I think I hear Paul Revere.

Today's Tids Issue 3,267

Opening Stuff:

 

(Stretching) “Oh man, that felt great. Aaaah! Hey, wait a minute, is that speech over yet? I must have fallen asleep. Rats, I missed it again. Did he say anything about the middle class? Of course, he must have sine that is the new Dem campaign for 2016. I imagine also that he must have said he would work with the Repubs, which would be really new since he has tap-danced around that since is first days on Pennsylvania Ave in  2009; And odd, since he announced two more irrevocable vetoes before the speech. Or am I dreaming still. Maybe he set course for a new America that we can all enjoy, that mitigates disharmony, and plants seeds for a unified love-in we haven’t seen since 1776. But I doubt it. He’s much too narrow a thinker. Well, I’m sorry I missed it again, but SOTU’s have just become a big meaningless bore, no matter which Prez is in  charge.” It’s good to feel rested.

 

I have been out several times this morning walking in that amazing 28 degree, crystal clear weather. There is really nothing better than that. The political cobwebs suddenly disappear and you see and meet good people all around you. The good people -- that’s the only state of the nation I need.

 

Speaking of murky minds, that deflated ball thing is getting serious. It’s too bad too, because blocking, tackling, never-say-die running and consistent intensity won the game; the inflation of the ball doesn’t mean a thing there. Seattle though should be worried, The Pats players get mad when no sports scribe writes about how well they played the game last Sunday, and only focuses on tearing apart a team that played extremely well in favor of a more sensationalized story. Do they hate the Pats because Belichick doesn’t kiss their feet at press conferences? Let’s hope the Pats get there punishment soon, so we can get back to talking aout football.

 

Actually, there is some wiggle room between Repubs and 0-Man – Trade Agreements, tax reform and a little bit of Cuban Diplomatic relations. Of course those are broad subjects. It will be in the nitty-gritty where the grimaces of sarcasm emerge.

 

The Question:

I was thinking g of the great Maureen Connelly, a courageous and great tennis player whose life was cut short by ovarian cancer. Her accomplishments were awesome. Why was she nicknamed “Little Mo”. Bonus: Quick, what kind of lizard appears in the Geico commercials?

 

The Headlines:

--President Sets His own Agenda In SOTU Last Night.

--Bulletin: European Central Bank (ECB) Proposes About $50 Billion In Bond buys/Month.

--Chinese Stocks Soar to best Gains In 5 Years.

--Gold Bugs Seeing Some Light As Stocks Stutter.

--$200 Million Ransom Demand May Indicate ISIS Financial Desperation.

--Rebels Hold Yemeni President Captive At his House.

--Palestinian Stabs 11 Israeli’s On tel Aviv Bus; Iran Revolutionary Guard Vows Punishment for Israel After Killing Of Genal In Syria; Senate And Prez To Butt Heads Over Iran Sanctions.

 

One of the bright spots for stock investing, if you have the stamina to weather the rolling seas, is that the stock dividend yields are above Treasuries, which is considered quite bullish. This is only the 4^th time in 50 years when that has occurred. It will appear painful for a month or so as earnings are digested and a calmer picture of the global economy emerges, but this underlying yield advantage should carry stocks into a new positive buying period. Then, the only real annoyance will be the gloating hawkers of Gold.

 

Why do so many people clean their house to get ready for their cleaning lady?

 

Where have you gone, Little Mo Connelly, Department:

I just read all of the names of the women who played in the first round of the Australian Open. Other than the Williams Sisters and Carol Wozniak I was pretty much lost. For your edification, the US losing players were Shelby Rogers, Taylor Townsend and Sloane Stevens. The US winners were Serena and Venus, Varbara Lepchnko, Lauren Davis, Madison Keys, Anna Tatishvili, Madison Brengle, Nicole Gibbs, Irena Falconi and Coco Vanderweghe. Wait a minute, did I say Coco Vanderweghe? Yikes, does that send me rapidly back in time. First she is the niece of basketball player Kiki (What’s with those Vanderweghe’s) and the granddaughter of Coleen Kay Hutchins (Miss America 1952). Hutchins married  her bother Mel’s New York Knick teammate Ernie Vanderweghe. Ernie was a terrific, hustling player, but he became an all-star with miss America by his side.

 

One of the bigger twitter wars of the moment is between a former White House operative named Bill Burton, United Airlines and Conservative travelers. Apparently UA uses as its default news station “Newsmax TV”. Burton went berserk on the plane and immediate tweeted the WH and UA. UA came up with PC statement and caved. The Conservative travelers in a rage sent out tweets which indicted the former finest airline in the nation as weenies, gutless and not worthy of their patronage. Newsmax TV is quite conservative, but is also becoming one of the fastest growing news services for business like the Airlines.

 

In response to Russ Wilson’s tears of joy, Aaron Rogers says that “God doesn’t really care about the outcome of football games”

 

It is rare the day I eat a ¼ pounder from Mac’s place, but, when I I do, I always wonder why I don’t do it more often. Once you get rid of the pickle, it’s pretty great eating.

 

You have to wonder how many people these days have ever heard of Taffy.

 

If I was buying art, I might be looking for the emergence of some good Latina artists. A massive population shift changes everything.

 

Did you read where the ObamaCare system is sharing personal data with marketing companies?  That’s painful. I never use cookies or take any other internet marketer suggestions telling me it is good for me to give away all of my most cherished secrets because it makes it easier for me to buy things. I’ll take privacy.

 

Duh, Department:

Surprise: “RI Delegation Applauds Obama Speech.” Hell, you could barely see the puppeteers strings move.

 

The Answer:

Maureen was dubbed Little Mo because her firepower even at 16 was compared to “Big Mo”, the Battleship USS Missouri. Maureen was the first women to complete the Grand Slam in One year. Before she was done in by a horse riding accident at teenage of 20, she had won 9 Grand slam tournaments. Bonus: The Geico commercial lizard is a Gecko! Just wanted to see if you were awake.

 

Have a sensational Wednesday. You can’t help loving a day like today, that is, if you are in RI walking amidst he chilled breezes blown off the sea.

 

Today is Wednesday, isn’t it? Or did I sleep an extra day? Te SOTU is one powerful sedative.