Poor man's meditation.

Today's Tids Issue 2,162
Opening Stuff:

I love being mesmerized by boats at anchor bobbing in the water.

One of the little disappointments of life is anticipating a great flavor awakening from a just bought new brand of coffee and having it fall flat. Let’s say failing to perk up your senses. But then, that’s a little like life in general, isn’t it? Is their a bigger what of time than worrying yourself into a frazzle about things that have yet to come. Over overestimating the positive effects of a new venture. Stay cool at all times.

The Question:
Personally, I have always liked French classical composers. Often obscured by the German, Austrian, Italian and even English these tunesmith consistently produced some of the most pleasant melodies and inventive orchestrations ever. (To me, a person who’s only musical asset is ears.) Name the 5 most prominent French composers.

The Headlines:
--Rest Of World Says Nay To 0-Man Spending Plea; Majority Of US Citizens Agree That It Is Time To Start Reducing Debt.
--CIA Says Iran Has Enough Nuke Grade Uranium For Two Bombs.
--Kagan Hearings Set To begin; Arguments Against Will Center Around Activist Judges.
--First tropical Storm Alex Expected To miss Oil Slick.
--Pledges On World Deficit Reduction Could Bolster Stock Market.
--Wall Street Awaiting New Jobs reports: Anticipate Lost Governemtn Jobs And Gained Private Sector Jobs.

There’s nothing like sitting on a park bench on a tree shaded esplanade, breeze gently rattling leaves, sun dancing on the quiet brick walk and the aromas of all natural, organic cucumber/pine scented candles wafting neath your nose from the candle shop. Ahh, the great outdoors.

Gangways for boats were handicap friendly before handicap friendly was invented.

A local columnist points put that Judge Judy has jumped ahead of Oprah as Queen of afternoon TV viewing. This tends to say that Americans prefer watching losers getting hammered rather than enabled.

The Health Care dragon will begin breathing fire in 2011 when the value of employer sponsored healthcare programs (Public and Private for workers and retirees) are added to W-2’s. It isn’t going to be pretty. This will allow the insured to pay for the 30,000,000 new democrat voters. And make them feel really good about themselves.

Among the most disingenuous people I have ever heard are those in support of illegal immigrants. Often they call anti-“Illegals” Xenophobes or against an American way built upon the backs of immigrants. Nothing could further from the truth as many are from immigrant families who fully appreciate earning citizenship. Those who think “Illegal” is a good thing are no different than any of the “zealot” groups like Peta or those G-0 protestors. Frankly, I just find them kind of humorous in their creative attempts to be dishonest.

In the back of my mind something is telling me that now that it is out from under the accountants at GM, Saab may become a big seller again. Saab has always maintained great loyalty among fans, even during the darkest of the GM days. Why do I think that Saabs come with a free ABBA CD?

I cut the grass on Thursdays and my fingernails on Sundays. Good thing I’m not a creature of habit.

One thing we know for sure is that the New Financial Overhaul Bill will create yet another monster government agency. And over time will have little effect on the irresponsible high stakes Wall Street gamblers. It is a big piece of window dressing that will mainly drive up the cost of running a government. But then, what else is new.

The Aswer:
The giants (In my mind) are the drug saturated and slightly crazed Hector Berlioz who wrote the amazingly beautiful Romeo and Juliet and the acclaimed Symphony Fantastique; an the very imaginative Camille Saint-Saens. Jaques Offenback will come to the mind of many as will Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel and Georges Bizet (Carmen). I personally like Gabriel Faure. There is also Eric Satie, Jules Massenet (Meditation), Francis Poulenc, Edouard Lalo, Charles Gounod, Ernest Chausson and the Cecile Chaminade who wrote many beautiful pieces for piano and is one of the best know early female composers.

And I’ll finish with another of those headlines that make me stit up and say “What now!”: “You don’t have to eat badly this July the 4th.” What’s so bad about cheeseburgers, bratwursts, baked beans, potato salad, corn on the cob and home made ice cream. Plus a few brewskis. Are newspaper trying to put them selves out of business by being totally offensive.