The Perfect Peace.

Today's Tids Issue 2,496
Opening Stuff:

A man who had hoped to sue the coffee manufacturer couldn't find the grounds.

Economists really, really want to offer good news predictions for the New Year. But mostly what we are getting is "Could look good'' with a gigantic But! The ole' EuroBut! remains a potential kick in the butt. The scientific problem with the US equation is the low rate of GDP growth. It is, state a majority of the nations economists, much too low at 2-3% to sustain a healthy economy in the event of a EuroTumble, which is still quite likely. With the election looming, you are going to ear a lot about US economic progress, especially from White House ecommunists. Oops, I'm sorry - Freudian slip. But my reading today is that as much as they would like proclaim dynamic recovery, they just don't know. It is a new world about us that is not yet in the text books.

I always thought with good advice the Indians, excuse me Native Americans, could have done better with their government donated lands than gambling industries. For instance I was thinking American Indian University and associated technology parks. Creating jobs that had breadth and weren't just sucking off of human vulnerabilities. But alas, the enticement of easy money from the gullible looking for a lightening strike was just too available for the picking. Now the big news is that the The NA's have a new industry which could move them beyond the very profitable gambling industry. -- the very lucrative high interest loan industry for people "who don't want to" or can't get loans from banks. Offering interest rates in the neighborhood of 36% and with collection practices that boarder on loan sharking, broken legs and all, the natives will continue to scalp into the most needy of Americans, creating a downward spiraling debt cycle. What's wrong with this picture?

The Question:

Between the holiday's hodge-podge-- 1. What was the name of the band to which David Knophler was a member. 2. Who was Cokie Roberts father? 3. Name five Neil Diamond Songs other than Sweet Caroline.

The Headlines:

--Iran Rattling Sword.

--Consumer Confidence Reaches new Recent High; Housing Woes Continue; Prices Hit New Low.

--Massive 6.9 Quake hits SE Russia Near Mongolia.

--Obama To Request Yet Another Debt Limit Hike; US May End Up Taking Loans Form New Native American Lenders.

--Nigerian Christians Under Assault' Religious War Predicted.

--Sears Holdings To Shutter 120 Stores; Sears Profits Have Tumbled Since Buying Beleaguered K-Mart Chain Five Tears Ago.

--Housing Rental Demand May Lift Residential Construction.

--al-Qaida Groups Becoming Active In Iraq.

--Ron Paul's Doomsday Predictions Has Him Leaping Into Lead; Suggests UN May Take Over US Money Supply.

--Stores Hoping For More Buyers Than Returners This Week; massive Gift Carding Should Move Needle To Shelves. Heavy Couponing Could Bring New Buyers.

An amazing number of people respond on the internet to tragedies involving people they have never known.

The news that Ron Paul says "UN may take control of the US money supply," is the kind of item that would normally have you running to Snopes!

Too many people measure successful shopping by how much they save as opposed to getting things they actually need.

What will down towns and malls look like after 20-30 years of Internet shopping growth? The landscapes would certainly look much better if one of the results of cyber buying was the evaporation of ugly malls across the fruited plains. But, the down towns are another thing. I see these as centers of community. a bonding device that brings people together; a reminder of the past, where they came from, intrinsically what they are; Positive reflections of local societies.

The world needs to be less organized and more open to personal choice. People are different even within their own race and ethnicity.

Almost Near: Chapter 56 continues --Tucker shook his head. He had much more to think about than pleasant meanderings into the past. Audrey didn't say much, but he knew she was thinking more. He has come not only to like her, but to respect her mind. Now he felt worried about the insight of her mind and the character of her determination. He wondered what she and Detective Barton had been talking about.
--And then there was Samantha. She was escaping his ethereal grasp. A real woman who had become more in his poetic imagination, how much of her was still real to him? It would be best he thought if he could strengthen the case against her in the murder of the monster Rudy. Tucker shuddered at the thought of that awful person. He hadn't deserved to live.
--He walked about his hotel room and neatly placed his clothing and necessities where they belonged. If only for a night they must be neat, he thought. He stood back and smiled, it looked nice. He reached over and moved a pair of slacks a half inch to the right, then picked up telephone and dialed Audrey's cell phone. Dinner would be fun tonight he thought. He stood so he wouldn't wrinkle the bed.

The Answer:

1. David's band was "Dire Straits". 2. Cokie Roberts dad was Senator hale Boggs. In case you are interested, Cokie's entire name sounds like a southern history book or family tree -- Mary Martha Corinne Morrison Claiborne Roberts Boggs. Oh yeah, Cokie makes sense. 3. Diamond was prolific and one of my favorite of his efforts was the Jonathon Livingston Seagull tone poem. He is best known for Kentucky Woman, I am...I Said (Another of my faves), Cracklin Rosie, Brother Love's Travelin' Salvation Show, Song Sung Blue, Play Me, Holly Holy, Stones, He Ain't heavy He's My Brother, September Morn, Beautiful Noise, I'm Glad You're here with Me Tonight, Solitary man, Cherry Cherry. As I said, he was prolific.

There are times that are always more perfect than others. One of them when working is that week between Christmas and New Years. I never wanted to take vacation time then, as it was so peaceful, and if I felt like it, productive in the office.