Today's Tids Issue
3,981
For Fats, and Smiles:
I
don’t really know anything about Senator Flake, but
he hit upon something with his words yesterday. Basically, what he said to me
was this: he said the discourse in this country sucks, and he would never say
sucks because that is part of the problem in a do anything you feel like
society; forget there are other people but me in it. He said that leaders have
to set the standards of excellence and civility that would raise all others up.
That includes Hollywood which has tended to normalize uncivilized behavior for
years; yet there are many who deny that films and comedians and TV shows change
the way people think. And actions and words of leaders in religion and business
and government. Are deniers just being naïve or more likely protective of a way
life they enjoy at the expense of others. We have a society where road rage is
normal, throwing trash on streets is commonplace, sending out garbage over the
Internet is ordinary, taking advantage of those considered lesser is elevated. “What
happens if decency doesn’t stand up to indecency,” he said. I don’t know if
Flake is a good Senator or a bad senator; a good human or a charlatan. But he
said: “The notion that one should stay silent as the norms and values that keep
America strong are undermined…is I believe, profoundly misguided.” He said that,
and I saw an America that makes me weep.
“I
found my thrill on Blueberry hill. On Blueberry Hill,
when I found you…” How memorable was that in my teen life How wonderful was that big man singing the
tune and pounding away on the piano. When Fat’s sang, you smiled; That was all
there was to it. No name calling, No “F” words. No call to arms, unless it was
a call to hose arms of a woman you loved. Fat’s brightening the heavens above
today. But, his memory is still the sunshine I feel this morn even as the rains
blot out the sky.
Xi
has achieved Mao status, and that is significant in our new
world. He has guided a rebuilding of the Chinese military capabilities, is a
very smart economic strategist combining socialism with capitalist guidelines.
That China Road to everywhere is rapidly linking the Giant to the rest of the
world. China is far away from that old remote humongous country hidden under
the cloud of Communism. My biggest concern is what to do about Alibaba stock.
Be nice, Xi.
Actually,
if China grows into a super economic power, it could raise the
sea level for all economies. That’s just the way competition works, as long as
you are ready to compete with the powerhouses.
The
Question:
Name the original cast for the TV program “Friends”.
The
Headlines:
--Stocks Expected To be Lower; Some say Markets
Showing Signs Of “Fatigue”; Coke Reports Powerful Earnings; Boeing Forecasts
Up; Northup And Walgreens Beat estimates; AT&T Off Estimates By A Penny;
Chipotle, AMD Earnings Flop.
--Senate Kills Rule Banning Class Action Suits
Against banks.
--Media Is Running Amok With Corker, Flake Comments.
--Dodgers Clayton Kershaw’s Magic Stops Houston’s
Potent Bats In 103 Degrees Hot Opener; Astros Send Up Verlander To Hopefully
Halt Dodger March.
--Schumer Throws Red Herrings Into Tax Discussion.
--New Sandy Hook FBI Information Reveals Meticulous
Planning Prior To Newtown Massacre.
--Hillary And DNC Found To Have Funded Anti Trump
Russia Dossier.
--Honolulu Police To Issue Citations For Walking
While Texting.
--HW Bush Apologizes For Touching Actress From Wheel
Chair While Barbara Rolled Eyes.
On
today’s newspaper food pages, I had three story
choices: The Art of Pairing Quinoa and Squash, Pinto Bean Burgers, or Family Tradition
in Donut Making. Wow, that donut family is really cool.
Unfortunately,
the Golden Rule has become, “Get back at others who do unto to you.”
I
have never seen so nay devastating football injuries
as I have seen this year. Many of them have super stars out for the season. Are
players rougher, or are the new players just too big for human anatomies to
withstand. Or, perhaps these new perfect, gym sculpted bodies are just wound
too tight. When I played I kept myself soft and puffy, which tended to lessen
the stress on my muscles, allowing me to flop gracefully when banged.
“Though
we’re apart, you’re part of me still, for you were
my thrill on Blueberry Hill.” –Fats.
You
have to wonder if all of these “Grass roots”, “spontaneous
call-to-arms”, mass reactions to anything slightly conservative is the result
of a thought process inspired by a Community Organizer to whom we were once
subject?
Anybody
would have to like that pleasing duet on The Voice
Monday, “Girls just want to be free”. Both of the singers, Karli Webster and
Addison were excellent with Karli being chosen by Miley and Addison Agen being
stolen by Adam. Others on Monday who could be competitive are certainly Janice
Freeman (Maybe the best after Karli), Katrina Rose and the talented Jon Mero
who overacted at times. I personally like Red Marlow, a good ole’ country boy,
who is not up to the rest. Oh yeah, RI’s Emily Luthor made it to the Knockouts
in a battle not shown. On Tuesday I liked the opener between Adam Cunningham
and Natalie Stoval. I would have liked to see Natalie bring her fiddle on
stage. She could play it. But, she is out, mainly because none of the coaches
had steals left. I could not tell who was better in the Eric Lyn/Ignatious
Carmouche duel, but tended to lean towards Ig, who was not taken. The last
battle of the year was a very good one between two country singers on Miley’s
team – Honky Tonk bar singer Ashland Craft won over Megan Rose in a great
country duet “A good hearted woman.” (Miley but out some of the most
entertaining stuff of the Battles). Onward. I would say there are no clear-cut
favorites. Kelley Clarkson will be a very enthusiastic overall coach starting
next week.
Regardless
of whether or not Trump feels hurt by Flake and Corker comments,
he still needs their votes if he expects to accomplish anything.
One
of the problems with the Middle East is that ideological
groups are far more important than country boundaries. Borders are just
suggestions.
Watchdogs
are covered with ticks.
So,
animals are being treated more like humans every day. To prove
that point we only have to read the sports pages where we find sled dogs being
accused of taking performance enhancement drugs.
A
keen-eyed reader wonders if Goldman’s forecast for a tepid
market coming upon us is the result of them getting back into naked shorting.
For you edification, “Naked Shorting” is selling a stock short before first locating
the shares for delivery. Shorting is betting that stock will decline. Companies
like Goldman and other bigs are not allowed to accept orders for short sales
unless they have borrowed the shares or have “Reasonable grounds” to believe it
can be secured. Short Sellers have to pay sizable premiums for these secured
shares, but if companies don’t locate them, they are not fulfilling the promise
for which they have been paid. It’s a tangled web and GS and others have paid
handsome fines because of it (Handsome is in the eyes of the beholder – GS paid
$15 Mil, which is peanuts to them). Of course, like many tings “legal”, the key
word here is “Reasonable”. Of course, the sins of the big banks does not
preclude the indiscretions of hedge funds closing their eyes to the absence of
shares
Short
Sellers are loving the taste of Chipotle.
My
idea for an IPO – the hovercraft vacuum cleaner – never
really took off.
But,
it was reasonable.
The
Answer:
Lots of the cast have gone on to better things, but
this group was a real favorite in the nineties and early 2000’s. The original
six are Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, Lisa Kudlow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew
Perry and David Schwimmer.
I
was wondering if TV stars paid Spell-Check to get their names
correct. But, then I came to Schwimmer. I guess David’s agent missed a payment.
Go
Fats!
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