Shut up and listen.

Today's Tids Issue 4,176

For considered moderation:

After the Putin/Trump press conference (Or Presser, as the newer generations call it). I immediately switched to NBC and CNN for opposing views, hearing as expected appraisals that were significantly negative. That’s not to say I was particularly impressed with his ad libs, his drifting off into his tired political condemnations. In fact, I came away thinking that the entire Summit was set up to get Putin to say on the world stage, “No Collusion”.

Now that pharmaceutical companies are getting pretty good at developing targeted drugs, I suggest they could make a bundle coming out with a pill for golfers – One that blocks the brain from thinking about anything else but keeping a focus on the ball.

That Trump/Putin press conference must have been really important. It pre-empted “The Price is Right”.

It’s good for leaders of the most powerful nations to meet, regardless on how they may dislike each other, Russia and the USA are certainly two of the most powerful, especially in their ability to wipe out humans. But as an economic power, Russia is third rate with an economy about the size of Texas. Trump had an advantage over his conniving foe yesterday, but it doesn’t appear he used it.

The new question for the decades: Is privacy a human right?

The Question:

Who was Douglas Corrigan?

The Headlines:

--Wall Street Iffy As Investors Await Word From Fed; Investors Assessing Techs Slows Market Gains; UnitedHealth Soars Through Estimates, Issues Strong Forecast; World’s Biggest Health Care Product’s Company JNJ Posts Strong Quarter.

--Bond Trading And Investment Banking Push Goldman To Positive Results For Q2; David Solomon Named New GS CEO.

--Few Give Trump Credit For Anything At Helsinki; Most Appalled At President Discrediting Own Intelligence Groups In Favor Of Putin’s Word; Rand Paul Backs Trump Saying It Is Important To Engage Adversaries And Open Lines Of Communication.

--Chicago Latest Big City Considering Free Basic Income.

--Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Calls For AI Regulation Of facial Recognition.

--Walmart And Microsoft Power Up To Move Against Amazon; Amazon Says Prime Day Sales Up Despite Big Glitch.

--Baseball Honchos Struggling With Declining Ticket Sales As All-Star Players Take Field Tonight.

Through years of recorded scientific research, I have documented that the best tasting, the cheesiest Cheetos are in the bottom of the bag. So now I open the bag from the bottom and start munching on a positive, happy note. Cheeto’s bags are filled top bottom to top after production, and from that point on as bags are stored and shipped top side up, Cheeto dust trickles down to the lower layers. By opening the bag at the bottom you get an immediate maximum flavor burst. While munching, especially for jumbo, family sized bags, an abundance of bottom dwelling orange dust migrates back to the top.

The loyal opposition have successfully infected the President’s mind with the word “Collusion”,

In an interview days before his suicide, Anthony Bourdain, an avid #MeToo advocate, had a lot to say about Bill Clinton and his “gropey, entitled, rapey” ways, and about his enabling wife. None of it was nice.

For dairy adverse people there is a new treat called Lactaid Ice Cream. That sounds more like medicine than a delicious indulgence to me. Maybe they should call it “MooLess Ice Cream. Sounds like more fun, less antiseptic.

It will be interesting to see how the Talc issue affects JNJ stock going forward. While science says that talc itself does not cause cancer, the latest jury found that Talc in nature can contain asbestos, a known cause of cancer. That’s the essence the new issue. As the result of the last jury award the plaintiffs each receive north of $25 Million. There are over 9,000 cases waiting to be heard.

Ironically, JNJ’s growing list of anti-cancer drugs  is pushing profits to new heights.

Legal issues continue to amaze me. Yesterday, Mandalay Bay sued the Las Vegas mass shooting victims, saying their case against hotel must be dismissed.

Lindsey Graham had the post Helsinki Quip of the day: “If I were the president I’d check that soccer ball (Gift from Putin) for listening devices.”

If they had a press conference about Syria, and the President forgot about describing how our electoral college works or Hillary’s emails, he may have been sitting pretty this morning. Syria is a real problem that affects a lot of really good people. And only two countries can solve the problem – the US and Russia. That was what I was looking for, a solution to chaotic misery.

Maybe they should have talked about Cheetos at the press conference.

I see where Anderson “Deer in the Headlights” Cooper is to receive the Walter Cronkite Award. I may have to go back and re-examine WC to determine exactly how AC fits in. Have you ever watched Anderson Cooper’s eyes when he reports a major story? Those orbs always appear to be looking for outside support for what he is proclaiming.

I found this little legal tidbit interesting. When Rosenstein used the US Justice System to issue indictments against the Russian hackers, he legally granted all of them “Presumed Innocent” status. Normally when one country attacks the USA, or any other country, they are presumed guilty of an aggressive unwanted provocation with the result being either a diplomatic treaty negotiation or declaration of war. It is dangerous to US agents world over to set a precedent of assigning a presumed innocence indictment option for any country to us whimsically against US agents living in that country.

Noise overwhelms truth, Department:

Here’s a great example of what the nation is dealing with as more and more screamers and protestors emerge enabled by media coverage, and often support. Current darling of the press and left, Alexander Ocasio-Cortez was forced to admit yesterday after her tirade against Israel that she didn’t really now antigen about which she was ranting.

I know you have all read more than necessary about the Summit. Like all media, I’m over doing it too. I mean, I’m Over…writing about it.

The Answer:

Since the topic of the day is Wrong-Way Diplomacy, I thought a good question would be about the aviator who set off for California but landed instead in Ireland. There are always clues to guide us. You would have thought he would have had an inkling of a plan gone wrong when he saw endless water day after day after day. The Hudson River isn’t that wide!  Wrong Way Corrigan will live in Infamy. Sometimes all you have to do is stop thinking and look at real facts all around you.

Despite what journalists sought, there was no way any American president would call another world leader a “liar” during a supposed diplomatic press conference. That said, no American president would have aired our countries dirty laundry in public in a manner that would appear to appease less than upstanding foreign president.  

On the surface it appears that all Trump produced during the “Summit” was new ammo for the anti-Trumpers.

Thought for the day: “You don’t need a parachute to skydive. You need a parachute to skydive twice.”