Today's Tids Issue 2,980
Opening Stuff:

Is today merely a bleak December day?
Or, has God taken a great, bright star away.
A star so special that it would be on display
To remind us all of what Nelson had to say.

I think Dan Hurley is going to be a great coach for the University of Rhode Island basketball team..

Now that the White House overworked office of unambiguity has confirmed the Obama lie about not knowing his Boston uncle, it may be time to revisit the birther question. The President has been caught in so many distributions of misinformation that it's gotten well beyond the National Anthem of DC, "Oh well, that's just politics." Now it's looking like an innate character flaw. Maybe Obama should be banned from the Mandela funeral. But then, Clinton will be there. Maybe they can exchange ambiguity techniques.

The Question:
Each year in NASCAR the fans vote for the most popular driver in  the Sprint Cup Series. Name the top five. Where do you think these popular drivers showed up in the overall standings at the end of the year?

The Headlines:
--Mandela Dies.
--Massive Winter Storm Paralyses Texas, Midwest.
--Stocks Rise Triple Digits On Good November Jobs Report; Positive Numbers Considered Good News Instead Of Tapering Omen; Unemployment Dropped 0.3% To 7%.
--Hagel Assures Middle East Allies That US Is Committed To Their Security.
--Assorted Uprisings And Bombings Continue In Middle East.

The Pope and Nelson Mandela probably would have become great friends if their times coincided.

This admin and its followers are great at hypocrisy. In order to allow the development of wind energy, the White House office of ambiguity has made a deal that would allow wind energy companies to harm and kill bald and golden eagles for 30 years in the name of green alternative progress. An AP investigation has revealed that Wind Farms for at least five years have regularly killed the birds in clear violation of law, but with no action being taken by the admin controlled authorities. Raptors unite!

After yesterday's reported 3.6% GDP number, further analysis revealed that the number included seasonal inventory stockpiling and was probably closer to 1.7%. I expect the new jobs number will be turned inside out over the week end. 200K jobs is big enough to reduce the unemployment number by 0.3%, But, people leaving the workforce is. Sorry for the negativity, but thats just the way it is these days. Is isn't what is, is anymore.

Today's generation may never understand that perfection of serenity which is never having to hear a phone ringing in your car.

I hear that 100,000 defective reindeer replicas have been returned to the factory. Let's hope they don't... recall, the most famous reindeer of all.

Another good example of how weird our society has become may be found in the fact that Carrie Underwood received hate mail for not being Julie Andrews or Mary Martin in the latest reprise of Sound of Music.

A lot of people are thinking the Pope should get the primo front row seat at Mandela's funeral.

Miscommunication in the age of technology, Department:If the "T" on your keyboard isn't working well, there is a big difference between, "I'll be there" and "I'll be here."

The NBA is weird this year as there are only two teams with winning records in the 15 team Eastern Conference and only 3 out fifteen teams with losing records in the Western Conference. And  nobody cares but the promoters.

Now scientists want me to worry about sharks getting cancer.

The Florida prosecutor in Heisman candidate Jameis Winston alleged rape case turned a serious accusation into a comedy routine for his own edification. They didn't say the football star was completely innocent, they said there may be trouble proving the case. And a woman still feels the effects of an attack, now wth salt rubbed into the wounds.

The Answer:
The most popular five in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series begins with Dale Earnhardt Jr. who has one for the 17th time! Man, he must really be nice! Next is Kasey Kahne followed by Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Danika Patrick. In the final standings won by Jimmie Johnson, with the rest of the top five being Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harik, Kyle Busch and "Mr. Popularity".  Jeff Gordon was 6, Kasey Kahne was 12, Danika Patrick was 27 and Tony Stewart 29. In case you are interested, after Gordon the rest of the Top Ten were Clint Bowyer, Joey Logano, Greg Biffle and Kurt Busch. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. at #19 was "Rookie of the Year". Just  case you need some names to follow next year. Varooooooooooom!

I wanted to have a happy, upbeat week ending Tids, but this admin is so awkwardly ambiguous, that I just can't let it go. And, I hate myself for it. This White House is so sad, that I just can't laugh at it any more. I have an ache in my heart for America.

But a warmth in that overloaded heart for you all!

Have a sensational, serene weekend e-v-e-r-y-b-o-d-y