THE NEW YEAR BEGINS WITH A SAVE FROM THE FISCAL CLIFF...a strange phenomenon. As to our individual income, we still lose net pay, but just not as much as we could have. Kinda feels like a lost wallet returned with the credit cards intact but the cash missing.

Still...the market jumps a few hundred since we might avoid a recession in the coming year. Then again, with cuts to the budget postponed and the projected deficit growing even faster, it seems we are living in a fantasy that cannot long outlast the reality to quickly come.

THE SCHOOL VACATION COMES AND GOES and Newtown is in the rear view mirror. Unless you are a grade school teacher, parent or student. The silent psychological stress these groups have has to be sucked up as elected and appointed leaders "review" safety in the schools. We can't put an armed officer in each school for an interim until the newest grand plan is in place?

AT LEAST THE PROVIDENCE CITY COUNCIL HAS ACTED. A resolution asking the state to ban semi automatic weapons was passed last night. I'm sure those councilors feel better now.

RI HOUSE SPEAKER GORDON FOX INVOKES THE MOVIE “LINCOLN” in his acceptance speech. Citing the president’s courage to act, the speaker forgot to mention what he wants to match up against the civil war and slavery.

But, we will battle for same sex marriage. Can you believe that with our bottom feeding economic ranking in every damn poll or survey you can find that we are moving this issue to the top of the list? Squeaky wheels get the grease, especially when the speaker is looking for a comeback in the “gay community” and his own nuptials.

And, not for nothing, I ask again: how did Gordon Fox spearhead a stealth vote on 38 Studios, cost us all 100 million dollars, and get voted back to power almost unanimously?

GREAT WEEK FOR FOOTBALL FANS. My too little too late Giants aside, Patriots have a bye, the bowl games every night this week and Notre Dame vs. Alabama Monday night. The Irish upset will make the emptiness of missing Big Blue defend the title feel a lot better.

A SELLOUT CROWD last Friday night saw Brown beat Providence College. It was a game for the ages. And the weird beauty of it was that while the Bears played on their own floor they were roundly abused by the heavy majority of visiting Friar fans. It was an away game in home gym. Hope Ed Cooley decides to continue the series. It's good for everyone.

Brown tries again tonight at URI. See you down there.

And use your hand sanitizers. Too many bugs running around.

Happy New Year!

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