Freedom from division. Please.

Today's Tids Issue 3,426

Opening Stuff:

I am a kind person, a gentle man. But, I have a real problem with lawlessness of all kinds. And people who enable lawlessness in the name of goodness.

Of all the people on the stage last Wednesday, Ben Carson may be the man who can give this nation what it needs most, a path to the uniting of all regardless of income or race or gender – a proud unified nation once again, where neighbors believe in each other.

We just have to get rid of the litterers.

A reader informs us that airlines are now charging for emotional baggage too. When checking in, wear a straight face and remain calm.

You have to imagine the gasps from the audience that Vienna night in 1824 as they listened to the opening moments of Beethoven’s marvelous ninth symphony! “Has Ludwig gone mad?” He must be totally deaf now.” But as the ninth game to a close we know that the audience was moved to leaping to their feet and cheering madly. Yet LB who didn’t conduct but was watching his orchestra, sensing the tempo with hand movements; standing before them, thanking them for a fine performance, oblivious to the adulation behind him. He was totally deaf that historic night. He could not hear the roaring applause. A friend turned him to face the most appreciative audience. He bowed to them. and then he wept.

My computer must be getting old. It seems to be taking a lot of naps lately.

The Question:

What are the top 10 selling pharmaceutical products measured by dollars?

The Headlines:

--Street Warning Of Bleak Week For Stock Prices; Global Growth Jitters Controlling Market Psychology.

--US Awaits Pope Francis; Pope Takes Jab At Communism In Cuba

--European Refugee Problem Worsens; US To Take In 187,000 In Next Two Years..

--Carley Fiorina Passes By Trump In New Hampshire Polling; In National CNN/ORC Poll Trump Falls 8 Points But Still #1; Firina Climbs Up from 3% to 15% Into #2.

--Obama Names Gay Civilian Eric Fanning As Next Secretary Of The Army.

--Russia Plans Military Base In Belarus; Assad Says Russia Will Be A Game Changer.

--Left Wing Syriza Party Wins Greek Election.

--Arizona Highway Shooter Suspect In  Court; Says he Is Innocent.

--Jon Hamm, Viola Davis, Jeffery Tamboor, Julia Louis-Dreyfus Top Drama, Comedy Best Actor Awards; Other’s: Best Limited Series Olive Kittridge, Best reality – The Voice, Best variety – The daily Show.

--The View Loses Three More Advertisers In Addition To Original Two, Egglands Best and J&J; Apologies and “Nurses Day” On The View Seen As Shallow Response.

--RI Still Highest In New England Unemployment; West Virginia Now Nestled Securely In RI’s old Position As Highest In The Nation.

Each new advance in coddling children reminds me again why I’m still so happy I went to school when I did. For instance, I had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches just about every day. The newest treat for today’s kids is a sealed bag snack “Crispy Fruit – Just fruit, non-GMO, gluten, sugar free.” Sounds complex, and mom didn’t make it. So how can it be real fruit that’s sugar free?

By the way, do you remember butter and sugar bread? Now there was a snack.

My great doctor of about 30 years died on Friday. That makes you feel a little vulnerable.

Think about a world without twitter and downloading, where communications were not instant, and critiques and comments did not pollute beautiful moments. Think about great accomplishments and perfromances that live for themselves; where your reactions to anything would be so pleasantly spontaneous, so pure.

The media seems to think there is a simple solution to handling a 100,000 refugees.

I’m not buying FitBit until they figure out how to record the additional energy it takes to hobble along on aging legs with aching knees, hips or ankles.

Jeffery Tamboor didn’t look very funny for a guy who just won the best comedic actor award.

Frankly, I prefer Ranch-To-Table over farm-to-table.

A reader mystified by the idea of “Bourbon Flavored Vodka” (As reported here Friday) sends in this from Ben Franklyn: “In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria.” And in bourbon flavored vodka there is a nation that has lost its collective mind.

Oxymoron in Boston: Directions to a hotel says: Then go under the “Subway Overpass”!

On Friday Hillary said she was “Appalled” that Trump didn’t immediately shoot down the now much publicized “Muslim” comment. But, back in 2004, it was her own campaign that began circulating emails about his Kenyan birth and Muslim background. Just so you know. But, of course the media prefers that people believe it originated with the Repubs.

Speaking of conspiracy theories, there is a growing number of Repubs who are thinking that Trump’s campaign was inspired by the Clintons to confuse the Republican efforts and minimize qualifications of some solid GOP hopefuls. If so, it’s working.

BTW, there’s a pretty loud rumor floating around DC that Caroline Kennedy wants to stop Hillary and is looking for a way to endorse Joe Biden.

No group wants to pump research money into Drug Company product development more than Personal Injury Lawyres that likes the idea of a pipeline foull of class action possibilities.

Greece will surely be on the way to economic recovery with the election of the Left Wing Party.

The Parking Lot: Chapter 16

   After his rather astonishing meeting with the beautiful Nancy at the Urgent Care center on the road to Westport, Jared decided to stop for a cup of coffee and some chat with Beth. He wanted to learn more about Nancy from a friend. He had clearly been captivated by the mysterious woman from the parking lot. And, she is either feeling pity for an old man, or actually hears something in his rattling bones that is stimulating. There was something special about her good bye, the way she lingered at his kiss on the cheek.

   Jared interrupted his thoughts about romanticizing a meeting in a cough filled clinic waiting room, with a diversion to the real issue. He could now understand why she may be in danger. He doesn’t know everything yet, but she seems to have evidence that could throw any casino land deal into a backwater pond. After she told him of her Wapanoag bloodline and her presumed legal ownership of many lands in the once Western Plymouth Colony preserve, he handed her the compact with the odd cameo or logo signature. She smiled beautifully, looking up to him and into his eyes. It was better than a money ransom. he thought at the time. Yet, even with her apparent new openness, she still kept the secret of the compact to herself. She still wouldn’t say where she was living.

  A car turning into the coffee shop, cutting him off, brought him to a stop, in his mind as well as the car. He wanted to pounce on the horn, but the other driver waved apologetically, ending the road rage quickly. He parked and the other driver, a nice looking guy came immediately up to him, hand extended. “Hi, I’m Fred Hohlman. I’m head of the Town Council here, and I’m sorry about giving you a bad impression of our drivers. He smiled broadly, and Jared laughed along with him as they shook hands warmly.

Our Mums must be coming from China, because they don’t seem to be doing well this year.

The Answer:

First, I was surprised to see that mighty Lipitur was ot in the 1top 100, but Crestor was #2! #1 was a Thyroid medicine called Synthroid. The rest are Ventolin, Neium, Advair, Lantus Solostar, Vyvanse, Lyrica, Spriva and Januvia. Oh well, here’s the next ten too – Lantus, Abilify, Symbicort, Tamiflu, Cialis, Viagra, Suboxone, Zetia, Xarelto and Bystollic. Check out the top 100 here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_selling_pharmaceutical_products

If they Tids sounds little better today, if it seems to have climbed a notch higher on the sophistication scale, it’s probably because I was listening to Ludwig’s Ninth while typing. No it wasn’t because I was taking some magic pharmaceutical.

Love your week.