Love is in there

Today's Tids Issue 4,544

Muffling Static

I think it is time to tune out Washington. To tune in love and harmony. Like from Beethoven’s 9^th, Ode to Joy: “O friends, No more these sounds! Let us sing more cheerful songs, more full of joy!” “Thy magic power reunites, all that custom has divided, all men become brothers, under the sway of thy gentle wings.” You know, so many have written of bonding and understanding; let the angry dividers creep away into lonely lairs, and anguish in voices singing as one.

Today may changes this superstitious Friday from bad luck to representing good things to come. The Brits went strongly conservative in yesterday’s election. A deal was made on China/US trade, and China accepted he wording. And we pretty much got the Dem judiciary committee behind us. And I hear the clip-clop of horse pulling a sleigh across snowy fields pure and bright.

It’s hard for me to understand humans being so far apart if they aren’t just seeking power. Because there is love, I know there is love in every heart, which should never succumb to a closed mind.

It’s nice to see the “Hot Stove” league resurfacing, It is fun during this annual pre-baseball season time of year when fans speculate eon what players will come and go for the upcoming year. Actually it used to be more fun before new management techniques that avoid sentimentality and shoot from-the-hip hunches. I liked it better when your team was based on continuity rather than algorithms.

In a small, not terribly scientific survey yesterday, people were asked “Is it possible to lead a meaningful life without the Internet?” 83% of the respondents said “Yes!”.

Isn’t interesting how Nadler postponed the anti-Trump vote to this morning, Friday the 13t. I usually redact that date from the Tids.

The Question:

Who was the first President of the USA ever to visit Europe while in Office? Bonus: We haven’t played, “Who are these People” lately. That’s where I give names of randomly found, supposedly famous people who I never heard of until the answer in the Tids. Robert Lindsey, Wendie Malick, Steven Forbert, Bart Johnson, Chelsea Hertford, and Maisy Stella.

The Headlines:

--World Markets Up; China Says It Has Accepted Text On Phase One Of Trade Deal After Trump Denies Reports Saying He Signed China Deal That Would Avoid $156 Billion In New Tariffs; Boris J Win Has Pound Increasing; US Retail Sales In November Rose Less Than Expected – US may Lower Year End Economic Predictions.

--Brits Boris Johnson Parliamentary Majority Makes Him Most Successful Conservative Leader Since Margaret Thatcher; Vote Assures Brexit; Trump Suggests New Deals For UK.

__Repubs And Dems Get Together To Keep Gov Going.

--Nadler Panel Approves Impeachment Articles in Hurried Partisan Vote.

--US Military Warns Of Dangerous Expansion Of Iran Attacks On Iraq.

--Repubs Irate As Nadler Postpones Vote After Marathon Debate, with No Consultation With Ranking Member; Repubs Cry Ambush.

--Easy Money: Mega Millions Up T $340 Million.

History redux by vegetarians: As the Titanic approached a giant head of Iceberg lettuce, a voice on deck shouted “Lettuce romaine calm, Help will turnip soon.”

While I read opinions by some who say that The US Pentagon money should be used to feed homeless in California, China has created a new submarine fleet that could destroy America. As kind and gentle as we Americans would like to be, other countries alawy as have different ideas. This is an example of unsatisfactory any policy may be when based on “Either/Or” dictums.

The Nobel Peace Prize is just another human judgment.

The gymnast feat of jumping on asymmetrical bars remains unparalleled.

Regardless of the state of their teams, I always have to watch the Army Navy game. This year they both look competitive, and the new rules from Congress that eases post grad duty requirements should help build stronger programs for service academies in the future. As a kid I always listened to the radio broadcasts first, and later, watched the revered tussle with my dad. He had marched as a Midshipmen on those fields of battle. But on one a particularly rainy day in Philadelphia, his shoe was sucked into the mud, yet he bravely trod on. Many fine sailors have been remembered for valor at sea, others for lost shoes at big moments.

You have to wonder how many super appliances of each Christmas sales season past are stowed in the back the garage or cellar. This year’s must-have is an air fryer. Fries without grease?

French cheese makers always have time to shoot the bries.

Sadly, yesterday an 18-year-old female student at Bernard College in NYC was viciously stabbed and killed while walking near the campus. It was obvious to all that she fought valiantly, and a blood trail showed her attempt to find a safe place back on college. (A security person found her, called 911, but it was too late.) It was heartbreaking to all. This morning they found the murderer. It was a 13-year-old boy. 13 Years old. Have we lost our moral boundaries?

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:

--I don’t know much about the Jumanji situation but this is probably a good entertaining movie even for non-players like me. Very good cast and nice simplistic humorous plot.

--I would like Richard Jewell”. In case you forgot, he was the person who got screwed by an overzealous press, and this effort, well directed by Clint Eastwood, seeks to redress the ugly assault on his integrity, getting out the real truth about an innocent man slandered by jumping to conclusions. To help refute the new maxim – Guilty by ink until proven innocent.

--Uncut Gems is a good crime thriller starring Adam Sandler. Sandler is a charismatic jeweler always looking for the big score. In this one he crosses many liens on the way to a windfall, but must be wary now of a growing list of adversaries who may be anywhere.

--I avoid all movies that use the word Black next to Christmas. This one isn’t about Christmas slurs, but about a serial killer scaring college sororities during this time of year. Really poor movie though --  so they say. It has an under theme of strong resilient woman not trusting men.

The Answer:

Woodrow Wilson was the First US Chief Exec in office to visit Europe. Presidents not yet elected like Jefferson visited the continent before taking the oath. Bonus: Robert Lindsay is a highly honored British actor who has been in many movies, and BBC dramas and musicals He was on Broadway and the West End stage in London, He was also well known for series of children’s programs. His latest venture was with Ricky Gervais on Gervais’s Podcast. Wendie Malick is a funny character actress you have seen in Dream On, and in Just Shoot Me where she was nominated for two Emmys and a Golden Globe., Steve Forbert is a musician songwriter, known early as “The New Dylan. He composed for Roseanne Cash, Keith Urban, Marty Stuart and Webb Wilder. His big Song for himself was Romeo’s Tune. You may have enjoyed Bart Johnson as the Coach if you watched High School Musical. He also did well in the Client List on Lifetime. Chelsea Hertford as seen often as a child star with good roles inn in American Beauty, Major Dad, Poltergeist: The Other and on the original Murphy Brown show. At fifteen, Maisy Stella has already been a star since 2012 when she started acting along with her real sister Lennon as the popular sisters Daphne Conrad and Maddie Conrad in Nashville. Sometimes I find better surprises.

When it gets icy cold, I just wish it would stay icy cold.

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