Well, here we go!

Today's Tids Issue 2.524

Opening Stuff:

For all of you out there beyond New England and NY Metro who have yet to pick your team in the Super Bowl, consider this: If the Giants win, Charlie Schumer will be happy. Go Pats!


I'm really starting to feel sorry for daffodils. They think it's spring and many are several inches above ground in some areas. It's a little like relying on the Government instead of your own instincts.

An observer noted that Tom Brady and wife Giselle's new super sized mansion described as being "Eco friendly", probably should be more appropriately called "Ego Friendly".

The Question: The newest data says that 750 US banks are at risk of failing! Which states do you think have the most at risk?

The Headlines:

--Unemployment Drops to 8.3%: 235K Additions Surprise Experts.
--Thirty bales Of Marijuana Float In Upon California Beaches.
--Dem Senators Urge Susan G. Koman Foundation To Reinstate Funding To Planned Parenthood.
--Heavy Snowstorm Hits Colorado; Moving East.
--Egypt Gunman Kidnap Two Woman US Tourists.

The woman who sued Honda about gas mileage and won $10K has opened a real can of worms. Everybody who owns a car could probably sue. It appears that the car manufacturers are relying on government statistics which are noticeably higher than reality as tested by private research groups which actually factor in real driving habits like the dreaded lead foot. The Hummer owner could scream, "Hey, you promised 10mi/gal and I'm only getting 9". Everything is relative.

If the unemployment number keeps on dropping (Which is actually fairly natural after three years), let's hope the Repubs are developing Plan B to use against the 0-Man. And no, not the birth certificate.

At the annual DC Prayer breakfast 0-Man suggested that God tells him to raise taxes. Where's the ACLU when you need them! There is an unwritten rule that says leave your politics at the door when you enter this annual, thoughtful gathering. But then, 0-Man doesn't follow the rules, written and unwritten.


Don't go barefoot in parking Lots Department:
Do you ever wonder how much coffee with cream and sugar has been poured out in parking lots? I do.

If you are looking for a a Super Bowl team to root for, consider the Bill O'Reilly segment "Patriots and Pinheads". Go Pats!

I think this new TV show "Smash" could be a winner.

Donald Trump is an odd duck.

Warren Buffet threw a meaningless monkey wrench into the electoral process with his seemingly naive tax differential comments. And, you know he's smart enough to know the difference between his tax payments and his secretary's. And how much in taxes he paid on his original money. Yet we keep on getting badgered with references to the "Buffett Rule". How unctuous is that.

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:
--Dan Radcliff effectively moves away from his Harry Potter identity and is very could in this scary movie about strange deaths in a little coastal town in Edwardian England. Radcliff plays a mournig young husband who becasue of his loss is also in jeopardy at his law firm. He is given one more chance to save his carreer and it brings him to this town where all are hiding a terrible secret. He moves into the manison of the towns wealthiest man whee the ghost of the woman in black roams. It's petty good.
--A SciFy thriller follows three high school students with uncanny powers beyond their understanding. As they learn more about them and how to control the Kinetic mind) powers they must also learn to face the reality of an adult world to keep their own from spinning out of control. I'd probably go.

Almost Near: Chapter 60. --"Hi Audrey, this is Samantha Wilcox, again. Any word about Tucker?"
"Not a peep, but then I had the feeling he was near you. That seems to be his pattern lately. Maybe we should be talking more, but honestly..."
"Honestly, you probably think I'm nuts. And maybe I am. But, I feel that more and more things are making sense to me. And then," Samantha paused, "there's the darkness".
Andrey sensed the eerie quiet. "I've learned a lot about you Samantha. Maybe a lot that you don't even know yourself. It must be difficult knowing that so much has happened around you and not really knowing what it has been. I think Tucker, he was Tommy then, has loved you since he was 12 years old.
"Yes, I think I have learned some of that these past several weeks. I don't feel anything deeply about that past, but at least I know it was, and has been an important part of why I am what I am. Whatever that is?" Samantha laughed.
Audrey was laughing when she broke in. "I think I'd like you Samantha..."
''Call me Sam."
"Ok...Sam! You must have some kinda indomitable spirit to have lived through your years with that Quimpierre family." Audrey heard an intake of breath.

The Answer: 
The 758 possible failures projected for the next two years is double those that have failed over the past three years! The slow recovery has tested the staying power of these banks to the breaking point. The fact that the Fed is assuming very slow growth through 2014 makes this dire situation real the worst states are Florida (72), Illinois (69), Geiorgia (66), Minnesota (37), Missouri (33) and Tennessee (31). The only states with no banks at risk are Alaska, Hawaii, new Hampshire and South Dakota. Rhode Island has one. I wonder who it is?

There are wars, births, and an inconceivable amount of varied interactions at any given moment being carried out among the billions of citizens on this Earth, and yet only one thing really matters. We will abide the world around us for the next two days until life begins again at 6:40, February 5 in the year of a our Lord 1012. To say that I'm not a quivering mass of raw nerves is to say that 0-Man is bowing out, conceding that Mitt is the only person who can turn around the country.

Go Pats! May the Tids be a happy Monday morning column.

Hypocrisy Rising.

Today's Tids 6/16 Issue 2,372

Opening Stuff.

How 'bout them Bruins! This has always been a Hockey First area, and now we have a our champions back. Personally, I think it was last nights beautiful moon that got them over the hump.

The US Open teeing off today looks like a good one! They have put together some great threesomes which will excite with mini battels within the big picture: Donald, Westwood, Kaymer; McElroy, Dustin Johnson, Mickelson; Watney, Ogiivy, Glover; Watson, Scott, Karlsson; Els, Furyk, Love; McDowell, Oosthuizen, Ulhein (Amateur Champ); Kutcher, Choi, Casey; Rose, Clark, Day; Stricker, Goosen, Toms. Just to name a few. You are going to love this one. i personally am stocking up on Cheetos for a tense final four hours Sunday. I can hardly wait.

Reason #237 Why it is tough to Believe anything the President Says Department:
When the Prez was running in 2008, he made a big part of his pitch decrying the appointments of big campaign donors to Government posts. In denouncing this practice, he took dead aim at Bush. It turns out that in just two years (According to independent analysis -- Center for Public Integrity -- of big donor. "Bundler" appointments), he has made more of these appointments than Bush did in four years. As a candidate 0-Man said, "The Cynics the lobbyists, the special interests who've turned our government into a game only they can afford to play. They get the access while you get to write a letter. It's time for that kind of politics to stop."

The Question:
What are the top ten Audrey Hepburn movies/

The Headlines:

--DOW up.
--Wiener Out; Titillating Twitterer Resigns At raucous Press Conference.
--Al-Zawahri named Bin Ladin Successor.
--Hacker Group Says It brought Down CIA Public Website.
--Boehner Not Buying White House Explanation Of Skirting Congress On Libyan Question.

Nostalgia Department
If there was ever a 1999 moment it was yesterday with the Pandora IPO. How similar to the "irrational exuberance" days of the end of the 20th Century. This company lost $93 Million last year. But, the big traders make lots of dough at the offerings, regardless of value. And then later, the principles cash out and the stock prices drift downward. The initial issue yesterday was 15 Million shares. It's trading volume yesterday was 45 million share. That means the first and biggest insiders bought the 15 Million and then sprinkled them around. They were gobbled up at higher prices and the process was repeated again. The price zoomed up because people wanted a piece of the action. And because big traders can makes tons of dough quickly. But, the company accomplished nothing. And who knows if it ever will. The moral of the story...regular investors should not get on board now, unless they just like to give their money away.

Grilling lobsters might be the best taste treat. Even though I am one of those purists who believes that everything about lobster cooking and eating should be simple. Par boil a couple of lobsters for about 7-8 minutes. Remove from water and cut in half. Expose meat in claw. Place on medium heat grill shell side down. Baste meat with butter and salt and pepper. Cover with aluminum baking dish. Remove several times for basting. Cook about ten minutes. There are other ways of killing and cooking, but this is simpler, and maybe less emotional!

In the latest "Direction America Is Going" polls, CBS Poll says 60% don't like direction, ABC/Wash Post 66% and Rasmussen 64%. This is not giving me a lot of confidence.


How hard is it to figure out that if the Housebuilding Industry a few years ago over built for a market that never really existed, and all of those homes are sitting there with nobody in them, then the chance of the industry bouncing back could be several years away?

The new report says that woman are catching up to men in the lifespan department. Maybe I should say catching down. They say female lifespan averages are declining because women are smoking more. (?) Personally I feel it is becasue the cycle that began with women entering en masse into the business world is entering phase two -- Older age and retirement. The woman lifestyle changed significant beginning in the seventies. Well, that's my story and I'm sticking with it.

One of the great myths is that bigger lobsters aren't as tender as the smaller lobsters.

Of course, hypocrisy in American is primarily the game of the media. The politicians don't understand what the word means.

The Answer:
Surprisingly, Breakfast at Tiffany is number 10. 9 is Sabrina followed by The Nun's Story, Unforgiven, The Charade, My Fair Lady, Funny Face, The Children's Hour, Two for the Road and Wait Until Dark.

I promised a better day for Tids, but I'm thinking I was actually meaning tomorrow.