

--Kim Executes Five Key NK Officials For Messing Up Trump Meeting.

--China Threatens Long Blacklist Of US Firms.

--Death Toll In Budapest Tour Boat Accident Could Rise To 28.

--Saudi King Blasts Iran For Gulf Aggression.

--Car Bomb Targets US Convoy Near Kabul.

--Ted Cruz Says AOC Is Right In Banning Lawmakers From Becoming Lobbyists.

A lot of people may not agree with me, but I think that the Hudson River is the prettiest in the Country. There may be wider, longer and rivers that gouge out acres to form great canyons, but none is as magnificence as the historic wide Hudson nestled in endless green valleys. Which by the way even retains its luster as it carves it way through the canyons of the big rosy apple. The Hudson valley is a wonder of America rarely appreciated by many, except in beautiful paintings of the 19t and early 20^th centuries It is  still a work of art today, despite being ravaged by humans during the growth of a great Nation. Yes those brilliant industrialist who put food on the table for millions. Yet, this remarkable valley has proven that Nature has a way of redeeming itself. Of enduring.

Say it ain’t so Shoeless Joe. Yes, baseball attendance is down again, this time by 1.4%. It’s still the best game to watch, but apparently not for short attention span generations. Baseball players make plays look easy which perhaps the casual sports fan can’t imagine. It’s the intricacies of the game that makes it great, not the speed of play nor even mighty blasts. It’s catches and throws, and scoops and dives, and precision pitches that nip the corner of the plate. It’s all in there. And the peanuts aren’t bad either.

I have been told that new car sales are declining somewhat significantly now, and it is forecast by insiders to continue to in 2020. And this was before the Mexico tariff which could accelerate the negative sales curve. On the other hand, used cars sales are booming. Used cars are great for your initial expense hit, but things like sets of tires and mechanical overhaul can make them expensive in the not so distant future.

Before Donald Trump, I had trouble spelling tariff.

Maybe Baseball would do better if they replaced peanuts and hot dogs with a certain crunchy Orange Snack temptation.

I see where the NYT’s management is clamping down on appearances by their reporters on what they call heavily biased Cable news shows, singling out Maddow, Lemon and O’Donnell. We like being left of center, but prefer not appearing stupid, implies management.

Cheese: Milk’s leap towards immortality.

As you may have inferred, I am traveling today and typing this mess in between stops at convenience stores to buy Cheeto’s.

It has been a disconcerting day already, learning that reasoning with Kim is like Rachel Maddow accepting a marriage proposal from Donald Trump. Whoops. I Hope Melania isn’t reading this morning.

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:

--You Know Elton John and you know his music. And even if you don’t, you’ll probably like this life story of Sir Elton -- Rocketman. They say it is another Bohemian Rhapsody, only better.

--Find Me is the critics fave of the week. It’s about an accountant who interrupts his routine to to find a missing friend – who leaves a series of clues across our national parks.

--Godzilla is aback and guess what, the fans love it. The critics, not so much. That means the marauding monster will be a box office hit. The thought to be godlike Myths rise again to threaten the very existence of humanity. So, what’s new?

--“Ma” is a convoluted tale of which I am having trouble making sense. Octavio Spencer, a lonely woman sees an opportunity for friendship after being asked to buy booze for teens. But she, Ma, has some house rules the teens must follow. The teens quickly learn that Ma’s fun house is truing into a horrible nightmare.

The Answer:

I thought Big Ben was ringing out joyful chimes in London for multiple centuries. I was surprised to learn it was only 1859. The Liberty bell was cracked way before that.

Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, age doesn’t matter.

They are spinning in Washington and all it needs is a good beat to become the latest dance craze – the DC Dervish. Oh God, the PC police will be after me.

The Tids will return to their full body loveliness on Monday. In fact, the Tids is a great example of learning to take the good with the bad

Have a great weekend, E-v-e-r-y-b-o-d-y!!

Let the insanity begin.

Today's Tids Issue 4,398

Is it over yet:

Whoa! Can you spell I-m-p-e-a-c-h-m-e-n-t? Robert Mueller flipped the coin yesterday, and it came up -- off with their heads.

That reminds me that I’d rather speak of romance, a meandering through dreamland. An exploration, perhaps, of a rocky coast; lapping of waves churning through crevices, in and out of tidal pools. Staring down Imagining how life at the coastal edges adjusts from underwater to being exposed to hot sun. How resourceful are these creatures you barely see? Thinking of the simpler things in life, of the marvel of natural adaptation, brings relief to furrowed brows, smidges of glee to aching hearts. But, nothing in this world cleanses the mind of inane irrationality than a soothing smile, and bright hopeful eyes. A soft touch.

As I watched the dog chasing his tail, I thought dogs are easily amused. Then I realized I was watching a dog chase his tail.

After yesterday’s little dissertation about CBD and the growing acceptance and enthusiasm for its benefits, I realized that I may also have set in motion a new trend of citizens clamoring for CBD Cheetos.  

A good time was had by awl at the cobbler’s party.

The Question:

Today’s Q may be a little difficult, but it should be interesting to learn the answer: Name 9 Love Triangles that drastically changed history.

The Headlines:

--Stocks Showing A Little Bit Of life; Euro Stocks Up;

--China Accuses USA Of “Economic Terrorism”.

--Economists Calling For Trump To Ease Off The China Trade War.

--Netanyahu To face New Election In September After Failing To Produce Coalition Government.

D-Secretary Shanahan Says Trump Does Not Want War With Iran.

--Uber To report Frist Earnings As Public Company; Food Delivery Operations Will be Under Microscope.

--Mueller Cracks Open The Impeachment Door For Nancy.

--21 Dead, 30 Injured In Mexico Crash between Semi And Tour Bus.

--6.6 Earthquake Hits Off-Coast El Salvador

Have you noticed that The Tids ability to give you bigger and better puns tends to fade at month’s end?  Coming soon: In June we’ll serve up delicious account of the honeymoon of the dish and the spoon.

I think there’s a joke about a fork in there somewhere.

There are two ways the President can remove the spotlight from his alleged misdeeds: One – Start a war in the Middle East. Two – Make friends with China and stop the escalating trade wars. I opt for the latter.

America’s Got Talent is back, and once again I’m happy to be missing the early episodes. I did take a brief peek this week and saw a pretty good dancing acrobat group. But, like most of those energetic and often spectacular entertainers, they have trouble creating newness as the competition wears on. I did notice two new judges, Gabrielle Union and Julianne Hough, neither of whom I recognized and whose names I continually forget. What I did recognize was that they didn’t seem that much different than their processors, Heidi and Mel B. Oh yeah, and they still have the MC, now Terry Crews, interrupting the acts with feigned excitement and facial contortions. Annoying. Reality entertainment shows would be better with much less judge interaction, and that goes for The Voice and DWTS and all. BTW, The Tids Entertainment Division doesn’t ever get invested in the show until they rid themselves of the Gong Show style “talent”.

I’m thinking that some of those 23 dem candidates may be carefully weighing their decision on whether or not to support Impeachment. Revenge politics is certainly at the forefront these days, and they may be thinking -- If I win, will I be fighting impeachment for my first term. But then, the Dems do have a favoring media.

Speaking of media, CNN and MSNBC would actually be quite helpful if they got off their hate Trump crusade every once in a while, and started honestly analyzing the current Dem 23.

If anybody ever asks you about the stock market, just say “Inverted Yield Curve”, and they’ll walk away. Interestingly, The IYC used to be a favorite tool of the analysts, but now many disagree on its true merits. Everything in this world of ours changes, and that includes the value of Inverted Yield Curves.

Oh yeah, one thing who’s value never changes, is the value of having a good moral foundation.

Mass hysteria has always been with us. It’s just that today it is created faster thought the internet. But the shallow basis for people overreactions still basically the same. In 1893, 12 people were killed when a false rumor arose that said the new, State of the art Brooklyn Bridge was about the collapse created a stampede. But that mighty bridge still stands strong and resolute. The real problem among the Brooklyn denizens of the day was that the building of the span opened Idyllic Brooklyn to Manhattanites. It’s a little like Newport RI today.

A new book lists the Top Ten Media Trump Haters. Topping the list is Jim Acosta followed by Scarborough/Brzezinski, Stephanopoulos, the gang of late night talk-show hosts, Chris Cuomo, Chris Matthews, Phillip Rucker (Wapo), Jorge Ramos (Univision), Brian Selter and Brian Williams. Can you imagine how many who have poured their lives into anti-Trumping are disappointed by not making the first team.

James Holzhauer keeps on rolling along amusing us all with his breadth of knowledge and dominance. And petty politics just seems so small and insignificant. It’s really about Americans doing well all by themselves. $2.323,971 and counting.

A poll of 30,000 students across the country found that 62% said they would pay off their entire college loan on time. That’s down from 88% in 2012. So, financial institutions are probably wondering, is this applicant in the 62% or 38%. Las Vegas has better odds than that. As a recruitment tool, some companies, like PriceWaterhouseCoopers are setting aside yearly funds for new employees to use for annual loan payments. Last year The Fed of NY said that student loan debt rose by $79 Billion – that’s  “Rose” by $79 “B”illion.

Meaghan Markle is just another shallow celebrity. She has refused to join her husband in an official meeting with The Queen and the President of the United States. It takes a big person to perform expected duties no matter the personal distaste. There’s nothing noble about running away.

The Answer:

Number on should be pretty obvious for it gave us the Anglican Church – Henry the VII, Catharine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn.  Nest is Louis XIV, Madame Montespan and Madame Maintenon. That is followed by Andrew Jackson, Rachel Jackson and Lewis Robards; Mark Anthony, Cleopatra, and Octavio; Edward VIII, Wallis Simpson and Ernest Simpson; Helena of Schleswig-Holstein (Queen Victoria’s Daughter), Beatrice of Battenberg and Henry of Battenberg; Lady Franscesca de Rimini, Gianciotto da Malatesta and Paola da Malatesta; Saphinista, Masinissa and Syphax; Eleanor of Aquitaine, Louis VII and Henry II. Well, this was probably a bad Q for today. But think of the fun oyu will have looking it all up in Wikipedia!

Kind of short effort today. I’m on my way off for a little getaway. Say a little prayer for Midwesterners beaten and battered.

See you all tomorrow. Maybe I’ll have something to say.