Room for Jeb?

Today's Tids Isssue 2,822

Opening Stuff:

 

Most viewing the opening of the Bush library, from several sides of the political spectrum, were able to table their agendas for a moment and marvel at the purity of a great America; Five living Presidents bound by the mysteries of the office and hardships that nobody sees ...but which they all must live. Guiding America is no easy task.

Well, we made it through another week. I think I am becoming oblivious to the shenanigans in DC. Or else the antics of journalist miscreants has become so epidemic that the so-called news just passes me by. I have to believe this is good for your health. The only real news that might rekindle my fire is the systematic shrinking of the government. Until then, it's just a plain embarrassment and rather painful to watch bad lawmaking from both sides of the aisle. If indeed, we really need any new laws at all.

I went to a memorial service yesterday for a beautiful woman who inspired a great family, that just happened to marry into mine, and vice versa. It was like so many of the memorial services or funerals where you see people you love, and then just leave. Just like that.

The Question:
What are the five countries with the highest alcohol consumption per capita?

The Headlines:
--Q1 GDP Improvement Less Than Analysts Estimates; Market Shrugs.
--Congress Passes Bill To Ease FAA Sequester Woes.
--President O Tip-Toeing Across Planned Parenthood Stage; Infanticide Trial Dampens Enthusiasm Of Abortion Lovers.
--Baltimore Prisoner, Gang Leader Fathers 5 Children With 4 Guards.
--Country Western Star george Jones Dead At 81.
--Bangladesh Building Collapse Deaths Rise to 300; 38 Die In Fire At Moscow, Russia Mental Hospital.

The biggest problem facing the US of A is shrinking jobs because of technology. For instance, when Banks lay off 30,000 chunks of employees, it's not necessarily just to improve the bottom line, it's because they just don't need bodies anymore now that technology has taken over so many functions. It's actually happening everywhere. In many industries smart people are hired to write programs, followed by less smart people to push buttons. And finally, only machines. This how America can compete with outsourcing to low paying nations. But it does no good for strong middle income employment.

The main interest of the US in the Syrian war is to stop spillover that could put pal King Of Jordan in peril

I see where yesterday "O" praised Bush. After that, even his support from the left will think he's a liar.

It was a Good idea last night to "Save" all of the AI singers. Amber and Candice were the bottom dwellers last night, but because they had an extra week left on the sched due to the already planned "Save" which was never made, they just it flow again.

The US Gossip media just couldn't exist without the emergence from time to time of a good English Princess.

I think you could classify the stock market today as "Good", considering that the investors didn't rush into a sell-off after the mediocre GDP reports. This kind of sensibility tends to mean the nominal curve will continue upward movement. A "Bad" market means that stocks will drop after a report of hangnail.

Ironically, the Bush Library opened in the wake of the Boston bombings. While not has devastating as 911, Boston was equally vicious in its total disregard for innocent human life.

Officialdom is having trouble classifying Boston as real terrorism because they can't link the amoral twosome to a known terroist state. How how about the state of hatred for the USA that exists in the radical islamist world. That works for me.

I mentioned a couple of weeks back that the cup cake market was declining. Some disagree with that, mainly it seems because they like to eat the sweets. But, the factors for fading remain -- fads always end, prices are high and competition for the specialty sweet tooth segment is on the rise. One competitive force it appears surprisingly is the fancy macaroon! Hey, I guess if we've had chocolate chip cookie shops, the macaroon deserves a chance. But you won't find me there. Nor eating a five dollar cupcake.

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:
--The Company You Keep is possibly a good movie unless it is just an apology film for the 60's/70's Weatherman hooligans. Most of the Weather group members have slipped into new identities and are quietly leading new lives. A reporter outs one of the former militant group, who goes on the run in this political thriller. I would go see it.
--Mud is supposed to be Matthew McConaughey's best. He is a man found by two boys hiding on a Mississippi island. He tells stories of killing a man in Texas and vengeful bounty hunters seeking him... and how he plans to take the love of his life with him in his escape. He asks the boys for help, and soon the tales turn into deadly reality and a big adventure for all.
--The Big Wedding Is this week's gathering place for aging actors. It is a comedy that will be predictable, about a long divorced couple having to play the happy couple again for their adopted son's wedding.
--Pain & Gain is a black comedy about body builders. Personally a movie about body building would be too embarrassing to watch. Fortunately it is a close to awful film, so I wouldn't be tempted to match my abs against there's.

The Answer:
Little Luxemburg is number one mainly because the citizens don't know exactly where the country is. It is followed by Ireland, Portugal, Hungary, Czeck Republic, Spain, Denmark, Austria, Switzerland and France.

It's time for the weak end, which will hopefully launch you into the weekend. The grayness of the news makes it harder and harder to write the Tids. See you all on Monday.



Progress is not impressing me.

Today's Tids Issue 2,595

Opening Stuff:

Do you think that most famous line in the movie "Mrs. Robinson" -- "Plastic" -- meant credit cards?

Did you hear about the primary in WV last night where Federal Prison Convict Keith Judd got 40% of the vote in a Democrat primary against Obama. On another primary note, in the primary to establish a candidate to run in the recall race against Governor Walker, the candidate endorsed and supported by the unions lost badly to Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. Latest polls have Barrett and Walker 50-50.

Today, two planes were stropped from taking off due to bomb threat reports. Without igniting one bomb, the al-Qaida and fellow terrorists are effectively keeping Americans on edge.

The Question:
Double Day 1. Name three famous characters brought to us by one of the true funny persons of our20th Century -- Edgar Bergen. 2.  Some times I feel these "Q's" are a generation or two beyond some readers. So I looked for younger names and came across 27 year old "TV Personality" Aubrina Partridge. I haven't the slightest idea of who she is or what she does. Do you?

The Headlines:
--Markets Open Down Again; New Survey Shows Wary Retail Investors Still On Sideline After Three Years.
--Greece Indigestion Still Controlling World.
--Euro Sinks Spooking World Wide Investment; Euro Ills Override Positive Economic Data From Germany.
--Latest Caught Bomber Was Saudi Double Agent; Agent Says Nobody Was Ever In Harms Way.
--Tea Party Effort Ousts Sensible Lugar.
--Audi Outsells BMW In April For First Time In Year
--Edwards And Clements Trials Wear On; Judge Seen Dozing.

Did you ever have your dreams answered? I have! A new deli that actually meets the standards described by the name "deli", opened up the street from me. It is called "Deli", and they live up to the old time meaning of a great deli. For instance, they, cook their own roast beef every morning. I had a piled high RB sandwich with horseradish sauce and cheese and it was melt in you mouth delicious. Lots of good looking salads and an owner who seems to take customers seriously. The owner has a second shop in South Philly -- as in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. -- where food is taken very seriously. Strange but true.

The Star Spangled Banner is Country music!

You've read the headlines, "Put a new twist into summer grilling"; "Quick and easy dinners with a spark". Well, as far as I can read, here's what they all are centered upon -- add nuts and berries and natural adornments. Instead of country fried steak with white pork gravy you're going to get pecan encrusted chicken with creamy yogurt sauce.  Or instead of pork chop with Merlot brown gravy sauce you get fat trimmed pork medallions with raspberry, balsamic vignettes sauce over beet greens. Help me! By the time I reach a nursing home I'll be dying from refusing to eat health foods. And who needs health food when your 105 anyhow. Nurse Jane will be saying, "Eat your damn blueberries or I won't type your Tids for you!"

"Eco" is one of those words you can't use any longer as an abbreviation. Environmentalists who think everything is about them anyhow, will assume anything incorporating the word Eco is all about them too, instead of the other side of the coin where Eco means Economics. The two Ecos are incredibly co-dependent, except that environmentalists don't understand the need for balancing a solid economy with rampant ecology. I think there's something intelligent in here somewhere.

Airline travel of today is a far cry from the consumer centric travel of yesteryear. But, once you figure out the new routines it's probably doable. The Nightly News programs only report on worst case scenarios.

Providence Airport TSA Agents stopped a guy and his son after finding a dis-assembled gun in the boy's teddy bear. They let the man and his son travel on, but wouldn't say why they could or who they were. All of this secrecy is food for an active Tids mind. I'm thinking he was a Providence hit man who complained that had to continue on to provide food for his family and medical care for his dying brother awaiting trial for extorting strip clubs. The TSA agent's brother-in-law happened to be costume manager at a strip club.

There's a big "Mixologist" competition coming to our fair state. In the newspaper, they showed a lot of favorite drinks for the competition. Before I could describe one particular drink, I had to look up "Muddling". It turns out it's your basic Pestle and Mortor concept with names changed to Muddler and Glass. In the bottom of the glass, this professional, award winning bartender muddles sliced beets, raspberries and beet greens. To that mess you add vodka, Pama (Pomegranate based Liqueur) and lemon juice. People drink that for fun? Here's my special recipe -- Make ice cubes out of Roses lime juice and pour vodka or gin over them. Or, forget the ice cubes.

The Answer:
Who hasn't or wouldn't laugh at Charlie McCarthey, Mortimer Snerd or Effie Klinker. Charlie is in the Smithsonian, and Bergens laughs are in the hearts of all Americans who heard his humor.  2. Aubrina Partridge (Born in 1985, Yikes) is indeed a TV personality -- starting as a model and then entering Reality TV first as a member of the original cast of the MTV series The Hills. Today she has her own reality show about the day to day life, called of all things - "Audrina"! I have no idea of what it is about, Probably health food.

Nuts and fruits. Nuts and Fruits. Wasn't there an old joke about that. You probably can tell it any more.

Ray's explode; Sox implode.

Today's Tids Issue #2,432
Opening Stuff:


Yesterday Red Sox manager Terry Francona said, "This is good for baseball." So that 's why he created the biggest September collapse in the history of the storied game! For the good of baseball? Are you kidding me.

The good news is that federal agents catch obscure potential terrorist bombers just in the nick of time. How do they do it. They must be really good or potential terrorist bombers are really, really stupid. I'm happy the Feds are good. But I am just amazed how among 300,000,000 people they are able to ferret out one innocuous person just before he/she plans to fire a bomb.

The Question:
Name the Top ten Colleges with respect to having the highest average mid-career salaries.

The Headlines:

--Red Sox Set New Record For September Futility.
--Stock Futures Up; Better Than Expected Readings On Jobless Bennie Apps And 2Q GDP; However, 1.3 2Q GDP Growth Considered Dangerously Weak.
--Merkel Wins Bailout Vote With Own Coalition Majority; Coalition Support Seen As Vote Of Confidence In her Drive To Stabilize Eurozone.
--Maine Ups Speed Limit To 75MPH.
--Consumer Spending Down 2% Except For health Care And Transportation (Gasoline) Which Are Up.
--Greek Civil Servants Shut Down Doors Of Government Ministries In Advance Of New Austerity talks.
--Syria Regime Loyalists Pelt US Embassy With Tomatoes.
--Pakistan PM Says US Must Stop Blaming Islamabad For Regional Instability.
--Younger American Jews Do ot Share Parents Vision For Israel.

Many were surprised yesterday when the 0-Team decided to ask for a Supreme Court hearing on ObamaCare. People in the know weren't. The main reason for anything these days is the election in 2012. The fear in the White House was that this would drag on til next summer. Second, if this were to remain in the 11th Circuit Court, the Admin would have lost decisively. So now we have a new debate to watch on TV other than the guilt or innocence of Michael Jackson's Doc. One that may actually have something to do with our lives.

Greek civil servants are destroying the pensions of American seniors. I'm off moussaka forever.

Last night may have been the most incredible baseball night ever. With the Rays down comfortably 7-0 and the Sox appearing to be playing with determination up 3-2 before the rain delay, I went to bed happy. We got it, I thought. I awoke at 2:30 and turned on the TV to see the end of the rain-out game. Zowie! How could it be? Right between the eyes. I turned on the radio and cried along with callers and sports talkers.

I feel like I'm back in the "Sox" days before 2004. When in the Fall your heart always seemed to be residing in the bottom fo your stomach.

Duh comment of the Week:
Bernanke: "Lack of Jobs a Crisis." How much are we paying this guy. I think it's about time he goes back into the vault. Many say that monetary policy fixes will have no effect on improving the economy. And that includes KC Fed head Thomas Hoenig. He was not in favor of either of the two QE's nor the Fed's pledge to keep interest rates low. Robust economies don't exist on lending based on Zero, he opines. Now, 3 other Fed Bank Heads have joined his chorus. Meanwhile Bernanke keeps talking and the Dow sinks every time. Is there a clue in here somewhere.

Correction: Speaking of 2 QE's, that was not the QE II in Newport harbor yesterday. It was the Queen Mary II. Sorry. Still majestic, though.

Is there a more celebrated child rapist in history than Roman Polanski. How demented is this Worldwide film crowd that continually fawns over this guy who if he were Joe Shmoe on Elm Street would have a sign on his door "Warning: This guy is a danger to neighborhood children". And Hollywood would be making movies about their despicable acts.

Almost Near: Chapter 41 continues. --Samantha heard footsteps on the dock. The sound of footsteps walking slowly on the dock seemed to be inches from her hiding place. "Samantha, it's Tucker. Are you here?" Sam froze. held her breath. "I remember those beautiful days when we were kids playing on these docks. How much fun we had. You were always happy here. Remember how you and I loved it here. 'I feel safe' you always told me. 'If anything happens I can always get away on a boat,' you said. I thought you might have returned. But, maybe you don't remember." Samantha tried to breathe quietly. She thought she sounded like the exhaust of jet taking off. But the footsteps didn't come nearer. "I remember the first time we kissed, sitting on the end of this dock. I will never forget that."
That seemed to ease her fear, but still she decided not to move, not to be found. She moved her clenched arms and felt a small tingel as the blood began recirculating again. Her body sagged as she relaxed a bit.
"Why would you want to feel safe from Dante and me. Dante seems like a nice guy."
Why isn't he moving away, she thought. Then she smiled a little as she thought of Dante. He didn't seemed bad. Why she running. Is there something wrong with her? Finally she heard foot steps moving down the dock to shore. She remained quiet. It was getting cold sitting in the puddle in the bottom of the boat. She wanted to move, but didn't think she should.
"Samantha". She heard footsteps on another dock, much farther away this time. She had to get away; be by herself. Find out what was happening. Something was happening. She moved her head enough to peak out from under the canvas look around the boat. And then she saw them. Just like she remembered from some time long ago. Keys in the little cubby by the center console.

The Answer:
#1 is Princeton. It is followed by CalTech, Harvy Mudd, Harvard, MIT, Dartmouth, Duke, NYU-Poly, Tie -- Lehigh U, Colgate, Stanford --, Holy Cross, SUNY Maritime, Bucknell and Amherst. See em' all -- http://www.payscale.com/best-colleges/top-us-colleges-graduate-salary-statistics.asp.

Why do I have this feeling that the Pats are going to disappoint me this year more than the Sox. Is it becasue their defense sucks? probably.

Sign in a restaurant: "Don't throw cigarette butts on the floor. the cockroaches will get cancer."

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.

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!