Cold and Mold.

Today's Tids Issue 4.388

Wet and Wild:

In case you missed it, Sunday was National Limerick Day.

I know this old guy from Nantucket

Told me rain’s comin’ down in buckets

But then added, “I don’t worry

Despite the grey, wet flurry,”

Because I don’t live in Pawtucket.

What’d ja think I was going to say?

The President probably told supporters that the tariff wall to economic progress poses no problem. Mexico will pay the tax.

The PGA tournament, normally in August begins this Thursday at Bethpage Black in Long Island NY. It’s part of the new compressed PGA schedule. Tiger Woods could be the favorite now that he has proven he can still win. However, he hasn’t played competitively since the Masters. The defending champ Brooks Koepka, who last week said “Tiger doesn’t scare me”, looked like he was rounding into shape last week; has confidence. Maybe this is the big one where Jorden Spieth finds his mettle again. The most recent winners on the tour have been first timers Kang, Pan and Homa, but I expect that many of the so-called upper echelon players will be there in the end. I’m liking Fed-Ex points leader Matt Kuchar to win his first Major. But the real competitor here is the Course itself. A real test, they say. And, guess who plays it very well – Tiger Woods. So, we will see if Fowler, Day, McIlroy or Thomas can wake up again to take home a major prize. Or maybe the always dangerous Xander Schauffele. And how about that, I almost forgot two real good choices for a win, World #1 and #2 Dustin and Justin – Johnson and Rose. BTW, there may even be some sunshine this weekend.

This tariff thing is a real Catch 22. China has been stealing our intellectual property for decades and they need more than a time out in the corner. A swift, hard kick in the butt is the best answer. But, our stock market wants to know, how swift will it be until they cry Uncle, if they ever will. They could be setting up soy bean farmers in Africa or Apple technology companies in Pakistan. Or clothing and furniture producers in Venezuela.

It’s not entirely abnormal to have cold Mays around here. The cold ocean temp picked up by onshore winds can keep the down comforters on beds even into June. This year, the rain which seems to pretty regular visitor has cast a pall over the rebirthing landscapes. And more than likely the attitudes of those looking for sun and short sleeves and shorts. This could be a good thing, as  my golf handicap will not go up quite as fast!

The Question:

Eight years before the founding of the culturally popular “Apple” Inc, there was establishment of the culturally popular—“Apple” Corp. Who founded that predecessor? Bonus: May is the rebirth month, a month for Mothers and also Mother Earth, and for Christians, May is the month of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Name three sites where appearances or visuals of Mary have been reported and verified. Extra Bonus: Who was the host of Wheel Of Fortune Before Pat Sajak?

The Headlines:

--Stocks Rebound Sharply; But, Trade War Rears Still Ripe Beneath The Surface; Eyes Are On Beijing.

--Apple Loses Suit Over High Cost of Apps.

--Two Alaska Sight Seeing Float Planes Carrying Passengers From Cruise Ship Collide: 5 Known Dead, One Missing,10 Injured.

--NBA Lottery Today To Determine Who Gets Zion Williamson.]—Trump Seeking $1.6 Bil To Put First Woman O The Moon.

--Montana Gov Steve Bullock 22^nd Dem To Enter Race.

--Maduro Expected To Begin Reign Of Terror Against Leaders Of Overthrow Attempt.

--Elizabet Warren Calls Fox News “A Hate For Profit Racket”.

I believe the key to the resolution of the China mess is finding a way to for Xi to save face when coming to an agreement.

There’s no truth to the rumor that Fed Chairman is calling for President Trump to step down.

For all of you lovable punsters out there, you may have missed a game app called “Call me Phrasy”. It’s all about puns, but only available from the App Store for use on IOS. Android is void.

A British court ruled that the divorcing couple would be required to divide the packets of Earl Grey because it was proper tea.

Or maybe, Francisco, Sergio, DeChambeau, Michelson, Cantlay, Kisner or Keith Mitchell will be There.

I’ll tell you will be there at the end of The Voice Season 16 next week – Marylyn Jarmon. This girl with the lush, multifaceted voice  is outstanding. Last night the final 8 did their best. Some were good and others didn’t quite make the quality cut. Personally, I like Andrew Sevener, a nice guy with a sense of humor. He sang very well last night, and should get a good bounce from the Country crowd But I don’t think he’ll be there in the end. I like Kim Cherry too. She has a powerful voice and a lot of side talents. She seemed off a bit in the solo but was very strong in her duet with Shawn Sounds. By the way, the beetles got a lot of gushing praise from the singers last night, but I doubt they really understood their dominance nearly five decades ago. Frankly, I have found over the years that new songsters in various competitions have trouble singing Beatles’ music. Carter Lloyd, another of Blake’s Five, was very ordinary with lots of pitch problems, I have never been a huge fan of his but he has a big following, Will it be enough to get him there. Rod Stokes has been coming on strong but Last night he didn’t seem to reach up high enough. I liked Gyth Rigdon probably because I really like the song he sang, “God Bless the USA”. I think voters will too .But in all honesty, he was not up to his former performances. Blake’s Dexter Roberts was in class A form last night, and he has been gaining in popularity, probably taking country votes away from Andrew. Everybody likes the vocal cords of Shawn Sounds, but I just didn’t feel it last night. To me he is kind of a Johnny One Note who sings well. It all now comes down to voters. I would, say that in the final 4 we’ll see Maylyn, Shawn, Daxter and Stokes or Rigdon.  The only possible surprise pick should be Andrew. But, will the strong Carter base push him across. Regardless of the final group, Maylyn should win it all.

Maylyn had the top The Voice spot at #3 in the iTune sales ranking for today. She also had previous efforts at #37 and #70. Also, in the Top Ten was Gyth at #9. I figured that his tune selection would get him some solid sales. The rest in the top 100 iTunes sales chart are Dexter Roberts #12, Shaw Sounds #19, Rod Stokes #36, Andrew Sevener #38 and Kim Cherry #66.

You know what happens when a bull gets into a China shop – things break. And the pieces are harder to reconstruct than Humpty Dumpty.

AOC and Bernie are now suggesting that the US Post offices become banks. Great, give all of your money to the US Government for safe keeping. And they’ll handle it just the way they did the Social Security Trust fund. Oxymoron: Government Trust fund,

Over the years I’ve seen many a large company helping finance employees in fixed cost segments of the behemoths to start up private contractor business. (i.e. In the eighties many huge manufacturing companies would allow people in their maintenance or advertising departments to go private as plumbing or electrical companies or advertising agencies.) Now Amazon is offering $10K to any employee who would leave the cozy confines of Amazon’s long arms and enter the world of a startup business as a delivery company Of course they also would be rewarded with one good customer. But also, would have to negotiate a good price for their now own business operation. Many will probably take up the idea, and many will learn they don’t have the “it” it takes to be independent of apron strings. But many will do well, and Amazon will be happy without benefit and pension encumbrances.

And the IRS will look into it questioning whether or not these one customer companies are really independent, qualifying for certain business tax advantages.

Are there any tax advantages left?

The perils of owning a restaurant are not just about fickle customer bases and slim profit margins. As Tiger Woods is learning as an owner, you are perhaps legally libel for the responsibility for the actions of others even where you are not personally involved. A bartender at The Woods restaurant in Jupiter Florida drank way too much and his car went off the road on the way home. The suit says that everybody knew and Tiger did or should have known that this employee of his was a serious Alcoholic. Yet, the suit goes on, they continued serving him drink after drink. Tiger’s involvement – deep pockets.

The Answer:

In 1968 John Lennon and Paul McCartney formed the Apple Corporation, still picking up millions in royalties. I’m thinking that perhaps Steve Jobs was a fan of The Fab Four. Bonus: I’m sure you all got Lourdes and Fatima. And perhaps the apparition at Guadalupe. Also officially confirmed are Saint-Etienne-le-Laus, Paris (Rue de Bac), La Salette, Pontmain, Beauraing and Banneux. Extra Bonus: Yes, there was life before Pat Sajak. It was in the form of Chuck Woolery.

No more limericks, I promise. But, a guy rain or not in Nantucket, will generally muck it. For clams, that is.

The seesaw continues. The market is looking nice and positive…for now. But a little green showing through grey clouds is refreshing.