Dusty August

Today's tiods 8/4 (#2404)

Today's Tids Issue #2,404
Opening Stuff

i have always considered August as the dust bowl month. At this point in the long summer, droughts abound throughout the country including an East that may only look lush and green. My thoughts always drift back to those pre-season HS football practices in sweltering heat with dust flying and sticking to your sweat drenched face as another pal outside the field of battle squashes your head into the sun baked turf. So, as much as I sweat now over the August Tids, they always look a little dusty to me.

Thanks God for 0-Man's 50th. Just when you think that the fodder was packed away in suitcases of fleeing Senators, along comes the Celebrity-in-Chief with a giant self-serving Birthday bash. "Daddy, can I charge kids $30K to come to my Birthday party of Mom serves veggies from her garden? Huh, daddy, huh?"

I like the comment from a Marketing company CEO: We don't introduce new products, we unleash them!" Arf. Arf.

This is that time of the year when the media reports more information from Press Releases than real honest to goodness news. So, be wary of what you read.

The Question:
Kraft Foods says it will split into two businesses. Name them and name five products in each group.

The Headlines:
--Stock Markets Tumble Even As New Jobless Claims Fall And GM Profit Doubles; Deeper Seeded Indicators Rule.
--UN Focusing On Syria; Daffy Appears Sainted Next to Assad; Is Another Non-War Brewing?
--New IMF Chief Christine Lagards Probed By French Court For Suspect For Favorable 4$00 Million Arbitration Deal For Controversial Tycoon.
--Post Deal Worries: World Financial Leaders Now Appear Less Confident In There US Holdings And Stability Of Dollar.
Daffy's Son Says His Camp Nearing Deal With Islamist Rebels.

It bothers me a lot when an historian building burns to the ground or some unaware developer razes it in the name of "Progress". But yesterday's news about he fire destruction of the 178 Groton Inn in Groton Mass. bothered me a little more than most. I may have driven past it once as I have always gone out of me way to savor the beauty of old new England towns. The buildings in these towns are often as meaningful as the neighbors of the people. Citizens tip their hats and look with pride at historic landmarks that in some way describe the character deep within the hearts of the people. And one day it is gone. Just like that. And everybody feels the void. And nothing that replaces it will recapture the spirit.

Remember when "PS" stood for Public School. Today if you mention "PS", people start talking about Play Station. And that may be part of the problem.

Did Putin just declare economic war on the US? With his recent comment about irresponsible spending in the US I could only think of Khrushchev's comments in the 60's, "We will bury you." Well communism failed big time, but maybe Putin sees the US heading into a socialistic morass like they did and thinks it's time against to strike with words.

I think one of the reasons I dislike Obama is that he tends to turn this mild mannered, happy-go-lucky Tidster into a raging beast. I just hate that.

The only thing that makes me feel smart in August is the inability of "Spell Check" to come to logical conclusions about simple words.

The more you read about Al Sharpton, the harder it is not to believe that he is the biggest racist in America. From the early days of his gigantic Tawana Brawley fraud to his petty accusations today for trivial misuse of words by conservative white men, he has been an overt race baiter unequaled at least in modern history. Pat Buchanan, the latest victim of AS, had to crawl through gauntlet of media breathlessness for the use of a common phrase used to describe another person's favorite. I wouldn't have spent so much time on this if I could find more to write about!

Almost Near: chapter 31 continues. --Dante told Tucker his story of the woman coming to his office looking for information about her parents that eventually led to a disparate call for help, which eventually landed him in the hospital. "So you see, I liked this woman from your past, and I think she is in some kind of trouble. I was hoping to help her, but now I am really worried about her." he paused. "Her mood really changed as I sat and talked to her, I thought in a non threatening way. Almost as, I have to admit, a boy smitten by her presence."
"And then she jilted you at the alter,"Tucker now remembered his own fateful moment."
"So, why did you call me? I've been blurting out in an un-lawyerly way my true feelings, and just realized, what is this Tommy Lambert all about."
  My name now is Tucker Loutite," Tucker then proceeded to tell his tale of Samantha showing up one day in his town, without mentioning the town's name. He also didn't mention that it was his writings that drew her there.
  Now sounding a bit more like a suspicious lawyer. "How odd that this woman who you used to care for deeply would just show up in your town after, what was it 16 years?. Where did you say that was?"
Now Tucker became more cautious. "I didn't." He decided also it would not be a good idea to mention where he was.Audrey would be proud of me, he thought.

The Answer:
Kraft has announced it will split into two publicly traded companies: Snack foods with revenues of $32 Billion and Grocery business with $16 Bil. The snack foods have well known brands Oreo's, Trident gum, Ritz, Planters and the ever lovable Cheese Nips. The Grocery side includes Maxwell House, Kraft cheese products, Jello, Seven Seas Dressings and Grey Poupon. Check it out -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Kraft_brands

After the August dust settles, and Congress returns in September, will there be any money left in the stock market.

The summer heat is fading and cooler nights are making me happy again. Congress can't do anythng to us for 3-4 weeks, so I'm turning into a pussycat. Purrrrrrrrrrr. Feeling better.