Eeyore.

Today's Tids Isssue #2,345
Opening Stuff:

It is not hard to imagine our favorite gloomy gray old donkey standing by himself in a thirsty little corner of America, looking out, his front feet well apart, his head to one side listening to the nightly news. He would think to himself, "Why?" And sometimes, "Wherefore?" And most other times "Inasmuch as which?" And then sometimes he wouldn't quite know what he was thinking about. Paraphrase W the P.

I think that Jan Brewer, Arizona Gov, made the right call in vetoing the birther and guns for college kids bills. If you want to make progress on the big important stuff, and I believe outlaw crossings at the boarder is big stuff, then you have be really, really intelligent when dealing with the small stuff to build credibility. There's a tendency on both sides of the political spectrum to over wield assumed power. It is neither good overall for the people nor the aims of an ideology.

Lost in the hodge-podge of fairly irrelevant news this week is the fact that today Is Holy or "Spy" Wednesday. This is the day that Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of gold. Since the main stream media is focusing a lot of energy on nothing, I thought I'd report it.

Gold hit $1,503.30 this morning.

Eeyore would have been a perfect Red Sox fan.

There's only 248 shopping days left til Christmas.

The Question:
What are America's five most stressful jobs in 2011?

The Headlines:

--Markets Expected To Rebound.
--Italy Sending Instructors To Libya; Other NATO Trying To Fidn Ways To Get Around Humanitarian Limitation Clause.
--Blago Chicago Redo A Go.
--New HC Plans Say No Cuts In Medicare Advantage; Coming Election Moderates Stupidity.
--AT&T Subscriber Growth Slows As IPhone Becomes Available At Other Phone Companies.
--3 Days Of Court Ordered NFL Talks Shows Little Progress; 2011 Sched released -- Pats Have Mostly 4:15 and Night Games.

Back to More Stuff:
Repubs vs. 0-Man Department:
The people of America aren't confused because of a lack of an ability to think, they are generally confused because of an irresponsible, overwrought media. Nothing is plainer than their current rabid fascination with Trump and Trumpisms. But once again our guardians of the truth are reporting far beyond reality. The newest Washington Post/ABC News Poll (April17) indicates trouble for "Prime Time" on several fronts. In a match-up against Romney for instance, the incumbent would win 49% to 46%. Not much considering that Mitt has yet to start campaigning., "O" would only beat the Huckster 50-44 and Trump 52-40.

Oh, the media keeps touting the poll that shows Trump leading all Repubs with 26% of the vote versus Huck 17% and Romney 15%. This is a "PPP" Poll which has been known to be biased in favor of Democrats. The Repubs are confused enough without prejudicial polling. Stay calm.

When you pour steaming water down a rabbit hole you get a hot cross bunny.

Frankly, you can't find better cakes than the one's you can get at BJ's. And for great money too. Next time check out the "Caramel Dark Chocolate." Call ambulance service before eating.

Almost Near: Chapter 16 continues. --"You don't seem to know much about your parents, do you?" Samantha didn't speak. "What kind of man was your father?"
Samantha remained silent. What lie can I tell now. "Why do you ask?"
"When a man just disappears from view, it raises questions." Samantha smiled in agreement. "Have you ever been in Dalesford before?" Samantha tensed. Where was he going? Of course not, she thought to herself. Why is he asking?
"Have you ever seen me here?"
"I thought you looked familiar when I met you."
"Wasn't there a picture of me in the house?"
He put his hand to his chin and stroked it. "Perhaps." Then he leaned forward, his first show of emotion. "I thought maybe you could help me out with what I knew, but now you're triggering some new questions."
Samantha felt a small clutch of fear in her chest. Coming here was a mistake. She started to rise, put out her hand to say thanks for your time. He didn't budge. Didn't react.
"Where in town are you stayin'?
"I was going to start back East after this," she said firmly.
"Maybe you could stay another day. I'll find a room for you at the Shoo-Fly Inn. Good food."
"I really had to get going, but I guess another few hours tomorrow wouldn't hurt." With that a more animated Sparrow rose and shook her hand.
"Thanks". Samantha decided to call Dante.

Bugs Bunny is a rabbit with fleas.

FaceBook is now an official American company. This week they began an aggressive push to develop a string of Washington lobbyists. Watch out for your privacy.

The Answer:
I think this is an odd mix. Let's just say that it doesn't include Public Union employees. #1 is Commercial Airline Pilots. Next are Public Relations Executives, Senior Corporate Execs, Photo Journalists and Newscasters. Pervasive technology is one reason why stress is increasing in areas like news casting -- they have to be plugged in 24/7 or a YouTuber gets the scoop. Same for Photo Journalists. It is tough to hide in the new world

The End:
Sarah Palin has been very silent lately. The calm before the Presidential storm?

"It's snowing still," said Eeyore gloomily. "And it is awfully cold for April." However," Eeyore brightened, "The country didn't go bankrupt today."

Pass the Tums please.

Today's Tids Issue 2,276
Opening Stuff:

I have two knots in my stomach this morning. The first of course is because of the weekend game between the beloveds' and the NY Jets. The reason it is so stomach churning is because I cannot think of anything worse than losing a game to the dastardly Jets. Since they first appeared on the radar with their playboy QB I have had this queasy feeling in my gut. But that's me. The Jets are good and probably very mad about the December thrashing. I'll be pacing a lot the next two days.

The second Tums' moment revolves around the latest action by Chafee-Lite (The union owned RI Gov.). You know the "Trust Chafee" administration. Last week, he banned his admin from appearing on talk radio saying it was early in the term and they couldn't afford to spend the time. So, yesterday we learn that this is the second big lie from the Honest Llinc. He came out urging advertisers to boycott talk radio shows to drive them off the air. Now he may be doing this because he is weak and jellied at the kneecaps. But more than likely it is his Union Pals who would like nothing better than to have the radio talkers stop telling the folks the truth about the way they are being robbed blind. This is a sad moment. God help us.

One of our more astute readers reminds us that the most effective "Mending" speech of all time took but 2 minutes to deliver. It was Lincolns Address at Gettysburg.

The Question:
I always enjoyed Faye Dunaway. Name five of her best movies.

The Headlines:

--New Mideast Concerns After Lebanon Gov. Collapses; US Supported Israel Surrounded By Iran and Iran Controlled Syria, Lebanon And Hamas.
--Above Expectations Earnings Reports For JP Morgan And Intel Fail To Nudge Market; Analysts Say Good Earnings Already Built Into Stock Prices.
--1 Million Americans Expected To Lose Homes In 2011.
--House Set To Vote On Health Care Repeal.
--Italy Premiere Berlusconi In New Prostitution Proble; This Time he Is A ccused With Cover Up Of Encounter With 16 Year Old Prostitute.
--Gas Costs Push Up Consumer Price Index.
--Pope John Paul II to Beatified In May.

Back to More Stuff:
0-man Is at his highest point in the polls, 50%, since late May. But, the same ABCnews/Yahoo Poll said the path to a 2012 return to the White House is not all that rosy. The poll reveals that the economy will still be the 600 pound gorilla in the forthcoming elections. And the poll says that only 47% of Americans say they are optimistic about the future of the US economy. In April 2009, the height of the super recession, 55% said they were optimistic. It is a strange global world out there. This makes it much more difficult to predict based on traditional measures. My sense is that the economy by November of 2012 will become palatable enough to allow the Messiah to keep on preaching. Sorry repubs, but that 's the way I see it today.

And of course, the results will also be shaped by how well the new Congress lives up to their promises.

While we're on 2012, I just have to believe that the Dems and their left side in particular are really concerned with Sarah Palin. Their venom against her just isn't human even for a liberal. Maybe it isn't her, but what she says that they want to squash. She enlivens a huge majority of thinking Americans. And they are not all on the right or in the GOP party.

Here is a tasty chicken recipe that has my mouth watering before I write it. First the sauce. In a saucepan melt one tsp butt and add 2 tsps flour and whick into roux. Now add 1/2 cp white wine, 1 cp chic broth and juice of one lemon. Cook til thick and then add 2 oz garlic butter (Butter, garlic, parsley).
In a bowl mix with 4 eggs 1 oz romano, pinch - pep, salt, granualted garlic - and 1/2 tsp pars. Drench 8 boneless chix breasts in flour and place in 1 cup veg oil in fry pan. Cook 2 1/2 mins/side. Drain oil. Spread thin layer pesto atop each breast, then top with sliced plum tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. Bake at 350 til cheese melts. Top with sauce. Sounds reasonable.

Some thought that 0-Man, who was the model of solemnity Wednesday night, probably should have looked up when the hootin' and hollarin' began, raised his hand and said simply..."Please."

More people should look back as their life's accomplishments the friends they made and loved along the way.

I used to be a nice guy before I became a Tid's writer.

Almost near: Chapter 2. Samantha literally jumped out of bed as the morning sun bounced off the cove and into her room at the Inn. She quickly moved to the window to watch the early activity on the docks. It hadn't changed at all. Clam boats puttering out for a hard day's raking. Lobster men roaming the docks picking up their bait from the fisherman already returning from four o'clock bait-fish runs. She couldn't believe how great the scene made her feel. Now at 6 in the morning she was anxious to get going. She looked around her cozy antique filled room, picked few things out of her open suitcase on the golden colored ladder-back chair and went into the bathroom.
25 minutes later she was showered and dressed comfortably in jeans and a plaid shirt. She threw a navy blue cable knit sweater around her shoulders as she literally bounced down the well warn 1753 stairs. Jimmy was already busy at the front desk. "Hi Jim" she yelled wth exclamation point enthusiasm, And she started towards the door to her destination, Lillies Cafe, nestled dockside.
"Oh, Mr's Jergins!" Jimmy was waving and smiling as she turned towards him. "I talked to my dad last night, but he said your name didn't ring a bell." Before Samantha could react he continued. "I said he should try to remember, or else he is going to make a really pretty woman mad." Samantha stopped and appeared a little concerned even though she smiled back at Jimmy. "Well, dad laughed, and said maybe he'll work extra hard remembering."

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:
--Beware of movies released in January with star studded casts. If they were any good, they would have made it out during the big important Christmas season.--
--One of those is The Dilemma with a so-called A-1 cast that includes Vince Vaughn, Kevin James, Jennifer Connelly, Winona Ryder plus Star director Ron Howard. People will go to see a comedy but find they are watching "B" drama. James and Vaughn are biz partners who a long with their good wives are on their way to big successes. that is til Vaughn sees James' Wife (Ryder) out with another man. Everything crumbles around them as Vaughn wrestles with telling James about his wayward wife. it will probably be the box office smash for the week despite all of its inadequacies.
--More dissappointing is the old 40's Radio and Comic book fave The Green Hornet. Wealth son of dominant father, Britt Ried, sets out with dad's trusty aide Kato to stop crime. the develop the ultimate weapon, acar named Black Beauty, and enter the world of crime only to meet up with master criminal Benjamin Chudnofsky. Unfortunately the action and plot falls flat. This too will probably do well if anybody under 50 remembers the Green Hornet.

The Answer:
Faye Dunaway made over 50 movies starting in the 70's. She rose to enomous height as Bonnie in Bonnie and Clyde. I particualrly remember hher for some reson for her roll in Coutry Girl. But the experts will tell you that she was greatest in Chinatown Greatest all-time mystery), Network (Oscar),Three days of the Condor and the Champ. She was also in Thomas Crown Affair, The Arrangement, Eyes of Laura Mars and Mommy Dearest. I'm sure you have your favorites.

The End?
Feel the wobble? Sense your life careening out of control? Well you might if you believed in the power of astrological signs. Apparently an unstable earth's axis is negating the two thousand year old astrological charts. This basically means more work for Astrologers and little else. There are now 13 signs instead of twelve with the newest being Ophiuchus representing the period between Nov 29 and Dec 17. It also means that I am not a happy and carefree Gemini any more So maybe it's my sign that is making me angry and not writing the Tids. Isn't anything sacred any more? Go to http://www.csmonitor.com/science and see how you have been shuffled around while not looking.