The fog continues:

Today's Tids Issue #2,322
Opening Stuff:

I can't get the green out of my system after yesterday. Oh, wait a minute, there it goes now.

I got an email from Aunt Carries this morning. That's a shore side restaurant that's only open in the Summer, serving up fresh and tasty native seafood, and now good ice cream. It's one of the signals of change, like crocuses, the crack of bats and the lines at the Hilltop creamery.

The Question:
Name five things that baristas (Clerks in coffee shoppes) won't tell you

The Headlines:
--Oil Prices Drop After Daffy declares Cease Fire.
--Japanese Government Says It Was Overwhelmed By the Extent Of Disaster.
--Wall Street Bouncing Back; Fed Joins G7 In Yen Intervention.
--Japan Considering Burying Reactors.
--4 NY Times Journalists Found Safe In Libya; Had Been Held By Daffy Forces.
--"Supermoon" To Dazzle Romantics On Saturday; Tides Should be Higher.
--Chunk Of Cal's Coastal Highway Falls Into The Pacific.
--NASA First: Spacecraft Now Orbiting Mercury.

Back to more Stuff:
Reader Opinions of Repub Possibilities For 2012 Department:
I gained a sense from the smartest group of readers on the planet that election is still up for grabs. Interestingly Romney never made first place but was consistently a strong second. And similarly Huckabee in third. Huckabee connotes images of Huckleberry Finn and huckster. Romney is weighed down by some decisions while Governor. (It's like if we can't come up with something better I guess I could go there.) There is little question that in their hearts a large group would like to see Christie of NJ announce. (One woman said he would be number one if he lost 40 pounds). The inexperienced Mark Rubio is also highly regarded. Trump got a couple of solid "Ayes" but also some fierce negative comments. The best known names were considered retreads while the others with less name recognition were considered boring and unelectable. Well regarded Ron Paul also made the unelectable column. Palin rose to the top of a couple of lists, and did not receive ant strong negatives. I'd like to keep tabs on this, so keep sending in your opinions. The best I can say after this first effort is that it is still anybody's game. And that may not be good enough when there is sitting Prez a runnin'. There' no one in sight who really ignites.

One responder to the above tossed out these five Prez-Veep combos: Keyes-Condy Rice, Perot-Michelle Malkin, Coach K-Laura Ingraham, Anne Coulter-Ron Paul and Sarah Palin-Joe Miller. It is...anybody's game.

American Idol: I was sorry to see Karen bounced last night. I liked her. She seems like a nice person with decent talent. I can see this final seven coming down to five men and Pia and Lauren. Although I'm not sure that Lusk won't get tiresome along the way. Pia could wear thin too. I believe that Haley and Lauren are the two moist talented women. Although I sense a bit of un-likability in Haley, which may be the reason the has been in the bottom 3 the first two weeks.

I heard a well known physicist speaking yesterday about the big bang theory and how he and his crowd explain away what's on the other side of the end of the universe. He said that he and his pals are starting to believe that it is a different set of laws of physics! Anything not to admit the possibility of God.

Everything is Relative Department:
Remember in the Carter years when inflation pushed upwards of 13%. It is significantly lower today, but the pain may be as great or greater.The reason -- Income is lower and the hope for achieving higher incomes is diminished. Even SS recipients have gone two years with no Cola. Just be wary of reports that measure eras against eras. It really is changing in this US of A.

Almost Near: Chapter 12 continues. --A woman peeked in on Tucker just as he was reading something that looked useful "We close here in 15 minutes." she said. Tucker rubbed his eyes. Wow! five hours already.
He continued reading. "Samantha Wilcox, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harold J. Wilcox of New Castle New Hampshire was married to Rudy Quimpier son of Florence Quimpier of Houma Louisiana and Ronald Quimpier of Jackson Mississippi."
Quimpier. That's as good a lead as he could find, unless there's another Samantha Wilcox form New Castle.
He printed out the page and placed on a pile of some other pages he had printed. He shoved it all into his computer case and waked out to get his luggage at the receptionist. On the way he saw a reporter or columnist typing away for tomorrow's morning edition. "Hi I'm Tucker Loutitte." She didn't look up. He started to walk away, and heard "Sorry, I had it going and had to keep the feeling moving til the end." He smiled knowing totally what she was saying.
"I'm Tuck..."
"I heard you the first time. I'm Audrey Johnson."
"Well Audrey, I didn't mean to interrupt you." he explained quickly why he was there and asked if she had ever heard of anybody named Quimpier. He figured that if this trauma that Sam is facing was that deep that maybe something happened that went public.
"Rudy or Samantha Quimpier?" She wrinkled her brow and was cute doing so. "You know, there is something in the back of my mind telling me those names are meaningful. Let me check around. Are you staying in town?"
"I'll be at the Courtyard on President Clinton Avenue. Wow, his PR people really got that named fast." She smiled. "I don't know how long I'll be here. But appreciate the help."
She stood and shook my hand. She was a pleasant looking woman. Actually quite pretty, Tucker thought.

Reading between the Lines Movie Reviews:
--Good Cast in Lincoln Lawyer a tale about a defense lawyer who works out of the back of his Lincoln handling the cases of a variety of creeps. That is until he lands a defendant, a Beverly Hills playboy accused of rape and attempted murder. But there is a lot more to this story that becomes nightmare for the lawyer. I'll go.
--Limitless is another nightmare for our hero, this time a writer with block who takes new drug that is supposed to unlock his mind. Now he sis able to recall anythign he ahs eve read, learn any language and comprehend complex equations. He becomes the darling of Wall Street but also the target of many who want to get there hands on this mystery drug. Could be good.

The Answer:
Number 1, they won't tell you that drinking 2 shot vanilla22 oz lattes ais very bad for you. And, sometimes owners of small indy's substitute cheaper coffees; Believe me when I tell you I gave you decaf; When you aren't in Starbucks don't order like you are; Most of the time the line is long is because customers talk to much or only read menu when they are at the counter; Why don't people say please more often; Vegan cakes aren't any better for you than regular cakes; Yes, I went to school to become a barista; Just because the coffee is overpriced, it doesn't mean you shouldn't tip me.

The End:
See you next week. I'll spend the weekend hunting for great fodder.