Wow, Never Quit Reading -- October 26, 2024

Locator: 48663INDIA.

What went so wrong with Boeing? The WSJ.  DEI and schadenfreude.

I'm loving google's AI. I assume "everybody" has noted the change. It's really, really quite good. 

The other day I asked the question whether SpaceX might be interested in Boeing Space? Mostly as a lark, but curious.

So, I googled what's bigger SpaceX or Boeing space --

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The Book Page

I'm currently in my "India" phase -- the subcontinent. The history, the politics, to compare and contrast Indo-American relationships with Sino-American relationships. There's so much personal "background" that led me to this Indian phase. 

I look forward to meeting with my Indian friends and compare notes. 

My two sources:

• India: A History, John Keay, c. 2000, 2010. 
• Vishnu's Crowded Temple: India Since The Great Rebellion, Maria Misra, c. 2007

Absolutely fascinating how many dots connect.  

The first is the better of the two if one wants the entire history of India. The second is really a "poli-sci" book focused on the British colonization and subsequent revolution and independence of India.

Israel -- For The Archives -- For The Grandkids -- And Especially For Olivia -- October 26, 2024

Locator: 48662ISRAEL.

Great summary, NY Times.  

Great summary, The WSJ.

Link here. Brings back a lot of wonderful memories. 

I had almost exactly 100 sorties in the F-15, all in Germany. I didn't track all my F-15 flights -- don't ask -- but the ones that were officially tracked by the USAF numbered about 100. It's hard to believe how incredibly versatile the F-15 remains.

The F-15 entered service (USAF) in 1976. Forty-eight years ago. Can that be correct? Someone check the arithmetic. In some respects, my hunch, warfighters prefer the F-15 to the F-22 and, without question, the F-16.

It would be interesting to know who / meet the flight surgeons assigned to these fighter squadrons. They have no idea how lucky they are ... or maybe they do. More from the linked article:

While assigned RAF Lakenheath, I was assigned to the F-111 and sat in the right seat -- the weapon systems operator / navigator. Many stories to tell. And note, the A-10 is still around, still firing depleted uranium rounds (link here). No two-seater A-10s manufactured so I never flew in the A-10 but almost every other a/c in the USAF inventory of note at during the 70s, 80s and 90s. 

You only get one chance at life; you only go through life once. I'm glad 30 years of my life was with the USAF. I honestly can't think of anything else I would have rather done in those years.

For more on all of this, see "Next Generation Weapons Technology." Posted October 13, 2024:

US F-15s arrive in Middle East as Israel preps Iran retaliation.

A new squadron of US F-15s arrived at an undisclosed base in the region this week as Washington works to stop Israel from escalating the fighting in a counterattack on Iran.

Another squadron of US Air Force F-15s arrived in the Middle East this week, the US military said, as Washington aims to persuade Israel not to launch a major counterattack in response to Iran's October 1, 2024, ballistic missile barrage against Israel.

The F-15s arrived at an undisclosed base in the region on Wednesday, US Central Command said. They join additional US F-16s that arrived earlier this month, bolstering US fighter squadrons already in the region including highly advanced stealth F-22 Raptors.

The United States also has several mid-air refueling tankers based in the region as well as an aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, in the Gulf of Oman within striking distance of Iran and Yemen. Several US Navy destroyers are also in the Red Sea and in the Mediterranean, where an amphibious-borne Marine Expeditionary Unit remains ready in case the United States orders the evacuation of its citizens from Lebanon.

If you have time for only one "thing" today -- go to "x" (aka twitter) and search Israel.

 

 

For Iran, that was an expensive (in terms of capability) excursion into Gaza.

NY Times provides nice coverage. But "x" has better pictures.

Retail Success -- Some Observations -- Nothing About The Bakken -- Anecdotal -- For The Archives -- October 26, 2024

Locator: 48661RETAIL.

One of the themes that will take on even more importance in 2025 and the out-years:

Exhibit A, anecdote:

Yesterday I was out of town, traveling, and my wife was home alone. Even her daughter and son-in-law who would have been invaluable helping her yesterday, were also out of town. My wife called about 6:00 p.m. CDT to say that her very old and incredibly trustworthy, incredibly reliable, exquisitely maintained 2007 Chrysler Town and Country had "died." She had spent the day with a friend and on the way home stopped at Belks to pick something. When she came out, the van would not start. Dead. Really dead.

Belk is across the street -- literally from where we live, with a wonderful coffee shop next door. May elected to stay with the car rather than walk home or go for coffee. 

After calling me, my wife called "Triple-A" who were there in about 45 minutes. Battery was so dead not even able to be jump-started. Triple-A towed the car to an Auto Zone 1.7 miles away. They replaced her battery and she was on her way.

While waiting for Triple-A she called "our" local Chrylser dealer / service center. They said they would not see her -- they no longer service cars from before 2014. Some exceptions for long-term loyal / regular customers. 

Triple-A outperformed Chrysler and all it cost was the cost of a new battery.

We've been members of Triple-A since we returned to the states in 1994. We have maintained our membership ever since; we last called Triple-A in 2005 or thereabouts. I could find the exact date if I wanted; it was on a trip taking our younger daughter back to college. I digress.

If Chrysler had agreed to check out the car, they would have put the car in their garage -- it was no about 6:45 p.m. and they would have gotten to it this morning, charging us for the diagnostic check ($150?) and then for a new battery and installation. 

Meanwhile, Triple-A and Auto Zone installed the battery -- I assume at no cost except as included in the price of the battery, but I don't know. May was sold a high-end battery that will outlast the car, LOL, but I have no complaints. 

As far as Chrysler goes .... not even willing to help a woman in distress .... not impressed.

 I was never going to part ways with Triple-A anyway, but now ...

Auto Zone -- I doubt I will ever need them again - knock on wood -- but they've gained another loyal customer if necessary and I will share my story with whomever will listen ...

Our local Chrysler dealer / service center not willing to work on cars before the 2014 model year suggest:

• they are overwhelmed with service requests
• exacerbated by labor shortage
• our Firestone service center is unable to do "engine light -- sensor" checks because their one individual certified to provide that service is convalescing from back pain and had been out since August, 2024; he returns to work in January, 2025
• parts generally not available for emission systems in models before 2014

No complaints. Just observations. 

So much more could be said, but time to read some more of John Keay's India: A History and squeeze in a Duolingo Spanish lesson. 

North Dakota Legacy Fund -- October, 2024, Data Posted

Locator: 48660LEGACYFUND.

In this week's "Top Stories," I opined:

We're still feeling the effects, economically, culturally, academically.

Exhibit A: the North Dakota Legacy Fund.

• August, 2014: $117 million
• July, 2020: $9 million
• October, 2024:$65 million

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The Book Page 

 India: A History, John Keay, c. 2000, 2010.

First notes of the day:

This is so incredibly cool. Fifth century BC India struggling to become a nation. The great epic -- one of two -- Ramayan's primary function was to legitimize monarchical rule. Meanwhile, Jain and Buddha were touting "The Middle Way" and/or alternative state systems -- variously described as oligarchical, republican, or even, democratic.

Exactly what we're seeing (again) this year in American national politics. 

• Trump: would like to be a monarch; will settle for an oligarchy
• Harris: supporters would like a purely democratic system (best example: get rid of the electoral system and simply decide on direct vote county.

Even more cool: this was happening in the 6th and 5th century; the same period when classical Greece was undergoing much the same. The "Golden Age of Greece" is now referred to, by historians, as "Fifth-Century Greece." 

Incidentally, I'm not sure if I see much difference between Buddhism and Jainism.

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The Word Page

"Senior Common Rooms" -- p. 133, John Keay, India: A History; must be a British / Indian term.

Voivodeship: area administered by a voivode (governor) in eastern and central Europe, particularly Poland. Have existed since medieval times, duchies. Now, generally referred to as provinces. I forget where I first saw that word. Colossus?

Apple Holds It Lead Over Nvidia After Losing It For Short Period Today -- October 25, 2024

Locator: 48659AAPL.

Link here. 

The bigger story: "everyone" feels that NVDA / Nvidia is on its way to a $4-trillion market cap within twelve months and $5 trillion by 2030.

AMD? "Dead money" since January, 2024 (this year). Since 1984? Up 900%. Five years:

• AMD: up 350%
• INTC: down 60%

SCCO: up 66% over the past year. Five years:

• UNP: 40%
• SCCO: 214%

QCOM, max duration of holding: up 30,300%

• QCOM vs MDU over the past year? Absolutely dead even.

MDU vs SRE:

• five years: 50% vs 17%
• one year: 55% vs 19%

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Disclaimer
Brief Reminder 

• I am inappropriately exuberant about the US economy and the US market.
• I am also inappropriately exuberant about all things Apple. 
• See disclaimer. This is not an investment site. 
• Disclaimer: this is not an investment site. Do not make any investment, financial, job, career, travel, or relationship decisions based on what you read here or think you may have read here. All my posts are done quickly: there will be content and typographical errors. If something appears wrong, it probably is. Feel free to fact check everything.
  
• If anything on any of my posts is important to you, go to the source. If/when I find typographical / content errors, I will correct them. 
• Reminder: I am inappropriately exuberant about the US economy and the US market.
• I am also inappropriately exuberant about all things Apple. 
• And now, Nvidia, also. I am also inappropriately exuberant about all things Nvidia.
• Longer version here.