I know you. I like you anyhow.

Today's Tids Isssue 3,377

Opening Stuff:

The world soccer organization is using phrases like “we conquered the US.” Think about that for a minute. The group exerted an aggressive campaign to change the way American’s looked at sports, and they did it. America succumbed.  It was probably aided by immigrant families in schools who brought skills to teach US neophytes. But the fact is that we were ourselves, and now we are like the rest of the world. It tells me that Americans be persuaded to become anything somebody else wants. Many of the newer generations of Americans come from countries that were socialist or had socialist leanings. While they profess loving the independence and freedoms of the USA, they had been conditioned to allow the Government more leeway in guiding their lives. I have been continued not to allow government  to control lives, and I like, my condition. But, I fear creeping changes. Just like soccrer.

Successfully becoming something you’re not is very hard to do, often impossible. Giant corporations try it all of the time, probably because they figure, “I am a giant, and nobody can stop me”. I have observed this over and over again through the years. My hobby used to be, watching corporations die under their own weight, and psychological disillusionment. Microsoft seems to have fallen into that pit of trying to catch up with the little guys who aren’t so little anymore. When they compete in new arenas like smart phones, they don’t bring anything dramatically new to the show, just the weight of their economic power. Maybe instead of just following innovation, they should be working on whatever will replace smart phones when they become obsolete in 5 years. What Microsoft was, maybe not be in the not so distant future.

Ideologues are as prejudiced as bigots.

The world looks like all Greek to me.

Elon Musk thinks he and the other many narcissistic Execs could be classified as “Certifiable”.

The Question:

Frank Lloyd Wright has been lauded over the years as one of the true groundbreaking architects. What exactly did he design that gave him that reputation? Bonus: Microsoft is writing off billions on Nokia purchase. Name 6 other giant Msft failures.

The Headlines:

--Wall Street Holding Breath As NYSE Tries To Come Back Strong from Computer “Glitch”; United Airlines Still Having Trouble With Ailing Computer System.

--US Stocks Poised For Plus Triple Digit Opening; China Market Up 5.8%, Largest gain In 6 years; Many Analysts See China Stocks As Good Buy Going Forward.

--South Carolina Vacates The Proud History Of Many Of Its Citizens.

--Baltimore mayor Cans Police Chief.

--“No Child Left Behind” Revision Barely Passed House; Limping Off To Senate.

--First Church Of Cannabis Sues Over Marijuana Laws; Huh?

I remember not too long ago when you would walk into a super market with a twenty dollar bill and get pretty much what you needed. And they say the world is better today than when it was when you could afford it.

I think one of the great true life mysteries smoldering beneath public relation’s blanket is the Phil Mickelson multi-million dollar laundry business.

I see where Obama is going to use the intimidation powers of HUD to redistribute neighborhoods. The problem is that too many cities, towns and developers have gotten too used to sucking off of HUD money. Now the Feds are going to say, “You like the taste of my money, Dearie?” Than you got to do this or that, regardless of what the people want. It is basically extorting Americans with taxpayer dollars. When exactly is 0-Man leaving office?

I remember clearly around the tail end of the 1940’s when me and my pals thought we were playing good basketball in the city rec leagues. Then one year, a team of all black kids called “The Plainsmen” showed up, and we all realized we had been playing an entirely different sport.

Greatness comes to Newport this week when the 47^th annual Newport (Classical) Music Festival throws open the doors of eloquent mansions and fills the parlors with some of the best musicians from around the world who will treat the ears of music lovers from morning to night for seventeen days. Over 500 compositions will be rendered beautifully with flying fingers, delicate lips and powerful lungs., It is a time of magic.

I had a computer glitch this morning and it cannibalized the time I had for The Parking Lot. Double dose tomorrow. Maybe I’m tied into the Stock Exchange. The world gets weirder.

The Answer:

I only can think of the Guggenheim Museum and a couple of houses on rocks like Fallingwaters and 2 Teliesin houses in Scottsdale and Wisconsin.. The Phoenix Biltmore is certainly one of his best known. He is also known for the Marin County Civic Center and the Price Tower In Oklahoma. LA Has his Hollyhock House and Chicago has the Robie House. Just in case you are interested, the ground breaking architect of the late19th century was named Richard Hunt. It really has nothing to do with me, but it makes me feel good. Bonus: You may not have heard of many of these, and that’s probably why they failed. Two you will know are Windows 8 and Explorer 6. The others are aQuantive, Kin, Zune and Clippy.

Hey! Today marks the 50^th Anniversary of the release of Sonny and Cher’s “I got you babe. https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-006&ei=utf-8&fr=ytff1-yff16&p=i%20got%20you%20babe%20youtube&type=