The Market, Energy, And Political Page, Part 2, T+45 -- December 20, 2018

Call for the wall: the issue may not be yet settled. Just breaking. Interesting. The tea leaves suggest that Trump is holding the line.

The market meltdown. Scott Adams suggests:

• Trump-China tariffs issue would have slowed down the US economy on its own
• now, with the Fed slowing down the economy through raising the rates
• a double whammy

Fed: raised rates in Trump's first two years of presidency more times than it raised rates during the entire Obama presidency, eight years, and the Fed says it will continue raising rates (at least twice more next year).

WTI: One of the best oil contributors over at twitter:

A lot of crazy crap happens in the oil market every now and then. You get used to it. But at least when it happens there is normally a reason (however crazy) to explain it. What's happening to price this week is just nuts... 

Disclaimer: this is not an investment site. Do not make any investment, financial, job, travel, or relationship decisions based on what you read here or think you may have read here.

Market tip: if you think the world will still be using oil five years from now, and if you think CAPEX is not keeping up with future demand, then it seems like an open book test ...

Canada: closed for business.

Saudi Arabia: 2019 will be a huge test for MBS.

American businessmen: usually don't pay attention to the business pages.

Confused: liberal press has not yet gotten the story line to push regarding Trump's decision to exit Syria. The "Resist Trump Movement" was caught off-guard. Announcement just before the Christmas break was brilliant. Later: from twitter --

Note to liberals who now support military force in Syria because of the Kurds or Russia or Iran or Turkey or humanitarian reasons: NONE OF THOSE WAR ACTIONS WERE AUTHORIZED BY CONGRESS. Only authorized use of force was to go after terrorists. President Trump is right to withdraw troops.

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The Movie Page

I watched David Lean's Oliver Twist (1948) last night on TCM. Absolutely delightful. It was the first time I had ever seen it. I would consider it "must-see" television if one has not seen it.

Watching The Great Gatsy again today. A bit of it is too intense, to violent for adolescents, but an incredibly good movie. Because it was an incredibly good story. Our older granddaughter's has as a school assignment to read The Great Gatsby over Christmas break. Where does one even begin? Arianna loves geography.

I would have her lay out a map of Long Island, the Long Island Sound, Manhattan -- and watch the opening scenes of movie -- the green light, the relative locations of the two mansions, and Manhattan in the background.

And ... I finally learned the definition and etymology of "sound" -- the geographical term.