Through different eyes.

Today's Tids Issue 2,563
Opening Stuff:

The dawning cold penetrated to the core of my bones; the returning winter's air invigorated my skin, watered my eyes. Yet I am not a flower or tree that had burst forth at suns first warmth. I will survive, but the flowers brightening fields; Or on trees that bare fruit, may never have their life fulfilled. Fruit production will be down, but Cheetos will fill the shelves. The world is never the same through different eyes.

You have to wonder what the North Koreans and Iranians are thinking of Obama's bold stands, threats against them, after hearing him tell the Russians to hang with me because things will change after my election. I am totally not surprised because this President has totally not lived up to his words the past four years. This is exactly what makes electing him so dangerous for the US future. He has a plan, and it will be no holds barred a if he gets back in. You have to believe that he has "whispered" to his liberal base the same promise for his post election actions, as he has to the Russians. That's just the way he is. And it's not pretty.

The Question:

There were 43 recorded state executions in the world last year. The US was 5th. Name the four countries with more.

The Headlines:

--Wall Street Flat After Monday rally.
--Syria Agrees To Cease Fire According To Annan.
--Olympia Snowe Gives Prez "F" As Communicator With Opposition.
--More Earthquakes rattle Japan.
--East Greenwich Stands Out as Financial Fortress As Other RI Communities Struggle for Survival.
--Stockton Cal May Be Biggest Bankruptcy Ever; Detroit Also On Brink.

Tim Tebow is even "exciting" off the field. Yesterday at the press conference he said "excited" or "exciting" 46 times.

The Women's NCAA Basketball Match-up between Kentucky and UConn is a good one. UConn was not supposed to be here at all this year. Kentucky is on a mission to join their men's team as a final four participant. UConn is trying to over-achieve and Kentucky is trying to take a first step on the road to matching UConn's record setting 3x's men's/women's dual success. To add to that dynasty built upon the shoulders of Adolf Rupp, at this college of Wildcats known for Basketball excellence since the beginning of time.

Do you get the feeling that the Cameron dive to the bottom of the Marianna Trench is about as newsworthy as Heraldo Rivera breaking into Al Capone's safe?

The Trayvon Martin case is demonstrating clearly the chaos that can occur in a land without laws, or if laws and legal systems are disregarded.

I know many people who are strong supporters of Santorum. For the most part, they like his courage in not wavering from a strong, fundamental belief system. A fundamental belief system that a large majority of Americans hold to. Many though sense he would have a hard time drawing Democrats and Independents, even those more than ready for change, in enough mass to beat "0". So, it is probably good news that the Rickster has said he would run as Vice President.

During all of these years of stuffing information into this muddled brain of mine, one thing among others that surfaces from time to time is the formation of land masses. I can't imagine that the earth is going to be like it is today forever. So, when I read about earthquakes in Japan or volcanoes in Hawaii, I wonder if we are at the beginnings of a new geography? The earth is an unstable pile of rocks, and the inevitability of significant change is is always there lying just below the surface.

Olivia Snowe says she is the same Republican today that she was when she first ran for office in 1976. I would agree. The true values of real Republicans haven't changed. It's the way republicans have been redefined by the opposition that has changed.

Almost Near: Chapter 65 continues. --Tucker stepped out into the hall and turned back to the frightened mother and daughter. He looked at Samantha and nodded while whispering "run to the exit for the stairs".
Samantha in fast, unexpected move, shoved Sheila back into the room and slammed the door. Almost in the same move, she drove her shoulder into the ribs of Tucker, sediment him sprawling; she following him hard to the floor. The gun dropped but only inches from his hand. Samantha dug in her heels to lurch forward, just as he grasped the gun.
She looked at the barrel turning towards her head. Don't Tommy, don't.
He froze. Don't call me Tommy. is eyes glazed. His panic at rethinking his past gave her a second to continue her push towards him. The gun went off. The sound was enormous echoing down the narrow hall.
Samantha felt a pain in her thigh. She collapsed to the floor. She grimaced, but she knew she couldn't pass out. She heard pounding on the other side of the door. "Mommy, Mommy".
Tucker rose. He looked bewildered. Disassociated. All of his calculating cool gone.
Her only weapon she now knew was to shout Tommy! Tommy, Tommy, put it down. He was just standing there, incoherent. Doors down the hall, doors started opening.

The Answer:

First of all China executes, they say, thousands each year, but the numbers are tightly held within the country. So, that leaves Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and the US as the top official executioners.

I'm not so sure all of this social media is such a good thing.