Layng quietly in fields

Layng quietly in fields
Glstening lights

Monday, April 25, 2016

Has the world been made too complex for the human mind?



Today's Tids Issue 3,580
Opening Stuff:

If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, then someone is a lousy gardener.

Out of 1,028 female students enrolled in a small college, statistics say that 218 can expect to be raped on campus. Does that sicken you as much as it does me? The experts say we need to start sex education earlier in the schools. That’s great for academics. But whatever happened to grounding children in strong moral convictions as they grew into new worlds. And then there are the pervasive permissive entertainment industries that normalize just about anything, including it seems rape on campuses. But, “no” the same experts say, it isn’t the anything goes entertainment industry. Yeah sure, like kids buried in their phones aren’t influenced by an overabundance of assaults on a growing yet still relatively immature adolescent mind. 218 women on a campus of 1028 can expect to be raped! Aaaaaaaargh!

Yesterday I jumped on the back of the shopping cart and did a couple of wheelies. It’s always good to know your body still has a little life left in it.

The Question:
Name five of Shirley McClain’s best films.

The Headlines:
--Has Market Advance Run Out Of Steam?; Analysts See Sluggishness.
--Cruz/Kasich Form “Stop Trump” Alliance; Duo Says Trumpster Can’t beat te Shrill; Candidates Everywhere (Even RI) As Countdown To Tuesday Vote Continues; Trump And Hill Expected To Do Quite Well.
--Analysts Looking At Hold Your Breath Moments In What Could Be Rocky May For Stocks; Exxon, Apple Expecting To Produce Bad Earning’s Reports This Week.
--Obama Says “No” To Using Troops In Syria, But Sends In 250 More; NK Says “No Nukes” If USA Stops Drills In SK.
--NK’s Kim Hails Country’s New Submarine, And It’s Ability To Deliver Nukes.
--Biz Execs Nationaide Fear Sanders Retoric ill Carry On Past Elections; CEO’s et.al. Was Hoping For Peel Back Of Obama Anti Biz Activities.
--Boat And Phone Of Lost Florida Teens Found Off  Bermuda; Boys Going Fishing Disappeared In Rough Weather Last Summer.
--“O’s” Increased Use Of Anti Biz Exec Orders Seems To Reflect The Spirit Of Bernie’s Socialist Campaign.

Tragedies happen every day somewhere. We had one around here. It was all over the news and people became concerned; lots of people would come to weep. A young beautiful girl of twenty one, a national honors society student and top artist and athlete; a friend to many; from a well off family, went missing. She walked out of her home a week or so ago and turned off her phone. That’s about all anybody knew. Oh, the family may have known more about her state of mind. A week later they found her in the deep woods near her home, dead. “No foul play,” said the police. That’s really about all I know. But I know this world that has been made too complex can be wearing on a young mind. Many bright kids see more than they can handle. I don’t know what was on this girls mind, or how she died. But it is logical to feel it was something that deeply disturbed her and which couldn’t be accommodated in her state of maturity. All I can see is emptiness, and feel worry for the next child and unsuspecting parent.

Android based phones have 80% of world Market. It seems like there is a lot of room for growth for Apple. The Job’s company could get a nice boost from foreign countries dissatisfied with Google’s Monopolistic hold on Market.

Each year around now during big national elections they take a survey of RI school kids about their preference for political candidates. On the Repub side, Trump got about 64%. On the Dem side in this rock solid Clinton state, Bernie got 63%! What are they teaching in our schools?

I think I’ll vote for Bernie on Tuesday just to show our congressional delegation and state hierarchy -- seen this morning in a stomp speech newspaper photo clinging to Hillary’s pantsuit, lapping at her toes -- that all is not well in this state. We are about to cut your puppet strings, I want to tell them.

I saw a small survey on technology. It asked, “If you could make a piece of technology disappear forever, which would you choose?” It then listed, Radio, TV, Social Networks, Internet, Mobile Phones, “don’t know” and “other”. Social networks received 38% of the votes while “other” got 20% and “don’t know” 25%. Radio, TV, Mobile Phones and Internet averaged 4%. I thought it was interesting considering that FaceBook and Twitter are multibillion dollar companies. Are people beginning to understand the negative impact of too much personal exposure?

Students interviewed after the beating-to-death of the 16 year old girl Amy Joiner, said that Social media confuses them. It draws us in. One said we feel that it is really good to be on videos; we must be there to make us important, and we try to make more dangerous videos all of the time. “Maybe this was one of those,” she said. BTW, one of the school Moms said, maybe we need to get prayer back into school rooms. Let parents instead of academicians run schools?

Every time I convince myself it is ok to vote for Trump for unity against the dreaded Hillary, Trump says something childish again.

I was deeply involved in the US manufacturing industry for a large part of my life. It was unquestionably the source of great economic success for millions of middle class Americans, for the health of small towns in the four corners; for those who worked in factories to all of those who benefited for the good wages running successful business on Main Street. Trump and the Pols vow to bring manufacturing back to the USA, a nice heartwarming thought, and it could happen, But, globalization will make it happen in a way that does not refresh the huge for USA middle class. If it can come back it can only come back through automation. Robots will be cramming the lunch counters and grocery stores on Main street like never before.

BTW, Trump yesterday was in the former manufacturing Mecca of Bridgeport Ct. He told the admiring audience he could bring it back. Unfortunately many of the companies there were busted by mismanagement, conglomerate consumption and failure to reinvest the future; and of course maxed out Union wages. It was what it was. Despite the promises of Pols, unions dominated states like RI and Conn will have a lot of trouble being what they were. Add in Obama globalism which is an economic death knoll to the way things used to be.

Did you see the interview of two new College graduates’ with Business Degrees? When asked, “What is capitalism?”, one said, “I have no idea” and the other, “I never heard of it.” “Excuse me, I have to run, there’s a new Prince song on my IPhone!”

CJ McCallum won the “Most Improved Player” award in the NBA. I note this because he went to Lehigh U, where when I was a student there it would be a big game when you got more than twenty fans in the arena. (4,000 Screaming kids and townspeople, would go to wrestling events). He is one of the good guys too. Highly regarded by all students when in college and now interested in pursuing his Journalism degree after the pros. But. It looks like this kid will be around for a while. His first big award was “Ohio Gatorade Boys Basketball Player of the Year- 2008-09”.

Earth Day should be moved to Wednesday because that’s 3 days after Sunday. Thank you Frazz. Think about it.

Sears, the company that made tons of money selling to everyone anywhere through catalogs, should have been Amazon before Amazon. You should always beyond where you are, wondering if where you are will be here in the future. Smart managers should be ready to change to meet the technology of the times. Now, I didn’t say change to meet the culture of the times.

My computer seems to be having trouble with “W’s” today.

Curt Shilling on being accused of being trans and Homo phobic: “I don’t care who anybody is sleeping with as long as it isn’t with my wife.” Remember when Jimmy the Greek said Blacks were better athletes than white because of their physical anatomy, and then got axed faster than Curt? Conform or die.

Theoretical Criminologists, Department:
Academia creates theories about human activity in criminal enterprises. The politicians then promote them and the media endorses it. And the people don’t get the facts. Yesterday Clinton pal Terry McAuliffe, Gov of Virginia, signed a bill that would provide voting rights to 200,000 inmates. There seems to be a movement going on that would reward crime. Many would like to soften sentences for drug dealers, who I personally think should be locked up for life. They say that prisons are too crowded with  “non violent” drug criminals. Ok, 12% of state prison populations are drug dealers. 50% of Fed prisons are drug related. (But, The fed prisons only account for 13 % of the total national prison population. Here’s an interesting fact: When thy stiffened the war on drugs, the lives of people in balck communities improved dramatically with not only far fewer murders but with more overall harmony and hope in neighborhoods. Oh yeah…it is estimated that the “War on Drugs” has saved 189,000 black lives –senseless killings of innocents.

Felons for Hillary, Department:
There is some talk around the political landscape that the Terry McAulliffe creation of 200,000 prisoners who can vote will be good for The Hill. I’m not so sure. They may not feel so good sitting in a cell voting to for somebody who has gotten aay with it time after time.

There are too many people trying to save the world, in a world that is made of people living in neighborhoods, bedrooms in your home.

The Parking Lot: Chapter 54 continues…
   After the friendly greetings, Jared had the impression that older Howland was a pretty cool customer, and smart. He reached down and pulled out and unfolded a large map of plot lines in the North eastern part of the town. “I understand,” he started casually, “that the Howlands have been around here for a long time. You must have some great history stories about the region to tell.” Jared glanced at young Zach who was about to open his mouth, when his father said,
   “We’ve been around. But history has nothing to do with today.” He smiled the real estate salesman’s smile. “Right Zach?” Jared glanced over and saw that Zach had gotten the “Zip it” message.
   Jared decided it was time to get out as quickly as possible. He pointed to the shorelines near and beyond where Nancy’s house had been. Then in an associated map he pointed out the areas designated for a proposed Casino. “Our firm’s guess is that the region here by the lake could be ripe for some upscale development to support the potential increased population center around the gambling. So, that why I’m here to see an epert like you and your firm. Before we spend a lot of dough in pre-planning, are we thinking of something feasible. We only say that because we are concerned that this land that seems so desirable has been so pristine for so long.” That’s all Jared wanted to say.
   “You and your people have good eyes, and I expect a bank account.” This time the two Howlands both smiled at each other. “In fact, it is interesting you brought up my historical heritage, because there are some historical considerations with his land?”
   “Really?” interjected Jerard.
   “So,” started Tom Howland, “lets just say this, we may work harder at getting some of this land if your ideas look good to us. But first as you can imagine, we’ll be checking out your company. We don’t like fly-by-nighters in this town.”
   “I’m with you all the way,” Jared countered as he folded up the papers.

The Answer:
The first movie that came to my mind was The Apartment, and the MacLaine list of the best begins with that one too. #2 for Shirley just happens to be one of my all time favorites starring Peter Sellers – Being There. The rest of her top ten are Terms of Endearment, The Trouble With Harry, Two Mules for Sister Sarah, Irma La Douce, The Children’s Hour, Bernie(?), Steel Magnolias and Around the world in 80 Days.

Frankly, I like writing humorous Tids. But, there isn’t anything funny about women on campuses being raped. There isn’t anything funny about teen girls being beaten to death in school bathrooms. It isn’t funny that we are releasing criminals from prison. It isn’t funny that a beautiful young woman with too much inside her head wanders off and is found dead in the woods. Too many of the new normals aren’t funny at all. It is hopeful that the innate goodness in people’s hearts will save us once again. People can be very resilient, but first they have to take a hard look.

Keep smiling.

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