Questions, always questions.

 

Today's Tids Issue 5,049

And, no answers:

 

Why do dogs always rush to the front door after the doorbell rings when it is hardly ever somebody for them?

 

I personally think that food preservatives are a good thing.

 

What do you think is going on in the stock market? Like yesterday, when a Dow up about 300 points in an instant reverses direction to end down nearly 400 points because one case of Omicron shows up in San Fran, can only be described as an irrational overreaction to me. If you read or listen to current varied financial opinions, everybody has a theory, often one at odds with the other. But maybe its just big institutional investors looking for excuses to reorder their holdings into a more operational year end position. The best advice I have heard is, “Don’t panic”.

 

My eyeglasses seem to last longer in the winter. I think it’s because I have more pockets, and they don’t get smooshed quite as much. Smooshing is bad for eye glasses.

 

Today everybody is excited about this new invention called “food delivery series. In fact, investors are ecstatic about pouring billions into companies full of people who know how to drive cars. But I remember weIl as a kid when we had regular systematic bakery, fresh fish, and a wide variety of dairy product deliveries, among the many traveling merchants who stopped by.

 

The Question:

America has voted on the Best Coffee Shops. Name the top ten.

 

The Headlines:

--Dow Futures Up; Apple Seriously Down At Opening On Negative iPhone Rumor; I US Manufacturing Index Hits Super Healthy 61.2

--House Dems Announce Plan to Fund Government To Avert Shutdown.

--New Biden Covid Plan To Feature Free Home Tests, But His New Travel Restrictions Less Demonic Than Feared; Merkel Severely Bans Unvaccinated Germans from Many Ordinary Activities – Shops And Bars.

--MLB Owners Trigger Player Lockout Option As Contract Negotiations Strike Out.

--Another Top Aid, Symone Sanders, Leaves VP Harris Staff.

--Tensions Continue To Build On Ukraine Border.

 

I remember as a young lad that the moms of my friends who were the best cooks served Danish and crumb cakes from Entenmanns.

 

Have you ever noticed yourself spending five or ten minutes rearranging a dishwasher for one more item when you could have washed it in in 30 seconds?

 

There are a lot of mixed signals coming from Americans on the Mississippi abortion case now being argued in the big court. It appears that only 24 % wat to overturn RvW. But a larger percentage don’t like some aspects of RvW, especially the 24 week limit. The conclusion of the action of the court may result a lessening of that limit, but not suggesting an overturing of the previous decisions approve RvW. I other words, if your read beneath all of the inflammatory rhetoric, it is not as black and white as it appears in daily news items.

 

The Tids Pickers struggled last week to reach 10-5 taking our record to 120-61-1 (66.4%). There are more so-called easy picks today than mind busters of the past several weeks. So, let’s reverse the order and pick them first. Note: We have had more upsets with “easy Picks” than with hard ones this year. That’s why so many teams are bunched together with similar records.

 

OK here are the picks that appear to be sure things: Arizona the is number one rated team in the NFC and da Bears are mediocre. Te Cards should win, Indy is hot and Houston has lots of flaws. Indy keeps it up. Minn will finally have an easy game this week against the Lions who have lost their roar. Atlanta is still in it , but TB is in it more. Go TB. The Rams have stunk up the place for three weeks now, but Jax is not much of team at all; LAR Stops the skid. Seattle is another team that seems lost. San Fran is finding it and will mine gold this weekend.

 

Tonight, we have New Orleans at Dallas. Well, NO has the better coach, but QB is a problem. Dallas as a QB but finding a way to win is a problem. But they will at home tonight. Cincy has looked like world beater at times and then not. But, so have the Chargers. But Sunday the Bengals will scratch their way to a victory. Miami was a team that was going nowhere and now it is. And similarly, are the Giants now back from the dead. I’ll pick the Dolphins who appear to be going somewhere faster. Balt versus Pitt has always been a war. But I don’t know of the Steelers have enough this year to rise to the occasion. This could be one of those surprise upsets. But I still have to pick the Raves. (I’ll be rooting for Pitt because a win for them is good for the Pats.) KC is on a roll and looking more like their Championship selves. But Denver has awakened and will give them a tussle this week. But I gotta stay with the Magician and his pals. And that brings us to Monday night when my beloved Pats play the pre-season AFC East favorites, the Bills. But Buffalo has looked quite average at times, and the Pats are coming together. Playing in front of raucous fans up at wintry the city by the lake can be daunting, but it wasn’t for lowly Jax. I will make that emotional pick and stay with my guys -- Pats in a close one.  .

 

Writing that the “Markets are opening higher” in the morning has really become irrelevant with regards to reality lately.

 

Today is National Mutt Day! It’s ok to love a mongrel. I feel wanted.

 

RI has successfully made it difficult for a lot of businesses to work profitably in the state. That forced us to resort to tourism as is the case with any other third world nations. Now I read that in a couple of days they will raise the Newport bridge toll by 50%-- from $4 to $6. (For non-RI EZ pass drivers). That means that for mainlanders  and out-of-staters going to dinner or lunch in Newport will cost an extra $12!

 

All I have to do to make somebody angry is write something that sounds moderately positive about Trump.

 

When some app or phone operating system says suggests, “Do this or that, it’s good for you,” it generally means give me all your data.

 

The Answer:

Well, #1 isn’t Starbucks. It is Dunkin Donuts. Actually, #2 isn’t Starbucks either. It is Caribou Coffee Company! OK, # 3 is Starbucks, which is followed by Tim Hortons (Always was better than Dunkin to me), The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Peets Coffee & Tea, Dutch Brother’s Coffee, Seattle’s Best, Gloria Jeans Coffee, and at #10, Lavazza. Going on we have Costa Cafe, Cafe Barbera Since 1870, Mc Donald’s, Scooters Coffee, Tully’s Coffee, Second Cup, Green Beans Coffee, Black Rock Coffee Bar, Juan Valdez Café and at #20, PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans. There are many great local roasters with nice, creative food options too. Actually, Seattle’s Best coffee is sold in local supremacists and I believe it is the best coffee per dollar per pound. I’ve tried all expensive brands when they are on sale, and none, including some big fancy coffee places, come close to SB.

 

The first day of a month is easy because I write about the month to come. The second day just lays there and at least from a Tids writer’s viewpoint, is generally blah.

 

Does it disturb anyone else that “The Los Angeles Angels” baseball team translates directly to “The The Angels Angels”?

 

You smiled a little, right?

Running the gamut.

Today's Tids Issue 5,048

There is no cold with a warm heart:

 

Jingle Bells E-v-e-r-y-b-o-d-y!! The Season is here with lots of shopping on tap, Christmas songs in rap and happy kids wishing on Santa’s lap. Who is still quite fat? (From eating rich creamy leftover T-day gravy.) I like December, I like the spirit.  I like the people scurrying and the decorations all around. I get mad at the mania for shopping and the anger we see among people fighting over sales items. I like the way people look for other people to help. I don’t like the way the real reason for Christmas seems to have diminished each year. I like that we remember that we can’t ever forget on December 7^th. Even the most beautiful Christmas carol doesn’t erase my heart aches for that terrible day when humans betrayed humans. Even today after about 80 years ago. Yes, December is just packed full of emotions even up to that last day when people seem to feel sad about losing a year. When before them lies an unsullied future in which to thrive.

 

I was pleased to read this morning that the Providence RI “Roger Williams Zoo had hired a new Director formerly at a lofty position at with the renown San Diego Zoo. Good news for RI’ers who probably think our state Chief Zoo Keeper is the Speaker of The House.

 

Tiger Woods can still swing a golf club as well as anybody, but the legs of a championship golfer are as important as he arms. And his legs appear to be the weak link when it comes to determining his future. I thought it interesting that while fans are bemoaning the possibility that they will not see their Tiger as they remember him, the man himself is just really, really happy to be alive. And will be able to see his children grow, and maybe even see his son become a great champ too. Sometimes in the celebrityville, we lose sight of reality. Ad that these people on pedestals are humans too.

 

You have to wonder if the USA would eb a more congenial place if Reader’s Digest was still as popular as it was when it was the biggest magazine in America.

 

The Question:

 

The Headlines:

--Markets Bounce Up This Morning After Digesting Powell’s Words Overnight.

--Michigan High School Shooter Who Killed 3, Wounded 8 Is 15 Year Old Boy; Father Purchased Gun At Black Friday Sale 4 Days Earlier.

--SC To Hear Arguments On The Mississippi Abortion Case; Case Has Potential To Challenge RvW.

 

Every once in a while you guys miss a potentially great Tidlet due to my  inability to read my ow handwriting. Tis sad.

 

A lot of people cry when they cut onions. The trick is not to form an emotional bond.

 

The Voice got down to the final eight which they are calling the semifinals. I thought that the Allen Father Son duo would go, but they were one of the first to be deemed safe. But I wasn’t surprised to see Holly Forbes and Jeremy Rosado leave. They were not very good Monday night. But I liked Rosado and thought he could have been a contender with better song selections. I was not surprised at all to see Lana Scott voted in, After all, country folk have always been strong voters and Lana is the only country singer in the competition. I liked her Monday. The final four after next week should be GNT (Girl Named Tom), Wendy Moten, Paris Winningham and Joshua Vacante. Vacante is very talented but I’m guessing that voters have trouble figuring where he sits upon the music genre scale. The fifth singer for the finals is a tough choice now. I’ll wait until next Tuesday morning to make my choice. Hailey Mia has a following, that is for sure. And, I guess, so does the Jim ad Sasha duo. Jershika Maple is an enormous talent (NPI) but must not connect that well, or that part of her vote goes to Wendy. And then there is Lana, the only country singer left. Will she be the surprise? As far as the coaches go, Blake has three, Kelly and John 2, and Ariana 1.  Ariana was lucky that the dad/son duo made it.

 

I’d like to get a peek at the ratings for NCIS ow that Gibbs has left. Personally, I had lost some interest earlier when it seemed that the suspense/mystery part of eth stories were subjugated to personal back stories.

 

People wearing bright red and white furry suits who have long flowing white beards should never eat Cheetos. Have yourself a merry orange Christmas.

 

Mel Blanc’s tombstone reads, “That’s all folks!”

 

Now that the cold seems to be discouraging golfing, I’m looking for a way to keep this old body agile and flexible. Without exposing this old body to lithe, supple, muscular, youthful oglers at a crowded gym.

 

I’m already having stomach trembles looking forward to the big Bills -Pats game next Monday night. If you look down the NFL standings just one trip-up by any number of teams could spell good-bye. There are in fact 15 teams in the AFC could make the top rung of 7 with a couple of losses here, a couple of wins there. And In the NFC there are just six teams that look pretty secure and 5-7 teams in a position to gain that final spot in the seven team playoff system. that makes a lot of games between mediocre appearing teams important. It makes every NE Pats game from here on out critical. I’ll be a nervous wreck, and thoroughly drained, by the end of the season.

 

Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Blue sky at night, day.

 

The next time it snows I’m going to build a great snowman, and for reality sprinkle Cheeto dust down the front of his or her chest, and on his fingers.

 

The new San Fran DA just fired the 8 toughest on crime prosecutors in the city. Word has it that he is the quintessential George Soros robot type, and is about as real a communist as there is in America politics. The good news is that perhaps all of our criminals will move there where it will be safe for them.

 

Rodney Dangerfield’s tombstone reads, “There goes the neighborhood”.

 

My heart aches today in the aftermath of the Michigan shooting. How frightening, how sad. Remember on Monday I wrote about the happy throngs in Ann Arbor. And now, the other side of humanity.

 

The Answer:

OK! Here we go for soaring sleighride above the clouds and around the world to meet all the Santas. There is Father Christmas, Santa Clause, Kris Kringle, Pere Noel (Frech), Weihnachtsmann (German), Babbo Natale (Italy), Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Papa Noel (Spain, Portugal South America.) See them all: https://www.santadanshort.com/2020/10/names-for-santa/

 

I bought one of those tapes to teach you Spanish in your sleep. During the night, the tape skipped. Now I can only stutter in Spanish. --Steven Wright

 

Happy December, E-v-e-r-y-b-o-d-y!! I know, the above joke has nothing to do with December or Christmas or much of anything. It just lays there for the one or two people who may laugh.