Notes From All Over -- September 17, 2021

Updates

September 18, 2021: people seem surprised that more than one dose of Covid-19 vaccine is required. In fact, that's sort of the norm for vaccine, and has anyone ever wondered why the "tetanus" vaccine seems to last as long as ten years? A lot of folks seem to forget that this was a Trump initiative -- Operation Warp Speed, and it was the Biden folks that wanted to slow down the process and warn folks not to take the vaccine.

September 18, 2021: third weekend of college football, and packed stadiums. To the best of my knowledge, no reports of new outbreaks or surges in Covid-19 cases due to these packed stadiums. Of the three states of most interest:

• Texas: is still getting hit hard; third wave has still not show much sign of slowing;
• Florida: very, very clear that Florida has turned the corner in the most recent surge;
• California: had a fairly mild stage and seems to be receding;

September 18, 2021: relative to cases, the death rate from Covid-19 is slightly more than double that in Sweden compared to Israel:

• Sweden: deaths / cases = 14,734 / 1,144,982 = 0.013
• Israel: deaths / cases = 7,494 / 1,211,443 = 0.006 

Population (pretty much the same):

• Sweden: 10 million
• Israel: 9 million

Cases / million:

• Sweden: 112,523
• Israel: 129,900

Deaths / million:

• US: 2,072
  
• Sweden: 1,448
• Israel: 804

September 18, 2021: White House says US postal workers will follow OSHA vaccine guidance. It was a reporter who first reported, in a tweet, that US postal workers were exempt. OSHA guidelines do not yet mandate vaccines, updated June 10, 2021, which was before the executive order recently signed by Resident Biden.

Original Post

At Seattle airport (SEA) for 90-minute layover, en route back to Dallas. It is impossible for me to articulate how incredibly busy the airport is. Standing room only in food courts. Standing room only at many (most?) Alaska Airlines gates. 

This is off-season and "they" say the US economy is in dire straits. "They" haven't been to the Seattle airport lately, apparently.

If one doesn't get Covid-19 going through this airport ...

Masks:

• 99+% folks wearing masks when not drinking / eating
• 99+% folks drinking / eating
• the folks wearing their masks when not drinking / eating, wear their masks around their chins, or partly over mouth with nose uncovered

Restaurants: incredible array. Me? I haven't had a McDonald's in ages -- five kiosks from which to order, lines in front of each; I walked up to cash register -- no one in line (probably something millennials don't recognize) and order lunch; moved on. 

Human behavior: the replies to this tweet tell me all I need to know how long we will be wearing masks. Most of these folks replying are also likely afraid of getting vaccinated. Link here. Read the comments.

Director's Cut, July, 2021, data posted.

• monthly production down about 4.9%, month/month;
• wells off line for operational reasons, down about 3.3%, month/month -- operators managing their assets
• revenue forecast:
• 1.0 million bbls
• $50-Bakken oil
• Bakken oil currently at $64

Bakken technology:

• not too long ago I mentioned the synergy between farmers and drones (if I run across the link, I'll provide it)
• a reader sent me this link; note the cover;
• ND farmers will do more positive things for the environment that Resident Biden will do all year