The Bakken, June 23, 2014, In Perspective

Pat on back: I was the first Bakken blogger whose blog has no ads to discuss the growing Turkish-Kurdish alliance.  And now, in today's New York Times: Turkey's best ally: the Kurds.

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Active rigs in North Dakota:

	6/23/2014	06/23/2013	06/23/2012	06/23/2011	06/23/2010
Active Rigs	190	189	210	172	124

RBN Energy: takeaway capacity for Canadian bitumen crude. Great update on the CBR situation coming out of Canada.

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The Wall Street Journal

New GOP House Leader says he may not support reauthorizing the charter of the Export-Import Bank of the US, placing in doubt the future of a major agency that facilitates US exports. So, what's this all about?

Climate change? Soaked Midwesterners are staring anxiously at the sky after days of rain, flood warnings and rising rivers. Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota affected.

Pakistan offensive poses new perils in polio crisis. I assume many Americans are unaware that we still immunize against polio in this country.

Bad news for Egypt's new President, Abdel Fattah Al Sisi. He has just received "strong support" from John Kerry.

Gauge of China's factory activity hits seven-month high. I thought everyone said China was "slowing down."

The New York Times

Iraq's military seen as unlikely to turn the tide. Well, duh.

And I love this headline: "Relief Over US Exist From Iraq Fades as Reality Overtake Hope."  It could have been: change overcomes hope.

Hawaii's homeless population has surged 32% in past five years. New view of the beach: destitution.

Some time ago, a reader asked me why I did not care for Michele's "healthy-eating program." The New Yorks Times provides the answer: fresh fruits and vegetables are going from food line to child's tray directly to compost. Every day, whether they are in the mood for it or not, each child gets a mandatory banana (plus other mandatory stuff), and some (many, most, all) bananas are going directly into the compost bin unpeeled. The story explains why. I assume after time, it will become a game to see how much food the students can throw into the compost. Speaks volumes about Michele's program and it's in The New York Times front section; it reads like it comes from Fox News.

Elsewhere

Sounds like Hillary has atrial fibrillation: fainting, blood clots, bad valve.

Iraq-Syria-Jordan borders crumble. This is Reuters:

... even as Baghdad's forces abandoned the border with Jordan, leaving the entire Western frontier outside government control.
Sunni tribes took the Turaibil border crossing, the only legal crossing point between Iraq and Jordan, after Iraqi security forces fled, Iraqi and Jordanian security sources said.

"Baghdad Bob" says "the borders are still secure and Allah-willing, I will still have my head tomorrow."