The elixir of life.

Today's Tids Issue 5,557

Rich and Loverly:

It’s going to be a gravy year. You know, that elixir. Now, there is movement going on that wants to call our first month Veganuary. And there are “fasters”, the latest concept in alternative eating. But when you get down to the truth, even the greatest chefs in the world succumb easily to good old gravy. They may call it a sauce or a glace or something in French, but it is all just gravy. Vegans make their foods edible by dousing whatever they make with savory accoutrements. So, I’m saying my first pronouncement of the year is “Eat free”. Without the encumbrances of outside guidance. Yes gravy is the elixir of life, and certainly the rich creamy nectar of true happiness. And even the chef at France’s Mirazur will tell you that, but perhaps not in the same words.

So there we are, in our gravy world, free and happy. But what else will be concerning us other than you know what. I’m thinking it will be the increase in the creative use of technology in service businesses. Your banks, health centers and other of life’s essential institutions will become a little more like Uber.

BTW, data companies, I mean social media companies, eCommerce purveyors and gizmo inventors, want us, really want us to use their voice assistants. It is said the reason you get so many prompts to use them is because they will gather and analyze your voice and conversations to help produce more human sounding AI, the ultimate goal. Not heaven and angels with lilting harps, but AI.

When ducks kiss, do they get billed?  (That from a wonderful old friend).

The Question:

Name the Four high level Nixon admin officials who were found guilty of of a cover-up in the Watergate scandal?

The Headlines:

--Stock Market Soaring To Begin First Trading Day Of New Year; New Jobless Claims Up A Bit; New China Bank Decision Frees Up 800 Billion Yuan For Investment In the China Economy; US Analysts See Markets Moving Solidly Through 2020..

--US Soldiers Rushing To Region After Attack On US Embassy; Baghdad Building Significantly damaged.

--Greatest Sports Commissioner, David Stern, Dies At Age Of 77; Elevated Pro Basketball To Global Popularity.

--Bernie Drowning In Money After Q4 $34 Million Campaign Scoop; Trump Gets Even More -- $100 Million.

--Julian Castro Drops Out Of Dem Race.

--“He Likes Me,” Says President Asking US People To Shrug Off NK Threats.

--Colorado Appears Under Invasion By Drones.

Chief Justice Roberts year end SC report was a subtle cry for sensibility during the senate trial under the guise of stressing the importance of more civics education. He said, “Those principles (In the Constitution) leave no place for mob violence.” But in the ensuing years (After the establishment of our basic principles), we have come to take democracy for granted, and civic education has fallen by the wayside. In our age when social media can instantly spread rumor and false information on a grand scale, the public’s need to understand our Government, the protections it provides, is ever more vital. The judiciary has an important role to play in civic educations.”

Now that the “Cars for Christmas” ads are winding down, expect next to suffer a barrage of Tips for Tax season ads.

They played an NHL hockey game yesterday New Years Day, in the old Cotton Bowl. How sacrilegious.

Tattoos are today’s version of old-fashioned branding. But now it’s on humans. Moooo!

I like a good demi-glace on my beef. Actually, to me it looks like gravy and taste like gravy, but the “ce” replacing the “vy” just makes it fancier. But, in fact tis is an intense culinary creation. Making it should be left to masters or fanatics with many hours at their disposal. Even easy demi-glace is complicated but reduces the time by 8-10 hours. A demiglace is like icing on meat; butterscotch over good ice cream. It is rich and delicious and too complicated for me. You can buy it on Amazon.

But, here is an easy way to make a good steak taste great—Cabernet sauce. In a sauce pan over medium heat for one min 1 Tbs OO (or meat drippings) combined with 3 thin sliced green onions. Add I tbs flour and a dash of black pepper and cook for a min, stirring often. Slowly stir in ¾ Cup of a good Cab and 1 ½ cups low sodium beef stock, simmer vigorously until reduced by half. Stir in 1 Cup heavy cream and two tbs Butter, and simmer down into thickened sauce (Which will look a lot like gravy.) Add salt if needed. You may want to add a dash or two of a browning agent like Gravy Master. Lovely.

“Thanks honey, you got me a car for Christmas. Did you rob a bank, or did you steal it from my household budget?” Uh-Oh that sounds a little sexist.

How about the Pope looking pretty ugly in that confrontation with woman in Vatican? Not terribly Christian, I would, say.

Well, The ole’ NFL Picklers had a down final weekend, which didn’t surprise me considering the mental sates of the various teams playing. We ended at 170-83-1(67.238 %). Of course, the NE Pats were the biggest surprise. The bridges around New England were crowded with leapers, “It’s over, the dynasty is over,” they would scream as they hurdled their bodies into icy waters. But the Pats and 7 other teams are back for the dreaded wildcard weekend. Yet often these are some of the best games of the year. The odds makers have the Seattle- Philly game as the closest, and I agree, mainly because Seattle has been a disappointment in big games all year long. Philly one the other hand, has worked hard to find a way to win to win. Either team can be beaten. I have appreciated the resolve of the Iggles, but I’ll go with Seattle. The biggest favorite is New Orleans against Minn. NO has looked like a machine lately, and the Vikes have seemed confused. I’ll go with the Saints. Buffalo Houston is a tough one to figure. The Texans probably have the better QB, but Josh Allen is looking better all the time. JJ Watts, Mr. Inspiration himself, is back and that could be a factor. I’ve been been rooting for both teams all year, so I’m torn. My gut says Houston. Now the Pats-Titans game should be easy because I am a shameless homer. Tennessee super back Derrick Henry will give the Pats fits. But I think NE’s “D” can befuddle Ryan Tannehill. The Pats will wake up this weekend and find a way. Widows of bridge leapers will wonder why.

An electrician refused to refuse refuse after his brother found a shorted radio in the dump.

I like to grill a steak outside and then plop it on nice blue or Roquefort cheese. The juices of the steak mingle with the smooshed-up cheese to produce an amazing gravy, I mean an exquisite sauce.

As an unabashed homer, I think Belichick has had a plan all year long. He loses to all of the top playoff contenders during the year and then stumbles at the end to get dumped into the wild card well. Then he goes onto win it all just to prove once again he is the greatest coach ever, despite overwhelming odds. That’s the way stupid fans think.

The Answer:

The big four who were sent away were former US AG John Mitchell, HR Haldeman, John Ehrlichman and Assistant AG Robert Mardian.

Well, everybody, welcome to the first working day of 2020. I hope it is filled with lots of rich creamy gravy!