Let the Force of Love be with you in your hearts.

Today's Tids Issue 3.489

Opening Stuff:

On a well known quiz show last night, a contestant said as part of his pre-game resume, “…Thank God we have no kids.” About a half hour later I tuned into an interview show where a couple was talking about how involved they are in foster parenting. How, when a child is in need somewhere around the state, they are often called to provided temporary assistance for a child left out in the cold. The couple always readily agrees because their hearts are so large. “Unfortunately,” smiles the 30 something wife, “We too often adopt the young boy or girl!” She laughed, but yiu could tell is was alove of satisfied love. The twosome was there to talk about a program they have developed called “Bags of Hope”, an effort they created and promoted to provide a little dignity for children moved from home to home with all of their earthly belongings in a black trash bag. The couple have given away in just 2 ½ years 4,100 monogrammed, colorful duffle bags. Perhaps these will be a treasure to a child who has no foundation. It’s hard here to truly capture and put into the words the sincere love I felt in the hearts of these two people. Merry Christmas Tiny Tim.

The only news out of DC that seems to ignite the imagination of citizens, generally comes from the Zoo.

I know, I know, you’re asking, “Which zoo?”

If you have trouble reaching somebody at the DMV today, check a couple of the tents outside the Star Wars Opening.

You have to figure with the mild intro into Winter so far, that in the days before Christmas there will be big %-off sales for overstocked cold weather gear.

The Question:

Name five of the dances in the Nutcracker Suite.

The Headlines:

--Bank Of Japan Shocks Financial World With Policy Easing; Dollar Plunges Against Yen.

--Pope Sings Off On Miracle That will Elevate Mother Teresa To Sainthood.

--USA Authorities Can’t Locate Thousands Of Middle Easterners Who’s Visas Have Lapsed,

--Jeb Suggests He Would Have Trouble Backing Trump; Bernie Sanders Campaign Operative Accessed Hillary Private Data..

--New Report From Docs Says Life Styles Account For 70-90% Of Cancer.

--Finally, Star Wars Opens.

--Teen Who Used “I’m Too Rich To Be Aware” Defense In Hit And Run DUI Death Case, Seems To Have Skipped The Country After New Probation Violation.

And why again…do we need a Secretary of Education?

I listened pretty carefully yesterday to the “O” speech from the anti terrorism HQ and thought he detailed the efforts fairly precisely. He also looked like he was totally disinterested. As duid the dignitaries he hauled out on stage for the National Security reassurance show. Get me outta here!

Last night I thought I was watching a cartoon of a football game between the yellow and red Smurfs – in reality the Rams--Bucs game. Who let fashion designers into the locker room? Was it funny or ugly? These guys looked smaller, softer and at times like a commercial for interplanetary peasants. The image was so surreal it is hard to describe unless you saw it. Don we now our gay apparel.

So Putin loves Trump. Hmmm. You have to wonder what a Machiavellian like Putin means by that. Does he fear him, and know that his support could have the effect of knocking him out of the race. Or does he fear Cruz or another candidate and is truly hoping for the superficial Trump will build upon his support to gain office.

I probably won’t see star wars until the crowds diminish, if I see it at all. But to all of you who are going now, I have on word of advice: Do not sit next to someone who spent the night on a sidewalk in a sleeping bag.

Speaking of the Repub candidates, I asked a good friend, and southern states political commentator, to give me his analysis of the Repub hopefuls. After reading it, I was really depressed. I could not find the great statesman, the inspirational leader, the adroit strategist. I see politicians clawing their way up the ladder to hoped for political fame. Maybe the old Mittster is the best we have, after all. As my friend said in closing: There are 320 million people in the USA, and this is all we can find?

My friend suggests that Christie may have already given us solutions to two of the countries nagging problems -- Toll booths at all entrances of the country. That could help cull out illegal’s and even smarley Islamics (“Please sir, Mr. toll collector, just let me reach into my money belt.” “Hey, that’s not a money belt, it’s a freaking body bom….!!!”.) “Pesos not accepted.” And the money collected would help lower the enormous near 20 trillion in National debt, which nobody is talking about.

We owe somebody 20 trillion dollars? Yikes.

By the way, I like that new Prudential series of ads trying revive among Americans the idea of saving money. Retailers won’t like the concept of not going into debt to buy lots of stuff you don’t need, but in the long run, a populace that can take care of themselves will always produce a better government. And, a stronger economy.

If we keep on sending  hedgefunders to jail, how will we ever pay off the debt?

The Parking Lot: Chapter 35 continues…

   As Jeremiah continued to probe for more information, his mother now across the room, noticeably turned into the corner. He caught her movement, and took as a signal the-that they were hiding something from him.

   He looked up at Mulatta, who now herself had assumed a blank stare as if fighting within herself about what she should say. He grabbed her hand, not viciously but in a way that said, we are one. “Tell me, Elizabeth, what is going on? You don’t have to protect me.” He noticed across the room his mother turning back towards him. She nodded.

   “A lot has happened my dearest,” Elizabeth began, “After you were brought in and everybody was running around looking for weapons, trying to help us save you, Howland found a way out of that shed where he had been brought. That created a rage among all of us, all of the people who had come here to talk of cooperation. Now the anger grew as they began to realize that what happened to you was just a symbol of something which could have happen to any of them. Reality set int among all of the men and women that the peace we thought was in our land was not there at all. The men gathered in the big barn an hatched out a plan. The next morning they rode to the village in Howland country and attacked the homes and businesses there. They were careful not to harm children and non-fighetrs.” She paused, and took a large breath. Jeremiah’s eyes narrowed.

   “In the course of the fighting your brother Abram was killed.” Elizabeth stopped talking.  “She looked at him, felt the gray veil that lowered over Jeremiah’s face and bent down to hold his weakened body in her arms.

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:

--You probably all know more about Star Wars than I. Well it is here and it appears that the public and critics love it (As ooposed the reaction to the premiere of the still going strong Nutcracker well ver a 100 years ago. What do critics know anyhow?

--The promotional trailer for Sisters turned me off the first time I saw the abbreviated mess. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler will draw crowds into a terrible, sometimes vulgar questionable Christmas offering about two whacky sister who decide to have one more blast in the home of their childhood now having been sold to “Snobby” rich people. Lots of silly outrageous party stuff, but will probably be liked by loyal fans of the SNL duo. Some critics give a zero, and others manage to bring it to a high “F” or “D-“.

-- Some Critics hate the new Alvin and the Chipmunks, but others realize that many who like the singing rodents will appreciate the cuteness.

--Son of Saul is a riveting well written, well directed, well acted concentration camp movie. A searing drama of human conflicted emotions in the most horrible of settings.

My only fear is that over a hundred years from now families will gather around their official government authorized holiday robot, with nary a manger in sight, to watch Star Wars.

  

The Answer:

You can probably hum all of the tunes in this memorable, classic Christmas music…but what are the names of those dances? Waltz aof the Snowflakes, Waltz of the Flowers, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies (That’s what the Tampa Bay, St Louis football game looked like last night), Spanish dance, Chinese dance, Arabian dance, Russian dance and dance of the Mirlitons.  Unlike the current premiere of Star Wars, Tchaikovsky’s premiere of TNS failed with critics and public. Old Petre Illeich  loved it and kept on going.

The first of the bowl games start this weekend. Yawn.

Crack a nut for me. Have a greta weak end…E-v-e-r-y-b-o-d-y!