Missing priorities

Today's Tids Issue 4,450

Spread around the limelight:

Some of the most amazing super technology is being applied to improving the lives of people paralyzed. A heralded new device that promises we can get our music delivered better is a big ho-hum to me. But watching a chip inserted near the brain that causes fingers to move, arms to raise, knees to bend, sends chills down my spine. And maybe a tear to the eyes as I see the smiles of hope for persons bound to a chair.

Rosie Perez who died yesterday has received more publicity solely for flagrantly breaking rules than working Americans will ever get for contributing to society; loving their families.

Protein. Have you noticed that food people, chefs and dieticians are now using the word “protein” as a must for meals? That is opposed to former years since the beginning of time when they would say meat or fish. Is this part of the vast vegan/global warmer conspiracy to remove the word meat from the vocabulary so future generations won’t realize that they are missing something when meat disappears form the face of the earth? Will our great-great grandchildren ever know the sumptuous flavor of a beef burger and fries or steak au Poivre?  

They say the food at the new restaurant on Mars is great, but it has no atmosphere.

The Question:

Name five proteins that are not meat or fish. Bonus: Who was the first Hispanic person named to a US Cabinet position?

The Headlines:

--Trade Concerns Pop Up Again; Stocks Start Lower, Could End Week On Downside; Yuan Down Again; Uber Drops Rapidly After Bad Earnings/Revenue Report; UK Economy Constriction Surprises Economists; Global Growth Continues As Weak.

--New Dem Poll In Iowa: Biden 28% (Up 1%), Warren 19% (Up 7%); Sanders Drops From 16% to 9%, Beto From 6% to1%; Kamala At 11% and Pete at 8% Run 3 And 4.

--Tariffs Putting Pressure On Leading Taiwan Manufacturer Of Amazon Products – Foxcomm.

--Americans Running From High Tax States Flocking To Florida.

--Missouri Firefighter With Gun Stops Armed, Armor Clad Man At Walmart.

--Politicians Continue To Characterize Each Other As Losers And Worse.

Greatness comes from those first to achieve. Oh, sure, sports records are broken, products are amazingly reinvented, leaders expand on ideas. But it is those who first dipped their toes into unknown waters who should never be forgotten. That’s a long way of saying that I think Bob Cousy was the greatest.

My English teacher used a metronome in class. It was reading, writing to a rhythmic tick. Shoot me.

This coming weekend is an official State Holiday here in little ole’ Rhode Island. It is VJ Day, and for those of you who live in areas where it has been forgotten, it means Victory over Japan day – a momentous celebration in American history. Oh, there are many in this state who would like to obscure the title, but, luckily it survives. That is, until somebody tears down a statue of an American WWII fighting person.

It is also “Pure Evil Day” in America. It was fifty years ago that a totally amoral group of heartless young men and women horrendously murdered innocents -- for fun and adventure. It was one of the worst 2 or 3 days in our history.

Why when entering a restaurant does the maître’ d always ask if you want a table? No, I tend to prefer food.

One reason why it is so hard to get things done, to make improvements in RI is because elected officials and legislators have to talk with public employee union chiefs before they can implement advances for the public. The answer is most likely, no.

One of the keys to writing is turning pronouns into descriptive passages. At least, that’s what this amateur thinks.

The proverbial bur under the saddle in the China/US trade standoff could be the banning of Huawei.

Reedling Between the Lines Movie Reviews:

--The all-star cast The Kitchen, a new entry in the women’s empowerment derby, is not very good, so say the critics. Actually, they say it is quite bad. After the mobster husbands are caught in a robbery and jailed, the 3 mob wives take over running the gang. They face down crusty mob leaders in 1978 Hell’s Kitchen, run the rackets and eliminate competition. It doesn’t sound that bad.

--From tis person’s view, The Farewell looks to be capitalizing on the popularity of Crazy Rich Asians. A grandmother has only a short time to live, a secret kept from her by her vast Chinese family. They schedule a sudden wedding as a reason to gather together. It is all about family dynamics, with some questioning the decision to keep grandma in the dark about her own life. I may avoid, although it is said to be good.

--Scary Stories Told In The Dark tales place in 1968 as America is undergoing societal changes still afflicting society today. A young girl from a wealthy family dominant in a small town, writes of her tortured life in her mansion at the edge of town. A group of teens discover the terror tome, and find that what she has written becomes all too real.

--Brian Banks Is a true story about a young potentially excellent black football player who was railroaded into prison for a crime he didn’t commit. The Innocent Project fights for his release and he seeks to reinvigorate his dream of playing in the NFL.

-- And the we have Dora And The Lost City Of Gold as the kids feature of the week. Those who like Dora will enjoy. Dora the Explorer must first encounter her greatest new adventure, High School, before she and quirky new teen pals set out to save her parents and solve the mystery behind the city of gold. Doesn’t sound too bad to me.

The Answer:

As I watch the vegan subculture work to change our eating vocabulary, I am concerned that our great grandchildren will not even know what the term “meat” means, much less enjoy its rapture, its flavors. They be will have to be happy with proteins like Nuts, Quinoa, Lentils, Chickpeas and Garbanzo Beans, Kidney Beans, Great Northern Beans, Seitan, Tempeh, Broccoli (Looks Like eColi when you glance at it), Green Peas, Chia Seeds, Edamame, Milk, Yogurt and Eggs. If this is their future, then the future looks dreadful to me. Chia seeds? Growing hair on organs? Bonus: Ronald Reagan appointed Lauro Carasas as his Secretary of Education in 1984.

Most of the news I scout each morning is professional and amateur outrageousness, with a lot of organization, association, institution and business press releases thrown in. It is actually hard to write “Today’s Headlines” with a straight face these days.

Use your huzzahs well.

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