I know what I want; but it is too hard to do it.

Today's Tids Issue 3,200

Opening Stuff:

While the world is burning, while the politicians are wailing incomprehensibly; I feel the beauty of Fall, the comfort of the season that slows the sap to calm all living things; The most beautiful of times where the moons seems larger, where romance lives tenderly beneath. I walk among the crunch of the leaves. I feel the changing breezes from south to north. I feel the life returning from the wearing summer. I see the moonlight gently kissing the ocean, now aglimmer. I feel the love of all infected by the beauty.

 

There is reliable scuttlebutt emerging from Tids ears on the military that shows major US Infantry operations prepping for Iraq deployment. It is promised, though, that they will not bring guns. Stay tuned.

 

Crazies at work, Department:

Without question, RI is considered in most all polls a loser state, coming in last (Or always bottom 5) in all polls about he desirability of bringing (Or Keeping) business to the state. It’s low in employment, high in out of control in public employee benefits and seems intent building an economy of low paying private sector jobs. But here’s where the lunacy continues. The Democrats have been in total power during the RI tailspin, and even in the most recent poll where 56% of the states beleaguered citizens say the state in is going in the wrong direction, all of the Democrats are substantially leading in all races. Change is impossible when people don’t have the courage to vote their beliefs. It is ineptitude all over again here in the prettiest state in the Union.

 

Question:

Finally I’m part of a national trend. I love rice, and Rice is on the fast track of popularity, especially with many specialty, more expensive versions. A couple of basic reasons for the growth are that it is innately free of glutton and of course the effects of an altered ethnicity of the country..The other is that it can be so beautifully flavored and tastes great, adding just the right amount of texture to fish and meat dishes. Name the most popular types and brands of the new rice era.

 

The Headlines:

--Jittery Stock market Cpuld Get Edgier After Release Of Negative Triple Play Data: Pullback In Consumer Spending, Softer Manufacturing And Falling Inflation.

--Second Texas Medical Person Tests Positive For Ebola.

--“O” Acknowledges Setbacks In ISIS Operation; Dutch Biker Gang Seize Weapons And Join Fight With Kurds Against ISIS.

--California farmer John Hawker Squashes Competition In Largest Pumpkin Growing Event With 2,058 Monster.

--Republicans Pursuing Investigation Of Collusion Between EPA And Environmental Group “Natural Resources Defense Counsel”; Group Said To have Aided In Drafting Of Onerous Rules Against Coal-Fired Power Plants In Support Of Obama’s War On Coal.

--Hong Kong Police Attack Protestors; Move Sparks Outrage.

 

An erudite traveler and Tids reader says in his opinion the two most beautiful cities are Vienna and St. Petersburg, with Vienna having the edge. Send in your nominees and maybe we can get a consensus from the most knowledgeable in the country. Of course, being an especially creative and independent group of people, I expect conformity to be thrown to the wind and the results to be quite varied.

 

There was a shortened The Voice last night with only three full Battles and three montage battles. Of course, the big conspiracy question is: Why is Country’s boy Blake being snubbed?  I liked the Pharrell duo of Taylor Phelan and Jordan Searcy, and the choice of Taylor was accurate although either could have made it. Allessandra Castronova was very good, but I thought somebody would steal the kid Joe Kirk who seemed to get lots of raves from judges. I personally didn’t like the last duet, and didn’t care who won. But the judges did, and both were considered excellent as loser Menlik Zergabachew was stolen by Pharrell. In the other “lip service” battles, Blake had two with Grant Ganzer winning over John Martin and Tanner Linford winning over Justin Johnes. The third in the muted category was an Adam battle with Rebekeh Samarin beating Clara Hong.

 

I would use orzo as a substitute in many pasta dishes, including mac n’ cheese and even spaghetti and meatballs. I think it would particularly good in a bolognaise sauce. And, I’d be getting a lot less red sauce on my shirt from careless slurping.

 

A lot of knowledgeable viewers think the new Saturday Night Live is barely above the “Sucking Badly” level. Viewership is down. Is this end?

 

I don’t like Thursday night football. Of course I’ll be watching the Jets-Pats game tomorrow night, but three days for prep and recuperation just isn’t enough in my book. Think about the fact that the NFL is imposing more and more penalties on touchy-feely situations primarily, they say, for player safety! Then they think it a good Idea to run the players out again on Thursday before the aches and pains of Sunday have subsided. But then, it is only for the money. The hypocrisy continues.

 

Falling inflation is great for people with less money, but not so good for a stock market that relies on growth, real or imagined. I’ll take lower inflation and a steady stock market based on real growth.

 

When you think about it the news item about falling inflation and lower consumer spending, it is ckear that people are basically resisting price increases they can’t afford. They are waiting for sales, and dealing where possible. They used to transfer the annual price increases to over stressed credit cards, but they have learn their lesson. Marketers haven’t. They have strategies that try to justify price increases, because it it easier to show paper “growth”, as opposed to real growth where they take share of market. And the consumers aren’t going  to take it any more.  So basically, the entire stock market based on “growth” is pretty fallacious and ultimately destined for failure, especially as the global markets become saturated.

 

Just in case you are keeping score, the Pentagon has just announced that US soldiers found at least 2,400 chemical weapons after the start of the Iraq entanglement in 2003. As I remember, the main stream press seemed to be reporting more about empty warehouses…with glee!

 

People who travel the world tell me that they really like having the ability to get into the Tids for a little home cooking. Always have www.worldviewetc.blogspot.com handy when in Capetown, Istanbul, Rome or Moscow. Of course, in Moscow, Edward Snowden may be reading your email!

 

Tums, Department:

For all of you gourmands out there, here are in no special order Huffington Travel’s 10 most gluttonous, outrageous, bellybustin’ buffets from around the world: Bacchanal Buffet, Caesars Palace LV – 500 dishes daily, some made to order; Al Hadheerah, Bab al Shams, Dubai – All the Arab delicacies plus continuous entertainment; Chocolate Bar at Café Fleuri, Boston – 100 varieties, everything ever made with chocolate in name including huge Chocolate fountain; Les Grands Buffets, Narbonne France – Self acclaimed “World’s Largest Buffet with all of the great French treats, rich creamy sauces and all; Sterling Brunch Bally’s LV – Bottomless Champaign, endless Caviar, Giant steaks, Gruyere flavored pop-overs just a beginning to a grand affair; The Nordic Lodge, Richmond RI – Nestled in the woods on a country road, $91  gets you endless lobster, filet mignon and prime rib plus lots of salad and veggies. Chicken, ribs and chops, that is if you ever get by the lobster; Buffet Chef’s table Bellagio LV – Exclusive Private dining for up to 18 at the chef’s table; Smorgasbord, Grand Hotel Stockholm – Start with herring, anchovies, shrimps and smoked salmon and end with Meatballs, roast beef and spare ribs with lots of cheeses and deli meats in the middle; Buffet, Marina, Oceana Cruises – Best of the cruise line buffets, with continuous fresh pasta and bread plus chef prepared all you can eat lobster, shrimp, sushi and steak; Lastly there is Sunday Brunch at The Westin Bund Center, Shanghai – Acrobats and dancers perform while Tattinger flows and the table teases with lobster, crab legs caviar, foie gras, and much more. Hungry yet?

 

The Answer:

#1. Is a US Grown version of basmati : Rice-Select Brown Texmati. . Is Carolina Extra Long Grain White, then 3 Lundberg Organic Sprouted Tri-Color Blend. Uncle Ben’s Ready rice Jasnine is 4 while Lundberg Organic Burgandy Red picks up 5. The rest are Rice Select Royal Blend win Chia (Yes, that Chia; also contains Orzo), Uncle ben’s Boil-in-bag Long Grain White Rice, Lundberg Wild Rice and Amiro White basmati. Note, all of te rice grown in tne US – 6 mid south states and Nortehrn Cal only account for % fo world’s rice! Here we are battling to gain our independence from the oil countries and now we have rice producers to contend with. The rice wars cometh.

 

The leaves are not quite as colorful this year, but the beauty of the cooling air is as good as ever. Sit back and relax.