Happy 100, Fenway.

Today's Tids Issue 2,576
Opening Stuff:

How many of you remember clearly, as I do, that day when your dad and you, hand in hand walked into the bowels of a major league baseball base ball park. The hustle. The bustle. Your youthful eyes taking it all in with amazement. A wonderland of cacophony. With the smells of hot dogs and popcorn aplenty. And then, you and your dad start to walk slowly up that ramp through a dank tunnel until the sky at the end gets brighter and brighter. Finally you reach the top and out there before you is the greenest green you have ever seen in your life. Surrounded by thousands of people, all eager and happily awaiting the first pitch. And you just stand there in awe and think "I am the luckiest person in the world." It happens every time.

You have to love the line from this morning's "Close to Home" comic; "New study reveals that reading studies may cause heart disease."

The scariest aspect of North Korea's test of a long range missile is that it was in all likelihood paid for by Iran, and Iran will be the beneficiary of the results. Iran can develop an A-Bomb but without a launch capability is is pretty useless. Iran and North Korea are Parallel countries.

The Question:

1. Name five German Concentration camps. Bonus: What unusual baseball feat did catcher Scott Hatteberg accomplish in Fenway park August 4 2001?

The Headlines:

--Giant 8.2 Quake Hits Indonesia; Small Tsunami Follows; Officials Still Assessing Deaths.
--NK Fueling Up Missiles For Test.
--US Files Lawsuit Against Apple On eBook Price fixing.
--Public Support For ObamaCare Drops To New Low -- 39%.
--Gingrich Utah Primary Check Bounces.
--Alcoa's Surprise Profit Report Fails To Ignite Wall Street.

Our state is aghast at the fact that the Governor's son was caught by police trying to buy beer in a liquor store. Like I wouldn't have done that when I was his age. In fact , me and my buds at 16 were always welcome in bars. Kids haven't changed that much. We just have more laws and regulations, so it's easier for kids to appear to be criminals.

This is interesting. Obama fund raising is falling far short of the that promised billion. The juggernaut has become the little engine that couldn't. Part of the reason is that some of the dough is being sent to SuperPacs. The other part of the shortfall is the lower rates of contributions from the little guys in the hinterland. They are not convinced, according to reports, that supporting "O" is where they should put the money. It is also interesting on the SuperPac front. The big Repub Super Pac "American Crossroads" has received ten times the amount that the big Dem SP "Priorities USA" has received. Maybe the Prez shoulkd get out on the road more instead of slaving away in that office for the good of the nation. Oops, did I say slaving? Pray for me Ozzie Guillen and David Ciciline.

Our sleazy little incumbent Congressman/person David Ciciline solved the problem of the mismanaged Providence finances while he was Mayor, with a simple explanation. In his kick-off speech he said "I never should have used the word 'Excellent' when I said (While campaigning for congress) "Providence was in excellent condition". That was just his explanation for the lie. It didn't answer the bigger question -- his incompetence in office. But isn't that like Pols today. Unfortunately they know voters will buy anything. "Poor darling" his backers will say, "He used the wrong word". Shoot me.

The car industry is really in a state of turmoil, with company heads trying to get a handle on the best way to go into the future. Today, for instance, it was reported that only 35% of Hybrid owners went back to buy another hybrid. In the world there are 12 Million CNG (Compressed Natural gas) cars, but barely any in the US where gas is plentiful. The US is in the electric mode, but CNG is probably a better solution for consumers. And electrics, at least in this stage of their development, are fairly impractical. It seems to me that the best bet is develop higher mileage regular cars.

How many of you have seen the "Snopes Verified" email floating around now describing Malia Obama's spring break trip for she and 12 friends to Oaxaca Mexico. It also took 2 jets and twenty five Sevres Service Agents to make it happen. It has appeared nowhere but in the Canadian media. Just think of the uproar in the US press if it had been the Bush twins!

It costs and arm and a leg and a second mortgage on your house to go to a Red Sox game. I remember in the sixties going to opening day at Fenway and having a choice of any seat in the place for $7.00. And it was pretty much the same in the 70's

The anarchy of mobs will eventually take the government away from the people Deportment:
Halder says his office vows to review the Travon Martin case. Why are the Feds poking into a local murder/self defense investigation. Go away big government. You are really starting to bother me.

Almost Near: Chapter 67 continues. --The tone of this happy hospital room reunion became more serious as Sparrow and Audrey began to lay out what they knew. Samantha sat there alert, knowing that she would learn things about her resent self, where she had no memory of it happening. Sparrow looked over at Dante as he recounted the evidence they compiled about Tucker's appearances in Dalesford around the times of both the alleged suicide of Samantha's mother and the disappearance of her father. "Tucker in his deluded mind was doing two things," we believe. "First, he was protecting you by eliminating the threat from your father." Samantha's tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Are you Ok, Sam," The burly detective was soft and caring, loving, as he asked. She looked up and gave him a small smile and just nodded "Go on."
"My people now believe that he staged your mother's suicide to make you a more likable victim. A person under threat and abuse who was a lone fighter in a bleak world. That you fought through your life with a tyrant father and a weak mother. Someday we'll find the body of your dad, probably in an out of the way location like where they found your husband in Arkansas.
Samantha looked up -- "My mother protected me. She saw what my father could do to me, but she never let it happen." Her life was very clear to her now. My mother was strong, but looked weak to others. Maybe he killed her because she could see the real Tommy Lambert where I couldn't." Samantha needed a person she could hold on to right now. The strength of her mother during those years she had blocked out became clearer. She wanted to feel the goodness in her mother. She looked up at Dante as she thought about where she was and where she was going. It was much too soon to share this life I have just found with another person, she thought as her eyes raised to the ceiling.
"This Tucker, Tommy was one disturbed individual," Sparrow said summing up the moment. Samantha didn't hear him.

The Answer:

There were about 74 German prison camp locations. 11 were extermination centers and included Auschwitz, Treblinka and Belzec which accounted for 2.6 Million Deaths. Among the best known large concentration camps are Buchenwald, Dachau, Plaszow and Ravensbruck (Women only). Many 10's of thousands of deaths occurred in these Concentration -- "Labor" Camps. Tyranny can happen when people stop looking. Bonus: In consecutive appearance as a hitter, Scott hit into a triple play and followed that with a grand slam home run! You have to believe that will never happen again.

When things get tense, there is no more soothing sound than a radio broadcast of a baseball game on a summer's day.

Solidarity kills.

Today's Tids Issue 2,310
Opening Stuff

Some day I'm going to learn to not let things in the outside world beyond my control bother me. Sit back in my chair instead of sitting on the edge. See the world for all that is good and not seek out things that could go wrong. To blindly accept the decisions of our elected leaders...hey wait a minute. I am going mad. I think I'll just live tense and take extra blood pressure meds.

When are they going to bomb Somalia?

I see where the word Solidarity is cropping up more and more in the Wisconsin mess. Now when I think of that word, I think of the valiant Lech Walesa fighting for his workers against the Polish Communist government. Not public servants fighting to suck more blood out of their employers...honest hardworking, tax paying neighbors.

The Question:
There was some good news for the economy this morning as the auto industry surprised the experts with giant leap in Feb. What percentage did sales go up and which auto makers do you think did best?

The Headlines:

--Libya Bloody As Daffy Vows To Fight Til Last man Is Dead; Warns US To Stay Out.
--Senate Joins House In Sending Two Week Budget Extension To Prime Time; House Bill Cuts Two Weeks Of Spending By $4 Bil.
--Chafee-Lite Misspeaks On Narragansett Indian Buyout Of Twin River Non-Casino.
--VW To Bring Back Fabled 50's-60's Mini-Van.
--NJ Congressman Rush Holt (D) Beats Watson In Jeopardy Game.
--Stocks Expected To Rebound After Sell-off.
--Buffet Sees Uneven Recovery; Looks For Deals.

Back to More Stuff:
A college graduation is a senior moment.

I can't see any difference between Charlie Sheen and many of those trouble seeking, over paid, self absorbed athletes who put them selves in untenable positions. Oh yeah, maybe Charlie has better publicists and an more gullible fan base.

Several Repubs are slowly dipping their toes into Presidential waters. There is a thought going around among some of these courageous warriors that perhaps Obama may be too hard to beat in 2012. So the one who emerges may be the one who shows a little guts to take on this incumbent knowing that a change will be very important for the country. The loudest early rumblings so far are from Huckabee (Foot in mouth with Kenya remarks), Ghengris (who is expected to announce the formation of a presidential exploration committee) and The Donald (Trump) who is beginning to make the rounds and yesterday announced that a new web-site www.should trump run.com already has 400,000 subscribers. It is just beginning, but this is exactly the time when it should begin. After all, 0-Man has been running for six months.

I like to separate the teachers from the other Public Employees union activities. But that doesn't mean I think the NEA is anything better than a dishonest, vile organization.

Almost Near: Chapter 10. --Tucker Louttite had never loved a woman as he had loved Samantha Wilcox. In fact he never loved another woman at all. He met her when they were 12. She had worked her way onto his softball team, and he didn't like it at all. A girl for chrissake!. He laughed at the memories. But, he also remembered that from the first moment she ran to shortstop, that he couldn't take his eyes off her. And, boy could she play softball. Of course, that's what was really important at the time.
By the time they had finished college and were 24, he was ready for marriage. He asked her. He remembers how her eyes lit up. And then how she looked so seriously at him. Almost questioningly. He thought of this as an automatic. They were destined to be man and wife. Weren't they? But she answered, "Wow, I'll have to think about that one!" The next day she disappeared from his life.
I called her mom and she told me that it was time for Samantha to go. That's all. But, she would tell me where she had gone. Or why.
I broke down and cried. Her mom just watched me. She didn't move to hug me or hold my hand in support. She just said "I'm sorry." and then she added. "Tommy Lambert, You were good for Samantha. But, it had to end. I'm sorry." She closed the door. I'll never forget standing there.

If everybody hasn't figured out by now why public employee unions are a bad idea for the good of the country going forward, than they don't want to figure it out. They just want to follow a bad idea blindly.

Frankly, I'm getting tired of all these PE Union discussions. Sorry I brought it up.

Some of the rest stops on Florida interstates look like assisted living complexes.

Why is "Elton John and partner to attend royal wedding" one of the six lead headlines this morning? There are just too many publicists in this world.

Does VW's announcement of bringing back the mini-van mean that we will once again have to put up with hippies? Or, do they see a big market for delivery vans for medical marijuana factories?

Is Charlie Sheen trying to out perform Gad-Daffy for the title of "Public Mad Sycho (PMS)" of the year?

Sorry shampoo makers, but I think my hair looks better when using bar soap.

The Answer:
Sales were up 27% with GM soaring at 49%. Toyota was next (42), Nissan (32), Honda (22) with ford and Chrysler lagging at 14 and 12%. (Although Chrysler's increase was considered positive considering recent doldrums,)Trucks and those nasty SUV's led the way again.

The End:
If there is any positive solidarity going around, I think it is among regular taxpayers who want to get free spending governments under control.

I know, I know, Psycho doesn't start with an "S". I just needed something to get to PMS. see, I started out calm, uncaring this morn, and now I'm getting angry. 

The Joke’s on us.

Today's Tids Issue 2,217

Opening Stuff:

I guess the reason Jon Stuart and other comedians have become active in the political progress is because they thought Congress was part of their union too. At San Fran’s Hungry I we hear Nancy Pelosi crack up the sheep, “We have to pass this bill so we find out what’s in it!” LOL. Tears in eyes. God, these jokers are good. And then over in LV on the big sate of New York, New York the Reidman is saying, “All taxes are voluntary!” God, I’m laughing so hard it’s killing me.

India, Russia and Germany’s swift and utter rejection of Geithner’s “Proposal for numerical targets for sustainable trade surpluses and deficits (Which would greatly favor the US growing deficit) is just the latest example of how in the old world where the US got what the US wanted is a world that has passed us by. We seem to be just another player among the major economic players.

The riots in France and Greece and other socialist countries show clearly that the entire idea of entitlements is a bad one. People who get fired from jobs don’t get anywhere as angry as those who have taken away something they never earned in the first place.

The Question:
First! I have to give you the answer to yesterday’s Bonus Q. (I forgot it in the answer segment) The 1st newspaper to announce the bombing of Pearl Harbor was the Westerly (RI) Sun which came out with the full story Sunday afternoon. Charles Utter, the long time Editor, was a member of a religion called the 7th Day Baptists who in 1679 broke away fro the original Roger Williams Baptist Church so they could worship on Saturday! Thus they were at work early Sunday Morning. Today’s Question: There are many jokes about husband’s mothers-in-law, but the wives may be suffering more. Wives were asked if they would rather see their mother-in-law or go to a gynecologist, stay home and clean house, do jury duty, do taxes or have a root canal. What do you think are the percentages for each?

The Headlines:

--Misinterpretation Of Mayan Calendar Postpones “End Of Earth” Indefinitely.
--Toyota Recalling 1.53 Million Lexus, Avalon and Other Models For Brake Fluid And Fuel Pump Problems.
--Positive Earning’s reports From US Companies Have World Stocks Surging.
--9th Circuit court: Keep “Don’t Ask…” As Is.
--Stewie, Worlds Longest Cat, Is Purr-fect 4 Feet From Nose To Tail Bone.
--Nokia Cuttin 1,800 Jobs Following String Q3 Report.

Back to More Stuff:
Did you happen to see the septic tank truck with the sign on its side that said “Yesterday’s meals on wheels.” Or at church, “7 Day’s without God makes one Weak.” And of course the Plumber, “Don’t sleep with a drip; call your plumber.”

You want to hear drivel? I’ll tell you where you can hear drivel. It’s on the Larry King Show with a fawning LK interviewing Jon Stuart on the ills of the Tea Party.

Every time the US Auto Industry needs a boost, Toyota issues a major recall. What a great marketing plan.

The hardest days of the beautiful Fall months is “Bye Week”.

Jeez, was last week’s Pick-em’ Spot awful. I have not seen as unpredictable season as this in along time. This week, the hot TV game is between the Giants and the “expert’s” fave, the 1-4 Cowboys. I’m saying the Cowboys go 1-5 as the Giant’s “D” keeps room a roamin’ out of the pocket. I’ also can’t go against what looks like my rejuvenated Pats team. They are playing with the vigor and guts they showed in the early 2000’s. On the rest for the most part, I’m going home team in this any team can win season. So the winners are Balt, Chi, Atlanta, Tenn, Pitt, TB, NO, KC, SF, Seattle, Denver and GB. Last week another mediocre 7-7 bringing the year to 57-33. Will this be the comeback week? I have no way of telling.

The thing that has bothered me most over the years about the New England Patriots is watching Jonathon, Myra and Robert Kraft give each other “High Fives” at the end of victories. They just look like people out of touch trying to look like Joe Lunchpail. And, frankly, I feel the same way about myself when I am forced into returning a high five.

Sign over a Gynecologist’s office “Doctor Johnson at your cervix.” And the the sign on the door to the maternity delivery room: “Push, Push, Push.”

The Answer:
51% of wives would rather to housework than sit before the throne of Mom-In-Law. In fact many wives call her Monster-in-law. 36% would take the gynecologist, 30% jury duty, 28% taxes and root canal. But, it is even worse than that. 76% said they would never take parenting advice from m-o-l, 83% would never ask for relationship advice and 94% would seek sex life advice. Which actually makes a lot of sense.

The End:
Really, what wouold be the difference if trained comedians ran the government instead of elected comedians. At least, press conferences would be funny. And how about ta laugh riot State of the Union. The Justices would be rolling on the floor!