I wonder as they wander.

Today's Tids Issue 3,759

For Magical Nights:

I have to figure that around this time two thousand and sixteen years ago, the road to Bethlehem was beginning to seem longer and longer, the jouncing of the donkey increasingly upsetting to the pregnant mother near that time for delivery. Yet the couple feels this strange urging to never give up and carry on. I always wonder about the human side of history that lays beneath the magnitude of accomplishment. Two people undergoing the rigors of ancient travel thinking like most of us about the thrill of bringing their child safely into a world, not entirely realizing the glory of the event for the entire world that was, and to come. Just two people on a lonely dark road wondering, “Are we here yet?”

Did you hear about the Monastery that failed the safety inspection? There weren’t enough Friar escapes.

This is about the time when after several weeks of cold and with once lush fairways covered by snow, golfers start thinking about the ball soaring once again off the tee or winding along a green towards that delightful sound of it rattling on the cup. Those Sunday afternoons when the pros fight it out for championships. It will come and we will soon be cheering and squirming watching this group of world’s Top Ten and all of those new challengers battle for trophies and fame and money: Jason Day, who we haven’t seem much of lately, perhaps mending his aching back et. al., is number one. Rory McIlroy is 2 followed by Dustin Johnson, Heinrich Swensen, Jordan Spieth, Hideki Matsuyama, Adam Scott, Patrick Reed, Alex Noren and Bubba!

The Question:

What do you think were the three most populous US cities in 1700? Guess at the population of each. By 1800, a fourth city joined in and surpassed one of the original 3. What was it?

The Headlines:

--Wall Street Looking Lazy Heading Into Holiday Weekend; Several Wall Street Self Proclaimed Gurus See Rally Extending Well Into 2017.

--Iran Confirms Purchase Of 100 Jets From Air Bus.

--Movement To Repeal North Carolina Bathroom Bill Fails.

--Germany reviewing Refugee Policy After Berlin truck Attack.

--Satellite Images Show North Korea Missile Testing From Nuclear Sub.

--Kellyanne Conway Picked As Councilor To President.

--Windswept Fires Raging  Through Japanese Coastal City Itoigawa; Fire Sad To Have Started In Ramen Noodle Shop; 140 Buildings Destroyed O Far.

So, did you hear about the Christmas party last night at the New Mexico department of health where 70 frolickers became ill? Now you know why the Tids urges laying off dipping kale into guacamole.

Yesterday Putin said: “Russia’s military is stronger than any aggressor”. Maybe the bare-chested KBG trained president does want take over the world.

I’m seeing a trend that is probably not good for America. It is the “Get back at syndrome”. I don’t know when it started, maybe after the Clinton impeachment, but it blossomed through the 8 GW years, where Repubs were hearing vile attacks on GW from Dems. I believe there was a tendency after 2008 for Repubs to take it out on 0-Man and he opened the door for even more with some of his left leaning policies. So now I am hearing people say, “I hope Trump Fails” When one of those new naysayers was queried about why he would like to promote something not good for America, he replied, “I just want to get back at them for what they did to My President Obama”. So basically, expect the worse, and growing antagonism from the angry diverse population. Some how we have to stop a trend of taking sides before we know what is happening.

What’s good for America are the final games of the 2016 NFL season. The Tids Pickers did decently last week with 12-4 bring the years record to 148-75-2.  This is the second to last week and a week where many games really matter. The key post season impacting games are Giants-Iggles, Miami Buff, Tenn-Jax, Minn-GB, Indy-Oakland, TB-NO, Houston-Cinncy, Denver-KC, Det-Dallas and to a lessor extent Wash who still has a smidgeon of hope versus da Bears and New England against the nemesis Jets for a shot Home Field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Giants are on a roll and should handle their rival in a close one in Philly. I the Dolphins Bills game, both teams can still sneak in, and I am giving a Buffalo a slight edge because of the cold. Jax would love to save a bad season, but Tenn is playing well, needing this to stay alive for their division championship and should win. Minn loves to beat the Pack, but GB woke up a couple of weeks ago and wants to overtake Detroit --GB. The media loves Oakland and used to love Indy. Indy needs to win to stay alive,  but has holes and Oak is at home needing to keep pace with KC. Oak in a tussle. TB has a shot, and I like them to beat the Saints who are hard to predict. Houston is battling Tenn and Indy, while Cinncy is going nowhere. But, Cinn isn’t terrible. This is my upset -- Cinn. Denver just can’t seem to reach up far enough. KC should have won last week. Did innate flaws show up? I’m going with the Chiefs. Detroit-Dallas should be a war, but last week Detroit didn’t show up against the Giants. Detroit needs it more. I’m flummoxed here – Dallas in a squeaker. I think the Skins will lose to the Bears who are looking a little better lately and the Pats should be able to take the Jets. The rest are Falcons over, Panthers Seattle over Cards and  LA over SF. Should be an exciting Christmas Eve.

Some people this weekend who like men in tights will go see the Nutcracker. Others who are fascinated by buttocks in tights will be glued to NFL games

Jiffy Corn Bread mix seems like it has been around since the beginning of time. “Hey Mary, how about a couple of Corn Muffins before you have to hop back on the donkey again?”

One of the great new emerging scandals has the potential power to inflict the Might Goldman Sachs. Apparently the Malaysian PM Najib Razak has skimmed off about $1 billion of the State Investment Fund IMBD for his personal bank account. Swiss inspectors are calling it a Ponzi scam and world financiers see it as massive financial fraud – one of the largest of all time. The banker most loved by Razak is Goldman. This is in the tip of the iceberg phase, but you have to believe that the GS publicity and legal departments is working overtime. More to come.

Tomorrow we’ll be talking about how to cook your favorite Christmas dinner roast or bird. If it is food, The Tids is there!

The Answer:

The top three s-cites in America in 1700 were Boston 6,700, NYC 4,900 and Philly 4,400. In 1800 Baltimore jumped into third place surpassing Boston. NY and Philly were One-Two. Charleston SC was fifth. Providence RI was 9^th.

Thanks today to “Rhymes with Orange” and “Shoe” for their Tid-Bits of humor.

Hey Kids of all ages, 3 more days till Christmas! Zowie!