Musical Chairs.

Today's Tids Issue #2,368
Opening Stuff:

When the sun bakes down from up on high. When waves of steam blank out the sky. I look for restless leaves in trees. Moved by the Ocean's soothing breeze.

I wasn't shocked hearing that Newt's staff quit the old warhorse. He''s smart guy, but has looked mindless in his opening parries. But, here's what I think is really happening. There is a rising undercurrent to get Texas Governor Perry into the 2012 race. It seems that several of Newt's guys have strong ties to Perry. Newt's foolishness in the early going gave the staffers a ready made excuse to move to the popular Texan with the best state education system in the country.

I think Bill O'Reilly's Ego is sucking out his brains.

The Question:  
Double Bonus day! 1. The PGA St. Jude Hospital Memphis Open is being held this week. What big TV star first lent his name to the tournament and the fund raising efforts of the Hospital. Name four other super stars who had golf tournaments named after them. 2. Leonard Stern was a prolific writer who gave us classic shows like The Honeymooners, Get Smart and McMillan & Wife. He also invented a quirky little word game that families often play during car trips. Name it.

The Headlines:

--Wall Street Crushing Hope As Week Winds Down.
--Alabama Puts into Effect A Tougher than Arizona Illegal Immigration Law; Illegals' Lovers Expected To Challenge.
--Robert Gates Blasts NATO; Says Underfunding Combined With Lack Of Resolve Among Member Nations Bodes Dismal Future For Once Proud Defense Group.
--OPEC Move Towards Increased Production Blacked By Iran And Venezuela; Predict Supply Gap Later In Year.
--Arizona Fires Continue To Grow Unabated.
--Syrian Army Moves Into Northern Villages.
--US Concerned Over Instability In Yemen.
--Sprouts Now Back As Culprit In German e.Coli Epidemic.
--Dallas Upends Miami All Stars; King James Fades In the End.

Back to More Stuff:
I think the governor of Hawaii has a great point wondering why the state has to pay the NFL $4 million to hold the useless "Pro Bowl" on their islands. As states and municipalities go on a financial diet, maybe the gravy for Pro teams will be the first to go. Too many pro teams have been extorting town fathers for too long. The teams are making millions but the folks in the towns are only getting high ticket prices in return. And, now bigger tax bills.

For fun, I'll enjoy watching Ford's redo of the Lincoln brand. The most successful US Auto companies has seen it's one time luxury brand leader get smothered by Audi, BMW, Lexus, Volvo, Infinite, Acura, Cadillac and Mercedes. During the next three years the automaker expects to roll out 7 new models, all aimed at the quality conscious 50 year old and up set. They say this will be a no-Bling, no nonsense line of solid cars with superb driving features. It will be tough, but I always enjoy watching a good ball game.

"New York System Wiener"* department.
A poll in The Apple says that the constituents don't want the abortion loving, big spending titillating twitterer to go. But then, New Yorkers have always been a little shallow.

When you read about the giants of colonial America, there was none bigger than the caring, understanding, resourceful Roger Williams.

Bumper Sticker: "If you voted for Obama in '08 to prove your not a racist, vote for someone else in 2012 to prove you're not an idiot." It's going to be a mean spirited two years!

Reading between the Lines Movie reviews:
--Super 8 is a title that left me cold. But, the movie is much more than that, and the title becomes significant as you are drawn into the intrigue. This is an often chilling thriller that will keep you on edge. The film opens with a massive train wreck. A bunch of kids walk away with a little box of white blocks. Strange things start happening around the town, and the blocks seem to have something to do with it. You'll love the way the movie moves along. But, you'll have to suck it up to get by the less than satisfying ending.
--Incendies is a French film based on a long, sometimes tedious US play called the Scorchers. The film works beautifully. It is an Oedipus story of two siblings asked to deliver letters after their mother dies -- one to a dad who they thought was dead and the other to another sibling they never knew existed. As the two gets into the Mom's birthplace town they discover a life of a mother they never knew. This is a good one.

Almost Near: Chapter 24 continues. --"High School! You must be great old friends. Are you married?"
"I was." Sparrow was now watching him closely. It was time to start getting more than one word answers."
"Did Wilcox have anything to do with the breakup?"
"No."
"Was she the violent type in High School?"
"Samantha is a kind, gentle person."
"How did you get the gash on the back of your head?"
"I told you. It was from the accident."
"I don't think so. That gash had nothing to do with your accident. Wasn't Samantha in the car when you drove off the road? Now Dante took in a big breath.
"I'm confused."
"Tell me what you know. I'll give you a hint. Samantha called you after she met with me. She didn't feel her little talk with me was going well. She's not your girl friend. She's not your sister or your mother. Yet you jumped on a plane to fly to this Little Podunk because why...she's a client? What did you think she had done wrong?" The detective let that sit. "You're here in the hospital. She has been missing for 4 days. I think she's in trouble."
"Ok"...he started slowly, thoughtful like a lawyer who didn't want to get trapped further ..."I like her. She is a very nice person. And I worry about her. Maybe I saw discrepancies in her like you, But maybe I'm more involved emotionally. I don't know."
"Go on."
"I knew who she was in high school, but I never knew her at all til two weeks ago. She came to me because I was a lawyer involved in the sale of her parents house. She was trying to find out something about her father. As I said, she grew on me and I enjoyed being with her. When she called form here, she sounded scared. It bothered me that she was scared. I flew out."
"Noble." Dante glared at Sparrow.
"We had drinks and the dinner. It was actually a nice evening. She didn't talk at all about you or the meeting with you. We just had fun. But, I noticed that when I would try to get close to her, even innocently, she recoiled. She's afraid of something. Then, as we were driving back to the Hotel over that ridge, she said something that made me laugh and I reflexively put my hand on her thigh. Out of nowhere I felt this blow to the back of my head. Here I am."
"What do you know about her parents?"

The Answer:
1. Marlo's dad, the insufferable Phil Donahue's father-in-law Danny Thomas got the huge charity going with the Danny Thomas Open. Other big stars with tournaments were Bing Crosby, Bob Hope Andy Williams and Dinah Shore. 2. How many of you have had a good laugh with the kids playing "Mad Lib"? Stern died last night, and he was a great one.

*The New York System Wiener is the name of small chain of RI hot dog/wiener restaurants dating back to the early 1900's. It is a time honored RI taste treat, and we regret that the tastelessness of another New York Wiener has disparaged the name of a great institution built upon integrity and a outstanding chili meat sauce.

May you week end be incredibly spectacular.

Get the Politicians hand out of the Cheetos bag.

Today's Tids Issue # 2,362

Opening Stuff:

Well, when I wrote that little piece about financial concerns yesterday, I didn't expect the crumbling quite that fast. But, I have felt for a while that the progress of the market was based more upon looking for good news rather than it really being there and poking us the eye. However, after yesterday, some are touting a "Depression" of all things. My sense is that the manufacturing number shortfall was based a lot on a weakened auto production output after the japan earthquake. And the awful jobs growth could be related there too. But, more deeply, the jobs failure is also a result of a grand, now failed stimulus plan that mainly created non- economic growth style national, state and local government employees jobs. And housing still sucks. Or...is it right where it is supposed to be now that the market is not based the hallucinations of homes for all.

One lesson I learned during my confinement of the past week or so is that it is really tough when wearing an IV to get your hand into the Cheetos bag. And, it is even tougher to get it out when you hear the approaching footsteps of the nutritionist.

Hey government, the nutritionist is approaching.

The Repubs did what they should yesterday. they went to the "Let's get rid of the nasty rhetoric President" and said this debt is serious and you have to stop the scare anecdotes and come up with a real plan. Carney says, "The President doesn't want to end Medicare as we know it." The Repubs say, "We want to save Medicare." The WH statement is a scare technique. The GOP's is about the problem.

The Question:
Name five great achievements of Marvin Hamlisch.

The Headlines:

--Romney Enters: "Barack Obama Has Failed America".
--World Health Org Says E.coli Outbreak New Strain; Europe Bans Veggies.
--Four Dead In Mass. Tornadoes.
--OPEC Gathering To Plan On Easing Gas Prices.
--Moody's Downgrades RI Bonds Over Murky Future Because Of Growing Unfunded Pension Liability.
--US/Pakistan Medicating relationship; Countries Form Joint Anti-terrorist Intelligence Squad.
--Woman Loses $300K Inheritance To "Rapture".
--Syrian Troops Renew Attacks On Town Killing 15 Citizens.

Back to More Stuff:
In the Comic Strip "Shoe" this morning, the press corps asks the Senator, "What are you going to do about the debt ceiling?" The answer, "Paint it." A little too close to the truth, isn't it. It's like when the the "Check Engine" light shines in my car and I tape it over with black electrical tape. Problem solved.

Warren Buffet: "When the tide goes out you see who has been swimming naked."

The so-called "Hottest Wine in America Is a California combo of Merlot, Syrah and Zinfandel called "Apothic Red". ($9.99)

Here's couple of reader remembrances to yesterday's question about celebs killed in air disasters -- Ricky Nelson, Otis Redding and Leonard Skynyrd (Ronnie Van Zandt, Steve and Cassie Gaines). BTW, The name Leonard Skynyrd was a mocking tribute to their HS Phys Ed Teacher notorious for strictly enforcing policy against boys with long hair. Just in case you are interested.

After a good ball game, the catcher usually goes out for a pitcher!

Nothing is Forever Department:
Just look at RI. Yesterday began the start of the celebration of the June founding of the break-through colonial idealeading state, Rhode Island, 375 years ago! Today, Moody's downgraded the bonds over a murky financial future. You just can't go around saying we have a great contributing history, unimaginably beautiful vistas and say everything is lovely and ok, while giving away the store. Economics work. Part of the landscape. Oh, and RI was once the economic giant of the USA.

More kudos to RI water oriented sports teams. Roger Williams University on beautiful Mount Hope Bay just won the APS/iCSA national sailing championships out in Oregon ON THE Columbia River. They beat out Georgetown, Boston College and St. Mary's of Maryland. RI may be in deep water, but some here know how to make the most of it.

The US Gov. announces with pride that they are going to replace the "Food Pyramid" Graphic with a new easier to understand "Circles" presentation. Two questions: How many people are working on this and does anybody but them and a few nutritionists really care? The healthy scheme is all about fruits and vegetables, so I'm wondering if there is a legal disclaimer about E.coli?

While on stupid Government non-essential spending, how about all of the states who are forced to redistrict every 10 years. In this little state for instance, it cost $1.5 Mil too redistrict a state owned by the Unions. Guess what?

The Answer:
Hamlisch, originally a song writer for film first hit big with his adaptation of Scott Joplin for The Sting. He is one of a handful who has won n Oscar, Emmy, Tony and Grammy. Oh yeah, and a Pulitzer Prize. He wrote alll the scores for Chorus Line including "What I did for love" and "One". Then there is "The Way we Were", "Through the Eyes of Love" and "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows". There are the James Bond songs "Nobody does it better" and "The Spy who Loves me." This is another of those prolific contributors to our musical enjoyment.

The End:
A Micro historical note from Pilgrim writings reminds why capitalism works. That the purer the economic forces the better the chance for sustained growth not only economically, but humanitarianly. In the early dire days of their fight for survival, The Pilgrims found that food production from communal farms was dismal. In fact in 1621 the system almost wiped out the community.The leaders passed a law saying that all food would be produced on family farms. The turn-around was enormous as those who during the communal activity let other do more of the sweat now responded with a vigor that raised up the production of all food. If you pay people not to do anything, that's what they will do.

True economic forces is why OPEC is scurrying this week to do something about high gas prices. They realize that making oil the most palpable energy source for Americans is a critical element of their entire economic future. And maybe they see the Admin's desire for higher gas and energy prices as a way to force over-priced alternative energy on the US.

Promise: No more RI tomorrow. But, if it is happening here, it is probably happening where you are too. Except, of course, for the Sailing Championships!