The roar of the crowd.

Today's Tids Issue 2,571
Opening Stuff:

Well, it's opening day in Soxland. Tigerville, Dodgerburg and across the land. Men, women and kids of all ages will have smiles on their faces as the feel the thrill of walking into the stadium. Moments away from watching the heroes of summer pitch, hit, run, catch and throw. Millions of people who can afford the overpriced seats will eat outrageously costly hot dogs and drink sinfully expensive beers and sodas. The crack of the bat is back. But it just isn't the same as it was.

Not only to we have baseball, we have the start of the Masters too. Be still my mischievous heart! This shapes up to be one of the great golf tournaments. Because while Tiger is back, there are many other greats to enjoy making the charge. Let's hope TV shows us more than Tiger, Tiger, Tiger. I'm having this feeling that Lee Westwood will put on the jacket. I think the course suits Luke's cool play. Hunter is looking like a guy who can beat anybody. Phil is playing well, and how can you not root for Keegan. All eyes will be on Rory, who is out to atone for his collapse of last year. But, is he creating too much pressure on himself? There are probably another ten who could surprise, but something in my stomach says Lee will finally win the big one. But then, it could be Woods.

The Question: 
The Fox Network has come a long way since it arrived as th struggling fourth Network, making it big with new ground breaking shows. 1. Name five stars who's successful film careers were launched from "In Living Color." 2. Who was in the cast of Fox favorite "Married, With Children"?

The Headlines:

--Downward Movement Expected To Continue As EuroConcerns Once Again Fester.
--New Jobless Claims Continue To Lower; March Sales Brighten Retailer Hopes; Gas Prices Up.
--Banks Expected To Pick Up Pace Of Foreclosures; 2012 Expected To be More Like Depressed 1010.
--China Owned Volvo Expected To Spend $11 Billion Developing New Products.
--Romney Moves Ahead In Santorum's Home State Of Pennsylvania.
--Cuba Primed For "Arab Spring" Style Take Over?
--Nicklaus, Player, Palmer Help Get The Masters Underway.

American Idol: This one of those years where you have to find small negatives in an excellent lineup to be able to determine the one to go. My favorite moments were Skylar, who frankly just brings a lot of life into Wednesday night every time and Phillips. The judges thought Holly was weakest, but I was more disappointed with Elise. Like Erika with, elise never got the great Foreigner song going. I think Jessica is an excellent talent but not so much last night. Same for Colton. I have to say that Deandre was very good as was Joshua. It's tough to pick a bottom 3, but it will probably be Holly, Elise and Deandre, even though D shouldn't be there, or even close to being there. I think Colton should based on last night's performances, but he is just too popular. Holly to go. But it's all about voter demographics.

The Lebrons come and the Jordans go. Kobe shines and Durant's a show. But always there, always making all of the great plays; relentless, smart and consistent is the brilliant and resourceful Tim Duncan.

Lately I'm reading about public employees in many cities and town and states across the USA asking for 3% and up raises. This at a time when the sources for the majority of those funds are existing on stagnate or in many case declining wages. In other words the pot isn't growing. It is just really, really simple economics. It's not about people disliking public employees, it's about not having any money.

I expect President Obama's inability to tell the truth will eventually be what hurdles Romney to the Oval Office. That is, if the media finally gets honest again and realizes how they have been bamboozled by the silver tongued one.

I'm hungry.

No word is wrong if you use a hyphen. "Hunt's Law".

Almost Near: Chapter 67 Continues. --Audrey felt Samantha relaxing, the tears easing. She sat back a bit so Sam could turn her head and look at her. Solemnly she began, now holding Samantha's hands by the fingertips. "I will be with you thorough all of this, Sam," then she smiled, "Because I expect to make millions writing your book!"
Samantha appeared stunned and then started laughing, punching Audrey in good fun. "Oh no she yelled, not another damn writer!"
The two were still laughing when they heard, "You two all right?" Sparrow poked his head in the door.
"We couldn't be better," Samantha replied with a new kind of confidence.
"Well, I found this Italian Lawyer wandering around the halls, and I thought you might like to see him. It's always good to have a lawyer when you're in the hospital. Dante limped in, smiling.
Samantha looked up, her eyes went vacant. "Am I supposed to know you? Which of my lives were you in?" Audrey and Sparrow looked at each other. Then Samantha smiled broadly. "But. how could I ever not remember the beautiful Dante!" She held out her hand, and he walked over, but unlike the old Dante, he was hesitant, not really knowing what to say or do. Sparrow looked a little sad realizing that this woman he grew to like, had feelings for the eastern lawyer.
Audrey got up, making room for Dante. But Samantha didn't reach out or speak to him. "How," she started, "could some one as nutty as me, have beautiful friends like you." The she turned and put her arm around Dante's neck and pulled him to her.

The Answer:

1. How about Jim Carey, Jennifer Lopez, Jamie Foxx, Damon Wayans and Keenen Ivory Wayans. 2. It was a talked about show as was Ed O'Neill as Al Bundy, David Faustino as Bud Bundy, Christina Applegate as Kelly Bundy, Katey Segal as Peggy Bundy, Amanda bearse as Marcy D'Arcy, Ten McGinley as Jefferson D'Arcy and of course Buck as Buck, the dog.

Sarah Palin out-audienced Katy Couric yesterday morning. And, the critical observers said the ex VP candidate was very good. The small point here is that the pundits who dominate the mainstream media continually underestimate the vast numbers of Americans who like America for what it has always been.

There is nothing that can't be done.

Today's Tids Issue #2,4104
Opening Stuff:

I heard a story the other day about a women in North Providence, a seamstress, who decided to give sewing lessons to her grandchildren and a couple of kids in the neighborhood. Well, it turns out that she was so good that in a short period of time her classes grew to number 50. With people waiting in line. She turned the second floor of the tripledecker in which she lived into a classroom and sewing workshop. But her success didn't stop with financial success. She now holds a fashion show with all clothes made and modeled by students that brings in thousands of dollars, all of it going to support ALS charities. There are bright, good people throughout our fruited plains of whom you never known, but who continue to exhibit the qualities that made America great.

I see where Merkl and Sarkozy want Balanced Budget Laws for their AAA rated countries, Germany and France. Sound familiar? O...and By the way, didn't the 0-man always want European style of Government here?

The Question:
What were Wilma Flintstone and Betty Rubble's maiden names?

The Headlines:

--Wall Street Opens Sharply Lower On New Bank Worries.
--New Jobless Benefit Claims Move Back Over 400K To 408,000.
--Organized Assailants Attack Areas Of Normally Quiet Southern Israel; Groups May Be Former Egypt al-Qaida That Moved Into Vacuum Created By Removal Of Egypt Security.
--Morgan-Stanly Ready to Declare Global Economy Near Recession.
--SEC Employee Says Agency Destroyed 9,000 Documents Related to Investigation Of WS Major Bankjs and Hedge Funds; SEC Says destroying Docs Associated With "Matters Under Investigation" Was Routine Up To This year.
--US Expected To Call For Departure Of Assad.
--US Justices Department Investigating S&P Over Their Mortgage Bend Ratings.
--British Hacking Scandal Investigation Growing In Intensity.

Back to More Stuff:
Beneath the salacious headlines about college athletic programs going wrong and athletes themselves going to jail, there are thousands of student athletes who go to class every day, get good grades and contribute positively to the society around them.

Every President of the United States of America who toils in the White House amidst a constant barrage of poison darts deserves to have a vacation. Period.

You know you're having a better than average day when you have to fix a lot of ball marks on the green, near the pin.

Brain eating amoeba. God. Does that sound awful.

I used to think that writing about something that had never existed would be next to impossible. Now I look forward to it. .

America's Got Talent: The broadband cops said I was a couple of megs over my daily limit.* So I had to kick out my little piece about the Tuesday competition. Here it is from yesterday: I was entertained by Shevonne, The Fiddleheads, Charles Peachock. and The Kenetic King. I thought the Summerwind Skippers, Landon Swank and Yellow Designs Stunt Team were ok. I was disappointed in the West Springfielkd and hoped they didn't mess up their chances. I thought they were one of the best the week before. I'm picking Shevonne, Landon Swank, Kenetic King and Fiddleheads (Mainly because I love Bluegrass.) The big question is West Springfield. Did they blow their chance? How it turned out: The top five in no specific order were West Springfield, Kinetic King, Landon Swank, Summerwind Skippers and Fiddleheads, with Fiddleheads losing out in the Judges pick session. I was really surprised about Shevonne; Hope somebody important saw something great in her.

Any day you are feeling a bit bleak over the irrationality gripping the country, just remember that when you watch the President speak to Congress you don't see Nancy Pelosi sitting behind the podium any more.

If you don't have some kind of addiction, then you probably aren't alive.

I think Karl Rove sucks. Sometimes you just have to be direct. Maybe if changed the "K" to a "C". Nah, I'm not that shallow.

I'm thinking about climate change, and I'm wondering this. In the 70's, industry a started reducing the amount of so-called bad emissions into the atmosphere. Cars were being built better and regualrly tested for exhaust problems. In other words, if you were to draw a graph you would see the amount of bad stuff being released going down over time. Then you could draw another line on that graph which shows climate induced weather irregularities going up with modest surge during the past 3-4 years. So I guess my wondement is this: Wasn't the climate more stable when we had particles of industrial progress floating in air?

Why is it so hard for so many to understand the fairly simple economic principle that living beyond your means, spending more that you earn, over time is impossible.

By the way, the Government doesn't earn anything. It legally extorts. I just wanted to clear up the incongruities of a popular statement -- "Government spending more than it earns".

Almost Near: Chapter 35. --Audrey dropped off Tucker at the Airport. He gave her a quick kiss as he leapt out of the car for that anguishing dash through security to an almost closed boarding ramp door. She watched him for a long time wondering what the attraction was. Especially since he was on a mission to save his former love-of-his-life from herself. He was average looking and pretty insecure, but, but, he made her feel comfortable. She felt good when she was with him. And she felt that warmth she remembered caressing her body.
She shook her head quickly from side to side. "Enough". No time for sentimentality. I have my own mission. She looked to the rear, saw no traffic and eased into the line of cars, mostly dirven by the confused trying to navigate the cacophony of an un familiar airport departure zone. She saw an opening, and like a scatback accelerated through it, breaking free from the scrimmage.
It didn't take long to get back to the quiet neighborhood of neat but small homes. She found an open spot about a block and a half from her quarry. She turned off the motor, breathed in deeply and put on her investigative reporter's hat. Tucker was moved to the fringes of her mind.

I live in a small city near a parking lot. I have noticed that cars of young couple are more often than not driven by the women. Does that mean that all of the men have DUI convictions or just that the women have jobs.

I have never understood why some don't think that getting a college education worth upwards of $200,000 is enough payment for kicking around a football or dribbling a basketball.

The Answer:
How about Wilma Slaghoopal and Betty Jean McBricker. I bet you knew that.

Seriously, some people just have as knack of walking away from challenges. It's called the rationalization/procrastination combo, combined with a significant dose of fear of commitment. But, most challenges are not that difficult. It is almost always a matter of putting foot on front of another. Although at a higher level than walking. So...how come I'm not a scratch golfer? Huh? Huh?

*It's conceivable that it wasn't the Broadband Cops, but my sieve-like mind that omitted the AGT review yesterday.