Economics 101.

Today's Tids Issue 2,301

Opening Stuff:

This Wisconsin showdown will be watched closely across the country. Many states are on the brink, simply because occupations entirely supported taxes can't have benefits and income rise continually without pause. Basic economic models just don't work that way. With these occupations, worker output has absolutely no direct impact on revenue streams. Yet the demands continue despite the absence of increasing revenue. And those demands will continue to push revenue streams lower as the sources of dollars move away from suffocating tax burdens.

It's sad to see the big book store closings. But, alas, as nice as it would be to have these stores continue, economics say they have to go. The problem is two-fold: 1. Ordering Books on line makes it nearly impossible for the large stores to fund the gigantic inventories, even if pleasant coffee shoppes make the places a comfortable hide-away. 2. The rapid increase of eReading will further diminish the need for books sores, sooner rather than later.

"There is no truth to the rumor that celebrities look cool because they have so many fans!" You want another one. "Dead batteries don't cost anything because they are free of charge!" Are you getting ill yet? And in keeping with today's theme - "Why don't they let government workers look out the window in the morning? So, they'll have something to do in the afternoon."

The Question:
Double Day -- 1. What are the 10 most dangerous cities in America based on "crime risk"? 2. Name five of Michelangelo's greatest works.

The Headlines:

--Bahrain Protesters Mourn Their Dead; Call For The Down Fall Of The King; King's Wife Says "Let them Eat Muhammar!"
--Earthquakes Becoming Frequent In Areas Surrounding Little Rock Arkansas.
--China's Clamp Down On Lending Expected To Dampen Stocks Today.
--Wisconsin Democrats Flee State Legislature To Avoid Voting On Public Employee Union Measures.
--Russia Wants Jointly run (With US) Euro Misssile defense System; US Says Nay As Friction Escalates.--In Advance Of G20 meeting, China Rejects Indicators Of Global Economic Imbalances.
--Campbell Profits, Future In the Soup.
--David Otiz Shows Up Healthy, Eager And With His Classic Smile.

Back to More Stuff:
Is this trend towards higher food prices the latest phase in the admin's war against over weight?

American Idol is getting serious. It is starting to take shape. Frankly I've had it with this fixation on Ashley. I don't need superfluous drama to enjoy a show like this if the talent is good. And, I believe this group of 50 is loaded with talent. It's too early to handicap the show, but I'm in it for the long run. I was impressed with Casey Abrams. And as an aside, while the chunky fifteen year old JC Badeaux has a crystalline voice and an effortless style, I don't see him as much more than a pleasing diversion in these early rounds.

Some really funny images come to mind when reading the headline this morning: "Army trains for 'Don't Ask, Don't tell' repeal"

I love that crackdown on fraud in Medicare that charged 111 in various scams that robbed American Taxpayers of $225 Million. That's A nice start. But now we have to look at casual legal waste (That's the unnecessary fringe treatments, psychological services and rehabs that primarily are growing because of a large pool of available funds) and the legal profession who may be the biggest factor in escalating costs for the health care industry. But the good news here is that it can be done. A little extra effort in the right places can actually make the government a little more efficient.

I had to chuckle this morning at side bar on the front page that read : "Today's Anti-Government Protests". I got the sense that I could tune into the new Cable TV channel "Crumbling Governments" as I would ESPN for live sports of the day.

Almost Near: Chapter Eight. --"Samantha! Are you still sleeping!" Tucker let the door slam shut as he came into his kitchen. He saw that she had eaten what he had left. He smiled hoping that she had smiled along with his notes. She needs some smiles he thought. I don't know what happened to her but, he felt confident he was handling her the best way possible.
"Samantha!" he shouted a little louder. "It's beautiful down at the harbor. Some of the people at Lillies were asking for you." He walked through the downstairs, his eyes scanning corners of the rooms. "I think some of the guys looked at me knowingly. Do you think we've been than obvious?" He came back to the kitchen.
He noticed the back stairway door ajar. His eyes moved to see his keys bowl out of place. He yanked open the door and took the steps two at a time thinking the worst. He saw the open door to his office, the the papers in neat piles around the floor. "Samantha! Sam! I can explain Sam". He shouted but nobody replied.
There was no sound except his breathing. He sat on the top step to compose himself. "This is the worst possible thing that could happen. I've got to find her. I thought I was doing everything right," he said to no one.

Reading between the Lines Movies Reviews:
The Unknown is a winner. It may seem like a movie you've seen before -- Guy in Europe has accident, loses memory, killers are after him: and he doesn't know anything except that he has to keep on running -- but, this one will keep you anxious and guessing until the last scene. It's on my list.

New evidence shows China exerting its influence as America's largest creditor. For instance, in 2009, the head of China's powerful sovereign wealth fund called Geithner direct and asked him lean on regulators to speed up approval of the $1.2 billion in Morgan-Stanley. The approval happened the next day. China has also been seen as a prime mover behind US treasury auctions which were necessary to keep the US Government running. For now, there is a co-dependency between the two countries. But, when will China outgrow the need for its current trade partner? This will be always in the background of US financial stability.

Warning to ice skaters: You can't always tell a brook by its cover.

The Answer:
1. The top ten are followed by an index number that designates the rate of crime against the national average. For example, in #1 place you don't want to be walking around is St. Louis at 530. This means its crime rate id 5.3 times the national average! The rest are Atlanta (484), Birmingham AL and Orlando (380), Detroit (369), Memphis (361, Miami (346), Baltimore (339), Kansas City MO (337) and Minneapolis and Cleveland (331). You have too wonder if some other cities are upset they didn't make this list as it would have generated more free money from the feds. Unfortunately, negative results are often the impetus for increased revenue for tax supported industries. That 's government style economics. 2. People could look at his best known effort The Sistine Chapel ceiling and think that he had no time left for anything else. But he was prolific. The Pieta is another piece of great fame. As is the giant David. He produced 45 significant sculptures including Moses and Crouching Child. His most accepted easel painting was the Holy Family. He was also a noted architect having designed Saint Peter's Basilica. His mark on grand Italian architecture can be found on 12 other major buildings throughout the country. He was a busy guy.

The (Really) Weakend:
A woman in love with fourteen soldiers has a platoonic relationship.

A guy throwing a bowl of Jello at his wife could be arrested for having a congealed weapon!

I don't know about you, but I'm not going to think too deeply this weekend. Take it easy

Who says?

Today's Tids Issue 2,069
Opening Stuff:

Why don’t I believe that John Lackey is going to be that good? Why don’t I feel confident that Lackey, Beckett and Lester will be a “Fearsome Triumvirate”? Why do I believe that the Boston Red Sox will fall one run short more often than not. Maybe I’m just one of those old fans who still can’t believe they still aren’t on a title-less streak since 1918. They still have to go beyond the publicity driven euphoria and prove it to me…every year.

I love hearing little kids in the 4 year old range saying things like “Watch me throw the ball Ma”, or “Watch me jump off this rock Dad”. They are capturing very simply the full emotions of a beautiful intimacy.

The Question:

Name Michelangelo’s five greatest works of art.

The Headlines:

--Austin Texas IRS Building Attack Was Premeditated Suicide; Man Had Had It Up To Eye Brows With Gov. and IRS Says Web Suicide Note.
--Golf Writers To Boycott Woods Love Fest.
--Marines Dropped Behind Taliban Lines In Ongoing Battle For Marjah.
--Ugliness Of Commercial Real Estate Mortgage Problem Becoming More Apparent.
--Obama Authorizes $1.9 Billion In Retribution To Black Farmers Thought To be Discriminated Against By department Of Agriculture.

Back To Stuff:

I think when you wade through all of the well publicized crap about what we all should worry, you’ll find that almost everybody who has ever walked a step upon this earth would agree that must find a good, surefire remedy for colds. The Tids will be on the prowl looking for the best of home remedies and store bought stuff too. Send in your favorite’s.

Did you see where President “Burger Boy”, former MacDonald’s muncher Bill Clinton, is speaking out in behalf of Michelle O’s obesity in children program? Next he is taking up the cause of the Tiger Woods rehabilitation program. He will be in charge of getting the woman to back off law suits.

If you talk to any person raised in the forties and early fifties you will quickly learn that obesity wasn’t a problem probably because kids would spend half of their waking hours riding bicycles or walking humongous distances. Kids would awaken each morning and plan their own days which almost often required extremely strenuous exercise.

More proof that wars are now run by Public Relation’s people: They are changing the name of the Iraq War to “Operation New Dawn”. How about changing WWII to “Setting Sun?”

We laugh, or maybe not, about the typos that are consistent nuisances in the Tids. I rationalize this as collateral damage along the way in a quest for bigger ideas. But, after looking within, I’m thinking…does an artist leave some of the brushstrokes for viewers to complete? Does an engineer leave out some of the bolts for bridge users to discover? Is a written piece full of technical errors a masterpiece? Everything that is half done is…well…half done.

The Novel:

Through the Same Eyes. Chapter 55 continues. –The mood seemed relatively bright considering the dirty little drama unfolding within these antiseptic walls. Jack Wiley was charming Isabelle and Izzy was charming back. A real love fest. Jack Wiley started saying what I thought he would say, “We are here and we are looking forward to getting this thing going. Normally my people and I would be sitting here stonefaced trying to back you into a corner until you would submit to an offer that was slightly more beneficial to us than you. But, I have been talking with my wonderful Maggie the Magnificent, that is Sarah Durham to everybody else”, Wiley chuckled. “No”, I thought, “that is Sarah Durham to everybody but me. It’s Sarah/Maggie to me.” And I smiled to myself under the ongoing words of Wiley. “One of the things that Sarah always brings to the table is irrefutable logic. Where many dispute minor points that often erupt in to major roadblocks, Sarah sees all of the advantages for both sides.” He paused for effect. “Instead of getting hung up with the Bromsky misconduct, or more appropriately a major felony that might derail most negotiations, she sees it as something that over time will be a technological advantage. She tells me that you are fortunate to have a technological power like Kent Middleton to pick up the pieces and keep the growth momentum going”, He nodded my way, “And…she loves the guidance that Isabelle offers as the Honcho.” Izzy was looking relaxed.

Back To More Stuff:

There seems to be more senior citizens taking classes these days than kids in Kindergarten. How long will it be until the NEA wants to organize the volunteer instructors and demand more taxes to pay for it?

Lou Dobbs, a radio talker gaining credibility and listenership said yesterday that his new hero was a woman from Rhode Island. He was talking about Dorothy Gist the state’s education commissioner. She says authoritatively what all citizens want to say about the education system and the way their taxes are being used to run it. And she says it directly without hedging in a state that is literally run by big unions and in particular the teacher’s unions. But she gets things done because she has the capability of pointing out what is right in a way that even the opposition can’t deny it. Or would be really embarrassed doing so. Dorothy Gist for President.

Did you ever think that you would ever have to learn how to spell M-a-r-j-a-h?

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:

--Shutter Island has been the most heavily promoted movie in recent times. I guess they have been trying to overwhelm the public because it isn’t very good. Any movie with an opening scene of the hero throwing up from sea sickness for a 5 minute ferry ride is an immediate turn-off for me. This is a drab over-acted movie, where the “Cats Jumping out of the Alleys” scare tactics wear thin half way through. But even worse, one quarter the way through any semi intelligent human will figure out the “surprise” ending. There is more to not like about this worst of the Leo-Marty movies.
--The best available movie in weeks maybe the top 10 Collection of 2009 Academy Award nominated short films. Well done and lots of emotions. I’d look for it.

The Answer:

Just about everybody would know Pieta, David and the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo was an enormously accomplished genius in sculpture, painting and architecture, yes architecture. Among well know edifices he designed are the St. Peter’s Basilica, The Laurentian Library and the fortifications for the City of Florence. One of his most amazing paintings and maybe the most famous fresco of all times was the “Last Judgment” on the wall behind the Sistine chapel altar.

The End:

You feeling low? Yesterday the players on the basketball team for Bryant University in Rhode Island were feeling low too. Their record was the worst in NCAA history at 0-26. Last night they won by 2 points beating Wagner College of NY. There is always an up.