Opening Stuff:
K.I.S.S. has always meant Keep it simple stupid! But I could also say it means Kids in School Suffer. Not because it is hard, but because in the main the adults have screwed up a good thing.
The problem with education has been and will be the word "Reform". Too many people with degrees want to play in the kids sandbox with their pet theories, when things used to be just fine when left in the hands of the teachers teaching kids who basically understood that getting smarter was the real cool thing.
Only about 18% of Americans think that the New Health Care Bill is ok the way it is. This is according to a brand new Rasmussen poll. Over 75% think it needs to be dismantled and rebuilt or at least have many key areas fixed or eliminated. It needs help. Even several prominent Dems have joined the chorus saying it needs help. Where were they when it was being rammed through Congress without being read? Maybe, every bill done by this overwhelmingly caustic Congress of the past two years should be redone. Passing bills to meet timetables generally results in bad legislation. After about 225 years, I'd have to say that no new bill is absolutely urgent. Because I would guess that somewhere, someplace in the wording of all of the laws and bills that have been placed there is something that can cover just about anything.
The President of China, America's largest creditor, said in advance of this week's meeting with 0-Man, "The Dollar system is a 'Product of the Past'." This society of ours isn't our grandfather's world anymore. The return to normalcy will never be what it has been.
The Question:
Kevin Costner has made some of the worst movies in history and a few of the best. His first one of notoriety was one of my favorites. Name the first and some winners and losers.
The Headlines:
--China's President Hu Jintao Arrives; US Companies Stress Many Goals Including Stopping Theft Of Intellectual Property.--Baghdad Suicide Bombs Kill 45 Iraqi Police Recruits.
--CitiBank Revenue Report Has Futures Backtracking.
--In Pre-Market Trading, Apple Shares Drop 4.5% Over Job's Health Concerns.
--0-Man Says He Will Review All Gov. Regulations With the View To Eliminate All That Slow Job Creation And Reduce Global Competitiveness.
--UN Seize Iranian Weapon's Shipment In Nigeria.
--Nostalgic Romanians Eye Return To Communism.
--Cheney May Have Heart Transplant; Comedians Ready To Pounce.
--Swiss Bank Whistle Blower Hands Over Cayman Island Secret bank Account Records To Assange And Wikileaks.
Back to More Stuff:
So did you hear about the doctor who fixed his squeaky desk with caster oil?
How Things Change Department:
In Pawtucket RI, the birthplace of America's Industrial might, there is a place called the Kalon Club. In a way it symbolizes success across a manufacturing rich America. It was an exclusive Men's club. You know the kind, scorned by feminists and looked down upon by the self appointed righteous. But in fact, its members (And members of clubs like this over the country) were the people who through their sweat, genius and risk taking investment gave America its solid and critical middle class. The middle class that has always been the core of our country's overall strength in the world economy. But, today I learned that this venerable old Kalon Club will be turned into a marijuana growing farm in the center of Pawtucket. So that is what has become of America. Weed instead of wrenches. Pot instead of productivity. Joints instead of job security. Mary Jane instead of Manufacturing. What's next? I shudder to think.
It stuck me as odd that a section of the Sunday Paper would be called "Beauty", and then would be featuring Snooki. Man, what a mess. Maybe I'm not hip.
Almost Near: Chapter 2 continues. --She opened the door to cocafony of hustle and bustle. Grand Central Station on the Cove. She felt energized and immediately noticed several faces that may have been familiar. Josh Simpson, editor of the little newspaper, Sara McRusterson who owed the insurance agency, Jerry Hendricks the boat-builder and Margery McNaughton who she rememebred as a policemen and now looked like the chief. Several shot glances at this intruder into their club. But, they all went quickly back to their discussions and laughs, showing no recognition. This was not the homecoming that she had expected. She was sensing a graying of her vision; Like of clouds slowly blocking the sun.
Rather than push as she had with Mrs. Fletcher and Jimmy, she moved towards and sat at an empty seat at the counter. She shuffled the knife and fork, placing them in a design that suited her compulsions. The glow in her face desolated into doubt. She didn't look different. Her hair is still brown and tied back. She still smiles that enormous smile from the heart. She feels she in her perfect place. But, the people she knows or at least thinks she knows, don't seem to be there with her. Now she talks silently to herself, "Maybe Aunt Ginny can sort it out for me. Maybe I have forgotten more than I remembered."
An older waitress approached. Her face looked as sad as Samantha now felt. "Ain't seen you here before," and then she laid down the menu and turned over a cup. "Coffee?"
Some times I get the feeling that Government is letting the costs of traditional fuels rise so the so-called "Green" alternatives won't appear as outrageously high priced and cost inefficient as they are today. Where is the anger over rising gas prices as there were in the Bush era. Actually, elitists and some academics have always liked high gas prices. It makes them feel so "European." And now they like it even better. It makes "Green" appear affordable.
People are now saying that Gold will rise to $25,000/ounce in anticipation of the US government creating massive inflation to pay for the deficit in cheaper dollars.
Most of the people I see shouting "Let's return to civility in our speech.", really only mean that everything will be ok if you agree with them.
Some day, some how, we have to bring down the EPA. The first amendment line on Religion might just do the trick: "Congress shall make no law repecting the establishment of a religion". It might just work, as this powerful and quite arrogant group represents to many a "Religion". They have the unbridled power to force citizens to do their bidding under penalty of severe punishments. They are behaving much the same as the Church of England and the monarchs who created it. Or like the Catholics in the Spanish Inquisition. Or like the Town Fathers Of Salem mass. This goop group knows no bounds and tends to see all average citizens as "witches".
You have to love The New York Post and its Sunday Pre-Game front cover. A large picture showed a right foot with "Go" painted on the big toe nail and J-E-T-S painted on the other four. The huge black Headline above: "Lick-em"!
Next year the New England Patriots, in addition to their division, play the NFC East, AFC West and Pitt and Indy. At home it's NYJ (Again!), Indy, KC NYG, SD, Miami, Dal Buff. Away it is Pitt, NYJ, Phil, Oak, Mia, Wash, Den and Buff. I'm predicting Superbowl. Hey...we're back!
I'm a NIMBY and proud of it.
My spies in Chi-Town report that our Gov. Lincoln Log-head was the subject of ridicule on Chicago Talk Radio Monday Morning. Now there's the kind of national recognition we need to bring in more business. However, I was told by this Tids reader that no matter how bad Chafee-Lite may appear for RI, RI will never be as bad as Illinois.
The Answer:
Some of Kevin's worst were Prince of Thieves, Waterworld and The Postman. The first great Costner film (To me) was No Way Out. He followed that with a great performance as Eliot Ness in The Untouchables. Of course, Dancing With Wolves is is most famous. He was acclaimed for acting but the real achievement was the Best Picture and Best Director awards fro him. Also good were Revenge, Field of Dreams, JFK, Bodyguard and Bull Durham.
The End:
And in closing, a new report says that 45% of college students learn nothing in first two years! Gadzooks. That's $50-100K down the drain and what for? Well the report goes on to say that only 36% learn anything after four years!! Oh, the kids know how to get good grades, but they are retaining little according to testing designed to determine exccctly what they may have learned. Here's how the students say they spend their time during a full week -- 168 hours: 51% of the hours is for socializing, 24% for sleeping, 9% Outside activities (Working, Volunteering, Student activities), 9% attending class and 7% studying.
You think maybe the problems of the education system maybe one of misguided priorities..By all participants?
