Happy Birthday Ludwig!

Today's Tids Issue 2,489

Opening Stuff:

At any given moment, any Beethoven piece could be one of my favorites. That was part of his genius. He could write to many moods. I think that is where he changed the music world. As brilliant as some of his composer predecssors may have been, they could never get out of their own way. Luddy, broke molds. Reached higher, and delivered majesty never heard before. Luddy?

How come the Fed keeps on boasting a decline in or a holding steady inflation rate at a time when the average person fears going to the Supermarket. It gets harder and harder to believe government stats.

Europe is on the brink of a recession, and those new austerity programs will contribute to the continent's downward spiral into a full recession in early next year. This will drag down the world economy and suck the air out of the USA already moribund GDP growth rate. So be prepared to feel the gloom for six months or so, according to leading London economists. But, China will emerge after the first quarter with very robust growth rate and pull along much of the rest of the world...except EuroZone. You can't put walls around your country any more.

The Question:

Steven Bochco was a prolific and inventive writer. Name five of his TV shows.

The Headlines:

--Markets will keep People Guessing Today.
--House And Senate Agree On Governemnt Funding Deal.
--New AP-GfK Oll: Americans 52 to 43 Say "Obama Should Be Voted Out Of Office"; It's 50-50 On Whether He Will Win; Job Performance -- Overall - Approve/Disapprove 44/54, Economy - A/D 39/60.
--Fitch Cuts Ratings Of Goldman, Deutshe Bank, Barclay, Credit Suisse, Citi, BNP Paribas, BoA.
--Popular SC Gov Nikki Haley Endorses Romney.
--Russian Customs Seize Iran-Bound Radioactive Material.
--World Court Says Killing Of Quadaffi May Have Been War Crime.

Some how the Tids Entertainment Editor muscled the Sports Editor aside, and the pig skin picks missed yesterday. (For the record, our crackerjack team included the Thursday Florida Championship -- and the winner we picked was Atlanta.) Last week was a little better and raised the year to 139-69 (67%). The puzzlers this week are Seattle-Chi, Miami-Buff, Det/Oak, Jets-Igles, Balt-SD and Pitt-SF. And because of the Tebow effect versus the porous NE defense, that too. Chi, Buff, Oak, Phil, SD and SF are my winners, mostly based on need to win versus nice to win. The rest are NO, Cinn, Houston, GB, Tenn, NYG and Ariz. Oh yeah, the Pats are the best team that Denver has faced this year. So, with a roll of Tums in my hand, I go with my guys. But something inside says that if Tebow starts rallying I could root quietly against myself.

Years ago when you forgot or failed to send out a Christmas card, people would think you didn't like them any more. Today, people think you died.

Debate Department:
Well, the Newtster continually under asault at the big debate last night, seemed to weather the storm pretty well.Hhe used self depretiating humor and facts to blunt the attacks primarily by Bachman and Santorum about Fannie/Freddie loot and ProLife stance. He brought down the house with his belittling of Obama over the Canada pipeline decision. Even though he was the focus, it wasn't all Newt. Romney and Paul looked very strong as did Santorum. Life marches on in Republand as all on the stage agreed with Paul's assessment -- "Everybody on this stage is capable of beating Obama."

The front page of the Prov Journal had in Gigantic black agate type -- "War Over". With all due respect to our fallen heroes, the headline for a war that most thought ended several years ago didn't seem to have the impact like it did for WWII.

Poser of the Day: Would you feel comfortable dating or having as a friend, Amanda Knox?

Putin seems to be a remnant of the old Us versus the evil West regime. In fact he seems to genuinely hate the the US. Now I'm no conspiracy theory guy, but I'm thinking that the CIA is organizing those protests.

Well, maybe Bach was pretty fantastic.

Some of the people down at ESPN are saying it's refreshing to be telling positive stories about Tim Tebow. They admit a certain level of being disturbed when mired down, as they often are with sports "heroes", in the mud with ongoing deplorable stories about slugs like Rothlesberger and Vick.

The culture didn't get any better when NBC decided to pick Howard Stern as a judge for America's Got talent. Stern was one of those early TV icons whose basic recognition was a result of a devotion to obscenity. Well, at least he didn't take off his clothes like some of our newer pop divas.

I was surprised to read that in the Latest Brown U Survey Gina Raimondo had but a 52% approval rating among RI'ers. But digging down you see that only 37% of Dems approve versus 60-61% for Indies and Repubs respectively. I guess Dems don't want to be saved from a deteriorating RI. Other RI stats: 85% approve voter ID's; It's 77% to 11% for the Christmas tree. And the best news of all- Cicilline has an approval rating in the low twenties!

Reading Between the Lines movie Reviews:
--I have enjoyed all of the Mission Impossible movies, and the new one, :Ghost Protocol, they say is even good! Blamed for the terrorist bombing of the Kremlin, Ethan Hunt's gang must go under the radar to clear their name and prevent another attack.
--There is so much action in the new Sherlock Holmes offering that it is nearly impossible to find the plot. It is another H-Wood effort that sacrifices a solid mystery for over the top action. Professor Moriarty is at large and his intellectual capacity may be equal of Holmes. His moral depravity eliminates any sense of logic in solving the case. That is the struggle.
--Alvin and the Chipmonks: Chipwrecked is...well...Alvin and the Chipmonks.

Almost Near: Chapter 56.
--I reached out with loving arms across the glistening skies.
To feel the warmth we knew as budding flowers blossomed.
To be your rock upon which to cling in the surging seas of life.
Now I see you running free, amidst the sandy dunes.
Will I disappear beneath the tides; Will I be hurled upon your shore.
  Tucker looked concerned as he sat in the window seat on the flight back to Little Rock. He would see the face of Samantha in the clouds, and then see it disappear, drawn apart by winds outside the rushing plane. He could feel the plane shudder has the face of Samantha disappeared. And then it would return. It bothered him
After the call from Audrey, he went back to the table and sat for a another half hour telling Sparrow pretty much nothing. Even though he knew everything. He could tell by Samantha's expression that she knew there was more. He had looked at his watch, and declared "Gotta catch a plane." Samantha rose and took his hand, quite tenderly he remembered, but not with that need she had shown these past months. Sparrow shook his hand, smiled, "Keep in touch," he said. Then Tucker/Tommy left not looking back. He had wondered what Sam may have looked like as he walked away. But he didn't turn. Sparrow could be a problem he thought.

The Answer:

Bochco got ink in his pen while working on a team that wrote shows like Columbo, McMilland and Wife and Ironsoide. He became a hit-maker with critically acclaimed Hill Street Blues. His other big hits were LA Law and NYPD Blue. He also wrote a series of lesser successes like Hooperman, Murder One, Brooklyn South, City of Angels, Over There, Philly and Most recently Raising the Bar.

I usually start pacing the floor Sunday morning in anticipation of the Patriots game. It seems that today I can't sit still awaiting the clash of two dissimilar quarterbacks. Brady the All pro who is 1-5 in Denver and who will be dodging two great edge rushers. And the miracle man Tebow, in reality still an unknown, facing the most porous defensive backfield in the league.

Love your weekend!

An unhealthy future.

Today's Tids Issue 2,092
Opening Stuff:

For the first time in many years the first day of Spring actually looked and felt like Spring. Last year we didn’t get Spring until July, and then only momentarily. Are they foolin’ us?

Many people who helped to elect Obama did so because it was historic. In his last minute push, Obama has been saying we should pass Health care because it will be historic. Maybe we should just let history run its course, and try to get things right for a change.

In case you missed it, the Heath Care boondoggle authorizes 16,000 new IRS agents but no new doctors. That’s government logic – 32,000,000 new patients and nobody to take care of them. But lots of people to harass the folks. Maybe we should outsource the new flood of patients to India. For a Trillion, we can probably get them first class seats.

I’ll tell you one place I won’t be on April 3 – waiting on line to get one of the first iPads! Somehow I sense that before long the iPad will fins a place in the attic stored next to a John Travolta Saturday Night Fever outfit.

In case you haven’t noticed, the current average of 7 polls on people’s view of the health care bill is 49.3% against and 40.2% for.

Daily Question:
See how well you can answer these three word games:
1. NOTHINGEXCELLENT
2. JANOB
3.              THE LAW
          JUSTICE=JUSTICE

The Headlines:
--Congress Passes Job Killing LollaPelosi; Majority Of Folks Licking Chops To Vote Out Dems In November.
--French Left Overwhelms Sarkozy Conservatives In Sunday Vote.
--Markets Down As Doubts About Greece Linger.
--German Priest Sex Abuse Investigation Expands.
--Republicans, And Anti HC Indies And Democrats Say Debate Starts Today; Hot New Bumper Sticker Expected To be “Remember In November.”
--Sales Of Luxury Products Going Strong; Tiffany’s Has Record Profit.
--East Greenwich High Wins Rhode Island Academic Decathlon; The next Nine Are, Hendriken, Wheeler, Johnston, Middletown, Bay View, Cranston West, Classical, North Kingstown and Narragansett.

Back to More Stuff:

I had to put away my ski jacket today. Rats! On the positive side, Hilltop Creamery opened for the season!

Stupak Kick-Back or Pelosi Sausage Factory Department:
I could have called this – “Why the people don’t stand a chance? Department:”. The future of the US as we have known it is dead. Our future freedoms are now hanging upon tender hooks because we have a President with the overwhelming desire to have something in the history books other than the fact that he was the first half-white person to become President. Check out the sausage ingredients: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703775504575136133814210008.html?mod=rss_opinion_main

Stayin’ Alive Department:
If your cell phone rings while it is being charged, always unplug before answering. Want me to repeat that?

An astronaut is successful when he is down and out.

Omar Samher, the huge center for the St. Mary’s basketball team received this text message after his team upset Richmond in the NCAA first round: “I can’t believe you won! You messed up my brackets” –Love Mom.

After the 2nd round win over Villanova she said “That’s my boy.” This kid is good.

A new government report says the four cities least affected by joblessness from the downturn are Minneapolis, Oklahoma City, Rochester and Buffalo. The reasons these cities were spared so say these government experts is because their economies don’t rely on manufacturing and they didn’t have to wrestle with a boom/bust housing problem. Buffalo was devastated by the loss of manufacturing many years ago and has been a small wasteland ever since. They would love to have retained those substantial industries back. Instead the have a jobs economy based now on selling trinkets to Canadian tourists. The city never had a boom/bust real estate market because nobody wanted to move to Buffalo. Rochester the former home o many giants like Kodak, is similar. The message is, once again, beware of a government offering statistics. Believing them is like opening an email with a virus.

Johannes Sebastian Bach would have been 325 years old yesterday. 325 years, and his music is still as fresh as the day it was written. Is this guy one of the great genius’s or what? You have hummed his tunes subconsciously. Pop singers have adapted them. People get married by them. Jazz players interpret them. When you got it -- you got it!

Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 61.  -- “Hi Henry,” I said pleasantly. I loved Henry.
Last night after a long day at BiEm ( Probably too long for my first day back) I had a cup of coffee with Kent while he had his Diet Coke and a piece of pie. I wondered how he stayed so thin. I was exhausted. Even when I felt his foot touching my calf, I didn’t even have the strength to respond to something I would normally of late have loved. I told him I just had to get home, and he understood immediately. He walked me out. We found some shadows. He kissed me hard. It felt beautiful. I was still glowing when I walked in to see the kids. I didn’t feel guilty at all. They ran up and hugged me and asked me how I felt. Could I ask for more? Paul was working late as usual. But, he eventually came home, and we had a wonderful talk before bed. He was totally caring. And, actually a little romantic. I told him I was tired. He understood.
“Good to see you, Detective Durham,” Henry joshed. “What brings you here?”
“Do you mean other than the fact that I’m uncontrollably in love with you?” His eyes lit up and he laughed that wonderful Henry laugh. ”I just wanted to get your view of the big mess. I have been told about it from Isabelle and Kent primarily. But, regardless of how much I like them, I still have to be totally understanding of anything that may affect our big investment.”
“You have an hour?,” he started. I nodded and said I have until my recovering body gives out. He asked me a couple of questions about my health. The phone rang. Henry picked it up. I heard a bunch of “yups” and Uh-huh’s” but nothing interesting. Then he turned to me. “That was the state police. Seymore Bromsky has been found – dead. They say it was a suicide.”

You know you are still in New England when you see houses where the backs are not painted. Of course this dates back to the days when white paint was so expensive that the fourth side or sides not showing, was often covered with ox-blood based red. Today a good Yankee just uses weathered shingles. Gotta save for a rainy day, you know!

I look at Mount Saint Charles 3rd consecutive state hockey championship as a good thing. The state hasn’t completely lost all of its grand old traditions.

A headline read, “Much of land historic”. Isn’t all land historic? I mean, something happened on all land for the first time. The first crocus to ever poke through on March 14th. The first muskrat to take a crap there. The first sub humanoid explaining to his wife why he was out gathering with the boys so long.

To me everything about this Health Care thing is about expanding Medicaid. To expand people’s reliance on government. All the goodies that seem useful are just there to attempt softening the anger against the LollaPelosi. Also, if the Feds eventually take away the HC burden form companies and towns (Which is probably their ultimate aim), unions will be able to bargain for higher wages. There are many underlying dynamics to this bill. Anything that costs a trillion is going to affect something. And I will; probably not be good.

America began its decline when FDR pushed through Social Security.

The Answer:
You probably did these posers in your sleep: 1. Nothing short of excellent. 2. An inside job. 3. Equal justice under the law.

Final Thoughts:

The librarian was checking in a variety of books for me when I said “I hope this isn’t confusing?” She smiled knowingly, looked up and delivered this classic, “I am of an age beyond confusion.”

BTW, if you are confused by the LollaPelosi HC scam, tale comfort in this – there is an excellent chance it will be repealed by 2,013. Remember in November.