Layng quietly in fields

Layng quietly in fields
Glstening lights

Friday, September 5, 2014

America, it’s in there.

Today's Tids Issue 3,167
Opening Stuff:
 
I think life is pretty damn great, until I turn on the news.
 
A little, mainly Hispanic city of Central Falls RI was bankrupt, down and out, on its last legs. That is, until something happened, and what happened was all about the people. This was a town long associated with Columbians, and the drug trafficking identified with that country. Yet something happened there. Today, the town is a bustling place. People doing what people do, shopping, employing, helping neighbors -- reviving, rebuilding  – shaping a future. Maybe it was the positive efforts of native Oscar winner Viola Davis who shown a better light on the town. Or the students of the High School who applied themselves to take advantage of the educational opportunities, and brought back to the schools examples of the success of their efforts. Maybe the people began to see through the self motivation of political hacks who brought their town down to ruin. Maybe that’s why they turned to newcomers in politics. New energy, new ideas, refreshing honesty. Maybe that’s why Central isn’t the laughing stock anymore, why instead it is the guiding light. Maybe this once former bedraggled old mill town in the twilight of its existence now energetic and bustling should be the model for a state full of political hacks and towns in limbo. (This is the latest in a series of Tids “Throw The Bums Out” columns)
 
Is it just me, or were the Emmys last night the most boring program of the year on TV. If the tired humor didn’t make you groan then it was the ego parade predictable winners and the predictable winner’s antics. I was long gone before Fargo, one of my favorites, when it won for best Miniseries. Maybe that was a good thing, because my memories of the actors are still as they were in their roles.
 
Do you know which single person on this earth annoys me most? The President of Mexico.
 
The Question:
One of the many problems with a federally dominated government is that they tend to equate all as equal, especially when it comes to economics. But, in reality, what is poverty in one area is a decent living wage in another. For instance, let’s take the value of $100 state by state. Name the five states where $100 is worth least and the five where it has the highest purchasing power.
 
The Headlines:
--ISIS Takes Syrian Air Base After Beating Down Government Troops; US Special Ops Say ISIS Is Incredible Fighting Force.
--Ukraine Troops Capture Russian Soldiers Inside Country’s Borders.
--Israel Spy Drone Shot Down Over Iran; Iran Says It Will Speed Rearming Palestine.
--Obama Authorizes Drone Spy Flights Over Syria; Generals Say Data from Flights Could Lead To Target Bombing In Future.
--Prez Of Mexico Urges US To Speed Up Immigration Reform.
--UAE Bombs Islamist Targets In Libya. US Caught Off Guard.
--Cristobal Strengthens To Hurricane; Probably Will Stay East Of USA..
--Newport Casino Dilemma Looking More Like Sleazy RI Politics Forcing Big Money Pal’s Projects On People.
--Being Sick Of Obama Is Not Covered By ObamaCare.
 
As I read about ISIS, Indonesia came to mind. Indonesia with over 204 million (88% of Population) nn the religion of Islam certainly must have within that mass a demographic  percentage, perhaps a significant one, of the terror group sympathizers. Bangladesh, has 174 million (90%) and Nuke Country Pakistan 184M (96%) . There are 177M Islam peope India but that is only 14% of the population. Interestingly, only 20% of Muslims are in Arab countries, meaning that they are spread throughout the world. (2.595 Million in USA). So when you read of atrocities by ISIS, and think “What me worry” it’s over there, it may just not be, as time goes by. Yes, Islam (Less strict) is the dominant religion of Casablanca.
 
Today’s “Word of the day” Sedulous. This means accomplished with careful perseverance; diligent in application or pursuit. i.e. “an impressively sedulous suitor, he was constantly sending her flowers and other tokens of affection.” Today he would be a stalker. Sedulous comes from the Latin Sadulo – sincerely. (Note to newcomers: “Word of the day” is an old Tids-Spot, which may be ready for revival).
 
Here we go again, the market is on a rampage through 2K for the S&P and over 17K for the Dow. And it’s all because a quasi-government institution held the line on a stimulus program. That doesn’t make you feel real positive about a future without stimulus. I guess you could say that the economy is perking along, with factories pushing out goods, and service sector industries abuzz. But then, just about the time the Pros return to WS, the official summer season will be ending and layoffs in the T&L sector will probably increase. Since 1950, the markets were right green heading into September 42 times, but only in 8 of those years did a positive market make out of dreaded September. It feels precarious this year.
 
I spent a big part of my career in an industry intrinsically significant to he US economy. I was doing ok until Japanese companies began to dominate and I got tired of trying to pretend that I liked Sushi.
 
Paul Ryan is already setting the stage for the 2016 campaign, saying: “A Clinton presidency would be an Obama third term.” Now, that sounds scary to the savvy, but not so much to the gimmie crowd. Some day the Repubs will learn that rational thinking only appeals to a minority of voters..
 
A reader writes to point out that in the looting of shoe stores in Ferguson, all shoes except work boots were taken.
 
The Question:
In Washington DC $100 is worth $84.60. The next 9 are Hawaii, NY, NJ, Cal, Maryland, Conn, Mass,  Wash, Va, Del Col and Ill. All the rest are over $100 with the best being Miss ($115, Ark, Mizzu, Ala, South Dakota, WVa, Ohio, Kty, Iowa, Neb, Kansas and Okla giving you the biggest bank for a buck.  
 
For some strange reason people seem reluctant to throw out the scoundrels even as they witness a deterioration of their dreams through mismanagement and cronyism. Do they really believe that a bad situation can get worse if they hire through voting as their government managers, new, vibrant people with batter ideas and character? Or are we just at a point where too many people have become complacent because they think they are getting something for nothing, forgetting the sustenance of what’s positive in life.
 
The woman who owned a taser was stunning.
 
And…remember that holding a door open for a clown is a nice jester.
 

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