Yes, Ukraine is still a major war.

 

Today's Tids Issue 5,456 

Too far away: 

 

I think it is going to be a better than average day, and not just because it is Friday.  

 

I love it when I see happy engineers jumping up and down with glee after accomplishing something monumental like landing on the dark side of the moon. I just hope all of those people in the world who take everything for granted noticed.  

 

One reason Putin will never give up on Ukraine is that while Moscow is the Capital of Russia, Ukraine was the heart and soul of Russia. If it became independent and joins NATO, Putin will have lost part of the essence of his country to the west.  

 

The Question: 

Name what are considered George Frederick Handel’s five greatest works? Bonus: Who played Sergeant Bilko in that really funny TV series? 

 

The Headlines: 

--Markets Move Back into Drift Mode; Short Sellers Lost $3 Billion in Nvidia Stock Surge. 

--Gallup Now: Biden Approval Slips to 38%l. 

--USA Getting Ready for Partial Shutdown Again. 

--Tomorrow Tells the tale of The Repub Primary as NC votes for or not so much for Hometown Candidate Nikki Haley. 

 

When you look at Golf tournaments lately it appears that the LIV has more well-known players. Though many are old and are mostly well-known because they have been around long enough. This is particularly true when like last week at Genesis so many of the top PGA players didn’t make the cut, and this week when so many shunned the Mexican open. 

 

The Next hot tech company you can expect to be hearing about is called “Figure AI”, Their mission in Life is to create a humanoid robot. God help us. Is is serious with Microsoft and OpenAI investing $95mil, Bezos investment company Explore $100M and Nvidia and Amazon $50M. Several other major backers include the investment arms of Intel, Samsung and LG. Other venture firms are Parkway VC, Align, Ark, Aliya Capital and Tamarack. They didn’t ask me. 

 

There is nothing funnier to me than watching fidgety liberal man in an audience repeatedly raising his hand trying to get a speaker or panel to answer his question, which more than likely will be a speech, and never being called on. 

 

A couple of very smart experts who I have been in discussion groups with lately say that sanctions will never work on Russia. These guys, former Military attaches in Moscow plus an ambassador to several SRRs under a couple of US presidents, say that countries for the sake of their own economies will still do business with the former SSR “Stans" and by some using magic the goods sold there will find their way into Russia. And then of course there is China and India who don’t care about sanctions..  

 

When eating out I often put all of the stranger looking ingredients that never touch my lips under the garnish or leftover French fries... just so the chef doesn't get insulted. I feel for hard working people. 

 

I like making observations about people idiosyncrasies I see along the way. It seems like they are getting weirder and weirder, or perhaps I'm too old to understand anymore.  

 

Smucker said its Jif brand will bring out a new Peanut butter chocolate spread this summer. I'm thinking new dinner time snack. 

 

What could be healthier than that?  

 

The Answer: 

Number one om Handel’s big five was of course, The Massiah. The others were. Water Music Suites, Music for the Royal Fireworks. Arrival of the Queen of Sheba, Israel in Egypt, Judas Maccabaeus and my personal Favorite, Zadok the Priest. He also composed successful operas – Serse, Giullio Cesare in Egitto, and Alcina. Bonus: Phil Silver was Sgt Bilko in this very funny stereo's that also had great supporting cast including Maurice Garfield (As Doberman), Harvey Lembeck and the great Paul Ford and the Colonel. I think this mainly all white male show would encounter some diversity alterations today, but would it still be funny. 

 

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