Christmas makes me Whacky.

Today's Tids Issue 2,493
Opening Stuff:

One of the great things about a cold Winter is jumping into a warm bed at night.

I figure if you still believe in Santa Clause, then you have a certain confidence in knowing that anything is possible.

There is a lot of talk floating around beneath the surface, under the Republican blanket that a late Spring surprise in the form of a Jeb Bush or Chris Christie announcement is still very much a possibility.

I am still utterly and totally awed by the voice of Jackie Evancho.

The Question:
I never considered Dallas Cowboys "Americas Team". In fact, I never ever got the idea that we needed something called America's Team. Anyhow, Dallas isn't it any more. The folks have spoken and they say Green Bay is their team now. Name the other NFL teams in the top 5. In the same poll, the favorite QB's were listed. Name them.

The Headlines:
--Deadly Blasts Rip Through Baghdad Neighborhoods In Coordinated Attacks That Killed 57.
--Unemployment Bennies Apps Fall To 364,000; Number Is Lowest Since 2008.
--Stocks Could Hiccup Up Today.
--Despite Repub Confusion, RNC Outpacing DNC In Money Race.
--Austerity Protests In Europe Bring Holiday Traffic To A lat.

Rhode Islanders, citizens of a state with an absolutely brilliant past, would be better served for the present and most certainly for the future, if their leaders were not Chafee, Reed and Whitehouse, but Gina Raimondo and Dorothy Gist.

The way teams were being upset last week, I thought the Tids Sport Department was going down 5-11. Yet the final 9-7 only appears decent because the reality was so bad. This is the time of year when you feel you have a handle on all the teams. But, nothing is ordinary this year. We're a discouraging 148-76 (66%). Onward! And, it does not get easier this week. Too many teams need to win badly, and several are playing each other. The tough games are Oak-KC, Jints-Jets, Ariz-Cinn, SD-Det, SF-Seattle, Dal-Phil and Atlanta-NO. I'm going KC, Giants, Arizona, Detroit city, San Fran, Philadelphia and New Orleans. The rest are NE, Houston (if they wake up after last weeks post championship hangover game), Tenn, Pitt, Denver, Balt, Carolina, Washington and GB.

As a followup to yesterday's Tid about the Lay-away Angels, I give you the woman crying over the generosity of an unknown person who paid for her children's gifts which would never have materialized because, as she said, she had no money -- this, as she pulled out her $250 smartphone with the $100+ monthly carrying charges. I wish I could afford a smartphone.

Dumbest research question I have read this Year, Department:
"Should Illegal aliens be allowed to vote?" Am I still on the same planet?

Well he did it. Eric Holder played the race card. He says people are out to get him and 0-Man because they are black! here we go again. How come Bush's AG Alberto Gonzales didn't play the race card when he was being persecuted by small minded Dems? Huh. Huh. Answer that!

Yup, it's Christmas alright. "Clapper" commercials are everywhere...like reindeer droppings.

The regulation mania in the 0-Man admin continues to hogtie business. Yesterday the egalitarian EPA came out with a set of regs so draconian that Utilities will be forced to spend $10 Billion per year to comply. I'm thinking, that this isn't really about clean air as they say, but a dastardly ploy to increase the costs of cheap electricity so the overly expensive "Green" alternatives are competitive.

One of the problems with corporate earnings improvement going forward is that many companies have already cut costs to the bone.

A Goldman exec and financial Prognosticator who first defined the economic power of BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India China) says these four countries are still the world's growth engine. Jim O'Neill now adds that we should keep and eye on MIST -- Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey. These formerly developing countries are on the rise to economic powerhouse status. No longer emerging but here and now as "Growth" countries. This emergence is mainly because China realizes that they need a more diverse marketplace beyond the USA for their goods. This is why China will drive the world or the next decade. They consume buyers like I do Cheetos.

The Answer:
The Cowboys still come in high at #2. They are followed by da Bears, Giants and Steelers. Surprise -- Tim Tebow was voted favorite Quarterback. 2 and 3 were the Manning Bros, Eli and Peyton. The next three were tied -- Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Aaron Rogers. At the bottom of the QB list were Dog Fighting man Michael Vick and Woman abuser Ben Rothlisberger. "America's Team"? I still don't get it.

No question though..."America's Audience" are the Tids readers.

Twitching time.

Today's Tids Issue 2,490
Opening Stuff:

OMG! It's Christmas week 2011. The tortuous moments of the week here at last; finally that week that tests the courage of the procrastinators, the cooks, the travelers. The atheists are buried under a rising crescendo of goodness, Christmas music and love thy neighbor as thyself. Everybody is busy anticipating the final exhilarating peace; when it all settles down into pure calm and ethereal enjoyment that makes the true magic of Christmas so pleasant. But most of all this, the tremor in homes aquiver accelerates with the reslessness of kids with dreams of Saint Nicholas in their hyperactive brains.

A good pal, reader and keep-me-on-my-toes occasional critic sent a poignant response to Friday Tids "War Over" comments. This reader knows and lives the real feelings which for most of us are fleeting news stories. She and her family live near Fort Bragg. She says the war ."...is not over for the many school children I sent home this afternoon who will spend yet another Christmas without at least one, if not both of their parents. It's not over for the little guy who is going back to Georgia to live with Grandma - again - because his single mom is back to the sand pit." You won't see headlines like those from podiums and in the national press, my friend adds, because the people in her community will never forget the dead, and all the wounded who return to broken households, devastated lives. A flick of the authoritative wrist and scribble of a pen never ends the reality, the scars of war.

The Question:

Today is the first day of the year of that will give us the 120th anniversary of the premiere of the Nutcracker Suite. It is probably more popular than it ever has been. Name five of the musical dances.

The Headlines:

--NK's Jong Dead; Analysts Pondering Future And Nuke Dangers Without Him; Some Worry That Successor Kim Jung-un May Need To Take Military Action To Secure Power Base.
--Markets Set For rebound; Investors Going To Cash In Advance Of Jittery Outlook For 2012..
--Egypt Disruption Escalates.
--Bob Dole Joins List Of Romney Endorsers.
--GOP House Blasts Senate's Short term Solution.
--NFL Upsets Continue; Invincible GB Ousted From Ranks Of Unbeaten.
--0-Man To Inject His Campaign Into Iowa Caucus Time Frame.
--Lady Gaga Named AP Entertainer Of The Year.

In case you hadn't already realized it yourself, the five most annoying words in the eyes of Americans have now been made official by a Marist survey. The most annoying word of all they say is "Whatever". The rest of the precious five are "You know", "Like", "Seriously" and "Just sayin' ". How about "OMG"!; "My bad"?

The biggest rip-off in the history of the world -- Mushrooms.

The second is Barny Frank who now, after the Feds charged Fannie/Freddie officials, appears to have gotten out of Dodge just ahead of the Sheriff.

Speaking of seasonal angst, how about that government of ours and the turmoil over this payroll tax political ploy. We have a President promoting reducing contributions to an already devastated Social Security Trust fund. How dumb is that. And he is pointing that long accusatory finger of his at the Repubs for not going along with his plan to potentially shorten the life of a pension plan that seniors rely upon. But then, the Giv has been robbing Peter to pay Paul for years.

This is about the time we'd be starting the countdown to the annual January return of "24". Kthunk. Kthunk. Kthunk always sounded like Jingle Bells to me. Alas.

After reading the recent comments by GM CEO Dan Akerson that his company is a "Lumbering Bureaucracy resistant to change", it's no wonder the feds felt so comfortable with the takeover.

I have to tell you that one of the long time problems with US business has been the rise of the so-called "Professional manager". Too many chiefs have as their greatest asset the ability to play inside politics. Most don't have a creative bone in their body and just ride upon the success of the doers and innovators...and often a robust economy. They appear to spend more time figuring out how to get paid enormous sums of money for failure. In a magazine I once worked for, we often the wrote that the way to fix the decline of US industry in the 1980's due to the rise of Germany and Japan as competitors, was to ship our MBA's overseas to their companies.

I generally have liked Best Buy, but that was before their commercials belittling good ole' Santa.

When you read the often inane and simplistic columns of "Green" newspaper columnists, you get a real sense of what it would be like to live in a full nanny state.

On Friday Mrs Kobe Bryant announced she was seeking a divorce from her husband, a man she stood behind when accused of brutal assaults on women. She released the following statement, "In the interest of our young children and in light of the upcoming season, we would hope you would respect our privacy..." Excuse me, you made the decision to announce this during the "upcoming season". What is it with these people?

I think very little of a growing number of psuedo-intellectuals who seem to think it may make them appear smart with their disregard of good ole' Santa Claus.

The Answer:

You have probably hummed one of these tunes during your lifetime. The dances are Sugar Plum Fairies, Russian, Chinese, Arabian, Spanish and Mirlitons...and then the Waltz of the Flowers and Snowflakes.

By the way, what exactly is a mirliton you ask. It is a simple musical instrument like a Kazoo or a comb and tissue paper where the voice provides the tone. It is also a tubular French pastry found in New Orleans. In the Nutcracker it is the dance of the reed pipes; Although some over the years have interpreted it as the dance of the sweet candies.

The Christmas mood has entered my soul.

8 More days to Hanukkah.

Today's Tids Issue 2,485
Opening Stuff:

Friday, Connecticut courts sentenced the second savage who in 2007 brutally raped then murdered a mother and two daughters in their Cheshire Connecticut home. It took four years and two trials, millions of dollars, and the repeated psychological assault on the lives and minds and hearts of the remaining, loving relatives. Why? I don't get law sometimes.

There's only one good reason to keep your cell phone on at all times. To call it so you can find it when it's lost.

Britain abstained from the commitment by other European countries to support the losers who are bringing down the Euro, and perhaps the world economy. Britain which at one time was moving towards adopting he Euro has now said, "We're never going to join the Euro, and we're not going to give up the sovereignty that other countries are having to give up." That's the problem with Euro-Style socialism, there always large group more than happy to live off those who do the heavy lifting. In Europe today it seems to be countries willing to give up their proud heritage to rescue not the poor, but the bad decisions makers. It's kind of like society today in General, isn't it? People don't think of the consequences, of the the people around them and the effects of their actions on others lives. I'll just get mine, and if I mess up, I'll just say I'm sorry. Pretty pathetic.

Driving around now-a-days is a feast of colored lights, Santa, reindeer, snowman and of course magnificent creches. The varying displays will draw oohs from many and criticisms from others. But the good, the bad and the ugly all say the same exact thing; people are pouring out their hearts in celebration! They all look great to me.

The Question:

Double day! 1. A boat has a ladder that has seven rungs, each rung being one foot apart. If there are two rungs above water and the tide falls 12 inches every 30 minutes for the next 3 hours, how many rungs will be above water? 2. Name the 2 best known Connie Francis songs.

The Headlines:

--Wall Street Says Friday Jubilation After Euro Summit Agreement Over-Reaction To Minimal Plan; Stocks Look To Go Lower.
--Tebow Amazes The Masses Again.
--al-Qaida Inmates Escape In Yemen Prison Break.
--Obama's New Campaign Tact: Blame Country;s Unhappiness On Republican Mistakes; Signifies Prez Inability To Run On Own Record.
--Newt Survives Fellow Repubs Attacks In Latest debate As Frontrunner.
--Italian Woman Leaves $13.1 Million Fortune To Cat; Meow!

Interesting how the great Jewish observance Hanukkah sneaks upon us quietly, with reverence. Maybe it's because the Jews celebrate it for what it is, its intinsic beauty, and not because of how plays upon the national stage.

I think I spent a semester in college listening to Tchaikovsky's 4th and the death scene from Tristan and Isolde. For fun!

The Tids new working slogan is Maintaining Balance in Life through Sarcasm.

You look at the blood in the streets; the dictators chanting, ranting; the the crumbling houses; the anguish on the faces of the struggling throngs. And then, you look across the dessert to the Dubai Golf Championship. The mystery of the middle east. Amazing how the focus of a camera can change one's view, isn't it.

Mozart often lost his cool during concerts, but was always able to compose himself.

If the world's cameras only focused on our celebrity mayhem, the OWS in the streets, think of what the world would think of the USA.

You can take that to the bank, Department:
You can be sure that the "O" Campaign Team is working overtime to get the jobless rate to 8% before the election. And, considering the last report showing whopping 0.5 drop after a minimal private jobs creation number but a large left-the-seeking-work number, I'm counting on our unbiased 4th Estate to keep us properly informed on any admin finagling. Yeah, sure. Meanwhile 0-Man is firmly affixed in the above the fray mode.

The Unemployment number is one thing, but how about the wealth being lost by families? Over the summer American families lost on average $21,286! Maybe using the word "wealth" is the wrong tact...for that would surely bring down upon the "everyday savers for retirement" the wrath of the white house.

And then, there is Bobby Bonds awaiting sentencing -- the poster child for above-the-laws-meant-for-the-little-person celebs.

That Pats/Skins game in the DC area yesterday looked like it was refereed by government employees.

It is hard to believe that the insular French, and a German nation that started two world wars to expand their sovereignty, are actually willing to give some of it up.

But then, the NFL is becoming as PC as society in general, PC kind of takes the heart out of everything, doesn't it? Especially the truth.

Has anybody figured out yet just why 0-Man won the Nobel Peace Prize?

Did you hear about the guy who while standing at the graveside of the great Ludwig Von Beethoven heard the 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th symphonies played backwards? He was decomposing.

Almost Near: Chapter 54. -- "Hi Samantha!" Samantha looked around and saw a smiling Tucker, calm, relaxed staring down at her as she nibbled on an English muffin in the hotel breakfast room. She rose immediately.
"Tucker, Tucker..." she threw her arms around him and buried herself in his. She stayed that way for thrity seconds. "Where have you been? You just disappeared."
"I'm just working to help you."
"How did you know I was here? Why would you look for me here?"
"Oh, it wasn't superhuman mystic powers," he pushed a ways and smiled. "I called the woman in Dante's office. Terrible what happened there." Tucker noticed a certain sadness in her eyes."
"It's awful Tucker. Just awful. He's a pretty nice guy." She moved away his arms and sat. "Want some coffee?"
She pushed the coffee carafe his was, and he poured. "So, why are you here?" he smiled as he added, "My mystic powers aren't that good."
Samantha explained the death of her parents, and how she thought there might be clues to her real life. She didn't tell him everyhting she had learned or what she felt inside about learning more about herself. "Did you know my parents? What were they like?"

The Answer:

1. As we all know the boat goes up and down with the tide, so two rungs are always above water. I know you got that one right away. 2. I never really liked Connie Francis all that much. I probably just hummed along because a girl friend of the moment liked her. Her best known twosome were Where the Boys Are and Who's Sorry Now.

Don't try to measure, define, critique the love in the hearts of people.

I have found that the vast majority of Jews look at the green tree for the season and say, "Of course it's a Christmas tree."

December hash.

Today's Tids Issue 2,484
Opening Stuff:

Are you getting the feeling that baseball salaries are bigger than the Greece GDP?

There are a lotta folks who coulda bin, but only a few who is.

You may not have noticed, but my aching fingers have -- The Tids is creeping up on its 2,500th Fun Packed issue! If I'm up to it, I may do something special, like know tyypos!

If you want to be "In" during 2012, stock your wardrobe with Pantone Color Institute's "Color of the Year" -- "Tango Tangerine". It's like a vibrant, redder, coho salmon with zing. Before cooking. Much more red than orange.

The Question:
Which National stock markets, both emerging countries and so-called established markets did best to date?

The Headlines:

--Big Countries Compromise Nationalist Views; Move to Save Euro.
--Consumer Confidence Best Since June'
--Markets Rising On Euro Action And Confidence.
--Putin Consulting With Image Makers.
--US Defense Experts Fear Iran Selling Stealth Drone Secrets To China, Russia.
--SC Meeting Today To Determine Whether Or Not To Rule On Arizona Immigration Law.
--African Nations Say Obama Push For Gay/Lesbian Human Rights Is "Abhorrent"; Uganda Senior Advisor Says "I Don't Like Her (Hillary) Tone At All"; Almost All Of Africa's 54 Nations Ban Homosexuality.


Illinois, California and the United States seem to think that the only problem with their near disaster deficit ridden budgets is that people aren't paying enough taxes. All of the other US entities seem to be gaining an inkling that perhaps they may be spending too much. It takes a while for politicians to wake up...or is that, have the guts to get honest with themselves.

At 25, Lindsey Lohan is just another average wasted blond has-been. Actually, it is kind of sad. Any time a human goes down the tubes it's sad.

It's early, but it appears that new URI Pres Dooley is the leader they've needed for a long, long time down there in beautiful Kingston. So far he looks up to turning the state university into one of the great learning institutions.

The food manufacturers are doing a good job with their quickie meal sides of rice, pasta or mash pots. As fast as advertised and quite tasty.

It's tough to get the Christmas spirit when there are so many people arguing amongst themselves over just who has the better idea about the Christmas spirit. But then, think about that great letter to a little girl who wanted to believe from "The Sun's" Francis Pharcelius Church, "Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus." "He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist; And they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy." Believing without seeing is the faith that moves the world. Bah-Humbug to the mathematicians.

Jon Stewart delivered a humorous bit the other night featuring RI Gov. Chafee-Lite and slamming those who worry about the sancitiy of Christmas. In a snide reference about Congress historically being open on The Day just like a 7/11, he used the ACLU and an agendized History Channel special "Christmas Unwrapped" as his sources. Bad idea. An examination of actual Congress records showed he was 100% incorrect. "But Jeez Mom, it was on TV. It must be right because Jon Stewart is famous."

Goosebumps don't count on the X-Factor. Frankly the program has become totally unwatchable, especially the histrionics of the judges. They have done one thing well, they have connected with a demographic totally opposite that of AI.

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:
--Tinker, tailor, Soldier, Spy is, yes, that Great Jon LeCarre series of cold ar novels that often left my mind boggling and my eyelids heavy. But, the great story, the great intrigue was always there. You just had to catch up and keep pace. The movie seems to pull it all together as Famed M16 (The Circus) intelligence officer George Smiley narrows down a list of suspects who may be a mole...including himself.
--The episodic movie New Years Eve has one thing going for it -- if one story gets tedious there's always another around the corner. With stars aplenty tghis film looks at the stories of people as the dorpping of the ball approaches, including Hillary Swank as the woman in charge of the ball dropping. Some of the stories are quite connected and others lead to a connection. I tend to like that style, but I'm not sure this one isn't too much.
--The Sitter is probably pretty stupid with annoying precocious foul mouthed tykes (A new H-Wood trend?). Loser college student gets sitting job, but must take kids along on quest for sexual adventurer which gets dangerous. I think you can write the plot. Just get low and superficial.

I think I'm getting real tired of the new genre of movies featuring misfit, foul-mouthed kids coming home from rehab.

Trump is trying to create a controversy over the fact that several Repub candidates aren't showing up for his Newsmax debate. Do you think maybe that the Candidates are thinking the debate would only be about Trump?

Almost Near: Chapter 53 continues. --
"I met the kids and they are fine. Nice kids, leading me to believe they were raised buy somebody other than a Quimpiere. The Quimpiere Aunt, Florence, who has them is a nice woman who actually moved away from here to avoid the antics of her family. And she feels sorry for the boy's mother. But, You know all about that twosome."
"Everybody does. Keep going. But, I warn you I may hold you in contempt of detective!" He smiled. John is a nice guy, he's just a power mad pain in the ass. She stared back at him.
"The kids said the their mom hid them because their dad beat the crap out of mom, and Florence said she became worried he would go after them now that the were older."
"So, around the time she secures the kid's safety, the abuser gets whacked with a shovel. Doesn't look good for your woman."
"I'm telling you this John, because you are smarter than the average cop." She smiled an exaggerated smile. "The kids love that suspect of yours. And, she has a much bigger story than just that in which you're involved. I've been trying to get more out of Tucker, because I have this feeling he knows a lot. I'm beginning to believe he has been manipulating this poor woman for years."
John handed her the phone. "Call him. Get him down here."
"Uh-huh, I see. When. No kidding." Audrey looked up. He checked out!"
"For some reason , that doesn't surprise me."

The Answer:
The best average for the "Deveoped Stock Markets is the 2% gain for Ireland. For those emerging it is Indonesia with 4%. All of the rest are negative for the year. The rest of the developed in order are US (-2%), Spain (-15), Germany, France, Japan, Italy and Greece (63). On the emerging side it's Mexico, Russia, China, Turkey, India , Brazil and Egypt (42)

It's getting to be that time of year when I start wearing socks again. It's been a great ride while it lasted.

Go Lehigh, Beat South Dakota State.