Shoulda, woulda, coulda.

Today's Tids Issue 2,555
Opening Stuff:

You think you have heard it all, and then you read that the NCAAP and several other activist groups are running to the United Nations to file a human rights complaint against US states enacting Voter ID Laws. Let me repeat that, the United Nations. The Democrats are willing to cede US Sovereignty to the Russians, Iranians and other assorted sham democracies to preserve the opportunities for fraud in US voting. Putin and Ahmadinejad would love no voter ID. The NCAAP is hoping the UN will exert pressure on states by shaming them! This is true folks. And it isn't a pretty picture.

Too often people look back and rue the decisions they didn't make instead of putting all of that energy into moving positively into the future.

The Question:

A new list of the healthiest "Fast Food" breakfasts has just been issued. What do you think they are?

The Headlines:

--Markets Open Higher On Better Unemployment News And Favorable Manufacturing Data.
--Swiss Bus Crash Kills 28 mainly 12 Year Old Kids On Ski Trip; 24 Injured.
--Ron Paul May Deal With Romney.
--Gingrich Takes Shots At Media And Own Party For Not Understanding His Big Ideas; Says He Is Only Candidate Left Still Focusing On Ideas And Solutions.
--US Sneaks Alleged Killer Soldier Out Of Country; Afghans Angry.
--Clooney Heads List Of Super Wealthy "O" Donors Invited To Biggest Barak Bash Of Presidency; Money Grabbing Feast Intended To Honor Britain's Cameron.

American Idol: The music didn't send me last night, but even with less than entertaining tunes (To me), Skylar, Colton and Phillip still proved to be formidable competitors for the title. Jessica Sanchez and now Joshua also look to be in that upper echelon list. I liked Erika's song but she didn't move me. She has a great, strong voice but her performances come off as just adeqauate. She and Elise are the elderly twosome, and somehow age works against you with what appears to be a female, younger demographic. Shannon has a strong voice, but seems robotic. I think Deandre has talent but his performances seem weak. I fell asleep during Heejun Han's effort. Holly has a terrific voice,and I liked her song and her, but I didn't think she was as tremendous as the judges thought. Interesting that the judges said Jessica should do more ballads. Last year they told Pia she was doing too many ballads. The bottom four are Heejun, Deandre, Shannon and Erika. Heejun should go, but the demographics may save him.

You probably have read about that ex-Goldman Exec who in a Wall Street Journal Op Ed piece yesterday said that GS was "losing its moral fiber". The company "Is part of our Rip-Off culture" and has to "weed out morally bankrupt people", he continued. The real sad part of the issue may be found in the results of a fast, informal survey of GS customers after the statement. The general consensus seemed to be, "As long as they're making me money, I don't care about morals." Nice, just plain freaking great!

Think of all the wasted ink and paper "Green" loving celebs could save if they could keep their egos and missteps out of the news. Unfortunately one of the biggest industries replacing manufacturing in the country is gossip.

Last night I watched Bucknell, who lost to Lehigh in the Patriot League Championship, thrash number one seed Arizona in an NIT matchup. So, I'm revising my selection for the Lehigh-Duke contest Friday night. Lehigh by 7.

Unfortunately, too many voter constituencies in America think the solution to the country's problems is "Give me more money."

To tell you the truth, I'm just biding time getting ready for bagpipes Saturday. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Almost Near: Chapter 65 continues. --Tucker and Sheila had entered the employee entrance of the Hampton Inn. Tucker was waring a hat that covered his face, and Sheila was actually looking quite happy anticipating seeing Mom. They looked like a normal dad and daughter out for a walk.
"How about we surprise Mom?" Sheila's eyes lit up. She nodded wildly. "Ok, you go down to that desk over there, and tell them your mom forgot to give you a key to her room. Say, I'm Sheila Quimpierre, and my my mom is Samantha Wilcox."
"You sure?"
"Absolutely." he stuck a positive thumb. She turned towards the lobby. After a few steps, she turned and looked for confidence. She saw Tucker standing there, smiling."
He watched her stand waiting for someone to notice her. She looked back and Tucker motioned his hand to say something. Finally he saw her lips moving. The clerk smiled and then looked around the lobby. Tucker didn't think it appeared he was looking for anything in particular. Like police. The clerk then looked down and started typing. After a few minutes, he looked up and handed Sheila a card key. "Thank you, thank you, thank you." Tucker felt his heart beating a little faster as she ran towards the elevators.

The Answer:

Actually a list of healthiest fast food breakfasts is a tool I use to determine which foods to avoid. If it doesn't contain sausage, count me out. Anyhow, here they are: Starbucks "Protein Plate", Subway "Western Egg White and Cheese Muffin Melt", Au Bon Pain "Large Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal", Jamba Juice "12oz Mango Peach Topper", McDonald's "Scrambled Eggs + English Muffin", Jack-in-the-Box "Breakfast Jack" and Burger King "3-Piece French Toast Sticks".

Attention spans are just too damn short.

There's lots going on in the sports world this week, but when it's not going on in your world, nothing is really seems to be happening.

All You need is Love.

Today's Tids Issue 2,483
Opening Stuff:

Today, the 8th day of December when the cold roared into the East, also marks the day the Beach Boys made big noise with their first "Surfin', 49 years ago! Now it's "Walkers and Surfboards USA."

"The Lively Experiment" was a 17th Century document authored by the founders of Ri that became the foundation for the Freedom of Religion concept as found in the 1st Amendment. The document encouraged religion for all by promoting free choice by all people for the religion they preferred. That's what it did, and that's what the 1st amendment protected. Pure and simple. It had little to do with anything resembling separation church and state misguided discussions of today -- only saying that the State could not establish one religion for all.

The Question:
What are your five favorite John Lennon songs?

Today's Headlines:

--Stock Futures Down After European Central Bank Warning.
--Jobless Claims Fall To 381,000; New Nine Month Low.
--Putin Slams Clinton For Encouraging Protesters.
--Merkel, Sarkozy Pressing For Debt Resolution Before Friday; Inaction Could Be Devastating.
--Newt's Gay Sister To Vote For "O", She Says.
--Corzine Puzzled by Missing $1.2 Billion.

I just read a story about a convict escaping from prison by climbing over a 12 foot "Razor Wire" fence, and it gave me the Heeby-Jeeby's. You know, that weird feeling that overcomes you like an acrophobe standing at the edge of a cliff. Ouch!

I see where #1 Golfer in the World and winner of both US and European Money titles, Luke Donald, says that Rory McElroy is the most talented golfer he has ever seen or played with. He says Wood's work ethic and competitive concentration are unmatched, but when it comes to pure skill, the Northern Irishman has no peer. That should stimulate the striped feline for 2012.

I'm kind of fascinated by the Samsung Galaxy series.

Djokovich wins $12.6 Million this year playing tennis, and it's the sport they are telling us that nobody watches any more.

The RI Town #1 in median income is now Exeter! Farming must be good these days.

Dennis Miller thinks a great bumper sticker for Newt, who says he is a changed man, would be "New Gingrich"!

Panera Bread grocery store soups are terrific.

I have always felt that Deer in the headlights ex-Treasury Secretary Paulson was one of the real culprits in the Housing disaster. It is almost inconceivable for me to believe that he didn't have an inkling of the impending disaster from a global financial boondoggle that was based on finding ways to hide the fact that mortgage owners could never pay for what they bought. Then I see yesterday another former Goldman head honcho saying that he can't figure out where $1.2 Billion+ of MF Global investors money went. Are Goldman chieftains trained to be out of touch with reality? Sergeant Schultz of Wall Street?

Pigskin Pickins: I think every game this week except Balt-Indy, Pitt-Cleve and maybe NE-Wash and San Fran-Ariz can go either way. So let's get rid of the so-called easy picks first. Balt will be tougher than the Pats last week on the increasingly hapless Colts and will win along with Pitt, NE and the Niners from the leftist coast. Now the rest. Atlanta needss it over the rising Carolina; Cinn needs it too in showdown with Houston; Minn looked better and I'm saying upset over Det; TB finally coming back against Jax; Miami over fading Eagles; KC could beat Jets but I don't think so; Chi looked inept, and the Denver defense and Tebow will win early for a change; NO playing real well but Tenn playing tough and needs it, but won't get it; Oak needs it more and will beat GB; SD at home should sneak by Buff; Giants over Dal and Seattle over St.Louis. Or is it Buff over SD? Nah Last wek brought us to 128-64 (67%)

O-Man's game plan seems to be that of wooing back the Libs who made it all possible in '08, while giving the illusion that he is all for the religious right. In other words, it's going to be tougher than ever to believe anything he says.

Do you think Blago getting 14 years will make Illinois/Chicago politicians of the future honest? Do you think it will make Chicago Pol 0-Man come clean about reverend Wright?

Almost Near: Chapter 53. --
"John, Audrey"
"What no quips? What's up?" Audrey could tell that John sensed a new urgency in her voice.
"You tell me your thoughts on the Rudy case, and I'll tell you mine."
"Nothing is easy with you, my friend. Always a deal. I thought you told me everything you knew."
"I never tell you everything I know, but today might be better for you John."
"I've been waiting for years to hear you say that!"
Audrey laughed. "Ok, what are you thinking about Samantha?"
"A coupala things. First, living with the Quimpieres could force anybody to do something irrational to get out. Second, I'm perplexed by the sudden appearance of a shiny silver necklace in black mud!
"Me too."
"So, I can see a motive for the woman to beat the hell out of Rudy, and all of a sudden I have evidence tying her to the place of the murder. What should I be thinking?"
"Because of this guy Tucker..."
"The wimp who Bounty clubbed.."
"He's not so bad, John. Just a bit weird. " Audrey did not want to go further about Tucker. "Where was I, oh yeah. Tucker brought me this story about Samantha. I'll tell you more details later, but the nut is that I found and talked to the missing Quimpiere children."

The Answer:
Lennon was prolific and godlike to many adoring fans. My favorite Lennon songs were: You Got to Hide Your Love Away, Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds, Imagine, All You Need Is love, Norwegian Woods, Love and Mother. And I like that "Happy Christmas song he did.

I keep on waiting for the Sox to do something. I guess the acquisition of Valentine makes them a sure thing to clobber the Ya-Ya-Ya...(WYKWIM). Just a matter of getting existing talent focused, Right? How easy is that.

I love the whistling winds, and the cold nipping at my ears. Life is good.

Don’t lose your Underpants* at a Parade.

Today's Tids Issue 2,136
Opening Stuff:

Following the Girl Who Lost Her Underpants Department:
I think one of the underlying causes of a lot problems these days is that too many people are enabled to do stupid, risky, unwise things because it has become normal to apologize after the disaster… and then just walk away. Yesterday, a supposed smartest guy in the world Lloyd Blankfein said, “I regret that we participated in transactions that brought too much leverage into the world. It led to people taking too much leverage. But, those were the standards of the moment.” What a crock! Hey Lloyd. You get the big bucks to look beyond the “standards of the moment”. Or are you telling us that you and your Wall Street brethren are just one more bunch of well coifed sheep following the rest of the clueless herd. It is profoundly disturbing.

A cold war is a state of suspended ammunition.

How changes effect changes: Last night I ate in a restaurant situated beautifully at the head of a major bay alongside a classically beautiful historic New England fishing and sailing community. About a month earlier the restaurant was sold and the new owners changed the environment 180 degrees. Prior to its new comfortable atmosphere and fairly exotic Spanish menu, it was a “Biker Bar”. Here’s the problem. The Gas Station across the street is complaining saying its business is in the toilet without the Bikers. So now the Gas Station owner has to reinvent his business to serve an altered marketplace. Nothing is really simple. But change will always come.

And this just in: The Bicycle Wheel Manufacturers Association has appointed a new spokes-person.

The Question: Name Five films based on Saturday Night Live skits.

The Headlines:
--German Lawmakers Approve Euro Rescue Package.
--Stocks Expected To Temporarily Stabilize This Morning After Yesterdays Dramatic Collapse.
--Senate Passes Wall Street regulation Bill; Senate Bill Tougher On Banks Than House Version; Reconciliation Next Step.
--Competing Group Agendas Move Tar Balls From Court To Another.
--Intelligence Director Blair Resigns (At Urging Of Prez?); List Of Recent Failures Led To Resignation.
--NK Says No Way On OrpedoTay.
--Lohan Returns From Cannes Party Spree To New Court Tribulations.
--Surprise Victor Paul Now On Hot Seat After Remarks About Preserving Personal Freedoms.
--US Inflation At 44 Year Low.

Back to More Stuff:

Taking a page out of the OJ file, and after hearing Calderon’s complaint about one of our good states taking action to protect themselves from his citizens, I have a new slogan – “Fix Mex or we Annex”. Beautiful! We take it over and start bombing the hell out of the drug cartels. Then we send down the NEA to organize the schools and teach English. And, now with the secession of budget sucking by illegals, we can easily afford another trillion or two to add all of the newly acquired territory expanded Health care program. As part of the Mexico economic recovery program we build a Dunkin Donut on every corner.

Aromatic is a rapid-fire crossbow!

Strange as it may seem, I enjoy writing poems. The problem is you have to find someone to whom you can write …and won’t gag reading it. Poems can be kind of an allergy thing to many in the audience at a reading. It’s like anything really. If you have something to offer and there is nobody there to enjoy it, do you really have anything at all? Everybody has so much inside themselves. And most everybody looks for friends, lovers, wives, husbands, parents, siblings and even strangers who are willing to take a few minutes to listen. The key is for the poet to understand the limitations of the listener.

Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 73. –Kent looked over his shoulder at the trio huddled in Sally’s office. It bothered him, even though he could sense that Sarah/Maggie was still malleable. Yet even she was not the same as she was earlier when they met. Maybe I over evaluated her pragmatism. Maybe I forgot that she is an emotional human being. A woman who can deeply love. I have certainly learned that as we melded into one in ferocious sex. I felt an aching as I thought of last night. Maybe this woman with so much emotion is finding it harder and harder to routinely dismiss guilt in the face of intense love from her family. I saw it at the hospital, and today in the eyes of Paul. I had better be careful. The phone always rings just when my mind is latching on to something.
“Hello.”
“It’s me, Laura.”
“Ah Laura. I need your voice right about now. Say something sweet to me.” I never get the same feeling talking to Laura as I do with Maggie.
“No time for crap,” she answered in her coldest manner. God I hate that. Laura is the kind of person who has the ability to scare people. No wonder the teens followed her every wish. “I just got back from another visit with that crusty old sheriff. I’ll tell you something, Kent, he knows something. Or at least he thinks he knows something.”
I interrupted. “Just be you usual cool self Laura. What did he ask you?” She went through a long list of questions, most of which sounded like a fishing expedition to me. “You stay away from my house for a while.” She agreed readily. No emotions with Laura.

Doncha love that Headline “US inflation at 44 year low.” Like that is good news! Nobody has a lot of extra money to buy unless it is affordable. Get it! The market place works.

Oh, so far this year 72 US banks have folded. This is compared to 33 for the same period last year. Maybe we should bring Lloyd Blankfein to fix the problem. Or at least apologize for it.

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:
--Shreck! Everybody has today’s premiere date circled on their calendar based on the success of the first two in the series. And, I suspect that the general audiences will fall in love with this Ogre as they have before. Even though the critics aren’t so hot about this new arrival. Shreck has settled into the comfy life of an adored hero. That is until he is duped by the fast talking Rumplestiltskin. He rally’s the usual friends to overcomes his latest dilemma.
--Of course the big question surrounding McGruber is whether or not this latest in a long of SNL based movies will be another flop in the long line of SNL movie flops. I don’t think so. This Adventure/Action/Comedy seems to have enough to get it beyond the stupid category. It’s about a highly decorated ex special ops guy taking on an assignment along with close pals to find a stolen A-Bomb. I’ll put it on my rentals list.

The next movie on my “To See” list is Salt.

Logic goes astray when discussions center around the black race. Chand Paul probably has a legitimate point about private enterprise having the right to do what they want about serving customers. People who feel such a private enterprise is wrong have a right not to go there. It is no different than private men’s or women’s clubs barring the opposite sex. Freedom doesn’t always mean that the right thing will be done, but that the free won’t be encumbered by power to avoid doing it. Gravy for school lunch programs. Oh, wait a minute. That can’t happen. Once you give up your freedom for Government bucks you can’t get it back.

The Answer:
Of course the newest is McGruber. One of the classics is The Blues Brothers. It had a not so hot sequel Blues Brothers 2000. The we have Waynes World (And “2”), bob Roberts, Coneheads, Gilda Live, Harold, The Ladies man. It’s Pat, Mr. Bill’s Real Life Adventures, Mr. Mike’s Mondo Video, Mr. Saturday Night, A Night at the Roxbury, Office Space. Stuart Saves His Family and Superstar.

The Weak End:
So now we welcome Friday
When your frets sashay
Relaxation is on the way
Unless as seniors say
Everyday, It’s all-the-time play.

*Underpants is a an old German farce (newly adapted for the stage by Steve Martin) about a young housewife who accidently loses her underpants while watching a parade for the King and then watches in amazement as men do stupid things to gain her favor. And give her power she never thought she could have in a man's world.

May is the happy kind of gay.

Today's Tids Issue 2,121
Opening Stuff:

Did I miss International Workers Day again! Rats. The first Tids of May sounds like a bouncy little song, doesn’t it? The first Tids of May, Happy Bon Mots on their way, To help spruce up your day, Like good old Sol’s ray. / Glib Pols that stray, Other’s feet of clay, Will the army become gay?, Amoral athletes that play, Grim terrorists that slay, Con men that prey, Bonus babies big pay, Shooing illegals away, Star dancers that sway. / And to fruit I say nay, But for gravy it’s yeh, Which is why I weigh, like a horse that says Neigh. So enter the fray, After weekend of play, and Sunday to pray, With a spirit okay. / And I’ll creep away. God, isn’t May inspirational!

Wall Street and the Government continue to use numbers to influence, but much too often only tell part of the story. Stocks get bought or sold, disingenuous Pols slap each other happily on their backs and the public loses. Take, for instance, the report on economic growth Friday. The media proudly and wrongly exalted the Q1 3.2% GDP growth number as proof that the economy was on a rebound. Stocks leapt forward. Politicians implied how good they were for the country Of course they didn’t tell you that the previous quarter had a 5.6% growth and that the year ago similar quarter had a 5.4 number. And they didn’t even offer a hint to the public that in order for a successful rebirth of an economy that also creates jobs, the GDP needs to show five consecutive quarters with a 7-9% growth!

I remember when to get through the Sunday Newspaper I had to play a CD line-up which might include a lengthy Beethoven Mass, Grieg and Schumann Piano concertos and a series of Respighi symphonic landscapes. Today I can turn the last page on merely…a Cesar Franck oratorio and a collection of Richard Strauss tone poems.

The Question:
There are enormous sky scrapers all over the world. But this tower of Babel mentality started humbly in the US. Name the first skyscraper, number of stories and where and when it was built. What are the ten highest sky scrapers in the world today?

The Headlines:
--Oil Spill Just In Infancy; Damage Could Be Biggest In History.
--Video May Give Clues To Failed Times Square Bomb.
--India Convicts Pakistani In Mumbai Siege.
--Buffet Says Goldman Good.
--Warm Weather Has Northeast Basking; Floods Threatening Tennesee.
--Baghdad Recount Begins Today.
--Red Sox Fans Jumping Off Local Bridges.
--United And Continental To Combine To Form Largest Airline.
--China Raises Bank reserves; Asian Stocks drop.
--German Cabinet Takes Up Huge Greek Bailout.

Back to More Stuff:

I had to smile at the juxtaposition of the two main stories on the front page of the weekend section of the Saturday’s newspaper – The Ringling Brother’s Circus next to Goldman Sachs. Send in the clowns.

This entire discussion about financial activity is coming down to what too many decisions in America seem to boil down to any more. Legal versus moral or ethical. It is not beyond the realm of good reasoning that GS and others did everything according to the law. But, that doesn’t make losses any more tolerable. Like a serial killer getting off on a technicality. Or rally’s against an Arizona law in favor of a massive group of out and out criminals. People often perform to the letter of a law but often outside the intent of the law. I guess you just have to hope that people still know what’s right or wrong in their hearts. But, in my heart I know that it is slowly becoming but a hopeful fantasy…especially where big money is involved.

Which brings me to the hacker of the Palin email account. The lawyer tried to portray a serious invasion of privacy as a college prank. Hazing is a college prank. Putting the Dean’s car atop a flag poll is a college prank. Hacking is a criminal act.

What is the worst phrase in the English language? “It’s only a misdemeanor.”

Have you noticed that headlines which are accusatory of manufacturers of baby equipment and furniture make it sound like the companies have a secret, evil group of scientists in the back room devising subtle ways to kill babies? This leads me to believe that the newspapers are just being lazy again picking up releases from class action lawyer PR firms.

Think about how many fewer lawyers there would be in the US if the innate law of personal responsibility was taken seriously again.

One of the real problems with warming weather is that it becomes real tough to justify wearing a sweater to cover up winter growth. If you get my drift. Or should I have said…shift?

How incredulous was it Saturday when the “Great Mocker”, “Mr. Ridicule” himself was seen standing in that cavernous U. Michigan stadium urging for the secession of “…name calling under the guise of legitimate discourse.” This from a man who hasn’t hesitated to criticize America in foreign lands or demean the legitimate opinions of honest Americans. The best thing for American harmony would be to ban microphones from “Prime Time’s” hands.

I just received an email ad entitled “Unadvertised” specials! How do they do that?

Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 69 continues. –You alright, Sarah?” I heard Henry now in a kind, gentler tone. “You don’t look so well”. I looked over at him. He was staring at me. Yet, he looked truly concerned. “I think you are doing too much. Your body has gone through a lot over the past month.”
If he only knew, I thought. My repaired body responding too quickly to the urgings of Kent’s nearness. And now my mind conflicting with my heart. A heart that feels deeply the love of my family and a mind that knows that family is everything in my life. A heart that also can’t break away from the aura of a man I barely know. This man who some how has become a fatal addiction. But, as I sit here with Henry, I know that he sees something in Kent that neither of us have ever seen before. A sense of sinister manipulation. I finally slowly turned my head to this man I know I can trust. Another stranger. “Henry. You are right. I have done much too much too fast.“ He smiled as if he were my father.
“I’m going to bring in Laura again. I have a guy working on digging up more of her past.” He looked at me. Get some rest. I’ll call you when I learn more.”
I felt relieved. I am going to get myself back to who I was. Who I was was a pretty great person. I wonder if they make a patch for this addiction, I chuckled to myself as I closed the sheriff’s door behind me.

It seems to me that these days a good pragmatist will never make a lot of money as an inventor. “Who would ever need that?”

By the way, what ever happened to Francis Gary Powers?

Extreme liberals think that they are entirely right and conservatives are entirely wrong. Extreme conservatives think they are entirely right and liberals are entirely wrong. Hey…common ground! Maybe that’s a start. Maybe there is hope after all.

Most of the critics who write nasty things about Goldman have never sold anything. And that includes the Senators who were perplexed by answer to the question “Do you work for your customers or Goldman”. Every good sales person who ever toted a bag knows he or she is trying to serve the customer as best as possible within the confines of their own product offerings and pricing. For instance, if your company says we’re ok with 5% profit, a salesman tries for 10% first. If the customer is happy paying that price to gain the benefits of working with you and your company, then you the salesperson is doing the right job. A good sales person does work very hard for the benefit of the customer, but never sells out the company just to get an order.

Erich Estrada is alive and well…in case anybody is interested.

There is some word on the street that the Gulf oil catastrophe could quickly push the cost of a gallon of gas through $5.00. The is could be an economy recovery killer.

You have to question the character of the protestors against the Arizona law as they continually deny the existence of the word illegal.

The Answer:
The first skyscraper in the US was built in Chicago in 1884. This behemoth was built for the Home Insurance Company of NY and had an acrophobic 10 stories! The big ones are Burj Khalifa, Dubai; Taipei 101, Taipei; Shanghai World Financial, Shanghai; Petronas Tower 1, Kuala Lumpur; Petronis Tower 2, Kuala Lumpur; Nanjing Greenland Fin., Nanjing; Willis Tower, Chicago; Guangzhou West Tower, Guangzhou; Jin Mao Tower, Shanghai. The Empire State Building, The granddaddy is number 15. Check out the tallest 200 http://www.emporis.com/en/bu/sk/st/tp/wo/

The End:Never to leave you hanging…Francis Gary Powers would have been 81 now if he hadn’t died at 47 while piloting a LA Television news helicopter. His return to the US (He was traded t=for Russian spy Rudolpf Abel) was very unpleasant as his CIA buddies shunned him for not destroying the U2 Plane and/or taking a poison pill to kill himself.

Drill baby drill

Today's Tids 2,120
Opening Stuff:

This oil slick looks like it could produce one of the ugliest natural disasters of our times. While I expect that the Nightly News will be showing streams of video showing people caressing sea turtles, dolphins and pelicans, my heart will be with the hard working shrimpers and other fishermen whose families rely in the sea for a living.

Wow, I thought we were still in January. The last day of April! Already! The way days, months seems to fly these days, it must be time for me to begin Christmas shopping – even before my golf handicap drops into the toilet.

I never heard of Dorothy Height. I must have a short memory.

And this just in…Historian anthropologists have finally determined that Stonehenge is the remnants of the housing bubble of 1251.

The Question:
 The President seems to have this fatal leadership flaw of jumping up to microphones to insult or demean people or groups of hard working patriotic Americans. Give me five 0-Man slurs against Americans.

The Headlines:
--Oil Reaches Shore As Gulf Coast Disaster Looms; BP Stock Tanks; Moratorium On new Offshore Drilling Now Expected; Coast Guard Has Over 100 Ships Fighting Overwhelming Battle.
--Justice Department Opens Criminal Probe Of Goldman.
--Solid First Quarter Consumer Spending Boosts Prospects For Economy; GDP Rises 3.2%
--0-Man Begins SC Selection Process; Met Yesterday With 9th Circuit’s Sidney Thomas.
--British Conservative Party David Cameron Zooms Into Lead After Last Night’s Final Debate.
--The Success Of “Cougar Town” Has Lingerie Sales To Older Women Booming In Britain.
--Tiger Woods Own Estimate Of Woman While Married Is Up To 121.

Back to More Stuff:

Remember WNGU – “Whackos Never Give Up”! These Arizona protests are so much like all other protests based on ideologies. Even in the face of overwhelming logic, they keep on coming much like the march of the Zombies or the attack of the killer tomatoes!

I have to agree with the comments of a reader on the dismissal of Siobhan Magnus from American Idol: “Clearly the voters got it wrong. She will go on to become a star. Aaron and Mike, not so much.” He went on to say what is becoming obvious – that there are too many guys left on this show which can only mean that too many pre-pubescent girls are dominating the voting. You may even have to worry about the talented Crystal. She and Lee are definitely 1-2 or 2-1 in my book.

After November, suits against Wall Street Bigs will probably dissipate. But until then, desperate Dems will continue to play Saint George against the fire breathing dragon to make points with the misinformed.

Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 69. –Kent’s gentle touch along my back felt good. Like always. It instantly evoked passionate memories of last night. Did I blush? I looked at Henry quickly, but he was looking trough a couple of papers. I quickly squeezed my legs together. Took a deep breath. I started to open my mouth, but Henry beat me to it. He looked up at me.
“Why do you think Kent dropped in like that? He has done that several times in the past couple of days. Did I tell you that?” he continued not expecting an answer. “I am noticing a pattern. He comes in like my good ole’ boy friend. Skirts around several issues. Asks a couple of seemingly innocent questions. Then he plans his unobtrusive get-away.” He paused like Henry pauses. “Odd, isn’t it?”
“Well Henry, it sort of fits into what we were talking about – that mysterious bra.” He nodded as in, go on. “His primary offering was about Laura and he seemed to be looking at us both for a reaction.”
“I agree”, Henry answered and then receded into his mind.
“Laura is a little young for him, don’t you think Henry?”
“Hell” he laughed while adding, “You’re way too young for him”. I tried to laugh along with him. But, now I was feeling a little shaken. “Yup, I always had an odd feeling about his stoniness. So I wouldn’t be surprised about Laura at all.”
Laura, I thought. God, what am I? I was feeling weak. And it wasn’t because of my recovery. I have to get out of here. I can’t continue this charade. “Maybe you should talk to her a little more,” I started mainly to hide the queasiness in my stomach.

I still wish Clueless Lane would put some of their genius people on the front lines for the small investor.

I have always though that Alaska King Crablegs were overrated. Sorry brave fishermen.

If your boss keeps on calling you by the wrong name, change your name to the one he is using.

With the appointment of Yellin, Raskin and Diamond to the Fed, 0-Man will have financial control over the triggers that effectively control financing -- interest rates, money supply, mortgages, credit. “President Obama is sending a strong signal that easy money and bureaucratic control of finance will be the hallmarks of the American economy for years to come.” (Andrew Shiff of Euro-Pacific Capital.

Within days of banning smoking on Subs, the Navy authorized for the first time women submariners. Well that is one way to relieve ex-smoker tension!

My friend has this talking GPS system and all around computer in his car. When his wife tries to give the GPS instructions, the woman in the machine responds, “You are not using the proper tone”. How funny is that!

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:
--Furry Vengeance is a pretty predictable propaganda film about animals in the forest rallying together against hapless humans and in particular a developer. It’s a typical brainwash the kids against big business effort. A raccoon leads the way in retaliatory tricks including some trite toilet humor. Which unfortunately will send the children into fits of laughter while mentally competent adults shout “Get me out of here!
--A Nightmare on Elm Street had Freddie Krueger slashing teens in their dreams (Did you notice the insertion of the word “A” before Nightmare?) It is another in the long series of inventing clever ways to get the blood gushing.

The Answer:
He just called Arizona lawmakers “Misguided” That was after he has called Cambridge mass police “Stupid”, hard hit Pennsylvanians “bitter, clinging to guns and religion’, Fox News not a legitimist news outlet, plus snide slurs against the Supreme Court, the Special Olympics, Poland, Gordon Brown, Tea Party members, Sarah Palin, Hillary Clinton and any other American against anything he wants. The Great Mocker is at his best when spontaneously grabbing a mike.

The Beginning:
Around here, this is looking like a perfect day to start to enjoy the promise of what should be a good week end.

Celtics in Seven!

Today's Tids Issue 2,119
Opening Stuff:

There is a new war a minute it seems in this changing world of ours. But, the only war I’m interested in is the one that is set to begin in Cleveland this weekend – the Boston Celtics versus the Cleveland Cavaliers. We New Englanders think it will be a bloody doozy! Note to Cleveland readers: We are most concerned about the ever energetic Anderson Varajou. James gets what James gets; even, it appears, with one arm tied behind his back. Of course, some think that his left handed foul shooting trick is all about increasing his already out of sight visibility, and assuring prime ESPN Sportscenter highlights! Is this series all about winning before James’ next contract, possibly elsewhere? Will that scenario place more pressure upon the Cavs? Probably.

You have to like that reasoned approach from the Supreme Court about religious symbols on Public Land. Some don’t think the real reason why Christmas exists should be acknowledged. Crèches don’t necessarily champion a religion, but recognize a fact. Several years ago, around 1992, a guy (A professor at liberalish type college that specializes in social services) moved in around the corner from me. The first thing he did after signing his deeds and mortgage papers was to sign another set of papers authorizing a suit against the town for removal of a cross on a small island in the middle of an intersection of two country-ish roads. The cross was placed there in 1927 as a memorial to the good work of a local country doctor. This was similar to the reason that the cross in the Mojave was placed on a rock in 1935. The cross in the middle of two roads wasn’t a religious, in your face movement. It was a symbolic representation to honor a man who did unto others as he would have others do unto him.

A media observer commented yesterday, “We are in the era of fact-free journalism.”

The Question:
What do you think Americans are doing this year with their tax refund?

The Headlines:
--Oil Slick Bigger than Thought; New Estimates Say That Damaged Well Is Producing 5,000 Gals/Day Instead Of 1,000.
--New Obama Appointees, If Approved, Would Make 5 Of & Federal Reserve Board Members Obama-ites; Janet Yellen, Sarah Raskin and Peter Diamond Expected To Be Approved.
--SEC To Probe Hedge Funds Use Of “Side Pockets” As Means To Prevent Clients From Withdrawing Billions During Crisis.
--Spain Downgraded As EU Crisis Widens.
--US Profits Indicate America Ready To Reignite.
--Head Of Pakistan Taliban Plays Mark Twain: “Reports of My Death Are Premature”; Militants Get Propaganda Victory As Early Reports Of Leaders Death Are Discredited.
--Fla’s Crisp Expected To Run As Independent.
--Man Walks Into China Kindergarten And Stabs 28 Children.

Back to More Stuff:

One of the things I like about cooking is having lots of things going on at once and having them all come together at the right times. Tasting good is just hopeful fallout to the process.

In response to a couple of yesterday’s items about illegal alien laws and banning of toys at fast food joints, a California reader writes: “I care more about my grandchildren’s toys being stolen out of their homes by illegals than toys being eliminated at McDonalds’s!!!”

Another reader commenting on the Goldman affair suggests that Goldman had to figure out what do to with all of the paper which was the result of Government forced bad mortgages.

The more you listen to the anti-Arizona law zealots, the more you realize that they are either irrational or disingenuous. They will never equate the word illegal with the word criminal. And, there will never be agreement on a good solution for a serious problem. Especially as Pols turn to jelly.

With people pouring billions into things like “Synthetic CDO’s, you have to wonder why others think there is safety in gold. Nothing is backed with much any more. There’s something about the word “Synthetic” that is scary and all too descriptive of financial bubbles.

Smoking on subs has been banned. So, I guess going out on deck for a smoke is problematic. How would you like to be under the ice cap with a guy trying to crack the habit?

Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 68 continues: --Sarah was looking at me in a knowing way. She had a small look of concern on her face. She could not possibly know what is in my mind or heart. Nobody does. Even those I seem to let in to roam around. They think they feel what I feel, but they never will. Yet, my Sarah/Maggie thinks a little like me. I should be more aware when I’m with her. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to her. I like her.
“How are you feeling now, Sarah?” I decided to change the subject.
Henry chimed in before she could answer. I have to believe she was happy for that. “Sarah is one tough person. Frankly Kent, I have really enjoyed working with both of you. Most lawmen wouldn’t admit that two civilians could be so helpful.” He just paused and smiled that pleasant smile of his. I like him, but he is a cagy old guy, and I know he loves to make people feel too comfortable. “How is your business going now that this has all come out?”
“We’re doing Ok, and you just reminded me of all the work I have a ahead today.” I took the opportunity to quickly stand and walking behind Sarah, where I gently drew my hand across her back, like a waitress looking to increase her tip.” A reminder to Sarah that my touch was important to her. I got what I wanted. I had to do something about Laura.
“Good-bye Kent,” she smiled. “Maybe I’ll see you around town.

A reader writes to make us aware that a Movie “Corpus Christi” is set to be released in theaters between June and August. It is a mockery of Jesus, depicting him as a gay leader of a group of homosexuals. Maybe we need more crosses at intersections after all.

Britain’s Gordon Brown proves once again that he should never have been elected Prime Minister in the first place.

It has been pretty clear that loving Great Britain as a long time and important ally has never been a priority in 0-Man’s heart. But that could all change (And Change is the word) as upstart Liberal Democrat Nick Clegg as been surging lately on a campaign eerily similar to that of our own beloved “Prime Time”. Right now Conservative Party leader Cameron has a slight edge over Brown and new young darling Clegg. Brown looks like a loser to me. Clegg and Cameron, both 43, are emerging as energetic and very good debaters. Clegg uses Obamesque lines like “Something really exciting is beginning to happen. People are beginning to believe, beginning to hope”. But political pollster Andrew Hawkins noted that “many of Clegg’s enthusiastic new supporters know little about his party’s centre-left policies, raising questions of sustainability.” Interesting reminiscence of the last year and a half in US politics.

The Goldman thing has given me a new idea for post retirement income. I’m going to bundle all of the credit card bills of my neighbors, slice and dice them into mini securitized packages, set up a lemon-ade style stand in front of a local brokerage and hawk them to greedy investors. “One to a customer” will really suck them in.

The big difference between the US Debt/GDP ratio and that of EU debt bound nations is that the US can print it’s own money if necessary. Not good, but possible. The EU nations in trouble like the US – Greece, Italy, Ireland, Spain, France – are tied to the Euro and thus not in charge of their own money supply, making their debt more binding. But, not a pretty picture for the US or EU bad boys.

The Answer:
It appears that sensibility and necessity is winning out over irrational exuberance. 30% are paying down debt, 28% are saving it. 26% are paying for energy and food. 7% splurged and went on vacation. 9% aren’t sure or don’t know.

Green Ending:
Celtics In seven!

Where exactly has truth gone.

Today's Tids Issue 2,117
Opening Stuff:

The Media could actually be helpful again if they didn’t continually try to misreport and confuse the facts with their own personal emotions. In their latest slight of hand trick last night they misrepresented the opposition by focusing the cameras on a handful of sign carrying protesters of the Arizona “Illegal’s” (As in criminal) law while failing to mention that 60% of Americans and 70% of Arizonans are for the law.

Meanwhile up in Santa Barbara a bunch suffocating health nuts got a law passed that would ban giving toys to kids along with meals at fast food restaurants. The object being that the removal of an incentive will have kids demanding fewer visits to chicken nugget palaces. (Of course gravy man here thinks it is deplorable when the gov starts spooning food onto your plates.) But in their fanatical stupidly, they failed to understand the ramifications of a law they got passed that only affects 7 stores in the entire county. Putting those stores at an extreme competitive disadvantage. In other words what they have accomplished in there irrational zeal is the possibility of destroying seven businesses and the incomes for the families that own them and work there.

The American Idol Gives back show last week raised a whopping $45 Million for charity. I thought the show was also coming into focus on the talent side too, but last night there were a few positive surprises and no bombs! The strongest four last night were Lee, Siobhan, Casey and surprise! -- Aaron. I was ready to give the Kelly Kid the boot as I thought he had been struggling lately. And someone has to go. But… BoSox was good but not great. Mike was very good too. BoSox, Lee, and Siobhan will remain the top three. Casey moves up. Did Aaron save himself and put Mike at risk? Oh… Shania Twain was a great mentor. Nice eyes too.

The Question:
Pop music is praised on a daily basis. As is country, rock and the incomprehensible yet rhythmic hip-hop. But much of the top music, tunes we tend to hum without thinking, comes from Broadway musicals. Name the All Time Top Ten Broadway Musicals.

The Headlines:
--Northern New England, NY Get’s Foot Of Fluffy, White, Exhilarating Snow; Southern New England Gets Crisp, Cool, Invigorating Air.
--Senate Financial Panel Gets Two feet Of Grayish Snow.
--Stock Futures Point To Higher Opening.
--Shell Earns $5.5 Billion In Q1.
--Coast Guard Considering Lighting Fire As Oil Slick Closes In On Fragile Marshy Coastal Islands.
--New AP Poll Says That Dogs Listen Better Than Husbands; Being sent To Doghouse Now Considered A Promotion.
--Sandra Bullock Files For Divorce; Will Adopt Boy.

Back to More Stuff:

If you like celebrating Mexican holidays, here’s an easy recipe trick that would enable you to enjoy a Mole style steak on our annual Illegal Immigrant national holiday, Cinque de maio. Buy a good looking rib eye for each celebrant and about an hour before grilling rub with blended mixture of 1 tbs cocoa powder, 1 tbs Ancla Chili powder, 1 tsp cumin and 1 tbs sea salt.

Headline of the Week Department:
An eagle eyed reader picked up this nugget, “Mexican Government issues travel alert to its citizens about travel to AZ.” The small print must read, “if you want your free money and benefits enter through New Mexico, Texas or California.”

Another reader commenting on the above as part of her overall befuddlement of the world around her that is wearing her down says, “Morals and ‘rules of society’ don’t seem to mean much any more. She worries about the world ahead for today’s children.

Along those lines, I didn’t think that Goldman execs looked “Saddened and humbled” (Their words). Especially “humbled”.

But I did have to chuckle listening to Senators bring up the subject, absence of “ethics”!

If the National Asparagus Growers Association is looking for a spokesperson, they may want to try the now available Ben Roethlisberger. Apparently asparagus historically is a well known aphrodisiac and has just been found to be an excellent hang-over remedy.

Speaking of athletes, there was a time in the 1920’s when Babe Ruth was considered a most invite-able guest for many of the NYC society parties. While seated among the diamond studded super rich at a Vanderbilt town house dining room table, the slugger refused the offer of an asparagus salad announcing for all at the table: “No thank you, it makes my urine smell bad.” Word was spread that the player was particularly proud that he remember to say “no thank you” first.

So, what are we to do with the passing of Elizabeth Post, the granddaughter of and successor to Emily Post’s campaign for better manners? Does anybody care about manners any more? Can any body still spell manners?

Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 68 continues. –I was looking forward to uninterrupted time in my lab today. A luxury I haven’t enjoyed in weeks. There is a lot going on there. But now, I have to play the casual citizen game and wander into Henry’s office on the way to work to keep tabs on his conversations with Sarah. The next time I see her I’ll try to get her to make opinions on the caper before her mind wanders to my bedroom.
“Hi Henry, Sarah,” I said casually as I walked into that little interrogation room at the police station. They both looked surprised and a little annoyed at my appearance.
“Good morning Kent”. Sarah was the first to reply. Henry quickly asked me to take a seat and asked if I’d like coffee or a Diet Coke. I waved him off, eager for them to get back to their conversation. But they didn’t.
“What brings you here Deputy Middleton. I thought you would have been well at work over at BiEm.” I told him that I slept late. I didn’t see any reaction from Sarah. Not a flutter of a lid or clenching of a jaw.
“I was intrigued about your question about Laura the last time I was here. We never talked about it any more, as your schedule seemed to close in. But, since then a couple of days ago, I have to tell you that the girl was recommended to me as a housekeeper, and I just had her over for an interview. She didn’t seem so bad, so I hired her.” Now I saw a reaction both their eyes.’ That is all I needed to see.

The scary thing about the near bankruptcy of Greece and Portugal is that these two are only slightly worse off than Ireland, Spain and Italy. While you are pondering this potential mess, remember that it was the use of Goldman style instruments that enabled Greece to “Legally lie” on their application for membership to the EU.

The scariest thing about the Goldman session yesterday was that the smartest people in the world were trying to tell us that they didn’t know what was going on in the housing markets! That means they are either lying or we are in bigger trouble than we imagined when the people who guide our financial society don’t know what is going on.

The Answer:
An excellent Top hundred list, http://forums.nutsie.com/viewtopic.php?t=14242 picks the best based on overall popularity and contributions to improvements in the genre. The Top Ten all time are My Fair Lady, Fiddler on the Roof, Oklahoma, A Chorus Line, Phantom, Hair, West Side Story, 42nd Street, Gypsy and Porgy & Bess. The next five are rent, Annie, The sound of Music, Follies and Guys and Dolls. The biggest surprise for me was that Les Miz didn’t appear until #25!

The End:
You had to love the various Goldman underlings continually relying on the Nuremburg defense.

Congress and state legislatures should take two years off. We have way more laws than any society could ever need.

Nobody ever sees the heroes.

Today's Tids Issue 2,117
Opening Stuff:

I awoke upon a cotton candy cloud. I floated through ginger ale skies. Slipping off my sugary cloud, I slid down peppermint sticks into butterscotch ponds. I walked through chocolate flower fields. Finding sweetness in a sour world. While trying to stay on my diet. One serving of this sickly sweet Tid is well beyond our daily carbohydrate requirement of 300 grams. But, it feels great!

I was bothered this morning about the report of the homeless person who was stabbed trying to save a woman from a knife wielding assailant. The unknown man fell to the ground and lay there for over an hour before medical help arrived. During that time street cameras showed many people walk by, glance and move on, while blood streamed from his gut. A Good Samaritan with nothing on this earth, trying to give another a better life than his. A hero that nobody could see.

It will be entertaining TV today as unctuous lawmakers take center stage in an effort to belittle Financial execs. Ever the cowards, these Pols feel that Americans are so against the Wall Street barons that they can sink to lows never before known even to congress people. It should be a juicy afternoon. Would any of these faceoff a knife wielding savage?

And, in about 4 months or so these same self righteous hypocrites will be standing in line on Wall Street looking for campaign handouts from the bonus babies.

The Question:
Portugal was one of the richest countries of all during the era of the great Portuguese explorers. I as a kid was always fascinated by their accomplishments. Name the most famous.

The Headlines:
--Ford Posts $2.1 Million Profit On Strong Sales.
--Oil Company And Authorities Race To Control Slick That Threatens Four States.
--Procedural Vote Slows Passage Of financial regulatory Package; Dems Now Looking At Changes To “Bailout” Component; GOP Sys This Bill Will Pass And Be Stringer In Fight Against Bad Behavior On Wall Street.
--Congress Prepares For Embarrassment Of WS Execs.
--Calif Tech Police Raid Home Of Gizmodo Editor; May Be In reaction To Story Broken About New iPhone.
--Strong majority Of Americans Agree With Arizona Anti-Illegal Law.
--Porsche’s Highly Touted Just Released Panamera In total recall; Could Be Black Mark Against Company Out To Take Share from Maserati Quattroporte and Mercedes Benz CLS.

Back to More Stuff:

Do you get the sense that the medical drama “House” is turning into “Desperate Doctors”?

24-um: --President Logan was at his evil best. Is eye movements are among the best ever on TV. –And how about the weasel of the moment, President Allison. Frankly, I never liked the President. She made me feel irritable when she appeared. –I’m liking Chloe in her role. –But it is Dana, the woman who kept us all guessing, who has become the emerging centerpiece of this last great episode of the greatest program in TV history.

One of the things Dems like to do in the aftermath of the Health Care debacle is recall the Government run plans of SS and Medicare…and or several laws that apparently changed human inequities. Of course it is an irrelevant argument because absolutely nobody knows if we would or would not be better off without the two black hole programs which are not working very well financially at all. Or if natural evolution could change human garbage without a legal mandate. The Dems fail to take into consideration the indomitable spirit of American people and their resourcefulness in finding solutions without the assistance of big Government. They fail to understand that the heart of good people can always overcome. It is totally conceivable that without SS and Med we would have been a stronger than ever nation today.

What honest Wall Streeter wouldn’t want some regulations that keep the dishonest under control? An industry based on trust must rid itself of the untrustworthy.

I was a little disturbed about that stripe running down one side of Sergio Garcia’s trousers at the Zurich Open this past weekend. Worried that the athletic gear makers were plotting to infect the golf clothes industry with abominations I see on grown men walking in public. I was envisioning silky golf pants flopping in the breeze. Basketball style shirts with players names across the back. Where is Payne Stewart when you need him?

Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 68. –After my Sarah/Maggie left, I went back up to my room and bathroom. Nothing appeared disturbed. I wondered if she had seen Laura’s jeans in the closet. If she had, she would easily have connected them to my wife who was known by almost everybody in town to drop in from time to time. And he thought, if Sarah still was as under my control as she appeared she would definitely assume that. That’s the real question, isn’t it? What was she like last night? She certainly wasn’t reticent. In fact, she overwhelmed me for a change. She couldn’t get enough she attacked and attacked. She wore down these aging bones. I must have been out solid when she went up stairs. She showed no shame being there. She wasn’t look for me the wit, the intellectual, the shy appearing man who made her smile and feel comfortable. She was look for me the lust machine.
But, when she left me standing there in the bath room. She seemed different. Did she look guilty? Scared? Evasive?
My cell phone rang. Oh no, it was Laura. I hope she isn’t coming over. “Hi Laur!” I answered smilingly.
“I just saw your aging girl friend going down to the Sherriff’s office.”
“Don’t worry about her”, said matter-of-factly. One thing I don’t need is a hysterical Laura. Laura is very cool but capable of extreme weirdness when agitated.
“Don’t worry. I’ll stay cool. I’m coming over to clean your house. What do you want for dinner?”

Overkill Department:
I think almost everybody agrees that Blind Side was a fine movie and probably a very good book. But do we need any more of Michael Oher? He, an excellent human being, is about to publish his version of his story. And right after that, Liegh Ann Touhy and hubby Sean will bring forth their own memoir. Once again, the commerce watering down value.

From five to ten years ago during my time with a manufacturing industry magazine we were writing quite regularly about the need for the US machine shop industry to transform themselves from the commodity style product to the complex, super quality product. Software and amazing machines allowed these small companies to take on and accomplish formidable new challenges. Among the most visible of new opportunities was the arise of the medical component industry. Last Friday CBS News did a piece on a southern machine shop that beat the odds by moving from the traditional but now very fragile auto parts manufacturing to medical. Maybe a new Web news site that writes to consumers about coming economic changes in the world of industry would help prepare them for events heralded by the consumer media five-eight years later.

The Answer:
I’ve been to the fort and sailing academy of Prince Henry the Navigator which is at the most southwestern point of land in that narrow country. When standing n the cliffs looking westward you have a real sense of foreboding, about falling off the end of the earth. Your mind while staring into the depth of a black ocean pounding on the rocks far below marvels at the bravery of the history book titans - Ferdinand Magellan, Bartolemeu Dias and Vasca de Gama. There were 69 15-16th century Portuguese explorers, many with well known Rhode Island names like Andrade, Cunha, Escobar and Teixeira. Let’s hear it for the glory days of Portugal.

The End:
When I was in my late teens I mentioned proudly to my father (a son of a politician) that I was thinking of politics as a career. He then proceeded with a rant against the occupation with a torrent of four letter words that would make Wanda Sykes blush. So, I went into advertising, a nice honest occupation.

What will happen to the world as we know it when “24” fails to appear next year?

Bikinis and Quakes.

Today's Tids Issue 2,112
Opening Stuff:

“Peace in the Middle East? Hah!” Department:
In the latest example of seriously brain dead leaders in the volatile Iran, a leading cleric yesterday posited that promiscuous woman cause earthquakes. His actual words -- really, honest -- were: “…many women who do not dress modestly…lead young men astray, corrupt their chastity and spread adultery in society, which consequently increases earthquakes.” Has Pat Robertson moved to Iran?

Of course then you have the panicky Malicki calling for a vote recount after he had lost his election bid to Allawi. If that vote is overturned, expect more mayhem of the worst kind. Peace? Hah!


Wall Street seems less worried about Goldman than about which other Bankers may be on the Fed hit list. As one stock analyst said: “There’s never just one cockroach”.

The Question:
In light of the Vatican shenanigans lately, I’m reminded of a Mark Twain quote: “The church is always trying to get other people to reform; it might not be a bad idea to reform itself a little, by way of example.” In honor of the 11th Anniversary of the great author’s de books.ath, name five of his best

The Headlines:
--Arizona Passes Tough Law That Ramp Up States Ability To Curtail Illegal Immigrant Activity.
--North Winds Blowing Volcanic Ash Back Over Britain.
--Goldman Reports $3.3 Billion First Quarter Earnings; Dem Senators Using Goldman Case To reinforce Their Drive For Passage Of Tough Walls Street Regs.
-- Strong Showing for First Quarter Earnings Reports; Market Expecting Health Jolt From Rosy Reports.
--Iraqi Authorities Verify The Killing Of Two al-Qaida Leaders.

Back to More Stuff:

Outrageous Headline of the Day Department:
“Are school lunches a national security threat?” This was based on some military officers observations that it’s harder to train overweight young people.

I was sitting in a parking lot waiting and watching people. I noticed a bunch of teens going into TJ Maxx; the boys following the girls and looking very bored. And trying to look tough and cool. Which must be hard to do these days having chosen to dress like dorks.

Speaking of male dress, the new word on 34th street is “Retrosexual”. And, believe it or not it is a movement back to fashion that makes men look like men. With men’s hair cuts from barbers instead of stylists. With suits and shoes form the late fifties. I’d better check my closet. Get ready to look decent again. Must be a Tea Party thing.

We read about the brave men who climb Everest. We weep with horror at the tragedies of those who were left to die. But, always, the Sherpa guides are there with these adventurers, just doing their job helping them up and getting them down. And now the Nepalese government is asking the Sherpa guides to clean up the mountain – remove the 300 bodies left there; pick up the tons of trash marring the mountain top. Like…Oh say…sending a team of maintenance workers out each evening to clean up Disneyland!

How come most all of the so-called “cradles of humankind” have barely progressed much beyond their cultures of 3-4,000 years ago?

Schubert’s 9th Symphony is often labeled by knowledgeable experts as “Schubert’s Great 9th.” Frankly, this absolute neophyte has to disagree. It is almost great. But I have always felt that the ending just doesn’t live up to the accolade. It has the potential to get there. It’s an emotional thing for me. And my fantasy is to know more about music to help a symphony get there some day.

Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 66 continues. –After what seemed like a minute but really only seconds, he looked at me and smiled, “Showers make you look more beautiful than a morning sunrise.” Then he hugged me. But this moment even after a most intense sexual romp, it didn’t feel like a loving hug. Not like it had always felt before. Something new has been inserted in between. Now in this embrace even as I feel the warmth between us growing, I wasn’t thinking of the purity of my guiltless feelings for him. I am not disregarding as I have for months my innocent family – Paul, Jax, Jill – loving me, truly without reservations. Loving me for the entire world to see. If I hadn’t come to this bathroom, would I have ever been able to break the bonds of my captivity? I released my arms from around him and pushed my hands up between our chests. “I have to go home now.” I said quietly. I could barely hear myself.
“If you must,” He countered with a tender appearing smile. Now looking into his eyes I was unsure of what I was seeing. I walked down to the living room, He held my hand as he followed. We didn’t speak. Now I wondered what he was thinking. I saw my clothes strewn upon the furniture and floor. And I momentarily remembered the feelings of it all. The wonderful exciting feelings.
“Wow” I heard him exaggerate, “We must have been crazy in love!” I turned and smiled. And I actually felt my body responding. Could I ever break away from his control? .

Not that I’m a cynic or anything, but that Fed prosecution of Goldman announcement just had to be timed to aid passage of the Wall Street Reg bill. The best regulation is to take away any and all bailout cushions.

Never known to miss a chance to attach his name to a consumer controversy and insert big government into our lives, Slick Charles Schumer has proposed the passage of a bill that would ban airlines from charging for carry-on luggage. Hey Charlie, did you ever hear about the American free enterprise economy that progressed very well with out enacted laws. Have you ever heard of the law of competitive equalization?

The Answer:
Five of his best known novels were written while he lived in Hartford Ct: Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Prince and the Pauper, Life on the Mississippi, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthurs Court. You would also be “write” if you thought of A Tramp Abroad, Captain Stormfield’s Visit to Heaven, Roughing It and The Tragedy of Puddinhead Wilson. Personally, I thought Will Rogers was funnier

A Modest Ending:

Every time I read about a climber summiting Everest, I always think if the faceless Sherpa who helped him and several before him to the top.

Where have you gone Brian Davis?

Today's Tids Issue 2,111
Opening Stuff:

You will probably be physically healthier if…you start to believe that nothing is as bad as it seems; understand that the more you take control the luckier you get; Love, enjoy and revel in little things of honesty…like flowers…like when a grocery clerk you don’t know says “Have Nice Day”; Enjoy what you have at the moment like seeing the crispy cold days of Winter as being equal to those hot sunny days of Summer or even rainy days as pleasant respites; and meet those tough personal situations head on. As the old song goes, “leave your angst on the door step and walk on the sunny side of the street.

While the Prez seems to delight in continuing his juvenile shtick of ridiculing Tea Party members*, many others on the left are beginning to honestly appraise the group for what it really is. Even leftie Barbara Boxer told Dems that they should grasp on to the type of enthusiasm expressed by Tea Party Members if they want to hold the House and Senate. Columnists are actually going out and talking to rally members, finding that they are exactly what they have always been said to be, just people who are totally fed up with the lack of honest representation in DC. This may be an example of where the truth will win out over media manipulation.

*A brand new Pew Research Center poll of US citizens says that 80% of the people don’t trust Washington, “….similar to the Tea Party”. Commentary on the poll says it is this anger that is fueling the Tea Party Movement. As one interviewee said, “The government has been lying to us for years”.

Where is Brian Davis when you Need Him Department:
With the precipitous decline in trust in leadership, wasn’t it refreshing to watch golfer Brian Davis yesterday call a two-shot penalty on himself? It only cost him his first PGA championship! Most of society these days is about you can get a way with it if nobody is looking…and that includes the Vatican. And why isn’t this act of honesty the number headline of the day?

The Question:
Remember all of the events that used to be just simple family and friends get-togethers to celebrate. Now spurred on by a service based economy focused on unnecessary want over need and the success of the out-of-control overly inexpensive wedding industry, many other events are starting to get into the too expensive to afford category. Name five.

The Headlines:
--Americans Say “Who Are They Trying To Kid” To Reports Of Recession Ending; New Poll Says Only 25% Believe Economy Is Getting Better.
--World Stock Markets Fall On Concerns About Goldman; Britain’s Brown Calls Company “Morally Bankrupt” Paving Way For Further Actions Against GS And Other European Banks.
--China Takes Steps To Curtail Emergence Of Its Own Housing Bubble.
--Iraqi Official Says Baghdad Votes To be Recounted.
--Britain To Send Warships To rescue Stranded Travelers.
--Pope Meets With Abused And Families; Through Teary Eyes, Pontiff Vows Safety fro Children; Prosecution Of Offenders.
--Kerry Underwood Wins Country Music Entertainer Of The Year.
--Toyota Set To Agree To record Fine.

Back to More Stuff:

News stories that bother me Department:
A church in Cumberland RI discovered over the weekend that somebody had stolen their six bells. These weren’t ordinary bells, but cherished bells that represent the 102 year history of the church. Bells loveingly donated by varied people including Queen Mary of England. The largest weighed 1,500 pounds. I guess I’m not surprised that some brain dead, slimeball thief would take them to melt down history and memories in to nothingness for money. What bothers me is that this is so symbolic of the I don’t care attitudes that seems so pervasive in society today – from litterers to unethical financiers, insensitive developers to ridiculing presidents, I got mine unions to sexual predator athletes.. All for me. Period. Where is Brian Davis when you need him?

The Great Mocker was out there Friday ridiculing concerned Americans in the Tea Party movement causing party enthusiasts to say that he still doesn’t get it. Oh, he get’s it. It’s just not what he wants to hear. He’s just one more god damn politician.

Goldman was simply providing the mechanism that became the means for the lefty loonies in Congress to get what they wanted – A misguided notion that anybody regardless of their ability to pay can own a home.

Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 66 continues. –All of sudden my languishing in perfect satisfaction came to an abrupt end. I knew Kent hadn’t taken to wearing bras. I stopped and listened for any sounds from downstairs. It was perfectly quiet. I decided to poke around. Now I reflected on some of those little differences I have noticed about Kent lately. Most noticeably was his question asking. Probing me. For what? I looked in the medicine cabinet and saw little. unusual except a bottle of Midol. I knew Kent’s wife would appear from time to time, but it was Kent who got the pain. It was definitely odd though. I quickly ran barefooted into his bedroom. It looked neat like always. In the closet I saw Kent’s compulsively hung neat slacks arranged by color tones from dark to light. I smiled at this. It was just like it should be. The second closet I opened was different. Next to the equally anal hanging of shirts were two pairs of small sized, well worn jeans. Had I seen these before?
Was that a noise? I decided it was time to get out of there. I closed both doors and scurrying quietly back to the bathroom. I took the bra and stuffed it into my robe pocket. It would not be good for him to find it hanging there knowing that I would have seen it. Better to be cautious until I find out what is actually happening here.
After a great shower, I dried vigorously, combed back my hair and opened the door. Kent was standing there. He looked past me.

I received an email full of late night comedian’s jokes about Obama, Pelosi et. al. The one I hadn’t seen read: “What is the most positive result of the “Cash for Clunkers” program? I took 90% of the Obama bumper stickers off the road.” --DL

16 year old Abby Sunderland is in the 86th day of her solo sail around the world. Her boat is in good shape in the South Atlantic approaching the midpoint between Cape Horn SA and The Cape of Good Hope Africa. She says it is very foggy and rainy, but the important news is that she is heading in the right direction! “But much too slowly!” she confides. Getting warmer and she’s happy to be back in T-Shirt and shorts. The bad news is that her Kindle broke down and she was in the middle of a good book!!

I write about a lot of disheartening crap going on in the world. But I worry most about when the Stop & Shop brand cinnamon waffles will be back in the freezer department. Life goes on in our own little ways.

I see where only 54% of weather forecasters think that Global Warming is a serious problem. In fact, over a ¼ think it is one big scam. The big news of course isn’t in the absolute numbers of today, but in the diminishment of the numbers from yesterday. Skeptics are now all of a sudden approaching mainstream status.

Do you stop to pause for second like I do when reading an Obit for doctor. Like, “Doctors get sick?...and die?” I guess it isn’t much different than “Priests abuse?” “Bankers are greedy?” or Politicians lie?” Oh wait a second on that last one.

You have to love the Dennis the Menace comic strip this morning. We see Dennis looking at one of his favorite toy cars saying, “This must be old. It says ‘Made in USA’.”

The Answer:
How about 25th and 50th Wedding Anniversaries, post funeral receptions, proms, religious events like First Communions and Bar Mitzvahs, milestone birthdays and graduations.
Some of these bills are as much as a year in college. Well, maybe not that high.

The Big Ending:

I guess the great news today is learning that 80% of Americans don’t like being fooled by the rascals in Washington. One of three things will happen: 1. They Will Change their ways. 2. They will be voted out. 3. They will find new ways to lie.

Lest we forget.

Saturday Shorts.
The Stuff:

Congress has to love the announcement about the SEC fraud persecution of Goldman. It takes the spotlight off of the real perpetrators of the mess, Congress people who inserted government into the Free Enterprise economic system extorting Banks to approve homes regardless if they could pay. But, that doesn’t make the financial community any less the idiots or irresponsible.

I’d say it is way overdo for congress to start investigating Congress on its own role in this economic catastrophe. But, all we would get is more lies and diversions. Just vote them all out, and the problem will be solved.

Think about this for a moment. How much better would Wall Street be if ethics were truly a driving force coexisting with shrewd financial dealings.

The Goldman thing and the mention of the Paulson Company made me think of the panicked Henry Paulson (No relative) during the first days of the meltdown. Remember his insecure, maniacal appearance as he rushed to the White House mikes, sweat pouting down is face. You knew just by watching him that his concern had nothing to do with the American people. He looked like a man ready to leap off the tower at 200 West Street if the ship went down. At least that is what I saw...a weak little guy without a clue.

You have to love the Dennis the Menace comic strip this morning. We see Dennis looking at one of his favorite toy cars saying, “This must be old. It says ‘Made in USA’.”

16 year old Abby Sunderland is in the 84th day of her solo sail around the world. Her boat is in good shape in the South Atlantic approaching the midpoint between Cape Horn SA and The Cape of Good Hope Africa. She says it is very foggy and rainy, but the important news is that she is heading in the right direction! The bad news is that her Kindle broke down and she was in the middle of a good book!!

One of many things thing that bothers me about critics is this. When a play, for instance, is very good, uncomplicated and thoroughly entertaining, they worry that they can’t find some deep seated, moral message in it. Get a life, you creeps.

A fanatical cult was born 44 years ago today. That was the day the Ford Mustang was introduced to the world.

“The Great Mocker” was out there Friday ridiculing concerned Americans in the Tea Party movement. Party enthusiasts took that to indicate that he still doesn’t get it. Oh, Obama get’s it. It’s just not what he wants to hear.

With all of these State legislatures running to pass anti bullying laws, you would have to expect that Obama would be the first to go.

Goodwin Liu, the University of California - Berkley legal scholar nominated for the always suspect 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, looks like a real weasel to me. Anybody when before congress who says don’t believe my writings; that isn’t the real me, is not to be trusted.

It is going to be icky today, but the TV screen will be bright!

Blowing out my mind.

Today's Tids Issue 2,110
Opening Stuff:

Somehow this Tids got away from me. It is not light and airy as fluffy sheets drying in a April sea breeze. Somehow the travesties of today’s society – Roethlisberger, ass-holes in general and the out of control spending in Washington – got the best to me. I guess every once in a while I just have to be deadly serious.

If beef tenderloin is used in a cheese steak sandwich, is it called Phillie Mignon?

“This Just In” Department:
Federal Prosecutors have charged Goldman Sachs with civil fraud over sub-prime mortgages. Earliest reports say: “The SEC's suit strikes at a practice that was one of the main causes of the financial crisis: the creation of poisonous investments derived from home loans made to borrowers who couldn't afford the houses they were buying. The suit also drags into a legal maelstrom Paulson & Co., the firm of legendary hedge fund manager John Paulson, who made billions of dollars by betting against the housing market in the years before it went bust. He and his firm have not been accused of wrongdoing.“ Lots more to come on this one. Stay tuned.

The Question:
Name five movies based on comic book heroes.

The Headlines:
--Black Cloud From Iceland Continues To Smother Air Ops In Europe.
--0-Man Says Hospitals Receiving Medicare Or Medicaid Payments Can No Longer Deny Visitation Or Power Of Attorney Rights To LGBT (Lesbians, Gays, Bi-Sexuals, Transgenders)
--Stocks Pull Back After Google Profits Fail To Impress.
--Israel Bans Import Of iPads; Authorities Say Strong Wireless Signal May Be Security Problem.
--DNC To Pour $50 Million Into Fall Races.
--March Shows Gain For Multi-Family Housing Starts.
--4.8 Quake Hits Utah.

Back to More Stuff:

The decline of all great civilizations like Rome and England can eerily traced to these common evolutions: --The move from the individual to the collective. –A move away from personal responsibility to reliance on state. –A move towards more government control and less individual liberty. –Higher taxes and higher debt. --A move away from education and the arts towards military and war.

Outrage Department:
The just released police info on the most recent Roethlisberger travesty shows this giant football player to be more of a monster than the DA’s reluctant refusal to prosecute might indicate. In fact the info indicates a pattern for a well-oiled pimping operation. Apparently, the slimeball and his strong arms enter a bar and set up a base of operations in one section. Big Ben eyeballs the kids, in this case underage girls drinking, and sends the boys out to round up a handful to join them. They are the force fed shots all in the guise of good bar fun! Yippee. Apparently, at least in this case, the wobbliest is dragged to the men’s room soon to be joined by Ben. Shouts of “No!” don’t count. And Michael Vick gets 3 years for dog fighting!

I walked into a rest room at a fairly decent restaurant last night and noticed that the sink faucet was running full Blast. And it got me thinking about how much money businesses have to spend to protect themselves from the ass-holes of the world. And the irony of it all is that when something goes wrong as it invariably does when ass-holes are involved, it’s the ass-hole who gets the media sympathy. And maybe even a reality show!

And, I would never watch the Trump “You’re Fired” show simply because he enabled Blago. Who’s he going to have on next…Roethlisberger?

Providence Journal editorial this morning commenting on lavish public employee benefits, salary and extras like enormous unused sick day payouts, said: “And, it’s no wonder that Rhode Island’s state and local governments are in financial trouble. Practices that would have bankrupted private businesses continue in the public sector as if money were no object.” “As if money were no object.” That’s the attitude in Greece and one increasingly more pervasive in this US of entitlement.

Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 66 continues. –I looked over my shoulder as I ran into Kent’s house just behind him. My emotions were entirely out of control. Maggie was melting fast. Before we had taken a step inside the back door, I grabbed his arm and pulled him around so he was facing me. I looked up into his stony face. I wrapped my arms around him. He didn’t know what hit him as I kissed him hard. My tongue seeking his flitting in and out. My knees were weak with anticipations. I felt him coming alive. I ground into him. Lifted me up and practically flung me down to the massive sofa. At once we were savages. Out of control. Seeking. Grabbing. Satisfying.
I lay there gazing at the ceiling. I was so much one with the soft pillows beneath my partially nude body. My heart had finally slowed. I wanted to fall into a deep sleep, but my body wouldn’t let me. I turned over to caress Kent. But he didn’t respond. He was far away in the sleep of wonderful exhaustion.
I rose up upon my elbows and looked down the erotic scene, my legs askew, my skirt rumpled up. I smiled and remembered again. I finally sat on the edge of the sofa, smoothing down my skirt and neatening my blouse. Now I was achingly thirsty. One of Kent’s Diet Cokes even sounded good. As I entered the kitchen, I noticed something seemed different. Maybe he has a new cleaning woman I thought. I popped a can, and walked to the upstairs’ bathroom to clean up. Maybe I’ll take a shower I thought. I closed the door. I saw a bra hanging there on that hook at the top.

Isn’t ironic that European banks who basically scammed the people of Iceland and were expecting payback, got a black cloud instead…similar to the one under which they placed the financial security of good people who never knew what hit them.

For all of you concerned about the recent rash of giant earthquakes and the possibility that the entirety of the earth crusts are shifting, don’t. We had they same amount of big quakes in 2005. 5 and above quakes aren’t that unusual, they are just reported more now, and occur in centers of greater populations.

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:
--Keeping up with the Jones looks like a winner to me. Demi and David (Moore and Duchovny) star as actors planted along with actor perfect teen children in a gated community neighborhood by marketers. The movie is one wonderful satire of over wrought consumerism. This “Perfect Family” buys everything and does every thing and soon the neighboring wanabees are aching to catch up or even surpass. It is viral marketing at its cleverest. I’m looking forward to it.
--Kick-Ass looks like a winner for followers of comic book based movies. This son of classics like Spiderman and Batman features a pint sized, foul mouthed (I can do without foul mouth preteens, thank you) preteen girl schooled in the art of weaponry and a hapless, scrawny high schooler suspected of being gay by the girl he desires. He, with absolutely no skills or superpowers decides to go into the superhero business hoping to impress said dream gal. He is soon joined by foul-mouth girl and her dad an ex cop out for vengeance against drug dealers. It works because the director plays it for what it is, sarcasm. Go, Nicholas Cage is in it and he needs the money for his foreclosed string of mansions.
--Death at a Funeral looks like a winner for those who like farcical slapstick as played by Chris Rock, Martin Lawrence and Tracy Morgan. This is actually a remake of a still-alive on DVD British film of the same name. It’s really about the outrageous mishaps of an extended family getting together at the funeral of the family patriarch. Frankly, it looks so-so to me judging by the promo trailers. But, should do well at the box office.

That announcement by 0-Man about LGBT hospital rights says it all. The Government doesn’t need the Public Option to orchestrate health care. They just need to keep making Medicare and Medicaid payments to control the activities of all in the Health Care biz. My dad always said never take anything form the Government. On second thought though, since we the people are supply all of the money for the twin “M’s”, maybe we the people should have the greater say in the operations of health care. Makes sense to me.

I see where 0-Man is playing the JFK card again…announcing a trip to Mars by 2025, or some date far enough away from his reign that he will never be held accountable for it. One noted expert, Social Scientist Martin Gross, after hearing that says that he has determined that Obama must have some form of ADHD (He also blames Bush’s financial naïveté for the looming deficit catastrophe.). He notes that while the Americans continue their despondency over joblessness and declining value of assets among other economic goblins, The President is jumping into fantasy land with a mars mission. He notes that Obama has always shown little focus and is an opportunistic flitter. Gross has testified numerous times before Congress on “government inefficiency” and is a NYT’s best Selling Author – “National Suicide: How Washington is destroying the National Dream A to Z”, “The Political Racket”, “The Conspiracy of Ignorance” and “The End of Sanity”. Gross saves his harshest words for the piling up of the deficit saying “that if we can’t stop this worst administration in history the debt now at $11 trillion will balloon even beyond Obama’s own scary estimates of $21 Trillion by 2020. And, he says that there is no way to stop it short of citizen’s revolt and the dissolution of both parties.

A new scientific study says the brain can only really handle effectively two situations or tasks at a time.

The Answer:
The movies that came quickest to me were Superman, Batman and Spiderman. Then there is Ironman, The Green Lantern, The Lone Ranger, Daredevil, Hulk, Blade, Hellboy and Phantom. What ever happened to Captain Marvel. Shazam!

Off to the Weekend:

Doesn’t anybody get mad any more? Woods will go back to making another billion or so. Roethlisberger will continue to throw game winning passes to the cheers of fawning fans. Blago will receive sympathy from the enabling reality show audiences. And Congress will continue to screw us. Other than that, have a great weekend.