States Rights

Today's Tids Issue 2,713

Opening Stuff:

 

Vets. God, how much do we owe those people. Every vet alive. And every vet alive who represents those who didn't make it. All of em'. All of those who faced horrors unimaginable to those who have never sat in fox hole in France, crawled upon dessert sands, or froze in Korea. Even as portreyed in movies or recounted in concise words, the trials of the brave for the good of all will never really be known, never really be felt, except in the hearts and minds of those who have been there. They are special. I feel the anguish in my heart right now, as I try to conjure up words that due justice to these who are so great. It is an impossible task.

Without question, if I am anything politically, it's being a inveterate states rights guy. I don't know what that makes me in this new era of exhaustive labeling. -- conservative, federalist, republican? I do know that the "O" win had a lot to do with his campaign commandeering local issues and making them Federal -- abortion, gay marriage, education among many. I bring up this harangue because over here in Newport RI, there was a ballot question about Gambling. On the general ballot voters across the state approved casino style gambling for our Newport Grand and Twin River of Lincoln RI. But, that broad approval could only be legitimized by approvals from the hosting towns on a second local town ballot. Lincoln approved but Newport residents said "No Thanks". I think this is a clear example of the danger of big government entities imposing it's will, mandates on populations who see their own local situations differently than insulated bureaucrats or people in other parts of the country. We, the USA, is an amalgamation of differences. Sameness leads to indifference and eventually nothingness. Differences lead to ingenuity and creativity.

I like this quote by Patty Duke: "Sometimes it is the simplest, seemingly most inane, most practical stuff that matters the most to someone."

I pity the poor golfers who put away their clubs for the Winter because of some date on a calendar.

The Question:

Travel & Leisure magazine just announced the results of their "America's favorite Cities" poll. What do you think are "Overall" winners for the Top Ten for Food/Drink/Restaurants?

The Headlines:
--US Closes To Honor Veterans.
--ECB Says Nix To More Dough For Greece.
--Global Shares Down Again In Advance Of US Opener.
--Congress Members, Dem And GOP Concerned Over By Passing On Petraeus Info.
--Iran Launches Biggest Ever Air Drills; Massive Action In Retaliation To US Accusations Of Shooting At Drone; Repubs Wonder Why Pre-Election Incident Was Withheld From Public, Congress.
--More Execs Forved To Step Away from BBC; New NY Times CEO, Former BBC Chief Now Under Cloud.
--Israel Drawn Into Syria Fighting After Mortar Shells Fall Upon Golan.
--Japan, Third Largest Economy Heading Towards Recession; Combination Of Slowing Global Growth, Bad Q3 And Intolerable relations With China.

The funniest quote of the week comes from Paula Broadwell in answer to the question, "When did you first meet General Petraeus?": "It was as a journalist when I was first embedded with his unit.".

I still have problems with the term "Labor" being associated with sports player business organizations.

You just gotta know that somewhere in Congress, somewhere in the White House, somewhere in the mass of 16 million bureaucrats, there is someone hatching a plan to nationalize 401K's  and assorted personal and corporate pension plans. After Obamacare, anything is possible.

Congrats to the West Greenwich/Exeter Pee Wee Cheerleader Team and the trip to Disney for the Nationals! Wow, nationals! Sounds really important.

Conspiracy Theory #1: We all remember the weird little Secretary of Transportation gleefully saying he would love $6.00 and up gas. Well now that that White House scheme has been debunked, the newest rumor coming out of Detroit is that the government is pushing for higher prices for gas engine cars to make them more competitive with the electrics. They still have clout in Crycler and GM.

Conspiracy Theory #2: It's hard to believe that an FBI so thorough in everything when vetting people for key Government jobs would miss the Petraeus affair in the apprival for such a key positon. Some insiders with personal  knowledge of Petraeus say it was known in the field that e was "involved". So, the conclusion by some is that the White House waved the possible blot on his appointment and would use is as leverage for something in teh future. if, you get my drift. Of course, this conspiracy is just embryonic at this writing. Stay tuned.

I had a client once, a really smart woman, who had moved from Chicago to Hartford for a big job. I asked her why she would make the decision to leave a great city like Chicago for little old Hartford where the roll up the sidewalks after the last insurance executive leaves town. She answered, "Well I woke up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat after a nightmare where my two girls grew up to become cheerleaders for a Big 10 football team."

While I'm congratulating, let's hear it for Both the Girls and Boys RI High School State Cross Country Champions who also this weekend each won first place in the New England six state Championships. As I have always said, RI has great people along with the beautiful scenery. Now, it fthey could only understand voting a little better, so these great kids would stay in  te state to work.

As I watch shore town cleanup of the big storm I have to ask if there has ever been a more apt named storm than "Sandy"?

Actually, I know the golf season is coming to an end because my supply of Oreo six-packs is dwindling to a precious few.

National Smithsonian Zoo Scientists are all atwitter over the birth of tentacled snakes. great, just great. Just what we need, tentacled snakes! get me outta here!

The Answer: This poll just out names Providence RI as the favorite among readers beating out NYC. Third is New Orleans and they are followed by Chicago, Portland Oregon, San Fran (Who are whining loudly), San Diego, Austin, Nashville and Savannah. Among other New England cities Boston was 17 and Portland Maine was 22. Providence also fared well obviously in many segments, for instance Fine Dining 8th or Pizza 2nd. So there is a lot of pride in this list. Oh yeah, Providence was also Number One as a city considered a base for Day Tripping, Check out all of the listings at http://www.travelandleisure.com/americas-favorite-cities/2012/category/food-drink-restaurants/pizza

I just wonder if enough people in the USA understand the real America for which the Vets fought.