Today's Tids Issue 2,192
Opening Stuff:
Happy VJ Day everybody! as you may know, RI is the only state that celebrates VJ Day as a full fledged holiday. You just have to know that this celebration makes a lot of people in this just named "Most Liberal States in America" really, really mad.
It's hard to argue that a perfect American home would have a flag waving from a pole next to the front door, and the wash waving from a clothesline in the back yard.
The total amount of oil spilled in this largest spill ever was 200 Million gallons. That is the amount the US consumes every...6 hours! Think about that for a moment. Let's see, if we started raising herds of dinosaurs now, in about a million years or so we might start replenishing our reserves again.
I will never be tempted to attend an edible mushroom workshop.
The Question: Give me 5 myths about fitness. Clue: One of them isn't Gravy is bad for your health.
The Headlines:
--1,000 Chinese Missing As Massive Floods Rise.
--North Korea Fires Artillery At Sea Border; Tensions High.
--Wall Street Rising; Positive Comments From Fed About Adding Liquidity Fuels Enthusiasm.
--House Members Scurrying Back to Pass Jobs Bill.
--BP Nearly Ready For Final Plug.
--On Of The Murdering Arizona Escaped Prisoners Captured In Wyoming.
--Nation Mourns Murdered Afghan Medical Givers.
--Berkshire Hathaway Profits Down 40%; Derivative Value Decline Destructive.
Back to More Stuff:
Lets hear it for Patricia Neal. She was immense as an actress. But her finest award was for her amazing fight against brain cancer. She died last night at 84.
You probably have seen that news items where two overwrought public officials decided to clamp down on a 7 year old's lemonade stand because she didn't have a license. In fact, the two lunkheads fined this latest trustee of a significant American entrepreneurial tradition -- $500. I see this is as a great example of what happens when there are too many public employees enforcing too many laws that were never necessary in the first place. Vote them all out -- Federal, State, Local -- in November.
When I was a kid I was fined five cents each time I said "Ain't". When you consider that my entire earnings for a week through an allowance was 25 Cents. you can imagine the pain. If that happened today, the kids would call ACLU! Well, I still say ain't and I don't eat peas. And, they way Wall Street is treating my savings, 25 Cents is still a big number to me.
If you don't think public employee unions are out of control, just take a gander at what the Teachers Union for Milwaukee is trying to suck out taxpayer's wallets. This town which has been fighting big deficits has laid off 392 teachers. There's just not enough money. Period. But in their wisdom, the Union is not trying to save jobs with there new negotiations. Nope. They are demanding that the city spend nearly a million more to pay for Viagra, Cialis, Levitra et. al.! That is the cost of saving 24 teacher's jobs. Actually with the passage of the latest "Jobs" bill, it may enable the Union o get that extra dough. Now, that is a stimulus package. Has the world gone mad.
You just have to know that there are a bunch of habitual whiners who hated the day the oil spill was plugged. And they really hate the fact that destruction of the ocean floor so far seems quite minuscule.
I'd never want to be accused of profiling...but, any time I see a picture in a crime story of guy with long stringy, dirty hair, mustache and beard, I say Guilty as charged. And, if I see one hitchhiking, I stomp on the pedal and check the rear view mirror!
Through the same Eyes: Chapter 88 continues. --"Henry, there's a car following me. You know that cars coming up behind me make me nervous." Why do I make little jokes when it isn't a funny situation.
"Where are you Sar?" He sounded concerned.
"I'm deep up the Whitaker's driveway. I saw a guy in an ordinary looking Chevy come out from behind Marie's I thought I saw him looking at me. I stayed calm, but when I got out onto the road I stomped on the accelerator, and turned up the first driveway beyond the curve.
"That's good Sar. What color is ordinary?
I smiled. good ole' Henry. "Green. Dark green. I watched him drive slowly by heading north towards you end of town."
"Stay where you are. I'll get back to you."
He wasn't jolly old cool and collected Henry any more. But I liked who he was. "What do I do if the Whitaker's come home?"
There was a long pause, like that was the stupidest question ever asked. And then..."Smile at them."
He hung up. I pulled my car further around the back of the house. It was a beautiful back acre or so. maybe I should organize a garden tour.
I decided to call Paul, but he beat me to it. Before I could paint a picture of a damsel in distress, he blurted" Sally O has been let go. She is with me now."
"What?" I can only think of stupid questions right now. She wants the three of us to get together where nobody is watching.
I briefly explained my situation.
"Holy shit!" was all Paul was capable of saying. "I'll call back. Stay right where you are."
I already am. I thought.
How many times have you heard a politician say to an ex Military man, "Thanks for your service!". How about some day saying that to an old Ad Man or woman. With the the Ad biz, The huge economy the US has enjoyed over the years is clearly the the result of the work of ad people. Creating markets. Exaggerating need. Creating jealousies and envy among citizens who thought they were happy with what they had. And how about tht politician...and all other politicians. The people would have seen them for what they really are. Shallow and self centered. Yeah I'm proud to have fought the advertising wars as a young man. Without me this country would have been nothing.
Seriously, people throughout the nation should be thanked for their service to the country. Great countries don't just happen. They are the sum total of all the people working diligently at what they do best. Plugging leaks, filing files, singing songs, healing the sick, saying prayers, making decisions...and yes getting out the information through ads.
I guess the Dems are having a little trouble with the PayGo Deficit reduction plan they pushed through last January. Apparently some Senate Republicans are learning that the Dems view of "PayGo" is: The people Pay more taxes and they go crazy with spending.
I have to smile at the image of congress people "scurrying"! They don't scurry much unless there's money to be spent frivolously.
The Answer: The Myths: 1. Walking is not as good as running. 2. Exercise increases hunger. 3. It doesn't matter where your calories come from. 4. Diet alone is enough for sustained weight loss. 5. There is no best time for exercise. (In case you are interested, it is better to exercise in the late afternoon.)
The Beginning...of a new grand week.
It is Monday and I'm have a wonderful day. Hope you all are.
Layng quietly in fields
Glstening lights
Showing posts with label Oil slick. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oil slick. Show all posts
Monday, August 9, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
Credibility, Confusion, Courtesy.
Today's Tids Issue 2,176
Opening Stuff:
This foggy dawn is one of your basic limp waffle mornings.
Speaking of limp, I think I’m getting a little soft on the politicians. At times in order to maintain credibility and avoid unfounded, factually incorrect rants, I find my self trying to understand the opposition. But, the more I research current events the more I find evidence that we are under assault by the “Nanny State” advocates and others who would take away freedom after freedom over time. Unctuous little people who hide behind contrived theories based on exploiting the emotions of loving people. People who advocate replacing personal responsibility with government controls and mandates. Yesterday we get Financial Reform law where the biggest benefit is to those people advocating bigger Government and more big government intrusion. A law that even supporters deem “Imperfect” but “a necessary compromise”. Everything these days that comes out of DC is imperfect. This is not a time to be lulled. This is a time to start looking to November. To begin ending the madness.
A reader reminds me that “Both politicians and diapers need to be changed often; And for the same reason.”
The Question:
Today is Friday, so it must be a double bonus Q! How great is that? 1. The British Open is underway (You can watch it on ESPN starting at 4:00AM – That’s AM) so lets ask a little historical BO Golf question. Name five golfers who have had the most rounds under 70. 2. A survey group was given 4 choices and they had to pick one – Save $50/ week; Have more sex; Gain an hour a day; Drop a clothing size. Which one do you think came out on top?
The Headlines:
--All Eyes On Well Tests.
--0-Man Continues To Campaign Against Bush.
--Minor Earthquake Rattles DC Residents; Resident Says, “Tremors Nothing Compared To What Congress Does To Us Every Day.”
--Habitual High Heel Wearers Could be Finding A Lot Of Leg Pain In Older Years.
--Authorities Trying To Unravel Mystery Of July 7 UFO Sighting Over China Airport.
--CitiGroup reports 10% Profit Drop; GE Reports Higher Earnings On Cost Cutting, Down Revenues.
Back to More Stuff:
Yesterday in our continuing effort to report the truth, I wrote the words of the Prez in his speech to the Muslim world. As I read the speech before I write the paragraph, I became aware of the conciliatory, apologetic tone inferring once more from President Wimpy a condemnation of the US past. A reader wrote to inform me that, Yes, while he may have been a Christian, his Christian mentor was the intolerable, white hating Reverend Wright. That the intellectual, enlightened Muslims were devoured 1,000 years ago by the religious zealot factions thus ending Islam’s contributions to science.
On the other hand, I condemned ABC news yesterday for selective reporting of anecdotes from a bitter few to emphasize the inadequacies of BP. A day later, the news org reached out further and actually showed the BP efforts to compensate as very effective. Many LA residents said that compared to the Government’s handling of Katrina payouts, BP was amazingly efficient and their hope was that the Government would stay away and out of the way. Other parts of the report told us that seaside restaurants were have a great year, maybe one of their best in a decade as clean-up workers filled the seats. There is always more to the stories as reported, and occasionally we get it. But not often enough.
Apparently, a lot of the uglier scenes of tar balls flying around the internet are photographically altered or from older oil spills around d the country.
Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 83. –Paul answered my call quickly. He said he was still in a meeting and it may take an hour or so. But he was in an up beat mood and told me that it must have been because he saw me earlier. I responded that I felt the same way too. But, I didn’t know how I felt.
Paul went on to tell me more than I wanted to know at the moment about how critical his equipment had become to everything that was being accomplished at BIEm research. Then he said, “Maybe it isn’t you at all, but just that I am needed by these poor scientists.” He laughed at his little jest.
I laughed along with him. I always laughed along with him. It was part of what we have always done. From the first time I saw him. The connection. Our connection. “Maybe you don’t need me at all, now that you are so successful.” But, this time he didn’t respond with one of his quips.” It was just silent. Did I hit a nerve that I was unaware of? Have I been feeling all along that he didn’t really need me?
“Sarah,” he started slowly, softly, “You are everything to me. You are my life. I would sell my company and become your house mom in Fosterville if you asked. All I want is you and your happiness.” I listened silently. He was crying. I could tell.
“You will always have me,” I answered sincerely. Then I wondered about who I really was. This person who actually has everything. Was becoming…what? My hand started to shake. Then I added. “Thank you Paul.” He didn’t say anything. Maybe he couldn’t.
“Call me when you are finished. I’ll be at Henry’s” Am I that cold? “Love you,” I added. I hung up.
I think a good name for a restaurant would be “No Trendiness Here”. A lot of perfectly good menus are spoiled by some misinformed restaurant owner jumping upon trend bandwagons.
Of course there are exceptions. The current “Lobster Mac n’ Cheese trend at restaurants around here has definite merits.
Every day I seem to see or hear about another example of inconsideration. There are just too many people, it seems to me, who don’t understand the simple facts about commons courtesy. It can be simple littering, or parking cars on somebody’s lawn because a party had grown too big. The over crowding of animals in neighborhoods. There is just a little too much “I’m for me” going on around towns and villages these days.
Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews –Confusion Friday:
--Remembering that Leonard’s last big film Shutter Island was totally not what it appeared, it is easy to understand why The DeCap would venture into the confusing Inception. Which is totally not what it appears to be “squared”. The big difference here is that the audience will be confused from the beginning in Inception while it was only confused at the end in Shutter. DeCaprio heads a Mission Impossible style team that invades minds, reads dreams and plants seeds. The particular target is a business rival who has plans in his mind that would grievously injure the operations of the business man who hired DeCap. The promos say you may want to see it twice to figure it out. This is the same Director who gave us the mindboggling “Momento”. Personally, I like to boggle my mind. And this sounds like a winner to me.
--The Sorcerers Apprentice is about a man Balthazar Blake in current times seeking to be come the long sought after replacement for the magical Merlin. He and his young associate find magic in an old antique shop. The young boy associate (The sorcerer’s apprentice) takes a nesting doll that has imprisoned the nasty Morgana for ten centuries. If released, Morgana would destroy the world. Ten years later Balthazar seeks to find the apprentice before his evil rival Horvath does. Horvath wants to release Morgana to do her evil deeds. Lots of special magical effects. Would be fun if you could figure it out. It’s a giant “Who cares?” movie.
--The Girl who Played with Fire could be confusing too, if you hadn’t seen the first in the series…The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Lisbeth finds her self a suspect in a case revolving around a sex trafficking ring and three murders. She goes on the run. It’s a pretty good yarn but it hasn’t the same depth of character as Dragon tattoo. It plays like a standard TV cop show. But it serves a purpose as a reasonable interim between Dragon and the next in the series The Girl who Kicked the Hornet’s nest. If you liked Dragon, you may be a little disappointed, but it will still be enjoyable.
The Answer:
1. The golfers with the most under 70 rounds in the British Open history are jack Nicklaus (35), Nick Faldo (35), Tom Watson(27), Greg Norman(23), Lee Trevino(21), Seve Ballesteros(20) and Nick Price(20). They are remembering Seve at this years event as he had to stay home in Spain because of his illness. 2. 57% chose to save $50/week. Figures factored into the #2 answer with 31% going for a drop in clothing size. 6% said they’d like an extra hour while only 6% are sex starved. Personally, I can’t understand why anyone would want an extra hour. And also. Maybe those who voted fro a drop in size figured they’d get a little more sex after that.
The biggest danger to the effectiveness of the loyal opposition is destroying credibility by stretching the truth beyond belief.
Opening Stuff:
This foggy dawn is one of your basic limp waffle mornings.
Speaking of limp, I think I’m getting a little soft on the politicians. At times in order to maintain credibility and avoid unfounded, factually incorrect rants, I find my self trying to understand the opposition. But, the more I research current events the more I find evidence that we are under assault by the “Nanny State” advocates and others who would take away freedom after freedom over time. Unctuous little people who hide behind contrived theories based on exploiting the emotions of loving people. People who advocate replacing personal responsibility with government controls and mandates. Yesterday we get Financial Reform law where the biggest benefit is to those people advocating bigger Government and more big government intrusion. A law that even supporters deem “Imperfect” but “a necessary compromise”. Everything these days that comes out of DC is imperfect. This is not a time to be lulled. This is a time to start looking to November. To begin ending the madness.
A reader reminds me that “Both politicians and diapers need to be changed often; And for the same reason.”
The Question:
Today is Friday, so it must be a double bonus Q! How great is that? 1. The British Open is underway (You can watch it on ESPN starting at 4:00AM – That’s AM) so lets ask a little historical BO Golf question. Name five golfers who have had the most rounds under 70. 2. A survey group was given 4 choices and they had to pick one – Save $50/ week; Have more sex; Gain an hour a day; Drop a clothing size. Which one do you think came out on top?
The Headlines:
--All Eyes On Well Tests.
--0-Man Continues To Campaign Against Bush.
--Minor Earthquake Rattles DC Residents; Resident Says, “Tremors Nothing Compared To What Congress Does To Us Every Day.”
--Habitual High Heel Wearers Could be Finding A Lot Of Leg Pain In Older Years.
--Authorities Trying To Unravel Mystery Of July 7 UFO Sighting Over China Airport.
--CitiGroup reports 10% Profit Drop; GE Reports Higher Earnings On Cost Cutting, Down Revenues.
Back to More Stuff:
Yesterday in our continuing effort to report the truth, I wrote the words of the Prez in his speech to the Muslim world. As I read the speech before I write the paragraph, I became aware of the conciliatory, apologetic tone inferring once more from President Wimpy a condemnation of the US past. A reader wrote to inform me that, Yes, while he may have been a Christian, his Christian mentor was the intolerable, white hating Reverend Wright. That the intellectual, enlightened Muslims were devoured 1,000 years ago by the religious zealot factions thus ending Islam’s contributions to science.
On the other hand, I condemned ABC news yesterday for selective reporting of anecdotes from a bitter few to emphasize the inadequacies of BP. A day later, the news org reached out further and actually showed the BP efforts to compensate as very effective. Many LA residents said that compared to the Government’s handling of Katrina payouts, BP was amazingly efficient and their hope was that the Government would stay away and out of the way. Other parts of the report told us that seaside restaurants were have a great year, maybe one of their best in a decade as clean-up workers filled the seats. There is always more to the stories as reported, and occasionally we get it. But not often enough.
Apparently, a lot of the uglier scenes of tar balls flying around the internet are photographically altered or from older oil spills around d the country.
Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 83. –Paul answered my call quickly. He said he was still in a meeting and it may take an hour or so. But he was in an up beat mood and told me that it must have been because he saw me earlier. I responded that I felt the same way too. But, I didn’t know how I felt.
Paul went on to tell me more than I wanted to know at the moment about how critical his equipment had become to everything that was being accomplished at BIEm research. Then he said, “Maybe it isn’t you at all, but just that I am needed by these poor scientists.” He laughed at his little jest.
I laughed along with him. I always laughed along with him. It was part of what we have always done. From the first time I saw him. The connection. Our connection. “Maybe you don’t need me at all, now that you are so successful.” But, this time he didn’t respond with one of his quips.” It was just silent. Did I hit a nerve that I was unaware of? Have I been feeling all along that he didn’t really need me?
“Sarah,” he started slowly, softly, “You are everything to me. You are my life. I would sell my company and become your house mom in Fosterville if you asked. All I want is you and your happiness.” I listened silently. He was crying. I could tell.
“You will always have me,” I answered sincerely. Then I wondered about who I really was. This person who actually has everything. Was becoming…what? My hand started to shake. Then I added. “Thank you Paul.” He didn’t say anything. Maybe he couldn’t.
“Call me when you are finished. I’ll be at Henry’s” Am I that cold? “Love you,” I added. I hung up.
I think a good name for a restaurant would be “No Trendiness Here”. A lot of perfectly good menus are spoiled by some misinformed restaurant owner jumping upon trend bandwagons.
Of course there are exceptions. The current “Lobster Mac n’ Cheese trend at restaurants around here has definite merits.
Every day I seem to see or hear about another example of inconsideration. There are just too many people, it seems to me, who don’t understand the simple facts about commons courtesy. It can be simple littering, or parking cars on somebody’s lawn because a party had grown too big. The over crowding of animals in neighborhoods. There is just a little too much “I’m for me” going on around towns and villages these days.
Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews –Confusion Friday:
--Remembering that Leonard’s last big film Shutter Island was totally not what it appeared, it is easy to understand why The DeCap would venture into the confusing Inception. Which is totally not what it appears to be “squared”. The big difference here is that the audience will be confused from the beginning in Inception while it was only confused at the end in Shutter. DeCaprio heads a Mission Impossible style team that invades minds, reads dreams and plants seeds. The particular target is a business rival who has plans in his mind that would grievously injure the operations of the business man who hired DeCap. The promos say you may want to see it twice to figure it out. This is the same Director who gave us the mindboggling “Momento”. Personally, I like to boggle my mind. And this sounds like a winner to me.
--The Sorcerers Apprentice is about a man Balthazar Blake in current times seeking to be come the long sought after replacement for the magical Merlin. He and his young associate find magic in an old antique shop. The young boy associate (The sorcerer’s apprentice) takes a nesting doll that has imprisoned the nasty Morgana for ten centuries. If released, Morgana would destroy the world. Ten years later Balthazar seeks to find the apprentice before his evil rival Horvath does. Horvath wants to release Morgana to do her evil deeds. Lots of special magical effects. Would be fun if you could figure it out. It’s a giant “Who cares?” movie.
--The Girl who Played with Fire could be confusing too, if you hadn’t seen the first in the series…The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Lisbeth finds her self a suspect in a case revolving around a sex trafficking ring and three murders. She goes on the run. It’s a pretty good yarn but it hasn’t the same depth of character as Dragon tattoo. It plays like a standard TV cop show. But it serves a purpose as a reasonable interim between Dragon and the next in the series The Girl who Kicked the Hornet’s nest. If you liked Dragon, you may be a little disappointed, but it will still be enjoyable.
The Answer:
1. The golfers with the most under 70 rounds in the British Open history are jack Nicklaus (35), Nick Faldo (35), Tom Watson(27), Greg Norman(23), Lee Trevino(21), Seve Ballesteros(20) and Nick Price(20). They are remembering Seve at this years event as he had to stay home in Spain because of his illness. 2. 57% chose to save $50/week. Figures factored into the #2 answer with 31% going for a drop in clothing size. 6% said they’d like an extra hour while only 6% are sex starved. Personally, I can’t understand why anyone would want an extra hour. And also. Maybe those who voted fro a drop in size figured they’d get a little more sex after that.
The biggest danger to the effectiveness of the loyal opposition is destroying credibility by stretching the truth beyond belief.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Good people deserve everything they get.
Today's Tids Issue 2,160
Opening Stuff
Don’t you just love it when good things happen to good people!
You have to think that LA Gov. Bobby Jindle feels the same sense of frustration as AZ Gov. Jan Brewer as he stands helpless, watching an unending morass attack his southern border. And he wishes that like her he had taken state action when it all happened instead of waiting for fed approval. Has there ever been a better case for strengthening States Rights than these two man-made disasters?
The Question:
What are Obama’s new poll numbers?
The Headlines:
--Robot Error Reopens Capped Well.
--0-Man Fires McChrystal; Petraeus Duties In Mid East Wars Expanded.
--Droid X Ready To Prick The Balloon Of iPhone 4.
--Pakistan Court Sentences Americans for terrorism.
--Market Sucks Again.
--Tids Almost doesn’t Make Newsstand.
Back to More Stuff:
Generals have been politicians for a long, long time. That’s how they got there. It becomes the problem is when the politics of political correctness suck the spirit out of the soldier. But, the fact remains that the President and not the General is unequivocal boss. Whether a leader or not, the Presidential is the head of the US Armed Forces and must be respected. Do we want o decline even further to third world status and have the Generals take over the civilian leaders of government? I don’t think so.
I really hate myself when I write the word “leader” as an adjective for people in high government places.
Where there’s Fed Dough, There’s somebody figuring out some scam on how to get it:
The latest…the US Treasury is out $28 million on the Home Buying Credit program. In one scam, one house was used 57 times as the basis for mortgages. 1,400 prisoners have been getting $8,000 credits on non-existent homes. How many scams are being plotted to take advantage of the Oil Leak money?
In South Carolina they are hailing the election of a Republican black and Indian for Congress and Governor as a breakthrough from the old bigoted South. “Not so fast”, shouts the media who say the are too conservative to be consider of black race or ethnic minority. This is true folks.
I have been talking to a lot of blue collar workers lately and to a man they can hardly wait to through out incumbents. And I don’t bring up the subject .
If the housing market is sluggish with mortgage rates hitting a new low of 4.69%, then you know there are some deep rooted problems still within our economy.
The Answer: His job approval rating hit a new low of 45%. 48% disapprove. 62% think the country is on the wrong track. His “being firm and decisive is down from 63% to 44%. Less than 50% rate him “honest and straightforward”.
Thank God it's Over:
This is the worst Tids ever…bar none
Opening Stuff
Don’t you just love it when good things happen to good people!
You have to think that LA Gov. Bobby Jindle feels the same sense of frustration as AZ Gov. Jan Brewer as he stands helpless, watching an unending morass attack his southern border. And he wishes that like her he had taken state action when it all happened instead of waiting for fed approval. Has there ever been a better case for strengthening States Rights than these two man-made disasters?
The Question:
What are Obama’s new poll numbers?
The Headlines:
--Robot Error Reopens Capped Well.
--0-Man Fires McChrystal; Petraeus Duties In Mid East Wars Expanded.
--Droid X Ready To Prick The Balloon Of iPhone 4.
--Pakistan Court Sentences Americans for terrorism.
--Market Sucks Again.
--Tids Almost doesn’t Make Newsstand.
Back to More Stuff:
Generals have been politicians for a long, long time. That’s how they got there. It becomes the problem is when the politics of political correctness suck the spirit out of the soldier. But, the fact remains that the President and not the General is unequivocal boss. Whether a leader or not, the Presidential is the head of the US Armed Forces and must be respected. Do we want o decline even further to third world status and have the Generals take over the civilian leaders of government? I don’t think so.
I really hate myself when I write the word “leader” as an adjective for people in high government places.
Where there’s Fed Dough, There’s somebody figuring out some scam on how to get it:
The latest…the US Treasury is out $28 million on the Home Buying Credit program. In one scam, one house was used 57 times as the basis for mortgages. 1,400 prisoners have been getting $8,000 credits on non-existent homes. How many scams are being plotted to take advantage of the Oil Leak money?
In South Carolina they are hailing the election of a Republican black and Indian for Congress and Governor as a breakthrough from the old bigoted South. “Not so fast”, shouts the media who say the are too conservative to be consider of black race or ethnic minority. This is true folks.
I have been talking to a lot of blue collar workers lately and to a man they can hardly wait to through out incumbents. And I don’t bring up the subject .
If the housing market is sluggish with mortgage rates hitting a new low of 4.69%, then you know there are some deep rooted problems still within our economy.
The Answer: His job approval rating hit a new low of 45%. 48% disapprove. 62% think the country is on the wrong track. His “being firm and decisive is down from 63% to 44%. Less than 50% rate him “honest and straightforward”.
Thank God it's Over:
This is the worst Tids ever…bar none
Friday, June 18, 2010
It is what it is; We are who we are.
Today's Tids Issue 2,156
Opening Stuff:
A Rose Department:
'Tis but thy name that is my enemy; / Thou art thyself, though not a Montague. / What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot, / Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part / Belonging to a man. O, be some other name! / What's in a name? that which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet; / So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd, / Retain that dear perfection which he owes / Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name, / And for that name which is no part of thee / Take all myself.
Never hurts to start the day with a little Shakespeare logic.
Roses are blooming one by one and soon will be arrays of pinks and reds and yellows. And the heart would leap and the senses would explode exactly the same no matter the name. This is probably why I have trouble remembering people’s names, but never forget who they are.
Identity theft is running rampant among penguins.
The Question:
Who said the following, and what does it mean?: "What has defined us as a nation since our founding is the capacity to shape our destiny--our determination to fight for the America we want for our children. Even if we're unsure exactly what that it looks like. Even if we don't yet know precisely how we're going to get there. We know we'll get there."
The Headlines:
--Ethnic Clashes In Kyrgystan Leave Over 2,000 Dead.
--Celts Lose Championship Final 83-79; Green Team Controlled Game For First 45 Minutes, But Sagged At end.
--Some Worried About Abundance Of Methane In Gulf Oil; “Most Vigorous Methane eruption…In History” could create Massive Oxygen-less Dead Zones.
--Prime Time Back On Campaign Trail After Kicking Some Butt.
--Killer Tornados Hit Minnesota.
--Unsettled Market To Give Small Investors Jitters Once Again Today.
Back to More Stuff:
Nobody really cares about the ravaged moonscape that is Kyrgystan, except of course the families who watch their loved ones needlessly die on a daily basis. But this human tragedy is more than an event in a faraway land that doesn’t have any affect on our cloistered lives here. Except that it does. The conditions in Kyrgystan are exactly what Jihad groups look for in their unrelenting campaign for recruitment of new terror operatives they can send throughout the world. They prey on the disenfranchised, the hopeless. Good people so in need and hope that they turn to anybody who extends a hand.
In their infinite wisdom, the RI State Legislature just passed a law making legal the type of fireworks that were the cause of the massive Station Nightclub fire that killed over a hundred and maimed many more.
Cassat and Brookins point out that today a rare medical condition is one that is covered by health insurance.
One of the great mysteries in America today is how exactly a guy named Alvin Greene who was “involuntarily” discharged from the army, is facing obscenity charges, has no job, doesn’t own a cell phone or computer and did no campaigning, won 59% of the vote in the South Carolina Democrat primary for the US Senate. And beat a guy who did all of the right things while crisscrossing the state.
Authorities are thinking it could have been a malfunctioning voter machine system or some type of fraud. But they are now actually thinking that the real explanation is that. “Green appeared first on the ballot and was a more dulcet-sounding name”! Doesn’t say much about the thoughtfulness of voters, does it. Oh, and Greene, when interviewed says it (hoe election) was because he is the best man and “I am also the best person to be Time Magazine’s Man of the Year.”
The most intriguing part of the Oil Slick Watch are the people running around to microphones.
Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 79: --“Sar…”. Why she hung up on me. What is she up to. What did she and Henry talk about. Why did she lie to me? The security people told me she went directly to the police station. She didn’t go home to check on a sick child. Her voice, her voice reminded me of what I have felt while making love to her, even as I was using her. Are we so alike that she is capable of using me. While have felt guilt, I never saw her as concerned about her family as brought me alive.. Yet, why I felt guilt, but she seemed so cold with regards to her family. Has her infatuation with me been an act. Is she playing me now. No, she likes me. I’ll be alert tomorrow morning. Do we know too much about how the other thinks?
Enough Kent. Enough, I said to myself. There are more pressing things. I picked up the phone and dialed Jason’s direct number. He answered after three rings. “What took you so long,” I started
“I have other clients,” responded as sarcastically as ever. But you, my friend, are certainly my most important.” Then he laughed his best corporate chuckle. “So, what’s up?”
“A couple of things. First Sarah Durham is playing games with me. Your guys followed her directly to the sheriff. So, I now know she is hiding something. You were right about watching her. Also, Henry Boulder tells me that there is something strange about the Laura disappearance. Hat did your guys do there? And, how is she. I hope you are taking good of her.”
“You know what, Kent? You fall in love to easily. And both of your women look like trouble to this trained eye. We have Laura safe, and while she is being a large pain in the ass, we are making her comfortable. You have to watch the Durham woman. She good be your biggest nightmare. No matter how good you feel when you are porking her.” Then he laughed like the maniac he was.
“She means more to me than that,” I said with a hint of outrage. “I’m having breakfast with her tomorrow morning. I’ll be careful.”
Have fun,” he said snidely. He hung up.
I won a small award the other day and in a press release about it I was described as “Intellectually Lively”? I take that as meaning confused and indecipherable.
Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:
--Toy Story is …well…Toy Story, with all of its wonderful characters and a story that is enjoyable to watch as previous two versions. Of all the sequels that pop into this column, TS always receives the most consistent raves.
--Cyrus is probably a decent piece of entertainment in the genre I call always-predictable-but-heartwarming-romantic-comedies. A divorcee who has failed to find new love after 7 years is urged by a friend and his ex-wife to date a woman they know. It is the woman of his dreams but she is committed to another man – her some! Get it.
--Oliver Platt and Katherine Keener star in a quirky little story about a couple who own a big city antique shop and a business which they describe as “Buying from the children of dead people.” It is about their hold on the apartment of their aging, about-ready-to-die 90 yo. next door neighbor (Ann Guilbert) and her two daughters, Amanda Peete and Rebecca Hall. It is about people learning how to give. It is funny and warm and perhaps one of those little buried gems to find this summer, among the glitz.
The Answer:
The 0-Man said that Tuesday in his remarks on the Oil spill, and what it means to me is that we definitely have a lawyer in the White House.
Just One more Petal:
I’ll be thinking about roses all day long. That can’t be bad. Hope you get a few good whiffs of them during the weekend.
Opening Stuff:
A Rose Department:
'Tis but thy name that is my enemy; / Thou art thyself, though not a Montague. / What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot, / Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part / Belonging to a man. O, be some other name! / What's in a name? that which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet; / So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd, / Retain that dear perfection which he owes / Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name, / And for that name which is no part of thee / Take all myself.
Never hurts to start the day with a little Shakespeare logic.
Roses are blooming one by one and soon will be arrays of pinks and reds and yellows. And the heart would leap and the senses would explode exactly the same no matter the name. This is probably why I have trouble remembering people’s names, but never forget who they are.
Identity theft is running rampant among penguins.
The Question:
Who said the following, and what does it mean?: "What has defined us as a nation since our founding is the capacity to shape our destiny--our determination to fight for the America we want for our children. Even if we're unsure exactly what that it looks like. Even if we don't yet know precisely how we're going to get there. We know we'll get there."
The Headlines:
--Ethnic Clashes In Kyrgystan Leave Over 2,000 Dead.
--Celts Lose Championship Final 83-79; Green Team Controlled Game For First 45 Minutes, But Sagged At end.
--Some Worried About Abundance Of Methane In Gulf Oil; “Most Vigorous Methane eruption…In History” could create Massive Oxygen-less Dead Zones.
--Prime Time Back On Campaign Trail After Kicking Some Butt.
--Killer Tornados Hit Minnesota.
--Unsettled Market To Give Small Investors Jitters Once Again Today.
Back to More Stuff:
Nobody really cares about the ravaged moonscape that is Kyrgystan, except of course the families who watch their loved ones needlessly die on a daily basis. But this human tragedy is more than an event in a faraway land that doesn’t have any affect on our cloistered lives here. Except that it does. The conditions in Kyrgystan are exactly what Jihad groups look for in their unrelenting campaign for recruitment of new terror operatives they can send throughout the world. They prey on the disenfranchised, the hopeless. Good people so in need and hope that they turn to anybody who extends a hand.
In their infinite wisdom, the RI State Legislature just passed a law making legal the type of fireworks that were the cause of the massive Station Nightclub fire that killed over a hundred and maimed many more.
Cassat and Brookins point out that today a rare medical condition is one that is covered by health insurance.
One of the great mysteries in America today is how exactly a guy named Alvin Greene who was “involuntarily” discharged from the army, is facing obscenity charges, has no job, doesn’t own a cell phone or computer and did no campaigning, won 59% of the vote in the South Carolina Democrat primary for the US Senate. And beat a guy who did all of the right things while crisscrossing the state.
Authorities are thinking it could have been a malfunctioning voter machine system or some type of fraud. But they are now actually thinking that the real explanation is that. “Green appeared first on the ballot and was a more dulcet-sounding name”! Doesn’t say much about the thoughtfulness of voters, does it. Oh, and Greene, when interviewed says it (hoe election) was because he is the best man and “I am also the best person to be Time Magazine’s Man of the Year.”
The most intriguing part of the Oil Slick Watch are the people running around to microphones.
Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 79: --“Sar…”. Why she hung up on me. What is she up to. What did she and Henry talk about. Why did she lie to me? The security people told me she went directly to the police station. She didn’t go home to check on a sick child. Her voice, her voice reminded me of what I have felt while making love to her, even as I was using her. Are we so alike that she is capable of using me. While have felt guilt, I never saw her as concerned about her family as brought me alive.. Yet, why I felt guilt, but she seemed so cold with regards to her family. Has her infatuation with me been an act. Is she playing me now. No, she likes me. I’ll be alert tomorrow morning. Do we know too much about how the other thinks?
Enough Kent. Enough, I said to myself. There are more pressing things. I picked up the phone and dialed Jason’s direct number. He answered after three rings. “What took you so long,” I started
“I have other clients,” responded as sarcastically as ever. But you, my friend, are certainly my most important.” Then he laughed his best corporate chuckle. “So, what’s up?”
“A couple of things. First Sarah Durham is playing games with me. Your guys followed her directly to the sheriff. So, I now know she is hiding something. You were right about watching her. Also, Henry Boulder tells me that there is something strange about the Laura disappearance. Hat did your guys do there? And, how is she. I hope you are taking good of her.”
“You know what, Kent? You fall in love to easily. And both of your women look like trouble to this trained eye. We have Laura safe, and while she is being a large pain in the ass, we are making her comfortable. You have to watch the Durham woman. She good be your biggest nightmare. No matter how good you feel when you are porking her.” Then he laughed like the maniac he was.
“She means more to me than that,” I said with a hint of outrage. “I’m having breakfast with her tomorrow morning. I’ll be careful.”
Have fun,” he said snidely. He hung up.
I won a small award the other day and in a press release about it I was described as “Intellectually Lively”? I take that as meaning confused and indecipherable.
Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:
--Toy Story is …well…Toy Story, with all of its wonderful characters and a story that is enjoyable to watch as previous two versions. Of all the sequels that pop into this column, TS always receives the most consistent raves.
--Cyrus is probably a decent piece of entertainment in the genre I call always-predictable-but-heartwarming-romantic-comedies. A divorcee who has failed to find new love after 7 years is urged by a friend and his ex-wife to date a woman they know. It is the woman of his dreams but she is committed to another man – her some! Get it.
--Oliver Platt and Katherine Keener star in a quirky little story about a couple who own a big city antique shop and a business which they describe as “Buying from the children of dead people.” It is about their hold on the apartment of their aging, about-ready-to-die 90 yo. next door neighbor (Ann Guilbert) and her two daughters, Amanda Peete and Rebecca Hall. It is about people learning how to give. It is funny and warm and perhaps one of those little buried gems to find this summer, among the glitz.
The Answer:
The 0-Man said that Tuesday in his remarks on the Oil spill, and what it means to me is that we definitely have a lawyer in the White House.
Just One more Petal:
I’ll be thinking about roses all day long. That can’t be bad. Hope you get a few good whiffs of them during the weekend.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
National Demagogues Day.
Today's Tids Issue 2,155
Opening Stuff
Some days you wake up and all of your thoughts are incredibly beautiful.
I have to be honest with you…when it’s Henry Waxman asking questions of BP CEO Tony Hayward, I find it very easy to root for Hayward.
The Question:
Give me 10 great uses for Baking Soda!
The Headline:
--Stocks Wallow In Pool Of Questionable Economic Recovery Reports;
--Texas GOP Rep Joe Barton Accuses White House Of $20 Billion BP Shakedown.
--Rising Jobless Claims And Poor Manufacturing Report Cripple Early Markets.
--New Estimates Put Afghan Mineral Wealth At $3 Trillion.
--Sea Animals Moving Towards Shore to Escape Oil.
--Congress Playing White Knight’s Against Oil Smeared BP Head; TV Watchers Seeing Congressional Demagoguery At Its Best
Back to More Stuff:
A couple of days ago I did a little tongue in cheek piece about the interesting correlation between the decline of American culture as we knew it and the rise in popularity of Soccer. Yesterday, a couple wanted to rent our little cottage for a week as their son was getting married in the area. Nice people. I learned that he had been in RI (He’s from Arkansas for a convention of US Soccer officials of which he is President. I told him I loved soccer!
Declining towards general cultural lunacy Department:
A teacher at a Coventry RI, Tiogue Elementary School gave is 8 year old students an assignment to create a hat that would honor the “Armed” forces. Good idea. On young boy proudly walked in with his camouflage baseball style cap – and American flag on the frond and a 2 inch plastic pin next to it that was a soldier carrying a weapon. The kid balloon was burst violently as he was rushed to the Principal’s office by an aggrieved teacher and then sent home. Kids are not allowed to bring guns to school…even for an “Armed” Forces day celebration by showing member of the “Armed” Forces with arms! I can’t take it any more.
It looks like the only double dips we can we look forward to during the next few months are ice cream cones. There will be plenty of double dip recession forecasts popping up, but most economists are calling for a slow growth economy with little sharp downward risk. – 2.3%-3.5% growth with about 5 Million new jobs over two years. The economy will be sluggish, but not dead, they say. I would stay really, really conservative.
Who woulda thunk it, that Kendrick Perkins absence would be a major determent to the Boston Celtics chances of taking home the Trophy. After all, they are loaded with big named stars. But, a guy like Kendrick is the essence of what the word “Team” really means. He clogs the middle, blocks out, sets picks, all of the little things that few ever notice yet are so meaningful to a winning team. Champions have always been made up of starts and well integrated contributing team members. Too often in our celebrity world we forget how things really work. How takes highly skilled, yet faceless “stars” to make things work. Perk reminds us of that.
Have you noticed how when there is a huge media consuming event like this endless oil slick drama, that there is a dearth of other news. Maybe there really just isn’t a lot of real news. Ya think?
Through the same Eyes: Chapter 78 continues. –I sent the kids scurrying and then reluctantly pressed the talk button on my cell phone. I took a deep, deep breath to ease my nerves and apprehension. “Hi Kent!” I said in a little more upbeat manner than I thought I felt at the moment. “I was hoping you’d call.” I continued.
“I thought you were avoiding me.” I couldn’t tell how he sounded. He has that ability to be inert.
“I think of you all the time.” That’s what I said -- I think of you all the time. “You know what you do to me, don’t you.” But does he know what he’s doing to me now, I thought.
“You sound good, Sarah/Maggie. You sound very good.” He changed the subject. Got softer. I have to be strong. I have to stay in control.
“Thanks, Kent” I had a long day and I feel surprisingly great after it.” Stay in control I said to myself. Stay calm. Lead like I always do. “How about having breakfast with me at Marie’s tomorrow morning.” I never thought that such a small remark could affect me so positively.
“I’d love to see you now,” he responded, again softly. I’ve missed your warm body and soft skin against mine.”
He was having an effect on me. I felt that wonderful familiar warmth spreading throughout my body. ”I can’t talk now.” I lowered my voice. “I feel you too.” I did. But I need to stay in control. What will I do when I see him in the morning.
“Ok, Morning it is,” he snapped unemotionally. And then, “I will have trouble sleeping tonight.”
“We’ve had some wonderful mornings together’” I said in a now raspy voice. Then I hung up before I lost my control
One congressman on the Oil panel suggested that governemtn regulators should be sitting along side Hayward too. I couldn’t agree more. Just as Fannie and Freddie officials should have been sitting along side the Goldman characters during that inquisition.
The Answer:
It makes great toothpaste. Dabbed under the arms it neutralizes body Oder. It can be an effective antacid or relieve the itches from insect bites. Mix it with shampoo for your hair or with gentle liquid soap for washing hands. You can clean sponges or polish silverware. It can take the odor out of refrigerators or sports equipment. And it can put out kitchen fires.
The Final Score:
This is the beginning of a great four days of sports. The NBA final is tonight. The US Open at Pebble Beach starts this afternoon for four days. And if you think soccer is worth watching you can find lots of that. Amd there is always your favortie baseball team. In Boston the fans are taking bets on whether the return of Manny will genrate more cheers or boos. It should be boos. Unfortunately, too many people seem to like rewarding bad behavior. I think they feel it makes them kinder.
Opening Stuff
Some days you wake up and all of your thoughts are incredibly beautiful.
I have to be honest with you…when it’s Henry Waxman asking questions of BP CEO Tony Hayward, I find it very easy to root for Hayward.
The Question:
Give me 10 great uses for Baking Soda!
The Headline:
--Stocks Wallow In Pool Of Questionable Economic Recovery Reports;
--Texas GOP Rep Joe Barton Accuses White House Of $20 Billion BP Shakedown.
--Rising Jobless Claims And Poor Manufacturing Report Cripple Early Markets.
--New Estimates Put Afghan Mineral Wealth At $3 Trillion.
--Sea Animals Moving Towards Shore to Escape Oil.
--Congress Playing White Knight’s Against Oil Smeared BP Head; TV Watchers Seeing Congressional Demagoguery At Its Best
Back to More Stuff:
A couple of days ago I did a little tongue in cheek piece about the interesting correlation between the decline of American culture as we knew it and the rise in popularity of Soccer. Yesterday, a couple wanted to rent our little cottage for a week as their son was getting married in the area. Nice people. I learned that he had been in RI (He’s from Arkansas for a convention of US Soccer officials of which he is President. I told him I loved soccer!
Declining towards general cultural lunacy Department:
A teacher at a Coventry RI, Tiogue Elementary School gave is 8 year old students an assignment to create a hat that would honor the “Armed” forces. Good idea. On young boy proudly walked in with his camouflage baseball style cap – and American flag on the frond and a 2 inch plastic pin next to it that was a soldier carrying a weapon. The kid balloon was burst violently as he was rushed to the Principal’s office by an aggrieved teacher and then sent home. Kids are not allowed to bring guns to school…even for an “Armed” Forces day celebration by showing member of the “Armed” Forces with arms! I can’t take it any more.
It looks like the only double dips we can we look forward to during the next few months are ice cream cones. There will be plenty of double dip recession forecasts popping up, but most economists are calling for a slow growth economy with little sharp downward risk. – 2.3%-3.5% growth with about 5 Million new jobs over two years. The economy will be sluggish, but not dead, they say. I would stay really, really conservative.
Who woulda thunk it, that Kendrick Perkins absence would be a major determent to the Boston Celtics chances of taking home the Trophy. After all, they are loaded with big named stars. But, a guy like Kendrick is the essence of what the word “Team” really means. He clogs the middle, blocks out, sets picks, all of the little things that few ever notice yet are so meaningful to a winning team. Champions have always been made up of starts and well integrated contributing team members. Too often in our celebrity world we forget how things really work. How takes highly skilled, yet faceless “stars” to make things work. Perk reminds us of that.
Have you noticed how when there is a huge media consuming event like this endless oil slick drama, that there is a dearth of other news. Maybe there really just isn’t a lot of real news. Ya think?
Through the same Eyes: Chapter 78 continues. –I sent the kids scurrying and then reluctantly pressed the talk button on my cell phone. I took a deep, deep breath to ease my nerves and apprehension. “Hi Kent!” I said in a little more upbeat manner than I thought I felt at the moment. “I was hoping you’d call.” I continued.
“I thought you were avoiding me.” I couldn’t tell how he sounded. He has that ability to be inert.
“I think of you all the time.” That’s what I said -- I think of you all the time. “You know what you do to me, don’t you.” But does he know what he’s doing to me now, I thought.
“You sound good, Sarah/Maggie. You sound very good.” He changed the subject. Got softer. I have to be strong. I have to stay in control.
“Thanks, Kent” I had a long day and I feel surprisingly great after it.” Stay in control I said to myself. Stay calm. Lead like I always do. “How about having breakfast with me at Marie’s tomorrow morning.” I never thought that such a small remark could affect me so positively.
“I’d love to see you now,” he responded, again softly. I’ve missed your warm body and soft skin against mine.”
He was having an effect on me. I felt that wonderful familiar warmth spreading throughout my body. ”I can’t talk now.” I lowered my voice. “I feel you too.” I did. But I need to stay in control. What will I do when I see him in the morning.
“Ok, Morning it is,” he snapped unemotionally. And then, “I will have trouble sleeping tonight.”
“We’ve had some wonderful mornings together’” I said in a now raspy voice. Then I hung up before I lost my control
One congressman on the Oil panel suggested that governemtn regulators should be sitting along side Hayward too. I couldn’t agree more. Just as Fannie and Freddie officials should have been sitting along side the Goldman characters during that inquisition.
The Answer:
It makes great toothpaste. Dabbed under the arms it neutralizes body Oder. It can be an effective antacid or relieve the itches from insect bites. Mix it with shampoo for your hair or with gentle liquid soap for washing hands. You can clean sponges or polish silverware. It can take the odor out of refrigerators or sports equipment. And it can put out kitchen fires.
The Final Score:
This is the beginning of a great four days of sports. The NBA final is tonight. The US Open at Pebble Beach starts this afternoon for four days. And if you think soccer is worth watching you can find lots of that. Amd there is always your favortie baseball team. In Boston the fans are taking bets on whether the return of Manny will genrate more cheers or boos. It should be boos. Unfortunately, too many people seem to like rewarding bad behavior. I think they feel it makes them kinder.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Bravery stays in the heart.
Today's Tids, Issue 2,154
Opening Stuff:
Lonely are the Brave Department:
There’s was something humbling yesterday when I looked up and out my window to see a little tugboat dragging a soulful appearing, yet once mighty, once proud Forrestal super carrier class aircraft carrier down the Ocean path to her final resting place. This is a ship that is best known for a missile tragedy that killed 167 sialors. But before that it was one of America’s finest fighting machines; a brave warrior of the seas. Today, though it was a shell of it’s former self. Powerless. Totally reliant on a younger, smaller assistant. To me, it is not unlike seeing a old soldier marching proudly on the Fourth of July parade; in a uniform that doesn’t quite fit any more. A sad image of a former giant of a woman or a man The eyes are more tired. The legs less powerful. But I know their heart’s never change. And their bravery should never be forgotten.
The biggest disaster that could come out of the gulf oil spill is the passage of the Cap and Trade bill. And you know that the Dems will be using this “Crisis” to rally public opinion.
The Question:
Give me your five favorite Alfred Hitchcock movies, and I’ll give you mine.
The Headlines:
--BP To Set Up $20 Billion Fund For Spill Victims; Lawyers Orgasmic.
--0-Man Tries To Get Tough On National TV; Prez To Meet With Oil Company Heads Today.
--Home Construction Plunged In May; New Building Permits Down.
--Markets Fall On Bad Home Construction News.
--Fed Will Not be Affected By Changes In Financial Regulations; Move Appears To Whitewash Groups Inadequacies.
--New AP-GfK Poll has Americans Wanting Dems Back In Congress.
--New Viagra Pill For Women Not Living Up To Expectations According To two Studies.
Back to More Stuff:
I am successfully proving that new golf clubs cannot improve a bad game.
More and more people seem to be forgetting that everything can’t be done immediately. Life is not broadband.
A new study says that brown eyed white men are considered the most dominant, and much moreso than their blue eyed counterparts. Even photo Shopped pictures that transferred blue to brown come up more dominant. Hmmm. I have green eyes. What does that make me…an avocado?
Even when local state and federal Government operations are clearly at fault for, at least, a lack of oversight (Definition: Doing the job you are paid to do.) that lead to overwhelming tragedies, the Lawyers always go after deep pocketed corporations. Many simply residing on the fringe of an incident. They create dragons with deep pockets. Obama is a lawyer, pure and simple.
There’s no truth to the rumor that the Supreme Court nixed the Miranda Rights Law just in time for the US Gov. To badger Oil Execs without council.
You may have noticed that your favorite novel is missing from time to time more often these days than before. That could mean that either I’m running out of ideas. It’s getting crucial and there isn’t as much leeway in moving it to conclusion. I’ m just too busy with other stuff. Or, I’m basically lazy and I have a problem confronting the brown-eyed thing. You’ll be happy to know that it is at 63,000 words and I expect another 5-7,000. And that I am really happy about where it is going and I want it to get there properly.
It seems that the biggest problem with this admin in it’s dealing with the oil spill is that it has too many lawyers. Much of the hesitation has been about legal interpretation. Even the unfairly pummeled Bush with Katrina, relaxed several statutes to get things moving. One was the the Jones Act which bars the US from using foreign vessels is one of them. In this case, apparently the Dutch a nation below sea level, are experts at solving problems of the type associated with the spill. It was urged to suspend the Jones act to allow them in early in the game. But some are saying that while the Prez and admin are telling it was the legal situation that postponed action, the real reason was to protect their friends at the Unions who want American workers on the job.
One of my favorite slogans for a company’s employees is “It is my job.”
The Answer:
I liked North by Northwest, The Birds, Strangers on a Train, Spellbound, and The Man who knew Too Much. Also you may have picked Rebecca, Suspicion, Lifeboat, Rear Window, Psycho, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Saboteur, Shadow of Doubt, Notorious, The Wrong Man, Vertigo, The trouble with Harry, Marnie, Torn Curtain, Topaz, Frenzy and Family Plot. And these are just the Hollywood produced films. He directed over 30 in Britain in his early career.
So the Tids are late but not totally useless: Did you know that the Pillsbury Doughboy’s name was Poppin’ Fresh, his wife Poppie Fresh and the kids Popper and Bun Bun. There are no new kids in the oven. This information is on a kneed to know basis. I’d get the Tids out earlier if I was making more dough. Shoot me.
I’d give this Tids a C+. I hate that
Opening Stuff:
Lonely are the Brave Department:
There’s was something humbling yesterday when I looked up and out my window to see a little tugboat dragging a soulful appearing, yet once mighty, once proud Forrestal super carrier class aircraft carrier down the Ocean path to her final resting place. This is a ship that is best known for a missile tragedy that killed 167 sialors. But before that it was one of America’s finest fighting machines; a brave warrior of the seas. Today, though it was a shell of it’s former self. Powerless. Totally reliant on a younger, smaller assistant. To me, it is not unlike seeing a old soldier marching proudly on the Fourth of July parade; in a uniform that doesn’t quite fit any more. A sad image of a former giant of a woman or a man The eyes are more tired. The legs less powerful. But I know their heart’s never change. And their bravery should never be forgotten.
The biggest disaster that could come out of the gulf oil spill is the passage of the Cap and Trade bill. And you know that the Dems will be using this “Crisis” to rally public opinion.
The Question:
Give me your five favorite Alfred Hitchcock movies, and I’ll give you mine.
The Headlines:
--BP To Set Up $20 Billion Fund For Spill Victims; Lawyers Orgasmic.
--0-Man Tries To Get Tough On National TV; Prez To Meet With Oil Company Heads Today.
--Home Construction Plunged In May; New Building Permits Down.
--Markets Fall On Bad Home Construction News.
--Fed Will Not be Affected By Changes In Financial Regulations; Move Appears To Whitewash Groups Inadequacies.
--New AP-GfK Poll has Americans Wanting Dems Back In Congress.
--New Viagra Pill For Women Not Living Up To Expectations According To two Studies.
Back to More Stuff:
I am successfully proving that new golf clubs cannot improve a bad game.
More and more people seem to be forgetting that everything can’t be done immediately. Life is not broadband.
A new study says that brown eyed white men are considered the most dominant, and much moreso than their blue eyed counterparts. Even photo Shopped pictures that transferred blue to brown come up more dominant. Hmmm. I have green eyes. What does that make me…an avocado?
Even when local state and federal Government operations are clearly at fault for, at least, a lack of oversight (Definition: Doing the job you are paid to do.) that lead to overwhelming tragedies, the Lawyers always go after deep pocketed corporations. Many simply residing on the fringe of an incident. They create dragons with deep pockets. Obama is a lawyer, pure and simple.
There’s no truth to the rumor that the Supreme Court nixed the Miranda Rights Law just in time for the US Gov. To badger Oil Execs without council.
You may have noticed that your favorite novel is missing from time to time more often these days than before. That could mean that either I’m running out of ideas. It’s getting crucial and there isn’t as much leeway in moving it to conclusion. I’ m just too busy with other stuff. Or, I’m basically lazy and I have a problem confronting the brown-eyed thing. You’ll be happy to know that it is at 63,000 words and I expect another 5-7,000. And that I am really happy about where it is going and I want it to get there properly.
It seems that the biggest problem with this admin in it’s dealing with the oil spill is that it has too many lawyers. Much of the hesitation has been about legal interpretation. Even the unfairly pummeled Bush with Katrina, relaxed several statutes to get things moving. One was the the Jones Act which bars the US from using foreign vessels is one of them. In this case, apparently the Dutch a nation below sea level, are experts at solving problems of the type associated with the spill. It was urged to suspend the Jones act to allow them in early in the game. But some are saying that while the Prez and admin are telling it was the legal situation that postponed action, the real reason was to protect their friends at the Unions who want American workers on the job.
One of my favorite slogans for a company’s employees is “It is my job.”
The Answer:
I liked North by Northwest, The Birds, Strangers on a Train, Spellbound, and The Man who knew Too Much. Also you may have picked Rebecca, Suspicion, Lifeboat, Rear Window, Psycho, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Saboteur, Shadow of Doubt, Notorious, The Wrong Man, Vertigo, The trouble with Harry, Marnie, Torn Curtain, Topaz, Frenzy and Family Plot. And these are just the Hollywood produced films. He directed over 30 in Britain in his early career.
So the Tids are late but not totally useless: Did you know that the Pillsbury Doughboy’s name was Poppin’ Fresh, his wife Poppie Fresh and the kids Popper and Bun Bun. There are no new kids in the oven. This information is on a kneed to know basis. I’d get the Tids out earlier if I was making more dough. Shoot me.
I’d give this Tids a C+. I hate that
Monday, June 7, 2010
Oil or "0": Which is slicker?
Today's Tids Issue 2,147
Opening Stuff:
The other day I nudged my sundial with the lawnmower and I’ve been late for dates ever since.
A larger than life, true American cultural hero died Saturday night. John Wooden, a basketball coach set a record that will probably never be broken and established principles for leadership and living that should govern for the course of history. A strong Christian, he once said: “If I were ever prosecuted for my religion, I truly hope there would be enough evidence to convict me.” His “Pyramid of Success” book is considered not only manual for coaching success but a basic handbook for every leadership level. Oddly, his life espouses the virtues that many religious conservatives value, but he declared himself to be a liberal democrat. 3 of his favorite leadership maxims are “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail”, “Flexibility is the key to stability” and “Be quick, but don’t hurry.”
And then…there are politicians Department:
GOP Senator Corker proposed a mandatory 5% down payment as requirement for Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac backed mortgages. The Dems voted it down which was lunacy itself, but it is the words of the Chairman Dodd that really are truly disturbing: ”Passage of such a requirement would restrict home ownership to only those who can afford it.” Read that again. Is he aware of the current recession and the reasons behind it? Did he get paid off by mortgage bundler thieves? Will the final resting place of the Conn senator be memorialized with a headstone in the shape of a dunce cap? And, you think there is hope for this country? Oh yeah, there is if we vote out the scoundrels in November.
Unfortunately, maybe because of his long association with government only style jobs, 0-Man does not seem to realize that businesses have to be managed with an eye towards cost control for the benefit of those who provided the capital though investment.. And while the oil leak is a disaster, and a disaster against which BP will end up spending billions, the company still must stop the leak and repair the damage within a framework of keeping the entity alive. It is appalling that the Prez denounces paying dividends (Which retirement funds of many of his citizens must rely) and advertising that puts the company’s efforts in perspective. A cost they must endure only to battle against governmental demagoguery.
The Question:
Wooden, who never asked for a raise and often turned down luxury awards, lived by a 7 Point life’s Creed given to him by his father. How many of the seven can you name?
The Headlines:
--Two New Jersey Men Planning Fort Hood Style Massacre Arrested On Way To Somalia For Training.
--Hungary Latest Economically Precarious Euro-Nation; Markets Drop.
--Oil Continues To Ooze; Coats Nearing $1.5 Billion.
--Tornados Ravage, Kill In Ohio.
--Gunman Mows Down Five In Miami Restaurant.
--India Courts After 25 years Convict 7 Union Carbide Employees Of “Death By Negligence” In Bhopal Tragedy.
--The Sun Comes Up Once Again On Monday Morning.
--Celts Even Series.
Back to More Stuff:
For a couple of months now, the RI Department of Motor Vehicles has been closed on Wednesdays so its employees can attend classes to learn the new computer system. Sounds moderately intelligent, doesn’t it? That is, until you learn that AAA, which also provides similar DMV services for members, received their instructions about using the new system in a single email! And it seems to be working perfectly.
Scenes while sitting on a bench at a high traffic Factory Outlet Mall, Department:
--I decided to do a footwear survey. After a healthy sample of over 500, I found that 99% of women wore flip-flops or sandal style shoes. Almost all of the rest wore sneakers. I was hoping that my boat shoe style would show up well, but I found overwhelmingly that sneakers of one kind or another were the heaviest for men at about 95%. Sandals were definitely next. Boat shoes were about 0.6%. –Of the occasional people who spoke English, intelligent conversation by walker’s-by weren’t apparent. One well, dressed decent looking twenty something said to her boy friend, “Yeah…but she has a big butt.” Other’s were like, “Call Ruby, there’s a sale at Coach”, or “Where did I park my car?” –Most interesting, however, were the fairly large number of Indian women in traditional garb walking around. I’m thinking…”Why are they here?” I didn’t see a Saree’s Are Us!
Did you see where the kids national Spelling Bee was interrupted by a protest urging simpler spelling of US words. Me, the typo king should certainly be in favor of that. But, once again it is yet another step in the march towards the softening of brain cells. Enabling the lazy to get away with not demanding the best of themselves. I wonder what John Wooden would think of that? Or is this all about making it easier to text with out criticism?
And, how unfortunate that the rabble-rousers chose a special day for talented teens to vent their anger. It is just one more example of “Me First”.
Yesterday our beloved “Prime Time” urged against optimism for a solution to stopping the big leak. This was just after a disastrous negative jobs report when he said, “This report is a sign that our economy is getting stronger by the day.” That’s the Chicago Two Step in action!
It could have been done 30 years ago, but at least they may be getting the message up at the RI State House. A new law reduces the highest tax level from 9.9% to 5.8% and could put the company back in the race for move-ins instead of move-outs. Maybe they have figured out, or more likely forced to recognize that government jobs based economy is not an economy at all. Maybe they are listening to the anger of the people. Or at least until the election is over in November. We’ll see.
Providence RI is pulling out all stops to become the “Second City” of fashion! You heard that right. The city of wiseguys, wonks and wieners is drawing on its considerable design talents, old world city charm and amazing collection of eateries to build a major “Fashion Week” Center between NYC and Boston. The key: Young designers who like the opportunity and the deep talent at RISD. And maybe…the new lower taxes for top wage earners.
Reader Outrage of the Week Department:
Having barely gotten over the lack of a traditional Red Sox game on Memorial Day, he was astonished to hear that “New York, New York” was no longer the main song for the Belmont stakes. Some 16 year old rock star sang the memorable “Empire State of Mind.” But then, I remember when they used to sing “East side, West side, all around the town…”, a long standing musical tradition like The Derby and Preakness. But alas, when you go commercial you give up your soul.
Frankly, I have not liked the post Beetles McCartney’s music. And have really never gravitated to the arrogance associated with his stardom. But, he is a legitimate cultural innovator and probably deserves all of the awards he gets…like the one at the White House last week. However, in stead of being gracious, and thanking Americans for all of the millions he has made on this soil, he took the moment to berate a former President: “After the last eight years, it’s great to have a President who knows where the library is.” Disgraceful. And they called him “Sir Paul” all night long. You can take the boy out of Liverpool, but you can’t take the Liverpool out of the boy.
Hey Paul! You don’t end sentences with “is”.
BTW…did you know that many music and cultural historians consider John Lenin’s tune “Imagine” the Communist Manifesto?
Joran Van der Sloot is starting to look like one of those truly evil people of history.
How come the world pays so much for beauty?
The Answer: Simple yet luxurious in their value and often hard for many to achieve especially in a more conflicting world…when maybe they are needed more than ever: --Be true to yourself. –Make each day your masterpiece. –Help others, --Drink deeply from good books, especially the bible. –Make friendship a fine art. –Build a shelter against a rainy day. –Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day. Hey, how can you argue with that?
The End, John:
With all of that Wooden wisdom buoying up my character, I should have a great day today. Hope you all do too.
But to all of those who battle through the weekend while anticipating the next segment of TTSE, sorry. It just didn’t flow this morning. But the good news is that it didn’t flow with character!
Opening Stuff:
The other day I nudged my sundial with the lawnmower and I’ve been late for dates ever since.
A larger than life, true American cultural hero died Saturday night. John Wooden, a basketball coach set a record that will probably never be broken and established principles for leadership and living that should govern for the course of history. A strong Christian, he once said: “If I were ever prosecuted for my religion, I truly hope there would be enough evidence to convict me.” His “Pyramid of Success” book is considered not only manual for coaching success but a basic handbook for every leadership level. Oddly, his life espouses the virtues that many religious conservatives value, but he declared himself to be a liberal democrat. 3 of his favorite leadership maxims are “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail”, “Flexibility is the key to stability” and “Be quick, but don’t hurry.”
And then…there are politicians Department:
GOP Senator Corker proposed a mandatory 5% down payment as requirement for Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac backed mortgages. The Dems voted it down which was lunacy itself, but it is the words of the Chairman Dodd that really are truly disturbing: ”Passage of such a requirement would restrict home ownership to only those who can afford it.” Read that again. Is he aware of the current recession and the reasons behind it? Did he get paid off by mortgage bundler thieves? Will the final resting place of the Conn senator be memorialized with a headstone in the shape of a dunce cap? And, you think there is hope for this country? Oh yeah, there is if we vote out the scoundrels in November.
Unfortunately, maybe because of his long association with government only style jobs, 0-Man does not seem to realize that businesses have to be managed with an eye towards cost control for the benefit of those who provided the capital though investment.. And while the oil leak is a disaster, and a disaster against which BP will end up spending billions, the company still must stop the leak and repair the damage within a framework of keeping the entity alive. It is appalling that the Prez denounces paying dividends (Which retirement funds of many of his citizens must rely) and advertising that puts the company’s efforts in perspective. A cost they must endure only to battle against governmental demagoguery.
The Question:
Wooden, who never asked for a raise and often turned down luxury awards, lived by a 7 Point life’s Creed given to him by his father. How many of the seven can you name?
The Headlines:
--Two New Jersey Men Planning Fort Hood Style Massacre Arrested On Way To Somalia For Training.
--Hungary Latest Economically Precarious Euro-Nation; Markets Drop.
--Oil Continues To Ooze; Coats Nearing $1.5 Billion.
--Tornados Ravage, Kill In Ohio.
--Gunman Mows Down Five In Miami Restaurant.
--India Courts After 25 years Convict 7 Union Carbide Employees Of “Death By Negligence” In Bhopal Tragedy.
--The Sun Comes Up Once Again On Monday Morning.
--Celts Even Series.
Back to More Stuff:
For a couple of months now, the RI Department of Motor Vehicles has been closed on Wednesdays so its employees can attend classes to learn the new computer system. Sounds moderately intelligent, doesn’t it? That is, until you learn that AAA, which also provides similar DMV services for members, received their instructions about using the new system in a single email! And it seems to be working perfectly.
Scenes while sitting on a bench at a high traffic Factory Outlet Mall, Department:
--I decided to do a footwear survey. After a healthy sample of over 500, I found that 99% of women wore flip-flops or sandal style shoes. Almost all of the rest wore sneakers. I was hoping that my boat shoe style would show up well, but I found overwhelmingly that sneakers of one kind or another were the heaviest for men at about 95%. Sandals were definitely next. Boat shoes were about 0.6%. –Of the occasional people who spoke English, intelligent conversation by walker’s-by weren’t apparent. One well, dressed decent looking twenty something said to her boy friend, “Yeah…but she has a big butt.” Other’s were like, “Call Ruby, there’s a sale at Coach”, or “Where did I park my car?” –Most interesting, however, were the fairly large number of Indian women in traditional garb walking around. I’m thinking…”Why are they here?” I didn’t see a Saree’s Are Us!
Did you see where the kids national Spelling Bee was interrupted by a protest urging simpler spelling of US words. Me, the typo king should certainly be in favor of that. But, once again it is yet another step in the march towards the softening of brain cells. Enabling the lazy to get away with not demanding the best of themselves. I wonder what John Wooden would think of that? Or is this all about making it easier to text with out criticism?
And, how unfortunate that the rabble-rousers chose a special day for talented teens to vent their anger. It is just one more example of “Me First”.
Yesterday our beloved “Prime Time” urged against optimism for a solution to stopping the big leak. This was just after a disastrous negative jobs report when he said, “This report is a sign that our economy is getting stronger by the day.” That’s the Chicago Two Step in action!
It could have been done 30 years ago, but at least they may be getting the message up at the RI State House. A new law reduces the highest tax level from 9.9% to 5.8% and could put the company back in the race for move-ins instead of move-outs. Maybe they have figured out, or more likely forced to recognize that government jobs based economy is not an economy at all. Maybe they are listening to the anger of the people. Or at least until the election is over in November. We’ll see.
Providence RI is pulling out all stops to become the “Second City” of fashion! You heard that right. The city of wiseguys, wonks and wieners is drawing on its considerable design talents, old world city charm and amazing collection of eateries to build a major “Fashion Week” Center between NYC and Boston. The key: Young designers who like the opportunity and the deep talent at RISD. And maybe…the new lower taxes for top wage earners.
Reader Outrage of the Week Department:
Having barely gotten over the lack of a traditional Red Sox game on Memorial Day, he was astonished to hear that “New York, New York” was no longer the main song for the Belmont stakes. Some 16 year old rock star sang the memorable “Empire State of Mind.” But then, I remember when they used to sing “East side, West side, all around the town…”, a long standing musical tradition like The Derby and Preakness. But alas, when you go commercial you give up your soul.
Frankly, I have not liked the post Beetles McCartney’s music. And have really never gravitated to the arrogance associated with his stardom. But, he is a legitimate cultural innovator and probably deserves all of the awards he gets…like the one at the White House last week. However, in stead of being gracious, and thanking Americans for all of the millions he has made on this soil, he took the moment to berate a former President: “After the last eight years, it’s great to have a President who knows where the library is.” Disgraceful. And they called him “Sir Paul” all night long. You can take the boy out of Liverpool, but you can’t take the Liverpool out of the boy.
Hey Paul! You don’t end sentences with “is”.
BTW…did you know that many music and cultural historians consider John Lenin’s tune “Imagine” the Communist Manifesto?
Joran Van der Sloot is starting to look like one of those truly evil people of history.
How come the world pays so much for beauty?
The Answer: Simple yet luxurious in their value and often hard for many to achieve especially in a more conflicting world…when maybe they are needed more than ever: --Be true to yourself. –Make each day your masterpiece. –Help others, --Drink deeply from good books, especially the bible. –Make friendship a fine art. –Build a shelter against a rainy day. –Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day. Hey, how can you argue with that?
The End, John:
With all of that Wooden wisdom buoying up my character, I should have a great day today. Hope you all do too.
But to all of those who battle through the weekend while anticipating the next segment of TTSE, sorry. It just didn’t flow this morning. But the good news is that it didn’t flow with character!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Fix Mex or We Annex.
Today's Tids Issue 2,135
Opening Stuff:
America is doomed unless we can rid our lexicon of the words “misspeak” or “misspoke”. These popular crutches for politicians are not just overused, they are implausible in the context of which they are most often used. Politicians never misspeak. But they always try to manipulate by stretching the truth or disguising it. They only “Misspeak” when a third party discovers and points out the manipulation.
Did you hear about the patrolman who called his flat feet his arch enemy?
Is it me, or is Justin Bieber just another average talent well promoted. Or is just the fact that I’m not 13 any more? I don’t get the excitement.
And how about that president of Mexico lashing out against the Arizona law. A law of US citizens. How about this for an idea Mr. Calderon…Fix your Freaking country and the people will stay there! How simple is that. Or, do you like the idea of using the US of A has your country’s welfare system. Every time a creep like Calderon opens his mouth, I want to walk down to Arizona and shake somebody’s hand.
An even better idea, Mr. Calderon, is how about we take over Mexico. Hell we have already paid for it! First thing we do is send in drones to wipe our drug fortresses in the country. We can do that because our law enforcement and military haven't been paid off...yet. We will also introduce English to Mexican schools to help all assimilate into the new expanded country. And of course for a few extra trillion we can easily fot evryone there into our new Health Care LallaPelosi.
The Question:
Name Sonny and/or Cher’s all time hits.
The Headlines:
--Thai Opposition Leaders Call It A Day; “Red Shirt” Stragglers Still Disrupting Streets.
--Some Economists Are Saying Recession Is Over; Except For Those Unemployed And The Sucking Stock Market.
--Senators Want To Send National Guard Troops To Mexican Border.
--Mexican Translator Butchers Calderone White House Welcome Speech.
--North Korea Threatens War If South Retaliates For Torpedoed Naval Ship That Killed 57 Sailors.
--$300,000 Overdo Book Fine Goes Unpaid As George Washington Borrowed Book Is Returned To New York Society Library 221 Years Late.
--Biker Floyd Landis Admits To Using Performance Enhancing Drugs.
Back to More Stuff:
I thought I was reading a “satire” magazine when I saw the headline in this morning’s paper: “Mother of octuplets an advocate of pet birth control”. How weird has out media bcome?
While we’re on media, you can get an entirely different view of what is and what is not important between reports on TV versus the paper. And it all depends on whether or not there is a dramatic visual opportunity.
And, how about all of those frenetic tar ball reporters who are now learning that those well publicized blobs have nothing to do with the oil spill but are just something that occur naturally. (I remember tar adorned ankles from boyhood days on Cape Cod …in the 40’s!) Until the real truth came out, I was looking for an Al Gore backed, Michael Moore Directed film – “Uncle Remus meets the Tar Ball.” “Gotta an oil soaked bluebird on my shoulder…” It ok to hum Zippity Doo Dah for the rest of the day.
Do you ever get the feeling that in about twenty years the country will be overrun with filmmakers. And surprisingly this group could become more of a societal annoyance than the current over abundance of lawyers. As one, young aspiring filmmaker said the other day. “With a film, you can even penetrate the mind of a dunce.” (See Al Gore and Michael Moore).
And, speaking of a fast trip to a mental institution, try reading an essay on Matter versus Anti-matter. Aaaaaaarrrrrrgh!
My golf game has gotten so bad that most observers can’t even see potential in my swing any more.
The diet book made the NYT’s Best seller list because it was easy to digest.
Anybody want to put up some seed money for my new Reality Show for the Times idea? How about a show that recreates the daily adventures of Peace Corp workers? Where they are helpful to the disadvantaged. How they solve mysteries. How they use courage on a daily basis. I’m not looking at maudlin peace with a musical back ground from Simon and Garfunkle or Joan Baez. I’m talking grit and harrowing experiences. I’m serious. It could be a winner and 0-Man would endorse it in a flash.
Sign seen on the back of a marine’s Jeep: “It’s We the People, Not Me the President.”
The Answer:
The now jailbird Phil Spector discovered duo has had plenty of memorable hits. One you can always hear me singing and enjoying is of course “I got you Babe.” This classic was out just after “Baby don’t Go” hit the top of the charts. Also there is The Beat Goes On, Little Man, All I Ever need is You, A Cowboy’s Work is Never Done, Without You and United We Stand. Cher singles of note included “Bang, Bang” and the “Theme From Alphie”.
The End:
Tomorrow we start a new chapter for Through the Same Eyes. This time we’ll be in Middleton’s mind as he also starts to see some leaks in his scheme. Some tomes I get so excited about this, I have to take a day off.
It the meantime I’m boycotting Mexican restaurants. Which frankly won’t be hard at all, as that mush is for sure the most overrated food of our times.
Opening Stuff:
America is doomed unless we can rid our lexicon of the words “misspeak” or “misspoke”. These popular crutches for politicians are not just overused, they are implausible in the context of which they are most often used. Politicians never misspeak. But they always try to manipulate by stretching the truth or disguising it. They only “Misspeak” when a third party discovers and points out the manipulation.
Did you hear about the patrolman who called his flat feet his arch enemy?
Is it me, or is Justin Bieber just another average talent well promoted. Or is just the fact that I’m not 13 any more? I don’t get the excitement.
And how about that president of Mexico lashing out against the Arizona law. A law of US citizens. How about this for an idea Mr. Calderon…Fix your Freaking country and the people will stay there! How simple is that. Or, do you like the idea of using the US of A has your country’s welfare system. Every time a creep like Calderon opens his mouth, I want to walk down to Arizona and shake somebody’s hand.
An even better idea, Mr. Calderon, is how about we take over Mexico. Hell we have already paid for it! First thing we do is send in drones to wipe our drug fortresses in the country. We can do that because our law enforcement and military haven't been paid off...yet. We will also introduce English to Mexican schools to help all assimilate into the new expanded country. And of course for a few extra trillion we can easily fot evryone there into our new Health Care LallaPelosi.
The Question:
Name Sonny and/or Cher’s all time hits.
The Headlines:
--Thai Opposition Leaders Call It A Day; “Red Shirt” Stragglers Still Disrupting Streets.
--Some Economists Are Saying Recession Is Over; Except For Those Unemployed And The Sucking Stock Market.
--Senators Want To Send National Guard Troops To Mexican Border.
--Mexican Translator Butchers Calderone White House Welcome Speech.
--North Korea Threatens War If South Retaliates For Torpedoed Naval Ship That Killed 57 Sailors.
--$300,000 Overdo Book Fine Goes Unpaid As George Washington Borrowed Book Is Returned To New York Society Library 221 Years Late.
--Biker Floyd Landis Admits To Using Performance Enhancing Drugs.
Back to More Stuff:
I thought I was reading a “satire” magazine when I saw the headline in this morning’s paper: “Mother of octuplets an advocate of pet birth control”. How weird has out media bcome?
While we’re on media, you can get an entirely different view of what is and what is not important between reports on TV versus the paper. And it all depends on whether or not there is a dramatic visual opportunity.
And, how about all of those frenetic tar ball reporters who are now learning that those well publicized blobs have nothing to do with the oil spill but are just something that occur naturally. (I remember tar adorned ankles from boyhood days on Cape Cod …in the 40’s!) Until the real truth came out, I was looking for an Al Gore backed, Michael Moore Directed film – “Uncle Remus meets the Tar Ball.” “Gotta an oil soaked bluebird on my shoulder…” It ok to hum Zippity Doo Dah for the rest of the day.
Do you ever get the feeling that in about twenty years the country will be overrun with filmmakers. And surprisingly this group could become more of a societal annoyance than the current over abundance of lawyers. As one, young aspiring filmmaker said the other day. “With a film, you can even penetrate the mind of a dunce.” (See Al Gore and Michael Moore).
And, speaking of a fast trip to a mental institution, try reading an essay on Matter versus Anti-matter. Aaaaaaarrrrrrgh!
My golf game has gotten so bad that most observers can’t even see potential in my swing any more.
The diet book made the NYT’s Best seller list because it was easy to digest.
Anybody want to put up some seed money for my new Reality Show for the Times idea? How about a show that recreates the daily adventures of Peace Corp workers? Where they are helpful to the disadvantaged. How they solve mysteries. How they use courage on a daily basis. I’m not looking at maudlin peace with a musical back ground from Simon and Garfunkle or Joan Baez. I’m talking grit and harrowing experiences. I’m serious. It could be a winner and 0-Man would endorse it in a flash.
Sign seen on the back of a marine’s Jeep: “It’s We the People, Not Me the President.”
The Answer:
The now jailbird Phil Spector discovered duo has had plenty of memorable hits. One you can always hear me singing and enjoying is of course “I got you Babe.” This classic was out just after “Baby don’t Go” hit the top of the charts. Also there is The Beat Goes On, Little Man, All I Ever need is You, A Cowboy’s Work is Never Done, Without You and United We Stand. Cher singles of note included “Bang, Bang” and the “Theme From Alphie”.
The End:
Tomorrow we start a new chapter for Through the Same Eyes. This time we’ll be in Middleton’s mind as he also starts to see some leaks in his scheme. Some tomes I get so excited about this, I have to take a day off.
It the meantime I’m boycotting Mexican restaurants. Which frankly won’t be hard at all, as that mush is for sure the most overrated food of our times.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
I’m so happy, that I’m losing my mind.
Today's Tids Issue 2,133
Opening Stuff:
A new study reveals that people in their 50’s are happier. Happier than what…a prisoner at Abu Ghraib; a guy who stole from a Mexican drug cartel; A conservative Republican in Rhode Island?
And therefore, are people well past their fifties so happy that their constant state of deliriousness’ leads to the ultimate collapse of all mental comprehension?
Eric Holden Department:
The Attorney General seems to have trouble saying Islamic Extremist. I was thinking of this as I noted how many Terrorist bomb plans have been disrupted before the fact by many countries in the Middle East and Asia. So my multiple choice question of the day is:
Did they nab the potential bombers because:
A. They were lucky.
B. They targeted people who looked like Swedes.
C. They targeted people who looked like Mexicans.
D. They targeted people who looked like Middle Eastern Islamic Extremists.
The Question:
Name Ten Female Aviation Pioneers. Many were incredibly courageous, but footnotes of history. The Tids has always sought to elevate footnotes to headlines.
The Headlines:
--Primaries In Penn, Kentucky, Arkansas and Oregon May Indicate National Mood Of Voters.
--Taliban Suicide Bomber Kills 17 In Attack On NATO Convoy.
--EU Overrules UK And Tightens Hedge Fund Rules; New Restrictions Could Bar US Hedge Fund Activities In London Markets.
--New Study Says That People In Their 50’s Are Happier.
--Home Construction Up; New Building Permits Fall Sharply.
--Pfizer Lays off 6,000, Closes 8 Plants Worldwide.
--Stocks Climb In Early Trading.
Back to More Stuff:
My use of the term gravy is largely symbolic. An Icon for sanity. Protecting those who like things that taste good as opposed to just healthy eating. You can find a healthy eating site anywhere these days. But try to find a site tempts your inner cravings for fatty diets. Without a little gravy in your life, you too could become gaunt and despondent. Untrusting. A nagging mother-in-law to sensible living. What this world needs is a little more contentment. Wallowing in the sin of eating rich gravy, fried scallops or hot butterscotch Sundays. The Tids will always fight the battle for the dietary oppressed. Once they take away your gravy, what’s next? Scary, isn’t it?
I was going to write this Tid a week or so ago. I didn’t think at the time my personal observations were enough proof of what my eyes were concluding; There has been little or no damage to the shore and wildlife as a result of the oil spill. After all, headline after headline has been proclaiming the doom of mankind. The spreading of toxicity up and down the east coast after it finished ravaging the Gulf Coast. Yet I only saw a dark spot on the map floating off shore somewhere. And close up pictures didn’t show a contiguous mass, but merely disjointed streams. So last night on the ABC Nightly News of all places they said exactly what I and many had been seeing -- no damage to beaches; just seven wildlife creatures killed; and seafood havens still thriving; no overwhelming masses of thick oil. Moral: believe your eyes and not the press.
The same could be said about press reports against the Arizona law.
Head scratcher: Why did the annoying Press Secretary Gibbs say yesterday, “The President will be following the elections, but not closely.” “But not closely.” Why shouldn’t he watch them closely? That would seem natural. It reminds me of the self proclaimed intellectuals who announce triumphantly things like “I rarely watch TV.”
24-um: --The energy just keeps on coming. --How about Logan? He folded like a cheap suit. The ultimate gutless slimball. But. what agreat actor Itson is! --Lots of nice scenarios to be solved on next weeks don’t-miss-it finale of finale’s. They are saying you will see a surprise of surprises. --But Jack can’t die, cause they need him around for a movie. --Maybe a doctor will call saying “We were just foolin’ you Jack, Renee is alive.” And Jack will shoot himself in the head due to the guilt from his revenge trip. Then he will awaken from that deep slumber after sex with Renee. After all he hadn’t had sex in eight years and was probably really, really tired. (Remember the great “Dallas” cop out.) --Will Hassam’s daughter shoot President Allison? --Will Jack Marry Chole, or will Chloe stab Jack for leading her on all of these years.
I read somewhere yesterday that people now get paid to prove things that most people innately knew 20 years ago were true.
Speaking of Government waste, the esteemed Congress of the US of A says it will only take a few “tweaks” to fix Social Security. Then I read the tweaks that were mainly centered around raising the FICA Tax in one form or another or cutting benefits to seniors. But not once did I read, “Put a giant padlock on the SS Trust Fund so Congress can’t get their hands on it”.
Congress has been spending a lot of time trying to figure out how to regulate the misdeeds of Credit Card companies. How about enforcing usury laws that have been in existence pretty much since the beginning of time.
Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 72 continues. –“Well, hi there Mr. Durham. We don’t see you in here much!” Marie took a quick glance at me as she dropped menus on the table. I turned my eyes toward Paul in a soft and loving illusion. Marie seemed to relax. I didn’t. I ordered coffee. I almost said Diet Coke for Paul but he spoke up quickly and ordered Coffee and an éclair. And then chatted with Marie as though he was the happiest guy on the face of the earth.
“Do you come here often when in town?” He asked curiously, but non threatening when Marie had left. Why was I measuring ever word, every nuance.
“Often a bunch of us come down after one of our crime chaser meetings.” I answered casually.
“Ah yes, the vandalism caper.” He laughed a little.
“Hey, that turned out to be a big deal”, I protested! Then we both laughed.
“I think something is still going on.“ Now Paul got serious. “Nothing is adding up to me anymore. Especially Kent Middleton.” I didn’t show any emotion. “As I think back to my early days of proposing our solutions to BiEm, I never realized until just recently how odd…” he paused, “…well maybe odd is a bad word. Ambitious, yeah ambitious Middleton’s first requirements had been. Hey, I’m all for looking out beyond, but Kent was looking for technology that could never happen under the guidelines of legal development of embryo research.
“Maybe Ke…, Middleton is just smarter than the average researcher. Always looking several steps beyond. And you know, what’s legal today could change in a flash. It’s a new world.” He looked at me. Nodded as in “go on”. We looked deeply into BiEm before arranging the financial package. What we liked best wasn’t about where they were, but the built-in flexibility to go with ease where the winds might take them.”
“I’ll give you that, But that doesn’t change the way I see Middleton as a person now versus then.”
It is interesting how learned disciplines can interact to cause confusion. I have had a conflict ever since I took German for 7 years. And it all has to do with “ie” or “ei”. I always go by the relative clear-cut German rules which are often in opposition to the old “I before e…” In German, words that sound like “eee” are “ie and those that sound like “I” are ei.
Are umpires becoming worse at calling Balls and Strikes, or do we just have more technology now that can measure their inaccuracy? It’s the same for the instant replay in football. But think about this for a second or two. All of the technology monitors the officials. But, the players are still making human mistakes. Does that mean that in the future some people will figure out how to put chips in, for instance foot players, so that running backs will always make the perfect cut? Or maybe batters will wear video wrist bands that sow the umps error, and those arguments will be based on fact. How crappy would that be? On the other hand, maybe we should get rid of all the technical assistance in a game played by humans. Let the fans boo bad calls. And laugh inwardly when the ref makes an error in the home team’s favor.
The Answer:
Everybody knows about Amelia Earhart. But, do you know Bessie Coleman an extremely poor black southern girl who couldn’t find a teacher in the US and found a way to get to Paris for flying lessons. She became an inspiration to black men and women pilots and a very successful flying barnstormer. Neta Snook taught Amelia to fly. Also, Shiela Scott – First British person to fly round the world; Beryl Markham – 1st person to fly East to West across Atlantic; Jaqueline Cochran – 1st woman to break sound barrier; Harriet Quimby 1st women to get pilot’s license, fly across English channel. Other pioneers are Ruth Law, Katherine Stinson, Anna Low, Ruth Nichols, Elinor Smith and Florence Klingensmith. Anne Morrow Lindberg was the first womnan to get a glider’s license.
Happy Ending:
Happiness is having nothing to do that will keep you from rereading the Tids for typos. If you are a simple soul like me, it doesn’t take much.
Opening Stuff:
A new study reveals that people in their 50’s are happier. Happier than what…a prisoner at Abu Ghraib; a guy who stole from a Mexican drug cartel; A conservative Republican in Rhode Island?
And therefore, are people well past their fifties so happy that their constant state of deliriousness’ leads to the ultimate collapse of all mental comprehension?
Eric Holden Department:
The Attorney General seems to have trouble saying Islamic Extremist. I was thinking of this as I noted how many Terrorist bomb plans have been disrupted before the fact by many countries in the Middle East and Asia. So my multiple choice question of the day is:
Did they nab the potential bombers because:
A. They were lucky.
B. They targeted people who looked like Swedes.
C. They targeted people who looked like Mexicans.
D. They targeted people who looked like Middle Eastern Islamic Extremists.
The Question:
Name Ten Female Aviation Pioneers. Many were incredibly courageous, but footnotes of history. The Tids has always sought to elevate footnotes to headlines.
The Headlines:
--Primaries In Penn, Kentucky, Arkansas and Oregon May Indicate National Mood Of Voters.
--Taliban Suicide Bomber Kills 17 In Attack On NATO Convoy.
--EU Overrules UK And Tightens Hedge Fund Rules; New Restrictions Could Bar US Hedge Fund Activities In London Markets.
--New Study Says That People In Their 50’s Are Happier.
--Home Construction Up; New Building Permits Fall Sharply.
--Pfizer Lays off 6,000, Closes 8 Plants Worldwide.
--Stocks Climb In Early Trading.
Back to More Stuff:
My use of the term gravy is largely symbolic. An Icon for sanity. Protecting those who like things that taste good as opposed to just healthy eating. You can find a healthy eating site anywhere these days. But try to find a site tempts your inner cravings for fatty diets. Without a little gravy in your life, you too could become gaunt and despondent. Untrusting. A nagging mother-in-law to sensible living. What this world needs is a little more contentment. Wallowing in the sin of eating rich gravy, fried scallops or hot butterscotch Sundays. The Tids will always fight the battle for the dietary oppressed. Once they take away your gravy, what’s next? Scary, isn’t it?
I was going to write this Tid a week or so ago. I didn’t think at the time my personal observations were enough proof of what my eyes were concluding; There has been little or no damage to the shore and wildlife as a result of the oil spill. After all, headline after headline has been proclaiming the doom of mankind. The spreading of toxicity up and down the east coast after it finished ravaging the Gulf Coast. Yet I only saw a dark spot on the map floating off shore somewhere. And close up pictures didn’t show a contiguous mass, but merely disjointed streams. So last night on the ABC Nightly News of all places they said exactly what I and many had been seeing -- no damage to beaches; just seven wildlife creatures killed; and seafood havens still thriving; no overwhelming masses of thick oil. Moral: believe your eyes and not the press.
The same could be said about press reports against the Arizona law.
Head scratcher: Why did the annoying Press Secretary Gibbs say yesterday, “The President will be following the elections, but not closely.” “But not closely.” Why shouldn’t he watch them closely? That would seem natural. It reminds me of the self proclaimed intellectuals who announce triumphantly things like “I rarely watch TV.”
24-um: --The energy just keeps on coming. --How about Logan? He folded like a cheap suit. The ultimate gutless slimball. But. what agreat actor Itson is! --Lots of nice scenarios to be solved on next weeks don’t-miss-it finale of finale’s. They are saying you will see a surprise of surprises. --But Jack can’t die, cause they need him around for a movie. --Maybe a doctor will call saying “We were just foolin’ you Jack, Renee is alive.” And Jack will shoot himself in the head due to the guilt from his revenge trip. Then he will awaken from that deep slumber after sex with Renee. After all he hadn’t had sex in eight years and was probably really, really tired. (Remember the great “Dallas” cop out.) --Will Hassam’s daughter shoot President Allison? --Will Jack Marry Chole, or will Chloe stab Jack for leading her on all of these years.
I read somewhere yesterday that people now get paid to prove things that most people innately knew 20 years ago were true.
Speaking of Government waste, the esteemed Congress of the US of A says it will only take a few “tweaks” to fix Social Security. Then I read the tweaks that were mainly centered around raising the FICA Tax in one form or another or cutting benefits to seniors. But not once did I read, “Put a giant padlock on the SS Trust Fund so Congress can’t get their hands on it”.
Congress has been spending a lot of time trying to figure out how to regulate the misdeeds of Credit Card companies. How about enforcing usury laws that have been in existence pretty much since the beginning of time.
Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 72 continues. –“Well, hi there Mr. Durham. We don’t see you in here much!” Marie took a quick glance at me as she dropped menus on the table. I turned my eyes toward Paul in a soft and loving illusion. Marie seemed to relax. I didn’t. I ordered coffee. I almost said Diet Coke for Paul but he spoke up quickly and ordered Coffee and an éclair. And then chatted with Marie as though he was the happiest guy on the face of the earth.
“Do you come here often when in town?” He asked curiously, but non threatening when Marie had left. Why was I measuring ever word, every nuance.
“Often a bunch of us come down after one of our crime chaser meetings.” I answered casually.
“Ah yes, the vandalism caper.” He laughed a little.
“Hey, that turned out to be a big deal”, I protested! Then we both laughed.
“I think something is still going on.“ Now Paul got serious. “Nothing is adding up to me anymore. Especially Kent Middleton.” I didn’t show any emotion. “As I think back to my early days of proposing our solutions to BiEm, I never realized until just recently how odd…” he paused, “…well maybe odd is a bad word. Ambitious, yeah ambitious Middleton’s first requirements had been. Hey, I’m all for looking out beyond, but Kent was looking for technology that could never happen under the guidelines of legal development of embryo research.
“Maybe Ke…, Middleton is just smarter than the average researcher. Always looking several steps beyond. And you know, what’s legal today could change in a flash. It’s a new world.” He looked at me. Nodded as in “go on”. We looked deeply into BiEm before arranging the financial package. What we liked best wasn’t about where they were, but the built-in flexibility to go with ease where the winds might take them.”
“I’ll give you that, But that doesn’t change the way I see Middleton as a person now versus then.”
It is interesting how learned disciplines can interact to cause confusion. I have had a conflict ever since I took German for 7 years. And it all has to do with “ie” or “ei”. I always go by the relative clear-cut German rules which are often in opposition to the old “I before e…” In German, words that sound like “eee” are “ie and those that sound like “I” are ei.
Are umpires becoming worse at calling Balls and Strikes, or do we just have more technology now that can measure their inaccuracy? It’s the same for the instant replay in football. But think about this for a second or two. All of the technology monitors the officials. But, the players are still making human mistakes. Does that mean that in the future some people will figure out how to put chips in, for instance foot players, so that running backs will always make the perfect cut? Or maybe batters will wear video wrist bands that sow the umps error, and those arguments will be based on fact. How crappy would that be? On the other hand, maybe we should get rid of all the technical assistance in a game played by humans. Let the fans boo bad calls. And laugh inwardly when the ref makes an error in the home team’s favor.
The Answer:
Everybody knows about Amelia Earhart. But, do you know Bessie Coleman an extremely poor black southern girl who couldn’t find a teacher in the US and found a way to get to Paris for flying lessons. She became an inspiration to black men and women pilots and a very successful flying barnstormer. Neta Snook taught Amelia to fly. Also, Shiela Scott – First British person to fly round the world; Beryl Markham – 1st person to fly East to West across Atlantic; Jaqueline Cochran – 1st woman to break sound barrier; Harriet Quimby 1st women to get pilot’s license, fly across English channel. Other pioneers are Ruth Law, Katherine Stinson, Anna Low, Ruth Nichols, Elinor Smith and Florence Klingensmith. Anne Morrow Lindberg was the first womnan to get a glider’s license.
Happy Ending:
Happiness is having nothing to do that will keep you from rereading the Tids for typos. If you are a simple soul like me, it doesn’t take much.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Down to the sea in Berluti's.
Today's Tids Issue 2,124
Opening Stuff:
As I watch these intrepid reporters in their boats, dressed appropriately in slickers, courageously sticking their hands in oily water, looking off into the horizon, pain in their eyes, proclaiming that the slick is but 10 miles from the shore, I’m thinking that he real problem for the environment is probably happening mere hundred’s of feet below them. How incredibly destructive to sea life would be an ocean floor covered with oil?
I may have to go with the Dems on this financial regulations overhaul bill. Especially now that the GOP has gotten rid of the self financed “Bailout” component of the bill. I’m a CTTP guy. That stands for my long heralded “Closer to the Crooks” voter control strategy. States and local power. One of the remaining sticking points before passage is the Federal versus states power in the writing and enforcement of rules. The GOP wants total control with the feds. The Dems say the states should do it. I can’t go with that. Nobody has proven to me that “what’s good for the banks is good for the consumer” works at all.
The Question:
The first American newscast was by NBC in 1941. Who was the first anchor and how many can you remember to present?
The Headlines:
--3.6% Q1 Productivity Beats Estimates; Overall Lower Labor Costs Raises Fear Of Slower Recovery.
--Euro Decline Raises New Fears Of Declining European Economy As Greek Mess Infects Other Countries.
--Surprising Boston Bruins Take Big Step Towards Stanley cup.
Back to More Stuff:
American Idol sucked Tuesday night. Maybe it was the dreamy style of the Sinatra tunes. Maybe it was because none of the singers were very good at all. But I think it was because Siobhan and her innate energy were missing from this show which had boiled down to 4 mediocre men and a pretty good woman. Now we know, even though praised I thought wrongly by the judges, that Aaron was tossed. It could have been any of the five based on the performances I saw. Oh, and I’m sorry I missed the review yesterday. It must have been the lackluster performances or the misery of missing Siobhan that knocked me down.
In response to a Tids note yesterday about pictures of self looking better when not wearing your glasses, a reader suggests keeping the lights in the house low. Shadows are good fro skin tone.
In an article this morning about the ugliest buildings in Providence I was both dismayed and educated. Dismayed because some of my personal favorites were severely criticizes and some of my obvious ugly’s went unnoticed. Educated because it proved to me once again that people’s opinions are incredibly varied. And particularly when it comes to taste and beauty. It is easy to be critical of just about anything. Believe it or not, the Tids used to be far more cirticle of just about anything. But as the circulation grew, I found myself tempering some observations. Oh, never observations about right and wrong and general morality and honesty, but on areas of personal taste. If everything was like me, it would be a bland world.
And, if you don’t think that people have opinions about things that should appear obvious yet 180 degrees different from yours, consider the CNN commentator (Agosta, I think) who said that he didn’t blame the Times Square bomber for being mad at the US because his house had been recently foreclosed.
Actors performing at matinee productions where the audience is 90% senior citizens should never expect a “standing” ovation.
Didn’t you get the feeling while following the drama of the Times Square bomber that you had just seen it all before on “24”?
You have to expect that the cost of health care will grow even beyond what it is today as organized groups lobby congress to have their respective maladies covered by this bill. That’s the way all government grows beyond control. It isn’t always the original bill that’s the problem, but what scared congress people add to it over time that makes big government control prohibitively expensive.
I sat next to a couple of High Schoolers in an auditorium yesterday. At one time an older dial phone was brought on the stage. The one next to me turned to her friend and said “Did you ever see one of those phones where you stick your finger in the hole and turn the wheel!” You have to wonder what will be nostalgia when she is my age. It could be scary
The Answer:
The father of Conservative commentator Cal Thomas, Lowell Thomas was the first news TV anchor. Next we had John Cameron Swayzie til 1955. The David Brinkly was the Washington correspondent at the time but was not much of a factor until he joined Chet Huntley in 1955. By 1956 the correspondents power had ousted Swayzie. Of course NBC at the time of the H-B emergence had been overshadowed be CBS Edward R. Murrow. When Huntley retired in 1971, the NBC effort became rudderless with a series of anchors Brinkley, Frank McGee and John Chancellor. The network regained it’s footing when Tom Brokaw took over. Now we have the ever well dressed Brian Williams.
The End?
Missing anything? I had to run, and couldn’t do justice to the plight of Maggie Durham today. But she will return tomorrow, fighting for her sanity,,,and maybe her life.
Oh… this could be a bonanza day for those of you who love to find typos!
Opening Stuff:
As I watch these intrepid reporters in their boats, dressed appropriately in slickers, courageously sticking their hands in oily water, looking off into the horizon, pain in their eyes, proclaiming that the slick is but 10 miles from the shore, I’m thinking that he real problem for the environment is probably happening mere hundred’s of feet below them. How incredibly destructive to sea life would be an ocean floor covered with oil?
I may have to go with the Dems on this financial regulations overhaul bill. Especially now that the GOP has gotten rid of the self financed “Bailout” component of the bill. I’m a CTTP guy. That stands for my long heralded “Closer to the Crooks” voter control strategy. States and local power. One of the remaining sticking points before passage is the Federal versus states power in the writing and enforcement of rules. The GOP wants total control with the feds. The Dems say the states should do it. I can’t go with that. Nobody has proven to me that “what’s good for the banks is good for the consumer” works at all.
The Question:
The first American newscast was by NBC in 1941. Who was the first anchor and how many can you remember to present?
The Headlines:
--3.6% Q1 Productivity Beats Estimates; Overall Lower Labor Costs Raises Fear Of Slower Recovery.
--Euro Decline Raises New Fears Of Declining European Economy As Greek Mess Infects Other Countries.
--Surprising Boston Bruins Take Big Step Towards Stanley cup.
Back to More Stuff:
American Idol sucked Tuesday night. Maybe it was the dreamy style of the Sinatra tunes. Maybe it was because none of the singers were very good at all. But I think it was because Siobhan and her innate energy were missing from this show which had boiled down to 4 mediocre men and a pretty good woman. Now we know, even though praised I thought wrongly by the judges, that Aaron was tossed. It could have been any of the five based on the performances I saw. Oh, and I’m sorry I missed the review yesterday. It must have been the lackluster performances or the misery of missing Siobhan that knocked me down.
In response to a Tids note yesterday about pictures of self looking better when not wearing your glasses, a reader suggests keeping the lights in the house low. Shadows are good fro skin tone.
In an article this morning about the ugliest buildings in Providence I was both dismayed and educated. Dismayed because some of my personal favorites were severely criticizes and some of my obvious ugly’s went unnoticed. Educated because it proved to me once again that people’s opinions are incredibly varied. And particularly when it comes to taste and beauty. It is easy to be critical of just about anything. Believe it or not, the Tids used to be far more cirticle of just about anything. But as the circulation grew, I found myself tempering some observations. Oh, never observations about right and wrong and general morality and honesty, but on areas of personal taste. If everything was like me, it would be a bland world.
And, if you don’t think that people have opinions about things that should appear obvious yet 180 degrees different from yours, consider the CNN commentator (Agosta, I think) who said that he didn’t blame the Times Square bomber for being mad at the US because his house had been recently foreclosed.
Actors performing at matinee productions where the audience is 90% senior citizens should never expect a “standing” ovation.
Didn’t you get the feeling while following the drama of the Times Square bomber that you had just seen it all before on “24”?
You have to expect that the cost of health care will grow even beyond what it is today as organized groups lobby congress to have their respective maladies covered by this bill. That’s the way all government grows beyond control. It isn’t always the original bill that’s the problem, but what scared congress people add to it over time that makes big government control prohibitively expensive.
I sat next to a couple of High Schoolers in an auditorium yesterday. At one time an older dial phone was brought on the stage. The one next to me turned to her friend and said “Did you ever see one of those phones where you stick your finger in the hole and turn the wheel!” You have to wonder what will be nostalgia when she is my age. It could be scary
The Answer:
The father of Conservative commentator Cal Thomas, Lowell Thomas was the first news TV anchor. Next we had John Cameron Swayzie til 1955. The David Brinkly was the Washington correspondent at the time but was not much of a factor until he joined Chet Huntley in 1955. By 1956 the correspondents power had ousted Swayzie. Of course NBC at the time of the H-B emergence had been overshadowed be CBS Edward R. Murrow. When Huntley retired in 1971, the NBC effort became rudderless with a series of anchors Brinkley, Frank McGee and John Chancellor. The network regained it’s footing when Tom Brokaw took over. Now we have the ever well dressed Brian Williams.
The End?
Missing anything? I had to run, and couldn’t do justice to the plight of Maggie Durham today. But she will return tomorrow, fighting for her sanity,,,and maybe her life.
Oh… this could be a bonanza day for those of you who love to find typos!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Tomorrow will never be like today.
Today's Tids Issue 2,122
Opening Stuff:
It seems like only a few months ago when I was discussing with a friend how “The Shrimp Cocktail” was once considered a primo, special occasion, dining out treat! It looks like we may be headed back in time as the oil seeps into birthing beds.
Why do the eastern elite think they know more than Arizonans who have to put up with illegal citizens every day?
Winter must be nearing an end…there were two large cruise ships sitting in the harbor yesterday. And lots of lost walkers looking for directions.
The Huffington Post now has an on-line circulation bigger than that of the NY Times. The Times they are achangin’.
The Question: 78 years ago today Al Capone was convicted and sent to prison. Name 5 other legendary gangsters.
The Headlines:
--Amber Rose Johnson Of Providence RI Classical High School Wins National High School Poetry Competition. Her Smile Lit Up the West Side Of Capitol City.
--Pakistani Man From Connecticut Held In Time Square Bomb Attempt.
--Flood Has Nashville Singing A Sad Song.
--Iceland Ash Close Irish Airports.
--U. Virginia Star-Lacrossed Lovers End In Tragedy; Men’s Team Sub Arrested For First Degree Murder Of Women’s team Player.
--RI Motor Vehicle Registration Clerk Nabs 4 Illegal Immigrants Applying For License With False Papers.
--Obama Admin Offers “Mini-Medicare” Package; Employers Can Now Tap Into New $5 Billion To Help Pay for Health care Of 55-64 Yo. Employees.
--Celtics Even Series With Cavs.
--Market Expected To Open Lower.
--Goldman Now Facing Suits From Shareholders.
Back to More Stuff:
24-um: Dana Walsh turned into one great villainess, I’d say. The booby trap scene in the bank was classic. –But the great line came from Jack in response to Dana’s “How can I help you?” – “You can’t” Bam!! –Jack is clearly on a mission and nothing will get in his way. –I love the ugliness shown by the new guy taking over the CTU op. – Chloe will save the day. –I’m hoping that the Prez goes down. –How about President Logan and Mrs. Hassam as lovers! Did you see the glint in his eye? –Overall, a great super fast moving episode. Music was great for tension building.
Did you hear about that Texan named Glenn Fullerton and his big payday at the Kentucky Derby. Apparently CNBC has this contest in a joint promotion with the Derby folks. People are invited to qualify for the drawing by picking the final daily closing stock numbers during a specified time. Those who qualify are put into a pool (This year 67,000) and a winner is picked. The winner gets a first class all-the-way trip to Louisville and…a briefcase full of cash…$100,000 in cash! Here’s the catch. The winner must bet that cash on one horse. Fullerton picked Super Savor, a rather obscure horse. Not the popular favorite – Lookin at Lucky, nor the media darling filly – Devil may Care (The media always becomes enraptured with the fillies). That’s what impressed me. He actually did the work to win. He studied the muddy track and the horses best for it. He studied how the jockeys were doing that day in previous races in the mud. He didn’t just follow the crowd. He took full responsibility for his own decision. And he won. The briefcase grew to a satchel full of $900,000. Nice day!
I see where Provincetown Mass is closing its High School. Very sad for the working people that are left in this once flourishing fishing center. The working fishermen and trades people, long the backbone of this town at the tip have been driven out by the chi-chi high cost of living and housing. The second problem is the disappearance of year round children in this haven for gays and lesbians that only produced two births last year. No kids no schools. Well, at least taxes will go down. Yeah, sure!
Most of the marathon runners ate at a fast food restaurant before the race! Makes sense.
Scientists have now proven what most people have always felt – the sun makes you high. And, according to new research, it’s more than coming back out into brightness after a long gloomy indoor winter. Apparently the sun stimulates the body juices producing a substance similar to morphine! Go out and smell the poppies. EeeeeeHah!
The auto industry is well on the road to recovery, but it is all due to fewer and lower paying jobs.
If you ever catch me sneaking a peak at the new reality geezer show with the demeaning title “Sunset Daze” shoot me. This show about the loves and lives of retirees will have younger folks evoking that dusty old adjective phrase “Aren’t they cute!” Cute! Drooling and wobbling isn’t cute. I never thought an old person was cute. Another favorite word to describe these Sun City sinners will be the dreadful “Frisky”. God help me.
Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 70. –“Hello Sally, this is Sarah Durham.” Sally said hi back and just waited. These damn scientists, I thought. They never commit. My mind wandered to Kent and my feelings of last night. I slept surprisingly well. Does that make me a psychopath or something like that? Anyhow, when I awoke I was actually refreshed, and cheerful fixing breakfast for the kids and Paul. I even gave Paul a healthy kiss as he left. He turned red and stammered a little. Actually he looked back twice as he walked out to the car.Well
“Hello, hello” I heard Sally breaking into my thoughts.
“Sorry Sally, My mind has been wandering a lot since my hospital ordeal.” She said she understood.
Sally, I have a meeting with Izzy today. I’d like to talk to you for a few moments when I’m finished.”
“That’s fine Mrs. Durham” she responded cautiously.
“Call me Sarah,” I quickly inserted. Then I added, “You don’t have to be leery of me.” She was still silent. Maybe talking to Sally will be a waste of time. “Paul said you were a great observer, and I just have a couple of small questions about Bromsky. I realize you didn’t work for him, but I like that other party view at times.”
She immediately agreed adding the words “Oh, Paul said that!” She informed me that Paul would be there this afternoon too. I thought that is good since he really knows these people well, and has his own new doubts about Kent. “I’m thinking that I’ll be in your area around 3:00.
I immediate called Paul after hanging up.
In a world of vagaries, of this you can always be sure: the Oldest person in the world will eventually die. So keep on plugging. Someday you may make it to the top!
The way the admin authorizes cash payments like the just announced “Mini-Medicare” program, I have to figure that there must be one huge safe in the White House.
The Answer;
My first thoughts are Baby Faced Nelson, John Dillinger, Pretty Boy Floyd and Willie Sutton. Then there are the mafia luminaries like Frank Nitti, Lucky Luciano and Bugsy Siegel. Who could forget the delightful honeymooners Bonnie & Clyde. And, if you are looking for a mother’s day special, there’s the frisky Ma Barker.
The End:
I have learned never to leave a question hanging.
Opening Stuff:
It seems like only a few months ago when I was discussing with a friend how “The Shrimp Cocktail” was once considered a primo, special occasion, dining out treat! It looks like we may be headed back in time as the oil seeps into birthing beds.
Why do the eastern elite think they know more than Arizonans who have to put up with illegal citizens every day?
Winter must be nearing an end…there were two large cruise ships sitting in the harbor yesterday. And lots of lost walkers looking for directions.
The Huffington Post now has an on-line circulation bigger than that of the NY Times. The Times they are achangin’.
The Question: 78 years ago today Al Capone was convicted and sent to prison. Name 5 other legendary gangsters.
The Headlines:
--Amber Rose Johnson Of Providence RI Classical High School Wins National High School Poetry Competition. Her Smile Lit Up the West Side Of Capitol City.
--Pakistani Man From Connecticut Held In Time Square Bomb Attempt.
--Flood Has Nashville Singing A Sad Song.
--Iceland Ash Close Irish Airports.
--U. Virginia Star-Lacrossed Lovers End In Tragedy; Men’s Team Sub Arrested For First Degree Murder Of Women’s team Player.
--RI Motor Vehicle Registration Clerk Nabs 4 Illegal Immigrants Applying For License With False Papers.
--Obama Admin Offers “Mini-Medicare” Package; Employers Can Now Tap Into New $5 Billion To Help Pay for Health care Of 55-64 Yo. Employees.
--Celtics Even Series With Cavs.
--Market Expected To Open Lower.
--Goldman Now Facing Suits From Shareholders.
Back to More Stuff:
24-um: Dana Walsh turned into one great villainess, I’d say. The booby trap scene in the bank was classic. –But the great line came from Jack in response to Dana’s “How can I help you?” – “You can’t” Bam!! –Jack is clearly on a mission and nothing will get in his way. –I love the ugliness shown by the new guy taking over the CTU op. – Chloe will save the day. –I’m hoping that the Prez goes down. –How about President Logan and Mrs. Hassam as lovers! Did you see the glint in his eye? –Overall, a great super fast moving episode. Music was great for tension building.
Did you hear about that Texan named Glenn Fullerton and his big payday at the Kentucky Derby. Apparently CNBC has this contest in a joint promotion with the Derby folks. People are invited to qualify for the drawing by picking the final daily closing stock numbers during a specified time. Those who qualify are put into a pool (This year 67,000) and a winner is picked. The winner gets a first class all-the-way trip to Louisville and…a briefcase full of cash…$100,000 in cash! Here’s the catch. The winner must bet that cash on one horse. Fullerton picked Super Savor, a rather obscure horse. Not the popular favorite – Lookin at Lucky, nor the media darling filly – Devil may Care (The media always becomes enraptured with the fillies). That’s what impressed me. He actually did the work to win. He studied the muddy track and the horses best for it. He studied how the jockeys were doing that day in previous races in the mud. He didn’t just follow the crowd. He took full responsibility for his own decision. And he won. The briefcase grew to a satchel full of $900,000. Nice day!
I see where Provincetown Mass is closing its High School. Very sad for the working people that are left in this once flourishing fishing center. The working fishermen and trades people, long the backbone of this town at the tip have been driven out by the chi-chi high cost of living and housing. The second problem is the disappearance of year round children in this haven for gays and lesbians that only produced two births last year. No kids no schools. Well, at least taxes will go down. Yeah, sure!
Most of the marathon runners ate at a fast food restaurant before the race! Makes sense.
Scientists have now proven what most people have always felt – the sun makes you high. And, according to new research, it’s more than coming back out into brightness after a long gloomy indoor winter. Apparently the sun stimulates the body juices producing a substance similar to morphine! Go out and smell the poppies. EeeeeeHah!
The auto industry is well on the road to recovery, but it is all due to fewer and lower paying jobs.
If you ever catch me sneaking a peak at the new reality geezer show with the demeaning title “Sunset Daze” shoot me. This show about the loves and lives of retirees will have younger folks evoking that dusty old adjective phrase “Aren’t they cute!” Cute! Drooling and wobbling isn’t cute. I never thought an old person was cute. Another favorite word to describe these Sun City sinners will be the dreadful “Frisky”. God help me.
Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 70. –“Hello Sally, this is Sarah Durham.” Sally said hi back and just waited. These damn scientists, I thought. They never commit. My mind wandered to Kent and my feelings of last night. I slept surprisingly well. Does that make me a psychopath or something like that? Anyhow, when I awoke I was actually refreshed, and cheerful fixing breakfast for the kids and Paul. I even gave Paul a healthy kiss as he left. He turned red and stammered a little. Actually he looked back twice as he walked out to the car.Well
“Hello, hello” I heard Sally breaking into my thoughts.
“Sorry Sally, My mind has been wandering a lot since my hospital ordeal.” She said she understood.
Sally, I have a meeting with Izzy today. I’d like to talk to you for a few moments when I’m finished.”
“That’s fine Mrs. Durham” she responded cautiously.
“Call me Sarah,” I quickly inserted. Then I added, “You don’t have to be leery of me.” She was still silent. Maybe talking to Sally will be a waste of time. “Paul said you were a great observer, and I just have a couple of small questions about Bromsky. I realize you didn’t work for him, but I like that other party view at times.”
She immediately agreed adding the words “Oh, Paul said that!” She informed me that Paul would be there this afternoon too. I thought that is good since he really knows these people well, and has his own new doubts about Kent. “I’m thinking that I’ll be in your area around 3:00.
I immediate called Paul after hanging up.
In a world of vagaries, of this you can always be sure: the Oldest person in the world will eventually die. So keep on plugging. Someday you may make it to the top!
The way the admin authorizes cash payments like the just announced “Mini-Medicare” program, I have to figure that there must be one huge safe in the White House.
The Answer;
My first thoughts are Baby Faced Nelson, John Dillinger, Pretty Boy Floyd and Willie Sutton. Then there are the mafia luminaries like Frank Nitti, Lucky Luciano and Bugsy Siegel. Who could forget the delightful honeymooners Bonnie & Clyde. And, if you are looking for a mother’s day special, there’s the frisky Ma Barker.
The End:
I have learned never to leave a question hanging.
Monday, May 3, 2010
May is the happy kind of gay.
Today's Tids Issue 2,121
Opening Stuff:
Did I miss International Workers Day again! Rats. The first Tids of May sounds like a bouncy little song, doesn’t it? The first Tids of May, Happy Bon Mots on their way, To help spruce up your day, Like good old Sol’s ray. / Glib Pols that stray, Other’s feet of clay, Will the army become gay?, Amoral athletes that play, Grim terrorists that slay, Con men that prey, Bonus babies big pay, Shooing illegals away, Star dancers that sway. / And to fruit I say nay, But for gravy it’s yeh, Which is why I weigh, like a horse that says Neigh. So enter the fray, After weekend of play, and Sunday to pray, With a spirit okay. / And I’ll creep away. God, isn’t May inspirational!
Wall Street and the Government continue to use numbers to influence, but much too often only tell part of the story. Stocks get bought or sold, disingenuous Pols slap each other happily on their backs and the public loses. Take, for instance, the report on economic growth Friday. The media proudly and wrongly exalted the Q1 3.2% GDP growth number as proof that the economy was on a rebound. Stocks leapt forward. Politicians implied how good they were for the country Of course they didn’t tell you that the previous quarter had a 5.6% growth and that the year ago similar quarter had a 5.4 number. And they didn’t even offer a hint to the public that in order for a successful rebirth of an economy that also creates jobs, the GDP needs to show five consecutive quarters with a 7-9% growth!
I remember when to get through the Sunday Newspaper I had to play a CD line-up which might include a lengthy Beethoven Mass, Grieg and Schumann Piano concertos and a series of Respighi symphonic landscapes. Today I can turn the last page on merely…a Cesar Franck oratorio and a collection of Richard Strauss tone poems.
The Question:
There are enormous sky scrapers all over the world. But this tower of Babel mentality started humbly in the US. Name the first skyscraper, number of stories and where and when it was built. What are the ten highest sky scrapers in the world today?
The Headlines:
--Oil Spill Just In Infancy; Damage Could Be Biggest In History.
--Video May Give Clues To Failed Times Square Bomb.
--India Convicts Pakistani In Mumbai Siege.
--Buffet Says Goldman Good.
--Warm Weather Has Northeast Basking; Floods Threatening Tennesee.
--Baghdad Recount Begins Today.
--Red Sox Fans Jumping Off Local Bridges.
--United And Continental To Combine To Form Largest Airline.
--China Raises Bank reserves; Asian Stocks drop.
--German Cabinet Takes Up Huge Greek Bailout.
Back to More Stuff:
I had to smile at the juxtaposition of the two main stories on the front page of the weekend section of the Saturday’s newspaper – The Ringling Brother’s Circus next to Goldman Sachs. Send in the clowns.
This entire discussion about financial activity is coming down to what too many decisions in America seem to boil down to any more. Legal versus moral or ethical. It is not beyond the realm of good reasoning that GS and others did everything according to the law. But, that doesn’t make losses any more tolerable. Like a serial killer getting off on a technicality. Or rally’s against an Arizona law in favor of a massive group of out and out criminals. People often perform to the letter of a law but often outside the intent of the law. I guess you just have to hope that people still know what’s right or wrong in their hearts. But, in my heart I know that it is slowly becoming but a hopeful fantasy…especially where big money is involved.
Which brings me to the hacker of the Palin email account. The lawyer tried to portray a serious invasion of privacy as a college prank. Hazing is a college prank. Putting the Dean’s car atop a flag poll is a college prank. Hacking is a criminal act.
What is the worst phrase in the English language? “It’s only a misdemeanor.”
Have you noticed that headlines which are accusatory of manufacturers of baby equipment and furniture make it sound like the companies have a secret, evil group of scientists in the back room devising subtle ways to kill babies? This leads me to believe that the newspapers are just being lazy again picking up releases from class action lawyer PR firms.
Think about how many fewer lawyers there would be in the US if the innate law of personal responsibility was taken seriously again.
One of the real problems with warming weather is that it becomes real tough to justify wearing a sweater to cover up winter growth. If you get my drift. Or should I have said…shift?
How incredulous was it Saturday when the “Great Mocker”, “Mr. Ridicule” himself was seen standing in that cavernous U. Michigan stadium urging for the secession of “…name calling under the guise of legitimate discourse.” This from a man who hasn’t hesitated to criticize America in foreign lands or demean the legitimate opinions of honest Americans. The best thing for American harmony would be to ban microphones from “Prime Time’s” hands.
I just received an email ad entitled “Unadvertised” specials! How do they do that?
Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 69 continues. –You alright, Sarah?” I heard Henry now in a kind, gentler tone. “You don’t look so well”. I looked over at him. He was staring at me. Yet, he looked truly concerned. “I think you are doing too much. Your body has gone through a lot over the past month.”
If he only knew, I thought. My repaired body responding too quickly to the urgings of Kent’s nearness. And now my mind conflicting with my heart. A heart that feels deeply the love of my family and a mind that knows that family is everything in my life. A heart that also can’t break away from the aura of a man I barely know. This man who some how has become a fatal addiction. But, as I sit here with Henry, I know that he sees something in Kent that neither of us have ever seen before. A sense of sinister manipulation. I finally slowly turned my head to this man I know I can trust. Another stranger. “Henry. You are right. I have done much too much too fast.“ He smiled as if he were my father.
“I’m going to bring in Laura again. I have a guy working on digging up more of her past.” He looked at me. Get some rest. I’ll call you when I learn more.”
I felt relieved. I am going to get myself back to who I was. Who I was was a pretty great person. I wonder if they make a patch for this addiction, I chuckled to myself as I closed the sheriff’s door behind me.
It seems to me that these days a good pragmatist will never make a lot of money as an inventor. “Who would ever need that?”
By the way, what ever happened to Francis Gary Powers?
Extreme liberals think that they are entirely right and conservatives are entirely wrong. Extreme conservatives think they are entirely right and liberals are entirely wrong. Hey…common ground! Maybe that’s a start. Maybe there is hope after all.
Most of the critics who write nasty things about Goldman have never sold anything. And that includes the Senators who were perplexed by answer to the question “Do you work for your customers or Goldman”. Every good sales person who ever toted a bag knows he or she is trying to serve the customer as best as possible within the confines of their own product offerings and pricing. For instance, if your company says we’re ok with 5% profit, a salesman tries for 10% first. If the customer is happy paying that price to gain the benefits of working with you and your company, then you the salesperson is doing the right job. A good sales person does work very hard for the benefit of the customer, but never sells out the company just to get an order.
Erich Estrada is alive and well…in case anybody is interested.
There is some word on the street that the Gulf oil catastrophe could quickly push the cost of a gallon of gas through $5.00. The is could be an economy recovery killer.
You have to question the character of the protestors against the Arizona law as they continually deny the existence of the word illegal.
The Answer:
The first skyscraper in the US was built in Chicago in 1884. This behemoth was built for the Home Insurance Company of NY and had an acrophobic 10 stories! The big ones are Burj Khalifa, Dubai; Taipei 101, Taipei; Shanghai World Financial, Shanghai; Petronas Tower 1, Kuala Lumpur; Petronis Tower 2, Kuala Lumpur; Nanjing Greenland Fin., Nanjing; Willis Tower, Chicago; Guangzhou West Tower, Guangzhou; Jin Mao Tower, Shanghai. The Empire State Building, The granddaddy is number 15. Check out the tallest 200 http://www.emporis.com/en/bu/sk/st/tp/wo/
The End:Never to leave you hanging…Francis Gary Powers would have been 81 now if he hadn’t died at 47 while piloting a LA Television news helicopter. His return to the US (He was traded t=for Russian spy Rudolpf Abel) was very unpleasant as his CIA buddies shunned him for not destroying the U2 Plane and/or taking a poison pill to kill himself.
Opening Stuff:
Did I miss International Workers Day again! Rats. The first Tids of May sounds like a bouncy little song, doesn’t it? The first Tids of May, Happy Bon Mots on their way, To help spruce up your day, Like good old Sol’s ray. / Glib Pols that stray, Other’s feet of clay, Will the army become gay?, Amoral athletes that play, Grim terrorists that slay, Con men that prey, Bonus babies big pay, Shooing illegals away, Star dancers that sway. / And to fruit I say nay, But for gravy it’s yeh, Which is why I weigh, like a horse that says Neigh. So enter the fray, After weekend of play, and Sunday to pray, With a spirit okay. / And I’ll creep away. God, isn’t May inspirational!
Wall Street and the Government continue to use numbers to influence, but much too often only tell part of the story. Stocks get bought or sold, disingenuous Pols slap each other happily on their backs and the public loses. Take, for instance, the report on economic growth Friday. The media proudly and wrongly exalted the Q1 3.2% GDP growth number as proof that the economy was on a rebound. Stocks leapt forward. Politicians implied how good they were for the country Of course they didn’t tell you that the previous quarter had a 5.6% growth and that the year ago similar quarter had a 5.4 number. And they didn’t even offer a hint to the public that in order for a successful rebirth of an economy that also creates jobs, the GDP needs to show five consecutive quarters with a 7-9% growth!
I remember when to get through the Sunday Newspaper I had to play a CD line-up which might include a lengthy Beethoven Mass, Grieg and Schumann Piano concertos and a series of Respighi symphonic landscapes. Today I can turn the last page on merely…a Cesar Franck oratorio and a collection of Richard Strauss tone poems.
The Question:
There are enormous sky scrapers all over the world. But this tower of Babel mentality started humbly in the US. Name the first skyscraper, number of stories and where and when it was built. What are the ten highest sky scrapers in the world today?
The Headlines:
--Oil Spill Just In Infancy; Damage Could Be Biggest In History.
--Video May Give Clues To Failed Times Square Bomb.
--India Convicts Pakistani In Mumbai Siege.
--Buffet Says Goldman Good.
--Warm Weather Has Northeast Basking; Floods Threatening Tennesee.
--Baghdad Recount Begins Today.
--Red Sox Fans Jumping Off Local Bridges.
--United And Continental To Combine To Form Largest Airline.
--China Raises Bank reserves; Asian Stocks drop.
--German Cabinet Takes Up Huge Greek Bailout.
Back to More Stuff:
I had to smile at the juxtaposition of the two main stories on the front page of the weekend section of the Saturday’s newspaper – The Ringling Brother’s Circus next to Goldman Sachs. Send in the clowns.
This entire discussion about financial activity is coming down to what too many decisions in America seem to boil down to any more. Legal versus moral or ethical. It is not beyond the realm of good reasoning that GS and others did everything according to the law. But, that doesn’t make losses any more tolerable. Like a serial killer getting off on a technicality. Or rally’s against an Arizona law in favor of a massive group of out and out criminals. People often perform to the letter of a law but often outside the intent of the law. I guess you just have to hope that people still know what’s right or wrong in their hearts. But, in my heart I know that it is slowly becoming but a hopeful fantasy…especially where big money is involved.
Which brings me to the hacker of the Palin email account. The lawyer tried to portray a serious invasion of privacy as a college prank. Hazing is a college prank. Putting the Dean’s car atop a flag poll is a college prank. Hacking is a criminal act.
What is the worst phrase in the English language? “It’s only a misdemeanor.”
Have you noticed that headlines which are accusatory of manufacturers of baby equipment and furniture make it sound like the companies have a secret, evil group of scientists in the back room devising subtle ways to kill babies? This leads me to believe that the newspapers are just being lazy again picking up releases from class action lawyer PR firms.
Think about how many fewer lawyers there would be in the US if the innate law of personal responsibility was taken seriously again.
One of the real problems with warming weather is that it becomes real tough to justify wearing a sweater to cover up winter growth. If you get my drift. Or should I have said…shift?
How incredulous was it Saturday when the “Great Mocker”, “Mr. Ridicule” himself was seen standing in that cavernous U. Michigan stadium urging for the secession of “…name calling under the guise of legitimate discourse.” This from a man who hasn’t hesitated to criticize America in foreign lands or demean the legitimate opinions of honest Americans. The best thing for American harmony would be to ban microphones from “Prime Time’s” hands.
I just received an email ad entitled “Unadvertised” specials! How do they do that?
Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 69 continues. –You alright, Sarah?” I heard Henry now in a kind, gentler tone. “You don’t look so well”. I looked over at him. He was staring at me. Yet, he looked truly concerned. “I think you are doing too much. Your body has gone through a lot over the past month.”
If he only knew, I thought. My repaired body responding too quickly to the urgings of Kent’s nearness. And now my mind conflicting with my heart. A heart that feels deeply the love of my family and a mind that knows that family is everything in my life. A heart that also can’t break away from the aura of a man I barely know. This man who some how has become a fatal addiction. But, as I sit here with Henry, I know that he sees something in Kent that neither of us have ever seen before. A sense of sinister manipulation. I finally slowly turned my head to this man I know I can trust. Another stranger. “Henry. You are right. I have done much too much too fast.“ He smiled as if he were my father.
“I’m going to bring in Laura again. I have a guy working on digging up more of her past.” He looked at me. Get some rest. I’ll call you when I learn more.”
I felt relieved. I am going to get myself back to who I was. Who I was was a pretty great person. I wonder if they make a patch for this addiction, I chuckled to myself as I closed the sheriff’s door behind me.
It seems to me that these days a good pragmatist will never make a lot of money as an inventor. “Who would ever need that?”
By the way, what ever happened to Francis Gary Powers?
Extreme liberals think that they are entirely right and conservatives are entirely wrong. Extreme conservatives think they are entirely right and liberals are entirely wrong. Hey…common ground! Maybe that’s a start. Maybe there is hope after all.
Most of the critics who write nasty things about Goldman have never sold anything. And that includes the Senators who were perplexed by answer to the question “Do you work for your customers or Goldman”. Every good sales person who ever toted a bag knows he or she is trying to serve the customer as best as possible within the confines of their own product offerings and pricing. For instance, if your company says we’re ok with 5% profit, a salesman tries for 10% first. If the customer is happy paying that price to gain the benefits of working with you and your company, then you the salesperson is doing the right job. A good sales person does work very hard for the benefit of the customer, but never sells out the company just to get an order.
Erich Estrada is alive and well…in case anybody is interested.
There is some word on the street that the Gulf oil catastrophe could quickly push the cost of a gallon of gas through $5.00. The is could be an economy recovery killer.
You have to question the character of the protestors against the Arizona law as they continually deny the existence of the word illegal.
The Answer:
The first skyscraper in the US was built in Chicago in 1884. This behemoth was built for the Home Insurance Company of NY and had an acrophobic 10 stories! The big ones are Burj Khalifa, Dubai; Taipei 101, Taipei; Shanghai World Financial, Shanghai; Petronas Tower 1, Kuala Lumpur; Petronis Tower 2, Kuala Lumpur; Nanjing Greenland Fin., Nanjing; Willis Tower, Chicago; Guangzhou West Tower, Guangzhou; Jin Mao Tower, Shanghai. The Empire State Building, The granddaddy is number 15. Check out the tallest 200 http://www.emporis.com/en/bu/sk/st/tp/wo/
The End:Never to leave you hanging…Francis Gary Powers would have been 81 now if he hadn’t died at 47 while piloting a LA Television news helicopter. His return to the US (He was traded t=for Russian spy Rudolpf Abel) was very unpleasant as his CIA buddies shunned him for not destroying the U2 Plane and/or taking a poison pill to kill himself.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Drill baby drill
Today's Tids 2,120
Opening Stuff:
This oil slick looks like it could produce one of the ugliest natural disasters of our times. While I expect that the Nightly News will be showing streams of video showing people caressing sea turtles, dolphins and pelicans, my heart will be with the hard working shrimpers and other fishermen whose families rely in the sea for a living.
Wow, I thought we were still in January. The last day of April! Already! The way days, months seems to fly these days, it must be time for me to begin Christmas shopping – even before my golf handicap drops into the toilet.
I never heard of Dorothy Height. I must have a short memory.
And this just in…Historian anthropologists have finally determined that Stonehenge is the remnants of the housing bubble of 1251.
The Question:
The President seems to have this fatal leadership flaw of jumping up to microphones to insult or demean people or groups of hard working patriotic Americans. Give me five 0-Man slurs against Americans.
The Headlines:
--Oil Reaches Shore As Gulf Coast Disaster Looms; BP Stock Tanks; Moratorium On new Offshore Drilling Now Expected; Coast Guard Has Over 100 Ships Fighting Overwhelming Battle.
--Justice Department Opens Criminal Probe Of Goldman.
--Solid First Quarter Consumer Spending Boosts Prospects For Economy; GDP Rises 3.2%
--0-Man Begins SC Selection Process; Met Yesterday With 9th Circuit’s Sidney Thomas.
--British Conservative Party David Cameron Zooms Into Lead After Last Night’s Final Debate.
--The Success Of “Cougar Town” Has Lingerie Sales To Older Women Booming In Britain.
--Tiger Woods Own Estimate Of Woman While Married Is Up To 121.
Back to More Stuff:
Remember WNGU – “Whackos Never Give Up”! These Arizona protests are so much like all other protests based on ideologies. Even in the face of overwhelming logic, they keep on coming much like the march of the Zombies or the attack of the killer tomatoes!
I have to agree with the comments of a reader on the dismissal of Siobhan Magnus from American Idol: “Clearly the voters got it wrong. She will go on to become a star. Aaron and Mike, not so much.” He went on to say what is becoming obvious – that there are too many guys left on this show which can only mean that too many pre-pubescent girls are dominating the voting. You may even have to worry about the talented Crystal. She and Lee are definitely 1-2 or 2-1 in my book.
After November, suits against Wall Street Bigs will probably dissipate. But until then, desperate Dems will continue to play Saint George against the fire breathing dragon to make points with the misinformed.
Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 69. –Kent’s gentle touch along my back felt good. Like always. It instantly evoked passionate memories of last night. Did I blush? I looked at Henry quickly, but he was looking trough a couple of papers. I quickly squeezed my legs together. Took a deep breath. I started to open my mouth, but Henry beat me to it. He looked up at me.
“Why do you think Kent dropped in like that? He has done that several times in the past couple of days. Did I tell you that?” he continued not expecting an answer. “I am noticing a pattern. He comes in like my good ole’ boy friend. Skirts around several issues. Asks a couple of seemingly innocent questions. Then he plans his unobtrusive get-away.” He paused like Henry pauses. “Odd, isn’t it?”
“Well Henry, it sort of fits into what we were talking about – that mysterious bra.” He nodded as in, go on. “His primary offering was about Laura and he seemed to be looking at us both for a reaction.”
“I agree”, Henry answered and then receded into his mind.
“Laura is a little young for him, don’t you think Henry?”
“Hell” he laughed while adding, “You’re way too young for him”. I tried to laugh along with him. But, now I was feeling a little shaken. “Yup, I always had an odd feeling about his stoniness. So I wouldn’t be surprised about Laura at all.”
Laura, I thought. God, what am I? I was feeling weak. And it wasn’t because of my recovery. I have to get out of here. I can’t continue this charade. “Maybe you should talk to her a little more,” I started mainly to hide the queasiness in my stomach.
I still wish Clueless Lane would put some of their genius people on the front lines for the small investor.
I have always though that Alaska King Crablegs were overrated. Sorry brave fishermen.
If your boss keeps on calling you by the wrong name, change your name to the one he is using.
With the appointment of Yellin, Raskin and Diamond to the Fed, 0-Man will have financial control over the triggers that effectively control financing -- interest rates, money supply, mortgages, credit. “President Obama is sending a strong signal that easy money and bureaucratic control of finance will be the hallmarks of the American economy for years to come.” (Andrew Shiff of Euro-Pacific Capital.
Within days of banning smoking on Subs, the Navy authorized for the first time women submariners. Well that is one way to relieve ex-smoker tension!
My friend has this talking GPS system and all around computer in his car. When his wife tries to give the GPS instructions, the woman in the machine responds, “You are not using the proper tone”. How funny is that!
Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:
--Furry Vengeance is a pretty predictable propaganda film about animals in the forest rallying together against hapless humans and in particular a developer. It’s a typical brainwash the kids against big business effort. A raccoon leads the way in retaliatory tricks including some trite toilet humor. Which unfortunately will send the children into fits of laughter while mentally competent adults shout “Get me out of here!
--A Nightmare on Elm Street had Freddie Krueger slashing teens in their dreams (Did you notice the insertion of the word “A” before Nightmare?) It is another in the long series of inventing clever ways to get the blood gushing.
The Answer:
He just called Arizona lawmakers “Misguided” That was after he has called Cambridge mass police “Stupid”, hard hit Pennsylvanians “bitter, clinging to guns and religion’, Fox News not a legitimist news outlet, plus snide slurs against the Supreme Court, the Special Olympics, Poland, Gordon Brown, Tea Party members, Sarah Palin, Hillary Clinton and any other American against anything he wants. The Great Mocker is at his best when spontaneously grabbing a mike.
The Beginning:
Around here, this is looking like a perfect day to start to enjoy the promise of what should be a good week end.
Opening Stuff:
This oil slick looks like it could produce one of the ugliest natural disasters of our times. While I expect that the Nightly News will be showing streams of video showing people caressing sea turtles, dolphins and pelicans, my heart will be with the hard working shrimpers and other fishermen whose families rely in the sea for a living.
Wow, I thought we were still in January. The last day of April! Already! The way days, months seems to fly these days, it must be time for me to begin Christmas shopping – even before my golf handicap drops into the toilet.
I never heard of Dorothy Height. I must have a short memory.
And this just in…Historian anthropologists have finally determined that Stonehenge is the remnants of the housing bubble of 1251.
The Question:
The President seems to have this fatal leadership flaw of jumping up to microphones to insult or demean people or groups of hard working patriotic Americans. Give me five 0-Man slurs against Americans.
The Headlines:
--Oil Reaches Shore As Gulf Coast Disaster Looms; BP Stock Tanks; Moratorium On new Offshore Drilling Now Expected; Coast Guard Has Over 100 Ships Fighting Overwhelming Battle.
--Justice Department Opens Criminal Probe Of Goldman.
--Solid First Quarter Consumer Spending Boosts Prospects For Economy; GDP Rises 3.2%
--0-Man Begins SC Selection Process; Met Yesterday With 9th Circuit’s Sidney Thomas.
--British Conservative Party David Cameron Zooms Into Lead After Last Night’s Final Debate.
--The Success Of “Cougar Town” Has Lingerie Sales To Older Women Booming In Britain.
--Tiger Woods Own Estimate Of Woman While Married Is Up To 121.
Back to More Stuff:
Remember WNGU – “Whackos Never Give Up”! These Arizona protests are so much like all other protests based on ideologies. Even in the face of overwhelming logic, they keep on coming much like the march of the Zombies or the attack of the killer tomatoes!
I have to agree with the comments of a reader on the dismissal of Siobhan Magnus from American Idol: “Clearly the voters got it wrong. She will go on to become a star. Aaron and Mike, not so much.” He went on to say what is becoming obvious – that there are too many guys left on this show which can only mean that too many pre-pubescent girls are dominating the voting. You may even have to worry about the talented Crystal. She and Lee are definitely 1-2 or 2-1 in my book.
After November, suits against Wall Street Bigs will probably dissipate. But until then, desperate Dems will continue to play Saint George against the fire breathing dragon to make points with the misinformed.
Through the Same Eyes: Chapter 69. –Kent’s gentle touch along my back felt good. Like always. It instantly evoked passionate memories of last night. Did I blush? I looked at Henry quickly, but he was looking trough a couple of papers. I quickly squeezed my legs together. Took a deep breath. I started to open my mouth, but Henry beat me to it. He looked up at me.
“Why do you think Kent dropped in like that? He has done that several times in the past couple of days. Did I tell you that?” he continued not expecting an answer. “I am noticing a pattern. He comes in like my good ole’ boy friend. Skirts around several issues. Asks a couple of seemingly innocent questions. Then he plans his unobtrusive get-away.” He paused like Henry pauses. “Odd, isn’t it?”
“Well Henry, it sort of fits into what we were talking about – that mysterious bra.” He nodded as in, go on. “His primary offering was about Laura and he seemed to be looking at us both for a reaction.”
“I agree”, Henry answered and then receded into his mind.
“Laura is a little young for him, don’t you think Henry?”
“Hell” he laughed while adding, “You’re way too young for him”. I tried to laugh along with him. But, now I was feeling a little shaken. “Yup, I always had an odd feeling about his stoniness. So I wouldn’t be surprised about Laura at all.”
Laura, I thought. God, what am I? I was feeling weak. And it wasn’t because of my recovery. I have to get out of here. I can’t continue this charade. “Maybe you should talk to her a little more,” I started mainly to hide the queasiness in my stomach.
I still wish Clueless Lane would put some of their genius people on the front lines for the small investor.
I have always though that Alaska King Crablegs were overrated. Sorry brave fishermen.
If your boss keeps on calling you by the wrong name, change your name to the one he is using.
With the appointment of Yellin, Raskin and Diamond to the Fed, 0-Man will have financial control over the triggers that effectively control financing -- interest rates, money supply, mortgages, credit. “President Obama is sending a strong signal that easy money and bureaucratic control of finance will be the hallmarks of the American economy for years to come.” (Andrew Shiff of Euro-Pacific Capital.
Within days of banning smoking on Subs, the Navy authorized for the first time women submariners. Well that is one way to relieve ex-smoker tension!
My friend has this talking GPS system and all around computer in his car. When his wife tries to give the GPS instructions, the woman in the machine responds, “You are not using the proper tone”. How funny is that!
Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:
--Furry Vengeance is a pretty predictable propaganda film about animals in the forest rallying together against hapless humans and in particular a developer. It’s a typical brainwash the kids against big business effort. A raccoon leads the way in retaliatory tricks including some trite toilet humor. Which unfortunately will send the children into fits of laughter while mentally competent adults shout “Get me out of here!
--A Nightmare on Elm Street had Freddie Krueger slashing teens in their dreams (Did you notice the insertion of the word “A” before Nightmare?) It is another in the long series of inventing clever ways to get the blood gushing.
The Answer:
He just called Arizona lawmakers “Misguided” That was after he has called Cambridge mass police “Stupid”, hard hit Pennsylvanians “bitter, clinging to guns and religion’, Fox News not a legitimist news outlet, plus snide slurs against the Supreme Court, the Special Olympics, Poland, Gordon Brown, Tea Party members, Sarah Palin, Hillary Clinton and any other American against anything he wants. The Great Mocker is at his best when spontaneously grabbing a mike.
The Beginning:
Around here, this is looking like a perfect day to start to enjoy the promise of what should be a good week end.
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