World View: etc!: No more Heroes.

Today's Tids Issue 5,315

Just us.

How can you not be happy for the release of Britanny Griner. But I have to say that my first thoughts went to the Whelen family. A loving family who may now have lost all hope. And, BTW, they were one of the first to publicly express happiness over the Griner releases.

“A boy doesn’t have to go to war to be a hero. He can say he doesn’t like pie when he sees there isn’t enough to go around.” E.W. Howe

It looks to me as if the Dem controlled Congress will be running wild through December. That's one reason why we have always needed a Supreme Court. And will.

It's tough to get a full view of the world from a closet.

Several months ago, a bunch of us were talking hoping that Time Mag would name the courageous people of Ukraine the Time Persons of the year. And they did.

Thank God it wasn’t Harry and Meghan.

The Question:

What percentage of American consumers plan to put up a real Christmas tree? Bonus: Name the five top gifts favored by receivers.

The Headlines:

--Stocks Start Strong; Traders taking Advantage of Traditional Seasonal Bullish Environment Despite Economic Clouds.

--WNBA Star Brittany F Griner Released; I On Fight Home; US Trades Viktor Bout for Griner; Whelen Left in Prison.

--Bogarts Nixes Red Sox for San Diego in Latest of Gigantic Multi 100’s of Million, Multi Year MLB Contracts.

--Biden OK’s #36 Billion to Bail Out Central States Pension Fund of 350,000 Union Members.

--Congress Passes Same Sex Marriage Protection Legislation; Biden to Sign Immediately.

--DeSantis Moves Ahead of trump In National 2024 Polls for First Time.

Everybody thinks that MLB has had its day and is failing compared to other activities. Yet they are handing out mammoth amounts of money to players, more than ever before. Will Big Government have to bail out baseball soon?

Most of the great heroes who have affected our lives we have never heard of.

The TidsPickers had a decent effort last week at 12.5-2.5 bringing the year to 128-67 (66%). Some tough and (I hope) rather easy picks this week. Tonight, we have the Raiders at the very disappointing Rams who now have no QB. The formerly very disappointing Raiders are finally playing well and I’ take them. I think Balt playing without Jackson is ripe for an upset against Pittsburgh. Cleveland is getting better but instate rival Cincy is getting real better as is Joe Burrow. I go Bengals. Thank you God for giving me a Dallas Houston game. Dallas can’t lose. Right? Tenn will be up to protect their lead in the division and will beat Jax. Now, all of a sudden Minn versus Detroit looms as a tough pick and a super game. I’ve been impressed with the Lion’s resolve. I'm picking an upset here. The Jets-Buffalo game will be a good one but the Bills will take it. Another great interdivisional rivalry will be Eagles-Gants. I go Eagles.

Continuing on, I put KC-Den as another in the thank you God category. I'm going with the magician and Kelsey and KC. Seattle has something to play for and they will take Carolina at home. I just don’t know about Miami versus the LA Chargers. Both need the win but I think the Dolphins are playing a little better. Go Miami. Suddenly San Farn doesn’t have a QB but they have a system. TB has the QB Goat (Who really proved it again last week) but not much of a system. I'll take the system, SF. My beleaguered Pats really need to win at Arizona Sunday night. I’m not sure they can, but I am homer and they will find a way. There may be many jobs that depend on this one.

Who is mismanaging these giant pension funds that now need huge government bailouts? That is the question.

You have to think that Russia may have targeted a high visibility US star like Britnay, created art trumped up charge mainly to improve their leverage in negotiating for their favorite arms dealer Viktor Bout. The more they ramped up the harshness of the imprisonment, the more leverage they acquired.

And now the hope for Whelen fades further.

One of my favorite restaurant chains filed for bankruptcy – Bertucci's. Man were they best rolls ever, or not.

The new law about same sex marriage will certainly be tested in the courts on the basis of the state versus federal jurisdiction argument. Constitutionally everything of this nature belongs to the states. Like much today, it is another segment in the discussion about big government versus decentralized government.

Can I say same “Sex’” marriage in a family friendly column like the Tids?

There are no more heroes in Boston. Another homegrown Red Sox player, Xander Bogartz, follows the path of Mookie Betts. How to you relate back to past times of happy moments like when we had Yaz and Ted, but now only try to find joy in nameless ever changing rosters. It is sad. Sorry folks, just another broken heart on my sleeve.

Well, my home is all nice Christmassy now. And that makes life pretty ok. Despite the Red Sox management.

The Answer:

24% of Americans will put up a real tree. I remember the days when we would trudge through the snow into the woods to find our own. Some would be funny looking, but we always know we did it and it felt good. Bonus. I’m a little dismayed that 40% of receivers want cold hard, loveless cash. Where’s the heart in that. Then comes gift cards 36%, clothing 33%, food and drinks 25%, Smart phones tablets and accessories 22%, jewelry 21%, cosmetics 21%. At the bottom are event tickets% 15 and travel 15%. And I'm always into one thoughtful gift sent with love.