Feelings you can’t see.

Today's Tids Issue 3,717

For Seeing Beyond:

Halloween is difficult. I can’t decide whether I want to go out as a Corporate Enterprise Resources Planning Executive, or an enormous Cheeto. Actually, last year I went as a Ghost, but kept on getting orange fingerprints all over my sheet. Seriously though, I was originally going out trick or treating as a hot turkey sandwich, but couldn’t figure out how to keep the gravy hot! Halloween does strange things to my mind.

One of the things I have learned writing this thing is sensitivity. I’m sure many readers don’t see that, as I have my own opinions about many aspects of life. But, I know there are many with solid opinions of their own, perhaps entirely different than mine. O, not perhaps, for sure. I know that people are in possibly physical, or personal, intellectual, religious or psychological states of which I can’t possibly know. But, I do know for sure they are there. And, that I must feel what I can’t know. Some would say that empathy is a character fault, but I have found that feeling for others, and more important trying to understand those feelings others have, is about as good as it gets.

Of course, sometimes I just ram my tongue into my cheek to see how and how many people I can roil.

The Clinton spin machine was working overtime this weekend. I just hope the Repubs don’t go into overkill mode. If the results of the investigation come out tepid, which they certainly could, the Hill will standup and say, “See, once again, it’s all talk and bluster. There’s nothing there…which is what I have been saying all along.” But then, you, know Hillary: “Hey, OMG, I just found these Rose Law firm files on my dining room sideboard. Well, waddaya know…like magic.” Smile, Smile. Bobble head, bobble head. God help us.

Lot’s of composers of piano concertos are elevated to sainthood status by music critics -- You know, like Mozart, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, Chopin…the usual suspects. But this morning I put on my five, count em, five concertos by Camille Saint Sans, and I’m thinking, how great are these! Why isn’t the Frenchman listed among the best? I guess a musical lunkhead like me just doesn’t understand the big picture. But, there are some amazing movements, magical melodies in this array musical mischief. And they stir my soul and raise the air on my arms. So that’s the critic I listen to – Mr. Goosebumps.

The Question:

In 1953, General George Marshall won the Nobel Peace Prize. See if you can guess who won it a year earlier in 1952. Bonus: what were the best known roles for David Ogden Spears, Sally Kellerman and Dermut Mulrony?

The Headlines:

--US Consumer Spending Soars In September; Income Growth Has Americans Buying; Markets Flat; EU Growth Quite Modest At.3%.

--Dems And Hill Scramble Madly; Hill campaign Brings Back Old Johnson Daisey Commercial To Divert Attention.

--Midwest Manufacturing Activity Index Drops Significantly In Month.

--Hillary Love Affair With Comey Off After 4 Glowing Months; Comey Receiving Slings And Arrows Of Obama And Hillary Supporters; Would Have Received The Same From Repubs If He Had Waited Until After The Election.

--Clinton, Uma Not Talking Since Friday; Dem And Hillary Campaign Worker Doug Schoen Says He Can’t Vote For Boss.

--Iraqi Forces Could Enter Mosul By End Of Day.

--Alaskans Wonder If Their Monster Is Bigger Than Nessie.

One of the great anti-climaxes to me is the Third Suite in Ottorino Respighi’s Ancient Airs and Dances.

An Artificial Intelligence system in India called MoglA uses 20 million data points from social media engagements to analyze and predict. This AI system has picked the last two Presidents. It now says that Trump is more popular than Obama, by quite a lot. And that The Trumpster will beat The Hill. But, the creator of MoglA, Sanjiv Rai, says that Trump could be that anomaly, that variable that deviates from the norm. You think.

I wonder if Donald has ever considered artificial intelligence?

Regardless of the slings and arrows against the ego-man, HC would be the worst thing that ever happened to America. Period. Well maybe a black hole depression or well-placed H-Bomb would be worse.

Eric Holder is urging DoJ employees to be fair, Yeah, that Eric Holder…Mr. Fairness himself.

The irony of Ironies is Hillary standing there on Saturday demanding more transparency from the FBI when the only reason the FBI is involved at all is because of her extreme lack of transparency.

Alabama- Michigan is shaping up as a very good National Championship football game.

What comes after high, Department:

One of the big discussions here and around the country during this 2 yearlong election cycle is recreational marijuana and whether or not to legalize. One of the central points argued of is “MJ as a ”Gateway Drug”.  I say, of course it is. It isn’t because it is necessarily addictive in itself, it is because there are for sure addictive personalities who can’t handle it. For the majority, a few beers as a teen didn’t lead to severe alcoholism and probable early death or disability. But for others it consumed their bodies and rational judgment. There are many people who will enjoy the lofty state of those early puffs and will seek greater highs because of their compulsive selves. Then next highs will come from surely addictive sources. To say that Pot will not affect society in general is utterly naive. Habitual users will find it a block to advancement in school, higher learning, marriage and careers. I will always vote against it until advocates admit that there may  be problems.

One of the reasons that NFL TV ratings may be down is because of all the politically correct penalty calls, unnecessary play challenges and sissified rules hindering defensive play. Football was better before video second guessing.

Younger generations tout eating organic saying we will live longer, when history has shown that our ancestors who only ate organic didn’t live very long at all.

To me one of the most disturbing people in Government is Loretta Lynch. Just recently she took the “Fifth” on US Cash payments to Iran and last week it has been reported that she opposed Comey over the release of the new suggestion of bad stuff in emails related to the Clinton campaign. Who knows what was Said between her and BC on the “Coincidental” meeting on a runway in Arizona. But, personally I don’t believe what she said happened, happened. Remember when for purely political purposes Charles Schumer led the charge to “Hound” Alberto Gonzales out of office. Maybe the Repubs are too nice to consider payback.

Headline: “The recreational marijuana bill has been sent to a joint committee.”

Normally I vote for the passing of referendums that would enable the spending of tax dollars for conservancy of land and improvement for recreational use. But, I won’t vote for those proposals that include more bike paths. Bicycle riders are beginning to annoy me.

How good things end, Department:

People are starting to write about the Gig economy. Of course, it a has been around for at least forty to fifty years, only now it has a new hip name. Back in the late 70’s and 80’s big corporations laid-off entire departments, but assured the people’s financial security by hiring them back as contractor companies, like electrical and maintenance, or advertising and accounting. Lot’s of smart people faired very well in their new entrepreneurial ventures pretty much supported by their old employer. The independent contractor business was a good deal for a lot of independent thinkers, who love what they did, but really disliked corporate structure. But, now companies like Lyft and Uber may have ruined it for that business class as they rely o a worker class many of whom were regular employees in the past life and expect the same support from the company. The government is taking a closer look now at the contractor concept, especially since there have been court rulings against the big Car App companies. This trend could be the beginning of the end as more restrictions are placed upon legitimized contract workers with close relations with one company.

The Answer:

General George Marshall won the Peace Prize in 1953, just after the fabled Albert Schweitzer won in ’52. Bonus: Sally Kellerman was Major Margaret “Hot Lips” O’Houlihan before Loretta Switt was Major Margaret “Hot Lips” O’Houlihan in every family’s living room. Sally was nominated for an Oscar in the original 1970 Movie of M*A*S*H. I remember David Ogden Stiers for M*A*S*H as Major Charles Emerson Winchester III. He replaced Larry Linville who played Frank Burns…who BTW always had a bit of a problem with Hot Lips. Dermut Mulroney is best known for his roles in Westerns like Young Guns and The Last Outlaw. His first lead role was in My Best Friend’s Wedding opposite Julia Roberts And Cameron Diaz. Actually he has been good in a diverse selection of films,

Well, Happy Halloween, everybody! You may have thought the opening paragraph of this Tids a little strange. But, this current Presidential election has really lowered the bar on strange. So I’m always willing to jump in when bars go lower. Keep smiling.

I remember when a comedian named Vaughn Meder hit the charts with his record making fun of JFX. A lot of people laughed, but another side thought it somewhat sacrilegious. There was a time The Office of the President always received respect regardless of the occupant. Now, The President and anybody a comedian can maim for laughs is fair game. I personally think it is a problem for a society to tear down rather than build up.

Teapot Dome?

Today's Tids Issue 3,716

For Heroes:

Hey, it’s Friday. Something must have happened this week. I did hear that the Trump campaign organization has cornered the market on duct tape in an effort to keep the candidate’s mouth shut during this final period where he seems to be gaining on the Hillary lead. No Hill is that steep that it can’t be climbed. Meanwhile, the media is beginning to see some serious negative ramifications from the shady side of the Clinton Business Empire. Fence sitters and light Hillary supporters may be having second thoughts according to the press from both sides of the spectrum. Or perhaps the media is reporting all of this stuff that appears to be narrowing the gap so they can keep ratings high for 11 more days.

“I have a split personality,” said Tom being Frank.

Don’t shoot me. Take aim at the brilliant reader who sent that to me. Although I was laughing to the point where I lost my sense of good judgment and printed it.

I think of the all of the forks in the road I have chosen in life, and I think I did a decent job getting where I am. However, I think I could have done better as an eight-year-old.

The Question:

Everybody is looking for security these days. Name 8 things you should never carry in your wallet.

The Headlines:

--Stocks Up; Super Bull Jeremy Siegel Lowers Year End Forecasts; Exxon Reports Come In Lower; Wall Street expecting All Energy Companies TO Miss.

--US May Need Alliance With Iran To Successfully Battle ISIS.

--WikiLeaks Star Podesta Apparently Tapped By Hillary To Be Chief Of Staff If She Wins.

--Carl Rove Says There May be About 5 Million Voters Unaccounted For In The Polls.

--Bundy Brothers Acquitted In Occupation Of Wildlife Sanctuary Case.

--Millions Now Buying Insurance Outside Of ACA Exchanges As ObamCare Woes Escalate.

On some days’ things just don’t work out, like yesterday when entering a small retail parking during a rainstorm and finding no parking places near the front of the store. I proceeded to the first open spot, just about the furthest point from the store. I turned off the motor, opened the door, got out… and stared at two open spots right next to the front door! This was going to be a bad day.

Hollywood must have been predicting a Hillary sure-thing for a long time because I have discovered that there are boatloads of movie remakes due out next year, like Oceans 11, where the male cast is replaced by an all-female cast.

Oob Is Back, Department:

There’s a problem in the Big Apple, and it’s not alligators in the sewers. It’s money plain and simple. You have heard of the outrageous cost of attending the hit show Hamilton, but that is merely the symptom of an even potentially bigger problem. It’s become to expensive for chefs to unrestraint and apparently many of the good ones are leaving. The cost of rent and labor have become onerous. And even ingredients are going through the roof to the point where only people managing retirement accounts can afford them. Many of the great small owner operated restaurants in neighborhoods have out of business signs on there doors. Now, the big star power restaurants are considering the same fate. Get ready for celebrity chefs to show up in your city!

Never shy about reconditioning somebody else’s good Idea, I have decided to follow the concept of Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code for my new book and hoped for movie – the Hillary Code. I think it has possibilities. Podesta as the creepy hitman. Our hero Charles Krauthammer in a wheel chair, along with a sometimes hysterical Meghan Kelley, is trying to break the code before the vote that would put a true rascal in office. In a Middle East museum, he comes across a raft of photos in which he spots reflections on the sunglasses she wears when in denial or when in a nefarious, non-compromising location, like Congress. As our heroes run down the evidence they are often thwarted by Debbie Wassermann Shultz or Huma Abedin in disguise. Finally, with advanced technology our intrepid sleuth finds in the reflections a pattern emerging depicting shady rooms behind sleazy bars with assorted leaders of small countries handing over piles of money. The case is finally broken when it is observed that her pant suit tops appear to form a large triangle that is much like a pyramid. “That’s not style,” shouts Meghan, “that’s code. No woman would wear that!” In a hair raising race along the Nile to the finish, the hero being pushed along by Kelley, is chased by a panicked Podesta who is shouting. "But she looks good in that. I picked them out myself.” “No way,” shouts Charles. We have managed to decipher the color code from her various outfits that will enable us to open the sealed box. They open it and inside they see the prize -- Obama’s Kenyan birth certificate, but it is not over. The audience gasps as a wild eyed Podesta sneaks up behind our hero. Just as he is about to slit his throat, a bare chested Putin rides up on his horse, and lassos the out of control campaign manager to the ground. “Wiki that,” is what is heard as the former KGB chief turns and rides off into the bright red sun…now with Meghan Kelly sitting on the horse behind him. “ I won’t talk about sex,” she says while replacing a loose strand of hair. I didn’t say it would be good.

Warren Harding would love the Clinton Foundation.

Speaking of Movie makers, how about that leftist Michael Moore coming out and predicting a Trumpster victory. It is because, Donald struck a Moore nerve when he came out against the Execs of Ford (Remember that Michael began his career with that anti GM CEO Roger Smith film). Moore says that Trump is “The human hand grenade that they can legally throw into the system that stole their lives from them (Blue Collar Middle America).” Moore went on to say that “…they have lost everything except the right to vote.” In a strange way, the billionaire has become the candidate of Moore’s people. But, not necessarily Moore

I have never been a big Michael Moore fan, but what is interesting here is that this guy has the ability to think on his own, look through the smoke screens spewed by various ideologies and by an establishment that wants to keep on going, and make relevant points that speak to the people’s needs. Remember the people.

You may or may not remember all of the negative sarcasm I have leveled against Moore over the years. Amazing how politics produces hypocrites. Non bigger, by the way, That Michelle Obama who 8 years ago lambasted Hillary, raking her over the coals as being entirely “unfit”, and now has become orgasmic over the possibility of she becoming the president.

If the Clinton shady Biz Thing gains legs in the major media, then you can bet that the Clintons will counter with bad stuff about Trump Enterprises. The last week will come down to which person is the sleaziest business operator. God help us.

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:

--I thought Dan Brown’s The Inferno would be good, but it seems even worse than The Hillary Code as critics hate it and audience barely acknowledge it. You don’t expect that from Ron Howard and Tom Hanks. In this one Harvard Prof Langton uses Dante’s Devine Comedy as a source of info that would guide him to prevent a devastating global pandemic. I may go anyway.

--If you are Climate Change fanatic you’ll probably love watching Leonard Di Caprio traipsing the world looking at the effects of the cantankerous climate. He chats with all of the usual suspects, Obama, Pope Francis and Elon Musk.

--There a couple of new documentary films on rock bands that get great reviews – Oasis: Supersonic, and Gimme Danger abut the 1960’s Ann Arbor Michigan band The Stooges.

The Answer:

Number one is pretty obvious – your Social Security card. But, many seniors carry Medicare cards with the SS number right there. Memorize it.  2. Password “cheat sheet”. 3. Spare Keys.  4. Checks.  5. Passport (need a big wallet for that). 6. Limited number of Credit Cards so you don’t have to report so many if stolen. 7. Birth Certificate (Duh). 8. Multiple receipts. It seems that there are many new laws that change the way personal info is issued or displayed. For instance in some states the SS# was on the drivers license and now that is banned by federal law. And, you can find many digital services for filing info like passwords (SplashID, Password Safe, Pocket)  and receipts (Shoeboxed). It is all pretty obvious, but the main point here is that identity thieves are very smart and can piece together your life from fragments of info.

The Tids will always be somewhat political, but this is becoming sickening.

Have a great weekend, E-v-e-r-y-b-o-d-y!