Personal Notes: Absolutely Nothing To Do With The Bakken

This  post will have nothing to do with the Bakken. Much of it will come from the Drudge Report. I find it incredible that Drudge seems to get it right nine out of ten times when taking the pulse of the nation. He has a very interesting mix of items. So these are items that are catching my interest today, some, not all, coming from the Drudge Report.

• The price of oil continues to fluctuate around $95. It's counterintuitive, but I think $90 oil is better for energy investors than $110. 

• This is a most incredible video: obviously this sea creature is fascinated by the drilling. The video starts off "slow" but stick with it; it's quite remarkable.

• I don't know if folks remember the Feds stomping on ATT's plan to buy T-Mobile. At the time I said it was a win-win for ATT. If ATT succeeded, they would get what they wanted. If they failed, T-Mobile would wither away and Verizon and ATT would share the spoils. T-Mobile says they are losing large numbers of their biggest customers. ATT is hitting new highs on a a day that the overall market is down. And ATT continues to pay almost 6% in dividends. 

• The first political polls are out since the Vice-President voiced his support for "gay marriage." There's only one way the president could make this worse for himself. 

• My favorite subject in middle school (we called it "junior high" at the time) was Latin with Mr Becker. I learned a lot of phrases, two that stick with me: "rose fingers of dawn," and "crossed the Rubicon." The latter phrase came to mind when thinking of "gay marriage" and the president. 

• I blogged earlier about North Dakota eighth graders being #1 in science in 2011. They did this in 2009, also, so this is not a one-off. (I first heard the word "one-off" in 2004. Since then, the word seems to pop up everywhere.)

• CNBC just reported U of Michigan "consumer sentiment." Huge number. Highest in four years.

• The rumors coming out of MacRumors for updated versions of the iPads and MacBook Air that might come out later this summer are very, very exciting. It is very possible Apple will surprise competitors more than one could possibly imagine.  We could see iPad technology and software significantly alter the iPod. The price point for the MacBook Air might make it irresistible.

• Isn't this interesting: extended unemployment benefits "expire" if unemployment rates fall. Unemployment rates have been falling but not because folks are finding jobs. Unemployment rates are falling before folks are exiting the work force (they have quit looking for jobs; they are still unemployed). This will catch folks by surprise. 
• France's Hollande: it's worse than we thought. Wow, where have we heard that before. He's blaming Sarkozy. LOL. Yes, I know I shouldn't be LOL; our own president continues to blame Bush for US economic problems. LOL. 

• Upscale mall in Dallas, Texas, will require "anyone 17 or younger to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian while inside the mall after 6:00 p.m." Interesting.

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu now has his coalition. And a mandate?  

• Oh, speaking of Apple. I don't think folks understand what Apple is doing with regard to television. It has nothing to do with a "television." It's all about the "remote control." Five years from now there will be an Apple remote controller in "every" American home.  One remote control per television set. Not two, not three as is the standard now for digital, satellite, or cable television. And Siri will be her name.

• Yesterday, we visited the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts. The monitors in the "children's section" are all Apple monitors. We visit the museum on a regular basis as members. Yesterday we went there specifically to see the bird exhibit in the "children's section" as part of our birding club. It is amazing how aesthetic the Apple monitors are. Quite incredible. Sony had the monopoly on aesthetics at one time but somehow Apple did 'em one better. Check out Sony's share price over past five years.

• The most recent Rasmussen poll does not reference overnight social issues:
  The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Friday shows Mitt Romney earning 50% of the vote and President Obama attracting 43% support. Four percent (4%) would vote for a third party candidate, while another three percent (3%) are undecided.
  This is the first time Romney has reached the 50% level of support and is his largest lead ever over the president. It comes a week after a disappointing jobs report that raised new questions about the state of the economy. 

• Obama Hollande blames Bush Sarkozy: things are worse than we were told.

• Global investors now favor Obama over Romney. I didn't read the story, but I assume by "global," they include the PFIIGS (pronounced "figs": Portugal, France, Italy, Ireland, Greece, and Spain). Thank goodness, for the most part, only American citizens will vote in the general election.