Herding the Masses.

 

Today's Tids Issue 5,502 

Yes, it's music: 

 

As long as I hear the music play, 

I don’t care about the skies of grey  

Or what influencers say   

Or something lost along the way 

Yes, a simple melody makes my day. 

 

I have never had a better roll than those from Bertucci pizza. 

 

Apparently, the new Taylor Swift effort received over 300,000 000 downloads in one day. Think about that mass buy-in for a moment. Think about how easy it is for people to be swayed in today’s instant communication society.  

 

The Question: 

Despite what movies and TV shows say, all people with wealth are not evil. Almost all are just good at what they do. Name the Top Ten Least Hateable Billionaires. 

 

The Headlines: 

--Markets Begin Monday Drifting in Barely Positive Territory Hoping for Resurgence when Big Tech Reports Earnings Later this Week; S&P, Russell, Dow and Nas Bounce Back Big in Afternoon.  

--Tesla Cutting Prices to Build Back Waning Sales activity, Wall Street Hates It,  

--Attorneys for Prosecution and Defense Make Opening Presentations in Trump Hush Money trial; Trial Ends Early for Several Reasons. 

--Israel Had Planned Larger Retaliation Attack but Scaled Back to Avoid War. 

--SC Looking at Case about Ticketing Homeless People as “Cruel and Unusual Punishment.” 

--Yale Overwhelmed by Gaza Protestors; Columbia Goes to Virtual Classes as a Result of Aggressive Protests.  

--RFK Jr. Continues on but Tightrope Walking More Dangerous, 

 

I mean, you just gotta laugh after reading that the first witness in the hush Money Sex Goddess Trump trial is David Pecker. 

 

I’m wondering why Air BnB and other travel opportunists aren’t pushing trips to the Midwest to hear the historic cicada serenade. It certainly worked for the Eclipse. They haven’t been there in these masses since Jefferson made the Louisiana purchase in 1803. 

 

How about Earth Day ... It's today and we are being warned that all the plants we planted could die from teh severe below freezing cold during nights this week. Mother Earth does it her way. 

 

JB says his uncle may have been eaten by Cannibals. Right, he said that last week. Apparently, he told the tale of 1944 when his aviator uncle was shot down in Papua and it was highly likely he fell victim to a cannibal cookout. However US military official records have no record of the incident. (Perhaps they are at Mara lago.) Papua New Guinea PM James Marape just said that it was “Loose” talk. So that’s diplomacy -- He could have said “Screw loose” talk.  

 

Maybe the French sold Louisiana Purchase cheap because of the Cicadas.  

 

From our beloved TPL (Tids Punster Laureate): “The fact that some people can't distinguish between etymology and entomology bugs me in ways I can't put into words.” 

 

Really, how many people use all of the gadgetry loaded on today's autos? It's there so carmakers can get a generally short-lived competitive advantage. And of course, it is there because they can do it. But the fact is all of teh whizbang extras elevate car purchase costs the complicated electronics adds to the cost of repair and thus insurance premiums. I like my automatic rain reactive windshield wipers, my side mirror warnings and my regular radio. Adn, btw, touch screen is a much more dangerous way to change stations and adjust comfort settings. 

 

One of my several thousand pet peeves is the way all businesspeople in movies are portrayed as monsters and heartless. It is especially irkful considering that celebs and movie makers are among the richest of all Americans.  

 

I plead with anybody, please don't add my ashes to a compost pile, even on Earth Day. That is not paradise to me. 

 

When you think about it, has there ever been a more arduous task in American history than the demands for your hard-earned money in inflationary today. 

 

Tomorrow I’m going to learn how to solve the National Debt Problem. Stay tuned. 

 

I think that Johnson has gone a long way towards assuring a better possibility of Repub House Winners next November. 

 

I thought this morning was a beautiful day for Golf. Somewhat breezy and cold but overall, a beautiful brisk day. My partner stayed in bed, so I was the only person at or on the course.  I hit off the first tee and started moving out when two women came up to play. So, we decided to join up together and had a good morning. When we finished the nine holes, there was still nobody on the course. How great was that! As long as people continue to live in fear of weather predictions, early risers will have golf courses all to ourselves.  

 

As long as there is Icy Hot, I believe I can do anything. 

 

Get ready. This is the countdown to NFL Draft Day week. 

 

The Answer:  

Number on ei George Lucas. He is followed by Paul McCartney, Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson (Producer/Director Hobbit and Lord of the Rings made his money as one founder of the Wētā FX digital visual effects and animation company), Michael Jordan, Warren Buffet, Tyler Perry, Andrew Lloyd Weber, Taylor Swift, Rhianna, Milinda Gates and Oprah.  

 

Play a simple melody and feel the calm.