Whatever happened to thank you notes?

Today's Tids Issue 3,247

Opening Stuff:

Smartly dressed poultry would be called chic hens.

If you don’t teach it, it will disappear. If you don’t teach about the uniqueness of US history and ideals, for instance, then the burgeoning influx of immigrants will only know what they knew from their past and may corrupt the vacant minds of US young. If you don’t teach about manners, then you will have a land of inconsiderate dolts. And that is actually a growing problem, as kids and the internet rule social engagements. Younger generations seem to think an invitation with RSVP is an opportunity bring an army to the event. “Twitter” parties overwhelm neighborhoods. The nobody cares generation, even if they have heard of RSVP, don’t believe in commitment and would prefer saying “Maybe I’ll come (Depending if there’s a better offer for the day)” Yes hostesses and brides are left agog as they  wrestle with the inconsideration of potential guests while planning very expensive weddings and big social events. This is a real, new trend, which even carry’s over to reservations not kept at restaurants. Inconsideration just must be stopped. Maybe too many of the kid’s parents didn’t have manners themselves, or perhaps some thought it un-cool to teach them. The fact remains, if we are to live in a civilized society, there must be basic rules people can rely upon for order. Manners, after all, are just common sense. But, anything we don’t teach forward will eventually disappear, just like that.

What is happening to US industrial might when a giant company like Sony acquiesces to a charlatan like Al Sharpton, saying it will allow him to help them pick movies and scripts? Shoot me. I understand their first Sharpton film will be “The Truth About Tawana Brawley as Only Big Al Can tell it”.

When you see dozens of sign carrying protestors outside the Boston courthouse claiming that the self-confessed marathon bomber Tsarnaev was set up by the government, you know one thing for sure: There is absolutely no hope for world agreement on anything.

The Question:

See if you can come up with the punch line for these Puns:

1. What do you call two fruits fighting in a cage?

2. Why did the farmer grow so many pumpkins?

3. Why don’t hot air balloon operators make good friends?

4. What is a diploma for successful criminals?

5. What did the guy think of the movie Shrek?

The Headlines:

--Oil Prices Show Small Rebound; EuroStocka Riding High Heading For Strong Week Close.

--National Debate Erupts On What Retaliation Is Necessary After Alleged NK Cyber Attacks; Some Experts Say Evidence Isn’t Strong Enough to Point Finger At North Korea; Some Evidence Says That Iran, China And/or Russia Could Have Worked With NK..

--US Intel Says That NK May Try Cyber Attack Against US Nuke Plants.

--Rocket From Gaza Hits Southern Israel; First Attack Since September..

--Family Of Eight Stabbed To Death In Australia.

--Boko Harum Kidnaps At Least 185; Slaughters Most.

--FCC Says Redskins Name Not Offensive.

--Billionaire Carl Icahn Promises $20 Mil To Keep Atlantic City Casino Taj Mahal Open; This Comes As Icahn Loses $250 Million Due To declining Oil Prices.

--US Appeals Court In Cincinnati Says That Michigan Action Refusing Gun For Man Committed To Mental Institution Is Unconstitutional.

--Blackberry Reports Turnaround Ahead Of Schedule; Morgan Staley Note On IPhone Demand Has Apple Shares Rising..

So, if the Stock Market rises to unimagined heights at year’s end based mainly on emotion, how stable can it be starting the New Year?

That Christmas Music and laughter wafting up from the Caribbean is from the Castro brothers dancing around the tree shouting “We believe in Santa Claus!” and in a lower tone, “And, we can still be naughty”. Yikes. Even left leaners like Robert Reich are scratching their heads over this one.

I get a little nervous in public places lately knowing that the non-descript person next to me may have a knife and an uncontrollable urge to slash. Brutal stabbings in open daylight in crowded public places is rapidly attaining fad status, and it is downright scary. Well, at least the left can’t blame the NRA on this one.

I’m sure that Kim Jong Un is shaking in his boots after learning that the UN wants to refer NK to its Criminal Court! The Un! God help us.

James Holmes parents are saying that he is not a monster, but just a young man with a small mental problem. His brings up major question about what to do about psychotically evil people who kill as opposed to just regular evil people who kill. It’s all about what you call the walls in which they should be housed forever. Hey say mental institutions are too expensive and that prisons are too punitive, yet there are thousands of mentally afflicted people, who would be better off in an institution for their own good (at least temporarily) as well as society’s. The we have to deal with removing stigmas as people successfully re-enter the world.

Cleaning my glasses half way through the Tids, sometimes brings the ills of the world into clearer perspective.

A consultant says RI has to spend more millions to get more tourists. We have already sold our soul for the tourist dollar, and it isn’t pretty.

The “Green Climate Fund” a loosely linked arm of the UN which has promises form Prez Obama of $3Billion and from UK $1.5 Bil is asking for immunity from worldwide actions. Doesn’t that bother you just a little? It appears though that the incoming GOP Congress will be using sharp knives to slash mysterious UN piggybanks like GC., Oops, did I say “knives,” “slash”?

I get down on the new America from time to time, but fortunately it is all mostly about what I see in the news, not from the people I know or meet. But then I don’t know any litterers, protestors, Hollywood moguls, fraudulent financial manipulators, convenience store thugs, irresponsible youths…well you get the picture. I live in an insular world, and I love it.

Some people and sports writers are concerned that NE Pats super Tight End “Gronk” isn’t mature enough. Personally I believe at retaining your juvenile exuberance for life.

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:

--The previous Night the Museum was awful as far as I’m concerned, so I will avoid this version. But, I’m sure it will be a box office success and loved by kids, as longs as it doesn’t irritate some hacker. Robin Williams makes a last appearance on the big screen.

--Wild is a star vehicle for Reese Witherspoon. It is about a woman who has sunk to the depths of drug and sexual depravity, injuring friends and loved ones along the way. To cleanse her soul, and with no experience at all, she sets out on a hiking trip from the Mojave Desert through Washington state. She learns a lot along the way.

--Foxchaser is a new venture for comic Steve Caril and play it well as a weird heir to the dupont fortune who winds up killing an Olympic wrestler at his training center. It’s based on a true story set in a beautiful place, (I’ve eaten nearby in a restaurant called the Country Squire). I think it will be pretty good and is well acted. Hollywood loves making the rich look evil, except of course themselves.

--The newest version of Annie is a huge let down according to the reviewer I relied upon. You know the story. Unfortunately, in this version Mrs. Hannigan isn’t that evil and scary, and most of the actors go through the motions. The dancing is below average. But, that’s a critics opinion.  Kids and happy people will enjoy this Obama version  of the story. Oops, I hope Amy isn’t reading my emails.

In case you are interested the five worst movies of 2014 are 5, Ouija 4. Tammy 3. Need for Speed 2. The Giver. The worst movie of the year according to Yahoo! Movie staff of critics, is the star laden (Fonda, Fey and Hahn) piece of drear – This is where I Leave You.

The Answer:

1.” Mango a Mango”

2. Because he was gourd at it.

3.While at times uplifting, they always let you down in the end.

4. The third degree.

5. It was ogre-rated.

What did you expect, Shakespeare

There are about 8 Bowl games on over the weekend. None of them mean anything to me, or as far as I can determine, to football in general. It’s all about money and how it wrought mediocrity.

Have a wonderful weekend before Christmas E-v-e-r-y-b-o-d-y