Tweeting Now; Other News -- September 14, 2015; Apple On Track To Set New iPhone Launch Record

Tweeting now:

• Iraq allocates some 2 mil b/d, more than 50% of Oct  crude oil exports, to pay back its international oil company contractors
• OPEC raises 2015 global oil demand growth forecast by 84,000 b/d to 1.46 mil b/d; trims 2016 estimate by 50,000 b/d to 1.29 mil b/d
• OPEC says 'all eyes are on how quickly US production falls,' with 2016 oil supply growth forecast at 220,000 b/d, down 100,000 b/d
• Gazprom raises estimate of Europe-bound natural gas exports to 158 Bcm

I will probably be late posting the NDIC Director's Cut when it comes out later today. I'm traveling. Beautiful day in the mid-section of the US. Landscape ruined by industrial farm outside Hays, Kansas, along the interstate.

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Apple Page

Apple on track to have huge iPhone launch.

Apple has informed the media that iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus pre-orders are "on pace to beat" last year's record-breaking 10 million iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus pre-orders sold on launch weekend in September 2014.

iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus pre-orders started on Saturday at 12:01 AM Pacific. While most iPhone 6s Plus and Rose Gold models are now shipping in 2-3 weeks or later in the U.S., many iPhone 6s models remain available for delivery on September 25.

Story at Reuters also.

By the way, the amount of "storage" in the new iPhone has appeared to double. Apple does not release that data (but it is immediately reported by "everyone" once the first iPhone ships. Apple does not include that "kind of" data because they don't want folks to start thinking of the iPhone as a computer. It's a cell phone. Not a computer. Geesh.

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Most Exciting NFL Game On Opening Day?

Dallas edging by New York Giants. I listened to this game on the radio while driving through Colorado. Absolutely incredible. It must have been an amazing television spectacle.  Tony Romo ... wow?

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Global Warming

Climate Change

Extreme Weather

Whatever

Weather.com is reporting an incredibly quiet year following an incredibly quiet decade:

Despite being in the season's peak, it is not unusual at all to have one or multiple September days without a named storm active in the Atlantic basin. That happens most every year. [You wouldn't know that listening to Tom Steyer or Barack Obama.]

What's impressive is how the entire Northern Hemisphere has taken a breather at the same time, in mid-September. [Oh, really?]

This is the first time a September 12 lacked a single tropical storm, hurricane or typhoon in the Northern Hemisphere since 1977. [Mark that date, September 12, 2015.]

It was the first time since July 29 the hemisphere had taken a tropical cyclone break. In that time, there had been 18 tropical cyclones combined in the Atlantic and Pacific basins. [Wow, a tropical cyclone break. Tell that to the Japanese who have a huge flood on their hands due to tropical storms.]

It was the first time since two days before the summer solstice -- June 19 -- there were no areas to watch, invests, or named storms in the western, central or eastern Pacific. [An opportunity to catch up on federal paperwork.]

Since that time, there have been a whopping 24 named storms of at least tropical storm strength in the Pacific, including 10 typhoons or hurricanes reaching at least Category 4 intensity. [Oh, back to normal.]

For the first time in awhile, Hawaii wasn't threatened by a tropical storm this week. [In awhile.]

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So, Russian Tanks And Troops In Syria

Filling The Super-Power Vacuum 

Fox News is reporting.

Russia's military build-up in Syria has grown to include the shipment of a half-dozen highly sophisticated battle tanks -- and more troops -- a defense official told Fox News, in what the source called the "first clear sign of offensive weapons arriving in Syria."

 
The Pentagon has now tracked a total of 15 Russian Antonov-124 Condor flights into Syria, reflecting a steady stream of military cargo into Syria. According to the latest intelligence, this also includes the arrival of two more Russian cargo ships, containing the tanks. 

Up to this point, the official said, the Russian cargo and weapons that have been delivered to Syria could be viewed as defensive in nature. The arrival of tanks cannot be viewed this way.

Check and checkmate. 'Cause you know Obama isn't going to send tanks and troops back into the Mideast. Been there, done that. Got the t-shirt.