Opening Stuff:
This Wisconsin showdown will be watched closely across the country. Many states are on the brink, simply because occupations entirely supported taxes can't have benefits and income rise continually without pause. Basic economic models just don't work that way. With these occupations, worker output has absolutely no direct impact on revenue streams. Yet the demands continue despite the absence of increasing revenue. And those demands will continue to push revenue streams lower as the sources of dollars move away from suffocating tax burdens.
It's sad to see the big book store closings. But, alas, as nice as it would be to have these stores continue, economics say they have to go. The problem is two-fold: 1. Ordering Books on line makes it nearly impossible for the large stores to fund the gigantic inventories, even if pleasant coffee shoppes make the places a comfortable hide-away. 2. The rapid increase of eReading will further diminish the need for books sores, sooner rather than later.
"There is no truth to the rumor that celebrities look cool because they have so many fans!" You want another one. "Dead batteries don't cost anything because they are free of charge!" Are you getting ill yet? And in keeping with today's theme - "Why don't they let government workers look out the window in the morning? So, they'll have something to do in the afternoon."
The Question:
Double Day -- 1. What are the 10 most dangerous cities in America based on "crime risk"? 2. Name five of Michelangelo's greatest works.
The Headlines:
--Bahrain Protesters Mourn Their Dead; Call For The Down Fall Of The King; King's Wife Says "Let them Eat Muhammar!"--Earthquakes Becoming Frequent In Areas Surrounding Little Rock Arkansas.
--China's Clamp Down On Lending Expected To Dampen Stocks Today.
--Wisconsin Democrats Flee State Legislature To Avoid Voting On Public Employee Union Measures.
--Russia Wants Jointly run (With US) Euro Misssile defense System; US Says Nay As Friction Escalates.--In Advance Of G20 meeting, China Rejects Indicators Of Global Economic Imbalances.
--Campbell Profits, Future In the Soup.
--David Otiz Shows Up Healthy, Eager And With His Classic Smile.
Back to More Stuff:
Is this trend towards higher food prices the latest phase in the admin's war against over weight?
American Idol is getting serious. It is starting to take shape. Frankly I've had it with this fixation on Ashley. I don't need superfluous drama to enjoy a show like this if the talent is good. And, I believe this group of 50 is loaded with talent. It's too early to handicap the show, but I'm in it for the long run. I was impressed with Casey Abrams. And as an aside, while the chunky fifteen year old JC Badeaux has a crystalline voice and an effortless style, I don't see him as much more than a pleasing diversion in these early rounds.
Some really funny images come to mind when reading the headline this morning: "Army trains for 'Don't Ask, Don't tell' repeal"
I love that crackdown on fraud in Medicare that charged 111 in various scams that robbed American Taxpayers of $225 Million. That's A nice start. But now we have to look at casual legal waste (That's the unnecessary fringe treatments, psychological services and rehabs that primarily are growing because of a large pool of available funds) and the legal profession who may be the biggest factor in escalating costs for the health care industry. But the good news here is that it can be done. A little extra effort in the right places can actually make the government a little more efficient.
I had to chuckle this morning at side bar on the front page that read : "Today's Anti-Government Protests". I got the sense that I could tune into the new Cable TV channel "Crumbling Governments" as I would ESPN for live sports of the day.
Almost Near: Chapter Eight. --"Samantha! Are you still sleeping!" Tucker let the door slam shut as he came into his kitchen. He saw that she had eaten what he had left. He smiled hoping that she had smiled along with his notes. She needs some smiles he thought. I don't know what happened to her but, he felt confident he was handling her the best way possible.
"Samantha!" he shouted a little louder. "It's beautiful down at the harbor. Some of the people at Lillies were asking for you." He walked through the downstairs, his eyes scanning corners of the rooms. "I think some of the guys looked at me knowingly. Do you think we've been than obvious?" He came back to the kitchen.
He noticed the back stairway door ajar. His eyes moved to see his keys bowl out of place. He yanked open the door and took the steps two at a time thinking the worst. He saw the open door to his office, the the papers in neat piles around the floor. "Samantha! Sam! I can explain Sam". He shouted but nobody replied.
There was no sound except his breathing. He sat on the top step to compose himself. "This is the worst possible thing that could happen. I've got to find her. I thought I was doing everything right," he said to no one.
Reading between the Lines Movies Reviews:
The Unknown is a winner. It may seem like a movie you've seen before -- Guy in Europe has accident, loses memory, killers are after him: and he doesn't know anything except that he has to keep on running -- but, this one will keep you anxious and guessing until the last scene. It's on my list.
New evidence shows China exerting its influence as America's largest creditor. For instance, in 2009, the head of China's powerful sovereign wealth fund called Geithner direct and asked him lean on regulators to speed up approval of the $1.2 billion in Morgan-Stanley. The approval happened the next day. China has also been seen as a prime mover behind US treasury auctions which were necessary to keep the US Government running. For now, there is a co-dependency between the two countries. But, when will China outgrow the need for its current trade partner? This will be always in the background of US financial stability.
Warning to ice skaters: You can't always tell a brook by its cover.
The Answer:
1. The top ten are followed by an index number that designates the rate of crime against the national average. For example, in #1 place you don't want to be walking around is St. Louis at 530. This means its crime rate id 5.3 times the national average! The rest are Atlanta (484), Birmingham AL and Orlando (380), Detroit (369), Memphis (361, Miami (346), Baltimore (339), Kansas City MO (337) and Minneapolis and Cleveland (331). You have too wonder if some other cities are upset they didn't make this list as it would have generated more free money from the feds. Unfortunately, negative results are often the impetus for increased revenue for tax supported industries. That 's government style economics. 2. People could look at his best known effort The Sistine Chapel ceiling and think that he had no time left for anything else. But he was prolific. The Pieta is another piece of great fame. As is the giant David. He produced 45 significant sculptures including Moses and Crouching Child. His most accepted easel painting was the Holy Family. He was also a noted architect having designed Saint Peter's Basilica. His mark on grand Italian architecture can be found on 12 other major buildings throughout the country. He was a busy guy.
The (Really) Weakend:
A woman in love with fourteen soldiers has a platoonic relationship.
A guy throwing a bowl of Jello at his wife could be arrested for having a congealed weapon!
I don't know about you, but I'm not going to think too deeply this weekend. Take it easy
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