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Today's Tids Issue # 2,328

Opening Stuff:

One of the the great treats during this time of year is that you can always catch a good "Messiah" somewhere.

It's nice that a golf tournament is on TV opposite the NCAA playoffs. When my heart gets beating out of control, I can turn to the golf to slow it down. Better than blood pressure medicine.

One of my pet concerns in our increasingly messy world is the decline of newspapers, a most comfortable way to be informed. Alas, I think it is essentially doomed. Consider that even though people's time spent with news is at an all-time high, allegiance to traditional sources is tumbling fast. And believe it, that includes relative newcomer Cable TV News which has had the biggest audience tumble of all. From the Pew analysis of 2009-2010 (The very latest data), the on-line news went up 17.1%. All of the rest fell -- Local TV (-1.5%), Network TV (-3.4), Newspapers (-5), Audio (-6), Magazines (-8.9) and Cable TV (-13.7%)! Surprised? The crunch for newspapers though is on the ad revenue side. Local TV went up 17% followed by Online (13.9), Cable TV (8.4), Network TV (6.6), audio (6) and Magazines 1.4). Only newspapers went down and that was a fairly high 6.3%. That is the death knell. Hear the bell ring.

I could write an entire Tids on this, but I know you'd rather see a good, bad pun. "During the Invasion of Sicily during WWII General Patton was preparing to take the city of Palermo. His meteorologists told him his selected day would be incredibly rainy. He immediately ordered that the N.Y. Times be brought in and placed under tailgates of the transports bringing in the men to keep feet dry. His staff was mystified why the Times over the Daily News. But they brought in 5 tons of the paper as requested. It was then that Patton issued his famous quote: "These are the 'times' that dry men's soles."

Are my "Beloveds" in danger of becoming the "Despicables"? Maybe, if others think about the Red Sox like Baltimore manager Buck Showwalter. "I'd like to see how smart Theo Epstein is with the Tampa Bay payroll." He went on, "...That's why I like whipping their butt. It's great, knowing those guys with a $205 Million payroll are saying, 'How are they beating us?'." Do others in the AL feel the same? Will the Sox be in the cross-hairs of the other managers too?" Sorry Gabby.

Let's hear it for Red Sox Japanese pitcher Diasuke (DiceK) Matsuzaka who just donated $1,000,000 to the Japan relief fund.

The Question:
Name the ten colleges with the highest endowments. Which university endowment portfolio made the biggest gain in 2010?

The Headlines:

--Market Futures Up On Strong Showings Last Week; Could Be Tempered By Japan, Libya Issues.
--Libyan Rebs Close In On Daffy Stronghold.
--Blasts Rock Yemen Faactory Overtaken By Militants.
--Budget Battle Heats Up As Congress returns.
--Radiation In Japan Seawater May be Spreading.
--No Cola For SS Predicted Again For 2011.
--Pediatricians Worried That FaceBook May be Adding To Kids Low Self Esteem, Depression.

Back to More Stuff:
The more the dangerous debt problem of the US is politicized, the less the people will take it seriously. And the more they will resist solving it. Of course the politicization takes place on all ends of the debate. The arts groups who depend on grants and the manufcaturing industries who depend on defense contracts and other big government stimualtion. The "Aha Moment" came when WWII defeated the great depression.Tthe rallying cry thereafter for recessions was "All we need is a good war." Now we have social wars, cultural wars, financial wars and of course old fashioned bloody wars all demanding an influx of government (Read that taxpayer) cash. So basically the answer to the Debt/Deficit problem is peace!. Understanding among all factions that we just can't create economies any more, because there is no economy left. That if you have something to sell, whether a product or personal knowledge, you are going to have to to do it yourself. And the society at large will recognize its needs.

The ten most important words in the English language are "If it is to be, it is up to me." How simple is that?

Out in the middle of the almost Everglades country are a couple of small towns about 25 miles east of the well-to-do Naples Florida. One is makeshift and the home of seminole indians and migrant workers. The other is a Catholic town with a university, spiffy Main Street, Academy and neat neighborhoods just built by Domino Pizza billionaire Tom Monahan. One skyline is dominated by a giant casino. The other by huge cathedral like church. A tale of two Americas in the middle of nowhere.

It didn't take long for my brackets to crumble like "Galloping Gertie". After Friday I had but Kansas, Florida and UConn left in the eight. But I was long gone well before that. And this morning after yesterday I have but UConn of my original Florida, Ohio State, Notre Dame and UConn. Hope you all did better.

I was out at the paper machine yesterday morn getting my Sunday paper only to find a moderately attractive blond putting in quarters. She looked up as I approached and said, "Would you like a freebie?" I stood silent for a moment. "Oh...you mean paper? I would never do that. You know the paper's are on their last legs..." I started my harangue on the plight of the news papers. She rolled her eyes, took her paper and left as fast as she could. I guess that's too deep for the morn.

Almost Near: Chapter 13 continues. --Tucker plunked the bag on Audrey's desk which startled her out of her editing process. She was ready to blast the intruder, but smiled when she saw Tucker standing there with a stupid grin on his face. "Oh, hi!" She got up and stole a chair from her neighbor and pulled over to Tucker.
"You look industrious this morning," he started. "Hope I didn't break into a key train of thought." She made a motion to minimize the seriousness of her activity. "So what do you have."
"Show me what's in the bag and I'll tell you whether it's worth the information I have." She laughed. "Tell me about why you are here asking about this case?"
"I think I met Mrs. Quimpierre up in new England where I live. It's a long story. Let's eat." Audrey was opening the sandwich. She looked at and smiled telling him it was her favorite because had no veggies.
Tucker detailed in short form the story of Samantha, from his teens to present. Audrey watched him intently. "So this is a mission of intense love," She said looking at him in the eyes. Tucker reddened. He didn't know what to feel before this attractive, intelligent woman. "I like an incurable romantic who will go to the ends of the earth for the woman of his hopes and dreams." She said smiling warmly. Tucker relaxed.

You have to believe that people on our Western and Northwestern coasts are thinking about the possibility of tsunamis. That unyielding wave traveling at jet speed is one ugly, terrifying beast.

With all of the world news dominating, the unemployment reports are sneaking through without much comment. The worst four states are Nevada (13.6%), Cal (12.2), Florida (11.5) and Little Ole' RI (11.2). And RI isn't going to get better until they decide to get smarter about business. I just heard of yet another small RI owned company (one that had just built a brand new factory about a couple of years ago and started hiring for well paying jobs) is packing up to move to Massachusetts. The reason: You guessed it. A tax advantage and economic package too good to resist.

I think those flat brimmed, high crown hats on golfer's look a little too foppish for an athlete. In fact, Ricky Fowler looks like a Broadway chorus groupie. And to those who say, "It is the modern way to look", I say Nehru Jackets!

The Answer:
Harvard is a small country with a $27 Billion endowment followed by Yale at $16 Bil. The three other double digit endowments belong to Princeton, Texas and Stanford. The rest are MIT, Michigan, Columbia and Northwestern. The Texas endowment had the highest percentage growth during the past year.

The End:
In case you weren't aware, Galloping Gertie was the infamous Tacoma Narrows Bridge that failed due to aeroelastic flutter, a resonance caused by a 42mph wind that cause the suspension bridge to start dancing until it pulled it self apart and fell into the Puget Sound. The films of the collapse have been used in every civill engineering school and the study of that collapse in 1940 led to batter structures today. At the time it was the 3rd longest suspension bridge after the Golden Gate and the George Washington Bridge.

You can get the entire State of the News story at: http://stateofthemedia.org/2011/overview-2/key-findings/

The Government of Syria is killing its protesting citizens. Why isn't the UN moving there?

Anybody who picked all #1 seeds in this new era of super star early departure just doesn't get it. Hey...wait a minute...the Prez picked all number ones!

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!

Good stocks in small coves.

Today's Tids Issue 2,088
Opening Stuff:

The stock markets are sluggish right now and may continue that way for a while. Most of the 70% stock price gain has merely corrected an over reaction 35% drain a year and a half ago. The market is still short of highs by 400 points!. And the news that in Feb investors were pulling out of stock mutual’s in favor of the bond variety indicates slower going for the stock markets. There will probably be little general rising on incoming tides as was the case in recent history. If you want stocks to work for you, you will have to do the work picking winners and losers based on sound financial data as opposed to whimsical news. If I was rich, these words would be more meaningful. But it’s the way I see it.

Last night I had a big decision to make: Fill out my Census report, or do my NCAA Bracketeering. I chose the brackets. This March annual is creeping right up there with mom, Chevrolet and apple pie. And I figure, from what I’ve been seeing in the Government census commercials, that the census has just become the basis for the justifying the picking of citizen’s pockets.

The Question:
Name five Broadway musicals that were based on classic literature.

Today’s Headlines:
--US Investors In February Pull $3.7 Billion From Stock Based Mutual Funds; $19 Billion Poured Into Bond Based Funds.
--Pelosi Considering Passing Health Care Without A Vote; Speaker Would Use Lawmaker’s Ploys Called “Self Executing Bill” Or “Deem And Pass”; Procedural Slight Of Hand Has House Members Voting On Small Package Of Fixes To Senate Bill And Then Deeming Entire $849 Billion Monster Passed; Procedure Designed To Protect Dems At Voting Time.
--Housing Construction Fell 5.9% In February.
--Israel States That It Has No Intention Of Stopping West bank Construction; US Envoys Cancel Meetings.
--FCC Presents Plan That Would Greatly Expand Broadband.
--Archeologists In Egypt Unearth Massive 3,400 Year Old Statues.

Back to More Stuff:

The rioters in Greece are visible proof that economies based on out of control debt will expire over time. The state workers are rioting to preserve income and benefits that they should lose and which would never would have been available if achieved under realistic economic standards. Its like generations today in America expect everything because they were given everything through debt accumulation. Debt masks reality. Even in this US economy, the greatest in history some say, its current levels would never have been achievable if people didn’t go deeply into debt spending way more than they could afford. And it appears that the only way back to old levels is to encourage reckless behavior again.

Did you hear about the immigrant from Warsaw who was concerned that his new American wife was going to poison him to death when he found a bottle in the medicine chest labeled Polish Remover.

The story line read “(Dakota) Fanning is trying to shed her good girl image with ‘The Runaways’…” What’s wrong with a “good girl” image? Does this mean she will be found dead in a seedy motel room in five years? Seems to be the trend. Maybe like Lindsay, she can get a couple of states to pay her royalties for the use of the name. I wish her the best on her move to the dark side, but I have to wonder why?

Cars that are “hard to keep on the lot” probably have defective brakes.

You know that old phrase, “Kids don’t have the sense to come in out of the rain.”? They still don’t.

The Novel:
Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 60 continues. –“Sarah, great to see you. And wonderful to see you walking so spryly!” Isabelle was all aglow about my recovery. It’s one of the reasons I liked her from the start – she is genuine in addition to being smart and aware.
“I’m not quite there yet,” I replied smilingly, “But being here with you is going to be my best medicine to date.” I pulled out a chair to the right of her desk and sat. I always sat to the right of clients when I their offices. “I expect Bill, Gloria and Jeff have been taking good care of their new favorite client?” Izzy smiled, but she could never be overwhelmed by flattery.
“They have been excellent. Our financial and accounting guys think highly of them. We are totally happy to be a part of your fine company family.” She couldn’t flatter me either. “But, that is ongoing and going well. I know you want to talk about our technology and the Bromsky affair. Maybe I should call Kent Middleton into the meeting.” My heart leapt a bit. But then, I actually remained cool. Hmmmm.
“No, I’d like to talk to you alone.” I’ve had a couple of weeks to think about this mess by myself. I’ve had all of the input I need form Kent. It is Izzy I need to hear from. I can’t have potential fallout from the scam jeopardizing our investment. I have a feeling that Kent loves the data that fell out of the heavens into his team’s lap. “What do…” I started, when I heard a soft rap on the door, “I heard you were in the building.” I turned and saw a smiling Kent. I smiled. My body stiffened.

Back to More Stuff Again:

Peter Graves entertained us in many ways, from Mission Impossible to comedic adventures like Airplane. But, what I liked what I just learned about this brother of Gunsmoke’’s James Arness was that when he died he was still married to his college sweetheart of 60 years, Joan Endress. See, Hollywood isn’t totally corruptive. I guess it depends on the hearts of the players.

And then there is Charlie Sheen who yesterday pleaded Not Guilty to domestic abuse. And I wouldn’t be surprised one bit if his confidence came from knowing that his mate wouldn’t talk knowing that if she did she’d have at least have two broken legs.

Back in the 80’s when the “brightest” were touting the new and exciting service economy, didn’t they realize that they were also the dooming the viability of the health care system.

American analysts and economists based in outposts like Hong Kong and Shanghai are seeing signs coming from the US admin of a potential trade war. And they are reporting distress about from officials inside China and other Asian countries. It isn’t a secret that Big Labor has been very upset at so little being delivered for their big $400 Million investment in the 0-Man election. Stay tuned on this one.

The Answer:
First to my mind was megahit My Fair Lady based on “Pygmalion”. Then there was West Side Story loosely based on “Romeo and Juliet” and Kiss Me Kate based on “The Taming of the Shrew”. Wicked is based on the book “Wizard of Oz”. Then there are the big hits with the same title as famous books. The hugest of these is Les Miserable’s. Also in that category is Oliver, Dracula and Little Women. Interestingly, Cats was based on a collection of poems by T.S. Elliot – “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats.”

The Small, Tidy Finale':

This is one of those great days when everybody just walks aimlessly around the town with their heads looking up at the sun.