No mistletoe at office parties.

Today's Tids Issue 4,010

For Acclimatizing:

There is way too much information in a world where too many people are less able to understand it.

Maybe one of the more significant outcomes from the Mueller/Flynn affair was the announcement from ABC News that they had suspended Brian Ross for “Serious errors in reporting with regard to Trump/Flynn.” Couple that with Mueller’s announcement that he had dismissed an aide named Peter Strzok because of apparent bias against Trump, and you begin to see perhaps a change that could lead to a greater fascination with truth in the USA -- Such a refreshing innovation. What good are journalists or investigators, or even Tids writers, if they have no credibility with the people.

On Friday afternoon I was walking along when two college age appearing students asked if I had a minute to answer a question. Figuring they were working a marketing project, I said, “sure”. So, they asked, “Do you like salads?” I answered, not particularly, unless of course it is doused with plenty of rich creamy chicken gravy.” I hope I didn’t skew their results too much. They seemed totally disinterested, so I walked on.

Sunday morning, I awoke with a start thinking I’d better run down to Benny’s* for an extra set of Christmas tree lights. And then, I remembered, there is no Benny’s. How sad, how painful; how generational.

(*Note to Non-Rhode Islanders. In September there were 31 Benny’s stores around southern New England, a place where you could buy just about anything you needed at good prices. Today there are none. Damn Amazon.)

The Question:

In 1950, a youthful singer Jaye P. Morgan had a popular song hit that opened the door to fame. What was that first breakthrough song, and what was her all-time greatest hit. Bonus: In 1833, the gates were opened to the campus of the first truly Co-Educational college. What was it

The Headlines:

--Senate Tax Bill Vote Excites Wall Street; Dow Up Nicely; Bitcoin Dips Below $11K High.

--CVS To Buy Aetna For Nearly $70 Billion; Move Could Change How Big Employers Buy Health Insurance.

--Rubio Says There Could Be Cuts to SS ad Medicare to pay for tax Plan.

--Wall Street Super Star Rohina Bhandari Killed By Tiger Shark While Diving 300 Miles Off Costa Rica.

--Trump Pushes For More Win As Good For Repubs.

--Brexit Divorce As Irish Border Concerns Near resolution.

--Supreme Court Takes Up Legalized Sprits Betting.

--Luxury Car Sales Dipping; SUV’s Continue To Rise.

--Pat’s Gronk Could Get Suspended For Dirty Hit; Belichick Apologizes To Buffalo Coach.

With all of the celebrities and other national honchos being brought down by past sins, you have to suspect that it won’t be long before the next big push to entirely discredit Trump will be focused on his past alleged proclivity for the female anatomy. This next big harassment of the White House will probably formally begin tonight when Billy Bush is the guest on the Colbert show. Bush won’t be talking about his relatives.

Who know new that was once a corner drug store could take over a company that was once one of the largest companies in the entire United States.

Why do I always have this feeling of trepidation when we begin the week that counts down to December 7th?

I remember once 20 or more years ago when at conference about the state of manufacturing, an engineer from a major innovative machine tool company stood to describe how simple it was to run the new breed of computerized machines. He said, “In fact, we only have one test for prospective machinists. It’s a color blindness test. Can they recognize “Green” for “On” and “Red” for “Off”. Of course, he was being sarcastic, but even as far back as the early 1990’s, and even the mid 1980’s, manufacturing companies were having trouble getting employees with any usable skills. Today it may be even worse. We can bring back millions of jobs to the USA but are there enough good workers to fill them? If you look at some of the robust manufacturing economies now more in the South and deeper Midwest, you see quickly that the big problem is thousands of good paying jobs remaining unfilled due the lack of skilled talent from High Schools. Yet, we have 10’s of thousands of College graduates floundering in no future jobs. I think we have an education problem, coupled with a parental self-esteem problem. It’s been suggested forever that every kid in America is not suitable for college, but have enormous talent that will make them entirely successful in hands-on occupations. The US has to start dressing up skilled jobs to look as respectful as the alleged college jobs.

Whether in a college bound curriculum or one that focus on skills, both sets of students have to pay attention in school.

Well, the CFB committee did it and Ohio State thinks they got robbed. The Bucks say that they won the Big Ten Championship, and have the toughest schedule. Yet, A year ago, Penn State won the B10 Championship and the committee sent – The OSU, because of their tough schedule! It was a pure crock then and an injustice to fairness. Oh yeah, Ohio State lost to Clemson in the 2016 semi-finals, 31 -0. So much for their alleged “Tough” Schedule.

Actually, the bowl game I’m most excited about is the Peach Bowl featuring giant killer Auburn and the relatively unknown undefeated University of Central Florida. In this world of predetermined super conference bowl participants, it is nice to see a college that proved itself from a so-called minor conference get a chance to show what they can do on the big stage.

Shark experts say that the ocean beasts are very smart and not dangerous, except of course to those they kill and maim.

The news was rather hysterical Friday reporting the story of Flynn’s guilty plea. Anybody who was surprised must be living under a rock. The real news was that Mueller seems to have let him off on the real serious charges that have nothing to do with the Admin. Further, what I have read about what news people are implying as evidence of a possible Admin involvement seems more like what all new admins do when entering office -- Sending out feelers to many key countries. But, we’ll see, won’t we?

The real issue will probably come down to lying or covering up. It always does.

While single payer health insurance is a goal of many, the latest hot trend among companies with employees from 100 to 500 is “Self-Insuring”. The self-insurers are saying they can do it cheaper for all, with programs that are more fulfilling to the needs of the users. The really big deal between CVS and Aetna represents another move to change the landscape of healthcare options. The idea seems to be that rudimentary care can be acquired on the street where you live. In other words, American completeness spurring innovation is back, and big Government may not be the only answer after all.

Companies, especially those in the technology sector, are awakening to the thought that their diversity programs aren’t so diverse after all. They seem to have forgotten ideological diversity, and a lot of employees are feeling smothered.

Cuba has had two significant liberations: One from Spain in 1898 aided by the US; one in 1959 from personal freedoms under the charade perpetrated by Castro. Cuba is the classic example of being careful about what you wish for.

BTW, Strzok was a leading player in the investigation of Clinton emails, and was a participant in the Hillary official FBI interview that preceded Comey’s Dismissal of the case against her.

Brian Ross has a documented history of misreporting, mostly with respect to the truth about conservative ideas and activity. Is it sloppy or intentional?

Meanwhile up in Worcester Mass, the venerable Holy Cross University is considering dropping their team nickname “The Crusaders”, for fear of alienating Muslims. If I were an alum, I would vote no. Yet, I am an alumnus of a High School that patterned itself after HC, including adopting the name Crusader. “Go Crusaders. Hold that line!”

My guess is that in the long run, the Repubs may have been smarter to deal with the Dems in the development of the Tax plan.

The Answer:

“Life is just a Bowl of Cherries” was a very popular tune in 1950, but Jaye P’s biggest hit was That’s All I Want from You. She is also known for Are You Lonesome Tonight, The Longest Walk, If You Don’t Want my Love, Pepper-Hot Baby and Danger Heartbreak Ahead. Bonus: Beautiful, Oberlin College in Ohio was the first true Co-Educational college.

Things that used to seem simple have become complex interpersonal issues. Anybody can comment on just about everything regardless if whether or not they know anything about anything. Yes, hanging a piece of mistletoe has become a major decision in today’s “I see you” society.

Tomorrow I will try to explain in plain English everything you need to know about Bitcoins and Net Neutrality. Then I will take a week off to recover in the local sanatorium. Do they still make sanatoriums?