Happy tears overflowing?

Today's Tids Issue 3,104

Opening Stuff:

 

Do you ever find yourself standing there, and suddenly feel a tear on the edge of your eye, ready to run down your cheek? Do you sense your chest filling as your heart swells? It maybe a simple act of human kindness you watch from afar that moves the innate love in your heart. Or a quick flash from your mind to the eyes of one loved, enhanced by the glistening of the crisp sunny day. Or, a piece of beautiful music from an open window that grabs your heart. Or seeing an old friend walking towards you; An old married couple helping each other along the street, each with a sparkle in their eyes; A child holding a mother’s hand, looking up with pure adoring love. Feel your emotions. 

 

Feel your emotions, except when standing over a money putt.

 

A tip of the RI backwards baseball cap to Coventry RI’s 14 yo Emily Pietrantozzi who just won the European Irish step Dancing Championship in her age category against 900 competitors from 24 countries, including…Ireland.. How great is that! Her teammates Clair Jalbert Westerly) and Meghan Quirk (EG) from RI’s Kelly Irish Dance school also did well placing 6^th and 7^th in their categories. RI’s great people seem to continually achieve, somehow overcoming the ineptitude and criminal behavior of the  politicians. Oh, if saw Emily’s face and that of her mother, you would know where the Irish resides in Pietrntozzi!

 

Fargo just gets better and better as the series moves on.

 

The Question:

Cyber thieves want you. Actually, they want to become you. What are the 8 numbers for which these computer bandits are always creating new ways to steal from you? Bonus: What happened to a heroic woman 583 years ago today?

 

The Headlines:

--Ukraine Army  Morale Deflating As Separatist Gorilla Tactics Have Them On The Run; Russia Seems To have Moved troops Away from Border.

--June Stock Markets Could Labor Through Constant Claims Of Overbought Stock Indices.

--Consumer Spending In April Declined Significantly; Prices, Excluding Food And Energy, Up Showing Signs Of Inflation.

--Under Pressure, Shinseki Removes Heads Of Arizona Hospital.

--House Votes To Prevent Feds From Targeting Medical Marijuana In States Where It is Legal.

--Judge Says It’s OK For Bank To Foreclose On Burt Teynolds Florida Home.

--Zuckerberg And Wife Give $120 Mil To Cal Schools; Burt Reynolds Requests Court Order To Change His Official Classification From Human To School

 

If Don Sterling had just said he was just practicing as part of the homework for the Comedy School he was currently attending, he could have gotten away with saying anything he wanted.

 

Mike Peters suggests that if Snow White had found the Keebler elves tree before the 7 dwarfs cabin, she’d weigh 400 pounds today. And the wicked stepmother would have won. Life is a matter of inches.

 

I got some nice positive comments about the new series on the history of various towns and cities around the USA. Yesterday was Long Island, and I expect now we’ll have a regular feature each Wednesday or Thursday for the foreseeable future. The editors are still arguing, but it appears that Cleveland will be next on the docket. The challenge is getting 250 or so years of history into 8 or 10 lines. But, hell, what’s life without a little challenge from time to time.

 

Think about the lunacy of the federal Government getting involved in Little League and other organized youth sports activities. Yikes. But that’s what flashed into my mind when an article this morning talked about Obama’s seminar yesterday on Concussions. There was one sentence in the story – “The President has no authority over the Little Leagues…”. You know somebody in the bowels of the massive bureaucracy saw that and the gears stated grinding until the words “New Government Agency” came into focus, and “I can be the director”. “Zowie…a bonanza for life,” says the minion. So now the coaches would have angry parents on each side of him or her and the government officials on their backs. And kids will be sent to reform school for sliding head first. God help us.

 

Ben Carson scares the media because he makes too much sense and they don’t know how to deal with rational thinking.

 

At last, all of the “friends requests” and “notifications” I get from FaceBook on an almost daily basis are going into spam, where it should be.

 

A number of people are advocating not dismissing Shenseki solely because i-he is an honored 4 star General. Say what. If you’re a bad administrator, the you are a bad administrator.

 

Sterling Loves Black Ink, Department:

So by now everybody has probably seen that Microsoft Billionaire Steve Balmer has agreed to pay Sterling and his wife $2 b-b-b-billion as part of the punishment for talking in his home to his lover about her friends and associates. But, just to show you how nutty the Clipper’s owner is, he’s saying he may not take it for the principle of the thing, that the NBA had exceeded its authority.

 

Johnny Depp’s appearance during the tribute to Don Rickles, was useless. Talk about the stereotypical empty Hollywood icon. Other than that, the show was pretty good entertainment with Fey and Poehler being their funny selves, and even Robert Deniro, who was pleasantly animated and humorous, until he started to overuse the word F---. Actually the funniest guy of the night was Martin Scorsesi.

 

Other than Fargo and “24”, there’s not much to watch on TV. The real problem, through, is that there isn’t a great backlog of watchable movies to rent or stream. We may have to start playing competitive Free cell.

 

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:

--It’s tough to review movies now as we enter summer because they are generally so far afield from my interests. But, here we go. The attack on a strange looking, pony tailed Brad Pitt got more publicity than the movie Maleficent, starring super wife Angelina. Maleficent is the perfect person, the beautiful young princess, growing up in an idyllic kingdom where all is good. Until, an invading army threatens the harmony of the land. But, ruthless betrayal turns her kind heart to stone, and revenge becomes her life’s meaning. As a plot, it sounds decent, but it is the portrayal of the fantasy world that may get in the way. I’m not sure about this one.

--A Million Ways To Die In the West is about a man named Albert Stark, a guy who has trouble with and living in the rough frontier. His girl friend see s him as weak when he bows out of a gunfight. She takes up with the town’s big shot and bully. He can’t match the wealth or the manliness, and his spirits decline until the mysterious Anna shows – Anna the gunslinger. She helps Albert find his courage and all is well until Anna’s gunslinger boyfriend comes to town and challenges Albert to a last man standing gunfight! Yikes. Could be good.

 

The Conscience: Chapter 45.

     “Maybe you could be our lawyer Mr. Morgan”. I looked at the beautiful Angelica and felt that usual sense of total exhilaration I felt even when I was still living primarily in the bottom of a bottle of vodka, or whatever liquid with alcoholic content was available at the time. Maybe I could be her lawyer. But, maybe I could give back to Evvy the 30 years or so I had stolen from her life. Then, she may not even want me. After all, the life I had been living with her was a complete lie. I was never who I was. Never really the nice guy who happened to get caught by mother booze. No, I drank to hide who I was and what I didn’t do, or did, depending on how the predicament was interpreted. Sally found alive made no difference to what I had done and how I reacted, and I think Evvy saw that. In that truth, she saw weakness. She thought the man she had married was a smart happy guy who drank a lot. What she now understood was the man she got was a man with no soul. She was not only supporting me all those years, but all the demons I was dragging around as I looked for an excuse to drink. Demons which I might have molded from the blood drenched soil surrounding Sally’s lifeless eyes.

      “Maybe I could,” I answered. But then, Angelica only knew me as a person who helped her. As a witty guy with a smile. Not as the person who struggled through every moment with her; propped up by brown or white liquid. A guy who allowed himself to be raped by her mother.

 

The Answer:

 The numbers may be obvious, but we may underestimate the intensity of the nether world activity to swipe them. Guard at all times – 1. Phone Number 2. Dates on personal events (i.e. Birth, College attendance, employment) and zip codes for the location of these events. 3. PIN Codes. Hide hands when typing in public space. 4. Social Security Numbers. 5. Bank Account Numbers. 6. IP Addresses. Drivers license and passport numbers. These universal ID’s are gold to the nefarious. 8. Health Insurance Account Numbers. Surprise? Health care Fraud is one of the fastest growing scam industries in America. The simple solution fro safety is not to tell anybody you don’t know nothin’. And especially people who call or write, or email you. If you don’t initiate it, beware. Bonus: Joan of Arc was burned at the stake for being a heretic. Come to think of it, Anne Hutchinson was thrown out of the Plymouth colony for basically defying men in power too.

 

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

Good morning sunshine.

Today's Tids Issue 3,103

Opening Stuff:

I love these days when the sun comes out before 5:00AM. It’s particularly pleasant when you go outside and there’s a little nighttime hangover of a nip in the air. Just standing there in the quiet, breathing in, feeling the energy and promise of great new day is better than reading a good book; or ladling rich creamy gravy over succulent roast pork. Yes it’s going to be a roast pork day. I can smell it in the oven.

 

My golf game would be better if I didn’t have to get up so early to write the Tids.

 

Getting up early around here isn’t so weird at all. Fisherman are up and out, searching first for live bait, and then going after the big fish while their still a bit of the sandman in their eyes. Stripers are emerging, though the bigs are mainly still in the rivers. Summer flounder, fluke are thriving so far and blues are pretty prevalent. This as the tautog (Black fish) catch recedes. So if you are going out for stripers this morn, here’s the ten best ways to catch em’: 10. Trolling with Umbrella Rigs (Fish or worm bait), 9. Casting soft scented plastics 8. Bucktail jigs w/pork rind, squid strips  7. Live eels  6. Live menhaden 5. Fresh or frozen menhaden chunking 4. Surface plugs good for school bass in spring 3. Swimming lures – “Grey and silver Yo-zuri Chrystal minnow”  2. Parachute squid jigs 1. Trolling with tube and worm, using lead weight line to get to the bottom and the big boys.

 

The Question:

Roast pork is good, but the fragrance of blooming flowers is especially pleasant on these early morning jaunts into the quiet, glittering world of late May and early June. What are thetop flowers in the world and the top in the USA?

 

The Headlines:

--Obama Says US Will Withdraw 2/3’s Of Troops In Afghanistan; The Remaining US Force Will Be Mainly For Training Purposes.

--Dems Joining Repubs In Call for Shinseki Resignation; New Report Shows VA Problem Worse Than Thought.

--More Chechnya’s Seen Along Side Of Ukraine Rebel Fighters; Rebels Shoot Down Gov Helicopter.

--Iran Hackers Targeting US officials Through Social Networks.

--Apple Spends $3 Billion Of Giant Bank Account To Purchase Ear Phone Maker “Beats”.

--El Sissi Claims Victory In Egyptian Voting Where Nobody Came To the Polls.

--Philly And NYC Nix Bids For Summer Olympics.

--Comcast may Go After T-Mobile.

 

Obama sent a clear message to Afghans that they won’t be abandoned. He also sent a clear message to the Taliban and other foes that their opposition remains and they will continue fighting to regain the “purity” of their country until the US is wiped out.

 

Today I’m starting a new section which in the weeks and months ahead will quickly describe the history of different places around the country. Many of the areas will be those that have slid down past their glory years, like perhaps Cleveland and Clarksburg WVa. But for #1 I’m starting with Long Island NY which is an enigma in the minds of many beyond the Hudson River, In fact, many people believe Long island is another name for Rhode Island and vice versa. It is a huge island stretching from New Jersey t Rhode Island, with miles of magnificent shoreline. It wasn’t connected to the US until 1883 brought along the Brooklyn Bridge. The US almost lost the revolutionary war on the island during the battle of Brooklyn; saved by a brilliant retreat action by Washington and general Greene. For the first 250 years the island was an enormous agricultural resource and that includes what is now Brooklyn borough. Brooklyn became a part of the NYC in 1898, much against the will of many old timers. To an outsider today, the island looks like a hodge-podge with too many roads and people. Yet early growth was beautifully planned, as when Alexander Turney Stewart created a suburban eden now known as Garden City. Of course Levit later created Levittown the first gigantic mass produced housing area ever. Now Brooklyn is rebounding to its beautiful historical best, and eastern LI is the playground of the enormously wealthy, and quite comfortably open and uncluttered. Like a beautiful morning.

 

In the 1940’s I remember open fields of blueberries in central Long Island and my favorite times picking them, before spending the afternoon catching crabs at Bayshore. There some memories that never go away.

 

In case you may have forgotten, the first food stamps ever were delivered to a couple in Paynesvillle West Virginia 53 years ago today! Wouldn’t they be proud to know that today, nearly fifty per cent of all Americans are cashing in and dining along with them. Talk about GDP growth.

 

The support for that so-called “falsely imprisoned” marine by Mexican officials is no longer so clear cut, as the US soldier admitted that he lied to authorities. It appears that the “confusing” turn-around area at the border wasn’t so new to the marine after all as he had been their many times before, including earlier on that morning!

 

I’ll be honest with you. I never got too much out of listening to Maya Angelou.

 

A new report says that “toxins in the environment may accelerate aging”. So, how do you explain that humans are living significantly longer now than in the times before toxins?

 

If you’re an economy watcher you will be scratching your head. Most economists are saying the US GDP is poised finally to break away from the tedious 2.0-2.2% growth rates of the past several years and finally leap into the above 3.0% range. Just from a “you can’t stay down forever philosophy” point of view, they are saying it has to go up after so many years of putting everything back into place. But then, it is expected by a consensus that the first “Q” GDP will suck, not disappoint but smell out the joint. But the boosters have a carpetbag full of excuses primarily based on weather. Of course if the USA was still the force exporting around the world, weather wouldn’t be an issue at all. We have become, it seems an economy that needs good weather to blossom and minimum wages to grow. It only takes one letter to go from force to farce. It makes me sad.

 

One of the major factors limiting growth has been deleveraging, which charts are showing is nearing an end. That means that for five or six years now consumers have been trying to get rid of debt accumulated madly in the “This boom will never end” years. So, the good news for the economy is signs that consumers are spending more than they can afford again. Nice. Of course, if the economy grew slowly and under control, the average American would probably be happy and less fettered, but all those who rely upon an ever expanding pool of giant sums of money, stable slow growth economy would mean cutting annual bonuses below tens of millions.

 

The Answer:

In the world, Sunflowers, Wildflowers, Lilacs, Carnations, Orchids, Lillies, Tulips, Primroses, Roses and Iris rank highest. In the US of A we like best -- Roses, Lilies, Daisies, Tulips, Orchids, Lilacs, Carnations, Hydrangeas, Sunflowers and Pansies. Go out and enjoy.

 

Get up and smell the gravy. And a daisy or two along the way to the butcher shop.

Too much Limelight; too little substance.

Today's Tids Issue 3,102
Opening Stuff:

 

America the Shallow, Department:

On a weekend when Americans stopped their lives, took time to honor soldiers from all of America’s wars, and to celebrate their accomplishments, to grieve their deaths and injuries, I wondering why Kim Kardashian thought it a good idea to shine the spotlight on her? And on such a solemn day, why so many people would care.

 

I just heard that it is completely legal by statute for RI state legislators to lie to each other and to the public. No wonder the politicians don’t want the 10 Commandment hanging on a nearby wall.

 

Everybody should have a small plot of dirt in which to play, as long as it isn’t a kitty litter box.

 

The Question:

What do Oslo Norway, Krakow Poland, Munich Germany And Davos/St. Moritz Switzerland have in common? Bonus:   Michael Crichton, though dead, is still a good read.

 

The Headlines:

--Markets Open Strong.

--Libyan Islamist Militant Group In Benghazi Warns USA To Stay Out Of Country’s Affairs Or Else; State department Sends In 1000 Marines To help Evacuate All US Citizens From Libya.

--Obama Muses About Sending Limited Number Of US troops ToJordan To train Anti Assad rebels.

--Chchnya Soldiers Probably In Ukraine Aiding Insurgents; new Efforts By Kiev Gov Killing More Eastern Russian Supporters.

--Both Williams Sisters Ousted early At French Open Tennis.

--Sterling Tells NBA Words Were Of Lover’s Quarrel And Not Substance For Barring.

--Iran Judge Orders FaceBook’s Zuckerberg To Testify On Privacy Infringement of Citizens There.

 

Yesterday I wrote about the impending probable disaster that could arise from RI’s  rush to ocean wind power. The Tids resident Public Utilities expert wrote to disagree – “The Deepwater contract will be much more costly and damaging than 38 studios…” No probably’s or could be’s about it, he implied -- it is a fact among the knowledgeable. Not only will it be 4-5 times more expensive to purchase windpower, the high maintenance cost associated with ocean isolated towers and damage from hurricanes or winter storms will be calculated into every new rate basis going forward.

 

I played golf at a great old golf course designed by Donald Rss – Triggs. It is now the City of Providence golf course. I noticed an inordinate amount of handicapped parking places and wondered if that was to accommodate all of the former city employees now on disability pensions. Nah, they couldn’t play golf with those work diminishing injuries.

 

Comedian Sarah Silverman says she is embarrassed never to have had an abortion. That’s funny? How do you reason with people like her and followers when they seem to revel in some kind of scorecard on dead babies? Aborting a child for the sake of aborting a child is a badge of honor? That sounds like something a serial killer would say.

 

They say there are 75,000 feral cats roaming the fields and neighborhoods of Rhode island. So, how come ferel cats seem to know how to keep living and populating, while endangered species that everybody seems to love just wither away? Maybe feral cats have better healthcare.

 

A guy tells me that Providence Triggs golf course is significantly better now that a private contractor has a long term contract to maintain the great old track versus the former city government operation. One of the reasons, he says, is that under the public employee contract, the workers were allowed to stop working and play cards under a shady tree when the temperature reached 80 -- Which was pretty much any summer day.

 

How would you like to be driving in a car without a steering wheel or brakes? It would be similar to having your life totally controlled by a gigantic government. What a horrible thought. But, that’s exactly what the new completely automated Google auto is all about. You sit and hope there isn’t something in the car pending a recall! I feel nervous just thinking about being out of control.

 

I see where the median income last year for S&P 500 CEO’s was $10.5 Mil. I’m thinking I should go back and reevaluate my career planning.

 

The Answer:

The four cities/towns are four that have awoken to the costliness of extravagance and have rejected in votes by citizens the idea of pursuing The Winter Olympic Games. You have to wonder if some in American cities down the road will wonder what tey really are getting out of paying for sports stadiums which are more playthings for the wealthy than anything else. Bonus: Michael Crichton had a great imagination, first realized by millions in his medical thriller “The Andromeda Strain”. Others that will hold your attention are Jurassic Park, Congo, Travels, Sphere, Rising sun, Disclosure, The Lost World, Airframe, Timeline, Prey, State of Fear, next and Pirate Latitudes.

 

Sometimes I wonder if teachers really know why they are teaching math.

 

Hey, it’s hump day, and the week’s barely started.

 

T

Holiday angst.

Today's Tids Issue 3,101

Opening Stuff:

 

People go places on holidays just because they think they have to go places.

 

I noticed that the Tampa Bay Rays are wearing camouflage style hats. The Red Sox should be wearing cammo all over! What a mess it is when the luck fades and the talent disrobes. (Even after last night's first victory in 11 games.)

 

Why can’t the Red Sox get pitchers like Josh Becket?

 

So the Pope is going to join with the Israelis to talk to the Hamas about peace. Let’s see, the Muslims are killing Christians in various Middle East countries and Islamists have vowed to wipe the Jews off the face of the earth. That should work.

 

One of my all-time favorite sweet treats is the Napoleon.

 

The Question:

What are ten things people don’t know about raising their pets?

 

The Headlines:

--Investors Remain Confused Even As Stock Futures Point Higher; Euro Stocks Bounce Back.

--Ukraine Adds Jets To Eastern Fight; 30 Insurgents Killed; New Prez Says They will Fight Until Last Insurgent Is Gone.

--Coloradans Still Missing After Giant Mudslide.

--Chinese Ship Sinks Vietnam Fishing Boat; Tensions Remain In Asian Seas.

--Venezuela Tells Kerry To Stay Away; Country Says US Not Needed After 42 Protestors Against Regime Are Killed.

--North Korea Warns US That Provocation By Our Troops At Border Could Be Cataclysmic.

--Pope Francis Announces Meeting With Priest-Sex Victims in Month.

--Nigeria defense Chioef Says Girls Have Been Located.

--Unions/Employers Butting Heads Over Mandated Costs Of ACA.

 

I wonder if Deep Water (Proposed RI Ocean Wind Farm) is any less of a potential tragedy for this diminished state than 38 Studios. Both were spawned by a rush to celebrity, one to a famous baseball payer and the other to the cerebrals shining star – “Green”. While 38 Studios set back the tax payer $75 Mil+ in real dollars, Deep Water could be worse creating high electricity costs in an already high electricity cost state making it virtually impossible for industry to considered moving in. Yeah, but it will feel good!

 

I always thought a good cocktail was vodka on the rocks.

 

BTW, if Bloomberg is intent in eliminating big sugary soft drinks, how about adding sugary, creamy cocktails to the list.

 

Could it be that Putin made his first misstep in his march to country acquisition when he pulled his backing of Russian insurgents.

 

You have to wonder if Rouhani is honest about getting along, or just making nice with the world while Ayatollah pulls the strings as always. That with Rouhani they just went from Evil-Evil to Nice-Evil where nice really doesn’t count but looks good. When Ali Khamenei said yesterday that “Jihad will never stop until America was no more,” hw=e was threatening us while saying two things to his people: One, people in Iran who speak of peace are treasonous. Two, Iran will never stop pursuing nuclear power status. Ain’t so nice after all, is it?

 

I must be bored because it’s a holiday and I’m not doing anything. Oh, relaxing and ridding the body of tension is doing something? Good!

 

This wasn’t such a great Memorial Day weekend considering that I couldn’t find the Indy 500 on the radio, and Jack Nicholas Memorial Day tournament isn’t until next weekend. Nothing is sacred any more.

 

The next time we’re going back to the good ole standard West Virginia chillah sauce for our hot dogs.

 

Now that the anti EuroZone forces are gaining power, there may not be any place for the new the President of bankrupt Ukraine to go but Moscow, regardless of where his people want to beg. The economy is so dour, and the Euro thing become so apparently fragile, that survival is inevitably spelled P-u-t-i-n.

 

Just like that, right out of the blue, I’m missing Sunday Night Football.

 

The IRS has ruled that employers can’t give employees cash to buy their own health insurance. Now, that becomes a battle between big government encroachment and free enterprise. The most intimidating government agency in the world says that ACA prohibits big companies from making decisions that would move employees out of company plans into the government morass. Part of the problem is that many companies made the decision to allow people to buy their own insurance way before ACA’s arms reached into corporate decision making. Could the IRS become unconstitutional with this new over reach? Stay tuned. This will get interesting.

 

The Answer:

1. People spend way too much on pets, to the point that some could eat into own retirement savings Last year the 61% of households who have at tleast on e pet spent $56.8 Billion. 2. Organic pet food doesn’t necessarily mean “Safe”. 3. Treats can kill. Jerky treats have been dangerous as are many “Chicken” treats from China. .Pet Toys can be dangerous and should be checked for stability just like toys for kids. 5. You don’t have to vaccinate as much as you think. 6. Be wary of health insurance for pets. Can be costly and may not cover obvious genetic deficiencies of breeds. It is growing industry and there will be pressure to insure. (Note: Obama has not looked at this yet) 7. Dogs from puppy mills may have bred-in diseases that will last for life and cost lots of dough. 8. Medications, like heart worm medicines are becoming difficult to obtain…and that is very scary to vets. 9. Apartments may not be available for people with certain types of dogs. Be aware of rental laws before buying a puppy. 10. There are no standards fro animal trainers, so your “expert’ may not be much smarter than you.

 

The one thing you can always count on about a holiday is that the work week will be shorter. And, that’s something.

 

 

America is People.

Memorial Day 2014 Tids, Issue 3,100

Opening Stuff:

 

I spent a kind of all-American Memorial Day, you know, in honor of the guys and gals who got us what  we got. Preserved who we are.  I went to Wal-Mart and watched Americans --  listened to two old blue collar  guys standing next to the cookie aisle trying to outdo each other with their low sugar numbers; saw a picture-perfect young socialite rush in from her Bentley, parked with blinking lights in front, looking for Drano, standing self consciously, pondering the brands as though she had never been there before; a nice young family of four working together, double checking all prices trying to save every possible penny; a check-out girl told us of her recipe for Spanish rice, while double counting an expensive item. America is all the folks, living, laughing, loving and languishing, surviving every day, now in a new economy, a changing culture, but always the same, generation after generation.

 

Sunday doesn’t look much like Sunday any more because the stores are full and the churches are empty.

 

In the forties Disney created the lovable Bambi and Thumper – deer and bunnies became the symbols of curtness and a happy forest. Today everybody is trying to find devious ways to keep these ravenous beasts out of their gardens!

 

The Question:

What was the real name of O’Henry, and what are two of his best known stories? What national convention of “humorists” did he inspire?

The Headlines:

--America Stops to Shed A tear.

--Iran’s Imperial Leader: “Jihad Will Continue Until America Is No More.”

--Karsai Refused To Meet Obama At Bagram Air base.

--Recent Elections In Europe Show Growing Strength Among Euro-Union Naysayers; Country Leaders Ponder Future Of Economic Union; Anti-Immigration Forces Make Big Gains.

--Ukraine Elects Petro Poroshenko; new Prez Says he Will use Military More Efficiently to restore Peace In East; Seeks To talk With Moscow..

--Young Repubs breaking With Oldsters Mainly On Social Issues Gay Marriage And Marijuana; Remain United On Anti-Abortion Efforts.

 

I don’t know much about Henryk Gorecki, but I know that in listening to his third symphony over this past Memorial Day weekend I felt the moving passion of the composer who sees hope from the sorrow of war. The resilience of his own Polish people who felt the despondency from the weight of their own devastation at the ugly hand of Hitler, but never gave up their spirit whether fighting to save Warsaw or lying hopelessly in Auswitz. There is nothing stronger than the human heart.

 

There is nothing more relaxing than watering flowers.

 

You may have seen the TV report on the latest “Pun” convention. That’s where professional wordsmiths relax their standards to produce inane sentence structures with liberal word usage that mostly produces groans. A punconventional use of the language. These are professionals ridiculing their own expertise, like a nuclear physicist letting himself relax a bit to invent the Rubic cube. For instance, the Tids is bits of unrelated human droppings accumulated in to piles of ----.  The pun convention consists of lots of pretty smart people laughing at themselves with often horrible puntification.

 

Yesterday seemed like a perfect day, just enjoying the simple things around me. The good side of people; the day itself trying to discover who it was as black clouds and bright sun interchanged dominance. Me, I just put the groceries in the car, jumped on the back rung of the grocery cart and rode down the bumpy parking lot to the cart cage; the breeze blowing through my thinning hair. It was that kind of day., the good kind.

 

The Big question for tomorrow: On which side of the fence will the stocks fall?

 

The Answer:

O’Henry was a prolific wordsmith, who astounded his admirers with his voracious vocabulary and love of language, even when he was himself – William Sydney Porter. Among his 300 stories, two of his best known are “The Ransom of Red Chief”, and “The Gift of the Magi.” He inspired the “O’Henry Pun-Off” in Austin, Texas where he lived when writing. Each year language adulators demean their lovers by going for the punniest 90 second play on words or match witticisms in a contest of dueling punslingers.

 

In my memorial weekend travels, I heard a baby cry. It was in a restaurant, and I asked the waitress, “where was the baby”. She looked around, finally saying saying that it must have been on TV because there wasn’t one in the room. Then she turned and pointed to two young black men sitting in a booth by the door. They both had smiles as bright as the sun gleaming above the clouds. We approached, and heard the little cry again. And also heard one of the men talking, “You can go to sleep because daddy will be home soon.” And that man turned up to us, as proud as proud can be, “Wanna see her?”. You could see the love in his eyes. He lifted his arm holding his cell phone and turned it towards us and we saw the beautiful child of this man, this navy man. This sailor posted here in Newport yearning to be back in Virginia with his wife and child. US military people make sacrifices big and small for our safety every day.

Of things I’ve never known, I can only pray.

Today's Tids Issue 3,099

Opening Stuff:

 

Of all the things that God helps grow, Tis the posies that steal the show; They live again upon graves of brave; Where tears are shed and flags wave; They are symbols of the life; That thrived in love before the strife.

 

Jeez, I just can’t get over the immense talent that exists all around us. Last night we went to a 7^th-8^th grade, choral, orchestra, band concert and sat in awe as these young musicians tackled some compelling complex music and hit high note after high note. You often walk beside these quiet, awkward, inward young people not realizing what magnificence is growing within. And, on an occasion like this you realize that perhaps the USA does have a future after politicians.

 

The Question:

Memorial Day was first called Decoration Day. After what war did the annual recognition of fallen heroes begin? In what state and when did the idea of decorating the grave of a soldier germinate? What was the first Northern state to observe Decoration Day? When did “Decoration day” officially become “Memorial day”?.

 

The Headlines:

--Friend of Admin LA Times Reports That Obama Admin Last Week Added Hundreds Of Pages Of Regulations To ObamaCare; Most Protect Insurance Companies From Loss To Give Appearance That Low Cost ACA is Working; LA Times Says Regs Designed To Fool Taxpayers; Gulp!

--Ukraine Tensions Escalate; Nato Moves Troops To Russia Boarder; Russia Warns; 16 Ukriane Troops Killed By Separatists In Renewed Fighting In East.

--Mortar Kills 21 Assad Supported Gathered In Tent For Political Rally And Fundraising.

--US General Warns Of Dangerous Escalation From China-Viet Nam Standoff.

--New Emails Show White House Eagerly Looking For Fairytale To Excuse  Their Irresponsibility In Regards To Bengahzi; Admin Spent First Hours Of Attack At YouTube Watching Anti-Muslim Video.

--New Home Sales Rise 6.4%.

--Oooooooo-Weeeeee-Ooooooo: Weird Lights With Zig-Zagging Contrails Seen Over Hawaii; Would Have been Entirely Weird If I Had Misspelled Contrails As Entrails.

--Newport Art Museum To Hold Antique Appraisal Day On June 20; Call 401-619-7277 For Details.

 

You have wonder if there is jealousy among the beautiful things growing in fields that roll from majestic mountain to contented valley. But, I think not, because the grandeur we feel when we open our eyes is all of the beauty working together as one. Maybe if in the human race it was only the love in hearts we could see, we would be united in perfection just as the flowers and trees.

 

I was in the big discount place BJ’s yesterday, arms laden with cheese flavored snacks, when the power went off. My immediate thought was that I wouldn’t be able to check out and would have to spend the long weekend roaming the aisles there. But, the power snapped back as the generators kicked in. On the way out I remarked about it pleasantly to the eager head clerk, who replied “Yes, our electricity is from generators, currently”. With that “I-know-a-pun-when-I-hear-it” twinkle in my eye, I immediately countered, “Currently?”, and burst into a smile surely expecting at least a small chuckle in return. He preceded to describe the concept of backup power! It went right over his head. Yikes! That’s when I decided I would never work at BJ’s.

 

Congrats to a good old pal of 73 years, a good friend from the old neighborhood who helped me grow. He just won the Naples (Fl) over 70 Championship! He’s the reason I never took up Tennis myself…even though I thought I was the better player, I kept losing 6-0, 6-0! Go figure. They say down there that the soil of the Naples area rumbled as my new hero, hobbled, came back time after time, often overcoming intense pain, to win, setting the stadium afire with admiring applause. Of course, people over 70 always play in pain.

 

People have backyard picnics on Memorial Day because it is just plain nutty to get on a highway.

 

Why would some news agency think that their headline today, “Obama Attacks Republicans” was news?

 

I can remember continuously drawing in the margins of my school books, guns shooting people and planes and tanks. By today’s standards I’d still be serving a life sentence. And look at me, a real killer with an indelible back mark on the psychopath part my brain.

 

“Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.”

 

The Answer:

After the Civil War, southern women in Mississippi began placing flowers on the graves of Southern and Northern soldiers alike. It is said that the idea for that arose during the war in 1961 in Virginia. Many cities claim to be the first to initiate Decoration Day – from Waterloo NY to Boalsburg Pa. But it is recognized that the first Northern State to recognize the day was Michigan in 1871. Ironton Ohio and Doylestown Pa fight continuously over which town hs the oldest continuous Memorial Day parade. What is not in dispute though, is that it is well recognized that it was the efforts of Southern women who really made Decoration day  a national event. Decoration Day became Memorial day in 1882. However, the day languished and only became popular after WWII. Let’s hope more people stop to remember than look for Tums after eating too much and wonder why they are there.

 

When you have a quiet moment this weekend, think about these fighters for freedom from the 10 deadliest US wars: Afghanistan – 2,322 Dead; Spanish-American – 2,446 Dead; Revolutionary – 4,435 Dead; Iraq – 4,486 Dead; Mexican-American – 13,283 Dead; Korean – 35,574 Dead; Vietnam – 58,220 Dead; WWI – 116,516 Dead; WWII – 405,399 Dead; Civil – 498,332 (Confed est.) Dead.

 

Amen!

 

Sometimes I feel weak, and then I see the courage of the strong.

Today's Tids Issue 3,098

Opening Stuff:

 

You have to love 15 year old Deborah Peter. We read and we hear through the minds of those who report, but we really don’t know. The girl, speaking before Congress, brought home the reality of a life Americans don’t, and I hope will never know. Deborah’s father refused to denounce the Christian God in trade for his life, and was shot by Islamists. She watched in horror as her brother was also shot. People have been named saints for less than this martyrdom of a man who stood strong for his God telling his murderers that he “Couldn’t deny his faith”>. Deborah Peter said, “I want the world to understand what happened to me. I hope the kidnapped Chibok girls will take courage from my story, and know more of what God says, and know what it means to satnd strong in the face of bad people.” All you had to do is look into those soulful, encouraging eyes on that beautiful face. And wonder, what would I do?

 

“I used to eat a lot of Natural foods until I learned that most people die of Natural causes.”

 

That piece of logic was sent in by another of your brilliant fellow readers. It’s called a “Ponderism”, and you can bet you’ll be seeing a few more sprinkled throughout today. I have used ponderisms in the past, but this batch contains a few new and fresh looks at our world trough questioning sarcastic eyes, like “Life is sexually transmitted.”

 

The Question:

What do you think are the names of these celebrities yachts: Tiger Woods, Humphry Bogart, Yacht of 9 Presidents, Saddam Hussein, Ari Onassis, Robert Wagner.

 

The Headlines:

--North Korea Launches Mssile Against South Korea Ship; SK Ship Fires Back.

--New Jobless Claims Rise To 326K; US Econoimic Growth Slows To Minus .36% In April From Plus .34 In March.

--Putin Signs deal With China That Makes Russia The Largest Gas Supplier.

--In Bloodless Coup, Thailand Military V=Chief Gen. Prayuth Chan0ocha; Curfew Imposed On People.

--Syrian al-Qaida Reach foothills Of Israel Cntrlled Golan.—Nancy Names Five Dems To GOP Led Benghazi Probe.

--31 Killed In Latest Market Mauling In China; Government Blames Muslim Separatists.

--NFL Expected To Add Two More Games To Playoff Sched; Fans Can Expect to Watch teams With Losing Records.

 

Well, the very ordinary American Idol season culminated with the selection of a very ordinary shouter, Caleb Johnson. I was underwhelmed by the talent from the beginning and rarely looked forward to any body’s singing, except occasionally Jessica Meusse. Even Alex, a very talented guy, I dismissed because I just got tired of what he did to the songs he sang. That means he sang once to accolades and then I got bored with the same-ole’. The rest were all below average and one, CJ Harris, just plain couldn’t sing. So, an average rocker won out over a talented young lady (She could play the piano) who was also basically a shouter. Guess what I’m not looking forward  to next year?

 

While we’re on these talent reality shows, the producers just gotta stop creating faux disputes between judges. And, commenting on performances of singers or dancers that have been around six or seven shows just becomes repetitive. Stopit! And, I have just one word for Nick Cannon – “Recede”.

 

Actually, the bloom is off the reality talent show rose. The ratings for The Voice, and yes, even Dancin’ are falling at a consistent pace. It was a pretty good run, and quite often look-forward-to reliable entertainment. But, Howdy Doody got tedious too.

 

Children are always a reminder of the love two people have had for each other. Except of course in various professional sports leagues.

 

So, do you think the EuroCountries are wondering if there will be any gas left after China starts sucking on the big pipe.

 

Is Prince Charles the “Don Sterling of Britain? In an “Unguarded” moment the heir to the throne was heard as you probably know comparing Putin to Hitler. Obviously, that caused new tensions between hhe two countries and the top Russian diplomat is on his way to London. So, you never know do you. Somebody may be listening to a private conversation, no matter where it appears you are having it alone. Frankly, I find myself looking around and over my shoulder more ofen…not that I would ever utter a disparaging remark.

 

“Healthy is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.”

 

I believe we’ve said it here in the past couple of days, but here is an official observation about the lessons learned from Tuesday’s Primaries: The Tea Party is losing battles but winning the war. The Clintons can be beaten. Mitch McConnell is a fierce competitor and the negativity of primary campaigns can come back to haunt candidates in the real thing.

 

“If Jimmy cracks corn and nobody cares, why is there a song about him?”

 

I have to figure that corporations have been robbing Peter to sustain Paul as the key strategy for maintaining earnings at solid acceptable rates. But there comes a time when Peter’s gone fishin’ and that may be around now. For quarters now, analysts have been expecting a dip mainly because the economy is so slow that keeping up earnings begins to become an impossibility. It’s like that old bird that flies in ever declining concentric circles until it flies up you know where. Now, for years, I have been warning of the financial dangers surrounding the 17^th of July, and it appears this could be one of those times when the warning becomes the fact. Most companies in their just completed 1^st Q reports predicted future earnings at a lower rate than analysts expectations. It will be bad in Q2, unless we can get Paul to lower his expectations and Peter has a surprisingly good catch in a rapidly depleting pond. Or, exaggerates the size of his fish.

 

The Conscience: Chapter 44.

      After the criminal investigators were finished with their scene, and the Detective in charge, David Hamilton, had asked everybody questions, and especially me, the  Killer, Eliot Wu suggested we all go back to his office. Detective Hamilton said he’d be back to me.

      James walked slowly with me. “Think of what we could have prevented if we had acted like men back then.”

    “ You mean me, James.”

     “No, I mean both of us. If I remember correctly, and I doubt if I will ever forget, it was I who said, “I gotta go mista. White men get mad when they see little black boys next to dead white girls”. Jeffery. I ran like hell. But all of the time I knew I should have stayed.”

      I decided not to argue the point about who was the biggest scarety-cat. It was obviously me. We walked in silence to the office, both not in the present; both back in a 1957 night with Fats, Chuck and Little wailing in the background. Those eyes are still there just like they were a couple of hours ago.

      We walked in, and there was ole’ Jason sitting at his desk just like he was when I first came down month ago. Eliot was walking over to him, probably wondering why Jason was in his seat. I went right to the bar. You don’t recover from being and alcoholic for 30 years in two hours, no matter what was lifter off your back. I drank a full glass of scotch for equilibrium, and then poured a second full glass for sipping. I turned and saw Angelica standing behind me.

       “She was my mother.” She looked at me with that beautiful coolness of hers. I was ready for anything she was about to say. “I understand.” She leaned up and kissed me on the cheek. “You can pour me a glass of wine.”

       She must be in shock, I thought.

 

“Why does the Ob-Gyn leave the room when women undress to prepare for the examination?”

 

The Answer:

In researching this Q I came across some amazing yachts, some bordering on small crusie liner. Ok. “Privacy” is the name of Woods boat while “Santana” is Bogart’s (Now being restored here in RI). “Sequoia was the yacht of 9 presidents and  Ari’s was “Christina”. Saddam’s beautiful “Al Mansur” was bombed out of the water. Natalie wood died off of Wagner’s yacht “Spendour” Actually, I only asked this question so I could practice spelling Yacht.

 

There are days when you think you totally run out of things to do, but only discover that there’s always something. So, I’m off on a mission to discover what it is. I hope it isn’t washing windows.

 

What to do with all of this sun.

Today's Tids Issue 3,097

Opening Stuff:

 

If there ever was a time for a poem, it would be these days approaching June. With skies so blue and crystalline clear you can see almost anywhere, there from here. With eartly carpets now green and lush and birds hovering around the brightly flowering bush; The cool of the mornings, always now gleaming bright, I am now getting up in the middle of the night!

 

We are in that dangerous ground in the history of continuous life cycles where those whose hands were slapped because of inconceivable risk taking and downright fraud, or irresponsible spending leading up to the big crash of 2007 are feeling frisky again. They are testing the waters, pushing the old so-called envelope. Public employee unions are seeking far bigger salary increases from a still beleaguered taxpayer. Investors are fueling LBO’s with ever increasing amounts of debt, increasingly way beyond sensible standards. It happens in every cycle. Painful lessons are soon forgotten, and the sensible ultimately suffer.

 

I think I’ll take a long walk today. I don’t know what I will see. Maybe it will be just me, looking back at myself from a store window pane. Or maybe I’ll discover something entirely new, nothing particularly grand, but something nice to know that I didn’t know before. That’s always a good day.

 

The Question:

Who were the Characters on the TV program “A” Team? Bonus: What are considered the Top 5 culinary Schools In the USA?

 

The Headlines:

--Primaries: Moderate Dem Upsets Progressive In Pa; Rising Dem Star Allison Grimes To Face-Off With Mitch McConnell After Kty Primary.

--Philadelphia Fed President Charles Plosser Says 2.5 trillion In Reserves Is Ticking Time Bomb That Could Kill Economy.

--Markets Up Strong After Early Red Ink; Fannie Mae Downgrades Home Sales Estimates.

--EBay Hot by Hackers; Asks Users To Change Passwords.

--Remains Of Giant Dinosaur Round In Argentina; Monster Would Wave Weighed 155,000 Pounds; 65 feet Tall, Over 130 feet Long. Double Yikes. (Note: T-Rex Was About 14,000 Pounds.)

--Ukraine Locals Becoming Tired Of Pro-Russia Separatists; Prince Charles Likens Putin To Hitler.

--Comedian, Faux News Commentator Jon Stewart Rips Obama, Admin Over VA Outrage.

--Bonga, Bonga Berlusconi Says Euro In Danger Of Failing; Radical Changes necessary Or Else Many Countries In EU Wil drop It.

--China Bans Microsoft Windows 8; Many Americans Understand Logic.

 

Often when reading letters to the editor in newspapers or listening or reading the words of opinionators, I get the distinct feeling that our well known National Anthem “in waiting” should be renamed “America the Brainwashed” -- Oh beautiful, for spacious minds; For ample holes in brains, For verbal government Magestries; Of which the sane complain; America, America, God didn’t do this to thee; Who crammed your thoughts with nannyhood; From whining PC to we.

 

Fish and Ribs, Department:

A reader quickly responded to my musings about finding a better recipe for you all. It his favorite grilled Cod 1. Cod – Place 2 lbs Cod in pan (sprayed with Pam) made of folded aluminum foil w/sides equal to height of fish. In sequence, sprinkle with Italian bread crumbs, shopped dill and Parm cheese. Top with butter patties. Slide Alum pan on Board to transfer to hot grill. Slide onto grill and add ¼ inch Sam Adams Summer Ale. Close lid. Open SASA and quaff for ten mins. Open grill and remove fish. Yum (He says). 2. Ribs -- A reader made Cod easy and delicious, now smoky southern ribs without the time. Preheat oven to 350; place 4 lbs Bay backed pork ribs in 10x15 pan. Add 1/3 cp red wine vinegar to 2/3 cp water, swish and pour over ribs. Cover with foil and bake 15 minutes, basting with meat juices several times. In med saucepan, mix 1 cp ketsup, 1 cp water, ½ cp cider vineger,1/3 Worcestershire, ¼ cp mustard, 4 tbs butter, ½ cp packed brown sugar, 1 tsp hot pepper sauce and 1/8 tsp salt. Mix thoroughly. Remove ribs from oven and place on lightly oiled med heat grill. Grill 15 mins, turning once. Baste ribs generously and gill 8 more mins. Turn over and baste again and grill 8 mins again. Southerners who know, give this 5 stars.

 

Maybe the Clinton name isn’t as magical as some Repubs fear., Over in Montgomery County Pa, Chelsea Clinton’s Mother-in-Law Marjorie Margolies lost in her effort to regain her Congress seat, a prized congressional district near Philly. Maybe the folks are becoming leery of the bogus Bill Clinton “Aw Shucks” style.

What about Apple Company stock, anyhow? To buy, or not to buy. There’s a split on the horizon, but more important to investors, it seems, is the promise of the new IPhone which might finally do what the teckies want it to do. Buying on a technological promise could be iffy, but Apple is still Apple and it has always gotten to where it wants to get. And then, there is always something to be said for a 7-1 split! Also, Apple is considered quite a bit undervalued by Google standards. Except, that forecasters have Apple growing at single digits versus Google double digit growth.

 

Did you ever wonder why Microsoft products were more susceptible to worms than Apple?

 

The sun is shining on golfers as there is a glut of golf equipment on the shelves of stores. Golf participation is declining and the retailers over ordered. That means, good buys for all wanting to upgrade equipment. Which, has absolutely no bearing on upgrading a games that is driven by the  stability of the head.

 

I have found that being a dreamer is ethereally satisfying, but that it sucks for golf.

 

The Conscience: Chapter 43 continues.

      James had his arm around me as I stood in the silence of my past misgivings. I looked at the beautiful woman lying there, truly lifeless today; yet a woman who has been dying for 30 years, from the disease of my cowardice. A woman lying amidst flowers made of plastic.

      What a gutless loser I was that night that set Sally’s life on a course fueled only by rage. I straightened up and looked around at the people who had finally made it over from Jason’s office. Anthony, Angelica, all of them. People of character. I was standing tall but suddenly felt minute. My humor would carry me along of in a world of strangers, even with Eevy, to whom I was probably a stranger myself.

      “Well, It’s over, Jeffery. Our nightmare is done. Our search for sanity has ended.” I looked up and saw jams half smiling at me. “Our?” “We?” “You just don’t know what it feels like to be a person whoi runs away. And hides, Jeffery.” You don’t know how our heritage of fear can dirve a person into ambivilance. I think you sensed our fear. You knew.”

      “Thank you Jeff…Mr. Morgan.” I now saw Angelica coming up to me with her Papa not far behind. As James turned to walk back to the office, he touched my shoulder, and then grasped it in a squeeze. Medical teams and police were now arriving, and Angelica grabbed my hand and held it to her chest. She squeezed, and it pumped some life back into this body on rubbery legs.

      “

The Answer:

Hannibal Smith (George Peppard) led the eclectic group which consisted of Templeton “Faceman” Park (Dirk Benedict), “Howling Mad” Murdock (Dwight Schultz), BA “Bad Attitude” Baracus ( Mr. “T” – Lawrence Tureaud).  Bonus: There are a number of excellent Culinary schools in the US. These five, in no particular order, are considered by many to be the best – Texas Culinary Academy, Austin; Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park NY; California Culinary Academy, San Fran; Institute of Culinary education, NYC; Johnson & Wales University, Providence RI.

 

My sports world is in tatters. The teams in my heart are just laying there. The Sox are bumbling, searching for magic, trying to hide the panic; the Celtics lost out in the lotery and there is no hero savior looming…but a Kevin Love trade might be a start; the Bruins are scratching their heads wondering where their dominance went; The Pats, well the Pats are in that too early to tell phase; A PGA Golf tournament can be won at any given moment by some entirely new, because there are just so many excellent entirely new golfers out there – and none so far are RI phenoms. The teams I root for in Lacrosse have left after valiant efforts. So, that only leaves me with one team remaining to root for – the Brown U Women’s crew Team. They never let me down.

 

See you all tomorrow. Now I have was the sticky Barbecue sauce off the keys.