Today's Tids Issue 2,757
Opening Stuff:
 
There seems to be a rash of "Old People" movies these days. Many of them are cliched with all of the usual old people jokes, but all of them with a smiling army of quirky elderly in walkers and hobbling on canes rallying together to save the day. So, I'm thinking we should only elect to congress, people over 70. These are people who for the most part over the years, began to understand that perhaps their opinion wasn't the only one, or that maybe they had indeed been insulated from a big part of society. That they realized that when looking back the world may have been bigger than the one they knew. Yes it would be fun working on the floor of the house and senate with these open minded, experienced people. I think they'd come to realize that I was right all along! I love cooperation and understanding.

It seems that the aggressiveness on both sides of the political, cultural, business and social spectum has created a sense of defensiveness that has obliterated or at least confused the acceptance of rational thinking. Humans should be incapable of being 180 degrees apart all of the time. Innately, their minds should see, comprehend, differences; While not fully understanding them, they should be discussable. But unfortunately, it appears that advancing civilization has only created irrational forces blocking vision and closing hearts. Creating illusions of the truth.

If Bill Clinton's admin had done what Obama's admin is now doing with drones -- taken out al-Qaida training camp centers -- Americans would have been up in arms. They would have been skeptical of White Hosue reasoning. And, Americans would never have known that the action would have prevented the murder of 3,000 innocents in lower Manhattan.

You have to wonder if the Harbinger brothers who look so much alike and seem to have the same mannerisms, also think exactly the same; Know what each other is thinking all of the time. This could be the first 0-0 Superbowl.

The Question:
Undoubtedly everybody reading this morning mess could easily list the last six US Presidents. Piece of cake. But, fast now, who were the last 6 Chief Justices of the Supreme Court.

The Headlines:
--Kissinger Warns Of All-Out Nuke War With Iran.
--Obama Calls For Softer game Of Football; Admin Orders All High School Sports teams To Include The handicapped.
--287 Die In Santa Maria, Brazil Nightclub Fire.
--Senate Near Plan That Would Solve Illegal's Problem; They Would Get No Favorable Satus, But Would Be On Path; Borders Must be Tightened Before Any Act Will be Passed.
--France Urges Assistance To Syrian Rebels To Assure Islamist Rule Does Not Emerge After the Take Over.
--Pending Home sales Fall In December, Inventory Stocks Fall; Toyota Puish Back Past GM To Regain World Leadership.
--Egypt Prez Declares Sate Of Emergency.
--Jon-Benet Ramsey Grand Jury Had Enough Evidence To Indict Parest For Death By Child Abuse Out Of Control; DA Said Not enough To Convict.

How hard is it to understand that fireworks inside a room is a bad idea.

The second movement of Chopin's first piano concerto, invokes love and pure romance like no other piece of music. I was reminded of that last night while watching a nice little English movie, Ladies in Lavender starring Maggie Smith and Judy Dench...and Natasha McElhome. Except it wasn't the music this time, it was Natasha. The only other time I had seen this love-in-her-eyes actress was in the Truman Show where she played the woman who helped Jim Carey find unscripted love, who electrified his heart. Then, to that melody of Chopin playing in the background. I loved the feeling that Chopin created. But maybe, I was too fast to attribute the perfect mood to the romantic composer. That perhaps it was the captivating face of Natasha McElhome who created the beauty of the moment in Truman. Becasue she played the the same role in "...Lavender"; Capturing the heart of a young man with her presence. And new music in the Background.

Reality is not always what is real.
 
Uber-Wealth has become so commonplace now-a-days, that it seems if you seen one mansion, you have seen them all. In fact all of these fortunes floating around prove one thing, lots of money doesn't improve taste or creativity. Most of these billionaires/multi-millionaires live in copy cat homes in copycat neighborhoods. With in-home theaters, infinity pools and koy ponds. Decorated by designers recommended by the neighbors next door. In other words vast wealth may separate the masses, but it doesn't separate the commonality of humans.

The new Kevin Bacon TV effort, The Following, is tense and well done -- with a plot line that at the moment is very intriguing and satisfying even while shocking. But, if you don't like blood and gore and amorality, stay away.

If you haven't seen Dustin Hoffman's first directorial effort, "Quartet", put it on your must be see list! Excellent.

In his first term, the Prez announced at his inauguration a new era of bi-partisanship, and then immediately told the Congress that bi-partisanship would work if they did exactly what he wanted. This year he told Congress right from the beginning that he had his own agenda which was exactly opposite to what the people saw as the most pressing issues facing the country. In other words, there's not a hint of the possibility that bi-partisanship might occur; Congress must take their own path oblivious to the President's wish list; do what is best for all of the people, and the generations to come.

At the Davos forum, President of the IMF, Christine Legarde, urged the leading countries not to relax on job creating, economic missions. She noted that "China, Africa and other emerging* nations could see significant growth, but Japan, Eurozone nations and the USA are likely to struggle with negative or low growth. She added that the WorldCat is in a fragile recovering and she sees signs of EuroLeaders and the US easing up in a battle that still should be fierce. (*Duh moment -- Nations and regions that have little or no economy today will always show significant growth far surpassing established, mature economies. Like the improvement of the Arkansas Education system that started at  "0" under the Clintons**)

Getting out of town before the Sheriff, Department:
I see where Tom Harkin has announced his retirment. You have to wonder if he sees in with the wisdom of aging, his "Baby" -- ObamaCare" -- becoming the biggest disaster in American history.

Beethoven became pretty good when he got past the Mozart style of composing.

Maybe families of yore were indeed happier, generally more relaxed, less dysfunctional, because they weren't bombarded by 24 hours a day of news, reality shows or psychological experts. Maybe they felt better about themselves because they didn't hear so many "experts" telling them what was wrong with their lives and what thy were missing. Maybe living in the new world of technology has heightened envy and jealousy. Envy and jealousy, attributes that can distroiy a society even without the interference of politicians.

Remember when you used to be able to write "(Fill in blank -- sins, joys, creativity et.al.) of man" and people understood it was the collective for all beings.

If you are driving under the influence, you would think that part of a get home safely plan would be avoiding crashing into a police car.

My heart sang a little Sunday while reading the editorial of the often very pro-democrat, pro-union, pro-left Providence Journal. In comments about the Hillary tears in her eyes, hands awaving, acting job before the House and Senate and her specific rant "...What difference at this point does it make," the editors went on to talk about "Trust in the government", as the answer to her question. Maybe I've been too hard on the Editors over the years. Maybe they are right most of the time. Maybe David Cicilini isn't a sleazy liar.

The Answer:
There have been only 17 Chief Justices since the beginning of America, so it wouldn't be surprising not to know that last six. John Roberts is now and John Jay was the first. In between we had William Rehnquist, Warren Burger, Earl Warren, Fred Vinson and the sixth Charles Evans Hughs. Before Hughs was Harlan Stone, William Howard Taft, Edward Douglas White, Melville Fuller, Morrison Waite, Salmon Chase, Roger Tanny, John Marshall, Oliver Ellsworth. John Rutledge and Now we are back to Jay! 17 CJ's who may have had a bigger influence on America than almost any president. Oh yeah, Jay wasn't the first SC Justice. He was number 2, and #1 was James Wilson, Only two states had more than three judegs -- Ohio and New York. Virginia may whine trying to lay claim to Rehnquist as their third, but he was an Arizonan.

I had titled this issue, "What you see is necessarily there." It was to be my Zen issue. But then I got onto the Gray thing.

** With Hilary beginning her campaign at the hearings and last night on 60 minutes, it's never too early to define the truth about the Clinton's, before they do, to the un-knowledgeable voter.