Capitalism Expands.

Today's Tids Issue 4,386

Mom is the best capital:

I ended yesterday’s Morning Mess with a pretty obtuse poem about mothers. In particular, mine, who hasn’t been with us for a while. The meat of that illusive thought was that no matter where mom is, what mom gave us all during those formative years -- in wisdom and sense of responsibility and consideration and understanding -- lives on after, regardless if mom is still there to stare you down or build you up. You remember clearly the times she gave you that little kick in the pants or the wide bright smile for a job well done. Hey, there is a Mother’s Day for a very good reason – there ain’t nothin’ like em’.

Why aren’t progressives called retrogressives?

Question of the day: “How did Pavlov win a Nobel Prize?”

Good potential stocks to buy may be in 5G related companies. Everybody is always looking for the next big hit and 5G (10 Times faster than 4G and LTE)) will be a major part of the next generation of major Internet applications. Some of the big potential stars in this new race for the future are Qualcomm, Verizon, Ericsson, Nokia, Skyworks, reliable old Corning, Samsung. Intel is trying to get a foothold in this new field for tomorrow.  Qualcomm seems to be the core company and addition to Verizon, is working with AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint as well as Australia’s Telstra and China Mobile. Qualcomm is mostly all Android, so where does that leave Apple? Aha, interesting “Q”. But, but the companies above are the low hanging fruit. There will be thousands of new inventions claiming to be essential to the use and development of 5G. Finding real winners is hard work. And there could be many a stubbed toe along the way.

I have a big problem with fattening food. I like it.

The Question:

In 1869 a Golden Spike was driven into the tracks to finally connect the first Transcontinental railroad. In what town did that happen?

The Headlines:

--Trump Says No Need To Rush Into China Deal; $200 Billion In Higher Tariffs Go Into Effect; China Vows Retaliation.

--Anita Hill Slams Biden: Says He Slowed “#MeToo” By Decades; Biden Lead Over Bernie Grows.

--Uber Says Lyft IPO Experience Caused Them To Open More Conservatively Ahead Of IPO; Uber Admits It May Never Make Money; Softbank Stock Drops After Uber Pricing.

--Berkshire-Hathaway’s Munger Says Dems Lose Credibility When Their Hatred Of Trump Overlooks Times When He Is Right.

--Boston’s Sam Adams Beer Buys Delaware’s Dogfish For $300 Million.

Today, Uber comes on board at $24/share. Following the ride share companies has been and should be an interesting trip from the womb to adolescence to maturity. Lyft is losing about about a billion a year, not expecting to turn the corner until 2022 when they will only lose a half billion. At that conception and birth everybody was crying, a beautiful baby. But will they be crying in earnest after the trials of adolescence? The prenatal plan was based on the concept of using independent contractor drivers. Many potential drivers looked at it as a part time income subsidy. But we now see signs that beautiful baby may have cholera, and it’s causing parental angst.  It turns out that there is a limit to the percentage of a population that can survive mentally as an independent contractor.  As more drivers hopped aboard as full timers you see what is happening now, demands for unions and higher wages and benefits. It was bound to happen with humans involved. But, that’s just adolescent growing pains. The middle age hope is that their initial plan of driverless cars will become a reality. No drivers, no wage fights, no benefits. But they need lots of cash for capital investment.  That’s the big bet that took place with Lyft and taking place with Uber today. Personally, I’m buying stock in pacifier manufacturers. (Note: Lyft was priced at $72 and opened higher at $87. Today’s pre-market price is $54.53.)

Oh yeah, the emergence of 5G will spur the advances in driverless cars.

Here is when the Ten cities most below the poverty level last had Republican Mayors: Detroit 1961, Buffalo 1954, Cincinnati 1984, Cleveland 1989, Miami Never, Saint Louis 1949, El Paso Never, Milwaukee 1908, Philadelphia 1952 and Newark 1907. Being in charge does not a broader view make.

With all of the hoopla surrounding each successive intro of a new smart phone, when you think about it, these electronic marvels have really have become another advanced society commodity. Like Ivory soap. I suspect a majority of the population is quite happy with basic, even a lot older models.

The absence of China for inclusion in US business models is going to make prices for goods higher.

I don’t like the idea of the President badgering The Fed.

One observer says that Americans jumping into buying big highly promoted stocks with no earnings future is like the biggest legalized Ponzi scheme ever.

But, I’ll take capitalism any day, even with its flaws.

Still trying to figure out the “Question of the Day”?

In 1978, 90% of China’s Population were trying to survive on $2.00’s a day. That was about the time they decided to become a market driven country. Today, wages have soared to the point where Astonishing is no longer an accurate adjective to describe their growth as a world leading economic power. One billion people there have emerged form poverty! Projections have them surpassing the USA in 2022 (Despite the growth of Uber and Lyft). The big philosophical fear is that history tells us that major wars have arisen as one would leader has been surpassed by a new kid on the block. But the threat of future “World Wars” raises the prospect of total annihilation. Yikes! Do you think that even irrational leaders would see that as a deterrent? Let’s hope. And, pray.

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:

--The Hustle has Rebel Wilson and Anne Hathaway as a pair of very successful Con Artists who justify their criminal behavior by only robbing men who have wronged women. Hathaway is a coy seductive Brit and Wilson is a rambunctious Australian. Despite their obvious personally trait differences, they are very successful relieving men of cash and jewels. The critics hate it and the people are only so-so about it.

--In RedCon a squad of elite special forces must enter a quarantine zone to rescue a scientist who has the cure to save mankind from a viral outbreak. Probably predictable. Your choice.

--I’ve seen the Poms trailer over and over again and to me, themovie appears dreadful. Not a chance I will go. It’s a comedy with an all str cast of aging actresses playing elderly women in a retirement community who find new life starting a cheer leading squad. Probably a lot of typical old people humor.

--I think many people will enjoy Tolkien, a movie about the early life of the famed writer. It follows his growth and friendships among a group of writers and artists; and mainly his love for Edith Bratt, until WWI threatens to pull his secure life of friendships apart. He is inspired to go onto write his Middle earth novels.

The Answer:

The Golden Spike was driven that day in Promontory Utah, where the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads met. Bonus: Generational knowledge and thinking seems ot have a lot to do with ranking lists. #1 was Kitty Forman of That 70’s Show. Following her were Morticia Adams, Carol Brady, Claire Huxtable, Marion Cunningham, Marge Simpson, Wilma Flintstone, June Cleaver, Samantha Stephens and at #10, Lucy Riccardo. The next 15 are Jill Taylor, Caroline Ingalls, Edith Bunker, Peggy Bundy, Shirly Partridge, Debra Barone, Olivia Walton, Lorelai Gilmore, Sophia Petrillo, Elyse Keaton, Lily Munster, Claire Dunphy, Reba, Laura Petrie and at #25 Jane Jetson. BTW, Roseanne came in #27. Harriet Nelson was #43. Miss Ellie Ewing was #54. Remember Ruth Martin in Lassie? She was #58. One notable TV Mom missing was Mary Bradford of Eight is Enough. So much for accurate listings.

Today is National Clean your Room Day! Sure Mom, I’m on it.

Have a mother of a weekend, E-v-e-r-y-b-o-d-y!!