A tough job.

 

Today's Tids Issue 6,006 

Cherries and more: 

 

What do you call two crows sitting on a branch? Attempted murder. 

 

Now that you are thinking, let's delve into today's top stories. One somewhat embryonic that intrigues me and sems underreported is that China is movie technologically advanced missile launching destroyers into the Gulf of Oman. Reports have them tracking the US naval activities there, perhaps providing surveillance assistance to ally Iran. Chinese ships are often seen in Omani water using ports there for resupply, but current increased activities add a new dimension of concern considering the US carrier presence. It doesn’t sound like a good situation for a swift and deadly thrust against Iran, does it. There’s always something. 

 

Oh there is good news. The stock market is closed so your portfolio a will be unscathed today in honor of all Presidents. 

 

One truth we can rely on is that when you see a sign “No Thru Trucks” at the beginning of a road, you know for sure it is a good shortcut to somewhere.  

 

The Question: 

Some states standalone missing something all other states have. What is the only state without Ragweed; without a rectangular flag; without two or more syllables in its name; without a McDonalds in its Capitol city; without a straight line in its boarder; without a “No testing while Driving" law.  

 

 

The Headlines: 

--Wall Street Preparing for a Week that will feature Walmart Earnings and a Preferred Inflation Measure -- Personal Consumption Expenditure Report (PCE); How it will Match up to Last week's CPI. 

--Guthrie Case Enters Third Week; DNA Found on Glove Located a Couple of miles Gor Guthrie Home.  

--At Munich Security Conference EU rebuffs Trump Claims that it is In Decline 

--EU Raising Security Concerns; Continent Finding Increases Pressure on the East Front from “Expansionist” Russia and “Economic Pressuring” China and an Unpredictive future with Former Pal US.  

--Two US Immigration Officers Placed on Leave for Allegedly Lying About Shooting in Minn; Investigation Underway.  

--US Constructing Industry Execs Meeting with Trumps Over ICE Raids; Spokespeople Say Workplace raids are Scaring Away Potential Legal Work Force.  

--Trump Says Will Issue Voter ID EO if Legislation Fails.  

 

I think the Infinity is very good car and it looks good, But US sales YTD are mediocre. It just misses the boat against the closely matched Lexus, both introduced for the same reason around the same time, Maybe it is still the result of that overly long series of ethereal ads while Lexus was out there producing cars and getting favorable reviews. 

 

I seem to have this feeling that the slogan on US currency will be changed from “In God we Trust” to “Let's Party”. 

 

AI has Wall Street talking to itself on two fronts. The most apparent is that ongoing concern about the overvaluation of these red-Hot AI centric companies; will the payoff be there. But the more recent newer angst is about how AI will affect high margin service related companies like banks, Accountants and Logistics -- how new AI tools could upset core business.  

 

I probably should have ended the Tids Valentines string of love songs with Tony Bennett's first big hit in 1951, “Because of You”. It raced to the top of the charts and ignited a career that never seemed to end. “Because of you my life is worthwhile, And I can smile... Becasue of you.” Tony celebrated his 95th birthday singing with Lady Gaga in a performance in 2021 – marking seventy years since “Because of You”. 

 

We could have an explosive political summer even in the midst of celebrating 250 years for the great people's country, our U S of A.   

 

Companies like Nike and sweatshirt marketers like Champion have made not dressing up for nice places acceptable. Which rhymes with disrespectable.  

 

Right now, I’m trying to remember my good golf swings from last year so I can start the season looking respectable.  

 

Nascar at Daytona can feel like a grind early. But things change there as the final laps mature. In case you missed it the top five were Reddick, Stenhouse, Logano, Elliot and Keselowski. Elliot was leading going into turn four of the final lap. A victory was in his grasp. But Reddick caught the draft and slid past at the checkered flag with Chase Elliot falling back to fourth crossing the finish – backwards. Yeah, Daytona can drone, but there is always a buzz at the finish. 

 

One of the more interesting USA economic trends being reported by the deep discounters like Dollar Tree and price conscious stores like Walmart's is that denizens of wealthier demographics are drifting through the bargain aisles too. Cheekout bills mount up fast and are opening the eyes of even mere millionaires. Gourmetism is ceding the stage to home cookingism.  

 

Upscale Nordstom just closed its last store. Just in case you didn't notice. 

 

Scottie Scheffler proved once again you can never count him out. He had a lot of good players nervous as he romped through the front nine yesterday, finishing with a 63. For 2nd place. And #2 in the world Rory roared too coming in with a 64. But Colin Morikawa played great and hung on for a win over fast closing Kim. It was a great day for Bing Crosby's ole’ Tournament. BTW, Keegan Bradly teamed with Mary Meeker to win the traditional Pro-Am feature trophy, Mary being the forest female winner ever in the 89 years of play. It began 1937 as the “Bing Crosby Clambake”.. 

 

Why do historians call the Early Middle Ages the Dark Ages? 

There were a lot of knights. 

 

Like em’ or hate em’, being president of this great nation is a tough job. You got the vagaries of the rest of the world to worry about, and an often-impossible domestic divide to balance. Some bring the anger against them by their own actions; others rise above it. And a few of them have been true leaders of all. Well, mostly all. 

 

The Answer: 

Ok., Alaska has no ragweed; Ohio doesn’t have a rectangular state flag; Maine is just one syllable; Vermont's Montpelier has no Micky D; Hawaii has no straight lines in its boarder; Montana allows testing while drivin. 

 

Well, we are over halfway through the shortest month. As Washington's birthday approaches, I'm wondering why Blueberry pie is considered more American than cherry pie. I wonder as I look around the world how many kids still learn about the pride in honesty from the tale of George cutting down the cherry tree? 

 

I'll take chocolate cream pie, thank you.