I sensed the bullets over my head; for the love of country I might soon be dead; But we charged on, all stood tall; For freedom, for all.

Today's Tids Issue 3,219

Opening Stuff:

 

I just discovered some relatives who had served in the Civil War and the War of 1812. Families have been touched by war even if they have never known it. But, I never did have to know about my own relations with the bitterness of war, the viciousness of man killing man. I have always felt for the Veterans. How can you not. How can you not look out today and say thanks. Some guy or gal I never knew may be the reason I’m here making typos. I was in the Army and was prepared for combat, but I never experienced the horror of being a target. I can say I’m a Veteran, but I never should be measured against a soldier. I was interested to learn Sunday that the VA is the second biggest US Government department. It should be. It breaks my heart to see a person maimed for life. I shed a tear, while feeling the pride in my heart.

 

So, do you think having Repubs in office will get the nation back to saying Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays? I doubt it, mainly because the new USA is a place where the screamers get the ink, while the quiet side sits back thinking that this can never happen because rational thinking is on our side. I know I’m to doing my part, countering every HH! With a Merry Christmas!

 

I knew I should have saved some of yesterday’s Tids for today. There are just so many tidlings out there, and they must be preserved like a green pasture with roaming stone walls. See, I am a conservationist, but I don’t recycle. Repeated Tids are like sleeping pills.

 

The Question:

“Selfie” is a new term, but not something new at all. Some of the most revered artists over the centuries have done self portraits. Name five of the best known artist’s self portraits.

 

The Headlines:

--8 Women In India Die, Dozens In Critical Condition After State Run Mass Sterilization Event; Country Trying To Stop Growth of Massive Population Now Over A Billion.

 --Many Gaps remain In Kerry-Iran Talks.

--Super Bowl Ad Sales Slower Than NormaL.

--Alibaba Singles Day Sales $2 billion In One Hour.

--China Unveils Sophisticated Stealth Fighter Aircraft.

--US. China Agree To Stop Tariffs On Tech Products.

--Push is On For High Court Ruling On Gay Marriage.

--16 To 24 Inches Of Snow To fall On Upper Wisconsin And Michigan In Next Day; Super Cold To Follow.

--Taxpayers Asked To Spend $33 Million To remove 800 Cormorants Before Demolition Of Decrepit San Fran/ Oakland Bridge; SF To Be Quarantined To Prevent Disjointed Thinking From Escaping And Infecting Rest Of Country.

--Limbaugh Threatens To Sue Dems For Defamation.

 

It looks like we have about a day and half left of a quasi- Indian Summer before Winter sets in  with over a week of super cooling.

 

In a new list of Best and Worst presidents, 0-Man is 7^th Worst sandwiched between George Bush (8) and Richard Nixon (6). Worst is Harding preceded by Buchanan. On the Best side, #1 is FDR just ahead of Lincoln, Washington, Truman and yes, Clinton! Clinton #5 – this survey must be part of the Hillary for Prez program.

 

My opinion on the Supreme Court potential ruling on gay marriage is that it should be left up to the states. But then, I believe that 99% of what happens should be under local control.

 

The horrific story of the day has to be the one about India’s attempt to stop population growth that got way out of control. What in the hell did they do to those unsuspecting women who put trust in their government – 8 already dead and dozens of others in critical condition! Did government officials bring them to some doctor at the end of a dark alley? I am sick about it, and bewildered.

 

There are two things that really boggle my mind – How to write Software code, and ObamaCare.

 

I’m having trouble le getting my arms around anybody as a personal favorite in the Voice this year. I’ll be watching again tonight and give you a full report tomorrow on the first two nights of live action. Maybe it’s the song selection. Maybe they’re going for the youth market and that’s not me. Maybe it’s because they are heavier.

 

Speaking of mind numbing discussions, “Net Neutrality” could be on top of most people’s lists. The Prez announced that pushing for more regulation of the Internet providers will be on top of his final days-without-Dems agenda. It sounds like another Big Gov encroachment. Yet, consumers and content providers, who are often get Gov off my back internet players, like the idea. They consider the real “big Government” -- Verizon, AT&T, Comcast and Warner – the huge internet ramps who are controlling the speed, costs and opportunities of the now main communications medium for the world. This is a situation where you have step back from the idea, “If it’s Obama’s, it’s bad.” This is like the Railroad Trusts of the 1900’s. This is Teddy Roosevelt. But more important, this is about people being able to afford the internet and obtain speeds that are up to the standards of the rest of the world. Lots to think about here, and I wish I understood more.

 

A nice little bakery here named Katrinas just sold out. I’s always a sad day when the Mom and Pop shops go away. They are the real character of a town. You never replace them with an instant local favorite. You eventually be become another town with plastic storefronts.

 

The Answer:

When I think artist “Selfie”, I think of first is Van Gogh. And then, of course, the great one from Rembrandt Van Rijn, another of the best known possessing self adulation characteristics. Then there was Henry Matisse, a personal favorite. Albrecht Durer and a struggling artist named Leonardo di Vinci put their own faces on canvas. Other big name artist self portraits are Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol (In fact, painting himself was one of Andy’s  favorite pastimes). Some others were Frida Kahlo, Francis Bacon, Max Beckmann, Jean-Michelle Basquiat and William Dobell; and who could ever forget, Susan Hunt.

 

I love Lee Greenwood singing Proud to be an American:

https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=lee+greenwood+proud+to+be+an+american&ei=utf-8&hspart=vz&hsimp=yhs-vz&type=verizon_access%2Fverizon_dsl

 

Happy Veteran’s Day, Everybody.

Barbarians have torn down the gate.

Today's Tids Issue 3,218

Opening Stuff:

 

 

I see that the new therapeutic thing in Yoga and spas is Himalayan Salt Therapy – where a halogenerator sprays a fine mist of pharmaceutical salt into a quiet room. I’m thinking I’ve experienced the same thing sitting quietly on a rock below the Point Judith lighthouse, perhaps next to a snowy owl who like me was enjoying the post tourist season peace. My face is firmly fixed ahead into the breeze off cresting waves; waves that crash violently; yet transform into to a million fine pieces of softening, briny water; enveloping my senses; the aroma of the sea quelling anxiety. I sit firm, fixated. Snowy owl ruffles its feathers. It doesn’t coat a cent. I look over at snowy, and it smiles

 

Are icy blasts coming early this year, or am I like a lot of people forgetting what the weather was like last year. When you think about it, weather people don’t really report anything new. They just remind us when weather cycles begin repeating.

 

As I watch this President of ours, I’m thinking that what he thinks is good for Americans comes from the fact that he really doesn’t know Americans.

 

It will be interesting to keep score on the post-election action coming out of The White House. So far, Holder has released 64K F&F docs, and the President sent 1,500 soldiers to I raq, which would have been a good decision in September when they were needed most.

 

Oh, And is there anything more silent than the offices of Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and Debbie Wassermann-Schultz – which is a good thing…for American unity.

 

Cutting Global poverty will do much more for the real advances in USA average wages than some superficial minimum wage plan.

 

The Question:

One of the great mindless, yet enjoyable activities for decades has been watching “Family Feud” on TV. Here’s a couple of “Feud” surveys. See how many answers you can get right. 1. Name a place you visit where you aren’t allowed to touch anything. 2. Name a bad job for somebody who is accident prone.

 

The Headlines:

--Nasdaq Off 20% From Peak Opens Door For Late Year End run; Market Futures Flat.

--IS Chief Abu Bakr May Have Been Injured In US Air Strike – Pentagon Skeptical; Egypt’s Deadliest Jihadist Group Pledges Allegiance To ISIS.

--President Ops To Go His Own Way On Immigration; Cooperation Over After Two Days.

--Suicide Bomber Kills 48 In Nigeria; Two Men Arrested For Libyan Bombing That Attacked UN Envoy.

--Tensions Rise In Ukraine As Skirmishes Break Out And Tanks Roll In.

--Obama Playing Mini-Nixon Role Joining China To Ease Restrictions On Travel; Encouraging Cooperation With China.

 

You could probably figure this out without a poll, but a new Rasmussen survey says that 7 of 10 Americans think that athletics have too much power and influence over Colleges and Universities. The 3 0ut of 10 Americans who don’t think that are players, coaches, AD’s and agents. The pendulum could be swinging back and millionaire coaches should be watching their heads. I’m with the McAdoo kid from UNC who is suing because he didn’t get the education he was promised. Maybe colleges will get back to real student bodies playing student bodies and John Calipari will be coaching in a defined development league for the NBA.

 

Landscapers must become great whistlers so they can signal each other over the noise of all of the machinery – mowers and blowers and whackers. And, you don’t have to understand Spanish to react to a whistle.

 

Actually, one of my great shortcomings in life was never being able to master the art of that shrill, ait piercing signaling whistle. That’s why I have trouble getting taxis.

 

I often use “…” to emphasize conclusions in some of the Tidlets, but that in fact is basically a major grammatical error. But, I’ll go on doing it because it feels good, and I think it works.

 

Wouldn’t it be nice if Auto-Correct-Spell-Check would read the sentence and insert a suggestion based on content or intent. Of course, when that day comes, Auto-Correct technology will be adapted and adopted as a department of the Big Government to help correct citizen’s potential actions through interpretations of intent as seen by security and street side cameras.

 

There are growing opinions around the military and political elite circles that Russia is planning to invade Europe. Doesn’t that seem to border on insanity?

 

Scarier though, is the methodical, barbaric elimination of Christians in the Middle East from 20% of the total population in the year 2000 to only about 4% today. They are being eliminated just as the Jews were in Hitler’s days, not because of flagrant violations to society, but because of who they are. You would think that after tens of thousands of years of human activity, the savages would have disappeared by now. But, we see thm every day, even in neighborhoods of the USA.

 

And, the Mexican cartels may be even worse. That massacre of the students at what now appears to be the order of a mayor who didn’t want the protests was animalistic. 43 Kids in college  slaughtered at the whim of Mayor in league with the drug lords. Maybe we should have airstrikes in Mexico. That could solve the immigrations problem, the drug problem, and more importantly bring harmony back to the towns and cities of our southern neighboring country by ridding the country of the fearsome, heartless murderers.

 

Let’s hope That Secretary Kerry doesn’t give away the kitchen sink to Iran to get a deal on Nuclear power, a deal the Admin wants badly to improve its perception as an international operative.

 

A lot of apparent expertise comes from the development of a new vocabulary to represent an interest, a pastime or a profession. I’m coming out with a new Book, “Wow Your neighbors”, which changes simple words in to complex barely understandable phrases. You could sound as important as financial wizards, lawyers or soccer fans. Or halogenerators for salt therapists. Freedom of speech is a wonderful thing – it lets you define yourself for dough.

 

One of the great advantages of the Affordable Care Act is that it creates more income for constitutional lawyers.

 

Bryant University of Smithfield RI won the National Collegiate Entrepreneur Competition against 400 other college and university organizations. The award presented at the National CEO Conference is a reminder of what RI once was before the union domination of the second half of the 20^th century – a dominant center for innovation that led the world in manufacturing and international commerce. But, I’m getting this feeling that the citizens of the beautiful little state have had it, and the leadership is even recognizing, bit by bit, their contributions to failure that has taken the hope away from the youth of the state. I’m beginning to see a renaissance back to innovations and productive energy. I’m hopeful.

 

I should add that life had been sucked out of many great American and local companies by takeovers – in the sixties by the conglomerate movement, and through similar iterations over the years until now with the invisible hedge fund operatives. Many of these financial heavy weights have consistently raped instead of re-energized.

 

The reason that Ebola is thriving where it has in Africa is because the conditions in the rain forests where it is most prominent are idea for the growth of the disease.

 

The Answer:

1. The Polltakers said that you won’t be able touch something in a Museum/Gallery, Zoo, Gentleman’s Club, China Shop. 2. Accident prone people probably shouldn’t be Drivers/Chauffeurs, Construction Workers, Police Officers, Food Service, Glass Makers, Window Washers or Surgeons. Yikes!

 

Wow, much too much today. I should have saved something for tomorrow.

 

Find a good ocean to soothe your spirits. I think there’s a little salt in Lake Erie. Here’s a little sitting-by-the-side-of-a-snowy-owl-music to start your week:

https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search;_ylt=A0LEVvgeuWBUylAADTIPxQt.;_ylc=X1MDMjExNDcwMDU1OQRfcgMyBGZyA3locy12ei12egRncHJpZAM1d2JSUXdRdFJmQzQ1WjBiWFYxdU1BBG5fcnNsdAMwBG5fc3VnZwMyBG9yaWdpbgNzZWFyY2gueWFob28uY29tBHBvcwMwBHBxc3RyAwRwcXN0cmwDBHFzdHJsAzI2BHF1ZXJ5A2NocmlzdG9mb3JpcyBkcmVhbSB5b3V0dWJlBHRfc3RtcAMxNDE1NjI1Mjc3?p=christoforis+dream+youtube&fr2=sb-top-search&hspart=vz&hsimp=yhs-vz&type=verizon_access%2Fverizon_dsl

 

Note to Republicans: Don’t let the media define you.

Today's Tids Issue 2,317

Opening Stuff:

 

What do you call a terrible, horrible, unpleasant dinosaur? A Thesaurus.

 

Yes, it is going to be one of those days.

 

One of the people for whom I voted for City Council, had this answer when asked “What is the most important issue facing the City today?” All the others threw out the usual Pap, but Claude Lavarre answered: “Human nature and unwillingness to counter it. People are naturally predatory, greedy, devious, ignorant and distracted. There are many processes in place to mitigate these, but altruistic people ignore the processes we have resulting in the chaos that exists. He came in last. People talk about problems but most are not courageous enough, or are just too socially oblivious to identify the real problems, much less solve them. The Litterbugs win again.

 

In case you are interested, over 6.3 Million people watched the election coverage on Fox News. CNN was a distant second with 900,000 and MSNBC was barely there with 486K.

 

Two night’s ago, David Letterman said that after Tuesday’s trouncing, the Washington Redskins are asking the democrats to change their name.

 

The Question:

Name five of the fifteen main Dinosaur types.

 

The Headlines:

--Ukraine Bracing For New Russian Assault; 60 Russian Tanks and Trucks Are Said To have Crossed Border.

--Job Growth More Impressive In October.

--President OBama Wrote Secret Letter To AyaTollah Khamenei; Latter About ISIS Was 4^th Time US Prez Wrote Iran’s All Powerful Religious Leader.

--New Clashes In Jerusalem.

--Alaska Voters Still Awaiting Senate results; NRA Anguishing Over Anti-Gun Gov Malloy Comeback Victory Over Their Guy Foley In Conn; Dems Cancel Ad Support For Landrieu Run-Off Battle In La.

--“Fast And Furious” Deceptions Closing In  On Holder; Eastern NY US Attorney Loretta Lynch Emerges As New Possibility as Replacement

 

Now all of those editorial writers who have spent he last six years besmirching Republicans and making excuses for 0-Man, will be pouring out theses high on the smugability scale telling Repubs exactly what to do with new found power.

 

I am generally pretty good at parallelism – literal and figurative. I’m on the level.

 

The news about a new TV reality program where an animal photog will allow himself to be swallowed by a giant Anaconda doesn’t surprise me. There are so many people out there looking for Andy Warhol’s 15 minutes, or just living an insular world than is beyond my sensibilities – Like humming bird lovers who strap feeding stations to their faces, or God help us, people who enable liars cheaters and thieves.

 

Alaska is going to get pounded by Nuri, storm bigger and more ferocious than Sandy, with waves over 50 feet. It is expected that the famous Alaska fishing ports like Dutch Harbor will feel the brunt of the ferocity. And so will we east of the Rockies where the storm will push down to the states as far as Alabama and Florida icy air below freezing. Get out the Fleece and Cognac!

 

For all of you down and dirty, tried and true political junkies, a good  friend sent in the following complete demographics of the voters. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/elections/2014/exit-polls  Get out your magnifying glasses! Great stuff, if you like statistics.

 

I wouldn’t be surprised if sometime in the next ten years craft brew lovers will find themselves drinking Bud owned brewskis. Small breweries are taking off and the Bigs are noticing the change. And the founders of the breweries are getting closer to retirement age.

 

By the way, Yuengling has been around longer than any other beer in the USA, and now  out of nowhere it is the best selling, or at least one of the most popular. Just shows you how quickly you can motivate sheep to run from one trend to another.  I remember not so long ago when Stella seemed to come out of nowhere, and before that I always wondered how “Rolling Rock”, a mediocre local beer when I was in college which you only bought when your money was low, became the nation’s beer taste treat. Bring back Miss Rheingold!

 

I can never say enough good things about people who rehab, revitalize, restore, readapt old buildings and keep downtowns vibrant and out of decay. You don’t want to hear what Is ay about developers who dig up the countryside to build what we generally don’t need.

 

Actually, Craft breweries have been great for graphic designers. Being entirely superficial, I would be one of those who would always pick my brew based on the look of the label rather than the taste. I mea, does taste really matter after one or two?

 

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:

--Big Hero 6 should be a favorite for kids, and perhaps adults too. Brilliant kids with different intellectual attribute harness their power when events catapult them into a dangerous plot in the center of the big city Sanfrantsokyo. The leader kid Hiro turns ot his pal, robot Baymax and the band become high tech heroes.

--People seem to like Intersteller, but the critics are lukewarm, except for the acting of McConaughey and Chastain. With days of humans on earth nearing an end, scientists go into space to investigate the viability of human survival among the galaxies. Pretty predictable, but some good beauty shots.

 

The Question:

This answer is destined for typos! Starting with Tyrannosaurus Rex, we go to Brachiosaurus, Packyrhinosaurus, Velociraptor, Minotaurasaurus, Epidexipterex, Choronosaurus, Ornithomimus, Murraburrasaurus, Stygimoloch, Aardonyx, Stegosaurus,  Therizinosaurus, Carnotaurus and Argentinosaurus.

 

Doncha feel a little smarter.

 

Don’t overlook or worse, disregard the obvious.

 

For the weekend musical interlude, I thought I’d give you the song that we played endlessly, and sang in cars while driving the ole’ Chevy in 1954 – Earth Angel by the Penguins! Oh, the other top R&B hits were “The Things that I used to do” – Guitar Slim; “Gloria” – the Cadillacs; I’m your Hoochi-Coochi man – Muddy Watters; “Sh-Boom” – “The Chords; “Work with me Annie” – The Midnighters; “Shake rattle and Roll” – Big Joe Turner; “Hearts of Stone” – The Charms; “Lovey Dovey” – The Clovers. These hits were dominant on the radio if you were lucky enough to have Alan Fried as the local radio guy. Many of these hits were re-recorded by while pop singers in the late fifties and Rock & Roll was popularized. Hey lost a lot in the translation.

https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=earth+angel+the+penguins+you+tube&ei=utf-8&hspart=vz&hsimp=yhs-vz&type=verizon_access%2Fverizon_dsl

 

Have a great weekend, E-v-e-r-y-b-o-d-y!

 

 

If the bottoms of my feet are sore, it means I’m moving.

Today's Tids Issue 3,216

Opening Stuff:

There’s always something to look forward to even when the days are blah. For instance, today is “National Nachos Day” which is pretty appropriate since it is also “National Men Make Dinner Day”. Or, you could be counting down the hours until “National Fritters Day” on Dec 2 or “Pick a Pathologist Pal” day on December 13…or maybe “National Barbie and Barney Backlash Day (?)”. There always something to look forward to and looking forwards is as good as it gets. So don’t sit under a cloud. Me, I’m looking to “National Chocolate Covered Anything Day” on December 16.

 

Sorry folks. There seemed to be an inordinate amount of typos and misinterpretations of grammar in yesterday’s Tids. Politics confuses me.

 

Somewhere, George Bush is sitting back, smiling silently to himself.

 

The Question:

OK, Thanksgiving is coming and everybody loves to make comments about the Turkey. Epicurious tested the recipes of Martha Stewart, NY Times Cooking, Food Network, Real Simple and The Kitchn. Which do you think was the winner? The criteria were Simplicity of Instructions, Moistness Taste/Flavor, Appearance at the Table and Crispiness of the Skin.

 

The Headlines:

--Prez And New Congress Leadership To Meet Friday.

--Markets Taking Breather in Early Trading.

--Draghi Says EuroZone Downside Risks Lower.

--Teacher Unions Spent Big But Lost Out In Tuesday Elections.

--Key French Born Khorazin Bomb Maker Presumed Killed In USAir Strike.

--Manet Portrait gets $69 Million At Auction.

--A-Rod  Admitted Steroid And Assorted Drug Use To DEA Investigators; 39 Year Old To Return To Bronx Stadium Minus Artificial Muscles.

 

I would ban out of state money for political campaigns in a heartbeat. I’m just that provincial.

 

“Pick um’ Time, Department:

As mentioned yesterday, tonight’s NFL game is the battle of Ohio, the Browns versus the Browns, Orange clad marauders blocking and tackling. I think it’s a toss-up. I’m rooting for Cleveland, but Cinncy is supposed to be the better team. It is one of the big toss-up games for the week, but I’ll go with the home team, Cinn. My heart hurts. The other tougher picks that could go either way are Det-Miami, KC-Buff, SF-NO and even Atlanta-TB. In Detroit we have two teams that are hard to figure. Detroit Is ranked higher but Miami has looked like a world beater at times. I’m picking Detroit. NO and SF are similar with neither living up to preseason hype. NO is the home team and my choice against a SF team that seems confused. Buff is playing tough, but KC has looked great. Gotta pick KC. Atlanta has been a disappointment and TB never got started. Atlanta here. The rest: Balt over Tenn (‘m finally making the break from Tenn); Rising Pitt over declining Jets; Dallas much too good for Jax; Ditto Denver against Oakland; Seattle is at home and the Giants have lost it; Green Bay should take Chi; I’ve missed on Carolina too often, and I like Philly. Arizona is just getting better and looks like a real contender for the SB. St. Louis is playing hard and has looked very competitive in the last two games. This will be a thriller, but Larry will help lead his Cardinals to another win. The Tids records now stands at

 

Media in Dreamland, Department:

The local big city newspaper went a little over the top in their editorial this morning saying: “Rhode Island voters did excellent work Tuesday, signaling that it is time to make a new start in a state long plagued by one of the nation’s worst business climates. They chose Gina Raimondo…” No, 58% didn’t vote for Gina. In fact the voters of RI gave the state the biggest “Protest” vote ever when 22 % went for casual candidate and Moderate Bob Healy who spent a total of $38.31 on his campaign. That’s thirty eight dollars and thirty one cents!

 

I fell in love with a waitress last night when she suggested an extra bowl of gravy for my mashed potatoes. Do I really look like a gravy guy?

 

Apple product users may be at risk from a huge new Malware problem called “WireLurker. It is the first known malware families that can infect installed IOS applications. The malware was first used to trojanize 467 os x applications at a China app store. First it’s bid flu, now it’s Mac virus. Isn’t it great that Nixon opened China to the west? It might be a good time to investigate an anti malware product for Apple products. Remember when Apple used to point the finger at Microsoft Windows? Getting too big has its problems.

 

A great reader for many years sent me this from her creative mind: “32 Republican Governors. 7 new Republican Senators. 1 pissed off President. Priceless!

 

I may be having old age problems, or maybe I’m just getting worn out by all of the football,  or maybe I’m finally growing out of my adolescence, but I often  find myself forgetting that there is a game on Mondays or Thursdays and sometimes Sunday nights. More is less.

 

The Prez held a lengthy press conference yesterday, but the main quotes from him in the paper this morning revolve around 0-Man firing back at Michael Jordan for call him a golfing hack. That may be the extent of his involvement with America for the next 2 years.

 

Mia Love from Utah was elected as the first Republican black woman in Congress. The question remains, will Liberals consider her black, or a woman. Actually, Mia is quite the person. She likes to think she was elected because she is good at what she does and feels that America would be better off, would accomplish more if it wasn’t so focused on race and gender among other people defining attributes.

 

Remember back in 2008 when the President came to town full of talk about bi-partisanship, and then in his first meeting with the Repubs said something like I want to work with you but consider that I have a mandate. They all get together tomorrow and the golf shoes are now on the other foot. Yesterday Mr. Obama talked about cooperation as long as the Repubs didn’t mess up his agenda. So, here we go again.

 

If you are looking for a refreshing aspect of Rhode Island, look no further than the woods of rural West Greenwich where it was a Republican sweep for Town Council.

 

The Answer:

The NY Times came in last and failed miserably as it was too dry, under-seasoned and the skin darkened too rapidly. The Kitchn was 4^th with a recipe that was hard to follow and too complex. It was very weak on taste, moistness and appearance. Number 3 was Food Network (Note, Guy Fieri was not involved so no “Donkey Sauce” required) which in addition to lack of moisture, it provided a recipe without the bare necessities of cooking (i.e. did not suggest placing on rack to avoid sticking to pan.) Real Simple’s Turkey was practically perfect, scoring well in  all categories. But it was not up to the Queen – Martha Stewart, who outdistanced the competition with a bird that looked great, was masterfully seasoned with parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme and garlic mixed in olive oil and rubbed underneath bird’s skin. Lemon and rosemary were tossed in the cavity and apple cider in the pan. Martha came in first in writing, Taste, Moistness and Skin…and second in Appearance. Of course, Epicurious says “Ours is Best”! Check out the recipes for yourself.

https://www.yahoo.com/food/thanksgiving-showdown-who-has-the-best-roast-turkey-101353067183.html

 

Another day, another Tids.

 

Only 106 days until the start of The Boston Red Sox spring training. I feel like the sun just came out.

Now what!

Today's Tids Issue 3,215

Opening Stuff:

The GOP is spraying around Champaign and the Dems are in the trenches looking for a large black paint brush to begin the Repub smear campaign for 2016. That’s the way a bitterly angered populace works these days. It isn’t that half the citizenry is really angry at the other half, it just the leaders who like to keep the divide alive as their means to retaining power. Getting rid of parties would go a long way towards returning the USA back to civility. The problem is that the media consultants and other political hangers-on make big bucks off of disharmony.

 

Just remember, if the world didn’t suck, we’d all fall off.

 

There must be more to today than ruing or reveling in election results. Actually today is the calm after and before the storms – one past, man made, and one ahead, the wrath of God, where the. winds blow mightily and the seas rise as icy monsters. I’m feeling the peace, but I know the anger is coming. I love anticipation.

 

My favorite victory of the night was Scott Walker in Wisconsin.

 

I was looking for a funny political one-liner, but politicians don’t know how to laugh anymore without a script.

 

The Question:

What do Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Kate Winslet & Daniel Craig, Sandra Bullock and George Clooney consider the movies they wish they were never in?

 

The Headlines:

--The Repubs Make A 7 Seat Senate Gain; Could Go To 9 After Virginia (There is new word that Gillespe may have won.), Alaska and Louisiana Are All Counted.

--Stocks Up On Repub Takeover.

--Russian Troops Moving Closer to Ukraine Border.

--Ahead Of Obama Visit, China’s State Run Media describes Barack Obama As A Banal Leader Who Has Doe An Insipid Job.

--First Post Election day Revelation: Holder Dumps 64,000 “Fast & furious” Docs.

--Outlook For Coal Miners Brighter As Anti Coal Candidates Lose.

--The President Speaks  About the Challenge Ahead At Press Conference This Afternoon; Speech A Series Of Contradictions.

 

There are basically two things in this world – economics and Love. Last night love won out as Newporters sent the casino expansion Question down to defeat. Next, Bill Clinton pal Paolino will propose tearing down the Wellington to build a Conference center…right next to Hibernian Hall. And the heart beat goes on.

 

How much deeper would the ocean be without sponges.

 

One of the most satisfying results from the Repub Senate victory is the removal of Harry Reid as chief Senate Mouth. Oh, Democrat Pollster Pat Caddell says, “The man (Harry Reid) is a disgrace to democracy”. Caddell echoes my sentiments that we all would be better off if we looked at ourselves as Americans instead as some group identification.

 

To all of those people who say that “Voter ID” will tae away people’s right to vote, only 1/3 of Americans went to the polls yesterday.

 

Talk about “I don’t care” headlines: “Five secrets you never knew about ‘Frozen’.”

 

Lets face it, the truth of the matter is that this election is probably good for Hillary. And. The Dems in 2016. She’ll ride in on white goat as the savior after the Congressional Dems and Prez vetos thwart Repub action. Couple that with the real possibility of a Wall Street Hiccup, and you have the makings of a Democrat wave and the election of the first female Chortler-in-Chief. I’m moving to Finland. 

Note: Some readers, primarily those with AOL addresses, don't seem to be getting the Tids.  Of course if you aren't getting the Tids, you won't see his note. If you havea friend with aol, let them know, by snail mail.

 

In his talk today, 0-Man pointed out several times that higher minimum wage must be a good idea because in states where it was on a ballot people voted for it. Duh!

 

If you try to please everybody, nobody will like it.

 

One Wag says the five big winners in the 2014 elections are Marijuana, Jeanne Shaheen (He bucked the tidal wave),  Chris Christie ( helped Governors win in Dem stes of Mass, Maryland and Illinois and key states Wisconsin, Mich, Fla and Kansas), Larry Hogan (Maryland Gov and The Washington Redskins Name.

 

The world’s smallest gathering is a democrat collecting his thoughts.”

 

A reader suggests wtso.com as a great place to get good wines and good prices. He says he has never been disappointed, and the service is great.

 

The Answer:

Now that the noise and confusion of the elections has subsided, you may want to spewnd some brainless moments watching Brad Pitt in “Cutting Class”, Angelina Jolie In “Cyborg 2”, Daniel Craig and Kate Winslet in “Kids In  King Arthurs Court”, Sandra Bullock in “Fire on the Amazon” and George Clooney in “Return to Horror Hot”. Hey, they had to start somewhere.

 

The real problem is that there is a changing world of high sped communications is changing (or has already changed) the ability of the US to be in control of their own economic destiny… and politicians think they can do something about it.

 

Tomorrow we can get back to football; the lads of the great Midwest will tie on their cleats, flex their muscles and hurl spheres of pigskin on to soft hands; runners will lower their shoulders and crash into determined bodies of steel; tomorrow night the mighty battle of Ohio will begin. The Browns versus the Browns.

 

17 days to Katness.

Today's Tids Issue 3,214

Opening Stuff:

I’ll probably be writing to a brick wall today as everybody is out voting for the person with the least negatives. What a mess. With all of the sniping and dirty insinuations, it’s easy to see why really good people don’t run. Political campaigns look more like supermarket tabloids than intense competitions between honorable men and women. The issues are transformed -- by consultants who measure their own capabilities by how cleverly than can avoid or alter the truth --  for the emotional reactions by the vacant minds of the uninformed; potential voters who become the misinformed. And then we get what we get. Hope your lines aren’t too long.

I have become a huge fan of Katie Perry. She went trick or treating on Halloween dressed as a Cheeto! How great is that!

Manufacturing is roaring again this Fall. The engine that once drove America to unimaginable heights isn’t what it was, but it still holds promise for the best paying, though far fewer, middle income jobs. It powers America’s ability to stay in control of its destiny. It is the industry of innovation and value added that builds real wealth in communities. Around of applause for the innovators and engineers.  

I was watching TV with my 14 year old grandson last night and I said as we saw yet another negative political ad, “Won’t you be happy when this is all over?” He replied, “It depends on who wins”. Within those heads buried in cell phones there is awareness and a brain. Kids always hear. They just don’t let adults know they do.

The Question:

Name 7 things that are recommended not to be delivered to your home. Bonus: Name 10 TV roles where actors were killed off, or dismissed or left on their own that Fans still can’t believe are gone from a favorite series.

The Headlines:

--Americans Go To the Polls.

--Congressional Democrats Fear That Obama Will Welcome A Repub Senate; He Would Trade Reid Blocked Issues Like Keystone For Passage Of Some Of His Favorite Projects.

--Market Stagnates while the People Vote; Alibaba, CVS, Burger King, Micahel Kors, Office Depot Q3 Report Winners; Priceline Battered After Missing Target..

--Tens of Thousands Of Russians March Through Moscow Declaring Their Country As tne Great World Power.

--Shiites Mass In Iraq And Lebanon To Defy Jihadists.

--Federal Judge Says Obama’s Interpretation Of Fair Housing Act, “Appears To be Nothing More Than Wishful Thinking On Steroids; Supreme Court To Take On Another, But similar, Case That The FHA Allows For Desperate Impact Lawsuits (That basically means suing for anything that appears racial).

--PBS “Car Talk” Host Tom Magliozzi Dies at Age 77; Program With Brother Was Most Popular On Radio Network.

Over the weekend, Joe Biden said the dens will keep the Senate control. This mourning a report of his interview with Gloria Borgia says that the WH would be willing to compromise with a GOP Senate. Joe is one of those guys you have to measure over time to learn what he really means. Hey! If the 0-Man had any sense of compromise in his heart staring with his first meeting with congress 6 years ago, the country would be far less divided today with a better future built upon a united citizenry. It’s a good thing industry and entrepreneurs have sucked it up and pushed the country out of the doldrums. Hear that, big-Gov-does-it-all Hillary?

The hot issue here in town is whether or not to vote to expand the Slot machine palace into a full casino. In fact I hear the group in favor of expansion are calling all over town to offer rides to polls. This is understandable as so many of their current clients are smokers on oxygen machines…who’s Social Security checks don’t come in for another week.

It may be too late for the New Hampshire race between Scott Brown and incumbent Jeanne Shaheen, but a letter from the President’s Man at the IRS reveals that Shaheen was “looped in on a plan run through Lois Learner’s IRS Tax Exempt Division to harass conservative nonprofit groups during the 2012 election”.

You have to love Taylor Swift taking all of her music of Spotify until the free music distributor comes up with a plan to pay the performers and producers who in fact underwrite the Internet site’s reason for being. It’s about time that music thieves learn to pay their way.

I look at all of these prolific “Stat” QB’s like Tarkington, Marino and Manning, and I’ll take Joe Montana over any of them. There just some warriors who take the field and get the job done at a high level, and you can include Terry Bradshaw and Johnny Unitas in there too.

Today, nobody really ever dies until all of their digital data is erased.

For all of those millions of Susan Collins’ Hunger Games fans, remember that the Mockingjay finale’ in the series due out November 21 is only the first part of a two part finish to the popular trilogy. Fans will have to wait another year for the second half of the end. Talk about pins and needles. There may have to be an afternoon psychologist talk show on this one.

Michelle Obama says that, “All Blacks should vote for only Democrats”. I guess she doesn’t think much of blacks ability to be free and independent.

The Answer:

Products that you should never order to be delivered are Starbucks Latte, Medical Marijuana, Prescription Drugs (Odds are that they sham generics), pets, wine, Fried fast foods like chicken and fries, Freeworks and Fire Arms. I’d add Ice Cream to that list. Bonus: I can’t believe that Will Gardner of Good Wife is gone, but he, a central character often more important than Alicia, only rated #12 on the list. Go figure.  I don’t know Troy Barnes of Community, but he is #1. #2 is Chris Traeger on Parks and Rec. NCIS lost and has not adequately replaces Ziva David. #4 Joss Carter’s death on Person of Interest was a huge surprise as the show changed direction. 5, and 7 are Nicholas Brody of Homeland (Carrie has found another dupe for sex), Tara Knowles of Sons of Anarchy and Heather Brooks of Grey’s. #8 is Hershal Greene of Walking dead.  9 and 10 are Sophie Deveraux of The Originals and Moira Queen on Arrow.

Buy a bag of Cheeto’s to make waiting on a voting line a little more exciting and enjoyable. But don’t smudge the ballot! I wonder, hanging chads and orange stains.

The cords we have to cut.

Today's Tids Issue 3,213

Opening Stuff: 

 

Ah November, the month that ends with family as king; with the great Holiday where gifts don’t count,  but plenty of love abounds. The winter winds come, and the football season winds down. It starts this year with a welcome respite as the Politicians finally pack away all of their commercials, and people suffer or cheer the elections…and then life goes on as if nothing happened. Before the pols we have All Saints Day And All Souls day. We honor the Vets who made us safe. And before it all ends you’ll experience, Deviled Eggs Day, Bittersweet Chocolate and Almonds Day, World Diabetes Day, Clean Your Refrigerator Day, Sadie Hawkins Day, Chicken Soup for the Soul day and Forget Me Not Day. Like every month, every day is something to some group or promoter. But, to me, every day (Except weekends and special holidays)… every day is you! Happy Thanksgiving.

 

Often, the quality of the Tids is simply based upon what music is playing in the background at the moment. Music has charms that soothe the cluttered mind.

 

I may have to change my mind about the President’s mental acumen and rational thinking. You may have seen in news reports that while he was here in RI he bought a chocolate cake from the well known eating establishment Gregg’s. That chocolate cake, rich and moist and so chocolate-ty that your cheeks and jaws hurt, is in my estimation unsurpassed by any in this country, and this President recognized it immediately. I have always said that people of opposite ideologies can always agree on chocolate cake and ice cream.

 

Or, maybe an aide told him that buying it it would make him looks smart.

 

I’m having trouble coming to a decision to throw out a good ole’ set of encyclopedias.

 

How many tears yesterday rolled down the cheeks of the 10,000 packed into the Xavier University field house as the dying Lauren Hill played her first college game for Mount Saint Joseph and made the first and last basket of the game. The wonderful girl with inoperable brain tumor has loved basketball all her life, and she is battling to be a winner right to the end. I may have to take a few seconds before I resume this morning mess.

 

The Question:

Name five berries that botanists consider the purist examples of the genre as defined by them. Bonus: What College had the first Cheerleader?

 

The Headlines:

--Pollsters Say The Repubs Have Shot At Taking Senate; National Plagiarist Laureate Biden Says Dems Will Keep Senate.

--DOW Opens Lower As PMI (Purchasing Managers Index) Manufacturing Measure Slips To 55.9; Slide Represents Third Consecutive Downward Month; Numbers Above 50 Indicate Expansion; Breaking News: Construction Spending Down .4% In September; China Sends Out Downbeat Data..

--Some Stock Analysts Still Talking Of Big Stock Meltdown.

--Suspected Ebola Case Discovered In Durham NC.

--Iran Says USA Still Their Number 1 Enemy.

--al-Qaida Forces Massing In Syria Near Turkey Border Crossing; 8 Syrian Rebels Who Surrendered Beheaded By IS .

--US Private Space Industry Perplexed Over Two Crashes.

--Terminally Ill Brittany Maynard Ends Her Life (See Lauren Hill).

 

The question of the day: Will Wednesday morning be another Tom Dewey moment for the Republicans?

 

An ad just popped up on my phone inviting me to download the app for Twitter, promising me that I would be able to “follow the opinions about politics from leaders and journalists.” I can’t think of anything I’d rather do less.

 

Michael Doonesbury is hoping that newspapers will always have obits, because he just can’t bear the thought of dying on-line.

 

Gina Raimondo lost my vote last night when political phone call in her behalf came in during the Pats Broncos game. Politicians don’t care about people.

 

A new report says: Research shows that High Protein breakfast dramatically staves off hunger pangs and reduces craving for sugar and high fat foods. Wives, mothers and grandmothers since the beginning of time have known that.

 

I just got a pop-up message reminding me that there will be great deals on “Black Friday”. Doncha think it’s great that everybody is always thinking about the birth of Jesus!

 

The big High tech argument of the moment is about Mobile Phone pay, and who will control it.. Everybody wants a piece of the action and nobody wants to give Apple a head start. The group that is hungriest for a big piece is the new group of retailers bonded together in an electronic relationship. What it all means is that many retailers are refusing Apple and several other mobile quick pay methods, while they get their systems in place. The most humorous remark came from a spokesman for one competing groups saying, “Retailers can’t refuse a customer’s favorite payment method.” Since when? Retailers have been cash only, refusing checks and American Express for years. The fact is that in a free society you can go to the entity that serves you best.  It’s one of the reasons I’m a States Rights guy, where states determine their own destiny without federal guidelines. If you like Pot, you can move to Colorado from a state where it’s banned. If you want higher welfare repayments you can move to the  Northeast. You can have a same sex marriage in and number of states. Freedom of choice and movement is a big part of the greatness of America. So is living the way you want to. But I digress. Stay alert,  keep your eyes on the progression of payment methods. It could get very confusing…and the beginning of the end of cash.

 

There is  no question in my mind that there has to be a better way to determine the NCAA football National Champion than voting by so-called experts. This morning we still have 4 Southeastern teams, 3 in the SEC, when Auburn somehow sneaked in ahead of Oregon who walloped Stanford Saturday. Weirdly, TCU who just got by with a last second field goal for a one point victory over a determined West Virginia team, moved up 3 slots to six, while WVa, who outplayed them for a good portion of the game, fell in the rankings. Forget the polls, other than for debate interests, and establish 8 leagues that blanket the country and have a play off between the winners. (Last week I said 4 leagues, but Eight is significantly better). If the Championship play down started today, I’d say, “Who cares!”. Too bad money always gets in the way of sensibility.

 

Rumors are abounding of anger in the White House bedroom as Michelle is tiring of the President’s ogling habit. It could be a real bad last two years for this President. It just shows you how far this President has fallen in esteem when the checkout counter gossip rags think of the President of the United States as fodder and up their coverage. You’d want to think that a president is above perverted dalliances, but then…there is a history.

 

The music of Sebelius makes me want to move to Finland.

 

But then, the music of Richard Strauss makes me want to build a Chalet in the Alps.

 

I’m easily swayed.

 

My  life was going down the tubes several years ago until somebody taught me about “Undo” for Free Cell.

 

Larry Fitzgerald can play on my team any time, Department:

Media and America’s eyes yesterday were on the hyped Pats-Broncs game which was excellent and lived up to the promise. But in Dallas, Arizona showed that they are a team to be reckoned with when Super Bowl time comes around, and In  Larry Fitzgerald they have one of the great team players and genuine surperstars in the league.

 

Oxymoron for the generation: Meatless burgers.

 

The Answer:

Yes, botanists say “True Berries” are Avocados, Bananas, Grapes, Oranges, Peppers, Pumkins, Tomatoes and Watermelons! And of course, one of the most  widely consumed berries is the one that akes Coffee! Strawberries, blackberries and blue berries are not “True” berries. Berries are defined as a simple fruit that grows from a single ovary and contains seeds within a fleshy pulp. Get used to it, because somebody out there as a government grant to underwrite redefining your beliefs.  Bonus: The first cheerleader for a collage football team has been acknowledged to have been Johnny Campbell At the University of Minnesota. Actually it was a guy jumping around to keep warm in November. Yah.

 

My heart is still pounding for Lauren Hill.

 

Here’s one of my favorite songs to start the week. I’ll rename it “To Lauren with Love”:

https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=tosir+with+love+youtube&ei=utf-8&hspart=vz&hsimp=yhs-vz&type=verizon_access%2Fverizon_dsl

Believe it or not, singer “Lulu” Kennedy-Cairns (Birth name – Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie) is 68 years old today. That was a great movie, too.