"T" it up.

Today's Tids Issue # 2,572
Opening Stuff:

A great opener for Tomorrow morning is Aaron Copeland's Appalachian Spring.

The world is in quite the economical, ideological mess these days. And I expect it will stay that way for quite awhile. Suck it up.

Just for the record, the amazing accomplishment of Gina Raimondo reforming the Pension system here, is exactly what Former GOP Gov Carcieri was trying to accomplish for 8 years. Always blocked by the entrenched Union anointed legislators. Carcieri, a former successful global business man knew a house of cards when he saw one.

The signing of the bill permitting 3 casinos and one slot parlor in Massachusetts will certainly send the RI legislators a-scurrying to turn the two local "Non-Casinos in to real ones. You can bet on that one.

The Question:
Every year around now Forbes Mag publishes the lists of the worst Passwords based on the efforts of two Internet observers, "SplashData" and "Imperva" list Name the top five baddies for each.

The Headlines:

--US S&P Index Expected To Turn Lower For 6th Straight day.
--New Jobless Claims Rise To 393,000.
--Germany's Disastrous Bond Sale Yesterday Shakes Confidence, Warns Of Possible Euro-Recession.
--Huckabee Urges Conservatives To get ready to Back Mitt Romney.
--GOP Debate: Winners -- Newt, 0-Man; Loser -- Herman; Biggest Loser -- Americans.
--Nokia To Cut 17,000 Jobs.
--Egypt Protestor Clashes Continue For 5th Day.
--Fed To Test US Banks For EuroStress; Auditors To Hit BoA, Morgan-Stanley, Citi, Goldman, JPMorgan-Chase and Wells Fargo.

Why We Buy 5 Pounds More Turkey than We Need Department:
Here's a nice "Panini" recipe for that leftover bird. In a bowl mix 1/2 cup mayo, 6 finely chopped basil leaves, zest and juice of 1 lemon. S&P to taste. Brush one side of each piece of multi grain bread (Or chewy Italian) with 2 tbs OO. With OO side down place on bread ample turkey and two thin slices Gruyere cheese. Palce other slicee of brea (OO up) on top and insrert into Panini maker or sandwich grill. Or if you just a person wit pots and pans, cook like grilled cheese sandwich. How easy was that.

Of course all the chic new recipes will never surpass my childhood days of butter lathered Wonder Bread heaped with white meat turkey! Oh my achin' heart.

A way better than average 13-1 last week brought the yearly "Pickin's" to 109-51 or 68%. But it could disintegrate quickly this week. Starting with 3 close match-ups on T-Day -- GB-(T-Day Savvy)Det, surging Miami/confusing Dallas, Conservative Balt/SF -- it doesn't bet many better with the likes of NE/Phil, sliders Buff/Jets, QB lacking Chi/New Qb'd Oakland and upstart Carolina trying to keep Indy down for another week. I'm betting Det, Miami, Balt, NE (Gulp), Jets, Oakland and Carolina. That could be easily 0-8! The rest are st. Louis, Cinn, Tenn, Houst, Atlanta, Seattle, SD (Sorry Tebow ) and Pitt.

I don't know about you. but the word "Black" just doesn't encourage me to go shopping Friday.

I've been thinking of playing "Hard to get", but that presupposes that somebody wants you.

Based on the success of the $1 Store concept, an enterprising entrepreneur has developed the "$1,000 Dollar Store" for upscale neighborhoods. They just had the Grand opening.

Did you see the report where High School students in the wealthy NYC suburb of Great Neck LI are paying from $500-$3500 to college kids to take their SAT and ACT tests. The imposters even are given fake photo ID's. They will probably not make it to college now, but I hear that the CIA is making offers.

North Carolina and RI are tied for the 6th in highest unemployment at 10.4%. What makes that interesting is that the NC (And other southern states) boomlet came at the expense of RI (And the other 5 NE states). The Unions played their "demands" card too long forcing the inevitable wholesale evacuation of powerful NE companies to the non-union south. It was great down there...for awhile. Until the unions got in and grew til demands forced southern companies to seek out of country manufacturing locations. Meanwhile back in In RI unions, with fewer and fewer companies to organize, went after state and local governments to the point where companies started leaving again. Operating them and living in RI became costly; a hazard to the economic health of all sized businesses. Maybe the new reform will call a few of them back. Oh yeah...the other five NE states have unemployment below the national average.

The revised Q3 GDP report has been revised downward from the 2.5% estimate to the now actual 2%. After tax and adjustment for inflation, average incomes for Americans dropped 2.1%. But, October the month of Q4 seemed refreshing for retailers. Economists are confused at best.

Reading between the Lines Movie Reviews:
--George Cloony is good in this film about a regular appearing guy, yet indifferent husband and father, whose life all of a sudden is falling apart. His wife is in a coma from a boating accident. He learns that his daughter are not there to help their distant dad. He then learns she had been having an affair. On top of this he must wrestle with the sale of thousands of acres of family land in Hawaii handed down from royalty and missionaries. A prefect Life in "Paradise" all of a sudden isn't.
--The newest Muppet Movie will make you laugh and make you smile even though the plot sucks.

Almost Near: Chapter 50 continues. --"I know Samantha quite well. In fact I just helped her avoid an embarrassing meeting with the police here." Audrey thought, The police again. Just what is this woman doing. "Actually I like the woman, and Dante did too."
Mary then told Audrey the complete story from the first meeting to the incident in Dalesford to the strange luncheon which eventually led to the near tragic death of Dante. "We all believe that Dante will come out of it. He's one tough guy."
"Maybe I can call you again when he is back on earth?"
Mary smiled at Audrey's remark. She liked this voice on the phone "Any time."
Audrey hung up just as she heard Tucker knocking on the door. God, she thought, he's here already. She took off her blouse, pulled one of those big terrycloth bathrobes form the closet, yelled out "Just a minute", ran to the bathroom and stuck a toothbrush in mouth. She opened the door with the toothbrush sticking out, "Thorrie..." she smiled broadly "Oops" and yanked the toothbrush out of her mouth. "Sorry, I guess I'm running a bit late!"
"Tucker actually laughed at the sight he saw. "You look great harried and un-programmed"
"When did you ever see me programmed?"
He kissed Audrey on the cheek, nicely, "I'll just sit patiently on the bed til you're ready."
"Don't peek." Audrey smiled and turned quickly, yanking a top and slacks out her suitcase by the bathroom. "I'll be quick." I wonder how much of what I have learned I should tell Tucker

The Answer:
From SplashData: Following the worst "Password" we go inorder to 123456, 12345678, qwerty, abc123, monkey, 1234567, letmein, trustno1 and 10 dragon. For Imperva it is similar with number/letter progressions and "password", but has also iloveyou, princess and rockyou. Some other prominent losers are baseball, master, sunshine, ashley, bailey, shadow, superman and football. I don't know if my passwords are good, but at least they aren't these.

You know, one of the things I'm thankful for is all of you out there giving me the chance to write each morning. Helping one person keeping an aging brain from atrophying. Doesn't that make you feel good?

Vacation Tids continues…

Today's Tidlets Issue 2,190
Opening Stuff:

On a day when in Kenya the people ran to the polls to support a new Constitution that would vastly curtail the powers of the President, the US Congress voted for a so-called “Jobs” bill that would effectively dilute the state’s power to determine their own education policies in the future. The Dems demonized GOP’ers in their typical fashion as they paid homage to Union backers with a new bill that would direct $10 Billion to help pay for teachers salaries. The States, the last bastion of common sense where budgets by law must be deficit free, will by accepting money printed in DC be indebted to the government's education direction and regulations. So let’s hear it for the ancestral home of the Prez. Where they have seen and despised the tragedy of an Executive Branch dictatorship free from checks and balances.

I don’t think I’ll ever understand the “Waver Wire.”

Did you hear about the exotic dancer who had to quit because she couldn’t put up with the daily grind?

While sarcastically casting aspersions at the importance of August, I forgot about one of the most important ever events in US history. VJ Day. That stands for Victory over Japan. You may have missed it because 49 politically correct states have rejected the idea of celebrating that day when masses of Americans took to the streets to breathe a gigantic sigh of relief with the defeat of the murderous Japanese army. So let’s just take a second and think about the millions of US soldiers who died on those crumby little islands or in immense Naval battles to vanquish a foe who snuck into Pearl Harbor one Sunday morning to kill sleeping Americans.

The Question:
A new poll just out this morning announces the most liberal state in the US of A. What is it. How does the same poll describe the nation?

The Headlines:
--Rudy Giulliani’s Harvard Student Daughter Caroline Snagged For Shoplifting; Will Probably Exhibit No Shame If Dad’s Publicists Can Effectively re-Write History.
--Cal Fed Judge Overturns Voter’s Explicit Demand For Ban On Gay Marriage.
--Nolan Ryan Led Group Tops Contender Mark Cuban Gang In Auction For Bankrupt Texas Rangers Baseball Team.
--Kagan Expected To Be Latest NYC Liberal On Supreme Court.
--High State Labor Costs May Force Home Town Hero Harley Motorcycle To Leave fro Another Friendlier State.

Back to More Stuff:

Now that Apple is becoming immensely successful with the intro of iGadgets, you can expect hackers to start paying a lot more attention to security deficiencies in the company's software. Somewhere in his vault Bill Gates is Smiling.

You have to love the columnists who are busy writing columns about why they aren’t going to write columns about Bret Favre this year. And…Jeez, I just did it myself.

Now that the FTC has successfully come down on Intel for overpricing computer chips, I think it is time they went after baked goods, convenience store soda pop and state and local government employees. We have to get back to some kind of value system.

There was glee on Wall Street yesterday as a better than normal July service sector jobs employment report was announced. Keep your eye on that one for the end of September report. That’s when those summer service jobs that got rolling in July will start to decline for the Winter. If Wall Streeters’ were looking 6 months ahead like they want you to believe they do, they may have noticed that.

With the approval of Kagan the SC is danger of becoming an institution of special interest groups.

The Answer:
According to Gallop this morning, the most liberal state is the one from where this morning missive originates…that’s rii-iight… Little Ole’ RI. And once this word gets out, more libs will come our way. And more government will get in the way. Actually the biggest pocket of lefties is right in our Nation’s capitol, DC! Surprise! As far as our good nation as a whole, the poll says that overall the majority of the people declared themselves as Conservative or very conservative. Conservatives out number liberals across all states by 20% points. Will somebody send the Ocean state a life raft? Or are we already to far adrift?

(Actually, while Rhode Island has the most declared liberals at 32% Moderates are the highest at 36%. 29% of Ocean Stater’s are conservative.)

It looks like everybody in the country is going conservative except those naming Supreme Court Judges.

I may be back tomorrow. And then again...

Milestones every day.

Today's Tids Issue 2,171
Opening Stuff:

This is a particularly great day.

The current stock market is an excellent example of a manic-depressive. I just wish they didn’t so often forget to take their medicine.

Are you the kind of person who causes happiness when you arrive…or when you leave?

The Question: People are able to list many or all of the 44 Presidents. But we have had far fewer Chief Justices of the Supreme Court, a position that can often dramatically affect the DNA of the nation. How many Chief Justices have there been and name at least ten of them.

The Headlines:
--Russia, US Swap Spies.
--Terrorist Bomber Kills Fifty In Pakistan; Suicide Bomber Kills 6 In Baghdad..
--China Renews Google License.
--James Snubs Home Down Fans; Bores TV Viewers; To Join Wade, Bosh At Miami.
--Bi-Polar Stock Brokers Convince Themselves That Today The World Is Recovering; Tomorrow is Another Day.
--The Tids Management Proclaims July 9 As National Understanding Day.
--San Francisco Picked For America’s Cup Over Newport RI; Cup’s Original US City Expected To get many Of Pre Event Elimination Races.

Back to More Stuff:

Why the US is Dying Department:
69% of Americans say they are unwilling to pay higher taxes to stop layoffs of state and federal employees (19% say ok; 11% unsure.). Public sector employees make an average of 45% more than private sector employees. Are you starting to understand the problem? Only 6 % of the private sector is unionized. The public sector is nearing 100%. Public Employees don’t add to the value of an economy. Is the picture becoming clearer? The US would have had a world class rail system today if union demands hadn’t crippled the railroads 60-70 years ago. The US was the greatest manufacturing society ever until corporations had to ship manufacturing overseas because of suffocating union demands(And wimpy management). And, service industries followed next. Does this mean that in a few years State governments will be run out of India?

The guy who had his long hair chopped off for a crew cut was dis-tressed.

United Sheep of America Department:
Lebron James. One hour. I can’t stand it! Whatever happened to individuality? Whatever happened to self-initiative? What is happening to the minds of America? And you know, come the Fall, some NFL player will turn his personal treasure hunt into another bad reality show.

I’d like to see the America’s Cup get back to a standardized hull design.

Even after 2,170 isues of TheTids, I still try to never repeat anything. This is especially difficult with some jokes and puns. I have to admit, though, that occasionally a humorous contribution by a reader which I have seen before and may have been already Tidsified, is funny enough in my mind to be repeated. Like William Faulkner’s insult about Ernest Hemmingway, “He has never been know to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary.” And, that of Clarence Darrow: “I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure.”

All of you who think Lindsey Lohan got what she deserved, raise your hands.

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:
--Yet another animated feature for the kids – Despicable Me. It is not your typical children’s fare as the main character Gru (Steve Carell) is antisocial and very proud to call him self an ubervillain. He is incredible selfish, uncaring and disdainful of just about everyone. He will be hated by audiences. He employs cute little orphans in his schemes to become the worlds greatest villain. He has big mother problem. Mom played by Julie Andrews is even more hate-able than Gru. How will it end? Will his lovable supporters change him for the good? They say to be sure to stay till the end of the credits for the best 3-D effects.
--Cyrus is a charmer. A funny, yet poignant tale about a heavier than average man-child (Jonah Hill) who is looking for love but is trapped by the divorce plight of his mother (Marisa Tomei). That is until John (Played beautifully by John C. Reilly) enters moms life and changes Cyrus too. It is done well enough to rise above obvious potential for schmaltz.
--The latest Predators is very exciting with many jump out of your skin moments. Earthlings are brought by aliens to the jungle like planet for hunting by natives. It follows the “Ten Little Indians” scenario. You know some one will go next but each time the victim is a total surprise. Beware of extremely gruesome killings.

A president who is out there constantly campaigning is continually losing at least half of his people.

If you think about it, you can mark down just about everyday as one where you have achieved something beyond what you ahve done before. But then there are some that are major milestones -- a passage of time that represents an accumulation of small daily achievements.

The Answer:
There have been but 17 Chiefs in the long history of United States of America. John Jay was numero uno (Just in case illegals can’t find work today and have to read the Tids). Some of the notable names are Charles Evans Hughes, William Howard Taft and John Marshall. The rest starting with the current John Roberts are William Rehnquist, Warren Earl Berger, Earl Warren, Frederick Vinson, Harlan Stone, Edward White, Melville Fuller, Morrison Waite, Salmon Chase, Roger Taney, Oliver Ellsworth and John Rutledge. The last four were appointed by Republican Presidents starting with Ike.

Another Beginning:
If you can’t figure out who you are on a day like today, than you probably don’t have a clue about why you exist.

Have a wonderful weekend everybody! I will.

"Love does not consist of gazing at each other,
But looking together in the same direction." --Antoine de Saint-Exupery

"Walk Away Renee"

Today's Tids Issue 2,107
Opening Stuff:

24-um: Noooooooooooooooo! Not Renee. One of my favorite characters (With excellent acting by Annie Wersching BTW), wiped out in seconds. I was looking forward to she and Jack taking care of each other at series end. Walking hand in hand into the sunset. But no, she gets a slug in the gut. And, our favorite bewildered computer analyst gets a promotion. Must be a union seniority thing. Disgraced President Logan came back, and while he made a compelling case for his desire for rehab (Ala Woods and Rothlisberger) he just has to have some sleazy plan in his mind. Last night was gripping. Just six episodes to go. What do I do next year?

In a remarkable cultural turn-about, it was announced yesterday that President Barack Obama of the USA did not win a Pulitzer Prize. He immediately cancelled the remaining sessions of the Nuke Summit.

The Question:
Tell me everything you know about Pierre de Coubertin. Or at least one thing!

The Headlines:
--China Shows Signs Of Joining Sanctions Against Iran.
--Admin Provides More Positive Outlook For Deficit.
--February Trade Deficit Widens Unexpectedly To $39.7 Billion.
--London’s FTSE 100 Up; US Market Futures Lower.
--Twitter To Roll Out Advertising Revenue Generating Model Today.
--Consumer Reports Labels Lexus GX460 “Unsafe”; Higher Priced SUV Susceptible To Rollovers.
--Recession Economic Reports: Recession Still Not Over; Hardest Hot Areas Improving.

Back to More Stuff:

In other Pulitzer news, I was particularly happy to see Kathleen Parker win for the “Commentary” category. And, for the first time ever a couple of On-Line operations won. I think I’ll send in the Tids for Next Year’s awards. You never know.

Is The US destined to be the Next Greece Department:
Here’s a small example from the RI state legislature that could become pervasive across our land…and it’s all about the growth and arrogance of labor under the 0-Man admin…just like Greece. Last Friday afternoon at 4:30 the budget had an element which have the state workers contributing 15% against their benefit’s costs. When it was announced at 8:30 to the public that clause had vanished. According to sources, apparently a major national AFL-CIO honcho stopped by to remind our leaders of the fate of Jimmy Hoffa. Why do state workers in the US and Greece somehow feel they live on another planet not governed by the rules of economics.

I keep trying to get interested in Dancing with the Stars, but honestly, I just can’t get through the glitz. Just too much make-up, dyed hair and giddiness for this simple minded observer. All I can say is that it appears there will be no stopping the ice skater – Evan Lysacek. But then, why wouldn’t a figure skater know how to put on a great choreographed performance with good technique.

Old time actor Victor Mature once said: “Hollywood is a place where the stars twinkle until they wrinkle”!

The Tids economic/financial advisor continues to remind me that the recession was caused primarily by people buying houses far beyond their ability to pay, money hungry banks letting them get away with it and financial geniuses creating products that gave the bankers an appearance of safety. And it all started with someone telling people who couldn’t afford it that the American Dream can be yours for a song. And that was the Birth of the Blues!

Most observers feel that the Georgia prosecutor Bright was dying to bring down Rothlisberger. Now it is up to the NFL to come down hard on the latest amoral sports thug. Closer to home, two Providence College young sport’s thugs (PC Basketball Freshman Basketball players) decided a couple of nights ago that it would be loads of fun to go out on the street, stop the first person they saw and beat the crap put of him or her. They did just that. For absolutely no reason, they just grabbed this unsuspecting student and pummeled him.

Here’s why Africa probably doesn’t stand a chance despite how many celebs travel there for photo-ops (Although some with sincere desires to contribute.) the Sudan had an election yesterday and the result was the a win for the President Omar al-Bishar currently under indictment for war crimes in Dafar that took over 2,000,000 lives. This election was to have had some promise for peace in the region. But intimidation and and elimination of candidates in various regions turned the so-called “Free Election” into just one more dictator led farce. And the point is, that this kind of intimidation goes on throughout the Dark Continent.

Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 66. –I was apprehensive like a school girl as I anticipated my “date” with Kent. Most of the time up til now we have just fallen into these little rendezvous. But this time he asked to meet me and I had to arrange my day to do it. Also, things have changed a lot since my accident. I have seen another side of Paul, the side I always hoped was there but had never seen. Or perhaps, had never consciously felt the need to look for it. I had -- even before our marriage -- been easily carried along by life’s flow. And there had been nary a dam along the way or even a water fall. Just a fast moving stream. Two beautiful, wonderful children. A terrific boss and a career that exploded. And a wonderfully witty husband who felt as comfortable as my favorite jeans. But Kent, made me different. He forced me look at my life from many new angles. Even though at the time I didn’t realize was doing it. I am not confused, but confused about why I am not. I wrap my arms around Paul as perfectly natural event and never think that there may have been something wrong about my previous two hours in Kent’s bed. So, here I am. Standing and feeling smaller as I look at Marie’s.
Kent was reading as I walked inertly towards his table. He looked up as I started to sit, “Why, hello Sarah/Maggie.” He smiled and looked into my soul. And I felt his glance awaken my body just as it had always done before.

Is there a bigger crock, a bigger boondoggle in this universe than “Unused Sick Days” that demand payouts in the multiple thousands…for what? Doing what all healthy people do, come to work and earn a paycheck. This is the kind of stuff that had Greece on the edge of bankruptcy.

The Answer:
Pierre de Coubertin was the founder of the modern day Olympics and the first president of the IOC. Pierre was a French aristocrat interested in education. He was an extremely bright young student and had many career paths open to him. But he chose a path of Intellectual Curiosity and Education. It was education that drove him to the Olympics. On tours of better schools in Europe and England he noticed the contributions planned physical activities and sports to a student’s moral and social strength. He observed that while the French education was superior from an intellectual point of view, it was totally devoid of of any physical activity. As a history major he also was concerned that France was not physically up to the armies of Germany and England and other adversaries. He became addicted to the possibilities of athletic achievement in society. Out of this came the Olympics we enjoy today.

End Stuff and a Song for Renee:

You would have to wonder what Coubertin would think of the current rash of sports thuggery?

Just a little warning. After May 17, my vacuum will become your vacuum. The Tids will shut down for a short while in honor of the passing of “24”.

"Walk away Renee"


And when I see the sign that
points one way
The lot we used to pass by
every day

(Chorus):

Just walk away Renee,
You won't see me follow you back home
The empty sidewalks on my
block are not the same
You're not to blame

From deep inside the tears that
I'm forced to cry
From deep inside the pain I
I chose to hide

Now as the rain beats down
upon my weary eyes
For me it cries

Your name and mine inside
a heart upon a wall
Still finds a way to haunt me,
though they're so small