An Apple a day.

Today's Tids Issue #2,585
Opening Stuff



There' s plenty of room for all God's creatures -- right next to the mashed potatoes and gravy.

Yesterday, President Barak Obama broke a campaign promise for the 4th time. In 2008, he said: "America needs a leader who can speak truthfully about the 'Armenian Genocide'...". Apparently, either he wasn't talking about himself, or he was once again telling a big whopper. As Senators, Obama and his Secretary of State Hillary co-sponsored a resolution calling for the use of the word "Genocide " when discussing the tragedy that killed 1.5 Million Armenians during a death march in the waning days of the Ottoman Empire. That day was April 24 1915, and yesterday for the fourth April 24 Obama and his State Department failed to live up to a promise fanatically important to Armenians world wide. When you break the hearts hopeful millions, it is not "Just Politics", or simply Obama being Obama again. It's a knife to the hearts of grieving, loving people.

Oh, did you see that headline in any news paper?

The Question: 

Double Bonus Day: 1. What is the world's largest technologist Company by revenue? What is Apple's share of the world Smart Phone market? 2. Who was the last officer with the official title General of the Army? Name the 5 Five Star Generals in US History and 3 Navy Fleet Admirals. Name the four different General designations in order of importance. Do the same for the Navy Admirals.

The Headlines: 

--Great Britain Now Officially Declared In Recession.
--Apple Polishes Profit Picture; Delicious Outlook For Wall Street; DOW Up Strong, NASDAQ Romping.
--Durable Goods Output Plunges; 4.2% Drop Largest Since 2009; Business Spending Plans Down.
--Euro Economic Fear Could Travel Across Oceans.
--SC Taking Up Arizona Law Against Criminal Trespassers; SC Seems To Be Backing Arizona.
--Norway Mass Murderer Breivik Tails At Court Psychiatrists For Calling Him Insane; Says Report Contains, "Evil, Fictitious Inventions.:
--Newt Out.
--Pope Has Vatican Moving Swiftly To the Right.
--Bruins To meet Washington In Do Or Die Seventh Game.

Are Wall Street bonuses that bad?, Department:
They have a big problem at the YMCA in the wealthy New Jersey enclave of Montclair. People are stealing towels. I mean really stealing towels to the tune of $50,000 per year. The Y said no more towels, and the gentle denizens of the tidy town rioted! Can you say Detroit!

I was never enamored in any way over Liz Taylor's love live. And having Lindsey Lohan portray her in a movie about one of those episodes will do nothing to peak my interest, despite what fawning critics may say.

Long live the king. Long live iceberg lettuce.

The "Affordable" light bulb.! -- Only the government would think that $50 is a good price for a light bulb. Not only will it cost you a tank of gas to buy this soon to be on department store shelves "Super Green" light bulb, you have probably already paid for it with y9ur taxes. You see, our entrepreneurial Department of Energy has given Phillips $10,000,000 for developing the "Light bulb of the Future". a bulb that costs 100 times more than the old one, but a LED bulb that will last 30 years and be as bright as your old incandescent using a fraction of the electricity. How'd you like to make a long term investment in a company that has to wait 30 years for repeat business?

Exxon Billboard: Where are all the news crews when we're not spilling anything?

If you like to eat big and are near Rhode Island, the good news today is that the Nordic Lodge opens Friday. For $85/person which includes taxes, tips soft drinks and coffee/tea, you can dive in and eat all you can of never ending Lobsters, Filet Mignon's, Prime Rib, Crab, Oysters, Shrimp and of course salads, taters and a giant dessert bar! Go to the gym first.

Do you think that 0-Man has taken "One Dime" of campaign contributions from any lobbyist organization? As he promised he would never do in 2008.

In case you're interested on who's getting the most out of your sports expenditures, Forbes has it's list of most influential athletes (By revenue from advertising , wearing logos and associated promotional attachments), and the winner this year is Nascar's Jimmie Johnson. Next is the Pat's Tom Brady, who is followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Shac O'Neill, Michael Phelps, Troy Palamahu, Peyton Manning, Jeff Gordon, Lebron James and Tim Tebow. This used to be a list owned by Tiger Woods. Troy Palamahu?

The Answer:

1. Samsung is the largest Technology Company in the world by revenue. It had been a smidge ahead of IPhone at 19.6% to Apple's 19.3% But it is expected that the just reported Apple surge has put Apple a bit higher. However an industry report says that Samsung will over take Apple by the end of 2012. Also HTC will take third away from Nokia. In 5th we will have RIM followed by Huawei, Sony, ZTE, LG and Motorola. Bonus: In reality, the last official General of the Army (A rank established in 1866 for US Grant) was William T. Sherman. Note: After Sherman, the Rank was Honorarily given to Phillip Sheriden, as he was dying, and never again. The 5 Five Star generals were George Marshall, Douglas MacArthur, Dwight Eisenhower, Henry Arnold and Omar Bradley. The Navel equivalent is Fleet Admiral and there were 3 of those -- William Leahy, Ernest King and Chester Nimitz. There were also several other noted for extreme competence and overriding responsibilities and they were General of the Armies George Washington and John Pershing, Admiral of the Navy for George Dewey. The 4 Generals are Brigadier, Major, Lieutenant and General and 4 comparative Navy Admiral rankings -- Rear (Lower), Rear (Upper), Vice and Admiral.

Daisy Air Rifle Billboard: "Kept kids off lawns since 1861."

It's been fun.