Word Trauma.

Today's Tids Issue 4.535

Avoiding Harangues:

Ok, December came in just like it is supposed to, cold! But normally, beautiful coats of white come along with it. This season it is extraordinarily black and incredibly irksome. But that’s the new December, if you can find it amidst all of the “Black” sales days. But, I like December. I like to pause to remember all those lost during that December 7 sneak attack. I like to remind myself to be alert at all times, because of that greatest example of human distrust. I don’t like shopping, but I like giving my love. I like the true meaning of Christmas that should bring calm and warmth to the chilling days and long nights. And remember as the skies seem darker at night, that December is the month that turns the sun back onto a track towards the warmth of summer. December is magical if you let your heart feel it for what has always been. The end, and the beginning.

That kid Alec Cabacungan on the Shriner’s commercials is one special human being. The load he carries. And I worry about Auto Correct changing the meaning of a sentence. There are role models everywhere, and some just happen to be in wheelchairs, with debilitating diseases that will never go away. And they fight, and they fight again. And they laugh and make others laugh with them. And Alec is one of those amazing people.

I wouldn’t be surprised if somebody was promoting the banning of Frosty the Snowman. Listening to that tune I realized it actually said, “…a button nose and eyes made out of coal.” Coal for crissake! How disgusting! Get rid of it. Now eyes of soy beans would be more like it. Yes, he would be a sight for soy eyes.

It would seem that one way multi-generational people can get together in rational, calm conversations is by jointly remembering fondly warm and humorous moments in Disney animated movies. They have been easy to love regardless of eras, tickling the hearts of young and old. Oldsters just have to keep up with new efforts and get beyond Bambi and Pinocchio. And vice-versa for the young

I often mix up the words, aesthetic and ethereal. To my ears, ethereal sounds more like what aesthetic means. Actually, I do that a lot, feeling sounds rather than knowing meanings.

If you own a smart phone, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are really annoying.

Pregnant women are the only true body builders.

The Question:

Rank your favorite Disney animated films and see how you compare with the list below. Bonus: What was the name of the US Congressman investigating horror stories from Jonestown who was murdered on Jim Jones orders.? Super Bonus: what was Dennis Christopher’s breakout movie, and what is he doing now?

The Headlines:

-- Global Stocks Rising After Strong China Factory Numbers; Should Push US Markets Upward; May Be Nullified After Trump Announces New Tariffs On Brazil And Argentina Steel And Aluminum; Tariff Addition May Also Blunt Enthusiasm Over Big Black Friday And Cyber Monday Sales.

--Supreme Court To Look At Second Amendment As Related To New York Gun Restrictions.

--Trump And White House Will Not Participate In Impeachment Hearing; Fiery Letter Says They Will Not Participate In “This Baseless and Highly Partisan Inquiry…”.

--China To Suspend US Navy Visits To Hing Kong After HK Support Bill.

--Trump Off To England For NATO Meetings; Says A Responsible Congress Would Not Call For Hearings During Important International Responsibility.

--Major World Cities Upping Preparedness In Face Of New Terror Threats.

--Biden Launches 8-Day “No Malarkey” Tour.

--Scientists Say Future Of Maine lobster Population Not Devastating.

A good friend sent me this little riddle based on a true story. His wife, Franny, created a playlist for her phone that she could use for her long walks. Yesterday when she asked Alexa to play he list, Alexa complied but she heard nothing but classical piano pieces. What was the name of her playlist?  See answer somewhere below.

Who doesn’t like bacon? Not many I’m sure. It may the hardest thing to get yup when crossing the line into vegetarianism. But, some bacon can be better than others, depending on how you cook it. There are many ways to prorated the luscious temptation: Cast-Iron Skillet, Nonstick Skillet, Water in Skillet, Baking on Parchment, Backing on Rack, Microwave, Air Fryer and Sous Vide. I also cook it on the ole’ gas grill. Now somebody has tested it using all of the above (Except my grilling) using regular cut.– Oscar Meyer Naturally Hardwood Smoked, and Thick Cut Wright Hickory Smoked. The results: Water in pan 5/10; Microwave bacon 6/10 (Better for Thick cut, Timing is everything); Non-Stick Skillet 6/10; Baking on rack in pan over paper towels 7/10 (Long time; Cleaning rack agonizing); Air Fryer 7/10; Sous Vide 8/10 (Long Ordeal, Thick Bacon only); Cast iron Skillet 8/10 (Good “Grandpa” Bacon, Nostalgic fun, turn often); Baking on Parchment 10/10 (Cooks “hands free” but takes 18 minutes.) Personally, I’m a skillet person and enjoy watching it bubble up and flipping a lot.

Are stocks getting close to correction territory?

So, what exactly is sous-vide, you may ask. It is known as LTLT (Low Temperature Long Time) cooking. That means you take raw meat or vegetables and cook at very low temps for many hours in water filled plastic bags or jars or proper sous-vide ovens, using an immersible circulator. For instance, for bacon you take the store bought bacon in its package and submerse it unopened in water just covering the bacon package and cook at 147 degrees for 8-24 hours, (12 hours is about right). Then open the package and sear the bacon quickly on both sides so it doesn’t look raw and gets a bit of a crisp. You can buy sous-vide temperature controlling immersion circulators, and even ovens. A lot of people will probably get one for Christmas and eventually re-gift it. Crazy.

How does non-stick coating stick to the pan?

A new Roll Call podcast, that takes a comprehensive review of the horrible Jonestown murder/suicide catastrophic tragedy that killed 900, reveals the gross ineptitude of the Diplomatic Corps, State Department and investigative arm of Congress. All who had serious warnings well in advance. It will make people’s blood boil.

A new opinion piece by global climate child Greta Thunberg shows her to be nothing more than another avowed Marxist pretty much against the usual leftist suspects. In a recent Op-Ed she said she is much more than Climate urging children to rise up against to change everything – denouncing “colonialism, racism and patriarchal systems of oppression.” She is now an open book, and page one says she is an avowed leftist. And children will follow her. And the media will exalt her.

Is the salary people get a bribe to forget their dreams?

No doubt Mozart was a brilliant musician and composer, but it was Beethoven who really changed the way the Orchestra sounded.

Years ago I would mess up using the word “erstwhile”, thinking it meant “formidable” as in competitor, rather than what it is,” former”. I was once talking to a salesman and mentioned that I had just seen his erstwhile competitor. His face went ashen as he said, “God! What happened to him?” Knowing meanings of words is good. 

Franny’s Playlist was named – Fran’s List. (Franz Liszt, the great piano composer.) Just think, some day Alexa may be driving your car.

Capitalism makes; Socialism takes.

From what I’ve been hearing post-Thanksgiving, most think that TDay is the best holiday by far of them all. Except those who just like to find things to hate.

Did you know that archaeologists have found a flute that was 35,000 years old? Music has always been in the hearts of humans, no matter the struggles that they may have have seen.

The Answer:

No wonder older people don’t understand inuendo based on Disney film experiences. The highest ranked earlier classic Disney effort is Snow White at #10. Pinocchio is #22, Bambi is #23, Dumbo is #35 and Fantasia is #47. Even the middle age range classic films “Lady and the Tramp” and “101 Dalmatians” are just #14 and #16. Ok, the Top Ten are The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Ten Little Mermaid, Mulan, Toy Story, The Incredibles, Finding Nemo, Monsters Inc. and Snow White. One of the biggest box office hits of all time, “Frozen”, is #12. Hmm, I guess I have a lot of Disney Catch-up ahead of me to become copacetic with the younger demographic who obviously were the dominant group in the sample these ratings. Bonus: It was Leo Ryan who was murdered when he got too close. Super Bonus: Dennis was in one of my favorite movies “Breaking Away”. As far as I could determine he never really hit those heights again even though he was decent in Fade to Black, Chariots of Fire and Django Unchained. But even though he had parts in 69 TV shows and 46 movies, after breaking out in Breaking away his career seemed to be breaking down.

If you never Christmas shop and never watch impeachment hearings, life in December would be like sinking into a soft cushioned sofa by a warming fire, sharing a bag of Cheetos with the love of your life.