Opening Stuff:
I was listening to Richard Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier Suite yesterday, and during a couple of particularly beautiful moments I imagined millions of little hearts fluttering down like snowflakes. Hey. it's Valentines Day. Let your heart go wild.
Honestly, I can't remember any media report during the past 30 years dwelling on the evil of Mubarak. I always thought that Egypt was pleasantly floating along, and was a serene place where happy tourists enjoyed their trips to view the magnificent Pyramids. Hell, even our State Department appeared unconcerned about innate evil. A WikiLeaks released 2009 cable from the US Embassy there describes Mubarak as, "...tried and true realist, innately cautious and conservative, with little time for for idealistic goals." But now the gleeful US media romping among the celebratory crowd are insinuating that Mubarak was like Idi Amin or worse.
The Question:
Remember those little candy hearts with love sayings on them? Give me five of the most popular older sayings.
The Headlines:
--0-Man Sends Congress $3.73 Trillion Budget; Promises $1.1 Trillion Reduction Over next Decade; Budget Advisory Panel Says Country Needs To Reduce Deficit Bt $4 Trillion And Include Large SS, Medicare Program Reductions.--US Markets Open Lower.
--Clothing Prices Expected To Rise 10% In Spring.
--Medical Panel Says Kids Shouldn't Use new, Popular Energy Drinks; Adds That Adults Should Not Over Use.
--After Egypt Protester Victory, Labor Discontent Continues; Wants Raises; Ruling Military may Clamp Down.
--Yemeni Leader, US Ally, Trying to Quell Potential Uprising There.
--Grammys Have A Few Surprises; Lady Antebellum Wins Record, Song Of The Year. Gaga, Eminem Win Two Each; Bieber Fans On Awards And Dress.
Back to More Stuff:
Now that the media have pretty much shot their wad over Egypt, you can expect a lot of clatter about the coming Budget battle. Both sides will be throwing around a lot of huge numbers, but take care to put them all in prospective. For instance, a reader points out that Obama's promise of cutting $100,000,000 from hisGovernment budget is like reducing a $3,000 monthly household budget to $2,999.91! And 0-Man also is "Freezing" domestic spending controlled by the executive branch and the "big" number (As compared to a typical Government expenditure known as a "pig" number) is $400 Billion. But that's a ten year total against what some are projecting as a Trillion or so/year addition to a deficit. The GOP promised $100 Billion worth of slashings but appear to be having trouble hitting $60 Bil. There will be a lot of posturing by both sides with the admin probably getting the nod from the press. Which is even more reason to dig deeper into the real meaning behind the numbers.
So did you hear about the worried guitarist who was fretting at his audition?
Almost near: Chapter 7. --"What a beautiful night," shouted Samantha aloud to an empty room. She smiled as she looked at the rumpled bed sheets and covers that once covered her spent lover. He was so cautious with her she remembered. As though he didn't want her to run away. Which she would never do, she thought.
Samantha rose and shivered at the morning seaside coolness and she pulled a robe around her satisfied body. "Tucker" she yelled as she started down the stairs. "Tucker". But their wasn't a sound. The house was quiet; warm and nonthreatenting. Soothing. She felt secure and comfortable.
--A note was propped up against a little spread of food on the kitchen table. "Hi Sam - I miss you but had to run. Will be back shortly". She pulled it up and hugged it to her heart.
She sipped the coffee and smiled approvingly. She picked up and nibbled on a sweet roll as she moved away from the kitchen to explore her little paradise. Tucker had beautiful taste, manly, but everything in its place, perfectly balanced. After roaming the downstairs rooms, fingering what might be Tucker's favorite possessions, she noticed off the kitchen back staircase. It was dark at the top, but she found a light switch and climbed the stairs. At beginning of a small hall she saw a narrow door, about two feet wide. She wiggled the knob but it appeared locked.
Some so-called Middle East Experts are saying that the US admin and its advisers seem to have their heads in the sand about the authentic terrorist organization Muslim Brotherhood. A noted analyst said that just about everybody with their finger on the pulse of the Middle east knows that the MB is the daddy of al-Qaida, Hamas and any other scary group in the world. And one of the most organized group in Egypt. There is an excellent chance that over the next two years this Muslim Brotherhood comprised of highly educated people will make quiet but signifiicant strides into the governing bodies of the new Egypt...pretty much like they did in Lebanon.
I notice around me young people coughing into their elbows. I commented on it and was told that children are taught this in school, since it doesn't put germs in in the hands that touch food or other hands. But, I have been noticed lately little villages of microbes with palm trees and all springing up in arm cruxes.
You have to figure that the NEA and "Parties are Us" have merged. If you bring a Birthday Party invite to school these days then you have to invite the entire class. What's with all of these can you top this parties anyhow?
If you want to get on the fast track for a big career in Journalism, request a transfer to an unstable third world country and wait for the inevitable revolution.
England doled out their "Oscar" awards (BAFTAS) last night, and it could give clues to the US verison. Kings Speech and Colin Firth won Best Pic and Best Actor Awards. Other input for your Oscar night scorecard: Other Three Award films -- Inception and Social Network; Best director - Fincher (SN); Actress - Natalie Portman; Non English film -- Girl With Tattoo; Animated - Toy Story 3
I read a piece about the recession's effect on Union membership. It is declining in the public sector and actually gaining a bit in the public sector. One, the private sector, is market driven and is subject to voluntary spending. The other, public sector, is gimmie driven and relies on involuntary spending by consumers. So in a realities logical sense the public sector sense should be dying because you just can't push the the consumer to spend more than exists. Maybe the next Egypt style social networking upheaval will be the weary taxpayers.
One of the generally most unreported consequences of the of the November election was the defection of Dems to GOP at the state, town and county levels in the South.
The Answer:
146 years ago NECCO (The New England Confectionery Company) started making hearts with sayings on them. Some of the early old tried and true were Be Mine, Be Good, Sweet talk, Kiss me, Love Me, Miss Me, Call Me, I luv You, True Love, Puppy Love. One of the older sayings that has been eliminated is "You Are gay". Word meanings change. The newest consumer chosen sayings for 2010 are Text Me, Tweet Me, You Rock, Soul mate, Love Bug, Me + You.
The End:
If we keep listening to Clapper the US will soon be in the crapper.
Funniest line of the night at the Grammy Awards was from "Train" saying they were glad that Justine Bieber wasn't a group.
Have the Oscars become just one big anti climax?
Me, I'm just sittin' around hoping that the cute little girl in the third desk from the blackboard will send me a Valentine's Card. I've been waiting 65 years.
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