Not quite War.

Today's Tids Issue # 2.329

Opening Stuff:

A brilliant Ivy League bound student, Rachel Hachero, pistol whipped her mom and dragged her to a Nissan car dealer to co-sign for a car she couldn't afford. She should do well on Wall Street after graduation.

NBC's "The Event" is beginning to live up to some of the promises.

How long before John Calipari leaves Kentucky just ahead of the NCAA sheriff?

Daily Question:
Knowing that Book Clubbers can be embarrassed or praised based on their reccomendation for the monthly book, NPR has come up with a list of five winners. What do you think they are?

The Headlines:

--Consumer Confidence Index Falls On Anxiety Over Increasing Gas Prices.
--Libyan Rebels Pushed Back from Daffy Home Town.
--Japan On Maximum Nuke Alert.
--Israel Would Annex West Bank If Palestinians Request State Recognition; Move Would Effectively End Peace Prospects.
--Court Hearing Today Will Decide Elements Of Wisconsin Union Bill.

Back to More Stuff:
I thought the Prez speech was well delivered and certainly innocuous enough not to hurt him in the polls. In fact, it may give him a boost. It was just 2 to 3 times longer than needed to say what he said.

Oh yeah, and "...Turning it over to NATO" doesn't mean US troops won't be involved.

We could call this the "Innuendo" War. Decisions seem to be based on little definitions designed to escape the inevitable and the reality of the conflict. Like for instance, when does a citizen in danger become a rebel member of an attacking force?

But let's face it, the reason many of these uprisings are working is because Bush stirred up and gave courage to the Middle East populace by bringing down in a humiliating manner a dictator and tyrant in Iraq.

The computer expert with the difficult commute had a hard drive.

I see that HBO is doing a movie on Sarah Palin and McCain. We know it will probably be a major hatchet job, but what I can't understand is Julianne Moore playing Sarah. The redhead with the soft, almost regal features does appear to have the earthy dynamics of Palin.

A lot of coroprate eyes will be riveted to the Supreme Court case involving a potentially huge class action sexual harrassment suit against Wal-Mart. A decision in favor of the plaintiff could begin a class action move of up to 1.5 Million plaintiffs and the continuation of suits already brought against Goldman and Bayer. And of course many more to come. US companies may move all corporate headquarters to Iceland.

Every day you can find an article or hear a news cast with hints on how to live longer. I think not listening to political discussions would be a good one.

When you tune into the new Dana Delany TV show "Body of Proof" set in Philadelphia, you'll be looking at Providence RI. Yup, the show was shot in Prov, but I guess they thought Philly had a better image for the show. Go figure.

The Answer:
NPR commentator Lynn Neary has been embarrassed herself, so she put together this list of good discussion books that are enjoyable to read: Parrot and Oliver in America - Peter Cary; Wench - Dolan Perkins Valdez; Faithful Place - Tanya French; The Imperfectionists - Tom Rachman; Sunset Park - Paul Auster.

Good New Finish Department:

South Carolina Legislators are about to pass the "Incandescent Bulb Freedom Act". This in response to anger against the feds telling them how to light their closets and reading lamps. Good for them!

"Almost Near" will return in all of its glory tomorrow.

Is Wisconsin known for apples, or oranges.

Today's Tids Issue 2,303
Opening Stuff:

A Tids-ite, a former "24" devotee and a woman who knows her conspiracy thrillers, writes to say that "Unknown" is worth every penny. In fact it is so good that you won't be concerned by spending an extra $5 on a big bag of hot gooey pop corn.

The problem with the reporting of the Wisconsin standoff, to me,  is that the News media is choosing the wrong argument. They are intent to comparing private sector incomes with private incomes. But that is but the superficial emotional issue. The real argument should be that public employee revenue is based on a finite, restrictive source -- taxes, while private sector revenue is based on the growth (Or declines) of a global economy. Of course, if you wanted to nationalize all businesses, than the continuing controllable source of tax revenue would not be a problem...that is until the businesses imploded.

The Question: Wal-Mart has posted 7 consecutive quarterly drops in sales. What do you think are the three main reasons that management offers for the decline?

The Headlines:

--Christ Church, New Zealand Crushed By Latest Earthquake; PM Says It's NZ's Darkest day; 65 Reported Dead so Far.
--Oil Prices Spiking As Iran Ships Reach Suez And Arab Uprisings Strengthen.
--Tale Of Two Retail Giants: Home Depot Elates; Walmart Sales Woes Deepen.
--Moody's Warns Japan Of Ratings Cut If Economic Reforms Lag.
--Gadhafi Defiant In Face Of Growing Revolt.
--Governor Walker And GOP Legislature Holding Firm In Fight To Save State.
--Emanuel Frontrunner As Chicagoans Hit Polls; Carol Moseley Brown, Gery Chico And Three Others Hope To Keep Rahm From 51%.

Back to More Stuff:
One of the small joys in life is when finishing shopping at big Costco type store you find a box that actually has four sides on it.

I thought the commercials for "Battle: Los Angeles" was a promo for the NBA All Star game.

But, it appears that Battle: LA is a big blockbuster alien assault on Los Angeles movie. Los Angeles destroyed? Hmmmm.

Wait a minute!...Hosni Mubarak was a President! Yeah, let's go back to George Washington's Birthday.

I just read a small story in the newspaper warning FaceBookers to be on the lookout for dangerous "Apps". Then I thought. people terminally in FaceBook don't read the newspaper.

Oh yeah, and FaceBook says they a have a whole team approving these "Official" apps. Good job Mark.

And...I have to believe that teens having too much time diverted to FaceBook has to be a major reason for sluggish Homework activity. Education doesn't need more money or better teachers. It needs less FaceBook. Kids are easily manipulated into re-prioritizing responsibilities. Believe me I know I was one. Maybe, I still am.

Almost Near: Chapter 8 continues. --Tucker ran beyond his capibility to the top of the hill. His first thought was that she would retrn to the tree, the initials that had given her some comfort in her early confusion. He burst through the low mountain laurel at the edge of the trees before the field of wild flowers. He saw the tree about fifty yards away. he should be seeing her. he looked up at the branches, and thought she may be laying on the grass out of sight be neath the reds, yellows and lavenders of the waving grasses and flowers. He reached the tree. She was nowhere to be found. He looked at the initials. There were wild scratches nearly obliterating the carvings. She had been here. It didn't look good.
He spun. He looked for paths from beaten down grasses. He saw one that appeared to go towards town. He wasn't used to running, and all of a sudden, he found himself having to stop, and take in a few breaths. He felt his legs cramping. Some writers are marathioners, but he wasn't one of them. Rested, he started jogging at a pace he could maintain. Out of the field to the road.
He saw tourists reading historic markers, Mrs. Fletcher walking from the drug store to the post office and a couple of kids sitting on an old piece of the main dock doing nothing. No Samantha. "Mrs. Fletcher, Have you seen Samantha."
"You mean that woman who thinks I'm her friend?" Tuck nodded and avoided her sarcasm. "She took off in that cute convertible of hers like she was being chased by the Sheriff." Tucker looked up the hill going out of town. He couldn't be that far behind.

An adult "smoothie" is a Metamucil cocktail.

One good thing about these Middle East uprisings is that I'm learning how to spell all of these dictators names.

One of the bad things about all of this talk of "Freedoms" as enjoyed by Americans, is that too many forget about the "Responsibilities" that must go hand in hand with that wonderful privilege. And that goes for journalists and their freedoms as well as average citizens protesting in the streets.

Do you ever get the sense that NYC based news people are looking for one Minnesotan to say they are tired of winter too. So that NY'ers don't look like whining whimps.

The Answer:
The company says it is struggling with pricing, and perhaps has marked too many items too low; the growth "Dollar" stores has drawn away large blocks of formerly loyal customers; A poorly executed decision to pare down too many products.

The End:
Nothing is forever in the private sector. Think about that Wisconsin.

The reason that private sector union membership has been in a constant decline is because private sector businesses who can't effectively operate under smothering contracts leave town. The Wisconsin situation is not an assault on the character of most of the union members. It is an awakening to reality of free market economics.