Everything is relative.

 

Today's Tids Issue 4,738

Laughing like the Sixties:

 

We tend to overreact to absolutes rather than measuring events relative to adjusted norms.

 

Everybody has an opinion about where Covid is going. And now month and a half before Elections, I’m guessing that many are politically motivated. But I’m thinking that it maybe time to begin Christmas shopping, because who knows what will happen to supply chains if the Covid rears up as we enter into colder days. Now this a from a guy who is about as far from being a shopper as any person earth. But, reality is reality. And, the Tids has always bee there for you when times are tough.

 

For sports fans, the TV remote was a game changer.

 

I think we have to rethink punishments for crimes, especially for those by people with some strange sense of entitlement thinking that chaos in the streets is somehow good for a civilized society.  

 

The Question:

Name the main cast of characters for one of my favorite funny TV shows, “Get Smart”. And also for the always entertaining “I Dream of Jeannie”.

 

The Headlines:

--Markets Mixed At Opening;

--Biden And Trump Visit Minnesota Ahead Of State’s Start Of Early Voting.

--White House Backs $1.5 Trillion Stimulus Deal; Repub Senate Silent.

--Venezuela’s Maduro Says It’s Impossible To Push Back Parliamentary Elections For Euro Election Observer Team.

--Belarus Closes Western Border, Puts Military On High Alert.

--Scores Better Than Expected At US Golf Open At Winged Foot.

--Trump Admin To Ban Americans From Downloading TikTok And WeChat.

--Sales In China For Tesla 3 Are Soaring.

 

It appears that younger generations are having new found appreciation for Seniors. Yes, the boomers and newer generations like the idea that Seniors are buffers for them from scam artists.

 

Who is not surprised that the Big Ten changed its mind about playing football? They also learned that they are not the college football thought leader any more, as none of the other really big conferences followed their original postponement announcement.

 

I actually felt a little guilt suggesting that people should start Christmas shopping early.

 

The best thing that can be said about the Covid economy is that it isn’t contracting. The fact is that it’s remaining stable and even at times making small gains. And that’s enough even in these weird times to keep markets relatively sane. Everything is relative.

 

Two things from yesterday that produced some ire from beloved readers were the mention Of Mitt Romney as being a viable candidate someday, and the NFL pickem’s. It wasn’t that readers thought that the picks sucked, it was because many are stepping away from the NFL and other sports because they are tired of highly paid athletes dumping on America.  Writing the Tids is not a world of love and kisses.

 

I’m getting a sense that some town and even state governments are looking to form committees to develop regulations and guidelines for governing Halloween night activities. I want to get rid of Covid just so we can get governments back to their do noting days.

 

Yesterday I wrote a little tongue in cheek bit on the fact that the RI economy has somehow achieved status as the #2 state after Maine reaching the highest percentage comeback to pre-Covid economic levels. I thought it sounded weird. But here are some real numbers The USA average unemployment today is 8.4%. Before Covid, RI’s was 3.5 %. Yesterday it was announced that RI’s employment shot up to 12.8% from 11.3% in just one month. And total jobs are now only at 57% of pre-Covid jobs. So I’m thinking, what kind of formula did the CNN/Moody’s report use to get RI to 90% back. I want one of those. It always is good to look for other numbers, especially these days.

 

Escalators don’t break, they just become stairs.

 

Here’s what’s relative: Nobody is going to vote for a Trump or anybody else’s stimulus deal until the elections are over.

 

That means that Pols can create and throw out their programs offering any number of trillions knowing that it won’t ever be voted on.

 

Jack Ma has to be considered right up there with all of the best entrepreneurial leaders of the world.

 

It seems that people are most concerned about the safety of any virus vaccine because of all the political statements surrounding its availability.

 

Today’s RCP averages show Trump losing ground in swing states and betting odds. He should be gaining by now. Actually, he had been gaining steadily, but now he is drifting back.

 

The Answer:

Would you believe, two liberals and two conservatives in a barbershop quartet. I still laugh at the antics of Maxwell Smart (Don Adams) and Agent 99 (Barbara Shelton.) It was one of those put a smile on your face shows. No drifting off into social messaging, just pure fun. Other key players were “Chief” (Edward Platt) Hymie (Dick Gauthier), Siegfried (Bernie Kopell), Agent 13 (David Ketchum) and KAOS Doctor ((Burt Nodella). I also always looked forward to “I Dream of Jeannie” Starring Barbara Eden as the lovable Jeannie wo romped through a happy half hour with Larry Hagman as Tony Nelson and Bill Daily as Roger Healy. Other great castmates were Hayden Rourke as Dr. Alfred Bellows, Michael Ansara as Blue Djinn, Emmaline Henry as Amanda Bellows, Dick Sargent as Norman Cashman and Bruce McClain as General Martin Peterson. We were still laughing in the late 60’s.

 

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