Sittin’ and Waitin’

Today's Tids Issue 4,598

What goes down...:

Now, I’m not a Wall Street guru, but I can safely predict that we won’t get back to even in one big day of trading.

I was talking to a friend yesterday who was telling me of a Peace Corp relative who is in Senegal teaching people there how to be entrepreneurs. Teaching people how to grow their own lives instead  of waiting for foreign aid. Yet here in America I am becoming more and more surprised at how many Americans are looking at socialism as being good. Of people giving up.

Bargain: A tavern’s profit.

Some things should never be politicized, and this virus thing is certainly one of them. But I suspect many hapless souls will cheer new deaths because it makes Trump look bad. And, that is truly a sad tale about the new politics and cultural animosity.

I like most prefer being infected by the tender rapture of love.

The Question:

Who are James D. Watson and Francis H.C. Crick? Bonus: How many people do you think watched the 2 ½ hour finale of M*A*S*H?

The Headlines:

--Virus Continues To Infect Markets: Investor Gurus Looking For Financial Vaccine; Central Banks Aren’t Talking About Immediate Action; Dow Down 771 At 11:00 AM.

--Signs Are That Biden May Pull Off SC Victory.

--US Says China Navy Ship Fired Missile At US Reconnaissance Plane.

--Trump Speaks At Black History Event.

--HHS Chief Azar Surprised By Trump Naming Pence In Charge.

Today would normally have been the end of February. HB to all of those good, patient leap year people

Here is an interesting example of psycho-herding. Since the virus scare, 40% of Americans have stopped ordering or buying Corona Beer. Yikes! There is absolutely no relationship between the two. And you wonder how Politicians can tell whoppers to the electorate and get away with it.

Give me a soft romantic melody played soulfully on a piano and I drift away like ocean spray moved on gentle breezes.

On February 19 all three stock markets closed at all-time record highs. There has always been risk in equity markets, but at no other time in history has risk become disaster in such a condensed rate of time. And, if this virus thing has taught us anything it is how volatile markets could be in the future. The masses are too enormous, and technology is too automated.

For but the lack of a simple “r” I can turn a friend into a fiend.

In case anybody at any age is resisting hearing aids, you should know that there is some good evidence that says any loss of hearing can contribute to dementia and worse. Brains need input.

To me, Joe Biden is a sad loser crying out for respect.

I really appreciate the oddly creative mind of “Rhymes With Orange” cartoonist Hillary Price. For instance, today’s issue showed two Eskimo parents holding ice cube trays telling their child sitting on the floor in the igloo, “A house for dolly will have to wait. We need these for the cocktail party.”

How come we see more and more drivers who have trouble missing buildings? I mean buildings are big, and they are not in the middle of roads like potholes. Yet I see it, it seems, almost 5 out of seven days a week. Texting. Booze? Weed?

A reader reminds me that “Normal Distribution” on typical Bell Curve is being toppled by whacko Everything-for-free-in-America programs.

There was a funny political cartoon in the paper showing an exasperated Bernie complaining about Billionaires spending their own money to buy votes, while Bernie and pals are shown happily spending tax payers money to buy votes.

I saw “Knives Out” a couple of days ago, and liked it. It was a good yarn about a mystery with lots of good old-fashioned Agatha Christie style red herrings. It should have been great escapism from political irritants, except that Hollywood made it, and they can’t help themselves.

Another reader reminds me of great American Military quotes: 1779 – “I have not yet begun to fight,” JP Jones; 1812 – “Damn the Torpedoes, full speed ahead,” David Farragut; 1944 – “Nuts,” General McAuliffe; 2019 – “I felt marginalized by his tweets,” LT Vindman.

Do Hollywood a producers and directors love portraying wealthy people as evil, selfish, immoral and incompetent to assuage their own guilt of being among the richest, most pretentious of all Americans?

It has always seemed to me that the best movies for my taste were mainly in the Spring. Take this from a guy who used to plan his business trips by what was in the theaters.

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:

--Everybody seems to like the “Invisible Man” a lot. It is scary, well produced and well-acted. A woman trapped in an abusive relationship with a brilliant scientist escapes hoping to disappear into the proverbial woodwork. The abusive ex commits suicide and leaves her much of his vast fortune. Then eeriness enters the picture and threatens the lives of friends, family and herself And nobody can see the evil. Was the suicide a hoax? Elizabeth Mosss (Of Mad Men Fame) is brilliant.

--"The Whistler” looks pretty good. It is one of those “Everything is not what t seems” films which can be always interesting. Apparently, a woman police inspector in Bucharest, Cristi joins in with a beautiful pal Gilda to pull off a high stakes heist. She has to walk the fence between both sides of the law. Plenty of twists and turns ensue. On my list

--In “Burden”, A minister, Forest Whitaker, resolves to do everything in a black community in a southern town to try to quell the tensions at the opening of a Klu Klux Klan Museum. Lots of conflicted choices are set forth. I think you get the picture here.

The Answer:

Brilliant scientists Watson and Crick determined the double-Helix structure of DNA. I wonder if they own stock in Ancestry.Com? Bonus: Today the NFL Super Bowl one of the consistently top two of there rated shows had 19.3 Million viewers. The finale of the beloved M*A*S*H show had 121.6 Million viewers in 1983. When the show ended, the NYC plumbing system faced near disaster when everybody began flushing!

Today, there’s’ many a program I’d like to see flushed.

There’s just not much I can write about the virus and the market’s reaction until it’s over.

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

We’ll figure it out.

Sameness is dull.

Today's Tids Issue 4,597

Close Margins:

I think we are in an era called the “Paradox of Skill” That means that over time the difference between the absolute best skilled and those behind becomes closer to the point where the margin of difference may be determined by luck. We see it all the time as the differences between skill level separations condense in areas of general living, like for instance NCAA basketball teams, stock pickers, singers and musicians, politicians, CEO’s and yes Tids writers. I think this is pretty interesting when you look around the world. When you see who got the breaks.

Yeah, I know -- you make your own breaks. But, there are just a lot more equal people looking for a margin. And working harder to assure it.

Some of the most dangerous occupations are among those in jobs perhaps looked upon as mundane. Two that come to mind are Convenience store clerks and drive-through window employees, two classes of jobs that can come under attack at any given moment.

Speaking of drive-though, yesterday Christiana churches of all denominations set up drives through ashes stations at their churches. Selfies were prominent and social media sites wre filed with happy Lent   Did you aheot buya hot corss bun first?

To meet the deadline, the developers of the Hovercar worked tirelessly.

The Question:

Name the Ten Greatest TV Dramas of All Time.

The Headlines:

--Pandemic Worries Sends Stocks Into Deep Quarantine; Fear Driving Markets; Consumer Confidence Levels Remain Strong.

--US Military Preparing To Aid In Fight Against Possible Pandemic; VP Mike Pence In Charge.

Shooter Kills Six In Molson-Coors Brewery Attack.

--Israel Bans Travel Outside Of Country; Iran To Jail, Flog Citizens Who Spread Rumors About Virus.

--Trump Campaign Setting Up “Community Centers” To Get More Black Votes.

--Hindu-Muslim Clashes In New Delhi India Increase. 27 Dead.

--Dem Leadership Concerned About Optics Of Debate Brawl; Biden Guarantees Victory; Bloomberg Found A Happy Place With SC Debate Audience.

When designing for a small room that always looks cluttered remember these guidelines; 1. Develop a focal point. Build out form a single character looking chair for instance. 2. Tale your décor up to the ceiling. Use verticality at the top. Make the room look bigger by using all the air. 3. Make it bright with cheery painting and curtains and lots of interesting lighting. Make sure windows if any stand out. 4. Use light (As opposed to bulky) appearing furniture that works well for storage. Gets the clutter out of the way. Clutter always makes rooms look small.  

Personally, I like clutter. It makes places look lived-in and homey

Remember about a week ago when I wrote that the worst Puns are considered the best for achieving the lofty position as Pun Master? Try this baddie: The rock climber was much boulder than his wife and decided to climb the world’s tallest mountain. When asked what she was going to do with him gone so long, she responded, ‘Alpine for his return and climb walls with boredom.” 

That’s pungent, alright. Scaling odiferous heights.

One of the big problems with the Coronavirus is that too many people these in charge in business or government don’t know really know that much about it upon which to make good decisions. anything about it. Where it’s going? When it will cease? Or, will it cease? Everything will be overdone in an abundance of caution.

More people should study the Bell Curve. I’m big on that. It helps you understand the distribution of talents, intelligence, morality and other human traits regardless of stereotypes attributed to gender, race, nationality et.al. One reason so many arguments of today are so fallacious is that they are based on faulty premises, lack of knowledge.

The skill level margins between Presidential candidates are indeed getting closer. They are all nearly similar in the unlikable category.

Want to be happy? Take a vacation in Ireland. You’ll be walking on Eire.

Actually, likable candidates don’t seem to get the votes these days.

The Answer:

There will be arguments I’m sure on this one. #1 was Breaking Bad (I thought it Was Murder She Wrote!). Next is The Sopranos followed by The Wire, Game of Thrones, M*A*S*H, Twilight Zone, Band of Brothers, Lost, The Americans and #10, Sons of Anarchy. I’ll take you to 25. #11 is House, followed by Fargo, Sherlock, West Wing, Mad Men, Star Trek: The Original,, Buffy the Vampire, Deadwood, Dexter, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Stranger Things, Justified, Firefly, The X-Files and at #25 Downton Abbey. One of my favorites now in its final season, Homeland, is #37. I’d put it in the Top 10. NCIS is 50. A couple of other “Network” faves, CSI and Law and Order series are in the 40’s. Three of my favorites, The Americans, Justified and Fargo made the top 25, so I’m basically happy.

This just in from a reader: AOC is demanding that her neighbor’s Toyota Corona be quarantined.

Keep looking forward. Somebody may be closing the gap on you.

Excedrin Nights.

Today's Tids Issue 4.596

Bruins 1, Debates_Zero:

Even though Bernie has a misguided concept for America, he didn’t hurt himself last night. I thought Bloomburg did better, although it is obvious that he thinks that the commotion on stage is incomprehensible, other worldly, and he showed his boredom at times. I was happy that I was clicking back and forth from the harangue to the Bruins hockey game, because it meant I had a fast getaway option whenever Elizabeth opened her mouth. She was my least favorite actor on that stage. Although Steyer, who makes good points ad nauseum, is also quiet manic for my comfort zone. I didn’t think Amy or Butt did badly at all, And, Pete actually looks like a solid contender. Joe, the guy people wonder about most, had a better night and he may come out ok in SC. His applause meter was loudest to these ears.  But that’s not necessarily a testament to his pontifications, but a tribute to the operatives who put the Biden bunch into their seats. I did enjoy that moment when Bernie said snidely, “Billionaire” just once more too often and was roundly booed.

America wasn’t built by a population of people that wanted something for nothing.

When the stock markets plummet, does the sale of Lottery scratchers soar?

The Markets are having hard time living up to their well-known premise of looking six months ahead. Does this mean they haven’t seen an end to the Covid-19 scourge?

When the vocal instructor at the musical academy set off a fire alarm that proved to be nothing, it was a falsetto alarm.

The Question:

Name three comical characters of Jackie Gleason and Red Skelton.

The Headlines:

--Markets Will Attempt To Claw Back; Expected They Will Need Substance On Covid-19 To Secure Solid Recovery.

--Dems Have Last Big debate Before Entering Into Key Primaries, South Carolina (Saturday) and Super Tuesday (March 3)

--US CDC Issue Warning On Covid-19.

--Grandfather Of Toddle Who Feel Form Ship To Reverse Plea To Guilty; Will Avoiid Any Jail Time.

--Wedding Party Bus In India Crashes Into River Killing 24.

Pete Buttigieg showed his youthful lack of awareness when talking last night. He used the often indecipherable, oddball Harry Reed as an authority for something. Young people don’t read history.

The Coronavirus is more serious than the stock market selloff.

Don’t buy lettuce imported from China. Just a thought.

The first 37 minutes of the debate felt like an hour and a half. The next 37 minutes felt like four hours. But the Bruins game was fast moving and exciting, until it became hopeless with a minute to go. And no Zamboni drivers to save the day.

A post-debate mini-poll has Bernie winning the debate handily followed by the three “B’s” Biden, Bloomberg, and Buttigieg, and then Amy, Tom and at the bottom Elizabeth.

So, Bernie is right. He would, change America. From people with energy, personal responsibility and self-esteem to people sitting back with their hands out.

Surprise, the Dems are blaming Trump for the Coronavirus.

The Answer:

I don’t know about you, but I spent hours watching Red and Jackie. I personally liked Red a little better, overall. But they were both good and Jackie as Ralph Kramden with the best supporting buddy ever, Art Carney, was always fun. Jackie was also “Joe the Bartender”, “Reginald Van Gleason III”, “The Poor Soul”. Red seemed to me to be a real honest guy with a lot of love in his heart. he was “Freddie the Freeloader”, “Clem Kadiddlehopper”, “Cauliflower McPugg” (NO, not a vegan spokesman), “Sheriff Deadeye”, “George Appleby”, San Fernando Red”, “Willie Lump Lump” and several others.

Wouldn’t be great if candidates made you laugh and didn’t create knots in your stomach. Wouldn’t it be great if we just had simple non-controversial humor again? No wonder people are so quick to take off on one another. Just look at the examples of Paulicians.

Tis sad. And for many a youth, that’s all they know.