Toy Shortage Looms for Christmas! -- How to Shred a Million Dollars -- Who Wins the China Trade War?

While other general retailers are looking to increase their toy sales, no store can completely replace Toys “R” Us in providing the broad selection of toys and reliable supply of hot products on shelves in the days before Christmas, say toy makers and analysts.   WSJ

I'm making my own gifts this year.

Since toys will be scarce, I do fear.

For Billy a top

that over will flop;

for Suzy homemade flat root beer.

***********************************

On Friday, a Banksy painting titled “Girl with Red Balloon” was being auctioned at Sotheby’s in London . . . The bidding climbed to $1.4 million . . . 

Right then, the painting’s canvas began scrolling downward, seeming to pass through its elaborate gilded frame — and reappearing below in neat, vertical strips. Later, Sotheby’s would explain that a shredder was hidden inside the frame.   WaPo

If more artists had the intention

of such a cutthroat intervention

we might end the fad

of works that are bad

and make room for cogent invention.

*******************************

President Trump and his supporters say he is winning his trade war with Beijing. Just look at the Chinese economy. The nation is dealing with a mountain of debt, and its growth and investment are slowing down. But are Trump’s trade policies responsible for China’s mounting problems? And if Trump keeps on pushing, can he win? And if so, at what cost?  LATimes 

In wars of a mercantile type,

no matter the bluff or the hype,

the loser is not

the moneyed big shot

but common folk shot down like snipe.