Keep your chin high, EVP.

Today's Tids Issue 2,561
Opening Stuff:

The Repubs should start spending more time thinking about getting Senators and Representatives elected. It is not only the best protection against the possibility of four more years of you know who, but will greatly enhance a Repub President's chance of edging around this drifting ship of state.

[Note: If there is a giant blank space above, it was supposed to be a humorous cartoon that said: (Woman) "Well it's about time Obama started running some campaign ads." (Daffy Duck) "This isn't an ad...It's 'NBC Nightly News'..."]

Old athletes never die, they just relive old injuries.

Last night proved once again that on American Idol, mediocre male singers will always beat a good woman.

The Question:

Hunger Games advance ticket sales are the highest in history. Which movie held the previous honor as highest all time advanced sales. Which five movies have the Highest box office total sales?

The Headlines:

--S&P,Dow Continue Flatness.
--RI Unemployment Inches Up To 11%.
--Prez Says, "If I Had A Son, He Would Look Like Trayvon."; Weird.
--Hunger Games Could Set Pre Premier Ticket Sales Record.
--"0" Taps Dartmouth Prez Jim Yong Kim For World Bank Post.
--Swiss Jewelry Company Creates 150 Carat, All Diamond Ring Worth $70 Million; NBA Stars Trading In Cars To Buy.
--Sarkozy Asks For Jail Time For Those who Surf Terrorist Sites.
--Rhetoric Up As supreme Court begins To Tackle ObamaCare.

OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) proves once again that one brand doesn't necessarily rub off on another. OWN would have worked if the Queen was on 20 hours a day. I have seen many times over the years where a company tries to use a strong brand to build up a newer or lagging brand. It almost never works. Consumers are smarter than you think.

Mel Parnell died Wednesday night. He along with Ellis Kinder were the aces on the Red Sox 1940's-50's pitching staff that was bolstered by some of the best hitters in baseball. I remember Mel Parnell well. He must look askance at today's 5 inning starters. For instance in 1949 when he made 40 starts, he went 27-7 and had an Era of 2,7 with 27 complete games and 295 innings! 27 complete games, against pre-expansion, high quality line-ups. You were da man Mel Parnell. Enjoy the big mound in the sky.

In Boston in the 40's the Braves had "Spahn and Sain and pray for rain." The Red Sox had Kinder and Parnell, but they didn't rhyme with anything, so they had to fight for their own history. Kinder made most of his history by being able to stay out drinking til 4:00 AM, and then pitching and winning games. Probably ate red meat too.

I could never bring myself to investing in Home Builder Corporation Stocks. When they are successful, it means we are losing a lot of beautiful landscapes.

I'm only casually paying attention to the Republican primaries now.

I'm surprised that more bicyclists aren't hit by cars.

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:
--This week is all about Hunger Games. People have been buying advanced tickets for weeks based on the popularity of the book trilogy. The movie is a combination of Truman and the Roman coliseum -- controlled mayhem for entertainment money. This giant reality show has teen age teams fighting each other til death under the control of hidden TV producers with the prize being food for the districts they represent. It is good and while it is kids killing kids, the violence, while obviously there, is visually minimized. It's a well made movie, but you have to hope kids don';t start doing this in the back yards. Or, are city neighborhood gangs already doing it in the streets.
--In 4:44 - Last day on Earth, we watch a couple face the end, getting beyond the anxiety by enjoying their havens of sex, art and skyping good-byes to family and friends, It's fair fare, and probably depressing.
--In Brake, CIA Agent Jeremy Reins (Stephen Dorff) wakens in side a sealed trunk in a moving car. He has no idea about how he got there. But soon realizes that he is the center of attraction for a group who want to mentally torture him into revealing secrets about the President -- which he has sworn never to reveal. A potential catastrophe on the brink.

Almost Near: Chapter 65 continues. --Tucker turns back towards the window, blocking out Samantha's rants. He doesn't like screaming. She is yelling something about how she left him before they were to get married and ran away because he was molesting little girls in town. He only heard noise now as he looked down and watched detective Sparrow walk into their hotel. He turned. "Hi Sheila, Mom's noisy, isn't she?" Sheila latched onto her Moms leg. He puled a small revolver out of his jacket. "I think it's time we all go over to see Rebecca. Don't you think that's a good idea, Sheila. She looked at him with fear in her eyes, and slowly shook her head. "Good. I thought you'd agree. Little girls always agree with me."
Samantha stopped talking when she saw the gun. She reached down and wrapped her arms around Sheila. "Don't do anything crazy Tommy.
"Don't call me Tommy."
"Ok, Tucker. Let's just go and see Beck." Samantha looked calm. but inside she was terrified, not necessarily about the danger, but about what she just remembered about her Tommy Lambert. The awful truths this man and even her father, which she had been blocking out since the day she left for any place not like New Castle. She ended up in Little Rick, and thought Rudy was her savior. "Comon' Sheil," She turned so she wouldn't have to look at that man she thought she was gone forever.
"Wait!" The mother and daughter stopped. Tucker came over and cracked the door. He turned to Samantha. "Let's go. He shoved the gun into her ribs. To the Stairwell, Run."

The Answer:

--Hunger out did Twilight Saga in Advanced Sales. The top five all time box office giants are Avatar, Titanic, The Dark Knight, Star Wars IV, Shrek 2, ET, Star Wars I, Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Man's Chest, Toy Story 3 and Spiderman.

Frankly, I never felt hot one bit during this week of weatherman rants.

Have a spectacular weekend.

Mike Kelly for President!

Today's Tids Issue 2,411

Opening Stuff:

The Republicans are doing exactly what the Dems did in the eighties -- splintering the party into opposing narrowly defined groups. Even those groups that basically agree with each other on the need to slash the size of the giant federal blob that's suffocating the potential for creative minds, disagree fiercely on the means to their noble end. Add to that the millions of Americans who'll vote for anything that moves with a smile on its face and makes promises of wealth without responsibility, and you are probably assuring that an inept President get reelected by default. In other words, the Republicans are doing exactly what the Dems hoped they would.

The simple logic Department:
This must be a movie set! It couldn't be Congress. Nobody makes sense like this in Congress. Check it out:
http://pawatercooler.com/v3/?p=22696

All I ask for going forward is to always have a kitchen big enough for a Cuisinart Toaster Oven.

Yesterday was the 66th anniversary of the Japanese Surrender ending WWII. It was one of the truly euphoric days in US, and world history. I'll never forget running around the neighborhood.

The Question:
Double Bonus Day: 1. We are supposed to be in a new era of convenience and communication. But in the not too distant past...lots of merchants regularly brought their products to the front door. Name five things that people up through the fifties could always count on being available in the neighborhood. 2. Ben Afleck actually directed a movie titled -- "I killed my lesbian wife; Hung her on a meathook; Now I have a 3 picture deal from Disney". No kidding! Fortunately he could also act. Name five of his pics and 3 that he produced.

The Headlines:

--It is Expected That Death Total Of 5 Will Rise In Aftermath Of Indiana State fair Stage Collapse; 14 in Hospital Considered Very critical.
--Google To Buy Motorola Mobility For $12.5 Billion; Move Expected To Put Android Software On Popularioty Par With Apple's I-Stuff.
--Red Sox Fab Wins PGA Tournament; Pat Bradley Nephew Keegan Wins In His First Major Appearance.
--Stock Futures Rising Prior To Week's Opening.
--Wave Of Death And Violence Rolling Across Iraq.
--Former Al Gore Supporter Rick Perry Throws hat In Ring As Staunch Conservative.
--Bachman Shows Her Campaign Is Well Oiled; Wins Iowa, Forces Pawlenty Out.

Back to More Stuff:
The new rule that allows NFL officials to review every touchdown could make for some very long games. It seemed like it took about five minutes to review the first two TD's in the Pat's-Jax preseason game. And that game didn't count! Shoot me.

New Gallop Poll --Obama Approval ratings by Religious segment; Muslims - 80%; Jewish - 65%. Atheists, Agnostics et.al. - 60%; Catholics - 50%; Protestants - 37%; Mormons - 25%. Hmmmm.

In the future, I expect that marriage licenses will be granted after the submission of blood tests...and credit rating scores. "I didn't know you owed $55,000 on credit cards!"

Sugar-Free chocolate, ice cream and other tasty sweet delights have come long way from the early days if inedible "treats".

One of my favorite all time "Cowboy and Indian" movies was the 1950 film - Ambush.

I have never been inclined to buy nostalgia based CD collections of music from my youth. I just hum to myself. I'm more apt to spend money on music that would be a new discovery for me. why would I ever want a collection of Connie Francis, Kay Starr and nat King Cole?

I was dismayed over the weekend by the rants of sports experts about the preponderance of "No Names" on the PGA leaderboard. Some of these so-called sports guru's actually said the had not heard of them?* Why are they on the air? Did they stop to think that maybe the unlikely leaders were there because the "Big names" sucked; and that the Steeles, Dufners and Bradleys were better! How great was that final round anyhow! Could the celebrity factor have made it more exciting? I don't think so. *(BTW, Steele and Bradley had both won a tournament this year and Dufner was one of the hot players through May.)

It is much the same problem that is rampant through out our national system of matters of choice. Especially in this apparent new era of celebrity Presidents. People are looking for starlight over qualities of character; making them more easily led.

With marriages and the bearing of children coming in later and later years, it's hard to know when looking at a family whether it's kids are with parents or grandparents.

Almost Near: Chapter 34 continues. --Five minutes later Sam broke out of her trance, peering more closely at different scenes and places as we entered into town. Still not talking. Still distant.
"Turn left".
"What?"
"Turn left. I want you to turn left"
Tucker knew where left would take them. There were not many options in a small village. It would take them to that one particular front door that had so many vivid, final, painful memories for him. Would the presence of her there reopen the pleasant ones?
"Why do you want to go this way."
"It just feels right to me. I don't know."
"Why were you so silent back there?"
"Was I silent? Maybe I was dreaming. Small towns do that to me." She reached over and pulled his right hand away from the steering wheel, grasping it tightly. Looking at him, smiling, she said, "You like you belong in this town."
He wondered whether this seeming familiarity of her own town would be good for her. Or send her crashing.
"Stop!" He felt her hand grow warmer and tighter as her home, that home that he knew as part of both of their lives, loomed powerfully before them.
Suddenly, she dropped his had as though it were a burning log. "Get away from me Tommy."

The Answer: 
1. How about the milkman, the bakery guy, the knife sharpener man, the fresh fish guy, the Good Humor Man and the potato chip service. I bet you can name more. 2. Fortunately the 1993 lesbian meathook fiasco was only 13 minutes long and he is still after 18 years deeply embarrassed. He lept upon the red carpet with his pal and co-partner Matt Damon after Good Will Hunting. Some of his other starring rolls that I remember were in The Town, State of Play, Jersey Girl, Paycheck, The Sum of All Fears, Shakespear in Love, Pearl Harbor, Boiler Room and Reindeer games. He has been in 39, so you probably have your own favorite, Produced movies were Third Wheel, Reporter, Feast and Speakeasy. he also wroite and directed "Gone baby Gone".

What's with all of this nostalgia stuff? Maybe Mike Kelly thinking like the sensible fifties made me do it.

I always laugh at the self-anointed NBA star who says he wants to be traded to a winning team! As one fifth of the team, he is part of the problem!

Yanquiz go Home.

Today's Tids Issue 2,216
Opening Stuff:

Yesterday, Times Square Bomber Faisal Shahzad did exactly what most intelligent observers said would happen if the misguided Obama/Halder plan to bring Gitmo prisoners to NYC for trial was to occur. He used the trial for a stage. He had absolutely no remorse and enjoyed the time in the spotlight. Among other things he said; “Brace yourselves, because the war with Muslims has just begun, Consider me the first droplet of blood that will follow.”

Muslims? I didn’t think we were at war with Muslims. I must have misread the newspaper.

It is not news to learn that a new AP/GfK poll says “White Working Democrats” flock to Republican party. Hard working Dems have always migrated towards the Republicans when their own party rears its Liberal head. These people, in the main, believe strongly in a conservative work effort. In fact, the movement of working Democrats to the GOP side is one reason why Ronald Reagan did so well. They were the Reagan Republicans.

I know most of you don’t read the daily novel installments – Through the Same Eyes. But, if you do, you can tell by today that it is just about over, and I’ll be looking for a new topic. If you have any suggestions, I’m always all ears. The next couple of installments will be the wrapping up loose ends Epilogue. In case you are interested, the finished novel will contain about 82,000 words, 429,000 characters, 1,100 paragraphs and 5,700 lines! Talk about arthritic fingers!

The Question:
Today in 1927 marked the arrival of the first talking mmovie. What was it? Who was the well known singer star? Name five big hit songs of the star.

The Headlines:

--Patriots Trade Randy Moss To Vikes For Third Round Pick.
--IMF Sees World Economy Gaining; Strong Asia Revival Will Offset New Growth Downgrade For US And Weaknesses In Europe.
--Market Futures Down On Poor Private Sector Hiring report.
--It Looked Like Science Fiction As Toxic Red Tidal Wave Overwhelms Hungarian Town.
--Gunmen Attack 25 More NATO Trucks In Pakistan.
--South Korea Says NK’s Nuke Threat Dangerous.
--September Retail Sales Edge Up On Back-to-School purchases; Luxury Purchases Lack Luster.
--Maine Lobstermen fighting Virulent Lobster Skin Disease; Disease More Cosmetic, Not Affecting Succulent Meat.

Back to More Stuff:
You probably have heard of the fiery Anne Hutchinson, one of the founders of Rhode Island and certainly one of the framers of beliefs that served as the basis for much of the 1st Amendment and separation of church and state. She was put on trial for...well…being too smart…for a woman! She had many supporters including the wealthiest man in the Colonies at the time, William Coddington. She could have gotten off with a warning or at least a quick dunking in the town square. But, her innate desire to speak the truth kept on getting in deeper with her accusers. So, in the end she was convicted and received the ultimate punishment of the times. They took away her guns! Think about that for a minute.

The only acknowledged Socialist Senator, Bernie Saunders of Vermont, used his time on CBS Sunday morning to rail against the rich with true Bolshevik revolution rhetoric. Forgetting that without the trust fund babies and the super rich NYC refugees, VT could easily be the poorest state in the union. It’s is just a fact.

So, did you hear about the blond who had the longest password in computer history –MickyMousePlutoHughyLouieDeweyDonaldGoofySacramento? Yup, she said it needed eight characters and one capital.

Unemployment in RI remains among the highest in the nation because the extended unemployment benefits are among the highest in the nation. And definitely higher than hourly wages for many jobs that are open and available. Good economies don’t have safety nets that turn into vocations.

Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 96 Continues. –I continued to hold Kent tightly in my arms amidst a growing chaos around me. I heard people running, shouting for help. I heard them calling police and ambulances. I heard bells as elevators came and went. But I just leaned down to place my ear next to Kent’s heart. To hear the final beats of his life.
I felt his hand move up to my back. It reminded me of all of the caresses. “I’m still here, “I heard him whisper. And I smiled and raised my head to see that wonderful warm grin of his that I could always see while others didn’t.
“I’ll drink a diet coke to that,“ I smiled back. I felt him scrunch his had into my back. He made me feel safe as he lay dying.
I heard him cough a couple of times. Then his chest started heaving violently, as if he were trying to find enough air to spend a few more minutes with me. And then it ended. I could no longer feel the beat of his body. I heard nothing in the background. I was over taken with deathly stillness.
I held him tightly and rocked gently.
I heard foot steps come near me and my lover. I raised my head to see a concerned Henry standing just in front of a dazed appearing Paul.
“Kent died.”
I lowered my head and caressed my memories.

I think one of the signature issues on ballots November 2 will be an RI referendum that would ask voters to drop the word Plantation form the official state name. Of course some believe that this word which at the time simply meant “big chunk of land” has too many slavery connotations. I think it would be far worse to dismiss the history of the state just to appease the guilt complex of several misguided white people. Maybe we should also ad the word “Gay” to the referendum with the hopes that it might return to its old meaning of Happy!

A guy named Mujibar was trying to get a job in India. As part of his interview he was asked to use the words “Yellow, Pink and Green” in a sentence. No problem he answered: “The telephone goes green, green. And, I pink it up and say, “Yellow, this is Mujibar”. He was made supervisor at the call center. You probably have spoken to him.

I have to say, that once past language misunderstandings, I find the tech help from India enthusiastic and useful.

The Answer: 
The movie was the Jazz Singer starring Al Jolson. His other famous songs were My Mammy, Swanee, California Here I Come, April Showers and Toot, Toot tootsie. He knew how to liven hearts, and stimulate tear ducts.

The End:

There is no truth to the rumor that activists are trying to add an amendment to the Providence Plantations name change vote that would ban Al Jolson for singing in Black face.

Maybe not so clueless.

Today's Tids Issue 2,1206

Opening Stuff:

The first 37 potato chips are the best. After that the thrill starts to fade.

The Republicans could do worse for a slogan than the words from Florida Governor primary winner Rick Scott, “Obama, Ried and Pelosi are destroying the American Dream for the next generation.” And, “We are the guardians of the American Dream.”

Thinking about Scott and people like him…true outsiders and inexperienced pols – how interesting would it be if the entire house and senate were composed with them. I’m sure the country wouldn’t fall apart and it might even get better. I’m thinking that congress is one place where experience is a negative.

The Question:
What did Tiger Woods Shoot today?

The Headlines:

--Taliban Expanding In North And West Afghan.
--One In Ten With Mortgage Face Foreclosure.
--Alaska Primary Awaits Absentee Ballot Count.
--DOW Closes Below 10,000.
--Tids Editor Decries Lack Of Real News.

Back to More Stuff:
This is one of those periods in the Stock markets when the so-called expert analysts have tons and tons of diverse knowledge, and don’t know anything.

Get this from Clueless Lane. Bonds are a scary place to be safe. Stock prices are too high. That’s right too high. Gold has no right being where it is. And cash. Even cash could be valueless. Happy yet?

How about that kid from Spain who came to the US to become a day trader. Talk about not getting around. He was just handed a back taxes bill form the IRS for $172 Million. His first reaction…”What’s the IRS.” Welcome to America.

Maybe he isn’t the Messiah after all. Here he has been on vacation for five days; Five days in which it has rained constantly. In fact, the worst vacation week of the summer. Or else, out of the goodness of his heart, he is calling for rain for the farmers. Yeah, that’s what he is doing. Calling for rain for the hard scrabble farmers of Martha’s Vineyard.

The hot new insider term of the moment on Wall Street is the Hindenburg Omen which sounds really, really scary…and it is if the market follows what has happened 1 out the 4 times a bunch of technical levels based on 52 week highs and lows are achieved. It crashes and burns. But that means 3 of 4 times nothing happens.

I was playing golf with a friend who was having an awful day. He and I hit in the same trap. Trying to cheer him up after he hit another lackluster shot, I said, “I’ll smooth out the sand for you…You deserve a rake today!” He didn’t laugh.

The biggest environmental scam is not Global Warming but the Over fishing warning constantly perpetrated by marine environmentalists. Real science says that there are plenty of fish, but obviously some care must be taken. And good fishermen, experts inthis field knowit. The rub comes from the regulations where law has set arbitrary levels of what is overfishing, and the hardworking toilers of the sea can reach it regardless if there are a lot of fish or no fish.

As all of you know, I have dubbed Wall Street “Clueless Lane” based on the inability of these high priced financial gurus to really predict anything. But then a good reader says, “Maybe they aren’t so Clueless after all. “Reports are released showing things going up; Reports released showing things going down. The guys with the control and the money release bad news so that can buy as stocks decline. Then they release some good news so stocks go up and they sell. And so it goes…” Then he adds – “In the meantime we are left holding our heads and stomachs while we should be holding our "jewels" because they have got us by the you know what’s”

The Answer:
All of the Tiger sycophants are dancing in the streets as the #1 player in the world shot a 65. Could it be that the little bit of freedom was all he needed. Is golf that simple? Not for me.

Speaking of Clueless…have you read today’s TIds?

Guilt and Shame

Today's Tids Issue 2,189
Opening Stuff:

I looked up synonyms for “diet” in my thesaurus, and found myself at words for loss.

It’s a good idea to continue keeping a cautious eye on the stock market. Remember this is still Summer, when volumes are low and the so-called “experts” are in the Hamptons or NE Islands and Capes. In addition, all of these good profit reports were mainly mixed on revenues. Will there be enough new cash flowing during this third quarter to keep the BL numbers positive in early October? October is the month! Mark that down.

I like this new Republican effort to repeal the segment of the 14th Amendment that allows illegal aliens who are stealing social services to create “anchor babies”. You will be hearing lots about this in the next two months. It’s one of those things that just makes sense. And it couldn’yt happen faster as far as I’m concerned.

The Question:
Two fading characteristics of modern society are shame and guilt. Too many people are so enabled or idolatrized that these two former safeguards against excess and irresponsibility are vanishing before our naïve eyes. But there is a difference between shame and guilt. What is it?

The Headlines:
--Ahmadinejad Unhurt In Blast Near Presidential Motorcade; Gov Officials Say Blast Just “Fireworks”; EeeeeHah!
--Oil Well Plugged; 75% of Spilled Oil Gone.
--Fired Manchester CT Man Kills 8 Fellow Employees; Blames It OIn race; Company Says He Was Stealing Beer From Company, A beer Distributor.
--Another Incumbent Falls; The November 2 “Take Out The Trash” day Rumbles On.
--Service Sector Jobs Show Increase In July.
--US Stocks Show Life On So-So Data.

Back to More Stuff:

More good photo’s are ruined when the “Time/Date Stamp” is inadvertently turned on.

The demise of “shame” is directly correlated to the rise in publicists.

You may have seen the chart that shows the % of business people in presidential cabinets and other key offices. The chart shows 0-Man at 9% versus othe r presidents – T. Roosevelt - 38%, Taft - 40%, Wilson - 52%, Harding - 49%, Coolidge - 48%, Hoover - 42%, FDR - 50%, Truman - 50%, Eisenhower - 57%, Kennedy - 30%, LBJ - 47%, Nixon - 53% , Ford - 42%, Carter - 32%, Reagan - 56%, GHWB - 51%, Clinton - 39% and GWB - 55%. Obviously this chart clearly shows the lack of experience in the real world by people in charge of telling us our real world should operate. However, I never just report findings such as these, but most to the time do additional research as to the validity. In this case I found many stories with the same numbers and one 0-Man fan disputing them. He came up with 68% private sector for Prime Time. He did this by including a couple of early career lawyers, a lot of lobbyists and heads of not for profit quasi-governmental agencies. So, I guess the 0-Man supporter has proven what all of us fear – The 0-Admin knows big government.

There is a distinct possibility that fresh hot off the griddle versions of Tids in the morning will be missing the next few days as I take a little time off. This means that TTSE will be back next Monday when I return for sure. As we begin the drive to an exciting, unexpected an tearful ending. I can hardly wait to see how it ends myself!

I would define "amorailty" as the absense of shame and guilt.

Any purposeful misuse of words to produce dry humor is purely pun-intentional.

The more a government spends, the more the citizens become reliant on the government.

Is August over yet?

The Answer:
The main difference between guilt and shame can be characterized by the two phrases “What I did” versus “Who I am” Shame is more often the emotional reaction to guilt. Guilt may be described feeling responsible for actions we regret. Shame on the other hand may be defined as a painful emotion caused by consciousness of guilt, shortcoming or impropriety. Shame is a much stronger more profound emotion than guilt and can be quite destructive. Of course severe guilt over matters out of our control is also very destructive. A book could be written just about these two words. And many novels often are.

The End:
But, then I may feel guilty and a little ashamed, and start writing the Tids anyhow. You never know when an addiction is going to jump up and grab you.

Do you ever think that illegal aliens feel guilty when the US Government reaches deep inside your wallet to give them a check?

Stay awake.

Today's Tids Issue 2,174
Opening Stuff:

The big problem the Republicans face in their effort to take back Congress is that while the folks are dissatisfied with the Democrat controlled Congress, they seem to give the GOP higher “Unfavorable” marks. So, maybe the next Congress will be predominantly independent.

Have you gotten a sense that 0-Man has decided that too much talk isn’t a good thing. Or, is it that the news people have decided that reporting too much of his inane chatter isn’t a good thing for their hero.

The Question:
Name five famous western outlaws.

The Headlines:
--NJ’s Governor Chris Christie Signs Landmark Legislation Which Will Give Citizens Control Over State And Town Spendaholics.
--Gov., BP Halt test For Further Analyzing.
--Bailouts Still haven’t Reached Down To Smaller Banks.
--Billboard Linking Obama To Hitler And Lenin Drawing Complaints.
--Eurozone Industrial Output Up.
--Bristol And Levi Engaged.

Back to More Stuff:

Who woulda thunk it, that the key to understanding race relations was the bellybutton.

Let’s leave well enough alone Department:
The great chefs are ruining the world. They fail to see the greatness of simple purity. We have seen them muck up the basic vanilla ice cream, the perfect cheese pizza and of course the classic martini by adding just about anything available in the kitchen pantry. Or trying to create a lobster roll that doesn’t need to be improved upon. And now, they are going after a great hamburger. Why would they want o improve on perfectly grilled good piece of meat with cheddar cheese melted on top. But they are saying “For a better burger, skip the ‘so-so’ toppings.”

Is habitant for Humanity really an efficient way to help the poor, or is it just a good way for people with a hammer to feel good about themselves?

Dhimmitude is the Muslim system of controlling non-Muslim populations conquered through Jihad (Specifically it is a method of taxing non-Muslims for tolerating their presence). I didn’t know we were conquered, but Muslims sure came out a winner under the new Health Care outrage. Apparently because Muslims believe that insurance is gambling, they will not be forced to sign up for insurance or be fined or worse like all other people. But, Muslims will still receive free health care. Anybody for conversion? And, whatever happened to separation of church and state?

But then, Barack Hussein is a Muslim. And remember the original opposition to the Irish Catholic Kennedy was that he was liable to put the Pope in the cabinet. And he proved to be capable of not bending to his religion.

Another Kennedy, Robert Junior is hitting divorce court.

Jeff Foxworthy says you are Taliban if you think TV is dangerous but routinely carry explosives in your clothing; Or, you refine heroin for a living but have a moral objection to liquor; Or you’ve always had a crush on your neighbor’s goat.

Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 82. –As soon as I saw Sarah turn the corner I walked quickly to Izzy’s office. It didn’t appear to me that things went well. But then, Izzy probably never had to deal with the real Sarah when she was being Maggie. Izzy is a strong woman, but Sarah/Maggie probably didn’t get to her position by being a pussy cat. Before I could sit down, Izzy started, “Well Kent, she’s your girl and she doesn’t seem to be responding the way you told me she would.” She was on a tear. “We may have to get rid of GenInst as a supplier.”
--“You mean play hardball with her even if it hurts my operation.” I stared at her. I wasn’t going to allow her to let her ego preempt good judgment. “Sarah Durham is tougher than you may think.” I continued. “She’s the kind of person who watches you closely and lets you have your way as long as it is the way she wants you to go. It is the efficient way to do business. She loses little battles but never wars.” I waited a beat or two.” So let’s not over-react. Canning her husband’s company may appear to give you leverage, but it will only make her more resistant to talking logically. You don’t want your main financial benefactor an adversary. Besides, we need Paul Durham’s technology. We cannot be successful without it.” Izzy didn’t react.
“It seems as though Sarah Durham wasn’t playing straight with you. Our contacts tell me she went directly to the Sherriff on her way up here from Boston. And she was there a while. Maybe I should be talking to Jack Wiley. Maybe we don’t need her at all.” Then she smiled at me. It was not a pretty smile..

There is nothing as soothing as a foggy day by the sea. Especially after two weeks of unrelenting sun.

The Answer:
Billy the Kid and Jesse James have to be at the top of the list. Then there is Belle Starr, Butch Cassidy, The Sundance Kid, Kid Curry, Sam bass, William Quantrill, John Wesley Hardin and Charles Bolles (Black Bart)

The End Stuff:
I have this gnawing feeling in my stomach that the Tea Party Movement peaked too early. And the people who want to keep the madness in Washington going are counting on the apathy and short attention spans of Americans. We have to continually keep waking us up.

Newt Gingrich for President.

What would Abe think?

Today's Tids Issue 2,109
Opening Stuff:

Is there anything better than smelling super clean sheets hung out to dry on a crisp, sunny, breezy April day! That’s the way I felt yesterday and long into the night after spending a few hours walking upon rolling, greening hills above a white capped churning sea. Like a clean sheet. Like my body was cleansed of 4 months of winter’s indoor air.

If I lived in one of those neighborhoods that banned outdoor clothes lines, I’d move!

Abraham Lincoln died 145 years ago today. It got me thinking…what is a Republican supposed to be anyhow? Or a Democrat for that matter. After all, the spinners and media experts have muddled the meaning and Raison d'être for both parties. The reason it seems confusing today is because it has always been confusing. Today the Dems say they are the party of Jefferson. Yet, it was the Jefferson Democratic-Republican party that served as the basis for the Republican party. It was the originally the Jeff D-R’s against the Hamilton Federalists. Around the time of Monroe many federalists broke away to join Republicans (Called Whigs) in a unified party that coalesced against a formalized Andrew Jackson Democrat party. Today, the parties are more defined by their extreme Liberal and Conservative sides. The official GOP was founded in 1854 and focused against slavery. They became a combination of Northeast evangelicals and northwest agriculturalists. The three influences on the party were: 1.The change from the Calvinist view of predestination to individualism -- people finding there own salvation. 2. The Whigs brought a view of industry protectionism. 3. The third most important influence was “Nativism” – the concern about an influx of paupers with ties to the Vatican and out of control immigration to work in the more industrialized urban areas.

John McPhereson informs us that the one thing a woman doesn’t want to hear from her blind date while walking hand in hand down Main Street. “Hey, I made that license plate.”

TheQuestion:
Now we know that Abe died 145 years ago today. What famous atheist existentialist died 30 years ago today? What is paradoxical about him?

The Headlines:
--Volcanic Ash From Iceland Shuts Down London’s Heathrow; US Flights Put On Hold.
--Unemployment Claims Rise Unexpectedly For Second Straight Week; Market Drifting.
--Battles Waging In Congress Over New Wall Street Regs.
--Russia Suspends All Adoptions To US Families.
--6,000* Tea Partiers Join Sarah On Boston Common Footsteps Away From Original Tea Dumping.
--Tea Party Marks Taxation Without Representation Day With Big Rally In The Town they Love To Hate.
--New AP-GfK Poll** Have Obama Favorability Lower And Higher resistance TO New Health care.
*Boston Globe Estimate.
**The AP Poll Above At 49% is also the average for 8 polls. Fox News Poll, the earliest in the latest average segment 4/5 to Present, has “0’s” lowest numbers at 43. Note: The Fox number is similar to CBS-NYT in previous poll segment at 44% taken just prior to the Fox poll. CBS is now at 50%.

Back to More Stuff:

Speaking of Poll numbers, if I were the GOP, I would not get overly excited about touting the bad economy as their main message for a hopeful November takeover. There are signs that it could backfire in the 6 months remaining. Better issues are the mounting debt, one sided Government, declining American value system and the end of the Bush tax cuts.

Talk about gold rushes…you ain’t seen nothing like what you are going to see in the coming months on Wall Street. The banks are starting to hire again, and the word is a out that bonus promises will be near astronomical as the big players try to woo back “Masters of the Universe”

Bumper Sticker: “Except for ending slavery, Facism, Nazism and Communism, war has never solved anything.”

Poor Katie. I could see it coming, because it appears that the voters like the so called cute guys. (Or as one reader replied yesterday to my “Too cute to go” comment with – “As in Too big to fail?”) You just have to hope that Siobhan and BoSox are in the top 2 or 3. Just for some variety over the increasingly annoying drone of all the men. While have I always liked Katie for her bright and upbeat aura, and certainly for the voice, I had this sense that she wasn’t as natural while performing. At times her emotions exhibited a staged appearance.

Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 66 continues. –Kent didn’t look as friendly as he tried to sound. But I was answering his questions. Why shouldn’t, I thought. Then I realized what I had just said to myself. Before I would never have thought anything even remotely negative about what Kent said or did. But, at this moment I was wondering. I even noticed a flicker of out of character concern when I mentioned Henry and my thoughts about Laura, the niece.
Out of the nowhere he burst out, “I met Laura once at a restaurant while she was there with her uncle. I even thought of having her over to interview as my cleaning person. I guess it was a good idea that I didn’t. What do you think?”
Why did he tell me that? “It appears that you used your brilliant mind well and made your usual sound judgment,” I answered in a joshing manner. His foot crept further up my thigh and I shuddered. Strangely though, it didn’t stop me thinking about new reservations.
I continued to question, now spurned on with this new information. “What kind of person is she when she isn’t acting the churlish teen?”
“Oh, she is almost pleasant at times.” He said very quickly. And then again abruptly, “Almost finished with that sandwich?” He looked deeply into my eyes. And I felt that incredible yearning, even as he removed his foot.”

Why is it easy for me to believe that the union dominated Admin is behind all of this negative Publicity about Japanese cars. Like how much PR did you see about the recently proclaimed “Worst built car in America” – The Cadillac Escalade.

In reviewing Tea Party affairs newspapers invariably used the expression the “Conservative Tea Party Movement”, hoping obviously to lump them in the extreme or radical categories. It would be more accurate ( Accuracy is probably too much to ask from today’s’ highly agenda-ized “journalist”) if they said citizens for a return to common sense in America.

Every Census commercial I see just makes me madder and madder. They represent to me much of what is wrong with America. In your face assaults on American values and principles. For instance the most recent TV travesty showed what first to be a segment of our people in a city happily going about their chores and a daily activities. But, as the Camera pulled back the glimpse of a white grandmother type was soon overwhelmed by a total black populous with the announcer saying, “be sure to fill out your census or your Government won’t give you money.”

The Answer:
The famous French philosopher Jean Paul Sartre died April 15, 1980. He became a Marxist, but rejected much of communism especially with regard to its restrictions on the individuality of people. He was an avowed atheist yet he “Claimed that religion remained with him as an emotional commitment. He used religious writings and tended to regard religion in a positive light.” Three of his more famous quotes are; --“Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does.” –“Hell is other people.” –“Freedom is what you do with what's been done to you.”

The End:
I wonder what Sartre would have thought about the Census commercials?

Politics of snow storms and gravy

Today's Tids Issue 2,064
The Opening Stuff:

There is something very special to a Global Warming skeptic and dietary pragmatist about watching the wind-down of a blizzard eating broccoli smothered in rich pork gravy. Luscious gravy that heightens the taste buds while preparing the body for a walk outside into yet one more Arctic blast. Hey…wait a minute…I thought Arctic blasts were supposed to be warm.

Ellen DeGeneres says that Simon is meaner than she thought. Ellen must be one of those people who thinks telling the truth is mean. How do you ever get what is best if you continue to justify mediocrity. I mean, Ellen thinks she can dance because her audience’s manic applause keeps those little feet moving.

The Question:
What three products do consumers recommend most often to each other?

The Headlines:
--New Winter Storm Reburies Middle Atlantic; Fizzles In New England.
--Iran Proclaims New Success In Uranium Enrichment.
--Observers Expecting Big Afghan Offensive Soon; 0-Man Troop Build Up Ready To Move.
--0-Man Says US Will Add 95 Thousand Jobs Per Month.
--Psychiatrists Renaming Mental Diseases.
--World Markets Rise Cautiously As All Eyes Are On Greece.

More Stuff:

If a conservative wrote a lyrical piece about his love of trees and rolling green hills and grassy, stone wall caressed fields that flow gently down to a calming sea, do you think that Liberals would accept it as a poem?

The way Google is going, Eric Schmidt may be the first President of the Universe instead of 0-Man. Yesterday the Search, and everything-else-it-seems, giant announced their entry into a fiber optics broadband delivery service. Why do I have this feeling that we are all being gobbled by Google and don’t know it.

Don’t you think that God is sending Washington DC a message about Global Warming?

If anybody thinks that Republicans are going to help out Democrats with health care compromises about eight months before a very critical election day, they must be smokin’ something. And if Republicans think that Democrats are going to give them some credit for being good guys and gals for cooperating, then they must be stoned out of their gourds.

I see where London England is designating a huge area of land in the city as an outdoor workout center for seniors. Just what I would love as an old person…being herded into a playground to perform regulated exercises. Think of the noise as the bones creak and the participants groan in unison. This could get ugly.

The Novel:

Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 54. –Kent is the best medicine, I was thinking as the nurse walked in, “Ok Sarah, time to start walking again.” She laughed and I felt more buoyed than ever. I immediately pulled back my arms to give me leverage to sit up by myself. I thought it was pretty fluid, for in seconds I was sitting staring at her. “Let’s rumble!” I said. We both laughed. I was ready to get out of this place. “Ok super girl, be careful. You look like you have taken some energy pills, but believe me you’ll feel weak.” Yeah, sure I thought. She doesn’t know me. I swung my legs around to the side so I was sitting now looking at the floor. Now I was tired. But, I was ready. “How do your legs feel”, she said as she squeezed my foot. “Pretty good. I can feel your hand”. “Good”, and now she put her arm behind my back and nudged me forward til my toes touched the floor. “Oooh, that’s cold.” “And that is good Sarah. Feeling the cold is what normal people do. Ok, drop down…slowly…slowly. Now stand and put weight on you legs. Good. How does that feel”? “It feels wonderful”, I answered quickly, “But, I’m a little dizzy.” Just stand there a moment. Feel better?” “Yup, I said” “Ok, take a step.” I put my left foot forward and then my right. I felt proud of myself.” Then I heard, “You look more beautiful than ever.” I looked up and there was my proud husband Paul, and the kids starting to clap their hands.

More Stuff:

In Rhode Island, the city/town with the supposed worst school system has students bright enough to be the perennial state chess champions. Think about that for a second. That’s kind of an interesting paradox. The question in education has always been though: Where is the problem? Is it bad parents? Is it a bad environment? Is it bad teachers? Unfortunately, the answer is always a firm yes to the question -- Do we need more money? I’m a huge believer in the bell curve and the distribution of human attributes. In every given population center there are good brains and less good brains. We know that in this poorest performer in education there are great brains. Contemporary wisdom often says take the good brains out and put them in so called better schools. What happens to the promising brains left behind that need to be fertilized? Basically, we need teachers for the parents. Education has to start where life starts. I’d better get out of here before I say something brainless.

The people who can’t figure out how to run a football play-off system, often using the excuse that they don’t want the “student-athletes” out of the class room too long, are proposing a 96 team NCAA basketball tournament. This by necessity will keep about 500 more kids out of the classroom for extended periods of time. The United States of Hypocrisy motors on.

About a week or so ago I wrote that most of the big web operations are adding a “Friends” component to their sites to take advantage of the social networking craze. I implied with some sarcasm that the idea of friends you don’t know is nutty. Aha! Now we read that many are dropping out and feeling “relieved” to have their privacy back again. This has always been too much of a bad thing. And no…I’m not interested in whether or not you love gravy.

The Answer:

People look to others most often for advice on buying automobiles. After autos at 66% come grocery stores at 64% and banks at 62%. How often do people change banks? BTW, more and more people are leaving giant banks for small community banks.

The End:

The Tids Entertainment editor has been keeping an eye on American Idol. As you remember, the Tids has often been a fairly on-target of analyzer of talent. We do it from the heart of a simple soul. So far, I’m not seeing boffo. Everybody sounds the same to this tin ear.

Td's and Ad's

Today's Tids Issue 2,060

Opening Stuff:

The Super Bowl had a winner this year. It was a fine competitive affair. And, to this viewer, with a Peyton Manning in the wings it is never over til the confetti engulfs the field. While Brees was uncanny after the first quarter, I have to say that a couple of dropped Manning passes caught could have easily changed the outcome. The opening patriotic songs were good. While Carrie was robust, I thought she strained a bit. The Queen was a little to jazzy for my taste. The “Who” was what it is, with people who didn’t know them loving their discovery and old Who fans crying in nostalgia. Personally, I thought it was a set up. CBS had the game telecast and couple of the best known Who themes are signatures for the top series, CSI and cast offs. A little subtle advertising here? I didn’t get very excited about the ads. Men walking around in underwear is a turn-off. Rather ugly, really. I remember two commercials. The one I liked best was the Simpson’s Coke ad. The other I remember was the Doritos in the neck by the protective snack addict. Most of the rest were old themes with no surprises or bad attempts at humor. But, the game was great. And that is all I care about anyhow.

I hate long openers like the above. But you do what you gotta do.

The Republicans made the mistake of complaining about the lack of transparency. Now Prime Time will be seeking TV time for just about every little issue. He loves it, and will use it as a campaign tactic. Because, when he is at the podium in his house, he will always get the last word. These forums could diminish whatever advantage the GOP has gained during the past year. Be careful about what you wish for.

The Question:

I remember well how I became fascinated by Classical music as about a 7 yo. listening to The Lone Ranger’s nightly radio program. You could probably name one overture that was a well known theme and popularized by the program.. But, there were two others that often filled out the musical background so important in radio. Name the pieces and the composers.

The Headlines:

--Bourbon Street Alive All Night Long After Saints Man(ning)-Handle Colts; Breeze MVP; Coach Payton Pulls Out Tricks To Keep Peyton Off Field.
--Prime Time To Hold Televised “New Vision for Health Care” Reform Developmental Forum; Rahm Emanuel To Crack Opening Monologue Jokes With Music By Stevie Wonder.
--Homelessness Rears Ugly Head In Job Rich North Dakota As Millions Flock There For Work.
--Costa Rica Elects First Woman President; Arias Protégé Laura Chinchilla Wins In Landslide After Vowing To Keep Moving Forward With Free Market Policies.
--Five Dead, Many Injured, In Giant Connecticut Power Plant Explosion; House Fire In RI Kills Four Young Adults And Infant.
--Ugly News About Past Forces Yet Another Illinois Pol Out of Race; Dem Lt. Gov. Scott Cohen Ousted Under Pressure.
--Obama Says He Has Not Ruled Out NYC Terrorist Trial.
--Palin Hasn’t Ruled Out 2012 Run.

More Stuff:

Greg Cravens reminds us that in the past the business maxim for success was “Find a need and fill it”. And, that in today’s new Internet world it is “Create an obsession and feed it”.

One media wag says about the Tea Party, “Their harsh rhetoric keeps them on the fringe.” The harsh rhetoric is simply the honest truth that the myopic don’t want to understand.”

Friday, speaking on Health Care, 0-Man urged a “…methodical, open process…). Isn’t this same guy who last spring was saying ‘August or else’…I mean ‘October at any cost’…or was that, ‘It’s got to be done by the State of the Union’. The ragtag health care bill died under the wait of bad decisions made under the pressure of unnecessary deadlines.

Saturday night Sarah Palin did what she does best, Cheerleading! The crowd loved her enthusiasm and folksy approach to the big picture. By the end of the rousing speech, the audience was shouting “Run, Sarah run!” A lot of people like to criticize her folksiness as not being “Presidential”. I’ve seen “Presidential” and I’m not impressed. I’d rather have “This is me and you’re stuck with it…but I’ll listen and I’ll get things done” than a slick well-handled “Suit” any day. Of course the problem with Sarah is substance. She has supposedly been on a cram course of recent months and I still see her struggling to easily find good from the heart…and brain…answers. She appears to have been basically memorizing sound bites for each given situation or possible question. She is dynamic in her support for the America I have always liked best, so I’ll keep an eye on her.

The Novel:

Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 23 continues. –“This is obviously a meeting I don’t think I’m looking forward to”, opened Isabelle in a light manner. The State Police Detectives didn’t smile, but I did. I didn’t know how much Phillips knew, but I didn’t want to scare her away. “My body guards here are Lieutenant Detective Roger Cook and Detective Henry Balsinger.” She smiled back. ” We don’t have all of the answers, but through a series of coincidences we have tied together some apparently harmless vandalizing in Fosterville to a major concern that could be happening here in your company. A supplier of your company, Paul Durham of GenInst had felt some strange, unrealistic pressure from your man Bromsky. After Bromsky’s mysterious interest in his business, he noticed significant discrepancies in the research of your two leading scientists, Bromsky and Kent Middleton. As you might know, Middleton is on a town committee and I know him. I presented our evidence to him this morning after I called you. Basically, we think that Seymore Bromsky could be experimenting on humans. Specifically, based on further interviews with the Niece of Bromsky, we feel certain that the humans are some missing teenagers. Isabelle was stony. Which is exactly what I expected.

More Stuff:

I don’t think the seas are rising…I think all of this GW BS is weighing down the earth and it is sinking.

If Obama thinks he’s “I’m not an ideologue” like he told Republican congress people in that recent folksy get-together, he should take a closer look at his list of radicalized Czars. It’s kind of scary. Not to mention the fact that the whole concept appears to be an attempt at circumventing the “Checks and Balances” system that has been so important to America since the country’s inception.

You know what bothers me…the way people love crapping on drug companies. The way I figure it, without them, there’s a pretty good chance that I and people I love would probably not be around. I know what you are thinking…Great! No more Tids. But what about the good people?

Ah, sports in America. But then, USC has to recruit adlolescents now because they’ll probably be on probation for the next several years after new Lane “Darkside” Kipfin gets finished with the program. The next time somebody wants to report creepy old guys hanging around school yards, they had better be sure they aren’t USC scouts.

Are we getting into second phase of the “unopened-financial-statements-sanity-preservation” strategy? Buy bonds. If you can find some that are affordable.

When I envision a picture of an angry young man, I see Timothy Geithner.

And in RI, “Numbnuts”, Congressman Patrick Kennedy, says that “The election of Scott Brown was a joke”. The latest proof that he doesn’t get it, and never has. Looking for a Joke Patrick…

If harsh rhetoric makes you “Fringe”, than all of those Bush bashers must be fringe too.

How come when 0-Man wants to reach the “people” people, he tries to get folksy like Sarah Palin?

The Answer:

I expect that you all guessed Rossini’s William Tell Overture. But, also very prevalent throughout the series are Mendelssohn’ s Hebrides (Fingals Cave) Overture and Franz Liszt Les Preludes. Occasionally they would mix in a little incidental Bizet. So, that will giove you something to hum about today.

The End:

Like all businesses, the US economy needs customers. Plain and simple. We have to export more so the producers can hire more services here at home. Hey…wait a minute we don’t have any more producers.