Opening Stuff:
The pop/rock star always wins. So it was no surprise last night when Michael Grimm won the America’s Got…” title over the immensely talented and utterly charming (Although robotic at times) Jackie Evancho. That’s just the nature of a Pop driven culture. It reminds me somewhat of the time I was with a friend on beautiful Block Island. At a bar waiting for dinner we encountered a young couple on the Block for the first time. We asked how they were enjoying it. The man said it is very nice but would be great if it had an amusement park or something. My friend and I looked at him said. “The absence of an amusement park or something is exactly why Block is great.”
In RI there’s a company called “Cross”; Run by a family named “Boss”; I thought it odd today when a board member stepped down…named “Doss”!
Guinness, the company that has plenty of time to measure and count everything offered from people with nothing better to do with their lives, has just dubbed “Mini-Moo” the smallest cow ever. This petite bovine likes to listen to BBC, especially contemporary music. Maybe this producer of small bottles of milk and regular sized calves voted for Michael Grimm.
The Question:
As election year publicists try to make angels out of devils I thought it a good idea to see who you think are the all time greatest magicians other than James Carville and Carl Rove. Also name five magicians from fiction.
The Headlines:
--Karl Storms Across the Yucatan; Igor Is Still Massive But Heading North Away From Land.--Pope Gets rude Welcoming At Start Of British Visit; Threats of Arrest For Crimes Against Humanity Called Off; Pope Admits To Failures In Abuse Scandal.
--Philly Fed Data Sets Back Market.
--Republican Leaders Adjust To Delaware Upset; Surprise Candidate Gets Nice Check From RNC.
--Skeleton In Greek Tomb May be Al the Great’s Pop.
--New Unemployment Claims Drop To 450,000.
--MidEast Peace talks In Hiatus As Skirmishes In Gaza Continue.
--Lenders Take Back More Homes IN August Than In Any Month Since Mortgage Crisis Began.
Back to More Stuff:
It may seem like common sense, but in today’s world often times it is hard to believe that commons sense still exists. In the pursuit of friends people often give up their privacy for what? So here are six things published by yahoo yesterday you should never reveal on Facebook or like social network (Network is the operative word.) : Your birth date and birth place, Vacation Plans, Home Address, Confessionals (Like hate job, lie on taxes, use illegal drugs), Password clues (Mom’s maiden name, first pet, fave song) and lastly Risky behaviors (Stuff like smoking or jumping off cliffs that would be music to Insurance company’s ears) To this I have but one comment….Duh!
The TV listings last night reminded me that the movie “Waitress” starring Keri Russell is one pleasant enjoyable movie for renting.
It was a good start at 13-3, but Week 2 looks tougher mainly because of week one surprises. How good are the surprise winners and how bad are the upset losers? That is the question. For instance, the ballyhooed Jets lost and the suspect Pats won bigger than expected. And the Jets defense is still very good and the pats defense is still…suspect. But, whoever said I was smart. I’m starting this week with a Pats pick. Other bafflers for similar reasons are Balt/Cinn, Pitt/Tenn and yes KC/Cleveland. And to some degree Dallas/Chicago primarily because the pundits are in love with Big “D”, a team that has looked like a piece of crap through last weekend. But I’m picking the flawed Cowboys and Atlanta, GB, Philadelphia, Tenn, Cleveland, Carolina, Minn, Denver, St. Louis, Houston, New Orleans and San Diego. That leaves Indy/Giants and Balt/Cinn. Hmmm. Ok let’s go Peyton over Eli and…and…I’ll flip a coin and pick Cinncy!
Yesterday they closed the schools ostensibly because they needed the school buildings as polling places. In my town, a small city, they didn’t use schools but instead the library and assorted other quasi public buildings including Catholic churches. They didn’t close Catholic Schools. Which leads me to believe, that the closing of schools is another on a long list of Public Employees Union scams designed to ensure that the maximum number of voters in their groups will have enough time to vote for candidates who will keep the tax supported expenditures moving along at a rapid pace.
Who cares? Department:
A new poll tells us all what we always wanted to know –exactly how do you define an American family. This is one of those things that a majority of people need no help in determining for them selves. It appears that the pollsters are trying to prove that like so many things, what perfectly normal in the past is not so any longer. That we live in a world of new normals and we had better get used to it or they will cram it down our throats. Surprisingly, 98.8% think that family is best defined as a married man and women with two or more children. Unmarried male females living together are considered a family by about 44%. And gays living together by about 30%. But add children to those situations and the family status rises to 83% and 64% respectively. Two heterosexual guys living and swilling beer together with their dog have no discernable respectable status at all.
Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 94 continues. –It appeared eerier than usual as drove up the ramp to my sacred downtown Boston reserved parking spot. Everything seemed darker. And I expected to hear the thumping of horror movie mood music drifting through my now open window as drove cautiously up the winding road. I subconsciously pressed the window down button. It closed with a noticeable thud. As I neared the top a dark gray expensive appearing BMW pulled out of a parking space to my rear left. I reached the top to turn, and c]glanced back to notice that the big car hadn’t moved to go back down the ramp. Was it my imagination? The imaginary music grew more intense. I pulled out my cell and punched Billy on the speed dial. Instead of making my usual left, I made an awkward right turn and quietly accelerated to the middle of the garage. Bill’s voice came over the speaker. “I’m on my way.”
“Go up to the roof. I’m almost up there.” Why am I scaring Bill? I saw the roof ramp ahead and fortunately it was way out of a sight line from my regular spot. Just in case I thought. Just in case. The daylight at the top of the ramp reinvigorated my confidence. I saw a parking place at the corner that was visible and a mere 30-40 feet from the adjoining building. Now I felt as though I was with people again. I quickly opened the door. There was no person anywhere. I didn’t pause to enjoy the view of the harbor. I ran to the center well away from my car and sat on a small railing hidden by a row of cars. I heard a door slam. I tensed. Then I smiled and relaxed a bit as I saw Bill emerge from the stair well cover area. He was looking around. I rose to wave, but my eye caught he movement of a man walking up the ramp.
The Silly Season begins Department:
The second place finish of Jackie Evancho reminds us that the best people don’t always win.
A local maxim that is getting truer and truer is that candidates supported by Providence’s East Side will probably cost taxpayers more and get them less.
We live in a world where it is much easier for the crazies to dominate the headlines.
The Answer:
David Copperfield seems to have taken a leap over the fabled Harry Houdini. Others on a top list are Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin, David Blaine, P.C. Sorcor Doug Henning, Penn & Teller, Criss Angel and Harry Blackstone, Sr. Among the fictitious are Harry Potter, Merlin, Circe and assorted wizards from tales like Aladdin and Repunzel. Which brings us back to politics with the Wizard of Oz. Don’t pay attention to that man behind the screen.
The Magic:
Abracadabra! Poof!! Congress has vanished. David Copperfield has amazed again.
Have you noticed that the generals in Afghanistan and the heads at the “General” are singing the same song. Petraeus has been cautioning us to be prepared for a longer than proclaimed drawdown in the country of poppies. And this morning the new chief at GM tells us that paying back the taxpayers all at once now would be unrealistic. Which just adds to the proof that politics proclaim and the private sector gets real.
I think it is time for RI’ers to start listening to Moderate Party gubernatorial candidate Ken Block. He has some good stuff to say.
While Michael Grimm become just another rock star, the emergence of Jackie Evancho will be a memorable event in the minds and hearts of music lovers.
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