China and Russia again.

 

Today's Tids Issue 5,058

Bring back Governor Palin:

 

The word “Organic” on a food package translates to, “Hello Sucker”

 

I thought The Voice finale was very good. Lots of good signing, Kelly Clarkson, who always makes me laugh and smile, can also sing about as well as anybody on this planet. Especially great last night were a couple of John Legend duos. . If you wanted to feel Christmas you felt it beautifully when John sang O Holy Night with his own contestant/singer Jereshika. Really amazing. And how about his duo with Carrie Underwood! That Ed Sheeran is one talented musician. I could go o about J-Lo and Alecia Keyes and many others, but let’s just say it was a very good hour and forty-five minutes, worth losing an hour of sleep over. I wasn’t surprised at the results with Girl Named Tom winning it all, probably just nipping a strong Wendy Moten. Paris Winningham was third, Hailey Mia forth and Jereshika fifth. But I have to say that I didn’t see a sore loser among, them. They all seemed to generally appreciate each other’s achievements; maybe we still are civilized.  Maybe all it takes is innocent music.

 

At what age do you think it is ok to tell a highway it is adopted?

       

The Question:

What is the combined population of China plus Russia?

 

The Headlines:

--Markets Open In Slightly Negative Territory Still Waiting Fed Decision; Fed Expected To Rev Up Slowdown Of Buying Back Bonds.

--Putin And Xi Jointly denounce Western Interference With Promises To Defend Each Other’s Security Interests; 8 Days After Biden/Putin Talk New Agreement Brings Russia And China Closer Together.

--Former Minn Police Officer leads Guilty To Fed Charges Of Violating George Floyd’s Civil Rights.

--Raging Fire Traps Hundreds I Hong Kong Tower.

--New Reliable Sources Say Gibbs Return NCIS Is A Likely Sure Thing.

 

There was a time in the 1960’s when the big music argument was, who is better… The Dave Clark Five or the Beatles.” I guess we know the answer now. Well, at least we know who won the battles. I liked the DC Five. Drummer Dave Clarke died yesterday. He was 81.

 

“We have to look at what’s weakening democracy, weakening the republic,” said Jean-Michel Blanquer, the French education minister in the Wall Street Journal. “Wokeism is clearly that.” The French left seeing the progress in America with woke ideas like changing history, tearing down the past, creating pronoun differentiations, are heating up in their assault o French traditions. Nations like France aren’t blind. And many are seeing America as tat canary in the coal mine. “They can see how the left and wokeism are tearing this country apart. And especially in a nation like France, which prides itself on its tolerant self-image, this battle over “gender-neutral” pronouns has ignited a conflict that is both ludicrous and unnecessary.” But, “Macron is fighting a losing battle against wokeism. The trajectory of change on the democratic left is making wokeism the preferred method of “reform” in western democracies. The problem is that any backlash against radicalism is only delaying the inevitable. They are Borg-like in the single-minded pursuit of their goals. It’s what makes them effective. And it’s what should scare the crap out of the rest of us.” Thanks to a good intelligent reader for sending this warning along.

 

Cornell University closed its main Ithaca campus yesterday. Do you think that will encourage voluntary mask wearing? Probably not. But I am seeing more masks I local stores this Christmas season.

 

Jay Leno wonders if an organic Twinkie is a sponge.

 

It’s about this Fed decision that Wall Street has been anxiously awaiting the past couple of days. I would have thought that it would have been priced into the markets four or five months ago.

 

If con is the opposite of pro, then isn’t Congress the opposite of progress? --Jon Stewart

 

Actually, I get a headache while wearing a mask. Or maybe I’m just looking for an excuse not to wear it. I really, really prefer a free nose and mouth. But, who doesn’t?

 

I have noticed that as individuals, human beings tend to think they are only one suffering an affliction, experiencing a hardship, facing a dilemma.  

 

A twelve-step group for compulsive talkers could be called On Anon Anon.

 

So, when China invades Taiwan to get back what they say is there’s, will Russia invade Alaska for the same reason? Obviously, I’m kidding, but this now stronger Russia/China relationship should be topmost in the minds of our Congress and President. I don’t walk around worrying about who is and who isn’t wearing masks. I worry about the two powers working together.

 

The Answer:

China’s population is mammoth. But Russia is relatively small considering its immense lad mass. Russia is 146.2 million, China is ten times larger at 1.44 billion. In fact, the US pop is over twice as large as Russia. But, with China and their combed dislike of USA, it is a formidable foe.

 

So, on that happy note, let’s just break out the vodka and pile of fortune cookies hoping we will find one that says “Peace in the world is inevitable despite the Human beings”. And we can toast to that.

 

Before LinkedIn, I didn’t know any strangers.