If I fry it, they will come.

Today's Tids Issue 2,643
Opening Stuff:

You go your way. I'll go mine. And I promise I won't tell Twitter.

As I look out the window watching the morning sun repeatedly thrust against low hanging clouds only to be repelled by the looming grey, I know I can still go outside and feel the warmth upon my back. But nooooo, I'm stuck here writing this mess.

"An emboldened Tea Party says 'Romney had better move to the right'." That sounds like a threat if I'm reading the above news report headline correctly. My initial thought was , what are they going to do , not vote for Mitt and hand the Presidency back to "0". But see, that's not what the Tea Party said at all. It's just misrepresentation be the headline writer once again. What the TP actually said was "If we can control both houses, and if Romney is elected, he will be forced to become more conservative."

The Question:

What did Gore Vidal actually do?

The Headlines:

--US Futures Brighter After Draghi (ECB) Remarks.freedom of speechfina

--Holmes Psychiatrist Warned His School Of His Aggressive Tendencies.

--New Jobless Claims Up Over Last Week.

--Empirical President Obama Has Signed Secret Order Authorizing US Support For Syrian Rebels.

--One Half Of US Now Considered Drought Disaster Area.

--San Bernadino Third Cal City Filing For Bankruptcy; $1 Billion In Debt.

People ate chicken yesterday. Readers reported from round the country that their CFA's were lines-round-the-block packed. Even up in communist Massachusetts the real people turned out in droves to enjoy clucking in triumph over hysterical intolerance. Even now the press continues to fan the flame by using the Phrase "Against gay marriage" instead of what Cathy actually said which was reiterating support for marriage as defined in the bible.

Sudafed: Brought litigation against a government official. Rubberneck: What you do to calm down your wife. Primate: What a wife does to remove mate from in front of TV. Selfish: What a worker at a seafood store does.

The headline this morning reads, "Trading firm Knight Capital Seeking Financing after erroneous trading position wipes out $440 Million". Is that anything like the Australian (Reported in Tids last week) who hid his sole assets of $15,637 in the "oven" instead of under the mattress? Stupid is as stupid does.

Note: Many people in lines waiting for chicken were there, not to support a stance on traditional marriage, but out of anger against the intolerance of groups (And small minded mayors) who promote aggression and threaten retribution against those who speak freely.

Instead of cleaning my glasses, I just read the morning paper on the IPad.

Newt Gingrich tells the Tea Party that Romney is already on the right.

The Answer:

Gore was basically most famous for being a liberal darling, maybe because his first big novel "The City and the Pillar" was best known as the first to feature unambiguous  homosexuality. Vidal spent a good portion of his younger adult life trying to figure out what his name was. His dad was a super athlete, All-American from West Point and Olympian, while his mom was basically a wealthy playgirl who at one time was married to Jackie K's step dad. Vidal was a prolific writer in many fields. He wrote of his experience as a sailor in a WWII novel and had Broadway hits The Best man and Visit to a Small Planet. He wrote for TV and was a screenwriter on Ben Hur. He probably achieved more contemporary popularity with the controversial Myra Breckenridge. He was above all a literary, cultural fad that never faded. He never stopped writing and the subjects are varied from pillorying Ronald Reagan to analyzing Armageddon. But, through it all he was best known as the champion of sexual liberation. The power of his essays may be one reason why liberals are so intolerant today.

The Obama executive branch is beginning to look smaller and smaller.

And I thought the people in greater Chicago were married traditionally and went to church on Sundays. Sorry Rom -- silly me.

"Let's roll."

Today's Tids Issue #2,417
Opening Stuff:It seems likely now that the news media will over-report the anniversary of 911. Perhaps even turning it into a political harangue instead of the intended incredible solemn moment. All I really need from them actually is about 5 minutes of revisiting the scene of the burning tower and the plane crashing into the second tower to remind me of the devastation. The loved one's lost. The courage of the responders. The fear of a city and then a nation. The Anger. The resolve of the American people. I'm just afraid that too many politicians will be telling me how I should feel. It's already in there. It will never leave.

There was an old song. "Don't let your children grow up to be Cowboys." I was reminded of that when I read that Pauly "D" was tapped to be the celeb of the moment at the opening of the new NYC "Kardashian Store"! Somebody is stealing the character of the nation.

The Question:
Here's a little parlor game you can play as friends and family gather around the TV Thursday evening to watch the 0-Man create jobs out of thin air. Have each person right down five words or expressions you expect to hear during the speech. The one who gets the most right gets a dinner with James Hoffa Jr. Bring a catcher's mask! Now give me your favorite O-Words and O-Phrases.

The Headlines:
--Markets Could Rebound This Morning.
--Rebs Say Daffy And The gang surrounded.
--GOP'ers Looking Forward To Perry Debate debut.
--Texans Shedding Tears After Massive Wild Fires Destroy Over 1,000 Homes.
--Wash Post/AP Poll: A New High Of 53% Disapprove Of Of Overall O-Performance; 38% Of Americans Want Bigger Gov. With More Services, 58% Say Smaller With Less; 2/3rds Say They Are Not As Financially Well Off As They Were At Start Of O-Reign.
--Yahoo Board Fires CEO Carol Blatz As Profits Fail To Ignite.
--0-Man Expected To Announce $300Bil Jobs Package; Would be Combo Of Tax Cuts And New Job Creation Spending.
--0-Man Warming To Redo Of Mortgage Bailout Package.
--Katia Moving Northwestward; Still expected To Turn East Sparing US Coast.

I think I'm beginning to understand the concept behind the Post Office "Forever Stamp". The economics was based on "Forever" being very short.

America's Got talent: Howie Mandel got has to come down from Berzerkdom. He is just too manic about wanting his faves to win. But, that's not the story, just the irritation. Lys Agnes is a great talent. But, I'm not thinking her trip into Pop-Land was a good one last night. Her voice is too strong for a simple song. Anna should have used the piano. But, she is still one I like. Swank pulled a fish form the tank. How the blankity-blank di he do it? the judges went ga-ga over the ladies and girls from Silhouettes. I thought it was ok. The Smage guys can do it! But how many more times do I want to watch motorcycles jump. I thought the victim kid running around was choreographically awkward. Murphy can sure croon, and the big band staging was groovy. Good make-up West Springfield, but it was a ho-hummer. Everybody goes bonkers over Team ILuminate. I liked their big finish, but the rest was just more dancing with lights. Miami looked like an average half-time show. I think PopLyfe are winners, even though I thought Kelani's voice was a little off and the boys in the band not as impressive as in the past. The four I would enjoy watching next time are Anna Graceman, Landon Swank, PopLyfe and...ok, I'll give ILuminate and other shot at making me a believer. Based on standing "O's", Pop, Silhouettes, Iluminate and Murphy should be the top four. If so, Mandel will wet his pants. Morgan will look down in disbelief. And Osbourne will say, "That was wonderful!"

People like me think that this 0-Man admin has been bought and paid for by the Unions and that he has delivered way to much with interest. The Unions don't think' he's done nuttin'.

If I'm starting a Major League Baseball team, my first three players are Jacoby Elsbury, Dustin Pedroia and John Lester. My Manager is Jason Veritek.

The new highly promoted "Prime Suspect" looks like a more of the same, over the top, Hollywood bad copy of another great British Series.

I get the sense that Palin is waiting for the uproar surrounding the publication of the McGuinnis book to settle out before she commits.

The Tea Party continues to grow stronger and is more resolute than ever, especially after the continuing senseless assaults from the scared in power. Hoffa's call for the "Baseball Bat" approach to negotiations will bind  together even closer those tired of big government and its henchmen bullying.

Once you get the hang of it, wallpapering is easy.

It appears to me that there will be more lawyers involved in computer tablet product development than engineers.

I like Yahoo! But in this new world of immediacy, it's not enough to provide services and content that seem complete, accurate and comprehensive without the PopPizzazz! If you don't appear to be "edgy" in the minds of those who pursue edginess, you might as well be manufacturing slide rulers.

Almost Near: Chapter 38 Continues. --As soon as Audrey clicked off the boss, she dialed Tucker. She heard a flat "Hi" and asked "What's wrong with you.?"
"Oh, nothing. I'm just hanging around while Dante, he's that lawyer, finish there conversation. Why, do I sound bored?"
"No, you sound like you're in outer space. and you missed the 3:37 rocket back home."
Tucker cracked up, and it took him 30 seconds to come back on. "You're quick, You are quick. Then he chuckled one more time. "So, what's up?"
"Lot's! I just got off the phone with my Editor. Somebody found a body that turned out to be Rudy." She heard nothing. "You still there?"
"Oh, oh, aa yeah. That's is a shocker. They know anything?"
"They know that that Bounty is hoppin' mad and that you and I were snoopin' around. And they think your old girlfriend is as good a suspect as any."
"She wouldn't do something like that."
"How do you know? It could be one of her other people you don't know and have never met."
"I still don't think so."
"I'm going back up to Little Rock. We're in the middle of big story and I'm going to cover it."
"I'll try to see you there. But, I don't know when>'
"That's fine. I'll be too busy to hold your hand and lead you around. But, before you leave...you still have time..."
"Yeah."
"I have to fill you in on my talk with the kids. It's a sad and scary tale."

The Answer:
Well let's start off with "Me" and "I". How about "Tea Party", "Previous Administration", "Corporate Greed" and "Wall Street". Then there are the standards -- "Let me be clear" "Make no mistake", "At the end of the day", "Back form the brink" and of course "Relief for working families". And, don't forget "Job Creation", "Recession", "Bush", "Bi-Partisan", "Entitlement", "Plan", "Shovel Ready" and, yes, "Compromise".

There is plenty of evidence -- Like forcing up non-union prevailing wages -- that would suggest that the Labor Unions are running the US Department of Commerce except for one thing, Secretary Hilda Solis is steadfast behind "Illegal" workers to the detriment of honest people seeking jobs. This good be the weirdest. most schizophrenic administration in the history of the US of A! It seems like everything today is "Regulated", except the US Federal Government.

I'd rather my kids be cowboys and cowgirls.

Teardrops on combat medals.

Today's Tids Issue 2,407
Opening Stuff:

How much longer must a nation cry for brave, fallen soldiers?

I think that one of the contributors to the size of financial meltdowns has to be the highly computerized buy/sell programs used by Wall Street. The way I read it, at certain points on traumatic days the Computers brush the humans aside and take over. The planet of Apes? Or I should say "600 Pound Gorillas".

The President seems to think that the Buck still stops at Harry Truman's desk.

It's looking a lot like Washington is fiddling while Rome burns. How else could you explain the insulting spokespeople sent to the podiums across this land. They have no answers or solutions and the country is learning that talk and rhetoric doesn't work any more.

The Question:
Triple Play! 1. Name the five "Geekiest" cities in the US. 2. Who is Melanie Griffiths' Mother? Name five of her movies. 3. How many members of the Tea Party are there in Congress?

The Headlines:

--Americans Rush To Drug Stores For Tums: Market Opens Near 138 Points Higher; Drops To +3.8 In 10 Minutes; Up 200 At 10:00AM: As I Press The Send Button, The DOW Was .
--Asian Markets Stabilize; US Futures Rebound Heartily; "Insiders" Are Buying.
--Violence Spreads To Even Civilized Sections Of London; 525 Arrested; Protest Has Deteriorated To Wanton Looting.
--Syria Defies World With New Raids.
--Lybia Says NATO Attack Killed Dozens Of Citizens.
--US Workers Less Productive For 2nd Quarter In A row; May Indicate Slow Down In Hiring.
--Nyad Stops Swim Halfway To Cuba.

Back to More Stuff:
I think I'm going to climb a tree at Walden pond. Of course that would only be on weekdays...as on weekends it is just another morass polluted by crowds of humans.

I see where France is going to Baguette Vending Machines. I hope they are smarter than Wall Street computers.


The Fighter who became a Lawyer went from boxers to briefs.

A keen minded reader and Government watchdog sent me a note wondering if the Congress and 0-Man will move the Government Employee Pensions into the Federal General Fund as LBJ did with all of our hard earned Social Security dollars.

I don't know if you noticed, but last weekend at the PGA Tournament Stevie Williams made $140,000 while his ex-boss made $58,000.

But, Stevie Williams is still the bag toter. You would never have known it listening to his post match "I-Me-My" interview. It was Adam Scott who won by 4 strokes.

Congress leaders have agreed on on way to reduce spending. They have ended the 200 year old Page program. Now what are Congress people going to do on those lonely nights in DC?

Almost Near: Chapter 34. --The trip to Lobster Cove from Logan Airport seemed a strain for Tucker. His chest was tight as he imagined what Samantha might be doing to herself. He would have preferred to go to New Castle first if he had a perfect plan, but his emotions were driving him now.
His heart felt a sadness when he jumped out of the car leaving Audrey behind. Her look of tenderness seemed intended for him. Yet she may have been showing her feelings for the distraught Samantha. He was beginng to learn that through her gruffness and practicality, there was an extremely sensitive woman. His thoughts of her made him smile a little as his car approached the white Church on the corner announcing Lobster Cove. He turned sanely, but then jumped on the accelerator of his rented Versa. The car took off belying it's diminutive size. Not wanting to appear panicky,He slowed as he entered the driveway. He liked the sound of the crumpled clam shells under the tires. Funny, but his coastal driveway always said home, safety, to him.
Before he could put his foot down on the shells, the door opened and Sam came out, slowly. She looked calm. There was a wonderful naive sparkle in her eyes.

Somehow, the National Democrat Party leaders think that calling the Tea Party names -- which will surely rally the party together and help them grow -- is a good idea. What the name calling says loud and clear is that "we're afraid of the TPM." Besides, if the Tea'ers cut spending, how are the Pols going to bribe the voters? In fact, the Dems look so edgy and jumpy these days they could be called The Coffee Party.

In the rush to point fingers, just about every Pol and pundit is losing creditability including Rushbo, who yesterday for some reason contrived a totally misinformed anti Yahoo News rant.

The Answer: 
1. Number five is Durham NC. Four - Huntsville Al, 3. Framingham Mass, 2. Boulder CO and the #1 Geekiest is San Jose (Duh)! 3. 6 thru 10 are Lowell Ma, Washington DC, Ithaca NY, Bethesda, MD and Seattle-Belleview. 2. Griffith is the daughter of Hitchcock fave Tippi Hedren. Her top movies are Something Wild, Body Double, (Oscar nominee in) Working Girl, (The scary) Pacific Heights, (The dreadful) Bonfire of the Vanities, Born Yesterday, Shining Through, A Stranger Among Us and Now and Then. 3. There are estimates that say anywhere from 79 to a 100, with the best answer considered to be 83. So...basically the pols are blaming everything on 83 people in Congress.

Americans are tired of Politicians looking back. The front is a clean slate.

Tom Brokaw said a week or so ago that "...no matter what you think about the Tea Party, they played by the rules of American politics: They got angry, they got organized, they got here and they got what they wanted, and they did it with discipline. Whether or not, in the long haul, it's good for the larger universe is a very open question at this point. If you want to change Washington, that's what you have to do. You have to get organized around your passions and your interests." -- Tom Brokaw, Meet the Press, August 1.

In case you are interested, the Tea Party is 75% white, which is exactly the same as the total population. It has a higher male population and a slightly higher Christian right population than the US numbers.

There is a small but grassroots movement beginning that would popularize the word "Liberalites". If you like it, pass it a long.

If you were paying for this, you'd be short changed today.

Today's Tids  Issue #2,393
Written 7/28/2011
Opening Stuff:


In a Nutshell Department:
A reader sends a terrific cartoon that say's all about the mess we are in. (Picture)Two news reporters at a desk. The first says "Today both Republicans and Democrats moved closer to raising the debt ceiling to solve America's financial problems." The second reporter says, "In other news, blood alcohol levels will be raised to solve...".

Obama man and US "Jobs Czar", Jeff Imeldt his moving the headquarters of his General Electric X-Ray division to China. He says no jobs will be lost in the US, but also adds that all of the new high tech (higher paying) jobs will be in China. So the question is why would a big Obama supporter take jobs away from America? Could it be that it's because the X-Ray plant jobs are now in Wisconsin. And that the Union Prez is doing this to get back at the Wisconsin Repubs for screwing with the collective bargaining? Nah. Politics isn't like that. tis is the kinder gentler President.

The Question: 
What common drink increases the power of aspirin and other pain killers?

The Headlines:

--House Vote On GOP Bill Could Be Key Step Towards Resolution.
--Market Fades As Concern Over Debt Vote Escalates.
--Better Jobs Repiort Brings A Little Tittilation To Wall Street Hearst.
--US Slams Iran For Secret deal With al-Qaida.
--Professor Splash Surprises At AGT.

One thing we know, is that the Tea Party can count, can add. And their numbers which almost anybody with a half a brain will agree with tell us that we need to do something big to start a downward trend on this debt thing. The thing the Tea Party doesn't get is that they can take a little now to get a lot later. Stop the spending.

If a deaf person goes to court, is it still called a hearing?

Being right and getting things done are too different things. Believe me I want what the Tea Party wants. but at times these enthusiastic, concerned people let being right get inthe way of constructive judgement. I reminds me of the woman who said she was Right, after being hit by a car in an intersection. Not looking both ways before entering an intersection even if you are entirely right, is not always the best course of action.

It's either S or V. That is in the Debit mess either ending in Resolution or Revolution.

The tongue is the only muscle in the body that is only attached at one end? Maybe that's why we don't understand politicians.

I was at a place today where you couldn't hear a thing. Incredible silence amidst towering pines and in marshes caressed by wild flowers. It was totally amazing. I'd never seen anything like it. Oh, occasionally you'd hear the lonely crack of a golf ball blasting from a club face. And then a another more distant crack as it careened through the towering pines. And finally a saaawoop as it gets sucked into the marsh.


The swine flu vaccine in 1976 caused more death and illness than the disease it was supposed to cure.

The Answer:
Barrista's are also doctors of a sort, as they dispense the coffee that enhancs the action of pain killers.

Aren't you glad you don't pay for this mess anyhow?

The best thing for everybody, whether or not they know it, is a cessation of spending

If not edible, then what?

Today's Tids Issue 2,268
Opening Stuff:

Is the large Goldman investment in FaceBook the start of the next big Wall Street bubble? If you feel that thinking may be a little premature hysteria I ask, has anybody heard of MySpace lately? I guess it just bothers my inner sensibility to learn that faceBook at $50 Billion is worth more than Boeing who actually creates something. While FaceBook's biggest asset is a fickle populace.

The chorus out of Washington from the 0-Man and echoed by the lowliest Congressional rep is "Republicans should put politics aside." Hmmm, this from a Prez who destroyed any possible chance of a workable non-partisanship government in the first hour of his first meeting after inauguration with the Repub leadership. What a crock. Actually, I hope the Repubs put politics aside, especially the politics of special interest government, and do what the people ask and what the Country needs.

It's starting to appear as though Brett Favre keeps on coming back because he can't find those massage therapists down on the farm in Mississippi.

24 hours til the first installment of the new Tids Serialized Novel. Excited yet?

The Question:
Personally, I think mushrooms are worthless. But, obviously, I am in the minority. What are the most popular types of mushrooms?

The Headlines:

--November Factory Orders Up; Stocks Flat As Better Economy Outlook Is Offset By Downgrading Of Consumer Stocks.
--Governor Of Pakistan's Punjab Province Assassinated.
--British Parliament To Reduce Size Of English Pubs Cherished Pint.
--Area In Australia The Size Of Germany And France Under Water.
--Diver/Researchers Find Historic Ship Of Oliver Hazard Perry; Newport RI's Perry Was Hero Of Lake Erie During War Of 1812.
--More States Joining Effort To Abolish 14th Amendment Which Provides The Loophole Granting Citizenship To Children Of Unlawful Immigrants.
--John Wheeler III Found In Dumpster, Murdered; Wheeler Served Under three President And Led Charge To Build Viet Nam Wall Memorial.

Back to More Stuff:
If the Republican Party, and especially the Tea Party folks, want to maintain their credibility they must continually resist overreaching. While a majority of the people are firmly on their side, most of the people with printing presses and microphones aren't And public opinion can change over night. Hey, the Jersey Shore cast are cultural icons.

Ditto that for Sarah Palin. Overexposure, more than anything, provides more opportunities to say something or do something stupid. Or at least stupid in the eyes of those snakes lying in the grass ready to pounce.

A local guy named Andrew "Hull" was named Naval Sea Systems Scientist of the Year! Makes sense.

I think the Government beats up on corporations like Drug companies, because they want the people to think that Government has all of the answers so the people keeps on sending them money.

Actually, most governments thrive by creating boogieman, dragons to slay for the protection of the people. The Republicans picked out murderers like the extreme Islamic bombers, woman abusers like the Taliban and nuts with nukes like NK and Iran. the Democrats picked American businesses like drug companies and insurance companies.

People must be really tuckered out after the long week/weekend, because Sunday night while driving though normally active cities like Newport and Westerly I saw nary a person on a sidewalk nor a car on the street. I had the feeling that aliens had attacked both towns with an invisible gas and the people were in their homes lying on the floor. But then I thought about my overactive imaginations...as I rolled up the window and stopped breathing. Ooooooooooo-weeeeeeee-oooooooooo.

Why do people get so excited about truffles. they're only overpriced mushrooms.

The only 8-Track Tape I ever owned was Peter Frampton's Come Alive album. I played it regularly until wore out. "Show me the way..."

The Answer: 
I guess seeing mushrooms growing in the ground, usually the most barren of ground, just doesn't appeal to me. The fact that they are basically tasteless and annoyingly squishy adds to their uselessness in my eyes. But...don't let me destroy your love for these favorites' of chefs. The most popular are Table mushrooms (Button), Shiitake (Balck), Porcini(PennyBun, Cep), Portabella, Chanterelle, Giant Puff Ball, Field Mushrooms (Meadow) and Morchella (Morel --sometimes toxic).

The End (Is near?):
Actually, what really bothers me is that you have two classifications of Mushrooms -- Edible and Dangerous to your health.

According to a new effort by Christians, I may only have five more months at most of putting out our beloved Tids. A loosely organized group of Christians are beating the Armageddon drum urging people to get ready for the end of civilization may 21. A spokesperson says "A lot of people might think, 'the end is coming, let's go party'. But we're commanded by Goid to warn people." But Mary Exley, a 32 year old ex Army veteran adds, "It better know when it comes so you will be safe.".

And... the reduction in size of the British pub's "Pint" is a government responsibility...how?

Lunch Rhymes with Munch and Crunch.

Today's Tids Issue 2,249
Opening Stuff:

You are never going to believe this! I've been wrestling with a medical issue, and yesterday (This is the truth) my doctor advised me to eat more potato chips! eeeeeeeHah!!!

Rumor has it that if Assange is harmed in any way the next big WikiLeaks release will include Obama's birth certificate and college academic records.

The Question:
Today marks the anniversary of Lennon's murder. Name the Top Ten all time Beatles' songs.

Today's Headlines:
--Ruckus In Washington Has Stock Surge Pausing.
--New Overnight Dem House Bill Would Freeze Budgets; Senate Bill Takes Different Tact; Confusion At High Level.
-- Feds Send Out More Subpoenas To Hedge Funds And Other Investment Institutions; Investigation Into Insider Trading Expanding.
--Pete Sampras Trophies And Memorabilia Stolen From Public Storage Facility.
--Northwest Pakistan Bomb Attacks Continue; 15 Killed In Bus Attack.
--New Video Shows US Serviceman Being Held By Taliban.
--New Worldwide Uniform Tests Of 15 Year Old Students Has US Falling To Middle Of Pack.
--WikiLeaks Releases More As Leader Is Nabbed.

Back to More Stuff:
With countries like China, and yes Finland, zooming to the top in the worldwide battle for academic honors for fifteen year old's, the US education system will surely come under scrutiny. But, I say not so fast. We have over corrected an educational system much too often. We spend too much time planning lunch menus. But, the biggest detriment to learning may be outside diversions. Incessant texting and adullaton of career opportunities that don't appear to need education at all. Celebrity for all seems the promise. As opposed to dedicated work in fields that contribute to mankind and economic achievement. There seems to be too much of an "Why am I here" attitude among too many students without enough explanations. Dedication to learning is really all about understanding end game focus, and China and Finland, and yes Canada, seem to have it.

Yesterday's open ended "Q" about your suggestions for Walters Most Fascinating person brought recommendations of Taylor Swift, "The Fox News Team", the Pope, George Bush, Patrick Byrne, Denzel Washington, Michelle Obama and Hillary.

It must be Christmas season again because the "Clapper" is back on TV.

John McPherson wonders if making "Live Free or Die" license plates is bad for the morale in the New Hampshire prison system.

Some of the early House leadership posts are going to Tea Party candidates. It is a signal that the insiders are taking this party of average concerned Americans seriously. Maybe this party has replaced the so called Free Press as the country's watchdog.

Another sign that I'm operating in another universe is the announcement by PETA that they are looking for "The Sexiest Vegetarian over Fifty". So far a leading candidate is Paul McCartney. God help me if I would ever grow up to look like Paul McCartney.

Here's a simple tasty treat recipe to tuck away for Christmas get-togethers. Parmesan Crisps! Preheat oven to 375. Line two cookie sheets with baking mats or parchment paper. In a bowl combine 2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese, 2 tbs all purpose flour and a pinch of cayenne. (Keep mixture thoroughly blended throughout process.) Place table spoon mounds of mixture on cookie sheet. (1 1/2 inch space) Press.flat with hand or spatula. Bake 9-12 mins til brown. Cool on sheet 2 mins then remove. (Note: I picked this snack over "Orange and Fennel Olives" and "Granola with Dried Fruit".

You have to wonder if all of these stocks reaching 52 week highs will engender a profit taking sell off at the beginning of 2011.

The Answer:
Please Please Me is #1 and is the follow up to their first big hit "Love Me Do" which is not in the top ten. Next is I Want To Hold Your Hand, followed by I Feel Fine. Yesterday, In My Life and I Am The Walrus are the next three. The Ten is completed by All You Need Is Love, A Day In The Life, Hey Jude and and Something. Somethingv and Yesterday are the two most coveered beatles songs. Perosnally I like "Sergeant Pepper's..." and "Lucy in the Sky..."

The End:
Some days the world just comes together as if you had designed it.

Well, there's still the comics.

Today's Tids Issue 2,218
Opening Stuff:

This weekend looks like prime leaf time around here. Actually, there just isn’t anything bad about this time of year. The seniors have all moved to Florida, so the golf courses are playing fast again. I’m enjoying the comfort of corduroy pants as I crunch leaves on cool forest paths. The ocean glistens like a lover’s eyes. The air invigorates a body emerging from summer sluggishness. All in all, life is pretty fantastic.

Except for Juan Williams, who’s sudden boot by NPR is proving once again that the national gang of liberal intelligentsia are all for the 1st Amendment as long as what you are saying supports their beliefs.

When watching our current Congress at work, we should be taking a lesson from Mexico, a country that has seen an incredibly rapid deterioration after the criminals were allowed to run wild.

And…speaking of politicians, a magician is a “super duper”.

In addition to saving the future for pensioners, Sarkozy’s action on retirement age may have additional collateral benefits. For instance, the rude and culturally poisonous Lady Gaga has cancelled her Paris concerts in some kind of brain dead reactionary sympathy move. The French don’t know how lucky they are to be spared from that glitzy monotony.

The Question:
TV Guide just listed their favorite all time TV Families. They were in order Huxtables, Simpsons, Tanners (Full House), Sopranos, Partridges, Fishers (6 Feet Under), Bluths (Arrested Deelopment), Keatons (Fam Ties), Bunkers, Bradys, Conners (Roseanne), Seavers (Growing Pains), Waltons, Walkers (Bors & Sis), Cleavers, Jackson/Drummend (Diff Strokes), Ewings (Dallas), Barones (Raymond), Pritchetts (Mod Fam and Jeffersons. In a limited poll, viewers rated their favorites. Which of the above do you think came out on top? Name a show you think they missed.

The Headlines:

--Marlets Zig-Zag Waiting For G-20.
--Economic Growth Gage Falls To Six Week Low.
--Anonymous Person deposits $10,000 In Crisp Dollars In Memorial Donor’s Box And WTC Site.
--Cholera Outbreak Hits Rural Haiti; 142 Dead.
--Gulf Corals In Oil Spill Zone Appear Healthy.
--0-Man and MonicaMan Are Running Wildly Across Country To Save Out Of Control Congress.
--Verizon Profits Drop 25%; Beats WS Estimates; Investers Await Addition Of I-Phone..

Back to More Stuff:
If you have been watching the earnings report you might think our economy is based on companies that keep you idle, over feed you and put you back together fall apart. And you would be right. The bellwether industries this quarter are Electronics-Wireless-Computer-Internet, Fast Food and Health Care Products and Services.

Pakistan’s successful blockade of critical US supply transports hasn’t gone unnoticed by our deep pocket’s Congress and Admin. The US has increased military aid by $2,000,000,000! What a country.

Remember when Will Rogers said "I only know what I read in the papers"? Jeez, would he be in  trouble now!

Think about how much good the celebrities could do if they really understood the facts instead of reacting to some emotional artificial stimulus. Basically it just proves once again that actors are just good at reading other people’s lines. And these days their lines are being written by by people who don’t seem to like what America has been.

How come the pictures of shouting people I see in the French pension protest look like college students?

Silly State laws Department:
In Montana, it is against the law to have sheep in your truck cab without a chaperone! I wonder what that’s all about?


Reading between the Lines Movie Reviews:
--The trailer for Clint Eastwood’s latest “Hereafter” makes it appear as though it is entirely a Matt Damon vehicle. In fact it is three stories – Damon a psychic is looking for lava and a normal life without death; Cecille, a French TV reporter, is haunted by her near death experience; And Frankie McLaren is a foster child morning the sudden death of his twin brother. The stories eventually come together. You will find it slow and somber at times, but the end is uplifting in this movie that is spiritual and tends to support an afterlife. But then, what would you expect from an 80 year old director.
--I don’t like prison movies, so there is a high degree of probability that I won’t see “Stone” starring Edward Norton as a tough guy prisoner and Robert DeNiro as his very religious parole officer. For some reason, Norton has his sexy wife seduce DNiro thinking it will get him out of jail sooner. The religious DeNiro bends to the attraction quickly. Norton has regrets. It’s actually kind of an irritable movie.
--Woody Allen’s new little sex comedy “You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger” looks good to me. It has an all star cast including Anthony Hopkins, Josh Brolin, Naomi Watts, Gemmma Jones and Antonio Banderas among others. Watts and Anna Friel look for love in all the wrong places. The film which opens and closes with song “When You Wish Upon A Star” shows how people’s wishes for romance don’t always turn out to be the sweet dreams they had hoped for.

In the Town of King NC (Pop 6,000) the ACLU acting on complaint by one citizen got an injunction against the display of a Christian Flag at a veteran’s memorial. 63 year old Ray Martini, an Air Force Vet, was irate. He decided to put the flag back out there. He then set up camp beneath it to guard it. He has received food and blankets from towns across NC and from many other states. The town is now awash with fluttering flags. The same Christian flag hanging from hair salons, barbecue joints, general stores—well, just about anywhere in the town. Except government buildings. I’m wondering if it is the same single citizen who when living in East Greenwich had a seventy year old memorial to a good doctor, a cross, removed from a triangle at an intersection. Send a note to Ray!

I was surprised to see the cover of the October 4 Time Magazine with the feature story headline: “How the first nine months shape the rest of your life.” Could this traditionally abortion supporting editorial staff be having a change of heart?

In the first line of a predominantly anti-Republican rant in the Providence Journal’s editorial support of Barney Frank, they say: “Recovery from the financial crisis requires ‘intelligent’ leadership. The entire editorial reads like something you might hear from Lady Gaga or Rosie.

In case you missed it about Barney’s Babies, Fannie and Freddie, it was reported this morning that the terrible twosome needs another $215 Billion. I love that intelligent leadership.

The Answer:
The two that “the folks” seemed to like best and which were significantly ahead of the rest were The Huxtable’s and The Keaton’s of Family Ties. Also doing quite well were the Cleavers, Barone’s and Seaver’s, and they were followed by the Partridges, Bunkers, Brady’s, Walton’s and Conner’s. I think they left out My Three Sons and 8 is Enough. And, if you are really old you might throw in Father Knows Best! All the rest were so-so or worse.

The End:
If the press stopped following ideologies and started thinking again, we might have a chance of getting this government back in shape. If this formerly august group honestly interpreted the truth of candidate statements, ignored blatant dirty tricks and stopped being blind cheerleaders, maybe intelligent people would start running for office again.

Some of these Republican and Tea Party candidates say some of the dumbest things I have ever heard.

The brightest, warmest sun ever.

Today's Tids Issue 2,211
Opening Stuff:

I was going to start off this morning with an eloquent paragraph about the early morning fall sun glaring off cruise liners as they made their way through our East Passage over quiet glistening waters awaiting fluttering sails of trim boats. But then I thought…there is no more eloquent, glistening sun than the one that the Chilean miners saw as they emerged form their dark dungeon. That’s the sun that counts.

Joan Sutherland was a helluva singer!

The Question:
What is – 2 cups of flour, ¼ teaspoon salt, 2 sticks of unsalted butter, ½ cup powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract? And, why is important to know this?

The Headlines:
--The World Hugs The Freed Miners; One Miner Emerges From the Bowels Of The earth About Each Hour.
--New Ancestry Data Shows Obama And Palin As Related.
--JP Morgan Chase Profits Rise 23% To $4.42 Billion: Bank Able To Set Aside $1,55 Bil To Cover Personal Banking Division Losses Going Forward.
--Ahmadinejad Trip To Lebanon Expected To Increase Middle East tensions.
--Security Rises At India’s Commonwealth Games After terrorist Strike Warning.
--Secy Of Defense Gates Says Courts Should Not Set Policy On Gays In Military.

Back to More Stuff:
I don’t know if Connecticut’s Linda McMahon will win or not, but she is sure making it obvious that if voters get tangled up in their party allegiances and elect Blumenthal, the state will be represented by a myopic loser.

When you come right down to it, everybody out there working hard is hoping some day to get the gravy.

Most Tea Party leaders are saying that if the Republicans had done the job when they had the Congress, there would never have been a Tea Party movement! The Tea Party, they say isn’t Republican or Democrat, but represents a sensible alternative to a governing body that has grown immune to the needs of voters and taxpayers and is virtually ineffective for the people.

The newscasters are worrying about whether or not the Chilean miners will suffer claustrophobia on the trip back up to the earth’s surface. They’ve been living in a dark hole a mile under the ground for two months! God what idiots!

But Useful Idiots for leftist politicians.

They must know that communist countries have always shut down the press, but for some reason here the main stream press seems to think a socialistic form of government is a good idea?

Through the Same Eyes: Epilogue continues. –The kids were all over me during my first days home. Attentive and very loving. Happy they said that I was all right. But I could sense that their feelings were much deeper, and that the tragedy so close to them was affecting their sense of security. I loved them twice as hard back.
Paul? Well…Paul…Paul was just Paul. Looking at me like a new lover. Yet with the eyes of a man who knew everything about me and accepted me for what I meant to him. He always was like that. I often anguished over my intoxication by Kent because of the unequivocal love that Paul had for me. It’s why I questioned myself. The character of who I had become in the arms of Kent Middleton. Maybe me, Mrs. Independent thinker, actually held a great sense of entitlement that enabled me to disillusion myself. Maybe my life of achievement has really been one of denial.
Here I am -- a person who cheated on her husband and was used by people she thought respected her; A life’s work that lead to brutal murders and a complex business fraud – sitting in the corner office of LR&H feeling comfortable that this is where I should be; That I am the only person who can put it all back together again.
Jack Wiley, a man I believed in and trusted with my life and future had used me. He always wanted more than his successful but small Boston investment bank provided. And it had provided for him extremely well. But, not in his mind, and especially his wife’s. Isabelle was an old classmate of his, and he learned from her about some brilliant scientists creating a new business in the high growth potential Bio-genetics business. They became lovers and he pulled some strings with his local cronies to generate start-up financing and appoint Izzy as President of the new company BiEm. Kent, the founding scientist, knew what it would take to beat other smart competitors and he set up the convoluted vandalism plan that would eventually produce live subjects for testing. And the death of Bromsky. The dreadfully weak Symington was another old school pal of Wiley I learned later, and became the inevitable snitch in my operation. They -- Izzy, Jack and Jeff -- were essentially controlling my every move. The one thing they hadn’t figured on, was that Kent would fall in love with me.
“Hi Boss.” Bill Claxton, no worse for wear after his beating, had stepped into my room. “Legal just called me. The new Name for BiEmbyo is approved – “Middleton Genetics”.
“Good”, I smiled. “Roll out the publicity on our hero scientist…and make sure they know how much Kent was loved!”

The Mexican investigator in charge of the case about the shooting of an American on a South Texas lake was found decapitated; His head was in a suitcase. I have a great idea for a nuclear bomb strike.

Why does the public have to endure endless apologies by ESPN for sexual predators like Kobe Bryant, Ben Roethlisberger, Tiger Woods and now the tedious Brett Favre. It just shows how an investment in personality can dilute moral integrity

One of the reasons I’m never too impressed by celebrities is that all too often I see them wearing Ya-Ya-Ya…(Well…You Know Who I Mean)…caps. I mean how smart can they be?

The Answer: If you follow the directions about you will make delicious short bread, one of the finest foods on earth. It is important to know this because you can dip it in chocolate. Crumple it over ice cream or make an amazing pie crust out of it. It is one of our most important food groups.

The Tids would have a lot more daily information if I could read my handwriting in my notes.

I’ll have another slice of pork please.

Today's Tids Issue 2,204
Opening Stuff:

When you observe the going’s on in government, you realize that these are meaty (Or juicy for vegans) times for satirists!

In a last minute effort to derail the TP’s “Unseat-the-incumbent’s-express”, 0-Man is going to ex-Pres Clinton for lessons on how to properly say “I feel your pain.”

Politics is tricky these days. You have the Democrats who do things in Congress that defy logic as well as the will of the people. You have the Republicans who talk about what to do and do nothing except trying to slip under the sheets with Dem leaders. And you have the Tea Party which the aforementioned two parties try to dismiss by saying the group stands for nothing…except getting rid of the fat and bloated existing parties.

The more I see various kinds of power brokers trying the undermine the Tea Party, the more I think the Tea Party must be doing something really well.

Brookins and Cassatt tell us they ‘hope that “Fun Guys” don’t die of anything serious’.

The Question:
Aside for the “Test Pattern” name five top rated TV programs for 1948…the year when the boob tube really started to infect people’s minds.

The Headlines:

--Strong New Housing Data Has Market Moving Froward.
--Economic Commission Reveals That Recession Was Over in June 2009.
--New ABC/Yahoo News Poll Says That Only 11% Former 0-Man Supporting Independents Think Dems Can Turn-around Economy.
--China Tells US To Butt Out Of South China Sea Disputes.
--Herriman Utah Neighborhood Blackened By Furious Fires Started By National Guard Firing Range Bullets.
--Aretha Franklyn’s Son Severely beaten At Detroit Gas Station.
--Ireland Now Carries Biggest Debt Burden In Europe; Selling $2Billion In Bonds To Test Confidence.

Back to More Stuff:
One of the major components of the recent very positive up tick in August retail sales was gasoline. In fact gasoline was the top gainer in retail sales. While the retail sales number was hailed as positive step forward towards recovery, the high incidence of gas sales actually meant that people couldn’t afford longer vacations that required air travel or overnight stays, so they were driving short a distances in the vicinity of their homes a lot of times.

Ben Stein Says: “Fathom the odd hypocrisy that Obama wants every citizen to prove they are insured, but people don’t have to prove they are citizens.”

How come a door that is typically hard to slam shut, closes easily when you forget your keys?

Nowhere has the phrase “Firing range” been more apt that in Herriman Utah.

RI weather analysts just reported that this just past summer was probably the warmest on record. This is sure to get the GW’ers a ranting. Just as last year’s near record coldest summer got the anti-GW’ers gloating. I’m thinking that maybe it’s just weather.

How about that Clueless Lane? Yesterday’s nice run-up was attributed to by many as the result of news that the recession ended in June 2009! Say what? How come the billionaire geniuses on WS didn’t know it then? Or, maybe they did and were just foolin’ us.

A lot of graphic artists want to redesign the US money. To make it more superficially competitive with the Euro, they rationalize. Many of the more opinionated so-called visual experts are not from the US! If we can’t keep US people working designing our own money, how can we ever expect to bring jobs back to the heartland. Some of the ideas are discouraging especially one set that featured the pics of 0-Man and Sacagawia as symbolic of the fabric of America. How about a gaggle of illegal aliens too? Let’s stick with the founders for pics hoping that maybe some people will reawaken to what made America great!

Great Moments in International Diplomacy Department:
All USSR Premier Khrushchev wanted to do when he visited LA in September of 1959 was to visit Disneyland. He was denied by the US because of security. He was irate! Wondering aloud in a short speech if the amusement park was “infected with cholera…or overrun with gangsters”. In a separate instance it was reported that the Khrushchev’s were sitting at a LA dinner with Bob Hope, David Nivin and Frank Sinatra. Mrs. Khrushchev was complaining about being barred from the Park. Sinatra leaned over to Nivin and said, “Tell the old broad that you and I will take em’ this afternoon!” There is no truth to the rumor that the shoe Nakita was banging on the desk at UN was Mickey Mouse’s.

Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 94 continues. I held my breath and was totally silent, listening for the merest scrape of a pebble beneath a shoe. A piece of sand moving unexpectedly. I leaned to the right and bent my head enough so I could look under the car. I saw feet walking away from me towards the spot where I parked. Is this a piece of luck or a trap? I had no choice. I slipped off my shoes. I may have up to ten seconds. Hunched over, I ran silently between the parked cars and the guard rail, often scraping my legs as spaces diminished. Now about fifteen feet ahead I saw the opening for the down ramp. I would have to reveal myself for a couple of seconds. I took the time to bend down again. The only visible legs were standing behind my car and appeared to be facing the other way. I crept a few more yards to the point where I would have to rise briefly and scamper the ramp. I paused. Sucked in my breath, and ran, shoes in hand, pebbles cutting my feet. I squeezed my eyes as little pain tears formed at the corners and ran down my cheeks.
Now I heard foot steps running. Running fast. As I ducked once again out of sight down into the ramp area. I was now breathing hard, and I feared that my ability to appear silent would be gone even if I found a place to hide. The footsteps seemed softer, but that may have been because I was now floor lower. It was dark. I heard voices. Then scuffling. It sounded like Billy and “Footsteps two”. I froze again. Which way? Which way? I heard the noise of skin hitting skin. Loud vicious smacks. Then a thud, as if it was a body hitting the cement floor. Who was it? I started to move back into a dark cavern in the parking area. Now the foot steps from about were louder. He’s on the ramp. I stopped, but my breathing sounded like a steam locomotive screaming through a tunnel. The footsteps neared.

I’m hoping that the Pat’s first game wasn’t an anomaly, and the Jets game isn’t the norm. But I’m not very confident.

The NBC show, “The Event” was tense and kept your mind moving. I thought some of the characters were a little too plastic, especially when compared to those on “24”. I like the format that makes you pay attention. I suspect some will find the time shifts confusing. I hope there is some sense of reality to the explosion that now appears a little like science fiction. And let’s hope President Martinez didn’t begin life as an anchor baby. I’ll keep watching, but I think it would have been scarier if the plane had hit its target.

In my constant quest for a “24” conspiracy replacement I am also following Rubicon and of course the lovable Chuck. Rubicon is coming together very nicely with some pretty sophisticated villains lurking beyond the sight of the chaser. Last night’s Chuck revealed the “talent” of his extra cool, long absent Mom. It brought back memories of Emma Peel.

The Answer:
The road to boob-tubery started with the Milton Berle show in September of 1948. The Texaco Star Theater also shared first with the Philadelphia Political Convention and the first News show with Douglas Edwards on CBS. The Ed Sullivan Show (”Toast of the Town”) started in 48, but none were bigger then that Howdy Doody and Kukla Fran and Ollie (Adults watched them because they were more lively than test patterns). Others of note were Candid Camera, Kraft Theater, Arthur Godfrey talent Scouts, Break the Bank, The Philco Television Playhouse and the Ford Playhouse. Gamester Mark Goodson’s first show “Winner Take All” debuted that year too.

The End:
Based on some of the stuff I see on TV these days, I want my test screen back. In other words, Mindlessness comes in many forms for many genrations.  But if it is ther humans will find it.t

One side is enough.

Today's Tids Issue 2,202

Opening Stuff:

The Connecticut animals who butchered 11 and 17 year old sisters, raped and murdered a wonderful mom and beat the hell out of the father and husband are the reason why we have a death penalty. Plain and simple. Yet the lawyers are creating a scenario to suggest that this unconscionable rampage was the fault of the Police. And the real criminal act may be that of Radio and TV talk show loons who by merely raising the suggestion for disc\ussion give credence to an excuse for savage murders. My hope is that correct sentence of a death penalty doesn’t get appealed for 15 years.

What a cheery way to start off the beginning of a beautiful fall weekend. But, think about how cheery the world would be without animals roaming among us? But, there are some who would walk behind these criminals with plastic bags.

A gimme is best defined as an agreement between two golfers…neither of whom can putt very well.

The Question:
Today marks the 148th anniversary of the bloodiest single day battle in US history. What was it and how many were killed. Name five other bloodiest battles. (Not including NYC/Chi gang wars).

The Headlines:

--Consumer Confidence Shows Decline; Lowest level In A Year; Stocks Falter.
--Five Arrested In Britain After Alleged Threat To Pope.
--Elizabeth Warren Named By Obama To Set Up Consumer Financial Protection Agency; Says, “The Time for Financial Ticks And Traps Is Over.”
--Engineers Ready to Put Final Plug Into Leaky Gulf Well.
--Heavy Damage Indicates That Tornado May have Hit NYC Last Night.
--Seattle Cartoonist Who Supported More Caricatures Of Mohammed Urged By FBI To Go Into Hiding.

Back to More Stuff:
I was walking through the family room when my eyes were diverted to a “Breaking News” announcement on the TV. It was the John’s Hopkins murder things yesterday. The scene appeared to be one of reporters milling around. I quickly noticed a ‘blonde’ woman among the somber men and discrete female news people. I smiled to myself and said “Ah, Fox News is on the scene!” Sure enough, within moments the Blond reporter was ID’d as Fox newsperson Molly Henneberg. Profiling works.

I’m a bit of an habitual profiler myself. For instance, I think all people wearing flat brim Ya – Ya –Ya (Well You know How I Mean) caps look either dumber than hell or like criminals. How unfairly dogmatic am I? But, this morning I read where more people being arraigned in NYC for some criminal act or activity wear Ya-Ya-Ya (WYKWIM) caps than any other head covering.. For every 3 wearing a Mets cap, 100 are wearing a Bronx BB Team cap. And no other team across the land comes close. Hey, wait a minute…don’t most rappers wear the dreaded Ya…NY baseball team cap? I think so. I don’t want to rush to judgment though..

I look around our economy and see too many people being paid by people to do things which they could easily do themselves.

The establishment Pols and the self absorbed pundits appear to be awakening to the fact that the Tea Party is going to be a real force this fall. They are realizing that this so-called party really isn’t about partisanship at all. It’s about people simultaneously reaching the conclusion that nobody in Washington listens to people any more and it has to stop. This is “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it any more” like we have never experienced before. A lot of smart every day people are real tired of the condescending attitudes of privileged leaders. “Her me, or you’re out!”

Headlines that don’t deserve to be printed Department:
The dominant headline in Yahoo News this morning was “How Bill Clinton Kept his Promise to Chelsea.” You might think that a former President could get into the news for more than promising a daughter that he would lose weight.

Like say Jimmy Carter, where yesterday it was revealed that he is now blaming the deceased Ted Kennedy for his failed presidency. This egocentric ex says that Kennedy purposely squashed his Health care program to get even with him for winning the primaries. What a nasty little man.

This is the United States Government…Check you egos at the door.

Through The Same Eyes: Chapter 94 continues, --I ducked behind a big old Lincoln wishing it was one of those giant pick-ups. I looked back to my right. Bill was looking around the parking lot. He pulled out his phone. No Billy. No. Don’t dial. I reached into my pocket and fumbled to find the ring volume button. “Ri…” Got it. Did anybody hear that? I looked to the ramp. The man had disappeared. Where was he? I got to the ground, laid out flat and looked under the cars. I saw legs to my right walking towards the area where my car was parked. To my left I saw Bill’s feet standing there. I could only imagine where his head was looking. Eventually he’ll see my car. Don’t go there Billy. I was his mother again. I pulled out my phone and speed dialed. As I heard the ring in the distance another pair of legs walked up behind Bill. His turned, as I heard him say “Hello”.
“Casually turn this off, put your phone in your pocket, look around, shrug your shoulders and go back down to the office.” I hung up immediately. I watched Bill’s feet as he turned. He stepped sideways. The other feet
moved with him. Bill’s feet started backing up. The other man turned and walked towards Billy. Now I saw two sets of legs surrounding Billy’s. Pressed against a tire. My phone rang. They redialed my number.

Blumenthal of Connecticut is exactly the kind of lifetime, sniveling little politicians that we don’t need in Congress. Wrestling mogul wife Linda McMahon has narrowed the margin from over 25 points to within the margin of statistical error in her underdog battle with this stagnant pol who lied about his military record and would probably lie about anything that would undermine his ideologies or his chances to win. It appears that the unknown McMahon is the beneficiary of a lot of deep seeded anti-Blumenthal sentiment as opposed to an overwhelming “For Linda” wave of enthusiasm. A raced to watch.

Reading between the Liens Movie Reviews:
--The Town is a much anticipated crime thriller, and it doesn’t disappoint. Set in grimy Boston and written, directed and starred-in by beantowner Ben Affleck, this yarn keeps you moving along. A band of coldhearted master bank robbers could be defeated by the love the leader for a former hostage. In the last robbery, a woman hostage is released to become the main witness for the police…and is now living in fear of reprisal. Her life is on edge until she meets Doug. Love at first sight for both. But, Doug is the leader of the gang who terrorized her just weeks earlier.
--Easy A is a pretty good teen flick. A girl tells a little white lie about losing her virginity to enhance her social status, and this clean cut girl finds her life paralleling the story of Hester Prynne in her favorite English Lit talc, The Scarlet Letter. Initially disturbed, she then finds a way to use her infamy for fame and fortune.
--People seem to be liking the supernatural thriller Devil. It is the story of a group of people trapped on an elevator, and one of them is the devil! Lots’ of heart stopping moments. Not for claustrophobics.
--The kids animated film of the week is Alpha and Omega. Wolves named Kate and Humphrey hitchhike trying to get to their home lair after being removed to the east by Park rangers (Probably because there are more ranchers herds upon which to prey than there are in the big cities). Along the way they encounter angry bears, prickly porcupines and a golfing goose.

The Answer:
The bloodiest single day battle of course is Antietam of the Civil War. A scourge where 3,650 died in one day. However, Antietam was well down the list of bloodiest Civil War battles – They are in order Gettysburg, Chickamauga, Spotsylvania, Battle of the Wilderness (Virginia), Chancellorsville, Shiloh, Stones River and then Antietam. After Antietam you had 2nd Battle of Bull Run and Fort Donelson (Tenn). The bloodiest all time is questionable. One list has 800,000–1,600,000 - Battle of Stalingrad (1942–1943), 670,000–1,500,000, Siege of Leningrad (1941–1944), 700,000 - Battle of Moscow (1941–1942), 400,000–680,000 - Battle of Kiev (1941) 500,000 - Battle of Smolensk (1941) 370,000 and Battle of Voronezh (1942).Another list of the Bloodiest WWII battles lists Leningrad, Stalingrad, Battle of the Bylge, Normandy and Okinawa. They are all bad. And if somebody you love dies in it, its is always the bloodiest battle of any war in history.

The Beginning:
Of course nothing is as bloody as political wars these days. Where deception and outflanking the voter is becoming the norm.

Actually, I’m a scratch golfer. I write down the good scores and scratch out the bad ones.

Love your week end. go Pats!!

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.

Small annoyances.

Today"s Tids Issue 2,114
Opening Stuff:

Whatever happened to Americans singing “My Country This of Thee”? I can remember when it was one of the most popular of patriotic songs. “My country, tis of thee / Sweet land of liberty. / of thee I sing. / Land where my father’s died, / Land of the Pilgrims’’ pride, / From every mountainside, let freedom ring.” What’s wrong with that? Oh, wait a minute…I see it now. God is mentioned twice in the final verse. What’s wrong with that?

This economy is having a problem getting kick-started for pretty much the same reason Supermarket profits are made or lost depending upon vegetable spoilage – Dead beets.

The Question:
An online newspaper “The Daily Beast” just released a list of the Ten Craziest Cities. What do you think they are?

The Headlines:
--Pressure On To Finish Financial regs Bill.
--Ash Still Limiting Flights In Norway And Sweden.
--Muslim Group Issues Death Threats To “South Park” Creators.
--McAfee Anti Virus Program Trips Up Computers Around The World.
--Greek Crisis Once Again Has Markets Anxious; Debt Up to 13.9% Of GDP, Ireland Higher At 14.3%. Sweden Lowest At 0.5%.
--Tim Urban Finally Ousted From Idol; Chrystal, Lee, Siobhan Look Like Three Best Of The Remaining. Casey Can Be very Good. Aaron Now Inherits Cuteness Vote.

Back to More Stuff:

What happens if stored sperm gets freezer burn?

If raccoons are supposed to be so intelligent and adaptable, how come I find so many dead ones lying in the road.

Rothlisberger, a premeditated serial rapist, couldn’t get enough suspensions if you want my opinion.

Another of my pet peeves is cross streets without street name signs.

One of the worst decisions ever made buy a Supreme Court was allowing Governments to take private property by eminent domain for the use by developers.

I’m hearing that older woman are buying the new jeans brand called “Looks like Your Skin”. I’m trying to envision wrinkled fabric.

I was surprised to see that the SC decided 8-1 in favor of nixing a law against videos showing cruelty to animals. Not that they nixed it, but that it was 8 10 1…with Bush conservative Alito being the “1”.

I woke up this morning realizing how smart I was when I replaced my McAfee Program With another package. EeeeeeHah!

Through the same Eyes: Chapter 67 continues. –“I think Jax is right. You are doing much too much considering your battle in the hospital. That stress is catching up with you. Even as magnificent as you are, you can’t do it all.”
Why does Paul love me so much? Can’t he sense anything?
I stood and walked over as six caring eyes saw me safely to my chair. I know in my heart now that something has changed with Kent. But I don’t know what to do.
“Thanks guys,” I tried to look happy. I certainly was grateful. Which only added to this immense wave of guilt that spreading over me. Rendering me practically useless. “Can I just sit here alone for a minute or so, guys? I managed. Two little heads nodded obediently. One smiled comfortingly.
I have to rebuild their confidence in me. I have never let them down.
“I have never seen you like that,” Paul stammered.
“My mind is too full of too many things.” I just couldn’t find any more words.
Maybe I should just go up to bed. And sleep. Just get away. There’s too much love in this house, and not enough from me.

I my observation of people on the left in casual non-political/ideological meetings, is that they are quite concerned about the growth and activities of the Tea Party.

I think I’m ready to understand youth’s gravitation towards drug use. It is probably the only way they can put up with some of the music of the day. I guess it depends upon which kind of insanity they are looking for.

The Answer:
You have to go to your psychoanalyst to help you understand why Cincinnati was named “Craziest City in America. Maybe they meant “Haziest” which is often the result of early morning Ohio River mist. Anyhow, the rest in order are San Fran, Providence RI, Milwaukee, Las Vegas, Philly, NYC, Tucson, San Antonio and New Orleans. The “Sanest” is Salt lake City. The main ingredients determining the Craziness Scale are Alcohol, psychiatrist, stress and eccentricity.

A Small Ending:
If you are thinking that Aaron Kelley is the most likely next American Idol bootee…I have two words for you: David Archeletta. Things are never as they seem.

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?

Jeszcze Polska nie zginela.

Today's Tids Issue 2,108
Opening Stuff:

My heart feels their love and at the same time aches for the misery of the Polish people.

Dumping on the Tea Party is becoming very tired. The Dems and Republicans have been lifting our wallets for years, and yet the erudite opinion makers think they should use their position to belittle good Americans trying to help make the country sensible again.

The bad news is that small business is not doing very well right now. Economists are saying that the economy is showing signs of life primarily because of big company advances. But, after last major recession, small business accounted fro 4,000,000 new jobs while the bigs at the end of that downturn came out with 500,000 fewer employees.

The Question:
Some like it hot! But, you should know how hot is hot. What are the hottest peppers/pepper based products and what is the name of the measurement for Hotness?

The Headlines:
--Earthquake In Western China Kills 400; 10,000 Homeless.
--76 In India Killed By Cyclone.
--Icelanders Evacuate As Volcano Erupts Again.
--Newest Economic Challenge: Stagnate Wages Versus Rising Energy And Food Costs.
--US National Security Council Says Cyber-Attack Us At Your Own Risk; Military Leaders Assert Right To respond Even When Not Knowing Identity Of Attacker.
--JP Morgan Earns $3.3 Billion In Q1.
--US Stock Futures Rosy After Strong Report From Intel.
--Carcieri Sees New House Budget As Spending More Of What They Don’t Have; RI Governor Says He Will Veto Unless Senate Makes Big Fixes.

Back to More Stuff:

I remember thinking that backward baseball caps reduced a guy’s IQ image by 50-75 points. But male fashionistas have topped themselves in a continuing effort to look dumber than hell by going to the flat brim baseball caps. That’s just one man’s opinion. I’m not stereotyping or nothin’.

I just read about a hamburger that could conceivably bring on an early death. It’s a ½ pound black angus burger topped with fried onions between to pieces of…fired dough! You know fried dough – doughboys, beaver tails, whale tails, funnel cakes, malasadas, and yes, zepolis. It’s great with powdered sugar. But think of them oozing with beef juice. Put your cell phone on auto-911 before eating. It’s served at Jerry Remy’s Sports Bar across from Fenway Park (Remy is the official Commissioner of Red Sox Nation.

Yesterday Bernanke said Americans should bone up on finance so they make better choices about their money, and thus avoid facing 2008 style disasters. Americans say that if Bernanke and his gang had been doing their jobs we might not have had the downturn in the first place. If the Fed doesn’t have the ability to recognize diminishing sound banking principles – like determining if borrowers actually have the wherewithal to pay back loans – who does? Leadership, schmeadership.

98 Years ago today The RMS Titanic proved the validity of the “Tip of the Iceberg” theory.

Today I’m going to save you lots of money and angst with this recipe for meatballs from one of those “Hot” NYC restaurants that really over-charge if you can get in. Rao’s is a place for people who really think it is important to be seen! Combine 1 lb ground beef, ½ lb grnd veal and ½ lb grnd pork in bowl. Using hands blend meat with 2 large eggs, 1 cp grated Pecorino Romano cheese, 1 ½ tbs chopped Itl parsley, ½ small clove minced garlic and blk pepper and sea salt to taste. Now mix in 2 cps fresh breadcrumbs and then slowly blend in two cps water, 1 cp at a time. Make little 2 ½-3 inch balls. Heat 1 cp OO in sauté pan. When hot but not smoking cook meatballs until crisp on both sides. Now simmer in your favorite marinara sauce for fifteen minutes.

Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 66 continues. –“Hi Kent,” I answered as I slid into the booth. I actually smiled radiantly, I thought. I reached across and he took my hand and squeezed it, gently. I shivered a little. Then I just sat and looked into his eyes. “It seems like years…” and I trailed off without finishing.
“Yes it does,” He agreed. Just as Marie came over to take an order. I quickly drew back my hand and placed it in my lap. At the same time I felt his foot on my calf. He had taken off his shoe. All of a sudden, my mouth became dry.
“So, what can I get you, Sarah”. I looked up at her always happy face. Was she looking at me differently? Did I look as appear as weird as I felt?
“Hmm.” I wasn’t prepared to order. I really didn’t feel like eating. I just wanted to get out of there. Did I want to go home, or did I want to go to Kent’s bed room. Kent kept playing with me under the table. He seemed content to stay where he was and manipulate my emotions. “I’ll have a BLT Club.” I blurted. She smiled and wrote robotically. Was my face red?
Kent ordered a cheese burger and what else…a Diet Coke. “You guys aren’t very exciting,” I heard Marie say sarcastically as she turned and went into the kitchen.
“I think we are very exciting, don’t you?” asked Kent in a coyish manner.
“I am…I mean, we are!” We both laughed at my little joke.
“Sarah/Maggie. Sarah/Maggie, it is so nice to be together. You know I worried about you.” Then he switched subjects, “I just Left Henry’s. He said you were in there earlier.”

I have to think that this summer more people will be arrested for salt water fishing with out a license that for drive-by shootings in Providence. And certainly more than irresponsible celebrities and thug sports stars.

John Holdrum -- the Admin’s Science advisor and extreme pro-abortion enthusiast who has said a newborn baby isn’t a human until it has been properly socialized – has now doomed the US to perpetual mediocrity. Yesterday in a speech before US science students he esentially enabled Americans to choose loserville and feel good about it. In that speech he said “We can’t expect to be number one in everything indefinitely. He said “Forget about being number 1”. American’s have always said “Why not!” Americans have always seen the challenge and conquered it. Americans have never said I’ll be happy if I do ok.

Twitter is really taking the guts out of information. It makes finding details on the web nearly impossible, as the tweets invariably dominate search results, especially for the more remote stories not properly covered by so-called real journalists.

I have never been much of an Elvis fan, and I think his songs last night on American Idol showed that his popularity wasn’t in his music. Overall – dullsville. BoSox continued her way to the top. I also liked Siobhan and Lee. Mike was very pleasant and maybe one of the more enjoyable for the night. Katie’s voice was strong, but I thought she was a little robotic. Casey was decent but didn’t make it big. I thought Tim was weak, but his song choice may carry him home. Aaron looked sullen and I didn’t think that Andy was as bad as the judges thought he was. So…two go home tonight. One has to be Andy. He has been squeaking by. Aaron deserves to go based on last night. But is he, like Tim, too “cute” to go. My six for the top five are BoSox, Siobhan, Katie, Mike, Lee and Casey.

The Answer:
The heat in peppers is called capsalcin. Pure capsalcin has a SHU rating of 16,000,000 versus sweet bell peppers at 0 SHU. A guy named Wilbur Schoville invented the scale to measure the strength of spicy chemicals in foods. The number represents the drops of water necessary before the pepper juice is undetectable. The hottest pepper at 850,000 is the Bhut Jokolia grown in India. After that we have the Habanero at 500K, Tabasco at 60K, Cayenne at 25K, Jalapeno at 16K and the Anaheim Peppers at 1,000.

The End:

Sarah Palin is in Boston today as the featured speaker in a Tea Party rally on The Common. Expect “Red Cambridge” comrades to be there with demeaning signage. And expect the media to show those signs and and not the calm faces of good tea Party members.

The Polish are bound together in love.