SB Week Survival Kit.

Today's Tids Issue 2,520

Opening Stuff:

One thing you can take to the bank this Super Bowl week is that some newspaper or Internet site will publish a story about how to have a nutritionally healthy, Green, SB Party!

Over the years in this little column about everything and nothing, I have looked for and reported on human oddities. I am finding now that odd and weird have become the norm.

The Middle East seems to be at the point where the rest of the world was in 1636 before Roger Williams and John Clarke established freedom for all religions in Rhode Island.

This week the Tids management will help take you away from the onslaught of irrelevant SuperBowl information and favorite team angst by turning your stomach with an avalanche of varied and sundry equally annoying subjects.

The Question:

Who was the wealthiest President? Who have been the 10 richest Presidential candidates?

The Headlines:

--Florida Multi-Car/Truck Crash Kills 10, Injures many More; Observers Say Smoke Shrouded Area Looks Like End Of The World.
--Catholic Sunday Masses Across Country Included Letters Written To Protest Obama Dictates That Force Religious Non-Profit Groups To Offer Birth Control Under Obama Care.
--Romney Surging In Florida; Even More Conservative Panhandle Region Pausing Over Newt baggage.
--Greek Debt Wrangling Will Keep Stocks Lower.
--Over 400 OWS Protestors Arrested In Oakland Cal.
--"The Help" Dominates SAG Awards.
--Assad And Syrian Rebels In Open Fighting.
--RI Looking For Ways To Improve Fishing Industry.

One thing I really don't like about the Internet is that when being intrigued by a headline I'm brought to a video story as opposed to a written story. I rarely listen to the video story but will always scan the written versions. Most of the time I find that the headlines are better than the "Rest of the story"!

The Florida political story coverage is becoming a little too heavy. I tuned into a couple of Cable News networks yesterday after hearing on the radio the news about a massive and particularly gruesome multi car accident on I 75 in Florida. All I got were the barbs and sniping of candidates crammed in between the pompous pronounce-iations of pundits. They managed to slip in 3 seconds or so about the Florida tragedy. A horrendous accident where at "Least" 10 lost there lives and others were badly injured. I think we have lost our perspective.

Good news for Michelle Obama...she did not kill the Twinkie all by nutritious herself. The burdensome Union contracts are the main culprit. There are over 100 separate contracts within the company, most inhibiting attempts at improving efficiency. Example: Instead of using one truck to deliver multiple brands to super markets the company is forced to use multiple trucks i.e. One for Twinkies, one for Wonder Bread. In addition to eliminating opportunities to be more competitive, the years of unrealistic contracts has produced a pension overload in the Billions of dollars. One that cannot be met.

There are a lot of cool things in this new world of technology, but one that amazes me every time I use it is wireless printing -- from DeskTop, laptop, IPad or smartphone. There's still a lot of genius goin' on around here.

If athletic teams would play with the precision teamwork of a symphony orchestra, they would be impossible to beat. Maybe the new generations of Bach, Beethoven and Dvorak could write the game plans. And orchestra members could teach subjugation of talented persona for the benefit of all.

Of course the big dichotomy is the jobs versus lower priced goods for consumers. Let's see, wages are going down and will probably continue to do so for a while. People with less cash in their pockets demand lower prices and sellers look for cheaper produced goods. In the US there are two ways to for US companies to accomplish this: !. Make them in cheap labor countries or produce them on highly automated machines that don't require people. Which of course means that the historic higher paying middle income jobs continue to evaporate. And people wonder why JC Penny just instituted a 40% discount on all merchandise. That's because the just passed so-called Boom Christmas sales season revealed that people mainly bought highly discounted products. And, that's the way it is, this January in America 2012.

Last week the traditional network news reports hailed the reported 2.8% GDP growth rate for December. "It's over. We're back!" What the gleeful faces didn't report was the opinions of most economists who said the 2.8 December brought the yearly GDP to a quite lackluster 1.7% and more importantly that much of the 2.8 came from the production that built up business inventories, which will necessarily slow the first six months at least, of 2012.

One of the latest "weirdness-is-taking-over-the-world" incidents is that insane reaction to a High School's choice the name Cougars for it's teams. This was for a new Utah High School in a state known for the wily felines in the wild and where one of it's Major Universities, BYU, is already known as the Cougars. The reason: It was considered insensitive to Women! Can you believe that? I can't. The authorities overrode the students own choice for that nickname and told them they would be known as the Chargers. To a person the students asked, "What's a charger". Editors Note: Since the incident, a well known Cougar, Demi Moore, has been sent to rehab. I guess she couldn't take the insensitivity. Help me, please!

I was pleased to see this morning that the Providence Journal followed the Tids lead in last Friday's bit about the lunacy of another grandstanding state law, this one banning cell phones in schools. A law the Editorial writer said would result in another unnecessary mandate from above where each school district would have to locate additional funds to enforce. They summed up with the sentence: "Red tape and mandates continue to swamp RI's local communities, as part of America's propensity to turn everything into a law." OK, Providence Journal. that's good...but how come you are so for Obama and so against anything Republican. That is mainly what Repubs are asking for -- Less regulations, less federal dominance, more freedom for individual states to act in the interest of their citizens.

"The Good Wife" was excellent TV last night.

The Answer:

Of course the Father of our Country George Washington was the wealthiest of all Presidents. However since he was never a candidate, this richest list is made up entirely by modern day hopefuls. There may be others like the Roosevelt's, Adams, Hoover, Jefferson or Kennedy who may have made the list if their wealth was calculated in today's Dollars. Number Ten is John Edwards! After the infamous Personal Injury Lawyer we have Rudy Guilianni, John Huntsman, Hillary (She did well after coming to the White House having never owned a home of her own), Al Gore, John Kerry, Mitt, Steve Forbes and Ross Perot.

Have some extra dough for Super Bowl Wagering? Here's some bets you can get: Odds on whether or not Kelly Clarkson's belly will be bare - 3-1; What color will be Madonna's hair when she begins the show; Will she be wearing fishnet stockings. How many times will the cameras show Peyton Manning; Giselle Bundchen; Tom Brady's son. How many times will they show David Tyree's 2008 SB catch. Let the nuttiness begin!

Yesterday is just another day; Tomorrow is the future.

Today';s Tids Issue 2,503
Opening Stuff:

One thing I have found that has proven successful over the years is to start a project, write something, begin a puzzle...and then get up and walk away. When you return the obvious will pop up right before your eyes. Complexities evaporate. It's why consultants or advertising agencies are often better than company employees struggling in the forest full of trees. It's why I occasionally write a frivolous email to someone while I'm in the middle of the Tids. Or, more importantly, a stubborn Free cell game.

How can it be said more clearer than; "Increasing taxes will never solve the problem." It's like giving a patient pain killers to mask the agony of an inflamed appendix instead of removing it. The patient dies.

The Question:
As the father of three fantastic daughters, I am very interested in and follow the successes of women closely. Who was the first female governor? Who was the first elected female governor? Who was the first elected female governor who didn't follow a husband. How many female governors to we have today?

The Headlines:
--325,000 New Jobs Added In December; High Number Surprises Analysts; Unemployment rate, However, Rises To 8.7% As Shelved Job Hunters Come Back Into Market.
--New EuroWorries Neutralize Good News About US Jobs; Markets Stagnate.
--Super Brain, Solver Of All Problems Stephen Hawking Says One Mystery Escapes Him -- Women Confound Me!
--Bombs Kill 75 Shiites In Iraq; Start Of Civil War?
--"0" Bypasses Congress Again Announcing New Summer Jobs Bill For Kids
--Mayan Ruins May have Been Fund In Georgia USA
--Giant Tuna In Japan Fetches Tasty $750K For Local Fisherman; Government Refrains From Stealing Fish, As US Did To New Bedford Fisherman last Month.

The retailers and retail watchers are reporting that they expect high sales for post Christmas shopping because of all the gift cards given as presents. Hmmmm. Didn't the stores already count the sale of gift cards in their pre-Christmas sales. Or is it like government money that has absolutely no relationship reality.

Blank stares from simple questions Department:
Yesterday, I walked into my drug store to pick up something and ask a question. It was simple question. A logical suggestion that should be readily understood by anyone, and certainly the veteran clerk I asked. But, she just stood there with that "I don't get it" look in her eyes. The service industry is the future of a America, right?

I'm thinking of broadening the reach of The Tids. Actually I'm contemplating reading the Tids each morning on YouTube. That should easily draw 3-7 people each day. Not quite viral...maybe more like a hangnail. Ouch!

The Tids Sports department closed out the regular season with a disappointing (We have very High Standards) 172-84 (67%). Now for the playoffs. Somehow these picks look easier than the regular season. On Saturday, The Bengals lack of success against good teams in key games should make Houston the obvious winner. But, the Texans have QB problems and have looked anything but a winner in the past two games. Cinn's QB had a small injury yesterday. But I'm thinking the Bennies will rise to the occasion. NO is playing as well as anybody, so while this match against Detroit has the earmarks of a tight struggle, NO is just too deep and versatile. Pitt is too tough for Denver. No miracles here. Ahh... the Giants and the Falcons. The Falcons underachieved they say, but so did the Giants. I'm going with the upset and picking Atlanta. So that's week one -- Cinn, No, Pitt, Atl.

Parmesan cheese isn't what it used to be. There even seems to be a rise of pretenders selling adulterated Regianno. Regianno, though high priced, always meant to me special, zesty, yummy treat. You know, of the mouth water in kind of delight. Now you just never know.

Hey, all you Lynn readers out there: Yesterdays rapturous expose of that delightful name brought agreement from several readers: Like -- "Every Lynn I have known has been a 'Peach'; a dear and special person"("Peach" is a well known 50's term of endearment). It pays to be left off of the Tids list.

Are you beginning to think that perhaps the overthrow of Murabak was not so good for the average man on the street. It is appearing that the result will be a union between the Muslim Brotherhood and the Ruling Military. That spells, o-p-p-r-e-s-s-i-o-n.

How sad is the demise of Kodak. Does illuminate the reality of mortality, doesn't it. Is there nothing that can't be replaced? Kodak tried, but like so many companies, they just couldn't come to grips with dealing with a future beyond film. It's hard, really hard to give up what you do or know best. When you think about fleeting success, it is remarkable how well this Constitution of ours has weathered repeated assaults on its integrity, true meaning.

All of a sudden a Boston Bruins/New York Rangers match-up is looking like the sports event of the year.

The headline read "One of every 30 babies a twin". At first I thought, maybe that should said of "every 31 one babies". But, if the thirtieth is a twin, then the other brother/sister must be already born. That would mean that 2 of every 30 babies are twins. Or 1/15th instead of 1/30th. Or would it? You could have skipped this Tid.

Almost Near: Chapter 57. --The car nosed into the parking lot which was, surprisingly, overflowing with cars for such an out of the way restaurant, and on a night that looked stormy. "Isn't this great!", Tucker exclaimed, suddenly all boyish enthusiasm and charmingly glib as he has been since she met him, "You look better than average tonight, by the way. How do you like my new shirt?" Tucker lifted up the bottom of his sweater.
Audrey, just stared. What the hell is going on here she wondered. Is this manic person the real Tucker just a simple guy, who is just smitten somehow with my jaundiced personality. "Nice, Tucker, nice." She finally answered. Now just get dressed so we'll look like a civilized couple the restaurant."
"There is nobody like you Audrey." That's why I keep on coming back to Little Rock. You are in fact a better attraction than the Clinton Presidential museum!'
"Jeez, thanks, is that a compliment?" She gave him one of her little jabs. It would say to him all is good. But, Audrey now had serious doubts about him. She was glad there were people out here. "Where do you go when you run off like that?"
"Oh, I have a lot of last minute details to wade through before publishing my new book. Just part of the biz."
"You've never given me a signed copy of any of your books."
"Oh, I might make you the star character in my next book."

New Bedford Mass was at one time a giant in manufacturing, textiles and of course whaling. It was ahuge and thriving economy with a strong middle class and solid group of wealthy, successful entrepreneurs. Now, the big attraction for income is museums of whale bones and "an around the clock reading of Moby Dick". The development of strong art centers used to be built around the wealth generated by an urgent, highly leveraged economy. But, now its is all that is often remaining. A nice feeling, looks good, but little in the way of good paying jobs for many.

It does appear that the 0-Man would love being a benevolent dictator.

The Answer:
The first two female Governors had limited terms: Carolyn Shelton of Oregon in 1909 was temporary Governor for two days. She was Chief of Staff, and hat to fill in because of several complex circumstances. The second, who actually had a little time to do something was Soledad Chavez Chacon of New Mexico in 1924. The first elected Governor was Nellie Ross who was sworn in in 1925 following her husband whom she replaced before being elected. The first woman elected Governor "In the Clear", was Ella Grasso (1974), a very popular Conn Gov. 24 States have never had a female Governor. Two former lady Govs are in 0-Man's Cabinet -- Kathy Sebelius and Janet Napolitano. Some of the better known were Christie Todd Whitman, Jan Brewer, Lurleen Wallace, Ann Richards and of course, the ever present Sarah Palin. There have been 15 Republicans and 20 Dems.

I have to start writing this thing faster.

Wow!

2,500th Tids! Yikes, Zowie, EeeeeHah!

Thanks to you all -- The Susans, Cathies, Jens, Jessicas, Jills and Sues -- Toms, Dicks and Harry's. Pauls and Marys, Marthas and Michelles. The Ann(e)s, Annmarie, Amys, Lindas. Barbies, Lauries, Gretchens, Jims, Joyces, Judys, Johns, Jacks and Jeffs. Chris, Mike and Russ. Did I say Joan yet? Or Ed and Fred? Bill and George and Ron and Robin. Elisa and Bruce and Saul and David. You can't forget Eleanor and Grace and of course Anita and Rosemary. Carols and Elizabeths who may be Bettys are great as are the Dennys and Dianes and Dougs. Could we forget 'Cindy or Greg or Manly? No way. Then there's Joel, Maria, Marty and those good old Bobs. I'd never forget Dean, Phyllis, Wes, Enid, Anthony, Tony, Nick, Rick and Curtis. We still have plenty of room for Pat and Steve and Grant and Eric and Marvin and of course Terri. And no list of great readers would be complete if it didn't end with Wayne. If words are written and nobody reads them the aren't words at all. Thanks everybody!


It's a slow news day, so I gotta write about the Tids. The daily mess that hits your computer each weekday has reached about 4,000,000 words; words that include just about every pun written, Two complete novels and a third about to reach an exciting conclusion -- "The Tie that Binds", "Through the Same Eyes" and "Almost Near". Words that discuss economics, human accomplishments and foibles and often beat national pundits and prognosticators to the punch. Some words pick winning teams, critique entertainment, analyze finance and tempt with tantalizing recipes. Others are occasionally typos, but the meanings are clear. Words try to interpret the slants and make clear the bias in in the media. Slay the dragons in politics, business, education, and remedy the creeping leprosy within our culture. Words that feel and love, and live with heartaches and victories of good people everywhere. Yup, there's a lot of words unspoken in many people's minds and hearts. The Tids just tried to find them and make them relevant. And maybe along the way, give you a laugh, momentary tear, thumping heart; An acclamation.

The Question:

What will the world be like at the celebration of the 5,000th Tid? Will the editor still have a mind? (That's about ten years from now.)

The Headlines:

--Obama Says He Will Not Invite Tids Editor To White House In Honor Of 2,500th.
--Iran Said To have Made Breakthrough In Developing Nuke Fuel Rods; Iran Fires Test Missiles.
--41% Undecideds Will Determine Iowa Caucus.
--Person Of Interest In Hollywood Arson Rampage Is Detained By Police.
--European Stocks Begin New Year Up.
--Is There an Iraq Civil War Ahead?; Shiites And Sunnis Beating war Drums.
--Patriots Get #1 Seed In AFC Tournament; Looked Like Chumps In First Quarter; AFC: NE, Balt, Pitt, Denver, Cinn and Houston: NFC: GB, NO, SF, NYG, Atlanta, Det.

I thought I was going blind, perhaps suffering from a small stroke when I sat down to type this morning. That is, until I found one of my Eyeglass lenses on the kitchen floor. Whew!

I have to tell you that my favorite character on TV shows is Sarah Walker. She's a female Jack Bauer.

Thinking of Gov, Christie's recent remarks that, "...after Obama we are hopeless and changeless", I'm proposing that the perfect preemptive slogan for the Republican candidate would be "Bring America Back." It makes for a great ground-swelling chant. Almost like the "American Spring."

You hear a lot about mostly fictitious infractions of the generally misinterpreted theory of Separation of Church and State. What America should be worried about is Obama's and the White House attack on the Constitutional Separation of Powers.

Scott Brown (R-Mass), the former Republican Wunderkind, as made several errors, the biggest of which was becoming just one more unprincipled politician. He has effectively lost many who worked for his election, His base. His foe is a fairly well defined socialist, who out and out supports OSW. Her trouble may be that the consensus of polls say that only about 25% of Americans think OWS is a good idea. But then, Elizabeth Warren is in Massachusetts. And you never know. Massachusetts was the original California.

Rick Santorum is just the latest in line conservative to be elevated.


This ain't the America I used to know Department:
Here are ten of the most ridiculous lawsuits of the year. Staring with -- Convict sues couple he kidnapped for not helping him evade police! The rest are...
•Man illegally brings gun into bar, gets injured in a fight, then sues bar for not searching him for a weapon.
•Young adults sue mother for sending cards without gifts and playing favorites.
•Woman disagrees with store over 80-cent refund, sues for $5 million.
•Mom files suit against exclusive preschool over child's college prospects.
•Man suing for age discrimination says judge in his case is too old.
•Obese man sues burger joint over tight squeeze in booths.
•Woman sues over movie trailer; says not enough driving in "Drive".
•Passenger's lawsuit says cruise ship went too fast and swayed from side to side.
•Mother sues Chuck E. Cheese – says games encourage gambling in children.
There some who say that those who die before this election year are the lucky ones.

If lawyers do one thing well, it is that they promote distrust.

All of these year end reviews in newspapers and on TV are just telling people what they should already know.

It's about this common, political rhetoric about rebuilding the middle class. Fahgettabooutit! The manufacturing jobs that made the country great aren't coming back despite what the clueless in Washington say. Period. There will be fewer and fewer middle management jobs, and more and more Americans are going to have to get used to jobs that pay lower salaries, or even those will go overseas. The difference between US income expectations and the reality of what global economics dictate is becoming a chasm. I hate to be so gloomy, but knowing reality is the best way to prepare for a fight.

In reading various economists prognostications for the year 2012, it seems we can sum it up in one phrase, "Let's hope is doesn't get real bad." In other words, there are a helluva lot of big "ifs" in the minds of the experts going into this potentially topsy-turvey, EuroMess dominated year.

The good news around this little community of mine is that word from the street and insiders is that local mechants are feeling a little better about things and are hiring.

I find watching and listening to the innate bias shown by "60 Minutes" Interviewers agonizing.

Almost Near: Chapter 56 Continues. --In her limited sphere of knowledge, Samantha knew enough about the growing mystery of Tucker in her mind to wonder outloud. "I have been wondering about Tucker, or is it Tommy Lambert, a guy everybody tells me I knew." Samantha then told her new friend Detective John Sparrow about some of his writings which she said the more she thought about it, the eerier they became. She told him how he would write about being her protctor and that she would always have him, even if she didn't know he was there. He always was. "As I read all of this stuff, I could see how I could have been compelled to drift into his world, if I had encountered some trouble.
Sparrow had been sitting watching her, contemplating her words. Again, he felt is heart wanting to reach out to her, beyond his professional demeanor. She may well have slugged this Dante, if he understood what she was saying: Tuckers poetic words made her feel suspicious of men, tehir movements, any thing even mildly threatening. that's why she would retreat back inot his safe haven. "You know Samantha, I think you are totally right."
She smiled. His words seem to bring on a confidence, that may have been always their but always conflicted. She opened her mouth to speak though her growing smile, but felt a vibration from her phone. She snapped open, Looked and felt fear leave her tightening chest as it was Mary and not Tucker. "Hello?"
"Hi Samantha. Dante is awake!" Samantha felt blood rush to her head and a warm feeling creep throughout her body. "He saw who was driving the car that hit him. It was Tommy Lambert,,,ya know,,,your Tucker."

The Answer:

Some futurists are saying most people will be living a lone, never leaving their homes, socializing virtually. Everybody will have a personal body guard to accompany them on public transportation. If China lets it, the US government will pay for bodyguards for the less fortunate. Cultures will completely break down, as rudeness incivility and killings in the street become epidemic. The medical advances will wipe out may diseases, but the movie industry will disappear as people save anywhere they can to pay for healthcare. The US will donate its border fence as part of a larger global mission to isolate the Islam countries from the rest of the world so they can fight among each other. China will own Africa an control the world oil markets with the largest oil fields ever beneath the dark continent. the government will know the where abouts and activities of every citizen through their phones and computers. Luddites will be given a tablet 4G deceive which was a permanent "on" switch. Retailers will retain customers by sending small a electric shocks to phones if they try to walk past a store. The NCAA will be the largest Industry remaining in then country, and the only industry left for unions to organize. Unions will mandate that freshman athletes be given a diploma upon matriculation so they won't be pressured to study or go to classes. The NCAA will hail 100% graduation rates. Christmas Midnight mass and services will be held in vacant Best Buy, Home Depot and Target Big Box stores. The second "collection" will offer givers a special discount coupon for use in shopping after the service. Margarita Gomez will be President of the United States and Chiquita Banana will replace the Bald Eagle as the nations symbol. The new slogan will be "In Mao we Trust."

The Beginning:
And the Tids will be there for you, to perhaps lighten the day. Love you guys!

And now...on to the next 2,500!