I'm just one of the crowd.

Today's Tids Issue 2,937

Opening Stuff:

Al Gore says that if he was still with the Government he would have to shut down his Internet. You would be crying foul being Tidless, and Gore would blame it on the Repubs..

Today is the kind of Summer day that people look for...in the Summer -- Summer without the muggies.

Actually, I already enjoyed today, out early on the green fields over looking the bay, and the belted gallaways grazing near rolled stacks of hay. The shadows were 30 to 40 feet long, the breeze was gentle but steady. My mind was in a coma.

If you see any typos today it is because of the Shutdown.

Now that the FCC has been idled, will there be more sex on TV?

The Question:

NCIS is in its Tenth season. Name the four original cast members still with the show.

The Headlines:

--Netanyahu Blasts New Iran President; Rouhani Calls Netty A Liar.

--Nobody Giving On Shutdown, ObamaCare.
--Congressional/Presidential Impasse Drag On Stocks;

--Mr. "Non-Partisan"President Ridicules Republicans; Boehner Saying President Hiding The Whole Story.
--Italy's Berlusconi Finally Admits, Accepts defeat; backs New Government.
--George Will Leaves ABC For Fox Fews.

--Some Major Investors Calling For Bill Gates To Step Down.

--World Markets Beginning To React To Possibility Of Long US Shutdown.

Have you noticed that they closed down some of the sites in Washington like the WWII Memorial and Jefferson Memorial, which now have two guards standing there barring entry. Now I've been there, and at the WWII there is one Ranger to answer questions, but the visitor is totally on his or her own. It is an easily accessable space outdoors in the middle of the esplanade. In other words there is no reason for it to be closed and certainly no reason to pay for guards! Weird, huh? One ranger on leave. Two guards in his/her place. Shoot me.

Ever since I moved from a house with a yard to a condo, I'm finding that I'm enjoying fixing ball marks greens more and more. Must be my farmer genes.

I thought that John Kerry looked much better before a facelift took the character out of his face.

The Affordable Care Act gets significantly more support from the USA population than ObamaCare. Go figure. Just in case you  don't understand the way America votes.

If the power of the US was back in the States where it's supposed to be, the Fed Shutdown would be meaningless, and lots of things would work better and cheaper...well, maybe not in RI. And Illinois.

Maybe they should have phased in ObamaCare alphabetically. Turning on a switch for a population of 310 Million plus doesn't stand a chance of working on the first day. 

Government workers will be paid for their time off. The businesses they frequent won't.

He Didn't Get The Memo, Department:
I see where CBS Bob Schieffer says that the US people are all for ObamaCare when a CBS poll says only 37% are. I guess news people are Godlike.

You might dub yesterday's opening of the ObamaCare Exchanges as "Breaking Bad".

The Answer:
Well, we said good bye to Ziva last night, and it was sad. She added laughs and a pleasant toughness to the show. Of course Ziva (Cote de Pablo) wasn't an original. She replaced Kate who was unexpectantly shot through the head in an early year-end finale. At the time everybody thought replacing her character would be impossible. So it looks good that the newcomer for Ziva will fit in well with the originals -- Gibbs (Mark Harmon), Abby (Pauly Parrette), Ducky (David McCallum) and Tony (Michael Weatherly. And of course McGee (Sean Murray) who you might have thought was an original.

Actually, I'm pretty much apolitical at social events. In those rare occasions when  I hear something that I disagree with, I just reach in  and pull out my AK47....hey, did I just say something politically incorrect?

Well, it's time to shut down for another day.

Shake it all around.

Today's Tids Issue 2,936 Opening Stuff: Beautiful October will have to go a long way to beat out magnificent September for best month of 2013. But, October always has a chance to be the best, because it has everything going for it, including colorful, breath taking leaves which drop and confound home owners no longer allowed to burn them. Beautiful orange, red and yellow leaves that form into portraits against majestic the mountains, drawing thousands of peepers who clog our roads, and restaurants. And pumpkins. Tons of pumpkins. They put Pumpkin in your coffee. your ice cream, your sweet rolls; they encrust your striped bass and God forgive them, mix it into your martinis. But, this beautiful month ends with an all American USA event, millions of kids out there learning how to beg. Happy October everybody. The entitlement month. I am sad to bring you a report from a great reader telling us all that the Tids failed to pay proper tribute to one of the most influential songwriters of our times. The man is who has touched millions on their happiest of days is Larry LaPrise, now dead at 93 -- the man who wrote The Hokey-Pokey. Relatives reported that at the coffin they encountered a small problem. When they put his left foot in, the trouble started. Hey, good news as you awake this morning: We can use all the money we will be saving with the Gov shutdown to pay for the raising of the debt level. Bingo! Maybe all that Congress really needs to do is dance the Hokey-Pokey on the Capital floor. Put your right butt in... The Question: Pre-Q Bonus: How Many seasonal markers is Amazon expecting to hire for the upcoming gift season. Regular Question: Breaking Bad's Finale ranked third among all Cable Series fnales. Name the rest of the Top Five All Time cable Series Finales. The Headlines: --Government Shuts Down; Stock Market up 60 In Morning After. --Poll says Americans Still Don't Like ObamaCare, But Don't Like Idea Of shutdown To Stop It. --On Opening Day, Heavy Exchange Internet Traffic Snarls Sites. --NBC, CNN Drop Hillary Documentary Projects. --Nearly 1,000 Iraqi's Killed In September As Peace-Building Violence Continues.. --Pope Francis Wants Catholic Church To Be A Missionary Church With A Modern Spirit That Gives Hope To the Poor, Young And Elderly. Denounces "Vatican Centric" Nature Of The Past. --South Korea Shows Off New Missiles Designed To Hit the North. This morning I'm greeted with the gigantic bold faced headline: "Obamacare Marketplaces Open For Business." That's means as much to me as companies telling me to use twitter to reach them. I guess segment of society who know how to "work" the governemnt will understand it. To me it just suggests something I never ever had to do in the past but will be forced to endure for the rest of my days. And yesterday, I received this giant booklet about all the government entitlements including the latest Government takeover of private enterprize. The letter Kathy Sebelias printed on page 3 opened with the line, "This is an historic and exciting time for health care in our nation..." Yeah, exciting, real exciting. My trusty Doc retired because the Government was driving him nuts. And guess what, there are no doctors around to replace him. You have to scratch and claw to get even an interview! And some Docs I know have said in five years it will be much worse. So this is real exciting, like trying to fix an Internet problem with somebody in India. I liked America better when it was America. It turns out that the Son wasn't suited to take over his Dad's Tailor Shop. The ole' Tids Sports guys did well in the NFL predictions this week and one of the but 2 misses was for a team I was wanting to pick...Buffalo. I root for Buffalo and teams like Buffalo...the old cities which were once the dynamos that powered the great nation. I feel for the fans up there in the oft times frigid Northwest Corner of New York. Good hard working people who at one time made our manufacturing sector run. Good people paying their money, looking for a winner. It's not just the thing to do and where ot be seen, it's part of their lives, wings and all. And they don't get their seats through hedge fund friends. I must be watching too many singing competition shows, because I am not being thrilled much with The Voice. I'm sure there are some great ones, but I'm just seeing more of the same. Still, The Voice has emerged as one of the best of these shows. And I will watch again and bring you news and opinion as it wears on to a finish. The Voice is a good example of rush to judgement by closed minds. Mine, in particular. When I first saw the promos for the new show, I immediately tuned it out because of the red chairs, thinking at the time that anything that has to resort to something that garish can't be intrinsically good. I have come to learn that the judges are the least annoying, and the fact that don't just sit there and criticize each singer is certainly refreshing. Someday I figure I will learn not to judge a book by it's cover. People by outward appearance. Maybe someday liberals will stop judging the hearts of the successful by the way they look, too. Maybe I'll stop classifying men by their facial hair and woman by their lipstick. Maybe I'll first just look everybody inthe eyes and think, that's a good person regardless of how he or she talks, dresses or eats vegetables. Actually, I do judge books by their covers. If they are black in tone with strong type, I generally will like them. If the are pale blue with light weight frilly type I reject them out of hand. Did you read that at Brown and RI School Of Design (RISD) majestic upon the hill overlooking Providence RI it is "Nude Week", as in students prancing for bodily freedom without clothes. What's next for the best and brightest of us all, our future leaders an government employees? I couldn't be gin to answer that. But, for Viking Tours it is a bonanza as they tout their "Nude Tours in Providence" series: Free Binoculars! A reader contradicts my attempt at humor yesterday when I said that two of the fastest growing counties in the USA are in the DC area and are exploding in direct proportion to the enormous growth 0f monolithic governemtnment and ramora-like lobbyists. No, he says, it is because, "Immigrants get off planes in DC, throw away their visas and passports and claim political asylum, especially from Aftrican nations Somalia and Ghana and other like Islamic countries in the Middle East. He, notes that they are generally industrious, and and as a group dominate TSA agent employment in the DC area airports. That includes Muslim women in veils checking Americans out for potential terrorist activity!" God help us from Political Correctness. As ObamaCare officially opens its doors, observers are saying it will take at least a year to know exactly what may be happening. The key is how many sick versus how many well people sign up. If their is a large imbalance between sick and healthy, premiums will shoot up significantly. This is a leathal condition for health care when claims outpace enrollment and will actually cause a decline in participants who will begin leaving as premiums arise, creating a death spiral. I watched Bill Clinton speaking the other day and was reminded why I didn't like him then any better than I like the Current president now. The Answer: Bonus: Amazon will hire 70,000 around the country to help keep packages moving out on time. So, what do these 70K do for the rest of the year? "Q" Answer: The Sopranos and Sex In the City topped BB, while that program edged out Monk and The Closer. How come Immigration Laws of the Land aren't the same kind of untouchable Laws of the land as the Affordable Health Care Act Law of the land? Is this like "I didn't have sexual relations with that women..." Thanks to all of the good ideas sent in from readers which I steal liberally with the conscience of a politician from Chicago.

Wright is might.

Today's Tids Issue 2,935

Opening Stuff:

I almost had a psychic girlfriend, but she left me before we met.

Politics has become intense fighting over what may not be so good after all.

Because of the impending possible shut down, a lot of people are thinking that turning all of their investments into cash is a prudent idea. Good plan, except, without an increase in the debt limit there won't be enough cash around to cover the rush.

Seriously, let's hope the stock market manipulators remain sane and remember that the debt limit is always increased at some point during the last minute and that the Government shutdown doesn't amount to a hill of beans in the overall scheme of essential services. The pols just disrupt visual icons like the Statue of Liberty and Grand Canyon -- which have absolutely no bearing on the successful operation of a country. But, the black magic artists on wall Street will use the dilemma to scare the bejesus out of main Street investors, and make big money at the sucker's expense. I think I may invest in Bangledsh housing. It may be safer.

This has been a real "On-any-given-Sunday" NFL Season so far.

The Question:
In 1940, the year before the Japanese sneaked into Pearl harbor that peaceful Sunday morning, there were just five college Bowl games. The top teams played in the Bowls. Name the five bowls and who you might think were the top 19 teams. What Dad of a famous TV star of today won the Heisman Trophy that year?

The Headlines:
--Government shutdown Inevitable; Dems, Obama fao To Accept Repub Compromise 17 Hours Remain To Negotiate.
--US To Sue Sovereign State Of North Dakota Over Voting Rules.
--US Farmers Project Bountiful Crops For Future.
--Portugal Voters Show Anger Over Austerity Programs.
--Brokers Ready to "Short" The S&P Over Shutdown; Europe, Asia Already Selling.

Let's hear it for Cleveland Ohio...The Comeback City!! Hoooooooo-Ray!

Phenom golfer Jordan Spieth's brother Steven is a basketball player on the Brown University team up the road in Providence. So, if you are on the first tee around here somewhere and a couple of young guys show up asking, "Wanna play a few holes for a buck or two," ask for 3 strokes a hole. And, that won't be enough.

When everything seems to be going well, it is obvious that you've overlooked something

The space alien maternity ward was in the mother ship. Forceps please, Doctor Spock.

Hey, wait a minute..."Comeback City" assumes the Cleveland had to be down. I know Clevelander's and they never get down, they just have to fight trough a little haze every once in a while.

Political Science is a 360 degrees formula -- create a problem and extract millions from the taxpayer to fix it. The latest example is Detroit, which because of never ending Union Demands of giant local manufacturers, saw its lucrative tax base flee the Lake Huron confines for friendlier states and nations. Yesterday the President, Of the unions, For the unions and By the unions dug up $320 million from some secret drawer in the oval office and sent it to Detroit. The white knight arrives.

I think the new TV show Hostages could be a good one. Of the two so-called "greatest new dramas of the year", I like Hostage batter than Blacklist. Just in case you were wondrin'.

Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy.

I thought of a moderately funny Tid, but decided that it might be offensive to some. It's part of my new philosophy for a kinder and gentler Tids. Actually, it wasn't that funny anyhow.

I'll tell you what's not funny, the closing of my favorite restaurant...just like that! Golds of Middletown  surprised it's staff and loyal customers alike with the dreaded sign on the door -- "We'll be serving our last meal Sunday". They had a great and unique menu with terrific wine based sauces and glazes. It was always a special occasion place for us, not because it was fancy or expensive, or the place to be seen, but because it was just plain good. Now what?

They are talking about a safer world despite the outrages in the news. But, they must not have known about Golds.

The Answer:

The Top two teams in the country that year were #1 Minnesota and #2 Stanford. The rest of the Top ten were Michigan,Tennessee, Boston College, Texas A&M, Nebraska, Northwestern, Miss State, Washington, Santa Clara, Fordham, Georgetown, Pennsylvania, Cornell, SMU, Hardin Simmons, Duke and Lafayette. (Interesting Fordham Is back in the news with it's first really decent team since the early forties when the coach was Vince Lombardi). The Bowls were Rose (Stanford over Neb) Cotton (Tex AM over Fordham) , Orange (Miss St over Gerogetown) and Sugar (BC over Tenn). There was a fifth bowl, the Sun Bowl which featured  Western Reserve beating Ariz At.  Tommy Harmon (Mark of NCIS Dad) of Michigan was Mr. Wonderful in College Football that year.

In case you missed it, comedian Steven Wright contributed mightily to this issue of the Tids.

You have to wonder if all of the leadership of the NSA found their way there after sending away for the Ovaltine "Secret Decoder Ring" as used by Captain Midnight? I could have.

Most people in the Northeast are migrating elsewhere. But two of the top ten fastest growing counties are suburbs of DC. What does that tell you about a too big goverment getting bigger? We may have to build a brand new nations Capital just to handle ObamaCare. Air! I need Air!

My mechanic said he could repair my brakes, so he made my horn louder.

A pain in the rhetoric.

Today's Tids Issue 2,934

Opening Stuff:

When the old guy in the supermarket was asked, "Paper or Plastic", he replied, "Doesn't matter, I'm Bi-Sacksual!"  Thanks to a clever reader.

There's plenty of talk these days about why ObamaCare won't work, why it is too expensive, to name some of the discussion topics. That obscures the fact that we didn't need it in the first place. I didn't like it the day it was conceived because it was another gigantic encroachment by the government into the control of the economy, and people's lives. If we didn't have social Security or Medicare, Americans would find a way. That's what I believe. Just leave us alone. But of course, it's just going to get worse. The Government is too big, and it will never get smaller. Groups like the Tea Party who think Americans are better off with smaller, less expensive government are constantly demonized as racists, crazies, extremists...by a party ironically that came to power seeking a kinder gentler America. Yeah right, kinder if you kiss their feet.

If you're a little down from the maliciousness of today's political discussions, go out in the country and pick an apple. Find a nice place to sit and take in the view of apple trees on a hillside bounded by stone walls, with a small pond in the distance, cows roaming in grass, with bales of rolled hay studded in fields beyond. I'll take out my bag of Cheetos and enjoy the sound of crunching into apples.

The Question:

I received some great responses from my proclamation yesterday that Thomas English Muffins and their other products were best. One reader in particular advised me to go immediately to Thomas Corn English Muffin. I'm running to the store as fast as I can. Another reader suggested I investigate all of the other great brands besides Thomas owned by the company Bimbo Bakeries USA. [Bimbo (?)] Name five sister company brands of Thomas..

The Headlines:

--Stocks Plummet Again As Debt Deadline Approaches.

--Desperate Obama Admin Advisor Dan Pfeiffer Compares Repubs To Suicide Terrorists, Kidnappers and Arsonists; President Adds To Heightened Vitriolic Rhetoric As ObamaCare Campaign Enters Home Stretch.

--US And Allies Emerge From Iran Nuke Meetings Saying A Window Has Opened.

--Repub Congress People Continue To Support Wishes Of Majority Of Americans Against Government Takeover Of Health Care.

--Italy To Put Amanda Knox Back On Trial For Murder On Monday.

--Admin Reluctantly Reveals Computer Glitches Will Delay Planned Rollout Of ObamaCare; Exchanges Not Yet Capable Of receiving Small Biz Apps, Some Consumer Apps.

--NYC Fans Send Off Rivera With Tumultuous Applause.

--United Airlines Flight Lands Safely After Pilot Suffers Heart Attack.

--$63 Billion Later, Bill Gates Finally Admits "Control-Alt-Delete" Was A Mistake

Mariano Rivera is a pretty great human being in addition to being the all time great closer. It's too bad he has to carry throughout the rest of is life the stigma of being a Ya-Ya-Ya... (W,YKWIM).

The Top Ten States For Business are Virginia, North Dakota, Utah, North Carolina, Colorado, Nebraska, Texas, Minnesota, Washington and Georgia. Last years number One was Utah. Minn had the biggest rise from 23 and Wyoming the biggest fall to 23. Beautiful Maine, Mississippi, Rhode Island, Michigan and West Virginia brought up the rear. The Best countries for Biz are New Zealand, Denmark, Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Finland and UK. And then there were the days when businesses flocked to Rhode island USA...when entrepreneurs were in control. Check out the entire list. See how your state ranks: http://www.forbes.com/best-states-for-business/list/

How crazy is it that Michigan is now the 4th worst state in which to do buisness. It wasn't long ago when the state was the bellwether for US manufacturing, the envy of the world. It was almost, "as Michigan goes, so goes the nation". Of course, it isn't that surprising. Success breeds demands which force comapnies to find regions with lower costs. The South boomed for a while, the result of a fading Northeast manufacturing and textile powerhouse. Of course, demands for more from the new Southern factories came faster, almost before moving vans of Northern transplants were unloaded. And then, it started to go to Mexico, Asia...anywhere to get beyond the clutches of US labor. And now what do we have? A service industry based economy where middle class wages will never equal those of the glory years.

Checked out the new Robin Williams and Michael J. Fox shows. I don't have to put them on my weekly must see schedule. To be honest with you, I have never been a particularly huge fan of Fox after Family Ties, though I feel for him and applaud his positive outlook.

I guess if a TV show doesn't have bullets, I'm not interested.

According to poison control centers around the country, so far this year over 6,000 children have noshed on colorful laundry detergent pods. Maybe they should put veggie packets under sinks to improve nutrition habits.

I see where terrorist insurgents are hampering the post earthquake rescue operations in Pakistan. In the US we call them looters.

Why am I so angry today? Obama made me do it. 

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:

--Everybody seems really excited about Opie's new film "Rush". It's a true story about the duel on and off the track between Formual One drivers, rich English playboy James Hunt and  methodical brilliant Niki Lauda. It looks pretty ordinary to me, but it is supposed to be well done and full of pleasing entertainment, on and off the track.

--Don Jon borrows from Jersey Shore sub culture to create characters that are often funny and at times tragic. Don is addicted to porn and a women sets out to make him over into a perfect potential husband. I don't know about this one.

--Baggage Calim loks like a pretty silly affair where a Flight Attendant determined to get engaged before her sisters wedding in 30 days, racks up 30,000 air miles looking for the perfect guy, with many comedic encounters along the way.

The Answer:

Who hasn't ever savored any number of Entenmann's baked goods, or the rich breads of Arnold. Then there is Sara Lee, the baker of rich buttery cakes who changed the world of frozen baked goods. Some others are Freihofers, Boboli, Earthgrains, Stroehmann, Brownberry and Tia Rosa All of a sudden I have this craving...

This has been one chopped up Tids week, with lateness and half finished Tidlets. Don't worry, we are not in a downward death spiral. Or, is that spin cycle.

Hey...everybody! have a beautiful and peaceful weekend.

---

Never give up.

Today's Tids Issue 2,933

Opening Stuff:

Is there anything more beautiful than these crystalline September days that awaken the senses; Cool nights that reinvigorate tired brain cells; Brilliant views of greens and deep blue that stimulate the imagination; The gleaming orange setting sun which each evening soothes the furrowed brows of daily toilers? Yet, the beauty of perfect Autumn days can be found all year long in the loving, warm and caring hearts of those who's laughter and kindness permeates the hearts of others. When clouds fill the blue sky a simple smile from a friend always brings sunshine.

Astonishing! When things seem bleak; When you are in a hole so deep that the sun has stopped shining in, just take a look at what the US America's cup boat did yesterday to win the great cup. Down 8-1 in a race series where the first to win 9 is the champion, there was no way to think that the US had a chance. An ill wind or broken piece of hardware could knock them out for good in a second or two. But this team was not like some who might give into impossible tasks; they to a man dug down, analyzed everything they had been doing and looked for ways to changeover what had been years of practiced discipline into an entirely new program for winning. To abandon ingrained practices in one night and become a winning entity on a new day. But, winning eight races in a row? Impossible! No team however valiant could ever do that. They never said never. The Oracle boat won one race, and then another, and another until yesterday morning when unbeliveably it was 8 to 8, with the starting line for a winner take all match clearly in sight. They overcame the ill winds, the mechanical surprises, and beat a great team of sailors from down under New Zealand. America, however, was the true down under team, a team of courageous, skillful men who could only see the bright skies above the hole. What a great lesson on never giving up. Always looking forward.

I'm sure that there are intakes of breath when I utter various unilateral pronouncements about what in this world is good and what's not -- many, "Who says" moments from all of you who know better than I. But, I can say unequivocally, willing to suffer the slings and arrows of naysayers, that the Thomas Brand, makers of the best by far English muffins, always delivers when introducing a new product. Right now I'm deep into my latest addiction -- Thomas Cinnamon swirl toast.

The Question:
What the name of the so-called ground breaking TV show that first brought Billy Crystal into the limelight? Bonus: How many Americans were on the US winning boat Oracle?

The Headlines:
--New Jobless Claims Fall Unexpectedly To 305K.
--Stocks Rebound On Employment News, Q2 GDP Positive Reading.
--US Gov Releases From Prison Filmmaker Used As Goat By Admin For Their incompetence In Benghazi Affair.
--Kerry Looking Forward To Iran Talks.
--Militant Action Erupts In India Prior To India-Pakistan Talks.
--US Cash Running Low Earlier Than Originally Forecast.
--While Oracle's Larry Ellison Basks In America's Cup Victory, Stockholders Blast His Years Of High Salary.

It's "NFL Pick-'em" Time again, and the Tids Sports Department humbly throws it's scarred helmet inside the door before exposing it's battered body to the laughter of skeptics. What a mess last week was. 7-9 may be the worst ever. I'm thinking Oracle as I wonder how to move my record % back up to the seventies (Now at a dismal 58%). I'm thinking "never say die' but I'm looking at another slate of tough picks.

If America wasn't broke, it wouldn't have to raise the debt ceiling to pay it's bills.

It's nice to live in a state where on the cover of the largest daily newspaper we see a giant picture of joyful sailors with the 162 year old America's Cup a under an huge headline heralding achievement against impossible odds. Too often these days we seem to live in a "That's the way it is, and we're going to have to live with it" environment where people feel destiny trumps the potential for achievement.. Wouldn't be great if Politicians fought to overcome the bleakness of mediocrity, giving into for expediency. Wouldn't be wonderful if we raised the bar instead of giving in, and everybody took advantage of the freedom to overcome individual circumstances and achieve dreams. Anything can be done. Really. It can..

From great highs to new lows, Department:
Nothing is really surprising any more when it comes to the savagery of humans against humans. Attilla the Hun had nothing on the Pakistan militants who yesterday shot down a rescue helicoptor trying to save people in the wake of the horrendous Pakistan earthquake. God help us.

Speaking of comebacks of Oracle proportions, the 2004 Red Sox came back from the death, one nail left to seal the coffin, to beat the dismayed Ya-Ya-Ya- (Well, you know who I mean). I'm still smiling.
You know how in these run-away train movies the hero always manages to perform some otherworldly feat to stop the surging missile just before it plows in to a city of 100,000 innocents. I don't think there are any heroes around that can stop the ObamaCare express, out of control since the time when LollaPelosi released the breaks. Maybe there's a couple of America's Cup sailors who could find a way.

Here's a nice little poem I received in the email today:
*The Battling Boys of Benghazi.

We're the battling boys of Benghazi 
No fame,
No glory, no paparazzi.
Just a fiery death in a blazing hell
Defending our country we loved so well.  

It wasn't our job, 
But we answered the call,
fought to the Consulate and scaled the wall.
We pulled twenty Countrymen from the jaws of fate.
Led them to
 safety, and stood at the gate.

Just the two of us, and foes by the score,
But we stood fast to bar the door. 
Three calls for reinforcement, 
But all were denied, 
So we fought, and we fought,
And we fought 'till we died.  

We gave our all for our Uncle Sam,
But Barack Obama didn't give a damn.
Just two dead seals who carried the load.
No thanks to us,
We were just, "Bumps In The Road".*
(*President Obama made the comment on 60 minutes that the
Benghazi incident was a "bump in the road" to 
Middle East peace.)

The Answer: "Soap" was the name of the show that parodied daytime melodrams and opened the eyes of viewers to a world of TV rarely seen. Of the 11 crew on the Oracle boat, but two were from the USA, including Newport sailor Rome Kirby. The next race will be crewed by China.

So, now the opposition to Assad has been fractured as dozens of powerful factions yesterday stepped away from the united group to declare Syria an Islam state. All of a sudden Bashar looks like a warrior fighting the evil terrorists, a victim. Today US and allies look on wondering why they would ever want to ever get involved in the Middle East again. How many times must the West get fooled into having hope.