Opening Stuff:
One of the great contributors to the Business Press and US Manufacturing in general passed away yesterday morning at 9:27 AM. His name was Stan Modic. Most Americans have surely never heard of him and the nightly news media probably won't do a piece about him. But they should. He was all about America's greatness, and the leading people in American manufacturing industries, from Ford to Fred's Machine Shop, read him religiously. He didn't take kindly to the stupid, the lazy and the self satisfied. Inefficiency, complacency and waste. He warned of China years before warning about China became chic. He urged technical and cultural change within companies so they could meet a changing future. He was a no nonsense editor who gained the profound trust of all his readers. He was a tough Editor-in-Chief, but those demands, high standards and inspiration drove each editor who worked for him to achieve their own greatness. And best of all, Stan was a good guy. A true friend. Even when he was scowling.
The government keeps on telling us there is no inflation. Yet people are throwing up at the checkout when seeing grocery bills, and many are getting to a point where they can't afford the gas to get to work. And to make matters worse, Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary in her White House garden is promoting organic veggies which are several times more expensive than regular produce. You can't have as a national domestic policy "Wish Upon a Star" and you certainly can't have a KumBaya foreign policy.
The Questions:
While the vast majority of Americans drive Fords, Chevy's, Carollas and F-150 pick-ups, they all have aspirations of someday owning the very best. In a new JD Powers survey, Americans picked what they view as the best. Name the top five.
The Headlines:
--Stan Modic, 74, Dies Peacefully With Family At Home.--No Surprise: San Frans 9th Circuit Court Of Appeals Says Nay To The Arizona Law That Would Make It Easier To Catch Lawbreakers Sneakiing Into US; Next Step Supreme Court.--Lower Than Expected Alcoa Revenues Have Stock Futures Lower.
--White House Warns Of Debt Armageddon If US Debt Limit Isn't Raised; Prez Says His Senate Vote Against Similar Bush Request Was Ideological.
--Japan Ups Nuke Crisis Severity To Match Chernobyl.
--Obama Budget Proposal Favors Tax Increases Over Getting To Crux Of Problem With Spending Cuts.
--FBI Releases Lgendary Hottel Memo That Says Aliens Landed In New Mexico,
Back To More Stuff:
In truth, everybody somewhere in their inner self understands the importance and value of advertising. Yet few dare to admit it.
One of the good readers of this daily hodge-podge had in his youth been a speech writer for the Senator and Presidential candidate Hubert Humphrey. He tells me that the Veep was a great guy, and probably would have been considered a moderate today even though he was described in the 40's and 50's as an "Anti-communist Liberal" and a "Leading Progressive.". In fact, when he became VP, his liberal followers felt let down by their trusty Happy Warrior who among other things had paved the way for Civil Rights more than any other man. In fact, humorist Tom Leher wrote a ditty, "Whatever happened to Hubert? Has anyone heard a thing? Once he shone on his own and now he sits at home and waits for the phone to ring. Once a fiery Liberal spirit, but now when he speaks he must clear it..." It was more a derision of the vacuum of the office rather than the character of the man.
Actually, when you think about the vacuous VP Office is perfect for Joe Biden.
I got several good tips from my mention of the "i before e" rule yesterday. One great reader gave us this list of exceptions to "i before e" which don't necessarily conform to "as in neighbor or weigh" addendum: Beige, Feint, Feisty, Foreign, Forfeit, Heifer, Height, Heir, Heist, Reign, Rein, Seismometer, Their, Vein.
No matter what you achieve in your lifetime, there comes that time when you will accomplish the most that a human can accomplish, a void in someone's lives.
The big scary statistic for the week seems to be a new discovery that says people who sit at there desk all day at work are more apt to have heart attacks. I can see it now. People suing not to sit at desks.
No wonder the celebs are so eager to support liberal causes giving away government money. So many of them "forget" to pay taxes. The latest are the Osbournes are the latest owing $1.7 Million in back taxes. No steak, no sweat.
There is no truth to the rumor that in order to increase the take on income taxes, Harry Reid is proposing a law that would ban tax accountants. Not true...although you have to believe that somebody like Maxine Waters may have thought of it.
Have you noticed how state legislatures are rushing to make laws that would enable easier access to marijuana. And that at the same time are creating intimidating dictates that would basically criminalize drinking a can of soda pop.
Almost Near: Chapter 15 continues. --"Here's what I know." Monty then proceeded to tell Tucker about his interveiws with neighbors who said for the most part the Quimpierres seemed quite normal, like other families on the block. "But, many neighbors said that the children didn't look happy. In fact some of them said the kids at times appeared scared. And Martha, or whatever her name is, lost some of that upbeat enthusiasm she always had at the beginning of the marriage."
Tucker stopped writing and looked up. "Tell me about Rudy."
"Ah, now Rudy is an interesting player in this drama. If there is a drama?" He smiled a Tucker. "Rudy was a loner for the most part. He had a decent job in his father's salvage business. His father was a well known bastard, the kind of crusty geezer who scared kids and pit bulls equally. And I have the feeling he was hard on Rudy. But, it is Rudy's early teen years that are most revealing. While there aren't any records for that underage kid, I personally remember that he was the subject of school investigations into alleged sexual advances towards young girls in his class. More than one," Monty added as he clenched his teeth.
Tucker dropped the pencil on the desk front.
Probably the toughest little springtime chore is trying to scrape off the old Newport parking sticker to replace with new one.
For those who frequently eat out, keeping one's waistline and clogged arteries under control is a considerable challenge. But there are a few simple tips that may help. Most have to do with igredients and preparation. A Cobbs salad with mayonnaise dressing will kill, while a switch to a balsamic based dressing dramatically reduces bad stuff. Always looked for grilled meats and avoid fried. Go for a bowl of fruit instead of tiramisu. And then there's gravy. Hmmmm. Hey, eating out should be fun. Forget what I said.
The Answer:
Volkswagon topped the list of cars that Americans thing are the best! next was Audi followed Acura, BMW and Lexus. For your information, last year Porsche was the dream car.
The End:
Today, I'm going out to take some new pictures for my todaystids.blogspot.com site. The pictures up there now are of what maybe some of the most historic places in the US. And, they are all in Newport RI -- The first Quaker Meeting House, the home where the Great French General Rochambeau lived for two years prior to the successful surrender at Yorktown, the church the man himself George Washington worshiped on trips here and where Queen Elizabeth came to proclaim one of her Episcople favorites, the sun over the Newport Harbor that grew rich from the "Triangular Trade".
Stan Modic may have been the Godfather of this Tid's daily view of the world and the people in it. He was the ultimate curmudgeon, and I try to emulate him every day.
(Ed Note: The continuation of the premiere Internet serial novel wll be published in later additions of the Tids)
