“Just Politics”, means somebody is lying.

Today's Tids Issue 3,202

Opening Stuff:

 

One of the little keys to life is to compromise a little luxury in order to accommodate a bigger opportunity.

The Director of Association of Physicians and Surgeons, Jane Orient, said yesterday that the CDC has more “Absurd” and expensive restrictions on the minor irritant Second hand smoke and other non-hazards, than those regarding Ebola, a lethal organism. Another reason why he word politics is lethal to the American society, or any society for that matter.

Did you see where “Tank Man”, ex-Prez candidate Michael Dukakis testified in support of Boston Bomber Pal? He said the kid was a nice boy and confused by the FBI. In addition, his lawyers added that the boy was “High on Marijuana” and didn’t remember what or if he did anything? Thinks about it – with the legalization of MJ we may never a have any young people in jail of “High on Pot” is allowed to condone any bad or criminal behavior.  “I didn’t know I was driving while impaired because I had too much to drink!” Yikes.

Note: A lab technician who handled the specimens of the Liberian who died of Ebola in Dallas has been quarantined on a Carnival Cruise Line trip. This is a classic example of how easily the Toxic disease could be spread no matter how great the US medical system as described by Tom Frieden. Sytems are good until you introduce human behavior.

The Question:

Double “Q” Friday: 1. Every year, American homeowners lose millions to creepy-crawly pests. But there are several easy preventative steps people can take to protect themselves from the tiny marauders. Name five. 2. The “Global Dow has been hanging in there during the downturn of the US Dow. What stocks comprise the G-Dow?

The Headlines:

--Wall Street Looking At Rally To End Week’s Horror Show; Opens Up 180; Up 66 At 11:30..

--Giant Hurricane Gonzalo Baring Down On Bermuda.

--Saddam Hussein Former Pilots Said To be Training IS Fighters; MIG 21 and MIG 23 Jets Were Captured In Takeover Of Syria Airports.

--SF Giants to Join KC In WS.

==President Obama names Ebola Tzar – Biden Pal And Beltway Hack Ron Klain.

--Joe Biden’s Son Dismissed From Navy After Testing Positive For Cocaine; This Was Second Chance For Veep Son Who Had former Charges Waved.

If the government is worried more about the economy of Liberians than the health of Americans, are they really doing their number one job? The CDC Chief said yesterday, That they don’t want to restrict travel to West Africa because it would just harm the economies there. I thought CDC was a medical department, not the commerce department. Politics makes people incredulous.

If Bill Belechick is a “Defensive Genius” how come last night’s defense against the so-called hapless Jets didn’t look any better than the sieve like defenses that lost two super bowls to the Giants and an AFC championship to he Colts? You’d think a genius would learn from past history. Or is the definition of genius, a-r-r-o-g-a-n-t?

Remember that the Dow is just 30 of the thousands of stocks available for trading. It hurts when those thirty are down because most people think that because they’re among the biggest and best run companies, that they are safer.

The new winter wear rage from Patagonia to LL Bean seems to be the downy, puffy jackets, you know colorful versions of the kind that the North Korea army wore during the Korean war. Personally I don’t like em, so I guess I’ll be out of style until my look returns in about 5 or 6 years. I’ll just keep wearing the same smle on my face.

You’ll know the fashion fad is waning when you start seeing racks of them in TJ Maxx or Marshall’s.

The big new growing dining fad is “Digestives”, which are typically expensive, sweetish specialty wines that supposedly put a perfect end to great meal – let you push away the table with the perfect taste in your mouth. Personally, I like the taste of rich brown gravy and I doubt if any digestive could improve the experience. But, the real problem with this emerging market for grape growers is that it is utterly confusing, like walking into a wine stoe with thousands of alternatives. The truth is that many of these Digestives are what we used to call after dinner liquors. If I ever need a digestive, I’ll take Hennessey. I like simple..

Yesterday, a well known political operative justified out right lying in ads as “Just politics.” I thought he felt he looked foolish. And people wonder why fewer and fewer people vote, unless of course, the dead in Chicago.

While I still feel the wounds, more like knife stabbings than pinpricks, there still hope that this week’s Wall Street projectile vomiting wasn’t the beginning of the huge downfall. One big reason is that the experts on Clueless Lane are as confused as ever, with most having trouble putting a finger on the reason for the mid week calamity. So there will be some upward surges, maybe throughout the rest of the year, but a day of reckoning is still in the future for sure.

Reading between the Lines, Movie reviews:

--Fury is the big Promo movie of the week – “WWII movie of the Century,” they say -- and it isn’t that great. It overdoes the gore and blood, and loses its reason for being in the over the top actions of the actors. Don’t expect more than a WWII movie that doesn’t add much to he genre. I’ll take Battleground.

--The Best of Me is a High School Sweethearts re-united 20 years later, movie. The two were driven apart in HS because she was rich and he was from the word side of the social spectrum. They find their fries still buring and fall back in love after re-meeting a funeral, but the original forces against them return, even though the guy has risen above his past…and this time the trheats are more serious. It is not great, but won’t be a waste of money for some.

--The supposed feel good movie is and English film, Pride. During the Thatcher years the National Union of Miners is on strike and a Gay-Lesbian alliance in London raises money for families – rejected initially by hard nose union members. The G-L group picks a small mining village in Wales where they go, and lo and behold the two sides find that standing together is the best union of all. I think you can write this one.

ISIS would never have made to a 7-11 if Carrie Mathison was in Baghdad.

The Answer:

1. First, destroy bridges by trimming away tree, bush branches that touch the house. Eliminate entry points – Holes in screens, siding and hiding places in cabinets or baseboards. Keep your kitchen, eating places clean, free leftover crumbs. Keep gutters, downspouts free of leaves – breeding places for mosquitoes. Inspect basement and attic, looking for nesting materials, droppings and damage. Repair leaks that make rotting wood a temptation for termites. Look for nesting sites around  the yard and remove immediately. Feel better?  2.  The Global Dow consists of 150 stocks including all  of the American companies like IBM, Verizon, Alcoa, Wal-Mart and P&G, plus a broad array of overseas companies Like Nippon Steel, Tata steel, Nintendo, NewsCorp, Novartis, China Construction Bank, canon and Honda. ( Check it out -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Global_Dow )  .

I must have a lot of free time, because these recent Tids seem longer. I think I’m in a quantity over quality era.

This should make you smile into the weekend:

https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=two+woman+duets+popualr+hits+youtube&ei=utf-8&hspart=vz&hsimp=yhs-vz&type=verizon_access%2Fverizon_dsl

Have a good one E-v-e-r-y-b-o-d-y!!

 

The Pols have destroyed credibility for all.

Today's Tids Issue 3,201

Opening Stuff:

Doncha love those times when you laugh so hard your stomach muscles hurt. When your eyes are shut tight and you can’t stop the tears. And all you want to do is curl up on the floor in the fetal position, and hope that the humor keeps on going because it feels so good. And somebody around keeps dropping one-liners and more people laugh and it keeps you going. Even as your read this, a smile crosses your lips and you imagine others reading and dropping to their knees in uncontrollable laughter. After a while it manages to subside and your body is drained in a state of orgasmic exhaustion. And that’s about as good as it gets. It’s one of those situations that is impossible to recreate at will. It just has to happen.

 

So many of us have become so jaded, so skeptical that it is easy to believe that everything The Prez is doing now about ISIS, Ebola et. al. is only to save the Dem led Senate. And, that’s no laughing matter.

 

I just hate it when I see the Stock Market down 450 points. The funny thing is that I and many saw this coming, because it just had to be. It was a mixture of no more “Up” for a lot of stocks and the need for big money people to churn. Especially the gold and silver hawkers who have been inundating the TV screen with screaming commercials, but really need “Bad” for their product to be good.

 

The talk is that the Yield for treasuries is down. That must mean that the value of your holdings is up. Right? I think the yield measurement of bonds is weird.

 

The Question:

Who are considered the Top Ten All Time Best Political Comedians? Who makes the Top 10 List for Today?

 

The Headlines:

--Markets Open Sucking Again; Recovering Slightly at Mid-Morning, Down Just 20 As Tids Hits The Street.

--Amazon To Create 80,000 Jobs For the Holidays.

--Putin Warns US Not To Blackmail Russia; Russia Air Incursions Over Japan More Frequent As Japan Jets Scramble To Defend..

--ISIS Hold On Kobane Goes Fromn 40% To 20%; IS Militants Retreating After Bombings.

--In A Series Of Attacks ISIS Militants Kill 38 Throughout Baghdad; many Others Injured.

--New Unemployment Benefits Fall to Lowest Level In 14 Years.

--Second Nurse with Ebola Given Permission To Fly By CDC; She Had Already Shown Symptoms.

--Actress Elizabeth Pena - 55, “Modern Family”, The Patriot”, Dies from Drug OD.

--Blizzards, Avalanches In Nepal Mountains Kill 20 Climbers; 5 Others Missing.

 

The Pick-um Department improved again last week with an 11-3-1 effort bringing the year to 54-35-1 (61% -- We want 73%). So let’s  start with the so called easier picks. Tonight may  npt be so easyas it seemed after all. The Pats are down 3-4 key players, but maybe more important is the rain. The J-e-t-s have put together a pretty good running game, while the Pats rely on the Brady arm. I’m still going with my beloveds mainly because the NY team seems confused. This is always a battle. The other easy picks should be Arizona over Oakland and Cleveland (If they aren’t too high after last week) over Jax. I think all of the rest of the games have the possibility to go either way. Miami is tougher than the record, but Chi is home and has been resourceful - Chi. Again, Carolina showed something last week, but GB is home and playing pretty well -GB. The enigma teams of the week are Atlanta and Balt, and I’m picking Balt. Two teams that were supposed to be better this year are the Washington Indigenous and Tenn, but I like Tenn. Cinn was #1 on Power rankings 2 weeks ago, and Luck is like all-world -- Indy at home. I like Buffalo, and they will rebound against Minn. NO has been a disappointment and Detroit is better than their record -- Det at home. I have to pick San Diego at home over KC in another close battle. Dallas is showing us something, and the Giants are up and down. Dallas will love smashing the NY Giants around. Yikes! – SF at Denver. This is the game of the week. Or, at least the hyped game of the week. Somehow, I have this feeling that SF will beat the thin air and confuse Peyton. Probably a stupid pick.

 

Personally, I don’t believe that the market is ready for a permanent cloud, yet.

 

There are a lot of opinions on rice out there. One reader was quick to respond to yesterday’s “Q” answer on rice with a fervent plea for “Rice-o-Roni as number 1! (At least in salt content). Another of our world traveling connoisseurs says you can’t go wrong with the tasty treats under the Zatarain label. And another says, if you don’t have a 50 Pound bag of Calrose rice in your pantry, you ain’t livin’.

 

Do you think that contributing to the growing lack of respect the people have for their leaders are the political operatives, political cartoonists, and the irreverent comedians? I have to tell you, that  while humorous I was somewhat disturbed by the Vaughn Meader belittling of the Kennedy family. To me, it seemed to weaken the stature of the office. Too many that have followed have taken comedic insults way beyond decency. Sometimes you have to step back a bit from bitterness to keep the people united, which in the long run is better for country, as long as we can keep maverick presidents from going berserk with our constitution.

 

I often look at today’s world of overzealous policing and wonder if I would have servived if it was similar in my formative years. The cops used to help a wayward soul along, and now they viciously cuff em’. There must be a happy medium somewhere in there.

 

Greg Gutfield, a funny political commentator suggests that taxpayers be allowed to designate the recipients of their taxes. I think it makes sense, a kind of voting with your pocketbook thing. I believe that money would still go to a wide variety of uses, as a wide as the variety of people paying taxes.

 

The Answer:

When I think of the All Time best list, I think of Will Rogers first. And in my youth and later Bob Hope. You might squeeze Dave Barry in there, or even late nighters Jay Leno and Letterman.. How about Andy Rooney and PJ O’Rourke? And then there is a raft of impersonators from SNL. But these icons are nowhere to be seen on the available all time lists, which has the oldest, non current comedians as Lenny Bruce, Dick Gregory and Smothers Brothers.. There rest are the same ole’, current wags below.  Today’s Top Ten List is Bill Maher, Jon Stewart, Lewis Black, George Carlin (?), Dennis Miller, DJ Hughley, Stephen Colbert, Chris Rock, Janeane Garofalo and David Cross.

 

I was planning on having a light and uplifting column today, but the stock market is gnawing at my funny bone.

 

Have a great day everybody, and don’t forget to wash behind your ears!

I know what I want; but it is too hard to do it.

Today's Tids Issue 3,200

Opening Stuff:

While the world is burning, while the politicians are wailing incomprehensibly; I feel the beauty of Fall, the comfort of the season that slows the sap to calm all living things; The most beautiful of times where the moons seems larger, where romance lives tenderly beneath. I walk among the crunch of the leaves. I feel the changing breezes from south to north. I feel the life returning from the wearing summer. I see the moonlight gently kissing the ocean, now aglimmer. I feel the love of all infected by the beauty.

 

There is reliable scuttlebutt emerging from Tids ears on the military that shows major US Infantry operations prepping for Iraq deployment. It is promised, though, that they will not bring guns. Stay tuned.

 

Crazies at work, Department:

Without question, RI is considered in most all polls a loser state, coming in last (Or always bottom 5) in all polls about he desirability of bringing (Or Keeping) business to the state. It’s low in employment, high in out of control in public employee benefits and seems intent building an economy of low paying private sector jobs. But here’s where the lunacy continues. The Democrats have been in total power during the RI tailspin, and even in the most recent poll where 56% of the states beleaguered citizens say the state in is going in the wrong direction, all of the Democrats are substantially leading in all races. Change is impossible when people don’t have the courage to vote their beliefs. It is ineptitude all over again here in the prettiest state in the Union.

 

Question:

Finally I’m part of a national trend. I love rice, and Rice is on the fast track of popularity, especially with many specialty, more expensive versions. A couple of basic reasons for the growth are that it is innately free of glutton and of course the effects of an altered ethnicity of the country..The other is that it can be so beautifully flavored and tastes great, adding just the right amount of texture to fish and meat dishes. Name the most popular types and brands of the new rice era.

 

The Headlines:

--Jittery Stock market Cpuld Get Edgier After Release Of Negative Triple Play Data: Pullback In Consumer Spending, Softer Manufacturing And Falling Inflation.

--Second Texas Medical Person Tests Positive For Ebola.

--“O” Acknowledges Setbacks In ISIS Operation; Dutch Biker Gang Seize Weapons And Join Fight With Kurds Against ISIS.

--California farmer John Hawker Squashes Competition In Largest Pumpkin Growing Event With 2,058 Monster.

--Republicans Pursuing Investigation Of Collusion Between EPA And Environmental Group “Natural Resources Defense Counsel”; Group Said To have Aided In Drafting Of Onerous Rules Against Coal-Fired Power Plants In Support Of Obama’s War On Coal.

--Hong Kong Police Attack Protestors; Move Sparks Outrage.

 

An erudite traveler and Tids reader says in his opinion the two most beautiful cities are Vienna and St. Petersburg, with Vienna having the edge. Send in your nominees and maybe we can get a consensus from the most knowledgeable in the country. Of course, being an especially creative and independent group of people, I expect conformity to be thrown to the wind and the results to be quite varied.

 

There was a shortened The Voice last night with only three full Battles and three montage battles. Of course, the big conspiracy question is: Why is Country’s boy Blake being snubbed?  I liked the Pharrell duo of Taylor Phelan and Jordan Searcy, and the choice of Taylor was accurate although either could have made it. Allessandra Castronova was very good, but I thought somebody would steal the kid Joe Kirk who seemed to get lots of raves from judges. I personally didn’t like the last duet, and didn’t care who won. But the judges did, and both were considered excellent as loser Menlik Zergabachew was stolen by Pharrell. In the other “lip service” battles, Blake had two with Grant Ganzer winning over John Martin and Tanner Linford winning over Justin Johnes. The third in the muted category was an Adam battle with Rebekeh Samarin beating Clara Hong.

 

I would use orzo as a substitute in many pasta dishes, including mac n’ cheese and even spaghetti and meatballs. I think it would particularly good in a bolognaise sauce. And, I’d be getting a lot less red sauce on my shirt from careless slurping.

 

A lot of knowledgeable viewers think the new Saturday Night Live is barely above the “Sucking Badly” level. Viewership is down. Is this end?

 

I don’t like Thursday night football. Of course I’ll be watching the Jets-Pats game tomorrow night, but three days for prep and recuperation just isn’t enough in my book. Think about the fact that the NFL is imposing more and more penalties on touchy-feely situations primarily, they say, for player safety! Then they think it a good Idea to run the players out again on Thursday before the aches and pains of Sunday have subsided. But then, it is only for the money. The hypocrisy continues.

 

Falling inflation is great for people with less money, but not so good for a stock market that relies on growth, real or imagined. I’ll take lower inflation and a steady stock market based on real growth.

 

When you think about it the news item about falling inflation and lower consumer spending, it is ckear that people are basically resisting price increases they can’t afford. They are waiting for sales, and dealing where possible. They used to transfer the annual price increases to over stressed credit cards, but they have learn their lesson. Marketers haven’t. They have strategies that try to justify price increases, because it it easier to show paper “growth”, as opposed to real growth where they take share of market. And the consumers aren’t going  to take it any more.  So basically, the entire stock market based on “growth” is pretty fallacious and ultimately destined for failure, especially as the global markets become saturated.

 

Just in case you are keeping score, the Pentagon has just announced that US soldiers found at least 2,400 chemical weapons after the start of the Iraq entanglement in 2003. As I remember, the main stream press seemed to be reporting more about empty warehouses…with glee!

 

People who travel the world tell me that they really like having the ability to get into the Tids for a little home cooking. Always have www.worldviewetc.blogspot.com handy when in Capetown, Istanbul, Rome or Moscow. Of course, in Moscow, Edward Snowden may be reading your email!

 

Tums, Department:

For all of you gourmands out there, here are in no special order Huffington Travel’s 10 most gluttonous, outrageous, bellybustin’ buffets from around the world: Bacchanal Buffet, Caesars Palace LV – 500 dishes daily, some made to order; Al Hadheerah, Bab al Shams, Dubai – All the Arab delicacies plus continuous entertainment; Chocolate Bar at Café Fleuri, Boston – 100 varieties, everything ever made with chocolate in name including huge Chocolate fountain; Les Grands Buffets, Narbonne France – Self acclaimed “World’s Largest Buffet with all of the great French treats, rich creamy sauces and all; Sterling Brunch Bally’s LV – Bottomless Champaign, endless Caviar, Giant steaks, Gruyere flavored pop-overs just a beginning to a grand affair; The Nordic Lodge, Richmond RI – Nestled in the woods on a country road, $91  gets you endless lobster, filet mignon and prime rib plus lots of salad and veggies. Chicken, ribs and chops, that is if you ever get by the lobster; Buffet Chef’s table Bellagio LV – Exclusive Private dining for up to 18 at the chef’s table; Smorgasbord, Grand Hotel Stockholm – Start with herring, anchovies, shrimps and smoked salmon and end with Meatballs, roast beef and spare ribs with lots of cheeses and deli meats in the middle; Buffet, Marina, Oceana Cruises – Best of the cruise line buffets, with continuous fresh pasta and bread plus chef prepared all you can eat lobster, shrimp, sushi and steak; Lastly there is Sunday Brunch at The Westin Bund Center, Shanghai – Acrobats and dancers perform while Tattinger flows and the table teases with lobster, crab legs caviar, foie gras, and much more. Hungry yet?

 

The Answer:

#1. Is a US Grown version of basmati : Rice-Select Brown Texmati. . Is Carolina Extra Long Grain White, then 3 Lundberg Organic Sprouted Tri-Color Blend. Uncle Ben’s Ready rice Jasnine is 4 while Lundberg Organic Burgandy Red picks up 5. The rest are Rice Select Royal Blend win Chia (Yes, that Chia; also contains Orzo), Uncle ben’s Boil-in-bag Long Grain White Rice, Lundberg Wild Rice and Amiro White basmati. Note, all of te rice grown in tne US – 6 mid south states and Nortehrn Cal only account for % fo world’s rice! Here we are battling to gain our independence from the oil countries and now we have rice producers to contend with. The rice wars cometh.

 

The leaves are not quite as colorful this year, but the beauty of the cooling air is as good as ever. Sit back and relax.

What do they really mean; What are they really going to do to us?

Today's Tids Issue 3,199
Opening Stuff:

50,000 citizens of Alicante Spain lined the harbor there to send with rousing cheers the Volvo racing fleet on their way to the most treacherous, around the world sail of all.  Do you think 50,000 will cram Newport’s harbor for the only USA stopover? Let’s hope the USA can rise to the occasion. We have some beautiful people in the local and thriving marine community, and I expect them to start the drumbeat loudly.

 

Back around the time that first Ebola stricken Doctor Kent Brantly came to the US for treatment and CDC Head Tom Frieden said, “No Problem,” --  this Tids countered saying, “how can you trust a guy who just a month or so earlier was telling us how they lost some really dangerous virus samples!” Say what? Beware of people in power who will say anything to  keep their jobs.

 

Question:

What dogs, based on biting and fatality statistics, what are consider the ten most dangerous dog breeds?

 

The Headlines:

--UN Ebola Worker Dies Of Disease In German Hospital.

--7.4 Earthquake Hits El Salvador.

--ISIS Tactics O f Fear And Reckless Abandon Has Group Making Continuous Progress In Efforts To Take Bahgdad And Kobane; Reports Of Using Chemical Weapons.

--American Debt Delinquency Hits 40 Year Low.

--Economics Nobel Goes To France’s Jean Tirle For Work Showing Where Power Of Large Companies Should Be regulated.

--JP Morgan Chase Bounces Back With profits Of $5.57 Billion.

 

Joke of the Day, Department:

At a rally last night, the Mittster told this one: “President Obama walked into a bank to cash a check. The teller asked for ID, but The Prez said he didn’t. The teller said, “I can’t cash the check unless you can prove who you are. “How would I do that?” he asked. She said, “well, the other day Phil Michelson walked in without ID,  so he took a putter and a ball and made 50 foot putts time after time. And, once Andre Agassi came in and without his ID, he had to hit a tennis ball at a small target which he did effectively time after time. So, she said to him, “Is there anything you can do to prove who you are?” “I haven’t got a clue,” He answered. “Would you like that cash in tens, twenties or fifties?” The audience went wild.

 

What a great night for The Voice. It was the so called “Knock out” round that featured several outstanding duets. I thought the opener was excellent with Elyje Rene winning over Maiya Sykes…that is, until I saw James David Carter Versus Craig Wayne Boyd and then Luke Wade beating Griffin. The Sugar Jones- Jean Kelley battle was intense and well done, but the song was grating to me and the two women sounded exactly the same. An unlikeable guy named Taylor Williams beat a woman Amanda Lee Peers who I really liked; who I thought had a powerful voice. I thought she’d be stolen, but alas he lights failed to shine upon her.  BTW, In an informal Internet poll, Voters liked best in order – Luke Wade, James David Carter, Griffin, Craig Wayne Boyd, Elyja Rene, Chris Jamison, Taylor John Williams, Jean Kelley and Sugar Jones, Check out tonight. Even if you are tired of all the singing contests, these duets are always great entertainment.

 

The ever-myopic Dem Spinner, Paul Begalia, is blaming the Ebola problem on George Bush. How small have our politicians and their well funded handlers become? No wonder credibility is a thing of the past.

 

A reader suggested that I might not be so enthused about the faux trawlers described and pictured in yesterday’s Tids if I had also shone the price tags. Yikes.

 

The new restaurants around here  is called Brix, and it is a hip looking place in the Newport Vinvards wine manufacturing building. They built it for youthful noise, and the food by the former owner of my favorite restaurant is very good. There’s only one negative. The wine is underwhelming. Yes, the three wine drinkers at my table had really odd looking expressions after the first sip.

 

When more and more people are routinely buying $2300 hand bags or $353,000 small boatss,then you know that the average consumer is paying way too much for what ever they buy to generate the mass of leftover cash.

 

It kind of shows how feeble even multi billions of fines are to the large banking enterprises like JP Morgan which just turned a $5.57 Billion profit after a $13 Billion fine. There is just so much money flowing through the system, that the big players just pick it off like kids on the flying merry-go-round snatching the gold rings.

 

This painful looking stock downturn may be the result primarily of the news that consumer debt delinquency has hit a major low. The stock market is built upon growth which in America has meant that consumers would be wild and crazy exceeding their ability to pay back money.

 

You need to look no further than Oregon First Lady to be Cylia Hayes to find a great example of the latest irritable USA fad,  saying I’m sorry after the law has been knowingly broken or having purposely  disregarded or circumvented the rights of others. This woman’s third marriage before she was 30 was a paid for operation where she received $5K to marry an Ethiopian to save his Green Card. She was in financial trouble after she and a friend paid $245K for land in which to grow Marijuana. She and her friend skipped payments early on and eventually she moved from Washington state to Oregon where she met hapless Governor candidate John Kitzhaber and hid the facts of her life while seducing him into an engagement proposal. You can’t make this stuff up! People think they can lie there way through anything, and the politicians are showing the way.

 

The Answer:

#10 is that cuddly bag of fur, The Saint Bernard (* fatalities. Next is Great Dane. (Note these first two are both huge and their mere size can be dangerous, causing unintended harm to smaller people.) # 8 is Chow-Chow followed by Doberman Pinscher, Malamute, Wolf Dog Hybrid ( Innately dangerous genes), Husky, German Shepherd 15 fatalities, Rottweiler (39 Fatalities) and of course guess which is number one despite claims by Pit Bull lovers (66 fatalities). Personally, I think they are so mean because they are ugly.

 

Have an absolutely beautiful day!

I would sail upon the magnificent sea; feel the vastness of another world beneath.

Today's Tids Issue 3,198

Opening Stuff:

Happy Indigenous People Day, Everybody! Are the cultural elite trying to tell me it’s “HIP”. Yes, this is that  time a year again when the historical revisionists cry out in agony against The great Italian explorer, Christopher Columbus; theorizing in their academic bastions of comfort; impugning the bravery of a man who stepped beyond the myths of his generation to open a lagging world to modernization. But, then,  maybe happy indigenous peoples day has some meaning after all. Think of all of those indigenous to some tourist town who must endure one more time before the cold, the traffic, the crowds and the lack of room at restaurants. Yes, today, I am Indigenous.

 

Alert: An observant reader warns of a new debilitating disease which may over take America – Disengagedchocolatitis. Yes, The Ivory Coast which, abuts Ebola ridden Iberia and Guinea, is the largest producer of cacao beans. The chocolate industry may have to go into hiatus unless they can replace bean pickers from the quarantined countries. How about Pace Corps moving down there? There can be no peace without chocolate!

 

Sometimes the stock market looks like one gigantic corn stalk maze. With brokers skittering here and yon looking for the safe exit.

 

Charitable giving is down in total. The wealthier are still giving to the Arts and culture and many community activities. But, at the social services level it is way off. Of course social services was once people helping people through people. But, the government has usurped that tradition, building a give-away industry that feeds upon itself with ever increasing demands for more. It appears that the growing thought among potential donors is, “Am I really helping a person, or am I adding to the enabling a life of complete reliance upon society – am I contributing to an entangled web of no hope.”

 

When lawyers try to determine boundaries for a coastal wetland, it is Title Search based on Tidal Surge.

 

The Question:

I thought I’d get a little nautical with today’s “Q”. Maybe something to dream about over the winter. Which boats does Yachting Magazine consider the best new “Trawlers and Pocket Cruisers”  

 

The Headlines:

--USA Not So Invulnerable To Spread Of Ebola As Dallas Nurse Is Stricken.

--News Of Better Chinese News Has Stocks Inching Higher; EuroStocks Also Take Breather From Recent Negative Days; New Warnings Filtering Out On WS.

--Kurdich Forces Hold Back IS At Kobane; Turkey Adds Muscle For First Time.

--Taliban Kill 2 In new Attacks On Afghan Military Convoy.

--Democrats Gaining On Republican “Sure Thing” Races.

--Gen. Dempsey, Chair JCS, Says ISIS Changing Strategies To Meet The Threats Of US And Other’s Counterattacks.

--Chink In CDC Superiority Message Has America Folks Concerned.

--Fiat Chrysler Begins Trading On NY Stock Exchange.

 

When you call somebody an African-American, is that racial profiling?

 

There are wars in Ukraine, Syria and even on The Ohio State football field. But there is no “War” on woman. That is just politics at its slimiest…another myth of our power hungry, disingenuous leaders.

 

A friend of mine, who like many loves his EZ-Pass, suggests that all taxes be fun too,  like those made easier for payment for road and bridge travel. (Yes, tolls are taxes.) How happy are people traveling freely through tollgates while the government silently sucks money from their wallet. How simple would it be to alter EZ-Pass to distribute your wealth, say, every time you pass a homeless person. Or visit a friend in a hospital, or stand in an ocean rising from global warming, or go to a PTA meeting. Think about how good people would feel without having to write checks or fill out forty pages of tax forms to lose the same money. Just wire me up, Lois Learner, and take it.

 

So far, Hillary “not running” is the first big lie of her well orchestrated non-campaign.

 

You can’t go wrong with Prokofiev’s Symphony #1 in D (“The Classical”).

 

The more Aaron Hernandez lawyers argue to have evidence thrown out on legal technicalities, the more I’m sure he is guilty as hell. Want me on the jury?

 

Isn’t it great growing up as an Islamic teen: You have two choices -- strap a bomb to your chest, or contract Ebola and take a plane trip America for a shopping spree in NYC’s Macy’s.

 

You have to wonder how much time is spent in the decorator related corporations of America coming up with names for colors. For instance in just one three color chip that goes through three stages of blue-green grey, from lighter to darker, we have “Homestead Green”, “Mountain Laurel” and “Silver Pine”. That is just one three color strip among thousands. Hey, I’ve got one – Silver Prune.

 

The same people who hate the idea of Columbus initiating the era when Europeans began coming to the new continents, are more than likely to applaud Latin Americans illegally sneaking across the borders.

 

I will always be a customer of any restaurant that serves fresh broiled bluefish.

 

The Answer:

Here’s some pretty cool looking stinkpots on this list (See-um here: http://www.yachtingmagazine.com/yachts/express-and-flybridge-cruisers/2014/09/best-new-trawlers-and-pocket-cruisers?src=related&con=outbrain&obref=obnetwork } First, the Back Cove 30 has that trusty ole’ Lobster Boat look. I like the looks fo the Camano 31 but not so much the Cutwater 30. The Fleming 55 has possibilities. The Grand Banks 43 Heritage would be on my  list, but not the Greenline 33. The Hinkley T37 MKIII and Hunt Surfhunter 9 are Ok. I don’t like the Jeanneau NC11, but could live with the Legacy 32 and not the Marlow Mainship 32. MJM 20z has a good feel, but I like a lot the Nordhavn 56MS. The Nordic Tug 26cr would be on my shortlist as would the Nordic Tug 34 Pilothouse (Guess I’m just a working stiff without a skiff.) and the Ranger Tugs 31. The Rosborough RF-246 has possibilities, as does Sabre 422 Salon Express. I almost like the Sargo 8 and maybe the Swift Trawler 34. While I made comments above, they are certainly more guttural than knowledgeable. For instance, I would not have known that the High Dead-Rise, Deep-V Hull in the Hunt Surfhunter offers unique comfort at high speeds in rough water. In reality though, I would never have named a Hunt yacht “Surfhunter” – much too much “Hunt”  - Maybe Surfdog!

 

Lots of people were entranced by the beauty of the Dying Swan performance that closed Friday’s Tids – just in case you missed it.

 

The ship is ailing well this Monday morning.

 

 

 

 

 

Irrationality Hits the Street.

Today's Tids Issue 3,197

Opening Stuff:

 

Is the stock market saying October wipe-out or necessary temporary 10% correction? Why is my heart in my throat? For years in this morning mess I labeled Wall Street as “Clueless Lane” because it always appeared that the average investor was at the mercy of “experts” who had no idea what was happening to the market next. It does seem that the singular truth in the market is “I don’t know”. Maybe they could Google it.

 

Or are the big players just shuffling around money to themselves in a market that has reached super high plateau?

 

Turkey, whose borders are surrounded by ISIS victories, has decided to “Sit this war out”. Go figure.

 

I really like the KC-Baltimore series. It is great for baseball in my estimation, bringing to the fore two cities with great fans and storied pasts. The Networks always want the big towns, but this is America in its purest form…and baseball is supposed to be America’s pastime.

 

The Question:

What are considered the top ten all time ballet’s.

 

The Headlines:

--Early Stock Rally Fizzles; Nasdaq Getting Clobbered, Led by Assault On Semiconductors.

--UN Fears Massacre In Kobanl; Urges Turkey To Intervene.

--Nobel Peace Prize Goes To Brave Pakistan Teen Malala Yousafai and India Children’s Rights Activist Kailish Satyarthi.

--Asian Stocks Sink After US Tumble.

--Where is Kim Jong?; Mysterious Absence Of NK Leader Fuels Speculation About Health or Coup.

--Once Secure South Dakota Senate Race Seat for Repubs Sours As Third Candidate, Former Mr. “Good” Republican Senator, Now Turned Liberal, Larry Pressler Enters Race.

 

What’s with this fashion movement towards clothing that shows the inner stitching outside. Is this another in the cultural trend towards enabling stupidity, normalizing those who don’t even think while getting dressed?

 

The latest in Mod-Speak is “Throw Shade” which according to the Urban dictionary means to talk trash about a friend or acquaintance or publicly denounce or disrespect. He thrower of “Shade” is considered the uncool one. Just want you feel in the new world of foreign language.

 

In yet another fundraiser while the world burns, a gushing hostess Gwyneth “I can’t take my eyes off of Mr. O’s Face” Paltrow said, that she was proud to be a “working mother”. Say what? Does having $19 Million in the bank make you stupid, or just condescending?

 

Can you tell me again why Americans are so in love with celebrity?

 

I take it back, NFL’s Adrian Peterson is not an intellectual. Yesterday he told urine testers he smoked a little weed, which is a strict violation of the court order associate with his alleged child abuse, and could send him immediately to jail without passing Go.

 

The calling of the ticky-tack defensive touches in the NFL is really beginning to irritate me.

 

I can see how a Children’s Rights activists in place like India would be an important and quite notable achievement. In the US, though, a parents rights activist might be more appropriate.

 

Women like watching NASCAR Most, followed by NFL football. Blacks overwhelmingly like basketball. White men like any sport that provides background noise to drinking beer.

 

Maybe financial industry billionaires could each adopt 100 USA retirees.

 

Reading between the Lines Movie Reviews:

--Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, very bad Day is an amusing little film about an awful day in the lives a  family used to smiling all the time, starring Steve Caril and Jennifer Garner. Dad out of work for years has an interview with all help breaks out among the kids an the mom who’s work demands 24/7 perfection. It’s not overdone and will be entertaining.

--The Judge could have been decent if they didn’t higher actors with egos who overplayed their big moments. When a film gets lost in celebrity a fair plot about a cocky lawyer son too good for his small town roots comes home to help out estranged dear old dad a judge accused of murder. Along the way he meets old girlfriend (With gorgeous in the way flirtatious daughter) and rekindles the love of his family.  

--The movie that intrigues me is thriller Two faces of January, starring Vigge Mortenson, Kirtsen Dunst and Oscar Isaac is tale about tow tourists and their guide in Greece that grows in complexities’ and entanglements. The apparent normal couple undergoes a transformation as the dominoes fall and they are on the run to the point where they need fake passports.

 

The Answer:

This is another of those consensus answers as there are many experts with several lists. Tchaikivsky’s Swan Lake tops them all and is generally followed by Mr. T’s Sleeping Beauty. Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet (I like Berlios) is another strong contender as is Gizelle by Adolphe Adam. Of course The Nutcracker, a third from Petyr T is always on top during Christmas. Some other notables are Don Quixote by Ludwig Minkus, A Midsummer Night’s Dream By Felix Mendelssohn, Le Sacre du Printemps by Igor Stravinsky, The Firebird by the same prolific composer, Coppelia from Leo Delibes. La Sylphide by Jean-Madeleine Schneitzhoeffer, Ludwig Minkus again for La Bayader and Cinderella by Prokofiev.

 

Since Swan Lake is considered #1 in ballet land by several experts, how about tip-toeing into the weekend with its most mesmerizing scene:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-T2UeKKac-s

 

You have to wonder how great she felt when she finally got off her toes.

 

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

 

Groan.

Today's Tids Issue 3,196

Opening Stuff:

What happens to frogs who park illegally? They get towed.

 

While eyes were refocused on ISIS and Ebola, 3,400 in the Ukraine have been killed in fighting – during the “Cease Fire”! Just because “news-ertainment” stops reporting, it doesn’t mean nothing is happening. I guess ratings were down for the Ukraine stuff – the first case of a war between nations “jumping the shark”. What a great world in which we live.

 

Pat on the Local Back, Department:

In case you missed it, Travel + Leisure mag has named Providence RI as the favorite city fro Travelers. Zowie! The rest of the top 5 were Houston, Kansas City, Minneapolis and LA. The capital of the most beautiful little state with the biggest joke of a General Assembly was considered best for dining, architecture, the arts, theater, history, bakeries, dinners and youthful exuberance. A tip-o-The-Tids Cap. To ya.

 

The Question:

Name all of the Judges on The Voice since it first debuted.

 

The Headlines:

--US Ups Airport Screening For Ebola.

--Fed News About Global Concerns And Rising Dollar that will keep Interest Rates Lower Spurs Stock Market to Biggest Day Of The Year.

--New Police Shooting Of Youth In Ferguson Leads To New Riots; Teen Had Opened Fire During Chase.

--Senate Races In Key States Trending Republican.

--Russia Parliament Votes To Provide Assistance To Country’s Elite Harmed By Sanctions.

--Hezbollah Accuses Israel Of Supporting Al-Nusra Jihadists.

 

Rejuvenation! A good 13-2 Pick-em week has us back up to 43-32 (57.3%), approaching credibility, but far below Tids SD standards. Keeping the Mo going isn’t going to be easy as I see only four so-called easier picks – Denver over J-e-t-s, San Diego over Oakland, SF over St. Louis and if they have a QB – Arizona over Washington.  So tonight begins the new week with a real pick-em match up between the 3 and 2 leaders of AFC Notth Indy and Houston. Luck has been playing great, but there are some holes in Indy, so I’m picking home team Houston. You keep waiting for Jax to spring an upset, but I like Tenn. In the battle of the question marks, it’s Det over Minn. TB looks better but Balt should win. Carolina played tough last week, but Cinn should rebound at home. I have lived in Pittsburgh and in Cleveland and I know that those two cities see this game as a war – It’s the Browns for me. Miami is due and GB is has been iffy, but the Pack should win in the heat. Romo will miss the count and make a key mistake in the Seattle noise. Which Falcons or Bears team will show? I’m picking the home team Atlanta. Another traditional war is Giants and Eagles. The G-men have been improving weekly, but I’ll go again with the home team. And that leaves the Pats with just one good game for the year under there shoulder pads. Buff “D” is powerful and they are at home. I’m going with my heart, which could be a bad idea this week.

 

Every once in a while everybody needs a good dangling proposition.

 

Next week The Voice goes into the Knockout rounds which are always exciting. There are so many now, 48, that it’s tough to put a finger on many, although I remember enjoying a few  like Matt McAndrew, Damian, Fernanda Bosch and Luke Wade. At least I think I remember enjoying that foursome. Next week we get down to the action. Stay tuned, your Tids Entertainment editor will be there.

 

Glen Beck wove some interesting conspiracies over the years. They always had a ring of truth to them to me, but he was lambasted by another set of extremists, the USA left. Among his well documented tales I remember him detailing the growth of extreme Jihadist groups and their quest for an Islamic state. You have to wonder if the US Intelligence agencies are going back into old Beck programs to see what else he may have uncovered through rational objectivity. Maybe Obama should be tuning in.

 

The nation’s leading ambulance chaser, Jesssie Jackson, ran down to Dallas to make sure that Ebola patient Duncan was receiving good medical care. Let’s see, weeks ago Duncan was in Liberia and now he was in one of the best hospitals in the nation with the best medical care…! Why again is JJ news at all?

 

Buddy Cianci running for Mayor of Providence has been promising to restore the city to its past glory days. Oops. See above – Providence named Favorite American City. His new campaign – “I made Prov what it is today.”

 

The Answer:

Blake Shelton and Adam Levine are the stalwarts. The rest are Christine Aguilera, CeeLo Green, Shakira, Usher, Gwen Stefani and Pharrell Williams. The only one I found disagreeable was Christina Aguilaera.

 

So that’s it.

 

Oh, Cartoons produced by the Japanese government are animes of the state!

 

Look it up.