Ask or die.

Today's Tids Issue 3,663

For Inquiring Minds:

Instead of looking at the thermometer we should look at the billowing trees, moved by a constant breeze. Hot days are not hot at all if you dwell on how you feel rather than what people say. Too much of what annoys us is not there at all. Age does not mean you are old. Having dissimilar interests doesn’t mean you can’t agree. Most people are more alike than different. We just react to diverse doctrines, bow to popularity without asking questions. Agreement is closer if we try to understand the real facts behind differences. Unless of course you are talking to a bill collector and haven’t sent in a dime.

Developing a tolerance for inconvenience will overcome a lot of petty anguish.

With the new NFL rule changes I’m thinking coaches are making the 2 Point extra Play a game changer. And give fans a lot more to grouse about.

I have always enjoyed Von Suppe’s Light Calvary Overture and Rossini’s overture to the opera The Thieving Magpie.

The Question:

Name 7 characters in the wonderful Wizard of Oz.

The Headlines:

--Russia Ukraine Clashing Over Crimea; Russia Sends In Missiles.

--US Stocks Lower Leading Into Weekend.

--NFL Bars Cowboys From Honoring Cops With Decal.

--4 Thailand Tourists Killed, Dozens Wounded In Coordinated Bombings.

--Burkinis Banned On Cannes Beaches.

--Emails Reveal That DOJ Shut Down FBI Request To Investigate Clinton Foundation; Other new Emails reveal that Sate Department Officials Did Favors For Foundation Bigs.

I would worry about the commercial real estate market and its effect on the economy. Macy’s just announced more closings, this time 100 stores. The situation is deeper than overexpansion. It is paradigm change that is potentially Kavorkian in nature. The discount stores are mobbed and the old line department stores aren’t. In fact old line is becoming on-line, and there are no lines forming at cash registers. So what do we put into all of those vacant stores -- apartments and condos for people without jobs? Do I sound pessimistic. I’m not, just pragmatic about realikty The steel and manufacturing businesses left and wiped out cities towns. Change as massive as something like the demise of emporiums has  happened through history. This just feels more personal.

One of the hallmarks of the Clinton machine political dogma is appropriating the best ideas of the opposition as their own. Other people invent things that the Clinton’s parrot implying ownership. Some people say that’s just politics. I call it lack of character.

I have watched kids play the water game “Marco Polo” and have never understood it at all.

Surprise Party, Department:

I’d wager that in the back of many people’s mind is the anticipation of some dirty laundry October surprise that could totally derail one or the other candidate. But equally possible is the September surprise which could be the stock market going crazy…or worse, with candidates scrambling one way or another.. At this point in the summer, every year, most are just guessing what will happen. The real facts typically emerge about a week after Labor day. So I always as hold my breath regardless of what the money gurus say. If it gets real bad, The Clinton Foundation may have to bail out the Fed, and The Hill would be broke again.

One of the potential threats to economic stability is a Heloc Hiccup, meaning the transformation Home Equity Lines Of Credit from interest only to interest and principle. Banks are already reporting mortgage and/or loan payment delinquencies, and that is before the bulk of the 10 year interest free periods is fully upon us. Financial genius make great gains for their own present, but the future consequences always belong to the taxpayer and small investor. Creative thinking on wall street is killing us.

An NPR panel tis morning agreed that they don’t understand Hillary ‘s economic proposals but do understand Trumps. That doesn’t mean they like either of them. The economy has moved away from making steel and things out of steel, but the people who used to make steel and products out of steel haven’t. Theyb still have hope and the candidates are feeding it, Bringing back manufacturing strikes a happy note in older American’s hearts, but it won’t happen. Highly precise manufacturing will stay and continue to grow, but even at its best it will be infinitesimal compared to the past. Good pay and great satisfaction, but small.

Reading Between the Lined Movie Reviews:

-Meryl Streep is a fine actor, but I don’t go berserk over seeing her name on a marquis. Her Julia Child’s voice is still grating in my head. I think her singing in will have the same effect, like nails on a a blackboard. But, it is supposed to be that bad and Streep pulls it off. It’s about a slightly deranged wealthy woman who wants to sing opera and just has terrible voice. It’s a biopic about nothing. Hugh Grant is probably great to watch as usual and they say Simon Helberg deserves and Oscar. I’ve read reviews that range form I love Meryl to just plain awful.

--Hell On High Water receives the highest critical acclaims for the week. It’s a good old western movie about a heist. Banks want to foreclose on the family farm, and the sons take to robbing them to stop the bleeding. It all turns into a potential bloody ending. A Texas Ranger about to retire decides to make capturing the boys his swan song, so he and trusty Comanche partner take after them and meet in a final showdown.

--The critics also like Mel Gibson’s Blood Father about an ex-con who fights to protect his estranged daughter from a drug cartel hot on her tail. His criminal skills and ex prison pals serve him well.

--Pete’s Dragon is a nice animated pic about an orphan boy who just happens to have a dragon for a friend. Pleasant, but maybe a little sleepy.

--Sausage party is about the tasty wursts having a party in the supermarket aisles on the night before the big holiday sausage sage sale. It is fun and not too bad, but already I’m concerned about the hot grill to come.

The Answer:

Well of course there is Dorothy being whisked away from Aunt Em and Uncle Henry, where she lands in Oz killing the Wicked witch of the West. Glinda (Good Witch of the South) gives her the silver slippers to help her on her way to conquer the Wicked Witch of the West. You didn’t forget her pals the Scarecrow, Coward[y Lion and Tin Woodsman. It’s all about the not so magical Wizard of Oz who she espies behind the curtain and who helps her to get home to Kansas.

Somewhere over the rainbow there is always love and happiness. A and I always try to head that way.

Have a Great Weekend, E-v-e-r-y-b-o-d-y!