Inhale, Exhale…Slowly.

Today's Tids Issue 4,258

Peace Week:

I ate a lot of empty calories yesterday. Most of them were orange.

There are many days when this morning epistle looks like empty calories. I do that on purpose most always to stop the insanity of overreporting endless unsolvable arguments. Everybody needs to walk upon puffy clouds in azure skies every once in a while; just to reassemble brain cells, to move grey matter into some non-violent cranial preserve approaching complacency. Actually, vacations into the land of non-commitment is much better for your heart than constant aggression and frustration. Hey, we have a week before Thanksgiving, the most beautiful of loving days, so why not begin right now to unwind from the lunacy strangling society. And by all means, avoid Black Friday.

Well, waddaya know – CMA hosts Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley are being lauded for avoiding everything politic in their ceremony quips. Finally, an award sow that is watchable for the awards and good nature, and not stomach turning “entertainment” – an event that 100 % of the country can potentially enjoy.

There is a growing and disturbing economic trend where more quarterly reports seem to be showing a decline in revenue, along with eked out profit improvements. If you have noticed, there has been an increase also in reports of layoffs. When profit reporting that drive stock prices slows, cost reduction is unfortunately an answer looked at first. In times of flagging revenue, you may start seeing the first signs of a decline with roots. Do you see a negative spiral a rising?

“That’s the third time my teacher changed my grade,” Tom remarked.

The Question:

Who was Richard Hickock and Perry Smith? Bonus: Who are the biggest players in the “Cloud” wars? Super Bonus: Which US Cities have the worst drivers?

The Headlines:

--Britain’s Teresa May Facing Wave Of Defections And Resignations Over Brexit Plan; Sterling Plunges.

--Northern California Officials Release Missing Persons List Of 300; Camp Fire Death Toll up To 56; New Total For Home Destruction Is 8,650; Fire Is 35% contained; Death Toll In Woolsey Fire (Malibu) Rises To 3, With Bales Only 50% Controlled.

--Brexit Confusion Has US Stock Prices Lower; Gas Prices Falling Rapidly; JC Penny Same Store Sales Disappointing.

--Buffet Invests $4 Billion In Jamie Dimon’s JPMorgan Chase.

--Netanyahu Government On Verge Of Collapse After Gaza Truce.

--Keith Urban And Carrie Underwood Big Winners At CMA (Country Music Awards).

--Saudi Prosecutors To Seek Death Penalty For Five Accused In Khashoggi Death; Death Said To Have Been Caused By Sedative Overdose.

--Stormy Lawyer Avenatti Arrested On Alleged Domestic Abuse Charge.

--Insiders Reporting That Rolling Stones Planning New USA Tour Beginning In Spring 2019.

--GOP Senator Flake Says He Will Stop Voting For Judges If Senate Does Not Put His Mueller Protection Bill Up For Vote; Trump Issues Flurry Of Tweets Against Mueller Actions.

Over across the sea in merry England, Teresa May became quite the illusionist when she put together a plan that appeared good enough to get an approving vote only to learn that after the positive vote it turned out that everybody hated it. And, you think we got problems in communications.

Frida of ABBA is 73 years old today. Yikes.

Well, the NFL pickers eked out a bit of a win last week, but not as great as I hoped. At 8-6 (Damn NY Giants last minute win.) our record moved to 88-57-2 ( A smidge under 60%- blah). The Packer-Seahawks game tonight is between two teams who have disappointed more than not. I think Seattle will poke holes in GB’s questionable Defense. On Monday night we end this 11^th week with some are calling the game of the year – LA Rams against KC Chiefs. It should be a good battle. Mahomes versus Goff should produce excitement, but in the end, I think The Rams have a better D and should win.

This weeks NFL posers are Cowboys-Falcons, Colts-Titans, Texans-Skins, Bucs-Giants, Bengalis-Ravens, the awful Raiders-Cards and another very good and important games Vikes Versus Bears. The Cowboys surprised us a bit last week, but I think the Falcons with Ryan passing are good enough to win tis one. The Colts are improving and so are the Titans, and they are both going for the same prize, Will the Titans be overconfident after last weeks upset win? They are home. I’ll take them to stymie Luck. The Texans verses the Skins is a very tough pick too. Both are leading their divisions, but both can be beaten Washington can’t score. I pick Houston. Bucs look disheveled and the Giants are on a win streak of One, which is huge for them. They are home and maybe they go to “2”. The coaches of Cincinnati and Baltimore are both in trouble. I think the Bengal’s are declining faster and I go Ravens. God, how do you pick between the Raiders and Cardinals? Yuck on this one. I’m going with Oakland. The bears are looking real good and Vikings want to remove them from atop their division. I’m taking the Vikes.

Of the rest, I have the Saints continuing to march along and will win again playing last year’s champs still looking for themselves. The Chargers are very good and Denver isn’t. Chargers. The Jags were supposed to be good by now, but they are regressing while the Steelers are looking like one of the best in the NFL. I thought Detroit would be looking like something by now. Unfortunately, Carolina may be. Panthers.

“I need a pencil sharpener,” Tom said bluntly.

Is it still considered Free Speech when politicians Like Hillary get $250K/Performance?

Research versus Emotion, Department:

Back in the late sixties and early seventies at a time when 18-year-old soldiers were being killed in action in Viet Nam, it was decided that if 18-year old’s can die for their country, the they should be able to drink at18 too. The drinking age was reduced from 21 to 18. It wasn’t long before facts took over and it was found that more 18-year old’s were now dying in automobile accidents. There is a lot of knowledge out there that should govern decision making, but much too often, and today too often on an ever increasing basis decisions are made on laws are passed solely on emotion.

However, many countries and cities are making some decisions more on knowledge and less on emotion, -- at least when it comes to approving big budgets to host the Olympics. It may feel good to be an Olympic City, but more citizens are seeing the disruptions to life and costs to pocketbooks as bi negatives to than the few weeks of glory.

I just can’t see why you say I’m myopic.

The average cost of a ten-person Thanksgiving Dinner is down 22 Cents this year. Eat more gravy. Hug a relative.

News of a possible Alien space ship sighting over England was released last week. And, frankly it makes sense. There is a distinct possibility Aliens may have been watching us for eons, and finally that are seeing a more chaotic earth than usual, ripe for invasion and possible welcoming takeover. Bernie loves Green people.

I like Keith Urban and feel good about his winning CMA Performer of the Year. Probably not as good as Nicole Kidman.

I never knew there were such a thing as private firefighting organizations. Apparently, there are and Kim and Kanye hired one to save their mansion in the path of the big Woolsey fire.

One of the more annoying government pronouncements is the thought that Socials Security is an entitlement. Well, maybe for those not contributing. But for most, the governmental volvemnt in those savings has been a big drag on future income. If the same contributions were put into an equity fund that tracked the broad stock averages, the returns would have been five times greater over a lifetime. Even if the SS contributions were in safe government bonds the lifetime rewards would have been 2-3 times higher. Entitlement…shoot me?

The Answer:

Hickock and Smith were the Murderers in Truman Capotes “In Cold Blood. They were eventually hanged. Bonus: the big four in the puffy cloud business are tip-of-the-tongue names IBM, Oracle, Amazon and Microsoft. Super Bonus: The three worst cities out of 200 were Baltimore, Boston and Washington DC. The rest of the Top ten “baddies” according to All-State Insurance are Worcester  Ma, Glendale Ca, Springfield Ma, LA, Providence, Alexandria Va and Philadelphia. New York City which scares most peoepl is considered halfway good at 107. The top five Best Cities are Brownsville Tx, Kansas City Ks, Boise, Huntsville Al, and Madison Wi. In the twin cities across bridges department, KC Kanas is #2 good and KC Mo is number 32 not so bad. Up In Minnesota, Minneapolis is 127 and St. Paul is 146.

Well, we’re half way through November and I don’t where the time goes. Enjoy what time you got, because it certainly disappears while you aren’t looking.