Today's Tids Issue 3017
Opening Stuff:

My lungs were burning, but I kept pushing myself forward. Against the sleeting rain and freezing wind's off the harbor, I ran. My legs were feeling like rubber as I plodded across wooden piers, waves lapping against winterized boats, seagulls screeching, angry, hungry birds fighting each other for scraps of food sent shivers down my spine. I looked back over my shoulder. The sight sickened me when I saw birds turn in my direction, also urged me forward. I could see the end as I glanced around looking through partially opened windows at the trance like faces of Newport denizens, staring, staring. I knew I could not give up. I dug in and surged forward again, until I stumbled, as my foot lost its grip; I was falling it seemed in slow motion. I saw a used Starbucks cup tumbling away from the spot where my foot had been. I landed with a crash curbside in a nest of Dunkin ' Donut wrappers. I frantically scattered them with flailing arms while grimacing in pain as my knee scraped along the rough cobblestone road. It was but a moment as I quickly arose, blood now running down my leg. pooling in my shoe. I felt the end nearing and saw again the mesmerized faces. Would I be in time. Sensing the morning Sun rising, I now sprinted, calling on every last ounce of energy, to the finish line midst Washington Square. Finally I was there, now bent, hands on legs, gasping. I couldn't give up now. With panting painful lungs I rose up and cupped my hands to my mouth. I took a breath and shouted, "The Speech is over. he's not talking any more." One by one windows opened and people emerged from zombie like fixations. First one pair of hands clapping. Then triumphant relief!

Old fashioned wind-up alarm clocks were much easier to set and worked quite well, As long as you remembered to wind them up the alarm too.

Pols are bandying about minimum wage suggestions as if it was some kind of a magical elixir for a slogging economy. The people who should be most concerned if the crazies get their way are senior citizens on fixed incomes who will see cost of mediocre goods and services rising beyond their reach over time.

The Question:
Name the four cities that read the bible most and the four that read it least.

The Headlines:
--President Resorts to Old Chestnuts To Fill Gaps In Speech With No New Solutions; Dems Applaud And Fawn.
--Repub Official Responder Cathy McMorris Rodgers Says We Miust remain "Champions of Free Markets And Trust People To make Their Own Decisions, Not become A Government That Makes Them For You.
--Markets return To Slogging After Key Companies Report Weaker Profits.
--Dem/Repub Citizen Panel Befuddled By Obama's "MyRA."; Too Cute To be Serious, They Said.
--Russia Chief Says, "Sochi Is World's Most Secure Venue."
--Holder Says DoJ To Investigate Target Data Breach; Hopes It Is Not Work Of NSA.
--Turkey Officials Visit Iran To Improve Ties.
--Syria Lagging behind In Chem Weapon Shipments.

I see where there is a push on in the Agricultural Department to urge hemp production in the US. What's next, a movement to have US Soldiers pack poppy seeds in their packs upon leaving Afghanistan? We'll have to change the lyrics from "Amber waves of grain" to "Orange ripples of smack".

I went a little over board on my Doves story yesterday. God still is good. The doves appear to have lived. Oh, they had more than a little scrape with the aforementioned vicious scavengers, but their pure, strong hearts and mission of peace seems to have won out. Maybe they had a hand from Pete Seeger.

I have to apologize for so many RI stories lately, but, they don't call us "The Red Flag" state for nuttin'. Yesterday we moved up to 9.1% take over the number one spot in unemployment. So, I tell you all of this stuff about our beautiful though dysfunctional state so you can see warning signs in your own. The only consistent economic remedies proposed by Pols and candidates here are, "Spend more on Education" and "Higher minimum wages" The only people happy with that are the leaders of the unions that in fact run this place. There are plenty of well educated sons and daughters of RI'ers and they go elsewhere for jobs because for the most part companies will not create business here, expand here or move here, due to oppressive regulations and an anti business preoccupation by Governemtn official (unless a Brother-in-Law is running a company). So if in your state you start hearing what we hear regularly, perk up your ears, rise up and shout NO!

One of the most disturbing TV ads I have ever seen is the new one by Panera bread featuring Super-Healthy Power Bowls for breakfast and lunch. I makes me feel sorry for vegans and near vegetarians if that's all they have to look forward to. I don't know what's in them but the pics sure look flat and uninviting.

People are rightfully concerned about declining average American wages, but a new report says that currently there are about $40 Billion in unclaimed Gift Cards" Yikes. That's ftory billion dollars that Americans have and don't spend. Check your wallets, they may be more profitable than a casino.


I had to laugh yesterday to what former shining RI political star Gina Raimondo said in answer to a question, "What taxes would you adjust or eliminate to help ignite our economy." She answered that she would not pick specific tax now but would have to wait till she is elected so she can see the whole picture. She's the F-ing State Treasurer for crissake! Nobody knows more about taxes than she. How the noble succumb to pettiness when thrust into the political games.

Congrats to North Carolina's declining unemployment numbers after cutting jobless benefits.

The Conscience: Chapter 35 continues.
    Evvy looked concerned as I gulped down my scotch. I wasn't. My fragile body might not have made it through the rest of the day without it. When finished, I raised my empty glass, "Here's to a healthy living Sanna!" I looked around at the two staring faces. "Oh, I'm sorry would you like a drink?" James Smiled at me and got up , moving to the bar.
     Evvy, through clenched teeth, said, "Why yes, honey I really need a good full glass of red wine, about now!". 
     I stood there and looked at her. Fuck, I thought. This story is all about her miserable life with me, too. I walked over, and reached down to help her rise up into my arms, but she sat there, not moving, not giving. "I'm sorry, I said. I was trying to protect you from what I knew. I didn't wnat to heurt you."
     Now her head turned. there was new anger in her eyes. "Do you know how much I hurt now, Jeff, leanring what you have never told me. We're married, God dammit! We share." Her eyes looked puffy, like they would burst. "Don't you think I could have helped you? Lord knows I've been carrying you through life becsause you were an uncontrollable," she paused, "occasionally lovable drunk."
    I couldn't say anything. That's just like me. Useless when it counts most. James came over and handed Evvy a glass of red wine, a very good wine I imagined. How irrelevant is that right now. She took it in her beautiful gentle hand. I watched her wet lips softly carress the glass. I felt that intense love I have always felt for this woman. I started crying. But, she ddin't reach out, glance up. I looked at her again and now, through misty eyes, I saw Evvy, sippin, staring off into dreams she may might have fulfilled without me.
   
The Answer:
The cities with he most bible readers from most are Chattanooga, Birmingham Ala, Roanoke, Springfield Mo, Sportive, Charlotte and Western NC cities. The least bible minded cities are Providence RI, Albany NY, Boston, SF, Cedar Rapids, Buffalo, Hartford/New Haven. But bible reading isn't the end all on religiousness. The least reading bible cities are the center of the states with the most Catholics. The most Catholic states are : #1 RI followed by Mass, NJ, Conn, NY, NH and Cal. Everybody knows that Catholics don't read bibles. Priests read bible passages to them. So the people in these least bible reading areas only need about 1 bible per 1,000. Beware of statistics.

Frankly, I didn't watch too much of the SoU speech last night. Actually, I watched "Storage Wars", where people make money on other's misfortune. But, at least they work for it. 

Grammar "Q": Should it be "Other's Misfortune" or "Others Misfortune"?

Always leave em' thinking.