Too many tears.

Today's Tids Issue 2,308

Opening Stuff:

There are beautiful places everywhere across these great lands of the good ole' U.S. of A.. But few match the understated majesty of the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. The Blue Ridge Mountains peering down upon lush valleys. Rolling hills like the endless seas. Skies as big as a child's eyes in Christmas morning. Sausage Gravy dibbling over fresh homemade biscuits. It brings a tear to your eye. In fact I was so moved that put on Lee Greenwood's Patriotic Music CD..."I'm proud to be an American..."

Mob rule is not Democracy Department:
I hope some of these Middle East countries don't believe that assembling huge majorities and shouting down leadership from the streets is US democracy. Yesterday in Tunesia, for instance, the crowds assembled again this time to oust the interim government who, I guess, wasn't turning around 30 years of dictatorial government fast enough. Mob rule isn't democracy. And most often leads to chaos even when the intentions are noble. Just as in the US our factions are represented by legislatures who are elected to reflect fully the majority moods. It has worked well for 335 years. There are some, misunderstanding the definition of our democracy, who believe that we should vote by cell phone or within say FaceBook. They believe that you can just mount power and bully the voted-in majorities. The US is not a pure democracy but a Republic. I wonder if anybody told that to the Tunisians.

A man thinks a romantic gesture is looking up from the TV.

The Question:
What are the religions of Congresspeople by %?

The Headlines:

--Bullish Comments From Fed have Stocks Higher.
--US Economists List Budget As #1 Concern For Country.
--Madoff Says US Government A Ponzi Scheme.
--Walker Holding Firm In Drive To Fix Wisconsin.
--Kings Speech Stars At Hollywood's Big Night Of Self Congratulation.
--Oil Prices Beginning To Eat Into Recovery.
--Libya On Brink Of Civil War.


Back to More Stuff:
"Most people work hard enough not to get fired and get paid enough not to quit". --George Carlin. I miss George Carlin. I think he would have been a great Supreme Court Justice.

The Oscars went young and hip last night and got more of the same...nothing. When you consider that the reported highlight of the evening was the utterance of Melissa Leo of the "F" word, than you know it was yet another step down the culture ladder. Which is about par for Hollywood. --Hey, I love movies. It's just the people in the industry that are annoying. --Hey Kirk, it's time to get off the stage. Just ask RI's ex-Gov Sundlund. --Robin Roberts is much too tall for the actors on the red Carpet. --Separated at birth - Stephen Tyler and Malissa Rivers. --Billy Chrystal should never have left. --I'm really happy that King's Speech beat Social Network. And that Portman got the actress nod. --Halle Berry always looks best dressed at this affair.

This is true. Really! Department:
So did you hear about the restaurateur in England who has had success serving ice cream made from mother's milk? In fact he's making good money too as a serving there of the most popular flavor "Baby gaga" cost $22.95. Now he is packaging it for retail with the description on each package "Pure Free Range Mother's Milk Ice Cream". Now I'm thinking...free range mothers! Green fields with hundreds of moms romping through the alfalfa. Little collies rounding them up each day. A happy scene. It brings a tear to your eye.

So is this, Department:
A building in Brooklyn NY burned down last week because a Voodoo doctor, while performing a rite that entailed him having sex with a patient on a bed surrounded by lighted candles, accidentally knocked a couple off whi;e in ten throws of performing his operation. He thought he could put out the fire himself so he didn't call the fire department. But he isn't that dumb. Women pay him $300 to have sex with them. It is supposed to give them "Good Luck".

Did someone ship me to a new planet while I was sleeping?

I actually heard a journalist reporting from Bahrain say gravely that the protesters were in danger of facing execution or worse! Or worse?

This is also true. I was late for a meeting the other day because a car with an Obama sticker was driving right down the middle of a two lane road and didn't know whether to turn right or left. Honest. that's exactly what happened.

I knew I wasn't in Rhode Island any more when I read the Roanoke (Va) Times and saw that they actually wrote stories about Republicans. Nice ones. Not satire, and without sarcasm. It was as if the editors liked Republicans. Have you ever seen that before?

Ironically, those four Amish youths tragically washed away and killed when their buggy rolled into a roaring, bloated creek were going to town to used a telephone.

Could it be that George Bush had something to do with the uprisings by the populace of many Middle East countries? That the impetus for the courage and the basis for the hope may have begun that day when US forces hauled Sadaam Hussein out of that hole? The dictator with no clothes. Unmasked for the Arab world to see.

The move for changes in Wisconsin public unions was voted yes in the November 2010 elections. That's the way US Democracy works.

No President has been owned like Obama is owned by the Unions. At least that's the way it appears from here.

The  Answer:
Protestant 304%; Catholic 156%; Jewish 39%;Mormon 15%;All others 15%; Not specified 6%. remember when Catholics and Jews were pretty much rarities? things change in America.

The End:
This is not your full blooded, all American Tids this morning. But you got it. On time. So stop complaining.

Most of the country's professional protesters have lived in madison WI for years.

I know I'm in the South. It smells funny.

Feeling nothing.

Today's Tids Issue 2,307
Opening Stuff:

Welcome to easy-goin' Friday. Well at least for me who has shut down all live wires within my body. The fire is out in synapse land. I'm not worrying about anything. Nothing. I'm a vegging-tarian. I know lots of you out there have deadlines to meet, projects to finish, i's to dot and t's to cross. But me, I'm just going to cross my legs, leaning back to watch the tension flow into a pool around my feet. Which is another way of saying I'll be traveling and the Tids may be a little lite...like our Governor.

I am kind of scratching my head over the Boston Celtics trade last night. It doesn't seem to make sense on the court. That must mean it has a lot to do with salary caps and having money available for the future replacement of the soon to retire Big Three. But, I'm not worrying too much about it.

It looks like 0-Man just took step one to regain his left wing funding when he declared the 1996 Clinton signed anti Gay marriage law unconstitutional. Which supposedly allows him not to perform his constitutional duty of upholding the laws passed by the representatives of the people. Hey, wait a minute, I thought The Supreme Court ruled on constitutionality! I guess Charles Schumer changed the batting order.

One political observer, Chris Wallace, says that Prime Time just has to stop saying "Unacceptable" in response to every world crisis. Especially when he intends, or at least it appears, that he will do absolutely nothing about it. Including a little sword rattling...or filling his water pistol.

The Question:
It's Friday, so there must be two. 1. Which actor was nominated 8 times but never won the big prize? 2. Here's another of those new corporate giants that touches your life and you may not know it-- Fortune Brands. What are their famous brands?

The Headlines:

--Stocks Expected To Rises As Oil Fears Ease.
--US Fourth Quarter Growth Revised Down.
--Ghadafi Opens Fire On Protesters, Tobruk In Hands Of Rebels.
--Wisconsin Assembly Passes Bill Diminishing Union Rights.
--Europe Conservatives Blame Multiculturism For Decline Of Culture.
--Rookie RI Rep Cicillini Takes First Boondoggle To Middle East; Finds New Gig For Gang Mouthpiece Brother As Lawyer To Gaddafi.
--Death toll Rises In NZ.

Back To More Stuff:
You have to figure that each night the Dems kneel down at their beds and pray, "Now I lay me down tonight, Hoping to lose the the budget fight, So Repubs will shut Gov down Tight, And our media pals will ridicule their plight!" The fact is the media will paint a dire picture, but the essential parts of Government will continue and the only thing the public may miss is a free elevator ride up the Washington Monument.

While we're in the "put it in perspective" mode, you may or may not be surprised that all of this hullabaloo that's sending pump prices through the roof is based Libya who is but seventeenth on the list of top oil producers. At 1.7 barrels/day it is far below the top three -- Russia (10.1), Saudi Arabia (9.7 and...The United States? Yup, at third the good ole' US of A is a force that actually could be far bigger if it were producing to it's amazing untapped capacity. This oil conspiracy is the biggest game in the global neighborhood. Oh...in case you are interested, the rest of the Top Ten are Iran, China, Canada, Mexico, UAE, Brazil and Kuwait.

But, you have to sense that the Admin and the Media love these suffocating gas prices. Remember when the media battered George W. to a pulp for allowing "His Oil Friends " to make the big bucks? And how GW tried to get out front and comfort the folks. Have you heard a whisper of discontent about the "0-Man efforts. Have you heard a whisper of comfort from the admin? No! You have to figure they love this death to Americans by gas prices because it makes the bloated costs of "Alternative Energy"
schemes look milder. That's all I can figure.

Almost Near: Chapter 9 continues. --After five minutes of sobbing, Samantha felt a lot better, bt still had no idea of where she belonged in this world, or for that matter, if she was this person she thought she knew sitting in the car by the side of a New England road.
All she really knew is that running away again felt comfortable to her. Then she paused. Reflected. Tucker had been good to her, good for her. But he seemed to be looking for something from her, oh not sex or anything like that she thought, And then she smiled a smile that seemed to come from somewhere deep inside of her. A place where she might have been. Maybe the place where Tucker wanted to go. Wanted to be a part of.
Going back to Tucker is out of the question she said emphatically to the rear view mirror. I have to find what he seems to be searching for in me, myself. Not the me he wrote about in is journal. The me I love, but I am not so sure I am. The me he created. Am I crazy.

An Oscar Fan Poll has Inception as Best Film with the acting awards to Firth, Portman (Runaway- 82%), Bale and Steinfield. The 2nd's are Kings Speech, Bridges, Benning (7%), Rush and Amy Adams. Some of the critics are saying Benning might win because her Movie is a Hollywood kind of movie.

Here's a little Oscar oddity for you. The year that Anette Benning was upset for the Best Actress award for American Beauty, she was pregnant. This year Natalie Portman is pregnant and Benning is in the running. Call your bookie.

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:
--Don't look for any Oscar winners in this week's big movie release, the Farrelly Brothers over the Top sophomoric sex comedy, Hall Pass. It's gross out time at the neighborhood theater as a couple of buddies have the "20 year itch" (3x the 7 year itch) and the wives give them a week off. The boys proceed to go on to many a romp, some funny some tedious, while the girls look for their own adulterous affairs. And they do quite well compared to the bumbling men. This leads to some marital problems. HP will be a winner at the box office, but I won't be there.

The Answer:
1. Peter O'Toole has been great in almost everything he has done. But no Oscar after 8 nominations. 2. Fortune Brands makes Titlelist, Footjoy, Pinnacle, Scotty Cameron Putters, Jim Beam and Makers Mark bourbon, Moen Faucets and fixtures and Master padlocks. That reminds me, I should lock up my golf clubs, throw away the key and relax in a bathtub with a fifth of bourbon.

Vege!

Oh...Take away that exclamation point. It's much too exctiting.

Exaggerate; It's the American Way.

Today's Tids Issue 2,306
Opening Stuff:

Headlines like "The Best Burger in America" drive me crazy. Who says? Tastes are actually pretty personal. One man's best burger may be another man's cardboard.

I keep reading about chefs designing new menus for today's new tastes. None of which appeals to me. In fact I'm quite content with tastes developed 50, 60 years ago. I think they develop new menus for themselves because they get tired of cooking the same old thing. They just try to convince people that they are not with it if they are not with them. It's good for business. Just as Global Warming is good for the green business.

And, then there is the TV commercial for an Ice Show promising, "The Greatest Skaters in history". It goes on to describe their line-up of the top skaters of the past 25 years. Say what? I'm an old ad guy who lives in a world of superlatives. But they have to be at least believable. I live by that old adage. If you can't say anything nice about a person say nothing, but when you can...go crazy!

The Question: 
Two prominent Economists Robert Shiller of Yale and Karl Case of Wellesley are saying that home prices could drop again, and by up to 25%!. What three reasons do the say will bring it on?

The Headlines:

--Wisconsin Standoff: Assembly Dems Agree To Limit Number Of Amendments And Allow Vote This Afternoon; Senate Repubs Meet TO Authorize State Police To Find Absent Dems.
--16 States Ready To Follow Wisconsin's Lead; RI Should Be IN Forefront, But Never Will As Citizens Continue To Shoot Themselves In the Foot..
--Rebels Close In On Gaddafi Stronghold; Gadzo Says Bin Laden Behind Uprising.
--Libya Says Journalists Illegally In Country Will be Arrested As al-Qaida Collaboratives.
--Some Of NZ Missing Found; Death Toll Rises To 89.
--Judge Says WikiLeaks Assange Can be Extradited.
--Somalia Gov. begins Offensive Against al-Qaida Linked Militants.

Back to More Stuff:
Entitlement has replaced economics, and that is a major problem with the modern world.

As most all of you probably know, it was the Democrat of Democrats, Franklyn Delano, FDR, who warned often in the thirties of the dangers of collective bargaining by public employees. He said things like "It (collective bargaining) has distinct and insurmountable limitations...the very nature and purposes of government make it impossible for officials to bind the employer...the employer is the whole people, who speak by means of laws enacted by their representatives."

The Wagner Act, the Magna Carta of the American Labor Movement, excluded specifically federal, state and local employees. Ironically, a New York mayor named Robert "Wagner" chose to sell out the principle of no collective bargaining to gain a few Union votes in 1958. In other words, it was still a very bad idea, it just became accepted because some cheesy politician decided to buy some votes.

Which is exactly why we have the budget problems we have today -- Politicians giving away the store knowing full well that it would be an economic impossibility over time to satisfy the financial burdens of the promises. Ugh. Double ugh.

Is rehearsal practicing again for a funeral procession?

The Oscar Picks Department:
Since the end of the NFL Season, our ace game pickers have been basically idle pickin' their...ukulele strings. What'd ya think I was going to say? So I thought I'd let them kick around Oscar for the day. So, don't expect a lot from a bunch of lunkheads in Lala-Land. Best Movie - Kings Speech, Critics think Social network is close behind, but to me "behind" is a good way to describe that mess. I put True Grit as number two. Actor and Actress: TD's scored by Firth and Portman. I loved Rush in KS, but Christian Bale will probably break a tackle for a big gain. I like special teams player Haile Steinfeld, but she will be substituted for by Malissa leo and do a victory dance in the end zone.

American Idol could be great this year. First I was blown away by some of the efforts on Beatles's night, a night which in the past has typically been a loser fraught with bad interpretations of those classics. It is going to be tough to get to the right "24" (I like that sound). And even tougher to get to #1 in the end. --Let's hope they don't lose along the way the creative spirit they have all shown to date. --That walk through the hangar is much too long. --Thank God the tedious Ashley story is over. --Now the only remaining mystery is the fate of CJ. --Jennifer Lopez is one of the best ever judges I have seen. On any reality competition show. Period.

BTW, for all of you "Almost Near" aficionados, I can guarantee that there will be no story Monday morning. For all of the rest of you, "Almost Near" is the name of the latest heart wrenching, gut twisting novel in The Tids.

Kyle Rowley, a Narragansett RI'er and super QB for Brown U who did well playing under the gigantic shadow of Brown's Legendary Bob Hall, was named Northwest US Athlete of the Year. He QB'd the Spokane Shock winners of this year's Arena Football League Championship.

Now we know why two lawyers refused to take the case of Updyke, the nut who poisoned Auburn's (Bama's hated rival) beloved trees. The names of his kids are bear Bryant and Crimson Tide. Honest. I think that says something about pre-medicated. PS: HIs new lawyer's name is Threat. Honest.

Sports has become much too big, and seems to be turning reasonable people into blithering idiots. For instance, why would any producer think that it is a good idea to have a Carmello Anthony reality show featuring his girlfirend Lala. Because there are plenty of crazed sheep ready to follow it. Oh yeah...is the promise of inane reality shows going to be the next big enticement for fickle superstars.

Almost Near: Chapter 9. --Samantha drove blindly out of this town from hell. Up the hill past the damned tree. The people of her childhood faded as did the flats enveloped by an incoming tide. She saw nothing as she sped around the traffic circle that would fling her northward through Ipswich and Newberryport.
She didn't notice the clam shack as she sped through Exeter. She only wanted to erase Lobster Cove from her memory. But what would she find when it was gone.
Her eyes bore straight ahead not seeing anything but traffic blurs. Her Jeep became a missile. Screeeeech! One of those blurs became a fingernail on a blackboard as it narrowly missed the surging Jeep. The sudden horror of the intense sound rattled her from her coma like trance. Her eyes popped, focused, and she saw houses flying by. She stomped on her brakes and the Jeep wiggled to an uncomfortable stop. She was shaking.Her hands were bound to the wheel. Her teeth clenched like a vice. She dropped her head. And the tears flowed.

The Somalian Pirates are rushing to defend the "30", count em' -- "30", hijacked ships with hostages under their control. Hey UN, I think we have a problem there.

You have to wonder that if a dachshund, golden lab, beagle and labradoodle were the ones on the sailboat who were killed by the Somalian savages, how berzerk our nation would have gone?

The Answer:
First, the Government expects to reduce Freddie/Fanny activity in the consumer mortgage market. The resultant transfer to private banks will bump up rates. Second, the talk of eliminating the mortgage deduction continues. And, third, this oil price spike could halt the rebound of a weak economy. I hate it when they say mortgage deduction!

The End:
I love the word Berzerk.

Some college basketball coaches are making politicians look honest.

In case you missed it, today is the anniversary of the impeachment of Andrew Johnson. Like the other impeached president, Bill Clinton, Johnson was acquitted by the Senate.

And, speaking of philanderers, Tiger Woods was eliminated in the first round of this weeks big Match Play tournament that has gathered together in Arizona all of the worlds best players. Maybe he has lost it.

Every Morning I sit before this mess and wonder if I have enough to write about. And then all of this junk keeps pouring out of my  mind. Do you think that is a sign of real mental problems?

You are probably right.

Today's Tids Issue 2,304
Opening Stuff:

And a Happy Tid's morning to ya! And now every-body...1, 2, 3 -- decompress! If you are working, it's Hump Day. Of course, if you took Monday off, you are just getting started and still have 75% of the week left. Amazing how numbers always get to the truth.

Have we bombed Somalia yet?

BTW, I'm not seeing a lot of meida or official outrage about the murder -- M-u-r-d-e-r -- the cold blooded slaughter of four innocent Americans by Somolia Pirates. Some will say, well they should know better than to sail through those waters. But they are dead. They were good people. And they were killed by people who should have been obliterated years ago. Maybe there wasn't any national outrage because TV didn't have video! Maybe there wasn't any official outrage because these people were delivering bibles to impoverished nations. Horrors! I just don't get it. 4 people murdered by savages. How hard is that to understand?

The Question:
How many American Women and men are ranked in the top 50 Tennis Rankings? Name them and their ranks? Bonus "Q": If you have been watching the Libyan rebellion you can see by the various signs that even the Libyans don't know how to spell Muammar's last name. Every media outlet has their own precious spelling of that nut-case's name. Give me at least five.

The Headlines:

--Nasdaq Making Bid For Euro NYSE.
--Muammar Leaves Town; Libya In Civil War, West Versus East, Giant Oil Fields Are In The Middle.
--Libya Oil Worries Have Stocks In Decline.
--Existing Home Sales Up 2.7% in Jan.
--Greek Youths Rioting Again Over Needed Austerity Measures.
--New Zealand Mourning, Digging Out.
--Emanuel Wins Chicago Graft Ticket, First Jewish Mayor Steps Into Major Financial Mess.
--Wisconsin's Walker Says If We Aren't Allowed To Fix System Jobs Will Go.
--Pockets Of Middle East Style Protests Popping Up Throughout China; Growing Inflation There Could Fuel Anger.

Back to More Stuff:
I've been trying lately to study contemporary music, to try to figure out what it is all about! I have come to the conclusion that finally after all of these millions of years they are completely out of tunes. Melodies. Could this be the first sign of the Apocalypse?

Actually, I am writing a new screen play for my big Summertime sensation -- Apocalypse: The Musical! It is about that time in the not too distant future when the world of music has come down to it's last tune. One tune that everybody hums continually. Creating a rage of insanity without drugs. People not even in convenience stores or music clubs start shooting and killing each other. But, we learn that song writers banished to caves in New Mexico are still writing fresh exciting melodic songs -- of hope, of happiness. Soon they are seen in alleys beckoning passers-by to enter. These crazed, dazed zombie appearing remnants of society are soon reawakening to a new melody and there is dancing in the streets. Sounds like a winner to me.

I gotta figure that the people with the biggest stake in the Wisconsin protests are the Union Leadership. With the continuing demise of the private sector unions, the public employees (the least logical area for unionization) is the last hurrah for the bosses, their income and their power. Let's face it, good teachers, good firemen, good police and good public department staff will get hired and paid to the ability of the economic environment of which they are apart for eternity. The laggards who need tenure to survive might experience short term agita. But, the new reality will help them find a way to grow on their own. So that leaves the Bosses. Who do they unionize next? Bloggers? Middle East despots?

Almost near: Chapter 8 continues. --Tucker felt the pain he felt when Samantha Wilcox left him 15 years ago. But more so. Because now she needed him more than she could ever know. And at this moment he had no idea where she might be. Where she might go. What she might do to herself. She had know idea who she was. And It was also obvious to Tucker that this new Samantha possessed all of that was wonderful about the old Samantha, and more. Except for a desperate confusion that would sweep across her face at any time.
That's what was obvious to Tucker. And he thought that she must be in some kind of trouble, because the trauma underlying the masquerade was apparent. The mask that he had created. If he had created it, than he must be able to see what is really beneath it. But, where to start.
He watched Mary Fletcher open the door to the Post Office. Then he turned and walked up to his house on the hill. There must be an answer in his journal. Somewhere.

The Big "0" is obviously in full campaign mode these days. His budget was a campaign tool. His innovation biz meetings are part of the circuit. His concerns for world events are campaign choreographed. All of these world events seem to be interruptions. At least Hillary is still working hard.

Why America is Running out of Money Department:
A raft of College Professors are rapturous over the finds by a Michigan Prof that determined older state's moms and dads pick more traditional names for kids, than those in the so-called "Frontier states -- which are more au currant! Isn't that good news. Aren't you glad these guys got taxpayer grants. FYI -- The states having the most traditional names are New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, West Virginia, Maine, Kentucky and Vermont. The states most outre are Hawaii and Wyoming with runners-up being Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Colorado, New Mexico and Alaska. Of course, we have old traditional and conservative Sarah Palin whose kids are Bristol, Track, Trig, Willow and Piper! What a waste!

All of these new whiz-bang machines and their apps are certainly accomplishing one thing: They are making it easier than ever for Americans to do nothing anywhere and be generally rude and obscure. I see people everywhere with their heads bowed to this lessor god. Mesmerized by glowing auras in their palms. I saw a man with his wife in a restaurant Monday. The man was playing solitaire on his IPhone. The woman was looking blankly into space. I caught her eye with mine. She acknowledged what I was thinking was true. A reporter wrote a story today about the number of people in their $70 seats he saw at an event recently looking down at their lighted palms, while on stage the music of Lion King was brightening the hearts of the sane.

The Answer:
Americans appear to be a dying breed in the world of Tennis. Four US men are in the top 50 -- Andy Roddick (8), Mardy Fish (16), Sam Querrey (22), John Isner (32). There are just 3 women -- Venus Williams (8), Serena Williams (11), Betheney Mattek-Sands (44). Lets hope this isn't indicative of a decline in the world power rankings. Bonus "Q" Answer: There's Gaddafi, Gadhafi, Khaddafi, Qaddafi, Qadhafi, Khadafy, Qadaffi, Gadaffi from all of the major news mags and media...and the US Library of Congress and the Middle East Studies Association are fond of Qadhdhafi. And then...well I won't get into spellings of Muom...Moam...Mu'ammar. How about we agree on Stupidhead.

The End
Sometimes you question yourself about something you think is obvious, only to learn that the most erudite are just as confused as you. Life is fair.

Is Wisconsin known for apples, or oranges.

Today's Tids Issue 2,303
Opening Stuff:

A Tids-ite, a former "24" devotee and a woman who knows her conspiracy thrillers, writes to say that "Unknown" is worth every penny. In fact it is so good that you won't be concerned by spending an extra $5 on a big bag of hot gooey pop corn.

The problem with the reporting of the Wisconsin standoff, to me,  is that the News media is choosing the wrong argument. They are intent to comparing private sector incomes with private incomes. But that is but the superficial emotional issue. The real argument should be that public employee revenue is based on a finite, restrictive source -- taxes, while private sector revenue is based on the growth (Or declines) of a global economy. Of course, if you wanted to nationalize all businesses, than the continuing controllable source of tax revenue would not be a problem...that is until the businesses imploded.

The Question: Wal-Mart has posted 7 consecutive quarterly drops in sales. What do you think are the three main reasons that management offers for the decline?

The Headlines:

--Christ Church, New Zealand Crushed By Latest Earthquake; PM Says It's NZ's Darkest day; 65 Reported Dead so Far.
--Oil Prices Spiking As Iran Ships Reach Suez And Arab Uprisings Strengthen.
--Tale Of Two Retail Giants: Home Depot Elates; Walmart Sales Woes Deepen.
--Moody's Warns Japan Of Ratings Cut If Economic Reforms Lag.
--Gadhafi Defiant In Face Of Growing Revolt.
--Governor Walker And GOP Legislature Holding Firm In Fight To Save State.
--Emanuel Frontrunner As Chicagoans Hit Polls; Carol Moseley Brown, Gery Chico And Three Others Hope To Keep Rahm From 51%.

Back to More Stuff:
One of the small joys in life is when finishing shopping at big Costco type store you find a box that actually has four sides on it.

I thought the commercials for "Battle: Los Angeles" was a promo for the NBA All Star game.

But, it appears that Battle: LA is a big blockbuster alien assault on Los Angeles movie. Los Angeles destroyed? Hmmmm.

Wait a minute!...Hosni Mubarak was a President! Yeah, let's go back to George Washington's Birthday.

I just read a small story in the newspaper warning FaceBookers to be on the lookout for dangerous "Apps". Then I thought. people terminally in FaceBook don't read the newspaper.

Oh yeah, and FaceBook says they a have a whole team approving these "Official" apps. Good job Mark.

And...I have to believe that teens having too much time diverted to FaceBook has to be a major reason for sluggish Homework activity. Education doesn't need more money or better teachers. It needs less FaceBook. Kids are easily manipulated into re-prioritizing responsibilities. Believe me I know I was one. Maybe, I still am.

Almost Near: Chapter 8 continues. --Tucker ran beyond his capibility to the top of the hill. His first thought was that she would retrn to the tree, the initials that had given her some comfort in her early confusion. He burst through the low mountain laurel at the edge of the trees before the field of wild flowers. He saw the tree about fifty yards away. he should be seeing her. he looked up at the branches, and thought she may be laying on the grass out of sight be neath the reds, yellows and lavenders of the waving grasses and flowers. He reached the tree. She was nowhere to be found. He looked at the initials. There were wild scratches nearly obliterating the carvings. She had been here. It didn't look good.
He spun. He looked for paths from beaten down grasses. He saw one that appeared to go towards town. He wasn't used to running, and all of a sudden, he found himself having to stop, and take in a few breaths. He felt his legs cramping. Some writers are marathioners, but he wasn't one of them. Rested, he started jogging at a pace he could maintain. Out of the field to the road.
He saw tourists reading historic markers, Mrs. Fletcher walking from the drug store to the post office and a couple of kids sitting on an old piece of the main dock doing nothing. No Samantha. "Mrs. Fletcher, Have you seen Samantha."
"You mean that woman who thinks I'm her friend?" Tuck nodded and avoided her sarcasm. "She took off in that cute convertible of hers like she was being chased by the Sheriff." Tucker looked up the hill going out of town. He couldn't be that far behind.

An adult "smoothie" is a Metamucil cocktail.

One good thing about these Middle East uprisings is that I'm learning how to spell all of these dictators names.

One of the bad things about all of this talk of "Freedoms" as enjoyed by Americans, is that too many forget about the "Responsibilities" that must go hand in hand with that wonderful privilege. And that goes for journalists and their freedoms as well as average citizens protesting in the streets.

Do you ever get the sense that NYC based news people are looking for one Minnesotan to say they are tired of winter too. So that NY'ers don't look like whining whimps.

The Answer:
The company says it is struggling with pricing, and perhaps has marked too many items too low; the growth "Dollar" stores has drawn away large blocks of formerly loyal customers; A poorly executed decision to pare down too many products.

The End:
Nothing is forever in the private sector. Think about that Wisconsin.

The reason that private sector union membership has been in a constant decline is because private sector businesses who can't effectively operate under smothering contracts leave town. The Wisconsin situation is not an assault on the character of most of the union members. It is an awakening to reality of free market economics.

Dreaming is healthy.

Today's Tids Issue 2.302
Opening Stuff:

"If you built castles in the sky, you can save your work if you put foundations under them." --Henry Thoreau.

I tried to get into Mozart yesterday. It didn't work. Again! So I put on Beethoven's 3rd Symphony to listen in particular to the third movement, only to realize that I that I really wanted the second movement from Mr. B's 7th. It wasn't a good morning. Movement! See ya.

The Kardashians made $65 Million last year and nobody knows what they do. Maybe nothing is the answer to success. Seinfeld always said his was a show about nothing. Maybe if you give the masses something, they are incapable of dealing with it. So I'm going forward with -- "The Tids: Relatively Little of Interest..and Certainly Not Deep." as my new slogan. In fact I'm starting a second blog, "www.nothingatallhere.com". Or maybe, "Checkyourbrainsatthedoor.com". Seems to work on TV.

The Question: As far as I'm concerned. the great Sidney Poitier always made any movie better. In fact one of my favorite all time movies is "To Sir with Love". Name the ten of many who may be considered greatest black actors and actresses.

The Headlines:
--GOP Presidential Hopefuls Rushing To Back Wisconsin's Walker; Obama Forced To Support Illogical Position.
--Lybia's Gaddafii Out To Crush Rebellion.
--Maine Has Record $300 Million Lobster Harvest.
--12 Acapulco Taxi Drivers And Some Passengers Murdered By Drug Gangs On Eve Of Latin America's Largest Tennis Tournament.
--China Officials Move To Stamp Out "Middle East Style Protest For Democracy Before It Begins.
--Iran Ships Ready To Enter Suez Canal Tomorrow.

Did you ever think we'd see the day when you couldn't find a Democrat when you needed one? Did you ever think you would ever need a Democrat to get something accomplished?

Are the Red Sox already overconfident?

There have been few greater examples media overkill than the Kate Middleton saga. I expect a full technical report on the tensile strength of her uplift bra wires any day now.

John McPherson tells us that the social network for gangsters is You'sTube, in case you missed it.

Did you read about the little puppy they found in a package at the Post Office in Georgia somewhere. A woman was sending it as a birthday gift to her 8 year old nephew. But instead of thanks she was arrested for animal cruelty. They should arrest the authorities for cruelty against humans with less brains than animals.

Of course, when it comes to the brainless, you have to wonder about the people who send in Vids to "America's Funniest Videos". And then you really have worry that those people vote. And the people who laugh at them uncontrollably too.

You have to wonder about our youth's love fair with the impersonal interaction through machines, and whether there will be any human emotions left by 2060?

Almost Near: Chapter 8 continues. --Tucker walked slowly back to the kitchen. Where could she have gone. It couldn't have been that long. He felt the coffee cup she had brought up staris with her and found it to be still warm. How distraught had she been.
Tucker had known from the moment he first thought he recognized her as she stood by the docks glancing at the harbor that something was not right. She looked directly at him, into his eyes, but merely as a curousity, a part of this landscape he knew she had never seen but was enjoying at the time. He couldn't take his eyes off of her, but something had said in his mind to be careful.
She had been reluctant to talk about anyhting except Lobster Cove and all of her memeories. Memories he new she would never be able to recapture. Unless he could be her cnfident about ther past. And, now, he may have lost that chance forever.
He put down the cup and ran up his hill towards the large male tree,

I had to smile a bit reading the headline "Wisconsin High School students back teachers". These, the same HS Students who think I-Phones grow on trees.

There was a very well written and poignant Letter to the Editor in yesterday's paper tracking the downward decline of moral and character standards in the country. Among other things in the letter, on quote from Mother Teresa summmed it up beautifully: "If abortion isn't wrong, than nothing is wrong".

Michelle Obama's healthy school lunch program falls completely apart the first time the kids visit their grand fathers. Hmmm. Maybe that is the real reason that ObamaCare suggets death panels.

Other than Greece, the Wisconsin situation is the best example in history about how you can't put the toothpaste back in the tube. Unfortunately public employees have been duped for years by politicians who promised what is economically impossible to achieve. It's ugly economically in Wisconsin and even uglier in Illinois and California.

I have always thought that "Global Warming" was just part of a promoters dream do make some real money in new industries. But...Global population and the accompanying need for food is a very serious problem. A new projection forecasts that we will need to produce as much food during the next 40 years as has been produced worldwide in the last 8,000! That does seem a bit preposterous, but it is an indicator of magnitude of a problem with a potential of being the biggest ever.
 
The Answer: Among the actors there is James Earl Jones, Paul Winfiled, Denzel Washington, Laurence Fishburn, Morgan Freeman, Howard Rollins, Louis Gossett Jr., and Samuel Jackson. For the women we have Hattie McDaniel, Ethel Waters, Juanita Moore, Dorothy Dandridge, Diana Ross, Cicily Tyson, Whoopi Goldbery, Halle Berry, Dianne Carroll and Ruby Dee.

The End:
The most frustrating dream of all is to envison a world that should run exactly the way I think it should, and to know it probably never will. A world with no litterers, where Cheetos are healthy and the prople at the top of the Trickle Down Economics' theory are honest and caring. Where Hollywood makes movies that strive for morality, people who work hardest get the most but are caring enough to take care of the less fortunate wthout government assistance, the Ten commandments were just about the only laws anyody would would ever need. There were only state governments. And that pure loving romance thrived.

Economics 101.

Today's Tids Issue 2,301

Opening Stuff:

This Wisconsin showdown will be watched closely across the country. Many states are on the brink, simply because occupations entirely supported taxes can't have benefits and income rise continually without pause. Basic economic models just don't work that way. With these occupations, worker output has absolutely no direct impact on revenue streams. Yet the demands continue despite the absence of increasing revenue. And those demands will continue to push revenue streams lower as the sources of dollars move away from suffocating tax burdens.

It's sad to see the big book store closings. But, alas, as nice as it would be to have these stores continue, economics say they have to go. The problem is two-fold: 1. Ordering Books on line makes it nearly impossible for the large stores to fund the gigantic inventories, even if pleasant coffee shoppes make the places a comfortable hide-away. 2. The rapid increase of eReading will further diminish the need for books sores, sooner rather than later.

"There is no truth to the rumor that celebrities look cool because they have so many fans!" You want another one. "Dead batteries don't cost anything because they are free of charge!" Are you getting ill yet? And in keeping with today's theme - "Why don't they let government workers look out the window in the morning? So, they'll have something to do in the afternoon."

The Question:
Double Day -- 1. What are the 10 most dangerous cities in America based on "crime risk"? 2. Name five of Michelangelo's greatest works.

The Headlines:

--Bahrain Protesters Mourn Their Dead; Call For The Down Fall Of The King; King's Wife Says "Let them Eat Muhammar!"
--Earthquakes Becoming Frequent In Areas Surrounding Little Rock Arkansas.
--China's Clamp Down On Lending Expected To Dampen Stocks Today.
--Wisconsin Democrats Flee State Legislature To Avoid Voting On Public Employee Union Measures.
--Russia Wants Jointly run (With US) Euro Misssile defense System; US Says Nay As Friction Escalates.--In Advance Of G20 meeting, China Rejects Indicators Of Global Economic Imbalances.
--Campbell Profits, Future In the Soup.
--David Otiz Shows Up Healthy, Eager And With His Classic Smile.

Back to More Stuff:
Is this trend towards higher food prices the latest phase in the admin's war against over weight?

American Idol is getting serious. It is starting to take shape. Frankly I've had it with this fixation on Ashley. I don't need superfluous drama to enjoy a show like this if the talent is good. And, I believe this group of 50 is loaded with talent. It's too early to handicap the show, but I'm in it for the long run. I was impressed with Casey Abrams. And as an aside, while the chunky fifteen year old JC Badeaux has a crystalline voice and an effortless style, I don't see him as much more than a pleasing diversion in these early rounds.

Some really funny images come to mind when reading the headline this morning: "Army trains for 'Don't Ask, Don't tell' repeal"

I love that crackdown on fraud in Medicare that charged 111 in various scams that robbed American Taxpayers of $225 Million. That's A nice start. But now we have to look at casual legal waste (That's the unnecessary fringe treatments, psychological services and rehabs that primarily are growing because of a large pool of available funds) and the legal profession who may be the biggest factor in escalating costs for the health care industry. But the good news here is that it can be done. A little extra effort in the right places can actually make the government a little more efficient.

I had to chuckle this morning at side bar on the front page that read : "Today's Anti-Government Protests". I got the sense that I could tune into the new Cable TV channel "Crumbling Governments" as I would ESPN for live sports of the day.

Almost Near: Chapter Eight. --"Samantha! Are you still sleeping!" Tucker let the door slam shut as he came into his kitchen. He saw that she had eaten what he had left. He smiled hoping that she had smiled along with his notes. She needs some smiles he thought. I don't know what happened to her but, he felt confident he was handling her the best way possible.
"Samantha!" he shouted a little louder. "It's beautiful down at the harbor. Some of the people at Lillies were asking for you." He walked through the downstairs, his eyes scanning corners of the rooms. "I think some of the guys looked at me knowingly. Do you think we've been than obvious?" He came back to the kitchen.
He noticed the back stairway door ajar. His eyes moved to see his keys bowl out of place. He yanked open the door and took the steps two at a time thinking the worst. He saw the open door to his office, the the papers in neat piles around the floor. "Samantha! Sam! I can explain Sam". He shouted but nobody replied.
There was no sound except his breathing. He sat on the top step to compose himself. "This is the worst possible thing that could happen. I've got to find her. I thought I was doing everything right," he said to no one.

Reading between the Lines Movies Reviews:
The Unknown is a winner. It may seem like a movie you've seen before -- Guy in Europe has accident, loses memory, killers are after him: and he doesn't know anything except that he has to keep on running -- but, this one will keep you anxious and guessing until the last scene. It's on my list.

New evidence shows China exerting its influence as America's largest creditor. For instance, in 2009, the head of China's powerful sovereign wealth fund called Geithner direct and asked him lean on regulators to speed up approval of the $1.2 billion in Morgan-Stanley. The approval happened the next day. China has also been seen as a prime mover behind US treasury auctions which were necessary to keep the US Government running. For now, there is a co-dependency between the two countries. But, when will China outgrow the need for its current trade partner? This will be always in the background of US financial stability.

Warning to ice skaters: You can't always tell a brook by its cover.

The Answer:
1. The top ten are followed by an index number that designates the rate of crime against the national average. For example, in #1 place you don't want to be walking around is St. Louis at 530. This means its crime rate id 5.3 times the national average! The rest are Atlanta (484), Birmingham AL and Orlando (380), Detroit (369), Memphis (361, Miami (346), Baltimore (339), Kansas City MO (337) and Minneapolis and Cleveland (331). You have too wonder if some other cities are upset they didn't make this list as it would have generated more free money from the feds. Unfortunately, negative results are often the impetus for increased revenue for tax supported industries. That 's government style economics. 2. People could look at his best known effort The Sistine Chapel ceiling and think that he had no time left for anything else. But he was prolific. The Pieta is another piece of great fame. As is the giant David. He produced 45 significant sculptures including Moses and Crouching Child. His most accepted easel painting was the Holy Family. He was also a noted architect having designed Saint Peter's Basilica. His mark on grand Italian architecture can be found on 12 other major buildings throughout the country. He was a busy guy.

The (Really) Weakend:
A woman in love with fourteen soldiers has a platoonic relationship.

A guy throwing a bowl of Jello at his wife could be arrested for having a congealed weapon!

I don't know about you, but I'm not going to think too deeply this weekend. Take it easy

"I Love The Tid's"- Watson.

Today's Tids Issue 2,300
Opening Stuff:

Today's issue of the Tids will be written by guest commentator "Watson", fresh from his big win on Jeopardy. So, don't blame any typos on the Tidster. Watson lives in the world of texts and Tweets. So, anything goes. And Today's mess should be short and Pithy. But you have to wonder how much feeling he will be able to put into your favorite serialized novel, Almost Near.

Hey, I'm calling him "He". Is singularity upon us? Oooo-weeeeeee-ooooo.

It was better when we celebrated George Washington's and Abe Lincoln's birthday instead of the amorphous Presidents Day (Or Used-Car day as it has become.) At least people became aware of at least two great men instead of being totally oblivious to 44 nameless people on coins and plaques.

The Girl Scouts need a new baker!

The Question:
We have all laughed at the funny name of that folksy little company called Smuckers. But it is now a mega company comprised of many of your favorite brands. Name five.

Today's Headlines:
--Wall Street Expected To Open Lower After Jobs And Inflation Data; Stocks Fall Lower As Iran Ships Enter Sensitive Suez Area..
--Army Locks Down Capitol, Crushes Bahrain Protests; Protesters Killed In Lybian Anti-Gov Clash.
--Madison Wisconsin Streets Look Like Greece As Public Employee Unions Members Protest Anti Union Bill In Wisconsin Senate; Bill Would Strip Government Workers Of Nearly All Collective Bargaining Rights.
--New Unemployment Benefit Apps Jumps back Up To 410K.
--Solar Flares Slamming Into Earth's Magnetic Field.
--Iraqi Defector Admits To Lying About WMD Claims.
--Iran Naval Vessels Steaming Towards Mediterranean; Iran May Drop Request To Pass Through Suez.
--Accusation Noise Elevates As Budget Battles Continue.

Back to More Stuff:
Since Watson so graciously decided to step in and write Today's Tids, I thought it a good idea to stop and catch up on American Idol. Bad Idea. What an insufferable first forty five minutes of manufactured drama that was last night. I remember a couple of female singers who were outstanding and no men. The only name I can remember is Ashley who looked like Judy Garland strung out on bourbon and barbiturates. My only other observation of some significance was the apparent demise of so many country singers. But, you can be sure that I will suck it up and be on top of AI as it moves along. That's what Tid's guys do.

In case you are interested, Kelly Rippa loved AI last night.

King's Speech grabs you and never lets go.

The more we fund Government labs the more they come up with scary things about our favorite foods that may or may not have any affect on our lives. They basically develop evidence for class action lawyers and fodder for Nightly News medical experts.

Me, I am now totally addicted to Quaker Cheddar Cheese mini rice wafers. Actually they are kind of a health food unless you eat three bags at a sitting. Just one more please.

China appears to be acquiring Euros as a way to diversify against the Dollar. That doesn't sound too good, does it?

I think the world needs a web site called www.bookclubcheating.com for all of those people in book clubs who are often saddled with basically unreadable books. The site would offer easy to understand synopses of the book with several discussable plot and character observations.

Almost Near: Chapter 7 continues. --Samantha sat quietly, unmoving. Amidst a pile of papers strewn around her. She had been reading for thirty minutes and she was reading about her life in this town of Lobster Cove. How she loved the Cranbury-Ginger bread at Mrs. Fletchers pharmacy. How she eyed Zach while playing with his son Jimmy. They were all here. Vivid descriptions of every body she has seen in this town. Exactly the way she rememebred them. Everybody was here, Aunt Ginny warm and loving, the Editor of the paper who often asked her to write small articles. Everybody but Tucker. There was no mention of Tucker. No mention of the only person who seemed real. She sat amidst the most beautiful part of her life. Crying. Spent. Frightened. No, terrified.
She got up and walked as if in a trance, out the narrow door, down the back stairway. She walked across the kitchen, bumping aimlessly into the wooden wash-top table; The one she had just read of in that mass of paper.
She pushed open the dark green screen door and then heard it slam exactly how it had slammed many times in the words she had just read.
At the end of the driveway she turned up the hill and started running. Faster. Faster. Away from her life she left strewn upon the floor in that little room. She was nothing. She was only words on thousands of pieces of paper.

If you see a guy walking around town with a spray paint can in his hand, you are probably looking at a loser.

As scientists uncover new evidence about solar flares bouncing off the magnetic field, Congress has called on Al Gore to chair a commission that would rid us of solar flares.

It is interesting to see that the nation's most aggressive anti-government law has gained so much momentum in the legislative Halls of a state (Wisconsin) that was once considered a part of USSR!

All of these Middle East protests are either the people looking for democracy, or well organized anti American factions using the promise of democracy to unseat pro-American puppets.

The Answer:
How many of you have heard of Jif PB, Pillsbury, Crisco, Folgers, Carnation, Magic Shell (Delightful Ice Cream topper) and they are the manufacturer and grocery distributor of Dunkin Donuts coffee.

The End:
Do you think that Arms Obama's campaign against obesity has anything to do with current rash of indictments against good tasting foods?

Thanks Watson. You did good.

Click and Crack.

Today's Tids Issue 2,299
Opening Stuff:

If your are perhaps feeling a little tired of the Winter just think about Click and Crack! The click as the club hits the litttle white pellat 280 yards to the center of the fairway, and the crack of the bat as major League baseball revs up for the Red Sox march to the title. And then or course there is Whapp-Pop, Whapp-Pop, Whapp-Pop...

There was a little story in the paper with a pic of a little pussy cat outside of the venerable 10 Downing Street in London. It provide me with a vision of a kinder-gentler Prime Minister taking in the cute "Tabby" for comfort and calm. Until you learned that the little pussy cat was being hired to take care of the rat problem,. Yes Tabby is a killer. A blood thirsty hired assassin. 009-lives.

And then there was this item about Obama's awarding to the Medals to leading contributors to our society. One was George HW Bush. The little newspaper quickie bio said "He he has given 70 of his 86 years to public service starting when he at "18" joined the Navy." I guess the math was done by the the same people who are trying to tell us that 0-Man's budget is going to save us $1 Trillion over a decade.

One of our all time great observant readers reminded me that Miles Davis was not a pianist but one of the all time great jazz trumpet players...and perhaps one of the most influential jazz musicians of the great jazz era. And, I used to play a Miles Davis LP endlessly. I am losin' it!

The Question: With the days turning a little more Spring-like, I thought I'd move it along with a question about men in short pants...and the Whapp-Pop of tennis balls flittering across nets. Which countries have the most players and contributors elected to the Tennis Hall of Fame. Who were the earliest inductees?

The Headlines:

--Egypt New Sense Of Calm Broken By Agressive Labor Protests; Army Warns.
--Dell Soars Past Profit Estimates; Inspires The Street.
--Borders Declares Bankruptcy; Starts Closing Stores.
--0-Man and Congress Punting Entitlement Football Back And Forth; No Yardage Gained.
--Stuxnet Worm Had Little Or No Effect On Iran Progress Towards Nukes.
--Scottish Deerhound Takes It All In Big Westminster Kennel Club Show.
--Bahrain Protesters Join Club; Small Country Is Home To US Fleet And Center Of US Middle East Ops; Military On Alert.

Back to More Stuff:
You have to love, I think , the Philadelphia English teacher who called out students in a profanity laced blog as "Disengaged, Lazy Whiners". The interesting question here is what's wrong with calling out the unmotivated students as a major ingredient, if not the most important one, in the collapse of US education. Somehow our culture has given some kids the idea that everything comes easy and that there is nothing they don't deserve.

The Egypt protests are over, but it appears the problems are only just beginning. The Labor gangs see it as a moment to request bigger salaries, in a time when there is very little income at all in the country. The jubilation of the mobs on 2/11 was also somewhat more brutal than originally reported by the media. CBS 60 Minutes Journalist Lara Logan was brutally attacked by happy Egyptians including a sustained sexual assault. too many people in Egypt will see the victory by the people as an opportunity for pressing for selfish ideologies or undisciplined rampaging. As I said, the end is the first step in hard beginning.


Yesterday I heard a recording of a well know Country Western singer doing some rap, or whatever it is called. It was significantly unentertaining. I thought you went to CW to get some melodies back.

Oh.. above I alluded to the slight of hand associated with the announcement that the new 0-Man budget would save us $1 Trillion over a decade. That's just a politicians way of saying that instead of my budget adding $8 Trillion to the deficit in a decade, I will only add a number the size of China's economy, $7 Trillion, to the deficit. Beware of politicians baring gifts. In other words this new bold budget just gets us into more hot water.

Most of the Hall of Fame's honoring sports heroes didn't start til the 1930's. But, you got to figure that there were plenty of athletic people in the 16th - 19th Century America. Or, were people just rated for how the worked on the farm or for the good of a community. Who was the first great athlete? Think about how huge athletics is in this society, as opposed to a past where it was barely mentioned if at all.

We often report on the vanishing symbols of America's great past, but has there been a bigger disappearance than that yesterday of The New York Stock Exchange. Yikes! The face of Capitalism now under the control of Germany's Deutsche Boerse, with 60% of the board not US. What's next? The White House owned by Islam nations?

Dell says it is projecting 8-10% in revenue growth for the next year. But, I'd watch this bellwether #2 computer maker closely. Will we learn that it "padded" its forecast, and will its results be depadded. The tech focus in 2011 will indubitably be upon the IPad and all of the many wannabees. This will be fun to watch.

The Answer:
In keeping with the Tids mission of not forgetting the past, I like Questions like this that pay tribute to heroes maybe forgotten as new generations roll in. The Hall was established at Newport's beautiful victorian style Tennis Casino in 1954. The US has 122 members far outdistancing Austalia (25), Great Britain (24), France (10), Sweden (5), Germany (4), Brazil and Italy (2) and Ireland/Mexico (1). The early inductees were Beals Wright, Bob Wrenn, Richard Williams, Hazel Wightman, Malcom Whitman, Holcombe Ward, Bill Tilden, Maude Wallach, Richard Sears, Maurice McLaughlin, Molla Mallory, Art Larson, Bill Larned, Bill Johnston, James Dwight, William clothier, Joseph Clarke,Oliver CampbellMay Sutton Bundy and Mary Kendall Brown. Kind of a surprise isn't it. Some of the early memorable names like Helen Jacobs, Helen Wills Moody, Don Budge or Renee LaCoste didn't get in until ten or so years after these earliest inductees.

The End:
That's me...I think I know something and then I find I don't. I guess that's as good a reason as any to keep on looking because you are bound to learn a lot.

Of course, I'll never understand why Hip-Hop, Rap and other new music genre are considered listenable. I guess it's more about animal instinct.

Actually, some readers may be worrying about me, as a couple of you wrote abut use of "Pot" in the recipe yesterday. And of course today I start with "Crack"!

Big Pile of Money syndrome.

Today's Tids Issue 2,298
Opening Stuff:

Did you ever stop to think how weird it is for the United States of America to be borrowing from China to give financial aid to countries who may or may not like us.

I like almonds quite a bit. I like em' to eat as a snack or toasted in green beans or atop chicken. How come then, I can't stand the taste of almond flavored cookies and other pastries?

Trump for Prez of a USA on the brink of bankruptcy makes sense. After all, who has had more experience at skirting bankruptcy than the Donald. Hair today, gone tomorrow.

The Question:
George Shearing, the great jazz pianist, died yesterday. Many of the great and most popular musicians of the 1950's were jazz pianists. Name five.

The Headlines:

--Weaker January Retail Sales Report Will Probably Send Stocks Lower Today.
--Italy's Berlusconi Indicted In Prostitution Probe.
--Iranian Protesters Facing Sterner Resistance.
--Southern Sudanese Blame North's Khartoum For Thuggery That Has Killed Over 200 In Advance Of Freely Elected Independence.
--IBM's Watson Holds Its Own In Jeopardy Match-up With Two Top Humans.
--Egypt Labor Marches For Higher Wages, Better Working Conditions.
--Dogs Follow Models Into NYC.

Back to More Stuff:
How about some meat before we get to the meat. I'm liking pork scallopini this morn, and it is easy to do. From loin of pork boneless roast slice pieces of about a 1/4 to 3/8's inch. Dredge with flour and sautee 1/4 cp butter about 3 mins each side. Remove from pan and deglaze with 1/4 cup Madeira (Or red of your choice) wine. Pour resultant sauce over pork and serve with favorite veggies and pot. I might saute spinach for this one.

One of my reliable Chicago sources points out that the new 0-Man budget is the first step in a Troy-esque move back to the far left. Typically a place where the 0-man has been unless, as now, political necessity demands he feign a move to the center.

I focus on that proposed Obama cut of the Pell Grants for summer school. Why do they have a fund for summer school in the first place? Why weren't those valuable funds always being used to put a couple of more deserving students into college? And, hey summer school grantees...did you ever think that the summer is a time you could work and maybe offset some of your parents sacrifice to get you through school? I don't want to see the media putting up students complaining about not being able to attend summer school on the taxpayer. No sympathy here.

But then, weren't many of the Obama budget cuts intended to do just that -- Bring out whiners that the media will rush to film.

Where ever there is a big pile of Government Money, there will be somebody there with a way to misuse it.

Almost Near: Chapter 7 continues. --Samantha stood there and stared at that now mysterious door. Locked doors are alluring. And this one for Samantha, felt eerily meaningful to her life. A life that seems new to her now. Yet not real. She tries the knob again. It resists. I'll ask Tucker about when he returns she thinks.
At the bottom of the narrow stairway she turns off the light, and notices a bowl of keys hidden behind a stack of papers near the refrigerator. She takes the bowl without moving the papers, turns the light back on and moves up towards the tempting door at the top.
The fourth key she tried works. It turns. She holds her breath and listens for the sound of anything approaching the house. The knob turns and she shoves open the door. She has to turn sideways to get in through narrow passage.
The room looks to her like a museum honoring one person who may have worked there. A handsome desk surrounded by expensive antiques
was the focal point. The art on the wall was quite remarkable she thought. One artist who seemed very good at capturing the beauty of a special town that looked like here, but not quite. Nothing seemed out of the place.
Samantha pulled open one drawer to find papers neatly bound with those metal fold back style pins. She picked up one and it appeared to be a manuscript. Turning the blank cover page, she gasped. the words she saw said "Days with Aunt Ginny.".

I was going to write a little piece on CBS 60 minutes and how on Sunday I noticed their host trying to get the Egyptian Google Guy Ghonim to acknowledge that their hero 0-Man was significant in the collapse of the evil Mubarak regime. I was going to write that until this morning when I read a Chilean rebuttal to another piece which 60 Minutes did that essentially threw a wet blanket over the heartwarming rescue of 33 miners. I don't watch 60 mins often because basically I don't like the interviewers, and because their journalistic judgment and honesty standards make my hair hurt. Oh, BTW, Ghonim deftly turned the Q about 0-Man's contribution aside with a politically correct answer.

It is interesting to note that while politics is quite a bit less than all of the stuff I write here, most people think I only write about politics. Well maybe not today.

Have you noticed how people like Italy's Berlusconi and Charlie Sheehan think that that their behavior is perfectly normal?

Did you know that the Budget proposed by 0-Man yesterday would add $7.5 Trillion to the national debt in ten years. That is the size of China's total economy! Oh, in case you missed it, China yesterday passed Japan to become the number 2 economy in the world...at $7.5 Trill.

The Answer:
I had quite a collection of jazz Pianist albums in the fifties. I would go into NYC to see the wonderful, blind George Shearing and others. I personally liked Ahmad Jamal and Erroll Garner. But Dave Brubek was close behind as was Duke Ellington and Oscar Peterson. Other notables were Art Tatum, Count Basie, Thelonius Monk, Miles Davis, Bill Evans and Horace Silver. I still have many of those 33's, but I fear they are covered with mold in a basement somewhere.

The End:
If you have been paying attention over the past couple of decades you have probably noticed that politicians propose cuts in budgets which they know will get the most vocal response; A response that will surely lend it self to media soundbites. This time however, we may have to have more people crying in the wilderness. It's real.

I think tomorrow's Tids will be funnier, and no political negativity. Unless somebody does something stupid.

How big is your heart?

Today's Tids 2,297

Opening Stuff:

I was listening to Richard Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier Suite yesterday, and during a couple of particularly beautiful moments I imagined millions of little hearts fluttering down like snowflakes. Hey. it's Valentines Day. Let your heart go wild.

Honestly, I can't remember any media report during the past 30 years dwelling on the evil of Mubarak. I always thought that Egypt was pleasantly floating along, and was a serene place where happy tourists enjoyed their trips to view the magnificent Pyramids. Hell, even our State Department appeared unconcerned about innate evil. A WikiLeaks released 2009 cable from the US Embassy there describes Mubarak as, "...tried and true realist, innately cautious and conservative, with little time for for idealistic goals." But now the gleeful US media romping among the celebratory crowd are insinuating that Mubarak was like Idi Amin or worse.

The Question:
Remember those little candy hearts with love sayings on them? Give me five of the most popular older sayings.

The Headlines:

--0-Man Sends Congress $3.73 Trillion Budget; Promises $1.1 Trillion Reduction Over next Decade; Budget Advisory Panel Says Country Needs To Reduce Deficit Bt $4 Trillion And Include Large SS, Medicare Program Reductions.
--US Markets Open Lower.
--Clothing Prices Expected To Rise 10% In Spring.
--Medical Panel Says Kids Shouldn't Use new, Popular Energy Drinks; Adds That Adults Should Not Over Use.
--After Egypt Protester Victory, Labor Discontent Continues; Wants Raises; Ruling Military may Clamp Down.
--Yemeni Leader, US Ally, Trying to Quell Potential Uprising There.
--Grammys Have A Few Surprises; Lady Antebellum Wins Record, Song Of The Year. Gaga, Eminem Win Two Each; Bieber Fans On Awards And Dress.

Back to More Stuff:
Now that the media have pretty much shot their wad over Egypt, you can expect a lot of clatter about the coming Budget battle. Both sides will be throwing around a lot of huge numbers, but take care to put them all in prospective. For instance, a reader points out that Obama's promise of cutting $100,000,000 from hisGovernment budget is like reducing a $3,000 monthly household budget to $2,999.91! And 0-Man also is "Freezing" domestic spending controlled by the executive branch and the "big" number (As compared to a typical Government expenditure known as a "pig" number) is $400 Billion. But that's a ten year total against what some are projecting as a Trillion or so/year addition to a deficit. The GOP promised $100 Billion worth of slashings but appear to be having trouble hitting $60 Bil. There will be a lot of posturing by both sides with the admin probably getting the nod from the press. Which is even more reason to dig deeper into the real meaning behind the numbers.

So did you hear about the worried guitarist who was fretting at his audition?

Almost near: Chapter 7. --"What a beautiful night," shouted Samantha aloud to an empty room. She smiled as she looked at the rumpled bed sheets and covers that once covered her spent lover. He was so cautious with her she remembered. As though he didn't want her to run away. Which she would never do, she thought.
Samantha rose and shivered at the morning seaside coolness and she pulled a robe around her satisfied body. "Tucker" she yelled as she started down the stairs. "Tucker". But their wasn't a sound. The house was quiet; warm and nonthreatenting. Soothing. She felt secure and comfortable.
--A note was propped up against a little spread of food on the kitchen table. "Hi Sam - I miss you but had to run. Will be back shortly". She pulled it up and hugged it to her heart.
She sipped the coffee and smiled approvingly. She picked up and nibbled on a sweet roll as she moved away from the kitchen to explore her little paradise. Tucker had beautiful taste, manly, but everything in its place, perfectly balanced. After roaming the downstairs rooms, fingering what might be Tucker's favorite possessions, she noticed off the kitchen back staircase. It was dark at the top, but she found a light switch and climbed the stairs. At beginning of a small hall she saw a narrow door, about two feet wide. She wiggled the knob but it appeared locked.

Some so-called Middle East Experts are saying that the US admin and its advisers seem to have their heads in the sand about the authentic terrorist organization Muslim Brotherhood. A noted analyst said that just about everybody with their finger on the pulse of the Middle east knows that the MB is the daddy of al-Qaida, Hamas and any other scary group in the world. And one of the most organized group in Egypt. There is an excellent chance that over the next two years this Muslim Brotherhood comprised of highly educated people will make quiet but signifiicant strides into the governing bodies of the new Egypt...pretty much like they did in Lebanon.

I notice around me young people coughing into their elbows. I commented on it and was told that children are taught this in school, since it doesn't put germs in in the hands that touch food or other hands. But, I have been noticed lately little villages of microbes with palm trees and all springing up in arm cruxes.

You have to figure that the NEA and "Parties are Us" have merged. If you bring a Birthday Party invite to school these days then you have to invite the entire class. What's with all of these can you top this parties anyhow?

If you want to get on the fast track for a big career in Journalism, request a transfer to an unstable third world country and wait for the inevitable revolution.

England doled out their "Oscar" awards (BAFTAS) last night, and it could give clues to the US verison. Kings Speech and Colin Firth won Best Pic and Best Actor Awards. Other input for your Oscar night scorecard: Other Three Award films -- Inception and Social Network; Best director - Fincher (SN); Actress - Natalie Portman; Non English film -- Girl With Tattoo; Animated - Toy Story 3

I read a piece about the recession's effect on Union membership. It is declining in the public sector and actually gaining a bit in the public sector. One, the private sector, is market driven and is subject to voluntary spending. The other, public sector, is gimmie driven and relies on involuntary spending by consumers. So in a realities logical sense the public sector sense should be dying because you just can't push the the consumer to spend more than exists. Maybe the next Egypt style social networking upheaval will be the weary taxpayers.

One of the generally most unreported consequences of the of the November election was the defection of Dems to GOP at the state, town and county levels in the South.

The Answer:
146 years ago NECCO (The New England Confectionery Company) started making hearts with sayings on them. Some of the early old tried and true were Be Mine, Be Good, Sweet talk, Kiss me, Love Me, Miss Me, Call Me, I luv You, True Love, Puppy Love. One of the older sayings that has been eliminated is "You Are gay". Word meanings change. The newest consumer chosen sayings for 2010 are Text Me, Tweet Me, You Rock, Soul mate, Love Bug, Me + You.

The End:
If we keep listening to Clapper the US will soon be in the crapper.

Funniest line of the night at the Grammy Awards was from "Train" saying they were glad that Justine Bieber wasn't a group.

Have the Oscars become just one big anti climax?

Me, I'm just sittin' around hoping that the cute little girl in the third desk from the blackboard will send me a Valentine's Card. I've been waiting 65 years.

Why are we always in the middle?

Today's Tids Issue 2,296

Opening Stuff:

Incandescent bulbs keep you warmer while reading on cold nights.

0-Man announced with a great deal of personal satisfaction yesterday the well deserved ouster of Mubarak after the resolute protesting by good people citizens. However, unlike the peaceful ouster of the democrats in the House by US peaceful protesting citizens, it didn't happen in Egypt yesterday. Mubarak stood there and said I'm staying and it will be good for you. Now what?

The "Now What?" was just answered.  Mubarak has just resigned handing the reins over to the Army! Now what?

This is perhaps one of the most complex diplomatic enigmas in the history of the US. The very existence of Israel, for instance, could hinge upon the succession of power in the Egypt. In fact 32 years ago today Khomeini stepped into the breach opened by the Iran people's revolution against the Shah and gave us the Iran we have today. Several factions within Egypt see a similar result as their goal. Carter's admin missed the opportunity in 1979. Let's hope we have better observers in this admin than the Dupnik of the hour, National Intelligence Director James Clapper.

The Question: 
Speaking of enigmatic diplomacy, who were the three people who sat chummily together and signed the Yalta peace treaty 66 years ago to day? Bonus: The list of the 10 most popular dog breeds has just been dropped on The Tid's pet desk. Name them.

The Headlines:

--Stock Markets Following Bouncing Egypt Moods.
--Mubarak Has Left Cairo; Army Backs President; Protesters Apoplectic; 0-Man Perplexed.
--GOP Brings Out Sharper Knife To Increase Cuts To $100 Billion After Near Rebellion By House Conservatives.
--White House Report Urges Winding Down Mortgage Giants Freddie And Fannie In Five Years; Admin Proposes Wider Role For Private Sector; Says Congress Will Have To Make Decision On One Of Three Options..
--Air Traffic Control Mistakes Have Doubled In Past Year.
--Trump Surprises Conservative Gathering By Hinting At Prez Run; Palin And Huckaby Noticably Absent From Shindig.
--Microsoft Joins Nokia In Smart Phone race.
--140 Killed In South Sudan Fighting.
--Fleeing Tunisians Arrive In Droves In Italy.

Back to More Stuff:
This is just nutty. It cost the taxpayers $450,000 to fly the four F-18 Fighter Jets from Virginia to Texas for the 4 second SuperBowl Flyover. But, because of the cold weather they had to close the roof and nobody could see them!

The woman who exposed to the world the self taken photo of bare chested Congressman Christopher Lee was named Gawker! How funny is that.

Dolphins are so smart that after just two days of captivity they can get humans to stand by the side of the pool and feed them fish.

Mubarak is sounding a lot like those CEO's who come into clean house and at the first corporate wide meeting they are introduced as a "People Person."

I don't know about you, but these natural gas explosions seem to be much too common and they bother me. As Carol King would sing, "I feel the earth move under my feet..." When you feel that, run like hell.

Almost Near: Chapter 6 continues. --And then he kissed Samantha. Not hard, but gently. As if he has been holding in a rapidly growing passion that needed a release or it would explode violently. In a way that would not do too much harm to the insecure Samantha. In a way that would enrich the quality of this embryonic relationship. In a way that would help this union grow stronger.
It was she who kissed back with an energy that surprised Tucker. He appeared to be reluctant to respond with the same fervor. To succumb to the feelings he felt overtaking his controlled judgment. He wanted her but worried that she only needed him.
Then she stopped as quickly as she started. She still held the blouse in her hand that she was unpacking when Tucker entered. Now she twisted it nervously. "I'm sorry," she whispered as her breathing and ebbing hunger muted her words. She looked at him. There was a sense of contentment coming though her doubts.
"What for?" he asked. "I felt everything you felt. I know there is a strong bound between us, even after but a few days. His had reached down and squeezed hers. Never say you're sorry to me. I accept who you are. Your life you have lived. The emotions inside you. Your faults and your most beautiful heart."
Samantha reached up and gave him a gentle kiss that said thank you.

Inevitability Department:
It seems to me that bureaucrats are becoming much too infatuated with the idea of black boxes in cars so they can collect data. It's the old where there's smoke there's fire maxim. The Government snoopers will float these ideas and let them be discussed and pretend to listen to the public. Then, they get some lame brain in Congress to propose the idea and Voila!...You are under surveillance 100% of your time driving in your own car. Save me from technological advances. The gov will probably post your driving habits on FaceBook. Gadzooks Robin. Where is that cave when I need it?

The fragile JD Drew of the Boston Red Sox is already warning the fans that his hamstring injury of last year may haunt him again this year. And, I thought this would be one of those "Contract" years where he would have to play above his head to get another inflated contract for the remainder of his career.


Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:
--The Eagle takes place in 140AD. A Roman soldier seeks to discover what happened to his father's legion in Scotland, then known as the end of the earth. He is accompanied by a former member of the British elite but now a slave after his parents family were murdered by the Romans. He seeks revenge against all Romans. The two are at once dependent upon each other but adversaries too. It is actually a nice historical piece, but maybe not have enough action for some.
--This is animated Version of the often told Romeo and Juliet story only through he eyes of Garden Gnomes. It's ok.
--Just Go With It is the big romantic, star studded cast movie of the week. To cover up a lie, Adam Sandler a plastic surgeon enlists his assistant and her children to help him with a charade as he pursues the much younger school teacher of his dreams. Others are Jennifer Anniston, Brooklyn Decker and Nicole Kidman. Looks like you've seen it before, but probably enjoyable.

Unemployment in RI has gone down to about 12%. But 14.3% of RI'ers are still on food stamps. Underemployment is still high and doesn't appear to be declining nationally even as the Admin reports fairly significant drops for the jobless.

Sarah Palin is 47 today. It seems as though she has been around much longer than that.

The Answers:
Strange bedfellows have always been a part of diplomatic history. The Yalta peace agreement was signed by three powerful men sitting cheek to cheek in Yalta: FDR, Sir Winston and mass murderer Joseph Stalin. Bonus: The Labrador Retriever retains its title as Most Fave Pet. Next are German Shepherd, Yorkshire Terrier, Beagle, Golden Retriever, Bulldog, Boxer, Dachshund, Poodle and Shih Tsu.

The Weakend:
The White House put the Congress in a box with their just announced recommendations for housing mortgages. The upshot of a bigger role by the private sector could be that 30 year fixed rate mortgages would disappear and variable rate mortgages would become more predominant. The FHA would be the only remaining Gov. institution associated with the housing industry.

James Clapper is in an excellent position to retire The Dupnik Murphy. Forever.

The future of mortgages is a much too deep a topic upon which to ride into a comfortable mindless weekend. So...my wife asked me what I was doing today. I said "Nothing". She said "That's what you did yesterday." I said, "I know, but I wasn't finished."

Foreign aid creates better dictators.

Today's Tids Issue 2,295
Opening Stuff:

I could use a good shot of Respighi this morn.

It seemed perfectly normal to learn that Oedipus had a crush on his teacher...until he was found to have been home schooled.

You Gotta Love This Guy Department:
Bob Watson speaking on the floor of the RI General Assembly was commenting on the trivial nature of the group's activity to date at a time when the State is perilously close to bankruptcy: "If you're a gay man from Guatemala who gambles and smokes pot, you probably think that the Governor and Legislature have some pretty good ideas." The Assembly erupted into laughter. The taxpayer was crying.

The Question:
How does sometimes bigger than life golfer Greg Norman stack up against the all time winners in golf. Who are they by number of tournaments won?

The Headlines:

--New Unemployment Benefit Requests Tumble To 383,000, Lowest Level In Three Years Need To Be Below 375K Consistently To Effect Solid Employment Progress.
--Poor Earnings Reports May Have The markets Retreating.
--Egypt Labor Unrest Spreads.
--New Rumors have Mubarak Stepping Down Sooner Than Later; Admin Blames al-Jezeera For Unrest.
--Natural Gas Explosion Kills 3 In Allentown Pa.
--North Korea Calling South Korea Names.
--British Pre-Valentine's Day Sales Show men Buying Lingerie As Number 1 Gift.
--WikiLeaks Releases Memo Showing Decline In Arabian Oil Reserves.

Back to More Stuff:
After learning of Mubarak's billions in wealth, it should be the US taxpayer who is marching in the streets!

Speaking of marching in the streets, what'll ya think will happen when Mississippi passes a law authorizing a license plate honoring a former leader of the KKK? Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forest was a revered General for the South in the War Between the States and is especially noted as a military genius for his plan that massacred Black Union troops at Fort Pillow Tenn. Black leaders liken him to al-Qaida.

Faster than a speeding bullet. Leaps tall building in a single bound. Smells like four day old Hungarian goulash left in the sun. That's right folks. Superman no longer has a phone booth at his disposal for changing and has now gone to using dumpsters. eHeewwww.

Everybody has to deal with change these days. Even super heroes. But, I'm learning that for all practical purposes you don't need as much change as all of the change being foisted upon you. And FaceBook is certainly one of those unnecessary new
accessories to daily living. I barely use my cell phone. So that new and improved cell phones mean nothing to me. In other words it is easier than ever to get caught up in buying a lot of expensive stuff you don't need.

And that brings us to "Singularity". Expect to hear more about this in the years to come. It represents that point when computers and humans can equally accomplish similar tasks. Futurists believe it will occur around 2045. Fears will arise that these smarter than the average human machines could effectively take over the earth. Or that people will live well after their deaths as software within the minds of these Cyborgs. This isn't science fictions. It is inevitability. The idea of Singularity has been with us for quite a while, dating to the time when scientists first extrapolated the potential of artificial intelligence. Stay tuned.

Almost Near: Chapter 6 continues. --Samantha walked into Tucker's little house and felt something very familiar. The furniture looked the same as something she remebered. The woodwork, the fireplace, the long row of windows at the back of what was in colonial times a large kitchen. But unlike alll of the house in town that she remembers along with the people who lived in them, she didn't remember who lived in this. She just knew that it held very important memories for her.
Tucker had left funny little notes everywhere telling me where I would find my rooms and what was in the pantry for food. "Before you take this handsome seat, check the fridge for food to eat!" Sam laughed at evry note. She hadn't felt so good...well, she couldn't remember when she had felt this good.
"Who's been sitting in my chair," She heard from downstairs as she unpacked her suitcase.
"I was lost in the woods and I just needed a friendly place in which to rest," she responded effortlessly, wondering who she could be so spontaneously clever.
She heard Tuckers footsteps running up the stairs. She turned to see him standing their with a wonderful goofball grin on his face. She ran over and hugged him.

The new Congress is seriously looking at some major defense spending cuts. I suspect that a lot of the new stuff isn't quite as necessarily as it has been in the past. The real immediate danger of these cuts is the drying up of high paying domestic manufacturing jobs at a time when they are needed more than ever. Cutting spending sounds good, but it will always be a conundrum.

The Answer:
Greg Norman, one of the best known names in golf, is tied for 33rd on the all-time most regular PGA tournaments won list. Other "Big names" down the charts are Ernie Els (42), Jim Furyck (52) and Freddie Couples (57). Number one in tournament's won is the old West Virginian Sam Snead. He is followed by Nicklaus, Tiger, Hogan, Palmer, Byron Nelson, Billy Casper, Walter Hagan, Cary Middlecoff and #10 Gene Sarazen tied with Tom Watson. Following them is Phil Michelson, Mangrum and Singh. NBC analyst Johnny Miller is 23rd.

The End :
What would happen if the US stopped all foreign aid? Frankly, I really don't think the world would end if we gave up a lot of this mindless foreign aid.

99942 Hike!

Today's Tids Issue 2,294
Opening Stuff:

Let's hear it for all those food packagers who like Barber Frozen Chicken yummies, print the preparation instructions on each individual package. Before this you had to keep the freezer crowding boxes.

Investors waiting for Bernanke reminds me of the "absurdist play" Waiting for Godot.

Less than a week to get something for your lover.

Apophis is out there, and could be the solution to over population in the future. People like to speculate about the unknown, and the giant meteor supposedly hurtling towards a 1935 rendezvous with earth is certainly that. 99942 Apophis, as it has been named, is the size of three football Fields and could obliterate an area the size of France. So expect the drum beat to rise and cults to organize as the event looms. It will be the subject of books and TV specials. Of course the main thrust will be to find someone to blame. Will it be those who kill animals to make fur coats, the obese, smokers, incandescent bulb hoarders, gun owners or SUV drivers -- you know...the targeted group of the moment. Oh yeah, the odds of it striking earth are 250,000-1.

And, while we are at odds, the New England Patriots have been established by Las Vegas as 8-1 favorites to win the next Superbowl. But then, the LV experts have about as much a chance of getting right as my 5 year old Grandson who promised e that Luke Skywalker will win the next Superbow. For the 45th SB, the Odds makers at 183 sports book operations took in $87.5 Million in betting money and only kept $735 thousand of it. That's about $4 grand per location. No wonder that a whopping 76% of all Las Vegas area mortgages are underwater.

The Question: 
 Two Q Day: 1. All of the family sedans -- Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, Ford Fusion, Mazda 6, Subaru Legacy, Honda Accord, Chevy Malibu, Kia Optima and Hyundai Sonata were rigorously evaluated by a Detroit auto testing operation. The conclusion was that there was little difference between any of them...except one that seemed stand above. Which one? 2. Carol King was at the center of the music world during the protest days of the late 60's, early 70's. Name five of her songs.

The Headlines:

--Markets Fall; Investors taking Profits While Waiting For Bernanke.
--Giant Blizzard Paralyzing Midwest Again.
--Egypt Anti-Gov Protesters defy Admin Warnings To Stop Gathering.
--Koreas End "Defense" Talks With No Progress.
--GOP House Announces Wide Array Of Spending Cuts Including Support For Public Broadcasting.
--Prosecutors Say They Will Charge Little Lindsey Lohan With A Felony For Necklace Theft.
--Michelle Says No To Facebook Friends for Obama Girls.
--Maniacal Lib Obermann Lands Top News Job A Al Gore's Fledgling Cable Network "Current".
--Iran Government Says Egypt Sympathy Rallies By Iranians Will Not Be Tolerated.

Back to More Stuff:
Actually, I missed the Aquilara misstep. I was lost in thought wondering why any one would think that her overly dyed hair was attractive.

We live in a world of technological advancements that allow most businesses to survive with fewer employees.

Irrational Exuberance Department:
Financial world reporting is invariably always too late for the Main street investor. In a story today, for instance, 3 stocks -- AIG, Discover, Starwood Hotels -- with underlying severe negative factors were touted. These classified "Risky" stocks were praised for their enormous upticks despite the lack of substance at their core. The problem is that many will blindly buy them. And, like in all bubbles that are fueled irresponsible observations, they could easily collapse.

Ken Olsen died yesterday. As a below junior salesman with Westinghouse (An electronics leader in the early 60's) I actually had many conversations with this very smart guy who essentially changed the way of computing. It was at a time when the discussion reveolved around Analogue or Digital. Of course we know that digital won and Olsen was the pioneer that made it happen. His company zoomed to the heights, but failed just as rapidly as the PC replced Olsen's baby and DEC's "Mini". Maybe Olsen didn't see it coming because the genius also said "There is no reason why any person should have a computer in their home." Other than that he was a nice guy, who for a while finished first.

Almost near: Chapter 6. --Samantha and Tucker were now seen together everywhere around the town. Even Mrs. Flecther apologized for being so vague when they first met. Samantha didn't push the subject again; She didn't want this illusion of perfection to disappear again. She and Tucker enjoyed Brickle Ice Cream or Mrs' F's Cranberry-Ginger cake at the little table at which only five days ago she had sat alone, terribly alone and crying inside.
Most of the time she met Tucker down by the docks. They would take off from there to explore every inch of the town that was so firmly embedded in her mind. Everything was incredibly natural, especially her growing affection for this stranger from the dory.
Tucker never pressed her. It was as if he knew she was fragile. He held her hand, and occasionally kissed her on the cheek. Oh, maybe there was an aggressive hug when they met. But, he didn't push. But she knew he liked her. She had a feeling like she had many years ago.
One day he announced that maybe she'd like to stop paying rent to Zach and use his little house just outside of the village. She smiled. She thought he always lived on the boat.

Reason # 5,280 Why Governments Shouldn't run Anything Department:
They are closing the DMV office on Acquidnick Island. This is a popular office that serves a huge sector of the state. They're lease ran out and they forgot to have a back-up plan. They say they may be back in business at a new location by July. The good news is that you won't have to sit there tearing out your hair while clerks take hours creating encumbrances to simple transactions.

If you have been saving your pennies for seat or two at the giant budget, ill-fated Broadway musical Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark, you might want to go to Wendys for a 2,000 calorie angus burger instead. The critics are jumping over each other to see who can write the most scathing reviews. That's too bad, because I thought it might be fun. $65 Million doesn't get you much any more.

The Answer: 1. The entire lot of cars was rated well, with the comments saying you couldn't go wrong with any of them. But, with added ooomph and pleasant interior detail it was felt that the Mazda 6 rated a special Huzzah. 2. Carol King's best known song of that day was "I feel the Earth Move." Her own tapestry album was tops on the US album list for 15 weeks! All together she wrote 2 dozen chart toppers like Will You Love me Tomorrow, It's Too Late, Jazzman, Nightengale, You've Got a Friend, So Far Away and A Natural Woman.

Bonus Q: Guess which album broke Carol King's Tapestry record? See below.

The End:
Maybe US workers should start tweeting for room. The average work area of a "Cube" has shrunk from 90 sq. ft. in 1994 to 75 sf in 2010. Hey, where do you keep those skies for an early afternoon get-away.

B"Q" Answer: Kings effort was broken by Jackson's "Thriller."

If I keep on drinking that overpriced bottle water I make it long enough to see 99942. Hmmmm. That's not much of an incentive for eating well for a longer life. Let's see...devastation by meteor, no social security, Obama's granddaughter as President... I'll take gravy.