Not making sense doesn't really matter anymore.?

Today's Tids Issue 2,926

Opening Stuff:

President Obama raced through his brief tribute to the victims of the latest mass murderer so he could get to his planned attack the GOP speech. He just couldn't wait for a single day before he lobbed mortars into the lap of Congress. So much for bringing civility back to the USA.

I think the sun is smiling down on us so brightly this cool September morn, because A really nice person is sitting up there in heaven with her ever present  strand of pearls highlighted against a simple classic sweater.  We knew Susan Farmer who died yesterday after a horrendous battle with you know what. Susan Farmer was Secretary of State when she became friendly with my daughter, who she called, "the other Secretary of State". Susan did a lot for us, and a lot more for the State of RI. This first female elected general officer of the state pretty much saved PBS TV from the wrecking ball. She brought a lot of class up to Smith Hill , and yes a lot of heart into the neighborhoods of the smallest state. She cared. And, she did something about it. Thanks Susan.

Wall Street is still worried that the Fed Welfare that makes it so happy will end. That's why the market went up yesterday when known Bond Buy Back program hater Lawrence Summers announced his removal from consideration for Fed Chair. It still scares me that the only thing that's keeping the Wall Street wizards afloat is the welfare checks from Uncle Sam. How fragile are we anyhow? Now news is surfacing that tells us the the program was expensive (Duh!) and that it"Really hasn't worked out that well". (Except for the big hitters who get the most benefit from the billions free money flowing through their systems.) Let's face it, since May when Tapering first became the word on the street, the markets have been basically those of speculation and hype. Does this make you feel confident about an economy where employment forecast for a year ahead are still dismal.?

The Question:

Aside from Politicians, what are the 9 most venomous snakes in the USA?

The Headlines:

--Authorities Continue To Sort Out Facts Following Murder Mayhem At The DC Navy Yard.

--Engineers Cheer After Hauling Concordia Upright; Process Was Slower Than  Originally Thought, But It Worked Well; Let's Hear It for Brains.

--Markets Up But Uninspiring In Early Trading.

--Edward Snowden Nominated By European Parliament For Humanism "Sakharov Prize"; Award Previously Won By Nelson Mandela And Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi Among Other Notables.

--Syrian Rebels Demand US And Allies Support After UN Report.

--AP Report Sees Sluggish Recovery Of Global Economy.

The reason so many economic theories don't work so well any longer is that there are far too many false components in the modern economies. It's like trying to cure a disease with over used anti-biotics that can't recognize the enemy any longer. The natural system has had far too much outside assistance.

Networks New Year, Department:

TV is warming up for the new Fall season. We know by now that there are always more disappointments than winners, even when shows are loaded with stars. First, though, tonight is the finale for America's Got Talent, and if you can black out Howie and Howard on your screen, you are in for a very good night of entertainment. "Dancin' " is already giving dancin' lovers heart palpitations. It all begins in earnest next week when premieres and restarts of all of those show promos you've been seeing all summer long finally hit the tube. Personally I 'm waiting for the new season of old favorites, especially NCIS where on Tuesday next week we will see the beginning of the end of everybody's favorite, Ziva, And, now on the same night Person Of Interest is back and from what I can see with a Ziva like addition to the already strong cast. After that, it's pot luck. I'm a drama person and the best looking to me is The Black List with James Spader. The Hostages is a question mark in that I'm not sure they can make it plausible, but it has good leads. Big names Robin Williams and Michael J. Fox lead the sitcom array. I may get into Williams, and Fox will do well I believe. Many of today's sitcoms become tedious to me, and I have already rejected some based on promos -- Goldbergs, Back in the Game, The Millers, We Are en and Trophy Wife. But, please, don't pay attention to me when it comes to SitComs. I'm just old an crotchety.

I couldn't have written a better ending to the PGA BMW final as four of my favorites came through big time. Zach Johnson won it beating Nick Watney who is reigniting after a miserable year for him. And then there is former #1 in in the world, Luke Donald pushing it til the end and getting into the top 30 mix for next week. Throw in Jason Day, a guy who still could become what everybody has predicted for Rory, and I'm sitting back with a big smile on my face. I couldn't get enough of it. I love the FedEx Series.

Somebody sent me one of those jumbled paragraphs yesterday asking me to try to read it, which if I could, would suggest that my mind is still working well. Of course, anybody who spells as badly as I do can read any jumbled mess.

President Obama has done so many outrageous things that are unbelievably true, that it's getting tougher and tougher to write about him. The truth isn't funny.

Local writer commenting on Putin's Op-Ed in the NYT's had in his parody column the line he attributed to the Russian leader, "The Rhode island  economy makes Siberia look like The Silicon valley".

It didn't take long for the apologists to come out and issue possible excuses for the Navy Base Murderer's actions.

No wonder Israel wants the American, French and British to take out Syria. It has be reported this morning that Israel was never a signatory to the anti Chemical Warfare treaty and supposedly has a larger than Syria stockpile of the deadly weapons hidden away. Right next to their Nukes.

The Answer:

As far as I'm concerned all snakes are guilty...not innocent until proven guilty. It's like one person tells me, if you see an Jihadist with a backpack, shoot first and then open the backpack. The most venomous in the USA are #1. Eastern Diamondback rattler, Cottonmouth (Water Moccasin), Copperhead, Western Diamondback, Timber rattler, Sidewinder, Mojave Rattler, Speckled rattler and Eastern Coral. Experts will argue over the rankings, but I just let them all alone. Like I'm not comfortable because a snake is only number 8!

Fed watchers are saying that the "play-toy of the financial establishment" will cut its monthly bond buy-back welfare check to $50 Billion, and at the same time reduce its growth forecasts. It's called getting back to reality. Another aspect of the new reality could be the cessation of printing money, now at about a Trillion/year. This "Excess Liquidity" is now a disease also infecting Japan, Europe and England! -- so rampant throughout the bodies of national economies that antibiotic remedies might only stimulate the rampage of a false economy killing the patient. To stop it and return former normalcy's might sink the world. Is your sun still shining in the skies above? 

Can you feel the eggshells beneath your feet?

We continue to see the richest, from Forbes,

And pics of their mansions near oceans deep.

Is there too much that an economy can't absorb?

Will Wall Street execs go to the edge, start to leap?

Are we too much attached to the global Orb?

Will there be any crumbs left for us to keep?

Are we alone in small boats pulling on our oars?

Or, will rise above the clouds and feel that heat?

Only 105 shopping days remaining 'til Christmas!

How can you tell if the bleu cheese in your refrigerator is moldy?

Today's Tids Issue 2,925

Opening Stuff:
Leaders are people of their times. Let's say, for instance, that instead of the great and honorable George Washington, we had instead as the first Prez, say, Bill Belichick. Certainly a leader, and quite successful at that. Of course, if he were numero uno, there would have been a revolution all over again within 5 years of the young nation's official establishment. Freedom of the Press would be gone. Outspoken Americans in town squares would be deported or worse. He would have abolished congress. But, the place would work. What's the point here? There are many ways to achieve success, but many leave too many people and humanistic ideals brusied and battered along the way.

I stumbled into Shostakovich a day or so ago. His Symphony #5 is very nice. Actually exceptional. You just have to change your attitude.

As we I press the button to send this morning's mess, the Costa Concordia is being raised. It will either be one of the truly great engineering feats of our times or one of the great disasters. Stay tuned.

The Question:
How about a couple of "This Day in History" questions. 1. What ship set sail in Europe which would eventually have a profound effect on US culture. 2. The TV show Frazier Debuted on this day in 1993. Name five characters. 3. Super Bonus Question: What major religion was ordered in 1938 to be "exterminated" by Missouri Governor Liburn Boggs?

The Headlines:
--Stocks And Bonds Rally After Lawrence Summers Steps Aside.
--Chemical Deal Buys Time For Assad.
--Japan Evacuates 300,000 Homes As Typhoon Hits.
--Colorado Floods Strand Hundreds; Airlift Is Largest Since Katrina; Death toll rising.
--North And South Korea Jointly Open Idled Shared Factory.
--NFL Sunday Produces Series Of hair-Raising Surprise Finishes.
--NBC/WSJ Poll Shows American's Support Of ObamaCare Sinking To 31%.

Sequester looks bad because The President is directing the funds to make it look bad. Sequestor was an opportunity for intelligent managers of the government to look at reality and elminate waste.

I really dislike the NFL for putting that Thursday game on their network. I know it's a business, but it forces a lot of people, big fans of particular teams, people who are trying to save their pennies in a new world tough on household income to miss the game. What good is that for fandom? In addition, even for those who get the network, like I do on my one TV with a box, I don't get it on other TV's on the same cable network. I'll be damned if I will ever pay for multiple boxes just to get a couple of  games a year. NFL Network may be great for "Get-a-life" NFL fanatics, but there are plenty of people who just love the team they love, and want to see the games when they are playing.

I would be totally happy if every gift I ever received was a navy blue shirt. The gift givers wouldn't, but I would. Do you ever look in closet and think you should change your wardrobe for change sake,. And then, after bringing home the new duds, you realize that you liked what you liked because you knew you felt better in it. Change for change sake is how we got Nehru Jackets and leisure suits.

The new US business model is based on the elimination of jobs that have been traditionally performed by the largest percentage of the economy. In a free society like ours -- of the people, for the people, by the people -- business is allowed to exist the way it is because of the people. It's great that we can create great efficient entities that return big dividends for investors, but a jobless society is the worst thing possible for the future of all businesses business.

Every once in a while I walk past a room where Katie, Ellen or Anderson are sending an adoring, almost all female audiences into orgasmic, programmed laughter and adulating applause. Then  I go to my TV and turn on a show where a couple of sports knuckleheads argue incessantly mainly about nothing. To each his own.

I see where Joe Biden called Republicans "Neanderthals". I wonder from whom he stole that line?

Actually, I'll believe modern day society has a chance to survive their cave man origins when I see and end to littering and when healthy people stop using handicapped hang tags.

You know women are out there growing and achieving in sports when one local RI public high school has its Field Hockey, Soccer and Tennis Teams in first place and the Volleyball team in second. Think about that for a moment. Think about the depth of talented young ladies that would produce so many winners playing sports at the same time.. Wow!

More education doesn't necessarily make you better than the less educated, just more informed.

I saw a picture of The Hill smiling in Scotland after receiving an honorary degree. Could it be that she's throwing her tam-o-shanter into the ring for President of the new Independent Scotland. Her hubby would love the freedom of the kilt!

The human ear is one of the most amazing devices, among all of the technical wizardry we encounter today in our midst. Think about how three little bones translate whispers from lovers or symphonies from masters into emotional delights. We are amazed at smartphones becasue they are the output of human minds. But, the human has been a technological marvel for millions of years.

Inequality on the Horizon, Department:
I'm sure you have noted the rising anger from Union Leadership over their former baby, ObamaCare. This Admin, "Of the Unions, By the Unions, For the Unions" is listening. You can bet on that. What they are probably trying to do in some darkened corner of the White House is to come up with a way of expressing a plan that will take care of the unions (7% of US population) at taxpayer expense, while making it appear that everything is rosy for the poor saps laboring in the country side and in cityscapes. It now seems that to make it wokr, Obamacare is destined to beome political favoritism at its worst. I hear thee admin has called in the same people who formulated The President's Syria policy. God help us.

From a Reader, Department:
"I'm not saying there should be capital punishment for stupidity, but why don't we just take the safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself."

The Answer:
1. Pass the cranberry sauce, and Happy Thanksgiving that the Mayflower sailed from Europe this morning, 413 years ago. And of course created a class of disingenuous families claiming to have had relatives on the famed ship. 2. I'm sure you all enjoyed the great laughs when Niles Crane, Frazier Crane, Martin Crane, Maris Crane Daphne Moon, Roz Doyle and Lilith Sternin were scheming for attention. 3. The Mormons under Joe Smith were despised by Christians in Mizzu, so in order to escape extermination they fled to Illinois where they quickly learned they were also despised there. Smith sent a group to destroy the antagonizing newspaper offices. A lynch mob hunted down Smith and killed him. That was when Brigham Young took over. He consolidated his power 175 years ago today when Mormons killed Phineas Wilcox who was considered to be a Christian spy. So maybe now we know why Mitt lost!

When I watch TV I just hope that I wasn't as stupid then as the twenty-something males for whom they make commercials today. Probably was, though.

And for all of you wonderful readers who have trouble juggling Tid's reading with work and home life, try this...it's easy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8qFBvnUGSM&feature=youtu.be

Parting is a revelation.

Today's Tids Issue 2,920

Opening Stuff

“Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation.”
--Kahlil Gibran

One of the dangers of writing a column each day is the tendency to make blanket indictments of groups, races, professions, ethnicity's, sexes, products, habits, government employees et.al. In fact demonizing whole groups because of the actions of  few or myopic personal misgivings is a major problem in this country, this world. All Muslims are not terrorists, all business execs are not greedy, all advertising people are not alcoholics, all liberals are not socialists, all accountants are not boring, all members of PETA are not irrational. (Whoops, lets revisit that one later.) But one that is always true is, all conservatives are always "right".

I see where 0-Man went on a media blitz yesterday. The last time the Admin went on a programmed media blitz it was about Benghazi. How did that work out for the public?

The Question:

An outcome for the recent spate of same sex marriages may have been predicted in the title of a 1934 film starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. What was the name of the movie? Bonus: The DOW has just announce three new membranes to the venerable Stock index. Name them.

The Headlines:
--Dow Up Sharply; Are Investors Sensing Way Out Of Syria Mess.
--McConnell Comes Out "No" On Syria; Senate Moving Towards Postponing Vote For A Week And Recasting Proposed Legislation To "Enforce Russia Initiative"
--Russia Steps In To Offer Solution To Assad; 0-Man Says Weapons Turnover Idea Was Mentioned In Brief Meeting.
--Pakistan To Free Second In Command Taliban Just In Time For US Afghan Departure.
--New Yorkers Go To Polls For Mayor Primary's.
--Eugene Brockman Trust Withdraws $259,000,000 To Kentucky's Centre College; College Admin Says It Will Not Change "Centre" to "Center" To Conform To Grammatical Standards*.
--Tuscaloosa Al Daimler Benz Plant Rebuffing Union Attempts To Organize; Company Says Employees Are Quite Happy With Out Labor Organizations.
--Menwhile In Iraq, Suicide Bombings Continue.

“A pain stabbed my heart, as it did every time I saw a girl (man) I loved who was going the opposite direction in this too-big world.” --Jack Kerouac from On The Road.

Today in this City by the Sea we celebrate the Battle that freed the cities on the Lake. Lake Eire, that is. That Center of US industrial might that ignited the growth of the greatest economy in history. Oliver Hazard Perry, who lived a few footsteps from here, saw the enemy two hundred years ago this morning and they were his. His crew of courageous sailors overrode eh vaunted British military fleet and opened the sea lanes of the Great Lakes system. He was our guy and the great lakes hero. Today in eh park across from his home, under his magnificent statue, people are gathering to say, we haven't forgotten.

I'm hearing that some of the stuff I mail including Tids is going into the spam folder. So if you are feeling the dullness of a vacuous heart, and don't know why, it may be that thrill of Tids which you have been missing. Of course, if the Tids are going into your spam, you probably won't see this note anyhow.

I had the chance to walk under a Chestnut tree yesteday. It reminded me of my elementary school where a giant Chestnut tree grew, and over the grounds beneath that woody beast, shelled chestnuts strew. We weren't quite so poetic in those days as we quickly smashed into the shells that protected the gleaming brown nuts, and threw them at our pals and enemies. And protected ourselves from retaliations with garbage can lids. When we weren't doing that we were making pipes. Today in this world of nannyism, I suspect The US Department of Agriculture would be hiring masses of people at great taxpayer expense to go out into the hinterlands and place labels upon these sienna brown nuts: "Chestnuts can be dangerous to your kid's health."

When you think about it, nobody can really afford the cost of medical treatment. It is a business not market driven, but available cash driven.

The next "Game of the Century" will be this coming Saturday night when the Crimson Tide of the University of Alabama takes on Manziel U...I mean Texas Tech. Alabama by 3 touchdowns in yet one more over promoted dud.

I see where US Debt is up and credit card use is slowing. Is this the end of the current boomlet? After all, isn't the US economy of late based pretty much on consumers getting in over their heads? When wages are declining and credit cards are maxing, the economy hits a brick wall. I submitting that for the next Nobel prize.

*Just Kidding.

Egypt's generals seem to be using the world's focus on Syria to roll out tanks and troops into the Sinai to kill citizens they don't like. Isn't it time to just walk away from the Middle East, the octopus with a thousand entangled tentacles. I know, I know...an octopus only has eight arms. Maybe we could call ita kilopus.

Every time the Government places a warning label on a product (And it is happening it seems at a faster and faster pace these days), a new profitable industry is born for litigators.

The Answer:
The musical full of dancing and happy tunes was Gay Devorcee. Bonus: Nike, Visa and Goldman are expected to make the Dow "Growthier". They are to replace Alcoa, Hewlett-Packard and Bank of America which must be "Non-Growthier". Note, the Dow did not add high priced, "Really, really growthier" stocks Apple, Google and Amazon.

The loss of Alcoa from the big stock index indicates that the world of US industry is really changing. Alcoa is not only a very good company, but has been a key indicator of the manufacturing sector. Oh well, it's all about Alix and Ani, and Swifter now.

Things that don't make sense.

Today's Tids Issue 2,921

Opening Stuff:
How do you enjoy the perfect day? Standing quietly on wind swept fields above the surging bay? Where cloudless skies of blue silhouette girls at play. The serene moments do not reflect the pumping of these players hearts, and the pain of muscles playing their parts. On field after field overlooking rolling seas, young girls running, sticks whacking aching knees; The focus in the eyes, the marauding hordes bear down; the lonely goalie hunches low to brace the blow, The field hockey stick rears back, and the heavy ball whizzes on the Attack. The lone defender responds, hurling a lithe body with courage beyond; Stops the careening sphere of stone before the goal. And neath blue skies above boiling seas, the shouts of victory arise loud, as that heroic goalie sinks in triumph to her knees. Waves break on the shore below and a team is proud.

I have never quite understood why Ottorino Respighi didn't make Suite Number 2 the finale for his Ancient Dances and Airs for Lute.

And, how about the logic of this headline: "Iowa Grants Gun Permits To the Blind."

The Question:

The Fall is when a lot of sports begin and many culminate. Baseball is the "National Pastime" but Nascar is the national attendance winner. Who are the top 10 drivers in the Nascar Sprint Cup Series? Which owner groups have the most drivers in the top fifteen?.

The Headlines:

--The President Is Fighting Uphill Battle To Convince Americans To Support His Strike.
--Assad In Interview With Charlie Rose Sasy He Had Nothing To Do With Gas: Infers Retaliation; Russia Also Warns US; Cyprus Rules Out Participation With US In Syria Attack.
--Upswing In China Exports Has World Markets Riding On Rickshaws With Afterburners.
--New Evidence Shows US Spying On Brazil National Oil Company; Relations There Sour Further.
--Google Network Also Victim Of NSA Tapping.
--Man Falls To Death At Candlestick; Over Extensive Imbibing In Alcohol Culprit.

I think it's time to place "Green" and "Natural" into PETA approved straight jackets. Yesterday I learned of a scandal I must have missed. I found out that sometime in the past Genoa Salami's must have been mistreated because on the grocery meat counter right before my eyes I saw "Applegate 'Humanely Raised' Genoa Salami"! Now though, as I think back on those quiet summer days when I passed by still pastures, I remember seeing the little rotund salamis waddling around, huddled together near the fences of their pens.  I laughed it off snidely at the quivering little elongated loafs as just having sex. But, alas, I have come to find they were planning an escape and national protest after years of being in darkened salami shacks suffering through garlic infusion. I could have done something about it if I could only have read the signs they were carrying: "Se nonabbiamo odore ci sarebbe solo un altro hot dog all american." A law firm, Mortadella, Capicola and Johnson, is calling all salamis, Genoa and Toscano alike, to join in a class gaseous reaction suit.

After six years in disarray and a sagging economy, Australia's Labor Party was thrown out decisively by the "Conservative Liberal" Party. That doesn't  make sense. With a name like that, how could they possibly ever get anything done?

Almost all teachers are pretty damn smart. So, I always wondered why so many go back to school to get a Masters degree in Education, or for crissake, Phd! To get a raise? Now if they went to get an advanced degree in English, Math, Chemistry, Physics et al, I could understand that contributing to the education of the child and the overall quality improvement of the system. But the philosophy of theoretical education seems, based on what I read, generally more harmful than good -- the problem being that too many of those with the advanced degrees try to apply the new information. The end result most often is too many theories, too many people with Phd's rising through the ranks to fix things that are not broken. Teaching children should be pretty basic...know your subject really well, make the delivery interesting and create an environment that makes learning seem important to kids who too often wonder why they are in school i the first place. Inspiring hard work and demonstrate how it pays. Eliminate self esteem grading and get back to basics. And structure teacher salaries for achievement in the classroom instead of advocating an advanced degree for pay increase system. And, If you think I'm picking on teachers, I feel exactly the same about MBA's -- theorists with little knowledge of their business who can pour sand into a well oiled machine in a matter of months. We need to get back to basics...in everything.

The intrusion by the telemarketer was uncalled for.

The average car sales price in the US is $31,252! For a little over $29K you can get a Base line Mercedes and impress your friends.

The news media is loving reporting all of this negativity about Zim. It may make him appear more unlikable but it doesn't change the fact that Martin was bashing his head against the pavement.

If the authorities continue putting into effect rules that minimize contact in football and if Moms continue to place there boys into soccer and lacrosse style sports, what will the NFL look like 20 years from now? Will there be any players left in the pipeline.

The world would be a lot more civilized if we got rid of cars.

I'm nearly through with this Tids and I haven't yet mentioned the word Syria, until now. It's probably because The bombing thing is making less and less sense, especially after people move away from their ideologies. There is no visceral outrage here as there had been following close behind 911. When they start analyzing logically most are seeing a plan that has no middle or end. The question people from both sides can't answer is, "Why do, I want to vote yes for the action?" I have talked to smart people Obama supporters and detractors alike, and the reaction after initial parrying to gain an advantage, is the same -- bewilderment. Nobody is resolute.

In answer to one oft given reason to make the strike -- "America will look weak to the rest of the world" -- an astute observer and often criticle reader of the Tids asks, "Doesn't America really look weak if it eshews it's basic concept copied throughout the world, "Of the people, For the people and by the people." Listening to the citizens is not a weakness.

The Answer:
Sunday, Matt Kenseth over took Jimmie Johnson and slid into first place. 3rd is Kyle Busch followed by Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards, Joey Lagano, Greg Bittle, Clint Bowyer, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kurt Busch. Jeff Gordon had an opporutnity to climb back into the top ten, but blew it on Sunday. Kenseth was from Joe Gibbs Racing as was one other. Also with two are Roush-Fenway (Red Sox) and Hendrick Motor Sports. One each was Penske, Richard Childress, Micahel Waltrip and Furniture Row. It's good to tuck these names away. You neer know when you'll need help with a flat tire while traveling the South.

Make sense of your day and don't let irrationalism wear you down.

Resounding.

Today's Tids for 911 Issue 2,922

Opening Stuff:

 

The bells from steeples that reach to the heavens toll their plaintive sound, from hills and valleys, near waters with waves lapping shores; bubbling streams that slow the heart. In villages small and cities large the metallic clamor awakens bleak thoughts of a horrible day. 2,977 times the clapper rapped the wall of the trough. 2,977 times heads bowed to say, God nurture and care for our innocent friends; provide strength for those loved left behind. At once after 2,977, the bells fell silent; Papers rustled down empty city streets. Flowers waved before gentle breezes  in quiet green fields. Waters flowed gently in streams. Pure beautiful silence is the love of humans for their kind.

It's tough to write much more, when never forgetting is so important.

In the late 2000's we had the "banks too big to fail". Now we have the NSA, "too big to understand". I think there's a message there about a Government growing too large as in "Too Big To Get Rid Of".

The Question:
The US News & World Report "Best Colleges" is out. Name the top ten Universities; The Top Ten Liberal Arts Colleges?.

The Headlines:
--America Remembers The Innocents Of 911.
--Stock Rally Pausing After 0-Man Speech.
--Car Bomb Hits Libya Foreign Ministry In Benghazi.

--President Says We Won't Do Much, But We Have To Do It; But Then, We Really Don't Have To Do It Now.
--UN Begins Private Talks On Syria Weapons.
--Egypt Soldiers Counterattacked In Sinai.

Sweet and Sour Sauce, Ddepartment:
On a da  now so remembered for tragedy and personal bravery, we often may forget events that are important to many like Birthdays and anniversaries and memories of accomplishments and love. So Happy Birthday to those born taday. happy whaever to all who may feel the grief of others while rejoicing in themselves.

It may seem frivolous to talk about America's Got Talent this morning when the haunting 911 murders are weighing so heavily on our minds. But, after all, the show is about the talent of Americans, good people fightng to move forward which is what we should always be doing even when events as horrendous as 911 throw up enormous roadblocks. We never stop, here in America.

It is going to be really tough to pick 6 out of the 12 after last night's AGT competition. Whether or not they were your favorites, they all performed well. For instance two acts, Innovative Force and Amanda and D'Angelo upped their games well enough to be two of the six! Others who were excellent to me were Forte, Kenichi and Taylor Williamson. The Judges loved Cami, Catapult and KrisStep Brothers. Personally I didn't get much out of the Kristep act and Catapult was nice but not exceptional. I have been a big supporter of Collin Keys and have looked forward to his stints, but he is becoming old hat. The Chicago Boyz are good possibilities for the final, even after messing up a couple of times. Brandon James just isn't outstanding enough to sneak in. Jimmy Rose I like, and he has that country vote, so don't count him out. I would vote for Forte, Kenichi, Williamson, Cami Bradley, Innovative Force and Jimmy Rose. Actually, I think that Amanda and D'Angelo earned their way and could be an ingredient in the finals sandwich. It is sad that I couldn't mention Catapult, but there are only six. There just has to be surprises and voter picks that upset judges. Except for Heidi, who loves everybody.

I think the Red Sox are peaking too early. Be still my beating heart.

The man who takes credit for everything and blame for nothing may wriggle out of that box he built because of an offhand remark from his Secretary of State and a plan implemented by a former KGB agent. I didn't mention names because the President won't either as sometime down the road he will take credit for solving the mess he basically initiated. What I'm really saying is that I just don't trust him or believe what he says.

The market is very problematic. For instance buying stocks that bring the highest dividends appears to be a good strategy. But, if those stocks are so stable and mature, priced out if you will, that they never grow, why not buy bonds with less of a downside instead?

The Answer:
It's probably not that hard becasue many of the same players are always there. #1 is Princeton followed by Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Stamford, U. Chicago, Duke, MIT, Penn, Cal Tech and Dartmouth. The LA Colleges are Williams, Amherst, Swarthmore, Bowdoin, Middlebury, Pomona, Carlton, Wellesley, Claremont McKenna, Haverford and Davidson.

Silence.

It just isn't what the Press says.

Today's Tids Issue 2,922
Opening Stuff
God love Peter Zenga, but he has wrought upon us large gangs of entitled ideologues more often driven to protect the government rather than behave as the last resort of truth for the governed people. The whole idea of freedom of the press is to speak out against potential encroachment by a smothering ogre, as opposed, for example, protecting sleazebags putting out porn. We are at a point where we are protecting everything, but getting very little any longer from the original intent of this exceptional American Freedom. Woe is me.

You have to figure that liberal alarmist activists are jumping into their mango martinis as they heard yesterday and this morning that their sacred cows aren't exactly what they have been espousing. The ice packs north and south expanded far faster than they have been in recent years and significantly faster than last year. The Ice is still below the 1981 highs, but the cooling of the regions is greater than it has been in the warming decade of the 2,000's. Too early to predict the return to the ice age, but there is a lot more ice for their martinis now. They can drink them while watching the magnificent golden eagles get thrashed in windmill farms. Their alternate energy babies are killing (67 GE's known this year) the freaking birds they have used for so long to stifle business and often economic growth

The Question:
What are the top ten oddest Hollywood baby's names?

The Headlines:
--Golds Drops Below $1,350 Again; markets Flat After 8 day rally.
--Vatican Begins To Look At Celibacy for Priests; Officials Say It is Not Dogma.
--Germany Likes Idea Of Non-Military Solution To Syria Irritation.
--Marriott, AT&T Among Many Others Slapped Down By Public Opinion For Promotions Attached To 911 Remembrance.
--UAW On Verge Of Organizing Tennessee VW Assembly Plant.
--Flash Flooding Overwhelms Northern Colorado; Two Dead.
--Kerry In Geneva Working With Russia On Syria Deal.
--New Intel Says North Korea Has restarted Yongbyong Nuke Installation; Just Honoring Dennis Rodman, Says Kim.
--Dell Shareholders Approve Deal To Take Company Private.

NFL (Gulp) Picks:
I would have to say that there is doubt in 15 of the 16 games this week and that includes the lowly Jax-Raider affair! And of course tonight, where the Pats experienced receiver corps has dwindled to a precious one, and the inexperienced group is hobbling. I am only picking the Pats because they are home. The loathsome J-e-t-s could easily be the winners. The only games that appear to be easy are Baltimore over Cleveland and perhaps Cinn over Pitt. Now it's time to suck it up. Which Manning Brother will win. I have to think that Denver is a little stronger than the Jints, even if they are at home in NJ. Here are the rest: Dallas close over a better KC. An improving Tenn runs into a better Houston "D". GB and Wash both need wins, and GB will get it at home. Minn will come back to beat a good Bears team. Rams could upset Atlanta, but won't. Philly looks hot enough to beat an improved SD. Indy at home should sink Miami. I personally like Buff, but I think Carolina will win. Suh will pay $200K in fines helping Det beat Ariz. NO should beat TB. And Oakland at home may rise up to beat Jax minus a QB. And then there is Seattle against SF, and I have no clue. Flipping a coin I go Niners.

The Unions are crying out against the so called "Affordable health Care" Mess. The Republicans are seizing on this negative outcry from this earliest nationalization of Health Care advocate to support their desire to squash the law. But the danger is that the weasel admin in their effort to appease will offer special exemptions to their pals and the US taxpayers will be left holding the bag...again. (Note: Union advocates will say that Union members are taxpayers to, but they are now less than 10% of the population).

Somebody help me: If it's "i' before "e" except after "c" or when sounding like "a" as in neighbor or weigh...then why is it "seizing"?

The Misleading Power of the Press, Department:
To the outsider, the news reports out of the Big Apple Papers and other media would have you believing that the despicable Weiner was actually a factor in the Mayoral race. But he was nowhere to be seen when the final vote was counted, unless you think 5% is a good showing. In typical Weiner fashion, the socialist Democrat was seen giving reporters the finger as he drove from his "Victory" party. Also good for perhaps a revival of American sanity, down and dirty Spitzer also lost in his bif for NYC Comptroller. If you can't sell gullible NYC'ers, you must really be bad. You know, those people who root for the Ya, Ya, Ya, (WYKWIM).

I immediately hang up on all unwanted phone calls beginning with the two words, "Senior Citizens."

I never realized that Political Correctness has infected golf courses until yesterday when I was admonished for saying "Women's tee". It is now "Forward tee." Yeah, sure, I'll remember that.

If the "Hernandez" case didn't involve a NFL superstar it would still be the most intriguing case of amoral killing with a cast of characters that could fill two  movies. Every day there is something new and incredibly sleazy. Now, the authorities are going after the the mad shooter's involvement in the double murder drive-by from a year ago. Google it.

Moms probably were running ot walking to their favorite all-natural inorganic farmstands and throwing it all into pureeing blenders within minutes after the British Pediatric Organization said stop buy manufactured baby food and make your own. But, this could be a short term mass fad of the moment as the US Pediatric group stepped in and shouted, "Wait just one goddamned minute"! Making your pwn baby food could be dangerous to junior's health. First they warned that many veggies like spinach, carrots and squash among others contain serious amounts of nitrates which could cause dangerous anemia in infants. The Manufacturers of baby food test for nitrates and eliminate them. Second home made could cause infections unless you turn tour kitchen into a clean room! Manufacturers create tasty foods in sterile conditions almost impossible to duplicate at home...unless you are a billionaire movie star with a highly publicized child with a weird name. So, once again medical science confuses the issue. I say, just do it like great grandmom did.

 And, guess what -- the free press was all over that first British pronouncement.

The Answer:
Well, first we have Katie Price's third child Princess Tiaamii Esther Andre. Jay-Z and Beyonce give us daughter Blue Ivy Carter. Kamie Oliver has three kids named Petal Blossom Rainbow, Dai Pamela and Poppy Honey Rosie. Gwyneth Paltrow gave us Apple, while from Alischa Silverstein we get a boy named Bear Blu. And who could top Ashlee Simpson's son's moniker -- Bronx Mowgli Wentz? Well, maybe Kim and Kanye's boy with North West.

Needless to say, those names confused the hell out of my Spell-Check.

My next Grandson is going to be named Tidslet Monahan.

That's true, It's in the press.