Looking for Unity.

Today's Tids Issue 4,409

Quiet Places; Keep Them Free:

I remember quiet spots of yore. Freely flowing fields that spread gracefully to the rocky shore. Where the singing of birds competes with the resounding ocean roar. I love the farms fertile, the graying stone walls; the quite streams that rush into churning falls. There are many things for which I hope, but most is that we keep what’s green, rich and vibrant, and open, free from the thundering hordes. And their GPS systems.  

Every time I struggle, lugging home groceries in an unwieldy paper bag, I think – fight on, you old bastard, you are saving the world. But then I think, gadzooks! I’m killing trees. O, the guilt. Ban irresponsible people. Bring back plastic bags!

It’s tough to urn a living on my pottery wheel.

I think I know a little about computers until I meet somebody who knows a lot about computers.

I think I’m seeing a trend. Smart phones want to live like independent entities and have humans as their servants.

The Question:

In an 1858 acceptance speech after being nominated to be the Repub US Senator form Illinois, Abe Lincoln uttered a memorable phrase which is especially apt for today. What is it? Bonus: “Computing-Tabulating-Recording” was the originally 1919 name of what Caproate Giant of Today? Extra Bonus: Name the first five winners of American Idol.

The Headlines:

--Stocks Up, But Market Is Cautious; Pfizer To Buy Cancer Drug Maker Array For $1.64 Billion; Alibaba Prepares Stock Share Split.

--Midwest farmers Say Planting Season Has Become Biggest Disaster They Have Known; Price Of Farm Goods Expected to Increase.

--Pompeo Trying To Rally Allies To Take A Stance Against Iran Attacks On Oil Tankers; Iran Says It Will Break Through Limit On Nuke Material Stockpiles In10 days.

--Player Favorite Golfer Gary Woodland Beats Back All Threats To Take US Open; Thirteen Under Beats Tiger Record Of 12 Under.

--Gloria Vanderbilt Des At Age 75; Son Anderson Cooper Says She Died Form Massive Stomach Cancer.

--Dunkin’ Donut s Joins With Grub Hub To Start Delivery Service.

--Trump Ban On Huawei Could Result In 40-60% Sales Drop.

--Trump Fires 3 Pollsters After New Polls Show Him Behind; Prez Berates Aid Mulvaney For Coughing During ABC Interview.

--New Fox News Poll: Biden Tops Dems And Trump; Joe 10 Points Up On DT; Leads Bernie by 19, Eliz And Pete by 23, Kamala By 24 And Beto By 28.

--Netanyahu’s Wife Convicted Of Misusing State Funds.

--LA Lakers To get Anthony Davis In Trade: Big Move Could Open Door For Kawhi Leonard To Join Davis And Labron..

What rhymes with Orange? No it doesn’t!

Yes, Bad Dad’s day jokes rose like rich cream to the top over the weekend. Be prepared as you read on. But, after reading them all, I’m whipped.

When I want music that relaxes my soul, and sends an occasional tingle down my back, I listen to Edward Elgar’s 2^nd Symphony.

Summer movies so far are bombing. I guess there are just so many sequels a person can take before they cry enough. Create something new, they seem to be crying! Most of the plots were created in days of Shakespeare and Chaucer to name a couple, and only embellished for modern times by new authors. Unfortunately, Hollywood embellishment is to often too shiny for believability.

We’ve banned a lot of useful stuff lately under the name of saving the planet from the evilest demon of all – Plastic. Oooo-weeee-0oooo! But it seems that 90% of plastic in oceans comes from Ten international rivers: In Asia – Yangtze, Indus, yellow, Hai He, Ganges, Pearl, Amur, Mekong; In Africa – Nile, Niger. So, people see videos of floating plastic and they take it out on the innocent, unwitting neighbors. They pummel legislators for restrictive laws, which obviously won’t put a dent in the real problem. But of course, we’re doing our part. Yeah, right. I ‘ll take plastic bags.

Headline: “Tyson Enters Plant Based Meat Market”. Truth in advertising headline: Tyson Enters Fake Meat Market.

From A Reader: This scoop beneath the diplomatic surface -- Mexico’s initial reaction to Trump tariffs was to pay for Impeachment proceedings. Stay tuned.

What do you call someone without a body and only a nose? Nobody knows.

It is becoming apparent that the most necessary cell phone accessory is – Pockets.

The real sin against meat eaters is that Tyson is using peas to create fake chicken. Peas of all things, Peas, that I have been avoiding all my life. Peas, the ultimate insult.

You never feel alone when you pay it back.

Most of the stuff that comes over my phone is from somebody selling me or scamming me.

The Answer:

With his words “A house divided against itself cannot stand,” Abe was warning a nation severed by the slavery issue. Like now our nation endures a split that appears a times as irreversible. Military leads have always said, “Divide and Conquer”. How many adversaries out there are seeing the crack in the invincible armor the USA  as a new opportunity to break down the republic for all. Adversaries, not just Russia or Cuba or Venezuela, but Bernie Sanders, George Soros and Elizabeth, AOC and others. Bonus: The word “Computing” in C-T-R was probably the dead give-away. It was of course IBM. And computing meant adding machines, and later comptometers. Extra Bonus: The first American Idol show was hosted by Ryan Seacrest and Brian Dunkleman. The first winner was Kelly Clarkson who beat Justin Guarini. After Kelly, we had Ruben Stoddard beating Clay Aiken. Next it was Fantasia Barrino who left Jennifer Hudson in the dust at #4. Carrie Underwood beat Bo Bice, followed by a relatively boring Taylor Hicks beating Katherine McPhee. Also in that same year, Chris Daughtry should have won it all. Next, Jordan Sparks beat Blake Lewis, and in the following uninspiring final David Cook edged out David Archuleta.  Adam Lambert was the heavy favorite for season 8 but was outvoted by a lackadaisical Kris Allen. Lee DeWyze beat Christal Bowersox. The tenth winner was deep throated Country Singer Scotty McCreery who beat out country woman singer Lauren Alaina.

It looks like a grey skied week around here, so I’ll have to keep this daily mess lively and upbeat. It will be all rose-colored glasses.