Don’t be Rhode Island.

Today's Tids Issue 2,219
Opening Stuff:

The Tids can be excruciatingly vocal, Or humble as a country yokel, But carefully picks the right focal, that all politics are local.

In Rhode Island, the latest poll has Indy Chafee leaping ahead of Dem Caprio (Chafee 37%, Caprio 28%, ® Roubitaille (25%), and Laughlin edging past Cicilini for the old Patches’ seat. These are fun races, but the real races that can effect real change in this beleaguered state (Beset by over 70 years of debilitating Dem/Union rule) is to replace all of the existing General Assembly reps and senators with anything else available. If the voters continue to put up with what they had, they can expect to flounder. Maybe we should replace the state animal Quahog with the Flounder. It seems to work.

Have you ever noticed that the TV commercials for the bigger chain restaurants like Applebees, Outback or Olive Garden never show tempting visuals featuring piles of vegetables? I wonder why? Because nobody would go there!

The problem in America is that media abetted politics focuses so heavily on the little accusations and personal idiosyncrasies, that it effectively clouds the potential for a broad base of the electorate understanding real problems and interpreting the good solutions. Some may call it good politics. I call it a disservice to the taxpayer.

One of the more inane political commercials and symptomatic of the above is one where RI Gubernatorial candidate Caprio pats himself on the back for refusing his official state car when he was first elected Treasurer. The cost of a car is meaningless in a state that is floundering into bankruptcy, With one of the highest unemployment percentages in the US of A. Where a “Greece-Like” general assembly bows down to economy busting special interests.

Is there a more arrogant appearing person than Yoko Ono? Oh yeah…him too.

How could I have done it! In providing the answer to Friday’s Q on popular TV families I forgot to suggest as left out of TV guide’s list one of my all time favorites…The Nelsons – Ozzie, Harriet, David and Ricky. And by all time favorite I mean Radio before TV! Thanks to my favorite Cleveland Punster for that one. And another Ohioan suggested Bonanza’s Cartwright’s, with Hop Sing standing in for Mom. And in today’s culture, Hop Sing for Mom is not so far fetched!

The Question:
Here are four quick Questions: 1. What does the “57” in Heinz 57 stand for? 2. What words do the letters ZIP in Zip code represent? 3. At any given moment, what percentage of the world’s population is drunk? 4. How many people throughout the world are have a birthday on the same days as you?

The Headlines:

--US Economy Still Expected To Grow In 2011; Economists Lower Expectations Of Pace of recovery.
--New AP/GfK Poll Says 1/3 Of Electorate Still May Switch Candidates; “Fed Up With Democrats “ Is Still Most Impactful Issue; Gay Voters Say They Are Angry With Dems..
--New Air Force Manual Warns Of Swift And Devastating Cyber-Attacks.
--RNC Steele’s “Fire Pelosi Bus Arrives This Morn In RI Just Ahead Of Scott Brown And 0-Man; Prez Not expected To Endorse Dem Caprio During Visit.
--Work Begins On 600 New Homes In West bank.
--Iran Restricts Social Services As “Too Western”.
--Afghans In Helmand Province Said To be Very Angry At Alleged US Bombing Of Mosque That Killed 25.
--Bedbugs Have Potential Tourists cancelling NYC Visit.

Back to More Stuff:
Last week was a bad one for talk radio. And you couldn’t even get away from repetitious politics by going to sports. The sports were pretty much 24/7 on head to head tackling. And the political was all about Juan Williams firing. It just goes on and on. This illustrates a problem with talk radio in general. Each new host/commentator really believes they have a brand new take on something. And there just isn’t any more to a 15 minute story.

I see where the 10 top woman icons who would inspire fashion are Cher, Diane Keaton, Anna Wintaur, Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Jackie Kennedy, Princess Di, Madonna, Sarah Jessica Parker and now, Lady Gaga. God help us all.

Reading too many Scripts Department:
Have you been following the saga of Randy and Eva Quaid? -- You know Randy, the lesser of the Quaids. Well it just got weirder. The twosome have been sought for several instances of serious trespassing and illegal squatting. They tried to escape to Canada and were nabbed on several warrants. They asked for protective asylum out of “fear for their lives”! Or as stated so eloquently by Eva: “Don’t force us to return. Our lives are in danger. Eight friends including David Carradine and Heath Ledger have been murdered under mysterious circumstances…”. I didn’t make this up. Keep them in Canada so they can’t vote for Democrats.

The headlines the past two days have been full of an hysterical warning of the extinction of tigers. So, I’m thinking, how would that affect me or the rest of the world. Well for sure, bunny rabbits and other cute little furry things would be happier. Princeton would need a new mascot. Siegfried and Roy would be out of work.

10 eastern ski areas were ranked among the top 50 in the world. #1 in the Eastern list was Mt. Tremblant – Quebec. The rest were Whiteface – NY, Stowe – VTY, Okemo – VT, Stratton – VT, Sugarloaf – ME, Sugarloaf – VT, Sunday River – ME, Smugglers Notch – VT and Loon – NH. Sunday River had lots of snow Thursday Morning and was the first in the nation this year to open for good skiing. Gentlemen, Ladies – Start your Shushing!

I remember when Okemo was considered a nice little Mountain laboring under the gigantic shadow of the very popular neighbor Mount Snow.

Who says Obama isn’t creating jobs. Why, right now as I speak, the biggest industry in Rhode Island is the preparation of the dinner for the 0-Man fund raiser at the East Side Providence residence of the Chace’s’. (The Chaces, BTW, are the family who owned Berkshire-Hathaway and sold it to you know who.) The $7,500 a plate affair easily tops the GOP $500/plate luncheon featuring Scott Brown earlier in the day. And the party of the rich is what?

The DOW just finished a third in a row “Up” week. But, it doesn’t seem to know where it is going. There is just a ton of money and enough fund managers looking for bonuses to keep it moving. But economic basics aren’t supporting a boom. Are we in for a January thaw?

Maybe the President “Not Endorsing” him is all Caprio needs to push him over the top. Scuttlebutt around the state is saying that several well known and respected Dems are not voting for Caprio.

The Answer:
1. The “57” stands for the 57 varieties of pickles the company used to offer. 2. ZIP stands for Zoning Improvement Plan which doesn’t seem to have anything to do with mail delivery. 3. At any given moment in the world, 0.7% of the people are drunk. 4. 9,000,000 others (+ -) share the same birthday as you.

The End:
By the way…Wooly mammouths have been extinct for 10,000 years. Has anybody noticed?

Thanks all of you from cities and towns afar for putting up with my Rhode Island observations today. But, just remember that the lunacy that prevails here could overtake your state too if you don’t vote smart.

In the liberal east, those who are close to moderate are considered extreme rightists. In the Midwest and Southwest those who merely conservative are considered socialists.

Simple pleasure in the air.

Today's Tids Issue 2,180
Opening Stuff

The breezes are strong off the harbor. Sailors are busy readying their craft for journeys across combative waters. Waves lap at pilings as people on piers contemplate the soothing aura of the watery haven. And they shiver in the comforting air. As beautiful thoughts waken their minds.

Amoral people can always appear incredibly honest without batting an eye. Even if they are caught with a bloody axe in their hand; or on tape accepting a political bribe; Or accepting a Nobel prize for work on Global Warming.

Conspiracy Theory of the Week Department:
James Carville at his most devious is secretly the force behind “Birthers”. It is all part of his plan to discredit the President and enable his Democrat, Hillary, to be the party’s candidate in 2012. You read it first in the Tids.

The Question:
This is a question that is near and dear to my irresponsible heart. Name 10 typos that your computer spell check won’t catch.

The Headlines:
--North Korea Threatens US Over Military Exercises.
--Prez To Sign Bill That Allow Gov. To recover “Wasteful” Spending Payments.
--Archeologists Discover Second “Henge” Style Structure Near Stonehenge; Like The Original, They Have No Clue As To What It Means Or Why It Is there.
--Major teacher’s Union Supports Chaffee For RI Governor.
--Ebey, Qualcom Among New Very Positive Earnings Reports Boosting Stock Futures This Morn; 3M, AT&T and Cat Also Very Strong.
--Former Federal Reserve Board Member Lawrence Lindsey Predicts US Entering “Deflationary Trap” By End Of Year.

Back to More Stuff:
Did you happen to see that series of photos showing a 40 ton whale breaching and then slamming across the bow of a fairly large sailboat off South Africa? The boat was destroyed and the big mammal swam happily away with but a few nicks. Kind of makes you want to re-evaluate your feelings about Captain Ahab.

If I could afford to collect art, I’d concentrate of great sailing ships and deep blues seas.

China seems to be intent in not letting the USA lead the way on anything this century. The giant country now has its own oil spill covering 165 square miles in the Yellow Sea …and growing. Everything is about competition.

How come living in a modern world has become mostly about spending money? It’s probably because economies can only grow if populations buy lots of stuff they don’t need. It’s Goldman-Sach’s fault.

If you’re wondering about the recovery, Citi-group economists have just lowered the annual US GDP growth rate estimate from 3.4 to 2.6. In other words be conservative.

Politicians probably think that amorality is a gift from God.

A discovery yesterday in the shifting sands of South County RI of the hull of an old wooden sailing ships brings me back to my youth in the forties, walking the outer sand spits off Chatham where timbers of olden ships abound. When standing upon them it always brought thoughts of whales breaching or British gunships shooting. Ah the unfettered imagination of youth at a time when all of the video games were in the mind.

If an alien from outer space were to arrive and examine the balance sheets of America, they would see an emerging third world country, and decide to invest in Indonesia.

Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 84. –As soon as Kent left the room, Isabelle swiveled around in her big leather chair to face the rear credenza; picked up her phone and dialed
“Jason Cotter here,” came the reply as Isabelle tightened the phone against her ear as if to ward off eavesdroppers. “So what can I do for the Goddess of Genetics.” He laughed. Isabelle never liked Cotter, but he headed the best security firm in the state. And one that was perfect for her complicated business mission.
“Bring me up to date on the wanderings of Sarah and the status of Laura.”
“Doesn’t your boy Kent tell you anything?”
Isabelle didn’t play the game and just answered, “I like to hear it from you”. Isabelle always wanted first hand information. She always though there were far too many filterers in this world.
“Well, I just hung up from a call from my man tailing the Durham woman. She left your building and went immediately to the Sheriff’s office.”
Isabelle jumped in. “We may have to neutralize her. What is the status of the Laura problem?”
“The girl/woman Laura is an interesting package. I don’t think she has an ethical bone in her body. Completely amoral. Like a politician who can be bought and sold.”
“So, is she a problem of not,” interrupted Isabelle.
“First, she seems to be living with Kent Middleton.”
“That bastard” interjected Isabelle. And then silence.
“I believe after talking to her personally that she is the main source of new information for the police, and perhaps the FBI investigators. I think she can be easily bought and serve a better purpose being a disseminator for our purposes. And it would be a much better strategy than trying to explain her disappearance.”
“”Go on,” interjected Isabelle.
“Frankly, I think she would totally love being paid to play games with the authorities. And she could pull it off,” added the sleazy Cotter.

The Rhode Island race for Governor certainly didn’t end when Lynch gave the Dem nod to foe Caprio. Indy Chafee is mighty formidable with his name recognition, moderate bent and non-threatening political past. Let’s face it, despite his protestations Caprio is still a product of the despicable RI State Legislature. RI voters have proven in the past that they don’t like an all Democrat leadership. While they often insist on reelecting their own rascals they ease their conscience by voting for a second party Governor. And, I haven’t even mentioned two decent Republican candidates Robitaille and Moffitt and a Moderate Party candidate Block who could be the beneficiary of Chafee and Caprio neutralizing each other. As I said the race is just beginning.

A picture of Blagojevich sitting quietly in a courtroom is the portrait of amorality.

The Answer: Most common are apostrophe words – Its vs. it’s, your vs. you’re. For business people it’s sails versus sales (Implies sales are down because your mind is on sails.). How about effect vs. affect. And then there’s properly “would have” vs. the not so good “would of”. And through and threw. Finally we have “Then vs. Than”, Supposed to NOT suppose to, Wonder vs. wander, Their vs. there vs. they’re and farther versus further. FYI – Farther is typically a physical distance while further is a metaphorical distance. What this all means is that you actually have to know something when writing and you have re-check it all yourself. Aw shucks.

The End:
Fortunately there are many more people in this world of ours who proudly wear their hearts on their sleeve. For all of the loving, caring people to see.