Questions and answers.

Today's Tids Issue 2,787

Opening Stuff:

 

Has the world really become worse than it ever was, or are there too many meddling people talking trough too many media outlets telling us that it has? That is the question!

But, the big question of the day is -- when after death your life flashes by, will it wear a rain coat?

In case you've been wondering, Russia's defense budget is $700 Billion!

The Question:

People who know music revere Prince as one of their iconic song writers. Name five of his songs written for other singers that were Top 40 hits. Bonus: What three stars have signed on for a return appearance in the next Star Wars Movie?

The Headlines:

--Unemployment At 7.7%, Four Year Low; Dow in Pleasant Positive Territory.
--Russian Elite wary Of Putin Political Transition.
--Liberal Observers Reluctantly Admit Rand Paul Is Right On Drones.
--Major Connecticut Gun Manufacturers Say they Will Move Out If State If Tough Gun Law Is Passed.
--Pope Watch: Cardinals Set To Conclave On Tuesday.
--Met Life Moves Slew Of Jobs From RI To NC; Headquarters To Remain In RI.

--Yankees Magnificent Rivera To Retire After Season

--Ally Bank (Former GMAC) Only Big Bank To Fail Fed "Stress Test Of 18; Ally Bank Majority Owner Is US Government; Two Strongest Were New York Mellon And Boston's State Street.

Brookins and Cassette asks the question, would God have been able to create the world in 6 days if he had been forced to provide an Environmental Impact Study.

Well the Old Tids Entertainment Editor got all of the American Idol female choices right, but messed up, as implied, on the men, with just three of five. I just don't really have any personal favorites among the hunk crowd. I think I said, any of them could have made it and I wouldn't have been surprised. I still believe Nick Boddington would have been entertaining and an offset to sameness for the rest of the group. Maybe he'll be the 11th for the tour after a mini competition next week between the next highest female and male singer. But, I'll get used to the men we have. I always do. In early fan internet polling, the faves are Angie Miller with a whopping 36.6%, Next is Devon Valez (16.5%) and Kree Harrison at 12.8%. Lazaro Arbos comes in at 11% and the rest are in the 3-5% range with Amber Holcome leading that pack. The rest in descending order are Janelle Arthur - Burnell Taylor (Tie), Candice Glover - Curtis Finch Jr. (Tie), and last is Paul Jolly who everybody but everybody was surprised made the list in the first place. The cute guy factor lives!

Around the country local governments have passed laws that tend to favor the tenant over the landlord. But until now, has there ever been a tenant who passed his own regulation regarding his home (The White House) that would totally exclude the Landlords (Citizens of USA). I guess some people still don't get the idea about who actually owns the government of the US.

As Venezuelan mourners flock to the square to pay homage to their leader, a man Joe Kennedy, Jr. calls "the Great Hugo Chavez", we should not forget his words which will surely be echoed by his successor, ex Bus driver, ex Union activist, Nicolas Maduro : "Let's save the human race; lets destroy the United States Empire." Two Democrat US Congressmen from liberal eastern states represented the United States and were joined Jesse Jackson, Sean Penn, Raul Castro and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad also present to honor the dead leader of the deeply divided country.

Note: Ahmadinejad was received like a rock star when he landed at the airport, and while at the funeral won the biggest round of applause.

A lot of people make excuses for thieves, murders, crooked politicians and dictators saying, "But, he/she did so much good." And the honest person quietly

Crime Pays as long as the lawmen don't use their brains. A guy named Stephen Slevin got $15.6 Mil as a settlement after he as a prisoner in the  Dona Ana, New Mexico County Jail was held in solitary confinement for two years -- without a trial. His charge -- Drunk Driving! Yikes. he was totally ignored to the point where he had to pull his own tooth. Sounds weird to me. The county offered him the chance to join the general population, bur Slevin refused. Slevin also was a known felon with convictions for robberies, burglaries, Drunk Driving, Receiving Stolen Property, , Firearm Violations, Drug Possession. I guess the irony now is that he is prime for robberies and burglaries...but will havg a chauffeur to drive when he drinks. Unless of course he use all the dough to buy enough drugs to overdose.

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:
--Dead Man Down starring the always good Colin Farrell is about two strangers meeting being irresistibly drawn together by their mutual desire for revenge. I like revenge movies.
--Oz The Great And Powerful is about a small time circus magician with suspect ethics is hurled away from Kansas into Oz, a lush land where he thinks he has hit the jackpot, that us until he has to deal with the witches. You know, it's probably not bad, but the critics will hate it.

Maybe we could soften Kim Jung Un's threats if a certain Dennis Rodman would don his wedding dress one more time and go to NK and marry the president of a nation with no food. Could make the cover of People Magazine.

The Answer:

Prince is one prolific writer, for himself and others. The so-called top ten for others are 1- Nothing Compares for Sinead O'Connor. The rest in order are Manic Monday, The Bangles; Pray, MC Hammer; Love Bizarre, Sheila Easton, Stand Back, the great Stevie Nicks; Yo Mister, Patti Labelle; Sugar Walls, Sheila E again; I feel for You, Chaka Khan and Jungle Love for The Time. Bonus: Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill from the original SW, will be in the new one in supporting rolls. Old fans will flock.

I walk around the world I live in, and I see and meet really smart people all of the time.

Have a great weekend every body!