Tuesday Morning Links

Wells coming off the confidential list have been posted. 

Active rigs: 185 (steady)

RBN Energy: natural gas storage. Physicians will enjoy Figure 1 at today's RBN link. The line graph for crude oil storage looks like "V fib." The line graph for natural gas storage looks like "V tach." Both conditions are life-threatening, though if God gives you a choice, select "V tach."

For Apple fans, you may enjoy a special post today: Apple Genius Musings (sent in by a reader)

Wi-fi connectivity. Note: San Antonio, at one time, was headquarters for ATT. As a gift to the city, they provided free wi-fi at the San Antonio International Airport. Even though ATT has moved to NYC, it still has a huge presence here in San Antonio (Southwest Bell used to be located here; one can still find all kinds of archaeological evidence of that company throughout the city). And it still provides free wi-fe at the airport with no funny gimmicks. Slightly easier than Starbucks to connect. And, the speed is incredible. I am absolutely amazed. On top of that, all seats in waiting areas, at least in the new terminal B (terminal A will be renovated by 2014) have electric outlets (no doubt sourced by wind) and) ethernet connections for those who do not have wi-fi.

WSJ Links

Section D (Personal Journal):

• Cooling infants to battle brain damage; hypothermia treatment for newborns suspected of having a brain injury. No link. Saving my few links for the articles with broader appeal, but googling key words will get you to the article.

• Crackdown on elective baby deliveries; strict rules are having a dramatic effect. No link. See note preceding.

• Does reading in dim light hurt your eyes? No. Plus, why pirates wear eye patches (telescopes, perhaps?).

• Louisville NCAA men's basketball champion.

• For Tiger Woods, putting matters. 

Section C (Money & Investing):

• Google is about to roll out high-speed broadband in Kansas City, Kansas, and there are rumors it will do the same in Austin, TX. This is a huge story. 

Section B (Marketplace):

• Introducing the 97-month car loan; rising new-car prices and competition to keep monthly payments under $500 a month are stretching out loan durations; spurring car sales, but buyers pay for six to eight years. Six years, not uncommon. Eight years. Wow.

• Alcoa's net rises almost 60%.

• Fisker edges closer to Chapter 11. 

Section A:

• Margaret Thatcher dies; story everywhere.

• Newfangled, ornery breeds of bull are bucking pro riders at a bodacious rate. That was my impression also after watching recent rodeo on television.

• Hunter S Thompson didn't live long enough to see it: Colorado lawmakers decide that purveyors of recreational marijuana will not have to grow most of what they sell. Considered controversial.

• An update on the Korean Missile Crisis. By the way, the FT noted the same thing I posted a few days ago. April 15 marks the birthday of the founder of "modern" North Korea, and the grandfather of the current ruler. There are rumors that the fireworks could go off on April 15.

• Long time coming: the Defense Department will recommend an overhaul of the military justice code that restricts the rights of commanders to overturn military court verdicts. 

• The first Mouseketeer to strike it big, Annette Funicello, died Monday; overshadowed, of course, by Margaret Thatcher's death. 

• With the report that a 7th Chinese victim has died of avian flu, the population of China, according to one source, is now below 1,344,130,000.

• This movie has almost as many sequels as the Keystone XL epic: John Kerry is at the center of efforts to restart the Arab-Israeli peace process. One begins to think that if a president doesn't like to be overshadowed by a political opponent, put him/her in charge of the Arab-Israeli peace process, on-site.

• Inflation in China? Consumer inflation fell to 2.1% this past month. I am impressed. Very impressed.

• Not surprising in this politically correct, nonsensical world: measles outbreak hits the British Isles. The UK is experiencing an outbreak of measles among unvaccinated children, prompting warnings from health officials and long lines at emergency vaccination clinics. The original vaccine was introduced in 1963; the current MMR, one of the best vaccines ever, was introduced in 2005. Vaccination programs should be about the easiest thing a modern country could do. Children should not be admitted to school without vaccinations and welfare entitlements should be held back if families do not have evidence that infants and toddlers are vaccinated. This is not rocket science. And it's not a religious issue, either. It's a public health issue. Parents whose unvaccinated children come down with measles should be interviewed by child protective services. My heart goes out to those children who willl suffer short-term and long-term from measles because they were not vaccinated. People like Orrin Hatch should be ashamed of themselves.