Opening Stuff:
The only things more irritating than calling a Christmas tree a "Holiday" tree, are the convoluted explanations that follow to justify the irrationality. We used to come together as a nation to celebrate a special day -- C-h-r-i-s-t-m-a-s. We celebrated the Birth of Christ on Christmas. And the C-h-r-s-t-m-a-s Tree was a treasured symbol. And now we are getting Materialism Month, and anything goes. Sanctity be damned. Christ? What does he have to do with anything? To many seem to be able to cede the meaning of Christmas to others. Out of "Fairness". Too many have become more interested in celebrating the growth of the China economy. Count me out.
Speaking of fading American substance, today we learn sadly of the closing of the Steuben Glass Factory, one of the last remaining symbols of true American craftsmanship. I guess the new mantra today is, if you can't cheapen it effectively or make it in China then it's bye-bye -- To grand traditions and the master craftsman employees.
The Question: David Mamet, one of our great theatrical writers, has won numerous awards for plays and movies. For which Tony Award winning play is he best known. Name five other of his more famous works -- in movies and theater.
The Headlines:
--Central Banks In US, EuroZone, Canada, Switzerland, Britain and Japan Take Action To Avoid Global Liquidity Crunch.
--Wall Street Jumps At Central Bank Action; DOW Near 400 At 10:30.
--Islamist Apparent Victory In Egypt Poses New Problems For US.
--S&P Downgrades Credit Rating Of 15 Big Banks; Action Will Add To bank Costs.
--Private Sector Adds 206K Jobs IN November; Biggest Jump Since December 2010; 564,297 Year-to-Date Job Cuts Higher Than 2010.
--UK Expels Iranian Diplomats.
--200 OWS Arrested In LA; 50 In Philly As Cities Try To Clean Up Mess.
--Nutcracker Begins At Newport's Rosecliff.
Black Friday Turns Red China Green Department:
226 million Americans spent $52.5 Billion this past weekend and the happiest group on earth are the Chinese workers and growing middle class in that humongous country. Over fifty percent of all products, including Apple, were made in China factories, while another large percentage of the most popular gifts came from Korea, Japan, Europe and India. There was a time when retail sales were just the tip of the deep American economy. Now US retailing is the indicator for a global economy.
I get Omaha Steak emails all of the time. You know the ones that say "Prices Slashed". So I decided to take a closer look. What a rip off! For instance, 10 6oz Tenderloin steaks for $165 reduced to $114 is reducing a $44/pound steak to $32/lb! No steak is that much better. I mean a well trimmed superior tenderloin in a supermarket may be around $16/lb. Omaha has done a brilliant job of creating the illusion of perfection. Maybe they should start making them in China!
Speaking of agendas, the RI PUC keeps pushing the ocean windmill project, which would produce electricity at a cost "3 times" higher than gas generated or that from other common sources. And nobody in officialdom seems to care that the company that would be hurt most is one of the biggest employers in the state. This in RI with the 6th highest unemployment in the nation and well above its five New England neighbors.
By the way, if anybody is thinking of giving me a gift certificate for the new chi-chi Providence Restaurant - The Dorrance - forget about it.
Somebody is always trying to slip it to us. The little folks with agendas, like changing "Christmas " to "Holiday", use the media to plant subtle messages disguised as humorous asides. For instance, last night on the crime show Body of Proof, a tired Meghan Hunt comes home only to find she must now do battle with her annoying precocious daughter, who in a flippant manner strolls through the kitchen, peeks at her moms meal and mutters "Meat is Murder".
By the way, did I say "Good Riddance" to Barney yet. Despite the fawning of the liberal press, American will be a better place with his retirement.
Almost Near: Chapter 51 continues. --"Well Samantha, ready to do some heavy lifting." Sparrow stopped, looked around. Her chair was empty. He walked towards the table, placed one cup of coffee near her place thinking that she was probably in the Ladies room. He notice the open folder and a large color picture of her father staring up at him. Uh-oh, he thought. He pulled out his internal communications device. "Jessie, have you seen that woman who was in here with me. No?" He slammed the cover shut, and ran from the room to his assistant. "Angie, go into the ladies room and see if there is a woman in there. She's good looking, about five foot four, brownish hair, wearing a dull orangy top.
"Dull orangy?" Angie smiled at him and seeing is concerned jumped up and ran into the ladies room. He heard the stall doors slamming. Within seconds though she came out, hands extended, palms up, "Nothin' boss."
Sparrow looked worried now. This was a fragile woman, he knew. The photo of her dad must have triggered something. His phone rang, The desk Sergeant Jessie was calling. "I think I seen her John. She ran out the front door."
Before Jessie finished, Sparrow was running. His leather shoes slid as he tried to take a corner too fast. He awkwardly stumbled into the front room where Jessie was pointing to the door. "always chasin' the women, eh John." But Sparrow wasn't laughing.
Hhe opened the door, squinted at the bright sun. And then nearly tripped over Samantha, who was lying on the bottom step. A little blood tickling down her scalp. Sparrow knelt. "Samantha, Samantha."
The Answer:
Of course, Glengarry Glen Ross was his best know play, and a very successful movie (With a fantastic performance by Alec Baldwin). He also received a Tony nomination for Speed-the-Plow and oscar nominations for one of my favorites The Verdict and Wag the Dog. Some other early plays were American Buffalo, Sexual Perversity in Chicago and one with a great title Keep Your Pantheon. He wrote the screen plays for The Postman Always Rings Twice and the Untouchables. He directed movies -- House of Games, Heist and The Spanish Prisoner -- all about con-men and the games they play.
Chinese checkers anybody? I know where you can get some cheap.
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