Forward from Horror.

Today's Tids Issue 4,446

There is more good:

There’s a lot of dreadful little things that happen day to day anywhere in our world. But Friday and Saturday Morning brought home much too vividly the hate that now exists in this great country. A day when a simple visit to a shopping mall in el Paso and a laughing in a “safe” entertainment center in Dayton ended in the most awful of human tragedies. Two places where people are on low alert, enjoying shopping in one instance or dancing and listening to music at the other. Older people talk about the days gone by when we didn’t have to lock our doors. But now we have to lock down even the most innocuous of venues, just in case. Just in the event some mad person chooses that day and that place to release his demons on the innocent. Yes, within less than 24 hours, at least 29 are dead and 40 more are seriously injured in hospitals awaiting their fate. There are so many days that belie sensibility. Yesterday was one of the worst of them all. Where can you go without looking over your shoulder?

You may have noticed that I am somewhat of a cynic who often thinks we as a country that overreacts much too much. But you can’t overreact enough to the grizzly massacres of yesterday of just plain ole’ good people doing what all people do every day. I just don’t know of any simple answer to stopping mad men. Regardless of political indictments.

Shucking fresh local corn in the summer is great for day dreaming. That’s why I don’t understand having clerks in stores shucking it for you. Is convenience more important than enjoying life?

I’m one of those people who totally enjoys sitting and watching a baseball game. Despite all the negativity from analysts, talkers and pontificators telling the world that baseball is over.

Speaking of declining sports, Country Clubs are having trouble filling membership openings, and this time it is not purely economic. I think younger generations have found other sports or recreational activities to keep them interested, which includes the family on those precious weekends away from work.

Did you read where RBG said that she liked Brett Kavanaugh finding him smart and fair, and with the most woman clerks ever in the history of the Supreme Court. “She referred to her colleague Justice Brett Kavanaugh as a ‘very decent person’ as she lamented what she characterized as the ‘dysfunction’ surrounding the confirmation process for the new justice.” At the service for Paul Stevens she went on to say that her new associates (Kavanaugh and Gorsuch) were “Very smart individuals”.

Somedays when reading through the Tids before hitting send or publish, I think it is pretty trivial stuff compared to real life hard ships people endure every day. It’s always good to put what you think and do in perspective to the bigger challenges of daily life. Self-importance can be pretty debilitating to society if left unchecked

Why do the Alphabet Song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the same tune? Why do you think you will be humming that tune for the rest of the day?

The Question:

What was the name of the vessel that was first to go over the North Pole underwater? And, where did it get its name? Bonus: Why is Greensboro NC Called Greensboro?

The Headlines:

--China’s Tumbling Currency Has World And US markets Reeling; China’s Reduction In value Of Yuan Is Seen As Retaliation To Trump Tariffs And Trade War escalation.

--Nation Prays For The Families Of Those Murdered In El Paso And Dayton Ohio.

--In Speech This Morning, Trump Condemns, Hatred, Racism And White Supremacy; Trump Calls For Background Check Law.

--40 Shot 3 Killed In General Weekend Chicago Shootings.

--Bombs Burst In Bangkok Mall Just Minutes Before ASEAN Summit.

--31 Dead, 62 Rescued After Philippine Boat Capsizing.

--India Shuts Down Internet, Place Local Politicos Under House Arrest, Orders Tourists To Leave Kashmir Region; State To Lose Quasi-Indolence Status; Protests Erupt..

--Turkey To Launch Offensive Against Kurds In Syria.

--Iran Seizes Another Foreign Tanker.

--Dems Blame Trump For Shootings.

A mass shooting is defined as a killing of killing four or more people (Not including the shooter) in one place in one event. Mass shootings are of three categories – gang shootings, domestic violence shootings and politically induced or domestic terror shootings. The Washington Post says there have been 163 mass shootings in the US between 1966 and 2019. Note: You can find any number of shootings as reported by many different organizations with different agendas, but they are all in the low hundreds. Since 1949 (Camden) there have been 28 shootings with a death total over 10. The point: How do you find the 193 shooters out of 320 million before they can take action. The main reasons for shootings are mental illness, revenge for bullying, diminished life accomplishments, desire for notoriety.

Predictably, Dem candidates with flagging poll numbers scrambled over the bodies of the innocent to blame the President for the Shootings.

I just read this quote from some Hollywoodite: “The Best TV shows are about families fighting.” Say what? Family dynamics shows bore me to tears. And my favorites like crime and international intrigue shows and mysteries, spend too much time being diverse, culturally cool, and yes, focusing on family controversies.

CSPI (Center for Scientists in the Public Interest) just published their 2019 “Xtreme Eating” List. This list of restaurant menu no-no’s is one person’s early death warning and another person’s opportunity for deliciousness. For instance, one item that comes from Cracker Barrel is a breakfast consisting of 3 eggs, fried apples, hash browns, sirloin steak, porkchops and biscuits with jam and gravy. There’s something wrong with that? Oh yeah, dump the fried apples.

High School classmates of Dayton shooter Conner Betts said he had been suspended from school in 2014 after officials found his “Hit List” of those he would kill and “Rape List” of girls he would sexually assault. I think that may have been a clue there that would have placed him on some kind of watch list. Alleged anti-Immigrant El Paso shooter Patrick Crusius was a hateful, well known contributor to dark web site. Maybe he should be on aw watch list.

If the Professor on Gilligan’s Island can make a radio out of a coconut, why can’t he fix a hole in the boat?

This weekend the Boston Red Sox reminded me of good Sox teams of yore who blew their season in the first week of August. Every single year. That was our plight until the Worlds Series win in 2001. In those days before victory, annual collapses were just a part of living; having hopes and having them dashed. But, we got used to winning and now losing out early hurts more deeply. Strange emotional beasts, we humans.

Organization “Mission Statements” that focus on diversity will often lead to narrow mindedness.

I’m thinking that most of the today’s movies and TV shows are actually therapeutic devices for directors and screenwriters. Or are used as vehicles to normalize their personal fantasies.

Saikat Chakrabarti is now out there on his own, and I suspect you are going to hear him spouting a lot during the next 15 months. Beware of his slickness, and the media who will be succumbing to it.

Speaking of controversial threats to the USA, what is happening in Turkey? This country has gone silent since a fairly active period of inter and intra government turmoil. Is it time to focus the lens of the crack Tids International Conspiracy Department (TIC) on Erdogan? I think so.

Now that the hopes for the big Red Sox finish are dimming, the Crack Tids team of NFL Pickers is clearly focused on the upcoming season. So, get ready for the week before the first game. we will be there for enlightened picks, opinions and guidance to the long season ahead. We’re shooting for 75% this year. First thoughts: I’m a little worried about my beloveds, the Patriots. Are the Cowboys anything without Ezekiel? The great Antonio Brown seems to be dumping on his new Oakland team just as he did the Steelers. Are the Jets finally for real? Let’s hope the high expectations for the Cleveland Browns aren’t shattered. See you in September.

Does the ACLU permit “Watch lists”?

And from another reader attempting to get on the revered Banned Pun List (BPL), we get this oldie: The phone number of the Vatican is Et cum spirit utu-o. A pure thumbs down.

Rhode Islanders talk about TV News anchors like they are members of the family. Come to think of it, in this tiny state, many of them may be just that.

Our esteemed Governor Gina R (Also Prez of the Dem Governors Conference) said Friday, “I’m about making progress in Rhode Island” as she signed a bill allowing hair braiders to work without the regulations associated with the beauty parlor business. So, it’s nice to know we will be attracting more hair braiders to bolster our economy. Actually, RI is on a roll as it has been discovered that the State legislature has gone out of its way to assure the populace that it will have a healthy Auto Body repair industry. Maybe that’s why we keep the roads rugged? RI is all about keeping aunts, uncles and cousins happy.

Living in RI can be an intense head scratcher at times, but you will never see such a range of natural scenic beauty anywhere in this world. Period. That’s just one provincial mind’s opinion.

Just to set the record straight, the Dayton shooter according to his own writings was an avowed leftist anxious for Biden and his generation to die off, and have the nation vote for Elizabeth Warren.

The Answer:

The first atomic sub which went over the North Pole underwater was the Nautilus named after the iconic vessel created by Jules Verne for Captain Nemo. Verne was science fiction writer at a time when I except many people thought all science was fiction. Interestingly, he drew his information for Nemo’s submarine from an 1867 Exposition in France that displayed the French Navy submarine, “Plonguer”. Bonus: Greensboro NC was named after the Great Rhode Islander and key George Washington general, Nathanial Green. Always looking for a home town plug where I can find it.

I think I am using the word “Iconic” much too much.

There is no way to remove the pain form those who lost loved ones in senseless murders. There are now words to soften the tears. Hugs can say, I am with you.  You just pray that they who have lost will smile once more living the memories of the beauty each victim had given; that the void will be filled by what each brought to the world around them.

Quiet, Thoughtful.

Today's Tids Issue 4,446

Guessing games:

What we have witnessed over the past four years is that mass candidates’ debates are not good for America. Too many able candidates get buried in the histrionics of the self-promoters; abetted by shallow news reporting. And it gets nasty, just too nasty for a civilized nation.

Old bicyclists say that E-Biking though Europe is much easier on aching backs and sore knees; an elixir for aging egos. Except for purists, that is.

On Wednesday, the President complained about the Fed not cutting the rate enough. Yesterday the market plummets after he proposes new tariffs on China. And it continues today. No wonder the market is confused. In reality, this drastic reaction to a Presidential remark could be an indicator of how fragile this long running bull market may be. Global business is stable but static, and too many in the US are concerned that good things on Wall Street don’t last forever. And then, there is the Presidential race, where Dems would love to see a small recession in the months before November 2020.

The Question:

An easy Q for E Street lovers. What are Springsteen’s greatest hits?

The Headlines:

--US-Russia Withdraw From !987 Reagan Nuke Treaty.

--China Threatens Retaliation After Trump Tariff Announcement.

--New Jobs At 164K A Smidge Lower Than Expected; Unemployment Remains At 3.7; Investors Hopeful Markets Could Rebound After Absorbing China Tariff Surprise; Down Triple digits At Mid-Afternoon; Loews To Layoff Thousands.

--China Army Signals It May Move Against Hong Kong Protests; Financial Workers In Island Province Stage Protest.

--RFK Granddaughter Found Dead At Hyannisport Compound; Saoirse Kennedy Hills Apparently Dead Of Drug Overdose.

--Chick-fil-A Named Americas Favorite Fast Food Restaurant Chain.

New College Trend: Parents are giving up custody of children so they can get better financial aid packages. What people won’t do.

Tulsi Gabbert came across as a better-than-the-rest-candidate for Dems. She seemed like an adult in the room, with strong controlled accusations. But, Perhaps the bigger surprise was Democrats taking a second look at Marianne Williamson. Maybe they think we need a peaceful President regardless of experience or deep knowledge of key issues. Maybe healing is the answer after all.

The 5 most stolen late model cars, trucks and SUVs are Dodge Charger HEMI, Dodge Challenger Hellcat SRT, Infiniti Q0, Infiniti QX80n and GNC Sierra 150 Crew cab. The least stolen are BMW3 series, Tesla Model S, Tesla Model X, Chevrolet equinox and Buick Encore.

There are many things that are evitable, like developers waiting out citizen complaints.

Does society and/or the planet have more defects, or are scientists just developing better ways to measure things?

I see where they closed down a Colorado firework display for tonight because of the plague. Yes, that plague. Apparently infected fleas are setting up households on cute little prairie dogs. The sense is that the fireworks’ noise would drive the animals from their holes to areas populated by people.

But, things are about to change more as more and more people move into what were formerly out of the way places. You know, like when America was discovered. It’s just something that is inevitable. Land is there. People come.

By the way. Think about how crowded Europe would be by now if Columbus hadn’t bumped into the West Indies. Hail Columbus!

This could possibly be the shortest Tids of all time.

Our good reader nearly banned for life due to questionable puns has registered a complaint, saying, that if he is banned, so should the author of yesterdays “Quarter Tu Tu” Pun. We are bringing it up at the next meeting the Tids Pun Tribune.

Doug Woolverson is one amazing jazz trumpeter.

Ironically, it was Baltimore’s John’s Hopkins U who wrote a report that said Providence RI’s schools were dysfunctional, failing crumbling, often vermin infested and dangerous for students and teachers. This truth was welcomed and will serve as basis for finding improvement.

Someday, maybe, The Trumpster will just learn when to stop talking, over-answering questions or commenting off the cuff.

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:

--Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw is the big powerful summer movie of the week. Hollywood’s highest paid actor Dwayne Johnson stars in this fast-paced thriller as the Diplomat SS Agent trying to defeat his British born, former agent, nemesis, this time over a threat from a genetically enhanced evil doer who possesses a serous bio threat. People who like F7F will like it a lot.

--The Nightingale is a story of revenge and the pitfalls that may come form pursuing it. A young Irish convict brought to Australia in the first colonial days of 1823 seeks to break the bond of an evil master after finishing her sentence. Her husband commits a serious crime where she must endure the consequences. It actually looks decent though I believe it may be somewhat dark and maybe a little bloody and grimy.

--People seem to like the biographic documentary about Anton Yelchin.

The Answer:

The answer to this may not be as obvious as many of you may think. I really don’t know too much about Springsteen other than the fact that people seem to love him. But I can find his most popular songs. On the first list, #1 is Thunder Road. Next is The River followed by Darkness on the Edge Of Town, I’m Going Down, Jungleland, Atlantic City, Badlands, I’m on Fire, Brilliant Disguise and Hungry Heart. Another Top Ten list leads with Born to Run and is followed by Thunder Road at #2. This list adds popular other Bruce hits not on list one -- Born In the USA, Dancing in the Dark, Streets of Philadelphia and Glory days. Another Best Bruce has Born to Run and Thundered at the top even more not yet mentioned songs to follow – Blinded by the Night (4), Spirit in the Night (5), Rosalita (6), Tenth Avenue Freeze Out (8) and No Surrender (10). So basically, the guy does a lot of songs well and it just depends on whose ears are listening.

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

Play a nice healing song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAB4vOkL6cE

Slow movin’

Today's Tids Issue 4,445

Debate free, at last:

Happy August, E-v-e-r-y-b-o-d-y! Congress has gone home and there are no debates. Life is lazy and uncomplicated again. The days are shorter and the weeds are longer. We are in the slowdown summer routine. I’ve been introducing the month of August in The Tids for a decade or two now, and have always led saying it’s the month about nothing. But now I’m discovering that nothing is about as good as gets in this cockamamie, conflicting world. Yet it is also the month when some of us still celebrate the day when the fighting stopped; when soldiers trudged home to welcoming arms. When an entire nation rushed to the streets shouting Hallelujah! It’s over! At last its over. Victory in Japan has been accomplished! So, maybe August isn’t so bad after all.

One thing that a city person knows better than others is that parks are a great refuge.

I’m numb. That’s about all I can say about last night’s debate. Biden was attacks. Harris was attacked. de Blasio said, “We’re going to tax the hell out of the wealthy”. Booker struggled; Castro sang the same old open borders tune. Buttigieg Played it cool, statesman-like. Protestors shouted. Kamala became the attorney for her own defense and Tulsi the prosecutor, backing her into a corner. Dems seemed somewhat unified over impeachment. And also on Climate, a topic that was led by Inslee, who in fact was applauded by others on stage. Now as they all leave, they wonder, did I do anything. Will I be here for the September foray?  Ironically, to get at Biden, Obama was portrayed as the biggest Departed of them all, including the Trumpster.

In the heat of battle, the ostrich was Unflappable.

The Question:

The great Broadway impresario Harold Prince Died Last night. Name five of his Broadway Musicals that he directed or produced. Bonus: Name five birds that can’t fly. Extra Bonus: The word “Jeans” (As in blue Denim) has as its origin the name of a European city. What is it?

The Headlines:

--Wall Street Sees Fed Rate Cut As Indicator Of Slowing Economy; Stocks Could Rebound Today.; Jobs Report Strong.

--Dems Go At It In Detroit; Police Picket Against de Blasio; Immigration Protestors Shout Down Biden Inside Arena.

--One Million Pages Of Evidence Against Epstein Has His Lawyers Requesting Trial Delay Til Next Summer.

--US/China Talks Deemed Productive.

--Dem Analysts Say Moderates Didn’t Do Enough In Debates To Unseat Progressives Bernie, Liz, and Kamala At The Top: Biden Expected To Have Done Enough To Be Conservative Dem Tagholder.

--Cap 1 Hacker Paige Thompson Threatened To “Shoot Up” Califiria Social Media Company

Maybe, after all, the penguin is the missing link.

Alexa has been showing signs of dementia this morning. And, it is irritating as hell.

Why do people give up so much of their daily lives because of political irritation? Why do family members feud because of political difference? Why do people develop seething hatred because one candidate wins over another? I just don’t feel that politics and politicians deserve that kind of emotion, emotions that seems to sap energy, and kindness and civility.

Inflation has had a significant effect on the cost of air at service stations.

Since as far back as I can remember, I have been a rabid fan of Thomas English muffins. Ballyhooed pretenders have come and gone, but Thomas always hung in there. But now, I have discovered Bay’s English Muffins, and they are special. You find them in the refrigerated dairy section. But, not to worry Thomas’s, I still love you.

In the Can of worms department, it may be Elijah Cummings who has the can opener. After all of the insult trafficking between Trump and the Congressman, it has been found that Cummings himself had condemned the drug ravaged neighbor in harsh terms.  On the other hand, some of the real significant problems in the city are bad unresponsive landlords. With Trump’s son-in-Law Kushner’s company being one of them  Beware of the wars your start.

Wall Street is crazy at times. They get their interest cut, but it isn’t right kind of interest cut. They read into it, negativity, even tough they they have been waiting for it for a year. So, that’s why being in the market can drive you to drink or commit to other irrational compulsive addictions, like writing the Tids.

In the facts you don’t hear department, only 8% of all student loans are held by private lenders, and those loans are 98% repaid. The problems we hear about defaults and slow payments are mostly with Government owned Debt. Good idea, letting the Gov run everything.

So, did you hear about the ballerina who was late for an audition because her costume got caught in an escalator? She arrived ar\t a quarter tu-tu. Shoot me. You have to have guts to write that!

The Answer:

Harold Prince won 21 Tony Awards for such iconic shows as West Side Story, The Phantom of the Opera, (His first ever) Pajama Game, Damn Yankees, Cabaret, Evita, Company, A Little Night Music, A Funny Thing Happened… , and Fiddler on the Roof. And, many more. Bonus: the five birds are Emu, Ostrich, Cassowary, Rhea Kiwi and Penguin. Extra Bonus: American as apple pie blue jeans are named after the Italian city of Genoa. Mid 15^th century French twilled cloth, geayne (Short for Gene fustian) a cloth originally from genoa Italy.

Lolling is fun, and August offers many opportunities. Tuck away the angst of political insanity, and look around at all the good people you may have missed along the away.