Nausea at Ray's Creek.

Today's Tids Issue 2,104
Opening Stuff:

Remember when a Shrimp Cocktail was a premiere appetizer at any restaurant and often a highlight of special occasion dining? Now the little swimmers are ubiquitous accompaniments to all occasions large and small. “Oh no, not shrimp again!” They still taste great though. Actually I have my cocktail party sports jackets made with specially lined waterproof pockets. When you are tired of talking about the weather and health insurance plan options, reach in your pocket and offer a shrimp. You’ll be the hit of the do.

How many people across this great nation last night threw up on their living room carpets while watching the introduction of the new Tiger Woods self serving commercial featuring the voice of his dead father? The Woods rescue plan is as despicable as his total disregard for morality.

The Question:
What significant event in the history of recent American Culture happened this week?

The Headlines:
--New Jobless Claims Rise Unexpectedly.
--Icelanders Leaving Homeland In Drove Amidst Volcanic Disruption And Corruption (Or Maybe Stupidity) Induced National Bankruptcy Fears.
--Riots Force Kyrgyzstan To Form Interim Government Backed By Army; Opposition Want US Base Closed.
--Stocks Expected To Pull back After Months Of Gains; Opening Futures Down.
--0-Man, Mevedev Sign Nuke Treaty; Pact Contains Easy Out For Russia.
--Oil Prices Fall After Month Long Rally.
--Search Continues For 4 remaining Missing Miners In West Virginia; B-Ball Team Coach Huggins, Brings Gear, Good Will To Help Console Relatives Of Dead.
--Greece Plunges Deeper into Crisis; Borrowing Costs Surge.

Back to More Stuff:

GM, 61% owned by taxpayers lost $4.3 Billion in the last half of 2009. That’s the period after it emerged from bankruptcy. But here is the real problem. They need to add a hefty $12.3 Billion to their pension fund by 2014. If they let their pension fund fail the pensions will be paid by the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation funded totally by you, me and Aunt Lizzie. It doesn’t appear that GM will out of bankruptcy for long. GM is just the tip of the iceberg in this country’s growing underfunded pension programs. For instance the 3 biggest California State pension funds are ½ Trillion dollars short. Taxes will go out of site to pay for California and plenty of other states. Can you say Greece?

Woods must have the same image rebuilders as 0-Man. All of the new photos are of a smiling Tiger! :o)

American Idol had a lot of drama last night. Big Mike sang for his supper and he sang with great emotion and heart…and talent. I think the judges like having him on the show anyhow. Next week two singers will go and nobody can be saved again. I’d like to see Tim and Andy go, which would leave a pretty good group of competitive singers. I rate the rest BoSox, Casey, Siobahn/Lee tie, Big Mike/Kate tie and Aaron. And, there are times like last week when the surprisingly big voice of Kate can move her towards the top.

The US during its greatest periods of economic growth, the eras that molded this country of the free into the giant of powers, dominated the world in the manufacture and sale of machine tools. Rhode Island became on of the richest States because of them. Machine tools are the basic instruments of a manufacturing economy. Machine tools are the basic instruments of the highly leveragability manufacturing economy. The US is still the third largest consumer of these tools, but has declined significantly on a per capita basis. China has soared in consumption and was 6x that of the US last year. On the production side, the US is now down from its top spot to seventh behind China, Germany, Japan, Italy, South Korea and Taiwan; And just a nose above Switzerland.

A new IRS report says that half of the US households don’t pay any taxes. Does that mean that fifty percent of Americans take care of the other half. And obviously not the better half. Also noted is that 10% of earners pay 73% of taxes. So, why is Obama looking to expand income redistribution programs?

Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 65. Laura just left for Worcester where she waits on tables in a small restaurant in an old mill. As usual she left me in a blissful state of pure satisfaction. We agreed that she should avoid coming here for a while. I suspect that this investigation into the Bromsky affair is just beginning I would hate to have to sentence her to joining her uncle. Maybe I can find a few hours with Maggie/Sarah later today.
The new data is producing some amazing results and speeding our progress. Isabelle loves me. I am a most intriguing person for just being a socially awkward scientist. I smiled to myself. I picked up my phone and called Henry. “Hi my friend,” I said. He informed me that my partner in crime, Sarah had just left. Actually he invited me to join him for a minute or two. He said he’d like to bounce a few things off my “brainy” head. Then he did the folksy chuckle. He was a man to watch.
While driving over I called Sarah who agreed readily that she would love to have a diet coke with me. She added that she was feeling stronger today. And I could tell she was smiling when she said it. I loved to watch her vacate her morals.

According to the new Forbes Survey, The Ya, Ya, Ya…(WYKWIM)…the NY hedgefunders are the most valuable baseball team with a net worth of about $1.8 Billion. The Beloveds are second at $830 Million. The rest are the Mets, LA Dodgers, Cubs, Phillies, Angels, Cards and White Sox.

And, I think shrimp taste better with a little mayo in the red cocktail sauce. Incredibly tangy. And, also for better taste, you’ll achieve delectable consistency and satisfying bite appeal when cooking raw frozen shrimp as opposed to thawing previously cooked frozen shrimp. That’s just one man‘s opinion. And of course you have to learn how to time the cooking perfectly.

The Answer:
For the first time, the venerable American Idol which has been skunking just about everybody for years by super wide margins, lost the battle of Tuesday night to Dancing With the Stars 23 to 21.8 million. An observer says it is because of a good celebrity dancer lineup and mentions Kate Gossilin and Pamela Anderson! Kate Gossilin? Pamela Anderson? These are stars?
Maybe it is the absence of the ditsy Paula. But, more likely it was the poor to fair performances of the singers on the first live AI shows. Remember the Tids pointed out the failure of Seacre Remember when a Shrimp Cocktail at restaurant was a premiere appetizer at any restaurant? Now the little swimmers are ubiquitous accompaniments to all occasions large and small. OIh no, not shrimp again! That still taste great though.
st to mention voting totals. They must have really declined.

The End:

Reading about the demise of America day after day makes me despondent. But then I think of all the great people still out there working hard, and loving sincerely, and I say…maybe we can still do anything we want.