A crush on life.

Today's Tids Issue 2,255

Opening Stuff:

I was watching "Criminal Minds" last night at am now firmly convinced that I'm not a psychopath...despite what you may feel when reading the Tids. In fact, I'm am probably the polar opposite, a heart on the sleeve romantic fool.

Bob Feller was a bigger than life super hero to kids in the 40's and 50's. I still feel the same. Enjoy your new aura Rapid Robert,

The Question:
There are many, many great classical composers, but this one born 240 years ago today did more to transform music from pleasantly tedious to powerfully beautiful. Who was he and what are his best known works and how much did he write?

The Headlines:

--Today Is "V" Day In The House On Bill Allowing Americans To Retain Their Money Instead Of Forking It Over To Bureaucrats To Waste And Congress People To Earmark.
--Markets Down On Mixed Economic Data.
--UK Upholds Decision To Grant Bail To Assange.
--Admin Says That Despite How Bad Things Look, US Making Progress In Afghan.
--Foreclosures Tumble.
--IRS Audits Up 11%; Enforcement Revenue Topped $57 Billion.
--Euro Rolling Debt Crisis Said To Be Systemic.

Back to More Stuff:
We have a government that could probably rid itself of several hundred departments and agencies, many dating back to FDR. And then yesterday we get more evidence of how quickly givernment can become bloated when we see Hillary stand up there saying that she needs about...get this...5,000 more people in her State Department. Is anybody listening?

Hope for the Future Department:
A reader writes to tell me that yesterday her six year old son came up to her and asked, "Do you believe that Michelle Obama was on the Disney Channel?" My friend asked her son what he thought about it. "Weird", was his answer.

Or maybe not...Maybe the problems that seem to be inherent in the education system are actually the result of extreme arrogance of the Educational elite. I give you this example of an educational recruiter telling the citizens of Claremont NH why it will be tough to get a good person for their Superintendent job. Zimmerman, a former Super himself said, "It is easy to search in a wealthy community that has children who come from an extraordinarily talented gene pool. By comparison, Claremont has poor people, poor children and disorientation in the family and the community." So lets hope his saying that basically we have to give up on communities where teaching is more difficult isn't in the hearts of all educators. Or else there is no future for all children. Idiot.

Unfortunately, the European protesters are complaining about a reduction in salaries and wages that were never economically viable in the first place. Of course, over here in America the experts are looking for a rebound in housing to lead the recovery...forgetting that the giant housing industry of 3 years was also not economically viable. So I guess the big idea is to forget the mistakes of history.

Word is out that next year the new Republican led Congress will bring Freddie and Fannie back into the picture as the real culprets that led to the recession. Stay tuned and watch Barney bluster.

With a 13-3 scorecard last week, I felt good about going into this weekend until I took a look at some of the games. Will our 141-66 (68%) record suffer a concussion with posers like huge games Indy-Jax, Eagkes-Jints and NO-Balt. And then there are the toss ups Buff-Miami, Cleve-Cinn, KC-St. Lou, Hous-Tenn, Det-TB and yes the desperate Jets against a better Pitt team. Also, there is red hot New England who goes against the points agianst best defense in the league, Green Bay! Well, first I'm doing my homer thing, especially since NE has already beaten all of the other so-called best "D"s". Then I pick the, ahem, easy games Chi over Minn, Atlanta over Seattle, Oak over Den, Dallas over Wash and Carolina over Arizona. I can't put it off any longer. here goes: Pitt, St. Louis, Tenn (Mario Williams out), TB, Buff, Indy, Balt. I love Philly but I have to go with the Giants. And...in that classic interstate Ohio war I'm picking Cleveland. This could be a disaster week.

Everybody is hailing yesterday's big meeting between our socialist President and big business. Basically what I have heard is that Business iterated in the meeting what they have been saying for two years now: We don't know where you are going, we don't trust where you are going based on what we know now, so have been keeping our cash on the sideline. Prove to us that something is changing.

The worst states for retirees are Nevada, Mich, Alaska, SC, Maryland, Tenn, Ohio, NC, Missouri and Arkansas. Not far behind are NE states RI, Conn and Mass -- Nice places to live if you can stand the taxes. In fact, the 10 states with highest cost of living in the 3rd quarter are Hawaii, Alaska, Cal, NJ, NY,Conn, RI Maryland, Vermont and New Hampshire. Illinois was considered the state in the most fiscal peril. The others are Arizona, Fla, Cal, Ill, Mich, Nevada, NJ. Oregon. RI and Wisc. Of course, if you can't afford to move then you are stuck where you are. So stop reading "Best of" polls and have a drink!

Is strong coffee heavier than average coffee?

How Newspapers create hysteria department:
A story reporting on the US Gov. lawsuit against private biz BP is accompanied by a large photo of one of the seven or eight birds found covered with oil. Hell it may be the only bird covered with oil. But the media loves it so much they have tried to make the symbol if the accident by showing it over and over again.

The Answer:
If you listen to Ludwig Von Beethoven's first symphony, it is not noticeably different than that of Mozart, Hayden and other previous composers of the day. But from there on, it is a magical transformation into what eventually became know as the Romantic period. The first Symphony I ever bought way back when was his 7th, and I like it even better today. Of course he is known for his wonderful Ninth, Eroica, Fifth, Mass, amazing piano concertos and rousing overtures. In all he write nine symphines, five piano concertos (6 including the choral), 32 piano sonatas, 10 violin sonatas, 5 cello sonatas, one french horn, 2 masses, 16 string quartets and numerous other quintets and trios for various instruments. He wrote one opera "Fidelio" many lieds (Songs) and several other concerti and many pieces of occasional music. He was a helluva guy.

The End: Big
It's easy to get down, but it's much more fun to stay up!

And…displaying the Ten Commandments is wrong Because…?

Today's Tids Issue 2,221

Opening Stuff:

Some people are running around outside, flapping their arms and shouting Eeeeeeeeee-Hah! But for me, this warm spell is turning me back into a slug, a spongy mushroom. And just at the time when my body started moving again.

Around here, and probably in many other cities and towns across the country, schools aren’t allowed to teach anything about religion lest some single minded person will drag a town to the Supreme Court. This raises a question: If you can’t mention religion, how can you teach US History? Huh? Like, much of the US was settled based on religious beliefs. Like the Pilgrims who were trying to escape persecution in order to practice their religion. And how these Puritan became depots in their own right, forcing enlightened leaders like Roger Williams, John Clarke and Anne Hutchinson to found RI. RI, the state called “The Lively Experiment” by Clarke because of all things it separated church from state while promoting freedom of religion for all sects. Amazing. It was this state that first allowed Quakers. Which, because of their ties to Barbados, fostered the idea of economic trade between the island, RI and England. And eventually slavery. Yup, I think there is something to be said about teaching Religion in the schools. Not to mention that it has something to do with the moral integrity of a society.

The Question:
Name the Top Ten States for worst business climate. Hint: think political leaning or drift.

The Headlines:

--Indonesia Double Disaster Death Totals Rise; Tsunami Up To 272 With About 300 Missing; Volcano At 30.
--Hurricane Like Storm Leaves Midwest With Heavy Damage.
--Technical Glitch Knocks Ten Percent Of US Nukes Off Line.
--Surgical Instruments Left In Patient At RI Hospital – AGAIN!
--Stocks Decline; Fed Fix Found Flimsy.
--GOP Congressional Candidate Laughlin Accuses Foe, Prov Mayor Cicilini, Of Hiding City Financial Problems.

Back to More Stuff:
Nobody is working harder on his campaign than RI’s 2nd Congressional District candidate John Matson. John is the kind of fearless guy who could go down to DC and start turning things up side down for the betterment of all people. He has a big heart and high degree of common sense. And boundless energy. The problem is that there are many little laws and regulations that make it very hard for the independent People Candidates to get out the message. It’s time to send the Puppet back home and put a doer in Washington.

Last night on Dancin’ With the Stars, what’s good and what people think is good were in dramatic conflict. The high scoring and judge favorite team of Audrina Patridge and Tony Dovaloni were knocked out by the voters in a shocking episode. Actually it, like “American Idol” “America’s Got…” has become less about the talent and more about who people like and which voting bloc is the largest. Frankly it’s a lot like the US elections where the best people are left sitting on the sidelines.

The Unions must be breaking editorial knees, because all of the Providence Journal Election Day Editorials endorse the same old political hacks who have put Rhode Island in jeopardy of being sold to China for cents on the dollar.

Hanging around the pro shop for early morning tee-off’s is getting depressing. Yesterday the discussion was about enumerating ex golf partners who one day are playing and the next day are laying silently in boxes surrounded by gladiolas.

I’m starting a new protest movement named C.R.A.P. –Committee for Restricting Apples in Pork! There are so many food writers promoting recipes with the fruit that got Adam kicked out of paradise, that soon some people will begin to think that pork actually tastes better bathed in fruit juices. It’s pork gravy that makes pork taste great. Gravy then, gravy now. It has always been gravy! Let’s get that straight.

My Boston Celtics had a nice win against The Miami Hype last night. But I guarantee that the next one is going to be tougher. James is good.

The Answer:
Believe it or not, the once great New York State is at the of the list of states with the worst biz climate. Odd since this is the seat of the financial world. Next is the liberal California followed by the very democrat states of New Jersey and Connecticut. Ohio, once a bastion of Republicanism has been drifting further and further left as has been Iowa. Maryland is next and is loaded with big Government workers. Next is the state just declared most liberal in the nation -- RI. Which, probably edged out that long time liberal nest of lefties, Minnesota. Last but not least is North Carolina, which lured thousands of jobs from Union ravaged states, only to se that round of jobs move out because of high labor costs.

The End:
Thou shalt Love God, not swear, go to church, honor mom and dad, not kill, not steal, not lie, not covet wives or things. Hey, that’s pretty radical stuff and should be stricken for the human mind.