Getting real.

Today's Tids Issue 4,411

Beyond the Hype:

If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there would be a shortage of fishing poles. – Doug Larson

Things that I miss: Local gas stations with good mechanics.

Trump’s people came out in force last night and apparently, he kept the Amway Arena in Orlando hopping. The noise will be there all around the country. But how deep will the support be this time. Outrageous support could only make the Repub candidate more outrageous, and that’s what many Repubs fear most.

I’m a little worried about Trump’s new campaign slogan, Keep America Great (KAG). Cause you know as sure as your sitting there ingesting your morning Tids that some liberal wag will turn it into GAG.

I would say today that one of the biggest inhibitors to a rational clear-headed society is FOMA.

“Wisdom is the quality that keeps you from getting into situations where you need it.”  --DH, again.

The Question:

The “US Debt Debt Clock. Org not only provides mini-second by mini-second increases in the national debt, but also relevant real time changing data in many aspects of an economy including homes and auto brand sales. What are the 6 most sold car brands? What is the bottom six?

The Headlines:

--Stocks Treading Water Waiting Fed Decision; Dow Moves Up Mid-Morning, Other indices Down; GE Sees New Life Beginning With Powerful And Stable Aviation Businesses.

--Trump Kicks Off Campaign Before Raucous Throng Of Eager Supporters; Raises $24 M In Less Than 24 Hours.

--Tory Boris Johnson Closing In On British PM Job; Promises To Take UK Out Of EU, With No Deals.

--UN Report Urges Investigation Of Saudi Prince In Khashoggi Murder.

--Trump Admin To Unveil New “Affordable Power Act” To Replace Obama’s Clean Power Plan.

--Prez Threatens To Fire FED’s Powell One Day Before Key Fed Decision; “See How He Does,” Warns President.

--Hope Hicks Set To Be First Trump Admin Official To Testify At Congress Mueller Probe.

--10-Year-Old Colorado Girl Selah Schneiter Youngest Person To Ever Scale El Capitan Shear Wall.

A great old friend of mine, always an early adopter of everything new on the Internet, way before it infected the minds of the general public, tells me that it is really tough in biz to keep up with the changing communication habits of younger people in business. eMail is passé for sure but now even some of the substitutes have been written off in favor of “Slack”. Skype is out for meetings and chatting, losing first to Webex which he says is rapidly falling behind the new darling, “Zoom”. He spends his early mornings running through platforms to find out who is communicating where. Tech stocks don’t last forever. When I don’t want my grand children to see what I’m writing  I send it by email.

Root Canal Rock:

Yesterday the dentist worked over me humming and singing songs that only he knows. It was more deadening than pain killers.

The earth must be spinning faster because politicians and activists are dizzier than ever.

Speaking of spinning heads, how will we ever get a handle on all of the streaming opportunities that will be coming our way, much less pay for them all, as the entertainment industry seeks salvation in the new era beyond TV, and maybe movie theaters.

I look at the Trump campaign from the perspective of an old advertising warrior trying to sell a product. And the best way to sell a product is to fully understand the warts, as well as the lipstick. And, the client has to agree that there are faults.

A lot of people call for Diversity measures primarily because they don’t want to be left out of national trends.

Media news people who support all Trump actions and words 100% have no more credibility to me than media news people who pile on the hate.

The Fed chairman cannot act responsibly working under the looming shadow of a volatile CEO.

Have you noticed that men’s golf/polo/whatever-you-call-em’ shirts have skimpier and skimpier sleeves? I’m guessing that is because gym fanatics want to show off the results of their heavy lifting. For me, they pinch my muscles.

Yesterday it was a root canal. This morning it is going to an auto mechanic. I’m much more fearful of this morning.

Fox Business says the Top Ten CEO’s, according employee polling, are VM Ware at Gelsinger, H-E-B Charles Butt, In-And-Out Burger Lynsi Snyder, T-Mobile John Legere, Adobe Shantanu Narayen, Microsoft Satya Nedelia, McKinsey Kevin Sneader, Linkedin Jeff Weiner, Intuitive Surgical Gary Guthart and Best Buy Hubert Joly. The above were approved by more than 97% employee approval, Just in case you are looking for a new job.

The Answer:

Chevy is first in YTD vehicles sold with 1,295,476. Then we have Ford at 1,057,208, Toyota at 897,200, Honda at 627,203, Nisan at 623,693 and Jeep at 400,332. GMC is at 380,219. The next four in the 200K to 300 K range are in order Subaru, Hyundai, Ram, Kia and Dodge. Smart is lowest at 436 followed by Fiat at 4,165, and then Genesis at 7,907, followed by Alpha Romeo at 8,063, Mini at 16,751, Jaguar at 19,230, Porsche at 28,264 and Audi at 38,194. Other brands below 100K and between 40 and 60k are in order Volvo (41K), Cadillac (42), Lincoln (47), Land Rover (47.1), Tesla (58) and Chrysler (59K). Between 60K and 100K are Infinity (64), Acura (68) and Mitsubishi (79). The other six brands, Mercedes, VW, BMW, Buick, Mazda and Lexus are between 100K and 200K.

Take a quiet drive...to nowhere. Beyond the mental, verbal and material litter. Take the long way to anywhere. Do nothing. You can’t beat it.