Watching the "Wizard of Oz" tonight, I am immediately beset by some disturbing observations.

1. The economy of Oz appears to be centered around cobbling, dancing, and the production of large lollipops. A closer inspection shows this to be inaccurate. The evidence is in the background...row after row of identical houses, inadequate and in disrepair. But where do the Munchkins bed down, I ask? In the weeds and overgrown kudzu gardens, mostly. Except for those that work for the government. We see THEM come out of the palatial structure that dominates the brick swirl. Obviously a puppet state, like North Korea.

2. Modern production facilities exist, but their output has been limited to the mass production of guns and carriages. The guns - modern bolt-action weapons with short bayonets - might be useful for defense against flying monkeys or large furry gate guards who are armed with nothing more lethal than a flimsy halberd. But the short bayonet indicates that the guns are intended for close-quarters combat between small-bodied, thin-skinned creatures. Namely, OTHER MUNCHKINS. Has Dorothy dropped into the middle of a civil war?

3. Perhaps so. How suspicious it is that everybody...EVERY SINGLE MUNCHKIN (and the good "witch" from the North)...sings the same tune, from the same talking points. "Follow the Yellow Brick Road"...or are they saying the "Yalu" brick road? Why not the other one, the red brick road? Why is NOBODY recommending that way? Instead, she is sent into a wasteland of ballistic apples, drugs, evil happenings and finally, an incompetent administration hiding behind the castle walls. What lies down the RED BRICK road, I ask you. Mine fields? Mass munchkin graves? What are the munchkins hiding?

4. One of the key members of the Lollipop League can be seen soon after Dorothy arrives, crawling up out of the SEWER. Ohhh, ick. Urrrp....