I can beat your ass!

Today's Tids Issue 2,482
Opening Stuff:
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The roar that was to come began as a distant hum from the west. It slowly built to a drone that penetrated the dreams of people sleeping-in on a quiet, uneventful Sunday morning. Bam! Boom!! ba-ba-ba-ba-ba! The morning exploded. Thousands ran out to look to the sky but only saw the venom of a pestilent hoard that sneaked in upon peaceful nation at rest. Down went the ships -- The Nevada, Arizona. The Oklahoma, West Virginia, California, Tennessee, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Cassin. Watery graves all, joined by The Utah, Helena, Raleigh, Honolulu, Downes, Shaw. Mighty ladies of the sea ravaged by a serial rapist of foreign lands. Murdered were 2,386 innocent Americans. A cowardly, amoral foe awoke the giant. We should never forget.

There were times in the not too distant past when women's sports in high school were back of the gym, back of the bus and back of the yearbook. But today I am amazed not only by the number of participants, by he extraordinary caliber of play. For instance, in the Fall I know of several high schools who have women's teams winning state championships in soccer, field hockey, cross country and volleyball! -- Four distinct sports loaded with talent. Who's left to play the clarinet in the school band? I'm impressed by the dedication, the competitiveness and the genuine talent shown by all of these ladies of the fields. People can accomplish everything they want.

The Question:
Bonus day! 1. Tom Waits wrote over 300 songs. Name five best known. 2. Where was Mel Gibson born?

The Headlines:

--Pearl Harbor remembered.
--Wall Street Dropping Ahead Of Euro Summit.
--Assad denies Ordering Bloody Crackdown.
--Despite Newt Surge, Romney Remains In front In "Prediction" Markets; Extrapolators Say Mitt;'s Downward, Newt's Upward Trend Stopped; Newt Distinctly Ahead In "Real Clear Politics" Poll Averages.
--Solution To EuroMess Could Be Decline Of Rabid Nationalism.
--Drone Missing In Iran Was On CIA Mission.
--Gorbachev Calls For New Election.
--FAA Head Resigns.
--Mom Shoots Kids After being Denied Food Stamps.
--Blago Asks For Mercy; Arrogance Humbled*; *For Purposes Of Sentencing?

Who would have thunk it, that today the two biggest industries in the US are Healthcare and Frivolity. There is huge amounts of available extra dough (Read that Gov/Insurance company supplied) for staying alive, and the rest of a lot of people's income goes to entertaining themselves. Think about the brilliant scientists who are spending their innovative lives developing better ways for people to play games! Or expose their lives to social networks. It is rocket science, dumbed down for the underinvolved, irresponsible human appetite.

Separation of Sanity and Stupidity Department:
The Christmas Tree is being sacrificed at the altar of lunacy. The RI nonsense prompted a Wisconsinite to write to the Providence Journal: "(The Governor's tree naming) is the unconstitutional establishment of the religion of atheism."

The Big East lately has been the "Big Feast" -- a table of goodies that has other leagues loading up with all of the meat, mashed potatoes and gravy. To battle this and to illustrate that the management of this fading football league has moved to the edge of incomprehensibility in the big money industry that's NCAA sports. (Remember sports)...The Big "East" has announced that Boise State, San Diego State, Houston, SMU and Central Florida will be the new additions to the league. Some great rivalries there could blossom. Like Providence College-San Diego State? Is there something strange about this picture? Shoot me.

Barak Obama is no Teddy Roosevelt.

It may be heresy in this part of the USofA, but I religiously avoid Italian desserts at all costs. Many of them look good, but suffer on the taste-bud side as almond and/or lemon overwhelm my expectations. Except, that is, Zepoles.

Almost Near: Chapter 52 continues. "Us, us. Is there an Us. Us starts with "U", and I think you are looking at our togetherness from one side."
"You didn't act so distanced when you were kissing me, leading me on." Tucker's face became aggressive. Audrey sat back in her chair.
"Wait a damn minute Tucker. I was never leading you on. I liked, like you. We were together. I think there was a bit of a spark. It affected me. But, I wasn't aiming for an engagement ring. You're getting too serious about nothing."
"Nothing." Now brooding, Tucker stared up at her as though in a childlike hurt. He shook his head quickly side to side. "I'm sorry, you're right. I guess I was just getting to like you too much. I got carried away. i am sorry." He paused again. "We are still friends, right?"
Audrey leaned forward, reached across the table and took his hand. "I like you a lot tucker." She smiled, "But don't go overboard with that." He looked back, almost glowing. Audrey loked at him carefully, considering all of the varying emotions that he just displayed. Who is this man anyway?
"Thanks."
"So, do you really believe that Samantha had anything to do with the murder of Rudy?"

Almost every day I seem to experience another company who takes customers for granted. Success can be ugly.

The Answer:
1.  Waits is the definition of the word prolific. He won abn Oscar for his score for "One from the Heart". he wrote cover songs for Springsteen "Jersey Girl', Ole' 55 - Eagles, Downtown Train - Rod Stewart. The R&R Hall of famer is known for Clap Hands, Lie to me, Jockey Full of Bourbon, Hang On Christopher, Romeo is Bleeding, Til the Money Runs Out and Black Wings. He also wrote "The Piano has been drinking, Not Me". 2. Mel Gibson was not born in Australia, but Peekskill NY! His dad, a WWII vet, married an Australian. After the war they moved to Peekskill where Mel saw his first light. During the Viet Nam war Dad took the family back to Austraila to live and avoid the drafting of his son.

Do you think other countries still fear the US. Or have we lost that edge so proudly established by those who fought across the Pacific and Europe.

Remember the Arizona.

My bellybutton?

Today's Tids Issue 2,173
Opening Stuff:

New nickname for the U. S. of A.: The sycophant country.

This warming spell is bothering me, mainly because the ocean is getting too hot up here. Warm waters are more likely to induce hurricanes to come up the coast. Last year for instance, when announcements or watches and warnings were issue for the East Coast, cool waters kept me calm.

The Question:
I thinking that the great new battle cry for the US of A should be “Remember Arizona”. Give me three other well known US battle cries.

The Headlines:
--New Poll Shows Americans Unwavering In Support Of Arizona Over The US.
--New Washington Post/ABC Poll Has 0-Man Slipping Again; Approval rating Down To 43%; 58% have No faith In Prez; Less Faith In Republican And Dem Congress.
--Oil Well Cap Secured; Testing Begins.
--Sox’ David Ortiz Wins Home Run Derby.
--Steinbrenner Dead At 80.
--French Overwhelmingly Approve Ban On Burqa Style Islamic Veils.
--US Trade Deficit Widens To $42.3 Billion.

Back to More Stuff:

I always thought that Mel Gibson looked a little nutty in many of his movie parts. You know, wide eyed and unstable. Now we are learning that he wasn’t acting.

Jimmy The Greek Exoneration Department:
Low and behold, it appears that Jimmy the Greek was right after all – Blacks and whites are different. And new research has proven that it is all in the “belly buttons”. This is true folks. Somebody funded a group of PHD’s with little to do to determine why blacks are better at some sports and whites at others. Because the black’s bellybutton is higher, it creates a locomotive effect which powers up running. On the other hand the longer torsos of the white positions the BB lower which gives whites a huge advantage in swimming by creating a wave effect. Don’t tell Jesse.

The Chinese bellybutton is in the crotch area which makes them better ping pong players.

My bellybutton is full of lint which is great for Tids writing.

While the trend lines signaling a decline of pure capitalism and the historic robust economy versus the rise in the popularity of soccer is certainly disheartening, it may not be as culturally significant as another soccer fan characteristic uncovered at the World Cup Games. Soccer Fans don’t like sex. That’s right…the prostitutes are howling. They are claiming the worst sex drought in the history of the town, or maybe even all of South Africa. They can hardly wait til the Soccer fans leave and romance for a price roars again.

There has to be something terribly wrong with the new Financial Reform Bill just because Congress designed it.

Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 81 continues. -- I looked at Kent. Alone and unshielded in his large, glassed office. Some how he didn’t look quite so confident sitting there open to the world wondering what was happing in the bosses office. With the woman he wanted to see in his bed. I turned and walked down the long haul from the executive suite to the reception area. I didn’t look back, but I could feel Kent’s eyes burning into the back of neck. I started to feel warm. I wanted to turn back, but I clenched my hands and kept moving.
When I rounded the corner that would bring me to the lobby, I took out my cell phone. I stopped. I turned around, but only edged back to the corner. I took a quick glance back and saw Kent rushing into Izzy’s office.
That is definitely not a surprise I thought as I walked back to the lobby doors and out to the car. I waved at “smiley” and punched in a couple of numbers.
Bill picked up as I stepped off the curb towards the parking lot. “Hi Boss” he said immediately There are no secrets in the new technology world.
“Bill, I just left Izzy and she is trying to play hardball on this legal thing. I think she is bluffing. But, I think you should call the treasurer and tell him we’re sending up a few auditors.”
“Right away boss.” He answered somewhat sarcastically. I didn’t say anything more. “Does your silence mean that this conversation is over?” He paused. “I think my Maggie is back in town.”
I just answered, “See you later.” Then I dialed Paul.

The Answer:
Remember Pearl Harbor and Remember the Maine come quickly to mind. Then there was Remember the Alamo. White didn’t we say Remember 911 when we invaded Afghanistan.

People just have to get back to feeling shame and guilt. And stop looking for answers in our belly buttons.