Happy New Year!

Today's Tids Issue 2,266

Opening Stuff.

Is today the last day of a decade, or the last day of the first year of the coming decade. Whatever it is, it was a helluva year. Personally, I have managed to raise my ability to avoid responsibility to an art form. The people of the US got angry and got the ball rolling which may result in a better environment in Washington. Like one where they remember that the people are are the reason why they are there and that all the money they waste comes from the people.. The Red Sox out-snookered the dreaded Ya-Ya-Ya...(WYKWIM), the Pats look like real contenders, the Celts have a shot -- and my free cell play is on fire. Some great cold days came early after a much too hot summer. The Tids reader list grew nicely and the Tids Blog with pics is now on the web. The Tids readers are all in good spirits. And romantic dreams thrive. 2011 will be just fine. Let your heart lead you.

"Once, I almost had a psychic girl friend but she left me before we ever met." That funny line was uttered by the guy who won the National Liars Club annual award. Then they found out that he had actually borrowed it from comedian Steve Wright. The guy has since resigned and joined the Joe Biden Plagiarism Society.

I'm wondering if the UConn loss last night is an ominous portent of something that could happen to me -- the end of my current 160 game Free Cell winning streak. It's getting tense.

The Question:
Bonus Day, Again: 1. Ok, give me three funny lines from BoSox cap wearing Steve Wright, named #23 on all time list of greatest stand-up comedians. 2. To which Country does the US give the most military aid after Israel?

The Headlines:

--America's Cup Locations To Be Named Today; Newport RI Leading Candidate; Chafee-Lite Seems Hesitant To Comment
--New Unemployment Benefits Apps Fall To 414,000.
--US Missiles Strike and Kill Inside Pakistan.
--Humans Around The World Jockeying For Best Positions for New year's Celebration.
--Weekend Thaw Boon To Local Polar Bear Dippers; Pittsburgh Officials In Quandary As Melting Ice Could Destroy Big Outdoor Hockey Extravaganza.
--RI's Little Ski Mountain That Could, Yagoo, had best December In History.
Last Day For Profit Taking Could Send Stocks Lower.
--Skype Looking At Adding Broader Services.

Back to More Stuff: 
The shy ophthalmologist had to get a new job because he couldn't look you in the eye.

Have you heard of the new web site WikiPeeks? It releases body scan images.

Smartest People Department:
Personally, I think that Tids readers with a capital "TR" are the Smartest...with a capital "S"! But the so-called MacArthur "Genius " award scholars have come up with their own list. It is headed by Jon Stewart (Yikes!), Bill and Malinda Gates, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, biologist Craig Venter, Julian Assange, Creators of "Kickstart", Felisa Wolfe-Simon and Aaron Sorkin. Not too creative.

Do you realize that the media operates on principles that are exactly opposite our most prized judicial rule that says "All people are considered innocent until proven guilty?" Time after time the media accuses before thinking. The negatives are out there and the reputation of the accused is sullied, maybe for ever. Oh...they do use the world allege. but I doubt that many readers or listeners see or hear it. They only retain the bad stuff. The worst of it is in political slandering. A good rule of thumb for media would be to throw out any release from a political campaign. yeah, right.

I don't know about you, but I wouldn't look twice at Snooki.

Living in Rhode Island, my taxes feel like Union Dues.

Everybody is getting delirious about the prospects of a better economy. If, the gas price goes to $5,00 as some industry people are predicting, you can kiss good bye to tourism and extra money for luxury buying. It could produce a return to irresponsible use of credit cards before current debt loads are stabilized. And to those people who will say, Americans will stop buying gas and the price will come down, I have to say -- haven't you been looking around the globe. This gas price rise is the result of enormous consumption increasing in China and India, the two most populous countries. The world is a different place.

Here's a funny line I heard form a knowledgeable political insider. Remembering back to the Tid's question a couple of days ago about "Standing Headlines", another obvious one would be "(Politician, Athlete, Coach Exec) Leaving to spend more time with my family." Well, the thirteen year old son of a well known statewide pol who had dropped out of the Gov. race using the "Family" rhetoric, came home after a Dad visit (they are divorced) and said to his Mom, "He isn't doing it for us. He's getting his ass kicked.")

Correction: The reference Wednesday to undesirable droppings of the Canadian Goose Session of Congress should have read, "The undesirable droppings of the 'Lame' Canadian Goose session of Congress."

It wouldn't be a fitting end to the year if I didn't borrow a line from the comic strip Shoe: Commenting on the boring meetings, a member of the Town Water Board said: "They're like torture." 

The Answer.
Kind of an odd mix today -- War and Laughter! 1. Steve Wright observed "Black Holes are where God divided by zero". "I was once walking through a forest , alone, and a tree fell right in front of me. I didn't hear it." "I broke a mirror in my house. I'm supposed to get seven years of bad luck, but my lawyer thinks he can get me five." "Boycott shampoo! Demand real poo!" "I got a job in a fire hydrant factory. The problem was that you couldn't park anywhere near it." "I used to have an open mind but my brains kept falling out." Laughing yet? 2. Egypt gets the most military money after Israel. The problem now, according to the Pentagon, is that they aren't using it to modernize their army. Sounds like a Pyramid scheme to me.

The End of Good Year:
I'll toast you all at midnight. Well, maybe a couple of you.

If you can't hear me it's because I'm in parentheses." -- S. Wright.

See you next year if I can delete these damn parentheses.

Tids Lite

Today's Tids Issue 2,265
Opening Stuff:

Now that the "Canadian goose" session of Congress is over and citizens are gingerly stepping around their droppings, it is time to really take a hard look at the biggest dropping of all -- Pelosi-Palooza. My advice is to start by adding some really harsh tort reform, and srat to peel away one of the main contributing causes for escalating HC costs.

When God wreaks havoc, the media is too fast to blame it all on a politician.

Daily Question: Double "Q" Day: 1. There's a couple birthday coincidences today. Name two super star sports guys who were major stories in 2010 and two TV personalities who grew up together in show biz and made their stripes together on early morning TV. 2. What was the original intent of "Recess Appointments" and which Prez is considered the most liberal of recess Appointers?

Today's headlines:
--Former President Of Israel, Moshe Katzav, Convicted Of Rape.
--Unemployment Benefit Apps Fall To Lowest Level In 2 1/2 Years.
--Caution Overcomes Robust Data; Stocks Lower.
--Alaska To Ceritify Murkowski As Senate Seat Winner.
--Good Citizens Fleeing Western Hemisphere's Deadliest City, Juarez Mexico.
--Boomers Worry About Availability Of Medicare As They Retire.

Why doesn't modest mean most modern?

The choice of the stupidest comment of the year race has been lackluster i=until yesterday when Tucker Carlson said that Michael Vick should have been executed. How about executing TC for being stupid.

Guess what? Easy is hard. Last week was a low point in Pickin' land, and the majority of the misses were on the so-called "Easy" picks. And, who knows what will happened this week. Most pf the games have little meaning. In fact only five have a remote possibility of affecting the playoffs. The rest are about Pride, coaches jobs or maybe keeping the"mo" going. The meaningful games are the all-of a sudden mistake prone Giants against the who know's(?) Skins, Indy-Tenn, Green Bay-Chi, Jax-Houston and Saint Louis Seattle. On the last one, if Seattle wins they will win the NFC West with a lackluster 7-9 record. I'm picking St. Lou who will the that division with n 8-8 number. Jax is without QB Girard and they have a slight chance at a spot. But Houston should win at home. Tennessee is fighting for redemption but Indy should win at home. GB at home should beat "da bears". So now it comes down to which Giants team will show. If Wash can finish a game for a change they could win at home. I'll come back to this later. In the meaningless games I'm picking NE, KC, NO, Det (Minn aching Tuesday), Atlanta, Pitt, Balt, SF, SD and Philly recouping. The Jets may be without Sanchez and they have clinched. Buff is good enough to win and they will. And, I gotta go with the Giants. 8 and 8 last week brings Tids-Picks to 160-79 (67% Ugh).

Coincidentally, the commissioner of Georgia's Agricultural department who is taking down all fo the paintings about slaver on the farm is Gary Black. That isn't particularly enlightening, is it?

Quiz Answer: 1. Tiger Woods (35) and Lebron James (26) have today as their brithday as do Meredith Viera (57) and Matt Lauer (no...not J. Fred Muggs!). Coincidentally -- again -- Lauer and Viera started their careers together In Providence at Channel Ten. Viera is a local.
2. The "Recess Appointment was intended by the Founding Fathers to grant Presidents the power to fill openings that actually occurred during the recess. Unfortunately it has become a legal loophole enabling Presidents to get around the oversight of the representatives of the people. The most liberal of appointers was Teddy Roosevelt.

Did the Tids actually begin today?
Today looks like Tids-lite.

Meretriciousness

Today's Tids Issue 2,264
Opening Stuff:

As far as I can determine, restraining orders only work if the restrainee is physically restrained.

Isn't it interesting how commercialism can catch on and become a national fad. Like the Drill Sergeant Psychiatrist Geico TV ad. "...you know what makes me sad? You do! Let's waltz over to namby-pamby land and get you some brains you jack wagon!" Have you seen it? Hey, maybe that should be the new mantra for an ever softening US of A beguiled by nannyism and handouts. Wake up America. Do it yourself or die a slow death!!

While meandering through the newspaper this morning I was mesmerized by the headline "Cinnamon Butter Puffs." Actually, I had to lay down to slow my heart.

The Question: 
In the newspaper business, efficiency is increased through the use of "Standing Headlines" -- generic headlines that cover often repeated but not necessarily the exact same event. One example might be: "UConn Women Win By Double Digits." I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours.

The Headlines:

--NYC Flights Continue To Play Catch-up In Aftermath Of Storm.
--Consumer Confidence Falls Unexpectantly In December.
--Clueless Lane sees Rosy 2011 As Markets Open Higher.
--Swedish, Danish Police Arrest Five Terror Suspects.
--al-Qaida Says It Killed Iraqi Commander In Mosul.
--Maine's Sugarloaf Officials Investigating Cause Of Chairlift Failure.
--BP Expected To Remain Fiscally healthy After All Gulf Liabilities Are Settled.

Back to More Stuff:
The reason why Patriots' rookie Devin McCourty made the Pro-Bowl is because in his early September days he listened and learned from every rookie mistake... and never repeated them. In addtion to some obvious physical talents, it is his brain that made it work.

Michael Vick didn't look like the same dynamic force last night after Prime Time's phone call to the Eagles. Come to think of it, 0-Man had the same effect on Democrat candidates as he campaigned around the country.

Speaking of campaigns, the mayoral contest in Chigaco is really intense. The Pay-Off for being Mayor must be reeee-ally gooooood!

A well dressed public relations guy wears a flack jacket.

Some doctors on a mission continue to say that "abortion is one of the safest and most common medical procedures." Safe...except for the little child who always winds up dead.

Irony Department:
Hungary the former darling for all of those seeking a democratic style freedom from USSR oppression, has announced a new program that forces people under penalties of giant fines to turn over their "Private" pension funds to the government, curtails the powers of the respected Constitutional court and... corrupts Freedom of the Press by imposing Million Dollar fines for reports the Government considers unbalanced. All this is happening on the eve of Hungary's assumption of the Presidency of the European Union.

The latest global diplomatic squabble is over the conviction of Russia's wealthiest man Khodorkovsky. The Hill and some EU PM's are accusing the Russian government of abusing the "right of law." Of course, accusing Russia is pointing the finger at Putin...the same Putin who likes the Start agreement (The Russian legislature is still sitting on it). Which once again makes you wonder how much more than us the Russians are getting out of this treaty.

The Answer: 
How many times have you seen the following headline...no matter where the discovery occurs: "Newly discovered human remains change the origins of human history." And there is the this one, "Union Backs Teachers", which is good for everything short of murder. And then we have "Democrats Denounce Bush" which is not that much dissimilar to "Comedians Mock Palin". Does a day go by when we don't see: "Senator Says Earmarks Are Critical for His State." Or an athlete saying "It's Not About the Money". Send some of your winning ideas.

The Big Finale.
Then, there is this headline from last week, which I have never ever seen: "Rhode Island to lose $70 Million in Earmarks."! Kind of incendiary isn't it. Is the local paper trying to encourage rioting in the streets ala Greece, France of London? The RI all Dem congressional delgation wouldn't know what to do if they couldn't rob Peter to pay Paul.

Oh, Rhode Island has sunk to a new low. Spell check keeps on telling me that I have spelled "Rhode" incorrectly. Yikes! I just looked out the window and we are still here.. And, as beautiful as ever.

In today's world, too many "truth's" are illusions.

Be who you are and all you can be.

Today's Tids Issue 2,264

Opening Stuff:

Teens should strive to understand their talents and work to let them develop. Too often great talents, reputations and dreams are lost to meet the visions of parents or forced to be attenuate by other teens. Think about it for a second. Everything a teen has to offer society and reward himself can be lost in a mere four years. Four years as compared to the 60 or 70 years that remain in their lives. Budding actors, artists, scientists or religious leaders don't have to be athletes to succeed or be happy with themselves. Getting hooked on drugs or alternative societal habits is not the road to true friendship. And is often a path to destruction, a demolition of a great talent.

I think I'm in trouble. The top 6 foods for fighting cancer are broccoli, berries, tomatoes, walnuts, garlic and black/navy beans. But then, maybe broccoli sauteed with garlic and crushed walnuts in a pork/rosemary/sage reduction would be bearable. I'll work on it.

Eating potato chips is a lot like drinking Beer. There are few greater taste sensations than that first bottle of beer or two handfuls of potato. The first great taste is never again matched as you compulsively move to the 3rd, 4th and 5th beers or third bowl of chips. You just get drunker and fatter with none of the taste.

The Question: 
Here's a good question that will probably produce great arguments. I found a list of the "Ten Greatest Operas". Name them.

The Headlines:

--Most Of Big Company New Hirings Are Overseas; Trend Expected To Continue And Quash Fast Turn-Around For US Employment.
--Uptick In consumer Confidence Has Markets Opening Hire.
--October Home Price Lower For 4th consecutive Month.
--Radical Muslims Claim Christmas Attacks On Christian Churches In Nigeria That Killed 39.
--Ahmadinejad Says Western Hostility Jeopardized Nuke Discussions.
--Surrogate Delivers Making Elton John And Hubby (Wife?) Parents.

Back to More Stuff:
Harry Ried will say something intelligent before I watch thew new Oprah Wimpfrey Network -- OWN. So far this newwork, with a budget of $189 Million and start-up costs of $110M, has a line up that features regularly Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz, her pal (Whose greatest professional achievement is knowing Oprah) Gayle King, Suzie Ormond and Laura Berner. The network will produce mini specials on some of Oprah's favorite topics -- like "Women in prison". Herself will interview selected biggies like the over done Maya Anjelou.

Speaking of overdone copycat shows how about those "How to redo your house on the cheap" and chef cook-offs?

There's Something Wrong with this Picture Department:
I see where the Prez went out of his way to call the Philadelphia Eagles to praise Michael Vick. Tom Brady of the New Patriots is having one of the truly great years for an NFL quarterback. He broke the record for most consecutive passes without an interception and has masterfully managed the games for the team with the best record in the NFL! And yet no call. Is the 0-Man using the Vick case as an premise for letting all non-violent prisoners out of prison. It wouldn't surprise me.

An eagle eyed reader commenting on the Tids item yesterday about putting away Christmas CD', suggests strongly that it would be wise to get them unpacked as Christmas Music is to be played til New Years Day. Now I'm nervous.

USA Today/Gallup Most Admired Poll: Men -- # 1 for 3rd year is 0-Man (But with Numbers falling) Then we have GW Bush, Clinton, Mandella, Bill Gates, Pope, Billy Graham, Jimmy Carter, Glenn Beck and the Dalai Lama. Women -- Hillary, Sarah, Oprah, Michelle O, Condoleezza, Q Eliz, Joli, Margaret Thatcher, and tied for 10, Burmese Suu Kyi, Laura and Barbara Bush. Get on your knees.

Whole Foods, actually a pretty good store with some great looking meats as well of veggies, cheese and other fresh stuff that has become the holy grail for food Nazis and "Green" gurus, has now added a line of Islamic permitted foods. This will be a new shopping experience.

The Answer:
The genesis for the "Q" was a thought that most people because of movie themes might think that Puccini wrote all of the most beautiful arias. So I was gathering info on many other composers and came across this list. Starting with "Ten" they are Daphne (Peri), Der Freischutz (von Weber), The Barber Of Seville (Rossini), Madame Butterfly Puccini), Don Giovanni (Mozart), La Traviata (Verdi), Der Ring des Nibelungen (Wagner), The marriage of Figaro (Mozart), Carmen (Bizet) and La Boheme (Puccini). The ten greatest composers according to another list starting with #1 are Wagner, Verdi, Mozart, Puccini, Richard Strauss, Rossini, Donizetti, Britten and Gounod.

The End:
A reader suggested the other day that I write an opera based on the Tids. All I need is a good publicist.

When I looked at the football field in Philly as they announced the cancellation of the Sunday Eagles game, I thought that there must be something there that I can't see. But yesterday when I heard former DNC Chairman and Mayor of Philadelphia come out saying we are turning into a nation of whooses, I learned that what I saw was indeeed a modest snow storm that didn't warrant cancellation. A cancellation that took players out of their game rhythm and cut short by two days the vital recuperation time. Political Correctness and and excessive nannyism is sucking the life out of the good ole' US of A!

Inevitability.

Today's Tids 12/27 Issue 2,262
Opening Stuff:

Are libraries destined to become museums for book?

Did you know you can go from poverty to very top without Government assistance? Check it out.

Is the word most dangerous to the future of America as the vast majority want to see it, "inevitability"? It is defined as "Incapable of being avoided, or evaded." It is the mantra for all of those groups who espouse one cause or another -- like legal marijuana, gay marriage, unwanted housing developments, massive wind power projects, veggies instead of pizza at schools. (Socialism?). Groups who only have one cause to promote continuously against a general public opposition where the general public also has to work at another job. A public who may have 100% resistance in their heart but only 10 % of the time needed to fight. Does inevitability mean that we are destined to live in a "Me and her" world as TV and lowest common denominator movies normalize bad and lazy use of language. Yup, evrything is easily inevitable if we give in to relentless pressure, pressure that will never cease. Sorry this took so long. But it was inevitable once I got the rant started.

The Question:
When was "Barbie" introduced to the public? How many Barbies have been produced. In what year did Barbie get a "Belly Button">

The Headlines:

--East Coast Storm Strangles Transportation.
--Stock Markets Expected To Open Lower After China Interest rate Hike.
--New Congress To Get Tougher With Law Breaking Immigrants.
--Bomb Found In Greek Embassy In Italy.
--US Missiles Kill Taliban In Pakistan Hideouts.
--On Line Christmas Buying Up 1,300% To $28 Billion; Brick And Mortar Sales Still Dominant At $458 Bil.

Back to More Stuff:
The latest candidates for capital punishment: Toy and tool packaging designers. Actually, packaging designers in general

In a news report about Nissan's new electric cars, a spokes man for something said the big underlying problem among consumers with all electric cars is the fear of not getting back home. He said "we have to get the government to build and open charging stations." Excuse me! Government? What ever became of business people taking calculated risks? Frankly, I thought I was living in another country when I heard that.

Is the Government take-over of everything inevitable.

It would be like some saying that Facebook is too big and the government should finance a competitor. Hey...wait a minute! The Government already has a social network-- the FBI Most wanted list.

Is partisanship turning the country into a nation of liars...or at least irresponsible researchers of the truth?

As far as I'm concerned, it is not Sunday if you are reading a newspaper without comics.

For my money, the store "Points" card that makes a lot of sense and dollars is the Stop & Shop program (Eastern Supermarket Chain) where points take big bucks off the price per gallon of gas. It is a reduction of 10cents/gal for each 100 points...and it easy to accumulate points. I know one person who found her per gallon cost drop from $3.00 to somewhere around $1.45 saving her $35 on a tank fill-up! Yikes!

The "Do anything at any cost" crowd is demonizing the "Go slow and thing about it" opposition as obstructionists.

Thank God the pannicked lame duck Congress now has to bow to wishes of the majority of Americans who clearly didn't like what they had been doing since 2007.

I vote NBA commish David Stern "Snake-oil salesman of the decade."

The Answer:
Barbie was introduced to mainly skeptical toy store buyers at the 1959 Toy Show. It rolled out to consumers in 1960 and has since sold 350 Million. It took forty years until 200 until barbie got a belly Button. Barbie and Ken were the names of founder Ruth Handler's children. Handler saw that her daughter Barbara had graduated from baby dolls to outfighting paper dolls. She thought that a 3-D "paper Doll" would be a winner. So I guess the only question that remains is: "Is it an innie or an outie?"

The End:
Yesterday 12/26/2010 at 9:11:37AM I put away my collection of Christmas music CD's for another year.

Alleluia, Alleluia!

Today's Tids Issue 2,261

Christmas Eve, 2010

The only Stuff:

"Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?"

Linus walks slowly to the center of the stage next to the scrawny little Christmas Tree, looks up at Charlie Brown, pauses and reads:

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, an Angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round them: And they were afraid. And the Angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tilings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign to you: Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God, and saying 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men'."

"That's what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown."

"Peace, Good will toward men." That's the gift. That's the gift that doesn't ring cash registers but rings loudly in the hearts of all good humans on this earth.

Merry Christmas Everybody!

Christmas is a Christian holiday.

Today's Tids Issue 2,260
Opening Stuff:

You have to love LA Laker's coach Phil Jackson who observed yesterday that the proliferation of NBA games on Christmas day is watering down an important Christian holiday.

Be sure to check our Tids Christmas Bonus Issue Special, "Eating Tips For The Christmas Holidays", at the bottom of Today's Tids. (Thanks to another of our thoughtful readers for sending it along.)

The Editor of "Shoe's" Tree-Tops Tattler writes that 99% of politicians are making the rest of them look bad!

If the stage show Mama-Mia comes to your area be sure to see it. You may have seen the movie. The show is five times better and will have you dancing in the aisles and leaving the theater with your heart apumpin' and and a huge smile on your face. This is a Tids Guarantee!

The Question:
Did you know that America has a "Stroke Belt" (as in debilitating attack on brain)? Name the states. What do scientists think is the cause? What is the irony here?

The Headlines:

--North and South Korea Continue To Play "Chicken".
--Consumer Confidence Rises; Stocks Edge Up.
--Package Bombs Explode In Swiss And Chile Embassies In Rome.
--Latest California Storms Contaminating Water, Fouling Beaches.
--Medvedev Hails Start Approval; Russia Legislature Says they Will Take Their Time To Understand It! Say What?
--Chicagoans Shudder As Emanual Is Ok's For Mayoral Run.
--Abbott Labs Recalls Millions Of Diabetes Testing Strips.
--Congress has Left The Stage; Nothing Can Happen To Us Til Next Year.

Back to More Stuff:
Is Security in the Crapper Because of Clapper Department:
So, did you see the "Duh!" moment when the Chief Intelligence officer of the US of A, James Clapper, was asked by Diane Sawyer his opinion of the Terrorist roundup in London and how it may affect the US. His eyes went totally blank and he uttered London? Before an admin cohort on the same panel jumped in to cover him. Of course, what is worse is that the White House spin machine immediately responded saying he knew everything about London, but that Sawyers question was confusing. Oh yeah. Then in the afternoon the Clapper (gum)flappers came out to say that he had no clue whatsoever about the important London roundup. God save us from our Government.

The season is winding down, but the pickin' pressure isn't. How about that New Orleans-Atlanta Game. Last years surprise Superbowl winner versus this year's NFC wonder team. Then there is the all-of-a-sudden improving Tenn versus KC -- Pride versus Hardware. Buffalo is playing as well as anybody, and knocking off NE would make their season. Green Bay and the Giants both need to snap back from bad losses. Will a Jets win against Chi put Rex Ryan back on good "Footing"? Then there are two teams that must win to make the playoffs -- Indy and Oakland at Oakland. Lets start with the so-called easier appearing picks: Pitt, Dallas, St. Lou, Balt, Det, Jax, Houston, SD, TB and Philly. Now... I go with my heart and pick the Pats. Then we pick KC,Chi, Oakland, Green Bay and ...and ...Atlanta. Last week's 11-5 brings us to 152-71 (68%),

The headline reads: "Tax Cuts will stimulate economy". Excuse me, but taxes next year are the same as last year and this year. There are no tax cuts. Now if it was a headline about dissolving the Bush tax cuts, a headline could properly read, "Absence of Bush tax Cuts will depress economy." Do I have to do everything for these "journalists"?

Then there is all of this acclaim by media fawners for the "Great work of Congress" during this Lame Duck session...and how strong 0-Man has been getting it all through. Everything they have done could have been done three to 12 months ago. The fact remains that they are just a gutless crowd who were scared to death of doing what they just did before the elections. Now that they are losers, it is full steam ahead. The public be damned. The passed Pelosi-Palooza without reading it and now they are passing a myriad of bills based mainly on political expediency without taking the time to gain appropriate knowledge and understanding,. The November elections were not about empowering Lame Ducks!

A lame duck Congress is more like a crowd of Canadian Geese depositing their gifts on golf courses. Step lightly!

Pretty in Pink Department:
A political observer suggests that we have gone from "Don't ask, Don't tell" to "Show and Tell".

Rex Ryan really has his foot in his mouth this time!

I never knew who the man was at the time, but Fred Foy who died yesterday at 86 was a major influence on my young life. He was the voice who imprinted the magical "Hi-Yo Silver on the minds of an entire population in the 1940's.

I'd like to see more people in their 90's in Obits and fewer in their 70's and early 80's.

I find that the quickest way to be loved in a crowd of liberals is to tell a Sarah Palin joke. It will bring on many an elitist guffaw and appreciative smiles in your direction. They just love to look down on people they don't understand.

As an avid and thorough reader of the Tids, I find that the Tids reporters are way ahead of other news opine-ers on most of the key issues.

It is essential that Mac-Cheese casseroles have cheese oozing over the side and burnt on top.

The Answer:
The states are North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas and Louisiana. Scientists asay the reason may be that the poeople in these sates eat Fried Fish two times a week. Of course, it is ironic that scientists also say that eating these same fish -- key sources of omega-3 fatty acids -- can reduce the risk of Stroke and Heart Attack! I may have to do a special Tids investigative report. Like what is the stroke rate in England where you can but fish and chips on every corner!

The Gift:
Tomorrow will be my usual short Christmas message. The one that everybody should be thinking about all of the time. I unwrap my Christmas present every morning of every day when I think about all of you who relinquished any sense of self esteem by allowing this crap to arrive in your email every day. I love writing for you all, and maybe even giving you a little knowledge, a few laughs and moral support as we face the perplexities of the world. But, frankly, I think we all feel pretty good about this great planet earth and especially the amazingly wonderful and caring people we meet every day. Thanks for listening. -- The management.

Christmas Bonus Special:

Eating Tips for the Christmas Holidays
1. Avoid carrot and/or celery sticks. Anyone who puts them on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see them, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.
2. Drink as much eggnog as you can and quickly. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an "eggnog-aholic" or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it!!!! Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!
3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not come alone. Pour it on everything. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano.
4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.
5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it.
6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that jug of eggnog.
7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like lobster tails in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.
8. Same for pies. Apple, pumpkin and mincemeat - have a slice of each. Or, if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert?Thanksgiving???
9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but attack it at all cost. I mean you've crossed over the edge by now,who cares!!!
10. One final tip: If you don't feel bloated when you leave the party, you haven't been paying attention. Reread tips: Start over, but hurry it's almost CHRISTMAS!

I am trying to be nice, Santa.

Today's Tids Issue 2,259

Opening Stuff:

The Christmas season starts to get serious beginning today. Anybody have any good ideas for gifts?

In honor of the Christmas Spirit, I will discontinue any discussion about politics. In fact, politics is probably as far away from the true meaning of Christmas as you can get. Actually, when a politician says he or she is doing something for us in the "Spirit of Christmas", it is probably a good idea for taxpayers and honest people to duck and cover. Realistically, it is probably impossible to stay away from mentioning politics. So I lied. I wasn't expecting anything from Santa anyhow.

Is Santa Claus of today more generous...or are parents of today just leaving bigger tips?

The Question:
Christmas Double Special: 1.Give me five different names for the lovable gent who rides in a sleigh drawn by reindeer and slides down chimney's with a sack full of gifts. 2. Name the 7 states with an eight digit population. The 7 under a million. The states that will lose congressional seats.

The Headlines;

--Drenched California Awaits Even Bigger Storms.
--South Korea Holds Massive Military Drills; Warns North Korea To Stifle It Or Else.
--Mortgage Apps Drop To Lowest Level In year.
--Investors Enter 2011 Riding the Bull.
--Start Vote Set For Today.
--Insurance Industry Says The Kia, Hyundai And Volkswagen/Audi Have Most Safest Cars (9); GM , Ford And Toyota Next With 8; Next In Line With 4 Are Chrysler, Subaru, Volvo, Mercedes..
--Chevy Volt's Millage Claims In Doubt.
--RI Manufacturing Association Files Legal Paper Against Wind Power Company; Says Double The KW Costs Plus Guaranteed 3.5% Annual Increase Would Drive Businesses Out Of State.

Back to More Stuff:

What kind of name is "The Edge"? After the disasters at the big Broadway spectacular Spiderman, this co-producer along with Bono should legally change his first name to "Living on".

What kind of name is Bono?

I predict next year that Bret Farve will sign with the Washing Redskins after the loony Dan Schnyder promises to get get Congress to erect a Potomac River Bridge named after BF.

Have you noticed that when you say "BF" fast it sounds just like "BS"?

And then there are the UConn Women. Talk about team play and hustle. Maybe that's why John Wooden's grandson Greg who attended the game that broke Wooden's record said: "He would have been thrilled. He would have been absolutely thrilled to see his record broken by a women's basketball team. He (John Wooden) thought that in the past ten years the best basketball was played at the collegiate level -- and it wasn't by the men." Of course there are the louts who say it really isn't a record because it was women, and they had no competition. Forgetting that in the UCLA era there weren't many men's teams with the all-star power of the Bruins.

Reading between the Lines Movie Reviews
--Critics are loving True Grit out today just in time for Christmas. I sense that some of this has to do with the fact that most critics adore the Coen brothers. But, this movie about a 14 year old girl hiring a wahed up Marshall, Rooster Cogburn, to track down and kill the murderer of her father is well done. The best acting is by Matt Damon as a Texas Ranger hunting down Rooster and Hallie Steinfeld as the 14 yo. Mattie. In fact she may steal the show, Jeff Bridges is Ok, but somewhat flawed, a little over the top, as Rooster.
--I thought the original Meet the Parents was a one joke movie. I didn't like Meet the Fockers and Little Fockers is a step below that, relying on cheap gags and lowest common denominator humor. You won't see me there even if the popcorn is good.

This is kind of scary for the future of our military. 1 in 4 successful applicants can't pass the entrance exam. Questions are like "2 + X = 4. Find X?" Even more discouraging is that 75% of potential applicants can't pass muster to get to the testing phase because they are either physically unfit, have criminal records or no high school diploma. Those who can't get in become college student athletes.

The new Food Safety Bill signed yesterday looks like another license to steal for Personal Injury and Class Action Lawyers.

And, the immediate effect with all of the added paper work and government compliance tests will be a significant rise in already to high food prices.

Interesting in this lunatic, rush to madness Lame Duck session is how so many Repubs break ranks on some disputed votes. In the two years previous, did you ever see Dems breaking ranks for the good of the people? Of course this is a bit of a concern. Will Repubs acquiesce to Dems as they did in the early 2000's, and thereby defeat the entire  idea behind the 20101 elections.

And how appropriate is that name "Lame Duck"? The attention to detail is "Lame" at best, and anything that passes under these constricting pressures should have taxpayers ducking.

The Answer:
1. Santa is one of the best known figures throughout a sometimes discontented world. He is known as Saint Nicolas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle and Father Christmas. In China he is Dun Che Lao ren (Christmas Old man), France - Pere Noel, Germany - Weinachtsmann, Hawaii - Kanakaloka, Iran (Yes Iran) - Baba Noel, Ireland - Daidi na Nollaig (Old Leprechaun Bearing Bailouts From EU), Norway Julinissen and Poland Sweity Mikolai (Saint Nicholas). 2. California at 37,254,000Mil is the biggest by far, and that doesn't include a couple of million illegals. Next is Texas at a huge illegal-less 25 mil. The rest of thebiggest are New York (19.4 M), Florida creeping up on NY (18.8), Illinois (12.8), Penn (12.7) and Ohio (11.4). The under a mill are Wyoming (563K), VT, ND, Alaska, SD, Delaware and Montana (9989). Ri is a smidge over a mil and after Michigan (The only pop loser) had the smallest increase. States that lost seats are Ill, Iowa, Lousianna, Mass, Mich, Mo, NY, NY, Ohio and Pa. Heavily Republican Texas gained a huge 4 seats.

The End:
I don't know about you, but I'm wrapping stocking-stuffers today. I'll probably have to take a nap.

Is anything left?

Today's Tids Issue 2,258
Opening Stuff

In about 7 hours or so it will be officially Winter. So what has the past several weeks been anyhow? Oh well, Happy Winter everybody. The good news is that days will be getting longer as the sun angles move back towards summer mode. Feeling Warmer yet?

It appears now as though the retention of the Bush tax cuts will just about cover the cost of rising gas prices!

A financial guy defines Apple as "always looking like a start-up". What a great philosophy for all businesses, many who often find the world passing them by as they stay too long with products that once made them great and profitable. Especially in today's global business world with wild eyed technological change.

Just for the record, I'm all for fifteen year old sailor Laura Dekker and her attempt to sail around the world single handed. The global nannies want to stop this talented expert sailor from doing what she is quite capable of doing very well. As an old football player and lover of every minute getting beat to a pulp, the gravitation to soccer bothers me. Not because it isn't a fine sport but because the main motivation appears to be seeking a safe harbor. Or maybe, for sop me globalists, a desire to look less like an American. What's next...taking sticks away from field hockey players? Let's get tough again. Let's stay proud.

Daily Question: Double fun day! 1. In the Tids continuing effort to remember past heroes and the famous of yore who may beccome lost in the morass that is today's proliferation of celebrities real and imagined, here's today's "Q" about WWII. Name the five top generals. 2. Which countries had the most soldiers and civilian deaths in that great war?

Today's Headlines:
--Year End Stock Rally Picks Up A Little Mo.
--Newport RI Now Atop List For next "America's Cup" Challenge.
--Fight Continues In Senate Over Start treaty.
--Iraqi Lawmakers Approve New Gov; Could be Unsettled As Second Place Vote Getter al-Maliki Heads Government Over Winner Sunni Allawi.
--TD Bank to Buy Chrysler Financial For 6.3Bil.
--Spain Raises $5.8 bil In Strong Debt Sale; Portugal Downgraded.

The Dems are still trying to tell people that the retention of Bush taxes is the government giving the folks money! Taxes are always the people giving the Government money. The government creates no money. It has no money unless it intimidates earners in to giving.

Rep Peter King, New Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee announced today that his group will get beyond political correctness and get to the bottom of this homegrown Muslim terrorist problem. Refreshing.

I was thinking yesterday that the "French Onion Soup" formular could be reapplied to other tasty combos. One I have in mind is rich chickeny soup with rice (or orzo) and escarole with a piece of thick toasted Italian bread and lots of Parmesan cheese on top. Broil it in a crock just like FOS. Then I'm thinking how my favorirte sandwich, French Dip, could be transformed into a Danish Dip with ham and melted Danish (Or Swiss) cheese and bowl of homemade chicken broth for dipping. Sounds real good to me.

I was talking to someone about cooking, and we agreed that if you load a skillet with flavors you like, it 's pretty tough to go wrong.

The more I read or hear the words of Chafee-Lite, the more I feel that Rhode Island is doomed.

Media Bias is Sneaky department:
The Providence Journal editorial writers never met a democrat they didn't like regardless of merit. But I saw a little item I thought went a little too far. It was a rather inoccuous story about Christmas shopping. It focused on traffic, and lots of people scurrying. How they acted and what they bought. In a bookstore, the "reporter" noted the most popular books, Steven King for fiction and the overwhelming non-fiction best seller, the Bush bio. But then, he had to add derogatorily "Even though it was panned by critics."

Leslie Vonn won female Athlete of the year, but the marvelous UConn Basketball player Maya Moore came in but third...losing out to a "Horse". How sanctimonious are these sports writers becoming? A horse. Give me a break.

Quiz Answer: The first names that come to mind are "Ike", General/President Eisenhower, Douglas MacArthur, George Patten, Omar Bradley and George Marshall. !'m sure many of you have your own favorites. 2. The US death total was relatively minute when compared to the millions lost in Russia and China. Indonesia was third and Poland was fourth.

This is one of those mornings when I read a headline and my generous Christmas spirit evaporated as I chuckled in glee at the anguish of PETA members after reading "State looks to hunters in their efforts to reduce bothersome expanding deer herds."

Look for the beating heart.

Today's Tids Issue 2,257

Opening Stuff:

Every state probably has a town somewhere like Burrillville RI. A town that most people can't find and when they get there can't find thir way home. It is a huge area, and I suspect these days it can be easily found You just have to look for the warmth rising from its heart. A 6th grade girl named Amy Simpson noticed more people than usual around town shivering in the freezing cold. She rallied her fellow students, her teachers and ran around town with homemade posters urging people to bring coats. She personally called businesses. They responded as did hundreds around this pleasant rural community. There are lots of good stories around this time of year. But, I like this one of people helping people because they care. Because they feel it in their hearts.

Staying Young Department:
Take a piece of advice from Lucy Liu: "I try to believe like I believed when I was five...when your heart tells you everything you need to know."

How many times does a person have to iterate before it becomes reiterate?

The Question:
Based upon how often they are requested for play on the radio, what do you think are the top five Christmas Carols?

The Headlines:

--Senate Passes Interim Budget Bill Until March.
--North Korea Renegs On Threats--Stocks Up early.
--12 Men Arrested In UK In Terrorist Threat Roundup; Rumors Continue About Christmas Attacks in US.
--Dream Act Dead; Repubs Pushing To Delay New Start Til Next Session.
--UCOnn Women B-Ballers Destroy Ohio State To Tie Wooden/UCLA Record.
--Formation Of New Iraq Gov. Still A Mess.
--Record Setting Rain Lashed Cal; Experts Say Worst yet To Come.
--New Census Data Expwected To Empower Republicans; Repubs Could Gain In Electoral College Before 0-Man's next Try.

Back to More Stuff:
La Vigilia or the Feast of the 7 Fishes is one of those wonderful Italian Christmas family traditions. Being a fish lover, I always thought they had a pretty good idea. so I decided to look up some of the favorite combinations of our friendly goodies from the sea. Ok, all star chef Mario Batali suggests clams with oregano and bread crumbs, marinated fresh anchovies, Linguine with clams, spaghetti with muscles, salt cod with tomatoes and capers, jumbo shrimp Marsala, eel with olives, chiles and capers and broccoli sauteed in wine and garlic. Another menu features stuffed calamari, deep fried oysters, marinated eel, marinated shrimp and fennel over penne, whiting, baccala and oyster shooters. Almost all meals will include some of these: Scungilli (Snail salad), anchovies, sardines, dried salt cod, smelts, eels, squid, shrimp, mussels an d clams. Of course, lobster, tuna and crab are always welcome. Happy Vigilia di Natale!

Some choirs sing the Alleluia Chorus much to fast...losing some of its majesty.

The "average" Major League Baseball salary is an eye-popping $3,000,000. For the Boston Red Sox it is $.8 Mil and for that team in the Bronx it is $7,000,000. The average salary for NBA Basketball Players is $5.4 Million! Sounds like a good college major to me.

With the announcement by the admin for an updated version of "Duck & Cover", I'm expecting the prices of all of those homes with 50's style bomb shelters in the back yard to soar! And then there is Hillary calling for 5,000 more diplomats when we should be investing in a new missile defense system. If this new scare tactic from the WH has some foundation. Hey, I was happy until the Admin started crying "Nuke". Is this subtle suggestion supposed to frighten people into pushing teir Reps to pass Start?

The Pacific Rim is one nervous Korean finger away from a regional war.

The "Have's" and "Have Not's" in NCAA women's basketball today is about where it was for the men 30 years ago. But the pipeline is filling up.

In order not to aggravate or equivocate should we just abrogate or abdicate and acclimate reiterate in favor of iterate? Or contemplate a bifurcate. I'll cogitate before I obfuscate.

The congregation rose for the Pledge of America because they Stood for America.

RI's Governor-elect Chafee-Lite had a big budget summit with the usual characters -- social services organizations, businesses, assorted other interested parties and George Ney, President of the RI ALF/CIO. Now as far as I can see, the only thing that newy could contribute is to stand up and say Public Employee Unions are unconstitutional. You laugh, but last night the 60 Mins story about the imminent fall of several states (Because George there just isn't any more money!) painted a grizzly picture of a system that isn't working. States have robbed "Green" funds, cigarette law suit cash, stimulus money to keep overpaying for services that the taxpayer can no longer afford. This is not your father's rob Peter to pay Paul accounting system.

Have you heard about the 99'ers Union? This is a Union organizing people who don't work. Where have you gone America?

Margaret Thatcher called public employee unions "The Enemy Within."

The Answer: 
Number on eis The Christmas Songs (Chestnuts roasting et. al.). Then we get Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Winter Wonderland and White Christmas. The next five are Let it Snow, Rudolph, jingle bell rock, I'll Be Home...and the favorite of grtammar school songfests Little Drummer Boy. Ny two favorites on this list of 25 are #16 Silent Night and #21 We Wish You A Merry Christmas. The three least favorites are Good King Wenceslas, Here we Come A Wassaling and the teeth grating Up on the Housetop.


I'm sure some of you in other states feel that nothing any where else can be as bad as your distressing bad government (Like the beaten down residents of 0-

The light outshines evil.

Today's Tids Issue 2,256
Opening Stuff:

Mother of soldier killed in Afghanistan: "God thought so much of my son that he made him a hero."

There's Always Something Department:
A new Government report says that Hybrids are dangerous because they are too quiet. And, Congress is going to do something about it. Let's see...playing cards attached to spokes with clothespins?

Retail sales are up, but it would be smarter to look at retail activity in Jan and Feb when those credit card bills arrive. November and December activity seems to have Clueless Lane stock promoters getting over excited about a "Possible new record for the DOW"! EU's troubles are far from being stabilized. And the US debt isn't getting smaller...yet.

The key to success in Europe is probably going to be the patience of Germany's taxpayers. They are getting very upset, it is being reported, about bailing out some of the loser countries in the EU. "Enough" is the new cry emerging there, and Merkl is listening.

The Question:
It was about thirty five years ago when the Government was finishing up sentencing of Charles Manson's associates in evil. Name five.

The Headlines:

--139 Dems Join 138 Repubs To Send Bill That Would Allow All Citizens To Continue Keeping More Of Their Own Money To Prez For Friday Signature.
--Senate Democrats Abruptly Abandon Giant $1.1 Trillion Omnibus Bill As Repubs Get Religion About Reducing Earmarks; One Page Bill Will Extend Current Stop-Gap Bill For Two Months.
--Markets Look To Open Flat; Oracle Could Surge On News Of Much Better Than Expected Revenue And Profits That Beat Forecasts.
--North Korea Says South Korea Should Stop Firing Exercises; Threatens Nuclear Effort If War Begins.
--Insider Traders Who Leaked Apple I-Phone Secret "K48 Project" Nabbed By Feds.
--Ireland Credit Downgraded.
--Snow Expected For Sunday Night Patriot's Game With Green Bay.

Back to More Stuff:
Warning: Do not enter these stores! A new list of America's Healthiest Supermarket has been compiled by a consensus of 6 health experts: The ten are Whole Foods, Safeway, Harris Teeter, Trader Joes, Hannaford, Albertsons, Food Lion, Publix, Pathmark and Super Target. In case you inadvertently wander into one of these stores email the Tids immediately! I have actually been in many and I can quickly direct you to the Cheetos, Potato chips, prepared foods with gravy, sausage and white bread aisles! Don't panic.

How can there be a shortage of ingredients for lethal injections when there is only about 2-3 executions a year?


Kate Winslet once observed, "Life is short and it is here to be lived...there's more to life than cheekbones." I think there is something deep in there.

I was going to have a cheerier bonus "Q" about Blake Edward''s movies. But by now everybody probably knows that he is best known for "Breakfast at Tiffany's", The Pink Panther series, "War of the Roses" and "Ten".

Maybe the UAR should just buy the Euro Zone. If you can afford $11 Million, solid gold ornamented Christmas Trees, how much is going to set you back buying a depressed Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Italy and Spain?

The NEA has to learn that more money doesn't make you smarter. In fact the giant lobbying operation could save money by ridding itself of overpaid theorists and getting some people who know how to get things done.

Michael Vick said the other day, "I can't control what people talk about, but I can make sure I do all the right things." So far, he's doing all the right things.

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:
--I have already reviewed two movies that go into broader distribution today -- The Fighter and Black Swan. Both are worth your time.
--How Do You Know is another romantic comedy that will do ok and should be enjoyable. Nicholson fans will flock to it as they always do. It will brings smiles, this tale about a woman softball player torn between two romantic interests -- An egotistical basball player and a quiet man who just happens to be the heir to dad's (Nicholson) Wall Street Investment firm. It goes through all of the usual scenarios of romantic comedies, but is better than average.
--Yogi Bear will bring back fond memories to oldsters (Hey BooBoo!) but will probably disappoint newbies who barely know the grizzly.
--Tron: Legacy will draw Tron lovers but the plot is thin.
--Today's Special is about a star quality young chef ready to move up by going to school in Paris only to learn that his dad has had a heart attack and he has to take over the family Tandoori restaurant. Unfortunately the chef son has never cooked Indian food. Things change when a cabbie -- who claims to have cooked for Indira Ghandi -- walks in. And it even changes for the better when a female friend becomes more than just a friend. Great characters and a warm pleasant tale.

The AP's Top Sports Stories of the year are Tiger, Saints, LeBron and Free Agency, World Cup, Giants World Series win, NFL concussions, Jimmie Johnson's 5th straight NASCAR title, Brett somebody, UConn Women BB and the death of the great John Wooden.

The Answer:
The despicable family included Susan Atkins, Leslie Van Houton, Squeaky Fromme, Patricia Krenwinkle, Michael Monfort, James Craig, Priscilla Cooper, Nancy Pittman, Mary Brunner, Linda Kasabian, Steven Grogan, Laurence Merric, Robert Beausoleil. Sadly, while in jail Manson had received over 60,000 letters, many of whom wanted to join the "Family". Check your neighbor.

The (Week End:
Isn't nice to see as the beautiful Christmas season arrives that there is much more innate good in the world than the over publicized infamous evil of a few.

I'm hating the fact that too many Pat's games are on in prime-time. Too late!

A crush on life.

Today's Tids Issue 2,255

Opening Stuff:

I was watching "Criminal Minds" last night at am now firmly convinced that I'm not a psychopath...despite what you may feel when reading the Tids. In fact, I'm am probably the polar opposite, a heart on the sleeve romantic fool.

Bob Feller was a bigger than life super hero to kids in the 40's and 50's. I still feel the same. Enjoy your new aura Rapid Robert,

The Question:
There are many, many great classical composers, but this one born 240 years ago today did more to transform music from pleasantly tedious to powerfully beautiful. Who was he and what are his best known works and how much did he write?

The Headlines:

--Today Is "V" Day In The House On Bill Allowing Americans To Retain Their Money Instead Of Forking It Over To Bureaucrats To Waste And Congress People To Earmark.
--Markets Down On Mixed Economic Data.
--UK Upholds Decision To Grant Bail To Assange.
--Admin Says That Despite How Bad Things Look, US Making Progress In Afghan.
--Foreclosures Tumble.
--IRS Audits Up 11%; Enforcement Revenue Topped $57 Billion.
--Euro Rolling Debt Crisis Said To Be Systemic.

Back to More Stuff:
We have a government that could probably rid itself of several hundred departments and agencies, many dating back to FDR. And then yesterday we get more evidence of how quickly givernment can become bloated when we see Hillary stand up there saying that she needs about...get this...5,000 more people in her State Department. Is anybody listening?

Hope for the Future Department:
A reader writes to tell me that yesterday her six year old son came up to her and asked, "Do you believe that Michelle Obama was on the Disney Channel?" My friend asked her son what he thought about it. "Weird", was his answer.

Or maybe not...Maybe the problems that seem to be inherent in the education system are actually the result of extreme arrogance of the Educational elite. I give you this example of an educational recruiter telling the citizens of Claremont NH why it will be tough to get a good person for their Superintendent job. Zimmerman, a former Super himself said, "It is easy to search in a wealthy community that has children who come from an extraordinarily talented gene pool. By comparison, Claremont has poor people, poor children and disorientation in the family and the community." So lets hope his saying that basically we have to give up on communities where teaching is more difficult isn't in the hearts of all educators. Or else there is no future for all children. Idiot.

Unfortunately, the European protesters are complaining about a reduction in salaries and wages that were never economically viable in the first place. Of course, over here in America the experts are looking for a rebound in housing to lead the recovery...forgetting that the giant housing industry of 3 years was also not economically viable. So I guess the big idea is to forget the mistakes of history.

Word is out that next year the new Republican led Congress will bring Freddie and Fannie back into the picture as the real culprets that led to the recession. Stay tuned and watch Barney bluster.

With a 13-3 scorecard last week, I felt good about going into this weekend until I took a look at some of the games. Will our 141-66 (68%) record suffer a concussion with posers like huge games Indy-Jax, Eagkes-Jints and NO-Balt. And then there are the toss ups Buff-Miami, Cleve-Cinn, KC-St. Lou, Hous-Tenn, Det-TB and yes the desperate Jets against a better Pitt team. Also, there is red hot New England who goes against the points agianst best defense in the league, Green Bay! Well, first I'm doing my homer thing, especially since NE has already beaten all of the other so-called best "D"s". Then I pick the, ahem, easy games Chi over Minn, Atlanta over Seattle, Oak over Den, Dallas over Wash and Carolina over Arizona. I can't put it off any longer. here goes: Pitt, St. Louis, Tenn (Mario Williams out), TB, Buff, Indy, Balt. I love Philly but I have to go with the Giants. And...in that classic interstate Ohio war I'm picking Cleveland. This could be a disaster week.

Everybody is hailing yesterday's big meeting between our socialist President and big business. Basically what I have heard is that Business iterated in the meeting what they have been saying for two years now: We don't know where you are going, we don't trust where you are going based on what we know now, so have been keeping our cash on the sideline. Prove to us that something is changing.

The worst states for retirees are Nevada, Mich, Alaska, SC, Maryland, Tenn, Ohio, NC, Missouri and Arkansas. Not far behind are NE states RI, Conn and Mass -- Nice places to live if you can stand the taxes. In fact, the 10 states with highest cost of living in the 3rd quarter are Hawaii, Alaska, Cal, NJ, NY,Conn, RI Maryland, Vermont and New Hampshire. Illinois was considered the state in the most fiscal peril. The others are Arizona, Fla, Cal, Ill, Mich, Nevada, NJ. Oregon. RI and Wisc. Of course, if you can't afford to move then you are stuck where you are. So stop reading "Best of" polls and have a drink!

Is strong coffee heavier than average coffee?

How Newspapers create hysteria department:
A story reporting on the US Gov. lawsuit against private biz BP is accompanied by a large photo of one of the seven or eight birds found covered with oil. Hell it may be the only bird covered with oil. But the media loves it so much they have tried to make the symbol if the accident by showing it over and over again.

The Answer:
If you listen to Ludwig Von Beethoven's first symphony, it is not noticeably different than that of Mozart, Hayden and other previous composers of the day. But from there on, it is a magical transformation into what eventually became know as the Romantic period. The first Symphony I ever bought way back when was his 7th, and I like it even better today. Of course he is known for his wonderful Ninth, Eroica, Fifth, Mass, amazing piano concertos and rousing overtures. In all he write nine symphines, five piano concertos (6 including the choral), 32 piano sonatas, 10 violin sonatas, 5 cello sonatas, one french horn, 2 masses, 16 string quartets and numerous other quintets and trios for various instruments. He wrote one opera "Fidelio" many lieds (Songs) and several other concerti and many pieces of occasional music. He was a helluva guy.

The End: Big
It's easy to get down, but it's much more fun to stay up!

Beware of organized movements.

Today's Tids Issue 2,254
Opening Stuff:

Usually I grouse about the way things seem to get overdone in our culture. But, I have to say that performances by these Pop-Up singing groups in public places are refreshingly uplifting this Christmas Season.

There is nothing new about the Medical marijuana ploy. Back in prohibition days Beer and Whiskey makers had laws passed that authorized the use of certain products like Narragansett Dark Porter as medicinal. Doctors hailed the move for much the same reason that many don't like the new healthcare bill -- they didn't like the government telling them how to care for patients! Nothing ever changes when bureaucratic minds are a continuing part of the process.

A reader commenting to someone's observation about newly descovered defects in Rep Boehner's psycological stability writes: "Could we agree that after seeing the 1,900+ page bill the house came up with to keep the government funded yesterday which includes a reported 6,000 earmarks in it. It shows from both sides of the aisle that these politicians in Washington are either confused about the message they got from the American people on November 2nd or they all have psychological or chemical abuse problems? I don't think we need to focus on just one of the 545 here. They all have to stop the needless, reckless, debt and deficit-continuing spending."

As might be expected, a "Letter to the Editor" complained about the mention of Christ in the just completed "Rockettes Christmas" Performance in Providence. The good news is that several letters have been printed telling the complainer that if she sees the word "Christmas" in the title of a Production, maybe she shouldn't go. But then, when was the last time liberals used common sense?

The Question:
When was the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame created? Who was the first class?

The Headlines:

--Arrests Imminent In Massive Justice Department Insider Trading Investigation.
--Local Economic Indicators Say RI Headed For Double-Dip Recession.
--"Time" Names Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg "Person Of the Year".
--Neil Diamond, Alice Cooper, Darlene Love Along With Dr. John And Tom Waits Named To Rock And Roll Hall Of fame.
--Economy Based Riots Continue In Greece, Italy And Britain.

Back to More Stuff:
While nobody was looking, Yale University has moved to the top of the NCAA men's hockey rankings. I remember clearly when the Ivies were at the top in most sports including Big Time Football. Where have you gone Dick Kazmaier?

The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee could easily be the next hot SUV. The new version is a great ride with all of the creatures comforts of SUV's costing $20.000 more.

How smart is chocolate and fattening things maker Nestle' Corporation? They have announced their intent to buy weight loss company Jennie Craig. "Eat chocolate! Lose weight! We got you. Do you get a $10 gift certificate for Jennie with every Nestle' Crunch"?

I hate it when you tune into the middle of a radio, and sometimes TV, news report interview and it never ends with the host or interviewer saying "That was ....".

I'm starting to see commercials for the beginning of the 2011 American Idol program. That was normally accompanied by commercials for "24". No more, and the obvious vacuum now just seems that much greater. I'm depressed. I'll have to find some hwo wants to watch reruns with me.

The Qatar World Soccer Cup could really get ugly if athletes are found drinking and homosexuals are caught having sex in that strict Muslim land!

It has become apparent that cigarette companies, all legal business entities, can be sued by just about anybody for anything! And...they will probably lose.

So, after that well dries up for lawyers, is it going to be skinny people suing happy people? Are the anti-overweight bigots the sons and daughters of Carrie Nation? Beware of what you wish for.

We should get more because we're Green Department:
People continue to merrily tout the promise of the big, ocean wind power projects up here -- Deep Wind (RI0 and Cape Wind (MA). But the fact that their energy prices are more than double that of current systems hasn't blinded the businesses here. Energy costs have for years put New England states at a competitive disadvantage in luring companies with good paying jobs. So the Pols and the "Green" supporters can pat themselves on the back at cocktail parties while the blue collar people across town leave for good jobs in other states.

The Answer:
Cleveland was selected for the Hall of Fame location in 1983 ostensibly becasue of Clevelander Alan Freed, the first big national promoter of the Genre. (I listened to Freed every night while doing my homework while parents shouted "How can you study while listening to that crap". "Maresy dotes," I replied!) The first inductees were James Brown, Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Fats Domino, Ray Charles, Chuck Berry, Sam Cooke, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee Lewis. I saw Chuck Berry live in a sweaty performance in Mobile Alabama in 1957. Blacks were Ok down there as long as they entertained the good ole' boys. And, believe me, they didn't call them blacks then. My favorite of that gorup was Fats and some things by Berry, Richard and Charles. My least favorite by far was Elvis.

The End:
You have to figure that Time named Zuckerberg Person of the Year hoping it might induce h

Awaiting the newly embolden.

Today's Tids Issue 2,253
Opening Stuff:

I think I'll decorate my tree today. It's about time to get that ole Christmas Buzz goin'. Even for an old curmudgeon. LaLa La... with bows of Holly...lala lala la la la lala...

It seems to me that I'm hearing more people say Merry Christmas this year. Or maybe hope has just overcome reality.

There's a growing faction that is saying taking a closer look at the proposed Start Treaty is a good idea. It's not about Russia at all. It's about modernizing current US nuke capabilities and Missile Defense systems (Which the 0-Crowd considers relatively unimportant in general) to be agile against rogue states including Iran and North Korea. You may be hearing more about this as the "No" gang is a lot bigger than Senator Kye.

The Question:
Dick Van Dyke just keeps on abubblin' along. He has a pretty great resume. Name his best movies and TV roles.

The Headlines:

--Virginia Federal Judge Rules Buying Mandate Part Of Pelosi-Palooza Unconstitutional; Admin Expects Long Legal Battle.
--Retail Sales Stronger Than Expected; Stocks Up.
--CEO Round-table Sees Stronger Economy
--Brown U. Grad, US Diplomat For All Dem Presidents Beginning With Kennedy, Richard Holbrooke Dead At 69; Remembered As Peacemaker In Boznian Wars.
--New Education Poll Shows That Americans Overwhelmingly See Need To Create Mechanism to Fire Bad Teachers.
--Cliff Lee Nixes Ya-Ya-Ya,,,(WYKWIM)... For $50 Million Less To Play For Phillies.
--British Film "Kings Speech" Picks Up Most Golden Globe Nominations; Other Best Drama Nominees Are Black Swan, The Fighter, Inception And The Social Network; Best Comedy Musical Pic Went To Alice In wonderland, Burlesque, The Kids Are Alright, Red and The Tourist; Best TV: (Comedy) Glee, 30 Rock, Big Bang Theory, Big C, Modern Family, Nurse Jackie. (Drama) Boardwalk Empire, Mad Men, Dexter, The Good Wife and The Walking Dead.
--Midwest Still Digging Our; Bone Chilling Cold Moving East.

Back to More Stuff:
The series of arsonist large home fires on Cape Cod with slurs against the rich as a calling card is disturbing. Is this the result of "big bad rich" rants by Bernie Saunders, Claire McCaskill and other irresponsible critics of the Tax breaks for all? Is the class cacophony inciting a new level of class warfare? Be careful what you wish for. just ask the Romanov's.

In case you missed it, it didn't take long for the Gosslin woman to learn that Sarah Palin's show is reality. Kate Gosslin whined continually and eventually left after a very short stay. Maybe now we know why her husband left.

Yale Librarian Fred Shapiro annually releases what his group considers the top quotes for the year. This year's list is topped by Christine O'Donnell's "I am not a witch" which is considered unique for a political campaign! Second on the list is Tony Hayward's "I'd like my life back". The rest of the list: "If you touch my junk I'm going to have you arrested." -- Passenger John Tyner to TSA worker; "Don't retreat, instead -- reload!" -- Sarah Palin; "Chi! Chi! Chi! Le! Le! Le! Los Mineros de Chili!" -- Chant at Chilean mine rescue; "I hope that's not where we are going...People are looking at 2nd Amendment remedies...What can we do to turn this country around?" -- Sharon Angle; "We have to pass the (HC) bill to find out what is in it." -- Nancy Pelosi; "I'm going to take my talents to South beach." -- Lebron James; "You're telling me that separation of Church and State is found in the 1st amendment?" -- O'Donnell; They should never have put me with that woman, ...she was just the sort of bigoted woman who said she used to be in labour." -- Gordon Brown.

Do you know what bothers me...? When I'm watching a TV program like a drama and they go to a commercial. So I switch to a sports event which should be free and clear, Right? Wrong. Invariably they are in commercial too. It's not fair!

A local news report says that a Maine man was feared drown after falling from a Rhode Island lobster boat outside of Rockland Maine. But my sources deep with in the Mid Maine lobster community say that it might be murder. Ooooo-weeeee-Ooooooo. Maybe that ugly turf war is reigniting, and the RI encroach-er was not viewed on as kindly as those Mainers seem to be. Stay tuned.

If you watch commercials you develop perceptions that are often a far cry from reality. For instance, I would have said that AT&T and the iPhone are far and away the leaders in their fields. But in actuality, serious smart phone users are much happier with the Droid and and AT&T ranks last (In a new Consumer Reports about wireless services) behind US Cellular, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile. Go figure. Ad guys only lie about politicians, right?

If you think advertising folks are slick, you haven't seen anything compared to investment people. A financial expert commenting on the crackdown of wild fraudulent schemes like Ponzi's et, al., said that while the regulations get tougher in one area, incredibly bright financial people will be thinking of new very creative schemes to defraud the public. So, the basic rule of thumb continues: If it sounds too good to be true, watch out! Don't let your ego get in the way.

Every time I go into something called "Worst food for 2010", I find that my definition of "worst" and there's is 180 degrees apart.

Yahoo Search (#2 to Google but still quite small) reports that their biggest search of the year was the BP oil spill. Two other smaller search engines, Bing and AOl reported their top searches as Kim Kardashian and Tiger Woods. Hmmm! The rest of the Yahoo Top Ten were World Soccer Cup, Miley Cyrus, Kardashian, Lady Gaga, Apple's I-Phone, Megan Fox, Justin Bieber, "American Idol" talent Competition and Brittany Spears. Google will be out later this Month. Interestingly, nothing about the game changing November elections were at the top of America's mind.

The Answer:
Dick Van Dyke's first big movie success in his "Six Decade Career" was Bye, Bye Birdie. Of course he is also classic in Mary Poppins and Chitty, Chitty bang Bang. Some others were not so classic including Divorce American Style, Fitzwilly Never a Dull Moment and a pretty good drama The Comic. Of course his Dick Van Dyke Show with a veteran cast of comic actors Morey Amsterdam, Rose Marie, Jerry Paris, Carl Reiner and of course newcomer Mary Tyler Moore is still today one of the all time great programs. His "Diagnosis Murder" also went on to become a popular light mystery series. Wow, 6 decades! That's longer than Robert Bird, and think how much more fun we had.

The End:
Is the demonizing of the overweight destined to become the new racism. And this one is Government sponsored. Let people live, Nanny.

I also think that next year will see increased noise against anti-privacy measures like Airport pat-downs and X-Rays and cameras on streets.

As a matter of fact, I think there will be a lot of new style noise out there, mainly about freedoms and responsibility.

Hard work improves luck.

Today's Tids Issue 2,252
Opening Stuff:

Pinch me! These Patriots are for real.

A couple of Tids ago I suggested that the real problem with the education of US kids probably isn't the quality of teachers or the system in general, but an over abundance of outside influences pulling upon kids minds. And then someone reminds me of a new song form "Pink": "You're too cool for School." Yup, just what kids need...another excuse not to study.

As far as I can see, the biggest threat to potential terrorists is themselves.

Personally, I think way too much is spent on Christmas gifts. I was impressed, therefore, by the statistic that showed cash buyers spending an average of $41 while credit card users average more than double at $87! In other words, it is possible to control overspending if you create limitations. It's great for post holiday depression.

The Question:
Two parter: 1. A well known children charitable organization was founded in December of 1946. What was it? It also became associated with a another big Holiday. Name the holiday and when it happened. How much do you think has been raised by kids during the holiday effort? 2. Unless she can hook into a Boniva commercial, an actress in her sixties can fall off the radar no matter how successful her past. We like to remember them. Teri Garr had some great roles. Name five. What's she doing now?

Bonus Puzzler: We received a Christmas card with the following statement: "Wishing you all the peace and beauty this holiday season brings...and to the decision makers a rekindled interest in communicating and seeking consensus." What do you think it means?

The Headlines:

--Nation Awaits First senate Vote This Morning On Tax Plan.
--Stock futures Rise, Bonds Fall Ahead Of Vote.
--Midwest Cattle Brokerage Company Collapses Owing Ranchers $130 Million; Several Cattle Ranches Could Go Under.
--Palin Visits Haiti; Says It Is Much Harsher Then Imagined.
--National Stress Over Economic Woes Falls To 18 Month Low.
--Snow Buries Midwest.
--As San Francisco Plan Wavers, Newport RI Could be Back On Top As America's Cup Host.
--Ahmadinejad Fires Forign Minister; names Nuclear Chief As Top Diplomat.

Back to More Stuff:
With the addition of Adrien Gonzales and Carl Crawford to the Red Sox, there is a lot of talk up here about Boston as the sports dynasty town considering that the Celtics and Pats are on top and the Bruins are near the top. But depending on what the Chicago baseball teams do in the off season, the same can be said of Chicago with strong showings to date by the Bulls, Bears and Blackhawks. Sports homer-ism is a lot like ideological political thinking where people fail to recognize good ideas in others.

And, by the way, even though my heart is quaking with the Sox additions, I still don't like the big market, small market division in major league baseball. I still believe that a balanced schedule (With no inter-league play) would be the best thing especially if the KC's, Pitts and other step children ( farm teams for the Bigs) are competitive. Ecery game having some importanmce is much better than a few big time rivalries mainly promoted for big TV.

So, did you hear about the ancient King Ozymandias who was low on cash in his war against the Hittites? Desperate, he went to a local pawnbroker Croesus to sell the most valuable diamond of the times, The Star of Euphrates. Croesus offered him 100,000 dinars. Ozymandias was aghast: "I paid a million dinars for it! Don't you know who I am? I am the King!" Croesus replied: "When you wish to pawn a star, makes no difference who you are."

This Bush tax Cuts thing has turned into exactly what the people voted against last November...A giant earmarks boondoggle. Business as usual. When somebody in DC says "Compromise" read that as "Earmarks". Do you think it will all stop when the Tea Party-ers become more influential next year? Everybody will be watching.

Why do they bury politicians 3 times deeper than average citizens? Because deep down, politicians are good people! I just had to steal that from the "Shoe" comic strip. Thanks.

I see where the cute, innocent and adorable Hannah Montana (Miley Cyrus) allowed herself to be video'd smoking some kind of new hallucinate drug! And today I learn is the day that Taylor Swift turns 21 so she can join the other role models doing outrageous things...legally.

If the American Film Institute has the ear of Hollywood, then it looks like the leading Oscar contendersbased on the AFI's Top Ten of 2010 list will be Inception, The Fighter, The Black Swan, Toy Story 3, The Social Network, The Town, True Grit, The Kids are Alright, 127 Hours and Winter's Bone. The AFI also strongly suggests that the British film The Kings Speech will be in the running. Get out you scorecards.

Living in the east, you see colleges struggling to get a few fans into a game. I think it's some kind of intellectual elitism thing. So when you hear that 113,000 packed the U Mich stadium for a hockey game in frigid weather, you see dramatically the differences in attitudes by region. No matter how hard the Politicians try to homoginize us. Viva la defferance'!

The Answer: 1. UNICEF has become a giant world wide charitable organization with 191 offices since its beginning as an emergency organization established by the UN to meet the needs of children in post war Europe. In 1950 a minister's wife in Philly recruited her children and neighborhood kids to collect money for the organization. they raised $17 and sent it in. UNICEF liked the idea and in 1953 created the "Orange Boxes." Children in US and Canada have raised over $239 million! 2. Lakewood Ohio's Teri Garr started as a background dancer in many films include 9 Presley movies. Her first significant speaking part was in The Conversation. She was nominated for an Oscar for Tootsie. Other big films were Young Frankenstein, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, One From the Heart, Mr. Mom, After Hours and The Black Stallion. In 2002 she announced that she had MS and in 2006 suffered a brain aneurysm. Now in her wheelchair she works hard for charity. Her good humor has never wavered.

Bonus "Q" Answer: I'm thinking this old but rarely seen friend must be a rabid Obama supporter who now looks for the kind of bi-partisanship his guy(s) never offered as they have now been neutralized and can no longer bludgeon Republicans.

The End:
Lose a little sleep tonight and see best meteor shower.

I just wonder how much society will change by the end of next year.

A beautiful silence.

Today's Tids Issue 2,251

Opening Stuff:

The northern wind freezes December days / A somber hush falls over city streets / As though the world inhales and holds its breath / Awaiting that Christmas morning that lightens the mind.

Only fourteen days til I start Christmas shopping.

A famous Viking returns from a long voyage and finds his name missing form the town register. His wife insisted on complaining to the local official who apologized profusely: "I must have taken Lief off my census."

Jumping jacks are stand-up snow angels.

The Question: 
How many Black people have won the Nobel Peace Prize and who was the first? Bonus Q: In news item below about strongest economy poll, name 6 economies US people think are strongest now and in 20 years. Bonus 2: Who was America's longest living President.

The Headlines:

--In A New Poll Only One In Five Americans Say US Is Best Place For Jobs And Prosperity; Half Say China Is number 1; 3/5's of Americans Say Low Wage Jobs Elsewhere Will Keep Future US Standard Of Living Growth Down.
--Stock Mark Pares Early Gains After New Consumer Data.
--Obama Predicts tax Bill Passage With Possible Changes.
--China Nobel Winner Gets Standing "O" IN Absentia; China Still Calls Ceremony "Clowns".
--US $700 Billion Bailout Has Earned $35 Bil In Two Years.
--Prince Charles And Camilla Attacked By Mobs On London Street.
--FAA Says They have Lost Track Of Owns 119,000 Of The 357,000 Private And Comercial Aircraft In US; Could be Terrorist Problem.
--Gorbachev Says Russian Undemocratic Political Landscape Is Threatening Country's Stability.
--Ex-Wiki Worker Establishing New Secret Leaking Organization.

Back to More Stuff:
This whole WikiLeaks thing raises an interesting argument. Open Book Government versus necessary secrets for the public good?. Freedom of expression versus censorship? This of course brings us to another question, "Is there too much information available to many who don't see, know or understand the whole picture. I think this transparency issue is much like the chicken and egg thing. Depending on how you look at it, two divergent answers can be completely right. When you think about it, it really comes down to trust in elected officials. After all, we are a representative government and not a democracy. We have to hope that the vast majority of representatives are honest and that often secrecy is necessary to run an efficient government in peace and most certainly war.

This Pats/Bears game could be one of the best and I won't be surprised to see the Bears win. I'm already pacing and it is about 54 hours til game time!

I hate stories like this. And the irresponsible disregard for personal property and revered institutions seems to becoming much too prevalent these days. In England, the Glastonbury Holy Thorn Tree is said to have links to the earliest days of Christianity there. In fact, tradition holds that the original tree was planted by Saint Joseph of Arimethea -- he who provided the Tomb for Jesus. It is said that upon his arrival in Glastonbury 2,000 years ago, he planted his staff into the hillside and the tree grew from there. Last night it was cut down to a six foot stump. Creeps.

The "...Mother of Invention" theory doesn't always work that well when you consider that the first can opener wasn't invented until fifty years after the tin can.

Mark December 19th down on your sports viewing calendar. The UConn women's basketball team will be playing to tie the great record of John Wooden's UCLA men's team for the most consecutive wins at 88. Even better they will be up against the powerful Ohio State team (#6) in Madison Square Garden NYC. Could be a classic.

Did you hear about the down and out electrician strapped for cash who wired for money?

US life expectancy rates out and it isn't good. They are down about a tenth of a year off the all time high of 77.9. Women can still look to 80 while men start to fade around 75. I guess I'll have to eat healthier to live longer to keep women readers happy. More good news is the decline in death rates for 6 0f the 15 leading causes of death -- heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, accident and homicide. Keep on jogging and doin those standout jumping snow angels.

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:
--I was looking forward to The Tourist mainly because it sounded like MR. Everyman getting caught up in a web of intrigue ala Gary Grant in North By Northwest and Jimmy Stewart in The man Who Knew Too Much (One of my all time faves). But, alas the too super stars fail to connect at all. A guy dallies with a stranger and is entrapped in an international conspiracy scheme to which there is no apparent out for him. I may rent it anyhow.
--The Fighter is a very good movie and true story that traces the life of boxer Micky Lowell and Brother trainer on drugs as he rises from a bleak Lowell mass childhood to become champion. Great cast of Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Mallissa Leo and Jack McGee makes it work.
--Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Trader is a beautifully rendered animated spectacular as out courageous warriors battle magical creatures and reunite with protector the "Great Lion". Can't miss for kids.


The Answer:
Dr. Ralph Bunch in 1950 was the first black man to win the Nobel peace prize. there are 7 others -- Albert John Lithuli, Martin Luther King Jr., Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela, Kofi Annan, Wangari Maathai (First black woman) and Barack Obama (may have been his white half.) Bonus Q: 47% say China is biggest today, while only 37% say they will be biggest in 20 years. The rest of the six remain in the same order, but the support %'s change. US (20%, 34%...that's good), Japan (11%, 6%), EU 6%, 5%), India (5%, 5%) and Russia (2%, 1%). Bonus 2: He didn't do much, but he lived the longest of all Presidents -- Gerald Ford - 93 years.

The Weekend:
Enjoy the peace of of scintillating early winter.