World View: etc!: Trending.

Today's Tids Issue 5,317

Hate is a terrible word:

There are a lot of clues about where society may be heading, but too many of us don’t take enough time to understand the concept of inevitability.

I look for the positive side of everything every day of my life, except when it comes to Covid tests. I have never understood why doctors can't say after learning you don’t have a serious disease, “Everything is Positive! Isn’t that great.”

One of our long-time readers who loves the spirit and love of Christmas tells me that Santa’s favorite singer is Elfish Presley.

I really enjoyed watching the Army-Navy game this year, even though the Dogfaces won. BTW, the Army wore posh designer outfits while Navy wore football uniforms. Go Navy, next year!

The Question:

Which of teh following countries is furthest East of the Philippines: Malasia, Cambodia., Myanmar, Laos Thailand or Viet Nam?

The Headlines:

--Stocks higher Through Mid Afternoon Ahead of Inflation Reports and Fed Meeting.

--Giant Western Storm Delays Thousands of Flights, Close Miles of Highways.

--SC Take up Biden’s Second Tuition Give-Away Appeal.

--Iran Executes Second, in Series of Post Protest Hangings.

--Court Nixes Trump’s Suit in Mar-a-Largo Caper.

--Merger Activity Increasing on Wall Street.

While local newspapers are limping along with little hope, I now hear that the big money makers for local TV, news and syndicated shows like Wheel of Fortune are losings audiences too. The culprit is streaming, and more diverse entertainment opportunities afforded by Internet reach. I would hate to think we will lose everything local. But the trend line is there.

The Voice finals sing-off is tonight. Several good singers among the missing in the showdown. Favorites now appear to be Morgan and Bordie and maybe Omar, but on the Voice you never know when there’s a cowboy still singing.

Streaming seems to be gaining popularity so people on the move can watch big things on small screens. It is indeed an upside world. My prediction is that it won’t be long before there are ads galore on Streaming services. Big entertainment is a little like big government. -- get them hooked on freebees and then charge somebody else to pay for it.

Russian Merchant of Death Victor Bout was proudly welcomed back and into Russia's powerful LDPR Political Party. This party was founded by Vladimir Zhirinovsky wo regularly recommended the use of Nukes. LDPR versus the WNBA.

In some regards, the internet is equalizing incomes around the world, reducing the economic differences between the rich and poorer nations. I believe we will continue to see shift as new countries emerge as the top economic forces, and former bigs who took things for granted, floundered on their success. It is expected that the new top five in the world economic power countries will be China, USA, India Indonesia and Germany. It is also anticipated that several countries are on the verge of breaking into the top sphere like Nigeria, Pakistan and Egypt. Gone form the upper strata will be Brazil and Russia.

I, your basic gym rat, feel personally that NCAA basketball is over exposed and tedious to watch. I do still have my favorites and follow them religiously. I just get tired of watching the same ole, same ole.

A lot of younger people complain that old people are leaving them with some serious problems in the future. Actually, a lot of older people are trying to create better solutions for comfortable living over some of the popular band-ade approaches of today. In a recent test, Scientists at Livermore Labs seemed to have produced a significant advance in Nuclear Fusion. A rather unbelievable breakthrough that has startled scientists across the planet. Let’s hope. Sun and windmills are pleasant, but nuke related energy is really efficient. But from what I read this is just embryonic, with a lot of effort ahead. But it is perhaps the start to where we really must go. The nuke hope is sustainable “Affordable” energy. And if all goes well it should be ready just in time for these younger people when they reach their era of wisdom and thoughtfulness.

In the basketball world there are many who can do amazing things flying above the rim, but I'd always be looking for a player who can shoot free throws at crunch time.

The loneliest guy at Christmas time is the rebel without a claus.

There are lots of little things that will add up to hardships in 2023. One of them is the cost of orange juice up 26% because of the massive hurricane. There will also be a lot of trickledown negativity from inflation, a drive towards lean and revaluation of high-flying tech companies.

I guess there are tree lovers and there are tree lovers. It just depends which side of God you were on.

The Answer:

The countries from East toward the Philippines are Mayanmar, Thailand, Malasia Laos, Cambodia and Viet Nam. Just in case you are interested, Singapore is the tip of Malasia.