Let there be light.

 

Today's Tids Issue 5,277 

Let there be time: 

 

 

Well, everybody, I hate to be the deliverer of bad news being the eternal optimist, but you'd better enjoy today because tomorrow begins the countdown to the shortest darkest day of Winter.  

 

Let’s hope China’s Xi wasn’t winkin’ when he appeared to give a nod to Blinken, most Likely because the China economy is sleeping, floating aimlessly in dreamland somewhere among the stars. Yes, the China fortunes have turned sluggish, and they now need to comfort their leading economic competitor, which is us. 

 

Longer days are a welcome sight, 

For all who can't see to drive at night. 

 

Do you think that dad Joe’s Father's Day present was getting Hunter's dirty underwear off the table so the campaign can go on. Legal observers watching this mornings' announcement of junior Biden charges say it is unusual that charges and a deal are announced at the same time. Probably nothing to it, right? 

 

The Question: 

There are four times each year when the seasons change. What are the official names of those change days. 

 

The Headlines: 

--Markets Down as a New Caution Overtakes Unbridled Optimism; Bracing for Powell's Two-Day Appearance Before Congress. 

--Titanic Tourist Sub Still Missing; New Equipment on Scene as Search Intensifies as Sub only has 32 to 48 hours of life support systems remaining.  

--Justice Department Charges Hunter Biden with Tax Evasion and Illegal Gun Possession; WH Scion Pleads Guilty to Both and Makes Deal for More Serious Gun Felony.  

--Alibaba Appoints New Chairman and CEO as eCommerce Giant Continues to Struggle. 

--American Influencer Andrew Tate and Bro Charged by Romanian Prosecutor Along with Two Woman of Rape and Running Sex Trafficking Operation. 

 

The horrible thought of the moment is knowing that the people in the Titanic tour submarine are bolted in with 17 deadbolts and the only way out is if it is opened up by someone on the outside. So even if they are floating on the surface, they still need oxygen. They are sealed in.  

 

Maybe the longest day will offer that extra minute or so of light so they may be found safe on the surface with enough time left to unseal the bolts.  

 

Just to be fair, which is unusual for me, a reader writes to tell me is very happy with a lot of the new auto technocrap -- “I like the heated steering wheel in the winter - good with arthritis! I like the backup camera and side traffic alerts! I the lane centering and automatic distance following with auto braking! I like the driving time pop up message that say it's been 2 hours since ignition on - time to take a break! The new, better auto low beam lowering wide angle headlights are great for us seniors too!” Wow! I didn’t know I had all that stuff. 

 

A lot of the speeches I heard coming out of Juneteenth are about now it is time for reparations.  

 

I see where they have a new s CEO at the huge China eCommerce company, Alibaba. They say it is because the company has been “Bleeding Market share and struggling in getting back revived growth since (Wu labs inspired) Covid.” But he real problem in this humble man's estimation began when Xi stepped in and stepped on the brilliant entrepreneur Jack Ma who at the time was smidge away form creating the most dominant commercial enterprise in the world. Government control of business will always produce discouraging returns, the result of capitalism interruptus.  

 

One of the more dangerous elements of new car gizmos involves playing around with a touch screen.  

 

Do you know what new era word really seems to bother me? “Influencer”.  

 

The AI hype is way out in front of the true potential of the ultimate data cruncher. The ChatGPT stuff makes it appear to be doing really cool things, but it it is still way short of being able to perform reliable, tough problem solving. And who says that... well it is any good AI program worth its salt.  

 

Do you get the feeling recently that the giant fish of the world are revolting against humans? It must be climate change as opposed to an organized leaning process, because schools of fish are not accredited by the NEA. 

 

As days become darker it may induce more quickie naps. But the good news from university researchers in Uruguay-- brief naps are excellent for stopping brain shrinkage. Hey, that's great to know that there’s at least one way to feel confident that everything isn't shrinking. 

 

The Answer: 

Tomorrow, we will experience the Summer Solstice. Next is the Autumnal Equinox followed by the Winter Solstice and Vernal Equinox. Equinox refers to those days when the daylight hours are equal to the nighttime hours. The solstice defines the days where the daylight is at its minimum and maximum extreme.  

 

Daylight savings is like the government cutting off the bottom of your blanket and sewing it back on to the top. It doesn't make the blanket longer.  

 

In another week all the kids will be out of school and we’ll never get out onto the beaches, regardless of how much daylight we have.  

 

It feels like the sun went down on this Tids early in the morning. Could I be any gloomier? 

 

I'd better leave before it gets too dark to find the “Send” button.