Those who throw dirt, only lose ground.

Today's Tids Issue 4,506

Omission Mission:

Remember when New England used to close up shop after Columbus Day? So how come when employment is at all-time highs and kids are in school, more and more people keep on coming. Change, every day something changes.

How will all of those mandated electric cars in California keep on working if the Utility continually shuts down the electricity during fire season.

Wow, did the national media move fast after the President said the Impeachment was a lynching. Many an anchor feigned extreme anger, but the sanctimonious forgot completely or hid the fact that when President Clinton was impeached Gerry Nadler said the same exact thing. Also, Holier than thou Joe Biden condemned Trumps words as despicable, but he said in 1998, “Partisan Lynching” when asked about Bill’s impeachment. Two New York black Congressmen Gregory Meike and Dennis Davis also jumped in in ‘98, one saying it was a “Political lynching” and the other “A lynching in the House of the People”. Oh, Kerry also used the “L” word in 1998 and our pal Hillary said the Benghazi hearing was a lynching. Outrage has lost its meaning.

Speaking of politics, I think that “Evil” may emerge as a pretty good new network TV show for 2019. It is more cerebral than most.

While there are macro and micro economic signals, and graphs and charts in black and red, the sense is that the consumer, the micro, isn’t seeing the macro and is still out there pushing baskets through aisles, luxury and basic. So, slow but sure continues. And that will keep us smiling for a year or two.

The Question:

Average everyday people rated what they think are the greatest things about America. What do you think the top ten are?

The Headlines:

--Nationals Top Astros In Game One Of Series In 5-4 Thriller.

--Breaking: Trump Lifts Sanctions On Turkey; Calls Cease Fire Permeant.

--Markets Open Higher; Slower World Economies Could Hinder US Corporate Profits; Mortgage Applications Show Significant Statistical Drop; Market Now Looks For Good News From Microsoft.

--39 Bodies Found Dead In Truck Near London; Truck Said To Have Come From Bulgaria; Could Be People Smuggling, Similar To Other Mass Deaths of People Found Crammed Into Trucks.

--Diplomat Taylor’s Testimony On Trump Stokes Emotions Of Lawmakers Including Some Repubs.

--Hong Kong Government Officially Withdraws Bill That Spawned Massive Protest.

--After Putin- Erdogan Deal, Russia Moves Troops To Border.

--USAToday/Suffolk U Iowa Poll: Biden 18, Warren 17, Buttigieg 13, Sanders 9. Poll Following Latest Debate Shows Buttigieg With The Biggest Favorability Increase – 4.5 Points. Amy Klobuchar Only Other Candidate with Increase In Favorability Rating.

--CNN/SSRS Polls Shows Biden Way Ahead Nationally with 34%; The Rest -- Liz 19%, Berne 16%, Pete and Harris 6%; Among Others Only Amy, Beto and Andy Yang Over 1%.

--None Of FaceBook’s 20 Libra Partners Have Contributed Money; Zuck To Testify On Libra Before Congr4ess Today.

–NY Times Reports That Hillary Pals Say She Would Run If She Felt She Could Win.

--Trump Insider Mr. “Anonymous” To Write New Tell-All Book In Time For Election Cycle.

--Missing 5-Year-Old Alabama Girl Found Dead In Landfill.

New Orleans Po Boys are overrated.

I read a story this morn where the writer seemed to be complaining that people only eat eggs and bacon for Breakfast because some guy in the 1930’s who worked for a meat packer ran a very successful PR campaign pushing the idea in order to sell more bacon. Well, duh! Do you not think that peop[e are considering fake meat because fake meat makers are pushing it through PR. Or that the idea that people are thinking patatoes should be made from cauliflower suddenly materialized out of the blue in people’s minds. Everything is PR in America. Why else would people gravitate so quickly to strange food concepts, and worse, inept political candidates.

When the music conservatory was declared bankrupt, the building was fur elise.

I got an email saying I would be included in some Zappo’s class action settlement. I and many like me would get 10%, one time off our next purchase through Zappo’s website, and the lawyers would get $1,6 Million. I guess that’s a bargain payoff in Lawyer terms.

The Voice is in its most pleasant phase, “The Battles” – the duets – which are for the most part quite enjoyable. I haven’t seen any clear-cut winners emerging, but that’s not to say there haven’t been many a good challenger. Before these battles began, TV Lien said the “Best of the Blinds” were: #10 Max Boyle, #9 Brennan Lassiter, #8 Rose Short, #7 Joana Martinez, #6 – Cory Jackson, #5 Preston Howell, #4 Khalea Lynee, #3 Ricky Duran , #2 Marybeth Byrd And #1 Katie Kadan. Kadna is one outrageous and powerful singer, and seems to be a fan favorite too. Among Judges, Legend has 1,2, 4, 5 and 10. Blake has 3, 6 and 7. Gwen has #8 and Kelly #9. BTW< TV Line also said they have rarely been right in their post Blind ratings. Personally, I like Jake Hoot. I also liked Blake’s Zach Bridges who just happened to take down # 6 Cory Jackson – who nobody wo had saved, saved. Overall though, it is still a big stew for me.

There is something about Kelly Clarkson that just keeps me smiling.

It’s one thing to learn that Dems said lynching often to describe Clinton's fall, but it is another more grievous thing when the media doesn’t investigate before rushing hysterically to judgment.

LL Bean uses Portuguese flannel for their Scotch plaid sleepwear. After Brexit, will they have to find local suppliers.

A couple of decades ago I asked the president of start-up company in the baby products arena what is marketing plan was. He said, I’m going to Congress and getting a law passed. And he did. And today people have to buy his car seats.

Speaking of suppliers, giant toymaker Hasbro is getting killed with the tariffs. Many be their Milton Bradly group can come up with the tariff Game.

I once wrote a little tagline for Milton Bradly commercials that showed a cute little girl giggling, “I love you madly Milton Bradley.” It was rejected. So, I took up writing this mess.

The Trade war is also sucking the life out of Roomba – the vacuum cleaner. Just over the ticker --IRobot stock is plunging.

The Answer:

The #1 one greatest thing about America is Freedom. #2 is religious Freedom followed by The Military, You are Free to Speak Your Mind, Free Elections, Natural Resources, Diversity, United We Are Unstoppable, The National Parks and #10 The Landscape and Geography. The next five are, Rules of Law, The Universities, Ability to Invent Stuff, Multiculturalism and The Space Program. Ok, five more: They are Sports, The American Dream, Consumer Control of the Market, American Music and Open Source Software. OK, let’s go to 25. #21 is Our Press Isn’t run by the Government followed by, Thanksgiving, Many Product Choices, The American People and #25 U.S. Presidency. Others were barbecue at 27 and Right to Bare Arms at 33. Bourbon Whiskey was #47. This s a survey of 55.7 Thousand voters.

Interesting that in the top ten or so, some variation of being Free was mentioned quite often. Unfortunately too many Politicians are pushing free as meaning getting something for merely existing.

Change is good, but dollars are better.