Survival 101.

Today's Tids Issue 2,647 Opening Stuff Jeez, does time fly. August is one third gone already. It's going so fast that I missed yesterday. Rats!! I just spent a couple of days up in Vermont with an old pal from the old neighborhood. I knew I was in trouble when I walked into his home and saw he was watching the Al Sharpton Show on MSNBC. Then he told me he was an avowed liberal. So I figured that the reason he called me Richard for two days was because of political correctness. You have to wonder that if the US Army tells it's men and women not to hang around with Afghanistan looking people in Police Uniforms, that ACLU will come after them for racial profiling. The Question: Name the Top Ten Saddest all time movies. I'm going with Bambi. The Headlines: --Romney Selects Paul Ryan. --Afghan Police Continue To Kill Unaware, Trusting US Soldiers. --Obama Pledges All-Out Response To Drought; He Is Expected To Meet With Rain Clouds On Tuesday. --Undecided Voter Numbers Growing Fast. --Syria, Jordan Forces Clash at Border; International Observers Worry About Expanded Regional War. --McGill U. Report: Ground Water Being Depleted Faster Than Replenished. --Howard Traded To LA In 4 team Megadeal. One thing you can always count on is that if you see a mountain you can expect to see a valley...or be in one. Sounds like good advice for stock purchasers. A day at the race track is a series of long waits between brief heart palpitations. My old socialist friend, a former economist with the Dept of Labor, actually believes in his heart that the US Federal bureaucracy should take over the running of the US and that includes running States and Towns. You have to wonder how many other happily retired Bureaucrats believe likewise. This is the real reason why the USA is in trouble. The millions upon millions of active and retired "Crats" will always be among the highest percentage of voting citizens and they will always vote in the vast majority to keep the monster well fed. Anybody who says that any negotiations with the Taliban are going well, is a fool. There's been an enormous amount of fortunes made by by people willing to do work that nobody else wanted to do. All of those little, made in Vermont products with hand written labels designed to appear as thougth there's a little old gray haired lady sitting in her kitchen table next to a wood fired stove cooking a magic "natural" sauce and filling jars, are really the product of a well conceived, well financed corporation probably run by a retired CEO and his kids. But, I did have a great home roasted pork sandwich made by a little grey haired older woman in a country store on a back road in the Green Mountain State tinged with red. This just adds to my belief that some of the best food is often found in a small out of the way town rather than in some over priced, trendy urban/suburban restaurant. I guess it just depends upon where you are on the Gourmet scale. Paul Ryan is a great choice. Moderate Democrats, a large voting block that could go either way, may argue that Ryan is too much of a lightening rod. I see him as an honest guy who sees the enormity of the problem and has the guts to stand tall and offer real solutions. A lot of the highly visible conservative talkers are ranting about the lack of visceral response from Romney against the continued Obama team misguided, misinformed attacks. As an old marketing guy, I believe it is too early to expose your most aggressive plans to a sleazy, say anything, do anything adversary. Let them come. Let them feel confident. Let them walk into a dead end canyon. And then, close the off the entrance and pounce. Personally, I think that is what Romney is doing. Timing is everything. And Ryan is just the first step in the beginning of the real post convention campaign. I still believe as I go through old cities that were once vibrant with broad manufacturing based economies, that Urban renewal of the 60's was the worst thing that ever happened to the beauty of America. It is a classic example of the Federal folks dumping huge piles of money around the landscapes of the purple mounted majesties, and local pols giving to anybody with a cement mixer. You can see the cities that are reviving t day around great old buildings versus the cities marred by a concrete block representing nothing dominating a downtown that probably had been a beautiful place. A reader writes this morning to suggest the Republican slogan: "Romney & Ryan; R&R -- Renewal & Recovery". He asked that we pass it around. It could also represent what it has always meant and be accurate -- R&R, rest and recuperation, after the wearing Obama years. The Answer: OK, Bambi isn't there, so you know how inaccurate this list is. #1 is Titanic. Next are The Green Mile, The Notebook, Schindlers List, Grave of the Fireflies, A Walk to Remember, Marley and Me, the Bridge to Terabithia, Hachi: A Dog's Tale and Pursuit of Happiness. Bambi is 39 and among other films I know, or that people have told me are sad we have Ghost at 48, Terms of Endearment - 36 and one of my personal favorites, Pay it Forward - 32. And Love Story which is about as sad as it gets is 91! See the entire list of 100: http://www.the-top-tens.com/lists/top-ten-saddest-movies.asp How can you believe that a Democrat/Liberal really has love in their hearts when over the years they say so often, "I hate". Actually my old friend the liberal is still a good old friend. Because what you did together as kids growing up never changes. One thing you can count on in the coming weeks is that our fourth estate, taken a bit by surprise with the Ryan selection, will use every waking minute digging up and presenting anything negative they can find about Ryan. And if they can't find it, they'll make it up. Why is it again that we protect the freedom of the press? Is it September yet?

The more you talk, the more you tend to disagree with yourself.

Today's Tids Issue 2,233
Opening Stuff:

Is there anything more green appearing than a plant that is still thriving mightily in late Fall. Frankly, I just stand there in awe as it survives gloriously among deathly brown foliage.

I see where Dino DeLaurentis died. Is there anybody left who can explain to me exactly what was going on in "Blue Velvet"?

I was happy to see that the major AP report on the return of the stricken cruise liner dwelt on all of the positive things people did to help and keep their spirits up. Instead of reporting a long list of whines. Maybe the Chilean minor story had something to do with that.

The Question:
Surprise...Nadia Comaneci is 49 years old today. Yes that adorable little acrobatic imp of Olympic Gymnastics is just a couple of cartwheels away from menopause. In which Olympics ddi she first excel and who was the adorable little acrobatic imp that preceded her, and first mesmerized gymnastics viewers?

The Headlines:

--G-20 members Refuse To back US Push On China Currency.
--Bernanke Trying To Justify Value Of His Inflationary Move As Seniors See Stagnant SS Payments.
--0-Man Lauds Iraq Inclusive Government; Sunni Minority Applauds Exodus Of Their Iraqiya Member Reps Including Leader Allawi; Say New Government Lied To Them.
--William And Kate Expected o be next Royal Wedding.
--0-Man Continues In Denial On World Stage.
--White House Looks Confused Over Extending Bush Tax Breaks

Back to More Stuff:
A reader sends along this little analysis which probably says it all about the definition of the phrase "Bloated Bureaucracy": "The Lord's Prayer - 66 words; Archimedes Principle - 67 words; 10 Commandments - 179 words; Gettysburg Address - 286 words; Declaration of Independence - 1,300 words; US Government Regulations governing the Sale of Cabbage - 26,931 words.

In Russia the Government sends assassins after treasonous citizens. In the US they get book deals.

You may have noticed that Intel is on a track to have its best year in the glorious history of an incredibly innovative company. Yet, the stock doesn't move, floating around within a 17.60-24.37 52 week trading range.. maybe Wall Street will get the message if their CEO has an affair. You never know what it takes. Oh, Intel announced a 15% increase in its dividend.

Royal Weddings always make for great TV for me. Maybe it's becasue I like the way they sing "God Save the Queen".

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:
--Morning Glory is the big one this week that has all of the critics agog! It's probably predictable, but it works and entertains. A beleaguered TV show producer, Rachel Adams, battles an unraveling love life, Jeff Goldbloom, as she tries to resurrect the last place Morning Show starring a fading anchor, Diane Keaton. She Hire's an experienced newsman, harrison Ford, who will have none of the gossip, weather and other morning shit chat. the battles rage off and on screen.
--I suspect you have seen Unstoppable many times before. Lots of special effects as an out-of-control train roars to deadman-s curve just above a city. I'm not going .Lots of action, but nothing new.
--What's New is a pretty good Aliens-Destroying-the Earth-as-helpless-humans-flee. Even it resembles something you have seen, there is always that "Unknown" factor to keep you watching.

As far as I'm concerned, "Intent" should rule in the Alaska elections. This coming from Mr. Typo!

There have many instances of people doing or saying outrageous things hiding behind the First Amendment. But, Amazon with their latest offering on Kindle may have gone far beyond good sense: "The Pedophile's Guide To Love and Pleasure." It is available and Amazon is using the First to justify it. The Founding Fathers deplored Censorship for a number of reasons, but I doubt if they ever envisioned that people to stop using their brains.

The phone companies are justifying the elimination White Pages for all by saying that everything is on the internet, and the majority of those still Internet-less, probably can't read the small white pages print anyhow.

The Answer:
Nadia captivated people at the 1976 Olympics, But, before that in 1972 Russian mini teen Olga Korbit became a world sensation. And, I have to say they were both two of the more refreshing sports heroes of that century.

The End:
I have to tell you that Obama for all of his so-called brain power says some of the dumbest things. Think that is a natural occurence for people who just can't stop talking.