Standing behind me.

Today's Tids Issue 2,281

Opening Stuff:

I have found over the years that having a person you can rely upon for strength in difficult times is one of the most precious treasures of life.

Where was the bombastic Rep Steve Cohen when the White House issued a report saying there are 129 Million Americans under 65 with pre-existing conditions. Talk about seeding a big lie! Or at least the biggest slight of hand trick of the decade. Of course this is just one more of those statistical manipulation games. The number may correct but irrelevant to reality. It covers people who have been diagnosed with problems like arthritis and others. But the problems have never led to somebody being denied for coverage.

Hopefully you figured out that when I mistakenly wrote yesterday, "Most liberal scientists", I really meant most liberal senators: Unless you thought I meant most liberal political scientists. Actually, as far as I can determine all Pol Sci's are progressives as they are always liberalizing the truth in favor of their candidates. I mean...that is the art!

The Question:
Who do you think are the Fifteen Top Companies to work for in 2011.

The Headlines:

--Gidffords Leaves Hospital For rehab Sting.
--BoA Reports Big Loss On Mortgage Problems.
--0-Man Names GE's Immelt EcoMan.
--New Obama Poll Says People Are Buying The man But Not The Progress.
--Risky So. Korea Raid Saves Ship Crew From Somali Pirates.
--Newport Art Museum Cancels Lecture On Wyeths As Speaker Is Snowbound In Maine.

Back to More Stuff:
A 1922 AP Report in the Washington Post said, "...that the Arctic Ocean is warming up, icebergs are growing scarcer and in some places the seals are finding the water too hot. The Commerce Department added that reports from fishermen, seal hunters and explorers all point to a radical change in climate conditions and hitherto unheard-of temperatures in the Arctic zone." It went on to talk about the absence of white fish and seals and described disappearing glaciers. It finished by saying, "Within a few years it is predicted that due to the ice melt the sea will rise and make most coastal cities uninhabitable." I wonder what the Governemtn was selling in 1922?

I just got an email that said "A friend just sent you $1,000." I don't have nay friends who would send me a $1,000.

After hearing Chafee's call for advertisers to boycott talk radio, I'm starting to think, Lincoln Chavez? Come to think of it, Chafee-Lite does seem to have some dictator type qualities.

3D is not worth the extra money, and wearing the glasses adds to the discomfort. The technology adds nothing ot the enjoyment of the movie and in many cases detracts from it as the director adds unnecessary special effects. Paying a lot for 3D Televisions is not even on my radar screen or long range list to Santa.

Almost Near: Chapter 2 Continues. --The door opened and Samantha stood staring at her favorite relative. She looked older but still had that spunky look in her eyes. Her hair was simply styled, straight and coarse with a part on the left side. It was now a nice heavy gray instead of the dark blond she had remembered.. She wore her usual jeans with a checked shirt. She stood tall as always, but her legs looked weaker. "Who the hell are you", Ginny burst forth in that raspy voice so familiar to Samantha.
Samantha stepped back. Her mouth opened. Ginny stared back. Then she laughed hard. "Why you old goat, I'm your beloved favorite niece Samantha Jergans."
"Niece?" "I have a niece?" Ginny responded with no emotion.
"Of course Aunt Ginny. And it is me. Remember how much I loved this porch?" Samantha turned and waved her hand. "Remember how I used jump up and down in the upstairs bedroom, and you would yell, 'Samantha, you sound like a god dammed elephant up there.' Remember how I Loved your chocolate cream pie with Graham Cracker crust?" Ginny just stared blankly. "And you always said you'd have one ready for me any time I came to see you?"
"I don't remember any of that crap...What'd you say your name was.?"
Samantha felt tears running down her cheeks. She felt her body begin to tremble. She turned and ran down the steps. Falling half way down and rolling the rest of the way, through the dying tulips til she hit bottom She lay on her stomach and felt the waves of heaving sobs come over her.
Above, Ginny stood there stonily. Unflinching. She stepped back. Pulled the door. "What the hell was that all about." the door slammed. Shut.

Harmony on MLK Day department:
--At a downtown MLK rally in Columbia SC Monday the NAACP covered the large statue of George Washington (Remember him?) in the Public Square where the gathering was held saying, "We don't want to offend anybody." Excuse me-- "Father of our Country"!
--And up in Maine the new Governor upon hearing complaints by the NAACP because he wouldn't attend any of their functions replied, "Kiss my butt." He went on to say that he does not cater to any special interest, and that the NAACP is exactly that. He added, "My son is black."

The big Blizzard of Lawsuits facing NYC due to no response from life saving services may boil down to whether or not the Union was in a work slow down protest. Think of the ramifications if that could be proven! this is big. a Immunity

I see where last night's State dinner observers were blown away by Mrs. 0's dress. As, they said, were most of the attendees. President Hu was over heard saying, "Hey wait a minute I thought I was supposed to be the star. I should have wore my red dragon outfit." He never smiled.as he dug into his Rib Eye.

Green Hornet is a better movie than many critics would lead you to believe. It feels a little goofy in the beginning, but it grows on you.

How many celebrity losers these days are described as "Reality Stars"?

When your car is repossessed, do you call an exorcist?

The Kennedy publicity machine keeps pushing out the information despite the fact that there aren't any Kennedy's left worth publicizing.

Reading between the Lines Movie Reviews:
--The big one today is No Strings Attached starring Austin Kucher and Natalie.Portman. It si better than average romantic comedy about a very bright woman who is very emotionless and A guy madly in love with her try to get beyond her icy barriers. It works well.

The Answer:
#1 is SAS with many great perks from childcare to car cleaning. Most are in the top group because of pleasant extras: 2-15 are Boston Consulting, Wegman's Food, Google, NetApp, Zappos, Cmaden Property Trust, Nugget Market, Recreational Equipment, Dreamworks Animation, Edward Jones, Scotttrade, Alston & Bird, Robert W. Baird and Mercedes Benz USA. Of course there are many small companies who learn about the perks of the Bigs and try to emulate them with solid employee bennies. So, don't read lists, ask around.


The End:
A little late this morn, but had to deal with a major catastrophe on another project in which I am involved. It was one of those deer in the headlights moments when you realize how great it is knowing you are not alone in this world. Write a friend today.

Wall Street and the Rolling Stones

Today's Tids Issue 2,125
Opening Stuff:

I paused for a moment yesterday to think about the many god-damned good friends I have had during my life. How they aren’t of one gender, race or ethnicity; or rich or poor; they are young and old; They can be successful or not so much; athletes or intellectuals; There are no guide lines that can help you determine your next friend. Something just clicks. Friendship is one of the great gifts of life. And, I savor them all.

Talk about typos. The Tids has never mis-punched a key like the klutz on Wall Street yesterday. The Klutz who Killed Konvidence Keyed in-Korrectly and my savings got Klobbered. Kouple that with Komputer programmed Komplicity and you have a Katastrophe. And it ain’t Okay with me.

Hey, the good news, we are assured by financial expert analysts that lots of brokers made huge pots of money with deft buying at the bottom. Kinda makes your heart leap for joy doesn’t it.

It looks like the NFL’s “All Time Greatest Defensive Player” is about to become the All Time NFL Defendant!

That "Giant Box" over the runaway oil well reminds me of what I do when the “Check Engine” light comes on in my car. I cover it over with black electrical tape! No problem.

The Question:
“I can’t get no…sat-is-faction…” Try humming that – or dancing around the house -- for the rest of the day, while thinking of your portfolio meltdown. It is one of the all time infectious tunes, at least to me. Name five other Rolling Stones mega hits.

Weekend Bonus Q: Why his Gibbs long time pal and medical examiner on NCIS called “Ducky”?

The Headlines:
--Wall Street Abuzz About The Numbskull Nosedive; Tids Editorial Board Urges Class Action Suit For Average Investors Against Fatfinger.
--Jobs Report Paradoxical: New Jobs In April At 290,000; Unemployment Grows To 9.9%; Underemployment Grows 17.1% Near All Time High Of 17.4%.
--England Conservative Garners Most Votes But Missed Required Number For Control; English Government Could Become Unstable.
--Stock Futures Point Higher; Fears That Euro Debt Crisis Could Spread Remain High..
--BP Puts Giant Box Over Leaky Well.
--Pakistan Taliban Say NYC Bomber Not One Of Us; But Cheer His Efforts To Terrorize Gotham.
--NK’s Kim Expresses Willingness To Resume Nuke Discussions.
--E.Coli Discovery Forces Lettuce recall; Tids Urges Banning Of Lettuce In School Lunch Programs.
--RI’s Burgeoning “Hall Of Shame” Grows By Three As North Providence City Council Members Are Arrested for Bribery.

Back to More Stuff:

Words and phrases you should never use at work, unless of course you don’t want the responsibilities associated with good career. In other words, if you don’t want to be a non-entity avoid: “Try”, “Whatever”, “Maybe”, “I don’t know”, “I’ll get back to you”, “If”, “Yes, but”, “I guess” and “we’ll see”. In other words be positive, assertive and respectful. I guess. Whatever.

Why our leaders make me feel safe Department:
Yesterday the ever brilliant Ben Bernanke said, “Banks should loan to creditworthy borrowers.”! How brilliant is that. How revolutionary! What guts. Why didn’t I think of that …”Lend to people who can pay you back”. Glad he’s getting the big bucks.

So, do you think that the Gore-ster built his $9,000,000 Ocean Side mansion on the only point of land not to be engulfed by his predicted GW induced rising sea? Al Gore, one of the great phonies in American history.

Has there ever been a more appropriate name for a leader of an African nation than that of Nigeria’s new president – Goodluck Jonathon! He’ll need it.

You know you are going to see columns by fawning sports writers about all of the hardships the great Lawrence Taylor had to over come in life. While a beaten and confused, defenseless 16 year old girl wonders what the confusing world she sees holds in store for her.

Through the Same Eyes; Chapter 70 continues. –Izzy and I had our usual good meeting and were now finishing a nice friendly lunch. I think we admire each other equally and never play the one-upmanship game. That’s why we accomplish so much in short meetings. We are jointly managing is a complicated financial structure at the moment; one primarily designed to bring the company public at the right moment. It is a tough time right now for IPO’s, but the bigger issue in my mind right now is the cloud over the research program. Izzy is less sensitive to the fortuitous nature of the giant technological advance and the fact that it was the result of a criminal act.
Rather that constantly confronting her over it, I decided to keep the positive side of our work moving while I find out more about the Bromsky mess myself. As lunch came to an end, I asked, “What does Middleton say about the Bromsky data. Does he seem disturbed that it wasn’t result of his and his teams personal efforts?”
“Kent is as happy as clam in clean salt water” She smiled confidently, probably reassuring any misgivings she may actually have over the mess. ‘You know, Kent is a pragmatist.”
‘’What was Kent’s reaction when you hired Bromsky to run a parallel program? Great idea by the way”.
“You know how hard it is to read Mr. Middleton’s mind.” She laughed a knowing laugh.
Is it, I thought.

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:
--The big hit of the Weekend is the highly anticipated Iron Man 2. The major problem with it is that all of the cool stuff from the original appears old hat in this sequel. The acting by Robert Downy, Mickey O’Rourke, Gwyneth Paltrow and Scarlet Johansson is very good. And the plot about Tony’s resistance to pressure from the government to reveal his technology, isn’t bad either. It’s just that fans come to these type of movies to be thrilled. And they aren’t there. So maybe it will be better for me. Maybe I should put it on my Netflix list

Scientists have proven what many women have always thought – men are Neanderthals. Yes new DNA research says it is official that the humans of today are direct descendents of Neanderthals. But after all of the millions have been spent, and all of the scientific backs have been robustly slapped with joy, I have to ask…”So?”

The Answer:
 Satisfaction is certainly one of the top faves. “Lady Jane” is one of my personal favorites. Then you have Time is on My Side, Get off of My Cloud, 19th Nervous Breakdown, Let’s Spend the Night Together, She’s a Rainbow, Jumpin’ Jack Flash and another I particularly enjoy, Ruby Tuesday. They had 91 singles, so there are going to be a lot of “Number Ones”. Pick you favorite and hum along.

Weekend bonus Answer: You probably all guessed that it is because the David McCallum character is Doctor “Mallard”!

The Grand Finale':
I can’t help it. Every time I see the words “Giant Box” in news stories about the oil leak problem, I just find myself laughing.

If today’s music was any good you wouldn’t need all of the lights, smoke, weird costumes and makeup. You could just stand there nekid on the stage and sing them.

Lots of potato chips for school lunch programs would effectively eliminate the fear of E. Coli.

And, my levity over the Giant Box is tempered by the big decision I have to make this evening at 7:00 EDT – whether to watch the Celtics in a must win game, the Bruins in a series clincher or the Red Sox against the Ya-ya-ya…(WYKWIM). Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrgh!!

Where have you gone Brian Davis?

Today's Tids Issue 2,111
Opening Stuff:

You will probably be physically healthier if…you start to believe that nothing is as bad as it seems; understand that the more you take control the luckier you get; Love, enjoy and revel in little things of honesty…like flowers…like when a grocery clerk you don’t know says “Have Nice Day”; Enjoy what you have at the moment like seeing the crispy cold days of Winter as being equal to those hot sunny days of Summer or even rainy days as pleasant respites; and meet those tough personal situations head on. As the old song goes, “leave your angst on the door step and walk on the sunny side of the street.

While the Prez seems to delight in continuing his juvenile shtick of ridiculing Tea Party members*, many others on the left are beginning to honestly appraise the group for what it really is. Even leftie Barbara Boxer told Dems that they should grasp on to the type of enthusiasm expressed by Tea Party Members if they want to hold the House and Senate. Columnists are actually going out and talking to rally members, finding that they are exactly what they have always been said to be, just people who are totally fed up with the lack of honest representation in DC. This may be an example of where the truth will win out over media manipulation.

*A brand new Pew Research Center poll of US citizens says that 80% of the people don’t trust Washington, “….similar to the Tea Party”. Commentary on the poll says it is this anger that is fueling the Tea Party Movement. As one interviewee said, “The government has been lying to us for years”.

Where is Brian Davis when you Need Him Department:
With the precipitous decline in trust in leadership, wasn’t it refreshing to watch golfer Brian Davis yesterday call a two-shot penalty on himself? It only cost him his first PGA championship! Most of society these days is about you can get a way with it if nobody is looking…and that includes the Vatican. And why isn’t this act of honesty the number headline of the day?

The Question:
Remember all of the events that used to be just simple family and friends get-togethers to celebrate. Now spurred on by a service based economy focused on unnecessary want over need and the success of the out-of-control overly inexpensive wedding industry, many other events are starting to get into the too expensive to afford category. Name five.

The Headlines:
--Americans Say “Who Are They Trying To Kid” To Reports Of Recession Ending; New Poll Says Only 25% Believe Economy Is Getting Better.
--World Stock Markets Fall On Concerns About Goldman; Britain’s Brown Calls Company “Morally Bankrupt” Paving Way For Further Actions Against GS And Other European Banks.
--China Takes Steps To Curtail Emergence Of Its Own Housing Bubble.
--Iraqi Official Says Baghdad Votes To be Recounted.
--Britain To Send Warships To rescue Stranded Travelers.
--Pope Meets With Abused And Families; Through Teary Eyes, Pontiff Vows Safety fro Children; Prosecution Of Offenders.
--Kerry Underwood Wins Country Music Entertainer Of The Year.
--Toyota Set To Agree To record Fine.

Back to More Stuff:

News stories that bother me Department:
A church in Cumberland RI discovered over the weekend that somebody had stolen their six bells. These weren’t ordinary bells, but cherished bells that represent the 102 year history of the church. Bells loveingly donated by varied people including Queen Mary of England. The largest weighed 1,500 pounds. I guess I’m not surprised that some brain dead, slimeball thief would take them to melt down history and memories in to nothingness for money. What bothers me is that this is so symbolic of the I don’t care attitudes that seems so pervasive in society today – from litterers to unethical financiers, insensitive developers to ridiculing presidents, I got mine unions to sexual predator athletes.. All for me. Period. Where is Brian Davis when you need him?

The Great Mocker was out there Friday ridiculing concerned Americans in the Tea Party movement causing party enthusiasts to say that he still doesn’t get it. Oh, he get’s it. It’s just not what he wants to hear. He’s just one more god damn politician.

Goldman was simply providing the mechanism that became the means for the lefty loonies in Congress to get what they wanted – A misguided notion that anybody regardless of their ability to pay can own a home.

Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 66 continues. –All of sudden my languishing in perfect satisfaction came to an abrupt end. I knew Kent hadn’t taken to wearing bras. I stopped and listened for any sounds from downstairs. It was perfectly quiet. I decided to poke around. Now I reflected on some of those little differences I have noticed about Kent lately. Most noticeably was his question asking. Probing me. For what? I looked in the medicine cabinet and saw little. unusual except a bottle of Midol. I knew Kent’s wife would appear from time to time, but it was Kent who got the pain. It was definitely odd though. I quickly ran barefooted into his bedroom. It looked neat like always. In the closet I saw Kent’s compulsively hung neat slacks arranged by color tones from dark to light. I smiled at this. It was just like it should be. The second closet I opened was different. Next to the equally anal hanging of shirts were two pairs of small sized, well worn jeans. Had I seen these before?
Was that a noise? I decided it was time to get out of there. I closed both doors and scurrying quietly back to the bathroom. I took the bra and stuffed it into my robe pocket. It would not be good for him to find it hanging there knowing that I would have seen it. Better to be cautious until I find out what is actually happening here.
After a great shower, I dried vigorously, combed back my hair and opened the door. Kent was standing there. He looked past me.

I received an email full of late night comedian’s jokes about Obama, Pelosi et. al. The one I hadn’t seen read: “What is the most positive result of the “Cash for Clunkers” program? I took 90% of the Obama bumper stickers off the road.” --DL

16 year old Abby Sunderland is in the 86th day of her solo sail around the world. Her boat is in good shape in the South Atlantic approaching the midpoint between Cape Horn SA and The Cape of Good Hope Africa. She says it is very foggy and rainy, but the important news is that she is heading in the right direction! “But much too slowly!” she confides. Getting warmer and she’s happy to be back in T-Shirt and shorts. The bad news is that her Kindle broke down and she was in the middle of a good book!!

I write about a lot of disheartening crap going on in the world. But I worry most about when the Stop & Shop brand cinnamon waffles will be back in the freezer department. Life goes on in our own little ways.

I see where only 54% of weather forecasters think that Global Warming is a serious problem. In fact, over a ¼ think it is one big scam. The big news of course isn’t in the absolute numbers of today, but in the diminishment of the numbers from yesterday. Skeptics are now all of a sudden approaching mainstream status.

Do you stop to pause for second like I do when reading an Obit for doctor. Like, “Doctors get sick?...and die?” I guess it isn’t much different than “Priests abuse?” “Bankers are greedy?” or Politicians lie?” Oh wait a second on that last one.

You have to love the Dennis the Menace comic strip this morning. We see Dennis looking at one of his favorite toy cars saying, “This must be old. It says ‘Made in USA’.”

The Answer:
How about 25th and 50th Wedding Anniversaries, post funeral receptions, proms, religious events like First Communions and Bar Mitzvahs, milestone birthdays and graduations.
Some of these bills are as much as a year in college. Well, maybe not that high.

The Big Ending:

I guess the great news today is learning that 80% of Americans don’t like being fooled by the rascals in Washington. One of three things will happen: 1. They Will Change their ways. 2. They will be voted out. 3. They will find new ways to lie.

Be who you are.

Today's Tids Issue 2,081
Opening Stuff:

As snow flakes chilled my neck in the early morning dawn, I had the sense that it may become a day that signals an air reborn. As the sky brightened beyond the clouds, the grey of depression became a promise fulfilling hope. In other words, stop sittin’ around and get out of a stultifying house and enjoy a new day. Smile!

“Let every man practice the art he knows best.” --Cicero. I believe that too many people get side tracked from who they really are in order to make money. Now, if who you are is making money, that’s a good thing too.

The Question:
Today is the 47th anniversary of the death of great country singer Patsy Cline who along with singers “Cowboy” Copas and “Hawkshaw” Hawkins was killed when a plane piloted by her manager Randy Hughes went down near Camden TN. Name five of Patsy’s greatest songs.

Today’s Headlines:
--Californian Resentful Of Government Travels Cross Country With Automatic Weapons To Kill Two Pentagon Police Officers.
--Unemployment Stays At 9.7%; 35K Job Loss better Than Expected.
--Favorable Jobs Report Brightens Stock Futures.
--China’s Wen Announces Growth Goal Of 8% For Economy.
--White House Considering Reversal To Permit Military Trials Of Combatants.
--Turkey Warns Obama Of Consequences Over Coming Vote On Alleged Armenian Genocide In Early 1900’s.
--Clashes In Greece Accelerate As Gov Asks For Debt Help.
--70% Of Tomato Crop Lost In Frigid Florida.
--Conservative Sarkozy Says State Will Assume Bigger Role In Running Businesses.

Back to More Stuff:

The Republicans continue to find new ways to hang themselves by their big toes. Ouch. I truly believe that it is time to do away with the two parties, where their management has become a big business and they are as inept as some for the geniuses on Clueless Lane. I wouldn’t send any National party a nickel. Frankly, I don’t like to send anybody money.

Naomi Campbell should be playing in the NFL.

It looks like the bluest of the blue are oozing the reddest of the red. The five top states with the biggest financial woes are Illinois, NY, Conn, Cal and NJ –all five with strong Democrat majorities. Deep blue. The five fittest are 3 red – Utah, Nebraska and Texas – and 2 that skew Democrat – NH and Virginia. The reason, according to Professor Ken Redfield from U of Ill, is higher than average obligations for social services and other debt pushers like coalitions with construction companies and road builders. The fact is, says Redfield, Democrat states have a higher incidence of Union control and the Unions are doing what they do best too well…Making demands for the above budget drainers to which they are historically closely related. Nothing just happens.

Did you hear about the woman who developed a fear of frying after learning that there were more accidents in the kitchen than in the air?

The Novel:
Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 57 continues --“Well Henry, thanks for letting me play amateur sleuth in our little village episode. Who would have known that it would develop into a major conspiracy?”
“No problem, Kent. I enjoyed getting to know you and Sarah. Of all the people in town, who would have thought that I would be working so closely with you the hermit”, He smiled at his little bit of humor. “And Sarah the visitor.” He paused. He always takes long pauses in the middle of sentences. “But, it was my pleasure to get to know the two of you. You were both a great help. Ity looks like you and Sarah got along well too. That’s good for neighborliness.” I smiled at that one..
“Enjoyed it”, I answered quickly. “And I will continue to enjoy her company”. It is imperative. And essential that I stay close as his good ole’ boy buddy. Keeping track of Bromsky is important.
I left the station and got into my car for the short drive home. I wished I didn’t have the car. A short walk after all of the tension would be relaxing. People never see the tension in me. But, being deceptive is just one of my favorite pastimes. Looking at microbes all day long can get a little tedious.
I walked into my nice tidy little home. There was a magazine laying on the floor next the soft green couch. There was a imprint in the cushion. I smiled and went to the kitchen for a Diet Coke. I popped the top. Pffft. Ahh, one of my favorite sounds.
“How’s the old woman treating you?” I looked up and smiled. Laura slinked over and wrapped her arm around me.

Back to More Stuff Again:

Wherever there is an organization there is somebody who wants to run it and ultimately create a massive bureaucracy. And this goes from giant social service non-profits to small art groups to communes to global mega-corporations. Watch out Tea Party loyalists. Should I say? Should I say it? O well…somebody sees you as there cup of tea for career advancement. It’s in the bag.

The Tids Entertainment Editor must have snoozed off this week, as American Idol came and went with nary a comment. I liked that Haley who was knocked off last night. But after hearing her off key final song, I can agree easily with the voters decision. My favorites on the women’s side are Chrystal and Siobhan. I think Lilly will be in the mix, and hope that Katie keeps moving along. The woman are far stronger than the men in my estimation. The men are monotonous. My personal favorites are Lee and Aaron. I thought that Michelle could have stayed and that Tim should have gone. The younger girls must like him, and that is always a plus on this show..

Anybody who doesn’t think there is pure evil in the world should take a look at the life of Joe Stalin who died 57 years ago today.

Reading between the Lines Movie Reviews:
--The new Alice in Wonderland looks like a weird horror film to me. This is a Hollywood “update” which only makes me ask, “what are the moguls and elite up to now?” This is a star laden film with Alice as a young adult about to marry an annoying dolt who is beckoned down the famous hole one more time. It doesn’t look like it’s for kids, and certainly not me. As great as Carroll’s work is, it never appealed to my senses. I always found the story irksome.
--The only good thing to “Training Day” semi sequel Brooklyn Finest is authenticity of grizzly living in a crime ridden housing project. It is basically a reminder of another America existing side by side with gentrified homes of Wall Street’s bonus babies. (Or at least the apartments for their girl friends.) Gere is back in this well known and often repeated story of police corruption.

I see where global warming is continuing its wrath as Sweden had to send out emergency ice breakers to save four large ships, including passenger ferries, frozen in the Baltic Sea.

They announced the states who were winners of the “Race to the Top” education competition held by the Department of Education. The feds will award the states who inaugurate “Radical School Reform” with millions to execute change. Little Rhody with among the highest paid teachers and very mediocre results was one of the 16 winners among the 41 that applied. The head of education in the small state is a gutsy woman named Dorothy Gist who stands toe to toe with the very powerful and state legislature supported unions. This is a big victory for her, and I applaud her. But, here is my take. Now we have the biggest of governments lurking in our school yards. Which…makes it highly unlikely that my wish of school boards coming under the thumb of town councils will ever make it.

While everybody is worried about the feds taking over the health care system, they have successfully made a big first step to take over our local schools.

The Answer:
On a day that promises sun and a little warmth, “Crazy” may be a thing of the recnt past, but it will always be remembered and associated with he great Cline. Other big hits include “Walkin’ after Midnight”, “I Fall to Pieces”, “Sweet Dreams” and “She’s Got You”. She also recorded 117 other songs before her premature death. The country music world is still morning.

The End:

The only thing that can keep the sun behind the clouds is to plan today as the day to work on income taxes.