Government starts in the Town Hall.

Today's Tids Issue 3,344

Opening Stuff:

The battle to reduce government spending generally comes down to reducing the size of industries built around the original idea. So basically all government spending could probably be reduced if lobbying in states and in Congress were eliminated. That’s about it in a nut shell. Lobbyists will always cry you’re hurting the poor, you’re beating up on kids or throw up some other smoke screen. The fact is that all government spending can be sliced without injuring the so-called disadvantaged.

Mahar Garden Center on Acquidneck Ave here has a some particularly beautiful, colorfully pleasant hanging baskets. At least to my taste. Just in case you want to perk up your estates.

I was thinking as I mused about all of the ramifications associated with Memorial day, that we should play the song Independence Day after every battle, and that includes the battle which should never be surrendered, protecting the power of the states to offset a an ever present threat of ceding all powers to a suffocating central Government. After all, the fight against a tyrannical central power was the basis for the formation of the USA – United “States” of America.

I always thought that Anne Meara was one of the funniest women ever. She and Elaine May always kept me laughing, and I’ll miss her. Good Actress too.

As the world gets weirder and weirder, the big question is, Does the US of A have the will to defend its principles? That should be the central message of the Presidential campaign. Period.

The Question:

Bonus day! How great is this… B1. In what state were Bonnie and Cycle shot? Can you name the nearby locale? They were riddled with bullets standing next to what kind of stolen car? B2. See if you can name the top three all time chess players. B3. In 1844 Sam Morse transmitted the first telegraph Message. What was it?

The Headlines:

--12 Missing After Giant texas Flooding; Olahoma Also ravaged By raging Waters.

--Lawyer Alleges That BB King Was Poisoned.

--Taliban getting More Aggressive As 26 Afghan Police And Soldiers Are Killed In new Raids.

--Greece Spain Struggles Have EuroStocks Sliding.

--Large Earthqualke Hits Tokyo.

--US rethinking Iraq Policy After new Gains By ISIS.

--Iraq Begins Counter Attacks.

In case you missed it, Hedge Funds favorite stock list is in (Rated by Number of Funds with Stock On tyheir Top Ten List): Number one is Activis followed by Apple, FaceBook, Valeant Pharm, MicroSoft, Direct TV, Citigroup, Time Warner Cable, Delta Airlines, Cheniere Energy and Yahoo!. Go crazy!

Over the weekend we remembered with love in our hearts the courage of all the military fighting to protect our freedoms. But, to me, one of the biggest battles should be waging is against an all powerful  central government encroaching upon States Rights. The sociologists say, “Diversity is the key to prosperity”. I say that the individuality of states is the foundation of strength. Now all we have to do is find some honest politicians to run the states. I seem to be repeating myself. The erosion of state independence must bother me.

It may seem cool and trendy to order egg white breakfasts. But basically in an attempt to reduce cholesterol you hare eating basically nothing. Egg whites have no taste, and more importantly, are devoid of vitamins anything of nutritional value. But, it does make you appear hip.

Many non-profits achieve that status by the CEO loading up on salary.

One good thing that could come from ISIS successfully creating their own state for all of like thinking is that when they all finally gather together in one place we can bomb the hell out of them. End of problem.

Did you ever see a cartoon on the editorial page and just break out laughing aloud? I did Saturday when I saw the picture of Kim Jong Un standing before a speaker’s dais, raised hand with smoking gun,  with the caption, “Snooze, you lose.” I must have a warped sense of humor.

Recipe Department:

The Tids Food editor seems to have been on an extended vacation. But he/she’s back in a yummy way. Here’s a snack that transcends all ethnic boundaries except vegans and Middle easterners.. As the perpetrator of this addiction asserts, “It is soooo good, I have trouble waiting until it cools.”You’ll be drooling over Bacon Brittle too. Ok, first butter a large non-stick baking sheet. In a saucepan mix in 1 cp Sugar, ½ cup corn syrup (“Lite” if you prefer) and 1/2Cp water. Stir over medium heat until sugar melts and water boils. Raise heat to high and stir til mixture hits 290 degrees per candy thermometer. Immediately remove from heat and stir in 1 tbs butter,2 tsps vanilla extract, 1 tsp baking soda, ½ cp chopped pecan and i/2 cp chopped, cooked bacon. (Be careful, as mixture will tend to foam.) When foam subsides, pour into large baking sheet, thin as possible (Do not use spatula). Let cool for 10 mins and break into pieces. How easy is that!

I likes the new TV series Wayward Pines Starring Matt Dillon as a Secret Service Agent “imprisoned“ in a strange little town with mysterious people.  It’s a Stepford Wives style drama, but a little darker. I only wonder how long the single premise can keep on going and hold interest. It appears to me that they have already revealed the mystery, and now it just becomes battle for survival. But, maybe there’s more. Regardless, I’ll be watching.

By the way, The Following had a great season finale, with significant plot promises that it will go on for at least another year.

The Answer:

B1. The Notorious banking robbing pair of lovers were shot to death near Bienville Parish La, while standing next to their stolen 1934 Deluxe Ford. Of course their last names were Parker and Barrow. B2. It is generally considered that the all time great chess players are at number 10 Deep Blue, (The IBM Computer), followed by Paul Morphy (US – 1837-1884), Mikail Botvinnik (Rus (1911-1995), Alexander Alekhine (Rus 1892-1946), Bobby Fischer (US 1943-2008), Jose Capablanca (Cuba 1888-1942), Wilhelm Steinitz (Austria 1836-1900), Emanuel Lasker (Germany 1868-1941), Anatoly Karpov (Rus 195-) and at number one – Garry Kasparov (Rus 1963-). I got Bobby Fisher. B3. I could have used this question for Monday’s Memorial Day message Tids – “What hath God Wrought” is what Samuel Morse said.

Maybe the entertainment world should get back the the popular Morality Palys of the 14-1500’s where they focused on Good winning over Evil. The origins of Theater was to deliver positive messages to the population.