Fairness-for-all means “all”.

Today's Tids Issue 2,216
Opening Stuff:

When I walk past a Dove cosmetics display, I think rich dark chocolate covered vanilla ice cream.

Every time 0-Man uses the phrase “For the rich” in one of his campaign speeches masquerading as a chat with America he reinforces the idea that socialism is in his DNA. Why doesn’t fairness for all Americans include those who create jobs and raise capital for the economic engine. Unless 0-Man only sees eventually an all powerful government as a sole economic engine. Nah, he couldn’t be that bad.

The Question:
Every year around now we ask the question, “What were the five top grossing Summer Concert Tours. (Note: 2009’s clear winner was U2, the rest of the top 10 were Springsteen, Elton John/Billy Joel, Britney, AC/DC, Kenny Chesney, Jonas Brothers, Dave Matthews, Fleetwood Mac and Metallica. Matthews is the top grossing tour of the decade. Now all you have to odo is give me 2010’s five. How hard can that be?

The Headlines:

--Stock Market Positive On Better Employment Numbers.
--Obama Says No To Thoughts About Continuing Bush Tax Cuts For The Rich.
--Killer Fires Rampaging Outside Of Boulder Colorado; Detroit Neighborhoods Go Up In Flames.
--Suicide Bomber Kills 17, Injures 130 In Vladikavkaz (North Caucasus) Russia.
--New Unemployment Filings Tumble To 451,000; Lowest In Two Months.
--Patriot’s Tom Brady Not Injured In Car Accident.
--Britain’s Financial Watchdog Hits Goldman Sachs With $27 Million Fine.
--Panel Of 50 Economists Revise Rest Of Year Economic Growth Downward.

Back to More Stuff:
The headline said “Castro says ‘Cuban economic model faulty’.” The question is the use of the term “economic model” for his failed-since-the-beginning of Communist regime. And the bigger question is why are journalists reporting this instead of rolling on the floor holding their guts laughing themselves into unconsciousness. Probably because many of these same journalists have been trying to give the Castro catastrophe credibility for years. Journalism. Hah!

On “America’s got”…Jackie Evancho is the best sure thing as the Tids Entertainment bureau sets the odds for next week’s (hopefully at last) finale. Fighting Gravity appears to be a favorite of voters, although I think their cleverness is wearing thin. The patriotic Prince Poppycock seems to have a little magic with the voters. And while Michael Grimm is a very good singer, he doesn’t appear to have that uniqueness necessary for winning this type of competition. Frankly, I love listening to, and watching the poise of, Evancho.

Year's First Weekly NFL Picks Department:
The Red Sox are waning so the start of the NFL season couldn’t come too soon for me. But, the clinker is a less than optimistic feeling about the Pats this year. So let’s have fun with the first picks of the year instead. I’ll probably be starting badly by putting on my homer hat and picking the Pats over the much improved Bengals. I’ll continue my “Homer” stupidity by picking the Ravens over the dreaded Jets. The others that are tougher than average are Minn/NO, Indy/Houston, Denver/Jax, Wash/Dal, GB/Phil and Atlanta/Pitt. I’m going NO, Houston, Jax, Washington, GB and Pitt. I almost picked Cleveland to upset TB, but I can’t. The rest of the winners are Chi, Tenn, Miami, NYG and San Diego. My upset special is St. Louis over Arizona.

You all may have seen this description of the ails of Health Care legislation, but I think it is worth repeating (As in throwing up?). “Let me get this straight. We’re going to be “gifted” with a health care plan we are forced to purchase and fined if we don’t, written by a committee whose chairman says he doesn’t understand it, passed by a Congress that hasn’t read it but exempts themselves from it, to be signed by a President who also smokes, with funding administered by treasury chief who didn’t pay his taxes, to be overseen by a Surgeon General who is obese and financed by a country that is broke. What the hell could possibly go wrong?”

Right after the morning headlines about Mideast/Asian bombings comes the fascinating headline, “Playboy magazine for the blind.” And you sit there and imagine the possibilities. Sorry, the devil made me do it.

The clockmaker’s apprentice gave him a hand.

Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 92 continues. –I had visions of my car flipping over and down the side of the hillside as watched the déjà vue scene of a suspicious car coming up fast. This time I was alert to a threat. My body tensed . My hands tightened on the wheel. My eyes were riveted to any possible move by the stalker. The trailing car inched forwarded, like a cat looking for a reaction. I stayed steady. I kept my glances shifting forward back. Forward back. I felt little beads of sweat forming beneath my arms pits. Now trickling down to my waste. I shivered. The trailer slowed and retreated. I saw his turn signal flicker and looked ahead 100 yards to a right turn. I thought my imagination get the better of me. Until I saw a state police car about to pass me with a flicking turn signal for the same street.
The state car turned and then I was alone. Just like that. My body relaxed ass I spoke into my speaker phone. “Thought I saw an aggressive car. A Volvo. But it turned right just as a State police car appeared from the south.” Henry’s voiced came back.
“It may have been a coincidence. But maybe not. I’ll call the State police.” Stay calm.” Calm I thought. I won’t be calm until I walk out of the elevator into my office.
“Ok, Henry.” Just as I started to relax, I looked back and saw the Police car behind me flashing his signals. I pulled to the side. Within a few seconds I saw the trooper approaching quickly. I rolled down the window.
“Sarah Durham?” he questioned.
“Do you want my license and registration? “ I tried to be funny, mainly for myself. He didn’t smile.

RI Governor's Race Department:
The news in the local paper this morning about old ties between Governor candidate Frank Caprio and looses cannon Vincent Mesolella makes you wonder if the candidate isn’t just another in the long line of RI wolves in sheep’s clothing. I’m leaning towards Chafee mainly because he appears incorruptible. But then, maybe he’s too naïve to be corrupted. God, what a choice.

I think the Piers Morgan could be very good for CNN. Likable and unafraid to make strong opinions that go against the grain. The problem. Will celebs and pols avoid this move away fro softball questioning.

The Answer: The top five this year includes once again Dave Matthews at #3. Number one was the Eagles followed by #2 James Taylor/Carol King. 4 and 5 were Phish and Michael Buble. At a ticket price of $107 dollars there is little likelihood that I will ever see the eagles live. And it appears that I am not alone in my thinking as the recession finally caught up with the one time invincible music business.

The End :
Americans shouldn’t be setup by our leaders to begrudge the rewards to those who take chances to produce under a free market system.

Open your eyes.

Today's Tids Issue 2,215
Opening Stuff:

How scary is the current trend that has many financial analysts and observers jumping aboard the “Double Dip” and the “Bond Bubble’ bandwagons – two current hot topics among discussers of the US investing and the economy.

Left leaning creative people are really a pretty predictable, stereotypical group of people. Especially when you think about their personal lives. For instance, how many over the years have thought it quite clever naming their cat Atticus.

The greatest boom to the stock markets could be the election of Republicans and the resultant gridlock in Washington. Investors love Washington gridlock.

The Question:
What is the meaning of the word “Paraprosdokian”?

The Headlines:

--BP Blames Self And Mainly Other Contractors In Their Just Released Investigation Report.
--0-Man Continues to Promise Big Payouts to get Dems Elected.
--Most Americans Against Quran Burning.
--Farmer’s Almanac Predicts Cooler Than Average Winter And Next year’s Spring And Summer.
--Economists Lower Growth estimates.
--Stronger Euro Stocks Boost US Markets.

Back to More Stuff:
Notice how real news is dominating Wall Street now that the big hitters are back at their desks and European bankers are back from vacations.

I particularly dislike the flavor of pimento.

The big worry according to some pretty savvy investment analysts is that the problem of 2007/08 which is applicable to Greece and Euro Countries today as it was to Lehman Bothers then,  is simply stated too much leverage and not enough capital. That the problem still exists as the trillions spent in the various rescue plans were just wall papering over the problem offering no permanent solution to the problem.

I’m starting to see PR agencies working overtime to boost the image of Muslims. Docile, happy Muslims are everywhere on TV these days This brand building may help, but many Americans are still angry at the Islamic leadership’s lack of condemnation of the Islamic outlaws who perpetrated the destruction of the Twin Towers and the loss of lies of 3,000 innocent Americans.

Obama’s current give-away rampage is exactly what is wrong with the country’s system of elections and resultant government. It s plain and simple a vote buying campaign where the losers are the Americans who will have to pay dearly for ill conceived and rushed in to law bills. The 28th amendment should require that Congress and the President not be able to operate 120 days before elections.

Did you know there are 6 Amendments to the constitution that have been passed by Congress but not ratified by the states. The oldest pending amendment is from 1789 and is about House of representatives apportionment. (If it had passed then we would now have 5,628 Representatives. The Junket bills would be enormous!): The next from 1810 would ban Titles of Nobility (There’s no truth to the rumor that 0-Man is working to reactivate that one.); 1861 Corwin Amendment “Prservation of Slavery”; 1924 Child Labor Amendment giving Congress the right to regulate Child labor. The other two you are probably familiar with – Equal rights for women and the voting rights for DC.

Light travels faster than sound. That’s why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

The Answer:
Paraprosdokian is a figure of speech in which the later part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected in a way that causes to reader or listener to reframe or reinterpret the first part. It is a technique of humorists and satirists. Examples: “She got her good looks from her father. He’s a plastic surgeon.” “I believe in making the world safe for my children. But, not my children’s children…because I don’t believe my children should be having sex.” “I like going to the park and watching the children run and jump around, because you see they don’t know I’m using blanks.”

The End:
Don’t worry…Spell-Check didn't know what Paraprosdokian is either!

War doesn’t determine who is right – only who is left.

The Fertilizer days.

Today's Tids Issue 2,214
Opening Stuff:

These are those wonderful days when the crabgrass starts dying.

Kids keep all of their most prized possessions – songs, pictures, diaries – on a 3 inch square electronic device. Yet when going to school they labor under the weight of back packs that can carry everything needed for a minor league baseball team. Go figure.

These are the days when Politicians begin to spread the manure.

The Question: 
Today we have a pretty simple twosome. The first is for golfers and the curious. What is the official name of a “Double Eagle” (Three under par on one hole)? And second…the big earthquake in New Zealand occurred near the country’s second largest city Christ Church. Quick now, what is the largest city in New Zealand?

The Headlines:

--Political Campaign Spending Fastest Growing Segment Of Economy.
--Japan Confirms First Case Of Superbug Resistant To All Drugs.
--Wall Street Futures Not Bright.
--US Commander In Afghan Warns That Burning Of Quran Endangers Troops And Americans Worldwide; Petraeus Says Small Flirda Church Plan To Burn Book On 911 Is Bad Idea.
--Jerry Lewis Telethon Raises $59.9 Million.
--North Korea Asks South For Flood Aid.
--Obama Kicks Off Dem Campaign With Infrastructure Spending Plan; Talk Obliterates Any Hope For Non Partisanship In Bill Passages.
--It was a Vichyssoise Summer For Campbell; As Heat Rose Soup Sales Cooled.

Back to More Stuff:
Be prepared this week for an all out assault on your wallets as the Dems in panic mode unleash proposals they say are designed to get the economy rolling again…“Before November”.

I’m always amazed at some credibility gaps in the writings of so-called successful writers. One line I read yesterday popped out at me. In this a novel a detective called to a home because of a savage attack on a woman, thinks as he observes the victim after but a few moments in the house, “Hillary Thomas was one of the most beautiful woman Tony had ever seen, She appeared to have a few drops of Indian blood.” A few drops of Indian blood?? He must be a helluva detective.

One of the skills that hasn’t diminished is my uncanny ability to jaywalk. I used to use it often perfecting my skills as a football running back. If you can beat a car you can beat a mere mortal.

The Tids Sports Department is getting a little giddy as it anticipates the first Pick-um day Thursday morning. Get ready for winners.

Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 92 continues. –Concentrate Sarah. Concentrate. “Yeah, Middleton does have some fatherly characteristics,” I agreed to Paul. “But, he was also a pretty intelligent guy and fun to work with on the great Fosterville vandalism caper.”
“I can understand that. I liked him too. Once I got past his efficient business exterior.” I smiled at the image of Kent making Paul sweat it our. “In fact, and I’m no geneticist, I thought this project was making progress without the new data from the Bromsky experiments. Although that data would surely make your company’s investment in BiEm pay off a lot quicker.”
“What did you just say?” I asked now alert to his talking.
“I said,” replied Paul, “That my instruments and technology a had upgraded the project to the extent that BiEm was in no danger of not achieving your return projections. And that the addition of the manna from heaven, the Bromski data, turned it into a bonanza for the management, and probably RL&H too. You know performance bonuses and all.” “And all,” I thought. “How are you feeling Sar. I wish I was there with you.”
I started to reply with one of my remarks, but all of a sudden my heart got caught in my throat. I was speechless. A little tear formed in my eye.
“Sar? Sarah.” I heard Paul talk to Henry. “I can’t hear her anymore Henry.”
“I’m here Paul. I’m here. Can you hear me? The silver Volvo was 100 yards behind me.

One of the results of the proliferation of coffee shops is the ability of humans to sit alone and stare aimlessly into space for hours. Then they can take out their internet device and talk to friends they have never seen.

A letter to the editor reminds us that the Hispanic baseball players have voted to boycott the All-Star game if played in Arizona. And that the Player’s Union has come out against the Arizona law. The letter writer suggests that Americans boycott all baseball games until the players learn the meaning of the word “Illegal”. Makes sense to me.

One thing that has never made sense to me are body piercings, with tattoos a close second. I try to understand, but this one. has me stumped because I have never disliked single pierced ears for earrings.

I think, if I’m not mistaken, that we are at that point where welfare pays better than minimum wage. If the Illegals figure that out we won’t have any workers in the US to do low pay work.

The Answer:
The official name of a three under hole, commonly called a double eagle, is “Albatross”! The biggest city in New Zealand is Aukland followed by Wellington. Amaze your friends.

The End:
The world has a way of balancing things out. It’s fall when the crab grass dies and politicians grow wild and ugly.

No flag today.

Today's Tids Issue 2,213
Opening Stuff:

Well…Happy Labor Day everybody. Well happy “Big” Labor Bosses Day anyhow. Lots of labor isn’t working, but big labor is very happy about the Obama and Nancy doles.

Summer’s Over Department:
A couple of comic strips uniquely summed up the end of Summer. Wiley’s Sine Qua Non: Woman in Bikini – “Summer’s over. Screw the diet.”. And I particularly liked Brian Bassett: “Will the last firefly of Summer please turn out the lights”.

Old Earl didn’t’ have that swirl; Earl’s thud was a tepid dud.

The Question:
Cathy Guisewite is retiring. Name 4 other well known female comic strip authors.

Today’s Headlines:
--Admin And Congress Cohorts Expected To Dominate This Weeks Airtime With Long List Of Expensive New Proposals. out US Economy.
--World Markets Up On More Positive feeling Ab
--Red Sox Play their Way Out Of Hope Into Despair; New England Sports fans Turn Eyes To Suspect Pats.
--Half of All Allied Casualties For 10 year Afghan War Occurred In 2008/10(To date).
--New Zealand Quake Damage In Multi Billions, But Far Less Than Damage Form US Congress.
--Van Der Sloot Admits To extorting Halloways.
--Israel Foreign Minister Will Block Any Effort To Slowdown New Settlement Expansion.

Back to More Stuff:
I was in Philadelphia the other day and remembered how much I enjoyed the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper while living there in the early 80’s. And it is still very satisfying. While lots of people these days like complaining about daily papers, I for one would be lonesome without one every morning. I still love my Providence Journal and still spend an hour and a half to read it. Looking at other cities where I have had the opportunity to read the paper I can say I like the Boston Globe and the comprehensiveness of the Washington Post. Surprisingly though I am hard-pressed to be editorially satisfied in the big “Media Center” New York. Where the choice is one of two tabloids, (a style I do not like as a rule) or the newspaper without comics! Odd, isn’t it.

The driver in the busy tourist town thought he had found a bonanza when he saw the sign “fine” for parking!

Did you read about that Drake University ad -- “Get a ‘D+’ education.” The concept would actually work well for Alcorn State!

The Netanyahu, Abbas, 0-Man meeting is a nice election season publicity stunt, but in reality Hamas -- the power and the problem -- will never listen to anything that Mahmoud Abbas has to offer.

Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 92 continues. –The Volvo didn’t speed up as I accelerated and I wondered if it was my imagination. “Where are you now Sarah?” I heard Henry ask as I loosened my death grip on the wheel.
“I’m on Route two north of Lancaster.”
“Good, I’m calling the State troopers at Acton and asking to have a car head your way. Hang on.” I listened to Henry talking in the background, maybe to Paul. In about a minute he came back and on. “I told him to look for your Saab.”
“Thanks. Was that other voice I heard Paul?”
“He’s still here with Sally. I’ll put him on.” I listened to that noise you hear when people are shuffling around phones. My mind turned to my thoughts of Kent and I wondered once again why I couldn’t resist. Is love so overwhelming that it smothers sensible thinking? Or is it that sex is just too captivating.
“Hi Sar,” I heard Paul say in his always soothing, loving voice. And I responded as though Kent had never entered my mind.
“Paul, I need your voice right now. Just keep talking to me for a while. My eyes darted up to the rear view mirror. Another car was passing the Volvo which dropped back. Why would I pick out that car?
“Kent sounded very concerned about you, Sarah. At times I think he feels that he is your surrogate father.” Paul laughed and I imitated his pleasure. My father. My incestuous father, and I laughed to myself.

0-Man should travel to places like Pilsen, The Czech Republic before he starts apologizing for America again.

Chris Matthews this week said the reason we don’t like Obama is because he is “Pluperfect.” Though pluperfect is most often used in grammar to reflect something that had been done in the past, here he probably means the Latin origins – Better than perfect. Which is actually redundant. Do does that mean that the Prez is redundant. God, “I feel this thrill going up my leg.” Don’t blame Philadelphia for Chris Matthews. Most Philadelphians are great people.

0-Man with his constant pandering to the public is trying to extort republicans into passing the so-called small biz bill. Of course the last time he did this with the so-called Jobs Bill it turned out to be on large public employees Union Campaign Payback package. What voter bloc is getting paid off this time.

The Answer:
One of the first I can remember is “Marge who was actually Marjorie Henderson Buell creator of Little Lulu. My favorite stirp “For better or for worse” is by Lynn Johnson. Another look at marriage in the very sarcastivc an funny “The Lockhorns by Bunny Hoest. Some others are Nicole Hollander with “Sylvia”, Sandra bell-Lundy “Between Friends”, Dale Messick “Brenda Strarr”, Margaret Shulok “Apartment 3G”, Hillary Price “Rhymes With Orange” and Jan Eliot “Stone Soup”. Did “Lockhorns” surprise you as being written by a woman?

The End:
Enjoy a peaceful day. A day when perhaps the tourists go away.

And thus ends a brief Holiday version of your favorite morning wake-up call.

Hunkering down.

Today's Tids Issue 2,212
Opening Stuff:

The soft, pink morning sky belied the mounting anger of the sea. An overnight transformation from last evening’s large placid swells. Earl was sticking his nose into my back yard.

Is lobster really that good, or is it just something gets along particularly well with butter.

The good news today is that more and more Dems are joining Republicans to keep the Bush Tax cuts going. Isn’t it amazing how fear can overcome the idiocy of arrogance?

Red Sox farm team Portland (ME) Seadogs is giving away free tickets today to anybody named Earl! My next door neighbor growing up was an old Mainer named Earl. But he is long gone and missed out on a little reward of life’s coincidences.

The Question:
What was the name of the Treaty that ended the Revolutionary War? Name for other US war ending treaties.

The Headlines:

--Jobs Report Has Stocks Up Over 100; Unemployment Rate Rises To 9.5.
--Earl Expected To Spare new England As It Blows Past NC Farther Out To Sea..
--AFL-CIO President Threatens Sarah Palin.
--Latest Gulf Oil Platform “Explosion” Now Deemed A Fire; No Oil Leakage Spotted.
--Pro Governemtn Militiamen Attack Home Of Iranian Opposition Leader; Iran Democracy At Work.
--Gates Sees Evidence That US Is Making Progress In Kandahar, Afghan.
--New Data Says That Democrats Could Lose 47 Seats In The House.

Back to More Stuff:
I have always been quite comfortable in my bland beginnings, and rarely see any need for hot sauce or exotic spices.

Although, after I wrote that, I received an email from a good reader with a little poem that was an intro to a cookbook he and his wife had published: "If you always eat what you always ate, you are going to miss a lot of stuff that is really great!"

Why would any self respecting person ever want something in their house named “Lazy Boy”?

Now Stephen Hawking is saying that you didn’t need God to create the universe. That this endless sky just happened. That one day there was nothing, and the next day “Bang!” Hey wait a minute…nothing!

The stock market is up 3.9% after the first two days of September. But, remember September on Wall Street doesn’t start until after Labor Day. That’s when the big fund managers go back to work trying to figure out how to manipulate their portfolios to look good come bonus time. Next week, there’s a new sheriff in town.

Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 92 continues. –I quickly changed the subject and asked, “Do we know for sure that I’m being tailed?” “After talking to Kent I suspect that there is a high probability that you are. I have a call into the security firm of BIEmbryo’s. Remember I visited there with Kent and frankly I didn’t like them then.”. “I see nothing Henry. But, I am being very cautious.”
  “Continue to be that way Sarah. While Kent sounded genuinely concerned about you, I am increasingly wonderin’ why he seems to be a couple of steps ahead of us. I know he is a very smart guy, but some of his theories sounds as thought they are based on clairvoyance.” I tried to think back of some of the actions of Kent during the past couple of weeks. The actions that made me a little suspicious too. Actions that often became buried by the feelings in my heart.
I know what you are talking about Henry. I have sensed the same thing. But, he is an amazingly intuitive man.”
 “Like you Sarah. Like you.” And, the he chuckled a little. I looked in the rear view mirror and saw a silver Volvo driving casually in the distance. I pressed down on the accelerator.

What is this College Football Thursday all about? I thought college weekdays were all about classes and studying. Silly me.

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:
--I think Clooney’s new movie The American is going to be one of those love it/hate it films. It is complicated and not for the casual thriller viewer. Clooney plays an assassin living in northern Italy. After a particularly grueling episode in Sweden he tries to get away for a while. While away he is hired to build a weapon for a mysterious Matilda. Pay attention. I’ll put it on my list.
--Drew Barrymore’s Going the Distance is a better than average Romantic Comedy once you get beyond the “I’ve seen this before” opening. The reason – great chemistry between Drew and Justin Long. Two people argu and disagree and eventually see they are made for eachother. But…they live a continent apart. They must keep up the long distance romance amidst dangerous diversions.

The Answer:
The Treaty of Paris officially ended the great American Revolutionary war. The Treaty of Ghent ended the war of 1812, The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hildago ended the Mexican American War, The 6th Treaty of Paris ended the Spanish-American War and the Treaty of Versailles ended WWI. WWII was a little more complicated as it took the Paris Peace Treaties of 1947 to “establish peace in Europe” and four years later in 1951 the Treaty of San Francisco to establish peace with Japan. Oddly there is not yet a peace treaty for the Korean war. Instead there is a mutual defense pact with South Korea. In other words we are still at war with NK after nearly 60 years. The Viet Nam War officially came to an end with the Paris Peace Accords.

The Beginning...of the Weekend: So what is an accord versus a treaty? Well, a treaty is an agreement between two parties under International law. While an accord seems like a kumbayah type of thing – a meeting resulting in harmony among disagreeing parties

While we are talking about world harmony, there is one thing quite common between men and women from Cambodia to Boston and Paris to Capetown – Flirting! Flirting is good for the soul and people throughout the world employ the same moves: Smiling, arching of eyebrows, averting glances, giggling. And get this…people who flirt have higher white blood cell counts! Crazy huh? Wink. Wink.

Sorry for the slight delay. Had to run out and make last minute preparations for Earl

Chix Come Home to roost; roast?

Today's Tids  Issue 2,211
Opening Stuff:

We just reported the worst auto sales month in America since 1983. And, it pretty much proves what many good economists were saying about clunkers at this time a year ago. “We are just borrowing from tomorrow for a sales spurt today.” It also turns out that auto companies were borrowing from their future profits to offer out of the world discounts last year. This is yet one more example of why real economies can’t (Yes can’t) function with government intrusion.

Why is the UN and “Climate Change Organizations” sending poverty ridden countries multi-billions of dollars to reign in global warming when all the people want to do is eat?

DVR’s are great for political speeches…that is, to tape several alternative programming options the night before. Actually, I know several who watched “Mad Men” instead of the Prez. Is that just a coincidence or a subconscious action.

The Question:
15 years ago, the ribbon was cut opening the striking new Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame in beautiful lakefront Cleveland. The first inductees were introduced in 1986. Name them. Hint – There were ten.

The Headlines:

--Earl Gets Stronger; East And Northeast Watching Path Closely; Experts Confident That There Will Not Be A Direct Hit As Travel Lines Get Closer To Nantucket Island.
--Tony Blair: Clinton – “Most Formidable Politician; Brilliant Thinker”. GW Bush – “Straight Forward And Direct; Very Smart; Intuitive; Calm”.
--Stephen Hawking: “God Did Not Create Universe.”
--Samsung Unveils iPad Competitor “Galaxy”.
--Jobless Claims Nudge Down; Productivity Falls dramatically. Markets Up Slightly.

Back to More Stuff:
He had to throw away his socks because they waren’t worth a darn.

A columnist sent me scurrying for these lyrics: “Good authors too who once knew better words, now only use four letter words. Writing prose, anything goes. The world has gone mad today, And good’s bad today, And black’s white today, And day’s night today…” Well you get the picture. This was written in 1934 by Cole Porter…and it certainly hasn’t gotten any better.

Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 92. –My car seems to be inhaling the road as my mind was racing ahead of me to Boston. Everything that appeared perfect now looks suspicious. Isabelle, Jack…Kent. Kent. How the thought of his name infects me with electric feelings. Yet while I want to be next to him, to hold him, to have him inside me, I find a small sense of resistance rising along with the good feelings. And, why would Jack so quickly abandon me? Was I just part of his master scheme? Or did I deserve it because of my distractions with Kent. Now, I have to trust Bill. I think he is still on my side. Was he putting me on too? Have I given up on myself and not known it. The phone rang.
I looked and saw it was Henry. “Hi Sarah,” he started ever so formally for him. I just had a phone call from Middleton, and he is worried about you.” My heart stopped! Kent is worried about me? I smiled little as Henry went on. “We should have thought about it first. But he reminded us of your watchdog, and your previous accident.” I looked in the rear view mirror as my knuckles whitened on the steering wheel. “Did you mention your little incident to him?” Henry asked cautiously. Probing.
I sat there. I didn’t, I said to myself. But, now it makes sense. He knows about the tail because he is part of it. “I told him,” I lied.

Government Grant Department:
With a great big headline, a newspaper reports on a new medical cancer related study: “Removing Breasts, ovaries reduces cancer rates.” I’m going for a Government grant. My premise: “Removal of head eliminates brain tumors and addictive behaviors.”

We haven’t had a good recipe in a while. How about buttery rosemary roasted half chicken over creamy polenta. First make the polenta. In sauce pan bring 4 cps water, 4 cps milk, 3 tbs butter to boil. Add 2 tsps salt and whisk in 2 cps polenta. Whisk thoroughly and constantly 3-4 mins. Simmer 45 mins part cover; mixing every 10 mins. Add ½ cp crème fraiche and 1/3 cp Reggiano Parmesano. Now the chix. Preheat oven to 450. S&P 4 skinless breasts and place in baking dish. In bowl, combine 1 ½ tbs unsalted butter, Zest of ½ l Lemon, 2 lg cloves garlic minced, 2 rosemary leaves. Spread over chix. Cut rest of lemon in slices; arrange around chix. Roast 30-40 mins (Chix temp 175 degrees).. Serve over polenta and let chick goo ooze in. Put something green like totally buttery beans on the side.

All Mac n’ Cheeses are not created equal. I have seen that Mn’C moniker attached to some pretty dreadful plates of that food staple of my youth. And often the worst of the dishes are in the most gourmet of restaurants. Mn’C isn’t gourmet. it’s just Good,. And it isn’t something chefs are supposed to experiment with. The best I ever had was of course my Mom’s. But then that’s where mac and cheese came from…Mom’s kitchens. I can still remember it coming out to the table in clear glass bowls that showed the crispiness clinging to the buttered sides and the rich brown crunchy top. And I would sit there while good old fashioned drool formed at the corners of my lips.

On my comments two days ago about entitlement bicyclists and Obama crazed Subaru owners, I received a letter from a good friend – an avid bicyclist and Subaru owner. He agreed with me on the Subaru observation but had reservations about over stereotyping all bike riders. He said he has ridden over 28,000miles (Oh my achin’ butt) and always tries to observe the laws of safe driving. As do most of the people he knows. He doesn’t live in the East.

Here’s something I can’t figure out. Because of my inability to type well, I often mistype words, especially “form” instead of “from” and “Governemtn”. And spell-check always lets governemtn go through. Does spell-check know something I don’t, or is governemtn just s confusing that even spell-check has given up?

The Answer:
The first Ten legends were Chuck Berry, James Brown, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Fats Domino, Don and Phil Everly, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard and Elvis Presley. “I found my thrill on blueberry hill.”

The surfers were here at bout 6:00 am. But there is not quite as much surf as there is anticipation. Kind of reminds you of the Obama presidency.

September is like Spring again.

Today's Tids Issue 2,210
Opening Stuff:

Ahh September. When the August dust settles and green things get greener. I love September. It is a time slow down form the hectic pace of trying to fill up sunny summer days. To relax and le the days come to you. As evenings get cooler. And days get shorter. I get to celebrate the birthday of one of my favorite people which just happens to be the same day I will be remembering the 3,000 lives slaughtered when inhuman assailants flew plains into the Twin Towers. September is a rebirth and a reawakening.

First it was Nancy and Harry. Then it was Barack. Now I have Earl taking dead aim at my assets. At least with Earl, I know he’ll be gone by Saturday morning!

In 2004 George Bush stood on an Aircraft carrier and said Mission Accomplished. Last Night Barack Obama sat in the Oval Office and said Mission Changed. And 50,000 US non-combatants will still be there dodging bullets, bombs and mines for another year or more.

The Question: 
Who would you pick for the top 5 in last night’s America’s Got Talent show.

The Headlines:

--Hurricane Earl Threatening NC As Tourists Evacuate; Projected Path Still Giving New Englanders Hope.
--Stocks Take Healthy Bounce Upward On New Manufacturing Data.
--Midwestern State’s Supply Managers Predicting Recession For 2011.
--Prez Goes Through Motions In Speech Many Dems Say He Should Have a Avoided.
--Alaska’s Murkowski Concedes.
--Bombs In Pakistan Kill 20 At Shiite Religious Ceremony.

Back to More Stuff:
When you’re the Tids guy, you have to report on what’s out there. And what was out there last night was an Obama campaign speech. He really shouldn’t have given it. In fact the word is that many leading democrats wanted him to nix the whole idea. The reason; He was taking credit for the accomplishments which were a result of Bush’s surge decision which he ridiculed and voted against.

In the news blips leading up to last night’s speech one highlighted in this order: “First look at White House décor make-over”; “Tribute to American military”. Are we really that shallow? In fact if the media had spent as much time on the US Mexican boarder as they have examining the boarder of the new Oval Office rug, we might have the truth and everything there under control by now.

The most overrated news story of the week so far is Troy Palumalu’s Million dollar hair. Save me.

Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 91 continues. --Now it was my turn to pause. Why am I playing cat and mouse when what is important is the safety of Sarah/Maggie. “Is Mag…Sarah there?”
:Nope, Kent” answered Henry quietly, cautiously. Then he added. “Paul, that’s her husband who is sitting here with me, says she had her Maggie face firmly in place when she left.”
“Oh, I remember that face when we organizing our little group,” I answered trying to be light. But I didn’t feel light. The more I thought of her out there driving with Cotter’s guy following; with Izzy on a warpath; The more my anxiety grew. “Didn’t you guys think that she might be in danger when you let her go?”
“Why do you say that,” came Henry’s quick reply. I paused to think. Was I supposed to know about that tail she spotted?
“Well Henry,” I started slowly, “She said to me within the last 24 hours that she thought someone was following her.” Was that close enough o what they knew?
“Oh really!”
“Listen Henry,” I decided to get firm and stop playing his game. “We all know that it was very likely someone forced her off the road the last time. That time when she was almost killed. Why did you let her go?”
Now it was Henry’s time to pause. I could picture him with his hand over the mouthpiece held snuggly against his chest talking to Paul. What are they waiting for? Nobody cares about Maggie/Sarah like I do. “You bring up a good point, Kent. I guess she looked so confident now after what happened earlier today, and we were so busy that it was more important for her to get to Boston.”
“Henry, get into your car and follow her.”
“Will do,” he said again in his normal under control way. And then he added “You sound very concerned. Do you know something we don’t?”

How many politicians have you heard lately saying he or she is going to create jobs! Politicians don’t create jobs the real economies need. They are supposed to maintain an environment in their town, state or country in which businesses of all kinds can flourish and prosper -- and hire!. I’d like to see one of the RI job promising con men running for higher office say, “I’m going to turn around our union smothering environment so businesses will return RI to its one time greatness.’ Something like that.

And how about Lynch former Dem Head and manipulator of all things big government in RI (Running for Congress) saying he is exactly the kind of “Non-Politician” this state and country needs.”

Joe Biden, America’s Plagiarist Laureate, is also very accomplished at saying anything that comes to mind with foot firmly planted in mouth. In 2007, for instance, he told a group of Congressional pages that they will not see in their life time the ability of Iraqis to govern them selves. And then yesterday said that the Iraqi people are fully capable of running their own country and it is proper that we leave. It is that classic kind of political misrepresentation that has people up in arms.

The Answer:
Earlier this summer I started to report on the going-on’s at America’s Got Talent, but it went on so long that I got confused and I got bored. But the Video of Jackie Evancho brought me back. Man, what a singer. So I watched last night and two of the five who would move into the top ten came readily to mind – The wonderful Jackie and the mesmerizing magician (At least he was last night) Michael Grasso. The trapeze acrobats were also thrilling and will probably move forward. As will the creative group Fighting Gravity (I thought they were just Ok last night), So now we have one spot. The two young pop singers Romer and Kenyon were below average but the boy could get that big teen girl vote. It though the hip-hop dancers were good but just another hip-hop group and quite repetitious. The second magician Murray blew it when he made a train disappear in a dull routine. Jeremy the bike rider was interesting but not a Top ten type of entertainer. Haspop was interesting and certainly talented at what he did, but I think his act will wear thin. I had a hard time leaving out the amazing young pianist Bui, but I’m giving the fifth spot to Alice tan Ridley.

The End:
So far Earl is stay out there where he belongs. Maybe September will start out ok after all.