Well, here we go!

Today's Tids Issue 2.524

Opening Stuff:

For all of you out there beyond New England and NY Metro who have yet to pick your team in the Super Bowl, consider this: If the Giants win, Charlie Schumer will be happy. Go Pats!


I'm really starting to feel sorry for daffodils. They think it's spring and many are several inches above ground in some areas. It's a little like relying on the Government instead of your own instincts.

An observer noted that Tom Brady and wife Giselle's new super sized mansion described as being "Eco friendly", probably should be more appropriately called "Ego Friendly".

The Question: The newest data says that 750 US banks are at risk of failing! Which states do you think have the most at risk?

The Headlines:

--Unemployment Drops to 8.3%: 235K Additions Surprise Experts.
--Thirty bales Of Marijuana Float In Upon California Beaches.
--Dem Senators Urge Susan G. Koman Foundation To Reinstate Funding To Planned Parenthood.
--Heavy Snowstorm Hits Colorado; Moving East.
--Egypt Gunman Kidnap Two Woman US Tourists.

The woman who sued Honda about gas mileage and won $10K has opened a real can of worms. Everybody who owns a car could probably sue. It appears that the car manufacturers are relying on government statistics which are noticeably higher than reality as tested by private research groups which actually factor in real driving habits like the dreaded lead foot. The Hummer owner could scream, "Hey, you promised 10mi/gal and I'm only getting 9". Everything is relative.

If the unemployment number keeps on dropping (Which is actually fairly natural after three years), let's hope the Repubs are developing Plan B to use against the 0-Man. And no, not the birth certificate.

At the annual DC Prayer breakfast 0-Man suggested that God tells him to raise taxes. Where's the ACLU when you need them! There is an unwritten rule that says leave your politics at the door when you enter this annual, thoughtful gathering. But then, 0-Man doesn't follow the rules, written and unwritten.


Don't go barefoot in parking Lots Department:
Do you ever wonder how much coffee with cream and sugar has been poured out in parking lots? I do.

If you are looking for a a Super Bowl team to root for, consider the Bill O'Reilly segment "Patriots and Pinheads". Go Pats!

I think this new TV show "Smash" could be a winner.

Donald Trump is an odd duck.

Warren Buffet threw a meaningless monkey wrench into the electoral process with his seemingly naive tax differential comments. And, you know he's smart enough to know the difference between his tax payments and his secretary's. And how much in taxes he paid on his original money. Yet we keep on getting badgered with references to the "Buffett Rule". How unctuous is that.

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:
--Dan Radcliff effectively moves away from his Harry Potter identity and is very could in this scary movie about strange deaths in a little coastal town in Edwardian England. Radcliff plays a mournig young husband who becasue of his loss is also in jeopardy at his law firm. He is given one more chance to save his carreer and it brings him to this town where all are hiding a terrible secret. He moves into the manison of the towns wealthiest man whee the ghost of the woman in black roams. It's petty good.
--A SciFy thriller follows three high school students with uncanny powers beyond their understanding. As they learn more about them and how to control the Kinetic mind) powers they must also learn to face the reality of an adult world to keep their own from spinning out of control. I'd probably go.

Almost Near: Chapter 60. --"Hi Audrey, this is Samantha Wilcox, again. Any word about Tucker?"
"Not a peep, but then I had the feeling he was near you. That seems to be his pattern lately. Maybe we should be talking more, but honestly..."
"Honestly, you probably think I'm nuts. And maybe I am. But, I feel that more and more things are making sense to me. And then," Samantha paused, "there's the darkness".
Andrey sensed the eerie quiet. "I've learned a lot about you Samantha. Maybe a lot that you don't even know yourself. It must be difficult knowing that so much has happened around you and not really knowing what it has been. I think Tucker, he was Tommy then, has loved you since he was 12 years old.
"Yes, I think I have learned some of that these past several weeks. I don't feel anything deeply about that past, but at least I know it was, and has been an important part of why I am what I am. Whatever that is?" Samantha laughed.
Audrey was laughing when she broke in. "I think I'd like you Samantha..."
''Call me Sam."
"Ok...Sam! You must have some kinda indomitable spirit to have lived through your years with that Quimpierre family." Audrey heard an intake of breath.

The Answer: 
The 758 possible failures projected for the next two years is double those that have failed over the past three years! The slow recovery has tested the staying power of these banks to the breaking point. The fact that the Fed is assuming very slow growth through 2014 makes this dire situation real the worst states are Florida (72), Illinois (69), Geiorgia (66), Minnesota (37), Missouri (33) and Tennessee (31). The only states with no banks at risk are Alaska, Hawaii, new Hampshire and South Dakota. Rhode Island has one. I wonder who it is?

There are wars, births, and an inconceivable amount of varied interactions at any given moment being carried out among the billions of citizens on this Earth, and yet only one thing really matters. We will abide the world around us for the next two days until life begins again at 6:40, February 5 in the year of a our Lord 1012. To say that I'm not a quivering mass of raw nerves is to say that 0-Man is bowing out, conceding that Mitt is the only person who can turn around the country.

Go Pats! May the Tids be a happy Monday morning column.

Don't Eat the Yellow Snow.

Today's Tids Issue 2,515
Opening Stuff:

"Wallow!:. To billow forth. 2. To devote oneself entirely; to take unrestrained pleasure. 3. To luxuriate. 4. To indulge oneself immoderately. 5. To roll oneself in a lazy, relaxed, or ungainly manner (Patriots fans wallowing in the soft fluffy exuberance of an incomprehensible conclusion). Yes, my friends, wallowing is a lost art. We need more wallowing in this world; more unadulterated exultation over simple accomplishments. Less gloating and more altruistic self-indulgence. Some people just click off the game at the end and walk away. But others know that the game isn't over til the wallowing ends. That wallowing is the game.

In essence, the grand battles within the USA have generally boiled down to Iceberg Lettuce versus Arugula. It's good for the general heath of the country that Iceberg Lettuce is making a comeback

I think Gina Raimondo is on her way to the top. Spell Check recognizes her name now. That's huge!

What this country needs is a three party system -- Conservative, Liberal, Rational. For instance a rational party would endorse the Canada pipe line while investing in green alternative technology for the future -- like every good strategic planner would do. Or, that there is practical breathing room within the concept of Separation of Church and State. In other words, a common sense party, one which would necessarily include both Democrats and Republicans. But of course it would never work because someone would always say, "I'm more rational than you are."

The Question:
Whatever happened to Gena Davis. Name five her best movies.
 
The Headlines:
--New England Patriots To Face NY Giants In Super Bowl.
--Aircraft Carrier USS Lincoln Maneuvers Through Strait Of Hormuz Into Gulf Of Persia.
--"0" Admin Sneaks Out ObamaCare Ruling That Abridges Rights Of Religious Organization To Resist Abortion Demands Under Provisions Of Massive Government Program; Religious Orgs Who Drop ObamaCare Because of Abortion Requirements Will be Subject To Fines Up To One Half A Million Dollars.
--Romney Tells Fla Crowd, "Gingrich Failed Leader Who Resigned In Disgrace"; Newt Says He Will Release Freddie Mac Records; Newt Attacks "0" As Anti Religion.
--Russia To Deliver Combat Jets To Syria.
--EU To Ban Iran Oil Imports.
--After Hot week, Wall Street Opens Flat.
--US Companies Predicting Growth, But Few Additional Jobs.
 
Joe Paterno was one of the great football coaches of all time. He wasn't God. He wasn't a poet. He wasn't social worker. He was a human being who happened to be good at coaching football. And, he did it very, very well for a long time. He gave a lot to millions people who get a lot out of football. And they thank him for it.

Did you hear about the boss who told his employee to start acting his wage?

“The fact that we are here today to debate raising America's debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the US Government cannot pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government's reckless fiscal policies. Increasing America 's debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that, "the buck stops here.' Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better.” ~ Senator Barack H. Obama, March 2006

The next time Stephen Colbert says something that's really funny it will be the first time. He is the king of bombast; grandiloquent rhetoric. He pretty much summed up his talent as -- longevity! Saying that if you get a TV gig and stay at it long enough people will tend to take you seriously and laugh at anything you say. It's a lot like going to a comedy movie where a 4 year old says s_ _ _! -- and the audience goes berserk with laughter, rolling in the aisles, sticking to chewing gum. It's the American way.

Say, did you hear what they are saying about the local diner's new breakfast menu? "It's eggciting!"

The biggest deception statistic: The highest economic growth rates are in countries out side Europe and North America. Well Duh! It's like Clinton was fond of saying, "Arkansas education has shown the most improvement in the nation." When you start at "0", as in Z-e-r-o, growth is always supercharged. Politicians and espousers of agendas should not be allowed to used statistics with the general public unless they explain the true meaning of them.

I have to chuckle at the headline concerning the aftermath of a decision about removing a prayer from a school: "Public unleashes vitriol against girl who takes a stand." This is the same public who was happily going about it's business comfortably with a so-called prayer on a school wall since 1959. Then one day a selfish young lady decides it offends her, and uncaring about the 500 in her class, grandstands before her misguided constituency for her singular benefit. It is exactly why everybody will never be able to get together. She would not be a memebr of the "Rational" party.

This morning cartoonist Wiley describe the Chinese Year of the Dragon as meaning a year of presidential politics will seem to drag on longer than usual.

There was lot of press last week about two woman partners with three kids telling the world proudly that they just revealed the gender of their 5 year old son. The piece was generated by the "Raising kids gender neutral" crowd, meaning somehow that it is good for kids to not know what they are. Really? These people would not be memebrs of the "Rational" Party. (See above).

Aren't we lucky that Christopher Columbus didn't come over on the Costa Cordova.

Laura Ingraham characterizes the Gingrich/Romney race as the High School fat kid embarrassing the good looking football team quarterback. She implies that there is nothing wrong with being the good looking smart kid who gets things done.

I have always felt that for the benefit of being able to operate their businesses in a free enterprise system, companies have a responsibility to the people of this nation who allow that favorable condition to exist.

The Answer:
My very favorite Gina Davis movie was "Long Kiss Goodnight". But this Mensa member, former Olympic level archer starred many more including her Oscar winning performance in Accidental Tourist. Others were Thelma and Louise, Stuart Little, The Fly, Beetlejuice and A league of their Own. Gina grew up down the road from here in Wareham Massachusetts. She was a bright kid who loved music and as a teen was the organist for her local Congregational Church

Yes folks, we are in the yellow snow season. And by that I'm talking about political campaigns and abnormal rhetoric that may appear compelling and inviting, but not necessarily good for your health.

Pass the Tums please.

Today's Tids Issue 2,276
Opening Stuff:

I have two knots in my stomach this morning. The first of course is because of the weekend game between the beloveds' and the NY Jets. The reason it is so stomach churning is because I cannot think of anything worse than losing a game to the dastardly Jets. Since they first appeared on the radar with their playboy QB I have had this queasy feeling in my gut. But that's me. The Jets are good and probably very mad about the December thrashing. I'll be pacing a lot the next two days.

The second Tums' moment revolves around the latest action by Chafee-Lite (The union owned RI Gov.). You know the "Trust Chafee" administration. Last week, he banned his admin from appearing on talk radio saying it was early in the term and they couldn't afford to spend the time. So, yesterday we learn that this is the second big lie from the Honest Llinc. He came out urging advertisers to boycott talk radio shows to drive them off the air. Now he may be doing this because he is weak and jellied at the kneecaps. But more than likely it is his Union Pals who would like nothing better than to have the radio talkers stop telling the folks the truth about the way they are being robbed blind. This is a sad moment. God help us.

One of our more astute readers reminds us that the most effective "Mending" speech of all time took but 2 minutes to deliver. It was Lincolns Address at Gettysburg.

The Question:
I always enjoyed Faye Dunaway. Name five of her best movies.

The Headlines:

--New Mideast Concerns After Lebanon Gov. Collapses; US Supported Israel Surrounded By Iran and Iran Controlled Syria, Lebanon And Hamas.
--Above Expectations Earnings Reports For JP Morgan And Intel Fail To Nudge Market; Analysts Say Good Earnings Already Built Into Stock Prices.
--1 Million Americans Expected To Lose Homes In 2011.
--House Set To Vote On Health Care Repeal.
--Italy Premiere Berlusconi In New Prostitution Proble; This Time he Is A ccused With Cover Up Of Encounter With 16 Year Old Prostitute.
--Gas Costs Push Up Consumer Price Index.
--Pope John Paul II to Beatified In May.

Back to More Stuff:
0-man Is at his highest point in the polls, 50%, since late May. But, the same ABCnews/Yahoo Poll said the path to a 2012 return to the White House is not all that rosy. The poll reveals that the economy will still be the 600 pound gorilla in the forthcoming elections. And the poll says that only 47% of Americans say they are optimistic about the future of the US economy. In April 2009, the height of the super recession, 55% said they were optimistic. It is a strange global world out there. This makes it much more difficult to predict based on traditional measures. My sense is that the economy by November of 2012 will become palatable enough to allow the Messiah to keep on preaching. Sorry repubs, but that 's the way I see it today.

And of course, the results will also be shaped by how well the new Congress lives up to their promises.

While we're on 2012, I just have to believe that the Dems and their left side in particular are really concerned with Sarah Palin. Their venom against her just isn't human even for a liberal. Maybe it isn't her, but what she says that they want to squash. She enlivens a huge majority of thinking Americans. And they are not all on the right or in the GOP party.

Here is a tasty chicken recipe that has my mouth watering before I write it. First the sauce. In a saucepan melt one tsp butt and add 2 tsps flour and whick into roux. Now add 1/2 cp white wine, 1 cp chic broth and juice of one lemon. Cook til thick and then add 2 oz garlic butter (Butter, garlic, parsley).
In a bowl mix with 4 eggs 1 oz romano, pinch - pep, salt, granualted garlic - and 1/2 tsp pars. Drench 8 boneless chix breasts in flour and place in 1 cup veg oil in fry pan. Cook 2 1/2 mins/side. Drain oil. Spread thin layer pesto atop each breast, then top with sliced plum tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. Bake at 350 til cheese melts. Top with sauce. Sounds reasonable.

Some thought that 0-Man, who was the model of solemnity Wednesday night, probably should have looked up when the hootin' and hollarin' began, raised his hand and said simply..."Please."

More people should look back as their life's accomplishments the friends they made and loved along the way.

I used to be a nice guy before I became a Tid's writer.

Almost near: Chapter 2. Samantha literally jumped out of bed as the morning sun bounced off the cove and into her room at the Inn. She quickly moved to the window to watch the early activity on the docks. It hadn't changed at all. Clam boats puttering out for a hard day's raking. Lobster men roaming the docks picking up their bait from the fisherman already returning from four o'clock bait-fish runs. She couldn't believe how great the scene made her feel. Now at 6 in the morning she was anxious to get going. She looked around her cozy antique filled room, picked few things out of her open suitcase on the golden colored ladder-back chair and went into the bathroom.
25 minutes later she was showered and dressed comfortably in jeans and a plaid shirt. She threw a navy blue cable knit sweater around her shoulders as she literally bounced down the well warn 1753 stairs. Jimmy was already busy at the front desk. "Hi Jim" she yelled wth exclamation point enthusiasm, And she started towards the door to her destination, Lillies Cafe, nestled dockside.
"Oh, Mr's Jergins!" Jimmy was waving and smiling as she turned towards him. "I talked to my dad last night, but he said your name didn't ring a bell." Before Samantha could react he continued. "I said he should try to remember, or else he is going to make a really pretty woman mad." Samantha stopped and appeared a little concerned even though she smiled back at Jimmy. "Well, dad laughed, and said maybe he'll work extra hard remembering."

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:
--Beware of movies released in January with star studded casts. If they were any good, they would have made it out during the big important Christmas season.--
--One of those is The Dilemma with a so-called A-1 cast that includes Vince Vaughn, Kevin James, Jennifer Connelly, Winona Ryder plus Star director Ron Howard. People will go to see a comedy but find they are watching "B" drama. James and Vaughn are biz partners who a long with their good wives are on their way to big successes. that is til Vaughn sees James' Wife (Ryder) out with another man. Everything crumbles around them as Vaughn wrestles with telling James about his wayward wife. it will probably be the box office smash for the week despite all of its inadequacies.
--More dissappointing is the old 40's Radio and Comic book fave The Green Hornet. Wealth son of dominant father, Britt Ried, sets out with dad's trusty aide Kato to stop crime. the develop the ultimate weapon, acar named Black Beauty, and enter the world of crime only to meet up with master criminal Benjamin Chudnofsky. Unfortunately the action and plot falls flat. This too will probably do well if anybody under 50 remembers the Green Hornet.

The Answer:
Faye Dunaway made over 50 movies starting in the 70's. She rose to enomous height as Bonnie in Bonnie and Clyde. I particualrly remember hher for some reson for her roll in Coutry Girl. But the experts will tell you that she was greatest in Chinatown Greatest all-time mystery), Network (Oscar),Three days of the Condor and the Champ. She was also in Thomas Crown Affair, The Arrangement, Eyes of Laura Mars and Mommy Dearest. I'm sure you have your favorites.

The End?
Feel the wobble? Sense your life careening out of control? Well you might if you believed in the power of astrological signs. Apparently an unstable earth's axis is negating the two thousand year old astrological charts. This basically means more work for Astrologers and little else. There are now 13 signs instead of twelve with the newest being Ophiuchus representing the period between Nov 29 and Dec 17. It also means that I am not a happy and carefree Gemini any more So maybe it's my sign that is making me angry and not writing the Tids. Isn't anything sacred any more? Go to http://www.csmonitor.com/science and see how you have been shuffled around while not looking.