D-Day. We should never forget.

Today's Tids Issue 3,610

A Moment For Waves of Young Men

The fog rolled in across the calming sea; and the gleaming sunlight was consumerdby it; the remaining rays see to linger on the faces of two beautiful people, who had just committed to each other for life. Or maybe it was just the glow of their smiles I was seeing. Two people made for each other is a beautiful thing to see.

The best Sausage, Egg and cheese sandwich I’ve had in a long time was at Wegman’s, the super supermarket.

Bernie says he is planning of a contested convention in July. It could happen, as in the recent weeks California has added 500,000 new voters to the roster. They say over 65% are Bernie people. It is crazy. All of the “mo” is with the B-Man, but the established Bigs are not wavering in their coerced support for The Hill.

The Question:

How many allied soldiers were killed on Omaha beach. Bonus: What battle during WWIIwas considered the turning point in the War of the Pacific?

The Headlines:

--Dow Has Positive Day, Up 113; Yellen Talking Rate Increases; Gold Dips Slightly After Yellen Speech.

--IRS Details Its Conservative Hit List.

--Big Money Investors Are Loading Up On faceBoo.

--No Charges For Mom In Cinncy Gorilla Caper.

--Ex Secret Service Agent Pens Scathing Tell-All On Clintons.

--Hackers Hijack Mark Zuckerberg’s Social Media Accounts.

--SC Says Class Actions Suit Against Google Ad Words Can Go On.

--US Warns US Tourists Of Possible Terror Attacks In South Africa.

Enough. Every sports writer and news caster thinks his or her opinion about Cassius Clay’s contribution to society is the best and must e heard. Even if it is the 347^th of the week end, they will bend your ear one more time. I lost interest in the Ali story, which I was already very aware of from overkill when he was alive and fighting. After about two descriptions of his life. I mean Ali was a pretty good fighter, and as they tout him – the only five time heavyweight champion. But then, that’s because he lost the title five times. Ali gets more adulation than Allah. Crazy.

How come some people get in the high speed lane and go slow. Are they the righteous types, evangelists preaching slower speeds; self appointed minders who want to save fast drivers from themselves. Or just people insensitive to the reality of the world in which they are participating. Regardless, all of the frustrated faster drivers will now cut across three lanes and pass on the right, scaring the bejesus out of people dreaming along to a tune on a radio.

Some day Trump has to break out of his one step forward, two steps back mode. Or, we’re going to be looking at Hillary, and all those Clinton tag-alongs for 4 years -- and a liberalized Supreme Court probably for the rest of my life.

What a year! First the political candidates…and now they’re promising a big gypsy Moth infestation of the Northeast. Remeber gypsy moths the last time they ate every tree insight in the late 1970’s? What total mess. The Gypsy moths go through beautiful leafy trees like the Politicians go through our money. And they both leave all their crap around for us to clean up.

As One political observer said, the great US Presidents didn’t run campaigns about “Me”, but about the people who under the Constitution allow the society operate for them.

The waiting room experience has gotten much better with smart phones. No more 6-12 month old magazines about subject of little nterest.

Let’s see – “Hillary is a crook” and Trumperino is a “Thin skinned fraud.” Your choice.

Clinton Aide: Sanders shouldn’t delegitimize the process.” Hmmm. I thought the DNC did that when they picked super delegates.

The Answer:

The newest total for the number of Americans (2,499) and Allies (1,914) killed on Omaha beach on D-Day was 4,413.) Of course there were more killed on 4 other key beach landings – Utah, Gold, Juno and Sword. Bonus: The Battle of Midway was huge and changed the direction of the War in the Pacific.

I pause my fingers, bow my head and think of bravery fro June 6, 1944.

Something old, something new, Dada dadada, dada blue.

Today's Tids Issue 3,609

For long, happy lives together:

Nervous brides clutching bouquets, walking down the aisle. Even more nervous grooms with weakened knees as the eyes interlock before they join hands at the alter. The hearts of the congregation pump harder waiting for the words that will complete this most beautiful of moments for lovers all. The quivering “I do’s” that come from deep inside the being of two committed to each other. It is not a time for bravado, but a time for emotions to be freed, for all to see. And then, with happy, radiant smiles as two walk together into a beautiful new life. And the applause is loving too.

I have a friend, a really nice guy, a cardiologist who is quite smart. But, it’s his street smarts that sometimes get in the way. While in the Caribbean a week or so ago, he jumped off a boat into the water to a depth of 10 feet with an eighteen inch snorkel…and started breathing! He surfaced rapidly, gasping, “I seem to be getting a lot of salt water through this thing! Yikes! I guess he missed snorkeling 101.

The first time that little green Google/Android character jumped onto my screen, I thought for sure I had acquired an ugly virus.

The Question:

Who is this person: Penelope Wilson? Bonus: Chuck Barris was prolific TV producer. Nam a couple of his hits.

The Headlines:

--Down Dow After US Misses New Jobs Target By A Lot; Worst In Five Years.

--Taliban Having More Success In Afghanistan After Changing Tactics.

--Left Unable To Admit Why Venezuela Is Collapsing; Margaret Thatcher: “Socialism Only Lasts Until It Runs Out Of Other People’s Money.”

--Wal-Mart testing Uber, Lyft For On-Line Grocery Deliveries.

Few companies have screwed up a strong positive image more than United Airlines.

Hillary may have a lot of experience, but it is her judgment that is the problem.

I think I’m the something “Old” at the wedding in which I will be officiating at on Saturday.

Do you think the people will eventually rebel against the Nanny state, or  are salt and sugar destined to become black market items. Do we have a prison system big enough to hold all of the potential lawbreakers? “Wadda ya in for?” “Salt”

It’s going to be hard in the future finding or preserving an athletic team nickname. We all know the many changes involving Native American references, and you can be sure that the animal rights people will be out to eliminate their pets from being associated with people who play sports. So my answer is to name teams after politicians. Nobody would care about the Pittsburgh Pelosies or the Chattanooga State Clintons or the Tampa Bay Trumps. Wait a minute, Trump isn’t a politician.

Sanders: “The Energizer Bernie”.

Programmed Hate, Department:

There is growing evidence that many of these protestors like the veterans outside trump Tower are fully a part of a Hillary campaign operation. After several denials Alexander McCoy, the head Vet protestor and Hillary supporter, finally admitted that the Clintons were more involved than he originally said, and in fact their campaign people organized the conference call that brought the group together. They are taking closer looks at these so-called spontaneous protests like New Mexico, and last night in San Jose  where protestors actually attacked defenseless Trump supporters leaving the auditorium, In politics, don’t believe what you see.

I still wonder exactly who these Uber and Lyft drivers are. Do I want these non-employees of the ride share companies visiting my house during the day? Everything is as simple as it looks.

The Parking Lot will be back in earnest next week. This minister thing takes a lot of time.

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:

--This premiere of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows is very appropriate since the groom tomorrow was totally wrapped up in the foursome nearly 22 years ago when he was five. But the movie isn’t that hot, and they just have to hope a lot of nostalgia driven people show up. Better than the previous TMNT though.

--There is great chemistry between Emilia Clarke and Sam Chaflin in Me Before You. The audiences seem to like this one about a sometimes awkward romance between a wealthy, paralyzed Londoner and the awkward, quiet, contented country girl he hires as a caretaker. I think you get the picture

The Answer:

Downton Abby lovers will remember British actress Penelope as Isobel Crawley. You also probably enjoyed her in the two “Best Exotic Marigold Hotel movies and a pretty good small movie, Match Point. She won numerous awards for her work on the London stage. Tristin Rogers Bonus: Chuck Barris created a couple of really good brainless shows that became big hits: The Dating Game and The Newly Wed game. He also created one of the worst shows going, “The Gong Show” (Which sadly, AGT tries to emulate a little too often.).

There are no good synonyms for “Lovers”, because that word says it all. 

Look into somebody’s eyes, and have a great weekend…E-v-e-r-y-b-o-d-y!

Funny how God often rewards people with sunshine just when they need it.

Today's Tids Issue 3,608

Opening Stuff:

Life is like a symphony. The music of masters may replicate romantic calms, vigorous storms, emotional crescendos or frenzied daily activity. The powerful music can reflect political agendas, religious beliefs or simple human love. The music is often poignant, touching, moving, arousing, and yes, disturbing. But in the end, the central theme always comes together in a heart pounding, goose bump tingling climax. And the ills of conflicted contemplation are smothered in pleasant contentment.

Trump U could put the Trump campaign on Probation.

I’m happy to see some new rules coming that will limit those deplorable “Payday Loans”. Yeah, I know that most people using this legal loan shark option have put themselves in the position of no way out. I never like overregulation, but I see this as unscrupulous humans preying on the misfortune of others. If the  lenders have no heart, then they deserve to be punched in the gut by a government agency. Yes, we get much of our annoying government overreach mainly because of vile, inhuman beings.

BTW, did you see where AIGs “Hank” Greenburg-will now go to trial for Fraud? The NY AG has been fighting to bring this case of criminal activity to trial since 2005. Huge fines don’t stop the illegal or deceptive and unethical activities of business leaders, but jail time might.

I don’t where I’m going, but I think I may get there in the end.

The Question:

Who was Francis Folsom? Bonus: Subscription TV and Internet service companies rank lowest among all companies in the Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI). What three companies are at the bottom of the CSI?

The Headlines:

--US Adds 173K Private Sector Jobs In May; New Applications For Jobless Benefits Fall; US Manufacturing Expands In May..

--OPEC Says Business As Usual; Oil Prices Drop As Oil Field Pumps Continue Humming.

--Goldman Drops Target price For Apple From $136 to $124; Stock Currently Selling At $97.30.

--India GDP Booming; Latest Growth Number At 7.3%.

--Texas Communities On the Brassos River Continue To Fight High Waters.

--California Dem Primary Now Considered Neck And Neck.

--UNECEF Warns Iraqi Army ISIS To Go Slow In Fallujah; 20,000 Trapped Children And Even More Adults Indicates Dire Situation.

Seven days without a pun makes one weak.

In the new Mitch McConnell memoire, it is noted that among many in DC. President “O” is known as Professor Obama. That is because he often lectures other smart people about things they already know, often better than he. The local insiders agree that Obama is smart, but that he doesn’t have to continually prove it with rhetoric.

Unfortunately for Repubs, Trump continually gives the other side lots of ammo to run with. And we all know that if the Clintons are known for doing anything right, it s taking advantage of a political opportunity.

As I look across the political landscape, the only thing governing my decision is the Supreme Court nominee.

That shooting scare at UCLA yesterday turned out to be a student killing a professor because of bad grades. What are the odds that somebody in the California legislature will propose eliminating grades for all schools.

President Obama is fond of saying, “I was excreted by the American people”, implying that everybody in America and Congress should do exactly what he wants and blindly accept everything he does. Why don’t smart media people ever make mention that Congress was equally elected by the same American people and the advantage given to his opposition may mean that the American people want to keep him at bay?

Old shoot-himself-in-the-foot Donald has lost the huge PGA tournament played for 33 years at the Trump Doral Golf Club. It is going to Mexico City, prompting DT to suggest that the PGA should get plenty of kidnapping insurance! The reason the tourney is moving is because long time sponsor Cadillac’s contract ran out and for a year the PGA could not find a replacement. The reason most often given by prospective sponsors was a dislike of Trumps slurs against various people and groups. And the Bleep goes on.

Every day, ObamaCare takes another step towards becoming the biggest fiasco in American history.

Yeah, like ISIS is going to listen to UNECEF.

Yeah, like Trump is going to listen to Advisors.

When a son said that his ambition was to drive an army tank, his father said, “I won’t stand in your way.”

The Answer:

Francis Folsom was the only woman ever married in the White House. At the young age of 21 she wed Grover Cleveland and became the first lady. She grew up in Buffalo where her dad was a lawyer from an old early American Family. Originally from England the family was among earliest settlers in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Bonus: The bottom five in the CSI are worst MediaCom, followed by Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications, Charter Communications and Suddenlink. The good news is that their ratings are becoming more positive. Last year bottom dweller Comcast rose out of the basement to 7^th worst, just above “All Others”. The biggest factor leading to the general dissatisfaction seems to be the no alternative monopoly positions of most of the companies. No alternative kills those in a free enterprise society. Just think about how many companies would be at the bottom of the list in a government run socialist society?

The big news is that the Feds are going to mandate a diminishing amount of salt on foods of all kinds. I wonder how that will affect my Cheetos?

Anybody who doesn’t appreciate a good play on words should be punished.

There’s a bluebird on my shoulder.

Today's Tids Issue 3,607.

A Day for Spooning:

How can life not be great when June blooms brightly after May? Over these Tidsian years I have probably used very cliché, every happy rhyme about June, and spooning like a loon in love under the silvery moon; and grooms taking brides on a romantic honeymoon to Katmandu in a monsoon. But let’s be realistic, that’s just the way June is. With happy Go lucky, broad minded and easy going Gemini’s cheerleading the way for dads who get their day and kids who love when school days go away. It is a wonderful month when Drudgery seems to end, when most Americans stop earning for the taxman, and plunk down credit cards for summer cottages by the sea. June is truly like what no other month can possibly be.

At a fortune teller business on Route 1 In North Kingstown RI I saw on the front lawn two four foot by eight foot signs. One in big letters said, “Psychic”. The second in equally large letters said, “Trump”. I wonder what she knows that we don’t.

Snoop Dog may have a pretty good point protesting, boycotting the latest version of “Roots”. He says that we (Blacks) spend too much time looking at the pain of the past instead of producing works that glorify all of the many new black accomplishments. He is advocating really breaking the chains that hold back his community.

Our society needs some serious psychoanalysis. It was just reported that April was a surging month for consumer spending. And within a nanosecond it was reported that the Month of May produced the biggest decline in the Consumer Confidence Index in 6 months. Am I coming or going?

The Question:

Which 3 East Coast States were not one of the 13 original colonies? Bonus: What two Presidents signed the foundation agreement for the first treaty that would cut strategic nuclear missiles?

The Headlines:

--In Last Three Weeks Goldman Sachs Has Cut Dozens Of Investment Banker Jobs As Deal Activity Slows.

--US Warns American Travelers Of Possible Terror Attacks In Europe Over the Summer.

--North Korea State Run Newspaper Endorses Trump; Calls Him “Wise.”

--Glen Beck Removed From XM Serius For Not Halting Comment Of Thriller Writer Thor That Suggested Extinction Of Trump Only Way To Stop Him.

--Nely Galen Former President Of Telemundo Refuses To Accept Idea That People Who Cross Border Without Permission Are Unlawful.

--Honduras Woman Vacationing In US Considered First In US To Have Baby With Zica Effects.

America’s Got Talent returned, but I can’t really start commenting until they get serious about real talent and stop enabling trash. Some of the new acts are just plain unwatchable and not worth any more ink here. There were a couple of highlights, one being a psychic who generally mystified everybody including the most cynical judge, and another master of illusion who used high technology in a brilliant slight of hand performance. I’m sorry that the high rankings for last year’s Mr. Regurgitation is bringing so much crap back this year.

Speaking of slight of hand, how does ISIS with a relative handful of fighters continually disrupt a bigger force with constant air support and super high tech weapons? Of course, they are using civilians as shields and they have an ability to fade from sight like any good magician. My guess is that they will eventually lose their formal powerbase and Iraq will declare victory. But, they will still be their for sure, and life in that city will be a nightmare for years to come.

There were 62 shootings in neighborhoods around Chicago over the last weekend. Fortunately only 8 people died. Only 8 people. How horrendous is that in any other city? Maybe Snoop Dog has an answer for that one too.

And then there is the shot heard round the world. I’m talking of the killing of the big old ape who potentially was about to smash a four year old boy to death. Even if the big ape was just playing, as probably some animal supporters would say, the kid was not up to the game. Animals are nice, but kids are our future.

I find the commercials for programs about “Tiny Houses” disturbing. Its’ not that the little lightly larger than dog houses aren’t clever. It’s that the attitude of some of the cramped home owners describe the new success measure in America as being contented with less; giving them less time at work and more time to do nothing. This at a time when the global workforce is not lying in hammocks, but trying to move out of government built bare minimum tiny houses and grab a bigger piece of the global economic pie. Where does that put Americans in the future? In tent cities in an EBT economy?

I think it is sad that the state legislature feels they have to pass a law banning “Revenge Porn”. That’s where one person posts on one of those ubiquitous tell the world social sites a truly embarrassing sexual performance of a one time partner. Why sould ewe need legislation? To supplant disappearing personal responsibility that would give honest people, real civilized humans with feelings second thoughts about such caustic, abnormal behavior. Are the schools teaching this anything goes attitude? Or is it the entertainment industry’s general redefining of normalcy to lower and lower levels.

June is great for living but it is also a month in which to be wary of the stock market. That little bump in oil prices has flattened, and enthusiasm for big investment spending is waning. Even super star Under-Armor is warning, saying that the closing of Sports Authority is a bad sign for runaway sports spending. I always get a little cautious around now, and look to July 17 as the recovery or relapse day.

The runaway increase in town water bills is just another way to tax people without saying the ugly word.

How news media distort facts, Department:

“Woman Giving Birth in New Jersey Is First case Of Zica Baby,” Shouted the TV newscaster ad wrote the newspaper editor. Of course they fail to mention until way down the story that it was a Honduran woman vacationing in the USA. And the newscaster never mentioned that little morsel of truth. In other words, it has nothing to do with the spread of Zica in the US.

The Parking Lot: Chapter 63.

   Nancy had suggested that Jared keep an eye on their nervous, insecure ally, Fred. Nancy’s suggestions were generally pleasant edicts. So their he was sitting in his car near Fred’s nice old home across from the upper bay, when the man himself, looking basically insecure and nervous, came out onto the front porch. He lit a cigarette, and walked up and down the big front porch, occasionally stopping and peering deeply down the streets into the dark night. He, like Jared, saw nothing.

   Fred, walked down the 8 steps from his large proch taking one last deep puff on the cigarette, holding it until he reached the street, where he threw it into the gutter. Fred started walking down the main street towards where Jared knew Fred had his office.

   As soon as Fred had his back to the car, Jared opened the door, and moved to the street like the puma he was becoming since he met Nancy.”Puma. me.” He laughed Yup, Jared thought, he is going to is office, just as Nancy said she thought he might.

   Jared was in deep shadows when Fred stopped at his door and pulled something out of his pocket that was soon revealed to be a flashlight. Fred seemed to stand their for a long time, maybe wondering why he was breaking Nancy’s law; walking now back and forth and looking up and down the street.

   Finally, Fred opened the door to his office and went in. Jared ran in a slow trot, following the progress of Fred’s light through the windows.

The Answer:

The 3 states not one of the original 13 are Maine, Vermont and Florida. Bonus: This first monumental step to reduce the threat of Nukes was taken jointly by Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev and George Herbert Walker Bush.

Poll: Majority of Democrats want Hillary, “Even if indicted.” Yikes! What more can I say about our anything goes society. The Tids is over.

Oh well, It’s still June and I’m real happy.