The Fifes, the drums; the red, white and blue.

 

The Fifes, the drums; the red, white and blue. 

Issue 5,284 

 

I live right next door to an old, old armory that houses a musem  and the Artillery Company of Newport, the oldest military organization in the country operating on its original charter from King George in 1741. This weekend they will wheel their old cannons, four of which are brass cannons cast by Paul Revere in 1798, to the park down the street once trod upon by George Washington, and blast away as the Declaration of Independence is read and bands play all those songs that keep the hearts pumping for America. But the other day I was talking to an old friend of mine who is now head Colonel at the armory and he said, “we are in trouble. The members are getting old and the young people aren’t coming in.” Have too many forgotten America, its roots and its drive to build opportunity and fairness. Has pariotism been lost in the rhetoric? 

 

Last night's panic travel news on the networks looked exactly the same as the travel panic news a year ago. They just pull up the hold standing crowded airport film and freshen the make-up of the news anchors.  

 

You can’t believe everything you hear, but you can repeat it. 

 

Which brings me to a wise comment form a great old reader, “You shouldn’t believe anything oyu read and only half of what you see.” 

 

The hardest thing about the Fourth of July is making up a good excuse about why I'm not eating somebody's potato or macaroni salad made from an old family recipe.  

 

The Question: 

Name the five largest defense contractors in the world. 

 

The Headlines: 

--Markest Expected to Open Higher After Signs Of Upbeat New Data And Successful Stress Tests Across USA Banking Nation. 

--Bidens FTC Expected to Announce New Antitrust Action Against Amazon's Core Online Marketplace. 

--In France, 40,000 Police have Been Called up to Quell Riots Following Police Shooting of 17 Yo Teen in Traffic Stop. 

--Coast Guard Says Presumed Human Remains Found n Titan Wreckage. 

--Key Russian Generals Missing from View Since Uprising 

 

Hey, the good news around here is that “11th Hour Racing” representing a Newport RI organization and skippered by a local guy form Bristol, Charls Enright, was just named official winner of this year’s rigorous and prestigious  around the world sailing race... and adventure. It’s a big deal and Enright was quite amazing.  

 

Word is out that the popular Ryan Seaquest is in line to take over for Pat Sajak. Now Ryan is a fine host type of person, but he is no Pat Sajak. Ryan may be too cool for the mindless fun of Wheel of Fortune.   

 

It seems from what I have read that Dems are surprised by the factual and often fair decisions of the Conservative Supreme Court. Maybe they are surprised because in their hearts they know the Liberal Supreme courts often moved beyond the facts and even the constitution. In fact it was the action of the Liberal Supreme Courts decades ago that awoke the conservative hearts of America.  

 

Can you blame the Onwer of the Mets for being a bit upset after spending $350 Million in salaries for underperforming players an paying an additional $99 Milliosn in luxurty taxes as a result ot that spending. Think about what could have been done with all of the billions wasted on salaries of athetes who don’t perform or get injured. It is nuts. 

 

Maybe a lot of Biden supporters are in the business of Brick iand Mortar retail space.   

 

A lot of people might say that today's kids have more “Won’t Power” than “Will Power”. 

 

Nobody hopes that Joe Biden gets four more years more than son Hunter... if you get my drift. 

 

People play the privilige game all the time, at the highest levels in the nation and in your own home town. Somebody is always getteng special treatment soemwhere while those who play by the rules wonder why they are frustratingly stymied. I guess it pays to go to cocktail parties. 

 

Seeing and not believing is important when you see a well desgned plate of food coming from a fine restaurant kitchen. I will always wonder they have hiding beneath the glam? But of course, if they bring a side of gravy, I'll eat anything. 

 

The Answer: 

Number one is Lockheed, Next is Raytheon followed by Boeing , Northrup and Genral Dynamics -- all US compnaes. #6 is BAE of UK. The next three are from China – NORINCO, AVIC and CETC.  

 

In defense of a potential all time typo record, for some reason Spell-Check turned itself off.  

 

Yikes!