Too many people with too little to do.

Tpday's Tids Issue 2,819

Opening Stuff:

 

Washington State is a pretty spectacular place...for vistas. But, not so much for rational thinking. Their legislature has just voted for gender neutral words where Fisherman will now be a "Fisher", Penmanship will now be "Handwriting" and Freshman will now be "First Year Student". How incredibly insane is that? Will there be Language cops giving out tickets. They say that they have yet to come up with a suitable replacement for Manhole Cover. How about street hole cover? How hard was that? Of course they think that replacing "Journeymen" with Journey-Level" is suitable. Ststrangely, this all happened right after the enactment of liberal Marijuana laws. Is there a connection here? Well I was laughing along my morning about the loons in the Northwest corner when I read farther to see, "Washington joins other states like...Rhode Island". Hey, wait a minute, RI's Chafee-Lite just signed more liberal marijuana laws.

There's a story out that the Boston Bombers probably had no Foreign help. But, the reporter on the story is ABC's Brian Ross who more often than not gets it wrong. So, I'll wait for the facts.

The Question:
Double "Q" Tuesday: 1. What are the five top causes of accidental death in the US? 2. Which five countries eat the most bread per capita?

The Headlines:

--Wall Street Up Stone Early After Europe Posts Positive Gains For Three days; Wall Street Holding Breath Over Apple Post Closing Announcements.

--European Stock Gains Should Power US Today.

--Two Canadian Men Arrested After Muslim Community Exposes Plan To Bomb Passenger Train; Men Supported By al-Qaida in Iran; First al-Qaida Act In Canada.

--Israel Says There Is Evidence Of Chemical Usage In Syria.

--Car Bombs Rattle Capitals Of Iraq, Lybia; French Embassy In Lybia Struck; 23 Dead In Iraq As Incidents Rage On.

In RI, there are only about three and a half degrees of separation. I know a guy who's sister is the best friend of Boston Bomber's wife. And, I knew when I called him last night that he would tell me something like that.

Do you ever realize how meaningful to others a casual conversation opener like "Howya doin' " might be?

The world is such a disbelieving place anymore. In a news item, Israel says The (Syria) regime "probably used nerve gas on its people. Now the Israeli's know that Chemical is Obama's so-called hot button, the red line that would cause him to act. So I'm immediately thinking is this an Israel ruse to draw the US into the Syria mess? "Probably" is not a conclusive word. 

Growing career opportunity Education: Drone Piloting School.

There is no doubt in my mind that Fiat/Chrysler is sissyfying the Jeep.

I have always wondered why when say, Police departments do what they are supposed to do, people laud it as unique. Now, I'm not demeaning bravery and danger on the job, but police and/or firemen (Oops, sorry Washington state. or the Coast Guard enter into dangerous situations because that is their job description. Or, how about how the cost of police protection at a big event is isolated to be "X" Million, when the police are doing whet they are already being paid to do. Like when the cost of the Secret Service, which is paid to protect the President at all times, is considered as "Extra when the Pres takes a trip. So people go to work and do their job and sometimes they are just being paid for what they do and other times when doing exactly the same thing they are an expense. Must have something to do with politics.

Speaking of dangerous jobs, how about accountants who have to find truth in audits? Let's hear it for accountants, our last paragons of truth.

What would the people in Washington State's Government be doing for the last six years if they weren't scouring state regulations, administrations and legislation to eliminate the words "man" or "men" from all written state documents? Why did taxpayers have to pay for people sitting around in dull grey rooms with metal furniture, amidst paper cups half full of coffee and donut crumbs, making up replacement names for traditional and well accepted descriptions of occupations and inanimate objects. Sounds a little like communist Russia to me.

1984 was just a little too early.

If you can get past the blood oozing's, "The Following" is one of the best, most tense thrillers on TV in years. Every time you think they must have finally run out of new ideas, they sneak one by you and you are completely surprised.

The Conscience: Chapter 19 continues:
   Mrs. Biglietto was a dark haired, very attractive woman, about my age, Though not as worn down by a constant alcohol transfusion. Her English seemed more natural than Papa. Some day I will surely introduce him as Mr. Papa. Sanna and Ernesto, took their seats on the couch as I turned my chair towards them. Angelica sat in the soft leather chair that matched the couch. This was obviously the small talk session before they beat me up at lunch.
   "That was a terrible thing at Mr. Stevenson's boat yard yesterday. Have you talked to him. Has he said anything?" Papa nodded along with his wife's words as if he was saying them in unison. His eyes looked soft, non-threatening. Sanna's eyes were more alert, like her daughter. I quickly told her what I knew. She paid strict attention, making notes in her mind I would suspect. Half way through my little talk she crossed her legs, skirt riding up up bit. I thought I noticed her eyes flicking down, asking mine to follow. Which they did. Two things drinking causes -- over eating and declining resistance to woman's advances. Now this wasn't an advance, Well I'm thinking it probably wasn't, but I seemed to be breaking down fairly rapidly. I glanced over at Angelica and felt guilty.
   I was surprised to have my wandering imagination interrupted by Ernesto, who up til now I thought was basically staging for his wife., "Mr. Morgan,"
   "You can call me Jeff," I interrupted.
   "No, I will call you Mr. Morgan Until I trust you." My stomach tightened. I glanced quickly at Sanna's knee. Ooops, Already I'm breaking his trust. Then I eyed the bar by the window. "I don't know why you are here. We had a business deal moving to completion, but my wife," He looked at Sanna. "She had a call from one of her contacts saying that Mr. Stevenson was sending a lawyer to mess things up. And now we have an explosion. So, you are bad portafortuna." God, Italian again. But understand the word "bad".
    "But," now he smiled, my daughter says you are a nice man, and could be trusted. So we can proceed, but you will see me watching you." He stood. "Enough with the friendly part of this morning. Lets go to lunch and talk, what do you Americans say, "Turkey"? I have never said Talk Turkey in my life. But I nodded anyway.
    I stood and looked over at Angelica and mouthed, "Thank you". She smiled a little and walked over to her parents. Ah, three against one.

The Answer:
1. I don't think you would be surprised to learn that Auto Crashes is #1 (43,200). The next five  are Falls (14,900), Solids, Liquids Poisoning (8,600), Drowning (4,000) Fires and Burning (3,700) and #6 is Suffocating (3,500). Rounding out the top 10 are Firearms (1,500), Gas Poisoning (00), Medical, Surgical Misadventures, Complications (500) and Machinery (300). 2. The Country that runs away witht eh bread eating title is Ireland followed by UK, New Zealand, USA, Australia, France, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Ukraine and Canada/Mexico. I wonder if anybody ever suffocated to death by bread?

I just have to figure that there are many in Government who's job it is to create programs solely designed to create new hiring opportunities. 

Before a mother knows the sex of her baby, it's a hidden agender.

Have fun today. Wait a minute, that might not be appropriate for everybody. Oh well, screw it, have fun anyhow.

Laughter turns off your brain.

Today's Tids Issue 2,551
Opening Stuff:

Hee Hee. Ha ha ha ha. Hardy hardy har-har-har. Hee HEE, HO HA HO! Catching isn't. Now it's your turn... one from your gut. You know the laugh, the one that just roars out and you can't control it. Are you eyes squinting yet? Just start laughing til you fall off your chair on the floor. Look around. Anybody watching you. Yeah, I bet they are. They're probably sittin' there trying to hold in a big blast. You know the kind. The cheeks start to puff...and puff. Puffing...puffing... puffing. And then they just can't hold it in and out it comes. A rocket blast, spit and all. And now they're laughing harder than you are, and you just have to join in to catch up. Then all you can hear is laughs, laughs, laughs, within you and all around you. Go ahead. Just let it go!. Soak it up. It's the best way to start the day.

Just remember as you go through life that at the opposite end of every "send" button is a "delete" button.

The Greece solution is all about screwing capitalism to keep alive the entitlement mentality of Socialism.

To me, Romney looks like a fool in his Southern campaign. The crowds didn't come there to hear him jest about saying "Y'all". Or pandering to their southern roots. They came to hear what's inside his head in his own USA dialect. How what he thinks will bolster their support for him. Great leaders lead by being themselves as opposed to being puppets on the strings of consultants. I think Charles Krauthammer should write his speeches. It would be all over. By the way, I am for Romney, who I believe would be a great president for our times. That's why get so mad when he acts stupid.

It isn't just Romney trying to be not himself in order to get elected, 0-Man does it all of the time, trying to sound hip or blue collar -- finishin' all of those words with unbecomin' "a's" or minus "g's". It just doesn't work, and it is a major irritant to me about Obama. Among lots of other things. And, another note to Presidents: Stop telling jokes unless you're good at it, like JFK. Clinton was terrible at telling jokes. And I wouldn't listen to a joke from Nixon even if it was funny. Actually, after Nixon told a joke it wouldn't be funny any more anyhow.

I'm already tired of the Peyton Manning tour. More and more Americans are getting more and more excited about less and less.

The Question:

Ok...what do you think the following recipe ingredients make: 1 cup butter, 1 cup sugar (Plus a little), 2 eggs, 2 tablespoons milk, 1 tsp vanilla, 2 cups flour, 1 tsp salt 2 tsps baking powder.

The Headlines:

--US Master Sergent Alleged Murder Of 16 Afghan Civilians Frays Country's Relations; Is This The Sign To Leave?
--China Trade Balence Plunges; Dims Enthusiasm On WS.
--New ABC/WashPost Poll: Romney 49, "O" 47; Santorum 49, "O" 46; Among GOP Leaning Voters On Repub Nominations - Mitt 33%, Rick 29%, Newt 14%, Ron 12%.
--Swiss Voters Turn Down National Referendum To Increase Vacation From 4 Weeks To 6 Weeks; Say It Is Bad For The Economy. Duh.
--Kentucky, North Carolina, Syracuse, Michigan State Top NCAA Seeds.
--Newly discovered Love Letters Reveal Nixon's Sensitive Side. Huh?

Did you see that news item about Dick Van Dyke getting married at 88 to a 46 year old woman! On a similar note, golf analyst David Feherty had to disappoint a gathering by telling them that co-host, golf legend Nick Faldo couldn't make it because he had to attend the birth of is next wife.

How are your brackets coming?

I was reminded over the weekend that one of my early material goals was to live in a Royal Barry Wills designed Cape Cod Style home. Do I still have time?

In case you missed it, you probably forgot all of your ills and worries if you started off the Tids laughing. It's the way it works.

Of course, GW Bush was always himself and people hated it.

I heard a pretty good radio interview Saturday with a guy named Mike Murphy -- "The Deaf Comedian. He told few of his comedy routine jokes "I never really liked Christmas. My parents would give me gifts, like a Walkman without earphones." But this engaging man had a lot more to say to the host Gene Valente. He is trying to lead the charge for Cochlear Implants, and has found it tough going at times, in particular with some deaf groups. He mentioned that at deaf school he saw deaf kids bullying those who had received implants. He went on to say, "I learned all of the tools -- lip reading, signing, but I am so grateful I went to implants. To hear, little things...like driving through an intersection when a fire engine is coming. Or going home at night and hearing 'Hi dad'."

The phrase I just never have and probably never will be able to live up to: "Center of the cup. Hit it firm."

Too much time, or too much media Department:
--How much time is wasted on FaceBook or reading todaystids.blogspot.com? There has to be something better for the minds of America. And safer too. Take the two women who "befriended" each other only to learn they were married to the same man at the same time. Oops! I still don't get FB.
--And, how about about that restaurant review by an 81 year old food critic from Grand Fork ND? She wrote a very favorable review of the opening of the newest, grandest, largest restaurant in that town -- Olive Garden! She posted it on her paper's website, somebody for some reason caught it and it went viral -- 1.290,00 hits viral! Are there that many more people out of work with nothing to do, or is this part of the slowdown of the American workplace. Olive Garden -- that's funny. Hmmm. Viral! Jeez, the Tids are sitting on the edge of virility!

Did you read where the California loonies have legislated a change forcing two private companies -- Coke and Pepsi to alter the formula for caramel colorings. The hysteria of these mindless "Nannies" was based on a lab test that injected mice with a dose of the so-called carcinogenic ingredient equivalent to a human drinking 1,000 cans of soda a day for 50 years. We have to get rid of these people.

Memo to Lindsy Lohan: Saturday Night Live didn't do it for ya.

I'm tying my Springtime TV entertainment hopes to the premiere of the new series "Missing" with Ashley Judd. She has always been good in thriller movies. And this series looks to have the possibility of being a cut above the regular fare. Simple plot, tough woman.

Personally, I think the food critic job is a pretty great gig. They eat at great or not so great restaurants on an expense account, and then pull out the handy-dandy Food Reviewers template and inserts the new data. Have you ever read these reviews? They're all essentially the same -- from Grand Fork to NYC to Providence -- I see the same format, the same style, the same adjectives and even the same inflections Is this some kind of DNA thing?

Almost Near: Chapter 64 continues. --Tucker lifted Rebecca and gently placed her on the bed. Sheila, backed into a corner watched with "what's going on here" eyes. Tucker turned towards her, "don't worry, he said in a quiet friendly manner, She's fine. It was an accident." He pulled back the covers, and gently placed her in the bed. He bent and kissed her on the forehead, and pulled the covers around her. he shivered.
Sheila hadn't moved a muscle, watching the almost ritualistic fascination of her sister by this man she barely knew. He stood and turned towards her. She cringed back. "We're going to see mom now". He reached and took her hand and she obediently followed. Fear had become her guide. They walked into the Living area. You sit here a minute. I'm going to get a band-ade for Beck." He said Beck like she was his best friend. He fumbled around in his luggage and pulled out a band-ade, "See", he held it up for her eyes while slipping a syringe in his pocket. "Just a minute and we'll be going. Beck will be safe here. I know Mom will be very happy to see you." Sheila's eyes softened a bit.

The Answer:

Personally, I wouldn't have a clue, but I imagine many of you knew it was a cookie. But...it isn't just any Cookie --it's an original Girl Scout Cookie back in the days when Girls Scouts actually made them! Happy 100th Birthday Girls Scouts Of America. Here's the rest of the recipe: Cream butter and sugar. Add well beaten eggs, milk vanilla, flour, salt and baking powder. Refrigerate for at least an hour. Roll dough thin an cut into trefoil shape. Sprinkle extra sugar on top. Bake in 375 degree over for 8-10 mins until edges brown. Anybody know what a trefoil shape is?

Maybe Girl Scouts is a great way today to get youngsters out of the smart phones and into the world around them.

Yesterday morning to pave the way for the Irish, I pulled out my Waking Ned Davine sound track. Watching the Irish next week is always good for the laugh button, that is if they can ever stop those Danny Boy tears.

Mike Murphy the deaf comedian said, "The deaf really don't like the blind. It's about those sunglasses. Did you ever see a deaf person with earmuffs".

Laughter is the best Medicine. In fact, there are organized "Laugh Groups" which have become great sources of positive therapy for, perhaps parents who have lost a child or are dealing with severely ill child; or people undergoing their own painful treatments for serious diseases. It's quite simple. They come together, sit down and just start laughing. For a whole hour they just sit there and laugh. It's a great kind of an infection.

Numb.

Today's Tids Issue 2,246
Opening Stuff:

My mind is like alphabet soup waiting for the letters to flow into something legible. Well, I guess that's it. Another opening.

Actually, I've been struggling through these Tids the past few days and have wound up only sending across an email list. But I'm back to posting. Sorry. This is yesterday's.

How muddled are all of our minds as we try to decipher the pleas of politicians trying to establish new positions in the wake of an obvious election warning. Even Putin is calling for the reticent Republicans to pass the Nuke pact. But then you have to wonder, if Putin likes it, how good can it really be. Add to the mix, the deficit panel programs, Wikileaks and Christmas shopping and you gotta think we are in the United States of depression. Now I don't feel so bad. Actually, I never get depressed. I just get muddled.

The Question:
Which President signed the legislation that gave us the Kennedy Center for the Arts?

The Headlines:

--McCain Calls Pentagon Study On Gays Flawed.
--FIFA Awards 2018 And 2022 World Cup To russia And Qatar
--Jobless Claims Rise; Broader Trend Shows Improvement.
--Appeal Against Arrest Warramts Issued To Wikileaks Leader Assange Denied By British Courts.
--LA Police Still Mum On Mysterious Publicist Murder; Person Of Interest Shoots Self In head In Hotel Loobby.


Back to More Stuff:
If you think it's mind muddling now, think about the past year and the ten top obsessions of Americans? (And obcessioin is defined as a person, pop-culture phenomenon, political arty, gadget or pesty plague that spurred constant on-line monitoring and obsessive tangential searches. [Yes people do that]). That aside the ten are, starting with #1, iPhone, Lindsay Lohan, iPad, "Glee", "Jersey Shore", FaceBook, Bedbugs, Tea Party, Silly Bandz and Stieg Larsson's "The Girl". Are you with it.

Could the Pats-Jets game next Monday night be added to that list?

Seen around the corner from Tids world headquarters with her new Beau at the Fastnet Irish pub -- Christina Aguilara. Said She had a great time and nobody bothered her.

From the Its a New World Department, we see this item from a LPGA News release: "The players voted to remove the 'female at birth' requirement form the tour's constitution." Having trouble at "Q" School...see a surgeon!

There are loud rumblings that Eliot Spitzer's prostitute inclinations came to the surface because he wsa getting too close to Wall Street's Greed Machine. Is he the ticking time bomb under lower Broadway?

A second good week brings the Tids Pickum' scorecard to 118-57 (67.4%). So lets start with tonight's game because it feels good: Eagles over Houston. My mind isn't up to wrestling with posers so I didn't. I just picked.instead: GB, KC, Buff, Tenn, Miami, Chi (even though they still have Cutler), NYG, NO, SD, Seattle, St. Louis, Atlanta (?), Indy and (Gulp) Baltimore. Oh I still have one more. A tough one. I taking the Pats on Home Field Advantage.

The good news is that I'm still alert enough not to reply to that lawyer with all of my money in Nigeria.

How about that Oscar Emcee duo for 2011 -- Anne Hathaway and a guy named Franco. Are they the producers relatives? Whatever happened to the dependable and funny guys Bob Hope, Johnny Carson, Billy Chrystal, Dave Latterman...Well maybe not Dave Letterman. I can tell by reading the press release about this that the press writer was struggling to justify the selections. Nancy Pelosi couldn't

The Answer; Good ole' Ike was the Prez who gave up the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Some Libs would rewrite history and tell you heoriginally intended it as an addtion to the pentagon. Humpf! Republicans don't do arts.

I made it. See you tomorrow.

Nowhere'sville, Tidsland.

Today's Tids Issue 2,237
Opening Stuff:

Do you want to know why the Tids is late today? It's because my mind isn't working. It's as simple as that.

If regular old Citizens did what Charlies Rangle did, they'd be in jail. He'll probably lose privileges on on the Congressional underground railroad.

The Question:
Give me the percentages of people with business experience in Presidential administrations from Teddy Roosevelt to "House Mom".

The Headlines:

--GM IPO Hit Street up $3.00 In early Trading.
--Markets Surge As Irish Woes Ease.
--First Gitmo Trial Ends With Ahmed Ghailani convicted On 1 Of 280 Charges; Defense Lawyer Hails US Justice System; Expectations For Closing Of Gitmo Vanish.
--Scientists Find Clue In Case Of Missing "Anti-Matter".
--High School Seniors making Little Progress In Test Scores According To New Government Report.
--Murkowski Says She Is Looking Forward To Rejoining republican Ranks As An Independent!
--New Survey Shows That 4 In 10 Say marriage Becoming Obsolete; Most Of Marriage naysayers In Lower Income Groups.

Back to More Stuff:
How about that government of ours! They canceled the SS cost of living increase this year because there is no inflation. But, the US Gov. inflationary mesurement doesn't include a couple Senior basics -- Food which keeps them alive and energy which keeps them from turning into Popsicles. Basic food and energy costs are up significantly. They may not have Death panels because they may not need them.

I walk in humbly as my trusty Sports department really sucked last week. 6and 8 brings us to 92-51 and lowers our winning rate from 67% to 64%. Ugh. There are two huge games this week -- Indy-Pats and Giants-Eagles. I got to go with the Pats, cause when they play well they are Ok. And Indy is hurting. I think the toughest pick of the week is E-G. The Giants are mad and the Eagles are hot...and they are home. Eagles! Actually some of the rest look easy but I doubt if it will turn out that way this year. Here goes -- Miami, Dallas, Pitt, Tenn, Jets, Cinn, KC, Jax, Balt, GB, Atlanta and a couple of Sans -- Fran and Diego.

So why all of a sudden is an unwed mother of 20 who just happens to be a daughter of a woman who lost the race for VP of the US an authority on how people should lead their lives? Give me a little celebrity and I'll give you new authority. It's the American way.

Oh yeah... and Donald trump Just announced that he will run for President. Who's next...Snooky? He'd probably win.

Fox News headlined their story about Obama's new kids book: "Obama book Praises Indian who killed US general ( Sitting Bull, Chief of tribe who beat Custer). The Libs who constantly revise history, hate it.

I think I made the wrong career choice Department:
There are over 1,200 public employees in nearly bankrupt RI making over $100K. The number making over $150k in the federal offices of the country on-the-path-to-bankruptcy is 177,599! Yikes! Choosing a government job used to mean picking job security over income. No more. The average salary + benefits (2009) for Feds public sector is $123,049 versus State Public sector $69,913 versus the economic engine Private sector $61,051 Oh, and to finish where I saarted, the four highest paid public employees in RI are the basketball coach at URI, the President of URI...and two psychiatric registered nurses, each who made over $275,000.

And the reason I'm not supposed to eat gluten is...?

Frankly I never buy anything advertised as "Green" because I know they are just trying to get more of my money for little extra value.

The Answer:
The presidents with the highest (Over 40%) are Taft - 40, Wilson - 52, Harding - 49, Coolidge - 48, Hoover - 42, FDR - 50, Truman, 50, Ike - 57, Johnson - 47, Nixon - 53, Ford - 42, Reagan - 56, GHWB - 57 and GWB - 55. The lowest were Teddy - 38, Clinton - 37, Carter - 32, JFK - 30 and 0-Man - 8! Makes you think a bit, doesn't it.

The End (Thank God!):
I think my head is in the clouds. Stay tuned.. It will be better tomorrow.

So far and yet so close.

Today's Tids Issue 2,234
Opening Stuff:

Driving down Broadway last evening, we came upon a traffic slowdown. Unusual for that time on a Sunday night. As we neared the end of the traffic line we looked towards our left a noted we were in front the Memorial Funeral home. And standing shoulder to shoulder along the walk in front were forty plain ole American citizens...with large flags in their hands. And, around the corner was a line of thousands waiting to get in to pay their respects. (A line I understand that had been like that through the day) Tears came to our eyes. It was for 22 year old Sergeant Michael J. Paranzino who was killed in Afghanistan by an IED last week. A likable young man with a wonderful wife and two children. He loved his Army. And people from throughout the Island showed their love for him and appreciation for his ultimate sacrifice.

My guess is that if US companies increase sales throughout Asia as 0-Man promised in his speeches, the products will be made in factories in Asia. Just as Germany, Switzerland, Japan and Korea do here. The nature of Globalism that so enchants our Emperor of the World fearless leader and his supporters is that jobs go where companies operate most efficiently. Pols who say they can bring home jobs can only do it if they get their union pals to cut salaries and benefits by half.

An Age Discrimination court case is a "Birthday Suit"!

Derek Jeter getting the Gold Glove for shortstops this year is like Obama getting the Nobel or kids in High School getting "A's" and "B's" and then having to take remedial English when reaching college. Is there any value left, or is everything just hype and celebrity?

The Question:
Which four countries hold the most dollars in the US Treasuries and how much? Bonus Question: Who was the women who in 1889 attempted to go around the world by train and ship in a challenge to Jules Vernes classic book "Around the World in 80 Days". How did she do?

The Headlines:

--Patriots Look Like Champions Against Pitt; Beloveds Regain Form Missing In Browns Game Disaster.
--Sarkozy Loads Up French Government With Conservatives In Weekend Confab; Entitlement Burdened Greece Re-Elects Socialist Leadership; Papendreou Says We Want To Be Like Rhode Island.
--Major Credit Card Delinquencies Falling As Outlook Improves.
--Lame duck Session Features Hobbled Dems and Energized Reps.
--Irish Crisis Worsens; Greek Budget Shortfall Higher Than Originally Reported.
--Karsei Asks US To End Night Raids.
--Ohio Authorities Seek Three Still Missing After Finding 13 Year Old Daughter Bound And Gagged In Man's Home.

Back to More Stuff:
Before I go an inch further, I have to pay my respects to Frederick Alvin "Allie" Briggs who died at 84 over the weekend. "Allie" was descendant of East Greenwich RI farmers who loved horses. He was a lover of baseball and most important the inventor and owner of "Allies" Donuts, easily the best in the East and perhaps the entire United States of America. Talk about contributions to American society!

If I were a betting man, I'd put all my money in France over Greece.

Frankly I just don't read anything about "Don't ask, don't tell." But I guess what they are basically saying is...if your unit marches in a Memorial Day Parade, don't wear pink.

A house trailer is a wheel estate.

As far as I can see, Obama has just become a big bunch of words. Where anything he says is subject to dramatic change at any given moment.

Let's hope that America isn't becoming as bad as "America's Team". (I actually wrote this before the surprise win by the cowboys yesterday. I thought the simple fact of a upbeat appearing roaming the sidelines as opposed to the dour, bewildered looking Phillips was a major improvement.)

There is a theory floating around that says that the Dem defeat at the polls may be good for the Mid East peace process. The idea being that 0-Man may have more empathy for the fragility of the political environment in which Netanyahu has to operate. Where before, "House Mom" couldn't understand why the leader of Israel couldn't do anything he wanted, now he may consider maybe there is something to this "Political Pressure" thing..

Every time I see a little increase in a bill form necessary services like the Gas, Phone or Television Company,...et.al., I wonder if it a small tax to raise money for the Lala-Pelosi Health Care Bonanza. Or when walking or driving wondering where the camera is that is watching me. Welcome to the paranoia era.

It's gotten so bad that yesterday when I received a phone call from Florida from out Electric Company, I told the guy, who appeared being helpful, that I wouldn't talk to him because there were too many scams coming out of Florida.

Ireland which has socialized itself into a financial quagmire is seeking $83-$110 Billion from the EU for something called "Sovereign Debt" reduction That sounds like California.

And then there is the Auto dealer in Central Florida who is offering a free AK-47 with the purchase of a pick-up truck! What a country.

The Answer:
Everybody has heard of China's holdings of $868 Billion of our Treasuries. But japan isn't far behind with $836B, Next is United Kingdom with $448B and then Brazil with $165B. Bonus Q: "Nelliey Bly" was one of the pen names for Elizabeth Cochrane who at the age pf 25 not only made it around the world, alone, In 76 days 6 hours, 11 minutes and 14 seconds, but had also achieved acclaim as one of the first great Investigative reporters. She was a courageous reporter who who would often insert her self into horrendous conditions (Like an "Insane Asylum") to bring the world the truth about institutions and politicians.

The End:
And then you notice that four Chinese banks will be the lead underwriters of the much ballyhooed GM IPO. And then I have this Nigerian Bank continuously writing to tell me they are holding my family fortune! The world is getting weirder.

Up with people.

Today's Tids Issue 2,214

http://todaystids.blogspot.com

When North Korea announced that Kim Jong Un would replace dad Kim Jong IL it was known as a bad heir day!

I’d take that capsule, beaten and battered just as it was when the last miner stepped safely upon the Chilean land once again, and transform it into a beautiful monument for all to see. I place it smack right in the center of the busiest square in Santiago. As a wonderful tribute to the best in humanity. The courage, cooperation and love of man for his fellow beings.

Which brings me to a comment in the comic strip “The Buckets” where the wife asks “Who do you want to win the $10,000 for The Funniest Video.” And, the husband answers, “None of them showed any behavior I want rewarded.”

Which reminds me of how often we get bombarded by loathsome athletes deeds -- Beating up wives and girl friends, assaulting strangers, shooting guns and taking drugs. -- And then watch apologists rush to their defense. But last week at the end of the Atlanta-San Fran series something quite excellent happened and I never saw a word or heard a comment about it. Is it because you can’t make money off of goodness? After the third out that ended the game and gave the Giants their elusive title, the SF players didn’t rush to jump in a pile and squirt Champaign. Nope, the players turned to the Atlanta dugout and started to applaud retiring Atlanta manager Bobby Cox. This was the venerable manger’s last game; it was obvious that the players thought highly of how he ran his team and contributed to the overall quality of their sport.

The Question:
I am really out of touch with with drives kids and many young adults to stare hours upon hours at their Mobile Phone. Name the top all time selling Mobile Phone Games.

The Headlines:

--4 T0 12 Inches Of Snow Whitens Killington.
--Germany’s Merkel Says Multi-Cultural Society Has Failed.
--Super typhoon ravages The Phillipines.
--US Firms Say The Lose More From Electronic Rather Than Physical Theft.
--Stocks Up On Stringer Than Expected Citi Earnings; Market Awaits Apple’s After Closing Report.
--400 Charities report Billions Less In Donations.
--BoA Expected To resume Foreclosures.


Back to More Stuff:
I hear that kids this Halloween will be dressing as “Incumbents”. They’ll be wearing paper bags over their heads.

In case you are interested, Health.com picks the five healthiest Fast Food restaurants: Panera Bread, Jason’s Deli (Editor’s Note: Real good deli’s are healthy), Au Bon Pain, Noodles and Company and Corner Bakery Café. Notice how many of these places got their start baking “White” bread. So I figure that if I keep on eating good old white bread, I’ll eventually evolve into a health nut.

The only thing dumber than Verizon’s automated computer system may be “Spell Check.’ For instance when you mistype “to” as “Ti” how hard would it be for a computer to recognize that the only two letter word that starts with a “t” is to! No, they give you six or seven options that begin with “Ti”.

While we’re on Microsoft, how long will it be until this giant crumbles? We may have an inkling Monday when Apple reports earnings, and more importantly, sales of the iPad. Big Windows’ users Dell and H&P will be eying those numbers to. The reality is that more and more PC users don’t need much more than an Internet/eMail machine. All of the gigabyte computing power probably goes unused by most.

There’s a hole in the heart of Baby Boomers everywhere. June Cleaver ( Barbara Billingsley ) died last night at the age of 94. The perfect mom. Always there for the Beave and Wally. And for her loving husband. But most of all for all of the kids of American (And adults) who enjoyed the happy refuge of the Cleaver households. Her own real life sons say her innate goodness and loving kindness didn’t end at the show. She was exactly the same at home.

But, that was then and this is now. However there are way more homes today like the Cleaver household than TV would want you to believe. Today the Beave would be binging home a gay friend. In fact movies and television have an inordinate amount of gay people romping across the stage when you consider that best estimates put the gay population at between 2-4%. But, what I really don’t comprehend is why gay America would stand for those clichéd portrayals of their fellow brethren.

When listening to classical music, often the most intriguing and emotional part are the undertones of cellos and bass violins. The ear automatically goes to the flurry of the main themes which is only one dimension of the piece. Beethoven’s Seventh, 1st and 4th movements and Tchaikovsky’s 4th, 1st movement are good examples. If I knew anything about music you would probably understand what I was saying.

One reason never to buy movies is so you’ll never have to read stories with headlines like “What to do with all of those VHS tapes.” But, headlines like that makes me fret about the future of my 400 plus classical CD’s. I tried to convert them to an iPod, but it is just too long a process to be efficient. I guess I’ll be ok as long as somebody still makes a CD player.


What ever happened to eloquence and statesmanship?

US Politics Today Department:
Sorry kids, but new research says that Dinosaurs ate their pals for dinner. Yes these popular creatures may have died off simply because there were no more friends to eat. The next thing you know some body will be writing a paper saying that Liberals really hate their American heritage and consider themselves above our traditional way of life. Isn’t anything sacred anymore?

The only way to stop this is to keep the name “Rhode Island and Providence Plantations” alive.

Are the Polish shiny?

The Answer: Number One is Block Breaker Deluxe. The rest are Sonic the Hedgehog, Angry Birds, Doodle Jump, Final Fantasy IV, Flight control, Pocket Gold, Flick Fishing, Bubble Bash, Coin Stack, Cut the Rope, Doom RPG, Guitar Hero III and Super Bomberman.

The End:
I think a big part of the ills of the world is the media dwelling on the negative. The world was re-invigorated by the love and courage of the Chile miners. But as far as I can tell, the media is spending a lot of time looking for something they may have done wrong. It’s disgusting. People are basically good.