Vagaries.

Today's Tids Issue 4,256

Illusion or Fact:

It was about 45 degrees yesterday; the winds were still. The sun was bright and unwavering. It was like a day at the beach with the only difference being the kind of clothes you are wearing. Enjoy what you got.

The ups and downs of the market is sending shivers up the spines of investors, while Amazon is going about its business naming NYC and Northern Virginia as new outposts for their business growth of the future. Yes, surprisingly the future is always there despite the short-term setbacks. Whaddaya know!

If you have never seen deliriously happy people in your lifetime, you are going to see plenty of them in the Media when that constitutionally protected institution starts getting info from the new Dem controlled House about Trump investigations.

Do we really need all of this daily weather reporting?

The Question:

Stan Lee died, as you know. What are his best-known creations?

The Headlines:

--Death Tolls In Paradise And Region Continue To Rise: New Toll Of 42 Places “Camp” Fire As All Time Killer Inferno In California History.

--Repub McSalley Loses Arizona Senate Race Officially to Kirsten Sinema

--Stocks Futures Looked Hopeful, But Markets Flattened At Opening.

-Comic Maestro Stan Lee Des At 95.

--China Reverses Stance Against Banning Of Using Rhino And Tiger Parts For Medical Purposes After International Outcry.

--Amazon Picks Long Island City NY and Crystal City Virginia For new HQs; Company Also Announces Opening Of A Large New Operations Center In Nashville That Will Employ 5K.

--Apple Reduces Orders To Key Phone Parts Suppliers.

--Atlanta’s Ronald Acuna Jr. And LA Angels’ “Ruthian” Shohei Ohtani Named MLB Rookies Of The Year.

--CNN Sues Trump Admin Over Loss Of Acosta’s Credentials.

How can “The Voice” voters possibly select the best singers after watching 24 acts practically back to back, creamed into a two hour period. That’s a lot of input to process…especially when so many sounded so similar. There must be favorites already tucked away into viewers minds. I can’t say I jumped out of my seat and said that’s my man, my woman, my teen wunderkind. This young Sarah Grace is pretty darn accomplished, and I thought Mckensie Thomas was very good. 13 Yo Kennedy Holmes would be exceptional at any age. I liked Radah, and Deandre Nico. I personally like Dave Fenley a lot, but he missed it a bit last night. Other probable’s for staying are Kirk Jay, Cherel Shepard and Kimberlie Joye (Great voice but tendency to go a little over the top). Some who won’t make it are probably Zaxai, Funsho, Colton Smith, Chris Kroeze and Natashia GreyCloud, but I think they are pretty entertaining. Colton and another who seems to be on the outs with voters, Keith Paluso, add variety to the group which makes the show more interesting to me. I’d also put Country boy Tyke James in that group of I like but won’t make it. But, most of them are all so close that there could be many surprises tonight.  So, after tonight each judge will have but three remaining, two voted in by the audience and one selected by their judge. A thirteenth finalist will be the winner of a sing-off by second chance candidates Lynnea Moorer, Wyatt Rivers and Ayanna Joni.

Meanwhile over at DWTS, the judges went ballistic after perfect scoring Juan Pablo Di Pace was eliminated by voters. Di Pace’s Pro partner Cheryl Burke said it was Bull****. She is happily looking to getting married shortly, and when asked if the will return she said she’s getting older and her hips hurt. I guess you can never count on voters with minds of their own, can you.

When that caravan reaches Arizona’s border, will the voters be ruing the day they didn’t vote for McSally?

Watch out, the “Bears” are getting organized, and I don’t mean getting ready for hibernation.

How come it’s Ok to have “Democrats Only” restaurants?

World War I was always called the War to end all Wars. Obviously, it wasn’t by a long shot. When you think about all of the wars in recent history, you have to wonder what really was accomplished by the instigators – other than losing soldiers and citizens. Nothing, Zero. Yet heads of state or little groups with big ambitions still go to war expecting a different result. War is a waste, and almost all disagreements can be talked out it both sides decide to listen to each other It’s fine to have a strong military to make the unbalanced think twice. But, it’s ok to not ever want to send men and women out there to face the inevitable horrors.

One of the little things that has come out of new reports about Apple’s business, is the slowdown in the “Trillion Dollar’ company’s issuing of contracts to small supplier manufacturers. The core of the economy has always been the small businesses many of which rely upon the success of the bigs. When watching economies, watching what is happening beneath the spotlight is the key to understanding where everything is going

Personally, I think President Trump is on the ropes, and it isn’t going to get better. Part of the problem seems to be that he will never see that more and more people are working against his potential for success. And, I’m not talking about USA Democrats, or even the media who generally dislike him. I’m talking about international leaders, the stability of financial markets, and even large blocs of influential Repubs. Everybody needs allies. Is the Schtick over?

The Caravan is all about getting on TV and dramatizing chaos that will in the end certainly add to the division of America. All of this quest for refugee status could be achieved by going to local US Embassies in their own country. But, that wouldn’t help the cause of anti-American activists.

To me, the New England Patriots on Sunday looked like they were beginning the big fadeaway from perennial championships. Obviously, this is a typical reaction of the long paranoid New England fan base, but this loss was more intrinsic than just having the crap kicked out of them on a bad day. Mainly, I’m concerned thatTtom Brady proved he can be had. And that was apparent in his decision making, one of his greatest strengths over a great career. Actually, this just may be my beating my head with a hammer – knowing it feels so great when its stops. But, based on what I saw Sunday I am not confident the headache will stop.

The Answer:

Stan Lee created a lot of characters of the super hero type, but what made them so palpable was their ability suffer trough allof the entirely human frailties of all readers.  Spiderman is his most famous. Others are the Hulk, which made it big on TV. Daredevil, Scarlet Witch, Nick Fury, Black Panther, Hawkeye, Doctor Strange, Ant-Man, Black Widow, Thor, Iron Man and X-Men are the others from his fertile imagination. Enjoy and save your comics for big money someday.

I can’t figure out if I’m whimsical or jaunty today.

Or as one reader just said to me about his email – “If you are reading this, you are wasting your time.”

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