Nowhere'sville, Tidsland.

Today's Tids Issue 2,237
Opening Stuff:

Do you want to know why the Tids is late today? It's because my mind isn't working. It's as simple as that.

If regular old Citizens did what Charlies Rangle did, they'd be in jail. He'll probably lose privileges on on the Congressional underground railroad.

The Question:
Give me the percentages of people with business experience in Presidential administrations from Teddy Roosevelt to "House Mom".

The Headlines:

--GM IPO Hit Street up $3.00 In early Trading.
--Markets Surge As Irish Woes Ease.
--First Gitmo Trial Ends With Ahmed Ghailani convicted On 1 Of 280 Charges; Defense Lawyer Hails US Justice System; Expectations For Closing Of Gitmo Vanish.
--Scientists Find Clue In Case Of Missing "Anti-Matter".
--High School Seniors making Little Progress In Test Scores According To New Government Report.
--Murkowski Says She Is Looking Forward To Rejoining republican Ranks As An Independent!
--New Survey Shows That 4 In 10 Say marriage Becoming Obsolete; Most Of Marriage naysayers In Lower Income Groups.

Back to More Stuff:
How about that government of ours! They canceled the SS cost of living increase this year because there is no inflation. But, the US Gov. inflationary mesurement doesn't include a couple Senior basics -- Food which keeps them alive and energy which keeps them from turning into Popsicles. Basic food and energy costs are up significantly. They may not have Death panels because they may not need them.

I walk in humbly as my trusty Sports department really sucked last week. 6and 8 brings us to 92-51 and lowers our winning rate from 67% to 64%. Ugh. There are two huge games this week -- Indy-Pats and Giants-Eagles. I got to go with the Pats, cause when they play well they are Ok. And Indy is hurting. I think the toughest pick of the week is E-G. The Giants are mad and the Eagles are hot...and they are home. Eagles! Actually some of the rest look easy but I doubt if it will turn out that way this year. Here goes -- Miami, Dallas, Pitt, Tenn, Jets, Cinn, KC, Jax, Balt, GB, Atlanta and a couple of Sans -- Fran and Diego.

So why all of a sudden is an unwed mother of 20 who just happens to be a daughter of a woman who lost the race for VP of the US an authority on how people should lead their lives? Give me a little celebrity and I'll give you new authority. It's the American way.

Oh yeah... and Donald trump Just announced that he will run for President. Who's next...Snooky? He'd probably win.

Fox News headlined their story about Obama's new kids book: "Obama book Praises Indian who killed US general ( Sitting Bull, Chief of tribe who beat Custer). The Libs who constantly revise history, hate it.

I think I made the wrong career choice Department:
There are over 1,200 public employees in nearly bankrupt RI making over $100K. The number making over $150k in the federal offices of the country on-the-path-to-bankruptcy is 177,599! Yikes! Choosing a government job used to mean picking job security over income. No more. The average salary + benefits (2009) for Feds public sector is $123,049 versus State Public sector $69,913 versus the economic engine Private sector $61,051 Oh, and to finish where I saarted, the four highest paid public employees in RI are the basketball coach at URI, the President of URI...and two psychiatric registered nurses, each who made over $275,000.

And the reason I'm not supposed to eat gluten is...?

Frankly I never buy anything advertised as "Green" because I know they are just trying to get more of my money for little extra value.

The Answer:
The presidents with the highest (Over 40%) are Taft - 40, Wilson - 52, Harding - 49, Coolidge - 48, Hoover - 42, FDR - 50, Truman, 50, Ike - 57, Johnson - 47, Nixon - 53, Ford - 42, Reagan - 56, GHWB - 57 and GWB - 55. The lowest were Teddy - 38, Clinton - 37, Carter - 32, JFK - 30 and 0-Man - 8! Makes you think a bit, doesn't it.

The End (Thank God!):
I think my head is in the clouds. Stay tuned.. It will be better tomorrow.

Sickly Sweet Lawmaking.

Today's Tids Issue 2,134
Opening Stuff:


It looks like the vote for “Real” change moved forward significantly last night as it was out with the incumbents* and in with those who stand for something. Not the growing list of malleable centrists like so many of the lightweights who are the basis for Anti-DC sentiment in the country. Addicted serial spenders looking for safety in the middle. Some anecdotal evidence from last night suggests that there will be a land slide of “no incumbent” voting come November. *Longtime Arkansas Senator Blanch Lincoln didn’t lose yet, but was thrown in a run-off vote after weak support and no majority winner.

Disturbing my Heart Department:
The big wind farm project proposed for off-shore RI is a great example of runaway emotions in the name of environmental progress pushing through suspect, costly potential boondoggles. Basically the company, Deepwater Wind, wants a “bailout” before the project. Here’s the facts. The PUC denied the company’s request because their price per kilowatt/hour was 2 ½ times the current KW rate for consumers. The company then turned to the spineless state legislature to circumvent the PUC and state approval process. What the company is saying is that they aren’t going to put up their own money for this risky venture and that they are looking for an approval of super high consumer rates to help finance the effort. All, in the name of “Green”. The only thing green about this project is the amount of green it will suck out of the average homeowner’s wallet. The RI Tea Party is vehemently against the company.

“Glee!” gets better every week. Last night had some wonderful musical and dancing moments.

The Question:
Happy Birthday to producer/writer/director Nora Ephron! Name her most popular screenplays and movies.

The Headlines:
--Worldwide Stocks Slide On New German Curbs On Euro Trading And Lowest Euro Value In Years.
--Experts Say Tar Balls Showing Up On Gulf Beaches Are “Not” From Big Oil Spill.
--Clueless Lane Experts Still Can’t Figure Out Why Market Collapsed.
--Victims Of RI’s Station Night Club Fire Can Expect Shortly; 550 To Share $176 Million Minus Lawyers $59 Million; Victim Payments Will range from $3,000 To $3.5 Million Depending On Severity Of Injuries..
--Spain Turns To taxes On Wealthy To Bail Out Government’s Bad Financial Decisions.
--Oil Below $68.Corporate Earnings Continue To Come In Strong.
--Fire Bombing And Looting Continues In Thailand Mini Civil War.
--Latest Chinese Knife Wielder Maims 13.
--Taliban Launch Brazen Early Morning Attack Against Giant US Bragram Air Field North Of Kabul.
--Times Square Bomber Had Long List Of Potential Targets; Sikorsky Aircraft, Rockefeller Center And Grand Central Among Other targets; Lefty NYC Talk Show Host Says Bombers Tights Violated.
--Celtics Surprise Again.

Back to More Stuff:

Some of these super markets are so cold during the Spring that it’s nice to have heated seats in your car!

Going into last night’s AI semi-final I was ready to predict that Casey might sneak up and beat a better performer because of the over powering “Cute” vote this year. He is actually quite talented too. But, it was pretty clear last night that Lee has the power and the about to get some of the sorta-cute vote and that Chrystal is an enormous talent. And the import thing is that the now favored duo have grown immensely. I think Lee will win it all. And, I still think Siobhan should be in the mix.

While the RI economy continues to wallow like Greece, the legislature in their wisdom have decided to tax sugary sodas to help with the overweight problem. Like people who are willing to be gouged with a $1.75/20 oz bottle price at convenience stores are going to worry about an extra five cents.

I’m worried about Hillary Clinton. Really! She looks dreadful – tired, besieged, overburdened. Regardless of my past opinions, she seems to be giving taxpayers their money’s worth for a change. I still wouldn’t vote for her for anything, but when people work hard they deserve a pat on the back. Hey, we are still a civil society despite how bad the politicians make us appear.

Cassatt and Brookins point out that technology has become so pervasive in our lives that a guy in a restaurant needed a password to open a fortune cookie.

Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 72 continues. –Now Paul reached across the table and took my hand. Gently. He locked his eyes on to mine. Intensely. I felt as if he was peering into my soul and reading all of my secrets. I felt my hand shake in his. In a slow, very purposeful voice Paul started. “I know that Middleton has become a friend of yours through that town committee and the financial negotiations at BiEm.” Yes, friends I thought. Where is he going. “I guess what I’m trying to say is that you have to eliminate whatever personal emotions you may have developed for him and look through the fog. The way Sarah Durham always has. This fortuitous flow of data into Middleton’s project bothers me. A lot. My little company had a great opportunity here. And maybe we still do. But, the paranoia in me says there is now a cloud hanging over our efforts despite the cheerleaders in the executive suites.”
I just nodded. I wanted to listen to him. Then he switched subjects.
“How well did you know Bromsky?”
“Not well” I replied. Now that I was on safer ground I spoke up. “I talked to him occasionally about his project progress. It was always very formal.” I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding in.
“Do you think he was the kind of guy who would commit suicide?”
“No”. I didn’t even think about it for a second. Bromsky thought he was too important for this earth. “No,” I reaffirmed, “No I don’t.
“Me neither.” Paul agreed. And then he smiled at me. “Want to put on your detective’s hat again? And how would you like a new partner?”

Spector is just the latest politician to fall after 0-Man campaigning. The new White House strategy is expected to be fly-overs.

What’s a bigger drain on the health care system. Fat people swigging a Coke or 20 million or more criminals sneaking into the US and robbing Medicaid?

This centrist position being assumed by many incumbent pols will never work in the current climate. The voter is tired of mushiness. They want people who stand for something. In fact the Dems have a great opportunity for rebirth if they stand up against Big Finance. To paraphrase a well known pundit, “It’s the Fat cats stupid.” To me, that is the Republican’s Achilles heel.

The Answer:
Nora is a prolific contributor to our entertainment and thought process. She was nominated fro an Oscar fro her “Silkwood”. But she is best known for her lighter fair including Produce/Writer/Director for the recent popular movie Julie and Julia. Most love her When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless In Seattle. She was also writer or writer director or writer/director/producer for You’ve Got Mail, Heartburn, Cookie, My Blue Heaven, This is My Life, Mixed Nuts, Michael, Hanging Up, Lucky Numbers and Bewitched. Ephron is married to Carl Bernstein and did some work on the All the President’s Men script.

Let it Flow:
This sugar drink lunacy reminds me that if we just got rid of all law making branches of government for ten years or so and let the world flow, the old Darwin theory of natural selection would probably save us from ourselves.