Today's Tids Issue 3,016
Opening Stuff:

If any body ever wanted to repeat ground hog day, it would be Peyton Manning. But enough of GH Day and the SB, this is the first issue of Tids for Feb, and this month is far greater than a furry little rodent that would rather sleep than be thrust outside into the cold. It is a Red and Black month where men wear their hearts on their sleeve, and people of color believe, pay tribute to what their forefathers and mother have achieved. It's the month of Presidents, two to me, George and Abe. For the rest we have car deals, which is kind of sad when you consider all that these men, whether liked or not, have put out their necks to contribute to the country. It's a short month, the shortest of all, and right smack dab in the middle is a day for romantic old fools. Pour out your feelings...and smile, It's February..

Cynthia James, an exec at Kapersky, says there are only two kinds of companies in the world -- Those who's data has been breached and those who's data will be breached. Yes, one of the bibgest problems facing consumers is, and will be Point of Purchase hacking which will lead to epidemic Physhing. The moral of this story, pay in cash.

It appears to me that you know you are getting older when you begin measuring your age by the size of your fonts.

The Question:
The Black Lab is once again on top as favorite US dog, this year breaking the record for consecutive years as #1 Most Popular Breed. Which breed previously held the record? Name the other dogs in the top ten most favorite. Bonus: Joseph Brooks was a successful jingle and song writer who committed suicide after being indicted on charges of raping 14 aspiring starlets. Name his most famous, upbeat, song!

Today's Headlines:
--Markets Down Big Again On Questionable ISM Data (Institute for Supply Management); Data More Positve Than It Appears Considering Weather Intrusions.
--Seattle Controls And Amazes; Manning Family Puts On Mopey Face.
--Phillip Seymore Hoffman Dead At 46; Former Drug Addition Revisited Super Actor.
--Ford Sales Down 7%; Chrysler Up 8%.
--Key Republicans Announce Support For Christie; Urge Him To Keep Pushing.
--People Finding Sticker Shock In Obama Care, But Not In premiums; Consumers Taking Hit On Deductables.

You probably have already heard of Hillary's mid-SB Tweet, "It's so much more fun to watch Fox when it's someone else being blitzed and sacked." You may not have seen one of the tweet responses, "It's interesting that Hillary can find her phone during the middle of the Super Bowl, but not when her Diplomats are under attack by organized terrorists."

There are some in Twitter-Land who think the Hill's "Casual" tweet was probably part of an new organized attack on Fox News, considering that 0-Man brought up the obstinance of Fox in his interview with O'Reilly prior to the kick-off. It is assumed her words were written by an operative and designed to achieve virilty in Twitterville.

Critics go gaga over many cultural, entertainment events, achievements which I just don't agree with at all. In classical music they put composers on pedestals who aren't even on my radar screen. They pick pieces from the historic ones like Beethoven, Mozart which I rate lower than my own choices. The same goes for movies, plays, books and TV programs. And this morning , the critics raved about another more of the same halftime show. I thought the segue from the clever Pepsi intro (Struming strings of GW bridge et. al.) to the solo Mars drumming was good; And, the good feeling continured into the start of the full musical presentation, However it soon became a monotonous stream of flashing lights, fans waving hands and mediocre musical sameness for the Bruno Mars group and through RH Chili Peppers... until Mars solo rescued the show with a nice "Just the way yu are." Mars is a likable, dynamic entertainer, but the music, to me, just gets tedious, a pawn of the lighting experts.

It's snowing consistently outside this morning. Goodell must pray well.

I was thinking that if the Broncos had won, I'd go out and get a Denver team shirt, figuring that Cheeto dust wouldn't be so apparent against the team colors.

Graham DeLaet may be the most exciting player on the horizon for the 2014 PGA Tour. He is engaging, can hit the ball a mile and appears to know how to win.. Keep an eye on him.

The sign over the toilets in the Olympic Men's rooms prohibits a lot, including, Peeing, Standing on seat, Vomiting, Karati chops and Fishing. Yes, no fishing in locker room toilets. I'm assuming these warnings were necessitated by what Russians do naturally. The moral of this story: Don't eat sturgeon.

The data in the new ISM report is not as bad as the market collapse seems to indicate. It looks like the big money just used it to justify continued selling.

At a lecture about the "Secret tapes of JFK", one item of note was the President JFK screwing over a minion for wasting $5,000 buying furniture for Jackie's  delivery room at Otis AF Base. Take it back to "Jaudin Moush" the Presdient kept on repeating -- "Take it back to Jaudin's". $5K! Today, Michelle spends that on a facial. (By the way, that's Jordan Marsh outside of Mass, NH, Maine and RI.)

The first time I was ever brainwashed was in the third or fourth grade was when I was taught a rule for determining which spelling of "principle", "principal" was correct. The teacher said, "Just remember that the Principal is your pal...with a capital "P".

One popular American phrase that annoys me is, "Civil Disobedience".

For some reason, the lecturer above talking about the JFK tapes skid ito a comment about Hillary's Benghazi saying Chris Stevens knew what he was doing. So that's it, the Clintons are blaming it on the Amabassador and not on the inability of Hillary and the State deparment to hear his multiple pleas for help. Oh, didn't I tell you, the speaker was a speechwriter in Cinton's WH and advised on Bills Memoir and and is advising on Hillery's current effort...for historical accuracy!

The Answer:
The Black Lab passed the Standard Poodle by being named Most Popular Breed for the 23rd consecutive year! After blackie we have Goldie - the Golden Retriever followed by German Shepherd, Beagle, English Bulldog, Yorkshire Terrier, Boxer, Poodle, Rottweiler and Dachshund. Number eleven was the French Bulldog which made the biggest leap in the standings last year. Bonus: Brooks, a true slimeball, wrote the uplifting "You Light up my Life" the theme song of the immaculate Debbie Boone. Maybe it was a cry for help.

You have to wonder how many times Phillip Seymore Hoffman cried out for help to stop his personal madness. It's a sad thing, this addiction. The mind cries stop and juices keep saying you need me. He was clean fro 23 years. What brings it back. Is it success that assures "I can handle anything now." Nobody can handle, manage addiction if you let it creep back in. I first rememebr him in The Talented Mr. Ripley, as the man who took over the screen in a lesser role in that film filled with great actors. I also remember him in "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead," playing a helpless man who's life is directed by a cocaine habit. When you think of Hoffamn, you don't just think about all of his triumphs, but also the great movies which we will see in the future whcih he could have made better. The man took over screens as powerfully as addiction can take over lives.

There is nothing better than watching a team execute everything perfectly. The score doesn't matter, becaseu you are anticipating the next eyeopening play.