Notes From All Over -- Late-Morning Edition -- June 30, 2020

Connecting the dots: this is all a bit ironic. It was reported today that the EU is removing the US from the list of "safe countries" due to corona virus. LOL. The irony? All "dots" lead to Europe. Quick, name the five states in the news with regard to surging Covid-19:

• Florida, 
• New York
• Georgia
• California
• Texas

What do they all have in common?

International airports / hubs bringing in international travelers:

• NYC: JFK
• Georgia: Atlanta
• Texas: DFW
• CA: LAX
• Florida: the destination for German tourists

NY governor: perhaps the most "ridiculous" (for lack of a better word) of all politicians, all talking heads, throughout this entire pandemic.

Besides being completely wrong on literally everything, he flip-flopped on his own policies, but worst of all: he was not a problem solver. He was a whiner. A huge whiner. Blaming everyone else but himself for NY's experience. No buck stopped with him. Don't take that out of context. I don't like "blaming" in the first place -- that's not the point. What frustrated me: he spent his time blaming folks rather than trying to solve the problem. That's why I like poker. Successful poker players don't blame anyone or anything. They simply play the best they can with the cards they are dealt. Biggest whiners? Pro athletes earning in excess of one million dollars per year. Time to move on. 

Nonsense and saying "no": last week, a story (click bait) with Buffett's #1 "trait" for being successful -- the ability to say "no." The story used Buffett and Steve Jobs as examples. In fact, that was only half the story. The other half: knowing to whom or what to say "no." Had Steve Jobs said "no" to the smart phone and iTunes and yes to Apple TV back in 2007, Apple would not be where it is today.

The other trait not mentioned in the article, which I believe is just as important, or maybe more important, recognizing "nonsense" and ignoring nonsense.

I got that from my closest friend while serving at Grand Forks AFB, ND, back in 1980, or whenever it was. I think John's favorite word was "nonsense." He became one of the most successful physicians I ever had the pleasure of working with and he is still in active practice, well over the "normal" retirement age. He had not time for "nonsense."

Speaking of time, there are a lot of things I don't like about "our" response to Covid-19, but I have to admit that to some degree. we're getting more efficient and getting rid of a lot of "nonsense" where it matters. Wearing masks may or my not be "nonsense," but in the big scheme of things it's unimportant with regard to saving time, being efficient.

Exhibit A: tomorrow is "signing day" for Olivia and club soccer. This is a big, big deal and lots of "legal" boundaries. Normally, families of the soccer player would gather in some arena and go through the process of signing the player to a club team. Think the NFL draft on steroids for tweeners and teeners.

For working parents, it was a lot of "nonsense." Taking up to four hours off from work, driving to some location out in the middle of nowhere, standing in long lines, yada, yada, yada. But now, due to corona virus, lo and behold, it can all be done on-line and on a PDF and an electronic signature with a virtual notary notarizing the signature. Are you kidding me? Someone figures that this could all be done virtually? Wow. Will wonders never cease?

Our Olivia will still get to be with her parents and she will still be able to party and celebrate with her team but the families won't have to be there -- one parent, max, is allowed. This is incredible. It's a win-win for everyone.

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Market: as expected, the market turned green. Wow, wow, wow.

• BA: still down 5%
• AAPL: up 1%; up almost 4%
• IMUX: down 3%; down forty cents
• CLR: up 6%; we talked about this yesterday, I believe

I have to clean up my portfolio. Good luck to all.