Awakening to an unwoke world.

 

Today's Tids Issue 4.789

A light beyond: 

 

It was good to see that the Airlines agreed to limit animals onboard to those absolutely necessary as service animals for Blind and others. The “Emotional Support” gimmick ruined flying for many. I understand that now the Cannabis Association is lobbying for smoking pot on airlines for those who can’t get by without their animals. It’s only fair. Flying high is back.

 

Now that Biden is in, the House “Ask” will be modified so more bills could get through the Senate to Joes desk for signing. Lala-Pelosi was not about to give Trump a good pre-election stimulus bill for America to sign.

 

I am avoiding all of this discussion over voter fraud et.al. I am only interested in one thing nationally right now. It’s the Georgia election. It’s the only thing that counts politically in America. Period. I just pray every day that you know who’s ego doesn’t mess it up.

 

Trump can’t use the white house any more. Its’ For-biden

 

The Question:

What was the name of the singer who in 1953 made “Life is just a bowl of cherries” a big song hit? Bonus: What was the first true coed college in America?

 

The Headlines:

--Stocks Up Maintaining Record Heights; Jobless Claims Improve For First Time Since 3 Weeks; US Service Sector Index Continues To Stay Positive Well Above Crossover Point 50.

--Chuck and Nancy Say they Support Bipartisan $908 Bil Stimulus; Joe All For It Too; McConnell Says Stimulus Deal Compromise, “Within Reach”.

--US Brings Back Atlantic Fleet As Russia Threats Increase; Navy Secretary Kenneth Braithwaite Says Terrorism No Longer Us Biggest threat As China Joins Russia In Increasing Threats.

--France Launches Major Investigation Into 76 Mosques Suspected Of Separatist Teaching And Planning.

--GW Bush, Clinton And Obama Will Jointly and Publicly Take First Vaccine Shots.

-- New Photos Show Clinton Receiving Massage On Epstein Island; No Foul Play Observed.

 

I am trying to spend as much time outside as possible. It makes me feel safer in these Covid times.

 

I don’t know about where you all are, but around here people are starting to protest for jobs and less government intervention, as opposed to summer protests for more loony government programs and overhauls. I think we are making progress.

 

A clean desk is a sign of a cluttered desk drawer.

 

It is hard to tell when one NFL week ends and another begins, since yesterday, Wednesday we saw Pitt sneak by Baltimore for week 1 twelve’s finale. The Tids-Pickers went 13-3 which was quite good bringing our record to 123-52-1 (70.3%). No game tonight, but some good matches for Sunday plus 3, count em’, 3, for Monday, Pearl Harbor Day. The best for the week ahead, if Covid doesn’t get in the way, are the The Rams butting up against the Cardinals, Saints against a resurgent Atlanta, Indy facing another reclaiming some respect - Houston, Browns versus Titans and Buff and San Fran. Of those I’m going Atlanta, Indy, San Fran and Tennessee. I’m thinking the Rams/Cardinal game should be very good with both needing the win for the NFC West. I see the Rams bouncing back, But this will be close.

 

Of the rest. I’m going homer with the Pats finding a way one more time against the Chargers, Dolphins over the Bengals in a good game, Vikings taking Jax, Raiders keeping Jets winless, Bears gnawing on Lions (King or no King), Seahawks over Giants, Pack over Eagles ( just miss all the time) and Chiefs over the Broncs (QB this week?) In the last two games it should be Steelers over Skins and Ravens over Cowboys. But the Steelers and Raven played last night and will hit Monday with only 4 days for rest, repair and practice. I still go Pittsburgh. Are the Ravens demoralized? Probably a little, but Cowboys look like they have given up. Ravens to win.

 

My least favorite color is orange. I hate it more than red and yellow combined.

 

Rafer Johnson died yesterday. He was a great Olympics Decathlon champion. Remember decathlon champions? For a while in America these athletes were considered the cream of the crop; the athletes on top of the human physicality pyramid. I think it all started with the legendary Jim Thorpe in 1912. But as kid I remember dreaming that if I only could be Bob Mathias, a two-time decathlon champ. This was the stars to reach for. Glenn Morris won in 1936 in Berlin, but Mathis was big because he won it in the first post war Olympics when America a was needing heroes. After Bob, there was succession of American heroes, Milt Campbell, Rafer Johnson, Bill Toomey and guess who, Bruce Jennings. After Jennings the Great Daly Thompson of Great Britain got all the praise for two years. But I have to say, after him just haven’t felt the excitement, broad admiration of the past including US winners Dan O’Brien, Bryan Clay and Ashton Eaton (Twice). Maybe the media doesn’t think the back stories are good enough anymore. Today, it’s all about weepy tales.

 

The best way for kids to get a puppy for Christmas is to ask for a baby brother.

 

I’m thinking that the Supreme Court after all of these years may be giving the country back Freedom of Religion.

 

The Answer:

Well, anybody around then knew of Jaye P. Morgan who had everybody enjoying their cherries. Bonus: The first true “Coed” college was Oberlin College in Ohio. It is now a very good liberal arts college strong in music, but also known as liberal bastion. What do you think they said back in 1837 when both sexes were allowed to study on the same campus? Horrors! Did the Queen Victoria morality era of 60 years begin because of that? In 1835 it was one of the first to admit African Americans and in 1837 it said ok to women.

 

How many people are singing Life is just a bowl of cherries during Covid?

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Life+is+just+a+bowl+of+cherries+Jaey+P.+Morgan&view=detail&mid=92AB193B9E0A0DC3AFF492AB193B9E0A0DC3AFF4&FORM=VIRE0&ru=%2fsearch%3fform%3dMOZTSB%26pc%3dMOZI%26q%3dLife%2bis%2bjust%2ba%2bbowl%2bof%2bcherries%2bJaey%2bP.%2bMorgan

 

 

Looking beyond ourselves.

 

Today's Tids Issue 4,788

Altruism:

 

Think of the nurses. Think of the endless hours treating the sick as new serious cases keep on coming and they must wonder, will it ever end. Think of the nurses when lives end. When they are perhaps the only person to hold a lonely hand as life releases to heaven. Think of the nurses feeling and carrying the emotions for all of the loving families not there. Think of the tears within kind hearts.

 

“Where there is great love there are always miracles.”

 

I may take up Christmas shopping for a change to get me out of the house during Covid. I think it would be worth spending my $67.58 for regular fresh air. Hold on, I just found four quarters. Make that $68.58.

 

While looking at XRays, a good podiatrist always adds footnotes.

 

“There are only two or three human stories, and they go on repeating themselves as fiercely as if they had never happened before.”

 

The Question:

For what is Willa Cather best known?

 

The Headlines:

--Markets Appear Poised To Take Step Back In Early Trading; Economists Looking At Potential For Pent-Up Demand To Spring Loose In March-April 2021; Furloughed And Layed-Off Workers Expected To Return.

--UK Allows Pfizer CV Vaccine For Emergency Use.

--Mnuchin and Powell To Speak Before House Committee On Pandemic Relief.

--AG Barr Says No Evidence Of Significant Wrongdoing In Elections; Barr Appoints Durham As Special Investigator To Discover Genesis Of Russia Deception; DoJ Probing Possible WH Bribery For Pardons Accusations.

--Biden Tells NYT Times He Won’t Immediately Remove China Tariffs.     

 

Conflicting Headlines, Department:

“Seattle Homicides Hit Highest Levels In Decade.

“Seattle To Slash Police Budgets.” What more can I say… the world has co gone mad.

 

“The fact that I was a girl never damaged my ambitions to be a pope or an emperor.

 

I wonder if she would be that tolerant if she knew that today if a woman is a Republican or conservative, the left and their press doesn’t dignify their achievements grand or small. It seems that women are only praised nationally for accomplishments if they adhere to the alleged correct agenda. Yup, that’s the way it looks from here.

 

Now is not the right time to surround yourself with positive people.

 

How many great pictures are there of families smiling and laughing around a Christmas tree?

 

I have to wonder how much influence Obama will have in the new White House. I suspect I will be a lot more than what will be good for America.

 

“The end is nothing, the road is all.”

 

I beginning to think that the most important objective for a lot of politicians is to stop the facts from getting out to the public.

 

The Answer:

All of the quotes today sprinkled throughout are from Willa Cather. Cather was quite the writer, a Midwestern plains girl who went from the University of Nebraska to become the woman who gave America visions of Plains living with her novels -- O Pioneers!, The Song of the Lark and My Antonio. She won the Pulitzer for her 1922 novel set it WWI – “One of Ours”.

 

“Most of the basic material a writer works with is acquired before the age of fifteen.”

Polish the sleigh runners.

 

Today's Tids Issue 4.787

Brass up the sleigh bells:

 

The bells begin gently. The spirit rekindles. The visions and aromas, of logs blazing in warm fires, and e aromas of pine throughout the house as wreaths and trees take their seasonal places. The true feelings of good cheer that always pervades the weeks before the most beautiful, wonderous of holidays. And it always dramatically defines peacefulness compared to the ruckus of supercharged sales days at the end of November. Ah December, the month when kids start dreaming, and life seems to see a better ending looming. Yet for those in Peary Harbor in 1941, that which ends in thee serene solitude of majestic glory end never came, I can never nor will I ever forget the memory of one the worse betrayals of humanity in of all e world’s history; that peaceful Sunday morning when the roar and the bombs came from the sky. Nobody should ever forget, or enable with excuses. As we look towards the glory of praising choruses, we should never forget the infamy and the horrors of mans evil. Thus, is the nature of life. I will enjoy the promises of peace and loving that December always brings.

 

A chicken and an egg walk into a bar. The bartender asks, “Who’s first?”

 

I hope Trump isn’t ruining Georgia for Repubs which right now we need a lot more than an outgoing President. We’re talking about the future here, not broken egos.

 

It is very interesting that more people than ever are buying live Christmas trees. It’s a good sign that people are reawakening to the older, simpler life. Maybe Covid is a psychological boom after all. Maybe people will see progressivism, as regressive. that we lose too much for change. That we’re better not forgetting the good of the past.  

 

I bought my grandson a refrigerator for Christmas. I can’t wait to see his face light up when he opens it.

 

The Question:

Name Charles Dickens greatest books.

 

The Headlines:

--Stocks take Off; Trader Optimism Buoyed By Covid Vaccine Progress Could Keep Rally Going WelI Into Next Year.

--Virus Threat Worsening; Covid Hot Spot Map Almost All Red; TDay Travel Expected To Worsen Crises.

--Bipartisan Group Of Senators Announce $9000 Billion CV Stimulus Package; Dem Senators Pushing To Extend Current Covid Protections.

--US Manufacturing Easing.

--McDonald’s To Reintroduce McRibs.

--All Six Key Swings States Now Certified For Biden

--Jihadists Attach And Kill One Hundred Civilians In Bloody Nigerian Massacre.

 

Frostbite: What you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire.

 

The Voice began its live shows last night with 17 singers, some quite good and others ok. They will be cut down to 9 after the viewer voting to be announced at tonight’s show. Also, some news – we were told excellent operatic singer Ryan Ferguson had left the show. New details say he probably broke some Covid protocols.  I rated the singers Very Good, Good and Ok, with some in the OK-G, G-Ok and G-VG. My Very Good singers, and I must say a lot of this had to do with song choice, were Madeline Consoar, Ben Allen, Carter Rubin and Sid Kingsley. the “Goods” were Tanner Gomes, Cami Clune, Worth the Wait (Trio), Ian Flanigan, Taryn Papa (Winner of 4 Way Knock Out, Chloe Hogan and John Holiday. Even though Payge Turner rated lower as did Jim Ranger, I still think they have a shot at moving froward. Tanara Jade was also good but not to my liking. Probably the biggest disappointment was Desz, an early favorite who just didn’t do well with “What’s love got to do with it”. I gave her an Ok. So wo stays? You can never count out country singers regardless of the performances. Most likely to be the nine are Carter Rubin, Cami Clune, Sid Kingsley Ben Allen, Tamara Jade, Ian Flanigan, Chloe Hogan, Jim Ranger and Worth the Wait. But I wouldn’t rule out Payge Turner and certainly John Holiday. I personally liked Taryn Papa, but she probably doesn’t a shot.

 

I love a wild, helter-skelter ocean after a big windstorm.

 

It was reported today that EU Greenhouse gas emissions are down 24% since 1990. I can agree that the climate may be changing. Of course, this ideological, likely manufactured split among Americans has always been about what or who is causing whatever may be changing. It’s about alleged human careless or simple the result of  another  climatic cycle, which have been going on since the beginning of our favorite planet. You know that day when God plunked Earth down to orbit the sun. Emissions are also down in the US. So, if emissions are generally down due to restrictions of the past 30-40 years, but the “Scientists” keep sending out dire warnings about oceans engulfing land masses.  I’m thinking that something is wrong with this bleak picture of coasts being under water. if greenhouse gases are being reduced, and the scientists keep saying the oceans are going up, then it is possible greenhouse gas abatement isn’t the answer. No, it is more likely that the land is sinking. Too many heavy people, but I don’t like the remedy to that phenomena.

 

What do you call a snowman in July? A puddle.

 

Maybe that’s the coastal problem… the snowmen are melting.

 

This is a great time of year to be walking the beaches. The ocean is enigmatic in the winter, the seaside marshes more appealing pleasantly barren. And of course there are next to no people, except all those who appreciate the emptiness. And no ill-fitting bathing suits to mar the scenery.

 

The Answer:

Charles Dickens wrote some good stuff listed from first book written to the last. He began in 1837 with The Pickwick Papers. Then he wrote Oliver Twist followed by Nicholas Nickleby, A Christmas Carol, David Copperfield, Bleak House, Hard Times, Little Dorrit, Tale of Two Cities and #10 in 1861, Great Expectations. I’m sure in English classes I made up some great book reports on most of these.

 

Great writing endures. The Tids endures because somehow unbeknownst to me, they arrived on the cloud.