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  Nothing to do this weekend? The Trib-Star's 'BASH section offers some suggestions

  Community Theatre of Terre Haute’s main stage season finale opens this Friday, with the hit Broadway comedy “Social Security,” directed by Sonni Crawford.

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  NEW YORK — Kid Rock is a scalper.

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  ISU plans hearing on proposed tuition/fees increase

  Indiana State University will conduct a public hearing at 2 p.m. June 4 to receive input on a proposed 1.95 percent increase in student tuition and mandatory fees for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 academic years.

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December 7, 2010

MS. TAKES: Memo to GM: A 'thank you' would be a nice touch

Liz Ciancone Special to the Tribune-Star The Tribune Star Tue Dec 07, 2010, 05:00 AM EST

TERRE HAUTE — I was little more than a sprout, still on Mom's lap, when she taught me the “magic words” of “please” and “thank you.”

You don’t hear either much these days. Even if my “please” has been answered by the favor I requested, my “thank you” rates only something like, “no problem.” I guess it could get tiresome to keep up. What would be next? “No, thank YOU” maybe?

Anyway, my attention was arrested the other evening by a television ad. I don’t often pay attention to something which occurs as a “break in our regular programming,” but it was so different that I found myself paying attention trying to discover what product was being promoted.

There wasn’t much in the way of sound. A picture of a downhill skier taking a dramatic tumble pictured him getting up and finishing his downhill run.

This was followed by an ice skater whose rear hit the ice in mid program, but who got up to finish what had been interrupted by the fall. A couple of other stumbles and finishes followed.

But, the finale featured a prize fighter knocked to his knees, but who got up, presumably to finish what he had started, or at least to fight another day.

Then came the surprise. The ad was presented by General Motors, and the bottom line was, “Everyone falls now and then. Thank you America for helping us get back on our feet!”

I was gobsmacked. I knew, of course, that what is popularly known as the “bail out program” helped GM remain in business.

It also, not incidentally, saved thousands of jobs which would have been gone forever if GM had been allowed to go belly up. The company has survived, has paid back the bail-out money— with interest  — and has gone public with great success.

There has been nothing in the way of a thank you from the various banks and investment institutions who also benefitted from bail-out dollars.

Of course it was nice that they could continue to operate pretty much as usual, including passing out multi-millions in bonus dollars to the top CEOs. Some banks have repaid the loan, if only to escape regulation and accountability.

It’s easy to say “please” when you need a helping hand. I guess it’s difficult to remember to say “thank you” when it is extended.

It’s enough to make you want to go out and buy a General Motors car.

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Liz Ciancone

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  April 16, 2013  

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  I saw a robin the other morning. It was not the first robin of spring, of course. A few of the more daring robins had opted to spend the winter and, although they looked pretty sorry about it on a few occasions, it was a fairly mild winter.

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• LIZ CIANCONE: Rising up to defend the poor groundhog

  I read in the newspaper the other morning that Punxsatawney Phil is being hauled into court and charged with falsely predicting an early spring. I am volunteering my services as counsel for the defense.

  March 26, 2013  

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  The problem with expecting a groundhog to predict the arrival of spring is that there are groundhogs scattered all over the country. The Pennsylvania groundhog may not see the same kind of weather as the groundhog out here in Dobbs Park. In this way, false hopes are roused and the groundhog loses credibility as a meteorologist.

  March 19, 2013  

• LIZ CIANCONE: Not every other name smells sweet as a rose

  It was either Romeo or Juliet who said, “What’s in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”

  March 12, 2013  

• LIZ CIANCONE: Innocence appreciated when you’re growing up

  I grew up rather stupid. I didn’t realize it at the time. Neither did my teachers who seemed to think I had “promise.”

  March 5, 2013  

• LIZ CIANCONE: Years along rivers make them feel like home

  I’ve been following plans for celebrating “The Year of the River” with interest. Rivers have played such a role in my life that I’ve celebrated a good many rivers. The Wabash River is merely the most recent example.

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• LIZ CIANCONE: There are always cat stories to be told

  I was asked the other day why I write about dogs I have known, but never about cats. “What’s the matter?” they asked, “Don’t you like cats?”

  February 12, 2013  

• LIZ CIANCONE: Sharing the family history

  My Grandmother lived with us. Ed and I were eager audiences for her family stories about the Cooks. Mom also shared her memories of growing up with three brothers.

  February 5, 2013  

• LIZ CIANCONE: Do we want our privacy or not?

  We Americans are a strange bunch. We insist upon our right to privacy, yet we neglect few opportunities to parade our personal business in public.

  January 29, 2013  

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  I’m told that a pun is the lowest form of humor. I guess that typecasts me! I love them, but then, I like any type of word play.

  January 22, 2013  

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  January 15, 2013  

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  January 8, 2013  

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  January 1, 2013  

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  December 25, 2012  

• LIZ CIANCONE: No thanks to getting mags delivered via the Internet

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  December 18, 2012  

• LIZ CIANCONE: Everyone has a favorite holiday

  I suppose everyone has a favorite holiday. My guess is that, for most of us, that holiday is Christmas. It's a holiday with a miracle no matter how old we get.

  December 15, 2012  

• LIZ CIANCONE: Christmas season puts time back into focus

  It’s a funny thing about time. It can speed along so that you cannot believe that your kids can possibly be old enough to have good sense, or it can drag its heels while you wait for that first grandchild or while you are saving up for something really special.

  December 4, 2012  

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  November 20, 2012  

• LIZ CIANCONE: Magic is always there with live theater

  I’m a pushover for live theater. But movies? Not so much. For me it’s like the difference between canned peas and those picked fresh from the garden. Movies even COME in cans.

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  I was relieved to have the World Series ending before the snow flies. Heck, it didn’t even last into November this year.

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• LIZ CIANCONE: Surprises from mail worth the extra penny

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  October 23, 2012  

• More Liz Ciancone Headlines

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