The can has stopped. Clink.

Today's Tids # 2,677

Opening Stuff:

Happy Yom Kipper, Everybody.

You knew it had to happen. The financial problems in Europe were too deep and the solutions too superficial (Billions of Euro's superficial, that is) so that now after all the money and all the ECB pronouncements, we are back to where we were when it started -- Greece on the verge of bankruptcy, seeking another extension. The can of olives was kicked down the road and when it stopped, there was nothing in it. Greece has no solutions, and informed observers are unified in their belief that Greece will never, that is never as in never on Sunday, be able to pay back their loans. So, when it seems safe to get back into the market, just remember it ain't over until public employees at the big fat Greek wedding say "I do". And from here, that also looks like never. This is just reason one to get cautious about the coming months in the stock market.

Of all the household accidents, one of the most tragic is stepping on a bag of potato chips. Ouch.

The Question:
Mark Hamill rose to fame in one classic role in one classic movie and sequels. What was it? Of course you kn ow the answer to that. But do you know what he has been dong since the Big One? Bonus: What was the Name of Andy Williams ex-Wife and the name of the Olympic skier she shot and killed?

The Headlines:
--NFL Refs To return.
--China Admits They Underestimated Global Slowdown.
--Earthquake Hits Aleutian Islands
--Netanyahu Speaks To UN Today On Fear Of Iran Agression.
--The Catholic Church Likes Paul Ryan.
--Markets Showing A  little Life.
--P&G CEO On Hotseat As Company Loses Its Magic Touch Getting New Products To Market.

You have to wonder about what we actually get for all the billions poured into the educational system. Let's see...teachers are always good regardless of billions because they are just for the most part dedicated, smart, caring human beings. So I'm thinking that the big money drain is too many professional educators needing to many new toys to play with. And often with each new toy comes a new convoluted theory on how to best teach children. Then it costs billions to transform one system into another. If there ever was a system that demanded sticking to the basics it is the education of the next generation. Teachers know how to do it well. And as far as I can see multi-billions doesn't seem to help them do it better. And then, maybe the real problem are the technologically distracted children them selves.

Hello up there! The Tids NFL pickers have dug a loser hole so deep that we may be wallowing in mud for the rest of the year, at least until the mud freezes over. Painful. But, it's always ever onward for this band of prognosticators as they try to re-achieve their former and much admired proficient. Based on this years overall results, it really is harder to determine which teams are good and which are flukes. Maybe the return of the Refs will stabilize the picking variables. I'm going Baltimore, New England (We can't lose 3 in a row...right!), Detroit, Atlanta, San Fran, San Diego, Houston, Seattle, Arizona, Denver  Cinncy, Green Bay, Tampa Bay, Philadelphia and Chicago. Pitt and Indy have a Bye Week. I'm most worried about the Detroit Over Minn, Iggles over Jints and daBears over Jones-boys. We'll see.

A good and inquisitive reader asked me if I knew the most accurate two pollsters of the 2008 election. It turns out that the two who tied for first place were Rasmussen and Pew Research. So I figure if they were good then they, unlike the Tids NFL pickers, are probably still pretty good now. So, how are they looking at the Mitt/Barak race today? In a Sept. 27 poll, Rasmussen has Mitt 46, Barak 46. Say what, Major media? However, Pew Research has Obama 8 points ahead, saying also that both parties are not happy with their candidates to the point that fewer are satisfied than any election since 1992. Pew also says that the economy and jobs is by far the #1 issue and that Romney lost points for his comments on the Muslim riots, which were considered too negative.

In case you are interested, the four of twenty three least accurate pollsters were 23. Newsweek 22. CBS/NYTimes 21.Reuters/C-Span/Zogby 20. Gallup. See them all:
http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2008/11/the-list-which-presidential-polls-were-most-accurate/

A couple of weeks ago we suggested that the improving VIX (Investor anxiety index) may ignite a return to vigorous, ignorant investment risk-taking. But, that lasted but a moment as the VIX is already rising rapidly again, which is good for restraining irrational exuberance again, but not so good for watching your portfolio grow.

On a semi related note, the Germans are set to pass a law that would set limits, install circuit breakers and generally restrain high speed, high frequency trading. The EU and France are also joining the chorus that of governments that would reduce trading techniques that frequently lead to financial crisis. People complain about all of the laws, but the fact remains that if they were self regulating, disciplined and ethically and morally structured, there would never be a need Law 1.

As companies like ECCO, Sketchers and Birkenstock come out with golf shoes, I'm going to look more and more like a relic on the course. That is, if my swing isn't already a dead give-away of my decline.

Andy Williams died. Andy was Mr. Low Key (Though not as low key as Perry Como) who became a comfortable visitor to living rooms in the fifties. Remember singers back then? They were actually people instead of costumes, or packages. The came out on stage barefaced and unadorned and they related to the viewer. Andy was one of the good ones. Your brother, your uncle, your friend.

If I was walking down the street and singer Pink walked by, I wouldn't look at her twice.

As far as I'm concerned, Duffy's Tavern in North Kingstown is the best value restaurant in the state. From Lobster, lobster rolls and Steak to clam cakes and chowder, and plenty of great fish dishes in-between, you just can't go wrong.

The Conscience: Chapter 8 continues. --
   I walked about 30-49  feet and turned around. he was still standing there. I smiled broadly at him and waved. Turned and went on around the corner, where is aw a sign that read something like "There's booze in here."
  I ordered a brandy becasue it starts with "B" like breakfast. I sipped it a couple of times and looked around. It appeared that thi swa sa meeting place for various business people. Most of them were drinking espresso and munching on delicious looking pastries. My stomach rumbled. I turned to the bar tender and pointed to a beautiful sweet that looked like a Napolian. He put it o a plate and dropped a fork on the bar top. I took a bite, and it was a good as it looked. I washed it down with the brandy and ordered another.
  When he brought it, I asked him in my rough Italian if he knew any of the people who worked at the Baglietto place. His eyes showed for the first time a little emotion.
   "A few", he said quickly, turned his back to me and went on with sorting through just washed glasses.
  "I have to see some people there tomorrow, and just thought I'd try to find out if they were pleasant or nasty."  -- There are a lot of words in Italian for Nasty, and I chosen Brutto. He smiled at my choice. It's nice to know who you are talking to," I added.
   "Oh, they are very nice people, but they don't like people talking about them; espionage (Snooping). So, I don't talk -- capire?
   I nodded, forked up a couple of bites of sugar, leaned back and sipped the brandy slowly. I think I am going to be very careful tomorrow.

The Answer:
Like his Producer George Lucas, Mark Hamill made it big in Star Wars and has not again achieved the same acclaim in lesser roles, including voice overs, TV soap operas and several average films with the best of the lot being The Big Red 1. Bonus: Of course it was the crime sensation of the 70's when Claudine Longet shot Spider Sabich.

Today a poll was released saying that 75% of Americans believe we will be stuck with Obama Care. On Monday Sept 24, a Rasmussen Poll showed that 41% favored ObamaCare and 52% were opposed. So basically this morning's news was really only about apathy, hopelessness. It's pretty sad.

Chortlers Arising.

Today's Tids Issue #2,677

Opening Stuff:

The last gray of night had just lifted as I emerged from between the bushes that caressed the pathway like arms of a comforting mother. My eyes sped down the grassy fields ahead, to Zeke's Creek, a marsh stream meandering down to the Bay. A beautiful coastal sight by itself now enhanced by the appearance of a lone sailboat on a beam reach. The red sky in morning coloring the hardworking sails, the low dawn sun creating a sea of glittering diamonds around the charging craft. I inhaled deeply and thought, a single moment, and with it, already  a good day.

I am finding that some of the liberal people I encounter on on a regular basis are into intense giggling over small Romney missteps magnified by the fawning Obama media. Liberals tend to giggle when they snicker alone but resort to chortling when amidst people of unknown political persuasion or with friendly opposition. The chortle allows them to iterate outrageous attacks on the opposition while chuckling in a snorting sort of way to make their viscous, demeaning comments appear friendly. It's like "Did you hear...(Chortle, Chortle) ...that Romney...(Chortle, Chortle)...hates 47% of Americans...(Chortle, Chortle, Chortle,) Sometimes instead of an outright Chortle, they resort to the softer Heh, heh, heh, heh, Chris Matthews is an Olympic level chortler.

The Question:

Double Q day: 1. What well known writer invented the word "Chortle"?  2. Jim Caviezel has made it big in what TV show? What else has he done before this starring role.

The Headlines:

--Volatility Could Make Investors Nervous For Final Three Months.

--US Federal Appeals Court Rejects Bid To Block Arizona Controversial Immigration Law Component.

--Rising Home Prices Positive Sign For Rebound Of Housing Industry; New Home Sales For August A Big flop.

--Ex-Prez Clinton raises $2 Billion At Philanthropic Summit.

--Pakistani Islamist Accuses US Prez Of Religious War On Muslims.

--Worlds Largest Oil Trade Vitol Bucks Sanctions Against Iran.

--Fed's QE3 Could Produce Lackluster Christmas Sales.

--Feds Crack Down On California Marijuana Shops.

--Greek Public Employees Continue To Protest Country's Debt Fix.

New reports show that American manufacturing will grow to the tune of 5 million new jobs over the next 10 years as Globalized industry equalizes the levels of the competitive seas. That means

I look at liberal and conservative as separate defining political classifications, with little relevance to the true definitions of Democrats and Republicans.

Iran President Ahmadinejad's call yesterday for a new world order where the super powers disappear and "...all countries have equal standing," seems quite similar to what is believed to be the main trust driving President Obama's apology campaign. In addition, some might say that 0-man has abandoned Israel, which is in lock step with the Iranian president who also said, "The state of Israel will soon become a historical footnote. Hey, I just read the comments and report them accurately. You don't have to make up stuff.

Liberals are probably pretty good people if only they could get over hating so much.

Ok Punsters, do you think the following from this morning's comic strip -- Mother Goose and Grimm -- is funny: Mother goes to the doctor complaining of intense anxiety after driving her three pets to the vet The doc replies, "I think you have a case of Carpool Kennel Syndrome! Bada bing!

The Conscience: Chapter 8 Continues. --

   Even in his physically diminished state, it didn't take Jeff long to reach the busy Genoa waterfront. He bought a cold Coca Cola from a street vendor, which actually surprised him. It would do nothing for his shakes but was perfect fro his dry mouth. He reached into his pocket and felt one of the three small bottles he place there before walking out the door. There aren't many Saint Bernard's in the area, so it's always good to be prepared, he thought to himself. he watched a couple of Fishermen in a bright orange and yellow boat try to untangle some netting.

  Jeff's musings were interrupted by sight of a beautiful Italian woman in a black business style suit walking by. His eyes followed her every movement until she turned a corner and was out of sight. he looked around the working waterfront and wondered what sometime like that perfectly designed inhabitant of his earth was doing on these murky decaying docks.

  He moved a little faster now, hoping to catch a view of his new dream woman as he neared the corner of the giant warehouse. There was nothing. His heart, that creative heart of a dreamer dropped into his stomach for a moment, as his eyes raised from where he thought she would be to the sign on the large building: Baglietto Panfilos". Well I'll be damned he said to himself. 

  Jeff walked over to the building as if looking for clues to his meeting tomorrow. But there was nothing but windows and doors. What was he expecting to find. A conspiracy written on the walls. As he neared the window he heard one of the doors open, and in broken English, "Can I help you with something?" Jeff turned to see a large, stony faced man staring at him. No smile, no emotions. Just a glare. Jeff shrugged his shoulders and turned away. Why did he talk to me in English, he thought.

For this weeks simple recipe, I'm thinking of one that takes a lot of patience but is mouthwatering delicious. Place your largest frying pan over medium heat and add about two table spoons of butter. ( Note, I have been known to add butter during the process.) Now get out your potato peeler and previously peeled Maine or Rhode Island potatoes (No Idaho's Please!) and go to work slicing paper thin pieces and spreading them around the pan. Let the first layer simmer til brown and turn it over, and add another layer but not totally covering the first. In a second pan fry some eggs over easy. In a third pan cook some good quality link sausage. Flip the mass of potatoes over to brown the top of the second layer. When they look good to your eye, they are done.

Place six inch squares of the potatoes on the plate and put two eggs on top. Garnish well with sausage. tell the kids they can have some if they wash the frying pans!

The Answer:

1. Lewis Carroll coined that word to describe the combination of a snort and chuckle for Through the Looking Glass. Let's see, "Liberals in Wonderland" chortling away. Hmm, kind of paints a nice picture. 2. Caviezel is the star of the rather ingenious "Person of Interest" He first came to fame playing Jesus in Mel Gibson's picture The Passion of Christ. He was also Bobby Jones in Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius. Wow! Jesus Christ and Bobby Jones. It doesn't get any better than that for christian golfer. Some of his other roles are Detective Sullivan in Frequency and Catch in Angel Eyes.

So, how about the Ann Romney...Chortle, Chortle, Chortle.

It appears to me that the Democrats have done a pretty good job of convincing Republicans to worry more about The Mittster's campaigning than get voting out the President. But that is a good strategy, isn't it -- get the opposition to take their eyes off the ball. Wake up Republicans. It's President Obama's second term we're worried about.

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Anything goes USA.

Today's Tids Issue #2,676

Opening Stuff:

The finish to last night's Packers-Seattle game may have NFL Commish Goodell running down to Ref Union headquarters with an "Anything you want" contract in his hand. That might be a possible scenario if it weren't for a couple of prominent conspiracy theories floating around the Tids press room. 1. The regular refs are paying the replacements to look stupid. 2. Las Vegas odds makers are covering the losses of poker playing and first NFL female ref Shannon Eastin who is a regular on the LV circuit. And the real reason Goodell shouldn't cave is because pensions for part time workers is dumb as hell, and would be a bad precedent for all of sports and society at large. Except of course for Cranston RI, where there Fireman Union's pact is the model for the Ref Union proposal.

It's now ok, it seems, to shoot the messenger! At least this messenger who should know better than to post anything from those serial "Must-read-and-must-pass-on-to-others" missives, which at times blight the cyber world. For about 2675 Tids, I have always held to the standard: "If it didn't originate in this depraved mind, don't publish it". And yesterday I was weak, and I caved, printing that piece about the inflated cost of Medicare in 2014. Which I would have known was wrong, if I had did my usual diligent research. So shoot away! I'll just bend over. It's a big target.

I see where the RI municipality giving Democrat Congressman Cicilini the greatest percentage do votes was Newport. It must have been because he buys paintings from famous Newport artists. Yup that must be it because it certainly couldn't have been becasue he is honest and forthright.

The Question:
Did he or didn't he make the catch?
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl--seahawks-rb-marshawn-lynch-stunned-at-replay-of-controversial-final-play-monday-night.html;_ylt=Ak.vNUup5fn4gVAxn.YWa0w5nYcB;_ylu=X3oDMTQ0MTY0dXFwBG1pdANGRUFUVVJFRCBNZWdhdHJvbiBTUE9SVFMgRlAEcGtnA2U0MTA2ZTc4LWRiYzctMzU3ZS1iMTdkLWRhYTcyN2EwNTk1YgRwb3MDMQRzZWMDbWVnYXRyb24EdmVyAzU1MDYzNzkzLTA3MzgtMTFlMi1iZmIwLTI3ZWVkMzhhMTlhNA--;_ylg=X3oDMTFpNzk0NjhtBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANob21lBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25z;_ylv=3

The Headlines:
--Market Down As End Of Third Q Nears; Are Investors Peeling Off Profit As Possibility For Negative Q4 Grows?
--Ahmadinejad Says Prospects Of Israel Strike Are Minimal; Implies That Iranians Are Smart Enough Not To Like Consequences; Says If Israel Strikes Them, US Will Be Blamed.
--Obama Will Condemn Muslim Film, Extreme Islamic Groups In UN Talk Today.
--Restoring Spain Finances Critical To Over Exposed German Banks.
--US 2012 SAT Scores Plummet; Reading Dips To New Lows.
--Apple Stock Price Down On Lower Than Expected IPhone5 Sales; Demand Outpaced Production.

Many legitimate Pollsters including several Democrats who worked on Clinton and Carter campaigns say that the only way to understand the reality of reported Presidential polls is to go to the "Real Clear Politics" averages. I have used this site often over the years and find it to be the least biased and most accurate source of political information. You can make up your own opinions instead of those with the priniting press. If you don't already know it or use it, check out http://www.realclearpolitics.com/?state=nwa

Things are looking up for Providence RI economic development as it was acknowledged in this morning's paper to be a major Heroin distribution center. Apparently heroin suppliers like our restaurants and cultural centers.

I use two harbingers to help me anticipate the nearness of Winter. One is when I start wearing long pants agian and the other is when I stop going sock-less. So far I have done neither, and don't expect to for a while.

God bless that wonderful White House which is now admitting that the Libya assassinations were the result of planned Islamic aggression, and saying it like it was their thoughts all along. It's like in Football when a player nudges another and the refs catch the other player retaliating, and that is what people remember. The fact that Obama and his minions were entirely wrong in the beginning, and  seemed in fact to be covering up the truth, will be disregarded by the masses and, more important, our vigilant descendants of John Peter Zenger.

This morning on a radio program, Anne Coulter called RI a communist nation, when saying that even this place with barely a Republican to be seen, thought Voter ID was a good idea.

For years I have been looking at ads for the Bose Wave radio and they were always the same. I guess I thought that Mr. Bose felt his initial offering was perfection and saw no need to have like BW 2, BW 2.3, BW 4s...et, all. But today I actually saw an ad for the Bose that said "New and improved." Mine still plays fine.

Any of you who like going to the Tids Blog site have probably been disappointed since August 24 with the lack of new postings. I have been thinking of redesigning the area, and while thinking I lost sight of the main Idea, which is to refresh all of the time. I'm loading up now and might even put back in a month or so worth of this mess.

The Answer:
I think that the interception was made, as almost all who saw the play. Actually the controversy is great cover for the way the  Green Bay Packers offensive line blew their pass projection, almost getting Arron Rogers killed several times..

Rhode Island: The Heroin, Voter ID, Bad Labor Agreements State. That's a good slogan for the Economic Development Commission.

Here's the deal... You know you don't like President Obama. You aren't sure you like Romney. Romney can't make the country any worse. Vote for Romney. What do you have to lose? Nothing except the love of NBC, CBS, ABC, The Washington Post and the NY Times. Life isn't that tough when you break it all down to it simplest terms.

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Rise up and feel the glorious chill.

Today's Tids Issue #2,675

Opening Stuff:

Well...no longer do we have late summer Falling rains, but falling leaves in the season after summer. Where hope does quite spring eternal as the fierce disruptions of winter are close behind. Yes, Fall is here. I like to call the month Rise, as we get to enjoy the coolness of good sleeping nights and not wakening to stifling summer morns. Let's all hail Rise. Au, tum-thin's awry here, isn't it you rascally rabbit?

The merger of the two safe companies was a good combination.

President Obama in a pure political rant decried Congress for taking off for campaigning without doing anything. 0-man hasn't done anything but campaign for the last one and a half years. Or...is that 3 and 1/2 years! Unless you call, stifling congressional creative solutions to dire national problems doing something.

The Question:

Bonus day: 1. When were the first Emmy's awarded? Who were the first winners?  Bonus: What was Felix Mendelssohn's last name?

The Headlines:
--Gas Prices begin To trickle Down.
--Muslim Protests Show No Sign Of easing.
--Schnediker Wins Big In FedEx Finale.
--Apple Could Be Worth $1 Trillions By End Of year.; Technology Observers Say Public Can't Go Wrong With Either Apple Or Droid Based Products.
--Upsets Continue In NFL Weekend.
--Homeland.Danes Big Emmy Winners.
--Obama, Romney Trade Jabs; President Lets Worful Media Carry His Water.
--SNL Skewers Ann Romney.

What we need is somebody to invent ice cream containers that get smaller as you eat it. Two or three containers with a couple of delectable scoops remaining take up a lot of space, discouraging rotating new flavors in. Why not package Ice cream in containers resembling bagged coffee? Maybe I should just keep this a secret and make money with the idea. Although, there could be one problem with what may become the terrible shrinking ice cream container -- other people can tell when you sneak into the fridge at midnight for a spoonful or two. 

In case you're interested, in Beethoven's violin sonatas the violin often sounds like an intrusion upon the piano. But, that's just me.

Finding gruesome, maimed dead bodies in Mexico just doesn't seem to be news anymore. How sad is that. 47,000 human beings dead, and there is no visible outrage. It's a damned shame. 

It's hard to figure why any senior would vote for the incumbent knowing that Medicare premiums will go from the current $104.20 to $120.20 in 2013 and under ObamaCare in 2014 -- $247 per month. Ouch. Remember that government workers, union members, women, blacks, Hispanics, gays and illegal immigrants are seniors too. But, they'll all still vote for 0-Man anyhow.

FaceBook lies! For about 3 or 4 years now I keep getting emails from FB saying I have notifications for my anemic account. And every time I get curious, the answer is always -- "You have 0 notifications" So they get a hit for there investors and I get disappointed. Thus, the new frustrations of a social connection culture. 

I appreciate the creativity, but I just can't fathom the need for soft close toilet seats.

As long as President Obama and Harry Reid maintain power, the US will be stifled. 

The Conscience: Chapter 8 continues.  --

   The shower magically transformed the blob that oozed across the bedroom floor to the bathroom into something resembling a human. I stood there nude using the towel to wipe the steam away from the mirror. Not as fat as I should be, I thought. The eyes are always the telltale sign. Mine told a lot of tales, and were easily read. Fear and loathing of self. It was a bad combination. I stared into those eyes, which I should know be now was always a bad idea. I never saw my eyes, but only the eyes in the alley. Only the lifeless eyes of a beautiful woman, crushed by me. I put my hands on the sink counter and grasped the edge to temper the shaking I knew would now take me into a black hole. I wanted to rush to the Mini-bar and drink every bottle in sight. Instead I gripped harder. Go away, I screamed. My own noise startled me. I inhaled. I looked around as if to anticipate people running in to see what was wrong. There was nothing except intense silence. I picked up the towel and wiped the sweat from my face. I didn't look back into the mirror. I wrapped the towel around me and walked into the bedroom to put on clothes. 

   I walked out of my glamorous, much too rich for me, Hotel Melia Genova into the sunshine and felt like I had escaped from prison. I had a day to get sober before tomorrow's meeting and I was wondering if Jace arranged the trip with a day off for that reason. Probably.

  Jeffery Morgan walked down the Via Corsica towards the Harbor,  about ten minutes away. He didn't see the woman in a black, smartly tailored suit step out of a coffee shop, look both ways and begin following him.

The Answer: 1. The first winner was for Outstanding Personality in the LA Only first ceremony in 1949: Shirley Dinsdale. A made for TV Movie The Necklas and Best TV Show Pantomine Quiz also won. In 1950 the first National Emmy's were awarded. Best Shows were Texaco Star Theater and Ed Wynn Show. Best TV Stars were Ed Wynn and Milton Berle.   Bonus: Mendelssohn's full name was Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendlessohn Bartholdy. Say what? Mendelssohn's dad Abraham was a well known German Jewish banker who had a major role in breaking Napoleon's continental blockade. Bad idea. Fearing revenge the family moved from Hamburg to Berlin. disguise and went into hiding. The family renounced the Jewish religion and were baptized Lutherans, adopting the Bartholdy surname, which was the name of his aunt, Felix's mom Lea's sister.

With all of this focus on Droid and Apple, just where does this leave Microsoft?

How can it not be a great week!

Saturday Night Live sounds like one gigantic Obama commercial.

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