"Uncle" is Freedom's nemesis.

Today's Tids Issue 2,853

Opening Stuff:

 

While the stock market has doubled since the mega dip, it was reported today that Americans have only gained back 63% of their wealth. It's the ole trickle down process all over again. The insider Street buys and sells at the absolute computer determined highs and lows while the consumer investor gets what's left over after the shrunken highs , bonuses and fees. And remember, 63% is the "average", meaning there are plenty way below wondering why they aren't just "staying even" considering all of the positive dynamics of the markets. It is a movie that could be called "The Illusionist: Now you see, now you don't".

I was fascinated with that pic yesterday of "O", Rice and UN Ambassador nominee Power walking in Huggy style to the press conference in the Rose Garden. It had the telltale signs of a new Kumbaya war effort policy. BTW, did you know that Power is married to a guy named Cass Sustain who advocates allowing animals to sue, and describes pet ownership as a new form of slavery? Yes, this Samantha Power who is a suspect picker of rational husbands and now potentially our representative at the UN, also once compared US actions abroad to those of Adolph Hitler. Yup, she's one of those. So, I guess in time of war the three will sit on the Oval Office carpet and hug before sending out Susan to deny that there is a war..."It's just one enormous Hollywood set. Don't worry, the President loves you".

Last night, the band, Government Mule, was in town for a concert on the docks. I always thought it was the agency of the IRS responsible for moving cocaine from Mexico to NYC.

The Question:

One of the great universal questions is, "Which do you like best Peppermint, Spearmint or Wintergreen?" Which do you think is most favored. If you tell me yours, I'll tell you mine.

The Headlines:

--Washington Post Reports that US Gov Has Tapped Into Servers Of Companies  Like Google, FaceBook To Gain Access To Emails, Photos, Personal Data.

--Gold Battered, Dollar Back, Oil Up: Stock Market Trying To End Week On High; Likes May Jobs Report; Dow Up 174 At 1:00..

--Contractor Involved In Philly Building Collapse Had Long Criminal Record; Had been Known as Philly's "Porn King."

--Syria Spillover Into Gaza Has Israel Nervous; Israel Also Concerned Over Naming Of Samantha Power To UN..

--President Obama To Meet With China's Xi This Weekend.

--Bronx NY Woman Pleads Guilty To Newtown Fundraising Fraud.

--Correction: Paris Jackson Did Not have An Overdose As Some Earlier Reports Said; She Attempted Suicide.

Because of Lyndon Johnson, we need smoking again, Department:

Smoking is the answer, and I'm sure in the future we'll see that there will be research showing that a butt a day will not only keep the doctor away but create an economic boomlet and save America from default. Of course, we all know that smoking is the answer to the so-called Obesity problem, maybe the best diet formula of all time. I think that the effect of smokers on the medical expense situation is a myth. Overweight people tax the medical industry all the time beginning at younger ages. Smokers start showing up in wards later and die faster. Becasue of that, they most probably average less total Social Security payments than any given class. So smoking may just be the answer to the problem of a disappearing Social Security Trust Fund. The answer to the greatest theft in American History, LBJ's raiding of the sacred trust.

I probably saw every Esther Williams movie ever made. I can't remember one single plot. Was there ever a plot? I remember bathing suits and great smile. She always seemed like a real nice person...with a great bathing suit.

It's been noted that Bill Gates is often seen in cashmere because he likes software.

Connecticut's Governor just signed a bill setting the minimum wage at $9:00. It wasn't too long ago that people making $10 bucks thought they were doing ok. The way this economy is changing, it won't be too far into the future when the declining average earned wage will be approaching the growing minimum wage. Once again, government intrusion is beginning to interfere with the natural dynamics of a free economy.

Yesterday the New York Times wrote, "(Obama) has been caught overreaching the use of his powers," The traditionally liberal paper went on to say, "...to casually permit this surveillance -- with the American Public having no idea that the executive branch is exercising this power -- fundamentally shifts power between the individual and the state, and repudiates constitutional principles governing search, seizure and privacy." Scared yet?

You have to hope that the UN before Samantha Power's name means Un-designate her for Ambassador.

Billy Graham wrote this prayer at the age of 93 which includes some pretty sage views of the current US culture and thought process. Think first, about the words in the bible, "Woe to those who call evil good." Now consider these thoughts from Graham:"We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed the unborn and called it choice. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment." Hey, what more can I say.

When you think about it, legally speaking what you put in FaceBook could be considered part of your brain and off limits to any further iteration by snooping governments, colleges or employers. Of curse, it doesn't say much about that brain which would pour out all of it's inner most private thoughts for the world to see. 

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:

--Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson have been good together (Wedding Crashers) and I think they will be again in this very funny comedy and perhaps the family favorite of the year -- The Internship. In it two salesmen without jobs try for an internship with Google. As misfits in the nerd world, the two connive and charm there way around the challenges of the internship competition, hopefully to become the winners of a permanent job.

--The Purge is supposed to be a commentary on today's society. It is a weird premise in that the government declares that for a 12 hour period all crimes including murder and rape are legal! Obviously this is not a good thing. And frankly, this is not a good movie. It will be annoying.

--In the documentary, Dirty Wars, investigative journalist Jeremy Scahill of The Nation  is pulled into an unexpected journey as he chases down the hidden truth behind America's expanding  covert wars. He is a pretty liberal guy, and his views are pretty much against anything hawkish and he concerned that "O" is creating some dangerous precedents to possibly leave in the hands of a Republican like Rubio or Christie. He thinks terrorism is low on the list of threats against the US, with the decline of the economy being the biggest threat of all to the America we knew.

The Answer:

I have looked at plenty of mini research venues about the three flavors and as far as I can see, Spearmint comes out on top. I'm a little surprised because I always thought Peppermint was the standard. I mean Charlie Browns pal isn't Spearmint Patty. Actually Wintergreen came up high and was generally neck and neck with Spearmint. I too personally prefer the S and W over the P.

The first hurricane is coming our way,

So it's kind of an ugly, gloomy day.

And I, unfortunately, just cannot stay

Cause I have no more words to say.

Have a great weekend and don't dilute.

This just in: It has been reported that while the US Government was infiltrating the files of major Internet Company Servers, they corrupted the Yahoo email Spell-Check. Now we know.