Through the amber brew.

Today's Tids Issue 2,915

Opening Stuff:

 

Its the last weekend of official summer.
So enjoy the time down; get a little silly.
Have a few beers, hot dogs with chile
And try to forget the market's a bummer!

The McProtest currently going on for higher wages is typical of the new America without a value added economy -- pay me because I want it, regardless if can be supported by economics 101. I guess it comes from the success unions have found getting increases in the public sector where there is no economic reality.

In order to keep this morning mess lively and current, I often look into the more popular cultural rages. You never have to look far to find the latest teen idol singer or group, with one of the hot one's today being the five boy group One Direction. To me, they don't seem much different than any other assemblage of cute boy singers designed to titillate the passions of teen girls. The screams were definite belying the quality of the singing, nor the song itself. I think they hire screamers. So I'm thinking that I'll get a couple of classrooms of 11-14 year old girls an pay them to scream while I read segments of the Tids. I'll upload it to YouTube and make millions from interviews on Anderson, Katie and Ellen. The good thing about this is that the typos don't show when you are reading.

The Question:
Here's a bunch of movie questions to tax your celluloid memories. Which actor was the first choice to play the role of Benjamin Braddock in The Graduate? Which husband and wife team starred in Long Hot Summer? Which actreess played the 24 year old woman at the center of the 16 year old boy's desires in Summer of 42? What ws the name of the movie where Marilyn Monroe tempted faithful family man and neighbor Tom Ewell while his family was away fro the summer? What movie featuring an amazing beauty and a lascivious man on vacation established a new rating system for women? Who were the three actresses who kept Matt Dillon hopping form bed to bed in Wild Things? What movie is generally considered the all-time "Steamiest" summer movie?

The Headlines:
--UK Parliament Rejects Cameron's Plea To Join US In Syria.
--France Says It Won't Back Down From Syria Strike After Britain "No" Vote.
--Consumer Spending Mostly Stagnant In July.
--Good Economic Numbers Improve Outlook For Stocks; New Unemployment Bennies Applicants Fall By 6K.
--NFL To Pay $750 Mil To Settle Concussion Lawsuits.
--Stocks Inert On Last Day Of August, Summer Trading.
--Sports World Awaits News Of Tim Tebow's Future With Pats.

Correction: I have been informed by one of our more astute preservers of the political scene that President's Bush were both ask to speak but declined due to health situations. George Jr, sent a written congratulation. Much too often these days ideological zeal turns half truths into dogma.

Ooooooh! Don't mess with the NCAA because they can be really, really tough. Yesterday it was revealed that Cover Boy Johnny Manziel received a suspension for two whole quarters of the first game for making money signing autographs. With teen girls screaming uncontrollably in the background as he struts in Aggieland, I guess the solons at the temple of college sports didn't want the screamers attacking their headquarters.

I like it when the stock market is judged mainly by real economic numbers instead of whims of traders. Of course, when the market tanks it's a lot like saying, "I was right," after a car running red light broadsides you at an intersection. These days you have to look both ways and beyond the real signals.

How do I get a portion of the NFL concussion money? What better proof of mindlessness can I offer than the inanity of the Tids?

Irony Department:
Paula Dean returned to TV in an episode of Master Chef (Taped before her mess) Wednesday, the day the country celebrated MLK's triumphant speech. Personally, I think King would have been more forgiving than some of the race-baiters of today.

Did you hear that somebody is trying to introduce a strawberry flavored beer? What ever happened to hops and malt? This is just one more example of an un-contented populace being easy prey for promoters.

Oh yeah, and a lawyer in Boston is preparing a class action lawsuit against FaceBook, claiming it is an addiction harmful to the unsuspecting users trapped within its pages, giving away their privacy for friendship of people they will never know. It's going to be tougher and tougher to keep up with the world during the next ten to twenty years I may be around. As one guy said to me yesterday, "I'm glad I'm old."

Reading Through the Lines Movie Reviews:
--Note: I reviewed Closed Circuit Yesterday,. Worth the time.
--Getaway looks like an over the top chase movie where a race car driver commandeers a custom Shelby Cobra Mustang and sets out on a race against time to save his kidnapped wife. It stars, Ethan Hawke, Selena Gomez and Jon Voight. I won't be going.
--I also proably will not see Afternoon Delight where a house wife who has everything material but little in excitement nor a good sexual relationship, decides to visit a strip club to spice up her life. There she meets a young woman and becomes obsessed with saving her from that seedy life,. She brings her home as a nanny and the humor begins. It stars Kathryn Hahn, Juno Temple, Josh Raynor and Jane Lynch.

How about that Kim Jong Um? Talk about a bad date! Last week he rounded up twelve actors and entertainers including his old girl friend (Who he had to cast aside after dad said Non No, not her) and before all of their friends had them executed! The twelve were accused of making sex tape starring each other and trying to sell it it. I guess Kim wanted a share of the profit.

The Answer:
It was decided Robert Redford looked like he may have been too experienced with girls! Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward were a great duo. Jennifer O'Neil had Gary Grimes panting. Somehow Ewell wrestled successfully against the "Seven Year Itch". Of course "Ten" is the new standard for perfection. Theresa Russell, Naomi Campbell and Denise Richards kept Matt's head spinning. Can any redblooded man ever forget Kathleen Turner's debut in "Body Heat"?

I've got to get back into the novel, and I will start again this weekend, which if my mind resets and turns over should start a nice cycle of provocative reading for you all.

If beer tasters rated their brews the way the stock market rates stocks, it wouldn't be about taste at all.

Are graphic designers ruling the world?

So, this is it for another summer. Enjoy the weekend and have a bratwurst on me.

Money buys you nothing.

Today's Tids Issue 2,914

Opening Stuff:

The black leadership yesterday spent a lot of time celebrating MLK's amazing speech and talking about equality and full and thorough integration. Yet they asked two Democrat Presidents to talk but not GW who probably would have given a sincere, heartfelt and important speech. Is the black population prejudice against a major portion if the US? Are they just one gigantic politician movement instead of one that promotes integration among a people with varying talents and differences; goals and ambitions? Is the leadership stereotyping their own people?

I'm seeing a nice, beautiful and cold Winter on the horizon. The only thing I'll miss about summer is not being able to wear shorts all of the time.

There's an old expression around these parts, especially among former boat owners: "Like pouring money into a hole in the water." Today I read a headline about URI receiving a grant of $1.3 Mil to train teachers. Under-trained teachers is not the problem with education. It's clearly the educatees. The desire or even inclination for too many students to learn seems non existent in too many school districts. The teachers for the most part are very smart and excellent at what they do. But, the fact remains that the learning process begins at home. It's not about money, it is all about a positive environment in homes of all ethnic groups and races.

Car dealer Owner-Spokespersons must have closets full of energy drinks, or else they are just basically "fast talkers".

The Question:

Who are Eric Wynalda, Brian McBride, Joe max Moore, Clint Dempsy, Landon Donovan, Bruce Murray, Jozy Attidor, Eddie Johnson, Ernie Stewart and Demarcus Beasely.

The Headlines:

--US GDP Growth Rate Surprises Predictors; Second Quarter Hits Stronger 2.5% Rate; Increased Exports Driving Economy; News May Hasten Fed's Wind Down Of Stimulus And Desultant Stock Decline.

--US Officials Say That (Despite Joe Biden) There Is Still Doubts About Whether Assad Ordered Use Of Gas.

--Britain's Lawmakers Urge Cameron To Slow Down On Syria Action; US Congress Demanding Constitutional Right Of Approval.

--330/400 MacWorkers March In NYC Demanding $15.Hour.

--Firefighters Shut Down More Roads In Yosemite As Touruists Gear Up For Labor Day Visit.

--Many US Schools Dropping More Costly Government Lunch Program.

--Bus Accdent In Kenya Kills 41 Travelers.

The best comment I have heard in regards to this Syria standoff is why not drop a bomb or two on Assad's house instead of hitting gas storage sites which may result in dangerous gas emissions across a region.. Put a couple of stains into Assad's underwear and maybe he'll see the wisdom of waving a white flag and scurrying off to Iran  or Russia. Works for me.

I had the chance to go to the movies yesterday afternoon, and saw a pretty good English tale about a mass bombing in London and the tense environment surrounding the trial of the al-Qaida like bomber. I can't tell you a lot becasue it would reveal too much of a the plot full of twists. Needless to say, it will hold your attention. It's from the Director who gave us "Tailor, Tinker..." The only problem I had was that the theater was much too cold.

Does Mayor Bloomberg Have Clear, Smooth, Creamy Skin, Department:

Frankly, smooth skin has never been a personal goal of mine, and after reading the list below of what it takes to get there, I exclaim : "Bring on the wrinkles!". To get creamy smooth skin it is recommended by Bloomberg's Urban Torture Supervisor that you give up or reduce dramatically the intake of Salt, Sugar, Coffee, Alcohol, Red Meat, White bread/Pasta, Spicy Foods, Hot Dogs/Cold Cuts, Soda and Trans Fats. That sounds like a chapter from Dante's Inferno! 

Today is a clear example of what makes the Stock market so harrowing for small investors. For several years now we have been looking for numbers that indicate at last a real turnaround from the 2007/08 disaster. And today we got that nice boost in GDP rise, only to see the moguls look at it as a sign of the Fed retreating from a "Free" money economic shell game. That's what happens when monolithic entities get into the free enterprise system. Reality goes jumps off te Empire State Building.

You may think I'm a little daft watching so much of America's Got Talent. In fact if I didn't like writing about the talent in the Wednesday Tids, I'd just watch the entire Wednesday program where they show all of the acts minus the histrionics of Nick and the Judges. As it is, I rarely watch anything but the talent on Tuesday as I have become adept at changing channels between the Red Sox and AGT. What I do for you! I was petty happy with the voting, but still think Finley should be in teh finals. better than most singers on any talent show.

How much money does the US Gov pour into empty holes requiring nothing in return. Consider, among thousands of examples, Egypt getting a billion with no rules to govern it, or Americans getting government housing with no guidelines requiring that the housing be kept clean. Or, to giant Wall Street Banks to spend freely on new and riskier ventures. I'd rather own a boat.

Red meat may wrinkle my skin, but it will keep my mind sharper...except perhaps at spelling.

Ultimate PC, Department:

The Haughty NY Times has made a corporate decision to call Pvt. Bradley Manning "Chelsea" in all stories going froward. No wonder NY'ers are so out of touch. A lot of people call him traitor.

The Answer:

In the Tids continuing effort to keep you apprized of the new emerging cultures of the US we have given you the names of the nations highest scoring US professional soccer players. They aren't Babe Ruth, Ben Hogan, Bronco Nagurzki, Bobby Orr or Bob Cousy yet, but they will be the names recalled nostalgically by the grandchildren of the current newly weds. Get used to it.

Modern America has become a never ending series of fads. No longer a nation yearning to be free. but one looking to be controlled and stimualted by publicists and promoters. The latest definition of our current cultural growth centers around endless designer hamburgers. I'll take fries on mine.

One of the best burger joints in the country has to be Bossman Burger here in the Newport area. Feeling hungry yet?

Nothing can go right in the Middle East.

Today's Tids Issue 2,913

Opening Stuff:

 

It was eerie, this morn around six. Standing there upon what are normally green rolling hills, vast uncluttered beauty so often an early dawning landscape, like a nineteenth century painting. I was alone in a comforting fog. Horns on land, and on ships plowing up and down the bay, warned whoever and whatever needed to be warned. The sounds of rumbling work boats and giant tankers carried through the low hanging mist, emitted comforting vibrations through the dense air; like a gentle touch from magic fingers. All sounds were magnified by the silence, rustling reeds by the salt creeks; rippling waves from a duck scampering into the air lapped the shore. I was there and nobody new it. It was a perfect new day, but there was no dawn.

Do you get the sense that the new morality seems to be based on the number of tweets rather than whether it is right or wrong.

The Question:
How many minutes of MLK's "Dream" speech were ad lib? What well known singer of the day was said to have prompted the ad lib with the words "Tell them about the dream, Martin..."

The Headlines:
--US Celebrates Fiftieth Anniversary Of "Dream" Speech."
--Iran Boosts Uranium Enrichment Capacity.
--US Missile Attack On Chemical Weapon Sites Could Be Environmental And Heath Disaster.
--Israel Readies Military For Syrian Reaction To US Missile Strike.
--Syria Situation Brings Caution To Wall Street; Housing Recovery Shows Signs Of Slowing.
--UN Preparing For Showdown Over Syria.
--Fore In Yosemite Continues To Spread While Containment Increases.
--Joblessness Among Blacks And Hispanics Horrendous.
--Providence College Women Cross Country Team Named #1 In Country.

America's Got Talent, Department:

Well, the most impressive act of the night took place in Fenway Park where a four year old girl Darla Holloway, held in her mother's arms because she has acute lymphoblastic Leukemia, sang, I mean belted out, God Bless America. Talk about smiling through tears, and 37,000 fans in stunned awe........... And then I flicked back to AGT in time to see Howie Mandel pontificating. This was the first night of semis, and some acts trying to step it up, didn't. First, I have to say Jonathon Allen sang a very nice and emotional "Bring Hi Home" from Les Miz, becasue crass Howie didn't think it was loud enough., implying that America doesn't like soft and caring. I thought he was good. Dave Fenley is very good, but mediocre last night. Left me flat. Cami Bradley is Excellent and did it again with a unique version of Elvis' "I will always love you". Forte is very good and just kept on rolling along. The fifth singing act, Tone and Chiefrocca should not have been on the stage, and hopefully won't be again. On the comic side, Taylor Williamson captured the audience and Judges, while Angela Hoover who I like  and who does great impressions, is not that funny. I had trouble getting into Catapults story and they weren't as good as usual. The girls of Innovative Force were energetic and daring but all over the place while the beautiful Duo Resonance got caught in the box. Then there is Collins Key -- His trick worked but it was tedious, and he was disappointing. A lot of people like him including me. Will people vote for him on past performances? That is key, perhaps for Allen and another pre-semis fave Catapult. Cami and Forte are locks and probably Williamson too. The other three will come from Allen, Collins, Hoover, Catapult and Fenley.

Sorry I took so long with AGT.

It makes me feel like I am part of an American culture, which because of all the continuous news channels pre-conflict talk on Syria will tire of the "War" before Obama makes a decision to fire the first missile. Got to get back to shakin' that booty, ya know.

Think about all of the weirdness that would be normalzed in the US of A if we did everything based on the number of tweets.

Have you noticed how people tend to gravitate to the newest and thinnest tablet, and then put them in cases that make them as thick as an  old laptop?

Uh-Oh! Joe "The Plagiarist" Biden has announced unequivocally that Assad is responsible for unleashing the killer gas on his people. Joe Biden of all people is the only person who has said he knows for sure what happened. It must be somebody else's Joe Biden. We couldn't be gong to war based on what our Joe knows.  Could we?

Want to make a lot of money? Invite Joe Biden to a poker game.

NJ's Christie just keeps on being honest and that just seems to irritate more and more Repubs and the conservative branch in particular. We have to get back to governing for the people, and not for the party. The US works better that way.

If you think government is bad today, think about how awful it would be if we elected people with Tweets? Some people who advocate a direct democracy are essentially saying let the folks vote with their phones. Shoot me.

The Answer:
The Kingster would ad lib 10 minutes of a planned 7 minute speech after hearing Mahlia Jackson shout "Tell em' about your dream, Martin, tell em' about your dream. IUt was then that he shoved his papers aside, nodded to Mahalia and looked over the sea of 250,000 faces and said in those wonderful, eloquent tones of his, "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal'." "I had a dream..."

The only thing good about the tweet is that rhymes with the word sweet.

Words that haunt.

Today's Tids Issue 2,912

Opening Stuff:

This Syrian thing is a quandary, especially considering that Russia has a stake in the game. Even yesterday, Putin told Cameron of the UK that there is no proof that the gas attack was sponsored by Damascus. Talking tough about Red lines  sounds like a nice political move at first, that is before it becomes a journey into the proverbial rock and a hard place. Without action after the much heralded promise, in this new era of bitter ideology disputes the Prez was naturally lambasted by the Repubs. In his response to that we now are on a precipice a war that could easily ooze out beyond the borders of Syria. You have to figure that al-Qaida would welcome an attack on Assad, an attack that would create a vacuum in yet another Middle East State. That region is much too unstable to be a pawn in US internal politics. There are too many countries that rely on the oil. It's become a choice between stability offered by despotic regimes and the freedom of peoples, against the economic necessities of countries well beyond the border of this tinderbox. And of course, the incessant pursuit of world domination by Islamic fundamentalists. It is a predicament indeed.

Watch out! -- a devious little tax plan from the mind of our Governor Chafee-Lite may be heading your way. I went to Verizon Saturday to check out a special offer for IPhones. When we asked about a "catch" to the 99 Cents phone we were told that the RI sales tax would apply to the manufacturers retail price of $550. Upon further investigation we learned that Chafee-Lite had a law passed that would tax all phones at full price regardless of discount incentives; Regardless of the fact that to get the reduced price phone you have to sign away your economic life for two years. Vermont and Connecticut have already asked RI for details and will soon introduce their programs. Is this the first step towards taxing all discounted goods at full manufacturers suggested retail price? Hey, we live in the era of governments out of control, over-promising self serving politicians without guts to face the nasty reality of real economics. Anything is possible. Representation of the people is fast becoming a ice little warm piece of nostalgia.

The Question:
Quick now -- name the two states that who's names begin with double consonants. Bonus: What is the difference between Horde and Hoard. Bonus II: You have to figure that comic strip artists have to make the decision whether to keep children the same age for eternity or allow them to grow old as the years pass. Which great comic strip has treated us to the growth in life of a couple and their family through the changing years from their marriage to their children's marriage and then grandchildren?

The Headlines:
--Stocks Tanking Early; Syria Conflict Potential Has Brokers Skitterish.
--Tensions High Has Obama Admin Weighs Next Syrian Move; Russia Warns That Any Use Of Force Would Have Catastrophic Consequences.
--Sgt. Ty Carter Praied For Medal Of Honor Heroics; Observers Compare Beauty Of Carter's Silent Courage With Crassness Of Cyrus Porn Performance, Asking -- Which America Do You Want.
--San Fran Water Supply Still Threatened By Enormous Yosemite Wild Fire.
--Afghan Taliban Continue To Kill; 12 Gov. Workers Killed Yesterday.
--Trump Says Obama May Be Behind Law Suit Against His "University".
--Bernice King Says Blacks Still Not Free; Statement Will Ignite New Investment In Race Industry.

Atlantic City was once in the early 20th century one of the great and upscale seaside resorts of our times. In effort promised by developers to bring it back and save it from deterioration, gambling was introduced. It wasn't too long thereafter when walking the streets of the once proud AC was a completely depressing event. It didn't take long for not only the old town to further deteriorate with poverty on the streets and prostitution in the alleys, and for some of the new gambling palaces to become seedy and uninviting. Now, in an a new effort to save the fast fading gambling mecca, Trump and other gambling moguls are offering the latest solution for salvation -- strippers! What's with America, anyhow? Are we destined to become the lowest common denominator country. Is vileness becoming the only remaining answer to economic growth. Miley Cyrus resorting to pornographic gyrations for fame as opposed to talent. Is this the new culture of permissiveness. Where raunch smothers right.

You know it's time to wash your glasses when everything looks clearer without them.

The Fort Hood massacre by an Islamic believer was an open and shut case from the first bullet and first utterance of "Allahu Akbar"! The hand wringers received all of the press while the reality as evident by pure logic got smothered in prejudicial journalism.

Here's how dumb journalists can be: They are continuing to ask, "when will the US attack Syria?". Do they think Washington should have told the Trenton town crier when  he was crossing the Delaware?  Lunkheads.

Every time I type the word "Ain't" in here I remember clearly all of the nickles I had to give my parents for saying it! They still make nickles, don't they?

Kids are smarter than we think, and I just don't mean academically. Last night on Jeopardy, the program's Teen Championship featured three 13 year old whizzes. One bright 8th grade girl when asked about her use of Twitter answered quickly that she didn't, "I don't get the point of it". A boy who claimed he wanted to be President some day, was asked what he would bring to the office. "After seeing or hearing about the past couple of decades," he started, "I would bring competence and accountability."

The Answer:
Hordes is used to descripe groups of people as in growing Hordes of Hoarders are perplexing to psychiatrists looking for new theories. Hoards applys to valuable goods as in hoards of gold are sought by hordes of pirates. Some say Hoard can be used with both good and people, but tradition says no. Bonus: Rhode Island and Florida are the only two states whos names begib with double consonants BonusII: For better or for Worse is that wonderful venerable comic stip that lets you grow tiwth the characters. It is actually right now as we speck just into its second go-around.

Bill Belichick might just be the best possible future President. He just never says anything that could get him in trouble or that could come back to haunt him. In fact, he just says nothing. It is what it is.

I just hate skitterish stock brokers, don't you.

Sweet.

Today's Tids Issue 2911

Opening Stuff:

Have you noticed that when you press shift "#1", you get an "#!". That must be when you are feeling good about yourself.

I rarely eat sweets (though I love them), so when I do it has to be special. A couple of nights ago I found perfection in a piece of homemade Ice Cream pie that is making forget all about Cheetos and rich, brown, creamy gravy.

Anton Dvorak's 8th Symphony has more nice, inventive little innuendos and unique compelling and imginative passages then just about any other I can think of. If I knew more about music I could explain it more clearly. It's like Anton anticipated what the listener would be expecting and he delivered fulfillment. Often some of the greats like Beethoven, Brahms and Schubert create themes that promise but under-deliver. I feel music, and I know I don't have to explain it techically to know when it does not reach my anticipations. Maybe that's why I always picked as my secret ambition, conductor of a symphony orchestra...to help people satisfy the cravings they may or may not realize they have, but will feel the contented exhaustion as they recede from the high of a perfect climax of notes and instrumants coming together down to numbing relaxation..

An artist with post nasel drip could be known as a Phlegmish painter.

The Question:
Personally, I think the so-called great chefs ruin more good food dishes than they improve. Much of it has to be this new wave of competitive celebrity cooking. Name the top five celb chefs. Bonus: I often try to write in the style of Elmore Leonard, mostly unsuccessfully, but the sarcasm always is bubbling nieth the surface. Elmore died Saturday and was working up to the last minute. What was this writer of numerous books, including "Get Shorty" made into a well received movie, working on for TV?

The Headlines:
--US Moves Ships Into Place Off Syria Awaiting More Info From UN On Gas Usage; UN Poison Experts Move To Alleged Death Site; Two Mortor Bombs Fall Near UN Hotel In Damascus.
--Huge Yosemite Fire Growing.
--Iraq Bombings Escalate Again.--Microsoft May Begin Journey Under New CEO That Would Dramatically Change Face Of Company.
--World Stocks Flat.
--Prez Chooses Severely Depressed Scranton PA To Talk About College Costs; Citizens There Wonder Why he Isn't Talking About Good Jobs.
--Muriel Siebert Dies; First Woman Member Of NYSE As Respected Stock Analyst.

Toray Plastics, a Japanese manufacturer of high tech films, is one of the biggest, more successful companies in RI. A year or so ago they threatened to leave if they were forced to use the very high cost "wind" generated power being promoted by assorted dingbat dreamers in Providence. Yesterday the company announced they would build their own $22 Million power plant to produce gas powered electricity. It's nice to contemplate life feeling warm and fuzzy sitting under widnmills as long as you don't have to pay for it.

In case you're interested, the five worst tax states for retirees are number 1 California followed by Conn, Iowa, Maine and Nebraska; Just in case you are lookin' around.

You know your breakfast was way too sweet when it takes several cups of bitter coffee to nuetralize the sugar.

Do you think potato salad season will ever end?

Watching a whale surface is pretty exciting, but I'd never pay to go on a whale watching trip.

The Industry of Lawyering may be the most self-serving of them all. They create impediments devoid of logic which only they can understand, and then they coerce people to call upon them to solve their predicaments. In fact, I b elieve it is a vast collusive conspiracy to steal the rational sides of humankind's brain. It is the ultimate conflict of interest. We all need to bind together a class lawsuit against lawyers, whcih no lawyer would take on, and in which all judges would recuse the selves. So there you have it a nutshell -- we're screwed.

I see where 4,000 ex football players are suing over concussions. I had saw so many stars from concussions as a injury prone kid that I thought I was a child actor in Holliwood. Who's coming to my aid. Where are all of the lawyers when you need them. Maybe we can creat a gigantic class action suit against God for allowing us to action our free wills.

I have wondered if guys like Dvorak sat down, and thought, "Well, Johann missed it big over there so I'm going to deliver over here.

Tennis fans are all a-twitter over the promise of the first serve in the upcoming US Tennis Championships at NYC's Forest Hills. It is the ultimate "Place-to-be-seen" spectacle with celebs and wannabees climbing over each other for front row seats. Somehow though, we get through the glitterazzi melee and good often great tennis survives. Frankly, I find all of that white hard on my retinas.

Speaking of "All-a-Twitter", the mighty Tids sports department is quivering as they anticipate the big new season of NFL Picks. The Tids has often been well ahead of the averages, and this year the boys and girls in the "Pick-um' Pit" are studying the preseason games like never before. The Giants are picked to win the NFC East, but this could be the year where the Cowboy's record may catchup with the talent. People are picking Seattle to oust SF at the top of the West, but a key factor may be an improving Rams. Andrew Luck is a year older and Indy could edge the favorite Houston in the AFC South. Everybody has been picking Denver, but they are much weaker all of a sudden  on defense with the suspension of Miller. Pitt is supposed to be rebounding and Baltimore receding, but I think the  experts may have missed the innate quality of the Ravens. The Pats are still a question mark in this pickers pea brain, but I don't believe the two teams that have tried the hardest, Buff and Miami, have improved enough. Green Bay and da Bears will battle it out and New Orleans with the return of coach Peton could be a factor in the division alrady ceded to the Atlanta Falcons. It's going to be fun, and I can hardly wait.

I don't expend a lot of energy worrying about detainees at Quantanamo, the next Batchelorette or what a president -- or for that matter any body but me -- does on vacation.

So now they have bulls running in the US. US promoters will over do it and screw up that tradition too.

The Answer:
Hey, let's not forget the past. Julia Child is still considered, coming in as #10. After her we have Gordon Ramsey at 9. the res are in order Nigella Lawson, Anthony Bourdain, Bobby Flay, Tom Collichio, Paula Dean (!), Mario Batali, Emerile Legasse and number #1 -- Wolfgang Puck. Bonus: Elmore is Exec Producer and creator of the quirky hit Fx show "Justified".

There was a beautiful chill in the air this weekend, and an even bigger chill in the pages of the Farmers Almanac. Yes, the venereable and often right on the money weather predictor used the words biting and bitterly with cold often in describing the winter ahead. Including a major storm around NYC SuperBowl time. I love it. Get out the fleece.

Fall seemed to start this weekend. You have about two and a half months. Enjoy it!

All that we cannot see.

Today's Tids Issue 2,911

Opening Stuff:

As you sit at sea watching a peaceful ocean where the only life is the occasional mammal surfacing, or a lonely young seagull sitting, rising and falling as waves go by; A unemotional avian wondering, it seems, how to get home after mom kicked the young bird out of the nest and said, "fly away my son (Or daughter), fly away". And there he or she sits apparently calm, above a violent fish eat fish (And maybe, fish eat seagull) universe larger than the human/animal world we know. Many of us are like peaceful seagulls floating along unaware of the anger beneath our safe havens.

Words like savage...barbarian...inhuman...primitive beast...uncivilized, come to mind as I pnder the random Oklahoma killing of the Austrilain baseball player two days ago, and the senseless beating to death of an 89 year old WWII Purple heart veteran in Seattle last night. No motive other than this is what amoral uncivilized people do. There is always talk these days of "The New Normal". So is tis how enablers will postion thugs and savages today...it's just kids with nothing to do, being kids. The victims of a cruel society. That's where many will direct their horror, and not at the bloody bodies left behind.

The Question:
Shelly Long made me laugh and Barbara Eden, well was just wonderfully Barbara Eden. Ok, the first part of the question of the morning is easy, what TV shows are these two best known. And, the hard part -- what else did they do?

The Headlines:
--0-Man Says He Won't Rush Into Syria.
--Recovering British Economy Showing Broader, Faster Growth.
--Wildfires Rampant Throughout West.
--80 GOP Reps Urge Shutdown Over Prolonging Costly ObamaCare.
--Beaten Down Egypt Muslims Fail To Muster Large Numbers For Planned Demonstration Against Recent Bloodshed.
--Rand Paul says That Prez "O" Is Flouting The Law With Aid To Egypt; Sen Coburn Says "O" Perilously Close to Impeachment, Admin Is Incompetent.
--Fox News Announces Debut Date For Elizabeth Hasselbeck: September 16, Fox And Friends.
--Wanton Murder Of Australian College Student Christopher Lane Now Called Gang Initiation.
--New Obama Package Designed To Stem Rise In College Costs.
--37 Year Old Goldman Sachs Exec Charged With Rape Of 20 Yo. In Hamptons.

I guess I'm reminded every day that I may be old school -- when I realize that I still get three daily newspapers...on paper...with ink.

Of the 1,650,000 undergraduate degrees awarded in a typical year, the four largest are 358K in Business, 173K in social sciences, 130K in health related programs and 101K in education. So, I'm thinking as critics come out saying the reason for the Christopher Lane problem is too many guns rather than the mindset of the killers, what are all of these social services people doing? Almost always these horrific unprovoked attacks are by kids from 14 to 27 from bad cultural enviroments. I'm thinking, what have all of those people in Social sciences been doing all of these years. Are too many in the field coddlers and enablers, turnstyles for the flow of aid that often prolongs the problems rather than stifling them. Isn't time for tough love, really tough love. Isn't it time to say "No", "Enough". maybe the better free benefits go to the families that stay together. Somebody other than eductators and social scientists has to stand up shout down the enablers and get out the honest message.

The 358 K with business degrees probably want to do more business with less people and the 173 K with SS degrees want to find more and more jobs for more and more people. I think we have a basic problem.

As far as I'm concerned, the USA was a better place before MBA's.

I think you could probably wall paper a living room with months supply of CVS receipts, each of which seems about 12 yards long. Besdies, these receipts in my pants make my thighs look puffy.

The New England Patriots looked like pure, unadulterated crapola last night.

Doctors still like their chosen field and treating patients. But, more and more are leaving and even more are shunning the profession as they see MBA's  and accountants making medical decisions for them. And...soon Government bureaucrats!

Do you think that attorneys would ever allow the passage of a garganthian bill like ObamaLaw where the Gov would nationalize law firms. So why doctors, which in my mind, sorry lawyer pals, are far more important as a profession than legal eagles. I mean, I'm more interested living than suing.

Why in hell would anyone want to read a news story about why Kanya still loves Kimmie? Maybe that really is the problem with America.

Do you know what really scares me? Meltdowns in the stock market electronics like yesterday's NASDAQ snafu. That's what really scares me. Who says robots couldn't take over America.

And what really irks me is when the tool bars on my home page change dramatically eliminating all of my carefully chosen info aids.

OMG, I'm losing my peaceful calm. OMG! Oh My God, I said OMG.

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:
--I have to be honest, I will probably not see any of these new openings, except perhaps Frozen Gorund, a police thriller straring Nick Cage. It's about a police detective trackng down a serisl killer who has murdered 13 woman in Alaska. Cage makes it persoanl as tries to tack down the monster before another  woman is killed. Will he get there in time?
--The world's End is about five childhood pals trying to recapture the thrill of an epic pub crawl from 20 years earlier. Some are reluctant as they start the trek through 12 pubs ending at the final place "The World's End". During the fray the learn more about life than they expected.
--You're Next, a horror movie about a murderous group descending upon a family reunion only to meet their match from a strange and unlikely guest of the family who is the most talented killer of all.
--The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones is about a young lass who learns she is a decendant of Shadowhunters -- a secret cadre of half-angel warriors wo protect the world from demons. When her mom vanishes, she joins the Shadowhunters and enrfters the scary worls of werewolves, warlocks, demons, vampires and other icky creatures.

The Answer:
Of course Shelly Long was the funny Diane Chambers in Cheers and Barbara was Jeannie. Most recently Shelly, A Second City original,  has been DeDe Pritchet in Modern Family. After Cheers she had modest success in movies like The Money Pit, Irreconcilable Differences, Outrageous Fortune and The Brady Bunch. Even though she has been active, she has never regained her household word stature. Barbara Eden made many films prior to Jeannie, but she never became the big star til TV. Her post Jeannie career was equally less than noteworthy. She was nice in a lot of small adventures. Today she says, she would wear that costume again for the right purposes. Don't ruin it for us Jeannie, keep it in the closet.

Personally, I think our "New Normal" world is scarier than the City of Bones, because the bad guys are us.

How are we going to fix this mess? Will we ever be able to fix this mess where the prosepects for the middle slice of America is much dimmer than the glory years of manufacturing?

Happy weekend everybody!

When there is nothing in view everything seems clear.

Today's Tids Issue 2,910
Opening Stuff:

There are those times of perfect contentment when you don't really know what you did, but what it was was truly exceptional.

Nice to see you all again after a bit of a word drought. The clear and endless seas, devoid of man or life except the surfacing of the occasional whale or dolphin, emptied my mind like draining the battery of your smartphone to zero for a new start. It only means that my mind will now refresh uncluttered; Without the foggy, daily repetition of old news.

Either Assad is using gas because he wants to suck the US into his war...and the billions of dollars that will flow, or he was embolden by the inaction of the US the first time he crossed Obama's "Red Line".

The Question:
What is the difference between a dolphin and a porpoise?

The Headlines:

--Global Uptick In Manufacturing Has Dow Above Water Early; Retailer Sales Reports Sketchy.

--NSA Surveillance Covers 75% Of Internet Traffic.

--White House Offended At Turkey PM Tayyip Erdogan's Remarks Accusing Israel Of Overthrowing Egypt's Morsi.

--Syria Brings Attack To Alleged Gassed Areas.

--Rockets From Lebanon Reach Northern Israel.

--Filthy Filner Accused By 18th Woman; San Diego Reaches Settlement With Plaintive In Sexual Harassment Lawsuit.

--Mubarak Supporters Eagerly Await His Release.

--Manning Says He wants To Go To Woman's Prison.

--German Female Tourist Dies From Shark Attack In Hawaii.

Nobody should ever worry about little idiosyncrasies they may possess. There is always an average, and you always need extremes at both ends of the spectrum.

I'm thinking that Claiborne Pell became one of the great and admired political figures because at the time of his first election, he was not the chosen one, now even on the radar, of the RI Democrat Machine.

It bothered me a couple of days ago when I saw that the S&P broke it's 4 day losing streak while the DOW nosedived for the fifth day. I'm thinknig that while the Dow supposedly represents the bigger safer stocks, that they may indeed be overvalued with little prospects of upward movement. So what if they are paying the best dividends -- is it enough to overcome downward pressures? Just musing.

I was standing with my two friends in this ice cream line in a well known Maine tourist attraction harbor, when the woman with a young child in front of us turned to comment on one of our remarks. It was a mini coincidence which led to further conversations as we withed and inched forward. After she had her cone, I saw her smile at the rapture of the creamy delight, and commented to her that if we gave the Islamic extremists ice cream we would have at least a starting point of agreement. Everybody likes ice cream regardless of what they believe or who they are. And, nobody ever frowns while inhaling the nectar. The woman looked up at the ceiling thinking for a moment, "I think you could be right." I'm spreading ice cream diplomacy one ice cream line at a time.

I see where Zuckerman is on a "humanistic" mission where he is joining his FaceBook with other internet delivery hardware companies like Samsung and Nokia to bring access to the Internet to the 5 Billion people in the world who don't have it. He calls the Internet access the new "Human Right". This is a profoundly noble way of describing a new marketing ploy to convince five billion new losers to give away their privacy to the world so he can add to his $$$$'s.

The title of my next Non-Fiction book will be, "How I sailed for four days with just a bag of Cheetos".  Or, "They knew it was me entering the harbor by the orange fingerprints on the sails". Didn't Pat Boone have a hit song similar to that?

If they weren't so much fun, you have to be honest and say that boats are pretty stupid for transportation. For instance, you can sail 20 hours to get to a location that car can reach in 2 hours.

The Answer:

Dolphins and Porpoises appear quite similar and some may even think they are just interchangeable words. But the two are vastly different in many ways. Visual differences may be subtle but they are there. The dolphin has a pointy snout while the porpoise is rounded. The dolphin is lean and could grow to 10 feet while the porpoise will appear to be pudgy and only grow to 7 feet. The dolphins teeth are cone shaped (If you can get close enough to see them) and the Porpoise teeth are flat and rectangular. Their personalities really differ. Dolphins swim in very large families, are friendly to humans and will often surface to play along side of a boat. A porpoise is shy, and lives in small pods. They are rarely seen near a boat. A dolphin will live to about fifty while a porpoise finds 15 to 290 years old age. (Note: Porpoises breed much more often and it has been assumed that that wear and tear leads to earlier deaths.) Humans can hear the sounds of a dolphin but not that of a porpoise. So if you see a dolphin that seems to be playing the part of a mime, it is probably a porpoise.

Yahoo! had more unique visitors than Google in June. Yikes! The world is crumbling.

We have also learned that the dolphin is the only mammal that engages in casual sex. So, if you can't get close enough to see the teeth, drop an X-Rated video into the water and see what happens.

It's funny how when sitting upon a boat doing nothing, you always feel like you're doing something. It's one of those delightful intriguing mysteries of life.

Well, that's about it. Now I have to read 237 emails that came in while I was beyond Internetville.

Is there really any hope?

Today's Tids Issue 2,893

Opening Stuff:

From the coastal shores to home on the range,
The US is becoming exceedingly strange,
Causing my mind to become slightly deranged.
After all, didn't he say, all would be changed?

There's been a lot of talk around the airways and on various soap boxes about negative influences on the black community. But there's other large groups of Americans under the hypnotic spell of Housewives of New Jersey who may never recover! We're all doomed.

The Question:
Name the top Small US Art Museums. Bonus: From the depths of oblivion, name the man who scored the first basket ever in the NBA (The the BAA)

The Headlines:
--US Economy Looks More Positive After GDP Q2 Growth To 1.7 is reported; Hiring Up.
--Markets Continue To Ride The Top; It May be Tine To Watch For Correction.
--Chairman Congressman Issa Says IRS Chiefs Stonewalling Probe In Unconstitutional misuse Of Government Powers.
--Two Lowlifes Steal Luggage From Stricken Asiana Crash Victims.
--Banning Acquitted On Most Serious Charges; Could Get up To 156 Years From Other Guilty Verdicts; Many Regard Him As Hero For Getting Out Truth..
--Florida's "Stand Your Ground" Law Will Probably Weather The Storm.
--Duh Headlines: Woman Who Defaced DC Monuments May Have Mental Problems.
--Results Of Zimbabwe Voting May Depend On Size Of Cemetery Populations.

AGT:
I found very little to enjoy in the first five or six acts, even though the judges went rapturous a couple of times. For instance, "Innovative Force, a large group of young girl dancer/acrobats was ok , but I'd never pay to see them. In  fact I have seen facsimiles of them at local Cheerleading Contests. I thought cute little Ciana Pilekai's song incredibly dull, but she is pretty talented and probably like many of the tots these days who eventually make millions singing junk songs. I found it hard to watch sword swallowing Alexandra Magala, but you have to give him credit for something. Struck Boyz were just another mediocre bunch of kids jumping around the stage to bad music. Brad Byers laying on a bed of nails was forgettable at best. Kid the Wiz might be ok if he could complete his act without a foible. Forte for me was the best act of the night, and they could be in the final groups. I like Angela Hoover, and I'd really like her if she ever said something funny, which, from what I understand, is part of being a standup comic. I was rooting for Marty Brown who has been quite good..til he bombed last night. Stop with the husband/wife thing already. Just sing. The Aquanauts are very good, and could be a Las Vegas Show. But, how many times can you watch them? And then there is Tone Tha Chiefrocca who has written one song and that's all he has sung on the show so far. He is good, and if there's enough rappers voting he'll go through. Dave Shirley does nothing for me. Last week we got the top five correct, but the only one I'm sure of is Forte. I'll throw in Tone, Ciana, Alexandra Margala and maybe Angela Hoover because she is nice. The Innovative Force could also make it. And if there are enough country folk still awake, Marty may squeak in.

Vegetarians paint a singularly negative stereotype of meat. In the new world of "Hey, lets all get along" we should start to break down food myths, and many otehr cultural, social fables along with em'. In a new Calorie test it was shown that the Jimmy John restaurant's "Ultimate Porker" had 22.6 % fewer calories than their "Gourmet Veggie Club Sandwich. At Longhorn Steak House, the Flat Iron Steak had 17% less fat adding stuff than the Grilled Chicken with Portabello Mushroom. Even at Dunken Donuts, the Chocolate Iced Donut had 32% (!) fewer midriff pillow contributors than the Multigrain Bagel! Yikes. Just remember, that it's all about genes and moderation. Why nut and berry muncher Euell Gibbons died at 64 from genetic based aneurism.

As part of a 1981 drive to capitalize on the creativity, manufacturing ingenuity and financial power of Rhode Island and its great people, Governor Garrahy at the time coined the slogan "The Biggest Little State in the Union". Today as it flounders the new slogan could be, "The Biggest Little State is a Union". But then, I guess you could say that about Michigan and many other places on the ropes.

I write much too much about AI and AGT et. al., but, frankly it's fun to pick on performers behind their backs...kind of a power mad thing.

Yesterday we talked about certain groups of ekitist people here in the US who regard patriotism as silliness for masses. But, I wonder how they would look at the students of Afghan University paid for by US dollars who for pleasure regularly stomp upon the US Flag, which represents a country they hate. Actualy the acdemics would probably applaud them.

"What goes around comes around", Department:
How about all of those digital camera companies like Fugi, Canon and Olympus who put our own lovable Kodac Companyinto a depressed state, and now find themselves the victim of a new convenience if the form of "The Phone". Yes, point and shoot Camera sales are down about a third

The Conscience: Chapter 26 continues.
    I was significantly hating myself after I hung up from Evvy. The only thing I have going right in my life, and I probably screwed that up too. Mybe not at this moment, but, I'll get there. Well, I'll just keep moving forward and maybe I'll get somewhere. That would be something.
   I didn't see Jason's assistant as plodded across his ankle deep carpet, so I just turned the door knob of the massive double roor and peeked in. Jason and Wu's heads snapped towards me, and then relaxed. Jason stood and ushered me to the seat next to his faithful servant. I now seem to be calling him Kato. I smiled at my own bad humor and probably looked comfortable to the other two as I sat.
     "Welcome back," said Jason pleasantly, and Wu nodded like he always does. Sounds like you had quite the adventure. We think you'll be interested in what we have learned about those photos you sent, Or," Jason paused, "What we think we learned. But, you fill us in first on the players. Who do you like?. Who do you trust? Who mystifies you? Whatever you tell us may have some baring on what we learned and even," Jason looked at Wu, "on the God damned explosion."
    "So, how are you recovering from that mess? Anybody hurt?"
    "You can see from all of the activity," He waved his arms to the window. "we are balls out on the recovery and thank God nobody was hurt." Knowing Jason from the past, I half expected him to say, "Except for some lazy black boy who took a nap in the wrong place." Old southern boys never lose what they were. But, who am I to criticize."
     "Good. I like Angelica and she can be our ally in this mess." I went on to describe the mysterious warehouse where I took the pics, and how Sanna and her henchman Bruno seemed to want it kept hidden. I explained the meeting between Bruno and the Grandfather Antonio after the news about the Bernard explosion was in thepaper. I told them That Earnesto was another mystery, and the relationship between he and his wife even more so. I didn't tell them of my weak moment. "Frankly, gentleman, I came away from my ventrue there at Biglietto with alarm bells ringing through out my built-in detection system.
   The two were silent for a moment, Perhaps they were thinking what they should tell me. How much. What I needed to know.
    "I think your vibes are working well." Jason leaned back into his cushy chair, and Wu sat forward, anticipating.

The Answer:
The US is loaded with great little art museums. Condsidered some of the best are:  Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh; The Pulitzer Foundation, Saint Louis; Museum of Art at the Rhode Island School of Design, Providence; Live Oak Friends Meeting House, Houston; McNay Art Museum, San Antonio; Hill Stead Museum, Farmington CT; Shelburne Museum, Vermont; Wolfsonian, Miami; Peabody Museum, Cambridge Ma; Arthur M. Sackler, Cambridge Ma; Yale Center for British Art, New Haven; Yale U Art Gallery. Bonus: On Novmeber i, 1946, Ozzie Schectman of the NY Knicks sank the first basket evr in the league now know as the NBA! Go Ozzie.

Never forget the little guys who made America great. When we are at our best, we are not a Government. We are millions of people contributing.

•