Opening Stuff:
What a magnificent moment. You don't need fireworks and orchestral crescendos to feel the beautiful magic of the world around you. Pure quiet, standing at the end of a dock in the Winter, alone in a chilling wind may be as heart warming and exhilarating than sitting amidst 10's of thousands cheering Pats or Michigan fans in a giant stadium. I didn't think it could get better as I stood their yesterday, occasional snowflakes bouncing off my nose, the quiet frigid waters below; the huge harbor with bobbing empty moorings, devoid of the magnificent sailing machines. Just the quiet cool waters and the gentle ripples. suddenly I heard a splas to my rights. I turned. Eyes peered back; A whisker covered nose. A small seal, down for the winter from Maine. he looked at me with what looked like a smile, Nice to see you human! It turned its head. darted away. The ripples faded. It was quiet again, except for my beating heart.
There may be a primary in South Carolina I hear, but the only thing that really matters this weekend is the NFL Playoffs. Actually anticipating the Pats-Ravens game, my body and mind are a physical and mental mess trying to interpret the opinions of so-called experts. But, it appears my heart trumps everything else -- that and the focus of Tom Brady which is becoming contagious in the New England locker room -- so I'm picking, guess who, in a dogfight. The other game is equally distressing from a pickers point of view too, The giants they a ll say are playing better than everybody. But then the voices in NYC are always a bit louder than normal human beings, so you have to discount that a bit. I'm going for an SF "upset", even though they are favored by 2 1/2.
The actions of the captain in the wreck of the Costa Concodia further reinforces people's growing distrust of leadership.
The Question:
Name five famous cast members form teh TV show "Laugh In".The Headlines:
--Last Night's Debate Winner: Santorum; Romney Stronger But Stumbles Again On Tax Return Segment; Gingrich Gets Standing "O" For Attack On Distrustful Media; Paul Inert; Conclusion: Santorum Could Take Away Enough Newt Votes To Give Mitt Win.--Bell-weather GE Revenue Levels Lower Than Expected; Google Also Disappoints; Wall Street Lower.
--6 Marines Killed In Afghan Helicopter Crash.
--US/Iran Relations Continue To Deteriorate; Iran Amping Up Rhetoric Against Israel..
--RI Unemployment Creeps Back Up To 10.8%; RI Leaders Propose Tax Increases.
--20 Homes Destroyed In Reno Wildfire.
--New England Patriot Cheerleaders Named #1 Team In NFL; Cowboy Gals Second; NE Team Loaded With RI'ers
Don't you think the extent of the housecleaning at The Indianapolis Colts is a little weird? The front office, the head coach and now the 8 assistant coaches are gone. This after one losing season following a decade of championship level teams. But, of course, we're talking about the Irsay's here. Maybe they're lightening the load so when they sneak out of town to LA, they won't be noticed.
The five "most Useless College Degrees" probably look good to kids on paper, but there just aren't that many career opportunities. The five are: 1. Agriculture -- 64,600 fewer jobs in next decade; 2. Fashion Design -- Better as a minor so you'll have something to fall back on. Very few of the "Glamour " jobs exist; 3. Theater -- Erratic earnings for most and lots of down time, unemployment; 4. Animal Science -- Only 3,800 Animal Science Jobs in US!; 5. Horticulture -- In decline despite how pleasant Farmer's Markets appear to be.
Newt is starting to appear quite Clintonesque, isn't he? Maybe that's a great strategy for election. He'll at least get the Kardashian and Dr. Phil vote.
Kicking the Can Down the road Part 1, or How to hide the bad stuff for 2012 Department:
"The per person Medicare insurance premium will increase from the present monthly fee of $96.40 to: 2012 - $104.20; 2013 - $120.20; 2014 - $247.00. These provisions; incorporated in the Obamacare legislation, are purposely being delayed so as not to 'confuse' the general public in
the 2012 re-election campaigns."
Kicking the Can down the road Part 2, Department:
Our mild mannered, often confused Governor said yesterday in what was for him a simple unencumbered statement: "I'll tell you, it's not good." Six words that have an Armageddon tone about them. This after the Gov last Fall was accepting the accolades for Gina Raimondo's courageous work that our deepest financial problems are over. Nope, it was apparently just one of those now common governmental band-aides. Oh Yeah, and the chief Union guy says it's only fair to raise taxes to keep pensions secure -- raises taxes to many who can't afford them; to many who have already paid the taxes that were misspent by union owned legislators over-promising gov employees.
Irresponsibility was illustrated again by a couple in new Mexico where the man took to the dunes in the dessert for a romantic proposal. Nice mood except that the doofus groom got lost and a very expensive helicopter had to be sent in for a rescue. Make them pay!
NASA just reported that 2011 was the 9th warmest year since 1980, and that 9 of the top 10 have been since 2000. But, The US Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin (NOAA) says it was 23rd warmest year on record. So what is it? When it comes to climate change, there's a report for everybody.
I guess Government reports are designed to confuse. Take poverty for example. The Census released in November a new measure of lower income called the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) which did not show more poverty, but redefined middle income levels as "near poverty. The media left hyped up this new apples to oranges comparison beyond reason, encouraging unthinking lawmakers and poor people proponents to demand more food stamp payments. And basically little had changed. Except of course, we had to ask China for more money.
Reading Between the Lines Movie reviews:
--Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is an interesting titole for a movie that could have been better. It is a chance to be a heart warming family story, as an introverted son tries to uncover his Dad's secret after the Dad dies in the 911 WTC attacks. Along the way he develops a better understanding of the world around him.
--Red Tails is certainly a film about true American heroes, but somehow this Hollywood offering about the famed all black Tuskegee Airmen is part of glitter-town's contribution to "O's" 2012 PR campaign. That aside, it is a good WWII action war flick with a lot of on the ground drama about race problems of the day.
--Haywire is one that's on my list. It features a super woman CIA style agent working for an Independent security firm. Along the way she realizes she is the target of an assassination. She must find the truth about who authorized the killing or die. Good cast and a lot of body blows. Men fear her.
--Carnage is a tedious one room film where a discussion between four adults deteriorates into childishness arguing about the childishness of the kids. Afet a hal hour you'll just want to get up and leave. It's the waste of a cast -- Kate Winslet, Jodi Foster, Christoph Waltz and John C. Reilly -- and show that a bad idea cannot be saved by star power.
Christoph? Aaah Hollywood.
Almost Near: Chapter 58 --Samantha sat on the bed in her small hotel room thinking about all that happened this past hour. Most of all she thought that it all was starting to make sense. Even though she felt that there were huge holes in what she knoew about her life, she now knew who she was. She knew that Tucker had been Tommy and her first love. She stopped and felt a little awakening in her heart. She now remembered the comfort she had felt over the years from Tucker's poems and writings about Lobster Cove. She wondered why she had accepted his fantasies. What was she running from. Why did her parents really die? And her husband Rudy? That's a fear that shook her most. But she knew she had to face it. Just as she had to face the new Tucker. That Tucker who that ran down a nice man who she knew. The quiet in the room was interrupted by the ringing phone.
"Hi Samantha, Miss me?" It was Tucker. She sucked in air and held her breath. Sammy, Sammy, are you there?"
She squeezed the phone until her knuckles turned white. Shje let out that breath.
"Hi Tucker, she said in a very friendly way. "Sorry, I tripped as I picked up the phone. You know me...kind of a doofus." She laughed a little.
"I only know you as a beautiful woman who I loved watching eat dinner on my boat in the cove. That's a special place, isn't it Sam?"
This rattled Samantha. Where was he trying to take me? "It was nice Tucker. Where did you go? One minute you were here and then nobody could find you." Sam knew he was out somewhere with Audrey, whoever Audrey is.
"Oh I had an appointment with my publisher. I'm coming back to Dalesford now. You sound great. See you soon!' The phone clicked off
The Answer:
The most famous alum of "Laugh In" is probably Goldie Hawn with Lily Tomlin a close second. Of course Dan Rowan and Dick Martin led the way and were great. The others are Gary Owens, Ruth Buzzi, Henry Gibson, Arte Johnson, Jo Anne Worley, Judy Carne, Alan Sues, Teresa Graves, Chelsea Brown, Dave Madden, Pamela Rogers, Jeremy Lloyd and Dick Whittington. There were many repeating guest performers from John Wayne to Flip Wilson to Johnny Carson to Richard Nixon. "Sock it to me?"Why do I have this feeling in my mind that the political climate is ruining the Tids?
Go Pats! What more can I say.
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