Today's Tids Issue 2,994
Opening Stuff:

If yesterday was the most peaceful of days, with nary a human or car to be seen in villages and cities, or across country fields; with the only intrusions being aromas wafting in icy air from warm busy kitchens -- then today is the least stressed, with nothing to do, with no pressure, where the only trepidation being within an abused body that is adjusting to the ravages of way too much food the day before. But this too shall pass, and their will be another piece of toffee in another bowl around the corner.

You might say, "I'm dreaming of a Wide Christmas", or "Becoming a Macy's Float," or "Stuffing the Intestinal stocking."

Yesterday, the Taliban rocket attack on a US Embassy in Kabul was all over the news. Today there is nothing to be found. The Admin is not burying the news again, are they?

The Question:
What is a croquembouche? Bonus: Other than the intensely delicious home made ice cream cake I had yesterday, whet are the favorite desserts for Christmas dinner?

The Headlines:
--Last Minute Internet Sales Overwhelm UPS.
--Taliban Christmas Day Rocket Attack On US Embassy In Kabul Has Withdrawal Plans In Quandary.
--Target Hackers Stole Encrypted Bank PINS; Target responds Saying,  "No  Bank Data Accessed."--US Sending Drones, Missiles To Iraq In Wake Of Worst Violence There In Five Years.
--Turkish PM Tayyip Erdogan In Deep Trouble; Reshuffles His Cabinet.
--Spitzer in Splitzville.
--Investors At Odds Over Investing In Emerging Markkets

It appears the Internet is no longer the step child with potential, but the lynchpin for Christmas season retail sales. Ouch...that is if you are a retail sales person looking for extra work. It's just one more signal that what was, ain't never gonna be any more.  

After 10-6 last week, the intrepid Tid's NFL Pickers are 153-89 going into the final week of the NFL regular season. Like Week 1, it's still anybody's ball game no matter what the standings. As an example, let's take Cleveland-Pittsburgh -- An almost nothing game where a Pittsburgh win against a traditional arch rival that's been playing well would give them a chance at a playoff spot if Iran dumped their nukes in the Back Sea or NK's Kim dedicated his life to Pope Francis anti-poverty campaign. I'm picking Pitt in a close one. The point is that even after 17 weeks some early dogs are very competitive now and anybody can win. Here we go. Tenn has been tough, but Houston needs this one. Minn is rising and Detroit is fumbling. Minn. Atlanta is dying for a big upset win, but I've become a Carolina believer. Which candidate for "most disappointing" will win in the NYG-Skins clash? NY at home. Cinn is tough and will nip an inspired Balt. I kinda like Jax to upset Indy who has clinched. Miami over the dreaded Jets. I would love to see an Oakland surprise, but Denver is up for the task and #1 seed despite loss of Miller and Welker. I'm picking San Diego over a slipping KC. St. Lou can beat Seattle, but the Seahawks don't like losing two in a row. I'm in love with Arizona and I'm picking them to make SF worry about themselves. I gotta pick Chi at home over mistake-prone GB. TB and NO should be easy, but I don't think so. NO to squeak by a TB team playing better. Buffalo is one of the best teams with a losing record, but NE feels it and will clinch #2. Actually, with Romo in the game I'd be happier going for Philly. With a replacement QB trying to earn stripes I worry. I think Philly is a better all around team. Well, that's it. A tough year for pickers contracting the disease Parity-enitis.

If you are selecting a college the new rule of thumb for measuring the best  is "Return on Investment". Former Head Of Education Bill Bennett says that means there are only 150 out of thousands are worth the big bucks. (Of course these are based on averages and there are great students in every colleges who do very well after the sheepskin moment.) The top Twenty for 2012 are Harvey Mudd, Cal Tech, MIT, Stanford, Princeton, Harvard, Dartmouth Duke. U. Pennsylvania, Notre Dame, Babson, Lehigh U, Cornell Colorado School of Mines, Columbia, Worcester Polytech, Georgia Tech, Manhattan, RPI and U Cal Berkley. See the entire list (*Note, 2013 list dramatically different from previous several years But I have yet to see an explanation of why the change.) :

I felt like the world stopped yesterday. But, that's probably because they only had the second string reporters on alert.

Another of my favorite commercials is where the "Pawn Stars" principle characters reject an Android based tablet versus the Microsoft Surface.

Happy Birthday Mom, wherever you are.

It was like a movie yesterday in Argentina when massive schools of piranha's attacked and injured 60 swimmers. I'd been fearful of piranha's since third grade, but over the years I was beginning to think it was a bit of a myth as animal lovers tended to minimize the anger of their beloved non-humans. I guess not. GW'ers will blame it on climate change, for sure.

People I know who have made the switch from Apple IPad to Microsoft Surface are incredibly happy they did.

The problem with political jokes is that they often get elected.

I ate so much over the past day that I decided to quit cold turkey.

The Answer:
The Croquembouche is a Christmas tree shape made of separate stacked pastry balls filled with a pastry cream (Chocolate) and dipped in Caramel! Bonus: 5 Christmas favorite desserts are Apple Pie, Chocolate Cream Pie, Chocolate Moose Yule Log, Trifle and Assorted iced buttery Cookies, including home made chocolate chip. Got those Taste buds going again?

Lie back and dream of running on a treadmill, popping croquembouche balls in your mouth. It's a good test for resolving conflicts.