Rules work.

 

Today's Tids Issue 5,353 

So Big: 

 

As many of you probably know, last night a player on the Cincinatti Bengals provided the nation with a vivid example of the negative results that may come from a single neglect of a basic rule or law of the society in which we live. In this case, it cost his team the game. Lately, people seem to be making excuses for those who break the rules. The result may not be as abruptly damaging as last night’s incident, but the trickle down of negative normalization will corrode dangerously over time.  

 

What have we wrought! Now computers are asking humans if they are robots! And it has only just begun. 

 

I have noticed lately that Hollywood execs are loading up new films with star studded casts, but in many cases, it appears, forgetting to hire the writers.  

 

Earth is 4.53 billion years old (+ or – 50 million years). Obviously there have been a few changes in topography and climate over that time. Yet today we are manic about the effect of human behavior over a comparative infinitesimal number of years. And we see a rush to take rash action to change what probably can’t be changed to any great degree. 

 

I went a good lecture on the Webb Telescope Saturday. It was more like a physics class, but you came away with this sense of awe at the immensity and complexity of the universe. (And the intellectual power of the scientists!) Curiously, it is amazing how scientists with powerful new technology can tell what happened millions of years ago by seeing visuals of worlds that that have been traveling towards us for 400 million light years. That’s a majot r Yikes? 

 

The one question scientists seem to have trouble answering about the Big Bang Theory is, what was there before the big Bang.  

 

The Question: 

Our sun is a star. How many stars do you think are in the Milky way? 

 

The Headlines: 

--Stocks In Negative Territory Ahead of a Big Week with Fed Meeting, Key Earnings Reports and n New Jobs Data on Tap; Forecasts Say Friday Report Will Show a Decline -- Jobs Added of 189K Versus December 223K.  

--Pakistan Bomber Kills 31, Wounds 150 In Mosque Explosion; Commander of Pakistan Talban Claims Responsibility. 

--Kansas City to Meet Philadelphia in Super Bowl. 

--Super Cold Moving into USA form the Arctic Regions; A year Ago Today we were Under Snow.  

--Kashmir Militants Found Using US Weapons Left Behind in Dash to Leave Afghan.  

 

What's the difference between the people of Dubai and the people of Abu Dhabi? The people of Dubai don't like the Flintstones, but the people of Abu Dhabi do. 

 

Billy Packer was quite the broadcast legend. I still remember seeing him in a Bethlehem Catholic HS basketball uniform on the front page of the Bethlehem (Pa) Newspaper. He was one of the best players in the state and did well at Wake Forest. His father was the coach at Lehigh U and not a very good one. But he was quite the affable guy. Maybe that’s where Billy got his Charisma. Too many of the greats are dying, but I guess that's life. 

 

With all of the new style shoes being glamorized these days, I find Rockport's still among the most comfortable and certainly as trendy as I want to be.  

 

A lot of movies today look like they were written by the special effects department... or the Public Relations denizens. 

 

Is the two-job family worth it now that childcare costs are startng to eat into grocery budgets?  

 

Personal income is a major problem in the new America. A lot of great parts of America gave up manufacturing in favor of the service industries and in particular in places like around here, the hospitality industry. Now economists are saying many of these communities and even states are trying to change direction to lure back higher paying, higher skilled jobs. Now, I'm not saying some hospitably jobs aren’t skilled but there is a breakeven point where the average consumer will only pay so much which is just not enough to pay salaries that meet the demands and needs of many workers. Ironically, in many hospitality dominant areas, the cost of living has become too expensive to entice workers to come there. 

 

People were aghast when in 1958 Stan “The Man” Musial was paid $100,000 to play baseball. “What is this county coming to?” 

 

I like the look of the new Bronco SUV. A lot of people must also because Ford says they are having trouble meeting demand. In fact, it is one of the bestselling ever of all rebooted brands. And competitors in the “Rugged” sector are looking over their shoulders. Ford is very, very happy. 

 

And from our Punster Laureate (Who also gave us the “Abu Dahbi Do” -- There's a new cologne made for men who enjoy wordplay. It has a bit of a pun gent scent. 

 

The Answer: 

There are about 100,000 million stars in the Milky Way. The Milky Way is just one of another multimillion galaxies.  

 

Looking up at the night sky is breathtaking. And most certainly humbling.