Notes From All Over -- The Mid-Day Edition -- May 9, 2021

So much interesting news today.

First: the Colonial Pipeline. All of a sudden, and just like that, pipelines are important and a national security issue. Apparently the pipeline is still not flowing and re-starting it may not be as easy as it sounds. 

Time to keep your POVs filled with gasoline. At least half-full at all time; preferably three-quarters filled; and, if you really want to contribute to the panic-induced shortage, preferably seven-eighths filled.

GasBuddy, Manhattan: $3.00 / gallon today. In the big scheme of things, this could be Biden's first big challenge. Here we have a fossil fuel story and a potential gasoline shortage hitting NYC just as it re-opens. And then, of  course, there is Washington, DC, and all those Algore, gas-guzzling, black SUVs. If I were the Colonial Pipeline operator, I would assemble the corporate lawyers and review the Democrat mantra: never let a crisis go to waste.

Second: #16059.

Third: Syria is having a really, really bad day. Fire breaks out at Syria's biggest refinery. Explosion on an empty oil tanker off the coast of Syria's Baniyas. Didn't we just talk about the Baniyas?

Fourth: it's being reported by right-leaning tabloids that the US faces a lack of icebreakers in the Arctic. It's a non-story. The US ceded the Arctic to China, Russia, Denmark, Canada, and Lichtenstein, years ago. The person least concerned about the shortage? Joe Biden. Having said that, it's rumored he's convening a meeting with the executives of the Ferrara corporation to solve this problem.

Fifth: more land than necessary for the US to go full Monty (100% solar / wind). Okay. Link here. Warms the cockles of my heart. I noted "they" did not include the Dakotas! I assume they are saving the Dakotas for "the national American bison and Smuckers preserve."

Sixth: coal is dead. Long live coal!

Seventh: I first started writing about this on April 23, 2021, ten days after the announcement there were concerns about the safety of the vaccine and the day the vaccine was returned to market. From The WSJ today.

Seventh-a: I've posted how "they" could solve this "hesitancy" problem overnight but I'm not going to belabor the issue. Time to move on. 

Eighth: let's check today's CDC data. The vaccine is now recommended for everyone over the age of sixteen. Supply exceeds demand. Government still makes it difficult. Question: why is a photo ID required? Is the government really concerned that folks are going to sneak in for a third and fourth and fifth dose? Note sixth column:

		Doses of vaccine distributed to health facilities	Change from day before	Vaccinations given	Change from day before	Percent of distributed vaccine that is actually administered
Sunday	May 9, 2021	329,843,825	3,770	259,716,989	2,369,784	78.74%
Sunday	May 2, 2021	312,509,575	1,370	245,591,469	2,127,998	78.59%
Sunday	April 25, 2021	290,692,005	6,350	228,661,408	3,020,948	78.66%
Sunday	March 28, 2021	180,646,465	2,340	143,462,691	3,281,956	79.42%
Sunday	March 21, 2021	156,734,555	0	124,481,412	3,039,915	79.42%
Sunday	March 14, 2021	135,847,835	1,170	107,060,274	1,356,773	78.81%
Sunday	March 7, 2021	116,363,405	8,000	90,351,750	2,439,427	77.65%
Sunday	February 28, 2021	96,402,490	200	75,236,003	2,429,823	78.04%
Sunday	February 21, 2021	75,204,965	-3,923,530	63,090,634	1,801,134	83.89%