Nothing better than That Peaceful, Easy feeling.

Today's Tids Issue 3,509
Opening Stuff:

Despite the mental confusion often seen in this morning mess, I generally view life as being pretty uncomplicated. Many of the complications that arise to inflict anguish upon the masses are in the imagination of companies wanting to sell you something, or a government wanting to look relevant by solving problems they created. Most of the worry is about stuff beyond our control. If you can see past the haze of commercial and political clutter, you basically see a world that is pretty obvious. There is a lot that needs to be done about the ills that appear so massive. We know it, we see it and millions of people reach down every day to do something good for others. But, it is not complicated. It shouldn’t cause gnashing of teeth and writhing in tangled bed sheets. Sit back and let it come to you, and do it. Talk about mental confusion! Did you just read that?

I think one of the worst inventions from the newer generations is 24/7.

Maybe there are no black Oscar nominees because they weren’t as standout as the those elected to that position by nearly 6,000 Hollywoodites. And you got to know that there isn’t a minority that these glittering celebs wouldn’t bend over backwards to support. It just wasn’t as great year for black actors despite the promoting of the Smith effort. It’s unfortunate that a few blacks in this instance are reinforcing a negative black stereotype that demands something not earned. Everybody wants “Equal”, but equal doesn’t mean always winning.

The Question:

There’s little I can add to the memory of The Eagle’s Glenn Frey. Name five of the lead guitarist’s greatest hits.

The Headlines:

--Dow Strong As Consumer Staples And Financials Lead market Forward; Home Builder Confidence Steady; IMF Lowes Forecast For Global growth.

--Khamenei Urges Iran’ Rouhani To Maintain Vigilance Against Distrustful US.

--Captive FBI Agent Bob Levinson’s Family Outraged That He Wasn’t Part of Iran Release Deal.

--Supreme Court To Review Obama Orders That Would Protect Over 4 Million Illegals From Deportation.

--#1 Tennis Star Djokovic Says A Member Of his Team Was Approached In 2007 Offering $200K To Throw Match; Offer Was Rejected Immediately And Never Reached The Player.

--Eagles Glen Frey Latest Of Music Legends To Pass Into Great Band In the Sky.

--ISIS Holding 3,000 Iraqi’s As Slaves.

In case you missed it, astronauts at the International Space Station grew flowers. How cool is that? I can’t even grow flowers in my condominium.

Fitness bracelets aren’t as smart as they think they are. They are a little like big government that gathers statistics and regardless of the humanistic influences, forces them into broad categories which may or may not be relevant. For instance there is sitting, and then there is intense sitting. The bracelet only knows if you are on your feet and that they are moving. There are hard walks and strolling but counting footsteps can’t tell. What’s poverty in NYC or LA is upper class in many states beyond the Atlantic or Pacific. Too much of what happens today is measured out of context.

In case you are interested, I’ve decided not to go on the big Florida Python hunt.

Some women are grasping onto statistics that say man’s laziest day is Sunday. The numbers also say that weekends are women’s busiest times of the week. Can you say Israel versus Palestine? Sounds like the next round of the gender wars, and you can believe some feminists will grasp on it to embarrass men. The good news is that panels of intelligent women, who are very busy themselves, say what’s wrong with a man enjoying a Sunday game. And, that maybe women should do the same. Remember Sunday’s, they concur… they used to be pretty much about church, family dinners, and relaxation -- Before 24/7.

Here are a few of the new TV shows I’ll probably be watching. --“Billions” starring Damian Lewis and as a hedge fund wizard and Paul Giamatti as an US Attorney out to bring him down is very good after just the first episode on ShowTime. I’m hooked. --The Angie Tribecca satire on TBS is full of funny moments and great, often subtle, deadpanned humor. It is the brainchild of Steve Carell and his wife Nancy, and brings back the kind of laughs first spawned in the Movie Airplane. Surely, you found a winner. “Don’t call me Shirley.” --I am also looking forward to the return of X-Files with the originals David Duchovney and Gillian Anderson. It will be a short series, so it won’t spend so much time wandering off and confusing the audience.

Regardless about how it is spun by the Clinton and Obama teams, there is growing evidence that somebody in the oval office or State Department tried to stop rescue teams from going into save the Benghazi Embassy.

It is a rapturous scene – mellow, soothing even inspiring music; A modern interior, brightly lit; a 4 or five year old precious little girl running up to a glass wall, eyes wide and smiling face, now standing mere inches before a large magnificent tiger. Man and animals at peace. What a heartwarming image. And the Tiger is thinking, yum, lunch.

RI is full of hidden gems, and one of them is the repository of Native American treasures in Exeter, Tomaqua Museum. According to Director Loren Spears, it is on the brink of new growth and expansion, and will only get better. I believe it is at the site of the old Dovecrest Restaurant.

Tia Leone is as dull as dishwater portraying a kinder gentler Hillary in the Secretary of State TV program. I try to watch it but can’t get past the saccharine.

Yesterday I made a comment about NCAA men’s basketball being less like dynasties and more like the NFL’s “On-any-given-Sunday” mantra. Last night Oklahoma, just anointed hours earlier as #1, lost to Iowa State which hadn’t beaten a #1 since 1957 when they knocked off Wilt Chamberlain’s Kansas Team! Go to your local basketball games, anything can happen and they will be exciting.

Are you ready fro 24/7 Brady/Manning? Maybe Peyton will invite Tom to sing a duet in a Nationwide Insurance commercial. “Don’t make my arm look bad, Tom.” “I wish I had your residuals, Peyton.”

The Parking Lot: Chapter 41.

   Jeremiah Hicks, after another month of recuperation, rode in the small cart with his wife and father to attend the meeting that would hopefully resolve the use of land in the region. Jeremiah’s stomach was truing over as he envisioned sitting across from Howland.

   Elizabeth could feel his tension through his hand clutching hers. She rubbed her thumb softly on the back of his. He would occasionally turn and smile, but she could see the anguish in his eyes; the bitterness form his brother’s killing, and his own near death.

   “Do you think this is the right thing to do, Father,” he asked breaking the silence, looking once again for reassurance that his father, a respected man in the entire area of Aquidneck Island and surrounding towns, had not misread the intentions of the Howland clan and followers.

   “We own 50% of all the land. Your wife’s people own about 10 %. Howland has about 30% and most of the frontage to navigable passages. The population is growing fast, and there are lot of very capable people who could be forced out by our dominant land ownership. This must be done. We need the opening to the sea. We must farm more land. Mostly we need a contented population.”

   Jeremiah listened intently, maybe for the fourth time as his father iterated the importance of what they were about to do. He was right, of course he was right, thought Jeremiah. But, giving into the Howlands was makinghis wounds hurts again.

The Answer:

This should be a pretty easy question for most since the songs are so popular: Hotel California, Take It Easy, Peaceful Easy Feeling, New Kid in Town and Already Gone.

Is the stock market correction over? See, that wasn’t complicated.

Start humming, relax, and enjoy the day.