Apple Vs Microsoft; PC Vs Mac -- April 19, 2016; Will The Games Go On?

Will the Games go on? It's not a trivial question, what with Zika and debt crisis. Bloomberg is reporting:

Rio de Janeiro said it’s running out of money to pay for basic services months before the Olympic Games while other Brazilian states warned of similar financial crises if the federal government doesn’t provide debt relief.

Six state governors and a representative for Rio de Janeiro said on Tuesday their fiscal woes are forcing them to make cutbacks that could lead to a breakdown of social services. Rio has been delaying payment of salaries to public servants since the beginning of the year.

The states argued before the Supreme Court on Tuesday that the situation has become so dire that they should be allowed to pay simple rather than compound interest on debts owed to the federal government. The court will rule on the matter April 27. The change would cost the Treasury 313 billion reais ($88 billion) in lost revenue, according to the Finance Ministry.

Brazil’s state debt crisis is deepening as the country faces its worst political crisis in decades and austerity measures are put on hold. The high court’s decision will have a profound impact on the finances of both state and federal governments as tax revenues plunge amid the worst recession in decades.

The crisis comes as the state prepares to host the Olympic Games in August, possibly making it difficult to carry out basic functions such as fueling police cars and maintaining hospitals.

“We’re talking about the image of the country,” he said. “We are nearing a social collapse in our state.”

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The Katie Ledecky Page

TeamUSA is reporting:

Katie Ledecky won the 800-meter freestyle by nearly 15 seconds at the Arena Pro Swim meet Saturday night, her third victory in three days just over two months before the U.S. Olympic swimming trials.

Ledecky swam well ahead of the rest of the field and touched in 8 minutes, 13.20 seconds on the last night of the meet at Skyline Aquatic Center. Conditions were much calmer than Friday when wind gusts up to 30 mph kicked up the water and gave swimmers an extra element to fight against.

Ledecky finished 14.65 seconds ahead of Lotte Friis of Denmark, who touched in 8:27.85. Cierra Runge finished third in 8:32.21.

Ledecky added the 800 free to her earlier victories in the 200 and 400 freestyles. She later finished sixth in the 100 free; her specialty is the longer distances.

Apparently Katie is human.

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Bliss

Five hours of bliss. I am home alone for several hours while the wifely unit is with granddaughter #1 attending a symphony in Dallas tonight.

I am watching the 40th anniversary "edition" of the Rocky Horror Picture Show -- something I've wanted to do for several weeks but can't watch it when May is home; she doesn't care for the movie. Tonight I can watch it and play it loud. Wow.

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Intel Slashes 12,000 Jobs

Just how big is Apple? Let's start here: Microsoft and Intel were joined at the hip(s) some years ago. Apple uses the A9. From wiki:

The Apple A9 is a 64-bit system-on-chip (SoC), designed by Apple Inc. Manufactured for Apple by both Samsung and TSMC, it first appeared in the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus which were introduced on September 9, 2015.

Apple states that it has 70% more CPU performance and 90% more graphics performance compared to its predecessor, the Apple A8, and is currently one of the most powerful mobile chips on the market today along with the Samsung Exynos 8890 and Qualcomm Snapdragon 820.

Intel was not mentioned in that paragraph.

Apple continues to shine.

Intel? Business Insider is reporting that Intel will "slash" 12,000 jobs; take a $1.2 billion write-off.

The iPad Pro uses the A9 chip. My wife doesn't know it yet, but that's the next Apple mobile device I am getting her; I will get her the largest screen possible. It will be used as a television set in the kitchen but so much more.

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Fools Rush In

We were being set up; being told this would be the worse earnings season ever and by implication, a huge, huge disappointment for those invested in equities. So where are we?

CNBC is reporting that the Dow settled at 2016 highs; flirting with all-time highs.

I am inappropriately exuberant about:

• the US economy
• Apple
• the Bakken
• Grapevine, TX

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