Middle-Ground Malaise.

Today's Tids Issue 4,404

Unite all over again:

I don’t know what this world’s about,

Controlled mostly by people who shout.

We used to just strive for all, together,

Now we’re angry over changing weather.

Society used to feel more open, and free.

Now it’s trying to get the folks to agree.

Is it because I’ve seen so much good in life?

That I don’t understand this constant strife.

Yes, I think we’d all be so much less bitter

If we could just get rid of intruding Twitter.

With successes in banning convenient plastic bags and straws, there is a growing voice that is saying ban all plastics. That’s the old throw the baby out with the bathwater philosophy. Plastic is vital for many products that are vital for civilization. Of the many, many uses of plastics, one of critical importance is the medical field – for catheters, artificial limbs; prosthetic heart valves; disposable devices reduce the prospects of infection; reduction of cross-staph infection; glasses and contact lens; machine housings and associative instruments for MRI. Just to name a few, in one critical industry dependent of Plastics. Too often the easy solution is to mask the symptoms instead of eradicating the problem. Maybe they should ban irresponsible human beings instead. Many groups today are very good at denouncing but not so hot at finding practical solutions, replacements for what has been trod upon. Like replacing the jobs of the million who earn their living in the industry.

Of course, then there are plastic surgeons.

The YMCA is that rare USA institution that serves all elements of society.

If Alexa is playing radio and someone on the radio says “Alexa”, does she start talking to herself. Will we need a new class of psychologists who deal with the minds of AI Personal Assistants? You never know what the future.

The Question:

US Presidents and/or their wives had favorite recipes: I’ll name ten presidents and ten recipes. See if you can match them, The recipes: Mincemeat Pie Filling. Fish Chowder. Martini. Molasses Cookies. Almond Macaroons. Vegetable Soup. Cheesy Grits. Rice Pudding. Ozark Pudding. Barbecues Sauce. The Presidents: Eisenhower, LBJ and LB, FDR, JFK, Jimmy Carter, Harry And Bess Truman, US Grant, Tom Jefferson, John and Abigail Adams, George and Martha Washington.

The Headlines:

--Markets Continue To Revitalize Portfolios; All Up Strongly Today At mid-Morning; Jobs Miss At 75K Has Investors Thinking About Rates Cut; Tesla Stock May Have Found A Bottom; May Have.

--US And Russia Warships Nearly Collide In st China Sea.

--Mexico Tariff Talks Continue: Mexico Troops Mass At Southern Border.

--DHS Says Migrants Are Renting Babies To Cross Southern Border.

--Legal Experts Question Arrest Of Parkland Deputy.

--Biden Backtracks On Support For Ban Of Fed Funding Of Abortions.

--Pelosi And Nadler In Reported Split Over Impeachment.

I had a chance this morning to talk to talk to a former NBA GM -- Cav’s with Labron, plus Nuggets and Hawks. He thinks the analytics have too much control and have taken movement without the ball and passing out of the game. He said that the math majors are saying that a bad 3-Point shot is better than a good 2-Point shot. That is why you see so many heaves that seem much too hurried. He doesn’t like isolation where a super star holds the ball while the other four twiddle thumbs. Personally, I think it is killing the sport. The athletes are certainly bigger, faster, stronger, and more talented in many ways. But the game has become boring.

I still like the aroma of a good cigar. Unfortunately, I can’t afford the cost of a good cigar.  

The new American sports heroine could be 17 year old tennis player Amanda Anisinova. Yesterday she beat last year’s French Open champ and moved into the semis where she will meet another young player with a future, Ash Barty of Australia. It’s nice to see the US back with newer, younger competitors like Madison Keys and Sloane Stephens, and now Amanda. Tennis is harder to follow, especially when the US is so underrepresented. By the way, in the Men’s French semis we have for the first time in a long time all fo the top four seeds – Nadal v. Federer; Djokovic v. Thiem.

The Internet has blunted my imagination with facts.

A friend of mine told me yesterday that he is raising the price of his products by 25%. Guess why? Yup, tariffs. But what is interesting is that he imports granite form China. Granite: like really, really heavy rocks that are still cheaper to import from way across the Pacific than buy from US sources.

Basically, US economic models today seem based primarily on having China as a supplier of low-cost goods. Its’ how Internet companies can sell inexpensively, how big box retailers can stock shelves. It’s how companies can make enough money to live up to stock market analysts demands

With the left, you just never know. They rarely seem to be upset about jobs lost by people, as long as their banning concept takes hold. Maybe that is part of the plan, increase the number of US citizens beholding to Leftist industries – state-controlled welfare.

China has been robbing us blind for decades, but are we willing to tank the economy to stop it? Why does everything have to be all or nothing?

I see where Spotify has signed the Obamas to do podcasts. I’m glad it wasn’t Blogger signing them to do Blogs…in competition with Tids. Nah, there is no competition for Tids.

You have to wonder that with so many people having so many friends on social media if any will show up at their funerals? Or just send virtual flowers and tears.

I have always thought of American icons like Presidents and Founding Fathers as part of my extended family. But now, people are more interested in finding out what’s wrong with them. I don’t getit.

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:

--Late Night is workplace drama/comedy about a superstar nighttime comic who hires a new female write for diversity purposes. But the consequences aren’t so smooth, though the two separated by age and culture agree on one thing, a biting punchline. I just wonder who will be bitten by the punchlines in this film.

--They really turn out the animated films, don’t they? This week’s addition is The Secret Life Of Pets2 – loved by people and not so much by critics. So, what’s new? It’s a sequel to TSOP1 about what pets do when the humans leave the house. Remember, the first iteration of this film had the best opening ever for any film.

--Dark Phoenix is the newest X-Men film. Jean is nearly killed during a rescue mission when she is hit by a mystery cosmic force. At home she becomes significantly more powerful, but also more unstable. She spirals out of control threatening the very fabric that binds X-Men together. And guess what, they must bond not only to save her soul,  but also the entire the planet from aliens who want to weaponize her force.

The Answer:

Washington – Mincemeat Pie filling; JFK – NE Fish Chowder; FDR – Martini; Adams – Simple Molasses Cookies; Jefferson – Almond Macaroons; Eisenhower – Vegetable Soup; Carter – Cheesy Grits; Grant – Rice Pudding; Truman – Ozark Pudding; LBJ – Barbecue Sauce. Want ot see one – send a note.

Well this week did well what do well around this country – we came together to remember the soldiers who fought in WWII and made us free from enemies who would ravage the world. We also honor all of those who came together in the homeland to support the troops, to make the weapons, to line the streets to cheer them home. God bless. Working together is a pretty good idea.

Happy Weekend, E-v-e-r-y-b-o-d-y!!